On Pacific time
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Moderator's Pub
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http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Southwest....ap/index.html
Does this theft make anyone else nervous? I guess I've read too many mystery novels over the course of time; but I *really* don't think the trucks were stolen because propane is expensive now in Mexico. And notice how they were stolen over a holiday weekend, so they'd have plenty of time to get away before the discovery was made. Right out of Sherlock Holmes' "Red-Headed League". With all the worry about suspect drivers getting fraudulent licenses to drive hazardous material trucks, we manage to leave the actual trucks themselves just sitting in a company parking lot (presumably unfenced ), for anyone to steal. My god. What were those propane company managers thinking - leaving their hazardous material trucks filled and accessible. It's just too much. And nobody even talks about the truck filled with barrels of cyanide that was stolen in Mexico not too many months ago. Barrels and barrels (18?), full of a major lethal substance. Who would have a 'normal' use for such stuff, I ask you? No one, that's who. Except terrorists. This long-range planning is right up Al-Qaeda's alley - just the kind of stuff they're good at. *sigh* Okay, am I just being paranoid, or does anyone else think this incident is worrisome? Thanks for any replies. Carol |
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Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Somewhere
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yes, very worrisome. i think there will be an AQ attack this summer
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On Pacific time
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Moderator's Pub
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I think the feds have pretty much come to the conclusion that they really *can't* do everything necessary to prevent attacks - except for in NY, D.C., and a few other highly-sensitive areas. So they're not bothering to raise the terror alert level because it inconveniences everyone. Instead they'll just wait and see. I honestly can't blame them much. Securing America is almost impossible. Think of the ports and trains, the shopping centers and federal buildings in every major city. Not to mention major sporting and other events coming up. Couldn't they take the stolen canisters, put radioactive materials in them, and put the small canisters in larger ones to be filled with propane as an explosive (dirty bomb)? I bet the small plane rentals and the ammonium nitrate fertilizer sales have been monitored by the feds, but what about energy trucks. Sheesh. Oh well. I guess it's in the hands of fate, destiny, karma, etc. A propane truck crashing into a nuclear plant. *sigh* |
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Mr. Vieira
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Tennessee
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They've been found.
But yes, it was kinda troubling because it might not go this well "next time". Like it or not, after 9/11 all bets are off. I would've laughed my ass off on September 10, 2001 if someone told me "hey, guess what might happen someday...". After what happened that day, the idea of some nuts driving a propane truck into [insert target here] doesn't seem so wacky and far-fetched. Last edited by psmith2.0 : 2004-06-02 at 14:59. |
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On Pacific time
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Moderator's Pub
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Ok, so I have a fertile imagination. Our southern border is a sieve for terrorists - they can just stroll over and do what they want. |
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Mr. Vieira
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Tennessee
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Well, unfortunately, this is the sad, ridiculous bullcrap we now face. Welcome to the 21st century...should be quite a ride.
No reasoning or negotiating with individuals who'd rather kill you than look at you. I don't know how to undo it. Long time coming, anyway. There were signs and early trickles, but nothing "really meaningful" until that September morning, huh? The Cole was "just a ship, far away". Those embassies? They weren't here, either. Various potshots taken at our military and officials over the years? Random, meaningless hi-jinks, I suppose. The first WTC attack? Just petulant fanatics out for a good time...probably won't ever get worse than that... I imagine, in a few years, we'll somehow learn to shrug off 9/11 and not view it as any big deal either. I guess we'll wait for something REALLY bad to happen... |
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Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Arlington, VA
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One negative aspect of any sabbatical is having all that free time on your hands, which in turn means reading more, thinking more, and worrying more. I would not worry too much about this article. For all I know it could have been someone who wanted to resell propane on the black market to fuel those myriad propane grilles over the weekend. |
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On Pacific time
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Moderator's Pub
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I do think, however, that it's wise to 'hope for the best but plan for the worst'. Wonder who said that? They should have a bunch of females in the Dept. of Homeland Security, because we specialize in worrying and conjuring up 'worst-case' scenarios. I think there's a place for that "skill" (!) in the disaster-planning committees. Don't you? (Say "yes"!!!) |
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meh
Join Date: May 2004
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Should we just shrug off Pearl Harbor as well? |
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Mr. Vieira
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Tennessee
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Uh, no.
