-Caveat Lector- Print this article | Close this window America's Patriots may be infected with deadly glitch By Jonathan Weisman in Washington March 27 2003
For the second time in two days, an American Patriot missile defence battery has apparently locked its sights on a coalition fighter plane, raising fears that the system's targeting software is infected with a deadly glitch. United States defence officials said on Tuesday that a Patriot system about 48 kilometres south of Najaf apparently locked on to a US Air Force F-16 fighter on Monday and prepared to fire. The F-16 responded by firing a high-speed anti-radiation missile at the battery and destroying its radar dish. No one was injured. The incident came a day after a Patriot missile shot down a British Royal Air Force Tornado, killing both crew members. Hours later another two British servicemen were killed by friendly fire when their tank was mistakenly targeted by another British tank while fighting Iraqi forces west of Basra. The latest casualties take the number of British servicemen listed as dead or missing in the war to 22. Only two were killed in action. In Washington, a defence official was cautious about blaming the Patriot. "Error on the battlefield is more often than not human error. "I wouldn't want to pin this on anyone yet." But other Pentagon officials and independent weapons experts were far less circumspect. "It's obviously a software glitch," one defence official said. "Jets go fast, but there's no way they should be mistaking them for a Scud going supersonic." The details of both incidents raise doubts that human error could have been responsible, defence technology experts said. One said the Patriot crew took cover and left the missile battery operating largely on automatic, which indicated that the Patriot system, not human error, targeted the F-16. John Pike, a defence technology expert, said the Tornado would have been tracked by multiple air defence systems as it returned to Kuwait, and only the Patriot fired. "There is evidently a problem." The Patriot system is far too important for the two incidents to take it out of action, Mr Pike said. The Washington Post and Reuters This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/26/1048653751202.html Forwarded for your information. The text and intent of the article have to stand on their own merits. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe simply because it has been handed down for many genera- tions. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of teachers, elders or wise men. Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all. Then accept it and live up to it." The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutra <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http://archive.jab.org/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http://archive.jab.org/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
