FBI Says Terrorists Actively Seeking Detailed Info on U.S. Oil Companies

STRATFOR Military Strategic Forcasting ^ | May 22, 2002 22:53 Greenwich Mean Time | Situation Room/Crisis Center

[codebreaker]

The FBI has warned energy companies about unconfirmed allegiations that Islamic militants, as of Mid-April were targeting U.S. petroleum terminals, pipelines, refineries and ships.

The warning says there are indications that extremists are actively seeking detailed information on the operations of U.S. oil companies and considering the impact that disruptions could have on the nations economy.

2253 GMT

[Shermy]

Saudi and Iran complaining to their boys that the price of oil is dipping again? Guess that surge of terrorism in Israel coupled with phoney threats of embargo was only a three month plan.

[codebreaker]

Time to call an OPEC meeting, I guess.

[Iam4theRepublic]

This sounds like there tactics. Does anyone have info on this?

[Shermy]

Yep. And get Castro to keep Chavez in line by declining to increase exports and exploration while Iran, et al. go at it full steam.

The cards to play in the Caucasus and Central Asia, funding the terrorism there to deter exploration and scare away investment seem not to be playable any more.

[Shermy]

Tactics? Minimal harm to OPEC imports, maximum to domestic and Canadian. Pipelines.

[RightWhale]

On one hand these seem to be easy targets and nearly indefensible. On the other hand an attack would have to be somewhat lucky to do any damage that couldn't be quickly repaired and there wouldn't be many such successful attacks. If a large terminal were somehow totally destroyed, it could be rebuilt as quickly as it was built the first time. Pipelines are surprisingly tough and repairable considering what they carry.

Looks like the FBI is giving us a good cross-section of the threats they hear.

[BlackJack]

Article Here...http://www.atimes.com/front/DE22Aa01.html... UN warns world seaports vulnerable to attack. Containerized cargo can carry all kinds of weapons.

[lizma]

The warning says there are indications that extremists are actively seeking detailed information on the operations of U.S. oil companies and considering the impact that disruptions could have on the nations economy.

Personally I'm soooo tired of Little Tommy Dashole and his minions. Aren't you?

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

FYI ALERT

[Lion's Cub]

LOL. This is not new. I 'm not the only one who noticed the rash of refinery fires long before the "war" on terrorism started. I know there are old threads about it. If the oil companies haven't gotten serious about their security by now, they never will...

The consumer end is where the threat is now new--the millions of local filling stations and the pipelines that run near housing additions. And, at least here in Virginia, I know either the government or the oil & gas companies (can't remember which) performed the the courtesy of marking the lines with bright yellow signs so homeowners and building contractors, etc. wouldn't accidently dig into them. In fact, they even sent us a map showing the route of the major pipeline in our state a couple of years ago...

[WFTR]

On one hand these seem to be easy targets and nearly indefensible. On the other hand an attack would have to be somewhat lucky to do any damage that couldn't be quickly repaired and there wouldn't be many such successful attacks. If a large terminal were somehow totally destroyed, it could be rebuilt as quickly as it was built the first time. Pipelines are surprisingly tough and repairable considering what they carry.

I disagree with this assessment. If they hit a refinery hard enough, they will create a fire that will be very difficult to extinguish. The equipment cannot be rebuilt quickly, and local prices will rise at the loss of supply. It wouldn't be easy to cause a huge loss of life as they did on September 11, but they could kill many people in the refinery. If they want to use pipelines, they will simply cause a leak and let the vapor cloud do the rest. The overall damage to the pipeline won't be that great, but they can hurt people. I can't know everyone in the plant where I work, and I am new there anyway. However, I keep alert to anyone who seems suspicious and would report things immediately.

WFTR
Bill

[bybybill]

Be brave, it won`t be much longer now. The trick is to let them talk. The more they talk, the worst they look. Look at Enron, look at " what did he know..." They are leaderless and are starting to lose the media.

[alaskanfan]

It's a good thing the obstructionists in the Senate voted against drilling in ANWR.

[Humidston]

I agree with you, WFTR.

I heard somewhere that it's been YEARS since a new refinery has even been built - mostly due to excessive EPA/air quality/etc restrictions. Oil companies are simply being eaten up with all the hoops government makes them jump through!

There's a geographic area (we both know where that is) that is solid refineries, all along a major highway in our neck of the woods.... I drove past them right after 9-11 and just got cold chills, thinking of what could happen. (I won't detail the location, although I'm certain our enemies know as well!)

Yeah, and ain't it grand we're "saving" ANWR for the wild life?? I hope, if an attack happens, all the greens freeze next winter in the blue zone!

[TheLooseThread]

"...indications that extremists..."

There are no islamic extremists. They all want us dead. There are islamic activists. That is what they should be called.

[Bogie]

#5

You forgot to mention the US Senate.

[Jumper]

Terrorists, my back-side. If you look at the spread of Islamic Extremism over the past 25-years, it dovetails nicely with all sources of the World's Energy supplies. Only OPEC members from the Mid-East have no other source of revenue. The governments of these nations, to include our friends the Saudies... are engaged in countering US Military and Economic preemminence by small groups which, while they do not directly sanction, are not prevented from operating freely, nor are their citizens discouraged from participating. Should war come from striking back at the terrorists, it will be extended to the very nations which have "allowed" it emminate from areas within their soverign control.

[Flyer]

An "in our backyard" *PING*

Humidston, I know you have already seen this, but just wanted to let you know I was thinkin' about ya!

[eno_]

Note also the fertilizer plant in Toulouse that blew up in a VERY big way, taking out a number of buildings in the city. They found some towelhead in the rubble. Never saw much follow-up coverage.