Agency Tests Security Blimp in Washington

[Seraphim]

WASHINGTON - Here's a head-turner for a security-nervous city: A large white object was spotted in the skies above the nation's capital in the pre-dawn hours Wednesday.



Pentagon (news - web sites) police said the Defense Department is testing a security blimp — fully equipped with surveillance cameras. The white blimp was spotted early Wednesday morning hovering at various times over the Pentagon and the U.S. Capitol.


The 178-foot-long device, which is expected to remain in the skies until Thursday, is conducting a mission for the Defense Department.


Authorities say the airship is equipped with infrared cameras designed to provide real time images to military commanders on the ground. The equipment on the blimp already is being used to protect troops in Afghanistan (news - web sites) and Iraq (news - web sites).


The Army says the device will make at least one 24-hour flight in the District of Columbia area. It has been in the region since last week, and is also being used for test runs over the U.S. Marine Corps Base in nearby Quantico, Va., and the Chesapeake Bay.

[SOG]

it better be used for abroad only. i dont mind tests here but use here is just rediculous. ispy!

[usa320]

unless your up to no good, thn i dont see why you should be afraid.

Most police copters flying around are already equipped with this technology, and it makes their jobs far more easier.

[2Sheds_Jackson]

Sweet...a security blimp.

Now it only has to rain all the time, and we need flying cars, and we'll be 100% Blade Runner compliant.

[California Joe]

I thought maybe Dennis Hastert took up hang gliding.

[usa320]

No, ted kennedy bought a jetpack.

[California Joe]

Sweet...a security blimp.

Now it only has to rain all the time, and we need flying cars, and we'll be 100% Blade Runner compliant.

I get first dibs on the hot robot chick.

[Beowulf]

No, ted kennedy bought a jetpack.

sure it wasn't scuba gear?

[ckabusk]

Nice, I saw it as I was driving to school.

[ZoneOne]

last time i get high in my backyard

just kidding

anyone have a pic of this blimp

is it similar to the weather blimps and balloons that are found in the florida keys?

[One?]

Israel uses those on the border with lebanon.

[Apogee]

There isn't a personal privacy issue with this blimb. Its very much akin to the use of FLIR cameras on LE helicopters. To determine if a privacy issue exists, one is wisest to refer to the Katz Test (from a Supreme Court ruling). The Katz test states that a privacy issue exists (or the LEOs need a search warrent) in a situation where you have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

What that means is, that if you're walking around on the street, you don't have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Therefore the police (or DoD in this case) doesn't need a search warrent to surveille you. Conversly, if you are inside your home, you DO have a reasonable expectation of privacy, and the cops need a warrent.

Clear as mud? Thats what I thought

[California Joe]

What he means is don't masturbate in public.

[DPGLAW]

it better be used for abroad only. i dont mind tests here but use here is just rediculous. ispy!

I do not understand why some people get so up in arms about things such as this. Somone else has already made the very good point that if you aren't doing anything wrong than you have nothing to worry about. That is absolutely true, If you are a law-abiding citizen, or careful about your "crimes" or whatever :), than you have nothing to worry about. Perhaps someone can tell me why so many people are so concerned about this?

[SOG]

it better be used for abroad only. i dont mind tests here but use here is just rediculous. ispy!

I do not understand why some people get so up in arms about things such as this. Somone else has already made the very good point that if you aren't doing anything wrong than you have nothing to worry about. That is absolutely true, If you are a law-abiding citizen, or careful about your "crimes" or whatever :), than you have nothing to worry about. Perhaps someone can tell me why so many people are so concerned about this?

because after a while you force utterly retarded laws in like the patriot act in which revisions wanting further leniancy get shot down by the supreme court for being such a obvious and blatant breech of citizen rights. now it makes you wonder, what kind of idiots would try and pass that? people who could care less about rights. but hey, its for a good cause right? because terrorism is RAMPANT in the US so we urgently need this wasted bills and laws?

