Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat

1,081 posted on 06/26/2004 4:33:56 PM PDT by Honestly (There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet the enemy.)

Lots of info here...

Second fatal train-vehicle wreck in two days; 19 deaths this year

The Associated Press
6/26/2004, 2:22 p.m. CT

HESSMER, La. (AP) — Two people died and a third was hospitalized after a freight train hit a Ford Mustang early Saturday — the second fatal train-vehicle wreck in as many days in Louisiana.

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They brought the total number of deaths in such accidents this year to 19, more than the total for any of the past five years.

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission had begun its annual campaign to remind drivers to stop at train crossings on Monday — earlier than usual because there had already been so many wrecks.

Louisiana has had no more than 15 such deaths in any single year since 1998, when there were 25. The highest number recorded is 32 in 1992.

On Friday, the driver of a tanker truck filled with gasoline died in a fiery wreck in Chalmette, across the Mississippi River from New Orleans. The train's engineer and conductor, both burned over 90 percent of their bodies, died at hospitals later Friday, Louisiana State Police said.

Saturday's wreck occurred shortly after midnight, when a car carrying four people in their teens and early 20s apparently tried to beat a train near Hessmer, an Avoyelles Parish village with about 650 residents.

"It's just a little rural crossing on a parish road. It's not fully upgraded, just little crossbuck signs on each side," State Police Sgt. Eddie Andrus said. He did not know whether there were trees nearby or whether drivers have a clear view of the tracks for some distance.

Driver James R. Gaspard, 17, of Marksville was booked with two counts of negligent homicide and one each of negligent injury and failure to yield at a railroad crossing, he said.

Andrus identified the dead as Jessie Oxford, 20, of Hessmer and a passenger from Marksville whose name and age could not be released because relatives had not yet been notified.

Robyn McNeal, 17, of Effie, was in stable condition at Christus-St. Francis Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria, spokesman Tommy Touchet said.

Friday's wreck killed trucker Henry Blount, 55, of Holden, train engineer Dennis Vinson, 58, of Covington, and conductor Anthony J. "Tony" Mills, 58, of Carriere, Miss.

Vinson and Mills were in the cab of the Norfolk Southern Railway train when it hit a tank truck which had just picked up more than 8,000 gallons of gasoline at a nearby refinery.

Blount, who was identified by his employer rather than by State Police, died in the explosion, which sent flames 50 feet into the air.

Blount's previous driving record for Lard Oil had been perfect, said Johnny Milazzo, president of the Denham Springs company. "We're struggling to understand what happened," he said.

Louisiana State Police said Saturday that the truck driver was at fault for ignoring the crossing's flashing lights and ringing bells.

The crossing does not have an automatic arm to stop traffic. There is a traffic light at the intersection, but trains have the right of way even when it is green.

A third railroad employee, brakeman Charles La Bella, 58, of Chalmette, jumped to safety from the train, authorities said. The locomotive was destroyed.

Witnesses said they weren't sure whether to try to help or run away for their own safety.

Ronnie Alonzo, a St. Bernard School Board administrator, was standing outside the school district's administration building less than a block away when he heard a long train whistle. He looked over seconds before the train hit the tanker's center.

"It was slow motion, like something out of a movie. It kind of lifted (the tanker) up and turned it on its side," said Alonzo. "And as it turned on its side, the tanker cracked. You could see the liquid coming out and seconds after the liquid came out, flames started."

Within 10 to 15 seconds, he said, it exploded into flames shooting 50 to 60 feet high, into overhead power lines.

"The fuel was dumping into the ditch and igniting, and it started coming toward us in the ditch," he said. "A lot of people didn't know which way to run."

Without the ditch, the burning fuel could easily have flooded the streets and headed toward businesses, St. Bernard Parish Fire Chief Thomas Stone said.

Part of St. Bernard Highway was closed most of the day; the ferry remained closed Saturday while crews fixed damage to the road and traffic signals.

Entergy officials said about 850 customers, including the nearby St. Bernard Parish Prison, were without electricity for about five hours. The prison's own generators were enough for light and safety, but not for air conditioning, authorities said.

Felton LaFrance, 41, of Pointe a la Hache, and his wife and son were in a car next to the tanker truck. "The light changed and the 18-wheeler went across the road and the train struck," LaFrance said.

•__

http://www.nola.com/newsflash/louisiana/index.ssf?/base/news-10/1088271251286550.xml

1,082 posted on 06/26/2004 4:34:53 PM PDT by DAVEY CROCKETT (There is no such thing as coincidence, GOD is in control.)

Thinking of going after a Gorilla? That's a lot of firepower! Is it actually a Ruger or the Taurus Tracker in caliber .480 Ruger? If a Ruger: SA or DA?

I own the Ruger .454 Casull (Super Redhawk) in 7.5". I like it very much. As such, I added the matching Ruger 480 in 7.5" as well. Both are D.A. The S&W .500 Magnum is D.A. too. The Magnum Research 45-70 in 10" barrel is my only big bore revolver in SA. These are all two-handed beasts. Anything .44 mag or less can be fired accurately with one hand. I hand load everything for these guys. It is much too expensive to use factory ammo.

1,083 posted on 06/26/2004 4:35:33 PM PDT by Myrddin

See you on the other side of the river.

1,084 posted on 06/26/2004 4:36:00 PM PDT by DAVEY CROCKETT (There is no such thing as coincidence, GOD is in control.)

Sir,

I don't quite understand your link to what you say is the
Homeland Security.

On your site that link goes to a site that reports about Homeland Security, but does not appear to be a part of the United States Government: Department of Homeland Security.

Is there a reason for having a strange group doing the reporting of the most important publications.

Or am I wrong in what I thought that I am seeing at:

http://www.homelandsecurity.org/bulletin/current_bulletin.cfm

1,085 posted on 06/26/2004 4:38:02 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny (You can help win the election by becoming a REGISTRAR OF VOTERS, easy go to Court House and sign up)

9 on raft: Northern border sees desperate attempts to enter America

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By CAROLYN THOMPSON
Associated Press Writer

June 26, 2004, 11:56 AM EDT

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. -- The small blowup raft held nine afloat on the cold Niagara River a scant mile from where the current begins its zealous rush over Niagara Falls at a place marked the "Point of No Return."

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ny--northernborder0626jun26,0,7365614.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

1,086 posted on 06/26/2004 4:40:42 PM PDT by DAVEY CROCKETT (There is no such thing as coincidence, GOD is in control.)

To: DAVEY CROCKETT

SORRY I forgot to veiw first.

1,087 posted on 06/26/2004 4:41:25 PM PDT by DAVEY CROCKETT (There is no such thing as coincidence, GOD is in control.)

Have we entered the freeper madness zone?

1,088 posted on 06/26/2004 4:41:35 PM PDT by Domestic Church (AMDG...)

June 26, 2004 8:30 PM

Bombs rattle Turkey ahead of Bush visit

By Daren Butler

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish police have detained suspected militants and clashed with protesters amid a spate of
small bomb blasts and heightened security ahead of U.S. President George W. Bush's visit.

A bomb suspended from an Istanbul overpass exploded on Saturday as police secured the area, state-run Anatolian
news agency reported. A banner was also suspended from the overpass and read "Murderer NATO".

http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=5040839

1,089 posted on 06/26/2004 4:43:27 PM PDT by DAVEY CROCKETT (There is no such thing as coincidence, GOD is in control.)

I agree. None of those items have appeared on network or radio news to the best of my knowledge. People's lives on the balance and Clinton's book, a movie labeled "propaganda" and Britney Spears' pregnancy are the issues covered in today's numbscull news.

The news we need to know is on FR - and TM Thread 11.

1,090 posted on 06/26/2004 4:44:16 PM PDT by MamaDearest

To: Domestic Church

Quite some time ago...

1,091 posted on 06/26/2004 4:45:13 PM PDT by null and void (The light pours out of me/the conspiracy of silence ought/to revolutionize my thought)

Bombs explode at Burma train station
Rangoon
June 27, 2004

Page Tools
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Three bombs exploded around the main railway station in the capital of Burma yesterday but no casualties were reported, officials said

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/26/1088145024803.html

1,092 posted on 06/26/2004 4:47:04 PM PDT by DAVEY CROCKETT (There is no such thing as coincidence, GOD is in control.)

I fired a .45-70 in one of those custom T/C Contenders back in the early 1980's. It durn near coldcocked me! I'd really like to get the Taurus DA Tracker in .480 Ruger with the 5 inch bbl. I think that'd be a DANDY sidearm for the woods. But I doubt I'd shoot it enough to justify setting up a loading bench, besides I sold my Dillon Press years ago. Now I buy from a buddy that has his own reloading outfit and sells by the PALLET LOAD. I get a good deal. I just don't believe in punishing myself with the recoil that much, these days. About the biggest I shoot is what I carry: A .45 ACP. BTW, have you ever fired the Cougar (Beretta) 8045? If so, what did you think of it? I fired a Sig 220 .45 today and really enjoyed it, but it's too big for daily carry. But it was a sweet shooter. I don't want any of the micro 1911's. So, I'm thinking of the Cougar. It's got to be a .45, this is for sure. I have a Glock M27 (sub compact .40) and as far as that goes, it's fine. Glock 45's are too blocky. Any suggestions?

