Author Topic: New Mexico: National Solar Observatory Closed, Evacuated Due to “Security Issue” (Read 2297 times)

Geremia · « **Reply #15 on:** September 14, 2018, 11:32:10 PM »

Quote from: forlorn on September 14, 2018, 02:24:18 PM

Are the other major Solar Observatories still open?

Yes, National Solar Observatory has a solar observatory on Kitt Peak, Arizona (McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope), similar to the New Mexico one.

Quote from: forlorn on September 14, 2018, 02:24:18 PM

I've heard rumours they might be trying to cover-up the signs of another Carrington Event.

That's probably the best explanation so far.

Neil Obstat · « **Reply #16 on:** September 14, 2018, 11:43:50 PM »

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ABC News throws hat into the ring:
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https://abcnews.go.com/US/conspiracy-theories-float-evacuated-mexico-observatory-roswell/story?id=57801213
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Mystery surrounds solar observatory evacuated near Roswell, New Mexico

By ABIGAIL SHALAWYLO

Sep 13, 2018, 4:32 PM ET

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A mysterious solar observatory evacuation in remote New Mexico is sparking an array of conspiracy theories ranging from alien sightings to foreign spies.
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The Sunspot Solar Observatory was unexpectedly closed down and evacuated without publicly stated reason last Thursday -- and a week later, nobody seems to know why.
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National Solar Observatory, Sacramento Peak, New Mexico, 2009.

While local law enforcement was requested at the scene in the town of Sunspot, they said they were left in the dark. Benny House of the Otero County Sheriff’s Office told ABC News that employees from the observatory called his team in around 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 6. He said the team stood by for a few hours while employees evacuated, but the security issue remained a secret.
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"They were tight-lipped about what was going on, no one would tell us what the threat was," House said, and confirmed the FBI had been there.
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A post office nearby was also evacuated. An official from the United States Postal Service told ABC affiliate KVIA in El Paso, Texas, that he did not know who ordered the postal workers to leave.
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The observatory is run by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, or AURA, which released a statement about the "security" incident.
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"AURA is addressing a security issue at the National Solar Observatory facility at Sacramento Peak, New Mexico and has decided to temporarily vacate the facility as a precautionary measure," Shari Lifson, AURA Corporate Communications Coordinator, said in a statement to ABC News. Lifson said AURA is working with authorities on the issue, but did not offer further information.
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Since last week’s evacuation, the Sunspot Observatory website has also posted a notice:
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"On Thursday September 6th, AURA made the decision to temporarily close Sunspot. The Sunspot Solar Observatory continues to work closely with AURA in order to allow for us to reopen as soon as possible. With the excitement this closure has generated, we hope you will come and visit us when we do reopen, and see for yourself the services we provide for science and public outreach in heliophysics."
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The lack of explanation left plenty of room for the internet to speculate and cօռspιʀαcιҽs to emerge.

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ABC provides a link to the Popular Mechanics article:

https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/telescopes/a23107258/fbi-new-mexico-observatory/

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An observatory in New Mexico has been unexpectedly closed due to an unnamed "security issue," prompting evacuations and a visit from the FBI. The Sunspot Observatory is now currently closed to both staff and the public, with no word on why or when it will be open again.
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“We have decided to vacate the facility at this time as precautionary measure,” said spokesperson Shari Lifson to the Alomogordo Daily News. “The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy who manages the facility is addressing a security issue at this time.”
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Lifson said that the facility was first evacuated on September 6 and has remained closed since then. According to Lifson, the observatory has no date for reopening yet.
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As part of the investigation into the security issue, the observatory has contacted the FBI, which has been reported on the scene with multiple agents and a Blackhawk helicopter. According to local sheriff Benny House, the agency has been working with local law enforcement but refuses to share any details.
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“The FBI is refusing to tell us what’s going on,” said House. “We’ve got people up there that requested us to standby while they evacuate it. Nobody would really elaborate on any of the circuмstances as to why.”
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The sheriff speculated that the evacuation could be due to some kind of threat made against the facility or its staff, but expressed confusion as to why local police would be left out of the loop. “If that’s the case, why didn’t they call us and let us deal with it?” he said. “I don’t know why the FBI would get involved so quick and not tell us anything.”
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Another possibility could be some sort of hazardous chemical leak or other natural danger, but again there’s no reason for the FBI to keep everyone in the dark. Whatever the reason, the scientists are forced to postpone their research while the FBI’s investigation continues.
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Source: Alomogordo Daily News

