Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Flight 370 and the Terror of Being Off the Grid
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/03/13/flight-370-and-the-terror-of-being-off-the-grid/ ^ | MARCH 13, 2014 | Farhad Manjoo

Posted on 03/13/2014 3:58:30 PM PDT by nickcarraway

How can a commercial airliner go missing? How, in this hyperconnected age, could it vanish from the earth, apparently without trace, eluding a nearly weeklong search involving more than a dozen governments and some of the world’s most advanced surveillance technology?

In addition to the familiar horror and sadness over a catastrophe of modern aviation, the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 comes freighted with an unusual terror — the surprise that in our digitally monitored era, people and objects can still somehow vanish. The disappearance stands in stark contrast to the hallmark sensation of our time, the certainty that we’re all being constantly tracked and that, for better or worse, we’re strapped to the grid, never out of touch.

It turns out that’s not true. There are places in this world that are still beyond the grid. And it reminds us — or, at any rate, it reminds me — that as much as we lament constant tracking, there is often something deeply comforting in having one’s location pinned to a map.

This week aviation experts have poured out to explain what, in 2014, seems unfathomable. When you’re high in the air over the ocean, you may be flying in a blind spot, one of the few places on the planet where you’re not being watched.

(Excerpt) Read more at bits.blogs.nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: iran; malaysia; mh370; waronterror
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061 next last
To: Revolting cat!
I will never get over Machu Picchu.
Oh? Sorry to hear that. When did he leave you?

GOOD one. Heehee.

41 posted on 03/13/2014 4:59:17 PM PDT by cloudmountain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Marcella

Shades of DR. NO.


42 posted on 03/13/2014 5:00:22 PM PDT by cloudmountain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: cloudmountain

I can’t believe it’s at the bottom of the ocean, although it’s possible that it dove straight down in shallow water and is embedded in sand somewhere, hence, no debris.

It’s possible that the hijackers were flying it somewhere (since now it appears that there were two systems that were disabled, successively) and it ran out of fuel.


43 posted on 03/13/2014 5:08:25 PM PDT by livius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

was MH370 carrying any stuff like..
cash
gold
works of art
?


44 posted on 03/13/2014 5:10:25 PM PDT by RockyTx
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: livius
I can’t believe it’s at the bottom of the ocean, although it’s possible that it dove straight down in shallow water and is embedded in sand somewhere, hence, no debris.

It’s possible that the hijackers were flying it somewhere (since now it appears that there were two systems that were disabled, successively) and it ran out of fuel.

We WILL find out eventually. THEN the "blame game" will shorty follow.

THEN ... the lawyers will step in.

45 posted on 03/13/2014 5:10:45 PM PDT by cloudmountain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: montanajoe; All
WANDA: I can't stand people... I hate them.

HENRY: Oh, Yeah?

WANDA: You hate them?

HENRY: No... but I seem to feel better when they're not around.

46 posted on 03/13/2014 5:17:46 PM PDT by Rodamala
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Popman

“Flight 370 will be found about 15 minutes before it slams into the center of DC with thousands of pounds of explosives...”

Do you remember the shock of the planes hitting the towers? It was, “How could that happen?!” Then, we learned the details of how many months it took to train the guys to fly that aircraft, how long it took to get them into the country and go through that training in our own country, etc., etc. Everything planned down to the smallest detail.

Right now, I’m thinking, there is no way to fly that plane, (if it exists), to this country and crash it into the White House or other target in Washington. But, if you had asked me on 9-11, if that could happen, I would have said no.

If that plane exists, perhaps it will head to Israel but won’t they know it is coming just like we would? Or would both countries not find it in the air on the way?


47 posted on 03/13/2014 5:26:16 PM PDT by Marcella ((Prepping can save your life today.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Marcella

——Do you remember the shock of the planes hitting the towers?——

Yes....how can one forget?

I do not know the full capacity of our defense in regards to avionics....

But if this airliner was in fact stolen for the purpose of using it as a terrorist weapon, they already know how to defeat our defenses or have a workable plan....

What really scares me is the possibility of an EMP bomb loaded onto the airliner.... It would not have to crash into anything, just detonate with in a few miles of any major city.... At a couple thousand ft...

As for hitting Israel, I doubt it....what would the Muzzie complain about if the destroyed a vast portion of Israel...


48 posted on 03/13/2014 6:04:54 PM PDT by Popman ("Resistance to Tyrants is Obedience to God" - Thomas Jefferson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: Marcella
You mean Red Hill?


49 posted on 03/13/2014 6:11:49 PM PDT by servo1969
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: Marcella

opsec! sheesh!


50 posted on 03/13/2014 6:21:15 PM PDT by theneanderthal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: VerySadAmerican
When were you there?

Sorry, I thought more people would recognize the slighly modified Airplane! quote.


51 posted on 03/13/2014 6:21:28 PM PDT by justlurking (tagline removed, as demanded by Admin Moderator)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Popman

“But if this airliner was in fact stolen for the purpose of using it as a terrorist weapon, they already know how to defeat our defenses or have a workable plan....”

That’s what I mean. They had everything planned in detail before 9-11 happened and if they took this airliner, they already have it planned in detail just like 9-11.

Should we got hide under the bed yet? I don’t live in a place they might target, how about you?


52 posted on 03/13/2014 6:25:39 PM PDT by Marcella ((Prepping can save your life today.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: Marcella

——Should we got hide under the bed yet? I don’t live in a place they might target, how about you?-——

20 minutes from MacDill AFB in Tampa....headquarters of five central command units....

I better clean out these old shoes under the bed...: )


53 posted on 03/13/2014 6:35:28 PM PDT by Popman ("Resistance to Tyrants is Obedience to God" - Thomas Jefferson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: cloudmountain

...food fish?


54 posted on 03/13/2014 7:05:48 PM PDT by publius911 ( At least Nixon had the good g race to resign!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: RockyTx
was MH370 carrying any stuff like..
cash
gold
works of art
?

Yes.

55 posted on 03/13/2014 7:15:52 PM PDT by publius911 ( At least Nixon had the good g race to resign!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: free from tyranny

When I was there we were told we were building a communications station. Any fool could see it was going to be more than that. Especially when you consider how long the runway was going to be.

I didn’t know there were black ops there now.


56 posted on 03/13/2014 7:17:52 PM PDT by VerySadAmerican (".....Barrack, and the horse Mohammed rode in on.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

This title reminds me of a movie I once saw. Box of Moonlight I found to be a good renter.


57 posted on 03/13/2014 7:18:01 PM PDT by TBall
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Popman
What really scares me is the possibility of an EMP bomb loaded onto the airliner.... It would not have to crash into anything, just detonate with in a few miles of any major city.... At a couple thousand ft...

Unlikely.
An EMP bomb is a waste of effectiveness at a couple of thousand feet.
Even a dirty bomb at that height is mind-bogging inept.

If the intent is maximum damage.
Even I know that!

58 posted on 03/13/2014 7:27:04 PM PDT by publius911 ( At least Nixon had the good g race to resign!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: servo1969
OK.
I give up.

What's a "Red Hill?"

59 posted on 03/13/2014 7:38:47 PM PDT by publius911 ( At least Nixon had the good g race to resign!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: Marcella
I repeat, there is so much we don't know.
60 posted on 03/13/2014 8:42:30 PM PDT by Old Sarge (TINVOWOOT: There Is No Voting Our Way Out Of This)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson