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Government warns of terror threat to trains
MSNBC ^ | 3-4-08

Posted on 03/04/2008 7:47:29 PM PST by rdl6989

n a bulletin released Friday to U.S. law enforcement officials, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is warning of “continued strong terrorist interest” in targeting mass transit systems in the U.S. The 10-page threat assessment, labeled “Unclassified/For Official Use Only” and obtained by NBC News, cautions that the “U.S. mass transit and passenger rail systems are vulnerable to terrorist attacks because they are accessible to large numbers of the public and are notoriously difficult to secure.” Previous rail attacks in Madrid, London and Mumbai “could inspire terrorists to conduct similar attacks in the United States,” the report adds.

However, the authors of the intelligence analysis make clear that there are no known, immediate dangers. “At this time, there is no credible intelligence regarding specific plans by any extremist groups or individuals to perpetrate an act of terrorism against the U.S. mass transit system,” they write.

"Mass Transit System Threat Assessment" The report is titled the “Mass Transit System Threat Assessment” and was prepared by TSA’s Office of Intelligence. It comes just weeks after Amtrak announced a series of new security measures. Amtrak does not routinely screen passengers or their baggage with metal detectors or other devices, as all U.S. airlines do. Instead, it announced on Feb. 19 that it would use so-called Mobile Security Teams to randomly check passengers and baggage.

The report identifies Al-Qaida as one of the “most likely actors” in potential attacks. “Al-Qa’ida and affiliated extremists pose the greatest threat to the U.S. mass transit and passenger rail system,” it states. “The threat to heavy and commuter rail in the Homeland is greater than the threat to buses and light rail. Attacks on buses overseas tend to be small-scale and are carried out mainly by smaller separatist groups within their own countries.”

(Excerpt) Read more at deepbackground.msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: gwot; masstransit; rail; targets; train; trains
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1 posted on 03/04/2008 7:47:29 PM PST by rdl6989
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To: rdl6989

Sure hope nobody needs waterboarding.


2 posted on 03/04/2008 7:51:50 PM PST by HonestConservative (Obama; Nobody beats the Wiz.)
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To: rdl6989

What I don’t get, is that every couple of days two or three PA police officers show up and search the bags of those entering the PATH train in New Jersey.

You would think that if terrorists wished to attack, they would send a scout and see if there are any police checking bags today.


3 posted on 03/04/2008 7:53:51 PM PST by proxy_user
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To: rdl6989

Well LA is safe... since we dont use mass transit.


4 posted on 03/04/2008 7:54:59 PM PST by Walkingfeather
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To: rdl6989
What a waste of time, the government is doing such a good job protecting the border there is no way in hell anyone can bomb a stupid train. Just as Jorge, McCain are Gramnesty?
5 posted on 03/04/2008 7:55:08 PM PST by org.whodat (What's the difference between a Democrat and a republican????)
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To: rdl6989
Railroad terrorism is a simple as this:


6 posted on 03/04/2008 7:55:31 PM PST by Rb ver. 2.0 (Global warming is the new Marxism.)
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To: HonestConservative

With obama promising to talk with them and mccain promising to not ‘torture’ them, well, the terrorists will have it made.


7 posted on 03/04/2008 7:57:58 PM PST by Creek Injun
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To: Walkingfeather

Denver is safe too, only two or three people ride the trains.


8 posted on 03/04/2008 7:58:52 PM PST by Balding_Eagle (If America falls, darkness will cover the face of the earth for a thousand years.)
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To: rdl6989

I haven’t been on a train since I took a novelty ride in grade school circa 1957-1963 and don’t know anybody who has.


9 posted on 03/04/2008 7:59:35 PM PST by elkfersupper
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To: Creek Injun

We are headed to a rebellion, I’m afraid.

Actually, I’m afraid if we are not.


10 posted on 03/04/2008 8:01:24 PM PST by HonestConservative (Obama; Nobody beats the Wiz.)
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To: HonestConservative

I’m ready to fight and die. Just waiting for a leader to step up...


11 posted on 03/04/2008 8:05:41 PM PST by Creek Injun
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To: Walkingfeather

Well LA is safe... since we dont use mass transit.
::::::
Yeah, but LA does have mass transit...from across the border.


12 posted on 03/04/2008 8:07:20 PM PST by EagleUSA
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To: proxy_user
You would think that if terrorists wished to attack, they would send a scout and see if there are any police checking bags today.

You honestly believe that they aren't already doing so?

13 posted on 03/04/2008 8:07:39 PM PST by lightman (Waiting for Godot and searching for Avignon.)
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To: rdl6989

But, but, but, Code Pink says that Al Qaeda is not a threat to the U.S.


14 posted on 03/04/2008 8:20:14 PM PST by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a 2nd BCT 10th Mountain Soldier home after 15 months in the Triangle of death)
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To: rdl6989

I’ve noticed more police walk throughs on the mass transit I use the past few weeks. Even at night. Definitely looking for suspicious items on the trains.


15 posted on 03/04/2008 8:23:25 PM PST by Williams
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To: elkfersupper

I don’t know about you, but I would love to take a train through the Rocky Mountains.


16 posted on 03/04/2008 8:28:30 PM PST by LukeL
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To: rdl6989
However, the authors of the intelligence analysis make clear that there are no known, immediate dangers. “

And they won't until some train falls into a canyon somewhere, or they blow up a tunnel so that the mountain falls on the train and the people in it.

17 posted on 03/04/2008 8:36:45 PM PST by El Gato ("The Second Amendment is the RESET button of the United States Constitution." -- Doug McKay)
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To: Walkingfeather
Well LA is safe... since we dont use mass transit.

They're saving the dirty bombs for y'all. But that's OK, we Texans are saving the expanding bullets for them. (No Hague Convention for Terrorists)

18 posted on 03/04/2008 8:46:19 PM PST by El Gato ("The Second Amendment is the RESET button of the United States Constitution." -- Doug McKay)
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To: elkfersupper
I haven’t been on a train since I took a novelty ride in grade school circa 1957-1963 and don’t know anybody who has.

I had a short grade school train ride about that same time. But then in High School we took a train to the state basketball finals. We took the train in '66 and I think '67. In '68 the finals were held in our city, because of the potential for riots associated with the MLK assassination around our original venue in the "Big City". (Ours was second largest in the state and the capital city).

19 posted on 03/04/2008 8:56:03 PM PST by El Gato ("The Second Amendment is the RESET button of the United States Constitution." -- Doug McKay)
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To: Creek Injun
I’m ready to fight and die. Just waiting for a leader to step up...

If every body is waiting for that, it might be a long wait.

20 posted on 03/04/2008 8:57:08 PM PST by El Gato ("The Second Amendment is the RESET button of the United States Constitution." -- Doug McKay)
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