Why Government Officials Need To Provide Only The Best Equipment to Their Employees

I know this does not qualify as a Local Government issue and I am sorry. However I really do love this story and think it is one of the greatest governent stories of all times.  It reaffirms that government officials - local government officials provide their employees with the proper equipment so they can do their assigned jobs.

This story concerns a conversation that acutally took place between officials from the US government and the Iranian government  on the VHF Guard (emergency) frequency 121.5 MHz.  An American military aircrew was flying from a base in Europe to Dubai (in the United Arab Emerates also known as UAE).

The American aircrew received radio contact from a Irainian Air Base and the conversation went like this.

Iranian Air Defense Site: "Unknown aircraft you are in Iranian airspace. Identify yourself."

American Aircraft: "This is a United States aircraft. I am in Iraqi airspace."

Iranian Air Defense Site: 'You are in Iranian airspace. If you do not depart our airspace we will launch interceptor aircraft!'

American Aircraft: 'This is a United States Marine Corps FA-18 fighter. Send 'em up, We'll wait!'

Iranian Air Defense Site: Total Silence

... no Iranian intercept aircraft ever showed up