Government

Military Gives Conflicting Statements Regarding Mystery Missile

In response to last night’s mystery missile launch, military and defense agencies are offering conflicting statement regarding what happened and if the U.S. was, or is, in danger.

This morning, the North American Aerospace Defense Command released a statement saying that at no point were Americans in danger.

“We are aware of the unexplained contrail reported off the coast of Southern California yesterday evening,” NORAD and the U.S. Northern Command, which operates the U.S. and Canadian missile warning system, said. “At this time, we are unable to provide specific details but we are working to determine the exact nature of this event.”

It continued: “We can confirm that there is no indication of any threat to our nation and we will provide more information as it becomes available.”

However that statement has come under fire from Pentagon spokesman. Col. Dave Lapan, who said he is not able to concur with an official from NORAD who told Fox News earlier that there was “no threat to the homeland.”

Lapan said the military doesn’t know exactly what the so-called mystery missile was, so it can‘t say it’s harmless.

“Nobody within the Department of Defense that we’ve reached out to has been able to explain what this contrail is, where it came from,” Lapan said according to the Associated Press. “So far, we’ve come up empty with any explanation.”

Lapan said officials are talking to the Air Force, Navy and NORAD as well as civilian authorities who control and monitor air space.

“Right now, all indications are that there was not (Department of Defense) involvement in this,” Lapan said, adding that some object might have been launched by a private company.

Officials had no information to make them suspect that the action was taken by any U.S. adversary.

“At this point, until we know more information about what it may have been, there is not alarm,” Lapan said. “But that could change depending on what we find out.”

Fox News TV is reporting that some military officials agree that there was no military involvement, however the Navy and all other military branches continue to claim no knowledge. That seems to be confirmed by Fox, which says it called “every” western military base and they all claim no knowledge or responsibility.

In addition, the Federal Aviation Administration didn’t approve any commercial space launches in the area Monday, spokesman Ian Gregor said Tuesday, according to the L.A. Times.

“It didn’t happen here,” Naval Base Ventura County spokeswoman Teri Reid said Tuesday. “There was no firing on the range yesterday.” Air Force officials also claimed no responsibility.

This is a breaking news story. Updates will be added.

Comments (145)

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  • Molasses
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:44pm

    There was no advance notice to clear the area. There was no public notification for news agencies or police. The various branches of the military deny it was theirs. If it was a mistake, they’d have owned up by now–I THINK. What I believe is that this missile “went missing” from our arsenal at some point in the past and was launched by the purchaser of said missile. It’s a warning to the U.S. that they have the missile(s), that they can attack, and that they WILL attack–when and where they choose to do so. There was a report of a fireball in the night sky over Lizelle, Georgia at 8:15 p.m. EST. If our guys had launched it accidentally, and it had gone over the U.S. and exploded over Georgia, I do think they’d have owned up to it. Here’s the link for the posting about the fireball over Georgia. http://lunarmeteoritehunters.blogspot.com/

    Report Post » Molasses  
  • 1776Federalist
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:41pm

    Perhaps a Mexican scud missile? Guess they should have bought one from that little North Korean guy with the bad haircut instead of building their own.

    Report Post »  
  • Fitz1973
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:31pm

    Makes you wonder if San Fransiko still wants our military out….?

    Report Post »  
  • Deafmark
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:30pm

    where the missle go?? what goes up must come down.. unless it hit space..

    Report Post »  
  • Fuzzy
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:22pm

    Ummmm, is this “ The Event ” ? How can our military claim they know nothing about it ?

    Report Post » Fuzzy  
    • SHEEPDRINKTEA
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:33pm

      US needed to flex its muscle, show the rest of the world we‘d flatten ’em if anything happened to our leader while he was away.

      Report Post » SHEEPDRINKTEA  
    • Fort Mill Joe
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 4:36pm

      @SHEEPDRINKTEA – Put the bong down and walk away slowly… Go back to wacking off on Pelosi’s pic.

      Report Post » Fort Mill Joe  
  • zukrider
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:21pm

    Well it is a missile. The question is who and why? US military? Then why deny it if not secret? And if secret why preform it in plain sight of the west coast? Private company testing a missile? Hell of a fine to fire a missile without clearance. Chinese nuclear sub? Show of force while the President is in Asia? North Korean or Iranian merchant ship testing defenses? And those are just the tip of the iceberg as far as reasonable guesses go.