1,093 posted on 06/26/2004 4:53:08 PM PDT by ExSoldier (.45 Auto: The Original "Point and Click" interface!)

Is anyone on our side anymore...

South Americans want Putin by their side
06/26/2004 14:01
Argentina asked Russian President to attend to Mercosur annual summit in November, where he would also meet Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay leaders.
As PRAVDA.Ru wrote earlier this week, Argentine Foreign Minister, Rafael Bielsa, delivered to Russian President Vladimir Putin a formal invitation to attend to the Russo - Mercosur summit scheduled for November 20. By that time, Putin is expected to visit Chile for the Asian - Pacific Economic Council (APEC) forum in Santiago. A stop by Brazil is also in Putin"s trip.

Argentine press confirm the information on Friday quoting local Foreign Ministry sources. In Moscow, where Bielsa is paying an official visit to boost poor trade records and strengthen bilateral political ties, Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov promised to think over the Argentine proposals and inform President Putin about them.

http://english.pravda.ru/world/20/91/368/13202_Putin.html

1,094 posted on 06/26/2004 4:55:12 PM PDT by DAVEY CROCKETT (There is no such thing as coincidence, GOD is in control.)

To: null and void; Alamo-Girl; Cindy; Calpernia

Time to ping the Viking Kitties?

1,095 posted on 06/26/2004 5:00:41 PM PDT by Domestic Church (AMDG...)

Why do I get the feeling everyone knows something but us?

Syrian daily highlights China's supports in Mideast peace process

www.chinaview.cn 2004-06-27 02:26:42

DAMASCUS, June 26 (Xinhuanet) -- The official daily newspaper Syrian Tishreen on Saturday listed China "on top of the states" that supported the Arab cause and Syria's efforts to achieve peace based on the land-for-peace formula.

In its political commentary, the newspaper noted that "China emphasized Syria's pivotal role in the peace process and stability in the Middle East as well as the Arab rights, particularly the restoration of the occupied Arab lands and the implementation of the relevant international resolutions

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-06/27/content_1548962.htm

1,096 posted on 06/26/2004 5:02:02 PM PDT by DAVEY CROCKETT (There is no such thing as coincidence, GOD is in control.)

China conducts maritime drill

SANYA, China, Jun. 26 (UPI) -- Maritime safety authorities staged a joint search-and-rescue exercise Saturday off Sanya, China, involving two planes, 29 ships and 400 staff.

Xinhua, China's main government-run news agency, reported the drill was the first massive maritime exercise between China's mainland and the Hong Kong special administrative region.

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040626-110402-7099r.htm

1,097 posted on 06/26/2004 5:05:34 PM PDT by DAVEY CROCKETT (There is no such thing as coincidence, GOD is in control.)

To: Domestic Church

Please not yet for the kitties, I am not done with asking questions.

Anyway the "Matrix" will take care of all, he does not like
his tail bone touched.

1,098 posted on 06/26/2004 5:13:40 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny (You can help win the election by becoming a REGISTRAR OF VOTERS, easy go to Court House and sign up)

To: nw_arizona_granny

1,099 posted on 06/26/2004 5:14:28 PM PDT by ExSoldier (.45 Auto: The Original "Point and Click" interface!)

My only Glock is a 23C with a Jarvis barrel. The first owner shot a squib and decided to drill it out. He wrecked the Glock factory barrel. After putting the replacement Jarvis barrel in place, he immediately traded it. It's a fine shooter, but it tosses brass like any semi-auto. Now that I have to shoot at an outdoor range, I leave my semi-autos at home. Revolver brass is easier to recover :-) It's easier to reload too. Simple, straight wall brass.

I've probably fired and reloaded over 100,000 rounds since 1999. All paper targets or spinners. If I ever have time to do some hunting up here in Idaho, I'll probably go for a moose in the local hills or some elk up by Salmon. Much of my shooting time in San Diego was directed an instructing the young Marines in proper handling of 1911 and Beretta M92. They don't get sufficient training on Uncle Sam's nickel.

1,100 posted on 06/26/2004 5:18:52 PM PDT by Myrddin

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