Neil Obstat · « **Reply #17 on:** September 18, 2018, 02:55:57 AM »

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1-hour video from two days ago, Sunday 9-16-2018, with 65,732 views and 819 comments, 1.1K likes:
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Not only was the local Sheriff told his services were not needed, but the Sheriff himself (and deputies) were evacuated.
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Specific residents and workers in the area were evacuated and specific others were allowed by the FBI to remain in Sunspot.
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A news conference led by an unidentified entity is promised for later this week (as of Sunday).

Maria Regina · « **Reply #18 on:** September 19, 2018, 09:19:29 PM »

https://drudgenow.com/article/?n=0&s=2&c=1&pn=Anonymous&u=https://www.ktsm.com/news/local/el-paso-news/child-pornography-reason-behind-sunspot-observatory-closure-according-to-court-docuмents/1460386237

Could this be the real answer that the Janitor did the dastardly deed.

Quote

A federal search warrant reveals that Sunspot Solar Observatory was shut down as FBI agents conducted computer forensic searches for child pornography.

The source of child pornography was traced to an IP address used at the observatory and a source within the building observed a computer with "not good" images on it, the warrant states.

An investigation by the FBI revealed that a janitor is the main suspect in the search, however he has not been charged with a crime even though his name in on the warrant.

The warrant states the suspect would use the observatory Wifi and a personal laptop to download the child pornography.

A limited number of people have access to the observatory from dusk until dawn, which helped narrow their search.

The observatory in the mountains of southern New Mexico had been closed since Sept. 6 because of an undisclosed security concern, but reopened on Monday.

Geremia · « **Reply #19 on:** September 20, 2018, 09:54:33 AM »

Quote from: Maria Regina on September 19, 2018, 09:19:29 PM

Could this be the real answer that the Janitor did the dastardly deed.

Doesn't seem a likely explanation. The Pentagon had 5,200 suspected downloaders of child pornography in 2011, but the investigation was halted after 8 months.

Maria Regina · « **Reply #20 on:** September 20, 2018, 02:12:54 PM »

Quote from: Geremia on September 20, 2018, 09:54:33 AM

Doesn't seem a likely explanation. The Pentagon had 5,200 suspected downloaders of child pornography in 2011, but the investigation was halted after 8 months.

I suspect that this story of the evil janitor is a planted story, but one never knows.

Have there been any news alerts by the MSM or alternate sources that have proven this story to be correct?

Are there any more news stories out there? Other alternative video "reporters" are claiming that observatories in Australia and Hawaii, among others, still remained closed. Why?

Neil Obstat · « **Reply #21 on:** September 26, 2018, 03:02:54 PM »

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Someone knows the answers. There must be a reason that nobody's talking. Shutting down a post office?

Neil Obstat · « **Reply #22 on:** September 30, 2018, 01:47:21 AM »

