Threat Matrix- Daily Terror Thread (4):

INTERNET HAGANAH: "THE JIHAD SITES AT CERVALIS" (March 4, 2004)
http://internet-haganah.us/harchives/001570.html

INTERNET HAGANAH: "LOOK WHAT POPPED OUT OF THE LOG FILES..." (March 4, 2004)
http://internet-haganah.us/harchives/001569.html

INTERNET HAGANAH: "AL ANSAR DECLARES AL JIHAD AGAINST AL HAGANAH" (February 18, 2004)
http://internet-haganah.us/harchives/001538.html

This is so sad. The little boy's eyes look rather glazed to me. Poor baby.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/040302/481/bei11103021547&e=3

On the Lars Larson show, Commissioner Lonnie Roberts just said he is trying to set aside to money to refund to the same-sex couples when these licenses are found to be null and void.

Malaysian Leader Denies Nuke Whitewash

By SEAN YOONG, Associated Press Writer

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi denied Thursday that his government whitewashed an investigation of Malaysia's role in a worldwide nuclear black market, and said he wasn't worried the issue would hurt him in upcoming elections.

The vote, which Abdullah called Wednesday, will be the first since former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad retired in October. The Islamic opposition has promised to focus on the nuclear network during its campaign for the election, expected by the end of March.

The government faces allegations that a Malaysian company owned by Abdullah's son played a key role in a nuclear black market, led the father of Pakistan's nuclear program, to traffic nuclear technology and know-how to Libya, Iran and North Korea.

A police investigation cleared Scomi Precision Engineering of knowingly making centrifuge components that were seized in October in the Mediterranean en route to Libya.

The Islamic opposition claims the government went easy on Abdullah's son, even while the prime minister wages a very public anti-corruption campaign. The opposition also says the government has detained about 70 terror suspects over the past three years without trial.

Badawi, speaking publicly for the first time since calling the elections, said he said he wasn't troubled by the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party's allegations.

"I am not worried at all," Abdullah told reporters. "I think PAS just wants to find something to attack me and embarrass me. They are trying to resort to character assassination. They have nothing else to capitalize on."

Abdullah said police had investigated the trafficking case as "best they could" and that the results would be given to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

"They will scrutinize it," Abdullah said. "They are not fools. They cannot be misled."

A top U.S. nonproliferation envoy met Malaysian leaders this week to urge this Southeast Asian country to tighten export regulations and plug criminal loopholes to prevent trafficking.

Abdullah confirmed that he met John Stern Wolf, the assistant secretary for the State Department's non-proliferation bureau.

"He did not ask for strict controls," Abdullah said. "He is aware that we were already looking into it, even before this. Of course, we need time. It's not something that can easily be resolved."

Badawi called the elections in an apparent bid to solidify control of his 14-party coalition and reverse gains that the Islamic party made in a 1999 vote. The coalition, which has 152 of 193 seats in parliament, is almost certain to extend its 50-year grip on power. The date for the elections is to be announced Friday.

There has to be something more going on behind the scenes...that would work in our favor vis a vis the Mexican emigration disaster. Maybe if it came out in the papers, Fox would look weak. You know how testosterone driven Hispanics are (I'm ducking because of the brickbats coming my way over that comment...but it's true, nonetheless). Fox would lose face big time if Bush slammed the door on 12 mill. Mexicans. Fox would definitely lose the next election. So Bush has to walk a fine line between maintaining sovereignty (which he doesn't seem to be doing very well at the moment), and being 'understanding' about a countryful of Mexicans here illegally. That's the most positive spin I can put on the immigration bill he proposed, the meetings with Fox, the diplomatic dancing. The problem is: Give an inch, and they want the whole enchilada. They're demanding dual citizenship for all of Mexico. Only it won't go both ways, thank you very much. We give, they take. Nobody's asked the US body politic if we want to absorb another country, one with an alien culture, etc.. I fail to see why in the world we have to play nice with people who want to take us over and steal us blind. Make no mistake about this. Mexico figures we'll keep giving in until they have such a huge voting Latino population here, that they'll elect an Hispanic pres., congress, and absorb us. It's like feeding the tiger until we're eaten. Someone should tell Bush that. Problem is also, with Kerry, everything is a dozen times worse. Kerry will do what the RATS want, which is get the Hispanic vote any which way they can. As for jobs, I expect there will be some good news about them sometime in late spring, early summer. We'll invent something they can't make overseas, or congress will pass a law limiting outsourcing, or a combination of both. Plus, cold fusion is on the way. I think.

