On Dec 7, 1941, Japan performed a sneak attack on the US at Pearl Harbor, the attack sank four U.S. Navy battleships (two of which were raised and returned to service later in the war) and damaged four more; other damages included three destroyers, three cruisers, 188 aircraft with 2,402 killed and 1,282 wounded.
This day does live in infamy…
I was wrong to post the email I did without more in depth checking of the story. It has been an interesting evolution, to say the least…
Discounting the threats and the emails calling me a racist, it has opened my eyes to the fact there are people out there who are hard over in BOTH directions, and are not willing to be reasonable…
For something that I posted for the warning content, as one who flys frequently and AM concerned about not only MY safety; but those others who fly day after day, both as crew and as passengers; it took on a life of it’s own.
Do I think something happened on that aborted flight? Yes… Maybe not what was portrayed in the infamous email, but I do believe ‘something’ happened. Will we ever hear the truth? I don’t know…
Here are various links sent by a number of folks and the two links that started me down this trail:
The KHOU report-
http://www.khou.com/news/Phone-call-delays-Houston-bound-AirTran-flight-70369417.html
The Chaplain’s comments-
http://espositosmusings.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/air-tran-flight-297-incident1.pdf
The other links…
The AJC article-
http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/faa-to-investigate-cell-202143.html
Snopes- Which originally had nothing, then started as a two line entry, and now shows as a mixture rather than false…
http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/flight297.asp
The AirTran recapitulation-
http://www.insideairtran.com/?p=2200
And finally, this from today’s Marietta Daily Journal-
http://www.mdjonline.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Laura+Armstrong-+The+curious++case+of++Air+Tran+flight+297%20&id=5017926-Laura+Armstrong-+The+curious++case+of++Air+Tran+flight+297&instance=lead_story_left_column
Did I learn anything? Oh HELL yes… Will I ever post something like this again? If I can personally confirm it, YES; if I can’t no I won’t…
For those media folks that contacted me, I gave the same information to everyone that I had…
I also learned a large number of my readers were willing to stick by me, and stood up for me, not only in the comments, but in personal emails to me. For that I thank each and every one of you. Some of my readers also spent their own time doing research and back checking for me, thanks too for that!!!
I was counselled more than once to not allow anonymous comments, and yes I did delete a couple of the more foul and abusive ones; but I chose not to block them, believing everybody has a right to be heard. Interestingly enough, many of the anons came from left of center, always calling the post a lie, but without any proof…
One thing I AM thankful for is that we live in a free country where this kind of discussion (both positive AND negative) can occur without interference from the government.
That is all.
You wanted a losing war, and now you have one…
That little speech you gave at West Point guaranteed it!
When you give the enemy your ENTIRE plan, laid out step by step, you have given them all they need to win…
The FIRST rule of warfare is security, but no… The number of troops, when they will deploy, WHEN THEY WILL LEAVE… sigh…
We have boots on the ground NOW that need support- not in six or nine months. These are OUR sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, friends. YOU put Gen. McChrystal in there as YOUR man in the field, and now you have tied his hands in such a way that I will not be surprised if he retires, rather than try to win in an unwinnable situation. I just cannot believe SecDef Gates, ADM Mullen, or GEN Petraus agreed with putting an end date in that speech…
And the congresscritters saying they are going to ‘fight’ the funding to prevent deployment…
I’ve got an idea- Since we are embedding media, how about this?
Embed congresscritters!
Take 50 a month (10 senators, 40 congresspeople) put them in front line units for 30 days at a time, spread around amongst the troops in theater! In ten months we could cycle through the whole congress and senate! Just think, then EACH congresscritter would have real world experience at down and dirty warfare, would know the privations the troops experience (no fancy jets, no luxury suites, no five star food, no staff of butt imps), and have a MUCH better understanding of what the military does!
