"Larry Dighera" wrote in message

You've failed to consider government personnel positioned on the
ground.

No, I haven't. Let me clarify, though. Nobody had "authorization" even if
they had the authority.

Absent the F-16s, nothing (but possible ground based weapons) would
have almost killed them.

Semantics, perhaps, but negligently straying where bullets are threatened to
be loosed is the fault of the pilot. Doggedly continuing on a flight path
directly over downtown DC with military/interceptor aircraft in formation or
circling is the fault of the pilot.

"Duh, dem's purdy planes, Homer. Ya think they give this show to all the
visitors?"

All The Powers That Be have made great efforts to inform pilots of the rules
of this airspace. Beyond dismantling it (which I want), I don't know what
else they can do to educate pilots. The Visual Warning System is a step in
the right direction, but even after they publish it in the AIM as they've
indicated, the pilots have to read/hear about it to know what to do.

Otherwise, the cockpit conversation will be "Duh, dem's purdy
red-greenlights. I didn't know it was Christmas, already."

I would think that it is VP Cheney who is the force behind the
repressive government stance in the name of security. Wasn't he the
principle drafter of the Patriot Act?

I thought you don't jump to conclusions? Even *if* Cheney is the
powermonger you seem to think he is, do you honestly think there are no
other bureaucracies (regardless of political leanings) with the same goal?

--
John T
http://tknowlogy.com/TknoFlyer
http://www.pocketgear.com/products_s...veloperid=4415
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