What The Hell Is This Stand-Down Taking Place On Sept. 14?

[orleans]

makes me nervous--the last time i heard of a stand down was from norad and we all know when that happened.

ACC orders commandwide standdown Friday

By Bruce Rolfsen - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Sep 10, 2007 17:38:42 EDT

On Sept. 14, flight lines will be very quiet at Air Combat Command bases.

The entire command — about 100,000 active-duty airmen — is standing down training flights and many other operations as part of a command-wide safety day.

Command boss Gen. Ronald Keys ordered the Sept. 14 safety standdown in the wake of the Aug. 30 nuclear incident at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., in which six cruise missiles armed with nuclear warheads were loaded onto a B-52H and then flown to Barksdale Air Force Base, La., without anyone on the ground or bomber realizing the nuclear weapons were on the plane. It was not until the B-52H was parked at Barksdale that ground crews discovered the cruise missiles were carrying real warheads.

Command spokesman Maj. Tom Crosson said wing commanders would determine how their units review operations and safety procedures and checklists.

Just how serious Keys takes the lapse of regulations at Minot is reflected in the fact that the safety stand-down is the first commandwide safety day in recent memory. In the past, the command has singled out specific types of aircraft for safety days and in 1997 the Department of Defense held a departmentwide safety review day.
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/09/airforce_aircombatcommand_standdown_070807/

interesting....
(randi read this on her show)
i hope we won't be standing down on SECURITY
has anyone ever heard of this? can someone explain this?

the point of 100,000 active duty airmen on air combat command bases standing down not only training but "many other operations" is what exactly?

[LakeSamish706]

1. This is very scary, isn't this the same thing that happened with...

NORAD on Sept 11/2001? Something is going on here IMO that stinks big time.

[Homer Wells]

5. Great minds think alike!

I was just thinking the same thing!!!

:wtf:

[Individualist]

22. That was the first thing that came to mind

when I heard about the planned stand down for the 14th. :scared:

[enlightenment]

2. Not sure, but I just sent it to my

dad, who served 31 years in SAC.

What I find a bit alarming is that they pulled the article from the Air Force Times website. Why?

[hootinholler]

17. It's the way thier site works...

Takes some real digging to find the articles because every fetch of them generates a new URL. They really don't have the concept of a permalink.

DUer Warren Pease posted links to other threads discussing many angles of the incident that prompted the stand down.

-Hoot

[Jack Bone]

3. I could be wrong...

but the 9-11-01 NORAD drills, I believe, were unannounced to the media prior to.

the stand-down orders, if you believe them...were given by Cheney after the hijackings started. I'm probably wrong, but that's how I think the time line happened, if you believe the time line.


*edited to clean up a confusing post...sorry, I just woke up*

[truedelphi]

42. I am not sure it was necessary for Cheney to give

Any stand down orders, due to the fact that the "war games" that were being held had
simulations of the same events that were happening for real. As long as a great many people that should have been defending our skies believed that what was happening FOR REAL was simply part of the simulation, the High Command could predict that the REAL EVENT would generate an under response
or non-response.

There were at least two defense airmen who were called back while in pursuit of one of the four planes that was hijacked - I forget if both were in the same plane or if they were in separate planes.

[jody]

4. There is no logical military reason to stand down all flying activity just because five cruise

missiles were transported on a B-52.

Either senior commanders have panicked or there is another reason.

[havocmom]

8. Couldn't help but wonder if the whole thing is an excuse for a stand down

Where's dick, besides in that corner he is being backed into?

[bdamomma]

36. oh, speaking about Dick

did you see this thread today.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1798210

[havocmom]

43. Thanks for heads up on dick's where abouts, alyce

Missed that one due to having to earn a living x(

dick with the Air Force... :scared:

[Ghost in the Machine]

9. 6 missles out, 5 missles in... there's your other reason

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread302187/pg1

[orleans]

24. i have been googling and i can't seem to get a straight answer

as to whether it is 5 or 6 warheads that left minot and how many got to LA

with something so fucking important i would think there was an official number instead the press and who knows is playing this little nuke shell game with us.

and your post is the first time i noticed (bad me!)

[Ghost in the Machine]

26. It seems they can't decide yet, huh? And we're supposed to believe anything

*else* they tell us?? I've been reading about this subject some, from the theories that the Air Force is helping in the search for Steve Fossett as a cover for looking for the missing nuke, right down to the fact that it was just plain out stolen by someone in the higher echelon of the military or government (Cheney).

It's easy at this point for me to go off into tinfoil land because well.. all the facts just aren't in on this.

