Posted on 01/28/2013 8:17:09 AM PST by 11th_VA
As the U.S. government continues to expand surveillance and monitoring systems to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars within the borders of the United States, a recent announcement regarding the countrys southern air defense systems is raising eyebrows.
Our southern border is, in part, protected by the Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS), which utilizes moored balloons hovering at about 15,000 feet to identify low flying aircraft and missiles that may penetrate the border and cross into U.S. airspace.
The system is utilized by the U.S. Air Force, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection for a number of missions including detection of drug smuggling and preservation of the air sovereignty of the continental United States.
According to Exelis Systems Corporation, the company that built and jointly maintains TARS with the U.S. Air Force, the government has ordered a complete shutdown of Aerostat flight operations:
The government also indicated its intent that aerostat flight operations will cease on March 15, 2013, and that the remainder of the fiscal year will be used to deflate aerostats, disposition equipment, and prepare sites for permanent closure. We are currently reviewing all the details of the RfP and evaluating the possible impacts on the program and our workforce. We continue to communicate with the government on this matter, and we will have more information in the coming days and weeks.
An Exelis employee close to the TARS project had this to say about the closure of the sites:
Not only will this closure mean hundreds of people will be out of jobs, but it also means our borders will not be safe, especially along the remote U.S. Mexico Border like in Texas.
These defense radars detect low flying aircraft infiltrating our borders.
Without these defense radars, low flying aircraft will go undetected.
It will be open season for any drug/gun/slave smugglers, terrorists flying in with nukes, low altitude missiles, or even a full scale low elevation invasion/attack against America.
With China actively and openly deploying Russian-made low altitude strategic bombers, designing EMP weapons capable of disabling the countrys power grid infrastructure, and establishing economic zones within the United States, its difficult to imagine the motivation behind the move to further weaken U.S. air defenses on the southern border.
If September 11, 2001 was any indication of our air defense capabilities, and considering that any ground invasion of the United States would originate on our southern border, then wouldnt we want as many early warning systems as possible to be actively protecting our country in these specific areas?
The U.S. government has chosen to shutdown this outward facing surveillance system, and has instead turned the surveillance inward, on the American people.
Solar powered radar! Works great during the day, night, not so much.
ruh roh
didn’t cocaine traffickers use low flying paths to get the stuff into Arkansas when Billy Jeff was Governor? I seem to remember something about Mena and Fort Smith.....hmmmm
Well, than they need to oust their Governor, don’t they. And where are they going to move to? To other states?...to do the same thing?
It would be more prudent for the ‘good people’ of California to extend themselves further than just the voting booth and do something about their state...rather than run away. The same goes for state our nation is in, and will be in if we don’t do something to right the wrongs going on.
As far as California is concerned, it would be even more prudent and wise if they would rid their state of all the ‘filth’ that consumes what is called ,California. That, would be an enormous step in the right direction.
In principle, I feel sorry for them too, because at one time, California was a fabulous place to be. But THAT California, is long gone. I feel more sorry for other states who end up with those who fled rather than fight to correct the ills of their state. People have to be snapped out of that mentality. Hey...our gov is not the sharpest tool in the shed, either....but it’s up to us to do something about it. People only do to us what we LET them do.
What makes you think that the poltical establishments of Texas AND California aren’t 100% supporting this action on the part of the Administration?
It’s the dog-eating traitor that needs to be shut down.
I, for one, have nearly doubled the number of snarky posts I make on the internet!
I love the bumper sticker that says "I ♣ Liberals"
I think you forgot the sarcasm tag on your last sentence ?
It least I hope so....
That’s fantastic!!!
It has only taken ...6 odd years....
For those of you hoping for hordes of drones and blimps to start patrolling the Mexican and Canadian borders, theres bad news this morning. After a face-off among large military contractors, the Boeing Company was picked by the Homeland Security Department to lead a high-tech effort to secure borders, the Times reports. And unlike proposals from Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and others, Boeings plan for the Secure Border Initiative, or SBInet, doesnt rely that much on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or airships.
