Middle Eastern Men & Kayak Rentals

memo from Anti Terrorism Task Force | 7 June 2002 | Frank Shults,

[UnsinkableMollyBrown]

United States Attorney

Eastern District of Virginia

District of Columbia

TO: Anti-Terrorism Task Force

FROM: Frank Shults
Chief Information Officer

RE: Kayak rentals

The ATTF CIO in Milwaukee obtained the following information from an intelligence summary report of an Army CID ATTF rep. It is passed on to you for information purposes.

(U//FOUO) California: On 21 May 2002, US Coast Guard (USCG) personnel were notified by a kayak distributor in Wilmington, CA, in metropolitan Los Angeles, that three or four men appearing to be of Middle-Eastern descent attempted to purchase four small "sit on top" kayaks several weeks ago. The men were only interested in obtaining the kayaks "right away." The men recently made repeated attempts to purchase three kayaks. The men also insisted that the kayaks be built by "Cobra." Comment: The kayak distributor is adjacent to the Port of Los Angeles. Cobra kayaks have a capacity upwards of 850lbs, and one- and two-seat Cobra kayaks have a capacity of 600lbs. Taking the fact that the bombers of the USS Cole used 600lbs of C-4, it is certainly plausible that a similar attack could occur using this type of platform.

According to the National Maritime Intelligence Center (NMIC), kayaks would likely not be distinguishable on radar from the background because they are made of rubber or plastic. Further, there have been several suspicious incidents at US ports including Los Angeles since October 2001. On 3 May 02 a man, appearing to be of Middle-Eastern descent, was observed taking video footage of the cruise ship terminal in Los Angeles, CA. Another report in mid-May related that several Middle Eastern persons were found to have taken SCUBA diving lessons within the last 2 years. According to FBI records, all three persons were known to have associations with either Hamas or Hizballah.

[Semper Paratus]

they are made of rubber or plastic.

Didn't al-Queda use a motorized rubber boat to get to the Cole?

[EggsAckley]

This definitely something to not overlook. I remember that the bomb was delivered to
the Cole via a small rubber(?) raft. Some of these reports seem a little ridiculous, but this one looks ominous. Good find.

[The Scorpion King]

So...what? They're attacking igloos now?

[phasma proeliator]

ping

[UnsinkableMollyBrown]

I thought Freepers were interested in information. Anyway, I don't understand you comment about igloos.

[porte des morts]

I for one want to see the video of a person raised in the desert, trying to figure out a 'sit on top kayak' in 3-4 foot waves.(not even mentioning 600lbs of cargo.)

[Goatroper]

The Army Vice Chief of Staff recently said, (paraphrased) "You cannot keep terrorists from a democratic nation of 286 million people. The only way to protect them is to kill those who would kill us."

[Wm Bach]

I propose that Bush get off his lazy duff and ask for a Declaration of War, then direct the U.S. Navy to obliterate any kayaks, rubber rafts, rubber duckies, etc. that approach our ships.

[EggsAckley]

Molly...some here seem to be missing the connection. It's great information, and that's what FR is all about.
Ignore the ignorant....(hey, that's kind of a neat slogan!) <{;o)

[Right Wing Professor]

So, you think they're less likely to be able to paddle kayaks than fly 747s?

[GingisK]

I for one want to see the video of a person raised in the desert, trying to figure out a 'sit on top kayak'

Underestimating an enemy is the first move toward defeat. Besides, it doesn't take much instruction or practice to make some use of a such a craft.

How long would it take you to learn to survive in the dessert?

[Right Wing Professor]

What he said.

[blau993]

Don't be too hard on Scorpion King. Until I got a few paragraphs into the article, I too thought it was a joke (Arab on a kayak = difficult visual to process). The only thing that saved me was probably the article posted earlier about the Chinese newspaper republishing a piece from The Onion (Note to self: "Keep those reality antennae twitching").

[Myrddin]

I for one want to see the video of a person raised in the desert, trying to figure out a 'sit on top kayak' in 3-4 foot waves.(not even mentioning 600lbs of cargo.)

I suspect the kayak will be loaded with 600 lbs of C4 and towed by SCUBA equipped swimmers to the target in the middle of the night to avoid observation. Sitting on top of the kayak wastes 150 lbs of carrying capacity.

[hang 'em]

There are no waves in Long Beach Harbor.

[OldFriend]

Some folks just can't help themselves. They are not comfortable unless their foot is planted firmly in their mouth.

I remember the ridicule about the danger of middle eastern men wanting scuba diving lessons.

[craig_eddy]

made repeated attempts to purchase three kayaks

This doesn't pass my stink test...how many attempts does one have to make before one successfully purchases a kayak? Is there some waiting period or background check that I'm not aware of?