Posted on 01/19/2005 1:44:33 PM PST by RWR8189
Federal and state authorities are investigating a nuclear terrorist threat against Boston after a man calling from Mexico told California police that he smuggled two Iraqis and four Chinese over the border, the Boston Herald has learned.
``They got a call from across the border in Mexico to the California Highway Patrol and he said he brought two Iraqis and four Chineses (individuals)across the border and according to him, they stated soon to follow behind them would be some sort of material,'' said a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation.
``He refers to some sort of nuclear material that will follow them through New York up into Boston.''
According to the source, the caller has not identified himself and did not show up for a meeting with federal investigators in California but he did leave pictures of four Chinese men and some names at a ``drop'' site at the Mexico-California border.
``They were dropped by the source at a location. He literally threw them over a fence from Mexico to the U.S. side,'' said the source. ``There are pictures of the four Chinese and some names but just how accurate they are remains a question''
Massachusetts law enforcement officials were notified of the threat at 5:30 a.m. today through the FBI and Boston Police Joint Terrorist Task Force.
The threat was serious enough that Mayor Menino ordered the Fire Commissioner and the state's Homeland Security Chief into his office at City Hall, where they met with officials from the CIA, FBI, and Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, a high-ranking city official told the Herald.
``They are desperately trying to piece it together,'' said the offial, who added that if the threat is real it is ``very scary.''
A company that trains explosive-sniffing dogs said it was alerted that the canines would be searching for a ``dirty bomb,'' a New York City law enforcement official said yesterday.
The Massachusetts investigator said much of the man's information sounds far-fetched and investigators have some doubts about the caller's validity because he has not identified himself.
``A lot of it doesn't make sense and some of it does,'' said the source. ``It's totally uncorroborated. This all began several days ago as a series of phone calls and they don't know who the caller is. There are some parts of it that just don't make sense and other little pieces of it that fall into place. The information is these people that came into the country are going to New eYork into Boston and the (nuclear) material will follow them.''
The source said there is speculation the caller may have been ripped off by illegal immigrants he helped over the border and is now trying to exact revenge.
``It's very weird. Even if (the Iraqis and Chinese) were going to do something why would they be blabbing to the yahoo smuggling them across the border? You have to wonder if they screwd him on a deal but you have to treat it seriously and the issue is how do you put it out to the public and not get everybody (in a panic)?''
The source said the information will soon ``come out over police channels and BOLOs (be on the lookout).''
The source added the FBI office in San Diego is leading the investigation. ``The FBI in San Diego is the originating office so they are driving the investigation. The FBI in Boston is in a tough position because they are waiting for information''
The caller has not given investigators any means to contact him.
``They tried to set up a meet with him but he didn't show up.''
An act designed to influence the Coptic Christian society in general.
Good heavens, if they can bring down America's Coptic Christian society, we're all doomed. Doomed I tells ya! Just think how hard it will be to find a cab in Manhattan.
"Threat to our national security" my ass. Get a grip.
I suppose that the press doesn't want a repeat of the ignored warning that John Kerry received of the terror plot emanating from Logan airport.
I speak out against Islam all the time. Lots of people here do. This is about Egyption hatred of Copts and nothing more.
Sure will. Just as soon as you start showing some evidence of Chinese-sponsored terrorism against the US.
China has a large Muslim population.
You’re extremely naive to think a Muslim of Chinese nationality would not have the same religious beliefs as a Muslim of Iranian nationality.
Basically, you have no clue what you’re talking about. Do you know how many Chinese drug smugglers have been apprehended running drugs across the Mexican border? I do. Zero!
When did I ever say that?
You said it wasn't terrorism. I showed you it was. Then you said it wasn't against national security...was a hate crime...
You're floundering bro, don't you think it's time to give up the ghost? The OBL is a dying breed. But you can keep your head in the sand for as long as you wish.
Good heavens, if they can bring down America's Coptic Christian society, we're all doomed. Doomed I tells ya! Just think how hard it will be to find a cab in Manhattan.
Yeah, but if they can convince immigrants from their country that they aren't safe to speak out in America, using terrorist acts like slitting the throats of an entire family...where will we be?
nitey nite
Sure you did. In your mind. The reality of this crime is that it is very sad, but it has no bearing on our nation's security, and based on the account of the funeral, none on the Copts (as if that mattered). They are not terrorised.
And you know that these people (if they existed at all) were Muslims precisely how?
Think they used to call it a
"General Concept Error"
And you know that these people (if they existed at all) were not Muslims precisely how?
And you know that these people (if they existed at all) were drug smugglers precisely how?
First off, I never said they were Muslim; second, you did say they were drug smugglers.
It's OK to have an opinion, which is all you have, but don't try to make people believe your opinion is fact. You’ll lose every time.
The fact is; the information received from the FBI stated these people are here to commit a terrorist act. That is the only fact anyone has to go on.
Are they terrorists, drug smugglers or asylum seekers? These are the facts as I know them from my job as a Customs and Border Protection Officer. Fact 1, the Chinese have never smuggled drugs across the Mexican border (yet). Fact 2, Chinese illegal aliens seeking asylum, have never traveled with Iraqis (yet).
So, if history and the facts show they are not likely to be drug smugglers or asylum seekers, then they must be here for another reason. Maybe they want to buy a car.