Boeings proposal relied heavily on a network of 1,800 towers, most of which would need to be erected along the borders with Mexico and Canada. Each tower would be equipped with a variety of sensors, including cameras and heat and motion detectors, the Washington Post notes.
Read more: http://defensetech.org/2006/09/20/drones-blimps-lose-out-in-border-war/#ixzz2JJu4PDgW
Defense.org
Sounds like he’s saying we’ve been unprotected for a while, because the Air Force has not maintained the air defenses we supposedly have, and nothing has been planned or installed to replace it. Is that how you read this?
if we are attacked obama needs to be hanged for treason.
Exactly. That’s what I’m talking about.
This freeloading bass turd is going to get us all killed.
I'm sick of all these tyrants plotting not only to destroy our Constitution, but who are literally putting the pieces together to murder us. They are blatantly talking about how it may be time to just take our Second Amendment away. They are moving fast while threatening our lives. I can't stand these worthless tyrants much longer. Thinking about the Patriots who will be murdered only because they refuse to give up their GOD given right to defend themselves against evil is a depressing thought, but it only strengthens my resolve to see that I recognize my full potential to do what I can. It's sickening to think of good people dying along with their family members. It builds an intense anger in me, but I have self control and would never act out in a rash or stupid manner. No one wants to die, but if anything is worth fighting for this is it.
If there are enough forces under Obama’s control to start carrying this out it will be the politician/tyrants, media propagandist, leftist academia, etc. who learn they aren't immune to the violence they are intentionally starting. They never expect it to touch them, but they should realize it can. They should stop their aggression, and reverse what's already been done toward us.
That includes not talking about changing areas with the strongest gun cultures around our nation as if it can be easily done in quick fashion. That culture dates way back, and is very deeply rooted. You don't change that against the will of the people easily. I believe those saying this meant it as a veiled threat of using force to change the culture. These delusional tyrants will be shocked by Patriots if they keep pushing for violence. They will flee the country if they have time.
I really wish we had more vocal support from Conservative politicians and media figures. They need to stop talking like politicians, and get a little more emotional and confrontational. They need to oppose Obama at ever turn, and frustrate him. They need to forget about their reelection. It's ridiculous to work with a tyrant on anything, just as it to worry about how you're portrayed in the radical leftist mainstream media. You will never be portrayed in a good way unless you agree with liberals and run Conservatives down. Then you will be hailed as the kind of republican needed to get elected; never mind the fact they have no support.
I would like to see more from a guy like Rush Limbaugh too. He seems way too hesitant to go very far with what he says. I know the mess we are in is much easier to see than any solution, and that makes it harder to have any kind of upbeat program; I just don't think it helps to make it any less bleak than it is. Most do talk about it, but many seem reluctant to take it to the next step. Right now I just can't care much about listening to jokes, or discussing the NFL like before.
I haven't listened to Mark Levin lately, but the last time I did he was admitting the horrible situation we are in. He said we may very well have already lost our nation, and that we live in a post-Constitutional era. I liked that he said we should be thinking outside the box for solutions because we have a broken system. I agreed with him on all that, but he still didn't really have an answer anymore than the rest of us. I assume that some of the less blunt host don't want to talk a situation without having some kind of answer for their listeners.(I stopped seeing articles about Mark Levin around the same time I got away from listening to his program so I don't know what he's been talking about recently.
I would like to see some action taken by Conservatives to show at least a hint of taking more drastic action which is needed soon.
Not on our watch! - www.OathKeepers.org
Constitutional Sheriff and Peace Officer Association - www.CSPOA.org
Yes, I saw it.
I added my keyword.
If it’s being replaced, that’s okay.
Our eyes in the skies are worn out. No new airframes to replace them.
A good book to read is Jetstream, The Breakup of America. The author predicts that by 2012, we would be attacked thru Canada and Mexico. It was written in 1996.
It was supposed to be a three part series but he never wrote the last two. the first one basically predicts all that is happening now.
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