Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat - Thread 5

CNN ^ | March 12, 2004

[knak]

I didn't know they were Pakistanis! Thanks for all the info WCG!

[Myrddin]

wirestripper and eastforker observed that the BP AMOCO plant was shutting down a unit for some planned construction. Apparently that is a dangerous task.

[rickylc]

Thanks for the note of cautious optimism!

It's not too hard to jump to the terror conclusion when it may not be correct, especially with everything else going on today.

[Indie]

I knew those planets last night were the sign. The door to All he!! cracked open today. Sounds like the world did a good job of trying to slam it shut again!

[KylaStarr]

Thanks Myrddin. I must have missed seeing that post. I thought they were just discussing possibilities of what may have happened. Hoping it's not terrorist related. And praying hard that no one is injured in this catastrophe!

[rickylc]

OK, I guess I'll have to give ya that and not press any further for your "source" of the 5 planets being a sign.

It certainly did signal the beginning of something!!

[TexKat]

U.S. Panel Hears Testimony on Khan's Nuke Activities

By Carol Giacomo, Diplomatic Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf was aware of Abdul Qadeer Khan's nuclear black market activities for at least a few years, but political pressures kept him from moving aggressively against Khan until recently, U.S. Undersecretary of State John Bolton said on Tuesday.

But Bolton reaffirmed Washington's view that Musharraf and other top Pakistani officials were not "complicit in or approved of (Khan's) proliferation activities" and therefore are not subject to U.S. sanctions.

Bolton, testifying before a congressional committee, came under fire from opposition Democrats.

They accused the Bush administration of failing to hold Pakistan's leaders accountable for Khan's blackmarket activities and for not using economic muscle to keep countries and companies from doing business with Iran and North Korea.

With Iran and North Korea's nuclear activities a growing concern for Washington, nonproliferation issues could loom large in the 2004 election.

Since Khan, the father of Pakistan's nuclear program, confessed in February to selling nuclear secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya, U.S. officials have insisted only Khan was responsible, not Musharraf and his government.

Bolton reiterated that position, saying U.S. officials investigated Khan's activities and "we have no evidence that President Musharraf and top officials of the government of Pakistan are complicit."

But under questioning by the U.S. House of Representatives International Relations Committee, Bolton said Musharraf was aware of Khan's activities when he fired him as head of Khan Research Laboratory in the year 2001.

DIFFICULT QUESTION

"I think it was a very difficult question for President Musharraf in the face of the internal political dynamic in Pakistan, which has resulted in the past two months ... in two assassination attempts against him," Bolton said.

"In fact, it was the exposure of the Iranian nuclear weapons program...and (Libyan leader Muammar) Gaddfi's decision to forswear all of his WMD (weapons of mass destruction) programs that brought us to the point that it was possible for Musharraf to take the actions that he did," Bolton said.

Musharraf, who seized power in 1999, had to balance U.S. demands for action on Khan against a risk of angering the army, his base of support, experts say.

Rep. Gary Ackerman, a New York Democrat, accused President Bush of giving Pakistan "a pass on proliferating nuclear technology."

He acknowledged Musharraf's support for the U.S.-led war on terrorism and a U.S. desire not to destabilize him, but said Washington has already done enough by waiving sanctions on Pakistan and giving it $2 billion in aid over two years.

Bush's most recent decision making Pakistan a non-NATO ally goes too far, said Ackerman, adding: "This double standard with regard to Pakistan makes a mockery of our nonproliferation efforts around the world."

Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman of California faulted the administration for being "all too willing to risk American lives and to use our very effective military (in Iraq) but utterly unwilling to use tactics that might inconvenience corporations or our trading partners" that could force problem states to end proliferation.

One example is North Korea which relies on energy subsidies from China. The administration has not threatened China with a loss of even some of its $130 billion access to U.S. markets if it does not reduce the North's subsidies, he said.

[WestCoastGal]

Texas, can you check in on this........explosions

[Domestic Church]

They picked the only place in central asia advanced enough to have a subway. Might there be an oil pipeline in the vicinity as well? What's all the hubbub about?

