From Bill Gertz:
The military has deployed anti-aircraft missiles within range of the Capitol as part of security enhancements for tomorrow’s presidential inauguration.
The missile deployment comes even though the FBI and Homeland Security Department concluded in a recent threat assessment that there is no credible information showing that terrorists have targeted inaugural events.
Army Avenger missile systems, a Humvee-mounted version of the Stinger anti-aircraft missile, were deployed in the weekend at several locations in the Washington area, including the northern tip of Bolling Air Force Base in Southeast.
“It is a NORAD deployment,” said Army Maj. Maria Quon, a spokeswoman for the North American Aerospace Defense Command, the joint U.S.-Canadian defense system developed during the Cold War.
Maj. Quon said that in addition to the Avengers, military and security agencies have deployed F-16, F-15 and support aircraft and radar and communications systems.
The combat jets are flying round-the-clock patrols to deal with any aircraft threats to tomorrow’s ceremonies. Additionally, the Air Force is flying E-3 airborne warning and control aircraft that are conducting surveillance missions and would help guide interceptor jets to targets.
Hmmm. Maybe somebody should tell these idiots about the deployment, because they seem to think it might be fun to spoof air controllers into thinking DC is under attack from unidentified aircraft. And it would be a shame to have to dig missile fragments out of the ruins of a house in Catonsville, MD, simply because a handful of political poseurs were teased by jocks in junior high.
And by “maybe somebody should tell these idiots,” I of course mean “anybody have a bat, some duct tape, and a goat?”
(h/t Ace)
Hmmm. Maybe somebody should tell these idiots, who think it might be fun to spoof air controllers into thinking DC is under attack by unidentified aircraft.
Sounds like somebody’s been listening to too much bad 80s German pop sung by otherwise-kinda-hot chicks with rotten teeth and hairy pits.
The balloon stunt sounds all clever and edgy, but unless the inaugural is ringed by surplus Battle of Britain radar installations, it won’t do a thing.
We ain’t talkin’ rocket scientists…
Don’t mylar balloons eventually settle back to earth and choke baby harp seals to death or something?
…not only do they kill baby seals and cause sterility in whales, they can also short out power lines. This is generally considered Not Good by the local utility company responsible for said lines.
And from what I understand, altitude and speed have something do in determing if a fighter should be scrambled.
Maybe they think the balloons will look like French fighters?
And whatever you do don’t tell the Secret Service how to do a whois search:
Registrant:
ABAX CORPORATION (BUCKFUSH-DOM)
2630 Fieldstone
TROY, OH 45373
US
Domain Name: BUCKFUSH.COM
Administrative Contact, Technical Contact:
MATTHEWS, LARRY (JRHTBJWOVI)
2630 Fieldstone
TROY, OH 45373
US
937 602 3682 fax: 123 123 1234
Record expires on 31-Oct-2006.
Record created on 31-Oct-2000.
Domain servers in listed order:
NS1.S7AVAHOST.NET 207.44.248.131
NS2.S7AVAHOST.NET 207.44.248.132
leelu is close to the truth (except for the part about the utility companies; mylar balloons will certainly fly but won’t short out powerlines… how much amperage do you think a thin piece of mylar can take?… trust me; less than what it would take to short out the lines), whoops where was I, oh yeah, three letters: MTI.
MTI stands for Moving Target Indicator which all air traffic control radar has had since at least the 70s. Typically, they set the threshold to over 100 kts (if not 200 kts) so they’d never see the “747” going 15 kts. Even if Andrew AFB set their threshold to zero, they ATC guys would say “Hey there appears to be a “747” (we won’t even get into the radar cross section myth) going 15 kts… must be some idiot anarchist launching let’s call the FBI to pick up this loser.
Balloons are nothin’ when compared to the Federal Judge that forced the DCPD to turn over “intelligence data on police tactics, training, and strategies from the last inauguration…” to Ramsey Clark & Co.
Smash has the link.
Super.
DC airspace is safe. Especially since every inaugural attendee is given a Bush-Cheney memorial laser pointing pen.
Coincidence?
Its long past time to get Ramsey Clark in the dock for treason.
Bat………….check.
Duct tape…….check.
Goat…………huh?
I have an alpaca, will an alpaca work?
I’m guessing the goat is for the following torture method: apply salt to the soles of the person’s feet and let the goat like it off. Re-apply salt as needed. Soon the skin will wear thin. Ouch!
We should remember this is Jeff’s blog. I think I know exactly what he’s going to do with the goat.
Well, fess up A.G.! I’m wallowing in ignorance here.
That goat is gonna make llama on those lil screeds.
<Michael Moore>Insert some lame joke about Bush reading “My Pet Goat” to children here.</Michael Moore>
Alpacas!
Yes, I raise Alpacas, it is more of a way of life than an occupation really.
Thank god for IP searching. I think I’m going to save that addy, and mail random stuff there. You know, whatever they have in the dollar bins at Wally world. Onetime, they had duck decoys. I sent one to everyone of my friends. The best part: they were light, so shipping was cheap.
Alpaca lunch.
Alpaca for me and alpaca for you
Alpaca wearing a pink tutu.
Troy? I could be at Balloon Boy’s house in about 20 minutes. 30 if I stop at Walmart for duct tape.
Re the DNS registry above: A Larry Matthews takes on Bush and boosts Dean in a blog comment here: http://www.thetoughdemocrat.com/archives/000245.html
I don’t know that they’re the same one, but the sentiments certainly match up. There’s an e-mail address if you want to find out.