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.

[MJM59]

Sorry, just an observation concerning the general direction that this thread is taking. No offense meant.

[Redcloak]

From your description, I'd have to say that it's just an accident and that my previous speculation is wrong. At 8 miles, high explosives going off should sound like a crack or pop; as opposed to the deep rumble you describe.

(This is what I love about FreeRepublic. We get our news first and we almost always get access to eye witnesses. We're back to moose and cheese threads by the time Dan, Peter, and Tom check in!)

[freeperfromnj]

Thanks for posting the link. Quite a coincidence wouldn't you say?

[HairOfTheDog]

If you take exception to my statement, give me a good, logical, reason why.

Because I sat here, along with the rest of my country, watching a terrorist attack live on television on 9-11. We became Americans again that day.... not a riotous mob.

[mhking]

Quite a coincidence wouldn't you say?

Indeed.

[LonePalm]

Under Marshall law we would be forced to watch reruns of Laverne and Shirley.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[RecentConvert]

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

>"FBI spokesman Steve Kodak in Newark, N.J., said there was no indication of terrorism. However, FBI officials in Washington said they were still examining it because a refinery is the type of infrastructure terrorists might target."

When I read this I was going to post, but you just did.

Someone responded to my original question above by saying, in effect, that those responsible for the accident or close witnesses to it must have reported that it was an accident and not terrorist-related. Now we hear that "there is no indication of terrorism." So, the FBI is still not sure what caused it. Most likely those responsible for the accident (if it was an accident) are either dead or in conditions not able to communicate what exactly happened. I found it very strange, to say the least, that less than an hour after the explosion, the FBI already knew that it was not terrorist-related. They did not know then and they do not know now. Most likely it was an accident, but the propability exists also that it was terrorist-related. What bothered me was the time lapse immediately after the accident in which it was determined that IT WAS NOT TERRORIST RELATED.

[Redcloak]

LonePalm says that he's only about 8 miles out from the site. It also sounds like he's line-of-sight to it. He should have heard any high frequency components to the sound of the blast.

[theophilusscribe]

We Report . . . You Decide.

LOL!

[GoreIsLove]

nevertheless, they haven't categorically ruled out terrorism, which the referenced poster had suggested.

[JustAnAmerican]

"Because I sat here, along with the rest of my country, watching a terrorist attack live on television on 9-11. We became Americans again that day.... not a riotous mob.

I agree 100 percent, however how do you think most Americans will react if we start getting attacked like Israel does, and we are then told to do nothing that all will be well, meanwhile attacks are still killing off more Americans? Just one senario, something to think about. Always remember preservation of self and loved ones is Human nature.

[LonePalm]

We're out of cheese. We'll have to do Moose and Squirrel jokes instead.

"Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat."

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[freeperfromnj]

What source has a picture of the barge?

[FITZ]

2 nightclub incidents, 2 explosions in just a couple days.

[HairOfTheDog]

It is idiotic. You don't know whether to be paranoid about terrorists, or the government covering up terrorists.... paranoia is like that. Non-specific and hard to focus.

[TomB]

2 nightclub incidents,

How can you POSSIBLY say that the nightclub fire from last night was terrorist related.?

That's just plain stupid.

[P.O.E.]

Can you please post a picture? I can't seem to find one like you describe. Thanks.