Posted on 11/30/2002 1:04:10 AM PST by JohnHuang2
A noted military analysis and research organization says a rash of Department of Defense vehicle window decals have gone missing from vehicles at bases all over the country, raising concerns that at least some may have been stolen by terrorists.
"It's come to our attention that [the decals] have gone missing from a multitude of personally owned vehicles," says an advisory published Monday by Paul Purcell, board member for Soldiers For The Truth, a group founded by decorated veteran, author and defense columnist Col. David Hackworth, USA (Ret.).
"This has not been happening in one particular location, either," Purcell wrote. "Theft reports of these base-entry stickers have filtered in from a number of areas across the country."
Purcell said his organization did not know to what extent the thefts have been reported or dealt with, "but we felt it was important enough to put the word out as a warning, a brainstorm topic and a request for action."
The advisory mentioned a couple reasons for the phenomenon – "simple anti-military and/or anti-impending war vandalism," or a "second and more urgent theory" involving "al-Qaida or other terror groups [which] are collecting these decals in order to gain admission to military facilities."
Going on the assumption that the thefts could be terror-related, Purcell offered three points of consideration.
"First, we have to consider the fact that not all installations have been hit as hard as others," he said. "Therefore, reports are not filtering up as they should, and consequently the reactions of the powers that be … will be slow to take place."
"Next," he continued, "we have to assume that whoever is doing this may be smart enough to collect only one or two decals from any particular jurisdiction, in order to stay below their radar" and avoid detection. This tactic, he said, "would still provide enough ID for a vehicle or two to gain access to a number of restricted military installations."
Third, Purcell wrote, "we have to wonder what their reason is for wanting base access." He went on to say that "recently intercepted al-Qaida Internet traffic and other indicators" hint that "something is being planned for some time in December." While SFTT has no confirmation of that, he asked, "What better way to disrupt any sort of reaction than to create a distraction in the very midst of our seemingly secure military installations?"
A Pentagon spokesman told WorldNetDaily that the Defense Department was not aware of a widespread problem.
Nevertheless, Purcell – in his advisory – recommended that state, federal and military officials be made aware of the possibility that base ID stickers could be targeted by terrorist operatives. "Awareness is key," he said.
Also, the advisory recommended notifying "anyone involved in any form of base security … that they should keep an extra eye on those coming and going from their posts."
Finally, "we should all remain vigilant," Purcell said. "We should take this as a warning and should not wait for [secretary of the Department of Homeland Security nominee] Tom Ridge to make an official adjustment to his color-coded threat board."
In terms of making the decals harder to get, SFTT recommends placing a clear laminated sheet over them at bases – "one that extends an inch or two beyond the edges of the decal" – which would make them much more difficult to remove or "sweat" off vehicles. The organization also suggests developing stickers that contain some sort of hologram or other item that is hard to counterfeit.
Until changes can be made to enhance the security of the ID stickers, "all military installations should at least require a picture ID" from personnel attempting to gain access to installations.
"We should remember that the decal and ID theft are not limited to military installations," Purcell said. "In fact, the largest number of ID thefts are coming from airports and seaports."
U.S. military officials are said to be focusing more on base security, in no small part due to the continued war on terror, but also because of an escalation of attacks directed at American military forces, especially in Asia.
Last week, explosions occurred outside Camp Zama, the U.S. Army's Japan headquarters, 25 miles southeast of Tokyo. Police said a rocket launcher was found near the compound, which is also home to the 9th Theater Support Command.
On Thursday, protestors in eastern South Korea threw firebombs at Camp Page, a U.S. military base in the city of Chunchon, following the acquittal of two American soldiers accused of killing two Korean schoolgirls in a road accident.
...and why bother? a photo of such a sticker could be turned into as many new stickers as you need on any home computer.
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