Homestead AFB wasn’t rebuilt after the last hurricane through there. Most of the current SA missiles are mobile and individual locations are no longer ringed, as everyone learned on 9/11. Air Defense went away with the Cold War. In general, defensive weapons have gone out of favor which has cost us lives, as the strategy has shifted to total offense.

The US military has forgotten what a balanced approach looks like, which is why so many troops were killed in the early days of the Iraq War while riding in plastic bodied Humvees wearing flack vests instead of what was needed. Planners lacked the necessary respect for the intelligence and courage of possible enemy forces, and expected them to fold up and go away after being subjected to ‘Shock and Awe’. They really missed the obvious – that pushing a military out of an invaded country, like the liberation of Kuwait, is a lot easier than attacking them in their own country.

I was actually there (Everglades) during my official trip to the USA in the late 80’s. It was one of the few above-ground facilities (due to the high water table), most were below ground. Given when they were designed and built, they were extremely impressive. The missile was able to achieve mach 1 within it’s own length at launch and a terminal velocity of almost mach 4, I remember. 🙂 During the Cold War, there were about 130 operational bases in some 28 States that had several Nike-Hercules batteries, especially Alaska, Maryland/DC, Florida, California and others.

LOL I’m sure you know more about it than I do Bryan. I’m just sayin… 😉 😀

It was primarily this period and my time working for GD (officially as an Aus DoD liaison) that rekindled my interest in Engineering, and helped fuel my increasing distrust and dislike of the Military and especially Intel services.

They were… interesting times. 🙂

The largest air force base in the US [and possibly the world] is here because you have to like sand and pine trees to live away from the coast. Being remote is what it has always been about.

Yep. Must be a Texas only blog. Wouldn’t be a surprise. 😉 LOL

I’ve lived in the arse-end of nowhere, so you have my sympathy Bryan.

probably everybody is closer to a major hub than you are. 😀

I would venture to say that cinco bayou is the pickax of the south, though maybe, just maybe, not quite as fictional.

Hipparchia is probably connecting through New Orleans, so she is closer to a major hub than I am.

I’ll keep checking.

ah, it’s a Texans-only blog! 🙂

I’m originally from texas, currently living in florida (I’m still here, steve!), this || far from Alabama (which means I’m maybe 50 miles closer to texas than bryan is). maybe some alligator in the blackwater river chomped down on some important cable. 😉

(I believe h is in FL unless she’s moved. People do that when I’m not looking… 🙂 )

*shrug* 😉