Thai Govt Winds Up Debate On Nasa's Request For Use Of U-Tapao Base

[dcutman]

As a matter of fact NASA is very into weather, and always has been. If the US wants to spy on somebody, they will do it anytime, and does not need Thailand to base a spy operation, or use a 50 year old converted spy plane to do it.

Interesting that an agency like NASA responsible for so many patents and inventions from the micro chip to military drones couldn't figure out how to use the civilian BKK or DM airports (minutes away) for this non-secret missions but instead needed to be based within a military section of an airport built by the US Military during the Vietnam war.

Interesting too that the US can spy on anyone anytime but they use these spy drones both foreign and domestically that need to take off relatively close to their target for both timing and range restrictions.

It is absolutely ignorant to not question the US motives and even more ignorant to believe you know what technology NASA has or is working on that they could be using the Monsoons to hide behind. There is not a country in the world that would not be suspicious of such a request and not a country with any back bone what so ever that wouldn't want to discuss such a matter before giving approval.

To believe that NASA is not an agency whose main purpose is technology development for the military/defense of the USA is extremely naive.

This has to be one of the most ridiculous thing I have heard. Not everything the US does is a covert operation and it is ignorant to even think that.

For one NASA is not using spy drones in this study. They need to study the upper atmosphere. Thats why they converted an old U-2 spy plane, it is capable of flying over 70,000 feet. They could have requested to use BKK or DMG, but why would they do that? They dont want to disrupt or be disrupted by civil air traffic. Not sure if you have seen a U-2 land before but it is a little bit dramatic and needs lots of space and ground crew. Make sense???

Like I said if the US want to spy on somebody, they do not make appointments to do it, and they dont send NASA either.

[Nisa]

As a matter of fact NASA is very into weather, and always has been. If the US wants to spy on somebody, they will do it anytime, and does not need Thailand to base a spy operation, or use a 50 year old converted spy plane to do it.

Interesting that an agency like NASA responsible for so many patents and inventions from the micro chip to military drones couldn't figure out how to use the civilian BKK or DM airports (minutes away) for this non-secret missions but instead needed to be based within a military section of an airport built by the US Military during the Vietnam war.

Interesting too that the US can spy on anyone anytime but they use these spy drones both foreign and domestically that need to take off relatively close to their target for both timing and range restrictions.

It is absolutely ignorant to not question the US motives and even more ignorant to believe you know what technology NASA has or is working on that they could be using the Monsoons to hide behind. There is not a country in the world that would not be suspicious of such a request and not a country with any back bone what so ever that wouldn't want to discuss such a matter before giving approval.

To believe that NASA is not an agency whose main purpose is technology development for the military/defense of the USA is extremely naive.

This has to be one of the most ridiculous thing I have heard. Not everything the US does is a covert operation and it is ignorant to even think that.

What is ridiculous is to not just pretend that something was said that wasn't ("everything the US does is a covert") but just as ridiculous to believe there isn't a possibility what they are up to is not entirely what they saying it is. But if a country wants to grant such access to the US Government to their airspace and military portion of an airport without further discussion and consideration of possible ill results with other partners then so be it but I think in the mind of any rational person such permission being granted without scrutiny would be idiotic.

Edited October 4, 2012 by Nisa

[Nisa]

Hmmmmmmm

After Francis Gary Powers was shot down over the Soviet Union during a CIA spy flight on May 1. 1960, NASA issued a press release with a cover story about a U-2 conducting weather research that may have strayed off course after the pilot reported difficulties with his oxygen equipment. To bolster the cover-up, a U-2 was quickly painted in NASA markings, with a fictitious NASA serial number, and put on display for the news media at the NASA Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base on May 6, 1960

http://en.wikipedia....2000-000112.jpg

Edited October 4, 2012 by Nisa

[Nisa]

They could have requested to use BKK or DMG, but why would they do that? They dont want to disrupt or be disrupted by civil air traffic. Not sure if you have seen a U-2 land before but it is a little bit dramatic and needs lots of space and ground crew. Make sense???

Makes no sense at all. Unless you are a spokesman for NASA and coming out with a new reason ... what your saying is completely false and flies in the face of NASA's statements of it being solely about location.