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The last website to mention this closure finally got sort of specific (no name for the perpetrator yet).
The observatory re-opened the 17th, but no mention of the Post Office is found.
No interviews with the evacuated personnel and local residents, either.
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http://earthsky.org/human-world/why-sunspot-solar-observatory-nm-closed-fbi
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Here’s what closed Sunspot Solar Observatory
By Paul Scott Anderson in HUMAN WORLD | SPACE | September 20, 2018
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Federal court docuмents this week revealed an FBI investigation of a janitor suspected of using Sunspot Solar Observatory’s internet connection to send and receive child pornography.
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UPDATE SEPTEMBER 20, 2018. Reuters and other media are reporting that the mysterious 11-day closure of Sunspot Solar Observatory in New Mexico stemmed from an FBI investigation of a janitor suspected of using the facility’s wireless internet service to view and distribute child pornography. Federal court docuмents filed Wednesday, September 19, revealed this information. The suspect reportedly became “agitated,” leading to the closing of the observatory for the sake of staff safety. Read more from Reuters.
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UPDATE SEPTEMBER 16, 2018: The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) issued the following statement about the status of the Sunspot Solar Observatory at Sacramento Peak, New Mexico. The observatory has been closed – and residents and staff have been asked to stay off the mountain – since September 6. The statement said Sunspot Solar Observatory will transition back to regular operations as of Monday, September 17. The AURA statement said:

Quote

On September 7, the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) made the decision to temporarily vacate the Sunspot Solar Observatory at Sacramento Peak, New Mexico, as a precautionary measure while addressing a security issue. The facility closed down in an orderly fashion and is now re-opening. The residents that vacated their homes will be returning to the site, and all employees will return to work this week.
AURA has been cooperating with an on-going law enforcement investigation of criminal activity that occurred at Sacramento Peak. During this time, we became concerned that a suspect in the investigation potentially posed a threat to the safety of local staff and residents. For this reason, AURA temporarily vacated the facility and ceased science activities at this location.
The decision to vacate was based on the logistical challenges associated with protecting personnel at such a remote location, and the need for expeditious response to the potential threat. AURA determined that moving the small number of on-site staff and residents off the mountain was the most prudent and effective action to ensure their safety.
In light of recent developments in the investigation, we have determined there is no risk to staff, and Sunspot Solar Observatory is transitioning back to regular operations as of September 17th. Given the significant amount of publicity the temporary closure has generated, and the consequent expectation of an unusual number of visitors to the site, we are temporarily engaging a security service while the facility returns to a normal working environment.
We recognize that the lack of communications while the facility was vacated was concerning and frustrating for some. However, our desire to provide additional information had to be balanced against the risk that, if spread at the time, the news would alert the suspect and impede the law enforcement investigation. That was a risk we could not take.

Geremia · « **Reply #23 on:** October 01, 2018, 11:14:54 AM »

Quote from: Neil Obstat on September 30, 2018, 01:47:21 AM

The suspect reportedly became “agitated,” leading to the closing of the observatory for the sake of staff safety.

Perhaps the post office closed because this porn addict called in a bomb threat to them? sɛҳuąƖ deviance + anger = extreme violence.

Neil Obstat · « **Reply #24 on:** October 03, 2018, 10:41:29 PM »

Quote from: Geremia on October 01, 2018, 11:14:54 AM

Perhaps the post office closed because this porn addict called in a bomb threat to them? sɛҳuąƖ deviance + anger = extreme violence.

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Why would they close the Post Office AND the Sheriff's office if it were child porn on the janitor's laptop?
Why would a bomb threat result in the Sheriff being put out of his office by the FBI?
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The Sheriff would have been involved, especially because he's familiar with local residents.
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A whole 3 weeks later and still, nobody has been arrested.
The man whose NAME appears in the search&seizure warrant (made public) has not been apprehended.
Could this child porn thing be a cover for what's really going on?
Why are local residents not demonstrating over having a pedophile in town without an ankle bracelet on?
Why is there no media coverage?
As soon as the "child porn" explanation was divulged suddenly nobody's interested anymore?
What about the families nearby with young children? Not interested?
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Something's rotten in Denmark.
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Here is a link to a live podcast that took place just today, where about minute 9:45 this topic comes up.
An anonymous informant offers informed speculation that he thinks China was using the observatory's system to spy on a military base right down the hill from the observatory, and that's why the Sheriff was out of the loop because national security is above his capacity.
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Remember, there was an OFFICIAL statement that it was a national security problem. That could easily be foreign espionage.
And nobody doubts that China is really intense on electronic espionage. -- They make all our cell phones and many of our computers.
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The MSM isn't going to be offering any real inside scoop on this closure.
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The Post Office would also fall under this umbrella because there might be mail on hand that is relevant for the investigation, and the postal service workers would not be able to stay out of the way unless they were removed from the scene.
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Starting at minute 16 and later has a lot of UFO type content.