    Report Post »  
    • robert5635
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 6:51pm

      The longer the US military stays silent/spins stories, the worse it is. Sombody right now is trying to cover their six, but if they don’t hurry up, Americans will respond very, very negatively. We’re not so stupid after all. Remember 9/11!!!!!!

      Report Post » robert5635  
  • SHEEPDRINKTEA
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:17pm

    if you look closely at the video you can clearly see that it’s not a missle nor an airplane.
    it‘s Glenn Beck’s Ego.

    Report Post » SHEEPDRINKTEA  
    • RiyekoLoradaeron
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:22pm

      @sheepdrinktea Sorry but that insult, fails horribly.

      Report Post »  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:22pm

      Ooooh, wow, 2/10 on the troll scale lil’ fella. Tell Ariana that she needs to send in bigger guns.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • Fitz1973
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:29pm

      Commie Bastard! Maybe you would be okay with the enemies of this country bombing us because you hate this country so much.. Hopefully your boy obama will apologize to the world and maybe they’ll like us more… ****!

      Report Post »  
    • SHEEPDRINKTEA
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:30pm

      Ghost of a slave owner, nice.

      SHEEPDRINKTEA  
    • dirtytricksjusttowin
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:31pm

      Sheepdrinktea? Maybe kool aid?

      Report Post »  
    • firstHat
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:37pm

      Actually, it is absolutely clear that SHEEPDRINKTEA was just setting his farts on fire again.

      Report Post »  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:43pm

      @ SHEEPDRINKTEA

      See? Another 2/10. Sorry guy, we demand a higher caliber of troll here at The Blaze. You’ve already set yourself up to be ignored or laughed at by everybody who has read your post.

      Hopefully you‘ll get through whatever burning anger propels you forward and eventually you’ll come to peace with life and your fellow human beings. It’s a terrible thing to spend a lifetime being bitter and always lashing out at others. You have great potential as a human being, I’m certain, and I sincerely hope you find a way to use it some day. Here’s wishing that your day goes well. Slainte!

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
  • angelia
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:10pm

    Balloon boys dad up to tricks again :)

    Report Post »  
  • tige33
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:06pm

    Tell me this please, Is anyone going out to the area to investigate this? WTH

    Report Post » tige33  
  • pajamash
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:05pm

    Sorry CKTHEMAN, I am skeptical of it being a plane.

    http://contrailscience.com/why-do-some-planes-leave-long-trails-but-others-dont/

    Report Post »  
  • Ana Romanik
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:03pm

    They know exactly what happened. They just refuse to say. If it was an “accident” our military would already have some kind of explaination. All branches of the military and gov’t would ALL be on the same page some 20+ hours after the incedent.

    Report Post »  
  • Tracking
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:02pm

    There was a cruise ship off the coast of California also and it had an engine fire. Over 3,500 plus passengers on board. Same time….Apx. same distance. Someone set off an Intercontinental Ballistic Missle. Now folks, I can‘t speak for you but I don’t think that’s supposed to happen here in this country or anywhere else for that matter.
    Could this in any way be related? Someone experimenting? Mexican drug cartels or terrorists who didn’t know what they were doing? Is it possible they were targeting a crusie ship with 3,500 people on board? What puzzles me is this…All the Military was called…they claim no knowledge and said they did not set off a ICBM. When the Pentagon was contacted…they said ” We will look into it and have no knowledge of it.”
    Today and last night, the Military and Pentagon are giving very conflicting statements. Saying that although they do not know who set off a missle, or why, or who it aimed at, we were in no danger. LOL

    Just curious and just asking….Since the Crusie Ship and the Missle were BOTH off the coast of California. Also, what bothers me is this: We have satellites and Tracking for this kind of incident. Several Military bases and hign security and survellience that is supposed to be watching and keeping us safe. Yet no one seen a thing. Now just let me tell you, this was a HUGH MISSLE. The best we can get is “We don’t know.“ ”There is no threat.”
    It was caught on camera and this was one mean missle.. No hiding it…Better read the news today…it is all over the News…

    Report Post »  
  • Ana Romanik
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:02pm

    Exactly what was the path or tragectory of the susspected missle? Also what happened to the missle? Did it hit something, explode or just fall into the water????

