Posted on 07/23/2002 1:17:48 PM PDT by Shermy
PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Vice President Dick Cheney woke up in a Cocoa Beach hotel Tuesday, and he's now off the the Central Florida coast aboard a nuclear-powered submarine.
The White House has kept the itinerary of Cheney's unannounced visit a closely guarded secret, WESH NewsChannel 2 reported.
Cheney's movements have coincided with those of a nuclear submarine, but what's happening aboard the vessel is not clear.
Dozens of motorcycle police officers from all over the region escorted Cheney through Cocoa Beach at about 7 a.m., police said.
As the sun was rising at Port Canaveral, the Navy submarine was waiting. And about 30 minutes after the motorcade arrived, the submarine moved out of the port, WESH NewsChannel 2 reported.
It's not uncommon for government officials to ride along on military ships or planes to observe their capabilities, and subs that visit Port Canaveral routinely come here to conduct practice launches of unarmed Trident nuclear-capable missiles, officials said.
But there seemed to be one important difference between Tuesday's submarine -- with Cheney rumored to be aboard -- and those that typically make those practice launches.
A tall mast is usually seen behind the submarine's sail or superstructure; the mast is required for practice launches, reports indicated.
The submarine that left Tuesday morning had no mast behind the sail, so it's not clear what type of vessel it is or what it's doing, according to WESH NewsChannel 2 reporter Dan Billow.
The Navy and the vice president's press office would not comment on the submarine's mission, and the Air Force said there are no unclassified launches scheduled Tuesday.
The vice president's press office said Cheney is staying in Florida Tuesday, but has not announced when he's leaving or said why such secrecy surrounds his visit.
Hehehehehe....and Rummy thought he'd get to be the one but I beat him to it......."
Dick Cheney 2002
Fall out in five minutes with full packs and weapons !
Uniform of the Day is dress blues, tennis shoes, and heavy duty foil helmets.
DANGER ! DANGER !! DANGER !!!
This may be The Big One !!!!!
BTW, I hate to sound like I'm tinfoil impaired, but I never bought the story that there just happened to be this Japanese trawler in the middle of our training area. Why was that boat there?
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