After that, we could start on the Administration, then Justice, then State…
Oh yeah, and Chris Matthews- Your little ‘enemy camp’ remark is an insult to EVERY military member living and dead; past, present and future! If I were you, I’d be really careful about attending anything with a military presence, somebody is liable to punch your lights out or worse…
I would boycott your sleazy ass, but I don’t listen to you or PMSNBC anyway…
This was NOT what happened.
I was in 1st class coming home. 11 Muslim men got on the plane in full attire. 2 sat in 1st class and the rest peppered themselves throughout the plane all the way to the back. As the plane taxied to the runway the stewardesses gave the safety spiel we are all so familiar with. At that time, one of the men got on his cell and called one of his companions in the back and proceeded to talk on the phone in Arabic very loudly and very aggressively. This took the 1st stewardess out of the picture for she repeatedly told the man that cell phones were not permitted at the time. He ignored her as if she was not there.
The 2nd man who answered the phone did the same and this took out the 2nd stewardess. In the back of the plane at this time, 2 younger Muslims, one in the back, isle, and one in front of him, window, began to show footage of a porno they had taped the night before, and were very loud about it. Now….they are only permitted to do this prior to Jihad. If a Muslim man goes into a strip club, he has to view the woman via mirror with his back to her. (don’t ask me….I don’t make the rules, but I’ve studied). The 3rd stewardess informed them that they were not to have electronic devices on at this time. To which one of the men said “shut up infidel dog!” She went to take the camcorder and he began to scream in her face in Arabic. At that exact moment, all 11 of them got up and started to walk the cabin. This is where I had had enough! I got up and started to the back where I heard a voice behind me from another Texan twice my size say “I got your back.” I grabbed the man who had been on the phone by the arm and said “you WILL go sit down or you Will be thrown from this plane!” As I “led” him around me to take his seat, the fellow Texan grabbed him by the back of his neck and his waist and headed out with him. I then grabbed the 2nd man and said, “You WILL do the same!” He protested but adrenaline was flowing now and he was going to go. As I escorted him forward the plane doors open and 3 TSA agents and 4 police officers entered. Me and my new Texan friend were told to cease and desist for they had this under control. I was happy to oblige actually. There was some commotion in the back, but within moments, all 11 were escorted off the plane. They then unloaded their luggage.
We talked about the occurrence and were in disbelief that it had happen, when suddenly, the door open again and on walked all 11!! Stone faced, eyes front and robotic (the only way I can describe it). The stewardess from the back had been in tears and when she saw this, she was having NONE of it! Being that I was up front, I heard and saw the whole ordeal. She told the TSA agent there was NO WAY she was staying on the plane with these men. The agent told her they had searched them and were going to go through their luggage with a fine tooth comb and that they were allowed to proceed to Houston. The captain and co-captain came out and told the agent “we and our crew will not fly this plane!” After a word or two, the entire crew, luggage in tow, left the plane. 5 minutes later, the cabin door opened again and a whole new crew walked on.
Again…..this is where I had had enough!!! I got up and asked “What the hell is going on!?!?” I was told to take my seat. They were sorry for the delay and I would be home shortly. I said “I’m getting off this plane”. The stewardess sternly told me that she could not allow me to get off. (now I’m mad!) I said “I am a grown man who bought this ticket, who’s time is mine with a family at home and I am going through that door, or I’m going through that door with you under my arm!! But I am going through that door!!” And I heard a voice behind me say “so am I”. Then everyone behind us started to get up and say the same. Within 2 minutes, I was walking off that plane where I was met with more agents who asked me to write a statement. I had 5 hours to kill at this point so why the hell not. Due to the amount of people who got off that flight, it was cancelled. I was supposed to be in Houston at 6pm. I got here at 12:30am.
Look up the date. Flight 297 Atlanta to Houston.
If this wasn’t a dry run, I don’t know what one is. They wanted to see how TSA would handle it, how the crew would handle it, and how the passengers would handle it.
I’m telling this to you because I want you to know….
The threat is real. I saw it with my own eyes….
