[Valin]

BTW We’re doomed doomed doomed.

[wastedyears]

Transponders would work, but it’s simple to just turn it off. That wouldn’t work too well, unless they use solar power for it.

[daviddennis]

Are boats really that different from cars? I don’t remember Mohammed Atta and crew having any trouble with drivers’ licenses, so I don’t think boat licenses are going to be any more help. Boats are already registered through the DMV.

There’s no question that I can drive right up to the Sears Tower or any other major building with my car. I could even get pretty close to a nuclear power plant or other major facility.

I’m going to take a wild guess and say transponders for every boat is unlikely to be a popular proposal and almost certainly wouldn’t get through the boating lobby. And in this case, quite frankly, I’d be on their side.

All a lawbreaker has to do is cut a set of wires or remove a battery, or toss the thing overboard, and there’s nothing that can be done to stop him.

Why not just keep doing what we have been doing, successfully? We have a pretty good record now of detecting and turning in people who are members of these conspiracies. If a boat is involved, it’s no different from a car or plane.

The resources that would go to any boat licensing or transponder programme are going to be a lot better spent looking directly for the real criminals instead of inconveniencing millions for such a dubious payoff.

D

[neodad]

The other would call for transponders on recreational boats so authorities can track their location.

Ahhhhh. The answer for everything.

[taxcontrol]

Small pleasure craft represent little risk as the explosives capacity is small and most reasonable targets are not reachable by boat. Yes you could blow up a bridge or perhaps even damage a building. But the greater threat is for a boat to be used as a means to transport a group of terrorists.

[HangnJudge]

I Thought about this after 9/11

I have a 58’ Houseboat on Norris, a local lake

Norris Dam is 265 feet high and
stretches 1,860 feet across the Clinch River
It has the largest reservoir on a
tributary of the Tennessee River.

Two undocumented Middle Eastern Aliens were
arrested there one night taking pictures
of the dam at 3 AM, caught by an alert forest ranger

It would easy enough to load the hull of our houseboat with fuel oil / urea mix, seal it, float it up to the dam, and detonate the bomb.

The resultant water wall would potentially destroy Oak Ridge, a major defense industry location.

The Security risks of recreational boats should not be taken lightly.

[Quick Shot]

New great idea.... How about a ‘luxury’ tax???? Great idea, proven to stop boating.

[Dixie Yooper]

The good news is every sheriff’s department and the U.S. Coast Guard has the authority to board any boat to check for alcohol abuse or to just count life jackets. While they are at it, they can check for WMD and other weapons of lessor destruction.

[tlb]

True enough about boats but the same would apply to cars, trucks, and light aircraft. One of the more credible conspiracy theories has Flight 800 shot down off New York from rockets fired from a small fast boat.

[ikka]

Deport all the Muslims who are overstaying their visas - that might be a start.

[JZelle]

Lets fix that small border problem first!

[traviskicks]

"The head of the U.S. Coast Guard is throwing around a couple of ideas on how to keep you safe. One would require licenses for all boaters in all states. The other would call for transponders on recreational boats so authorities can track their location."





Libertarian ping! To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here.

[7thson]

We just have to get control over this. I think it would be a good idea," said Singleton

The key point.

[Capt. Tom]

"You know, they could load up with a bomb or whatever and come right out here."

It would be easier to load up your car or truck and drive it into a traffic tunnel and blow it up. - tom

[azhenfud]

When terrorists make people afraid of their own shadows, terrorists will have won already.

[Romulus]

We just have to get control over this.

Remember, they hate us because we're free.

[takenoprisoner]

Get a grip people. This is all about controlling and monitoring our recreational behaviors.

Round up all illegals and send them home. Stop now all immigration from muslims. Round up and send home all muslims here on visas and green cards whether they be tourists, students or workers. Control our borders.

This is war people and our govt is talking about monitoring our behaviors rather than doing something that would actually help protect and defend us.

When muslims are prevented from entering our country, (we are presumably waging a war against muslim terrorists) and those here visiting legally and illegally are sent home, then I will believe our govt is serious about waging a war against muslims terrorists, and defending our way of life (formerly an open and free society.)

Until such time, all I see is a govt with a wish list getting longer and longer seeking to control and monitor all our behaviors while using the alleged war against muslim terrorists as excuse.

[Modok]

Seal the borders, round up and deport George’s patrons, fire Singleton. Problems solved. Oh wait, if we seal the borders, that means no drugs coming across and lowers the Coast Guards budget value. Can’t have that now can we.

[steve86]

There’s obviously way too much money in the Homeland Security budget when they’re talking about putting transponders in canoes and kayaks.

[Old_Mil]

Homeland Security: Recreational boats are a national security risk, but open borders and amnesty are not.

The job of "homeland security" is most appropriately handled by our armed forces who are in the business of thoroughly kicking the ass of anyone who would make us less secure.

Not domestic spymasters.