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.''
You may be right, but it proves that Boston was not the intended target. Just the most convenient city to hop on a shuttle flight. I have flow the Boston Shuttle many times. Pre 911, the security was a joke. But then, I got on the first flight from NY to LA exactly a week before 911 with a freaking COMMANDO KNIFE in my backpack (I forgot it was there) and nobody said a word to me. Presumably this was the exact same security crew as a week later.
Presumably any terrorist who has entered this country or will be entering this country has multiple sets of identity.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/2001/12/06/net-interest.htm
"Did Sept. 11 events refocus global consciousness?" By A.S. Berman, USA TODAY.
I believe that it also went a little nuts just prior to the 26 Dec., 2004 big earthquake.
BTW, it says the materiel would be coming "up through NY," which leads me to believe it could just as easily be shiped into Bayone. It certainly doesn't say that the men carried it accross. Plutonium is HEAVY ya know.
Nope. They're watching America waste our resources protecting the jobs of our nation's migrant farm workers, busboys, cleaning ladies, and gardeners from a world terrorist plot against them.
Yep, that is another problem to deal with. Consider the problem like trying to find bad guys in a big swimming pool. You keep calling people out of the water and checking those that come out. Eventually all those that will be left in the pool are the ones you want to pull the plug on.
You can not say that because they are here or that they have multiple identities that we should ignore other necessary steps to prevent more from coming and catch those that are here.
All it will take is one more 9/11 and measures like I outline above in this thread - and more - will be implemented.
Those are the rules other countries impose on visitors. Why should it be any different for visitors to the U.S.?
So solve that problem also!
There you go again. You need to talk about protectionism, there are plenty of threads. It is irrelevant to the subject of terrorism, because terrorists don't need to sneka into this country via Mexico, and doing so presents mre problems than it solves.
You read a story like this and say it has no relevance?! It most certainly does. I don't mean to offend, but I've heard people sometimes post on this board to shill an issue. In the case of this thread, it would be to make statements that to most everyone else on here would sound absurd.
What I mean by that is that I find your suggestion so rediculas that I can not imagine anyone would think that border security does not equal national security. Your are certainly bucking the trend of public opinion on this one my friend - and that goes for liberals and conservatives.
Solve that problem too!
I didn't see a post re Menino's statement or Romney's. Is there another thread?
As of 6 pm ET:
Mayor Menino was notified 1030-1100 this am. He says he knows nothing re dirty bomb or LNG destruction. Says stay about your business this evening. Suspects going through NYC.
Gov. Romney gave a statement from DC on his way here. They have some names, other info. Suspects haven't entered Mass. yet.
Public opinion depends on hysterics. Protectionists are using the terrorist threat in the same way Pro-Lifers use the spector of "back-alley abortions." Both issues simply take focus away from the real issue, which in our case is container ships, not our border with Mexico.
ping
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