Fighter Patrols Resume Over NY, Washington - Sources

Reuters/Yahoo ^ | 9-6-2002 | Charles Aldinger

[blam]

Fighter Patrols Resume over NY, Washington -Sources

Fri Sep 6,11:34 PM ET
By Charles Aldinger

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With the anniversary approaching of the Sept. 11 attacks on America, the U.S. military has resumed 24-hour air patrols by fighter jets over Washington and New York, U.S. officials said on Friday.

The officials, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters that the patrols -- designed to prevent hijack attacks like the ones that destroyed New York's World Trade Center and heavily damaged the Pentagon -- resumed on Thursday.

"With members of Congress flying to New York, and the anniversary approaching, it was decided that the patrols should resume" indefinitely, one of the officials told Reuters.

The U.S. Congress met in New York on Friday for the first time in more than 200 years to mark next week's anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks that killed about 3,000 people.

Pentagon officials refused to confirm or deny whether or not the patrol flights had been resumed. Spokesman Glenn Flood said, "All I can say is that we have adequate patrols."

The officials refused to comment on a CBS News report that the air patrols were resumed due to increased Internet "chatter" or communications among known operatives of al Qaeda, the militant network the United States blames for the attacks.

The patrols involving F-16 fighters and other jets flown by both Air National Guard pilots and regular Air Force personnel, will fly regular missions over the two cities around the clock, as they began doing after the attacks.

The pilots could be used, with tight restrictions, to shoot down a commercial airliner if it appeared to be headed for a sensitive ground target, according to officials.

In March, patrols were reduced over New York City and later over Washington to a mix of regular flights and "strip alerts" involving planes standing by at military and civilian airports to be scrambled into the air on very short notice.

Patrols have, meanwhile, also been continued on an intermittent basis over other key areas of the country, including other possible targets such as nuclear plants.

Before the patrols were reduced earlier in the year, they had tied up more than 200 fighter jets and 10,000 Air Force personnel at 30 bases across the country. Air Force officials said they had caused wear on equipment and stress on personnel, costing more than $502 million between last September and January alone.

[PoorMuttly]

I cannot express to you how good this feels to me.

FReegards from Fun City, y'all !

[Capriole]

I do not know what they're talking about when they say the patrols have "resumed." I live outside of D.C., and I have never noticed the patrols stopping entirely. When I get up at 5:30 or so I see the dawn patrol, several fighter craft flying together; they come back at evening. There have been times I've seen as many as 15 contrails going across the sky at once. The difference is only in how high they're flying and whether you can hear them or just see them.

[PoorMuttly]

Trade ya'.

[thegreatbeast]

These flights should be made permanent. Years ago, during the Cold War, we had many planes in the air all the time, all over the world on alert against any preemptive strike from the Russian sphere. No one ever told us they ended but they did. An old idea is new again.

[PoorMuttly]

Muttly like protection.

A pleasant supplement to constant prayer.

It's nice to have caring friends...who are DOING something about it.

[Prince Caspian]

Air Force officials said they had caused wear on equipment and stress on personnel, costing more than $502 million between last September and January alone.

Happy to pay the bill. One of the few legitimate functions of government. Money well spent.

[blondee123]

One of the few positive things they are doing, considering we are at war, declared or not!!

[STARWISE]

"al Qaeda, the militant network the United States blames for the attacks" .... dontcha just love Reuters??

[zarf]

Hey give Reuters credit....they didn't say "al Queada, the Muslim relief organization attempting to free the enslaved Palestinians from the homophobic Israeli vermin..."

[BlackbirdSST]

Happy to pay the bill. One of the few legitimate functions of government. Money well spent. What list of non-intelligent abc agencies can we shut down to make this fundable full time? I work in the area, was in a meeting yesterday and got lost in the crackle as they flew over at low altitude, everyone in the room got goose bumps, it was great. Truly, one of the sole functions of the feds! Blackbird.

[Gore_ War_ Vet]

Can confirm. Walked outside yesterday look up and said "Look we haven't heard that sound in a while."

Mutt if you feel safer you must not be ON A PLANE headed for Disney World with your family. Don't think it would be considered a defeat to get the USAF to shoot down a passenger airliner.

Sleep tight.

[Capriole]

Trade ya'.

Don't misunderstand, please. I am deeply grateful for the coverage we receive and am filled with pride and delight when I see those beautiful planes streaking through the dawn.

[Squantos]

2 cities "protected" 200,000 others up for grabs ? We have to whack these weasels before they can hit "anywhere" ever again........

Stay Safe !

[PoorMuttly]

If they need to...in order to protect all you guys...I'll be waving to them out the porthole to help them score a good hit. I promise you that.

As I have posted elsewhere, even though I have been invited to NYC ceremonies here and there, on the 11th., owing to my minor involvement (so far) in the "Film" industry...

---I plan to be "hard at work here at my desk, at home with my family, NBC gas mask (case purchased just before I watched, from a 'phone booth on 7th. Ave. and 19th. St...the plume of smoke off the west side of the WTC some years ago), pistols, flashlight, and martini."

Knowing my late M.I. Dad's American flag is still flying outside my house, day and night.

Works for me.

(neglected to mention my "red letter' Bible being there too...since I sleep next to it)

The Adventure continues. Doesn't it.

[PoorMuttly]

BTW, since our President decreed that we fly our flags at full staff since then, and I've heard no further orders for the 11th., our flag will have a black ribbon flying, affixed to the BRASS BALL.