BREAKING NEWS - MASSIVE EXPLOSION AND FIRE - NJ [Actually, Staten Island NY: AM]

ME | 2/21/03 | SELF

[LonePalm]

I just turned and looked out my office window and saw a column of black smoke rising towards Union Beach/Perth Amboy NJ.

I then felt the force of an explosion rattle my window.

[browardchad]

CBS live feed has SI Borough Pres on: "No confirmed injuries. Evacuating 30-block area due to fear that heat may ignite other tanks. Transfer accident not confirmed."

The fire seems to be contained to what looks like a square building/tank on land -- water fire virtually out, except for small area that looks like fuel burning on the water.

[RecentConvert]

There is NO WAY they can possible rule out terrorists at this point.

The FBI reported about 20 minutes ago that the fire is not terrorist-related. How do they know this so soon?

[aristeides]

"Terrorism is designed to *not* look like an industrial accident."

So I take it you're one of those who thinks the Toulouse plant explosion was just an accident, despite the fact that that Arab worker went to work there dressed in several sets of underwear?

[freeperfromnj]

"Terrorism is designed to *not* look like an industrial accident."

It could be economic terrorism. This refinery is owned by the largest oil company in the U.S., Exxon. This refinery also serves the entire east coast.

[Alberta's Child]

Mansour Ijaz also predicted back in early November that a catastrophic attack similar to 9/11 was going to occur "within weeks."

I'm guessing that he throws about 50 predictions out there, and people call him an "expert" when 5 of them happen within the next six months.

[TonyInOhio]

The FBI reported about 20 minutes ago that the fire is not terrorist-related. How do they know this so soon?

THEY did it? :-)

Tony

[John H K]

Yes ... just like the crash of flight 587 on 11.12.01 was declared an accident before the flames were out

A continual, impossible to kill fabrication on FR.

Actually, obviously, within seconds of such an incident, the media will start pestering authorities with "Wasitterrorism wasitterrorism wasitterrorism wasitterrorism????????"

They can't possibly have any idea, but don't want to scare people for no reason, so they say "We don't have any evidence of terrorism at this point" or something to that effect. And they're COMPLETELY telling the truth.

However, the foil hat brigade later TWISTS this into "They RULED OUT TERRORISM within seconds of it crashing WAAAAAAAAAA!"

Which is NOT what they said. Saying you don't have any evidence at this time of something being a terrorist attack is NOT ruling out terrorism.

There are precisely the same quotes occuring from government authorities right now because of the barge fire.

[aristeides]

Thankfully, somebody replaced that with an undoctored picture.

I don't think I ever like that kind of Orwellian censorship. If the photo had just been deleted, at least people would know that a change had been made. Replacing the photo is sinister.

[HairOfTheDog]

The national media now rushes to the scene of every fire, every car chase, every adbuction, every murder of a pretty person. If you are unsettled, it is because it is unhealthy for us to zoom into every heartbreak in the country as if it were all happening to us.

[Bill Davis FR]

its war...muslims vs the non-muslims...fires spreading throughtout the storage facility

[mhking]

I'm guessing that he throws about 50 predictions out there, and people call him an "expert" when 5 of them happen within the next six months.

Hey, if DEBKA can do it...

Actually, I'm pretty impressed with Ijaz's analysis. He's usually at least close more often than not...

[Hatteras]

What does the FBI know? Besides, GWB would sure be happy to find a lighter in the charred wreckage of this refinery with SH monogramed on the side of it.

[twyn1]

The FBI reported about 20 minutes ago that the fire is not terrorist-related. How do they know this so soon?

Well maybe someone from the refinery told law enforcement he saw something that sparked the fire ?? I know we've had at least 2 huge fires like this in refinerys below Philly -- one was caused by a guy doing repairs with an acetyline (sp??) torch

[John H K]

It doesn't appear to be an actual refinery, does it? Simply a transfer/storage facility.

And it's a lot harder to cripple the US economy than people think.

[Bill Davis FR]

its war...iraqis destroying us jet fuel to reduce air force and naval planes attack on baghdad...

[jwalsh07]

Point A has no bearing on point B. None, nadda. zippo.

Anybody who scoffs at this being a possible terrorist incident should be kept as far away from positions of responsibility as possible.

[theophilusscribe]

I'm guessing that he throws about 50 predictions out there, and people call him an "expert" when 5 of them happen within the next six months.

LOL! Too true!

Of course, if he gets 5 right he is STILL WAY ahead of the other "experts."

Can we call these experts "weapons of mass distraction" yet? :o)

[steveegg]

I think that bit was self-censorship, with Perspicac switching picture files on his server. While the mods can rework HTML in the original article, I don't think they have the ability to either rework the HTML in a reply or on a private server.

If they do, then it becomes sinister.

[mhking]

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