Did Italian Jets Patrol the American Border after 9/11?

[DimesDan]

While it strikes me as unlikely, it also strikes me as unlikely that you would just drop this information as a fact for no reason.

I know you quoted me, but are you addressing me? I didn't create this thread, never heard of the programme in question before and was only concurring with Roger's post which was directly before mine.

Sorry, "you would" as in "one would." My point is, even though it's not a documentary, it's still a strange thing to say unless it's important to make up for the plot. That being said, I don't find anything suggesting it is true during a quick google search.

Ah ok, makes sense now.

You must consider us incredibly naive if you think we're buying the "I didn't mean it like that!"-nonsense.

Italy is a country with 60 million inhabitants, NATO member and the 8th biggest economy on Earth.

What do you think? Does Italy have an air force?

Does Italy have beaches?

I once made a similar comment to my other half regarding the Republic of Ireland and the exsistance of an Irish Navy as I had thought they used the Royal Navy or some such to patrol their waters. Turns out they do have a small navy, which may now be bigger than the Royal Navy with recent cut backs which she likes to remind me from time to time.

Do Italy have an air force though? Of course they do and the second time I went to the Royal International Air Tattoo, the display team was a hell of a lot better than the Red Arrows.

 

[{ Emilia }]

Do Italy have an air force though? Of course they do and the second time I went to the Royal International Air Tattoo, the display team was a hell of a lot better than the Red Arrows.

Ah, yeah. These guys.

 

[Avon]

my friends dad worked at an italian airforce base last year. so yes they do.

and that question was on the same level as 'is boston full of drunken irish-american stereotypes?'

 

[Jono]

Maybe it was something similar to when the RAAF deployed Hornets to assist in protecting the American base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean in late 2001? It isn't hard to believe that someone might see the deployment of Italian jets to a US Air Force base to help out and mistakenly assume that the base was within the US.

 

[DimesDan]

Do Italy have an air force though? Of course they do and the second time I went to the Royal International Air Tattoo, the display team was a hell of a lot better than the Red Arrows.

Ah, yeah. These guys.

That's them.

I went back to back to RIAT a few years ago and the Arrows did the same routine as they had done the previous year which with the lack of new air craft bored me to tears. The Frecce Tricolri did a different display from the previous year and thus, were a highlight of the weekend, that and the French Fighter jet, the Mirage.

 

[SmoothieX]

I was living in great NY at the time, and I can assure I received lasagna via airlift.

 

[Squiggy]

You must consider us incredibly naive if you think we're buying the "I didn't mean it like that!"-nonsense.

Italy is a country with 60 million inhabitants, NATO member and the 8th biggest economy on Earth.

What do you think? Does Italy have an air force?

Does Italy have beaches?

Does the pope shit in the woods?

 

[Shaytan]

It's the same type of question like "France has a military?" and you got an appropriate response.

I posted that yesterday on the Bastille Day thread but I think it's what I'm going to answer each time someone say something about the French army now :

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10pDCgWUM2k[/yt]


Now for something serious : does Italy have electricity ?

 

[Mary Ann]

That video is awesome, Shaytan.

As to your question, you may have to wait 'til the end of the day for it to be answered. Today is National Italian Dig a New Hole for the Outhouse Day, so our Italian friends are busy.

 

[Count Zero]

A class mate of mine was asked this for real when he did his high school year in the US. He said no but that the hotels had generators.

 

[iguana_tonante]

Did Italy really patrol part of the American border after 9/11, lol?

We are kind on another continent.

Italy has an Air Force?

It depends. Does riding flying unicorns count?

Now for something serious : does Italy have electricity ?

No. But we are electric.

 

[Rhaven]

No it was not.. it was an insulting and demeaning question because it insinuates that Italy is so backwards that they can't afford an air force on their own.

Excuse me, are you reading my mind? Do you know just what my intent was?

It's the same type of question like "France has a military?" and you got an appropriate response.

Now if I had done that or written a LOL after my original question, then you'd be justified in jumping in with both feet.
So please, remove your boot from my 4'th point of contact.

C'mon, dude, you're really going to try and pass that off like it was a serious question? Tiny little island nations can manage to put together a few planes for an air force, do you really think a founding NATO member and G-20 economy like Italy couldn't afford one?

It's dudette.

It was a serious question. A dumb one at best. But when you get jumped for making a silly error, it puts one on the defensive. Maybe this place isn't as friendly as I hoped.

Mea culpa.

 

[{ Emilia }]

The Italian Airforce, making Rhaven look bad since 1884.

