Article

2003-02-01

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Frank G 2003-02-01 03:23 pm|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [11134 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Goddammit.

Posted by Fred 2003-02-01 08:56:48|| 2003-02-01 08:56:48|| Front Page Top

#2 Frank G:

That was one of my first thoughts, too, especially since the first eye-witness on CNN was from Palestine (pronounced -steen) Texas.

I also think it's stupid to pooh-pooh sabotage entirely. It obviously wasn't shot down at that altitude, but the descent is entirely software-controlled, and that could have been screwed around with. Not likely, but not impossible.

Posted by Dr. Weevil 2003-02-01 09:36:22|| [www.doctorweevil.org] 2003-02-01 09:36:22|| Front Page Top

#3 This is beginning to look like a very baaaad day...

Posted by Ptah 2003-02-01 09:00:48|| 2003-02-01 09:00:48|| Front Page Top

#4 wasn't this the one with the Israeli astronaut? They'll be handing out candy and ululating in the streets in Gaza....f*&king bastards

Posted by Frank G 2003-02-01 09:06:29|| 2003-02-01 09:06:29|| Front Page Top

#5 If it was sabotage, the evidence is probably ionized...

Posted by Ptah 2003-02-01 09:12:25|| 2003-02-01 09:12:25|| Front Page Top

#6 What a horrible, horrible day... I can just see the Islamo-fanatics dancing in the streets... All the more reason why they should be rewarded with some long-range treatment...

Posted by Nik Karanikos 2003-02-01 09:56:37|| [sphaera.blogspot.com] 2003-02-01 09:56:37|| Front Page Top

#7 My condolences to the family and friends of the lost astronauts... It's hard to find the words to describe this horror... I'm in a funk now,and I don't mean like James Brown.

Posted by El Id 2003-02-01 10:03:50|| 2003-02-01 10:03:50|| Front Page Top

#8 My sincere condolences to the crew members' families. Space conquest is the most positive and uplifting thing you can picture when thinking about America. In addition to the loss of lives, that's a terrible blow to a powerful symbol. About the 'islamo fanatics dancing in the street', let them dance; tomorrow, there will be israeli astronauts and US space missions again, while they will still live in the same backwater ratholes.

Posted by Anonymous 2003-02-01 12:56:29|| 2003-02-01 12:56:29|| Front Page Top

#9 So, so sad. Sabotage would be hard on the launchpad, but the craft had undergone a massive overhaul/refitting some time back, an opportunity to insert inferior or rigged materials to disintegrate later. Curiously I noticed Canadian CBC was late reporting the tragedy, but it is so Canadian that their focus was how this may cause the U.S. to reconsider the space program, so costly etc and for what? Do they understand the word 'Defense'? Well no. I live near border but dont watch CBC too much anymore. Too depressing. Last night's CBC prime time comedy show was anti US as usual. Bush as Patton -excerpts: 'this crazed Hussein feller continues to provoke us, he wont stop breathing..granted the UN..have failed to find weapons..that leads to one conclusion..he has weapons..my daddy told me that..heyuk heyuk..". In the same show the comics yukked: "UN inspectors gave..Hussein a B on his report card..(Saddam)lost marks when he demonstrated this science project (video of a nuclear blast)..Hee Hee Hee". You never feel as alone as to have neighbors who are still laughing at the threat. And the hatred is palpable. (I mean emanating out of Canada).

Posted by em wem 2003-02-01 13:20:38|| 2003-02-01 13:20:38|| Front Page Top

#10 em wem, don't forget that there are Canadians who stand firmly by their American cousins, and share in their tragedies and grief. They understand that the threats we face are common. Some don't, it's true, but there are a lot that do.

Posted by Rw - Canadian 2003-02-01 18:02:52|| 2003-02-01 18:02:52|| Front Page Top

#11 RW and Em Wem: I think the "silent" majority among the Canadians DO support the U.S. and would hesitate to condemn the whole for the vocal idiocy of those with microphones. Just as with NPR, I would hesitate to take Public Radio for actual public radio ( sans bias)

Posted by Frank G 2003-02-01 18:36:48|| 2003-02-01 18:36:48|| Front Page Top

#12 No sabotage needed. Reentry is a high-stress regime, all it takes is being a couple of degrees too steep on the entry path, or a cracked tile.

Posted by mojo 2003-02-01 20:05:30|| 2003-02-01 20:05:30|| Front Page Top

#13 I read the bios of these 7 remarkable human beings. They were motivated, intelligent, enthusiastic, and well rounded human beings. They are true heros that young people should emulate. You know, strive for real excellence. Why do they die and those mindless Hollywood idiots live? I know that I should not think that way, but that is how I feel. I also feel great pride in the caliber of people who go for the space program, knowing full well its hazards. My heart goes out to the families of these fine people.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2003-02-01 21:24:20|| 2003-02-01 21:24:20|| Front Page Top

#14 I don't remember which network I was watching, but I saw a clip of what looked like a charred helmet on some lawn someplace. Whoever was working the video camera zoomed into the open face area and it looked like there was a small clump of hair inside. That video sequence was rather unnerving.

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2003-02-01 21:46:36|| 2003-02-01 21:46:36|| Front Page Top

09:00 Fred
01:29 Anonymous
01:04 JDB
00:45 Frank Martin
00:44 JDB
00:34 JDB
00:05 JDB
23:04 Steve
23:01 Anonymous
22:46 Paul
21:46 Bomb-a-rama
21:41 Patrick
21:24 Alaska Paul
21:11 Penguin
20:55 mhw
20:28 BarCodeKing
20:05 mojo
19:24 Frank G
18:36 Frank G
18:27 Fred
18:15 Rw
18:08 Joe
18:02 Rw - Canadian
16:14 El Id
Merry-Go-Blog