I have a good friend who makes his living developing scenarios to represent our real and potential adversaries. He is diabolically smart and refuses to be constrained by the strategic planners and intelligence analysts who regularly poo poo his products.
If he were to conjure up a delivery system for a third world nuke, he would never suggest a ballistic or cruise missile as you might find in Iran, Pakistan or North Korea. This would be the perfect vehicle for those countries. Squawking some false code, it would look like an airliners, appear to be an airliner electronically and the civilized world would have to make a decision on whether to shoot it down or not.
Lot’s of people are very nervous tonight. Of course, we have no idea if this is what is happening, but as a potential capability for our adversaries, it’s a cause for concern. There are ways to mitigate this threat, of course, but they are expensive and will take time to implement.
“This would be the perfect vehicle for those countries. Squawking some false code, it would look like an airliners, appear to be an airliner electronically and the civilized world would have to make a decision on whether to shoot it down or not.”
That’s what I have been say all along.
I’m sure all of the US intel agencies have been putting in lots of overtime trying to get a handle on this.
I agree with your friend that this plane is a very good delivery system. I am watching the actions of the high ranking members in DC. If patterns change and people start avoiding DC we have a real threat.
What about having this fact added yo this story.
WASHINGTON — First lady Michelle Obama will travel to China this month with her daughters, Malia and Sasha, and her mother, Marian Robinson, for a trip built on the theme of education, her office announced Monday.
The March 19-26 trip will include a visit with her Chinese counterpart, Peng Liyuan, who is a popular folk singer and the second wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The trip will be Michelle Obama’s first to China. Her itinerary includes stops in the Chinese capital, Beijing, on March 20-23; Xian on March 24; and Chengdu on March 25-26.