http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2004/March/04_crt_133.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2004
WWW.USDOJ.GOV

CRT
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" FLORIDA MAN SENTENCED ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING-RELATED CHARGES"

SNIPPET: "WASHINGTON, D.C.- The Department of Justice today announced the sentencing of a Florida man previously convicted on human trafficking-related charges. Ramiro Ramos was sentenced to 15 years in prison for conspiring to hold workers in involuntary servitude and harboring undocumented workers.

United States District Court Judge K. Michael Moore sentenced Ramos to 15 years in prison, fined him $20,000 and ordered the defendant to forfeit property valued at over $3 million. In addition, the court issued an order of deportation. Ramiro Ramos’ brother, Juan Ramos, also scheduled to be sentenced today will now be sentenced on May 3rd.

The brothers were Florida labor contractors who supplied migrant farm laborers to citrus growers. Undocumented Mexican citizens were transported to Florida to work for the Ramos brothers. Once in Florida, they were forced to work until they had paid off their transportation debt. The defendants threatened the workers with violence if they left prematurely, and brutally beat a van driver and several of his employees to prevent them from taking workers away from the area."

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http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2004/March/04_ag_136.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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WWW.USDOJ.GOV

AG
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ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNOUNCES GUILTY PLEAS IN SAN DIEGO DRUGS FOR MISSILES CASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Attorney General John Ashcroft and United States Attorney Carol C. Lam today announced that Muhamed Abid Afridi and Ilyas Ali pled guilty today in federal court in San Diego to the felony charges of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to distribute heroin and hashish. The defendants appeared before United States District Court Judge M. James Lorenz and entered guilty pleas to counts one and three of the three-count indictment filed on October 30, 2002.

Attorney General John Ashcroft stated, “Terrorism and drug trafficking often thrive in the same conditions, support each other, and feed off each other. These guilty pleas are reminders that the Al Qaeda terrorist network continues to use any and all illicit means to finance, plan and perpetrate their acts of violence. While this case highlights the ongoing, transnational threat of terrorism and drug trafficking, it also shows that law enforcement agencies around the world are focused and cooperating in combating terrorist and drug trafficking activity. Because of the actions taken in this investigation, America is safer and our citizens are more secure.

“I commend the work of U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California, Carol Lam, and her staff, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I also thank the Hong Kong Police Department for their assistance in this case. This investigation remains open and is ongoing.”

In connection with the pleas, both defendants admitted that they conspired to distribute approximately five metric tons of hashish and 600 kilograms of heroin originating in Pakistan to undercover United States law enforcement officers. Additionally, the defendants admitted that they conspired to receive, as partial payment for the drugs, four "Stinger" anti-aircraft missiles which they intended to then sell to the Taliban, an organization they knew at the time to be the same as Al-Qaeda.

The defendants are scheduled to appear before Judge Lorenz for a sentencing hearing at the United States Courthouse in San Diego on June 29, 2004, at 8:30 A.M.

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http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2004/March/04_crm_137.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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SAUDI NATIONAL CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY TO PROVIDE MATERIAL SUPPORT TO HAMAS AND OTHER VIOLENT JIHADISTS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Attorney General John Ashcroft, Assistant Attorney General Christopher A. Wray of the Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney Tom Moss of the District of Idaho announced today that Sami Omar Al-Hussayen, a graduate student from Saudi Arabia, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge of conspiracy to provide material support or resources to HAMAS, a designated foreign terrorist organization, and to other violent jihadists.

