To Stave Off Terror, Feds Issue Safety Strategy For Boaters

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

As boating season approaches, the Bush administration wants to enlist the country's 80 million recreational boaters to help reduce the chances that a small boat could deliver a nuclear or radiological bomb somewhere along the country's 95,000 miles of coastline and inland waterways.

According to an April 23 intelligence assessment obtained by The Associated Press, "The use of a small boat as a weapon is likely to remain al-Qaida's weapon of choice in the maritime environment, given its ease in arming and deploying, low cost, and record of success."

--
The millions of humble dinghies, fishing boats and smaller cargo ships that ply America's waterways are not nationally regulated as they buzz around ports, oil tankers, power plants and other potential terrorist targets.

This could allow terrorists in small boats to carry out an attack similar to the USS Cole bombing, says Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen. That 2000 attack killed 17 American sailors in Yemen when terrorists rammed a dinghy packed with explosives into the destroyer. "There is no intelligence right now that there's a credible risk" of this type of attack, Allen says. "But the vulnerability is there."

To reduce the potential for such an attack in the United States, the Department of Homeland Security has developed a new strategy intended to increase security by enhancing safety standards. The Coast Guard is part of the department.

On Monday officials will announce the plan, which asks states to develop and enforce safety standards for recreational boaters and asks them to look for and report suspicious behavior on the water — much like a neighborhood watch program. The government will also look to develop technology that will help detect dangerous materials and other potential warning signs.



Read more: http://wiredispatch.com/news/?id=145233

[ixion]

1. "To Stave Off Terror" what a ridiculous phrase

and especially bogus given that is what the US exports at home, and to the world. :(

[shadowknows69]

10. We must look like a country full of morons to the world.

Apes with the most dangerous toys.

[khaos]

27. look like?

}(

[Turbineguy]

2. Looking out for drunks

in powerful speedboats should be daunting enough.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. I'm surprised that they don't charge boaters

for doing this. You know, grab more money from Joe Sixpack to give to the rich fat cats.

[DeSwiss]

20. You're describing....

...Step 2.

[peace13]

4. As usual * is a day late and ten million dollars short!

This phrase...'On Monday officials will announce the plan, which asks states to develop and enforce safety standards for recreational boaters' lets me know that there is still a lot of work to do and boating season is upon us. Too late.

[napi21]

5. When is the DHS going to admit that it is IMPOSSIBLE to eliminate

all terrorists! Good as they THINK they are, acts of terrorism happen all the time. Va. Tech, the two guys who were cruising the streets of Va. and randomly shooting people from their car trunk, all the other school shootings....all of those were acts of terror.

Unfortunately there will always be people in our world who do insane things, and many for reasons just as insane. Noone will ever change that!

[Virginian]

18. Are you talking about the "DC" snipers

John Mohammad and Lee Malvo?
Who shot many people in the DC suburbs of Maryland and Virginia and also in Alabama.
Mohammad intended to also shoot his ex-wife. These other random murders were staged to cover up that murder. She was taken into protective custody as soon as Mohammad was suspected to be involved.

It was a scary time. There was no pattern as to who was shot. There was nothing anyone could do to stay safe except to stay inside. Pumping gas could be suicidal. There were five deaths one morning in Maryland and after that they could strike anywhere day or night.

[napi21]

19. Yes that's who I was talking about. The reason I said Va. was

because my sister in law & her family live in Va. and both told me how people were scared to death to even go outside their homes. I knew they also covered several different States too. I never heard about the ex wife link, but their cover up tactics were terrorist activities! The DHS tryies to make everyone believe that terrorists are all from outside the US somewhere just trying to sneak in here, and that's simply not true. There are a few people EVERYWHERE who have insane thoughts & ideas, and no matter how GREAT the security depts are, they will never be able to find or stop them all!

[Virginian]

23. You are absolutely correct on all points.

I was terrified.

My brother didn't seem to be afraid at all, even though they hit less than a mile from where he worked in Manassas, Virginia.
I was passing by the NRA building, on my way home from work, when I heard about it. I called him as soon as I got home. He was so fatalistic about it. "If it happens, it happens. The victims don't even feel a thing." (Maybe that was how he got through Viet Nam.)

"But...but...," I sputtered, "they don't have to die like that and the people who love them hurt a lot!"

(Not our exact words, I'm sure, but the meaning is there.)

[L0oniX]

6. Boat nazis anyone?

[tomreedtoon]

13. Look for oily sailors with BEARDS and TURBANS.

And if you're fueling up at Gomer's Boat Depot, and such a person says "We have no worries, effendi, for tomorrow we will all be in PAR-a-dise with forty-seven virgins!!!" you should be on guard.

