Missile Launchers Positioned in D.C.

WTOP News ^ | 02/10/2003 | WTOP News

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

Missile Launchers Positioned in D.C. Updated: Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2003 - 12:10 PM EST.

Chas Henry, WTOP Radio

WASHINGTON - An increased level of protection for the region means you'll see missile launchers around the District to guard against the possibility of an air attack.

Shortly after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the federal government surveyed the sorts of air defense systems available from a variety of agencies - for use here, or elsewhere in the country. The government then conducted experiments to determine how they could best work in concert with one another.

The missile launchers that can be seen from the South Capitol Street bridge are the result of the government's planning efforts.

The protection measures would include Customs Service aircraft flying high, keeping track of air traffic over the metro area, Air National Guard fighter jets patrolling above and Army radar systems positioned alongside Avenger air defense missile systems mounted on HumVees.

The government put these measures in place during President Bush's January State of the Union message, then pulled them back. They went back into place when officials determined there was an increased likelihood for terrorist attacks and increased the nation's Homeland Security alert status from yellow to orange.

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said the latest terrorism alert represented "the most significant" such warning since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

On the five-color alert scale, red is the highest, but no such terrorist warning level has yet been issued.

[hellinahandcart]

No, the ice cream sold out on 9/11, which was a pretty warm day in the city. I just thought that was a weird food choice to make, when shopping in a panic during an emergency.

The item in shortest supply at the store last night was bottled water.

Oh dear, we'll probably get your weather in a couple of days. Hope it doesn't ruin our rally.

[Coop]

What does this say about their confidence in airport security?

Nothing. You're talking apples and oranges. Do you REALLY think another planeload of passengers will allow terrorists to take control of a cockpit and fly the plane into a building? That horrible scenario's been used up.

[Nexus]

[jacquej]

I was fussing about the duct tape and plastic advice, but my practical DH tells me that while we have that already (had to buy a whole roll of the stuff just to get enough to cover our ample woodpile), that it is silly advice in our situation.

His reason? Well, our single story house has nice roof vents all along the lower edges and top of our roof, and that we would have to go outside and seal all that off too, since stuff would get in our attic, and filter down through all the recessed lights in our ceilings. He also says that in homes that have a door to the attic, this would have to be sealed as well, so? How far do we go?

Like Blam, our first line of "defense" is canine. We have two wonderful and trustworthy Belgian Malinois, and all who come to our door immediately notice their "attitude" toward strangers.

The male, particularly, has decided that it is his job to communicate to any stranger just how "series" he is about taking care of us old folks, and while he actually wouldn't bite, and will sit immediately on command, he does a really good "cujo" imitation when people he doesn't know well come up our long driveway.

The UPS men, FedEx, etc. delivery people approach the porch very gingerly, drop the pkg or whatever, and leave.

We do not tell these people how well trained he is, actually. We stammer, and apologize for the behavior, and tell them to always check to make sure the pups are inside before getting out of their vehicles, etc...

Saves us the trouble of getting the rifle from the basement. The older we get, the more of a pain to go down and get it...

[steve-b]

Strangest thing was that the ice cream was GONE.

We're all gonna die! SCREW the diet!!

[steve-b]

Your analysis is based on the assumption that the level of operational and political discipline is roughly equivalent between the two sides (the remnants of al-Qaeda on one hand, and the US Armed Forces on the other). I find this notion to be rather dubious.

[steve-b]

They have nothing to show for it other than what Bob Villa could show me on This Olde House.

Thanks for that mental image -- "Today on This Old House we'll be showing you how to build a life support system out of an old vacuum cleaner...".

[Thunder 6]

Beautiful! I would say that was a kill. Now if we can only convince the bad guys to fly around in those BAT's... ;)

[HighRoadToChina]

What is really needed are ABMs (nuclear tipped like the 10,000 SAM/ABM that Russia has to defend the "Motherland"). But that would be not PC.

[Samwise]

Greg Garrison's sources say the Feds are considering moving to Red Alert now. The intell is coming in so fast and in such volumne that they don't know what to deal with.

[blam]

"The UPS men, FedEx, etc. delivery people approach the porch very gingerly, drop the pkg or whatever, and leave."

The electrical and gas meter readers call me for an appointment to come read my meters....all other times, they just estimate. LOL

[blam]

"Greg Garrison's sources say the Feds are considering moving to Red Alert now. The intell is coming in so fast and in such volumne that they don't know what to deal with."

Troublesome. What do we do during a RED level?

[Trust but Verify]

It says that the level of service at all Wendy's and McDonald's drive thrus should be awesome since the idiots were all hired away by the TSA....

And what do you base this statement on? Have you flown recently? I have. And let me tell you something. The competence, training and professionalism of airport screeners would be the envy of many companies who have employees in public service. The level of professionalism is tremendous. The training is evident and the quality of screener is vastly improved.

[Centurion2000]

Troublesome. What do we do during a RED level?

SpazCon1 is reached and the sheeple start panic buying.

[blam]

"SpazCon1 is reached and the sheeple start panic buying."

I think we have a 'quiet' panic going on already.

[texasbluebell]

SCREW the diet!!

Yep, I've gone back to the potato chips I gave up years ago! What the heck. I'll diet again when this is all over.

[My Favorite Headache]

I am laughing at the scenario..but I have a mental image of Tom Ridge doing JUST THAT on nationwide television with a Red Alert sign at the bottom of the screen.

[My Favorite Headache]

I am laughing at the scenario..but I have a mental image of Tom Ridge doing JUST THAT on nationwide television with a Red Alert sign at the bottom of the screen.

[nina0113]

>>What do we do during a RED level? <<

Carry.

[My Favorite Headache]

I am series though. If a bomb goes off in this country...we could book a really nice vacation over there...real cheap. You should have seen the prices post-911. But then again the latest threats are to hotels as well...so maybe we would just be safe in a local Dennys.