A superseding indictment returned at U.S. District Court in Boise, Idaho this morning adds additional charges of providing and concealing material support to terrorists to the indictment already lodged against Al-Hussayen. Al-Hussayen had been previously indicted on charges of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, seven counts of visa fraud and four counts of false statements. His trial is scheduled to begin on April 13, 2004.

“Terrorists increasingly use the internet to communicate their evil plans and to garner recruits, money and other material support for their violent activities,” said Attorney General John Ashcroft. “We will aggressively pursue and prosecute those who use their specialized computer skills to knowingly and intentionally support such terrorist conspiracies.”

The indictment cites two websites created and controlled by Al-Hussayen and others that included pages devoted to violent jihad - or holy war - in Israel. One of them, , included a section urging Muslims to contribute money to HAMAS to “assist their brothers in their honorable jihad against the dictatorial Zionist Jewish enemy.” Both sites also included links to the official HAMAS website where such donations could be made, according to the indictment.

Altogether, the indictment alleges that Al-Hussayen operated more than a dozen websites on behalf of: the Islamic Assembly of North America (IANA) in Detroit, Michigan; the Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation; a Saudi-based company called Dar Al-Asr; and two radical Saudi sheikhs. It alleges that Al-Hussayen knew and intended that his computer services and expertise would be used to recruit and to raise funds for violent jihad in Israel, Chechnya and elsewhere and that he conspired to conceal the nature of his activities.

Among the specific allegations is the charge that Al-Hussayen moderated an e-mail group for people who wanted to participate in violent jihad. The group allegedly solicited “those who cannot physically engage in holy war,” and ultimately grew to more than 2,400 members. Its first posting came from Al-Hussayen on Feb. 2, 2000, according to the indictment. It allegedly was a “Cry and Call” to Muslims, exhorting them to “fight the idolator with your money, your selves, your tongues and your prayers.”

The indictment alleges that Al-Hussayen and others sent numerous postings to the group, including one in which he forwarded materials entitled “Virtues of Jihad,” glorifying those who die in holy war. Postings by others to the e-mail group included an “urgent appeal” to Muslims in the U.S. military asking them to identify potential U.S. targets in the Middle East.

According to the indictment, the various websites with which Al-Hussayen was involved published a variety of violent jihad materials, including graphic videos of mujahideen, or holy warriors, intended to recruit fighters and financial supporters of violent jihad. The indictment charges that several articles extolling the Chechen warriors and glorifying martyrdom were found on the server for IANA’s www.al-multaqa.com website and on the defendant’s home computer.

Al-Hussayen is also alleged to have received and disbursed out of his bank accounts more than $300,000 in excess of the study-related funds he received from his home government, much of which was paid to IANA for salaries, travel and other operational expenses.

The new charges allege that Al-Hussayen conspired with others to provide money and communications equipment to the Islamic Resistance Group, or HAMAS, which was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization on Oct. 8, 1997, and redesignated again in 1999, 2001 and 2003.

Al-Hussayen has been a graduate student at various universities in the United States for more than nine years. Most recently, he has been seeking a PhD in computer security from the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho.

The investigation, which is ongoing, is being conducted by the Inland Northwest Joint Terrorism Task Force; the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Division and its offices in Couer d’Alene, Boise and Lewiston, Idaho; the FBI’s Seattle Field Division and its Spokane, Washington office; the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) offices in Boise, Spokane; IRS offices in Boise and Spokane; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Spokane; the Secret Service, Spokane; the U.S. Marshal’s Service, Spokane; the Idaho State Police; the Washington State Patrol; the Moscow, Idaho, Police Department; the Spokane Police Department; the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office; the Spokane Criminal Intelligence United, the Latah County Sheriff’s Office; the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Boise and Spokane; and the Counterterrorism Section of the Criminal Division at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.

The prosecution team consists of Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Lindquist of the District of Idaho; David Deitch, Department of Justice Counterterrorism Section; Todd Hinnen, DOJ Computer Crimes and Intellectual Property Section; and Terry Derden, First Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho.

Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2004/March/04_crm_139.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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CRM
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TDD (202) 514-1888

DEFENDANTS CONVICTED IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA ‘JIHAD’ TRIAL

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Attorney General John Ashcroft, Assistant Attorney General Christopher A. Wray of the Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney Paul J. McNulty of the Eastern District of Virginia announced today the conviction of three men in the so-called Virginia Jihad case, on charges including conspiracy to levy war against the United States and conspiracy to provide material support to the Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Judge Leonie M. Brinkema of the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Virginia handed down the convictions against Masoud Khan, Hammad Abdur-Raheem and Seifullah Chapman. Khan was convicted of eight charges: conspiracy to levy war against the United States; conspiracy; providing support to the Taliban; conspiracy to provide support to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET); firearms conspiracy; and three counts of use of firearms in connection with a crime of violence. Hammad Abdur-Raheem was convicted three counts: conspiring to provide material support to LET, conspiracy and firearms conspiracy. Chapman was found guilty on five counts: conspiring to provide material support to LET, conspiracy, firearms conspiracy, possession of firearms in connection with a crime of violence and use of a firearm in connection with a crime of violence.

The defendants face sentences of up to life in prison. Sentencing for Khan and Abdur-Raheem is scheduled for June 4, 2004. Chapman is to be sentenced on June 11, 2004.

“These convictions are a stark reminder that terrorist organizations are active in the United States,” said Attorney General John Ashcroft. “We will not allow terrorist groups to exploit America’s freedoms for their murderous goals. We will not stand by as United States citizens support terrorist causes.”

“This case is a significant step forward in securing our community and our country,” said U.S. Attorney Paul McNulty of the Eastern District of Virginia.

The defendants convicted today were associates of a violent Islamic extremist group known as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET), which operates in Pakistan and Kashmir, and which has ties to the al Qaeda terrorist network. Lashkar-e-Taiba, or “Army of the Pure,” was founded in the mid-1980s to wage violent jihad in Afghanistan and India, and has espoused waging violent jihad against the United States, Britain, Russia and Israel. The LET was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department in December 2001.

A total of 11 defendants had been charged in indictments relating to the Virginia Jihad case, including the 3 convicted today. Court documents entered as part of guilty pleas and evidence presented during the trial show that defendants Randall Royer and Ibrahim Al-Hamdi recruited the other men from the Washington, D.C. suburban area to train as mujahideen with the Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist group. This training for violent jihad entailed training in the United States, and then at LET camps in Pakistan. As part of their preparation to undertake violent jihad, the organizers and recruits purchased weapons, including AK-47-style rifles, to develop familiarity and skills with the weapons used by mujahideen around the world. Over the next two years, the group trained at firing ranges in Virginia and Pennsylvania, and seven of the defendants traveled to Pakistan.

After the terrorist attacks in the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, members of the Virginia Jihad network gathered in Northern Virginia and were told that it was time for them to engage in violent jihad. Within a week of the 9/11 attacks, four of the defendants traveled to Pakistan and joined LET operations there.

Six other defendants had pleaded guilty to charges prior to today’s verdicts:

- Khwaja Mahmood Hasan was sentenced to 135 months in prison for conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, and use of a firearm in connection with a crime of violence.

- Yong Ki Kwon was sentenced to 138 months in jail for conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, use of a firearm in connection with a crime of violence, and transferring a firearm for use in a crime of violence.

- Mohanned Aatique was sentenced to 126 months in jail for commencing an expedition against a friendly nation, and use and discharge of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.

- Donald Thomas Surratt received a sentence of 46 months in jail for conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, and transporting a firearm in interstate commerce with reason to know a felony would be committed with it.

- Al-Hamdi and Royer are scheduled to be sentenced April 9, 2004 on charges of using and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and carrying an explosive during the commission of a felony.

One other alleged member of the group, Caliph Basha Ibn Abdur-Raheem, was acquitted earlier this month. The trial of another defendant, Sabri Benkhala, begins on March 8, 2004.

