Hi Gang:
Waking up in the morning and turning on the news can be unnerving!
The news reports on all too many mornings, are a bit like “Bad News…Worse News!”
Today’s bad news was broadcast on ABC and addressed a screw up of gargantuan proportions that easily eclipses the fiasco known as “Operation Fast and Furious” which put some 2,000 high powered guns in the hands of the extremely violent Mexican drug cartels.
Today ABC News’ Brian Ross reported that Russian manufactured, shoulder-fired surface to air missiles have apparently gone missing!
That is the bad news, the worse news is that they went missing in Libya where it is entirely possible that al Qaeda and/or other terrorist organizations might be able to get their hands on them!
The really, really worst news is that we are not talking about a few of these missiles that can bring down airliners, but we are talking about an estimated 20,000 missiles!
Stop and let the magnitude of this monumental screw-up sink in!
What is the likelihood that anyone in a command position will be made accountable for this?
This was not a simple “snatch and run!” This level of pilferage had to have been going on for an extended period of time!
Because of ineptitude, corruption or God knows what- our military lost control and possession of 20,000 shoulder fired surface to air missiles that are capable of bringing down a passenger jet!
According to the ABC News report, report our leaders are considering a efforts to try to protect our airliners in Europe and other parts of the world. What is unbelievable is that nothing was said about how our nation was going to do everything possible to make certain that these missiles did not somehow make their way into the United States where they could threaten our airliners right here inside the United States!
Meanwhile all too many of our politicians have all but declared, “Borders, we don’t need no stinking borders!”
While passengers are all but being given colonoscopies when they seek to board airliners across this entire nation, a terrorist, armed with one of these 20,000 missiles can simply stand outside an airport and fire one of these missing missiles at an airliner and reduce it and its hapless passengers and crew members to smoldering rubble before it even hits the ground!
What is ironic is that under the auspices of a program called “The Discover America Partnership,” executives of the Chamber of Commerce and the Travel, Hotel and Hospitality Industries have joined with the National Retailers Federation, National Restaurant Association and others, to push for expansion of the insane Visa Waiver Program and have done everything they possibly can to persuade our politicians that borders are an impediment to their goals of bringing in cheap labor and tourists to increase profits through lower wages and increase revenue by bringing in wealthy tourists who will spend their money in the United States that will fill the coffers of those executives!
Check out these two links:
Perhaps if someone could get them to understand that our failures to secure the borders of our nation pose a threat to air travel that might discourage people from getting on airliners and flying to the United States to spend their money that these greed-driven executives would, themselves, be demanding that our borders be secured!
Now I want you to consider this excerpt from this report:
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Adding to the urgency is the fact that America’s passenger jets, like those of most countries, are sitting ducks, despite years of warning about the missile threat. Since the 1970s, according to the U.S. State Department, more than 40 civilian planes around the world have been hit by surface-to-air missiles. In 2003, Iraqi insurgents hit a DHL cargo plane with a missile in Baghdad. Though on fire, the plane was able to land safely. Four years later, militants knocked a Russian-built cargo plane out of the sky over Somalia, killing all 11 crew members.
Now there are calls in Congress to give jets that fly overseas the same protection military aircraft have.
“I think we should ensure that the wide-bodied planes all have this protection,” said Sen. Boxer, who first spoke to ABC News about the surface-to-air security threat in 2006. “And that’s a little more than 500 of these planes.”
*********************************
Go back and consider that Congress wants to protect jets that fly overseas protection but have, at least according to this report mentioned the potential threat these missiles pose to airliners in the United States!
Have they all been sipping from the same container of Kool-Aid that Janet Napolitano, the director of DHS (The Department of Homeland Surrender) has been serving at thsoe events when she declares our borders to be the most secure they have been in years?
Our borders are anything but secure! Being that the case, how hard would it be for terrorists to smuggle some of these deadly weapons into the United States?
Furthermore, the statements made by our ‘leaders” in Congress indicate that they want to protect wide-body jets but obviously smaller jets and their crews and passengers are not worth protecting?!
Our nation is, in my humble opinion, ready for a new national motto, one that should be posted at every port of entry:
“Abandon all hope all ye who enter here!”
A country without secure borders can no more stand than can a house without walls!
I
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our country is to survive and if our children and their children are to get their share of the “American Dream” the citizens of this nation must take their citizenship seriously!
We the People must be the best citizens we can be, citizens who are worthy of the gallantry demonstrated by our valiant men and women in the military, law enforcement and firefighters, who routinely go in harm’s way in defense of this nation and our citizens.
My goal in writing this and other commentaries is to point out our nations many failings before more victims pay the ultimate price for the incompetence and ineptitude of our government.
The first step in problem-solving is to first identify the problems and vulnerabilities and then devise strategies to overcome them.
If you find yourself to be in agreement with this commentary, I ask that you forward it to as many of your friends and family members as possible and encourage them to do the same. We need to create a “Bucket Brigade of Truth!”
The practice of good citizenship does not end in the voting booth, it only begins there.