Now, if next week they amazingly find Fossett alive after he's subsisted on bugs, berries and dew from leaves and also announce that they have all 6 nukes... well, you see where I'm going? Hell, they could have already found Fossett, but not the missing nuke, so they haven't released news about Fossett so they can continue their search for the nuke. Afterall, wouldn't it seem strange to have the air force still flying around searching for someone who's been found?

Welcome to the Twilight Zone! ;-)

:hi:

[Ilsa]

41. Oh man, that is some scary shit.

I suppose one of Bush's minions will find a way to use it on US soil and blame Iran. Declare martial law, suspend elections. I can't put it past them.

[havocmom]

44. Search for Fosset maybe not really a search for Fosset?

The bastards gonna start WWIII? :cry:

[babylonsister]

6. Rec'd for exposure. nt

[Junkdrawer]

7. Better link...

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/09/airforce_aircombatcommand_standdown_070807/

[sce56]

10. Safety Stand Down is perfectly normal to get the attention of all involved safety wise

The mix up is that people believe the Air Force was stood down on 911! This is a very different thing but could be used I suppose to do some thing. On 911 on call fighters were 1. Diverted to canada as part of an exercise. 2. There were several drills including one involving hijacked aircraft with actual planes used as threat aircraft, ( some believe KC135's-707's) and inputs on radar screens to simulate hijacked aircraft.

[ryanus]

11. it's a red herring I believe

or a McGuffin maybe. sleight of hand. I'd be looking some else for the strange goings-on

[NMDemDist2]

12. and all those 'put' options out too til 9/21

Fast forward to the present day, and we have the same type of trading that took place in the days that preceded the 9/11 attacks – but on a larger scale. Nearly $1 billion of “put options” have been purchased, basically betting that Standard and Poor's 500 index will fall significantly by the third Friday in September. A large number of these options have also been purchased calling for 50% decline by September 21, 2007. For example, a 5% drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average would be the current equivalent of about 670 points. A decline of 11% would equal about 1,470 points in today’s market. Obviously, larger drops, such as a 50% decline, would cause an unprecedented market collapse. Money would be made for the purchaser(s) of the put options – but the same purchaser(s) stand to lose over $1 BILLION in the investment if the market remains relatively static through September 21, 2007.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=114x27868

now many explained it's just the big Wall St. players covering their asses, but still........

[laylah]

30. Snopes says

the "put options" story re: 9/11 is false http://www.snopes.com/rumors/putcall.asp :shrug:

[Ezlivin]

35. If it was "innocuous" as Snopes claims...

Then why didn't the ones who placed the put options step up and claim the money they'd earned? If it was all on the up-and-up, why not boldly step forward and take what you've earned through savvy trading?

CBS reported that "Sources say they have never seen that kind of imbalance before."

[tridim]

13. Isn't the big march in DC on the 15th?

[superkia]

15. Not if we find the 6th one on the 14th, can you say martial law?

They wont do that but they could if they wanted to, what would we do? They know that no matter what happens, we will just vote in one of their typical Washington politicians and everything will stay the same.

[fooj]

19. Yep.

[Junkdrawer]

14. Well, what ever was or was not planned, it's out of the bag now...

I anticipate many false alarms before "The Big One"(tm)

All the better to discredit "conspiracy theorists" after an actual attack.

[Megahurtz]

16. Why Would They

"Stand Down" so long after this happened???

I'm always missing something. :crazy:

[stillcool]

23. me too...

Planes in Iraq and Afghanistan and planes participating in air shows this weekend are not affected by the stand-down.

While airmen haven't been given specific instructions for the stand-down, they've been ordered to take the non-flying time to review safety procedures and protocol, an Air Combat Command spokesman said.
---------
On Aug. 30, a B-52 with six nuclear-tipped cruise missiles flew from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., to Barksdale Air Force Base, La., a military official told The Associated Press.

The missiles, which are being decommissioned, were mounted onto pylons on the bomber's wings.
It is unclear why the nuclear warheads had not been removed beforehand.

The plane's crew, according to news reports, did not know they were carrying nuclear weapons.
-----------------
The munitions squadron commander was relieved of duty, and crews involved with the load have been temporarily decertified for handling munitions, an official told the AP.

Citing Defense Department policy forbidding the release of any information about nuclear weapons, Pentagon officials have not confirmed that nuclear weapons were involved in the incident.
---------------------------------

Gates has asked to be briefed daily on the Air Force investigation, which is being led by Air Force Maj. Gen. Douglas Raaberg, director of Air and Space Operations for Air Combat Command at Langley.
Raaberg was not available for comment Thursday.
His full report is expected to be delivered to Gates as early as next week.

