Like the possibility of 200 new jobs!

Just recommend everyone in the Horsham area keep those bedroom and bathroom curtains drawn! Because they'll have to train and practice SOMETHING!

The use of drones world wide and now hear in the states sickens many of us. But to find that a command center is located in my back yard is appalling at best. The days of the base being used to provide defense have been replaced with drones which are nothing more than the weapon of choice for an empire bent on destabilizing the world. It saddens me that not only does Horsham have the dubious distinction of having a drone command center in their back yard but that someday this command center will control drones used against us ……

Agreed Andrew!

I am excited about the idea of a high tech cutting edge technology such as a drone wing coming to the air base. I live in Horsham and had always enjoyed watching the planes fly around.

200 jobs....enough said

I think it is great that we will have the cutting edge technologist locally. If you all read correctly the drones won't be here just the controllers. Perhaps Mike you should look for the positive instead of the negative all the time. 250 jobs might not seem like a lot but to local stores and restaurants it is a plus. And I think I would rather know if as you say enemy drones were upon us then to be in the dark about it. Might not be keen on the weaponry, this kind or any. But if it helps detect and deflect those who want to harm our nation then it is a good thing.

Wasn’t it Albert Einstein that said, to paraphrase: paranoia is a higher state of awareness. You calling me paranoid is nothing more than the standard liberal response and means nothing. Instead, I submit that if you looked at the facts I presented, and they are facts, you should have at least some concern. It was Supreme Court Justice David Souter that stated there is nothing worse for our country than the “pervasive civil ignorance of our government” that has this country at risk. I’m afraid after reading your comment, that I agree.

Focusing simply on 250 jobs being added - it's very good news. If you follow the website link you can actually click on the Willow Grove ARS and see the jobs which they are looking to fill. Jobs which also come with the added benefit of (in PA) 100% tuition assistance and VA home loans. That leaves a lot of potential for incoming residents who have the support to make long-term investments in the surrounding community. Local businesses should see some positive effects (and no, not just 'Double Visions').

All you people, just DRONE on!!!

People like Andrew scare me a lot more than the fact that our military is increasing the use of unmanned aircraft.

I certainly don’t want to debate you drummers way, there is obviously no chance I could win. I mean, I quote Einstein and you the Kinks. Is there any other class you’d like to put me in? Gay, tall, overweight? Name calling is nothing more than a distraction and a sign of defeat. I merely provided the facts and I’m sorry you don’t have the where withal to investigate yourself. For what it’s worth George W. Bush, the Republican president that started most of this fine mess with the Patriot Act and the Iraqi war, is just as guilty as the Democratic president we have today. If one looks back at the time of the previously mentioned instances one can see how our individual liberties have eroded culminating in the invasive use of drones today. To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin: those that trade their freedom for temporary security deserve neither and will lose both.

There's really no difference between a helicopter and a drone, other than the size.

i hate the idea that drones will easily have the ability to watch people without their knowledge. but... restrictions on humans will never last, so we might as well welcome this new technology. when drones are caught spying on people, there will be a technology to counter them. accept change, it is inevitable. resistance is futile.

Really drummers way....a quote from a movie. Can't you do better than that? There are so many quotes from those that risked their lives and fortunes to provide you with a free country that they've filled a volume of books. But it is the TV generation that sits not knowing the difference between right and privilege, hoping that if they pledge their allegiance that big brother will watch over them from cradle to grave. I guess your quote is only fitting....

So drummers way, are you saying that you've served? Have you taken the oath? If so I am disappointed. To mock the very liberty you have sworn to protect and defend....with your life. Shame...

Funny, it was the British that told the colonist that resistance was futile.....

A real quote from a real person/patriot....
"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We? ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen." - Samuel Adams

It's amazing how much potential personal liberty people are willing to give up because some mouthpiece who will be gone n 5 years tells us "everything will be OK don't worry". Yeh, don't worry that when this administration bankrupts the country and we used to have was freedom and liberty, it will be gone. The price? Maybe 75 full-time jobs and some additional traffic to the local WAWA.

Thank you Andrew! The idea of a drone command center being so close to home is sickening.
I hope that people will do a little research, here's a start...
http://droneswatch.org/2013/01/20/list-of-children-killed-by-drone-strikes-in-pakistan-and-yemen/

can we have a drone center at the old prison in Norristown? We need 200 jobs here!

