Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat - Thread 5

CNN ^ | March 12, 2004

[thecabal]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- This week's deadly train bombings in Spain will not lead to a rise in the U.S. color-coded terror threat alert system, a Department of Homeland Security spokesman said Friday.

"Based on the current intelligence, we have no specific indicators that terrorist groups are considering such an attack in the U.S. in the near term," said department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse.

[jerseygirl]

You were typing your answer at the same time that I was typing the identical question to you!!

Great minds:)

Family members in Ct seemed surprised when I asked them about what had happened on 95.

[jerseygirl]

Here is the original report of the terror warning to Bridgeport, posted on March 25th:

Security increased as terror threat targets I-95

BRIDGEPORT -- A terror threat targets Connecticut's busiest stretch of highway, the Interstate-95 corridor in Bridgeport. State police began stepping up security in the area Thursday.

The response is a coordinated effort between local and state police, the Coast Guard, and Homeland Security.

People taking the port Jefferson ferry to long island underwent police checks of vehicles at the docks today.

One of the more visible signs of the increased security measures put into place after authorities received information that Bridgeport could be targeted.

"It's nerve-wracking .. .you see police, and all that's going on, you often wonder," said Long Island resident Timothy Smith.

"What we've done now because of the alerts we've increased police to 24 hours, seven days a week," says Joseph Savino the Harbormaster. "Matter of fact, we just got back to the dock. We were out on patrol."

the alert appears to involve the stretch of I-95 that skirts the city, an area that includes the ferry terminal. The I-95 bridge over the harbor and the Metro North tracks that run parallel to the highway.

"It began with homeland security in Washington obtaining intelligence information and passing it to Connecticut," says State Police spokesman Sgt. Paul Vance. "In this day and age, all intelligence is taken seriously and passed on to law enforcement agencies that it might affect."

State police stress that the intelligence in this situation is both non-specific and unsubstantiated, but is taken very seriously -- hence the increased security.

Measures people seem willing to put up with for the peace of mind it affords them.

"Better the security here than to have a problem when we're out in the middle of Long Island sound on a boat," says Robert Mancuso.

More News (related)

Casino hoping 95 shutdown won't hurt business

Officials have known 95 shutdown would be catastrophe

Tracking down the drivers involved in fiery crash

Team Coverage: Demolition of bridge underway

Ferry a popular transit choice

Day After: Business crippled by I-95 closure

---

Channel 3 news
WorldNow and WFSB.

[freeperfromnj]

When the accident first happened on the Goethal's I was somewhat suspicious because it came on the heels of the Bridgeport tanker explosion. After reading the coverage I don't think the Goethal's was anything more than an accident. What concerns me about the affected stretch of I-95 in Bridgeport is it's proximity to the Milstone Nuclear plant in nearby Waterford.

[jerseygirl]

Whoa- I wasn't even thinking about that!

[freeperfromnj]

During the last orange alert CT significantly stepped up security and ordered a no-fly zone around the Milstone plant. If the plant took a hit and the highway was shut down there would be no hope for any kind of an orderly and timely evacuation.

[tmp02]

I guess you miss understood...Again, like you said, the FCC can tailor any laws to the HAM user. The user CAN NOT modify the Law if set up by the FCC. There is no negotiation like you said, but when "emergencies" occur, there are allowances for unlicensed people to use the radio - this is a basic principal in hamming. For instance, in the official ARRL license manual, one of the questions in the test pool (question T0A08, explained on page 10.4) for the technicians exam is this:
"What is an important consideration for the location of the main power switch?":
The answer is C - "Everyone should know where it is located in case of an emergency"
What does this mean? I think that it is obvious.

The definition of Emergency by ARRL manual interpreting the FCC rules is this "a situation where there is a danger to lives or property." This can mean that a non-license person can transmit on behalf of a life threating situation (even if it is not his own in the sense of third party transmission)as well as on his own life threating situation (exe. he is loosing lots of blood, etc). This can also mean that if there is a distress call that is made on a frequency and is not answered by a license operator, then a unlicensed operator can respond to the request for aid. Pilots and vessels as you say also come under this blanket rule. Emergencies do not allow unlicensed operator to set up dinners at a camp site or the like; you can do this only if you have a license.


