Posted on 01/20/2006 6:48:55 AM PST by Tyche
B.C.'s energy sector is on heightened alert after an al-Qaida-affiliated Internet blog message called on Canadian and U.S. jihadists to attack an Alaskan oil pipeline.
The 12-page posting targets the Trans-Alaska Pipeline specifically and energy infrastructure in California and Mexico in general. It was discovered and translated from Arabic Dec. 30 by the Washington-based SITE Institute.
The posting advocates riddling the iconic pipeline with bullets, blowing it up and causing large fires to complicate repair efforts, and attacking ocean-going tankers or fuel depots in Valdez.
"The most suitable candidates for these operations are our American Muslim brothers who live on the land of trash . . . Also, we can add to this jihad group any other groups who can reach the American terrorist regime, either directly or through neighbouring countries, like Canada or Mexico," the posting says.
While refusing to confirm or deny any investigations that may or may not be under way, Canadian Security Intelligence Service spokeswoman Barbara Campion said the threat has been noted.
"ITAC [the Integrated Threat Assessment Centre] is well aware of the Internet posting," she said.
The FBI has also confirmed the posting and is communicating with relevant American agencies affected by it. FBI officers say the pipeline information and maps included in the posting are readily available online.
All B.C. Hydro facilities have been advised of the threat and security has been escalated to "a guarded state," said spokeswoman Elisha Moreno.
"It's one step above where we operate normally," Moreno said, adding that employees at 30 hydroelectric dams, two gas-powered thermal plants and one combustion turbine station have been asked to be more vigilant.
Scott Webb of Terasen Gas said the utility regularly conducts air, ground and marine patrols of its rights of way where 43,000 kilometres of pipeline (including 3,000 km of high-pressure pipeline) is buried in B.C.
Terasen is aware of the posting and is reacting, Webb said.
"We obviously take security very seriously, monitoring threat levels on an ongoing basis," he said. Terasen maintains 24-hour pipeline surveillance from its Surrey headquarters and "knows immediately if there are any problems" with the system, Webb added.
That the U.S. and Canadian energy sector are vulnerable is fairly obvious, said a former special security advisor on counter-terrorism in Ontario.
"You've got exposed critical infrastructure in remote locations. Therefore, it is vulnerable," said Scott Newark. "The point of this is to look at the nature of the asset we're talking about."
Access to pipeline infrastructure is relatively easy in Canada and the impact of a major energy disruption would be significant, Newark noted. A single bullet hole in the Alaska pipeline in 2001 saw 300,000 gallons of crude oil leaking out.
Al-Qaida has threatened energy installations and infrastructure in North America in the past, added Dr. Martin Rudner, director of the Canadian Centre of Intelligence and Security Studies at Carleton University.
"The real question is: Does the adversary declare the intention to attack the pipeline?" Rudner said. "If it's serious, it's very serious. If it's fraudulent . . . there is [still] no question our energy sector is under threat.
"Terrorists intend to hurt us. They don't intend to play games."
That looks like a typical northern Arabia landscape. I remember green plastic bottle litter would brighten my day.
Have any American media picked this up, or are they again falling on the wrong side of the fight?
I hope Bush did not wiretap their phones to get this information. That would be a horrific crime....
Good Morning, George, how are you?"
"Fine Eagle, what can I do for you?"
"George, when are we going to secure our borders?"
George: We need a worker amnesty program
;-)
George: We need a worker amnesty program
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Good line! Yes, America, we have a problem. And it resides in Washington.
Actually, in winter time, it may be more accessible. Snow mobiles can travel better over the snow in rough terrain in the winter than ATVs in the summer.
Ping
What a load of crap. Did you get that line from DU?
What a load of crap. Did you get that line from DU?
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No. Just by watching our Washington government "in action" when it comes to securing and protecting our borders. You apparently need to do the same.
Don't worry I get all the vicarious hysteria I need from watching the nonsense here.
But Hillary appreciates your efforts to undermine the President.
But Hillary appreciates your efforts to undermine the President.
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Hardly -- any undermining of his position on domestic issues, has been purely brought on BY HIS OWN ACTIONS (or lack thereof)...sorry, I don't support Bush-bots. Bush's legacy will stand or fall on HIS ACTIONS OR INACTION alone and nothing else.
There is no problem with Bush's actions. The issue is something that was here long before Bush and will remain long after him. While II is a problem it is not one easily solved nor anywhere close to the problem the Hysterics try and make it.