Hmmm.....I'm just recalling all of the human drones who whooped, hollered, and cheered when "The Patriot Act" was passed, taking away a lot of our rights to due process and privacy.

You wanted it, you got it! (Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!)

http://droneswatch.org/
Stay informed peeps. It is now our issue.

OMG! This is good news,don't we have spy satellites and lasers?We should always keep our bedroom and bathroom curtains drawn when privacy is needed!
We would not want Mumm-RA watching us make stool.

I've never read such silliness in my life. The NIMBY's, who cost us a ready-made commercial airport - and who likely moved here long after the air base and then complained about the planes - are now upset because of drones (which are a continent or more away) will be piloted from Horsham. I'm glad to see at least a part of the base doing something other than growing weeds and hosting deteriorating buildings.

Andrew kicked your butt drummersway. Are you waching Top Gun now for more quotes?

This is appalling. The use of drones to kill people around the world at the push of a button is a crime against humanity. The idea that you think you have the right to kill men women and children with no hearing or trial is simply wrong. Even the nazi war criminals got a trial at Nuremberg. Thousands of innocent people have been killed by us with these drones. In fact the first people to be killed by a drone was in the middle east. Three junk men looking for scrap metal were observed by a drone operator. One of them had a large black beard. Not unusual for the middle east. The drone operator fired a missle and killed them in the remote possibility it could be osama bin laden. It wasn't. Murder in the first degree.
Now they are planning to give out medals for killing people with drones that has higher honor than the purple heart ! Unbelievable. Why is a life in another country not worth as much as a life in this country? There is a good reason why we're hated around the world. This is one of them. WE HAVE BECOME THE GRIM REAPER FOR MONEY AND GREED !!! GOD HELP US !!!

One more drone in the air, one less pilot's life in danger.

James, your view is really disturbing. The people that you label as "stuck in the dark ages" view us as the ones to be eliminated from this planet. The truth is that everywhere in this world are zealots, but most people simply want to live their lives and protect their families. Regardless of whether or not you support what Horsham is doing, and I really can understand both sides, your complete lack of basic empathy is pathetic.

I would like to thank all of you for making my day more entertaining by going back and forth with the same old left and right rhetoric over and over. It makes for excellent reading.

are their going to be jobs for civilians? or just Air national guard members?

Why don't you call the phone number printed there & ask the experts.

Amazing how misinformed the public is. What makes you think a drone makes it easier to violate or harm a person? Unfortunately throughout my career I’ve seen man’s inhumanity toward man too often. War is a nasty business with or without this technology. Is there a possibility for misuse, of course there is. But no more then other mainstream forms of intelligence gathering and combat. You will never take the killing of innocent out of war. I tried to make light of those narrow mind folks that think they appear smart by quoting intelligent men. Truth is there is an app for that too. You have the right to your opinion and the right to complain. Just remember how that right has been achieved and protected.

Hey drummers way "you can't handle the truth"

Has anyone realized that the government is putting a milatary target in a populated area. Why would they do that? Then they make it public and the patch even marked it on a map. If the bad guys want to stop the Drones they bomb Horsham thats great.

Well Mike an air base has ways to defend the facuilty like planes. The drone center is one building close to a school and 892 acres that is going to be developed soon. People protested having an airport of any kind that would have created more jobs than 250 but they let them drop this in there. 250 jobs are not going to make that much of a differance to Horsham or Montgomery County.

Nothing is more cowardly than being a drone operator, killing people across the world as if it were a video game.

Leigh,
If I can clarify ... this land is NOT the portion of the air base that is currently in play for redevelopment. The entire parcel is 1,100 acres, of which 862 are to be redeveloped. This 238-acre parcel - the Horsham Air Guard Station - is adjacent to the former base, but is not part of it. It was and still remains in federal hands. Local officials and residents do not have a say in what the federal government can do with its property.

This is about the silliest argument I've seen. OMG, not a weapons facility? In our backyard? But wait, when the base was open, we had 'instruments of war' for decades. A10 Warthogs with real live bombs that were used in war. Manned by pilots who could die. Really, a 'cowardly drone operator'? You liberals are a trip.....

I see this as yet another level on the construction of a whole troubling house of cards. When will the UN stand up to the USA and call us to task on our unethical crimes against humanity aka The Game of Drones? Sorry - I am as patriotic as the next guy, but we are way out of line here...if Russia or another country were sending these things out on a weekly "kill list" mission to another country, we would be horrified.

