So, just how safe do you feel?
By Amor Patriae - Posted on August 23rd, 2006
I just saw on the national news that it looks like we have some pretty compelling evidence of terrorists sneaking across the border right here in Texas. They found an abandoned jacket with a patch on it that has been linked to terrorist groups overseas. The patch depicts a plane flying over NY City heading for the Twin Towers. And supposedly there have been other patch finds. The patches were different but all were linked to Terrorist orgs and have all been found at one point or another in the middle east during raids on terrorist hideouts. The news story even reported that other Texas Sheriff Dept's had detained persons of a certain Middle Eastern nations origin, that were caught sneaking across the border. The report stated that some individuals coming across are now being escorted by other "armed" individuals.
I'm more than a little concerned here. I mean we all know the terrorists are trying to get in and we Texans have known for years that its not only possible but probably going to happen, but this is like walking into your living room and finding a snake skin. Its already in and its hidden somewhere and its dangerous. I am concerned that while the Sheriff's dept involved forwarded the material to the FBI we recieved no warning, no heads up, no heightned alert notice. Did the law enforcement agencies???? Just how much are we as a nation willing to sacrifice to avoid a "Panic". Or conversely just how much do we want or need to hear to avoid becoming inured to the danger.
Obviously someone or something got in, now what? Where did they go where are the cells going to be set up and what are their targets? Those are the million dollar questions but the billion dollar one is, just how safe do you feel?
Post Script, we DO NOT pay our Law Enforcement and our Dept of Home Land Security (Border Patrol) people enough!!
My profound thanks to all those who have and are currently serving.
For more stories like this, see these categories:
You must be registered and logged in to post comments
- Login or register to post comments
- Email this page
I'm sure there are plenty of
I'm sure there are plenty of "Urban Legends" floating around about the terrorist OTMs crossing the Mexican Border. The majority of them are probably fake. However, in most rumors there is a kernnel of truth. About 9 months ago I heard from a very reliable source.... one that will remain unnamed, but is in a position to know.... that several Muslim OTMs had been caught crossing the Mexican border in the Del Rio sector. I'm not saying that Muslim = terrorist, but this person had reason to believe that those caught crossing were. I was personally outraged that this information had not been made public.
Hey Bob, I wrote the above
Hey Bob, I wrote the above article a while back, but If I remember correctly I got the Info from Fox News. But the only reference that I could quickly find is this story...
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20061018-123042-4666r.htm Its highly possible that its an urban myth but I have a friend that is a border patrol agent and he told me that they have indeed found like items. Now that doesn't mean that someone didn't go out there and throw them on the ground in the hopes of causing panic and fear, like somebody with fake bigfoot feet leaving prints around town. Im usually pretty good about figuring out what people are trying to say but what the heck does this "Please Amor, the next time you buy a mirror to stare in, don't purchase a full length glass. You don't need that many enemies." mean??
Here's an edit, this article actually has a picture of the patch
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewSpecialReports.asp?Page=/SpecialReports/archive/200608/SPE20060821a.html
or
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=42579
Amor Patriae, you have
Amor Patriae, you have friends everywhere! And they are all willing to give you confidential information, aren't you lucky? Would that be the same friend that got the Animal Care Clinic in trouble by spreading false data?
I wounder who would be the stupid terrorist that is trying to smuggle himself across the border wearing his uniform and patches to be indentified everywhere he goes. This is crap and you know it!
Ok for one thing "anonymous"
Ok for one thing "anonymous" I do not personally know AWACer, "you know the person that posted that info. And second thing, Sigh I can't believe that I have to point this out.... Copy and post the links that I have posted and hit go and go see the datum for youself. Why on gods green earth do you think I would make something like that up? I was at that time merely pointing out data that already existed, not making up anything unlike you and your comment on the Animal Care Clinic. And about the supposed terrorist being an idot, you couldnt follow a simple posted web link "to the actual datum" and started making boneheaded accusations so why cant there be dumb terrorists also?
well pulled my first
well pulled my first duplicate post..
My opinion to your first
My opinion to your first blog is that you are promoting fear from a story that is subjective to the merit that the sky is falling. Thus, the quote from Walt Kelly. Based on that inference, came my reflective sentence to support the quote. The looking into the mirror metaphor is you, in the context of original blog comment. The longer the glass, the more image in the mirror, which translates to more fear. (remember it all revolves around quote.) By the way, Fox News Sucks. When they have to say "fair and balanced", its not. You might as well believe in the Easter Bunny. I manage with BBC, NPR, and C-SPAN radio. BTW, I know my entries are cynical, but I do enjoy your blogs. They are highly credible. Except this one.
