Poor Richard's Almanac is a terrorist's tool!

[Sean Smith]

I'd suggest that the FBI's bulletin is not as stupid as the knee-jerk hysterical reactions here would suggest.

the FBI said terrorists may use almanacs "to assist with target selection and pre-operational planning."

"The practice of researching potential targets is consistent with known methods of al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations that seek to maximize the likelihood of operational success through careful planning," the FBI wrote.

True statements, though maybe not self-evident to Officer Bob at one of the 18,000 PDs the message was sent to, who has spent overworked years investigating crack murders and now has to worry about crazy foreigners killing people, too. As the sole basis for taking police action, of course, a copy of an Almanac isn't much, to say the least. But I don't think anyone is saying otherwise... including the FBI.

It urged officers to watch during searches, traffic stops and other investigations for anyone carrying almanacs, especially if the books are annotated in suspicious ways.

Read that again: if you are already looking, check for almanacs too... they might contain evidence. Hardly a cause for ranting about Farenheit 451 coming true.

 

[Art Eatman]

Devil's Advocate, okay?

Remember reading of the B-24 raids on the Ploesti oilfields in WW II? We had no decent maps of the route from North Africa. The first efforts were poor as planes initially missed the target area. They provided the "real directions" for later raids. A terrorist, here from some foreign country, has the same sort of problem, as well as that of learning a new culture.

So you're a terr. You need info about routes and targets. The US Almanac and the various state almanacs provide much helpful info on many subjects which might be useful--as do, of course, the various atlases of US highways.

In and of themselves, these items are innocuous. They're harmless.

Learning to fly an airplane is harmless. Normally, an airplane is not any sort of weapon.

Learning to shoot a rifle is harmless. We here all do it or have done it. And further, we all speak of "misuse" of firearms as regards harm.

To perform terrorism requires information; it is a necessary tool.

Last, how many times have we read of some crook, stopped for some routine traffic incident, released because of a lack of curiosity on the part of the LEO? (The converse is also true, of course.)

So, in and of themselves, almanacs have little importance in the WOT. In the event of seeing something else that seems "hinky", they might jiggle the "uh-oh" switch in some LEO's mind...

Art

 

[seeker_two]

And how long will it be until the sight of an almanac on the seat of a vehicle will be considered "probable cause" to conduct a vehicle search w/o the person's consent?

It won't be long until BREATHING will be considered "probable cause"....

 

[dischord]

We shouldn't have our heads in the sand, but contrary to popular belief, running around like chicken little is not an improvement.

 

[jimpeel]

ravinraven

This is either seriocomic or humoserious

I think "Tragicomic" about covers it.

 

[Ky Larry]

Didn't our fearlees G-men ignore repeated warnings by their own agents about possible terrorists training at American flight schools? IIFR,didn't they give us the fiascos at Waco and Ruby Ridge? Aren't they the same agency that opened a bordello in New Orleans to listen in on pillow talk between hookers and customers? Didn't they engage in illegal domestic spying, wiretapping,political fixing, and character assination? Wasn't their National Crime Lab cited by congress for inaccurate and false evidence? Am I supposed to take them serious about terrorism thru almanacs?
PAH-LEEEZE!

 

[Wildalaska]

I'd suggest that the FBI's bulletin is not as stupid as the knee-jerk hysterical reactions here would suggest.

in and of themselves, almanacs have little importance in the WOT. In the event of seeing something else that seems "hinky", they might jiggle the "uh-oh" switch in some LEO's mind...

We shouldn't have our heads in the sand, but contrary to popular belief, running around like chicken little is not an improvement.

Voices of reason in a flurry of mindlessness.

Isnt it amazing how the described self liberal press, with an agenda to embarrass the administration and quite frankly aid and comfort the enemy, has the power to whip up a frenzy on this Board over a simple memo that if read in context, makes a lot of sense, (except of course to the.....ah never mind)


WildshouldhavementionedmapsandcamerastooAlaska

 

[jimpeel]

Several years ago, the government issued a warning to police departments that those they stopped who were carrying Bibles, or copies of the Constitution should be considered as possibly dangerous anti-government persons.

 

[Shweboner]

Knowledge is a dangerous weapon. Thank goodness that our public schools are engaged in disarming our children...

that quote would make a great bumpersticker

~Brian

 

[seeker_two]

Shweboner: Feel free to make them. Just send me a few for family & friends...

jimpeel: I remember that. I also carry a Bible & a paperback pamphlet-sized copy of the Constitution in my truck, too. Guess I'm the enemy now...

Wildalaska: If you consider those quotes "Voices of reason in a flurry of mindlessness.", then I question the definition of "reason"....

Read my last post & answer this question: Would the presence of an almanac in the car of a Muslim would be "probable cause" for a search of the vehicle?

 

[Bill Hook]

Uh, considering you can buy access to satellite photos now and MapQuest is free, who needs an almanac to carry out dirty deeds?