[WestCoastGal]

8 30 pm 73°F

Plant explosion in Texas City
Updated: 3/30/2004 8:16 PM
By: News 24 Houston

We're receiving reports of a plant explosion in the Texas City area.

Witnesses report seeing multiple explosions and flames in the vicinity of one of the nearby plants.

Authorities say it happened at the BP Amoco Chemical Plant in Texas City located at FM 519 East.

A shelter in place is currently in effect for Texas City and La Marque.

If you are in the area, you should go inside, shut your windows and turn off your air conditioning.

The cause of the explosion is not yet known. At this point there are no reports of injuries.

Amoco reports that all employees are accounted for.

Stay with News 24 Houston for more information.

[KylaStarr]

Explosion at BP Amoco in Texas City

08:29 PM CST on Tuesday, March 30, 2004


From 11 News Staff Reports



There have been explosions and a fire at the BP AMOCO refinery and chemical complex on FM 519 E. in Texas City.


The explosions occurred just after 7:00 Tuesday evening.


Emergency management officials have requested residents to shelter in place in Texas City and La Marque.


Company officials say a furnace exploded and the fire is the result of the explosions. Multiple agencies have responded to the fire.


There are several roadblocks in the area.


Area residents say there were at least four explosions and they felt it in their homes when they occurred.


Company officials also say that all employees have been accounted for and no injuries have been reported.

http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou040330_ds_BPExplosion.d9b0c3de.html

A furnace exploded?????? Why does this make me go hmmmm....

[Domestic Church]

" I knew those planets last night were the sign"

Here's hoping we send in military choppers blasting Gustav Holst at 'em.

[WestCoastGal]

Seems as though it could be sabotage, or somebody pretty stupid to set this off. It's my understanding from the other thread that there are 1000's of other tanks in that area.

Also was remembering the big explosion in 1947 that killed 600 in Texas City. I wonder how many terrorists have read those reports about that harbor like they were reading about the Sears Tower and the Library Towers in LA as future targets according to Khalid Sheik Mohammed.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Prayers for your friend, please keep us posted.

Pine, has a fire and e-coli, that is strange, it can't be that large, but does get a lot of tourists on a nice day.

[WestCoastGal]

Thank you Ruth, she needs a lot of prayers. They are flying her in this evening.

Are you following the explosion in Texas City. Coincidental FBI alert just six days ago.............

FBI Issues Alert for Petrochemical Plants in Texas

Thursday, March 25, 2004

TEXAS CITY, Texas — Security was tight early Thursday at petrochemical (search) plants along the Gulf of Mexico following a caution issued by the FBI (search).



An agency official said that the Texas Coastal Regional Advisory System (search), a shared information and communication system that is part of the Houston Joint Terrorism Task Force, was notified of nonspecific threats gathered from overseas sources.

"It's really uncorroborated, but there was enough there we thought it was best to send something out across TCRAS," said Bob Dogium, the Houston-area spokesman for the FBI.

He said in Thursday's online edition of the Texas City Sun that there was no indication of an immediate or direct threat against any of the facilities that dot the Texas Gulf Coast.

"Really, in the days after 9/11, the best weapon we have is communication," Dogium said. "There is really a good communication link between the various agencies on matters of security."

Jason Hayley, head of security for the Port of Texas City, said he appreciates updates from TCRAS.

"We are always vigilant in our security measures, but its good to know when there is something else to be on the look out for. We've been in touch with the FBI," Hayley said of the latest warning.

[Palladin]

Coincidence? I think not!

I always come over to this thread to get the lowdown on hese "unusual" occurrences.

I hope our smarter FReepers down in the Texas City area know enough to get outta town.

[Letitring]

Where was that security guard shot, which plant, I mean. Guard was shot at one of those chemical plants in that area, in January.

[Domestic Church]

Wasn't it a BASF facility?

[Domestic Church]

Wasn't it a BASF facility?

[Letitring]

Yes, that was it, thanks. :)