TIME: FBI probing Arab students at Denver truck school

Reuters | 10/14/01

[kattracks]

WASHINGTON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - The FBI has looked into a Denver truck school where up to 35 Arab male students paid in cash and did not seek job placement assistance afterward, TIME magazine reported on Sunday.

Federal Bureau of Investigations agents are trying to head off possible future attacks after the Sept. 11 air assaults on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

The attacks killed about 5,400 people.

Some authorities fear truck bombs might be used in the future, either with traditional explosives or with hazardous or chemical cargo.

The magazine said a truck school executive tipped off the FBI that between 25 and 35 Arab men attended the school in Denver during the past two years. They did not speak English and each group used the same interpreter.

TIME said the men all received driver's licenses, even though English proficiency is a requirement.

[Hillary 666]

FBI probing Arab students

That sounds painful.

[LarryLied]

Ashcroft has been a major disappointment. He doesn't seem to understand that, now that he has the job, he can stop kowtowing to the Senate Democrats.

That is it, isn't it? I had hoped he was man enough to fluff that crap off. Clarence Thomas did. He became stronger for it. Ashcroft & Thompson better realize their base of support will not tolerate them patronizing us.

[sugar_puddin]

I called the FBI to tip them off to a truck that I saw about 10 miles out of Albuquerque, NM on I-25 (which ironically goes through Denver). It was driving very slowly on the right shoulder. From behind it looked like a Ryder Truck, only white. There were NO markings on the back of the truck, and since it was moving I went over into the fast lane as I thought he was getting ready to pull back onto the freeway. As I passed I thought it was a Federal Express truck, but something didn't click. There were 2 short Arab men in the truck. I slowed down and kept looking into my mirrors and I realized what was odd about the truck is that the logo was not right. I have used Fed Ex for several years in my businesses and I have NEVER seen two men in one truck. There is only one explanation that I have. This truck was NOT a Fed Ex truck, but was painted to resemble one. A perfect cover for someone to use for a truck bomb. The FBI agent I spoke with said he had never heard about one being painted but agreed that it would be a perfect way to slip around and not be noticed. He was very interested but our call was interrupted twice and he had to take the second call. He apologized and said he would "pass the information on." What upset me is that he never asked me for my name or how to get back in touch with me for additional information. Over-worked, under-staffed or carless FBI agents could result in another tragedy. I was married to a police officer for 13 years and he told me to always pay attention to details, and I do. The main reason I'm posting this information is for you all to keep your eyes open for trucks that are NOT IDENTICAL to a company logo. This much I KNOW. There is at least one truck which has been painted white in an attempt to look like a Fed Ex truck. This truck has/had a couple of short Arab men in it. My fear is that the FBI agent was so busy he didn't follow up on it. PLEASE keep your eyes open and pray to God that they find these two before something happens.

[be-baw]

Bush is doing great. Ashcroft and Thompson may have to go

Neither Ashcroft nor Thompson has been particularly impressive. Funny, I was thinking the same thing as you, just this morning.

[slimer]

TIME said the men all received driver's licenses, even though English proficiency is a requirement.

Find the moron(s) who handed the licenses out and charge em with aiding and abetting terrorism.

On second though, forget charging them, just convict them and carry out their sentences. We don't have time for lawyers and trials. Just do it!

[dogbyte12]

Bush is doing great. Ashcroft and Thompson may have to go.

I would add Colin Powell to that list, but at least he has quieted down the last week about adding every terrorist state to our coalition and not attacking Iraq.

Who has done a good job is Condi Rice, Dick Cheney, and Norm Mineta. Thompson has been the worst. I have been very dissapointed in the way he has handled the anthrax situation. Do we even have a confirmed Surgeon General? Maybe that person should be handling this issue instead of Tommy Thompson.

[1America]

Just a thought, . . . my guess is they went there to learn the ins & outs of hazmat regs, not truck driving.

[LarryLied]

Do we even have a confirmed Surgeon General?

Bush let David Satcher stay on. As one whose appearance could use some work, I hate to say it but it true. Putting Doctor Satcher on TV will not inspire confidence. He can't even put together a Web Site which makes any sense. I assume he does something. But I haven't a clue what he does.

[FITZ]

35??? That's quite a few. We can thank out-of-control immigration for never once questioning why Arabs were coming here to go to truck schools.

[FITZ]

I hope no hardware store is stupid enough to sell foreign Arabs paint.

[FITZ]

How hard is it to drive a HasMat truck? Why do you need to go to school to do it? If you're going to hijack it, why would you need a hasmat license? Why not send one guy to school and get him to tell the rest? Sounds fishy.

There is obviously something up. It's not like foreign students need to come to the US to learn to drive trucks as a skill to take back to their country. They attend our schools to figure out the internal workings of the US, they can figure out better how to steal trucks, how not to look suspicious, where to fill with fuel, how to try to fit in. They may find that just a little harder than it seemed.

[not-an-ostrich]

Do you have some perfect person in mind to replace them. Given President Bush's loyalty factor and the untried circumstances I think he will cut them a little slack. I'm sure if they screw up in a major way he will handle it. He knows what it's like to be critized for not being perfect.

[MadelineZapeezda]

FBI probing Arab students WITH A FLAMING PITCH-FORK ? ? ?

This Buchanan pitchforker reporting for duty ;^)

[Gritty]

How does one take the test at the Registry of Motor Vehicles if one does not speak/read English?

Well, if you do it in North Carolina, the State will give you the test in Spanish if you can't speak English. If you can't even read well enough, they will give you a State supplied interpreter to do the go-between work. Oh,... no need to even be a citizen. Just having an electric or water bill for proof of residency is all that is required. When you're finished, they will also sign you up to vote (Motor-Voter, you know).

There are some other states that are just as easy, I believe. Florida, for one. But, some of the current crop of highjackers got NC licences apparently because it was so easy. You need a drivers licence to rent cars and prove residency, you know. Also helps if you get stopped by the cops.

Piece of cake. Try that in any other country in the world!

So, why should anyone be surprised they gave these people a license when they couldn't speak English. It happens all the time. It still does.

[LarryLied]

I think he will cut them (Ashcroft and Thompson) a little slack. I'm sure if they screw up in a major way he will handle it.

I agree. Both are men who can be trusted. A critique from the right might make them what they really are. Which is why I said what I said. Bush is not the most articulate person in the world but he is a Texan. One may not understand Texans all the time (I didn't my Texan wife) but one does know they are no BS. I am sure Ashcroft and Thompson got the message today they better not be either.

[Dumb_Ox]

I think WTC mastermind Ramsi Yousef is at the Federal Prison in Canon City, Colorado; he's blockmates with McVeigh. If they make a truck-bomb attack, chances are they'd kill all the scum instead of breaking them out.

[Salvation]

TIME said the men all received driver's licenses,

Then they could be traced and investigated, right?

[Salvation]

A bump for you. Good job! Only one driver in UPS trucks, too.

[mafree]

How does one take the test at the Registry of Motor Vehicles if one does not speak/read English?

The materials are printed in other languages. I lived in California and you could get DMV materials in Spanish and a number of other languages. Never knew them to be printed in Arabic but those guys can always get interpreters if they want.