Well, I agree the length and speculative nature of the article really
give the impression that column space is not costly and people don't
have that much to think about up in Lodi!
On the other hand, the photo appears to be real, as the N number
(N-6458T)coincides with what the reporter says about the plane. Who
hired the air-to-air photography? Someone has put some big effort into
this amateurish-sounding article.
Reading other articles from the same rag, it appears there is a
significant anti-terror investigation going on there, with some arrests
having been made, and political turmoil in the local Mosque. In this
context, the type of surveillance operation the writer refers to may not
be far off the mark. One wonders what the writer may have against that.
This would be an opportunity for someone to point out the vital role
that GA aircraft have always had in law enforcement - and from there we
could get into environmental protection, gelogical survey,
(including photogrammetry for map making) meteorological services and
business enhancement like real estate survey. It appears they have just
approved a large commercial development there, including Wal-Mart.
It is obvious the writer has spent a lot of energy and probably some
money to investigate the matter, and appears eager to incite some
controversy over it. While we can only respect her legitimate defense of
people's right to know, one wonders why she should feel harrassed,
rather than reassured, by the presence of what she appears convinced is
a law enforcement initiative, and possibly an anti-terrorist
investigation.
It was bad enough when little planes got scapegoated for terror attacks
they had nothing to do with, and could not have perpetrated if they
wanted - but now even Feds in anti-terror investigation planes are being
used to spread panic and mistrust. Cant' win!
G Faris
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