Is this all our country is good for now? Endless wars and occupation for resources. That's right. We're in Afghanistan for resources not freedom and democracy. The same for Libya and Africa. Resources. Aren't you people tired of endless war? The constant flow of our proud military men coming home in body bags. Over 4500 now. Hundreds of thousands wounded. A veteran now has to wait an average of 600 days to get any help from the veterans administration. 20 of our proud soldiers commit suicide every day waiting for help. Now they are pounding the drum for a war in Iran. A country that hasn't attacked another country in over 800 years. Wake up people. The main stream media is Garbage. I ask all you christians out there. What about the ten commandments. Thou shalt not kill. Do you think God makes an exception for you.

I agree Rick. When the stealth was here, everyone was excited to try to see it. They have always kept safety in mind for the Horsham Community. I don't see that happening now.

Our crimes against humanity????? Are you freaking kidding me? And Smedley, no one likes war. The problem is, kooks like that idiot in N Korea loves war. The kooks in Iran who want to 'wipe Israel from the face of the earth'. The kook in Syria who has killed thousands of his own people. The list goes on and on. The world is very unstable. I am a Vietnam Vet and all to well knows the horrors of war. They will never go away. War has been a part of the human race for centuries. Hey I know, maybe we can send Dennis Rodman to visit all these unstable countries and friend them! But Yikes is way out of line. The UN?????? That corrupt and worthless organization? Our crimes against humanity? To use a couple modern pharses, OMG, WTF is wrong with you?

Mike your first post at the top of this page you were mocking this facility now you are defending it. I am not saying we are more or less safe that was not my point. I just want to know if it is worth the risk for 250 jobs. Why not just put it somewhere else like a large base that is still operational that has the abiltiy to defend its self just in case. The world has changed over the last 40 years and so has warfare. I would guess that WGNAS would not be a high priority target back in the day like a drone center would be today. Your nuclear comment is true but if there was a strike anywhere in the world back then it would have affected a lot more than Horsham and Willow Grove. As for the jobs when the base was open there were a lot more than 250 and I did not notice a huge drop in the traffic congestion when it closed. Having an airport of some kind would have a huge impact on the local economy not just in Horsham. I am sure the government could put 250 jobs in there doing something else like pushing papers or training dogs.A drone command center does not make sense to me. Keep them curtains closed tight. Right Mike

So, accidentally vaporizing someone's house with a drone strike because they thought it was a terrorist hideout is just collateral damage, eh Rick? You should tell that to the families who have lost loved ones because "war is part of the human race". There are estimates that there are 50 civilians killed for every 1 terrorist through the use of drone strikes. But it's not happening to you or your family, so who cares, right Rick? That's just the cost of our freedom, delivered down the barrel of a gun.

Yes, it is a crime against humanity when we commit extra judicial murder. And this should not be in our backyard, plain and simple.

I have no idea what you are talking about. I simply stated that wars have been fought for centuries. I am not minimizing war. As stated I am a Vietnam vet. I know all about the horrors of war. Stop blaming America as some evil empire. The world is full of evil countries. I named some.

Just because other countries have committed war crimes doesn't excuse us from doing so. You're perspective is that there are other countries which are worse, and by comparison we are nothing like them. However, as I pointed out, we've already accidentally vaporized families, which is a war crime, and is not excused because it's "not as bad" as other country's action. That is faulty, ridiculous logic.

I can't believe there are posts here discussing the validity of using unmanned aircraft to eliminate 'dangerous" people in isolated areas. The front page of this Patch has a picture of John Kulick..a man who died in Iraq because the U.S. did not have this technology. Imagine if there were drones 10 years ago and the military targets would have been terrorist camps and training grounds. the towers would still exist, fewer soldiers losing lives, fewer innocent people--even in Iraq and Afghan, would not be dead. For those of you arguing that the people being targeted are not tried and are "murdered", I believe they have already "tried" every American citizen and even some of their own (didn't a huge bombing occur in Iraq earlier this week that killed many civilians) and found us guilty and ought to die. Not in my backyard----then MOVE!!!

Oh yeah, for those "new" to the area...the base has been a major target concern for iver 50 years since it monitored the airways and waterways across the Atlantic with radar surveillance and as an AWACs base. It was a submarine monitoring base during WWII. It has always been SAFE in our backyard---thanks to our wonderful military and intelligence community for keeping us in Hatboro, Horsham, and Willow Grove safe from insurgence and attacks!!! Wonder how many incidents they actually thwarted using traditional war techniques.

