Helderberg: The Mystery Solved?
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Cape Town
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Helderberg
Meckanic
I had a look at booksurge.com and read the review of your book. I'm trying to work out what it's really about before I buy it. Firstly it's reviewed as a novel, have you written it as fact or fiction? And second, but most important, is it about the Helderberg, or you life after...Would like to know as I am keen to read it.
Thanks
HS
I had a look at booksurge.com and read the review of your book. I'm trying to work out what it's really about before I buy it. Firstly it's reviewed as a novel, have you written it as fact or fiction? And second, but most important, is it about the Helderberg, or you life after...Would like to know as I am keen to read it.
Thanks
HS
Join Date: Jul 2006
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With Malice
HS,
Unfortunately I have had to be a little vague, it was possibly necessary to list the book as fiction as there are no real names in the book, however, there are titles, positions, locations, etc. In order to get this past my lawyer and a judge, sometimes one has to jump through some pretty strange hoops. I was seriously annoyed by this request to change names, but, even though it does shield the guilty to some extent, it also protects the innocent. I haven't listed any of the really nasty excerpts from the book such as information on the arms trade, corrupt ministers, the Helderberg, etc. but the Prologue is there along with an incident in Soweto, a run in with the Canadian Ambassador and the back cover text detail (a few pictures as well). It should give you a reasonable handle on what is contained within the book.
Part One of the book examines life in South Africa being attached to Armscor and their 'associates', and what I had to do there (I chalk it up to being socially responsible). After all, freedom fighter or soldier, it's just two sides of the same coin, is it not? In addition, contained in the first 11 chapters is technical information I shouldn't have if I wasn't there, on military bases, border installations, keypoints and their systems. Part Two is largely about a business manipulation and potentially criminal activities in Canada in regards to government ministers, institutions and the private sector (man, can I pick 'em). As I said in the description on the webpage, in the first half the gun is my hand, in the second half it's to my head.
At roughly a quarter of a million words, I probably should have split this into two books, but there is continuity between the first and second parts. It shows that South Africa and Canada are not so different when it comes to politics, greed and power struggles.
Meckanic
Unfortunately I have had to be a little vague, it was possibly necessary to list the book as fiction as there are no real names in the book, however, there are titles, positions, locations, etc. In order to get this past my lawyer and a judge, sometimes one has to jump through some pretty strange hoops. I was seriously annoyed by this request to change names, but, even though it does shield the guilty to some extent, it also protects the innocent. I haven't listed any of the really nasty excerpts from the book such as information on the arms trade, corrupt ministers, the Helderberg, etc. but the Prologue is there along with an incident in Soweto, a run in with the Canadian Ambassador and the back cover text detail (a few pictures as well). It should give you a reasonable handle on what is contained within the book.
Part One of the book examines life in South Africa being attached to Armscor and their 'associates', and what I had to do there (I chalk it up to being socially responsible). After all, freedom fighter or soldier, it's just two sides of the same coin, is it not? In addition, contained in the first 11 chapters is technical information I shouldn't have if I wasn't there, on military bases, border installations, keypoints and their systems. Part Two is largely about a business manipulation and potentially criminal activities in Canada in regards to government ministers, institutions and the private sector (man, can I pick 'em). As I said in the description on the webpage, in the first half the gun is my hand, in the second half it's to my head.
At roughly a quarter of a million words, I probably should have split this into two books, but there is continuity between the first and second parts. It shows that South Africa and Canada are not so different when it comes to politics, greed and power struggles.
Meckanic
Last edited by Meckanic; 6th Jul 2006 at 15:40.
Join Date: Jul 2006
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Government Reactions
Originally Posted by WorkHorse
What was the reaction to the crash by the SA Govt and the Americans?
Diego Garcia would have monitored everything during the flight and would have known exactly where the plane went down and what transpired between Taiwan and the final explosion/accident, but that info isn't soon to surface either, as it has national security connotations. The 'company' isn't going to admit to what they recovered and Armscor and the SA government aren't going to admit to what they lost.
What the real problem with this investigation is, is that everyone attached was culpable and they were all involved criminally. Hence, how do you get anyone to come right if they know once they do, they will be charged with a criminal offence and then probably ostresized for the rest of their lives. It would appear, Armscor and the SA government planned this one very well. The activity of the US appears to be just cleanup and nuclear material (u238) recovery.
If the US would make the surviellance records available, it would answer a number of questions pertaining to the 'alleged first fire' and would provide direct hard copy evidence of the communications between Pretoria, Joburg and the plane.
