Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Just Insensitive

This just goes to show how culturally insensitive I can be…I literally laughed out loud at this:

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Officials at Nepal's state-run airline have sacrificed two goats to appease Akash Bhairab, the Hindu sky god, following technical problems with one of its Boeing 757 aircraft, the carrier said Tuesday.

Nepal Airlines, which has two Boeing aircraft, has had to suspend some services in recent weeks due the problem.

The goats were sacrificed in front of the troublesome aircraft Sunday at Nepal's only international airport in Kathmandu in accordance with Hindu traditions, an official said.

Well, Hell. It’s not all that different from sprinkling Holy Water on a plane, now is it? Except for the general mess associated with sacrificial goats, I mean.

In other aviation news, the Air Force flew a gaggle of nuclear-tipped ACMs from Minot AFB, ND to Barksdale AFB, LA. The only problem is that the USAF didn’t KNOW the warheads were on the missiles. And speaking of sacrificial goats:

The crews involved with the mistaken load at the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot have been temporarily decertified from performing their duties involving munitions pending corrective actions or additional training, Thomas said.

The Associated Press reported Wednesday that the munitions squadron commander also was relieved of his duties. The AP also reported that the bomber was carrying six nuclear warheads, not five as sources told the Military Times.

That munitions squadron commander probably envies those Nepalese goats. Coz he’s gonna die a slooow death. Metaphorically speaking.

6 comments:

  1. Yeah, don't feel too bad. I did the same thing with the goats story. And the nukes story...well, let's just say that it seems many heads are going to roll. And I wouldn't want to be around anyone in ACC that works with nukes on 15 Sept., because they get to have a command wide stand down the day before.

    Fuuuuuunn stuff!!

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  2. Do you get the AFA "Daily Report," Mike? Today's edition sez the munitions commander at Minot has been "fired," not temporarily relieved of his duties. Like you, I get the feeling a LOT of heads are gonna roll over this debacle.

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  3. Yeah, I suspect that's just the beginning. The CO of the flying squadron is probably toast, as is the Wing Commander. And DoD doesn't mess around with nukes...there's no "temporarily relieved pending an investigation." It's more of fired due to lack of confidence in ability to command...and to make sure the nukes are secure.

    Gen LeMay is rolling over in his grave...

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  4. Ok Buck, that is just plain weird.

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  5. Just need to know...did the goat sacrafice work?

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  6. Triple E sez: Just need to know...did the goat sacrafice work?

    Interestingly enough, this little item was on Brit Hume's Grapevine last evening. Brit said the airline didn't announce what the problem was, or how they fixed it...only that the plane was "back in service."

    So one assumes something worked. The sacrifice couldn't have hurt...unless you're a goat.

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Just be polite... that's all I ask.