[onenote]

32. because the issue they are addressing doesn't pose a daily, imminent risk

The cruise missile screw up not only was itself a rare event, but it occurred as part of an operation that itself is not a daily occurrence (the transport of cruise missiles for decommissioning). As a result, there was no particular need to rush to have a standdown immediately after the event, as compared to prior standdowns that have occurred, for example, after several fighters crashed and the need for a safety standdown was more urgent.

BTW - safety standdowns are nothing new, nor are they unusual. There are regularly scheduled standdowns in addition to event-driven ones like Friday's.

[NYC]

18. Recommended, but I think this requires much more

than just a recommendation.

What on earth is going on?

[earth mom]

20. 911 part 2?

Massive WALL STREET Put Options Signal Upcoming Terror Attack?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1771162

Loose Nukes Looming Near - by Captain Eric H. May
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1769053

White House preparing to stage new September 11 - Reagan official
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=125&topic_id=165702

[bemildred]

21. It's time for another "Pearl Harbor" type event.

So our air defenses have to be put to sleep.

[stillcool]

25. Maybe they have to stand down...

before they stand up?

Exercise Vigilant Shield ’08 slated for October
August 30, 2007

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command along with U.S. Pacific Command, the Department of Homeland Security as well as local, state and other federal responders will exercise their response abilities against a variety of potential threats during Exercise Vigilant Shield ‘08, a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff-designated, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM)-sponsored, and U.S. Joint Forces Command-supported Department of Defense exercise for homeland defense and defense support of civil authorities missions.

VS-08 will be conducted concurrent with Top Officials 4 (TOPOFF 4), the nation’s premier exercise of terrorism preparedness sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security, and several other linked exercises as part of the National Level Exercise 1-08. These linked exercises will take place October 15-20 and are being conducted throughout the United States and in conjunction with several partner nations including Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, as well as the Territory of Guam.

VS-08 and National Level Exercise 1-08 will provide local, state, tribal, interagency, Department of Defense, and non-governmental organizations and agencies involved in homeland security and homeland defense the opportunity to participate in a full range of exercise scenarios that will better prepare participants to prevent and respond to national crises. The participating organizations will conduct a multi-layered, civilian-led response to a national crisis.

USNORTHCOM’s primary exercise venues for VS-08 include locations in Oregon, Arizona and a cooperative venue with USPACOM in the Territory of Guam. NORAD’s aerospace detection and defense events will take place across all the exercise venues, to exercise the ability to mobilize resources for aerospace defense, aerospace control, maritime warning, and coordination of air operations in a disaster area.

-30-

NOTE FOR MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS: For more information on the exercise or for potential media coverage during the exercise, please contact Mr. Michael Kucharek or Lt. Cmdr. Gary Ross at the NORAD and USNORTHCOM Public Affairs Office, 719-554-6889.

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:4RZ6x9Zcxm8J:www.northcom.mil/News/2007/083007.html+http://www.northcom.mil/News/2007/083007.html&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

Exercise VIGILANT SHIELD Activities: Primary exercise event venues are in Oregon and
Arizona, as well as the Territory of Guam, which is within U.S. Pacific Command’s area of
responsibility. Major participants include the Department of Homeland Security / Federal
Emergency Management Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the state and city
Offices of Emergency Management of each state that is participating in this exercise.
USNORTHCOM is conducting multiple homeland defense and critical infrastructure protection
events.
USNORTHCOM will deploy Command Assessment Elements to two of the main exercise
venues to assess the need for military support of local, state and federal response forces. In
addition, USNORTHCOM will deploy a Defense Coordinating Officer and Defense Coordinating
Element to each Joint Field Office established by the Department of Homeland Security.
Aerospace events will take place across all the exercise venues, to exercise the ability to
mobilize resources for aerospace defense, aerospace control, maritime warning, and
coordination of air operations in a disaster area.
Other events will test USNORTHCOM’s ability to conduct continuity of operations and assess
the readiness of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, or Highyield
Explosive
Consequence Management Response Force.
There will be minimal deployment of active duty forces and no crossborder
deployments. We
anticipate little to no direct impact on local communities.
http://www.northcom.mil/News/2007/VS-08_fact_sheet.pdf

[orleans]

27. malloy said something about this.

it reminds me every time i hear my tv beep and the screen goes dark, and the station puts up these words with the announcement: this is a test of the emergency broadcast system--this is only a test (or whatever the hell it says)

i get so pissed seeing that. from what i remember our country was under attack six years ago and i don't recall any interruption of programing for an emergency anything to tell this country shit.

