The Pentagon on Thursday said it intends to spend $400 million to develop a giant dirigible that will float 65,000 feet above the Earth for 10 years, providing intricate radar surveillance of the vehicles, planes and people below.
“It is absolutely revolutionary,” The LA Times quoted Werner JA Dahm, chief scientist for the air force, on the proposed unmanned airship -- describing it as a cross between a satellite and a spy plane. The 450-foot-long craft would give the US military a better understanding of an adversary's movements, habits and tactics, officials said. According to the report, the ability to constantly monitor small movements in a wide area, such as the Pak-Afghan border, would dramatically improve military intelligence. “It is constant surveillance, uninterrupted,” Dahm said.
http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\03\14\story_14-3-2009_pg7_39Note: I find this article entirely believeable. I also find it interesting that it shows up on a website intended to inform foreign nationals. Why are there no American news outlets informing American citzens that their government is developing huge airborne weapons platforms to spy on them?
Oh, right. The thrust is that these instruments for violating privacy will be used to spy on our "enemies."
... Say... did you see that article where Americans who support third-party candidates are being called "terrorists?"
