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.

[Happy2BMe]

"Exactly. They had a videotape of the whole thing and you could see the fireworks on the wall catch. Darwinism, not terrorism, and lets pray for those who are dead and those they left behind."

True, true, and true.

Just saw the footage - Darwin Trophy time.

FWIW: Someone just called me (12:05 CST) with a report cars were beginning to back up at gas stations in long lines to fuel up. Related?

[ken5050]

Let's engage in some intelligent speculation.. Assume, if you will, that the FBI, or Tom Ridge, ( and BTW) shouldn't he be involved givwen that there have been several explosions today) announces that examination of the barge indicates strongly that it was sabotage. What happens next?

[John H K]

In defense of FR vs. DU (And I must confess I haven't read DU that much in recent weeks), the bell curve is tilted very heavily towards FR.

FR does have probably 100 times the posters DU has, which confers a lot of advantages.

I've never seen on DU ANYONE who actually knew what they were talking about in a technical or factual sense....every thread on FR at least has a couple of people who do....someone who worked in a refinery, etc. FR has posters who have or have had actual jobs at one point, rather than merely being lifelong semi-employed political activists.

The absolute WORST of FR (Creationists, Premillenialist dispensationalism Apocalpyse nuts, Buchananites, WOD supporters, Gold Bugs, conspiracy nutters, etc.) is as equally stupid as the worst of DU, but 90% of the remainder of FR posters easily make up for our worst 10%. DU doesn't have that remaining 90%.

[Rebelbase]

Not that that is what happened, but it would be a simple operation for a pair of suicide jihadists to board a barge or ship at port.

Happens all the time with pirates in S.E. Asia.

[NittanyLion]

I see a trend of some people on this site to always blow things out of proportion. I think this takes away some of the legitmacy of this site. It's hurting the credibility of the conservative movement.

This is just an internet forum, for cryin' out loud! It's a collection of people who advance theories about current news, and inevitably someone espouses the correct one. A very tiny segment on folks know about it, and FreeRepublic hardly reflects on the conservative movement as a whole.

Sheesh.

[Happy2BMe]

"So a requirement to prove one isn't a member of the Islamic Jihad is to be a panicky idiot?"

No man - just be an American and quit putting down people who are trying to get to the facts while at the same time keeping both eyes open for potential 9/11 wannabees.

Stay vigilant and redirect some of that animosity where it needs to go - against the enemies of the United States.

[mabelkitty]

The proof that you aren't a jihad sympathizer is to stop giving them the benefit of the doubt.

Not hard to do.

[browardchad]

they were talking what to report to the people in such events

And what did Bloomberg say he would report?

[mabelkitty]

Not according to my President.

My President tells me to be alert, careful and to report anything suspicious to the authorities.

As such, I am suspicious.

When did you arrive in this country? Haven't you been listening since 9/11?

[JustAnAmerican]

"Not to push my way into this little fight, but are you aware that the Midland plant in question burned in 2002, and I believe one other time in the last five years? It's safety record is not great.

It's more about the timing for me at least. If these types of "Accidents" were spaced far apart, like maybe two or three a year, instead of 6-7 in less than three weeks, And if we were not just told by the FBI and Ashcroft that these types of places were on the terrorists lists of "Soft Targets", I may have just passed them off as coincidence.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

The absolute WORST of FR (Creationists, Premillenialist dispensationalism Apocalpyse nuts, Buchananites, WOD supporters, Gold Bugs, conspiracy nutters, etc.) is as equally stupid as the worst of DU, but 90% of the remainder of FR posters easily make up for our worst 10%. DU doesn't have that remaining 90%.

FYI Ping.

[Happy2BMe]

"Or we could just shoot everything that moves."

Not everything . . (more redneck jpegs you love to hate)

[mabelkitty]

LMAO!! Good One!

[CyberCowboy777]

We must wait until the facts are out, everything now is speculation. Even the Feds are simply trying to maintain calm. They know nothing until the investigation is done or hard facts are revealed.

Who claimed responsibility for the WTC? Would we have known so much so quickly had there not been phone calls from the planes?

No need to worry, it will change nothing.

[luckodeirish]

No need to worry, it will change nothing

The sad truth.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

God Bless You! Some are trying too hard to lull us into a sense of safety and security by blowing us off and telling us everything is a coincidence.

Several times in my life I have found myself in emergency situations. Car wrecks, engines blowing off airplanes (Eastern/Atlanta), riots, trains hitting cars, guns pointed at me by non-English speaking para-military, and shootings.

Most people freeze, panic, or break down crying. Some react with no idea what to do, and a few see the situation for what it is and deal with what they see and know.

God save me from the idle speculator.

[EnquiringMind]

"I'd go a bit further and say I personally am fascinated by STUPID people."

I find it fascinating to watch arrogant, self-important people make complete fools of themselves.

[HairOfTheDog]

Of course.... and if I didn't believe that, I wouldn't be here.

[aught-6]

Was Bin Laden piloting that barge?