Maria Regina · « **Reply #25 on:** October 04, 2018, 08:50:05 PM »

China could be in the loop.

Perhaps right now is not a good time to mention China, hence the silence.

Information from the House Judiciary Committee might explain things in a week or two.
HRC is related to China and to all their spy ware that is in our computers, smart phones,
electronics and ships. Apparently, these compromised electronics caused our Navy
vessels to malfunction and crash. Remember back a year ago?
It was so embarrassing to the Navy.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-navy-ship-collisions-were-avoidable-report-finds/

Quote

WASHINGTON -- A U.S. Navy report released Wednesday concluded that two deadly ship collisions in the Pacific earlier this year were avoidable.

It said the collisions, which killed a combined total of 17 sailors, resulted from widespread failures by the crews and commanders who didn't recognize and respond to unfolding emergencies quickly. Navy leaders publicly acknowledged those failings in a congressional hearing last month ...

In June, the USS Fitzgerald and a container ship collided off the coast of Japan, and the USS John S. McCain and a merchant vessel collided near Singapore in August [2017]. ...

Yes, the Navy has their official explanations, and heads rolled, but if electronics were
the weak link, do you think the Navy would admit that publicly? No way. We could lose battles.

The James Baker testimony before the House Committee is extremely important in this
regard as he worked with the DNC and Perkins Coie, the law firm which represented the
DNC. James Baker has turned state's evidence and he is singing like a songbird.

Jeff Sessions was subpoenaed to appear before the same House Judiciary today, and to
present the following docuмents in unredacted form. This will tie in with Baker's testimony.
https://judiciary.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/092718_Subpoena.pdf

1. The McCabe Memos (mentioning Rod Rosenstein et al)
2. The Woods Files (FISA docuмents for Carter Page)
3. All docuмents shared with Gang of 8 in May 2018 regarding the Russian Collusion.

More heads will roll:

Quote

Bob Goodlatte‏
Verified account @RepGoodlatte

As part of our joint investigation into decisions made by DOJ in 2016, today I subpoenaed Glenn Simpson to appear for a deposition
2:07 PM - 28 Sep 2018

868 replies 5,455 retweets 13,269 likes

Bob Goodlatte‏Verified account @RepGoodlatte Sep 28

We’ve also invited James Comey, Loretta Lynch, Sally Yates, Stuart Evans, Richard Scott, Sally Moyer, and Mike Kortan as witnesses. Will subpoena them if necessary.

There is a lot of news coming out every day, and the rats are panicking as shown by all the hired protesters.
Today about 300 demonstrators were arrested in DC.

Maria Regina · « **Reply #26 on:** October 04, 2018, 08:57:28 PM »

. . .

Neil Obstat · « **Reply #27 on:** October 05, 2018, 05:29:06 AM »

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"Today about 300 demonstrators were arrested in DC."

.

According to whom?

Neil Obstat · « **Reply #28 on:** October 05, 2018, 05:56:08 AM »

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Starting around 3:45 and for the next 5 minutes in this video (from 9-19, the day the MSM came out with the final version of this story, after which a big nothing!) Howe interviews the Otero County Sheriff, Benny House -- whom the FBI kicked out of his own office.
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Who else bothered to interview the Sheriff?
His manner is very unsophisticated, so maybe other editors didn't appreciate his style.
But he's still the Sheriff.
And he is openly contemptuous of the unprofessional, cavalier and dangerous actions of the FBI.
They put his deputies in mortal danger, unnecessarily. And he does not appreciate that.
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One comment says, "The FBI always lies, that's normal for them."
Another responds, "Maybe their name is misspelled, should be FIB."

