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How Trump's secret trip to Iraq became not-so-secret

提交时间：2 年以前

It was a crisp winter morning in Sheffield, England, when amateur photographer and plane enthusiast Alan Meloy looked out his kitchen window and noticed a large trail in the sky. He didn't know he was about to accidentally help uncover a highly sensitive, secret presidential trip to a conflict zone (www.cnn.com) 更多...

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thomas sommerville 2 年以前 12

modern inexpensive cameras are well capable of identifying aircraft type and operators even at 40,000ft.My Nikon B700 at less than £400 is an example.

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jmilleratp 2 年以前 19

You may have billions of dollars worth of security, intelligence and subterfuge. But, I have a camera with a telephoto lens. :-)

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joel wiley 2 年以前 8

Who you gonna believe, your trusted government or your own lyin' eyes?

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Matt Lacey 2 年以前 5

Your loss. An intellectual would take all into account.

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Albert Sauerman 2 年以前 12

It would be so nice to read an informative article and not have it fall into the political garbage that it ends with. How hard is it (it must be for some) to keep trash talk/politics out of it?

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Dubslow 2 年以前 3

Just like the SSV Normandy!

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Ron Fletcher 2 年以前 5

So much secrecy uncovered by an amateur photographer. .

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David Ingram 2 年以前 5

Various VC USA blue and white aircraft fly all the time without the President aboard. I've seen one of the 747s making approaches at WPAFB several times under non AF1 conditions. Very strict rules when it is AF1. As a vet I thought the trip was a great idea.

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joel wiley 2 年以前 4

Callsign may have said REACH358, but the ICAO tag mapped to VC-25.
How many R-Pis and Planeplotter groundstations logged it across the UK & Europe?
I presume FA, out of courtesy, did not report it.

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Ben Bosley 2 年以前 8

Remember when Bush Jr did a similar trip they changed the aircraft code to a Gulfstream V. Flightaware doesn't track military flights.

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william baker 2 年以前 2

Ya and almost got spotted by a British airways pilot who called in and asked if Air Force one was in the area!!! Controller said no that was a gulfstream aircraft. If he spoke up and said no that was a 747 it would have blown their cover.

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Al Miller 2 年以前 4

With the addition of social media, one mans hobby can be converted to espionage.

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R Jolly 2 年以前 7

So many cloaks of secrecy until then someone remarks, "but the Emperor has no clothes"

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Lawrence Green 2 年以前 2

My admiration and respect to the Real Troops in conflict zones.

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Ron Edwards 2 年以前 6

2. I'm not sure the ceiling limit in a 200 series, but I'm sure smooth air was part of that decision. light chop might mess up the Donalds hair!!
Also, hard to hide anything on a "severe clear" morning, In this day altitude may not help either, ask the fine folks at Air Malaysia. Just sayin...

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Tim Hollars 2 年以前 4

I wish there could be a politics free zone SOMEWHERE where I could hide from it.

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jeff slack 2 年以前 -4

Yes, just like the Germans did while they were burning Jews...............unfortunately when politics and people sink as low as they currently have; every platform needs to be the voice of the people.

Go hide under a rock or live in a cave.

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djames225 2 年以前 6

Sorry but some platforms DON'T need to be the political voice of people, and this is 1 of them.

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FAwareM 2 年以前 4

That's "President" Trump, CNN headline writers. You should get used to it as you will be seeing it for another six years.

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j m 2 年以前 -1

That's redundant; everyone knows he's the president.

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sstuff 2 年以前 2

That is respect for the office.

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joel wiley 2 年以前 0

Except for those who know the term is an oxymoron. Just sayin'

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siriusloon 2 年以前 -2

And you never, ever let it go when the media said "Obama" rather than "President Obama", right?

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No Name 2 年以前 4

What a surprise, a Fake News CNN "Article" in an attempt to show something negative about POTUS. Shocker.

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Al Crosby 2 年以前 6

FYI. I ignore conspiracy comments by people who do not use their real name.

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joel wiley 2 年以前 1

There is a fine line between 'show something negative about LOTUS' and straight news reporting. Very, Very fine.

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WALLACE24 2 年以前 8

Hard to get news anymore without spin. We all have our own opinions, we don’t need theirs every 3 seconds.

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orvlnet 2 年以前 6

There never has and never will be such thing as "unbiased news". Everyone has some sort of bias, even the most reputable news organizations. The key is for such organizations to wear their bias on their sleeve and present all sides to a story. This is the key difference between news outlets like Fox and the NY Times.