Seriously, how self-delusional is Homeland Security, anyway?

[Kali]

14. ...

:spray:

[shanti]

7. seems like

they've been pushing this meme for a few months now. first the ferries, now this?

[Bozita]

8. Your passport, please.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2008-03-26-fishing_N.htm

Going fishing? Pack your passport
By Mimi Hall, USA TODAY

Rick Ungar's charter fishing service promises a great time on Lake Erie. But there's a catch — and it's not freshwater fish. It's the Homeland Security Department's new anti-terrorism rules.
When the 2008 charter season begins next month, U.S. citizens paying to fish on Lake Erie will have to bring either a passport or two other IDs if they plan to cross the northern border's invisible watery line.

When they get back to shore in the USA, they'll have to drive to a local government reporting station and pose for pictures. They won't be posing with their fish, but for Customs officers via a videophone connection.

That's because half of Lake Erie — as it happens, the half with the deeper and cooler waters that often spawn the best fishing — is in Canada. The Homeland Security Department intends to enforce new border security rules — largely focused on those coming into the country by land and air — on fishermen re-entering the country.

Ungar and many of his fellow charter boat captains — Lake Erie alone has 600-plus — are incensed.

more...

[uppityperson]

9. JCOATH, just put up a TALL fence and DEEP nets and cage us in.

Oh yeah, make sure you kick out all the terrorists first. And anyone who can think.

Even better, complete your registration and after everyone who isn't a terrorist is ID'd, they can kick out the rest. Link here:
http://www.whitehouse.org/initiatives/patriot/index.asp

Or how about this LTE
http://www.whitehouse.org/feedback/36.asp
"I hope President Bush gets this message. My 18 year old son and I were thinking that when the terrorist are called terrorist, they like it. We think the name should be changed to cowards. They do not need to be glorified by us using the name terrorist. (smile) They need to be called something they do not like. Lets start something new. I bet it would catch on."

And don't forget Operation Mandatory Tattoo:
http://www.whitehouse.org/homeland/tattoo.asp

Reality and satire are blurring again.

[2Design]

11. drunken weekend rednecks like the group in the wh to 'save us' oh brother n/t

[razors edge]

12. I'm ahead of them on this,

I've just left my boat in the back yard for the last four years, then when those terrorists call wanting to drop the big one, I just tell them how much it costs to fill the 85 gallon tank on my boat.

They loose interest in the whole thing.

Edit::sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

In case you missed it agent Mike.

[Johnyawl]

15. BAN ALL POWER BOATS & PERSONAL WATERCRAFT!!!

And I promise to keep a weather eye out for Ahab and Sinbad as I sail merrily along, in much less crowded waters!

[underpants]

24. *^$&in' smokers!!!

:bounce:

spoken like a true sailor!!
I am not one really but have spent some time on a sail boat (friends) and heard exactly that sentiment time and time again

*^$&in' mosquitos!!! (SeaDo's)

[crimsonblue]

16. Awesome! I've been saying for YEARS that Al Qaeda wants to blow up Table Rock Lake.

:sarcasm: Seriously? I wonder whose job it is at DHS to think up new and retarded "Terrorist" targets, because it sounds really fucking easy. "Oh shit, I have a meeting with the boss today, and I don't have any new potential targets.. Oh wait... I went boating this weekend and there were like 80 boats on the water. There were even some... gasp... muslims n' such in one. I wonder if they were Al Qaeda. What am I thinking, of course they were. While they appeared to be playing and laughing and drinking beer, I could see the evil in their eyes." Fucking ridiculous. Long live security for security's sake. I think this administration has officially passed into the realm of the absurd. I can't even be mad anymore. I'm impressed that they still got it in em.

[JCMach1]

17. In all seriousness a powerboat vs. a cruise ship

would be a horrible disaster... :(

If there were explosives (a al cole) involved.

[Virginian]

25. I think the cruise lines are very aware of that.

We were late leaving Cabo because of the small pleasure boats coming too close. The Mexican authorities were on top of it. We could see spotlights. I guess they were looking out for scuba terrorists, too.

[DeSwiss]

21. Maybe if we leave...

...their countries, they won't attack us.

- Just a thought....

K&R

[Jennicut]

22. Utter nonsense, I'll take my chances being on a cruise ship, I was just fine last time I went thanks

Stupid dumb crap. No one can ever fully protect themselves against terrorism. "Winning the fight" on terrorism is impossible. Just live your life.

[mulsh]

26. great. this will make sailing on SF Bay much better

those guys I see dragging their jibs in the bay or asshole speed boaters nearly ramming me will all be reported to DHS asap. or do you guys think I should report only the fishermen in little row boats?

:sarcasm: