Al-Qaeda Scouts visited Freeport Texas

The Brazosport Facts, Clute Texas ^ | 5-21-2003 | Michael Baker

[buffyt]

FREEPORT — Port officials are looking into reports that al-Qaeda scouts may have sojourned into Freeport before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

A story in the May 26 issue of Newsweek reported that in March 2001, the scouts came to Texas to “case a major port in Freeport, Texas,” as well as look at President Bush’s ranch in Crawford. The information came from the FBI, according to the story.

“We’re seeing what that might mean,” said Pete Reixach, executive director of Port Freeport.

“We’re trying to qualify the language in this article with the FBI and Homeland Security offices.”

Port security was high Tuesday, Reixach said, but it was not because of the report.

The nationwide terror alert level was raised from yellow to orange, so the security was heightened to the level it was at the start of the war in Iraq, he said.

The possibility that terrorists were in the port’s back yard is somewhat sobering, Reixach said, but it only reinforces a trend toward heightened security after the terrorist attacks.

“We’ve all been in a state of alert since shortly after Sept. 11,” Reixach said.

“Our operations have increased their activities tenfold since then.”

The port also has received federal grants to enhance its security since the attacks.

Tobey Davenport, chairman of the port’s board of commissioners, said he was surprised by the report. While a fueling ship could be a possible target, Davenport said, there is little else in the port’s jurisdiction that could cause mass devastation if attacked.

“All we have on the navigation district property is warehouses,” Davenport said. “We have a rice mill and freezers full of bananas. What are they going to blow up?”

Of course, the “major port in Freeport” could include much more than just district property, Davenport said. It could include waterfront sites that are not port-owned, such as facilities owned by ConocoPhillips, Dow Chemical Co. and BASF, he said.

Ammonia tanks could be a much more attractive target than bananas, Davenport said.

Like Reixach, BASF officials said the report only renews their commitment to securing their sites.

“Security and safety of our employees and neighbors in the community are our highest priority,” said Jonathan Evans, a BASF spokesperson in New Jersey. “We have taken steps to address emerging security issues at our sites, and we continue to work closely with government and industry partners to address this important issue.”

Michael Baker covers business issues for The Facts. Contact him Sunday-Thursday at (979) 265-7411, Ext. 225.

[buffyt]

Our little town of 26,000 people.... YIKES Under surveilance by Al Queda! And now the Dow Union Operators are on strike. I don't go near the plant. Too dangerous between terrorists and strikers. Hope the strike is over soon. Just too dangerous now, for a strike, near a huge chemical complex!

[buffyt]

We are less than one hour south of Houston, on the coast.

[buffyt]

bump

[buffyt]

bump

[Servant of the Nine]

Salt Grass Mosquito PING

So9

[pwatson]

I visited Freeport, nothing there worth hitting, Houston Ship Channel, Galveston or Corpus would be much more important sites in my opinion. I bet that’s why nothing happened, its a little port of small independent folks.
I like to rent beach houses down at Surfside, no laws to speak of there and they build houses right on the beach.

[headsonpikes]

"Al Qaeda Scouts..."

And somehow the Robert E. Lee Scouts in Virginia are controversial!!?

Sheesh!

;^)

[Lou L]

Stop United Way funding for the Al Qaeda Scouts! :)

[Allegra]

And now the Dow Union Operators are on strike. I don't go near the plant. Too dangerous between terrorists and strikers.

I remember the Dow Freeport facility locked up tight after 9/11 and again after the bombs started falling in Afghanistan.

Even at the Dow office in West Houston, they built guard shacks at the gates, hired Pinkerton Security and we had to show our company ID's every time we drove onto the property. During the anthrax scare, they built a shack out behind the mailroom and every single thing was inspected before coming into the building.

And al-Qaeda STILL managed to sniff around...

[Emily RN]

I can remember places there where you could get arrested and your camera confiscated, for trespassing and/or taking pictures.

[headsonpikes]

"Stop United Way funding for the Al Qaeda Scouts!"

They probably spell 'Akela' as 'A-Qaela'.

B*st*rds! ;^)

[JohnnyZ]

Stop United Way funding for the Al Qaeda Scouts! :)

We laugh, but you know there are liberals fuming that the Al Qaeda Scouts won't allow homosexuals . . .

[anymouse]

Funny but I thought that al Qaeda Scouts were radical homosexuals.

Maybe those 72 virgins waiting for them in 'Paradise' are the previous 72 dead al Queda Scouts. :) A never ending chain of fools.

[Alamo-Girl]

Jeepers... Thanks for the heads up!

[Flyer]

I like to rent beach houses down at Surfside, no laws to speak of there

But the Surfside cops vigorously enforce the laws they do have. Watch you speed, use your turn signals, maintain good posture and eat your vegetables!

[showme_the_Glory]

Stop United Way funding for the Al Qaeda Scouts! :)

We laugh, but you know there are liberals fuming that the Al Qaeda Scouts won't allow homosexuals . . .

PETA objects that they don't like pigs or pork.

[Flyer]

And al-Qaeda STILL managed to sniff around...

Not to mention the Greenpeace terrorists. . .

[Liberal Classic]

I have been quitely wondering if Texas is on the terrorist radar. Houston has one of the larger middle-eastern populations in the county, and offices of several state-owned oil companies in the area including Saudi Aramco. Aside from the obvious Bush connection with Texas, we have several large cities and port facilities. Note to terrorists, though, in Texas we have more guns than people so you better watch out.

[Texaggie79]

Muh fam is in Lake Jackson.

[CoolChange]

We used to live in Freeport about 17 years ago. Our oldest was one of the first ones to be delivered at the Brazosport Memorial Hospital. I bet alot has changed around there since then.