Mystery missile launch reported off California coast

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Pentagon officials say they cannot explain reports of a missile launch off the coast of California on Monday.

A CBS News helicopter captured what looked like the vapour trail of a missile rising from the water about 35 miles (56 km) offshore.

"Right now all indications are that it was not [defence department] involvement in this launch" Pentagon spokesman Col David Lapan said.

The Pentagon does not consider the missile a threat.

"So far we've come up empty with any explanation," Col Lapan said. "We're doing everything we can to try to figure out if anybody has any knowledge of what this event may have been."

Under normal circumstances, the launch of a US missile would require several different authorisations and notifications, but none are evident.

It is unclear if the suspected missile was launched from land or sea.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11721981

[^_^ 5,021]

An Australian show of force, no doubt.

[^_^ 5,021]

weasel words.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command, the joint U.S. -Canadian agency that monitors the skies for possible air attacks, said it was aware of the report but was "unable to provide specific details."

[scandal 951]

It's either the Socialist Dimocrats or the RINOs what dunnit. They both hate America, only question is which hates America more?

[lostinblue 1,989]

[spookyturtle 9,466]

It was probably China or North Korea.

[slim 1,525]

It was probably a whale clearing their blowhole but the perspective coupled with the new HD lenses made it look like a missile's vapor trail on everyone's 3D glasses.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

It was probably a whale clearing their blowhole but the perspective coupled with the new HD lenses made it look like a missile's vapor trail on everyone's 3D glasses.

from the picture i just saw, that musta been one hell of a whale.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Spud-zooka

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

I had to edit this package today raw for the news. Our national network asked a retired NATO official what he thought it was and when he looked at all the material he said that with this proximity to the US coastline and with Obama away in Asia that it looks like a show of US military force to Asia. That it was most likely launched subterranean from a US submarine in order to say look what we can do.

Edited November 10, 2010 by Cleocatra

[scandal 951]

Not that this will quell the Area51 conspiracy theorists, of course.

(CBS/AP) One expert says he has an answer for a video that appears to show an unexplained missile launch off the Southern California coast - there was no missile.

John Pike of the security analyst group globalsecurity.org said the video shot by a news helicopter owned by KCBS is an optical illusion.

Pike said the video is of an airplane heading toward the camera and the contrail is illuminated by the setting sun. He said the object can't be a rocket because it appeared to alter its course.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

from the picture i just saw, that musta been one hell of a whale.

Spudzooka with Aquanet hairspray as fuel.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Not that this will quell the Area51 conspiracy theorists, of course.

Maybe someone can work this into the 9/11 conspiracy.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Did anyone see "Harold & Kumar, Escape from Guantanamo Bay"? Just sayin' It could be GWB trying to set up another terrorist attack

Maybe someone can work this into the 9/11 conspiracy.

It is a fair bet that wherever that thing landed...some village is in need of an idiot. Speaking of Heracles...can he tell us it what it is? It looks Aussie to me.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Did anyone see "Harold & Kumar, Escape from Guantanamo Bay"? Just sayin' It could be GWB trying to set up another terrorist attack

It is a fair bet that wherever that thing landed...some village is in need of an idiot. Speaking of Heracles...can he tell us it what it is? It looks Aussie to me.

They are a peace loving people who look out for themselves, so it couldn't have been one of them. They have no missiles.