Wow, you guys are scaring me. Did you do any research on drones? Or are you just spouting your opinion without any real knowledge of the subject? Are you just scared of them because you were disturbed by the Terminator movies? Do a little research - DRONES SAVE LIVES! And before you come back at me, who's side are you on? Because you really should pick a side. I am on the U.S. side. I live in the U.S. ! I stand behind our armed services. I will not sit here and bitch about things i know nothing about. The drones pick a distinct target. Think about it. Our buddies in Afghanistan and Iran and Iraq don't care about collateral damage. Car bombs, IEDs, people bombs, blow up whomever happens to be within range. At least we are trying to pinpoint our targets. And as for remote piloting, you can make much, much better decisions when you don't have bullets or missiles coming at you. If I was getting shot at, I would probably shoot at anything that moved until the bullets stopped. Remote pilots can keep their cool, and take out only the target. And who said these drones in question will be equipped with explosives? Maybe they are only reconnaissance drones.. DO SOME RESEARCH, then come back and comment!

Research? You can start here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9884667/US-senator-says-drones-death-toll-is-4700.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/mar/07/america-shamed-rand-paul-drone-executions

http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/03/21/us-move-drone-strike-program-military

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/15/world/asia/u-n-drone-objections/index.html

http://www.salon.com/2012/04/03/boredom_terror_deadly_mistakes_secrets_of_the_new_drone_war/

Some of us actually read and spend time informing our opinions, instead of wildly flailing about, hurling accusations around.

Ok, one of those is a real news source.. But it is a start.
If your son or daughter was eligible for the draft, would you rather they go over there and engage in hand to hand combat? Or pilot a drone from Horsham? I do not want my son or daughter meeting a violent death in the middle east, but if we don't try to stop terrorism, it will end up right here in Horsham eventually. Then you will wish for a drone to help you!

I see, so you get to decide what is legitimate or not, how convenient. So what is legitimate, the The Telegraph or The Guardian (two of UK's oldest and most respected new agencies), Human Rights Watch, CNN or Salon? Every one of those sources is completely credible and vetted, you sound like a fool.

If we don't stop terrorism it will wind up on our door step? That kind of weak logic is an excuse for tyranny that any true American would soundly reject. The path to ending terrorism is stop our jingoist foreign policy and short sighted thinking that leads us to invade Iraq, a country that never attack us and posed zero threat to this country's security.

Wake up and try thinking for yourself instead of vomiting up the same fear mongering scare tactics that get repeated ad nauseum. If you are worried about terror on your doorstep, maybe you should be worried about a program that is used to murder civilians without trial being setup right in your backyard.

Tommy, by the way, I am not arguing about the ideology of war here, that is another subject. I am just discussing drones. Iraq is and will always be a huge disgrace as far as I am concerned.

Just for the record I am all for drone and other unmanned wepons. Mike you are right the airport ship has sailed. I was just questioning the wisdom of our leaders in Washington and we all know they are geniuses why put a "potential milatary target" in a very densely populated area.

I am just hoping for a drone air show..

Jason that is a great idea they can have it at Hatters stadium and instead of the Blue Angels they be the Blue Cherubs.

Rick350 you have no idea what is going on around the world. Kooks in North Korea? Kooks in Iran? Kooks in Syria? Are you there now? Have you talked to anyone that lives there? Based on what you say you don't really have any idea what's going on in those countries. What you are saying is repeating the garbage you heard in the main stream media. The quote by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad about wiping Israel off the map is a total lie. Do you know what he really said? At the time he said, Quote - "This regime which is occupying Jerusalem shall vanish from the pages of time". The piece of crap called the New York Times changed it to "Israel should be wiped off the map" and the main stream media has been repeating it ever since. It's a lie. He never said that. Are you capable of independent thought or do you only believe and repeat everything you hear in the main stream media.

I have friends that served in Viet Nam. They don't believe what the government and main stream media says.

POLICE STATE. Sell your freedom for a job...

