Missiles smuggled into U.S.

Washington Times ^ | 5/31/02 | Bill Gertz

[kattracks]

The U.S. government has alerted airlines and law enforcement agencies that new intelligence indicates that Islamic terrorists have smuggled shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles into the United States.

Classified intelligence reports circulated among top Bush administration policymakers during the past two weeks identified the missiles as Russian-made SA-7 surface-to-air missiles or U.S.-made Stinger anti-aircraft missiles obtained covertly in Afghanistan, said intelligence officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

[willyone]

2000 cargo containers enter the US every day. Maybe 40 are inspected. Hundreds enter through Long Beach which is still the primary COSCO entry port. If these things are not here it would be surprising. I suggest that we re double our efforts to check kids and old ladies in airports for starters. As for stopping the arrival of anymore visitors from certain parts of the world, that would be insensitive. Thats just the way it is. We are your govt. and really don't give a crap about your security.

[Don Myers]

These people can smuggle whatever they want into the US. Just who or what would stop them?

[Marine Inspector]

Quite likely.

[ContemptofCourt]

They come in from the opposite direction and bank almost wings vertical to line up for the runway.

Hmmm, seeing how I live in da burgh, you would think that there would be news of planes banking "wings vertical" immediately prior to landing.....

Maybe you should stop drinking at work....

[willyone]

You are goofy. You still believe that garbage? The Navy story was spread to divert attention away from the plausable which is a small missile attack. An SA-7 could have been used. So keep spreading the diversion story like a good little dope. If you know anything at all about how the Navy operates you would slap yourself. Goofs like you have always been funny to listen to.

[Liberty Tree Surgeon]

Bump to follow the sputterings of the "center fuel tank" crowd.

LTS

[Marine Inspector]

As far as I know, a manpacked portable missile system has no sharp edges or points, so it should be able to be brought through security and loaded on to the aircraft.

I'm not sure if it will fit under the seat or in the overhead compartment.

p.s. I don't work for Airport Security.

[willyone]

why shoot down a landing aircraft? A fully loaded 747 leaving for the Far East would be the ideal target. Three quarters of a million pounds of fuel, aircraft and people crashing into a crowded area would be a terrorists ideal statement. Throw in some car bombs outside a few terminals at the same time and the air travel industry is history.

[willyone]

In the late eighties there was a book published titled Stinger. The 800 flight followed exactly the scenario in the book. There were also other attacks at other airports. I get a laugh at all the fools who jumped on the story blaming the Navy. That effectively made the missile theory look so silly that it was not pursued. Disinformation to divert attention from where it should be. That and not mentioning the SA-7 with it's greater range was all the cover needed. Unwitting fools helping to spread the cover story. I love it.

[willyone]

Most of the Free Republic crowd has been blaming the Navy. That is the fact. Don't try changing you story now.

[RayChuang88]

I'm extremely disappointed that many people are on a stuck groove when it comes to the TWA 800 crash.

I have some serious doubts that a MANPAD could shoot down TWA 800 for the following reasons:

1. The maximum altitude for the best American and Russian MANPAD's is around 10,000 feet. TWA 800 exploded at 13,700 feet, above the maximum altitude of American and Russian MANPAD's.

2. There is no evidence of a fragmentation blast pattern on any part of the plane from the known warhead fragmentation patterns of the Stinger, SA-7, SA-14, SA-16 and SA-18 missiles.

3. Given that MANPAD's use infrared seekers to guide the missile in flight, the most likely place a MANPAD missile will hit are the engine nacelles, especially with the hot exhaust during a climbout. Yet there is no evidence of a warhead fragmentation pattern on any of the engine nacelles from TWA 800.

Now, an accidental shootdown from a US Navy SM-2 missile launched from destroyer might make more sense, given that the SM-2 is radar-guided and would likely impact right in the middle of the target. However, there's no evidence of the warhead fragmentation pattern from an SM-2 missile anyone on the plane.

Besides, how would you cover up the shootdown when you have thousands of people from the NTSB, FBI, FAA, and Boeing involved in the investigation.

[Blood of Tyrants]

I'll bet it is too long to fit in the little test bins. The gate attendants would spot them in a heartbeat and make them go back to the ticket counter and check it in with the rest of their bags.

You simply can't sneak ANYTHING past them.

[blam]

"Might account for the unusual landing flight path patterns that seem to have cropped up again around the airport."

One thing I noticed after 9-11. I live right on Mobile Bay and there are a lot of Coast Guard and off-shore oil field crew helicopters that come through here. Prior to 9-11, they flew just along the bay over the water (on their way out into the Gulf) and after 9-11 they are now flying 2-4 miles in-land, over land. My neighbors have commented about this also.

[willyone]

I believe that most of you were pushing the Navy did it theory. The Michael Rivero brigade were the most vocal. Now you are trying to say you knew it was a small missile all along. BS. You were all quite happy to blame the Navy. I have always felt it was a small missile. The only thing I did know for sure was that the Navy was not involved. Now all you creeps that were screaming that the Navy did it are trying to retract your words. Jerks.

[blam]

"2000 cargo containers enter the US every day. Maybe 40 are inspected. Hundreds enter through Long Beach which is still the primary COSCO entry port. "

That is way wrong. There are 50,000 containers ariving in the US each day. (Maybe your number is 2,000 ships)

[willyone]

Four engine heat source. The missile nulls on the center of the heat sources which is the center of the aircraft where by coincidence the center fuel tank is located. Who woulda thunk it. The Navy story was a diversion. All of you on FR that bought into it and helped spread it are now trying to cover you asses. I believe the description is,"useful idiots".

[willyone]

Quit changing the story. You were one of the most adamant that the Navy did it. As was Donaldson. CEC was a red herring from the get go. Just because I work on it what do I know compared to some hack publicity seeker/dis information shill. You clowns bought it hook,line and sinker. Now you pull the old "I knew all along". Right.

[DoughtyOne]

Look, if I'd have know you were in the picture I posted I'd have warned you. LOL

[CJ Wolf]

Anyone have pictures of what we should be on the look out for?

Side note: TWA 800 happened during a cresent moon. We passed anti-terror laws just after it.

[Freedom2specul8]

Not exactly. Gathering intelligence is like collecting little pieces to a puzzle that eventually make up a picture. It is only confirmed when you have direct evidence, such as a terrorist standing at the east end of the LAX runways with a missile launcher perched on his/her shoulder.

A direct threat is what Osama bin Laden liked to make in his infamous videos. I guess you could call that confirmed.

Ok, now that makes sense. It still seems a bit confusing though. Intelligence could be "wrong", while a direct threat could be too..so I guess in a way, both could be a 50-50 chance of being real. What say ye?