Military to put Cheyenne Mountain on standby

The Denver Post ^ | July 27, 2006 | Bruce Finley

[goarmy]

"Since the mid-1960s, joint U.S.-Canadian crews in the mountain have guarded North America..."

I had no idea that the Canucks were in there, too. Every Christmas Eve, Cheyenne Mountain released the whereabouts of Santa and his reindeer to the local news in Colorado.

[Salgak]

Well, after all, Stargate Command IS growing, they OBVIOUSLY need more room. . . (diving for cover)

[driftdiver]

Spent 3 years in that cave. The canucks have been there a long time and in fact "command" the facility a good part of the time.

I don't think what this guy is proposing is possible. Keeping it on1 hours notice is impossible. Its either ready or its not. The logistics and security of getting a large number of people inside in a short time make this idea questionable. Just the drive up the mountain and getting inside is 20-30 mins. Sure they have a helicopter pad but how many people will that support?

[goarmy]

"Spent 3 years in that cave."

So tell me, driftdiver, was it Rudolph's nose or Santa's immense girth that you tracked?

Seriously, thanks for your service.

[driftdiver]

"So tell me, driftdiver, was it Rudolph's nose or Santa's immense girth that you tracked? "

Well I could tell ya but then I'd have to kill ya. :)

Didn't work directly in the command center but it was fun to stop by and watch his progress. :) Of course I prefered to be at home that night but that only worked out 1 of those 3 years.

[Strategerist]

Rats, Woolsey must have gotten the Stargate program shut down again...

[driftdiver]

""I have found, over the course of several pretty extensive, rigorous exercises, that I'm able to get as good or better situational awareness in the command center ... at Peterson," Keating said"

What he means is Peterson AFB is much more comfortable. The mountain is quite similiar to being on a ship which Air Force people really don't like. Did Clinton have anything to do with this guy becoming a general?

[Thermalseeker]

But today the government's best intelligence "leads us to believe a missile attack from China or Russia is very unlikely," Keating said in an interview this week.

In light of the recent intelligence failures leading up to the war in Iraq, this statement does not give me a warm, fuzzy feeling.....

[ImaGraftedBranch]

In light of the recent intelligence failures leading up to the war in Iraq, this statement does not give me a warm, fuzzy feeling.....

In fact, its an assinine statement. It borders on the criminal that our leaders are all warm and fuzzy about the Chicoms. I am amazed when supposedly knowledgeable people announce their surprise at China's buildup....and then you read pieces like this, where Norad is being mothballed.

This lack of dilligence, as the Chicoms rock us to sleep with their attachment to quasi-capitalist ideals, will be our downfall. Their apparent zeal for capitalism is being misread completely by the young ones in government that had no idea what it was like in the cold war. China wants capitalism only so far as it can help to rapidly fuel their military buildup.

The day is coming, and we are now less prepared.

[Jonah Hex]

I sometimes visit Fort Carson as part of my duties. I admit, it's fairly spooky looking up at the entrance and imagining the ultimate "what if" the worst case scenario played out...

[driftdiver]

Also have to wonder why we are devleoping the missle defense system.

[driftdiver]

"I sometimes visit Fort Carson as part of my duties. I admit, it's fairly spooky looking up at the entrance and imagining the ultimate "what if" the worst case scenario played out."

Never got spooked until I saw all of the backup systems they have. The springs the buildings are on, the backup air, water, and so forth.

And then there was the time I walked into the CC at SAC HQ and the red lights went off, people rushing around and speakers were saying "11 missles inbound". They waited a good 5 mins to tell me its an exercise.

Ahh the good ole days.

[Rb ver. 2.0]

The silly NORAD cover story for what's ~really~ going on at Chyenne Mt. is getting stale. Stargate Command needed to refresh its cover.

[Hydroshock]

I see the hand of Gen. O'Neil in this. I hope Maj. Carter gets a bigger office.

[goarmy]

"...by the young ones in government that had no idea what it was like in the cold war."

This is exactly what's happening in Korea, too. My Dad visits Korea twice per year, and the students who don't realize what it was like in the bad old days desperately want the US military out so that they can take care of their own business with that psychopath across the 38th parallel. Their predecessors have tried to convince them otherwise, but you know how that goes.

[Lurking in Kansas]

"leads us to believe a missile attack from China or Russia is very unlikely," Keating said in an interview this week.

Uh, oh. I surely hope he's not serious. That is very dangerous thinking.

[DustyMoment]

In light of the recent intelligence failures leading up to the war in Iraq, this statement does not give me a warm, fuzzy feeling.....

I was thinking the same thing.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

China wants capitalism only so far as it can help to rapidly fuel their military buildup.

They are going to convert the mountain into a Wal*Mart. Does that make you feel better?

[The Great RJ]

Locating the security control for the US at a nearby air force base would seem rather risky. Terrorists with truck bombs, dirty bombs laced with radioisotopes or even chemical weapons could wreak havoc at a conventional base. The Cheyenne Mountain facility is secure and designed to resist all of those threats plus nuclear weapons.

[CholeraJoe]

Cheyenne Mountain on standby!? Next thing you'll tell me is that the Looking Glass has been grounded.

What? Sorry.