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04-139

Woncha be ya nabor

Angry Reax To Airport Screening

Mexicans Getting Break At Border

Some Mexicans Won't Be Fingerprinted

By SUZANNE GAMBOA, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration will back off plans to require that visa-carrying Mexicans who make short visits to America and stay close to the border be fingerprinted and photographed, The Associated Press has learned.

The move is a concession to Mexican President Vicente Fox, who begins a two-day visit to President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, on Friday.

A congressional official who was briefed Thursday by the Homeland Security Department said the administration will not require the fingerprints and photographs at the border. The official spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

During testimony before a congressional panel, Asa Hutchinson, Homeland Security's undersecretary for border and transportation, would only say the idea was under consideration. However, afterward he told reporters, "I think that is what probably will be necessary."

Agustin Gutierrez Canet, a spokesman for Fox, called the development "a friendly and positive gesture toward Mexico."

Mexicans make millions of quick trips across the border each year. In San Diego alone, more than 165,000 people enter from Mexico each day.

Those who have so-called laser visas currently are allowed to stay in the country three days provided they stay close to the border. Such visas are issued to people who have undergone background checks and consulate interviews where they are fingerprinted and photographed. The visas generally are held by workers and people who need to make frequent quick trips across the border.

As part of the new US-VISIT program, those people were to be fingerprinted and photographed before crossing the border starting sometime before the end of the year.

Mexican border officials and officials in U.S. border communities feared that could lead to long delays or prompt fewer people to enter the country. Either scenario would hurt local economies that rely on a steady flow of visitors.

US-VISIT was developed in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to ensure that people on terrorist watch lists and other criminals don't get into the country. The first part of it took effect in January and requires that visitors from certain countries traveling on visas and entering at 115 major airports and 14 seaports be fingerprinted and photographed.

The program will be added to the 50 busiest land ports later this year. Fox was upset that under the expanded plan, Mexicans would be photographed and fingerprinted before entering the United States, while Canadians would not.

As part of the revised plan, the government will install machines that can read the electronic information in the laser visas at the 50 busiest land ports. The machines are at only a handful of border points as of now.

Nearly 360 million travelers entered the United States at all the nation's land ports of entry in 2002.

A program to log foreigners' departures also is being developed.

Thanks Calpernia

Click the banner!

***Hides under desk from JP***

OPINION: I'm not there and have no personal knowledge on al Zaraqawi, but from my cyber surfing adventures -- I don't believe al Zarqawi is dead.

Cal LMAO.

Ditto.

when my oldest, who is now almost 5 was born. I remember changing her diaper on her 4th day home from the hospital. On this occasion, I accidentally hooked the rough edged part of the diaper too high. The result was a cranky baby whose skin was red and chafed because dad was not quite so precise.

I was upset about it for the rest of the night. The thought that I caused that baby discomfort. I guess, it was just part of realizing how much we will do to protect and save these children we love so much. (Now on baby three, I don't care if they cry all night!!)

BUT, the bigger point is this. What kind of a sick, twisted, culture of religion would ever want a father to cut his son and let blood pour like that down his face.

Folks, these are the GOOD GUYS!

We are in a fight to the death with radical Islam, and we better realize it soon.

Anyone who thinks these pieces of garbage have dozens of nukes pre-positioned, waiting to strike, is crazy. These folks will inflict pain on us when ever and however they can. If they had them, we would know from the crater in our cities.

I had lunch with the Federalist society last week, and the speaker was the DOJ head of Civil Rights. He is a conservative. His topic was on the renewed fight to end "slavery", now known as "human trafficing."

He is a very bright guy, and he has also joined the latest fight to help the Scouts in Sand Diego.

Great post.

OPINION: I'm not there and have no personal knowledge on al Zaraqawi, but from my cyber surfing adventures -- I don't believe al Zarqawi is dead.

No one else believes Zarqawi is dead either except for those easily brainwashed Iraqis. And I am not talking about the entire Iraqi population (just thought I would throw that in for fear someone would take it that way like they did on another thread yesterday).