You are simply rationalising the harsh reality that the PRC wants to wipe us out. It drives you nuts - you are probably either invested there, or, you are spewing propaganda to get the US to let their guard down.
Let me ask you something. As the two of you read today's accounts of what really happened, are you beginning to feel dumber, or have you simply chosen to ignore them because they don't suit your paranoia? The calls were made from an individual who both of you would identify a a serious criminal, who has chosen not to identify himself. The FBI receives threats like this all the time and has to take them seriously. But clearly what happened here, is that the media whipped it into a frenzy. The fact remains that it would be impossible to safely sneak the materials for a dirty bomb across the border without poisoning yourself. The only way to get them into this country is by shipping container. and even THAT presents problems. Terrorists have the ability to enter this country legally (none of the men identified was on a terrorist watch list) so they have no need to sneak into the country. Why fly to Mexico and then sneak in when you could fly directly to LA (hint: Because you have drugs to smuggle in, or because you can't get a visa -the greater possibility). Which brings us back to immigration, which is what this is and has always been all about). Several of you nutjobs are not even trying to hide that anymore.
If you want to argue for stricter immigration controls, go for it. But co-opting the terrorist threat to advance your seperate political goals is dishonest. Its no different than the enviornmentalist who tried to use 911 to further their cause.
I wrote nothing about immigration. My concern in this thread is about what our countermeasures would be for the overture carried out by the Chinese version of Spetsnaz, in the hours or days before a surprise attack at the outset of the next world war.
Tell you what: When China has anything approaching a credible navy get back to me. Until then, you are boring me.
You would fall into the dumb category. Underestimating your adversary is very dumb and it will get you killed. Also, there is quite a bit of difference between paranoia and caution.
The FBI receives threats like this all the time and has to take them seriously.
Correct, because people like you won’t take them seriously and would get people killed.
But clearly what happened here, is that the media whipped it into a frenzy. The fact remains that it would be impossible to safely sneak the materials for a dirty bomb across the border without poisoning yourself.
This just proves how stupid and naive your thinking is. Do you think a terrorist that would blow himself to bits for a cause, would think twice about radiation poisoning? That type of thinking gets people killed.
The only way to get them into this country is by shipping container.
Once again, that type of thinking gets people killed. They could get it in many ways. Thinking they can only get it in one way will ensure they get it in another way.
Terrorists have the ability to enter this country legally (none of the men identified was on a terrorist watch list) so they have no need to sneak into the country.
Once again, your thinking is flawed. Do you think the terrorist know who is and who is not on the watch list? The terrorist have no clue who is on watch list. That is why they sneak in. They don’t want to get caught, in case they are on the list.
Why fly to Mexico and then sneak in when you could fly directly to LA
Because if you show up in LA, your going to get checked and scrutinized, where as if you fly to Mexico or Canada and sneak in, you have a chance of getting in undetected, which is what they want.
Which brings us back to immigration, which is what this is and has always been all about. If you want to argue for stricter immigration controls, go for it. But co-opting the terrorist threat to advance your seperate political goals is dishonest.
Terrorism and immigration are not separate; they are entwined and can never be separated. 9/11 was facilitated through our immigration system. With out it, 9/11 never would have occurred.
Correct, because people like you won’t take them seriously and would get people killed.
Again, they are a tremendous drain on resources. There IS no terrorist threat from the Mexican border. None. Zip.
This just proves how stupid and naive your thinking is. Do you think a terrorist that would blow himself to bits for a cause, would think twice about radiation poisoning? That type of thinking gets people killed.
The idea that terrorists are afraid to die is exactly the opposite of what I've been saying all along. My point wasn't that they wouldn't worry about radiation poisoning. My point was that they wouldn't survive the trip.
Because if you show up in LA, your going to get checked and scrutinized, where as if you fly to Mexico or Canada and sneak in, you have a chance of getting in undetected, which is what they want.
Wrong again. Why should they care if they get checked. By the time the FBI of the ATTF figures out that these people are terrorists, they're already dead.
Terrorism and immigration are not separate; they are entwined and can never be separated.
Possibly, but not immigration from Mexico, which is what this is about.
"LOL, be sure to watch out for Mexican terrorists on the way home. The issue at hand is not whether our border with Mexico need to be sealed, but whether that will make us any more secure against terrorism (it won't)."
When securing any location, whether a building or a nation, one must control entry and exit to that location.
That is what *securing* it means.
However many means of entry/exit there are into this country, if we are to secure our nation, we must control eggress at ALL points of entry.
Not just the Mexican border, or the Canadian border, or just the docks, etc.
We mustg control all of them or else we do not have a secure nation.
And at this time, we do NOT have a secure nation, despite our exsperience in 9/11.
Another disaster will ahve to happen again before the money-mongering fools that interfere will get out of the way and let us secure our borders.
And that blood will be on their heads.
We alreay lack the resources to patrol the ports of air and shipping traffic (which is how terrorists always enter this country), and you want to seal the Mexican border? If you ask me, that is the much more dangerous policy.
Lack of resources?
Bah, there is only a lack of will to do it.
Russia has a secure border that is far longer than ours. There is no reason we cant secure our border as well.
Like I said earlier, the political step-n-fetches wont do what is necesary untill we have another disaster, and maybe not even then as their power-mongering has priority over the concerns and welfare of the American people.
I guess someone forgot to tell the Chechnians. Russia has a secure border in your dreams.
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