Two Israelis Arrested in east Tennessee Transporting Suspicious Materials

Various local news broadcasts ^ | May 9, 2004 | who knows what evil?

[who knows what evil?]

My apologies in advance on this story; I just happened to catch this on several different newscasts a few minutes ago, and I am going by memory as best I can. Unicoi County (Tennessee) sheriffs arrested two Israeli men after a high-speed chase down mountain roads in this east Tennessee locale. While the sheriff was in pursuit, local witnesses noticed that materials were being thrown from the truck as it sped by, well over the posted speed limits. These witnesses were able to locate some of these items; one of which included a jug whose contents became "unusually hot" after the ingredients inside were shaken together. (Goes into the "Hey, y'all...watch this" category, WKWE.) Upon arrest, the police noted that the cab of the truck contained a "Learn How to Fly" brochure, along with passports and Florida licenses that "just didn't seem to add up". The Israelis claimed they were "just in the process of moving some furniture up to Boston". The police also stated that these two Israelis are "not being cooperative in any way." The FBI is investigating the nature of the substance in the jug that was recovered, which has been classified as an "inflammable fuel."

My questions:

1. What ELSE was in this (big yellow) 25-foot Ryder truck?
2. If they were travelling from Florida to Boston, what were they doing on a two-lane back road in the mountains of east Tennessee, several hundred miles WEST of Interstate 95; the most direct route from Florida to Boston?
3. What is the volatile substance in the jug, and why did they wish to avoid getting caught with it? (Why else would they pitch it?)
4. Why are they interested in "Learning How to Fly?"
5. Were they REALLY going to Boston, or were they MORE interested in the nearby Nuclear Fuel Services plant, or, G-d forbid, the huge Eastman Chemical Plant, about thirty miles further up the road?

It will be interesting to see if the national media picks up on this.

[veronica]

If these guys are Israeli Jews we won't hear anything more about it. The FBI will take over and most likely send them quietly home - irregardless of any crimes they might have committed or any plans they might have been hatching. The media will comply most obligingly and it will be another one of those stories which just disappear, much like the stories concerning the more than 300 Israeli Jews who were arrested nationwide following 9/11. If they're Israeli Arabs than we'll probably hear and learn more about it.

300 Israeli Jews arrested after 9-11? Got links??

PS - Irregardless is not a word. :)

[Alouette]

This road roughly parallels Interstate 26. NO ONE drives the old road anymore, unless you live in one of the few moutain homes up in the gap.

[who knows what evil?]

Did you catch this story on the news this evening?

[Endeavor]

Ditto.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Yeah, they could still be giving false names. I briefly tried to find a white pages directory for Israel, but every site links to the same page, which is no longer available. So I have no clue as to how popular or rare those names are in Israel.

But there are none listed in the US, so it still smells a bit fishy.

[GaltMeister]

It's all the fault of the International Jewish Bankers' Conspiracy.... and the Latvian bicycle riders.

No, its Barney's fault.

[The Scourge of Yazid]

Thanks for the link. I try to keep up on all the controversial police dog-shootings that happen from time to time.

[FourtySeven]

If these guys are Israeli Jews we won't hear anything more about it. The FBI will take over and most likely send them quietly home - irregardless of any crimes they might have committed or any plans they might have been hatching. The media will comply most obligingly and it will be another one of those stories which just disappear, much like the stories concerning the more than 300 Israeli Jews who were arrested nationwide following 9/11. If they're Israeli Arabs than we'll probably hear and learn more about it.

I'm sure you just forgot the < /sarcasm > here right? Sure you did.

< snicker >

[Endeavor]

"Any bets these are phony names for two Islamics?"

My money's on you, Bender.

[DB]

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=irregardless

[Joe Hadenuf]

lol....

[LurkedLongEnough]

I wonder if these two are in any way related to the Oak Ridge gang that started a toxic fire over the weekend?

[Joe Boucher]

Mousad agents?

[Diddle E. Squat]

Yep, I know when I make a wrong turn, I never slow down for cops that are chasing me with their flashing lights for miles, but do throw things out the window, and swerve. And when stopped, if I'm just moving furniture, I then always refuse to talk or cooperate with authorities, since I have nothing to hide.

Yep, clearly these boys are innocent and just made a wrong turn...

[muleboy]

Yep, just some more "art" students that got lost on their way to the "exposition".

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

They probably had Israeli passports. There are many Arabs living in Israel. They could easily be al-queda (or an affiliate). Good catch Tennessee (despite your slur).

[VOA]

Once the men were apprehended, officers also found a "Learn to Fly" brochure in
the truck, leading Harris and others to express concern about security at the
Nuclear Fuel Services plant in Erwin.

Amateur alternative scenario:
IIRC, a fairly extensive network of methamphetamine manufacturers/shippers
was uncovered here in the US sometime in the past couple of years...staffed by Israelis.

Thus the "learn to fly" brochure could just as well indicate they are looking
to move contraband via Cessnas.

(although I suspect that's a bit tough these days after the 9-11 event)

[headsonpikes]

I'll lay purty long odds that these "Israelis" are not 'German Buddhists'.