Ally May Protect U.S. Skies

New York Daily News ^ | 4/03/02 | RICHARD SISK

[kattracks]

WASHINGTON

Norwegian fighter pilots could soon be flying air cover over New York and other major cities under a plan disclosed yesterday at the Pentagon.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Norwegian Defense Minister Kristin Devold said they were in basic agreement on the unprecedented operation to have foreign pilots fly potential combat missions in U.S. air space.

The foreign pilots would have the same authority as U.S. pilots to intercept and shoot down hijacked airliners on the direct order of President Bush, Rumsfeld or a top Air Force general.

"We have offered F-16s to the U.S., and the signal is that they might be needed," Devold said.

Joining Danes and Dutch

"Norway plans to be able to go together with Denmark and the Netherlands with a deployment of F-16s if we are needed later on this year."

Norway, Germany, Italy and other NATO allies already are taking part in Operation Noble Eagle, under which they provide Airborne Warning and Control, or AWACs, surveillance planes for U.S. air defense. Those flights were the first by NATO planes in defense of the U.S.

Rumsfeld has said that homeland defense missions — involving 250 war planes and more than 20,000 sorties — are putting a strain on the Air Force.

The missions have used 13,000 personnel at a cost of more than $500 million, he said.

A combat assist from Norway "is a very important thing, given the scarcity of a number of the assets," Rumsfeld said.

The Royal Norwegian Air Force has 58 U.S.-made F-16 Fighting Falcon attack jets.

Norway has strongly backed the U.S. war on terror, contributing Royal Marines and special operations troops for combat patrols in Afghanistan.

[DoughtyOne]

   This is one citizen that has been predicting foreign troops on our shores.  One of the only jobs our federal government has is to make sure our own troops can defend this nation.  If we truly are spread this thin by the relatively sparce mobilization in Afghanistan, then we are in grave shape.  Frankly this is just more than I can stomach.  What kind of a two bit nation are we turning into?  Color me angry over this!

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

We should all demand that NO foreign pilots defend the skies over America. If we are so desperately short of military pilots, our government can and should call back the many they ran off during the anti-military Clinton years.

We have sent pilots to every corner of the world and now do not have enough of them to patrol our own skies!

What a disgrace!

[ken5050]

While I understand your view, Rummy is also dealing with the reality of force requirements.....IMHO, this is another sign that we're heading for Bagdad real soon, and we're going in alone, and a lot of planes will be needed.....What's interesting is which countries have agreed to help..the ones that are not part of the EU......

[Right_in_Virginia]

"Norway plans to be able to go together with Denmark and the Netherlands with a deployment of F-16s if we are needed later on this year."

It might be nice to have a little help protecting the home front when we start bombing Iraq.

[Ispy4u]

The problem isn't the pilots, those can be trained in less than a year. The problem is planes and logistics.

If we go into other countries in the war on terror soon we will need every pilot and aircraft we have.

These Nordic countries have been strong allies to us since WWII, we can trust them under the command of our leaders to do the right thing. They probably wouldn't help us fight the war, so they might as well help us defend our borders. We would do the same for them if necessary and they would accept our help.

There is nothing ominous about this plan, unless you look hard to make it appear that way.

[JimVT]

Nice to know we have some friends!

[bert]

IMHO, this is another sign that we're heading for Bagdad real soon, and we're going in alone, and a lot of planes will be needed

A very well reasoned statement. You are undoubetedly correct.

[Docbarleypop]

"Norway, Germany, Italy and other NATO allies already are taking part in Operation Noble Eagle" I am not too sure we want Italalian planes anywhere near our borders. I just returned from a tour on an Italian air base in Sicily and I know first hand of the status of Italian air forces. Did you know they only fly on the last week of the month because of funding?

[fourdeuce82d]

The problem isn't the pilots, those can be trained in less than a year

I'm not an expert, but I think that gravely understates the amount of time needed to train a fighter pilot. Anybody who's flown '16s want to take a whack at this?

[Junior]

Don't you think it's kind of nice that these countries are repaying us for protecting them all these years? I see nothing sinister in this at all -- after all, we've had our forces flying and operating out of other countries for decades.

[DoughtyOne]

You mark my word. These aircraft are only the first toe in the door. When problems arise here, you're going to see foreign troops on our soil. These flights will be used to ease that eventuality upon us. "Oh, we've had foreign fighters over our soil for years, there's no problem."

Last night the glowing terms used to describe the foreign jets on our soil were right out of propaganda central.

AWACS was one thing. This is entirely different. These are foreign aircraft with ordinance. You have just signed on to having foreign military aircraft over our cities. These pilots will suffer none of the concerns a US citizen would when firing on targets. THAT'S what this is all about, in case you didn't get it. That's what it will be all about when foreign troops arrive too.

You guys are willing to sign on to anything.

[DoughtyOne]

Folks, when Bush first entered the White House it didn't take long and he announced that we were going to only keep a one front war making capability in the future.  I railed on that intention.  Many decided that Bush knew what he was doing.  Well, now we know don't we.

This is exactly what I was trying to tell you.  Our home is a front in time of war.  When you only prepare to fight on one front, you're counting on that front being overseas.  Well, guess what, the guy that supposedly knew everything is now having to accept armed military presence over our cities becasue we can't do it ourselves.  You folks better get a grip and accept what is actually taking place here.

These aircraft are going to have more than rifle rounds.   They're going to have 100mm or better live rounds.  They're going to have air to air missiles that may or may not hit their intended targets.  They will likely have air to surface missiles as well.

Would you have accepted this if Bill Clinton did it?  You know damned well you wouldn't have.  And that just tells me that you're willing to sell this nation out if only a Republican leader seals the deal.

This President has confirmed it for me.  He is a moron.

[Rebforever]

If the contract known as "The Constitution Of the united States of America", cannot provide for the common defense, then is the contract null and void with the states?

[Don Myers]

And the move toward UN Government goes forward.

[Don Myers]

It is interesting how many people see nothing wrong with foreign military forces protecting the US. They will accept UN Government.

[Don Myers]

"And that just tells me that you're willing to sell this nation out if only a Republican leader seals the deal."

And that is the bottom line.

[DoughtyOne]

Very good question there. Very good.

[oldvike]

Shouldn't that flag in your pic be at half mast? That's the way I see it.

If Ronald Reagan were lucid right now he'd blow a major gasket over a foreign airforce patrolling our skies. It's disgraceful.

[DoughtyOne]

Yep, you're right. Half mast is what it should be. Unfortunately I can't come up with graphics fast enough to react to the trashing of this nation by Bush.

As for Reagan, the good Lord has spared that man having to observe what Clinton and now Bush have done to our nation.