Posted on 07/17/2005 9:27:42 AM PDT by pwatson
Memo lists possible border terror plot Officials play down plan described in secret FBI bulletin 11:03 PM CDT on Saturday, July 16, 2005 By ALFREDO CORCHADO and JASON TRAHAN / The Dallas Morning News Dirt roads trace pale lines across a desolate landscape of bald peaks and plunging canyons near Texas' Big Bend and bridge the border at dozens of improvised crossings. For decades, these routes have been used to smuggle drugs and humans. Now there is growing concern they could become deadly conduits for terrorism. The concern is buttressed by a confidential but unclassified FBI intelligence bulletin, obtained by The Dallas Morning News, that contains the vague outlines of a possible terrorist plot. Officials from both sides of the border played down the possible threat but acknowledged that it is the sort of scenario they have to guard against. The prospect of terrorists crossing the southern border has been a rising concern among officials in Texas and Washington. The plot, according to uncorroborated information provided by an FBI informant, involves a man, described as an Arab who goes by the nickname "El Español," and Ernesto Zatarín Beliz, also known as El Traca, suspected of being a Mexican drug trafficker and member of the Zetas, the feared enforcers of the notorious Gulf cartel. "El Español is gathering truck drivers with knowledge of truck routes in the United States and explosive experts" in the state of Coahuila, according to the March 11 memo, which originated in the San Diego FBI office and was made available by a U.S. attorney's office. The informant "believes that the activity in Coahuila, Mexico, is terrorist related." In exchange for the Zetas' help in recruiting drivers, the memo says, the Arab – who barely speaks Spanish – promised to help them fund and execute a plan
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
Another must-read for those in denial on FR. The threat of terrorist actions/materials, etc. coming across our unprotected borders is beyond real.
But the intelligence bulletin noted that the alleged terrorist plot, as relayed by the informant, was still a work in progress, leaving open the possibility that less conspicuous vehicles might be employed. And the FBI memo said that "one possible smuggling route Traca wanted to use was through Big Bend National Park."
The border patrol's Marfa sector is its largest, covering 510 miles of border with Mexico, including part of Big Bend National Park, and bordering the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Coahuila. With some 200 agents, it has the smallest force of any sector along the Mexican border, according to Bill Brooks, the sector spokesman.
There will be an attack towards the end of the Bush term, thus destroying his legacy.
His legacy will be: that a million Americans died because a million others wanted their lawn mowed on the cheap.
Many say the likely route(s) into the US for the next strike will come from the north.
Does Gov. Perry have the authority to put the National Guard on the border? If so, this would be the perfect opportunity to try it.
Which one? The one currently deployed overseas or the one about to be?
Which is exactly what you and your ilk are praying will happen.
Or it might send his approval ratings skyrocketing again, which will rip your little heart out. :-D
If a major terrorist attack leads back to the open border, the Bush legacy will be one of abject failure and dereliction of duty.
No, it won't.
"No, it won't."
Oh, really?
How can one fight a so called war on terror while leaving the border wide open? Are you saying that no terrorists have exploited our open borders and joined their respective cells in large cities and are planning the next attacks?
Just because something hasnt happened doesn't mean it wont in the future.
Our enemy is patient, and takes years to plan attacks....especially high visibility ones like 9/11. Do you honestly think that they are going to do what they did in london or spain over here? To follow up 9/11 with an attack like that would make them look weakened to the core.
You'd think a president that had the best interests of America at heart would do something about the border, especially post 9/11. Reagan would have.
Clarification on: "to follow up 9/11 w/ an attack like that would make them look weakened to the core"
What I mean by that is that they likely wont pull a spain or london for their next attack, they will do something on equal footing or worse than 9/11.
Also, the president is not completely to blame on this issue. The senate has failed us as well on the border:
"Vote To Increase Border Agents fails (But Senator George Allen Voted for More Agents)"
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1443753/posts
If and when a major attack is traced back to our wide open southern border, the blame will be 100% his.
This brain stem must have forgotten his own words when he voted the other day to NOT INCREASE the number of Border Patrol officers in the budget!
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