Learn to read between the lines and a bit further than the surface words and get the angle people are coming from, Quag. You never seem to get the true gist of ANYONE'S posts. Yes, let's "shrug off" Pearl Harbor, by all means. It was nothing... |
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The Elderâ„¢
Join Date: May 2004
Location: The Rostra
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Mr. Vieira
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Tennessee
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I'm sorry...maybe I was a bit mean and snappy.
Quag, if you truly didn't get what I was saying, the answer is "no, we should NOT shrug off Pearl Harbor" or any other event like that. Clear? I think you just misread what I said, or attached the wrong sentiment to it. |
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meh
Join Date: May 2004
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giggity |
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On Pacific time
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Moderator's Pub
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NOT joking at ALL. Just the opposite, really. He was giving a rather gloomy assessment of our tendency to put blinders on, to not SEE what is right in front of us. Don't feel bad though. Just read carefully each time. There are 'clues' in people's writing that indicate their tone in what they're saying. Reading subtle posts several times should help a lot. |
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The Elderâ„¢
Join Date: May 2004
Location: The Rostra
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Mr. Vieira
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Tennessee
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It's our future, and my kid's future. I certainly don't want this country to become like other parts of the world, where we have to get nightly news reports about a Starbucks or popular multiplex in Denver or Portland blown up by suicide bombers, taking 35 innocent Americans with him? Or a suitcase full of something really nasty set off at a Braves or 49's game? Or some sort of massive bomb going off in prime locations in San Diego or Orlando, killing hundreds of vacationing families? It wouldn't have to be anything big and dramatic, either. I think enough "little" things, at the "right" places (malls, theaters, amusement parks, ballgames, schools, etc.) and harming the "right" people (children, seniors, civilians, teenagers, babies, etc.) would be a devastating and demoralizing blow that, being completely honest, I now question our ability to recover from or properly respond to. The cynic in me says we'd probably just sit and take it, while idiot politicians on BOTH sides of the fence try to make career points from it. I don't think any of the above scenarios are a wild stretch either. Not anymore. And I'm actually find myself surprised sometimes that they haven't happened. I truly hope my "surprise" lasts forever...but if not, then I hope my cynical side is truly proven wrong, once and for all. I'd welcome it. That's nothing I'd "joke" about, Quag. Carol's post above says it perfectly (thanks, C). Last edited by psmith2.0 : 2004-06-02 at 19:33. |
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Mr. Vieira
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Tennessee
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Damn, I'm one gloomy, pessimistic sumbitch, huh?
Actually, no. Not at all. Just this one topic hits a little close, that's all. I should probably bail on this thread before I blow a gasket or something! Back to General Discussion I go... |
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On Pacific time
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Moderator's Pub
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Chicago
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I don't think any one of us, no matter where we are in the world, will ever forget where we were when we first heard of and saw the horrifying images coming out of NY, DC, and Pennsylvania that morning. I shudder even thinking about them.
Interestingly enough, we watched a video in my class (A building construction for the fire service class) this evening about the construction of the twin towers and what exactly caused the collapse. A lot of footage from that morning was shown, brought back a lot of memories and almost a tear to my eye. What happened that day was incredible...unbelievable...all the clichŽs at once. But it still rings so true. And there are 3,000 people (including 343 fire fighters, over 400 emergency workers total) dead as a result. It's so sad to think that in a few short years when the kids who were too young to remember 9/11 are going through school, it won't mean anything to them. It will be forgotten, and lost as just another page in our history. pscates...what you said wasn't so far off, it will be shrugged off, and we all know it. I just hope that some people never forget. I know I won't. We are all reminded of it daily in the fire service, it's something I won't be able to escape for the rest of my life. Because even though I wasn't a fire fighter on 9/11, 343 of my brothers died that day, and that's something that you can't just shrug off. In case you're wondering...9/11 had nothing to do with my decision to go into the fire service. The day we forget is the day we truly become the saddest country on God's green earth. Never let go of the pain, and never forget where you were and how you felt when the world stopped turning. Come waste your time with me |
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Mr. Vieira
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Tennessee
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Well, I'm hoping it's never "shrugged off". May as well lie down and take whatever happens, then. Not acceptable.
Anyway... Lest I be labeled a "jingoistic, bloodthirsty neanderthal Bushie" (oh wait a minute, this isn't .com AO...I KNEW there was something cooler about this place!), I'll skootch and leave this thread in capable hands. Blown gaskets and stuff, you know? |
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New Member
Join Date: May 2004
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9/11 while traumatic, unfortunately wasn't a surprise at all. Things are unfortunately going to get much worse. |
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