Johnson -- the daughter of a Persian Gulf War veteran and mother of a 2-year-old girl -- has always had "an angel following her around" and "always manages to get out of stuff, " her sister Nikki Johnson said Monday.

CNN: Families hoping for POWs' safety, speedy return

Nevertheless, during the Gulf war in 1991 the American air force found that its 2, 000lb (about a tonne) bunker-busters were incapable of piercing some Iraqi bunkers.

ECONOMIST: Bunker-busting

Raytheon is the prime contractor for the PAC-2 Patriot system--much improved since its dismal accuracy in the Gulf war of 1991--and supplies an estimated 50% to 65% of the newer PAC-3 system.

FORBES: Ready, Aim, Fire