Article

2019-12-11 Home Front: WoT

Pentagon grounds more than 300 Saudi trainee pilots in the US for 'safety' reasons after Florida Navy base shooting - but top brass deny flight instructor requests to be armed

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Posted by Skidmark 2019-12-11 11:42|| || Front Page|| [4 views ] Top

#1 Reminds me of a story I've heard once from a veteran of Soviet army (he swore it's true). The guy served on a base where they trained Egyptian & Syrian pilots. Every time the base commander would get drunk (2 - 3 times a week --- it's Russia) he'd write a request for transfer - to a base where they train dogs "because the dogs are more intelligent AND loyal!". My guy, who was the old man's clerk, would disappear these requests.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-12-11 13:13|| 2019-12-11 13:13|| Front Page Top

#2 Is there a test for sudden jihad syndrome for anyone professing to be a Muslim? Until there is caution should be the better part of valor.

Posted by jpal 2019-12-11 13:43|| 2019-12-11 13:43|| Front Page Top

#3 If not even the guys standing watch are armed, how many men do you need to take over a military base?

Posted by SteveS 2019-12-11 15:23|| 2019-12-11 15:23|| Front Page Top

#4 #2 There are tests for sociopathy.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-12-11 15:32|| 2019-12-11 15:32|| Front Page Top

#5 Then there is the MMPI (I guess now the MMPI-2 (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory). It has been around a long time and it is hard to fool. I have known those that have taken it for Alaska State Troopers screening. If they tried too hard instead of being honest, the authorities will see the ruse right away. Would be interesting to test the 300 Saudi pilot trainees, assuming that it would be relevant for their cultural backgrounds.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2019-12-11 17:08|| 2019-12-11 17:08|| Front Page Top

#6 Ref #5: You'd better put the coffee pot on, unplug the phone, and hang a 'do not disturb' on your door. You'll be at it for a wile.

Posted by Besoeker 2019-12-11 17:15|| 2019-12-11 17:15|| Front Page Top

#7 The sentrys are not armed?

Posted by John Frum 2019-12-11 17:40|| 2019-12-11 17:40|| Front Page Top

#8 Its my understanding that the sentries aren't armed--that sheriff's deputies ended up killing the Saudi.

Posted by Crusader 2019-12-11 17:58|| 2019-12-11 17:58|| Front Page Top

#9 Sentries usually (and visibly) are from my previous occasions to enter San Diego Bases. MP's, I had always assumed were, as well. I could be wrong

Posted by Frank G 2019-12-11 19:17|| 2019-12-11 19:17|| Front Page Top

#10 IIRC, the gate sentries at most bases (maybe all these days) are armed. However, their primary job is to verify that people have valid access to the base. They don't search cars. The Saudi perpetrator, as a student had access to the base. The people who were killed were on duty in the classroom building, but were not armed. They were not "sentries".

Posted by Rambler in Virginia 2019-12-11 20:48|| 2019-12-11 20:48|| Front Page Top

#11 They were soft targets then. How does this kind of thing happen 18 years later?

Posted by jpal 2019-12-11 21:53|| 2019-12-11 21:53|| Front Page Top

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