Posted on 01/27/2005 6:03:10 AM PST by Marine Inspector
The discovery in Texas of a jacket featuring an Arabic military badge and an airplane headed toward a tower with the words "Midnight Mission" is fueling fears of a possible connection to terrorism.
According to a Department of Homeland Security morning brief marked "For official use only," a report from Customs and Border Protection noted that on Dec. 23, Border Patrol agents stationed in Hebbronville, Texas, found a jacket with an Arabic patch in a lay-up area on Highway 285.
The jacket is said to have a total of three patches, two sewn on the back, and one on the inside.
The two patches on the back were an Arabic military badge and one with the letters "Daiwa," while the patch on the inside read "Midnight Mission."
This "Midnight Mission" patch features a logo depicting "an airplane flying over a building and headed towards a tower," according to the brief.
The military patch with the Arabic writing shows the image of a lion's head, with wings and a parachute emanating from the animal.
The report notes, "DHS translators concluded that the patch read, 'Defense Center,' 'Ministry of Defense,' or 'Defense Headquarters.' The bottom of the patch read 'Martyr,' 'Way to Eternal Life' or 'Way to Immortality.'"
The brief also states, "The 'Daiwa' patch stands for a corporate company which sells sport fishing products with corporate offices in eight countries including Japan, the U.S., Australia, France, Germany, Taiwan, Thailand, and the UK."
The report notes the document "may contain initial and preliminary reporting which may or may not be accurate or be supported by corroborative information. The [Homeland Security Operations Center] is actively evaluating the reporting to establish its accuracy and to determine if it represents a possible link to terrorism."
No one from Border Patrol or Homeland Security was available for comment on the jacket and patches by press time.
The morning briefs produced by DHS are a daily roundup of suspicious activities covering a wide scope of events. Other typical entries logged include the arrests of individuals tied to terrorism, bomb threats at sensitive targets such as oil refineries, and this month's train collision and chemical leak in Graniteville, S.C.
The discovery of the jacket comes at a time when defense of U.S. borders and domestic security top the concerns of Americans, according to a recent poll.
Just yesterday, both President Bush and Congress addressed the need for reforming immigration laws and protecting the border.
Bush continued his push to grant illegal aliens guest-worker status, while a leading member of his own party, Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., has introduced a get-tough crackdown dealing with driver's licenses, political asylum, deportation and border security.
Meanwhile, James Gilchrist, a retired California businessman is beginning the "Minuteman Project," with 240 volunteers ready for a month of aerial and ground surveillance on the Arizona-Mexico border.
"This border issue is about all 50 states, not just Arizona or Texas," Gilchrist told the Washington Times. "It's about our Constitution and how it applies to all of us."
Thanks.
Over here.
As curious as the jacket itself it - I find it just as curious that this jacket was found abandoned, that a terrorist would even bring such an identifiable item in country. Of course, they are emboldened more and more every day by our enemy within.
The article stated that the agents were stationed in Hebbronville. They may have been far from home. *going to find map*
Forgive me if I'm a little skeptical. I have no doubt that there are terrorists in this country. However, a uniform for terrorists? I doubt it. Planted conveniently where it can be found? Terrorists are a bit more secret than that.
Don't discount disinformation/psyops. AQ knows processing intelligence is one of our weak spots. They've even been shown to plan based on the length of the feedback loop. From what I understand, one of their primary goals is to keep our intelligence assimilation capabilities stretched to the point of uselessness. False signals are much easier to plant than real opsec is to maintain. The latter is easier with more of the former.
Mapquest shows 285 going right through Hebbronville...
Thanks for the Ping.
And what does BTTT stand for?
sundero
Just pulled up a Mapquest map of Hebbronville, TX - Hwy 285 runs right through it.
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&address=&city=Hebbronville&state=TX&zipcode=
Once more for old time's sake:
If it is ever discovered that a terrorist crossed the Mexican border executed a terrorist strike, all the king's horses and Karl Rove himself will won't be able to keep George W. Bush from being reviled by the American people.
You're welcome, though it was likely MeekoneGOP who actually ping'd you. BTTT means "Bump to the top", and is a way of "freshening" an article so it stays at the top of list when browsing.
When I read it the first time I read it as 281 (probably because I'm near 281 north of San Antonio). It could have been a misprint...
Yes it was MeekOneGOP I'm sure, I got confused when I saw the ping and that name at the top (I forget to look at the bottom for the name of the poster! I'll get it eventually). And thanks for the meaning of BTTT! I thought I was websaavy, but every place seems to have it's own code!!!
sundero
I am interested to know what exactly is printed on these patches...I will be asking someone about this soon...
Check it out a map. 285 connect to 281 on mine.
It just looks so bogus.
Naw, a lot of Texas roads have two designations. The main road thru Houston is called Westheimer. But it's other designation is FM (farm to market) 1093.
LOL! I know whaat you mean. Check the link below for help on FR 'lingo'...
Arab on the B.A.S.S. Tour?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.