-Tedd
Yesterday, 28 November 2009 marked the final flight of a P-3 from NAS Brunswick, ME, better known to all of us as Broomstick…
The last two VP-26 P-3s flew out yesterday afternoon with no fanfare, no statements, just going on deployment to do their jobs. The squadron will return to NAS Jacksonville in approximately six months.
Broomstick was the one base I was never stationed on, but I made plenty of trips in and out of there… Good shopping, with LL Bean, Kittery Trading Post and other good places within about 20 minute drive.
The other thing I will always remember was the Lobster house just off base, he took personal checks, always gave us the best possible price, and if we couldn’t get a ride out to pick up the lobsters, he delivered, and wouldn’t take extra for gas…
People either loved the place or hated it, and over the years there were some interesting screwups…
Early in the 1970s, both NAS Brunswick and NAS Glynco (at Brunswick, GA) got new base housing contracts approved…
And yep, you’re right, they crossed them up… The Brunswick, GA houses were insulated to hell and gone, and the Brunswick, ME houses had NO insulation…
Also they ‘tried’ to dig basements in GA, which didn’t work to well with a water table at about three feet…
I also remember the pilot inadvertently dropping a torpedo that landed in the pizza shop off the departure end of the runway…
This is the 13th base I was either stationed on, or worked out of that has closed… Maybe somebody is trying to tell me something…
NAS Glynco, NAS Sangley Point, NAS Keflavik, NAS Rota, NAS Agana, NAS Cubi Pt, Naha AB, NAS Moffett Field, NAS Adak, NAS Barbers Point, NAS Lajes, NAS Bermuda, and now NAS Brunswick.
God forbid that we need to ramp up anytime in the near future…
We won’t have the assets, the runways, or the people to make things work…
So… my job was to get up at zero dark 30 and smoke the turkey for Thanksgiving…
I know I’m early, but I know people are going to be travelling starting today…
Thanksgiving Day is a unique American holiday that brings together this nation of all faiths and cultural backgrounds around a common theme of thanks. Traditionally, we gather with family and friends to reflect on the year past, and give thanks for the blessings and freedoms we enjoy. It’s a time when we stop for a moment in our busy schedules to share bounty, food and fellowship.
We need to be mindful that for lots of Americans it has been a tough year. Hard times can serve to remind us to be more thankful, and if you have a chance, reach out to someone less fortunate this week.
Also, many of the Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, and Marines are away from home on Thanksgiving Day. I ask that we all keep them in mind as we gather around the table on Thursday. Please include a thought of gratitude in your grace for the freedoms they defend, and those we enjoy as a result of their dedication and sacrifice.
I want to thank those who take the time to drop by and read my chicken scratchings, I appreciate every one of you and all of your comments. I also appreciate the chance this blog has given me to meet both literally and figuratively so many outstanding people, whom I may not always agree with, but that I know I can have an intelligent conversation with!!!
I learn something from y’all every day…
Take care, be safe, drive safe, and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Oh yeah, remember that whole globull warming thing I’ve been saying was bull for two years???
I told ya so… 🙂
I said a Senator could be bought for $100 million…
Landrieu walked onto the Senate floor mid afternoon Saturday to announce her aye vote — and to trumpet the financial “fix” she had arranged for Louisiana. “I am not going to be defensive,” she declared. “And it’s not a $100 million fix. It’s a $300 million fix.”
Now I wonder what we will ‘pay’ for Blanche Lincoln’s vote… This is as bad as athletes, all have to get paid more than the one before them! Will her final price be $400M, or $600M? All I know is that I REALLY don’t want for myself, my children, and my grandchild to have to pay the bill!
It has become obvious to me, these people really don’t care about us; all they care about is power, and how they can get more!
Anybody wanna bet there won’t be ANY ‘town hall’ meetings during this recess??? Hmmm???
I will categorically state here and now, I will do everything legal within my power to see that NONE of these sleazebags get re-elected in 2010!
