General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGuess what I saw flying over SE DC today?
The army's new surveillance blimp as described here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3331129
I was at the Nats game for a ridiculous 12:30 start (Summer camp day). It appeared between the Capitol and Booz Allen Hamilton's building (of course!) in the 4th inning and then again (further east) during the 8th inning. Most people around me thought it was a prankster and didn't believe me when I stated the Army is building hi-tech blimps.
Sorry. no pic of it in DC, my phone is an antique.
NV Whino
(20,886 posts)FSogol
(45,515 posts)bunnies
(15,859 posts)Did you wave to the watchers?
FSogol
(45,515 posts)I doubt it could pick up individuals in the park. More likely, it was observing traffic patterns around SE.
It does have a black box that hangs 25 feet below it on a black cable.
bunnies
(15,859 posts)lastlib
(23,267 posts)...and be able to read the license plate. Reading/recognizing faces from 4 blocks away is child's play.... just sayin'.
I have no doubt that they could install electronic receivers on it that would mimic a cell-phone tower, and pick up people's calls, just as easily as AT&T could. A mobile cell-tower.......
FSogol
(45,515 posts)the official one in this case - that they are testing ant-missile systems?
lastlib
(23,267 posts)...from any institution that develops weapons in secret for killing.... a holdover legacy from the Vietnam era........
pscot
(21,024 posts)FSogol
(45,515 posts)Gregorian
(23,867 posts)Of course I'm being sarcastic. We all know Al Qaida is swarming everywhere. And the gays with their marriage threat to all of those normal peoples.
I'm still waiting for my god damned health care.
FSogol
(45,515 posts)Hand wringing and surveillance fears will no doubt crop up. or ?
joeybee12
(56,177 posts)The designer must have been reading Moby Dick when he designed this.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)They should at least paint a face on it.
Control-Z
(15,682 posts)pintobean
(18,101 posts)mia
(8,361 posts)Response to mia (Reply #14)
PowerToThePeople This message was self-deleted by its author.
TheCowsCameHome
(40,168 posts)panader0
(25,816 posts)There is one tethered here in Sierra Vista, Az., and that balloon is visible from other balloons both east and west of here.
They, (in this case operated from the army base at Ft. Huachuca) have been around for many years. When the rain or wind comes, they bring them down, like now. Supposedly they are for drug intradiction. People around here think they see into their kitchens.
Who knows, but these balloons are nothing new.
Scurrilous
(38,687 posts)They're used for drug interdiction and to transmit Radio Marti to Cuba.
brooklynite
(94,688 posts)London, 1941
FSogol
(45,515 posts)Recursion
(56,582 posts)I've seen it a few times when I jog in the mornings along the Anacostia
greener and quieter than helicopters.