Posted on 12/16/2005 7:13:52 AM PST by pabianice
Juneau AK December 15, 2005 - A crew from Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team (ANT) Sitka discovered nine vandalized aids between Olga Strait and Whitestone Narrows Monday.
The crew received a report from a boater who stated he almost hit one of the navigational aids due its extinguished light. The ANT crew located the buoy, damaged with bullet holes. After surveying the surrounding area, the crew found two additional buoys and six shore aids with bullet holes.
The ANT crew worked from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday repairing and replacing solar panels, batteries, lanterns and radar reflectors on a number of the vandalized aids. Also, a crew from the Coast Guard cutter Maple, home ported in Sitka, placed a temporary patch over a bullet hole in the hull of one buoy. The buoy will be replaced by the crew of the Coast Guard cutter Anthony Petit, homeported in Ketchikan.
The Coast Guard takes the responsibility of preventing maritime accidents very seriously. The aids to navigation in the area where the vandalism occurred are of critical navigational importance. The waterway is used by recreational boaters, fishing vessels and commercial traffic, such as the Alaska Marine Highway System ferries.
Mariners use shore aids and buoys as guides to help them navigate their vessels while underway. When lights on fixed aids are extinguished the structure itself can become a hazard to navigation. On Feb. 14, 1998, a teenager was killed when the vessel he was in struck an unlighted aid to navigation in Olga Strait. The aid involved in the fatal accident was one of the aids vandalized.
Any person found responsible for stealing, damaging, defacing or destroying aids to navigation could be charged with a misdemeanor offense and face up to a $2,500 fine and a year in jail.
Coast Guard personnel determined the vandalism occurred some time between Friday and Monday morning. If anyone has any information regarding who might be responsible for the vandalism please contact the Coast Guard at 907-463-2001.
If they find the perpetrators, it might be time to consider a good old fashioned keel hauling!
This crime shouldn't be classified as a misdemeanor. It should be a felony with a long jail term.
As for whether it is vandalism or terrorism, it could be either. Catching the perpetrators will probably be very difficult though.
Owl_Eagle
"You know, I'm going to start thanking
the woman who cleans the restroom in
the building I work in. I'm going to start
thinking of her as a human being"-Hillary Clinton
(Yes, she really said that
Peggy Noonan
The Case Against Hillary Clinton, pg 55)
Could be either one, but probably vandalism. Bear in mind that some people despise the Coast Guard (until they need a rescue) because of their law enforcement duties.
Vandalism.
By definition, terrorists aren't that subtle with their attacks.
But if you're looking for a different word to describe the tinfoil conspiracy angle, try "enemy agents", "spies" or sabateurs".
I still believe that it's probably vandalism perpetrated by a bunch of bonehead boaters who thought it would be "fun" to engage in some target practice while drinking beer and fishing. But the enemy sabateur theory is at least a remote possibility. But "terrorism"... nah... wrong word, it's not their style.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