[warren pease]

34. Translation:

Vigilant Shield is an exercise that simulates (one hopes) implementation of martial law.

TopOFF is the dirty nuke scenario simulation (one hopes).

Taken together, my home city will be infested with the usual alphabet soup of "security" agencies, led by DHS, and will feature an exercise that begins in about a month with the simulated (one hopes) detonation of a low-yield nuclear device. At the same time, various federal and local law enforcement agencies will simulate (one hopes) the announcement, implementation and day-to-day practice of martial law, presumably with armed troops (or maybe Blackwater mercs) patrolling the streets of Portland, enforcing curfews and simulation (one hopes) the roundup and detention of anyone violating martial law regulations -- or maybe just breathing while black or hispanic, or driving a rat car, or having that "radical lefty" look in the eye, or displaying a non-compliant attitude, or...

But it's all a simulation, although residents of Portland and elsewhere are still expected to observe the official US dogma, which insist that: The policeman is our friend. Taxes are bankrupting the wealthy. They hate us for our freedoms. This is the land of equal opportunity for all. Free trade is an economic godsend. The justice system protects the powerless from the powerful. TV news tells the truth. America always acts out of benign motives. The war on terror is making us safer. The liberal media is poisoning our country. Global climate change is a leftist fantasy. Evolution is just another a creation myth. Universal health care is evil. Capitalism lifts all boats. The rich are rich because they're morally and intellectually superior. Little stuff like that...

It's so easy to be a cynic in the Age of Bush. Just tell yourself that 2 + 2 = 5 and you'll be fine.


wp

[stillcool]

40. we drove to Maine today...

and saw two military planes flying above us..my husband just had to point it out to me. I'm still thinking about it. The problem with so many lies, and so much mis-information is that everything is suspect. Kind of strange in a day when information is so readily available nothing can be ascertained as true.

[tilsammans]

45. Helicopters in northern NJ tonight . . .

. . . just as Chimpy was about to speak. It's very rare that 'copters fly over here at night, but several did about 15 minutes ago.

It's creepin' me out. :scared:

[stillcool]

46. yeah...I probably would not have noticed...

if hubby hadn't pointed them out. Very ominous. I was kind of hoping Bush was in Kennebunkport.

[orleans]

47. everything is totally suspect.

god, i remember the days when i trusted my government

when i believed they were telling us the truth

bush was my great awakening, i guess.

ignorance is bliss--i remember it.

i'd rather know than not. but what a way to have to learn....


come saturday, i hope we're not all asking each other "where were you during the stand down?"

[IamyourTVandIownyou]

28. ** CHECK THIS OUT **

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 12, 2007

Notice: Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Certain Terrorist Attacks

"Because the terrorist threat continues, the national emergency declared on September 14, 2001, last extended on September 5, 2006, and the powers and authorities adopted to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond September 14, 2007. Therefore, I am continuing in effect for an additional year the national emergency I declared on September 14, 2001, with respect to the terrorist threat."


ww w.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/09/20070912-2.html

[orleans]

29. he's just itching to be king. n/t

[w8liftinglady]

31. welll,let me just add this to the conspiracy pile-from Financial News

Mystery trader bets market will crash by a third
http://www.financialnews-us.com/?page=ushome&contentid=2448565379
An anonymous investor has placed a bet on an index of Europe's top 50 stocks falling by a third by the end of September, as world equity markets plunged for a third day and volatility hit a three-year high.

The mystery investor has bought put option contracts on the DJ Eurostoxx 50 index that will result in a profit if it plunges to 2,800 or below by the end of September. Based on the 2,800 strike price, the position covers a notional €6.9bn, and potentially even more using a market price of about 4,100 when the trades were done on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The identity of the investor is unknown but market sources speculated it was either a large hedge fund hedging itself against deepening losses, or a long-only fund manager pressing the panic button to protect its gains.

didn't this same thing happen prior to 9/11

[orleans]

33. yes, i think there were a couple threads around here on put-options lately. n/t

[bdamomma]

37. one more question may be not related, but Gonzo last day

is Sept. 15th, related?? or do I have this :tinfoilhat: on?

[soulcore]

38. That's a creepy coincidence.

We all know what happened the LAST TIME our air defenses stood down.

[Javaman]

39. Well if something was to happen, god forbid, this weekend...

it will be so, that moron* and his room full of dopes can control the spin come monday.

the surprise on 9/11 caught everyone off guard, they didn't even have to spin morons* famous 7 minutes.

Now they know everyone is on the watch for bullshit, so be prepared for the over control of the message to the point where they will start a news blackout.