Warbird Information Exchange

I offer the terrorists only win if you let them win in your mind. If folks say they "won" because you have to go through a metal detector, have someone look in your bag, or can't get onto part of a military base you have no reason being on in the first place that is not what I call victory. I call that a change. I call that an inconvenience. If someone throws fake blood (or worse) on an aircraft display no one would be happy.

Is it a shame that the behind the scenes tour is temporarily closed? Yes. Have authorities over reacted at times, Yes. But I'm sure some of the same folks would cry "my tax dollars" if they had to add security or busses to shuttle folks to that part of the base because someone did not haver a valid military ID, and would cry "why didn't they do more".

I went to the NMUSAF less than one month ago. I left my backpack in my car, had my keys and cellphone in my hand and literary walked through the metal detector without breaking stride and the guy waving me through. I enjoyed a great visit and I am thankful to live in such a great country and visit such a great collection.

* sorry this was supposed to be in the NMUSAF behind the scenes tour thread. I can't seem to delete this sorry (did we lose a delete post button? .....

I'm just upset they under-reacted in my opinion. Personally, I think they should take all of the important historical artifacts in this country, take them off display, relocate them to Fort Knox. Only the important people like senators, presidents and maybe the odd governor, but sure as heck not state legislators, should be allowed to see them. Really, we just can't it risk anymore and people like and you and I have no real "need" to see these when we can look at pictures of them in history books. After all, they're already letting you keep some of the money that you collect for them.

I respectfully would like to say that a national museum closing the doors on a HUGE part of the exhibit is a big let down and disappointment. I wish our government would actually fix problems and not just slap more restrictions on everybody.

Sorry, trying not to bring in politics. But it gets very frustrating when our love of history keeps getting locked down. This is the land of the free and I believe everyone should be able to decide their own risk for themselves if they want to go to an air museum that might be under terrorist attack.


Thanks,
Nathan

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Very well said Nathan. I frankly even challenge the premise. You have the maim museum, a major attraction, thousands of potential victims, with the added bonus of saying "we hit an US Air Force base." They don't need to hit the behind the scenes tour with 22 people and a bus driver to achieve their goal. Telling me that they are closing this tour for my safety is ridiculous. If these are the minds that are in charge or our national security I'm seriously concerned.

As has been said before, the reason the Behind The Scenes tours have been suspended is due to increased security levels at all military bases nationwide. I don't think the tours themselves were a specific concern, they're just a casualty of the situation. They brass aren't so much concerned with the safety of civilian visitors, but the security of the base and the safety of base personnel..which means restricting access to civilians who have no actual need to be there. Whether or not the nationwide hightened security levels are warranted is another discussion entirely.

SN

sorry, but at the expense of getting political, the terrorists have won, they have altered our way of life and taken away freedoms in the name of "security". No longer can you walk along the hangars and see what is going on, no longer can a kid get to talk to a pilot or mechanic to learn about aviation. every airport is fenced off, everyone must have "badges". I got started in aviation by riding my bike to the airport, if I did that now I would be arrested.

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As said, this is not museum specific, but is part of increased security levels at military bases nationwide. Since this is turning political, topic locked.

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