The American Spectator

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(Page 6 of 11)

/p> p>For a "Loose Cannon" Mr. Babbin hits the bull's-eye more often than not. If this country were really serious about airline security -- we would already have guns in the cockpits -- have airline baggage handlers who are already security screened and would have already borrowed some safety equipment from br> our friends at El Al. /p>

The SA-7 Russian heat-seeking surface-to-air missile has been in the Communist Bloc inventory for quite a number of years. Other MANPADS (man portable air defense systems) such as the U.S. made Stinger have also found their way into Arab/Muslim government and terrorist hands. U.S. Navy has found Stingers in Boghammer/Zodiac paramilitary small (fast) boats used by both Iran and Iraq in attempts to engage U.S. Navy ships -- Vincennes incident (Iran) and the Gulf War (Iraq). These missiles are probably orphans the CIA lost track of in Afghanistan in the late 80's (but nobody's talking).

If you can ever get close enough to an El Al airliner (good luck) you'll notice under-wing pods between the jet engines on each wing. Only Norm Mineta would think these are extra fuel tanks. In reality, these are (in all probability) chaff and flare dispensers (in English language terms = radar and heat seeking missile counter-measures) to ensure all El Al flights make it to their intended destinations.

p>Rather than a BOHICA (bend over -- here it comes again) incident with our jet passenger fleet -- these counter-measure pods would go a long way in getting those of us who know back on airplanes for fun and profit. In the meanwhile -- the airline industry continues to be the deer in Norm Mineta's bureaucratic headlights and Chapter 11 is now an option in the business plan of most of our airline companies.

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