Pentagon Can't Explain "Missile" off California

http://www.cbsnews.com ^

[tired1]

The Pentagon Tuesday said it was trying to determine if a missile was launched Monday off the coast of Southern California and who might have launched it.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Thank you, Old Missileer.

OldMissileer [post 47]: “That is a sub launched ballistic missile and it looks as if its’ trajectory was taking it toward Kwajalein Atoll where we target our western test launches.”

Possible foul-up then?

[Braak]

This may sound nuts? But what if it was a private space program? Say the launch platform was a rented barge and the secrecy is proprietary. It would explain the NOTAM that is said to have gone out for the time of the launch, and the direction. Am I saying this is the only explanation? No. But it does make sense. If it was a test of ours, it would have been announced, and if it was a test of somebody else (the Chinese), they sure as hell wouldn't do it off our coast where Onizuka AFS, amongst other places, would get every bit of launch telemetry. Not to mention the escalatory elements....

In short, I can't say what the hell it was. Something tells me it was big, too big to be MANPADS, and anything bigger is going to attract attention...

[doorgunner69]

San Nicholas island is right there, and subs have done launches all around the area. Very heavily instrumented for missile testing among other stuff. Also, the map could be screwed up and the launch was from the island, not at sea.

Most do not realize the vast majority of sea and air from Vandenburg down to San Clemente island is DoD controlled warning areas. The commercial air corridors are fairly narrow heading directly out to sea. Kinda cool watching the airliners on radar as they funnel into those corridors. I am told, at least it was so back when, that the restrictions are relaxed on weekends to allow for shorter flights by going over a lot of the warning areas.

[Never on my watch]

From the article you linked:

Commodore Stephen Saunders, editor of Jane's Fighting Ships, and a former Royal Navy anti-submarine specialist, said the U.S. had paid relatively little attention to this form of warfare since the end of the Cold War.

He said: "It was certainly a wake-up call for the Americans.

"It would tie in with what we see the Chinese trying to do, which appears to be to deter the Americans from interfering or operating in their backyard, particularly in relation to Taiwan."

Apparently not enough of a wake-up call. We are so screwed...

[Charles Martel]

Then we need to fire this Navy and put an ad in the paper for one who can, because "Finding and sinking other boats" is the second basic Navy requirement, right after "Don't let your own boat sink".

Woah, hold it. It's not *our* job to fire anyone here - that's an Indian admiral commenting on the challenges of dealing with Pockystonn.

[ltc8k6]

I think it’s most likely an airliner. It’s just too slow to be a missile, imo.

As far as the origins of the trail and the angles, I think those can easily be confusing and misleading.

I’m happy to investigate further though if we get any more info or any better imaging.

[Lil Flower]

Weren’t there concerns a few days ago that something may happen here while Obamao was out of the country?

[redgolum]

I remember that. Laughed pretty hard about it.

[NonValueAdded]

Hmmmm ... surely, Ellsworth [now there's a name for military commentary!], we don't need to do an unannounced demo to show one of our boomers can do a launch.

Instead, this would be just the right way for a major or emerging power to do THEIR demo: sneak onto our range and launch one towards our target. Says to US "you are pwned, sucka." L'il Kim's kid, raising the ante? Is Obama being handed a note from the ChiComs telling him that QE2 was not appreciated?

OR ... with this weird denial by the Navy - why wouldn't they say "we can neither confirm or deny" while checking it out and cleaning all the britches ... were they ORDERED to deny it with the idea that this would somehow make the weak sisters in the Senate want to ratify the new treaty???

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

I doubt that. There would be a launch pad that a helicopter or satellite could see from the sky, and it could be quickly seen.

[I cannot think of a name]

I highly recommend, “First Strike: TWA Flight 800 and the Attack on America”. It is often available at reduced prices at book stores and is well worth the money.

While I do not necessarily accept everyone of their conclusions, they do a damming job of factually pointing out how compromised, manipulated, and completely worthless the so called “official” investigation was. I've been in aviation for 40 years and it is deplorable the way this tragedy was manipulated and the entire aviation safety system prostituted!

The NTSB, FAA, and to some degree the FBI, come off as compliant, obedient, boot licking fools.

[sanchmo]

won’t

[Roccus]

It was probably suppose to happen last week before the election but someone wrote down the wrong date.

Ya mean Election Day isn't the second Tuesday in Nov? (/s)

[The Comedian]

Woah, hold it. It's not *our* job to fire anyone here - that's an Indian admiral commenting on the challenges of dealing with Pockystonn.

Oops, I meant "they" and not "we", thanks.

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

He is on record as saying he would not retaliate with a nuke. (May have changed since campaign)

[Lazamataz]

I saw NSA that day, early on. Might have been passed from NSA to CIA. Who knows, but the deal is, the spook agencies totally managed this.

Wideminded, tired1 has some vidcaps with CIA logo'ing.

[CodeToad]

“Can’t” or won’t. I have participated in more than one sub launched missile test that to this day the Pentagon will not acknowledge.

[conservativeimage]

[my small voice]

How about the plane that “fell apart” over New York shortly after 911?? Cover up.

[D-fendr]

Best possibility was given via Tommyjo on a related thread. Explains the most unknowns about this event.

The above photo is a jet contrail NOT a missile. Look familiar?

Source: Jet contrails look like missile