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"As stated on previous threads, the idea that you could "hide" a 727 in the *dessert* is impossible. Airliners need runways"

Uhm, explain then how a 747 loaded with a shuttle can take off and land at Edwards. Edwards, if you are not aware, is a big, well, desert. The do it all the time. Deserts can be as hard as concrete, yet have some flex that is less wearing on the craft.
Not a dessert. That is defined as "A usually sweet course or dish, as of fruit, ice cream, or pastry, served at the end of a meal." and of course no plane can take off and land on a pastry. Unless that is what you meant.
So I guess you were right then. You could neither hide nor take off an airliner from a bowl of ice cream or a tart... or any other dessert.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/edwards.htm

Edward's has a 24,000 foot runway. We'd know if there was a multi-mile runway in the sahara, i'd wager.

Actually, if I am not mistaken, the strips you are talking about at Edwards are located on specially prepared areas of a dry lakebed.

I would imagine that they are cleared, flattened, and otherwise prepared much the same way as the Bonnieville Salt Flats are when they are used for racing. Bonnieville, by the way, is another dried lakebed.

That is a far cry from what I was referring to, as anyone with common sense could have figured out.

I was referring to a once-of landing and takeoff from an improvised strip, and I didn't then and don't now see how a terrorist organization would have the infrastructure pull that kind of an operation off in secret -- even if there were a site that matches that discription available for use.

As for your funny regarding my misspelling of desert, ha ha ha. Very clever.