While I understand that as someone that is involved in RACES does not want a lot of unlicensed calls for emergency during a massive catastrophe since it may be overwhelming, but in a bad situation as discussed on this thread, it could happen and calls from unlicensed operators are allowed by FCC law.
Let me emphasis that if there is a massive emergency, this does not give an unlicensed person the permision to take up valuable air time which could be used to save a person's life. And common sense should always be used.

I still recommend that people who plan to get their license should go out and buy a 2 meter or 70cm for emergency purposes as well as getting used to their radio, and NOT to make illegal calls and interruptions unless in an emergency.

[MamaDearest]

My father was diabetic. I am not entirely without understanding about diabetic comas, etc. My father experienced those himself. It always required a trip to the hospital and we were never sure he would "come out of it. Perhaps those passengers should have a physician's signed authorization to take specific drugs onboard the craft, and prior authorization from the airline before the flight so that the passenger could be "pre-screened" for the flight. When is comes down to it, what would stop asthma/allegy inhalers or any other "medicine container" from being filled with dangerous substances as well?

[Revel]

"Yahoo is a waste of time"

I agree. Imposible to navigate and a virus trap to boot. There are better places to go. You mention one of them.

[jerseygirl]

Interesting time for this to be scheduled:


RUSSIAN BLACK SEA FLEET COMMANDER TO SUPERVISE EXERCISES ON MONDAY

SOCHI, March 27, 2004. (RIA Novosti)

Exercises of the Russian Black Sea Fleet will be conducted in the central and eastern parts of the Black Sea on March 29 under the supervision of the fleet's commander Vladimir Masorin.

Vice Admiral Masorin announced this at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to Vice Admiral Masorin, 17 combat ships, 36 auxiliary ships, 12 aircraft and helicopters and about 8,000 people will be involved in the exercises.

Bilateral tactic exercises are to be held as well.

"Bilateral missile firing, a landing operation on the Kerch peninsula and other actions are planned," Vladimir Masorin said.

"The exercises will be carried out beyond the neighboring countries' waters in the Rostov center's zone. This is our firing ground and we have relevant agreements to use it," he added.

en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm...do_alert=0

---

This also has interesting timing:


2004-03-28

RUSSIA POSSESSES SECRET WEAPON

MOSCOW, MARCH 28, 2004. (RIA Novosti).

On February 18 this year, President of Russia Vladimir Putin was present at the launch of "Molnia" booster-rocket at the Plesetsk launching center and watched by the TV another launch - that of the RS-18 missile at the Baikonur testing ground. (Baikonur has been under lease by Russia from Kazakhstan for the term of 49 years).

Later on the President made a symbolic statement to the effect that Russian strategic missile forces would be equipped with the newest intercontinental missile complexes in the nearest future.

These complexes are able to hit their targets in any part of any continent with the hypersonic speed, high accuracy and able to alter their initial flight pattern as far as the altitude and the course are concerned," stated the head of Russia.

According to him no other country has such systems. "And this fact gives us every ground to assert that taking into consideration the already available defense means Russia guarantees its security for many years ahead," said President Putin.

The head of state did not rule out a probability of the creation of anti-missile defense system of Russia. "Antimissile defense system has being elaborated for decades. At some stage we can turn to creation of new antimissile systems," the head of state explained. He also stressed that this activity's main principals are military efficiency at a minimal cost.

"We will watch how other countries solve this problem, keeping our efforts at a constant pace," he said.

The President emphasized that "there are no aggressive intentions behind strengthening and modernization of the Russian armed forces. The only goal is to defend its citizens and to protect its national interests." Vladimir Putin has also said that Russia has neither imperial nor hegemonic ambitions.