It is long past time for we the people to stand up for OUR rights, and I believe the ONLY way we can do that is to vote each and every one of these turkeys out next year!!!
I also believe we need a Constitutional Amendment limiting congresscritters to two terms, AND making them come under ANY legislation they pass, no exemptions, no excuses. If there is no COLA raise for military or retirees, then THEY don’t get a raise either. IF the military or retirees gets a 2.1% raise, that is what they get.
Also I would do away with “retirement” pay for serving in congress. It should be a PRIVILEGE to serve, not a way to set one’s self up for life!
Oh by the way, how come if this gets passed, the taxing, etc. starts next year, but there are no “changes” to coverage requirements till 2014??? And since the dems pushed through the $200B payments to doctors for Medicare this year (by a close vote last week), why is THAT money not calculated?
And how do they propose to add at least 6 million to the insurance rolls, and cut funding to Medicare/Medicaid? And where are all the ‘extra’ doctors going to come from to treat all the new patients (especially since it takes average of EIGHT years to become a doctor)?
Just askin…
And we now know how much one can buy a Senator for… Mary Landrieu, sleazebag that she is, was bought off for $100 million. She is just as sleazy as her daddy was when he was mayor of New Orleans.
In other news, the ship of State has sprung a few (dozen) leaks…
Gates because there is obviously a ‘significant’ security issue, and the White House has been and is continuing to leak details about General McChrystal’s plan. PU is pissed because McChrystal and Gates haven’t kowtowed to him…
From today’s WAPO OPED by Michael Gerson comes this rather telling statement: “We have learned that Obama’s national security team is both deeply divided and playing for blood. Military-civilian tensions are growing and have become reflected on the ground in Afghanistan.”
Ya think???
John G’s wife said that this little girl’s entire family was executed. The insurgents intended to execute the little girl also, and shot her in the head…but they failed to kill her. She was cared for in John’s hospital and is healing up, but continues to cry and moan. The nurses said John is the only one who seems to calm her down, so John has spent the last four nights holding her while they both slept in that chair. The girl is coming along with her healing.
He is a real Star of the war, and represents what America is trying to do.
This, my friends, is worth sharing.. Go for it!! You’ll never see things like this in the news. Please keep this going. Nothing will happen if you don’t, but the American public needs to see pictures like this and needs to realize that what we’re doing over there is making a difference. Even if it is just one little girl at a time.
J. Gxxxx U. S. Navy
For all the flogger…er, golfers out there…
Obama’s Golf Czar has announced there is a possibility of MAJOR rule changes to the game of golf, this may occur sometime after March 1, 2010.
This is only a preview as the complete rule book is being rewritten now.
Here are a few basic changes:
Golfers with handicaps:
– below 10 will have their green fees increased by 35%.
– between 11 and 18 will see no increase in green fees.
– above 18 will get a check each time they play.
The dollar amount placed in bets will be as follows:
-for handicaps below 10, an additional $10.
-between 11 and 18, no additional amount.
-above 18, you will receive the total amount in the pot even if you do not play.
The term “gimme” will be changed to “entitlement” and will be used as follows:
-handicaps below 10, no entitlements.
-handicaps from 11 to 17, entitlements for putter length putts.
-handicaps above 18, if your ball is on green, no need to putt, just pick it up.
These entitlements are intended to bring about fairness and, most importantly, equality in scoring. In addition, a Player will be limited to a maximum of one birdie or six pars in any given round. Any excess must be given to those fellow players who have not yet scored a birdie or par. Only after all players have received a birdie or par from the player actually making the birdie or par, can that player begin to count his pars and birdies again.
The current USGA handicap system will be used for the above purposes but the term ‘net score’ will be available only for scoring those players with handicaps of 18 and above.
This is intended to ‘redistribute’ the success of winning by making sure that in every competition, the above 18 handicap players will post only ‘net score’ against every other player’s gross score.
These new Rules are intended to CHANGE the game of golf. Golf must be about Fairness.
It should have nothing to do with Ability…