ATTN Southwestern United States Threats in San Diego and Las Vegas

Sierra Times ^ | June 21, 2002 | Report by J.J. Johnson

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

As many of you know, our best reporters are YOU, our readers. So, pay attention down there in southern California and keep your eyeballs peeled for this one: (details are sketchy - we'll fill in more as we get it. Remember that missing Cyanide truck we reported a while ago? Yeah, and you heard it was found as the all clear was given. Well, it's time to knock you out of that comfort zone once again.

The California Highway Patrol doesn't like it when folks eavesdrop on their radio frequencies, but both yesterday and today, there was a BOTLF (That's 'be on the lookout for') a black Toyota with Baja plates. That's all we know except -

- this buggy is believed to be hauling about 400 kilograms. of cyanide. (Yes - that's about 880 lbs, but don't kill the messengers here. Think - it should be a 'low riding' vehicle)

Don't ask us where it may have came from, don't write back here asking us for another source, and save your panic mode for folks who read the other papers. Put on your game face and keep reading.

Mexican authorities have reported that about 20 of the 96 drums (each weighting about 220 lbs or 100kg) were abandoned when most of the missing chemical was found near Honey, a district in Puebla state about 80 miles north of Mexico City back on May 29. So 400 kilograms - that's about 4 of the 20 missing drums - if this is the same stuff. (Big if)

At least one of our Sierra Times readers - who don't dare listen to CHP radio traffic- did witness a heavier than normal CHP cruiser traffic along Interstate 8 in San Diego, and the unusual sight of high-speed Mexican helicopter traffic (south of San Diego of course). This was still ongoing as of about 1:00 pm Pacific Time on Thursday.

Again, that's a black Toyota with Baja Plates. That's all we know - we're digging for more.

And with that, let's take you up I-15 to Las Vegas where an unwelcome July 4th Jihad party may be planned.

This was on KVBC television out of Las Vegas (local NBC affiliate) which, strangely enough, didn't hit the wires - yet. Let's see what happens.

Hamdon - Lebanese Resident in Las Vegas

Overheard possible jihad talk over cell phone According to News Channel 3, a man says he was trying to phone his wife yesterday on his cell phone, but signals somehow got crossed, and his call didn't go through. Somehow, perhaps by some stroke of luck, he then picked up another conversation being spoken in Arabic.

It would have been gibberish to most folks, but the guy named Hamdon is from Lebanon. He speaks the language.

"I heard conversation. I was going to hang up - press end", Hamdon told the reporter. Then he went on to repeat the words he heard in Arabic, then give the English translation:

"...We are here at the city of corruption, city of prostitution, city of gambling; the city of unbelievers.

"..And they are talking about freedom. "We are going to hit them - on the Day of Freedom," the call said.

Hamdon says has he given information to the FBI - who of course say they are on it. Now keep in mind that someone 'hitting' Las Vegas could mean they are simply going to blow a bunch of money at the tables on July 4th - or simply rip off a casino. It was just a simple conversation overheard - in Arabic. What do you think?

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

Offering up for comment, despite the fact I am not sure of the authenticity of this...

Food for thought in anycase!

[OXENinFLA]

That truck hijacking always was a bit fishy to me. I can't remember them saying that they had a FULL account of every barrel that was on the truck when it was recovered.

[Rick.Donaldson]

Well, regardless of the nay-sayers, everyone should "be on the look out" (we call it BOLO here in Colorado Lingo) all the time. We've even gotten to the point of thinking some (if not all) of the fires are terror attacks (think about it, little or no cost, major effects on everyone near the fires, thousands to millions of dollars cost to the states, cities and authorities responsible for "protecting" the citizens).

At 45 years old, having been in the military and working for the government for most of my life now, I personally would not rule out ANYTHING any more.

Paranoia, contrary to popular belief is not a "psychological disorder", more of a "learned behavior" in my opinion. It is good to be slightly "paranoid" these days, and "listen to that inner voice" - you know, the one that says "Turn HERE" and you do, thereby avoiding a would-be fatal car accident. Trust your instincts and above all, keep those police scanners HANDY! (I can't emphasize the last enough, so I won't try).

