Two Israelis Arrested in east Tennessee Transporting Suspicious Materials

Various local news broadcasts ^ | May 9, 2004 | who knows what evil?

[who knows what evil?]

My apologies in advance on this story; I just happened to catch this on several different newscasts a few minutes ago, and I am going by memory as best I can. Unicoi County (Tennessee) sheriffs arrested two Israeli men after a high-speed chase down mountain roads in this east Tennessee locale. While the sheriff was in pursuit, local witnesses noticed that materials were being thrown from the truck as it sped by, well over the posted speed limits. These witnesses were able to locate some of these items; one of which included a jug whose contents became "unusually hot" after the ingredients inside were shaken together. (Goes into the "Hey, y'all...watch this" category, WKWE.) Upon arrest, the police noted that the cab of the truck contained a "Learn How to Fly" brochure, along with passports and Florida licenses that "just didn't seem to add up". The Israelis claimed they were "just in the process of moving some furniture up to Boston". The police also stated that these two Israelis are "not being cooperative in any way." The FBI is investigating the nature of the substance in the jug that was recovered, which has been classified as an "inflammable fuel."

My questions:

1. What ELSE was in this (big yellow) 25-foot Ryder truck?
2. If they were travelling from Florida to Boston, what were they doing on a two-lane back road in the mountains of east Tennessee, several hundred miles WEST of Interstate 95; the most direct route from Florida to Boston?
3. What is the volatile substance in the jug, and why did they wish to avoid getting caught with it? (Why else would they pitch it?)
4. Why are they interested in "Learning How to Fly?"
5. Were they REALLY going to Boston, or were they MORE interested in the nearby Nuclear Fuel Services plant, or, G-d forbid, the huge Eastman Chemical Plant, about thirty miles further up the road?

It will be interesting to see if the national media picks up on this.

[monkeyshine]

That's my thought. Drugs. Probably methamphetamines production given the remote location.

[LurkedLongEnough]

Here they are.

[wingman1]

I live in Greene County.

[MarcoPolo]

Where are you from?

If you had actually ever spent any time in Tennessee, so that you might actually know what you were talking about, you'd know that a large portion of Tennesseans belong to Protestant churches which believe in Israelis as God's chosen people---not as something to be ridiculed or mistreated.

I've read all the replies to your post and it only proves one thing to me---that the good folks that I've come to love in Tennessee are still not scared to stand up to ignorant bigots like yourself and tell it how it is. I hope sincerely that you stay out of the South and never come anywhere near it. We can do quite well without any fool-acting people like yourself.

[who knows what evil?]

It's just not passing the smell test.

I concur. They definitely do not want to be associated with whatever is in that container.

[don-o]

Yep. Them's our local celebs.

I think I heard a snip on a local radio news break, that their stories are not consistent.

I hope someone is close enough to be recording all that is going on. I think it would make for a very interesting story. Partially, for me, it's because I am 15 miles from that place, and know old US 23 like the back of my hand.

I have not risen to the bait of the "hillbilly haters." That mess does not merit any further wasted keystrokes.

Think of all the Kerry bashing that needs a-doin'!!

[Middle Man]

You neocons spout the most mindless drivel about this war. Defending the constitution and our way of life? You must have zoned out during Henry Hyde's speech when he said the constitution was "obsolete" and "overtaken by events". Guess you were so busy plastering flag decals on your fleet that you missed PATRIOT Acts I and II.

Saddam has been deposed. So the "greatest threat to humanity since Adolf Hitler" is no longer an issue.

No -- repeat no -- WMD's found, even after torturing Iraqis POW's for over a year.

But what the hey? Who cares? We're not "liberating" the Iraqi people anymore, we're "kicking Arab butt"!

Don't miss the final episode of "Friends". Better get back to your big-screen TV.

[mbraynard]

Excellent point.

[Oorang]

Please keep up posted as to what happens with this case. There has been nothing on the news here about this (not surprising) so the only news will probably be from your local station. Thanks.

[Twinkie]

This sounds like the same type of stuff that was found
by unsuspecting men in Russia, some sort of nuclear
waste of a very volatile sort. These Russian men were
in the woods and it had just been carelessly tossed in
the woods. It was warm and they slept next to it that
night to keep warm and got very sick. A PBS report awhile
back.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

That was my point...

[m18436572]

Easy, spud.

[m18436572]

Helps to read the thread, BTW.

[m18436572]

LOL!

[The_Media_never_lie]

Thank you for the update on this weird story. Please keep us posted.

[Oorang]

I remember that. It was on quite a few different news sites. A very similar incident happened in New Mexico May 2003 (one year later) and now this May 2004 (one year later). All three incidents very similar. Not saying this "means" anything, just odd.

http://nm.indymedia.org/newswire/display/973/index.php

[Choose Ye This Day]

“I think these words need to be said somewhere on national TV, and they are: there is no terrorist threat. There is no terrorist threat.” –Michael Moore

[sheik yerbouty]

Actually I first heard it in NY circa 1967..It predated the film.

[familyop]

" Don't miss the final episode of "Friends". Better get back to your big-screen TV."

ROFL! ...you have some kind of idiot box (TV) feed? Is that where you got all of that Democrap/anti-American stuff you just replied with?

What's "Friends?"

[stlnative]

Harris said early Monday afternoon he was waiting on the results of tests on the liquid substance in the brown container. The bottle contained a "gooey liquid" and some sort of pellets. The bottle appeared as if it had once held pesticides of some sort, but the label was missing. Field tests done by officers turned up no evidence of drugs. "We don't know exactly what's in it yet," Harris said.

Snipped from here - May 10, 2004 10:54 p.m.