Finally, I received independent analysis of the debris field. As it appears the plane veered 90 degrees to NNW/N on a 30 degree bank and was traveling perpendicular to the original flight path when she came apart. The debris field looks like the plane was carrying at least one high powered explosive at either the front or the rear of the wing root (probably the front). This would have severed the wings, ignited them and blown them back and outwards, which is consistent with the debris pattern. Much of the fuselage would have been destroyed in the initial blast. But nothing is confirmed, I need photographs of the reconstruction of the Helderberg at Jan Smuts and video/photographs from the UW-ROV's so I can match up this information and have it confirmed So, right now this is supposition.
Meckanic
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Whats the answer to this question?
Originally Posted by WorkHorse
What was the reaction to the crash by the SA Govt and the Americans?
There seems to be so much emphasis on the Americans involvement over the last few threads that I've been thinking aload to myself.
In the preliminary report from the Scorpions line 2.16.5 there is mention of Boeing settling out of court to an American passenger, there was only one American on the passenger list.
Now call me sceptical but did this passenger have any involvement? Was he maybe a courier or minder of the cargo?
My question being why did Boeing settle out of court or is Boeing a code name for a government coverup by the US and also to what sum was the settlement, maybe someone could give an answer?
I hope that I haven't offended the US passengers family and apologise if I have and ask if they are watching this forum please join in and help us get to the truth .
Boslet
What was the reaction to the crash by the SA Govt and the Americans?
There seems to be so much emphasis on the Americans involvement over the last few threads that I've been thinking aload to myself.
In the preliminary report from the Scorpions line 2.16.5 there is mention of Boeing settling out of court to an American passenger, there was only one American on the passenger list.
Now call me sceptical but did this passenger have any involvement? Was he maybe a courier or minder of the cargo?
My question being why did Boeing settle out of court or is Boeing a code name for a government coverup by the US and also to what sum was the settlement, maybe someone could give an answer?
I hope that I haven't offended the US passengers family and apologise if I have and ask if they are watching this forum please join in and help us get to the truth .
Boslet
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American Payout
Boslet,
I don't think there has been excessive emphasis on American involvement. They seem to be limited to monitoring via the AF/Recon Base at Diego Garcia and the recovery/cleanup operation of the downed aircraft.
As far as paying out the American passenger 'out of court' it is likely that Boeing might have presumed that a lawsuit in the US might have impacted them badly, therefore like any company looking at damage control, they may have believed it expedient to settle quickly and avoid problems.
But you are right, it would be interesting to know at what level they settled.
Meckanic
I don't think there has been excessive emphasis on American involvement. They seem to be limited to monitoring via the AF/Recon Base at Diego Garcia and the recovery/cleanup operation of the downed aircraft.
As far as paying out the American passenger 'out of court' it is likely that Boeing might have presumed that a lawsuit in the US might have impacted them badly, therefore like any company looking at damage control, they may have believed it expedient to settle quickly and avoid problems.
But you are right, it would be interesting to know at what level they settled.
Meckanic
Originally Posted by boslet
Originally Posted by WorkHorse
What was the reaction to the crash by the SA Govt and the Americans?
There seems to be so much emphasis on the Americans involvement over the last few threads that I've been thinking aload to myself.
In the preliminary report from the Scorpions line 2.16.5 there is mention of Boeing settling out of court to an American passenger, there was only one American on the passenger list.
Now call me sceptical but did this passenger have any involvement? Was he maybe a courier or minder of the cargo?
My question being why did Boeing settle out of court or is Boeing a code name for a government coverup by the US and also to what sum was the settlement, maybe someone could give an answer?
I hope that I haven't offended the US passengers family and apologise if I have and ask if they are watching this forum please join in and help us get to the truth .
Boslet
What was the reaction to the crash by the SA Govt and the Americans?
There seems to be so much emphasis on the Americans involvement over the last few threads that I've been thinking aload to myself.
In the preliminary report from the Scorpions line 2.16.5 there is mention of Boeing settling out of court to an American passenger, there was only one American on the passenger list.
Now call me sceptical but did this passenger have any involvement? Was he maybe a courier or minder of the cargo?
My question being why did Boeing settle out of court or is Boeing a code name for a government coverup by the US and also to what sum was the settlement, maybe someone could give an answer?
I hope that I haven't offended the US passengers family and apologise if I have and ask if they are watching this forum please join in and help us get to the truth .
Boslet
Last edited by Meckanic; 21st Aug 2006 at 22:48.