The large scale apathy demonstrated by citizens of this nation has emboldened elected representatives to all but ignore the needs of the average American citizen in a quest for massive campaign funds and the promises of votes to be ostensibly delivered by special interest groups. There is much that we cannot do but there is one thing that We the People absolutely must do- we must stop sitting on the sidelines!
The collective failure of We the People to get involved in make our concerns known to our politicians have nearly made the concerns of the great majority of the citizens of this nation all but irrelevant to the politicians. I implore you to get involved!
I believe our nation’s is greatly benefited by the rich diversity of our people which is why I could never imagine living anywhere except New York City, arguably the most diverse city in our nation if not, in fact, the world. However, my idea of diversity most certainly does not include members of MS-13, the Mexican drug cartels or members of other transnational gangs or members of al-Qaeda!
If our government’s failures to secure our nation’s borders and effectively enforce our immigration laws concerns you or especially if it angers you, I ask you to call your Senators and Congressional “Representative. This is not only your right- it is your obligation!
All I ask is that you make it clear to our politicians that we are not as dumb as they hope we are!
We live in a perilous world and in a perilous era. The survival of our nation and the lives of our citizens hang in the balance.
This is neither a Conservative issue, nor is it a Liberal issue- simply stated, this is most certainly an AMERICAN issue!
You are either part of the solution or you are a part of the problem!
Democracy is not a spectator sport!
Lead, follow or get out of the way!
-michael cutler-
Please check out my website:
On Friday evenings from 7:00 PM until 8:00 PM Eastern Daylight Savings Time, I will be hosting my show, “The Michael Cutler Hour” on the USA Talk Radio Network on Blog Talk Radio.
I hope you will be listening! (Please tell your friends and neighbors!)
Here is a link to the program:
Archived shows here:
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http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/nightmare-libya-20000-surface-air-missiles-missing/story?id=14610199
Nightmare in Libya: 20,000 Surface-to-Air
Missiles Missing
After
the fall of Gadhafi’s Libya, U.S. officials are concerned about the
possible proliferation of thousands of portable surface-to-air
missiles stockpiled in the country. (Human Rights Watch)
By BRIAN
ROSS (@brianross)
and MATTHEW COLE
Sept. 27, 2011
U.S. officials had once thought there was little chance that
terrorists could get their hands on many of the portable
surface-to-air
missiles that can bring down a commercial jet liner.
terrorists could get their hands on many of the portable
surface-to-air
missiles that can bring down a commercial jet liner.
But now that calculation is out the window, with officials at a
recent secret White House meeting reporting that thousands of them
have gone missing in Libya.
recent secret White House meeting reporting that thousands of them
have gone missing in Libya.
“Matching up a terrorist with a shoulder-fired missile,
that’s our worst nightmare,” said Sen. Barbara Boxer,
D.-California, a member of the Senate’s Commerce, Energy and
Transportation Committee.
that’s our worst nightmare,” said Sen. Barbara Boxer,
D.-California, a member of the Senate’s Commerce, Energy and
Transportation Committee.
The nightmare has been made real with the discovery in Libya that
an estimated 20,000 portable, heat-seeking missiles have gone missing
from unguarded Army weapons warehouses.
an estimated 20,000 portable, heat-seeking missiles have gone missing
from unguarded Army weapons warehouses.
The missiles, four to six-feet long and Russian-made, can weigh
just 55 pounds with launcher. They lock on to the heat generated by
the engines of aircraft, can be fired from a vehicle or from a
combatant’s shoulder, and are accurate and deadly at a range of more
than two miles.
just 55 pounds with launcher. They lock on to the heat generated by
the engines of aircraft, can be fired from a vehicle or from a
combatant’s shoulder, and are accurate and deadly at a range of more
than two miles.
Peter Bouckaert of Human Rights Watch first warned about the
problem after a trip to Libya six months ago. He took pictures of
pickup truckloads of the missiles being carted off during another
trip just a few weeks ago.
problem after a trip to Libya six months ago. He took pictures of
pickup truckloads of the missiles being carted off during another
trip just a few weeks ago.
“I myself could have removed several hundred if I wanted to,
and people can literally drive up with pickup trucks or even 18
wheelers and take away whatever they want,” said Bouckaert,
HRW’s emergencies director. “Every time I arrive at one of these
weapons facilities, the first thing we notice going missing is the
surface-to-air missiles.”
and people can literally drive up with pickup trucks or even 18
wheelers and take away whatever they want,” said Bouckaert,
HRW’s emergencies director. “Every time I arrive at one of these
weapons facilities, the first thing we notice going missing is the
surface-to-air missiles.”
The ease with which rebels and other unknown parties have snatched
thousands of the missiles has raised alarms that the weapons could
end up in the hands of al Qaeda, which is active in Libya.
thousands of the missiles has raised alarms that the weapons could
end up in the hands of al Qaeda, which is active in Libya.
“There certainly are dangerous groups operating in the
region, and we’re very concerned that some of these weapons could end
up in the wrong hands,” said Bouckaert.
region, and we’re very concerned that some of these weapons could end
up in the wrong hands,” said Bouckaert.
