Posted on 01/29/2008 12:45:23 PM PST by OESY
...Tonight's "The Final Report: Investigation of TWA Flight 800" on National Geographic Channel presents a brilliant, well-researched look into what the investigators found - and what they didn't find.
The show details the animosity that existed from day one between the NTSB and the FBI.
The NTSB is usually the final word in all air crashes. But because a number of eyewitnesses on the ground saw streaks flying towards the aircraft right before it exploded, and air traffic controllers reporting blips around the aircraft, the FBI came in and took over the investigation, calling it a possible crime.
There were immediately three prevailing theories. One was friendly fire. The US Navy runs weapons training exercises in a 300-mile-wide swath near the flight path.
The second held that it could have been terrorists with ground-to-air missiles.
The third was that there had been a bomb on board.
The producers interview most of the players in the investigation including eyewitnesses; Robert Francis, the former chairman of the NTSB who was not happy to have the FBI crawling over his investigation; James Kallstrom of the FBI, who knew that 747s just don't randomly blow up; Leon Panetta, then-White House Chief of Staff; as well as cops who dove for the wreckage, like Vincente Termine.
After this show, you may trust the government even less than you do now. Or you may think they are as honest as they possibly could be in simply admitting that they just don't know.
Whatever you conclude, you won't conclude that National Geographic didn't do a very thorough job. Great reporting.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Any terrorist dumb enough to base all their plans on their target leaving JFK on time had obviously never flown into or out of New York.
I did not learn of the extent of the attacks and the concern the “authorities” had for them until recently (and on FR!).
Third Terrorist paints a pretty good picture, but apparently not one that a Grand Jury could issue an indictment on.
And lacking a clear action, what benefit does the government gain by telling everyone that there was another dimension to the attack, but they can’t do anything about it?
The radar image was shown in a previous tv account similar to this one.
Presidential election looming may have played a part.
They were planning more.
And the gubermint was quiet in order to protect the airlines and the economy.
The local Boston station I was watching that evening was patched through live to a NYC station. I distinctly remember at least a half dozen testimonials from people on or near the beach describing a missile flying from the horizon to the aircraft prior to the break up. One in particular was a former military officer who said that he was certain he saw a missile. Revisionists can deny it all they want, but I remember watching the aftermath live and hearing the reports at that time of a missile.
Re-election, maybe?
I wasn't aware that there were any survivors from the plane who could give such eyewitness accounts.
Who said anything about survivors slick????
How else would they know they were decapitated by a missile?
Great post, DO. We don’t know what happened definitively but the way the investigation was handled smelled to high heaven. And that counts for quite a bit. Didn’t know that bit about the CIA guy standing behind Kahlstrom, though.
O’Hara had several children and at least one was, by my memory, was on the flight and others were home with the grandmother I believe.
-then what about the Oklahoma bombing?
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57375
An interesting read on the fate of the possible video of the last moments of TWA 800.
Because of the seats they were sitting in and I said “as if” and you can ask Jim Quinn for more details. Oh and thanks for being a Free Republic smart ass.
Two childhood friends saw the same thing from over a mile apart. They both described a SAM trail rising then an explosion. They are both sane, mature and reasonable. I think I’ll take their word for it.
Transparency in governing?? I know I'd like it.
I am all for secrets that truly will forever pan out to have been in the nation's best interests to keep quiet, but otherwise, I believe in freedom of information.
Yeah, neither did I until I watched that final government release of it’s findings. They introduced everyone and this guy was introduced by name as a CIA employee. It had always looked to me like Kahlstrom and this guy were there to make sure the NTSB guy didn’t say anything wrong that they couldn’t shoot down immediately, and when Kahlstrom was making the comments, it looked like the CIA guy was there for the same pupose with him. It just looked strange.
That is my personal perception though. I’m sure others would say that it was just in my head, and that would be a fair statement. It certainly was.
You take care.
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