This is a good thing for Horsham, with a smaller Pheonix rising out of the ashes of the once vibrant base. But it sounds like you can't please the people of Horsham no matter what you do. Horsham is probably the only town in America to REJECT the massive job-creating machine that was the runway. I mean people in Horsham are so hood-winked that they were happy that 5,000 jobs just walked out and moved over to New Jersey. Also the couple hundred million dollars in construction that went with it. Now the township will spend tens of millions to demolish all the buildings AND assuming that there are no toxic spills anywhere on the base (I mean I'm sure NOTHING was spilled over the last 78 years there) - then there will be more room for Low Income Housing. I think it is wonderful that the people of Horsham are going to allow a major expansion of the sewage plant and bringing in hundred of low income families. I see no reason that having thousands of new children in Horsham would effect the tax base there. Isn't the Federal Government going to help Horsham build the new schools for these new Horsham residents? So a new sewage plant and new low income housing will make Horsham just a great little town to buy a new home and pay property taxes into the new schools that will have to be built. LOL. Be careful what you wish for. I'm sure that Toll Brothers can't wait to build new houses downwind from the new sewage plant........

Ok so a lot of you are fine with this, What about our government (DHS - HomeLand Security) stock piling 1.6 billion rounds of ammo all different flavors... That's enough ammo to wage a 22 year war. If they were to train with that it's enough to last 106 years. Now it's time for you people to really use your heads, ask questions? Are they expecting an invasion? What do they know we don't? What are they not telling us? Why the need for so much ammo? And the weather service department purchased like 25 million rounds or so WHY? http://godfatherpolitics.com/9856/warning-signs-obama-poised-hostile-military-takeover-us/

Look people!!!! I know I miss and loved the air base that it was, but it will NEVER be the old base again.... It's gone!! Now Tyranny has moved in!! SORRY!!!!

You can cut the paranoia around Horsham with a knife. Ha!

It seems pretty obvious to me that the 111th, as a flying wing, is not really a flying wing without a flying mission. Take away the runway and what is left? Remotely operating drones.

While the Air Force would be first to admit that the current generation of fighter jets would not be able to be stationed in Horsham, there are other pilot in the cockpit flying missions they could have brought to the airport. And still had the ability to fly in relief supplies on airplanes.

Without an airport, drones are the only option I can think of. So, if you don't like the drones and you were fighting to keep the runway closed, you brought this on yourself.

Sorry Andrew, you are the wrong one. It appears that after all these years you have been fighting the airport, you have learned little about aviation.. I bet you have no problem with Mike "stirring the pot" calling it a "commercial airport", a way to imply that it would be an airliner airport, even though it would not. Your website claimed an airport would have noise and pollution equivalent to the three busiest airports in the nation. Shame on you.

I welcome the jobs the drone program is bringing to the region.

Again - what about the FAA statement concerning 30,000 drones expected in the skies over America in two years??? Are they serious?
Here is the quote from the NBC Politics article last week (link in my above post):

"Last year, Congress gave the Federal Aviation Administration until 2015 to devise rules to integrate drones into the national airspace system. The agency predicted last year that 30,000 drones will be traveling the skies above America in the next 20 years."
THAT is troubling enough, without the added bonus of Horsham becoming a control base for them.
Does this aspect of the situation not bother anyone here?

I saw this interactive about drones used in Pakistan today, I thought it was interesting to see it laid out visually. http://drones.pitchinteractive.com/

30,000 personal drones in two years? That may be the conjecture but I'd rather hear that for certain than just imagine it...

Drone Killings of U.S. Citizens
A 50-Point Swing Against
Question: Should the U.S. "use drones to launch airstrikes in other countries against U.S. citizens living abroad who are suspected terrorists?" The new numbers: 41 percent for, 52 percent against.

The lede of the poll is even kinder to Paul, finding as high as 79 percent opposition to targeted killing in the United States. But that's a new question. On the old question, we've seen a real queasy swing of public opinion.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/03/25/a_50_point_swing_against_targeted_drone_killings_of_u_s_citizens.html

DHS To Buy 360,000 More Rounds of Hollow Point Ammunition

While the Department of Homeland Security continues to ignore members of Congress demanding to know why the federal agency is engaged in an apparent arms build-up, the

DHS has just announced it plans to purchase another 360,000 rounds of hollow point ammunition to add to the roughly 2 billion bullets already bought over the past year...

Retired United States Army Captain Terry M. Hestilow sending a letter to Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) warning that the ammo purchases represent “a bold threat of war by that agency (DHS), and the Obama administration, against the citizens of the United States of America.”

http://www.infowars.com/dhs-to-buy-360000-more-rounds-of-hollow-point-ammunition/