U-2R, and TR-1, U-2S, TU-2S

• Length: 63.1 feet
  
• Wingspan: 104.8 feet
  
• Tail Height: 16.7 feet
  

747 Class Airplane

• Length .... 231 ft 10.2 in (70.6 m)
  
• Wing Span .... 195 ft 8 in (59.6 m)
  
• Tail Height .... 20 ft (6.1 m)
  

They could have easily gotten commercial access to BKK just like other aircraft and could have easily filed flight plans ... well that is if it was a foreign government project needing military security.

Edited October 4, 2012 by Nisa

[dcutman]

They could have requested to use BKK or DMG, but why would they do that? They dont want to disrupt or be disrupted by civil air traffic. Not sure if you have seen a U-2 land before but it is a little bit dramatic and needs lots of space and ground crew. Make sense???

Makes no sense at all. Unless you are a spokesman for NASA and coming out with a new reason ... what your saying is completely false and flies in the face of NASA's statements of it being solely about location.

U-2R, and TR-1, U-2S, TU-2S

• Length: 63.1 feet
  
• Wingspan: 104.8 feet
  
• Tail Height: 16.7 feet
  

747 Class Airplane

• Length .... 231 ft 10.2 in (70.6 m)
  
• Wing Span .... 195 ft 8 in (59.6 m)
  
• Tail Height .... 20 ft (6.1 m)
  

They could have easily gotten commercial access to BKK just like other aircraft and could have easily filed flight plans ... well that is if it was a foreign government project needing military security.

I dont live in a mental state of paranoia, so I guess I cant understand your thinking.

[Payboy]

Thai Govt Winds Up Debate On Nasa's Request For Use Of U-Tapao Base

Nice bit of wind-up it was too.

[Nisa]

They could have requested to use BKK or DMG, but why would they do that? They dont want to disrupt or be disrupted by civil air traffic. Not sure if you have seen a U-2 land before but it is a little bit dramatic and needs lots of space and ground crew. Make sense???

Makes no sense at all. Unless you are a spokesman for NASA and coming out with a new reason ... what your saying is completely false and flies in the face of NASA's statements of it being solely about location.

U-2R, and TR-1, U-2S, TU-2S

• Length: 63.1 feet
  
• Wingspan: 104.8 feet
  
• Tail Height: 16.7 feet
  

747 Class Airplane

• Length .... 231 ft 10.2 in (70.6 m)
  
• Wing Span .... 195 ft 8 in (59.6 m)
  
• Tail Height .... 20 ft (6.1 m)
  

They could have easily gotten commercial access to BKK just like other aircraft and could have easily filed flight plans ... well that is if it was a foreign government project needing military security.

I dont live in a mental state of paranoia, so I guess I cant understand your thinking.

I don't mean this to be a slam but I don't think being cautious to what is a very possible possibility is being paranoid but I think going out of your way to be ignorant of this possibility is strange. Can you honestly say that Thailand should have just granted this access without discussion by those elected by the people to protect Thailand and serve its people on an issue like this where even if only a 10% possibility the US is lying about its full intention and that if something were to go wrong it could effect the relationship with other partners in the region while delaying such decision until time to debate the issue has no ill effect on any relationship (including the US) and if the mission is what it says it is, they can do it next year.

[cloudhopper]

Earlier quote when project cancelled ...

"It is too early to say at this time whether resources will be available to revisit the project next year," U.S. Embassy spokesman Walter Braunohler told The Associated Press

Translation - You blew your chance.

Who blew their chance NASA? Wasn't it them wanting something from Thailand? Thailand didn't ask for them to come and it is very naive to believe the US wanted to come here for the purpose of helping countries in the SE Asia. Sounds to me NASA needs to get its act together and start planning things a bit better. Absolutely idiotic to believe it is not something Thailand not only has a right to debate but an obligation to debate in terms of allowing a foreign government agency, specifically one that is involved in military spy operations, operate within its borders.

No Thailand blew a great opportunity to get some useful scientific data for the region, blew a great opportunity for their scientists to participate in the process and blew away any pretense of intelligent leadership. I never claimed there is no right to debate the issue; Thailand is a sovereign and therefore has the right to conduct its affairs as it pleases, whether it benefits the nation or not.

[dcutman]

They could have requested to use BKK or DMG, but why would they do that? They dont want to disrupt or be disrupted by civil air traffic. Not sure if you have seen a U-2 land before but it is a little bit dramatic and needs lots of space and ground crew. Make sense???

