[Couldn't believe this when I saw it on Fox yesterday. Is it a case of the CIA forgetting to tell other agencies what they were doing;is this guy nuts and dangerous; is he doing the world a favor; what the hell is going on here?]

Seized Missiles Were Legally Held, Official Says Mon Aug 19, 8:24 AM ET

ROSWELL, New Mexico (Reuters) - Thousands of missiles seized by federal agents from a counter-terrorism school in New Mexico were licensed and had been obtained legally, an official of the school said on Monday.

David Hudak -- president of HEAT, or High Energy Access Tools, an antiterrorism and police-training services company -- was arrested last week on federal explosives and immigration charges.

Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms said they found 49 crates of armor-piercing missiles at the school, which had clients from Yemen and the United Arab Emirates, and believe there are about another 4,000 pounds of munitions on the premises.

Frank Fish, HEAT's director of security, said he expected Hudak, a Canadian, to be charged later on Monday. Fish said Hudak's visa had expired but insisted his boss had come by the weapons legally.

"The weapons that he had are licensed. We do have the paperwork for that," Fish said on CBS's "The Early Show."

"I'm sure after the ATF have finished their look, they'll see that everything is in order."

The weapons had come through customs legally from Canada and were on HEAT's inventory, which had been inspected by the ATF, Fish said.

ATF agents said on Sunday they had seized over 2,300 unregistered missiles at the school, but there was no reason to think Hudak had any ties to terrorist groups such as al Qaeda.

Hudak, 41, was charged with possessing missiles that were not registered to him, according to a criminal complaint filed on Friday by federal officials at the U.S. District Court in Albuquerque.

Federal agents found small missiles in 49 explosives crates, according to court records, with 48 missiles in each crate inspected, according the complaint.

Agents seized about 1,000 pounds of munitions from the school last week, including the missiles and launchers, and said they expect to find several thousand pounds of additional munitions in searches this week.

ATF officials allege that Hudak falsified records to obtain the weapons for the school.

Roswell, in southeastern New Mexico, is famous for unconfirmed rumors that a UFO crashed near the city in 1947.

-- Anonymous, August 19, 2002

Answers

Some things that really get me on this story.

This morning on Fox was the first time I heard about the students from Yemen and UAE. During this time, one would think that the country would block training anyone from the ME countries on this type of knowledge. You never know who may be in the class.

Second thing. If the weapons had been registered, from what I understand, there wouldn't have been a problem. 2300 unregistered missiles. Who the crap cares if they are registered or unregistered. People, unless part of the government, should not be allowed to own this type of stuff. JMHO! Of course the 2nd ammendment people will jump my case, but there is a big difference between a gun and 2300 freaking missiles!

-- Anonymous, August 19, 2002

It's one of those things where there's more to this than meets the eye. About the missiles. How did they get that many without anyone noticing before now, what in the hell were they going to use 2300 for, and how many have already passed through their hands? Those missiles were valued at $24,000 apiece. 2300 x 24000 = is $55,200,000. Sheesh! I heard on Fox that Hudak is in the country illegally. I know it takes time to round up all those who're here on expired visas but this is getting just a teensy bit ridiculous.

As for the Yemenis, they are some of the baddest sobs in the world when it comes to fighting and a great number of them are NOT on our side. They could probably teach Hudak a thing or two.

I have to wonder if this is a CIA op, training and equipping Arabs for some action in Iraq. That kind of money isn't easy to come by unless it's government-issue. And if not ours, whose?

I heard the "students" were allowed to leave the country but may be called back later if they need them for court appearances. What? We just let them leave?

-- Anonymous, August 19, 2002

The latest is that Hudak says he needed the missiles to blow up the rock on the place.

Oh very loud snorts here, numerous titters too.

-- Anonymous, August 19, 2002