 

[FPAlpha]

Excuse me, are you reading my mind? Do you know just what my intent was?

Now if I had done that or written a LOL after my original question, then you'd be justified in jumping in with both feet.
So please, remove your boot from my 4'th point of contact.

C'mon, dude, you're really going to try and pass that off like it was a serious question? Tiny little island nations can manage to put together a few planes for an air force, do you really think a founding NATO member and G-20 economy like Italy couldn't afford one?

It's dudette.

It was a serious question. A dumb one at best. But when you get jumped for making a silly error, it puts one on the defensive. Maybe this place isn't as friendly as I hoped.

Mea culpa.

We are very friendly.. it's just that we assume a level of education by being Star Trek or SF fans and therefore also assume that we know a bit about other stuff than our own country and interests.

This is why i assumed your post was a mocking thing in the same vein as those made about France and their military in connection to World War 2.. unfortunately i assumed wrong and you admitted it was a serious question.

Well.. i apologize for my assumption and comments. As to your admitted lack of general knowledge.. you might want to do something about it (it's no shame to admit a lack of knowledge.. it's a shame not to correct it ).

 

[TheGodBen]

I once made a similar comment to my other half regarding the Republic of Ireland and the exsistance of an Irish Navy as I had thought they used the Royal Navy or some such to patrol their waters. Turns out they do have a small navy, which may now be bigger than the Royal Navy with recent cut backs which she likes to remind me from time to time.

My dad was in the Irish Navy... for about a month, then he got kicked out. So I guess I can always claim to come from a military family. As for the size of our navy, we have 8 patrol vessels that are are used to prevent smuggling, kick out illegal fishermen, and go on trade missions for some reason. So the Isle of Man is safe for now, but one day...

We also have a really crappy airforce with something like 7 propeller planes that wouldn't be able to shoot down a commercial jet. But the important thing is that we have one, and if we have one then Italy surely must. Their planes probably have those fancy jet engines and everything.

 

[Trekker4747]

I see no reason why we would need or even allow such a thing. We've certainly our own Air Force to patrol our borders and likely one bigger than anything Italy would have to just to spare to fly half a world away to just patrol. And if Italy just did it on their own volition I highly doubt Bush would've just allowed that.

 

[Count Zero]

Well, as someone pointed out earlier in the thread NATO Awacs with European crews did patrol the US air space after 9/11. There was a lot of international solidarity for the US at the time. Also, the German airforce used to have a training centre in the US (not sure if it still exists). So, it's not that unusual to have foreign or foreign crewed jets in US airspace.

 

[Rhaven]

C'mon, dude, you're really going to try and pass that off like it was a serious question? Tiny little island nations can manage to put together a few planes for an air force, do you really think a founding NATO member and G-20 economy like Italy couldn't afford one?

It's dudette.

It was a serious question. A dumb one at best. But when you get jumped for making a silly error, it puts one on the defensive. Maybe this place isn't as friendly as I hoped.

Mea culpa.

We are very friendly.. it's just that we assume a level of education by being Star Trek or SF fans and therefore also assume that we know a bit about other stuff than our own country and interests.

So, you assume a certain level of education because we're all Trek fans? What's your minimum standard then? BA, BS, or Masters level?
Do you think because I'm a vet tech I don't qualify? Do you know what my career was before I was a vet tech? No? Don't presume as well as assume. It makes you seem not friendly at all.

This is why i assumed your post was a mocking thing in the same vein as those made about France and their military in connection to World War 2.. unfortunately i assumed wrong and you admitted it was a serious question.

Fine.

Well.. i apologize for my assumption and comments. As to your admitted lack of general knowledge.. you might want to do something about it (it's no shame to admit a lack of knowledge.. it's a shame not to correct it ).

Thank you for that pearl of wisdom. I'll make sure to google first before I post something on the off chance I'm about to ask another stupid question.

Just like your presumptions and assuming in my case, check your facts before you jump. You never know just who the other person is you're slamming. What they did, where they've been and seen, why they moved on.

 

[Knight Templar]

the only "foreign" aircraft I ever heard about being deployed to the U.S. after 9-11 were the NATO operated AWACs airborne radar and early warning aircraft.

converted 707s with the rotating radar dome on its back.

Not a combat aircraft.

NATO aircraft from various countries routinely come to U.S. bases for exercises as there are problems on the European mainland with areas suitable for live fire exercises.

 

[TheGodBen]

You asked a really stupid and borderline offensive question, take your licks and laugh it off. Getting defensive about it wont win you many fans.