Makes no sense at all. Unless you are a spokesman for NASA and coming out with a new reason ... what your saying is completely false and flies in the face of NASA's statements of it being solely about location.

U-2R, and TR-1, U-2S, TU-2S

• Length: 63.1 feet
  
• Wingspan: 104.8 feet
  
• Tail Height: 16.7 feet
  

747 Class Airplane

• Length .... 231 ft 10.2 in (70.6 m)
  
• Wing Span .... 195 ft 8 in (59.6 m)
  
• Tail Height .... 20 ft (6.1 m)
  

They could have easily gotten commercial access to BKK just like other aircraft and could have easily filed flight plans ... well that is if it was a foreign government project needing military security.

I dont live in a mental state of paranoia, so I guess I cant understand your thinking.

I don't mean this to be a slam but I don't think being cautious to what is a very possible possibility is being paranoid but I think going out of your way to be ignorant of this possibility is strange. Can you honestly say that Thailand should have just granted this access without discussion by those elected by the people to protect Thailand and serve its people on an issue like this where even if only a 10% possibility the US is lying about its full intention and that if something were to go wrong it could effect the relationship with other partners in the region while delaying such decision until time to debate the issue has no ill effect on any relationship (including the US) and if the mission is what it says it is, they can do it next year.

For Gods sake Nisa

NASA requested to use a airbase to conduct a weather related scientific study several months before that study needed to start. The Thai Govt did not act on the request when it was submitted. NASA cancelled the study, they did not beg to come here, or use any covert force to do that study. That is all there is to it. The Government had months to discuss this project, they chose not to, END OF STORY. I would think NASA would not even try, again after todays news, it is obvious this government cannot make sound,decisive decisions on anything, least of all a scientific study.

[Halion]

What a incredible waste of both time and money. A day late and a dollar short. Only plus point is while they are wasting their time on this, they are not up to other skullduggery.

[BillyBobThai]

I find that the reason that NASA might have wanted to use the U Tapao runway is its length and the fact that it is not highly used. This airplane appears highly difficult to land and as such you would not want to try to land at a commercial airport with a long runway like Swampy. I, as an American, know fully well that the US government will LIE, at the drop of a hat, if it is in their intrest. I personally think that this mission was purely scientific. From my view point, there is nothing in Thailand that we can not get just by paying off some greedy politician.

Here is a site about the U2 that I found quite interesting.

http://jalopnik.com/5537629/the-140+mph-chase-cars-of-the-us-air-force

[Nisa]

Mon, June 04 2012, 3:05 PM http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/06/04/questions-over-nasa-request-use-thailand-s-u-tapao.html

The plan by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, an independent agency of the US government, to use Thailand's naval airport as the base for its most complex and ambitious airborne science campaign of the year has raised suspicion. Some critics are worried the campaign may involve security issues.

The campaign is designed to probe a vast expanse of the Southeast Asian atmosphere from top to bottom ... "Southeast Asia is a really important part of the world. A large fraction of the world's population lives there," Brian Toon, a veteran of NASA airborne campaigns, said on NASA'S website.

NASA'S initiative comes as the US plans to move the bulk of its naval fleet to Asia-Pacific by 2020 as part of its strategy to enhance its regional presence.

[Thaddeus]

"Southeast Asia is a really important part of the world. A large fraction of the world's population lives there," Brian Toon, a veteran of NASA airborne campaigns, said on NASA'S website.

Does this guy get paid for sating the obvious?

[Nisa]

"Southeast Asia is a really important part of the world. A large fraction of the world's population lives there," Brian Toon, a veteran of NASA airborne campaigns, said on NASA'S website.

Does this guy get paid for sating the obvious?

Not sure but I found it laughable that the US during the "great recession" is indicating it wants to take on such an ambitious project for the benefit of the people in SE Asia.

[rakman]

For example, the government should clarify the impact of climate research on energy exploration work in the Gulf of Thailand and the involvement of an oil and gas conglomerate in the research, he said

forgive my ignorance, but these two are related how ?...

The oil platform workers could look to the sky and delay drilling..

[rakman]

"Southeast Asia is a really important part of the world. A large fraction of the world's population lives there," Brian Toon, a veteran of NASA airborne campaigns, said on NASA'S website.

Does this guy get paid for sating the obvious?