Neil Obstat · « **Reply #29 on:** October 05, 2018, 06:46:21 AM »

Quote from: Maria Regina on September 19, 2018, 09:19:29 PM

https://drudgenow.com/article/?n=0&s=2&c=1&pn=Anonymous&u=https://www.ktsm.com/news/local/el-paso-news/child-pornography-reason-behind-sunspot-observatory-closure-according-to-court-docuмents/1460386237

Could this be the real answer that the Janitor did the dastardly deed.

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You're reference here to the Drudge Report is very weak, since it was Drudge that incorrectly relayed the false message that other solar observatories even in foreign countries had been taken off line, when the National Observatory at Sunspot was in fact the ONLY ONE to be closed. Drudge didn't bother to check facts before reporting!
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As for "The Janitor did it!" check out these comments (from below the video I posted above):
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QQTrick1QQ 2 weeks ago (edited) Per FOX NEWS.......Sunspot Solar Observatory reopens in New Mexico. ... A New Mexico solar observatory reopened Monday after an 11-day FBI investigation of a janitor who was suspected of using the facility’s internet to download child pornography, federal court docuмents revealed Wednesday............. Sounds sketchy
Chad Lickinstein
Chad Lickinstein
2 weeks ago
QQTrick1QQ they wouldn't shut it down over that
9
Krysten B
Krysten B
2 weeks ago
@Chad Lickinstein no. They wouldn't evacuate it either. That's horse radish.
10
Serg NYC
Serg NYC
2 weeks ago
Not buying that cover story. If that was true then local law enforcement would have been involved.
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Krysten B
Krysten B
2 weeks ago
@Serg NYC definitely
2
Serg NYC
Serg NYC
2 weeks ago
@Jeanine London If thats the case why would the Sheriff be getting his info from the news and not the FBI?
4
Tony South Dakotah
Tony South Dakotah
2 weeks ago
QQTrick1QQ
Ah yes, shut down multiple observatories, post offices and webcams for that reason, makes perfect sense. And perfectly explains the dead hiker nearby too.

[Note: multiple observatories is incorrect --

dead hiker story explained below:

German tourist ignorant of the desert.]

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Timothy Hartman
Timothy Hartman
2 weeks ago (edited)
Jeeezz, some people will Jump to wild conclusions OR swallow a hook, line and...just to feel right and self important...
..reason and sense is not the general public's best suit for sure.
F B I INVOLVED IN A remote area with a ? sex scandal ... that is A Pile of...
A N D evac an entire area, tape it and close it up??!!!!
So far I have heard stories from illegals crossing nearby, to SPYING on White Sands to the high heavens danger from super flares to fleets of UFO'S AROUND the sun.
We have a memory people...
We Know the Pattern, Behavior, Earmarks of U Know Whoo..
GOVERNMENTS!!!
They Lie All the time
I would easily wager and win..
Face Palm..
Most will throw arms in air walk away and FO-get about it baby.
With this in mind and reason there is something BIG going on.

3
Julie R
Julie R
1 week ago
And they have made no arrest of this so called janitor according to Reuters. No charges.. this story is bullsh*t
8
milomilo
milomilo
1 week ago
@Krysten B -horse radish- lol
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milomilo
milomilo
1 week ago
This is such a B.S. story and to use child abuse as an excuse shows how evil these people are.
5
Susan Smith
Susan Smith
1 week ago
But why close all six of them? No this is wrong.

[Note: Drudge relayed false story that multiple observatories were closed.]

