Disney sites, Sears Tower on terrorists' study lists

Miami Herald Online ^ | Saturday, October 13, 2001 | MARTIN MERZER, LENNY SAVINO AND KEVIN MURPHY

[JohnHuang2]

Heads-up

[DJ88]

Thanks...this is what my local paper is reporting about this:

"At one point Friday, government officials said they had acquired information pointing to a possible attack on the Sears Tower in Chicago. Other officials said there were threats against Disney World in Florida and Disney Land in California. Later, other high-level counterterrorism officials said they had heard nothing of such a threat."

Hm. Would I take my kids on a 40 minute drive to see Mickey? NOPE.

[JohnHuang2]

Would I take my kids on a 40 minute drive to see Mickey? NOPE.

Good decision.

[Treeless Branch]

either would I, at least not until the kick all illegals out. Maybe if the corporate world starts demanding thir expulsion, the govt. would listen.

[mystery-ak]

My sister and her whole family(9 of them) just arrived in Fla for a week at Disney....?!!!!!
They flew out of Chicago last night, she called me from the plane after they landed to tell me they were safe and sound...
Im kinda worried about this.

[Treeless Branch]

My wife works for Disney corporate. Luckily, she is a regional college recruiter so she works out of our home in the great nation-state of Texas.

[Ditter]

I have heard several times that something in Houston was targeted, but they never say what it was. Have you heard any specifics?

[All-American Medic]

Osama, Dont F### with Mickey..........

[mystery-ak]

They were actually supposed to be there on Sept 15th, they naturally had to reschedule...they don't want to be cowed by the terrorist...
They are planning one week at Disney and one week at their winter home on Sanibel(sp) Island.

[Lorraine]

We live 19 miles from Disney World. Does anyone know if that is far enough away in the event a suitcase nuke went off, or if a chemical weapon was deployed? I've been worried about Disney being a target from the beginning.

[LouD]

Hm. Would I take my kids on a 40 minute drive to see Mickey? NOPE.

Then the terrorists win. I'm taking mine there in November - And I may be prepared differently (I'll probably go armed) but we will still go.

OBL's objective was not the loss of life for some Americans on 9/11, it was to disrupt the lives of all Americans - And outside carrying the means to react, should I have the unlikely honor of putting a couple of 147 grain hollow points (complete with bacon bits) through the forehead of one of his henchman, my life will change little. Neither should yours, except for an increased level of vigilance.

[DJ88]

Good luck then...if you think Disney isn't going to be checking for GUNS, you're not thinking correctly. Take your kids, enjoy it. My kids have other places to go around here that are just as enjoyable.

[DJ88]

I have no idea, Lorraine. All I know is this: I'm going to fly, I'm going to live my life as normally as possible, but I am not going to put my kids lives in danger so the "terrorists win". My childrens safety comes first, terrorists or no terrorists. :-) Deej

[DJ88]

Well, from what I've read about Disney, they are searching bags and persons as they go into the park. That's great, I think. Don't worry too much, and I'm sure your family will be vigilant. :-)

[FReepaholic]

>>...Hm. Would I take my kids on a 40 minute drive to see Mickey? NOPE...<<

Same here. I thinks it's wise to stay away from large concentrations of people for awhile.

[FReepaholic]

>>...Then the terrorists win...<<

I disagree. This is war and the front lines are here.

If you keep your head down in combat, does it mean the enemy wins??

[FReepaholic]

>>...We live 19 miles from Disney World. Does anyone know if that is far enough away in the event a suitcase nuke went off, or if a chemical weapon was deployed...<<

Don't know the yield of a "suitcase nuke" but I think you'd be safe from the blast and heat/fire wave. The thing you'd need to be concerned about with either nuke or chemical weapon is the direction of the wind that would carry the fallout or chemicals.

[TN4Liberty]

I'm not sure it has been established that there is such thing as a "suitcase nuke," but even if one could be manufactured, smuggled into the country without detection, and carted around into a strategic position, a small device would have a small yield. Certainly 20 miles would be a safe distance. The old aboveground tests were observed from distances less than that.

But I think DJ88 is right. Don't live in fear. Your greatest risk of going to Disneyworld is probably a traffic accident. The terrorists are not supermen or silent ninjas. And now, they are being watched awfully close.

[FITZ]

Then the terrorists win. I'm taking mine there in November - And I may be prepared differently (I'll probably go armed) but we will still go.

I'm not flying and I'm not taking my kids to any terrorist target or crowded places. The terrorists win only because our government has foolishly made a decision that they have every right to stay in this country and have every freedom to travel and roam about with the citizens which gives them their only ability to kill us. The terrorists lose their ability to kill us if they find themselves back in their precious Islamic homelands but it's too politically incorrect to do that.