    Report Post »  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:06pm

      The Martians sent out a small inflating rubber balloon device which absorbed the missiles explosion, then it returned to the ship and the Martians inhaled the balloon and talked like they were inhaling helium. :)

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
  • USNRET04
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:01pm

    I believe, in the end, we will find out it was the U.S. performing either a routine test of our ICBMs or defense shield testing. The disappointing thing is that we are getting so many conflicting reports, from “the government”. I was involved in a sub missile launch back in the late 80s (from the same general area) and still have the article claiming that it was a mystery – even though we knew better. Today, in the fast past news world, rumors travel faster than facts.

    Report Post » USNRET04  
    • MBA
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:48pm

      I checked the VAFB launch schedule–last launch was 11-5, next launch 12-6.

      Report Post »  
  • M31Sailor
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:01pm

    What country last sank a rivals ship?

    N Korea

    Report Post » M31Sailor  
  • OK3Wire
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 1:58pm

    Relax, it’s just a ChiCom sub taking a shot across our bow to let us know that, if we continue devaluing the international economy, the next one will have a target … maybe it’ll be SanFranPelosi.

    Report Post » OK3Wire  
  • mcccmar
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 1:57pm

    typical response – DONT WORRY BE HAPPY – what do they think they can pat us on the head and well smile and believe everything they say?

    Report Post »  
  • dmyze
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 1:56pm

    Get me Jack Bauer

    Report Post » dmyze  
  • crossdraw
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 1:56pm

    Hey look at the bright side. That missle is used up and can’t hurt us. What is scary is the fact that a “community organizing freak show” has the power to launch. Destroy a couple of cities and by God the American people will listen then. We already know this dumb ass refuses to listen to the people. As far as I’m concerned obamadinijad is capable of a lot of vile and seditious acts. Time will tell. How much time do you suppose we have anyway? Remember,for those of you old enough to remember; DUCK and COVER. That’ll keep your ass from incineration. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE

    Report Post »  
    • Rogue
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 3:48pm

      I wouldn’t want to live in a heavily blue city, but that may be the only safe place to be if these wackos start shooting at thier own citizens! They won’t wipe out thier own voters – watch out, Red States!

      Report Post » Rogue  
    • plunderpower
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 6:25pm

      Rogue- Jihadists hate the Left. California is a target rich environment. Can’t think of a better or more deserving group to scare the beejeebers out of. Personally, I think it escaped from a Michael Moore movie.

      Report Post » plunderpower  
  • RiyekoLoradaeron
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 1:51pm

    All these agencies are getting together with the press and saying “no he did it!“ ”naw uh!”… everyones pointing fingers.. if it was some civilian, or some other military operation, just get off your a$$ and tell us please. That way you dont have the radicals here in our country thinking “omg their invading!”

    Report Post »  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 1:54pm

      I fully agree with what you’re stating. This whole event could be put to bed with “yeah, it was us, sorry, meant to tell you”. Finished and done.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
  • JRHelgeson
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 1:48pm

    I’m wondering if it was an attempted terror attack where the launch was intended to head toward the California coastline but something happened on the launch, whether by accident or intent that caused it to launch out to sea.

    Report Post » JRHelgeson  
    • RiyekoLoradaeron
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 1:54pm

      @Jrhelgeson Thats completely possible, but im saying if it was the USA, then someone needs to get off their a$$ and just say “yes it was an accident, there was some technological failure…” Whatever… whatever caused it to launch if it IS us, then they need to say so, that way people arent freaking out.

      Report Post »  
    • Fear The Voices
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 5:23pm

      If it was an accident, why didn’t our government come out right away as state what happened…..
      I suspect someone is sending a warning shot across the bow of our country.

      Report Post » Fear The Voices  
  • Marylou7
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 1:44pm

    This is scary. Glad I don’t live in California but really something bad could happen anywhere. Until we get a President who cares about We the People there will be danger. Will continue to pray for our nation.

    Report Post » Marylou7  
    • Beeree
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:02pm

      Not to scare you more but from the looks of it this missile could have hit well beyond California.

      Report Post »  
    • plunderpower
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 6:20pm

      The Jihadist firing it didn’t know the front end from the back end.

      Report Post » plunderpower  
  • Disabledvet
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 1:44pm

    UFO and space men. leaving the area quickly.

    Report Post »  
    • sawhite
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 3:14pm

      They could’t find a job.

