Homeland Security Briefs...feel safe yet?

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2005-01-26 09:18am

Linka

New Hampshire. According to ConEd Energy security personnel, on 16 October, at the Newington Power Plant, a ConEd employee observed two white males in a parked vehicle near the Plant fence line. Reportedly, the vehicle’s passenger was taking photographs of the Plant using a telephoto lens. The area being photographed included Anhydrous Ammonia storage tanks and the loading dock area.

Louisiana. According to the Shell Chemical Company, on 13 October, in Geismar, Shell Chemical security personnel observed two males taking photographs of the Shell Chemical facilities including the electrical grid and chemical tanker trucks. The security personnel contacted local authorities who responded to question the individuals. Their investigation revealed that both individuals—one Asian and one Caucasian—were British citizens with valid U.S. visas who stated they were on a one month vacation and were fascinated by chemical plants. They were driving a rental car with Florida tags which they had rented in New York. The Asian male had several visa stamps in his passport for countries in the Middle East. Reportedly, in their possession, they carried several newspaper clippings related to the 9/11 attacks.

Wisconson. According to USCG reporting, on 11 October, at the Port of Milwaukee, a petroleum storage tank facility employee observed an unidentified male photographing the area with a large telephoto lens. The unidentified male photographed two neighboring petroleum facilities and the railroad tracks adjacent to both facilities. The employee attempted to confront the male and when the male noticed him approaching, he returned to his vehicle and departed the area.

UTAH. According to Chicago Police Department reporting, silhouettes of machine guns have been stenciled on electrical boxes in Iowa and Utah (pictured below).

Texas. According to reporting from the Texas Department of Public Safety, on 16 November, at the water treatment plant in Itasca, an unidentified individual broke into the water treatment plant and increased the chlorine input in the water—making the water poisonous.

Michigan. According to USCG reporting, on 10 November, in Detroit, while performing a training dive, Detroit Police Department (DPD) divers found a second improvised explosive device (IED) in the Rouge River. On 3 November, DPD divers found the first IED near a water in-take valve, approximately one-half mile from a waste water treatment plant. The DPD divers found the second IED in the same location as the first; however, the second IED was much smaller.

El Moose Monstero · Post by **El Moose Monstero** » 2005-01-26 09:28am

I'm not sure how much water supply sabotage is a particular efficient terrorist attack - sure, if it's some sort of bizarre toxin or chemical that isnt going to get detected - but with simply increasing chlorine levels, within minutes of the chlorine levels going above the relevant marker, an alarm will go off and the night shift emergency staff will be called in to shut down the supply. In the mean time, towns use the emergency water supply stored in the towers and storage reservoirs. I might be tempted to cry vandalism on that one, although it would presumably require the knowledge of which bits of the water treatment works do what.

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » 2005-01-26 10:51am

I'm not sure how much water supply sabotage is a particular efficient terrorist attack - sure, if it's some sort of bizarre toxin or chemical that isnt going to get detected - but with simply increasing chlorine levels, within minutes of the chlorine levels going above the relevant marker, an alarm will go off and the night shift emergency staff will be called in to shut down the supply. In the mean time, towns use the emergency water supply stored in the towers and storage reservoirs. I might be tempted to cry vandalism on that one, although it would presumably require the knowledge of which bits of the water treatment works do what.

Most terrorist attacks are not about effectivness. They are about spreading fear and attacking the willingness of the targets to continue resistencing. For example, just how damage are you doing to a nation's military and industry by blowing yourself up in disco? Let's say a cafe? A commuter bus? Not much, a pinprick at best that be will healed in matierial terms rather swiftly. But the emotional damage? Much greater and alot harder to heal. By making the target populace believe they are not safe even in their own heartland and that even living peacefully without supporting thier governments actons will not be enough to make them safe.

This is also been used by militaries in the past, the Dolittle raid on Tokyo for example, did next to no damage on the Japanese industry and military structures. However the morale effects on the American people and the doubts planted in the minds of the Japanese were in the eyes of many worth it at the time. For the cost of a bomber squadron you showed both populations that despite the defeats handed to the American military at the beginning of the war, they could still strike at the very heart of the Empire. A side effect of this was the Japanese fleet moving on Midway, the only land base close enough for bombers to have hit Japan from. I do not think I need to explain the importence of the Battle of Midway.

