Fearing New Threats, Drone Crews Go Top Secret (Wing Cdr. Cites Domestic Terrorists, Code Pink)

The Post-Standard ^ | Friday, December 18, 2009 | Dave Tobin

[kristinn]

In Syracuse, the new top guns are under cover.

Commanders of the Air National Guard crews operating unmanned Reaper drones over Afghanistan from Hancock Field are insisting that pilots not be publicly identified.

The policy is an about-face for the 174th Air Wing of the Air National Guard, which once identified its pilots and trumpeted their endeavors. During the 1992 Persian Gulf war, Syracuse-based pilots prominently displayed their names on the fuselages of their F-16 fighter jets. Pilots and family members spoke openly about the pressures, sacrifices and triumphs of deployment.

The change of policy reflects what the unit commander says are worries of threats and harassment of Syracuse-area members of the 174th and their families here.

In the new commuter war, where Reaper crew members at Hancock fly planes 7,000 miles away without the risk of being shot down, security on and off their Syracuse base is a special concern.

The wing’s commander, Col. Kevin Bradley, issued the directive Dec. 1, two days before Reaper crews in Syracuse began flying the armed, unmanned drones (formally known as MQ-9s) over Afghanistan.

“Airmen involved in daily/regular MQ-9 combat operations ... are only allowed to be identified by rank and first name during media interviews,” Bradley wrote.

The decision was all Bradley’s. There is “no memo directing Col. Bradley to issue the policy letter,” said Maj. Jeff Brown, a 174th spokesman.

SNIP

Bradley said he was concerned by several incidents across the nation in the past year: the Army major at Fort Hood who killed 12 and wounded 31 in November, a drive-by shooter in Arkansas who killed a recruiter and wounded another in June, and Code Pink — a national women’s peace group that has been protesting the use of unmanned drones.

[USNBandit]

Hey, at least somebody is taking the threat seriously.

[devistate one four]

Does anyone in the US realize that we are at war?

[The Sons of Liberty]

Good move. There are probably as many muzzie terrorists in the US, as Afghanistan thanks to our porous borders, and stupid liberal policies. Probably why the usurper in chief won’t release details on Maj Hassan.

[Gay State Conservative]

Understandable.Given that Moslem knuckledraggers can enter this country at will (we certainly can't screen them at Customs) and,once here,they can travel at will,*any* soldier,sailor,airman or Marine...anywhere in the world...is in danger,particularly if they're playing any kind of important role in securing victory against the 9th Century pig fornicators.

[tet68]

Does anyone in the US realize that we are at war?

The Armed services are at war, Obama is in Copenhagen
insulting the Chinese by asking for transparency.
Say, where is the transparency he promised US?

[LibWhacker]

...worries of threats and harassment of Syracuse-area members of the 174th and their families here

Talk about something to have zero tolerance for! Whether you are an immigrant, a native born liberal, a code pinko, etc., even hinting that you might do something to one of our fighting men ought to cause the world of hurt to come crashing down on you. But no... We have zero tolerance for drawing Jesus, or 6-year-old pointing a banana as though it were a gun.

[KarinG1]

Did anybody read any of the comments? The first one cracked me up:

I wonder why Bradley found it necessary to group Code Pink with domestic terrorists. I have never heard of violent actions from this group. Guess it shows his mentality toward "defending the constitution" or at least his interpretation of it.

Yeah. How dare he group America hating Communists with our so-called enemies. All enlightened progressives know our own military is the true enemy.

[The Comedian]

Code Pink — a national women’s peace group that has been protesting the use of unmanned drones.

You know, the prodigeous amount of rope I'm already preparing just keeps getting smaller and smaller in relation to the number of new additions being made to the list.

It's getting to the point where I'm going to have to schedule sequential applications of the same rope in rapid succession.

I am begining to become concerned about the structural integrity of the rope itself due to the sheer projected volume.

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[devistate one four]

Yep. sad state of affairs for us.

Constitution forever!

I saw where 35% of americans like the dems
28% like the pubbies, and
41% like the tea party! this is a first. WOW!

[Traveler59]

...Airmen involved in daily/regular MQ-9 combat operations ... are only allowed to be identified by rank and first name during media interviews...

OK, here's a 'DUH' moment. Last time I looked at my uniform, it had my rank and LAST name on it. Sooooo, take the first name from the media interview and the last name from the uniform and presto! At least while I was still in service, I could get a way with a "Just what were you thinking when you can up with that?" once in a while. As long as it wasn't the O-6.

- Traveler

[NonValueAdded]

Open carry 24x7