Heartland

Yeah, but I still don't believe Germany, on their own, can block NATO air bases, even if the campaigns launched are not under NATO mandate. Basically, the US could use German air bases to bomb Germany unless NATO says no.

Which would save them a lot of fuel. Good point.
I don´t know if the NATO can overide national auhorities. I actually doubt so. But I couldn´ t prove my oppinion or disprove yours.
The point I see is that the NATO wasn´t even involved, it were coalition forces, not NATO forces. This is where I see the difference. Germany was more not-joining-the-battle than actively resisting against the war.

Well, i returned yesterday from Baltimore...

Unfortunately i was flying out on Thursday, when it all kicked off. I'm deeply cynical too when it comes to these "red alerts" so whether the govt. terrorists/"other" terrorists were responsible, i decided to go anyway! I was a guest at a convention over there. Several of the other guests cancelled, but i'm a stubborn old bastard.

I was only five hours late (over 2 hrs on the runway at heathrow waiting for the FBI to cross check every passenger on the list) ~ wasn't sure if i'd even get there at all though, so no complainin' from me. Oh, okay, just a quick whine ~ they binned my book & chewing gum (lethal weapons! paper cuts! )

My flight back on Sunday from Baltimore was cancelled (after the BAA request that 30% of all flights were dropped to ease congestion at Heathrow) but the nice folks at BA put on a US Airways flight from Baltimore - Philly, then another from Philly - Gatwick. And this time i was allowed to take a book onboard

My sympathies to anyone else flying this week ~ nightmare.

Edit: i now at least have a new perspective on the lyric "...i think he's still in Baltimore..."

Clicky

A 12-year-old boy managed to get on a flight at Gatwick without a ticket, boarding pass or passport. Well done on the security there guys

So you can't even take stuff you need on a flight, but a kid can just walk in?

Now that's dangerous, especially if you keep in mind you can influence kids easier than grown-ups, isn't it?

eotunun wrote:German troops are at Afghanistan. Why not us then? I´m sure there is a lot of activity in other countries as well. Only others are lucky enough to have all terrorists caught in time. But a major attack taking place elsewhere is only a question of time, I fear.

That was august, 11th. Today on the news of web.de:

Dem Bericht der "SZ" zufolge ergaben Untersuchungen durch BKA-Techniker, dass die beiden Bomben zündfähig gewesen seien. "Ihre Sprengkraft wäre so groß gewesen, dass eine Explosion die Dimension des U-Bahn-Anschlags von London im Sommer 2005 erreicht hätte", zitierte die Zeitung einen hohen Sicherheitsverantwortlichen.

"According to the report by Südeutsche Zeitung the investigations by BKA-techinians revealed both bombs had had the potential to explode. "Their destructive powers would have been sufficient to result in explosions of a dimension similar to the London undergound bombings of summer 2005", a high ranking official responsible for securizy affairs was quoted"
This refers to two Bombs made of gasbottles found at the central railway stations of Dortmund and Koblenz on july 31st. (While we were talking about it, it allmost happened..) A terrorist background of these attempted bommbings is very likely, yet unproven for now.
The bombs were timed to blow up ten minutes before the scheduled arrival of trains (heaven knows when actually would have arrived). The plattforms would have been crowded then, the potential death toll and number of injuries high.
We were just lucky around here,
Why are we lucky while others get their families torn?

The people trying to prevent terrorist attacks have to be lucky every time. The terrorists only need to be lucky once.

Or even not at all. A failed attack can still bring disorder, as has been frequently evidenced.

Good point Korin.

Okay, so it is a lebanese student of mechatronics who built the bomb.
It didn´t explode. That´s an "F", then.

eotunun wrote:Okay, so it is a lebanese student of mechatronics who built the bomb.
It didn´t explode. That´s an "F", then.

So, does he have to go back to school at the end of August and do it again until he gets it right, preferably in a big bunker?

Or maybe put him in that Van with all the s**t bands...

IZ.

Izzy HaveMercy wrote:Or maybe put him in that Van with all the s**t bands...

He'd better do a proper job then

eotunun wrote:Why are we lucky while others get their families torn?

Who, the Afghans?

A Northwest Airlines DC 10 on his way to India has just returned to Amsterdam Airport, accompanied by two F16's because of "safety reasons on board".

DC10? Don't those belong in a museum?

Did it turn out to actually be anything

Obviousman wrote:DC10? Don't those belong in a museum?

Did it turn out to actually be anything

Twelve people arrested. No further news.

There are still quite some DC 10's in the air. The new version is the MD 11.