"FBI finds most terrorism threat reports baseless" "What to Think"

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“FBI finds most terrorism threat reports baselessFri Nov 7, 2008By Randall MikkelsenWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The FBI tracked about 108,000 potential terrorism threats or suspicious incidents from mid-2004 to November 2007, but most were found groundless, a Justice Department review found on Friday.The department's office of inspector general gave the figure in an audit of the FBI's terrorism case-tracking system, called Guardian, launched in 2002 after the September 11 attacks."The FBI determined that the overwhelming majority of the threat information documented in Guardian had no nexus to terrorism. However, as a result of information reported in Guardian the FBI initiated over 600 criminal and terrorism-related investigations from October 2006 to December 2007," the inspector general's report said.The report did not discuss the result of the investigations.FBI policy requires that each threat or suspicious incident reported by the public or other government agencies and law enforcement officers be reviewed to determine whether there is a link to terrorism.The report expressed concern over delays in the development of a related system, called E-Guardian, for sharing terrorism-related information with local law enforcement. It said the automated Guardian system had improved since it was first implemented, and the number of incidents tracked had grown dramatically.FBI spokesman John Miller said the agency had implemented steps to resolve concerns and it accepted recommendations made by the inspector general.(Editing by Mohammad Zargham)”My thoughts:This 600 out of 108000 represent ½ of 1% or .005556 – one of the purposes of Terrorism is to cause disruption! We don’t know what the 600 criminal investigations were about or what the outcomes were. Let’s say three – only three (3) – (.000002%) not anymore were involved the use of vectors (germs) or some simple homemade chemical – even something as simple as to take samples from a decaying carcass – plenty along the roadways and cultured (simple stuff in a HS science classroom or Mr. Wizard Science Kit). Or that they were being supplied by one of the major terrorist groups or nations funding terrorists and could get something exotic*.Now in a city the size of NY or Brooklyn – this culture is used to contaminate vegetables in a super market or even better the warehouses where the food is distributed to the major restaurants. Or someone going from restaurant to restaurant checking on the salad bars before deciding to eat at the place – many old folks like us do this to see if we’ll get our monies worth. Someone with this intent should be creative enough to spray unobserved the contaminate on the salad – especially the high use items – tomatoes – lettuce, etc. One could do multiple restaurants in a short time with several working in concert with others. Areas of Wall Street – and other high profile areas could be targeted – even a football game if one has an insider.Next for additional distribution – any of the grocery stores where high enders – politicians – etc. shop – hitting again the fresh veggies. Anyone doing this would not care much about detection on cameras as they’d be long gone before the results of their efforts would take effect.The idea is cause ‘panic’ or ‘disruption’ – in some cases death or a shutdown of the market place and even better a government. Thus the only difference would be the agent used. Now if this person or group are funded by Iran/China/Al-Qaeda and others who endorse this type of warfare – would have the means and agents to get to the points of distribution.To make one sick: Agent of Choice: Most cases of salmonellosis are caused by food infected with S. enterica, which often infects cattle and poultry, though also other animals such as domestic cats and hamsters[6] have also been shown to be sources of infection to humans. However, investigations of vacuum cleaner bags have shown that households can act as a reservoir of the bacterium; this is more likely if the household has contact with an infection source, for example through members working with cattle or in a veterinary clinic.Raw chicken and goose eggs can harbor S. enterica, initially in the whites of the eggs, although most eggs are not infected. As the egg ages at room temperature, the yolk membrane begins to break down and S. enterica can spread into the yolk. Refrigeration and freezing do not kill all the bacteria, but substantially slow or halt their growth. Pasteurizing and food irradiation are used to kill Salmonella for commercially-produced foodstuffs containing raw eggs such as ice cream. Foods prepared in the home from raw eggs such as mayonnaise, cakes and cookies can spread salmonella if not properly cooked before consumption. See Egg (food).· To Kill or Cause Plague: “The bacteria that cause plague and tularemia (the toxin which carries botulism), and hemorrhagic fever viruses (HFVs) such as Ebola and Marburg. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention think that these agents pose the greatest hazard to public heath, though they may not be the most likely choices for a terrorist attack.·Could terrorist groups use these agents?Not easily. Precisely because they are so deadly and contagious, these microbes are difficult to work with. In order to cause mass casualties, terrorist groups would also need to develop an effective means of dispersing them through the air, which would be difficult without specialized technical assistance. The agents would have to be converted into tiny particles by a specialized sprayer or milled into a very fine powder, then dispersed in an aerosol. But neither specialized sprayers nor milled, “superfine” versions of these agents are easy to come by.Terrorists might resort instead to using an agent to contaminate food or beverage supplies, but this method probably wouldn’t inflict mass casualties. Botulinum toxin might be the best candidate for food or beverage contamination, even though it is killed by thorough cooking.” (Note – one doesn’t cook salads.)The idea of not easily is based on our Western Culture where we value life! However a terrorist has not this value nor concern. One of the main exports of Iraq prior to this last war was – sprays – the agents theoretically could already be in place. Iraq ranked 2nd in the export of Cosmetics and personal care items over the past three years and Iran is ranked 4th (doubling its production in the past 3 years). China doesn’t rank at all – and yet in toothpaste, etc. we’ve seen what they can do.One must remember Saddam never in his fondest dreams thought he could win a war against the US and others. He had adequate time to bury jets – and disburse his supplies of gold, chemicals and biologics. Give the richest dictator in the world nine (9) months to two (2) years to hide – or otherwise distribute what they considered of value in warfare – they could do it. Many of the papers now being uncovered (translated) is proving up on this regardless to whether the media/press or politicians want to believe it or not. One doesn’t bring the Russian Spezna teams to get rid of perfumes. You don’t rinse out tanker trucks with gasoline for carrying only gold. One must apply a bit of common sense.Okay what’s the casualty count of this .000002% success ratio of a real terrorist action? In a make believe exercise of a plague in Denver – the city was shut down within 72 hours and the plague would not have been under any control and actually would’ve spread from the West Coast (Hawaii – Japan) and to the East (NYC – London) within this 72 hours. Once a person becomes infected they then become the ‘vector’ and they contaminate any who they come in contact with through normal contact – coughing – kissing – etc.Thus if the FBI report is going to be used – how will it be used? Not track anymore threats? – Not likely – even a blind fool wouldn’t do that unless they’ve a death wish or worse a destruction wish for man-kind. They should keep following up on what they get – not all horses are zebras – but some zebras are out there.What’s more important is the ability to move these threats through the complicated system of government – making a more viable connecting the dots possible.In the above case – worst case scenario would be the disabling of at least NYC/Brooklyn (one can do the numbers) – and if in the DC area the disabling of the Government for a period of time which cannot be measured until the vector is known.The best case is that people are sick – tie up hospitals and use up resources at a higher than normal rate. This is conditional that there is no rioting – and/or panicking – which are both more likely than not.One can guess that whoever was in bed with Saddam – or Iran and how much they really hate the US and its allies.chuck*Saddam knew defeat was at hand and thus nothing to lose in the dissemination of biologics/chemicals to sleepers, etc. throughout the world. Revenge is part and parcel of Terrorism.

“What to Think?”

cji

11/09/08

Let’s think nothing

we’re not involved

let another worry

watching tv today;

What to think or why

going to the mall

a big game later

not of my concern!

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