Plattsburg, up, and running again,..

[SEATJERKER]

...We're moving in the right direction towards protecting America again up here on the Northern border, seems Plattsburg is reopening under the homeland security, starting off slow, but will be moving along, Amen


...Closed military facility in Plattsburgh becomes a permanent station in terror war on U.S.-Canada line

By MICHAEL HILL, Associated Press
First published: Saturday, October 9, 2004

PLATTSBURGH -- Beefed-up air patrols designed to intercept terrorists, drug smugglers and illegal aliens along the nation's vast northeastern border are taking off from a base commissioned Friday.

The new Air and Marine Operations facility at a former Air Force base in the northeast corner of New York is one of five that will be responsible for tightening surveillance along the U.S.-Canadian border.

The first facility opened in August in Bellingham, Wash. Others are tentatively planned near Detroit, in Grand Forks, N.D., and in Great Falls, Mont.

National security is a main concern. But Department of Homeland Security helicopter pilot Dennis Del Grosso said agents on patrol are looking for anything from low-flying planes trying to skirt radar to illegal aliens or drug runners trying to sneak over the border on snowmobiles.

"Vehicles, boats and airplanes that carry drugs or illegal immigrants can just as easily carry terrorists or weapons of mass destruction," said Charles Stallworth, director of Air and Marine operations.

Stallworth said the five bases, when up and running, will give agents the ability to respond anywhere along the more than 4,000 mile border within an hour.

Border patrol agents say they have noticed more air smuggling efforts over the border recently.

Planes from the old Plattsburgh Air Force Base will patrol the largely wooded border east to Maine, and along Lake Ontario and the western portion of Lake Erie. High-speed boats from the base will regularly patrol Lake Champlain and cross into the St. Lawrence River and other waterways as needed, said Department of Homeland Security officials.

Two prop planes and two helicopters will be based at the new facility, as will some 40 people.

The new northern bases are part of a larger effort by homeland security officials to keep a closer eye on the largely unprotected border. The government already relies on periodic patrols by radar-equipped planes from Plattsburgh and elsewhere, but the permanent stations are designed to allow regular surveillance.

"www.timesunion.com"

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[Jerry D]

Sounds good to Me also