Iraqis burn a US flag during a rally Wednesday March 3, 2004 at the holy city of Karbala, 110 kilometers south of Baghdad, Iraq, blaming the US for the latest suicide attacks both in Karbala and Baghdad that killed at least 117 people and injured hundreds more. Tuesday's suicide attacks was the worst in Iraq since the overthrow of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein ..(AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

Looks like we're testing too:

Patriot missile scores hit in test launch

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M., March 4 (UPI) -- A Patriot missile scored a direct hit against an incoming rocket Thursday in a test launch at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040304-112504-8062r.htm

Here's an update on the "Genesis" plan to deal with potential survivors of a nuclear attack in DC (or Baltimore). Long, but interesting in a macabre way.

"Hagy defends Genesis"

by Chris Patterson
Staff Writer

Mar. 4, 2004
To some critics, the Genesis Project has so many flaws that the officials who designed it should look for another way to deal with the exodus that would follow a nuclear terrorist attack in Washington, D.C., or Baltimore.

But to Frederick County Sheriff James W. Hagy (R), using the Great Frederick Fair grounds to decontaminate refugees makes the most sense, regardless of the controversy surrounding the idea.

On Monday, in his first in-depth, public comments on Genesis since some of the information on the project was released by the press, Hagy defended it, saying it is merely a "concept plan," and many aspects still need to be worked out.

He acknowledged that his reticence to release, or even loosely discuss, the plan may be influenced by his role as a law enforcement officer, something that controls his tendency to limit the release of any information even remotely sensitive.

But Hagy said the Nuclear Subcommittee of the county's Local Emergency Planning Committee, which drafted the plan, voted to let him disclose the full particulars of it, despite his concerns about making the fairgrounds itself a target for terrorists.

"Now obviously the information is out there [and] I've gone back to the board of directors, and because they are such patriotic people they're saying, 'Yes, you can go public with this,'" Hagy said.

Some of the particulars have been thrown around in the press and at office water coolers around the area based on copies of slide presentations from an early version of the plan that were leaked to the media.

Other information being debated is from a presentation made to the subcommittee in July 2003 by Terrance Richardson of Reeves Manufacturing, a Frederick company that consults for government agencies and manufactures decontamination equipment.

To understand the two documents, Hagy said the first point residents need to understand the plan, which identifies the county fairgrounds on East Patrick Street as the key site in the plan, is that it is a concept plan.

The committee, comprised of 15 volunteers with various areas of expertise, has worked and is continuing to work to come up with the best location to be the centerpiece of the services provided to those fleeing a nuclear attack. That site is the fairgrounds for many reasons, he argued, and those reasons are best understood if one understands the assumptions that went into designing Genesis.

The assumptions

First is the assumption that the community will be forced to deal with the aftermath a nuclear bomb about the size of a briefcase that would lead to a mass exodus from Washington or Baltimore.

By comparison, the impacted area for a "dirty bomb," a conventional bomb that spreads radioactive material, is relatively small, and will not create the mass casualties Genesis is designed to handle, Hagy said.

The second premise, and one receiving no attention, is that Genesis is designed to operate without federal support for 72 hours. Federal assistance is supposed to come by the end of that period, Hagy said.

A third assumption is that massive numbers of burn victims, or other serious injuries, from such an explosion will not reach this far north. Those fleeing to Frederick County will be physically able to travel, and will therefore have potential blindness from the explosion or radiation contamination, he said.

A fourth assumption is that people will travel to Frederick on foot.

The theory is that of the 40,000-plus Frederick-area commuters who travel down Interstate 270, many have emergency plans detailing where they should meet their family in a disaster. If I-270 and Md. Route 355 become clogged with traffic, which Hagy said will happen, people will walk to meet their families.

"Who's going to stop you? No one's going to stop me," he said. "...You're going to have to stop people if you don't want them to go to their families because human nature is to protect your family, and that's what it should be."