      Report Post »  
    • Fear The Voices
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 5:10pm

      They found out who are leader was and assumed there wasn’t any intelligent life here.

      Report Post » Fear The Voices  
  • bataviabard
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 1:43pm

    “Hey Hector, what’s this button do?”

    Ooops.

    Report Post »  
    • JRHelgeson
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:00pm

      Sorry! My bad – I thought it said “Lunch”… and I was getting hungry.

      Report Post » JRHelgeson  
    • plunderpower
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 6:18pm

      Look! More military ballots for Conservatives are being disposed of by the Lefty’s,,,

      Report Post » plunderpower  
    • CatB
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 7:57pm

      Weather balloon !… isn‘t it always when something gets seen that wasn’t supposed to?

      Report Post »  
  • cktheman
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 1:41pm

    Airplane contrail at dusk. It looks neat though.

    Report Post »  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 1:53pm

      Possible. Though if it were that pat and settled, you’d think that the military would immediately point it out, eh? It might be, but it seems a bit too soon to call.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • No1YaKnow
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 1:55pm

      Nancy Pelosi’s new jet–discounted version hence the entrail…

      Marci  
    • pajamash
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 1:56pm

      Be afraid America….be VERY afraid!!

       
    • Brad Wesselmann
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 1:58pm

      Watch it again, it was not an aircraft con trail…unless you are considering a missile as an aircraft. I don’t think we are in any trouble, but it was what it was and that wasn’t a plane.

      Report Post » Brad Wesselmann  
    • Ana Romanik
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 1:59pm

      They know exactly what happened. They just refuse to say. If it was an “accident” our military would already have some kind of explaination. All branches of the military and gov’t would ALL be on the same page some 20+ hours after the incedent.

      Report Post »  
    • Beeree
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:00pm

      Really? It was most definitely a missile, the question is whose. I think we can eliminate the U.S. as being responsible, otherwise we would have had some story ready even if it was a lie.

      Report Post »  
    • roguetea
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:00pm

      rogue, Tracking Eyed Aerial
      NORAD says:
      “We can confirm that there is no indication of any threat to our nation and we will provide more information as it becomes available.”

      Sounds like NORAD has bureaucratic-double-talk down pat worthy of world renowned flip-flop expertise. Without all of the information they confidently, ‘confirm.’ Sounds like, ‘I don’t know the facts but the police acted stupidly.’ Whatever the facts, they are not good, they are not right, they will never come truthfully or complete.
      tea party, Own 11, ROGUE ON

      Report Post » roguetea  
    • Brad Wesselmann
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:05pm

      Never Pajamash, fear is for the other guy…true Americans operate on Faith! If they come here, the world will find out AGAIN what we are made of and it won‘t matter if it’s a couple million Chinese soldiers…there will be a gun and the will to use it waiting behind every blade of grass.

      Report Post » Brad Wesselmann  
    • M633
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:22pm

      Mexico

      Report Post »  
    • snowleopard3200 {mix art}
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:25pm

      Even if the administration does know fully what happened, they will spin it to death, and then use it as an excuse to gut the military to the fullest degrees possible. Anyone they perceive as a threat will be discharged, or fired, and then blamed for all manner of other troubles coming down the line.

      This administration backed by Soros is mudslinging to see what the people will take as bait and they can use as an excuse to crack down totally.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • cktheman
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:49pm

      The plane is flying directly toward you, and probably descending. Aircraft correct for curvature by adjusting to maintain altitude. The contrail follows the curve. When you look straight at it, it gives the appearance of rising straight up because its origin is below the horizon. Your probably looking at 200 miles or more of contrail. This is common, I see it a few times a year in Ohio, because of all the east-west plane routes. Nobody freaks because there are no military bases, and no oceans!

      Please note, the was recorded from a single vantage point – the only vantage point that would have produced this effect. You would have had reports up and down the coast if it were a missle launch, and you don’t because when viewed from other angles, it looks like what it is – a horizontal contrail.

      Other points:

      It’s not moving fast enough to be a missle. And, again, it’s coming toward the camera.

      Alternating red and green ‘flashes’ at the end of the video are simply FAA required lights.

      The ‘rocket fire’ is sunlight reflecting off the fuselage. Look at the sun angle and the time of day.

      Why did they not record the entire event? Was it obviously a plane when it flew over them? No story then, eh? We are talking about SeeBS, now right?

