Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Capitol Alert - No Fly Zone

Air Force Master Sgt. Arthur Powell said. "This is one reason the D.C. area should feel secure. It shows we're ready to respond at a moment's notice." This is according to a Scripps Howard news report

Is this the most ridiculous statement you've ever heard?

An LA Times report tells us that the Cessna was spotted and noted at 11:28 a.m., 17 minutes from the White House. Yet, despite no response from the pilot when they tried to raise him on the radio, they didn't scramble jets until 11:55 a.m.

Now, being a TaxMama, I've just got to do the math:

..11:55
- 11:28
---------
27 minutes

Hmmmmmmm...... Let me see if I can figure this out?

The plane was 17 minutes from the White House and they sent jets to intercept it 28 minutes later...so the White House and Capitol were demolished 10 minutes earlier?

Yup! I agree with Master Sgt. Arthur Powell - I feel really safe. Don't you?

But only because I'm 3,000 miles away from Washington, DC or the World Trade Center site.

That's our tax dollars at work!

Your TaxMama

P.S. Incidentally, why is it that not even ONE of the articles covering this even explains why the pilot had his radio off when flying through and around so much restricted air space? Or didn't respond?

I've been in Cessnas and they all have radios - even when you are flying on visual. And flying clubs tend to maintain their equipment. (The last person using the plane always calls in to report any maintenance requirements.)

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