Israeli Jet Downs Flying Object Near Nuclear Plant

AP via Times of India ^ | 12/17/2010 | AP via Times of India

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

An Israeli warplane has shot down a "suspicious object" flying over the southern part of the Dead Sea, the military said, adding that the intruder appeared to have been a balloon.

The country's main nuclear reactor is about 30 kilometres from the Dead Sea, at Dimona in the Negev desert.

"Air force planes were scrambled after a suspicious object was seen," a military spokeswoman told AFP yesterday. "It was shot down." She did not elaborate.

Local news site Ynet said one of the planes fired a missile at the object "which was hovering close to the nuclear research institute at Dimona."

[Hugin]

Nena-99 Luftballons

Interesting video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZwhzf8NC4o&feature=fvw

[21twelve]

With the quotes, I think it is from a movie. I can’t recall which one - but it sounds familiar. The young enthusiam of a new warrier. But of course we know what the war ends up being like.

[21twelve]

Oops. Should have read the words for the 99 balloon song first! Its in there. (So THAT’S what that song is about!)

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

They did it right, the first time, unlike us who couldn’t launch a lousy jet from across the river (Andrews AF Base or Bolling AF Base) to protect the Pentagon. None on duty or armed. Had to call in jets from Langley - too far away to be useful. 160+ dead at the Pentagon, just down the street from me. I felt the explosion’s concussion and saw the smoke.

No shoulder-fired missiles on the Pentagon’s roof like there were supposed to be. Clinton defanged our air defenses in 1994-95. Got it from one of the operations officers who was there.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Aren’t there supposed to be MANPADS on the White House roof?

[JRandomFreeper]

Lots of us never forget that. A guy I served with in NM was on the plane that hit the Pentagon. Is why I re-enlisted after an 18 year gap in service.

Yep. The Israelis did it right. We didn't.

Still makes me so mad I want to cry and kill something.

/johnny

[volunbeer]

Is that photo the 12th Imam? :)

[Eastbound]

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

..................

[bt_dooftlook]

Sorry you missed the reference to “99 Luftballons” by a German singer named Nena; it was popular in the 1980’s. Are you that young, or that old? ;)

[SunkenCiv]

Maybe it was an ultralight (’Civ writes, not having read either thread yet), that has been tried before by the jihadists.

Additional:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2643958/posts

[GOPJ]

...expensive balloon........ missiles are not cheap!

Makes one wonder...

[PapaBear3625]

I am very suprised that the Israelis did not use their Iron Dome protection system and Patriot missile batteries. There are layers of Patriot missile batteries surrounding Dimona.

You don't want to spend your expensive capabilities when lesser capabilities will do.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

It is balloon.

[dervish]

Thank you.

I didn’t know that.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Iron Dome could have been used. They seem to be well armed because of the nearby Gaza Strip.I look at all options that is on my inventory.

[Karliner]

Musta been ione of them A-Rab flying carpets, wrong turn to Ramadam.

[FourPeas]

RIP Professor William Waterman Sherman.