Reply #89: I don't believe it was stood down

[Beatrix]

by order. Here are the rules in the military to stand something down

1. You must have proper authority to give the order.
2. You must be of superior rank to the person you give the order to.
3. In order for a person to accept an order they must A. Know who it came from B. Confirm that person is who they claim and C. Confirm that person has authority to give the order.

So in order for NORAD to be ordered to stand down there would be no "who gave the order?".

First - There is a VERY narrow list of people who have sufficient rank and authority who could POSSIBLY give the order. (see points 1 and 2) So the possiblity is... A. Congress B. The president C. a VERY high ranking military officer. Not exactly a big list now is it? I think we can safely discount choice A.

Second - In order for that order to even be acted on the people at NORAD would HAVE to KNOW who it came from. (they don't exactly obey anonymous phone calls directing them to stand down you know) After this order was given the CO would have to relay the same order to stand down to his underlings. (read, the lower ranked individuals) So, if they were ordered to stand down don't you think at least ONE soldier present would have the fortitude to blow the whistle that they were given such an order? And further, they could name who gave it to them as the order can't by anonymous? Hell, a letter to a US Congress person with spine would be all that was needed. One letter/phone call to Kucinich for example and the whole thing would be blown wide open, and I'm sure Kucinich could arrange for protection of the whistle blower if needed. (i.e. come to congress and we will stand in the middle of the house floor before we say anything)