Thanks for the explaination
Thanks for the explaination bob. So should I discount these other news reports? Or should they be discounted/discredited merely because it might be fear mongering and its better to not know? I don't believe that any news broadcast should be believed just because it was put out there by a "news organization". Nor do I think that it should be discounted out of hat just because of that either. Remember I did speak with a member of the Border Patrol who did confirm to me that yes some Items were found. But as to who actually "dropped them" who knows. I suppose I can see where,, say for example a proponent for the "wall" would toss that jacket and patch where they would know it would be found and presto, paranoia and a push for a wall. But as a former Intelligence analyst I can also see where its easier for an individual wishing to harm the U.S. to fly into South America and buy their way across the border, than it is to arrive by plane or ship.
Actually all of the news media sucks. I watch all 3 of the major news networks "whenever I feel like depressing myself". Flipping between them is the only way I feel I can even come close to getting the full picture, every one of them has either a major slant or that and incomplete data. When I worked at the NSA we would watch CNN and roll around in hysterical laughter at some of their "news flashes". The rest of the time I get my news from the Speed channel or the Outdoor channel as its the only news worth hearing.
This story of the "patches"
This story of the "patches" being found is not new. I don't know of a constructive solution in validating authenticity. We've all seen those FDNY, NFL, and FBI mass produced hat and t-shirt garb kid's pay 30-bucks a pop for and that's really not the property of. Same with the patches.
I do have concern for our border and the possibility of bad people getting in. But the government has more than enough surveilance to track the really horrible people. I don't understand the concept of someone sneaking into U.S.A to do harm by wearing a patch for possible identity. Unless it was a sort of decoy to confuse authorities. Otherwise, the war on terror shouldn't be that hard to win if they keep dropping stuff.
I just think the Texas terrorist patch-gate has to be fabrication. I feel secure because there are more people aware of the surroundings of their community since 9/11. My true fear are individuals who are natural U.S. citzens bought by terrorist to be apart of a deviant plan.
Your previous profession brings a more realistic perspective to security. Maybe I'm naive. I don't think so. Maybe the story is just so damn goofy, it has to be true. I would have never thought Terrell Owens would be playing for the Dallas Cowboys or the tearing down of Earl Abels in San Antonio.
From the San Antonio Express
From the San Antonio Express News, Tuesday October 31, 2006. Page 3b. The Associated Press : "Arrests by Border Patrol Dip in Texas". The bottom line of this story is the fact of a 13 percent decrease in the apprehension of illegal aliens in Texas. That was above the national average of nine percent-which was also a decrease from the last fiscal year record. The Del Rio sector reported a 61 percent drop in arrest, or 18-thousand less from 2005. OTM (other than Mexican) arrests along the Texas border was a huge head count drop from previous years. The process of securing our borders is working. My point, these so called "terrorist merit badges" found next to crop circles in chupracabra land is the biggest urban myth story in South Texas since the "Yellow Rose of Texas" was a song about Sam Houston's girlfriend. (It wasn't, but it was about a whore who made her way around the Battle of Goliad). No wonder Mitch Miller smiled on all those album covers. These mysterious mid-easters coming over in kaki's and backpacks has been a story without any solid attribution every since 9/11. I wouldn't be suprised if one of those flakey news magazines shows, such as 'Inside Edition" had a story that these so called terrorist were a bunch of Kappa Dumbass college kids posing on MySpace and shooting hogs after the pictures. Urban legends come and go when fear and paranoia flare up. Like a bad case of 'terrorist merit badge' herpes. Billions of dollars are spent on Homeland Security each year, without a wall. Over one-billion people in the world are Muslim. The sects of that religion are double that of Christianity. Only a few groups are radical. The treat is more in our heads and blogs than on our border. The by line of this blog asked me how safe do I feel? Safer than yesterday, which makes me secure tomorrow. As the great Walt Kelly once wrote; 'we have met the enemy and he is us'. Please Amor, the next time you buy a mirror to stare in, don't purchase a full length glass. You don't need that many enemies. Show me this so called "patch". If my 'mood ring' turns crimson to black when it's in my hands, I'll put my Elvis is Alive T-shirt on and stand watch on the Rio Grande with Santa Claus.