Maybe the North Koreans were trying to send America a messageCBS/AP) The Pentagon Tuesday said it was trying to determine if a missile was launched Monday off the coast of Southern California and who might have launched it.
Spokesmen for the Navy, Air Force, Defense Department and North American Aerospace Defense Command said they were looking into a video posted on the CBS News website that appears to show a rocket or some other object shooting up into the sky and leaving a large contrail over the Pacific Ocean.
The video was shot by a CBS affiliate KCBS' helicopter, the station said Tuesday.
"Nobody within the Department of Defense that we've reached out to has been able to explain what this contrail is, where it came from," Pentagon spokesman Col. Dave Lapan said. "So far, we've come up empty with any explanation."
Lapan said officials are talking to the Air Force, Navy and NORAD as well as civilian authorities who control and monitor air space.
"Right now, all indications are that there was not (Department of Defense) involvement in this," Lapan said, adding that some object might have been launched by a private company.
The FAA told CBS News that they ran radar replays of a large area west of Los Angeles based on media reports of the location of a possible missile launch, but they did not reveal any fast moving unidentified targets in that area. The FAA also did not receive any reports of any unusual sightings from pilots in the area.
Missile tests are common off Southern California. Launches are conducted from vessels and platforms on an ocean range west of Point Mugu.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, issued a statement jointly with the U.S. Northern Command, or NORTHCOM, saying that the contrail was not the result of a foreign military launching a missile. It provided no further details.
"We can confirm that there is no threat to our nation, and from all indications this was not a launch by a foreign military," the statement said. "We will provide more information as it becomes available."
NORTHCOM is the U.S. defense command and NORAD is a U.S.-Canadian organization charged with protecting the U.S. from the threat of missiles or hostile aircraft.
CBS station KFMB showed video of the apparent missile to former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Robert Ellsworth, who is also a former Deputy Secretary of Defense, to get his thoughts.
"It's spectacular… It takes people's breath away," said Ellsworth, calling the projectile, "a big missile".
Officials had no information to make them suspect that the action was taken by any U.S. adversary.
"At this point, until we know more information about what it may have been, there is not alarm," Lapan said. "But that could change
Pentagon Can't Explain "Missile" off California - CBS News
*permission not given for quotes used* ---------> unnamed mod
*Are they not public domain? Why not man up and stand behind the quotes?
And you'll be back on here apologising for your hasty assumption about the North koreans if you are wrong?
From the very article you referred to
The North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, issued a statement jointly with the U.S. Northern Command, or NORTHCOM, saying that the contrail was not the result of a foreign military launching a missile. It provided no further details.
"We can confirm that there is no threat to our nation, and from all indications this was not a launch by a foreign military," the statement said. "We will provide more information as it becomes available."
Some people are very quick to point fingers and apportion blame - no wonder they end up in pointless, ill-thought and ill-conceived fights and wars, and are received with hostility, skepticism and derision from just about everyone.
errr wait....did I say the North Koreans? I meant to say that Martians are the ones who are responsible.
Do you really think the likelihood of the North Koreans launching a missile just off the coast of California is greater than an internal agency launch due to cockup/ miscommunications??? FFS!! Do you think the US agencies would be siting umming and ahhing if there was the slighest likelihood that North Korea was launching large missiles approx 35mile off the coast??????
And what would be the message they were trying to send??? - please come and wipe us off the face of the earth seems to be about the only message that would be received!!!
I am very happy to come on here and withdraw the above against a US agency if it is untrue.
Are you totally paranoid and irrational? Is there any analysis, considered thought or discrimination of the piles of junk info that enters your head, or do you just parrot off whatever the latest bigoted idiot shouts on youtube.
Last edited by Slim Chance; 10th November 2010 at 07:19.
Look up the word "sarcastic" in your dictionary and tell me what it means.
Where was the sarcasm in your posts?
Oooh, a mystery innit? My mate Occam lent me his razor this morning so...it'll be some branch of the US military.
Or a superhero.
"Take this, brother; may it serve you well."
And where did I say tat the North Koreans fired a missile?
Another Yahoo link. Oh how clever. Hey Xtradom, we all have Internet.
Originally Posted by Freedom
So, you're implying that the missile was aimed at the pigeon carrying the message from North Korea? Do you think they were aiming for the message or do they just hate pigeons?
"Always forgive your enemies -- Nothing annoys them so much !"
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Posting Permissions
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Bookmarks