However, there are times when such assualts can have the reverse effect. The line between inspiring anger and defiance and inspiring fear and submission can be a very fine one at times.

Post by **weemadando** » 2005-01-26 10:14pm

My god this is all so stupid - some people are taking photos NEAR a powerplant and are thus TERRORISTS!

An "unknown individual" broke in to a water treatment plant? Why, he must be a terrorist - and did we mention - is there any evidence that this WAS a break in and not just someone coming in late because they left somethign in their locker - or even just a cover for them fucking up and not monitoring it?

Department of Homeland Security - making the nation safer, by seeing threats everywhere. LOOK OUT! ITS A TERRORIST SQUIRREL WITH AN ACORN TRYING TO KILL YOUR BABIES!

Post by **Coyote** » 2005-01-26 10:15pm

Oh... I thought "Homeland Security Briefs" was like, you know, a pair of Fruit of the Looms made of Kevlar. I had my credit card and everything.

Dammit.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2005-01-26 10:39pm

weemadando wrote:My god this is all so stupid - some people are taking photos NEAR a powerplant and are thus TERRORISTS!

Actually, photos OF the plant with telephoto lens.

An "unknown individual" broke in to a water treatment plant? Why, he must be a terrorist - and did we mention - is there any evidence that this WAS a break in and not just someone coming in late because they left somethign in their locker - or even just a cover for them fucking up and not monitoring it?

Well, I'd say raising the chlorine level to poisonous levels in the water
is kind of a dead giveaway.

Mayabird · Post by **Mayabird** » 2005-01-26 10:43pm

MKSheppard wrote:
weemadando wrote:My god this is all so stupid - some people are taking photos NEAR a powerplant and are thus TERRORISTS!
Actually, photos OF the plant with telephoto lens.

Yes, and students at the school of architecture here were taking pictures of the Atlanta Federal Reserve Building for a class project on city planning when the Homeland Security people nabbed them and detained them for supposedly being security threats. The class had to cancel the entire project. I hear all these "security threats" and think about those architecture students. Yeah, I'm gonna go live in fear now.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2005-01-27 09:17am

Mayabird wrote:Yes, and students at the school of architecture here were taking pictures of the Atlanta Federal Reserve Building for a class project on city planning when the Homeland Security people nabbed them and detained them for supposedly being security threats.

And they all deserved it, for being stupid enough to photograph exhaustively
the FRB. Look at the name. Atlanta Federal Reserve Building. If you
can't comprehend why the good people at HS are....twitchy about that, then
there's no hope for you.

Mayabird · Post by **Mayabird** » 2005-01-27 12:19pm

MKSheppard wrote:
Mayabird wrote:Yes, and students at the school of architecture here were taking pictures of the Atlanta Federal Reserve Building for a class project on city planning when the Homeland Security people nabbed them and detained them for supposedly being security threats.
And they all deserved it, for being stupid enough to photograph exhaustively
the FRB. Look at the name. Atlanta Federal Reserve Building. If you
can't comprehend why the good people at HS are....twitchy about that, then
there's no hope for you.

Which they were assigned to do for the class. Which the class did EVERY YEAR. But oh, who am I to question any paranoid claims by the Department of Homeland Security? I guess I should just go wet myself every time they point out some possible threat of terrorism. I should just live in fear when every other day they start saying the sky is falling. Give me a break.

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2005-01-27 12:40pm

Hey, I'd buy underwear if it had the old Homland Security logo on it. That would rule.

But seriously Shep, what is the point of all these scare tactics? To make me want to live in a bomb shelter, collecting my water from rain and dew, but still being sure to filter it before drinking it, and to not believe anything but what I hear on Fox News?

I'm not just asking why you insist on posting this sort of stuff all the time, but also why the HLS likes announcing this sort of stuff all the time.