"Russia has its national interests, and them she will protect and defend in juridical and economic ways as well as with the use of the razor-edged technologies," the President said.

According to him Russia together with its nuclear club partners bears responsibility for nuclear security. "At the same time our military potential should answer adequately today's challenges," the head of state said.

Russian President emphasized that the development of new and the modernisation of existing weapons in Russia are not intended against any country including the USA.

en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm...do_alert=0

[MamaDearest]

Until then, just keep in mind when you "Yahoo," that you're keeping company with al Qaeda!

Cindy, Jeremy is 110% correct. As long as Al Qaeda has a forum, they can advance their plans and goals. Forcing them to squirm is something they need to learn. I understand the logic of monitoring their posts, but how much of that is propaganda, a cat and mouse game, designed specifically to instill terror, and try to convince us it is "for Allah" to cover up their delusional plans to take over the world.

[MamaDearest]

it is OK for them to kill civilians in pursuit of jihad, but it is not OK for Muslim "civilians" to be harmed in a retaliatory strike. The jihadists believe that terror directed against the U.S. is fully justified and ANY retaliation against them is a criminal act.

Well stated Myrddin!

[WestCoastGal]

bump for later

[MamaDearest]

How far should free speech go?

Like pedophiles, terrorists should have no internet rights. There should be internet policing to capture those who do it and imprison them for what they do, no matter where they do it. If someone used a webcam during an act of murder, would that be acceptable just because it is done on the internet? Murder is a crime no matter where it is done and terrorism is a crime internationally that needs the same kind of police enforcement, whether done in Saudi Arabia, Sydney or Seattle. If we apprehended them while they were keyboarding, it would be better than apprehending them after another their next mass killing of innocent world citizens! Letting them continue to Yahoo is granting them permission to kill worldwide.

[MamaDearest]

PUNK!

You said it well.

[MamaDearest]

just cannot imagine why anyone would show Islam such a lack of respect.

Could it be the message, convert or die by the sword? Talk about being close-minded!

[MamaDearest]

Our religion is under attack, they kill and murder our brothers. They compromise our honor and our dignity and dare we utter a single word of protest against the injustice we are called terrorists.

What a load of *&$). Perhaps if they weren't threatening death to those not converting to their religion, killing their own people, our military and our allies and instilling terror to every country in the world, we could all get along.

[Teri0811]

"Diabetic coma is the consequence of too much insulin. You don't remedy the problem by injecting more insulin."

No, you don't; however, there is a very large emergency needle with medication in it known as Glucogon. Basically, it's sugar water but it's a very large needle that's supposed to be administered when someone's blood glucose drops and I've watched my child go into a seizure and go unconscious with a sudden drop in blood glucose. The symptoms are similar in highs and lows; in any emergency, one would have to test their blood glucose and one would need their supply bag to have access to all of this.

[MamaDearest]

The article didn't say whether the outsourcing was overseas, but it was to a private company wherever that was located. I typed in IRS outsourcing in Google for the story.

[WestCoastGal]

A friend of mine just called to say after a week of not knowing what was wrong with her Mother they discovered she is infected with e-coli. It has destroyed her kidney, her gallbladder and is in her blood stream.

If a medical Dr has trouble diagnosing this, how can we count on them to diagnose bio. infection?

[Teri0811]

"The time required to fly an aircraft between any two points in the world is NOT long enough to justify bringing diabetic supplies as "carry on"."

Actually, you're wrong. A diabetic's blood glucose can drop for any reason at any time, including stress; hence the word emergency. As I already stated, included in any diabetic supply bag are emergency supplies, including testing materials to determine whether one is, in fact, high or low; Glucogon if someone is experiencing a low; Glucose tubes for use if the individual is still conscious, and coherent; and insulin if one is experiencing a high. There are also medical supply kits for the insulin pump. The insulin pump is supposed to be infused at all times so they're easier to check in airports; however there is a bolus attached. One can still experience an emergency while using the pump; however the emergencies while using the pump are far less in number than that experienced by those who take needle injections.