May 22, 2003 (by Lieven Dewitte) -
The U.S. military deployed air-defense missiles and F-16s in Washington for an exercise amid heightened threats of terrorism, as al Qaeda's No. 2 official purportedly issued a message yesterday urging Muslims to kill Americans and Israelis and warning of attacks.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) was set to conduct an air-defense exercise over Washington last night involving low-flying fighter jets on simulated aircraft-intercept missions.
U.S. Air Force F-16 jets were to conduct flights along the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and parts of Maryland and Virginia between 10:30 p.m. and midnight on three days: May 21, May 29 and June 4. The exercise, known as Falcon Virgo, also involves the deployment of Avenger and Stinger air-defense missiles at several locations in the area.
The missiles will be deployed throughout the period of heightened terrorist threats, defense officials said.
