FBI Warns Police Of Possible Terror Attacks

[buzz_knox]

It's a lot harder to be a hazardous materials truck driver these days than ever before. When my agency was faced with the new regs, I was involved in the implementation for a while. It's a headache, but the days of "hey, you know how to steer so you're hired" are over. Won't stop a dedicated terrorist, but might slow them down a bit.

 

[TallPine]

How much do you suppose it would take to get a three guys hired at a couple companies that specialize in transport of LNG?

Quite a while, probably - I think you have to have some serious haz-mat training/background, and a stable driving work history, before they turn you loose with those things.

Anyway, I'm sure the cops are going to be stopping every single truck to check ID from now on ....

And if, as you suggest, the driver is legitimately hired by the trucking company, then what value would checking driver ID possibly have?????

 

[dpesec]

Buzz,
Yes I if the enemy doesn't know what you know you're in an advantage. Secondly, I'd like the government to let ke take care of myself. I'm the best person to take care of my and my loved ones. Why, because I'll do what it takes to keep them safe.

 

[Control Group]

Anyway, I'm sure the cops are going to be stopping every single truck to check ID from now on ....

$deity, I hope not. What a complete waste of time and money for the police, and a drag on traffic flow nationwide.

And if, as you suggest, the driver is legitimately hired by the trucking company, then what value would checking driver ID possibly have?????

Er...none whatsoever, obviously. I certainly didn't mean to imply that it would, and I'm sorry if I did. My whole point is that you can't stop them, period. If someone's determined to blow themselves up and take a bunch of people with them, they're going to manage it. You can't stop bad people from doing bad things to good people, and what you normally accomplish when you try is good people doing bad things to good people.

As I said, we're at the mercy of the terrorists. Our only advantage is numbers.

It's a lot harder to be a hazardous materials truck driver these days than ever before. When my agency was faced with the new regs, I was involved in the implementation for a while. It's a headache, but the days of "hey, you know how to steer so you're hired" are over. Won't stop a dedicated terrorist, but might slow them down a bit.

Even assuming that every company that hires hazmat drivers complies fully with the new regs (which might be possible, I suppose, I've got no connections to the shipping industry, so I can't really comment), you're statement about a dedicated terrorist is 100% dead-on correct.

 

[countertop]

So you'd prefer no warning, discussion of possible threats, etc?

Exactly,

This is part what Art said, part miscommunication by the media (I have yet to see the actual bulletin the FBI sent, I presume it was slightly different than the attention grabbing headlines the media came up with), partly information for police consumption and not really intended for the general public, but its mostly CYA.

Just think about the outcry if something where to happen and the FBI didn't release a warning. You'd have Kerry and Moore and Chappy Ted screaming so loud they'd all have heart attacks!!!

Of course, if that were to happen . . . . .

 

[Jim Diver]

Fuel is no big deal. It burns but it doesnt explode. With fuel you have to wait for air to get to the reactants by mixing or diffusion, so the release of energy is very slow.

I disagree. Remember that town in Mexico that was basicly leveled because a local fuel line from a refinery was leaking into the sewer system? No one knew anything till the town exploded and killed many.

Depending on who you listen to, 1 gal of gas can explode, when in vapor form with O2, with the force of 10-30 sticks of TNT.

 

[Waitone]

The warnings fulfill a specific requirement. . . . . of the political class. Bush and Co. do not want to be accused of failing to warn the public of a terror attack. They will ensure some kind of public warning so critics can't come back wagging fingers.

The other factor may well be tied up on legalities of follow on civil lawsuits. Bear in mind the entire payoff of the victims of 911 was to keep tort terrorists out of the picture. It was then I realized our government is more afraid of trial lawyers than it is of Al Qaeda.

Proud to be considered a cynic

 

[GEM]

Ahem, if we know that there are people in the USA who could do such and we probably have a good idea of the kind of people they are - perhaps rather than after the fact BS, we could be proactive.

It's just a bunch of Chicken Little crap. When the government was specifically warned of pilot training at specific places they did nothing. Now everytime a web sight says the cheddar cheese will be poisoned we go on orange alert.

I saw that they were taking down the alert status on mass transist today. Ok, pack up the packback tomorrow. Let's announce more of the alert status on TV. If people have bombs in their house, tell them you are not ready.

Morons.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Ah but you know, you can fill a milk truck with fuel quite easily and then you are driving down the road in a milk truck, under the radar of the police because you are not transporting hazardous materials.

 

[denfoote]

Booga!! Booga!! Booga!!

With the price of gas, they would be stupid to blow it up!!
The could do better by selling the stuff and using the procedes to buy some real explosives!! :banghead:

 

[rick_reno]

This just in...I guess they changed their minds.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8925309/

FBI backs off warning about terror attacks

Unconfirmed information led to alerts in L.A., New York, Chicago
Updated: 12:01 p.m. ET Aug. 12, 2005

The FBI is backing away from an advisory sent out earlier this week warning police that al-Qaida cells may use car and truck bombs in southern California, Chicago and New York.

NBC News' Pete Williams reported that the agency will issue a revised notice on Friday.

Officials stressed at the time that the warning was based on uncorroborated intelligence.

The bulletin, which warned that terrorists could use fuel tankers in assaults on the three cities, was distributed Tuesday via a computer network by FBI officials in Los Angeles to law enforcement agencies primarily in California, said FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller.

The notice was based on a single source of unknown credibility containing information that had not been corroborated. However, the source has since backed off the statement that led to the notice, an official told NBC News.

On Thursday, Eimiller had noted that FBI officials often notify police of possible threats, regardless of how accurate the information might be.

 

[R.H. Lee]

Why Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago? What do they have in common?

 

[rick_reno]

Why Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago? What do they have in common?

They're easier to spell than Minneaplois, Albuquerque or Cincinnati.

 

[hifi]

They're easier to spell than Minneaplois, Albuquerque or Cincinnati.

Maybe you're onto something here... they also mention Denver, Seattle, Houston, Dallas and Cleveland from time to time...

 

[Dead]

These alerts are "repeatedly" issued, as even stated in one of the memo's itself. Could it happen? Sure. Will it happen? I doubt it, the "terrorists" dont need to do anything else in the states to strike terror into the hearts of most Americans, the gov (read media as well) does a good enough job of that themselves.

In NJ there are highway signs that say "Report Suspicious Activity. Call 1-800-SAFE-NJ" or something

The notice was based on a single source of unknown credibility containing information that had not been corroborated.

From what I have seen this latest alert, just one of many, about IVBED's is indeed based on the above.