06.05.13
Fat white men who fight terrorism
In orange vests, they hang around big airport runways as alleged pro bono anti-terrorism squads, making sure the bad guys don’t show up with MANPADS.
It’s unlikely you’ll ever meet any of these para-police officers, wearing their bright orange vests and ID tags. But if you’re one of the millions of travelers who fly into Chicago every year, you might want to thank them — because they’re helping the FBI, Transportation Security Administration and other authorities protect you from terrorists.
Another in the occasional media favorite: exaggerating the hobbies/roles of middle-aged white guys in service to the nation. The silver-lining: They’re not home much to embarrass their kids.
Someone tell them the war on terror’s kinda over.
Modern day equivalent of the middle-aged white guys who always wanted to use their metal detectors on the grounds of the community swimming pool after hours.
Anonymous said,
June 5, 2013 at 9:27 pm
I’m going offer a different perspective.
My guess is the spotters figure the whole police thing and MANPADs is bullshit anyway. They’re aviation buffs and know quite a bit about planes. They also know that they have a legitimate right to be there. But if it gives them legitimacy, and gets the Man off their backs, sure, why not?
Spotters have been around for decades, and is an international hobby. You can Google for their websites.
These folks have provided benefits in unexpected ways and sometimes not to the US Federal Governments liking. They usually submit the aircraft photo and other data to be seen online via their websites. As a result of spotters in the US and overseas, this allowed certain folks to put together which of planes were allegedly used by the CIA for renditions. (I can vouch that I saw at least a couple of planes online–a 737 and corporate jet parked in the on the east side of the Dulles (IAD) without much in markings–allegedly used in renditions. You would notice these planes because they were gray–liked they been sprayed with primer and waiting for the livery to be added. Sometimes they’d be there and sometimes they were gone. They always left late at night, never during the day, so far as I recall.).
There’s also place called Gravelly Point Park that’s just north of Ronald Reagan airport. Lot’s of folks, including myself (and spotters) would park there to watch the planes take off and land for hours. Couples, families, retired folks, military, you name it. You’ve got a spectacular view of the DC across the Potomac with the Capitol building, Washington Monument, and the Pentagon all within view of the parking lot.
It’s a great way to laze around on a Sunday afternoon in the spring when the cherry blossoms are in bloom.
Mike Ozanne said,
June 6, 2013 at 7:37 am
“they hang around big airport runways as alleged pro bono anti-terrorism squads, making sure the bad guys don’t show up with MANPADS.”
Given that even the older ones have an engagement envelope (theoretically at least) out past 10,000 feet. And also the noise reduction take-off profiles at most airports. You wouldn’t need to be within 2 or 3 miles of the runway threshold to make a kill. I think they just enjoy planespotting….
George Smith said,
June 6, 2013 at 8:15 am
As a result of spotters in the US and overseas, this allowed certain folks to put together which of planes were allegedly used by the CIA for renditions. (I can vouch that I saw at least a couple of planes online–a 737 and corporate jet parked in the on the east side of the Dulles (IAD) without much in markings–allegedly used in renditions. You would notice these planes because they were gray–liked they been sprayed with primer and waiting for the livery to be added. Sometimes they’d be there and sometimes they were gone. They always left late at night, never during the day, so far as I recall.).
Good point and I’m glad you added it. In my superciliousness I wouldn’t have thought of it. And I’d seen evidence of this some time a couple years back.