Forum: Introduce Yourself

Folks,
I wanted to say “so long” and “good-bye” to you all. I will not be participating in any more discussions in this F-16 arena (website) anymore. I am having far too many internal and external conflicts with myself surrounding my personal beliefs (official and unofficial) and my own ideals supporting USAF, Comm and Ops Sec programs. I will not be part of the problem any longer and as I am finding out (to my sorrow), I am not part of the solution either (few seem to care if they knowing violate USAF rules in these areas) so I will withdraw completely from any discussions in this website.

Far too many discussions center, or ride on the line of legal operational or communication security, violations, (in my opinion), many others feel this too. I find that I am having a tough time not having the USAF, OSI or FBI (for American citizens) look into these possible violations (other are doing this). My withdrawal will not prevent these possible violations but since they will continue, I will just let the “system” handle any violators they find. I for one can not stand idly by and read many of the topics without feeling the hair on the back of my neck stand up, knowing it is wrong and should not happen. Many of you should be worried about security and your not, you think the fact it is on the Internet will save you from prosecution, it will not if your found guilty, I have tried to warn you and I am laughed at (that is fine). Time will tell where the buck stops…..

However, many of you enjoyed (as I did) the simple no troubled discussions that did not ride the edge of possible USAF classified or controlled military information release. I will always be grateful for those discussions and folks I met here at this site. The site itself presents a great venue to openly enjoy and discuss the F16 and (within reason) its capabilities. Thank you all for those discussions, I really enjoyed them, for those that like to violate or abuse the information you have, you should be ashamed (my opinion).

The US Air Force operates the bulk of the aircraft talked about and photographed here; it is the topics that openly discuss locations, munitions, configurations, operations that are current and past deployments that are a very touchy subject for me as a Foreign Disclosure Officer for the United States Department of Defense.

Having said that, I withdraw from this site since far too many topics boarders on possible violations and exploit many US interests and their defense system technologies. To those that do not go in that direction, thank you for your time and wonderful discussions, I enjoyed it.

Best of luck to you all………if you ever want to reach me, my email is listed on the site.

Salute……

Tom Wharton (A.K.A. - Meathook, Retired SMSgt, USAF)

F-16.net Sponsor

We're sorry to see you go Meathook. I had a few disagreements (we won't go into that) but it was always interesting to talk to you.

Elite 1K Joined: May 26, 2005 - 08:39 PM Posts: 1496

I'm sorry that is how you feel, sorry to see you go. I don't always agree with you, but you had an amazing career in the USAF and some great stories. Thanks for sharing what you did, and best of luck to you and yours.

Salute

Too bad you feel that way. I hope this wasn't all over the google maps thing.

Hate to see you go, but I do understand your point.

Take care man, thanks for the input on the forums. Some folks may not agree with you on some things, but I think everybody will repsect the iron you got hanging from your chest. Thanks for the stories.

Thank you all for the kind words....best of luck to you all, fly and fight safe - salute to you all

Stuff like this always leaves me wondering "if a military guy doesn't say something because it's iffy and a civilian goes right ahead yapping about it because he has no idea what's classified and what isn't how's the civilian suppose to know where to draw the line?" Question

Live long and prosper MEATHOOK!! I am not a Trekkie but I mean that! Best of luck in all you do. You are a man who sticks to his guns and I respect that a lot.

Forum Veteran Joined: Dec 25, 2003 - 10:03 PM Posts: 679

Buh-bye.

Last edited by F16VIPER on Jun 27, 2006 - 02:09 AM; edited 1 time in total

To Meathook:

Democracies need at least two parties to function properly.
An opposition party is needed to present an alternative point of view and to keep the party in power honest.

You surely had a personnal commitment to the cause you believe in and I think that is commendable. I am a firm believer in having to
opposite views that somehow will find a middle ground and learn to listen to each other.

I am not in the military, not even in your country, but have always had a healthy respect for both.

I think your input in this website is required, not only to share your vast experience that we do not get to read in books or magazines,
but also to present a view from the security perspective and make us all reflect. My opinion may have absolutely no importance to
anybody but I suggest, if you allow me to, you reconsider your position and do not resign and stay for the benefit of this forum, I am not
sure it will benefit you personally, but I think the educational aspects of your position are critical so we can all learn but also we as a group do not unknowingly go into areas we are not supposed to.

I left my retirement to write this note to you and once again ask you to reconsider. As I mentioned previously, I will not be an active member of the forum, retire and this is my very last post. Thanks to all of you for the feedback I received mainly about the obscure areas of leatherman tools, harneses and other pilot flightgear and also letting me into the fantastic world of the F-16.

Meathook, I wish you all the best and hope you stay for the good of the group.

Kind regards

F16VIPER

That is heartfelt and I respect your comments and request. I have to admit, I have never had anyone ask something like that of me (since being in uniform), especially in this forum with so many "hands on experts" available, past and present.

I will give it some serious thought and I thank you for the kind words and do feel honored that you respect my background and experience (and concerns) that much to ask me.

I would like to say, there are many posters here who have similar experiences and backgrounds, I respect theirs as well (just as experienced in my book), both young and old, we have all done the job or are doing the job now.

This forum (collectively) is far more then just folks talking about an aircraft, it is almost alive (living the dream of flight and maintenance) with fliers, maintainers and enthusiasts alike, that is amazing to me, I like that part of it.

I respect that more then most things I can talk about, pride in self and one's country has always driven me. I will consider your request with the respect and light in which it was given.

Thank you......Tom Wharton

Tom,

I can completely see where you're coming from - especially being a foreign disclosure officer Wink

. I hope you stick around to help the new guys and gals get a sense of what not to do. Your extensive experience in the field also helps, too. Take some time, think about it, and let us know in a while - we're patient Smile

.

Thanks...I will do that....see ya

Forum Veteran Joined: Nov 07, 2003 - 09:12 PM Posts: 901

hi Meathook, just like to say, we might not be in agreement to our view in the subject surfaced. Nonetheless, it is in my opinion, your steadfast obligation to defend the best interest of your country's security, most admirable.

Good luck,

Forum: Introduce Yourself

Won't participate any longer...