i dont mind heat sensitive equipment to see who has what baking in thier house like a meth lab or weed plants because its fairly non descript. but IF AND WHEN you start using advanced IR and such which could simply become a issue in the future then you start crossing lines. recently we had a news blip the average person is on camera in any major city 25 times a day. a bit excessive IMO. what if the government wanted blimps on top of that? IMO again, excessive. we are not under seige nor have we been.

or you can cite the advanced cameras from sony and such that see through peoples clothes and are having to be closely watched and regulated especially from the public so your wife and daughters **** dont show up on upskirt.com. common sense vs technology really. but hey, whats the big deal. its not as if there faces are showing?

or do you all agree with the current laws in place like no smoking in your own house, or in public places, or in bars. no profanity on shirts, or in a business. well tell you how to run a perfeclty platonic workplace. hey its cool, you dont need guns, we have cops. whats it going to hurt if we take your guns away? odds are youll never need to actually use it, so it wont hurt if we take it from the majority. in fact, while were at it, lets take booz away from the american people. they dont need it. what will it hurt? yah, we found that out the hard way. what did it take to get to that point? baby steps and people who dont care till its too late.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A33132-2004Aug1?language=printer

or the very questionable law of :the suspect doesn't seem to "fit" the time or place: aka, hey, you look to poor to be in this neighborhood. your car or skin color isnt seen often here so we have probable cause to search you ala your life and lifestyle dont belong here so bend over. but hey, no harm, right?

in fact our tried and true forum buddy durandal just had some fun:
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/viewtopic.php?p=480022#480022

hey, there paying him for his land, it wont kill him, it will benefit the city and the people as a whole, whats the big deal? what HIS problem? he needs to be a team player so the majority may benefit as a whole. and yet again personal liberty and such is slowly eroded even in the "untouchable" backwaters. for what? money which equals power which equals control? because we need to advance? because we need to be bigger, pollute more, control more?

i like the laxidazical attitude of, if you have nothing to hide, no worries. so as long as you have nothing to hide, you shouldnt mind if ANYONE takes a look. what will it hurt?

the patriot act:

The USAPA expands the Secretary of State's power to designate terrorist groups without any court or congressional review and allows for secret searches without probable cause. Dempsey and Cole state that these changes "go far beyond what was needed to respond to terrorism." Indeed, they point out that in many instances, "the changes are not limited to terrorist investigations at all, but apply across the board to all criminal investigations."

Because courts have consistently refused to "second guess" FISA surveillance certifications, there is effectively no judicial review of such activities.

They have had many years to think about it and have repeatedly shown their willingness to enact carefully crafted, unconstitutional laws. They know the amendment allows intelligence to conduct criminal investigations on American citizens without adherence to basic constitutional protections.

source: http://www.globalissues.org/Geopolitics/MiddleEast/TerrorInUSA/USAPA.asp?p=1

but hey, no harm no foul. just basic trumping of your constitution. yah i know, just go home, heat your bowl of chili and watch ellen.

everything in moderation peoples. i dont mind practical survielance, but when you wire a city to the **** which has already been done, its a little rediulous. in fact, gosh, it seems overly PARANOID. and the people being filmed 7/24 are feeling paranoid? lol. :roll: always flip the coin. who is so paranoid to have put the cameras there in the 1st place?

[usa320]

If it catches a single terrorist and saves a single life, im 100% for it...

[mr.x]

sorry to be a downer but lives aren't worth much if there is no freedom...
Living in a free society can be risky...
Living period is risky...

Sacrificing to much for safety devalues that which we are fighting for, I don't mind some aspects of the Patriot Act, others I think can and should be tempered or declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. This will happen over time if we are lucky.

[ßå$tĮТHÏ¿ð]

If it catches a single terrorist and saves a single life, im 100% for it...

rofl ok if thats not paranoid I dont know what is.

So you wouldnt object to being pulled outta your car and searched randomly? Because if you did nothing wrong you have nothing to fear right?

Joesph McCarthy would be proud of you, a happy lil American who would give all of his freedoms to be safe from the "great terrorist threat".