General Discussion

Whisp

(24,096 posts)

10. Found a few answers on what 'scrambling jets' means, and the OP makes no sense at all. lol.

Thu Jul 4, 2013, 12:58 AM

Jul 2013

It means they are acting as quickly as possible to get their aircraft airborne.

When a person says it, they can also mean it's time to act fast.

Aircraft tend to be sitting ducks while on the ground - easily destroyed. But they are much harder to stop once they are in the air. The practice of scrambling started in WWII before they had reliable radar. Often, pilots would have just minutes to get their aircraft into the air before the enemy aircraft arrived.

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Back in the 1950's and early 60's, they didn't have satellites watching for enemy attack in the Coldwar. All we had was radar. So when USAF aircraft were ordered to ''scramble,'' that meant they had to get up in the air ASAP. Any wasted time could mean those planes would be destroyed on the ground.

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I suppose what the President meant was that he wasn't going to go HairOnFire over Snowden. Appears so.

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Flashback Obama: 'Not going to be scrambling jets' to get Snowden (Oops!) [View all] morningfog Jul 2013 OP

...and he didn't. Roselma Jul 2013 #1

Riiight. Five nations coincidentally manipulated a head of state in an effort to morningfog Jul 2013 #3

You were punked. It is sad that so many supposed liberals are so anxious to accept whatever bullshit KittyWampus Jul 2013 #15

Yeah, I'm making the USA look bad. morningfog Jul 2013 #23

Oh, did you see where France apologized? Kills your mapquest post. morningfog Jul 2013 #29

The US scrambled jets for Snowden? Cali_Democrat Jul 2013 #2

Oh hey! We're waiting for you over here: morningfog Jul 2013 #4

So did the US scramble jets? Cali_Democrat Jul 2013 #8

Found a few answers on what 'scrambling jets' means, and the OP makes no sense at all. lol. Whisp Jul 2013 #10

I suppose what the President meant was that he wasn't going to go HairOnFire over Snowden. morningfog Jul 2013 #13

they aren't being manipulated, they are acting as they want based on their laws and any treaties JI7 Jul 2013 #17

"How they want" = "Doing US's bidding" morningfog Jul 2013 #18

Scary. They are so oblivious. dkf Jul 2013 #51

He's got people working for him. Whisp Jul 2013 #20

You stated that the President scrambled jets in you Op. sheshe2 Jul 2013 #31

Yes, the OP is a LIE.. but, that doesn't bother them. Cha Jul 2013 #38

Excuse me..... sheshe2 Jul 2013 #39

How do you figure he changed his mind? He didn't scramble jets. n/t Lil Missy Jul 2013 #5

Nah. Five ally nations forced a head of state to reroute and have his plane searched morningfog Jul 2013 #7

That's not scrambling jets. Lil Missy Jul 2013 #9

Obama apparently changed his mind about how aggressively he'll pursue Snowden. morningfog Jul 2013 #11

Oooops...not enough facts out there for you... sheshe2 Jul 2013 #36

Scramble jets! Scramble jets! East Coast Pirate Jul 2013 #49

Does come across as a little too cute in retrospect. DirkGently Jul 2013 #6

+1 woo me with science Jul 2013 #30

Now you are just flat out sheshe2 Jul 2013 #12

I know.. poor things. so desperate to get their hard Cha Jul 2013 #27

Post 31~Cha sheshe2 Jul 2013 #33

and he didn't JI7 Jul 2013 #14

But, my what a desperate and aggressive approach he is taking. morningfog Jul 2013 #16

he doesn't need to do anything, there are already laws and treaties in place JI7 Jul 2013 #19

Can you link to the treaty that requires a nation to refuse airspace or landing morningfog Jul 2013 #21

can you link to where Obama told them to do that ? JI7 Jul 2013 #24

You claimed they are acting with respect to a treaty or law. What is the treaty or law? morningfog Jul 2013 #25

obama doesn't need to tell them to do anything , they already know what to do JI7 Jul 2013 #26

So, no treaty? I thought so. morningfog Jul 2013 #28

Our state dept says they were in touch but denied they had anything to do with it. Mojorabbit Jul 2013 #37

I thought that the general complaint and whining was that... sheshe2 Jul 2013 #40

Well, at least it'll help with the deficit..... DeSwiss Jul 2013 #22

Annnnnd...... no. jazzimov Jul 2013 #32

annnnd! sheshe2 Jul 2013 #42

Well he was hanging with George Bush over there so ...uhm L0oniX Jul 2013 #34

Snowden is now a 30-year-old hacker Enrique Jul 2013 #35

The only thing scrambled is the egg on your face after flamingdem Jul 2013 #41

I suppose you're not walking back this "scrambling jets" bullshit now. n/t Bolo Boffin Jul 2013 #43

Post Fail! sheshe2 Jul 2013 #44

Since no jets were scrambled, the OP seems a bit odd. cthulu2016 Jul 2013 #45

Wow... Number23 Jul 2013 #46

LOL Cali_Democrat Jul 2013 #48

I rec'ed your post just so you could suffer being at "4" flamingdem Jul 2013 #47

and...? Bobbie Jo Jul 2013 #50