(By the way, as a side note, Colorado Springs has recently moved to a Trunking digital system that disallows one from getting a normal scanner to listen in. My wife and I having been "scanner buffs" for years were fighting it from the beginning, to no avail. Personally, I think if they wish to "hide" information, they should use "codes" not hide their transmissions, but that's a debate for another day and time I suppose. Mean time, I have been working on getting the right equipment to continue listening in and will continue to do so no matter what laws might be passed about "listening to the police" - they WORK for ME, not "Against me".)

[TomGuy]

It seems a lot of "incidents" are quickly passed over and buried. This makes it effective to do a "tin foil alert" if someone points out inconsistencies. For example, the missing amount of cyanide in Mexico vs the found amount.

Now, more questions are being raised regarding the "accident" that downed the I-40 bridge in Oklahoma. Reports (locally, but buried from front page national coverage) are that the barge/tug was away from the shipping channel lane for approximately 30 minutes/2.5 miles.

It seemed curious that the tug captain's first contact after the accident was with his attorney. Alot of strange things are going on. Reynolds needs a 24-7 just to keep up with the aluminum foil demand. But, an old adage: Behind every myth, there is a kernal of truth.

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

Yep, there was a plethora of conflicting information from day one.

First they didn't have an accruate account of how MANY barrels, switched numbers a few times.
Then they found 'some' barrels in the original truck a 'few' days later. Somewhere around 10 were left in said truck. Those were all said to be closed I believe.
Then, the last report stated that they 'found' the 'remainder' of the barrels which 'apparently' been tossed from a vehicle-And causing some {didn't have *that* number consistant either} to open and spill on the ground. Also creating a 'chemical' smell BTW...

No one seemed sure on just how many barrels were missing, although at first, the Mexican Gov't tried to deny any missing at all.

Deduce what you will. However, my husband is a truckdriver for Wal-Mart, and is required at all times to know, and be able to account for every item he is hauling. But, it's only W-M, not cyanide after all...

[OXENinFLA]

Don't forget about the apartment that blew up in ENCINO, CA. The last report in read was a guy disconnected the gas line to his stove THEN went to the bathroom and when he came back into the kitchen what is the 1st thing he does LITES UP A CIGARETTE! Yea OK I belive that.

[TheDon]

Anyone here ever pick up a stray phone call on a cell phone?

[ShadowAce]

We are here at the city of corruption, city of prostitution, city of gambling; the city of unbelievers.

Who would ever describe a city like this? Also, I thought prostitution was illegal in Las Vegas (I know it's legal in the rest of Nevada, but it's not in LV).

[JackOfVA]

Anyone here ever pick up a stray phone call on a cell phone?

I think it is very improbable that you would hear the radio link over a cell phone for a variety of reasons. If a digital system, chances are essentially zero. If an analog system, chances are above zero, but still very remote. Chances would be slightly better of hearing intelligible cross talk due to issues in the phone sytem end of the cellular system, but still probability is low. Almost all intelligible crosstalk these days happens in the local loop end. In this case, I would look at people residing near the phone number called by the interceptor, served by the same feeder cable from the telco central office.

The probabilities here are staggering, if it is true: (1) Chance of intelligible crosstalk. Say 1:100,000 (2) Chance that an Arabic speaker would hear the crosstalk. Say 1:100 (assume 3 million Arabic speakers in US) (3) Chance of this particular call being the one for which (1) and (2) is true?

I'm not saying its a bogus report, but the odds are astronomical that it's true.

Jack

[Grammy]

"Anyone here ever pick up a stray phone call on a cell phone?"
I have. Usually when I am about to change cell sites. And they can't necessarily hear you. It is very interesting (and weird) to listen in on someone else. Makes me more cautious about what I will say to my honey on the cell 8-)

[JudyB1938]

Real Audio Police Scanners

Las Vegas Metro Police Scanner

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Don't forget about the apartment that blew up in Encino, CA.

And don't forget that apartment/condo housed primarily Jewish Americans in a predominently Jewish neighborhood.

Also, this explosion occurred within days of all apartment managers throughout Southern California receiving FBI warnings about M.E. terrorists hoping to blow up apartment buildings.

[OXENinFLA]

I never noticed or it wasn't in the news stories that it was a Jewish community, very interesting.