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WALLACE24 2 年以前 6

Spinning the news(including adding false narratives) and having a bias are different to me. News media is political showbiz. I’m just glad the trip was a success. The troops deserve it.

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siriusloon 2 年以前 -1

The NYT regularly publishes columnists, op-ed pieces, and letters from conservatives. How many liberals get their fare share of the airtime on Faux News?

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orvlnet 2 年以前 -7

Strap on your tin hats everyone, we've got a Trump fan in the house!

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william baker 2 年以前 0

And we should be worried Y.

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siriusloon 2 年以前 0

Exactly what was negative about Trump in the article? Just because the news media merely mentions his name doesn't mean it's negative or fake. He's a big boy, he doesn't need people to look after him. He can yell at CNN louder than you ever can. Get a hobby.

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jeff slack 2 年以前 -1

Not hard for something negative to be seen or said about 45; even FOX has woken up..............but we are talking about the president's security not fake news.

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siriusloon 2 年以前 3

IIRC, both Bush 43 and Obama made at least one trip over there in a C-17 to maintain security. I doubt anyone in the Pentagon had enough nerve to even suggest it to tRump.

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jetserf 2 年以前 7

When did those trips happen? In all of the instances I’ve read about the Presidents traveled to war zones in a VC-25A.

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riley wingo 2 年以前 2

I mean, we are not 100% engaged there right now, so the need for a C-17 is not there

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Matt Lacey 2 年以前 1

Analysis based on NO evidence. Don't fly or design aircraft if that's your criterion.

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PETE AYERS 2 年以前 2

trip upset liberals, best they could come up with was to be offended by Melonia wore “work boots”. Guess works boots do scare liberals...

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djames225 2 年以前 2

WTH has that got to do with the aviation side of things?

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David Ingram 2 年以前 6

V is used for the decked out versions of C (cargo) type aircraft just as R, E, and K are used for reconnaissance, electronics, and tanker versions. ie, VC-135(retired AF!), RC-135 and EC-135 (spy planes), and KC-135 (air-air refuelers). All versions built on the same airframe.

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David Ingram 2 年以前 3

Flew many times on T-29 aircraft {trainer} aircraft converted for courier duty that had a camera in the back that you weren't told about. Should have been called a RVT-29.

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siriusloon 2 年以前 2

That would negate the advantage of not telling people about it, don't you think?

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orvlnet 2 年以前 2

1. VC stands for "VIP Carrier".
2. They were trying to look like a cargo flight on trackers (Reach callsign). Those aircraft usually fly around 30k ft. Even at 45k ft a zoom lens would still be able to ID the aircraft quite easily.

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siriusloon 2 年以前 2

No, it does not. The "C" is the Basic Mission Letter and means that it's a Cargo aircraft. The "V" prefix is the Modified Mission Letter and indicates that it's modified and equipped for VIP use. All of this is easily verified. Google is your friend.

In theory, numbers in each series are supposed to be used sequentially, but the "C" for "Cargo" series jumps around like the rest of them. Basically, when this designation was assigned, "25" was available and the people who suggested and approved it liked it.

They're talking about the replacement "Air Force Ones" being designated as VC-25B, but I think they'll pick something else. The 747-8 is very different from the 747-200 and I think most politicians, especially presidents, would rather have an "A" than a "B" model.

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joel wiley 2 年以前 1

If it goes down in this administration it will be VC45(THE GREATEST EVER)T

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ROBERT MILLS JR 2 年以前 -1

Guessing that like most aircraft, they fly at the most fuel efficient and tail wind altitudes.
Other considerations such as turbulence, other aircraft and concealment from hostiles may be involved.
I'll put in a call to Sara Sanders in the meantime to see if she'll answer the question.

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David Ingram 2 年以前 1

??? Is Sheffield,UK on the flight path of a normal DC-Bagdad flight or did the VC-25 stop by Lakenheath and that would explain that altitude. They stopped at Ramstein on the way back.

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siriusloon 2 年以前 2

Google "prevailing winds".

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j m 2 年以前 1

What about the comments from the Reuters reporter and Trump that they kept the window shades shut and the lights down for the flight for security reasons? I could see why they may have the plane dark closer to landing in Iraq but why would closing the window shades affect security?

