Clearly the folks in charge of protecting U.S. figure great damage could still come from the skies. OK, I'm glad they're watching for planes and I'm even glad they'd shoot one down if necessary. I assume they're tracking all planes with radar, have guards who can see the plane lights (which could be turned off) and hear the sound of the motors.
What I can't shake out of my mind is that filthy calendar that showed a plane crashing into NYC for September and a scene of general mayhem for October. Remember the balloons in the October picture? No radar image. No sound. I guess the flames might be visible at night. Could they be masked?
Obviously gently drifting one of these down on a nuke plant wouldn't have the effect of a jet fuel laden 747 crash unless they have MAJOR explosives packed in it, like maybe one of the suitcase nukes that are alleged to be missing.
Another sort of loose thought... Isn't Bush going to address the UN pretty soon? I have a vague memory of a news announcement to that effect a ways back, but I can't find anything on it searching under Bush visit or address United Nations... I've missed a lot of news lately (traveling)--had to rely on CNN in most hotels so I've mostly only heard of anthrax, anthrax, anthrax.
Anyway, while I wish the UN would go away, I don't want to see it "martyred" and I damn sure don't want to see it blown away with the U.S. President in it. I don't know how that could really be protected against anyway since these suitcase thingies can allegedly wipe out 11 square miles. All they'd need is a suicidal 7th century whack-job with a nuke getting within that 11 square mile area. That's a lot of NYC to rope off and clear on a room to room basis.
Nevertheless, I keep wondering why those balloons found their way onto that calendar. It was such a strange note. I know October got over without any of that picture coming true, but legend has it that loads of the psychos have been quietly rounded up behind the scenes. If they're out of business rather than just slowed down, that's great but probably too good to be true.
Any thoughts? I'd love to have you tell me that a sky-camouflaged balloon couldn't possibly be an effective weapon because I don't think it was on that calendar for decoration.
Okay, no problem. A sky-camouflaged balloon can't possibly be an effective weapon. There. Feel better? :-)
Welcome back, Sal. Long time, no see.
The greatest fear is always of the unknown, and unless we get some major intelligence breakthrough, the intent of the terrorists will continue to remain unknown. We're just going to have to learn to live with uncertainty for the foreseeable future. Sorta like the early settlers on the early frontier 200 years ago - plow the land with a musket strapped to your back.
I don't believe for one minute that WTC was the last shot to be taken at us in this mess. I expect there to be more. I stay alert, I notice anyone in my area who is new and unknown, and I pay attention to what's happening around me. 'Course, that's nothing new for me, but we can all learn to live like that. It becomes second nature, after which life on the surface returns to almost normal.
Even so, the world changed on 9/11, and we can't turn back the clock. We can only go forward.
So, what the hey - let's go! :-)
If someone were to try using balloons, the attack would be from the west, since the prevailing winds over the US are from west to east.
Although I doubt the OBL gang would try some type of weapon delivery with hot air balloons, it is still an intriguing idea and the calendar picture is strange.