A bit off thread topic, but interesting.
http://www.fbi.gov/page2/sept09/cbrnsu_092209.html
“EXTREME FORENSICS
Analyzing Hazardous Materials”
09/22/09
SNIPPET: “The FBI experts behind this fast response came from our Laboratory’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Sciences Unit, or CBRNSU for short. They coordinated the transfer of the samples to two government labs that specialize in animals and are equipped to deal with hazardous materials.
CBRNSU was created in 2002 on the heels of the anthrax attacks the previous fall. (And the Amerithrax case has been one of its biggest investigations.) The unit’s mission? To develop and maintain the FBI’s ability to conduct or direct high-quality forensic exams of potentially hazardous chemical, biological, and radiological/nuclear materials and all related evidence.
“The threat facing the U.S. today is three-pronged,” explains Supervisory Special Agent Margaret Eason, chief of the unit. “Chemical agents, including traditional chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals…biological agents capable of causing infectious diseases and special agriculture threats…and radiological materials or nuclear yield devices, including materials that could be used in a radioactive dispersal device or in an improvised nuclear device.”
“The unit’s strategy to combat these threats is also three-pronged,” adds Eason.”
“Queens imam tied to alleged Al Qaeda plot targeting NY spent time in jail for sexual abuse rap”
BY ROCCO PARASCANDOLA AND CORKY SIEMASZKO
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Thursday, September 24th 2009, 4:00 AM
SNIPPET: “Zazi, 25, who the feds say has admitted getting “weapons and explosives” training at an Al Qaeda camp in Pakistan, was arrested last weekend along with his father, Mohammed, 53.
Meanwhile, counterterrorism agents searching for explosives expanded their search to Staten Island, where they combed through a ministorage facility looking for chemical agents.
Investigators also have grilled more than a dozen friends and acquaintances of Zazi, an Afghan immigrant who spent several days in New York around Sept. 11 before returning home to Colorado.
In another development, the NYPD transferred a top counterterrorism official after his unit botched a federal investigation into the suspected Queens terrorists, The New York Times reported.”
Good morning...
Pretty slow news-day yesterday, as far as this situation is concerned — not much was reported that advanced the story...
The ‘major development’ was the putative ‘feud’ between FBI and NYPD, and I’m beginning to wonder if that’s not being put forward as some kind of distraction - a shiny bauble for the Media to chase...
Which begs the question - distraction from what? To what purpose?