Let's see... a man of Middle Eastern descent with bushy hair and a mustache is taking pictures of a chemical plant from his pickup and when approached by a security guard, he shoots the guard and drvies off.
And they tell still say that there is no indication that this can be terrorism?
Again I say, that these people, either through their ineptitude, their blindness, or their propensity to try and keep the truth from the poor masses who they feel can't handle it (only they can handle the truth and protect us poor defenseless and untutored folk) are going to end up making matters much worse and encouraging more terrorism from these animals.
That attitude, in part, led to 911 IMHO...and its continuance will lead ultimately to worse if we are not careful.
FREEPORT — Port officials are looking into reports that al-Qaeda scouts may have sojourned into Freeport before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
A story in the May 26 issue of Newsweek reported that in March 2001, the scouts came to Texas to “case a major port in Freeport, Texas,” as well as look at President Bush’s ranch in Crawford. The information came from the FBI, according to the story.
“We’re seeing what that might mean,” said Pete Reixach, executive director of Port Freeport.
“We’re trying to qualify the language in this article with the FBI and Homeland Security offices.”
Port security was high Tuesday, Reixach said, but it was not because of the report.
The nationwide terror alert level was raised from yellow to orange, so the security was heightened to the level it was at the start of the war in Iraq, he said.
The possibility that terrorists were in the port’s back yard is somewhat sobering, Reixach said, but it only reinforces a trend toward heightened security after the terrorist attacks.
“We’ve all been in a state of alert since shortly after Sept. 11,” Reixach said.
“Our operations have increased their activities tenfold since then.”
The port also has received federal grants to enhance its security since the attacks.
Tobey Davenport, chairman of the port’s board of commissioners, said he was surprised by the report. While a fueling ship could be a possible target, Davenport said, there is little else in the port’s jurisdiction that could cause mass devastation if attacked.
“All we have on the navigation district property is warehouses,” Davenport said. “We have a rice mill and freezers full of bananas. What are they going to blow up?”
Of course, the “major port in Freeport” could include much more than just district property, Davenport said. It could include waterfront sites that are not port-owned, such as facilities owned by ConocoPhillips, Dow Chemical Co. and BASF, he said. Ammonia tanks could be a much more attractive target than bananas, Davenport said.
Like Reixach, BASF officials said the report only renews their commitment to securing their sites. “Security and safety of our employees and neighbors in the community are our highest priority,” said Jonathan Evans, a BASF spokesperson in New Jersey. “We have taken steps to address emerging security issues at our sites, and we continue to work closely with government and industry partners to address this important issue.”