Not sure but I found it laughable that the US during the "great recession" is indicating it wants to take on such an ambitious project for the benefit of the people in SE Asia.

Once some experiment gets into the budget, it seldom gets deleted, even when there is economic pressures. The US hasn't slowed down spending, it just increased borrowing.

[Nisa]

"Southeast Asia is a really important part of the world. A large fraction of the world's population lives there," Brian Toon, a veteran of NASA airborne campaigns, said on NASA'S website.

Does this guy get paid for sating the obvious?

Not sure but I found it laughable that the US during the "great recession" is indicating it wants to take on such an ambitious project for the benefit of the people in SE Asia.

Once some experiment gets into the budget, it seldom gets deleted, even when there is economic pressures. The US hasn't slowed down spending, it just increased borrowing.

The point (sarcasm) was that they wouldn't give a rat's a@@ about the people in SE Asia during an economic boom and to say they are doing something for this reasons should indicate people should be suspicious.

[cloudhopper]

Not sure but I found it laughable that the US during the "great recession" is indicating it wants to take on such an ambitious project for the benefit of the people in SE Asia.

"It is too early to say at this time whether resources will be available to revisit the project next year," U.S. Embassy spokesman Walter Braunohler told The Associated Press"

The US has found it laughable as well, and won't be wasting any more resources on it. Glad to hear that the Thai government found nothing suspicious after their hearings on the cancelled project though.

[LomSak27]

The only reason Nisa is yelling conspiracy is because it was the Democrats used it as an issue to get at Yingluck and the Reds.

Glad the Dems could use it to club the Reds but don't expect me to believe it's true or for that matter that Nisa actually believes it either , or Democratic Politicians who came up with this "issue" believe it to be true. They and you are just playing games, and if they dems said the moon is cheese, well I'm sure we can expect Nisa to put in a good word about stilton on their behalf

Month back I sent e mails my senators and congressman to say its not worth it, cancel it, forget dealing with Thailand during this period of internal political infighting. Yes, even if in this age of climate change, rainy season or monsoons are thought to be becoming more volatile and potentially dangerous

[dcutman]

The only reason Nisa is yelling conspiracy is because it was the Democrats used it as an issue to get at Yingluck and the Reds.

Glad the Dems could use it to club the Reds but don't expect me to believe it's true or for that matter that Nisa actually believes it either , or Democratic Politicians who came up with this "issue" believe it to be true. They and you are just playing games, and if they dems said the moon is cheese, well I'm sure we can expect Nisa to put in a good word about stilton on their behalf

Month back I sent e mails my senators and congressman to say its not worth it, cancel it, forget dealing with Thailand during this period of internal political infighting. Yes, even if in this age of climate change, rainy season or monsoons are thought to be becoming more volatile and potentially dangerous

Try not to entertain Nisa anymore, I thought it was paranoia, but it is obvious he just loves to argue conspiracy theory's.

[metisdead]

Off topic posts have been removed. Let's drop the conspiracy theories.

[Nisa]

The only reason Nisa is yelling conspiracy is because it was the Democrats used it as an issue to get at Yingluck and the Reds.

Glad the Dems could use it to club the Reds but don't expect me to believe it's true or for that matter that Nisa actually believes it either , or Democratic Politicians who came up with this "issue" believe it to be true. They and you are just playing games, and if they dems said the moon is cheese, well I'm sure we can expect Nisa to put in a good word about stilton on their behalf

Month back I sent e mails my senators and congressman to say its not worth it, cancel it, forget dealing with Thailand during this period of internal political infighting. Yes, even if in this age of climate change, rainy season or monsoons are thought to be becoming more volatile and potentially dangerous

Try not to entertain Nisa anymore, I thought it was paranoia, but it is obvious he just loves to argue conspiracy theory's.

Interesting to believe that suggesting it is possible, and should be considered by the Thai Government, that the US government (NASA) may not have been forthcoming in their request to use a military base in Thailand for flights is somehow a conspiracy theory especially given NASA history and secret projects for the military and the stance the Thai Government took in deciding in terms of looking into such possibility and is the basic gist of the OP

Critics objected to the abrupt ending of the debate, saying lingering doubts persisted, particularly the suspicion that the US might have exploited the climate research for a spy mission.

Sukampol said the military leaders did not view the research as a security issue but a scientific one.

Edited October 5, 2012 by Nisa