2nd Mexican helicopter sighted in U.S. airspace

[Alpha Mare]

BROWNSVILLE — The U.S. Department of Defense said it was investigating the second sighting within three weeks of a Mexican military helicopter flying in U.S. airspace over rural Zapata County.

“The incident did occur and it's still under investigation,” department spokeswoman Maj. Tanya Bradsher said, confirming that the copter, believed to belong to the Mexican navy, was seen Sunday.

Pauza said the helicopter crossed back without incident and that once the sighting was reported up the chain of the command “that was the extent of it.”

Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez said Sunday's sighting was the second one confirmed, but several others were reported to him during the past two weeks that he couldn't be sure enough about to forward to the federal government.

Gonzalez said the unconfirmed incursions occurred on March 20 and on Monday and Tuesday and were reported to him by a deputy, a local news reporter, and a federal officer who the sheriff said has since been muzzled by higher-ups.

He said federal officials initially rebuffed his initial reports of the March 9 and Sunday sightings, which he made to the Joint Operations Intelligence Center because he had photos from witnesses and a pretty good idea that they were Mexican military operations.

When Gonzalez told the officials he had photos, however, they blamed their lack of knowledge of it on faulty radar, he said.

Then other federal officials confirmed the incidents to reporters.

“It's becoming more common now every day,” he said. “My problem is we find these things out through our media instead of our government. It goes to show how incompetent I guess our government is.”

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6939900.html

[Thor]

“My problem is we find these things out through our media instead of our government. It goes to show how incompetent I guess our government is.”

What would any reasonable person expect from a Community Organizer and a bunch of criminals ???

[jinxmchue]

Shoot.  Them.  Down.


Problem solved.

[DefiantSix]

Shoot.  Them.  Down.


Problem solved.

And as discussed in the thread on the last such incursion, opens up a whole new can of worms for the shooter.

[Ptarmigan]

What would any reasonable person expect from a Community Organizer and a bunch of charlatans, criminals, and thugs ???

*FIXED*

[DumbAss Tanker]

A bad person might take the low road and say we need to remember that these choppers are, after all, being flown by Mexicans.  But, I'm not going to do that.  It would be wrong.  Wrong, wrong, wrong.

 

[docstew]

What would any reasonable person expect from a Community Organizer and a bunch of criminals who now control your healthcare???

Fixed

[Thor]

I'm at a loss as to why our Government continues to allow these acts of war. If it were our aircraft crossing into Chinese, Iranian, or Russian airspace, they would most definitely be either shot down and/ or escorted to the nearest military installation or airport. Anybody remember the U2 incident with Russia or the P3 incident with China??  Nuff said

[formerlurker]

“My problem is we find these things out through our media instead of our government. It goes to show how incompetent I guess our government is.”

Uh, do you honestly think the DoD is going to allow this helicopter to land?  come on.

The DoD wouldn't notify you.  They would notify the governor -- if your comments about government are directed to your governor, then ok, but if not then please already.

[formerlurker]

I just googled this and all of the articles I flipped through make no mention of any comments from NORAD- why is that?   The media has to know it is NORAD who would note the infraction of our airspace, not neccesarily the FAA.  Bizarre.

[jinxmchue]

And as discussed in the thread on the last such incursion, opens up a whole new can of worms for the shooter.

Who cares.  I guarantee that once one of these helicopters gets shot down, there won't be any more incursions.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Who cares.  I guarantee that once one of these helicopters gets shot down, there won't be any more incursions.

Your post demonstrates a rather poor grasp of the concept of "Unintended consequences."

[Tantal]

Your post demonstrates a rather poor grasp of the concept of "Unintended consequences."

What are they going to do? Stop sending us illegal immigrants? Quit accepting our tourism dollars in Cancun? Cut off our supply of cocaine?

My guess is that it's dirty military guys keeping tabs on a drug shipment. In fact, I'm willing to bet that WE paid for the helicopter anyway. Shoot that bitch down!

[DefiantSix]

What are they going to do? Stop sending us illegal immigrants? Quit accepting our tourism dollars in Cancun? Cut off our supply of cocaine?

My guess is that it's dirty military guys keeping tabs on a drug shipment. In fact, I'm willing to bet that WE paid for the helicopter anyway. Shoot that bitch down!

How about charge the shooter with ADW, if the entire crew manages - miraculously - to survice the crash, or murder if they don't?

[Tantal]

How about charge the shooter with ADW, if the entire crew manages - miraculously - to survice the crash, or murder if they don't?

Really? Did we charge the Soviets with Attempted Murder and Kidnapping for having the temerity to shoot at Gary Powers' U-2?

[DumbAss Tanker]

It's easy to be a hardliner on this if you are totally clueless about how well our own civil, police, and military aviators navigate while airborne in a chopper or light plane, which would indeed give the Mexicans plenty of opportunity to get back at us.

[Tantal]

It's easy to be a hardliner on this if you are totally clueless about how well our own civil, police, and military aviators navigate while airborne in a chopper or light plane, which would indeed give the Mexicans plenty of opportunity to get back at us.

It's pretty easy to tell when you've crossed into Texas from Mexico. There's that thing called the Rio Grande River....pretty hard to miss. Like I said, these are probably dirty military guys using their "lunch break" (and the Army's chopper) to keep an eye on a dope load for their REAL boss, the drug lord. They've also had incursions by armed Humvees supporting drug shipments. Once again, you don't cross from Mexico into Texas by accident.

[The Village Idiot]

They are at war with the Narco-traffickers, these incursions tell me that both sides in this war have already crossed the border.

[DumbAss Tanker]

It's pretty easy to tell when you've crossed into Texas from Mexico. There's that thing called the Rio Grande River....pretty hard to miss...

Texas is the only State of four bordering Mexico where that's the border, of course Texans do occasionally forget there are actually other States.

[littlelamb]

Why don't we shoot now answer questions later

[DefiantSix]

Really? Did we charge the Soviets with Attempted Murder and Kidnapping for having the temerity to shoot at Gary Powers' U-2?

I seem to recall that the Soviets shooting at Gary Powers were MILITARY and thus were covered under official government sanction for their actions.

What you seem to be discribing - pardon me if I've mis-interpreted your statement - is private citizens with deer rifles (etc.) taking potshots at a foreign aircraft on their own initiative.  That's where the ADW/murder charges come in.

[Tantal]

I seem to recall that the Soviets shooting at Gary Powers were MILITARY and thus were covered under official government sanction for their actions.

What you seem to be discribing - pardon me if I've mis-interpreted your statement - is private citizens with deer rifles (etc.) taking potshots at a foreign aircraft on their own initiative. 

No. I was referring to the Air Force Base we have in Del Rio sending up an F-16 or two.

[Tantal]

Texas is the only State of four bordering Mexico where that's the border, of course Texans do occasionally forget there are actually other States.

What are these 'other states' you speak of?

[DumbAss Tanker]

What are these 'other states' you speak of?

Going from East to West, that'd be Indifference, Confusion, and Denial.

 

[Thor]

Going from East to West, that'd be Indifference, Confusion, and Denial.

 

You forgot the state to the North, "Suckage"........