“I think the probability of al Qaeda being able to smuggle
some of the stinger-like missiles out of Libya is probably pretty
high,” said Richard Clarke, former White House counterterrorism
advisor and now a consultant to ABC News.
some of the stinger-like missiles out of Libya is probably pretty
high,” said Richard Clarke, former White House counterterrorism
advisor and now a consultant to ABC News.
Boxer: U.S. Passenger Jets at Risk
Adding to the urgency is the fact that America’s passenger jets,
like those of most countries, are sitting ducks, despite years of
warning about the missile threat. Since the 1970s, according to the
U.S. State Department, more than 40 civilian planes around the world
have been hit by surface-to-air missiles. In 2003, Iraqi insurgents
hit a DHL cargo plane with a missile in Baghdad. Though on fire, the
plane was able to land safely. Four years later, militants knocked a
Russian-built cargo plane out of the sky over Somalia, killing all 11
crew members.
like those of most countries, are sitting ducks, despite years of
warning about the missile threat. Since the 1970s, according to the
U.S. State Department, more than 40 civilian planes around the world
have been hit by surface-to-air missiles. In 2003, Iraqi insurgents
hit a DHL cargo plane with a missile in Baghdad. Though on fire, the
plane was able to land safely. Four years later, militants knocked a
Russian-built cargo plane out of the sky over Somalia, killing all 11
crew members.
Now there are calls in Congress to give jets that fly overseas the
same protection military aircraft have.
same protection military aircraft have.
“I think we should ensure that the wide-bodied planes all
have this protection,” said Sen. Boxer, who first spoke to ABC
News about the surface-to-air security threat in 2006. “And
that’s a little more than 500 of these planes.”
have this protection,” said Sen. Boxer, who first spoke to ABC
News about the surface-to-air security threat in 2006. “And
that’s a little more than 500 of these planes.”
According to Boxer, it would cost about a million dollars a plane
for a system that has been installed and successfully tested over the
last few years, directing a laser beam into the incoming missile.
for a system that has been installed and successfully tested over the
last few years, directing a laser beam into the incoming missile.
“For us to sit idly by and not do anything when we could
protect 2 billion passengers over the next 20 years [with] a
relatively small amount of money [from] the Department of Defense, I
think that’s malfeasance,” said Boxer. “I think that’s
wrong.”
protect 2 billion passengers over the next 20 years [with] a
relatively small amount of money [from] the Department of Defense, I
think that’s malfeasance,” said Boxer. “I think that’s
wrong.”
Libyan Terrorist Threat? Watch
Video
And it could be more practical than trying to round up all the
missing Libyan missiles. “Once these missiles walk away from
these facilities, they’re very difficult to get back, as the CIA
realized in Afghanistan,” said Bouckaert. When the Afghan
mujahideen were fighting the Soviets more than two decades ago, the
CIA supplied the Afghans with 1,000 Stinger surface-to-air missiles,
which had a devastating effect on Soviet military aircraft. After the
Soviets had retreated, however, the CIA spent millions of dollars
trying to buy back the remaining missiles from the Afghan fighters.
According to Bouckaert, the CIA spent up to $100,000 a piece to
reacquire the Stingers.
missing Libyan missiles. “Once these missiles walk away from
these facilities, they’re very difficult to get back, as the CIA
realized in Afghanistan,” said Bouckaert. When the Afghan
mujahideen were fighting the Soviets more than two decades ago, the
CIA supplied the Afghans with 1,000 Stinger surface-to-air missiles,
which had a devastating effect on Soviet military aircraft. After the
Soviets had retreated, however, the CIA spent millions of dollars
trying to buy back the remaining missiles from the Afghan fighters.
According to Bouckaert, the CIA spent up to $100,000 a piece to
reacquire the Stingers.
“In Libya we’re talking about something on the order of
20,000 surface-to-air missiles,” said Bouckaert. “This is
one of the greatest stockpiles of these weapons that has ever gone on
the loose.”
20,000 surface-to-air missiles,” said Bouckaert. “This is
one of the greatest stockpiles of these weapons that has ever gone on
the loose.”
Tommy Vietor, spokesman for the National Security Council, which
advises President Obama, says that a State Department expert “is
on the ground in Libya working with the [Transitional National
Council],” the rebels’ interim government, to develop a “control
and destruction program” for the missiles. Vietor also said the
administration has sent five specialists to help the TNC “secure,
recover and destroy” weapons, including surface-to-air missiles.
Said Vietor, “Since the beginning of the crisis, we have been
actively engaged with our allies and partners to support Libya’s
efforts to secure all conventional weapons stockpiles, including
recover, control, and disposal of shoulder-fired anti-aircraft
missiles.”
advises President Obama, says that a State Department expert “is
on the ground in Libya working with the [Transitional National
Council],” the rebels’ interim government, to develop a “control
and destruction program” for the missiles. Vietor also said the
administration has sent five specialists to help the TNC “secure,
recover and destroy” weapons, including surface-to-air missiles.
Said Vietor, “Since the beginning of the crisis, we have been
actively engaged with our allies and partners to support Libya’s
efforts to secure all conventional weapons stockpiles, including
recover, control, and disposal of shoulder-fired anti-aircraft
missiles.”