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ROBERT MILLS JR 2 年以前 -5

Guessing the window shades were down to avoid showing it wasn't a cargo 747 flight.
Safe to assume that all 747 flights into Iraq are Cargo.
Sophisticated terrorists might suspect that a stunt like this was in the cards at any given time, and only had to give orders to shoot and any 747 or 757 with window lights aglow.
That being said, I doubt they'll be caught off guard like that again, especially those proven, nasty, Obama, Clinton and Democrat funded and supported anti-American Iranians.

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siriusloon 2 年以前 3

The blue and white paint and highly-polished aluminum would be less of a clue than window shades being open?

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orvlnet 2 年以前 2

Great comment, right up until the wingnut closing statement.

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ROBERT MILLS JR 2 年以前 3

Yep, I agree. I should've kept that to myself. Won't do it again. My apologies.

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Peter McGrath 2 年以前 -2

Hmm, FL310? Ability to be spotted by amateur photogs? AF1 Colors? This could have been a decoy for the benefit of CNN and the others so they'd have something to talk about. They're always ready to take the bait.

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orvlnet 2 年以前 6

Even at FL450 a 747 is clearly identifiable on a clear day with any decent telephoto lens. That's irrelevant.

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joel wiley 2 年以前 5

Setting up a decoy to trick CNN during a government shutdown?
That certainly would be the highest and best use of our precious tax dollars, wouldn't it? /s

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Chuck Chall 2 年以前 0

This guy has just assured that no one will ever be able to do that again. They'll be using a different aircraft or it will be painted in some other colors, fly at night, something. The Secret Service pays attention to stuff like this.

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siriusloon 2 年以前 3

How reassuring that they didn't think of it before the flight.

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Bill Sampson 2 年以前 18

You know it is very disappointing and proves that even here on this forum some people just cant help themselves keeping to the topic.

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riley wingo 2 年以前 0

True that, sad!

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dnorthern 2 年以前 1

Bill. You are acting like a childish moron. Grow up and act the adult your chronological age demands

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orvlnet 2 年以前 -6

Yea c'mon Bill, don't you know you're not allowed to talk that way about our dear leader?

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william baker 2 年以前 0

He maybe a messed up president but it was us americans that elected him and now we have to listen to him rant and rave. GET OVER IT.

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Gary Bain 2 年以前 2

You are a dangerous moron moron....

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siriusloon 2 年以前 5

Because the BBC version has big words you wouldn't understand.

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djames225 2 年以前 3

What would you rather have them post??..The way I read it, seemed pretty clear.

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Bill Fox 2 年以前 -2

you would prefer Fox news ?

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WALLACE24 2 年以前 -8

Maybe it’s the last presidential visit.

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WALLACE24 2 年以前 1

Meaning: it’s past time to leave.

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siriusloon 2 年以前 0

After once again proving to allies whose very existence depends on the *promised* U.S. support can and usually will evaporate with no notice. Why would anyone ever trust the US. You betrayed the Hmong in Vietnam, thousands of other Vietnamese and Cambodians who were abandoned when Hanoi fell, countless interpreters and fixers in Iraq and Afghanistan, and now the Kurds. Trump claimed Obama "founded" ISIS, but what he's just done is put their recruiting on steroids.

Sometimes you need to consider the long-term consequences of a decision rather that tweet something impulsive that not even your own DoD had any idea about, let alone your allies, solely for the short-term benefit of getting approval from Faux News and a few keyboard warriors on here.

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WALLACE24 2 年以前 2

1. Allies are born out of need not friendship.
2. Vietnam war based on BS (domino theory)
3. Hanoi didn’t fall. Saigon did.
4. Gen Westmoreland lied to Presidents. Every GI realized no win without invading the north.
5.President does not report to Dod. Other way around.
6. If we stay longer in Middle East then leave, what will be different than now? Americans are weary of spending life and $.
7. Neither Obama or Trump did or should put all their faith in generals or Dod.
8. Not a keyboard warrior Jack! Been there, done it.

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joel wiley 2 年以前 2

Often the truth hurts, and gets downvoted. Doesn't change its truthfulness.

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Roger Curtiss 2 年以前 -2

Let's see...it has pretty much become a holiday tradition that POTUS shows up in a war zone to shmooz with some troops so what is the big deal. Just fly him in unannounced (if these trips are actually necessary-which is a debatable) and that should take care of it. Some guy in England saw AF1 fly over his house...so what!

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