So the plan anticipates about 70,000 refugees and county residents seeking a way home, and help for injuries, almost all of them traveling on foot.

A fifth assumption is that people who need medical help will go to Frederick Memorial Hospital.

To best protect the city and county and help those in need, it is necessary to identify a location to decontaminate and treat people who overflow from the hospital. That place needs to have a large number of buildings that can quickly be converted to a hospital, triage area and morgue. It also needs a large area for decontamination. The fairgrounds, which is fenced in, became the logical place.

The decontamination area, Hagy said, will be as far away as possible from the homes on Patrick Street and Monroe Avenue. The decontamination will be done with water from fire trucks, regardless of the outside temperature because washing people down is key. Any runoff will be controlled to minimize contamination of the community's water supply.

The debate

The debate about Genesis began a year ago, when the Frederick Board of County Commissioners named Hagy the unified incident coordinator. The decision was not unanimous, or well received by some in local government.

Most vocal is Frederick Mayor Jennifer P. Dougherty (D). Prime among her concerns is the effect the plan will have on Frederick city residents.

Encouraging contaminated people into a residential area would endanger city residents unnecessarily, she said, adding that decontamination must take place before people enter the city.

Frederick Police Chief Kim Dine said he is concerned, as Dougherty is, with routing thousands of injured and contaminated refugees into the city.

"What I've been told regarding any site ... and what I've been told even by some of the people who trained our people in emergency preparedness, is that the optimum site would not be in the most populated part of any region," Dine said. "Obviously there are many, many considerations to weigh when you're assessing and analyzing all the factors, but that's kind of the initial basic one."

Dougherty referenced a presentation of issues related to the fairgrounds by Richardson, of Reeves Manufacturing, made in July 2003 that identified key concerns. The presentation suggested alternatives for decontamination along the highways to Frederick that she believes make more sense, such as the Urbana park-and-ride lot and the Urbana carnival grounds.

In an interview this week, Richardson said the Nuclear Subcommittee ignored his recommendations last July, and he could not understand why the committee members are "hell-bent" on using the fairgrounds.

"Honestly and truly, I think they are being really reckless with their site selection," he said. "...They have no interest in discussing chemical or biological responses. They are only interested in a radiological response. That's dangerous and poses a threat, but the chemical and biological side of it is a much greater threat."

Hagy said the Nuclear Subcommittee is not looking at chemical or biological disasters because that is the purview of other subcommittees within the Local Emergency Planning Committee. Those committees are working on the scenarios to which Richardson referred.

Nevertheless, one of Dougherty's concerns is that chemical and biological emergencies require most of the same questions to be asked regarding the site for decontamination. In some fashion, contaminated or infected people have to be contained, she said.

If 10,000 people are infected in Washington by a biological bomb of some kind, the concern about those persons carrying the disease into the city is no different from concerns about bringing radiation into the city.

"Are we supposed to let people in that are contaminated and creating a risk, or are we supposed to secure our borders to make sure that people that come in have been treated," Dougherty said.

As for Richardson's plan to set up sites outside of the city, Hagy said they were considered but when he learned that Richardson's company sells decontamination devices, Hagy's interest in the presentation ended.

In addition, Hagy said decontamination of people outside city limits is impractical, as there are too many ways people can enter Frederick County -- especially on foot. One prime decontamination site gives police and health care personnel more control and allows for better containment of radiated runoff.

And purely as a practical matter, having one centralized location for decontamination will make managing that process and containing runoff easier and cheaper, Hagy argued.

The county has only received $77,000 in federal money, a small amount compared to other counties closer to Washington, he said.

Moving forward

Even though it was not Hagy's first choice, he is prepared to release more information on the plan to the public. He is contacting agencies, such as the Frederick County Health Department and the county chapter of the Red Cross, to involve them with continuing work on the concept plan.

The Frederick Board of County Commissioners and Hagy will hold a public meeting on Genesis at 7 p.m., March 25, at Winchester Hall, 12 E. Church St., in Frederick. The meeting will be broadcast live on Frederick County cable channel 19.
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