5
Smufter16
Smufter16
1 week ago (edited)
If that were true, law enforcement could have arrested him at work or at his home quietly without shutting down the whole town.
What is he going to do, hit them with his broom?
What a load of BS!!!
7
QQTrick1QQ
QQTrick1QQ
1 week ago
Unless the downloads had a backdoor hack that infected the system is the only plausible explanation. Such as a country spying on the software.
1
Krysten B
Krysten B
1 week ago
@Smufter16 exactly!
1
thevancouverguy
thevancouverguy
1 week ago
@Susan Smith they didn't. No others [observatories] were closed. Thats a bullsh*t myth started by secureteam10 and maybe simon parkes. LINDA debunks and disputes that on her Fade to Black appearance a couple days ago
3
JRRnotTolkien
JRRnotTolkien
1 week ago (edited)
Serg NYC And they wouldn't have closed down the observatory, the post office and the town. Good grief, what if every town where someone got caught with porn was shut down? New York City, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami ... all would be evacuated and hundreds of post offices would be closed.
4
BioStuff415
BioStuff415
1 week ago
so shut down the whole thing - for 11 days????
2
doranpat
doranpat
1 week ago
QQTrick1QQ-dead hiker was a one-two HOUR drive away on the desert floor--a german tourist with no clue that u do not go hiking in the desert--leave your car in the parking lot and hit the trail alone with no water and leave ur cell phone in the car--that is just ignorance--that behavior might be safe in europe but not in the wild west. This is also very common this time of year in that area. I used to live there in Alamogordo and that was not an unusual occurance. I also have been to the Sunspot Observatory and owned land nearby--that was NOT just an observatory--it was a creepy place doing creepy things--forty years ago-and NOTHING HAS CHANGED--all those antennas over all those buildings that have NOTHING to do with observing the stars spells HAARP FACILITY TO ME..and THAT is what the fbi was interested in-not the telescope but all those antennas that they have pictured as removing along with THEIR operators.

DouglasUrantia
DouglasUrantia
1 week ago
If kiddy porn is found, the simply take the computers and arrest....they do NOT shut an entire town or site down. Silly cover story.

berretta9mm1
1 week ago
QQTrickQQ, Totally ridiculous, and insulting in the extreme. "...a janitor who was suspected of using the facility’s internet to download child pornography..." This would be the first and ONLY time in history when Black-Hawk helicopters, armed agents, and the F.B.I. evacuated an entire town to arrest and investigate a janitor's 'child porn' collection on a computer. And the idea that a child porn collector and/or distributor would be using computers like the ones at Sunspot Observatory, with their security and encryption, is just ridiculous. No, beyond ridiculous: if such were true, they would have simply arrested the janitor, seized his computers, and carried on with Solar Sunspot activities. WHY do they believe we are so STUPID, or do they feel so arrogant, and untouchable, that they just say anything, and don't care how absurd it is?

Author Topic: New Mexico: National Solar Observatory Closed, Evacuated Due to “Security Issue” (Read 2297 times)

Geremia

Re: New Mexico: National Solar Observatory Closed, Evacuated Due to “Security Issue”

Neil Obstat

Re: New Mexico: National Solar Observatory Closed, Evacuated Due to “Security Issue”

Neil Obstat

Re: New Mexico: National Solar Observatory Closed, Evacuated Due to “Security Issue”

Maria Regina

Re: New Mexico: National Solar Observatory Closed, Evacuated Due to “Security Issue”

Geremia

Re: New Mexico: National Solar Observatory Closed, Evacuated Due to “Security Issue”

Maria Regina

Re: New Mexico: National Solar Observatory Closed, Evacuated Due to “Security Issue”

Neil Obstat

Re: New Mexico: National Solar Observatory Closed, Evacuated Due to “Security Issue”

Neil Obstat

Re: New Mexico: National Solar Observatory Closed, Evacuated Due to “Security Issue”

Geremia

Re: New Mexico: National Solar Observatory Closed, Evacuated Due to “Security Issue”

Neil Obstat

Re: New Mexico: National Solar Observatory Closed, Evacuated Due to “Security Issue”

Maria Regina

Re: New Mexico: National Solar Observatory Closed, Evacuated Due to “Security Issue”

Maria Regina

Re: New Mexico: National Solar Observatory Closed, Evacuated Due to “Security Issue”

Neil Obstat

Re: New Mexico: National Solar Observatory Closed, Evacuated Due to “Security Issue”

Neil Obstat

Re: New Mexico: National Solar Observatory Closed, Evacuated Due to “Security Issue”

Neil Obstat

Re: New Mexico: National Solar Observatory Closed, Evacuated Due to “Security Issue”