      And last – everyone reporting that it had to be a big missle, right? 737 big? Yup.

      The sun reflection off the contrail is roughly the same scatter as the clouds. This is because it’s horizonal, not vertical.

      Report Post »  
    • tobywil2
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:58pm

      Perhaps since Mrs. Pelosi has lost her jet plane. She was trying out her old broomstick! http://commonsense21c.com/index.html

      Report Post » tobywil2  
    • Rogue
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 3:45pm

      From my understanding, the supposed launch site was in the ocean. To me, this sounds like a missile fired from a submarine. Iran? China? Maybe a show of force, or an actual failed attack. If it was our weapons system, the military would have explained this away quickly…. unless it was something similar to what the conspiracy theorists have been talking about lately – a false flag attack while the president is overseas.

      My guess? Iran.

      Report Post » Rogue  
    • snafu44
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 3:46pm

      That is not an airplane contrail. That is the exhaust plume of a missle or rocket.

      Report Post »  
    • prepper1776
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 4:15pm

      cktheman i live in orlando and have seen lots of shuttle flights and that sure looks like a rocket launch to me but your spin on this story is so convincing maybe you should think about working for the goverment

      Report Post »  
    • HKS
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 4:22pm

      I smell a rat here, something is amuk.

      Report Post » HKS  
    • Strictlybusiness
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 4:26pm

      cktheman- your as silly as those not talking about what this really was.

      Report Post » Strictlybusiness  
    • Polwatcher
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 4:29pm

      Assuming it is as it seems, so much for our missile defense system.

      Report Post »  
    • HKS
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 4:50pm

      Maybe it’s swamp gas?

      Report Post » HKS  
    • Smoovious
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 5:53pm

      looks to me like a next-generation boost-assisted weather balloon… .. .

      . .. …probably sent off to investigate that swamp gas.

      Report Post » Smoovious  
    • plunderpower
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 6:14pm

      I hope this thing scares the beejeebers out of the Left Coast. I can’t think of a more deserving group to come face to face with the possibilities confronting their comfort zone. I also can‘t wait to be entertained by all the conspiracy theories they’ll make up: It was George Bush. It was the Right Wing Conspiracy. It was the Tea Party declaring war on the Left Coast.

      Report Post » plunderpower  
    • paperpushermj
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 7:38pm

      Latest and greatest ..Its from aircraft contrails.
      The vehicle is not moving fast enough and does not have the trajectory characteristics of a rocket, he said. The reason people think it‘s a rocket is because it’s an optical illusion, he said.

      The plane is coming over the horizon, straight at the camera. Because of the angle and the lighting at sunset it appears as a rocket rising, he said.

      “I’ve seen a lot of rocket and airplane contrails over the years,” he said. “What I saw was an airplane contrail.”

      Report Post » paperpushermj  
    • Jamestown
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 8:00pm

      Some Country just announced what it can do…and NORAD says “no harm”…possibilities are who China..Russia…it came from a submarine…it had to….someone knows who did it and that American wont say who

      Report Post » Jamestown  
    • oldoldtimer
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 8:14pm

      If it was an aircraft they would have tracked it on radar and would have said so immediately to dispell any fear. The fact they did not means it was something else. The military might not say any thing but they would not lie.

      Report Post »  
    • watchmany2k
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 8:51pm

      Let’s See, we can track a quarter inch nut loose in space but our military doesn’t know what this is ?

      The military silence/subterfuge speaks volumes,
      How opportune that our Barry-in-chief is in India…

      Some sub capable country is sending a signal or the us/allies had a drill gone too far.
      Maybe it’s the “new” N.Korea sending a moonbat signal that they want more western DVD’s for the newsupremekiddo ?

      Then again…

      Loosen your tie, stick your head between your knees, and kiss your ……………

      Report Post » watchmany2k  
    • watchmany2k
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 8:56pm

      oops, sorry for the double post… my bad…

      Report Post » watchmany2k  
    • Robert W
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 10:27pm

      Now I feel safe.

      Report Post »  
    • heyjim55
      Posted on November 12, 2010 at 2:29am

      Sorry some alternative news sites are now reporting that the object was indeed a missle launched from a Chinese submarine off the coast of California in a show of strength to the US after our navy conducted military exercises in the China sea. Wayne Madsen also is reporting this same story

      Report Post »  
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