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So What Happened In El Paso?

The abrupt closure of El Paso’s airspace late Tuesday was precipitated when Customs and Border Protection officials deployed an anti-drone laser on loan from the Department of Defense without giving aviation officials enough time to assess the risks to commercial aircraft, according to multiple people briefed on the situation.

The initial story from the Administration was that there was a sudden incursion of drones from Mexican drug cartels.

It was a party balloon.

Congratulations to the parents of the young lady, who was celebrating her Quinceañera in Ciudad Juárez. You almost took out a civilian plane or two over El Paso.

Apparently military personnel were present, I'm guessing they were training CBP on how to use the weapon, but that was the CBP doing.

But who thought it was a good idea to hand military lasers to the same trigger-happy agency that's been killing US citizens in the streets of Minneapolis? Was it our DUI hire, Sec. of "War", or some other GI Joe wanna be.

WatchVal Kilmer's "Real Genius", or Star Trek and learn what a laser can do.

I am wondering what else we don't know under this Administration.
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Carla · 61-69, F
A lot. We don't know a lot.

A laser on the border...ffs.
In the hands of cowardly, trigger happy goons. These guys, scared of a balloon, were the guys scared of an unarmed, over powered nurse.

Is shooting a laser into someone elses space an act of war? I mean, wouldn't the actual beam carry?
Northwest · M
@Carla While the beam can travel indefinitely (it's light and travels at the speed of light), the current generation of military lasers, have an effective combat range of 10 miles, so they can cut a swath through the air, beyond the range of any commercial airliner.
Carla · 61-69, F
@Northwest so then when we shot toward the border, hitting a childs balloon, likely loosed with a wish, the beam would have traveled into mexican airspace, jeopardizing them.
Seems a needless act of aggression.