They also ignore the FACT that none of the big cities will even cooperate with federal authorities. And the FACT that churches are helping fan this by providing sanctuary. Most Americans don't care either way since they are the ones hiring them for odd jobs, farm labor, baby sitting, yard work and a hundred other things.
It is hilarious to watch attacks by the self-righteous and duplicitous on a president who has lived with this issue all his political life and, by serving as governor of the state with the longest border with Mexico, is more aware of the difficulties in stopping II and of the costs of handling the Illegals. Watching the inane claims that this is some Big Business plot or a "Globalist" one is also quite diverting.
It is hilarious to watch attacks by the self-righteous and duplicitous on a president who has lived with this issue all his political life and, by serving as governor of the state with the longest border with Mexico, is more aware of the difficulties in stopping II and of the costs of handling the Illegals. Watching the inane claims that this is some Big Business plot or a "Globalist" one is also quite diverting.
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Nice job of rationalizing a huge, and growing problem facing America. So we just let them keep coming, right? And we just keep hosing the taxpayers to the tune of over $120B per year to pay for people (AND REWARD THEM) who have not only broken our laws, but have no rights to be in this country. So we just keep the double-standard of allowing illegals TO BREAK OUR LAWS and then reward them, again courtesy of the U.S. taxpayer. Good critical thinking for the future of America.
And Washington (and Bush and his predecessors) just keeps passing AMNESTIES as a continuing cop-out to REAL American citzens, flooding our country with law-breakers, maybe even terrorists, disease carriers, and criminals. All again for the express purpose of political paybacks and games --- and finally, ask yourself..."WHO IS LOSING IN THIS ISSUE??" The government? Employers of ILLEGALS? Hardly.
Fixed it for you.
Pointing out that this problem will not be solved with boneheaded measures does not in any way mean I support IIs coming over. But the resources necessary to put a dent in it are simply not there. We don't have the military to do it (even if it were trained to do so) nor enough National Guard (which governors could call out if they perceived it as such a great problem) given the current needs of the war. A fence would be laughably ineffective.
Of course, the enforcement has been greatly increased under Bush and more electronic means are being used. But these improvements are ignored by the Hysterics.
As long as the lure of a strong economy is there it is virtually impossible to stop those wanting to provide for their families. There is one sure solution and that is to create a strong economy in Mexico.
Once again you refuse to face the facts and one of those facts is that without FAR more support from the American people this problem will not be solved. Raising bogus concerns won't gain much support either. If there are really around 10 million illegals here then your 120 billion figure would mean it costs $12,000 per illegal which I do not believe to be true.
As long as the lure of a strong economy is there it is virtually impossible to stop those wanting to provide for their families.
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Wrong. Make major federal offenses out of hiring illegals. You could also build an EFFECTIVE WALL (not a fence) the entire length of the border with Mexico, for far less than the taxpayers are being screwed for each year. You can also build about five prisons along the border, to hold for years, illegals caught in the U.S. and with the fortitude of Eisenhower, you could round up and drive out (with strong laws that are upheld) the vast majority of illegals in the U.S. that do not want to do long, hard prison time. Most would leave.
It is not at all impossible -- it just takes guts and respect for our laws, our soverignty and the REAL citizens of this country. It won't happen with the present regime in Washington. Never.
The pipeline can be shot from the road!
First of all a fence would be immediately full of holes or tunneled under. It might have some impact for a day or two but that would be about it. The Great Wall of China was built to keep the Mongols out (a far greater menace that Mexicans) but Genghis Khan was hardly deterred.
Second we need all the prison space we have and can build for the criminal class already here.
Third there is no real support for draconian measures just because some like to blow off steam and make outrageous claims primarily to undermine the president. You can't even get localities which are filled with Illegals to cooperate with the feds. And THESE are the areas MOST affected.
Fourth just what kind of businesses are hiring illegals other than small ones and individuals? It ain't IBM or Exxon. And given the fact that many pseudo-conservatives are vehemently opposed to any National Identity cards what would lead you to believe that illegals would not get any documents needed from forgers?
Your true agenda is revealed clearly in your last sentence it is simply Bush bashing and has nothing to do with any REAL concerns.
...and has nothing to do with any REAL concerns.
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Ignorance is bliss. Yes, all my concerns about the impact of illegal immigration are not REAL -- just made-up fantasies that don't exist. Just go back to reading the New York Times...
What kind of firms are hiring illegals ? Tyson foods, Wal-mart Kiewit construction,Armour foods to name just a few, not exactly mom & pop outfits but Fortune 1000 companies who knowingly break the law& just dont give a damn . Tell me what laws of the federal govt. that I get to ignore without a penalty?
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