Terror on the Tracks

[Anonymous]

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

"Let's say the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reporter really was a terrorist.

"What if those were bombs he was placing on the chemical placard of a rail car inside the Thatcher Chemical Co. plant in suburban Las Vegas, and not his business cards?

"Instead of a camera recording lax security over some of the deadliest chemicals ever produced, he held a detonator? And the string of chlorine gas cars trundling down Union Pacific Railroad tracks in the heart of Vegas was his prey?

"If he was a terrorist, and his goal was to release a potentially catastrophic cloud of deadly gases, explosives and caustic acids -- in unguarded cars, left abandoned -- then a U.S. Department of Homeland Security's planning scenario might apply: 17,500 people dead, another 10,000 suffering injuries and 100,000 more flooding trauma wards, convinced they've been poisoned. The environmental damage would take weeks to clean up, forcing the evacuation of as many as 70,000 residents from a city built on sin, military might and heavy industry."

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_487117.html

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_487120.html

Dave 

[solzrules]

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

"Let's say the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reporter really was a terrorist.

"What if those were bombs he was placing on the chemical placard of a rail car inside the Thatcher Chemical Co. plant in suburban Las Vegas, and not his business cards?

"Instead of a camera recording lax security over some of the deadliest chemicals ever produced, he held a detonator? And the string of chlorine gas cars trundling down Union Pacific Railroad tracks in the heart of Vegas was his prey?

"If he was a terrorist, and his goal was to release a potentially catastrophic cloud of deadly gases, explosives and caustic acids -- in unguarded cars, left abandoned -- then a U.S. Department of Homeland Security's planning scenario might apply: 17,500 people dead, another 10,000 suffering injuries and 100,000 more flooding trauma wards, convinced they've been poisoned. The environmental damage would take weeks to clean up, forcing the evacuation of as many as 70,000 residents from a city built on sin, military might and heavy industry."

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_487117.html

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_487120.html

Dave 

And what if an individual, not knowing of the reporter's cute little fear mongering publicity stunt, retreived his shotgun and killed the guy thinking he was a terrorist?  What if, while this reporter was taking notes on yet another marvelous 'what if' scenario, someone confronted the reporter?  Would the story then be about how Americans are beholden to fear?  What was he doing in the railyard anyway?  Tresspassing in an effort to keep the public informed? 

[Anonymous]

Shooting first and asking questions later is legal in only a few states. 

In Jan. 2004, Mr. Prine was found guilty by a PA District Court of trespassing at the Neville Island chemical plant and ordered to pay a $25 fine plus court costs. 

He was discovered trespassing while researching a story on security at the Neville Island plant.

Dave

 

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

"Let's say the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reporter really was a terrorist.

"What if those were bombs he was placing on the chemical placard of a rail car inside the Thatcher Chemical Co. plant in suburban Las Vegas, and not his business cards?

"Instead of a camera recording lax security over some of the deadliest chemicals ever produced, he held a detonator? And the string of chlorine gas cars trundling down Union Pacific Railroad tracks in the heart of Vegas was his prey?

"If he was a terrorist, and his goal was to release a potentially catastrophic cloud of deadly gases, explosives and caustic acids -- in unguarded cars, left abandoned -- then a U.S. Department of Homeland Security's planning scenario might apply: 17,500 people dead, another 10,000 suffering injuries and 100,000 more flooding trauma wards, convinced they've been poisoned. The environmental damage would take weeks to clean up, forcing the evacuation of as many as 70,000 residents from a city built on sin, military might and heavy industry."

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_487117.html

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_487120.html

Dave 

And what if an individual, not knowing of the reporter's cute little fear mongering publicity stunt, retreived his shotgun and killed the guy thinking he was a terrorist?  What if, while this reporter was taking notes on yet another marvelous 'what if' scenario, someone confronted the reporter?  Would the story then be about how Americans are beholden to fear?  What was he doing in the railyard anyway?  Tresspassing in an effort to keep the public informed? 

[eolafan]

I am getting very tired of viewing these "investigative reporters" pieces supposedly developed with the public's safety in mind but (in reality) nothing more than ratings boosting and self-serving crap.  I would like to see more of these prissy jerks taken down a notch.  This is not to mention that they are giving information on where to strike to the terrorists they are supposedly protecting us from.

[Anonymous]

Yes, sir. The bad guys are too stupid to find our railyards, chemical and water treatment plants and surely have no understanding of high school-level chemistry.

Dave  

I am getting very tired of viewing these "investigative reporters" pieces supposedly developed with the public's safety in mind but (in reality) nothing more than ratings boosting and self-serving crap.  I would like to see more of these prissy jerks taken down a notch.  This is not to mention that they are giving information on where to strike to the terrorists they are supposedly protecting us from.

[solzrules]

Yes, sir. The bad guys are too stupid to find our railyards, chemical and water treatment plants and surely have no understanding of high school-level chemistry.

Dave  

 

My point is that the second anyone confronts them about what they are doing then these literary geniuses start ranting and raving about how we are losing our 'rights' (as if we had a right to tresspass on private property at will).  I have read stories about both - one minute all of our ports are open to attack from every angle and the next minute the rights of Americans are erroding because of increased security measures. In either case, fault always seems to lie with the Bush administration and almost never with the terrorists. 

Question:  IF these terrorists pigs are so good at chemistry and the like, why haven't attacks on rail cars occured yet?  Your point is that they don't need to watch some stupid reporter to find out their next move, so why haven't they carried out the doomsday scenario that the reporter described? 

[Anonymous]

Yes, sir. The bad guys are too stupid to find our railyards, chemical and water treatment plants and surely have no understanding of high school-level chemistry.

Dave  

 

My point is that the second anyone confronts them about what they are doing then these literary geniuses start ranting and raving about how we are losing our 'rights' (as if we had a right to tresspass on private property at will).  I have read stories about both - one minute all of our ports are open to attack from every angle and the next minute the rights of Americans are erroding because of increased security measures. In either case, fault always seems to lie with the Bush administration and almost never with the terrorists. 

Question:  IF these terrorists pigs are so good at chemistry and the like, why haven't attacks on rail cars occured yet?  Your point is that they don't need to watch some stupid reporter to find out their next move, so why haven't they carried out the doomsday scenario that the reporter described? 

Because we've been lucky and the Department of Homeland Security has been busy.  Sooner or later though, we're likely to get hit again.....

[solzrules]

Yes, sir. The bad guys are too stupid to find our railyards, chemical and water treatment plants and surely have no understanding of high school-level chemistry.

Dave  

 

My point is that the second anyone confronts them about what they are doing then these literary geniuses start ranting and raving about how we are losing our 'rights' (as if we had a right to tresspass on private property at will).  I have read stories about both - one minute all of our ports are open to attack from every angle and the next minute the rights of Americans are erroding because of increased security measures. In either case, fault always seems to lie with the Bush administration and almost never with the terrorists. 

Question:  IF these terrorists pigs are so good at chemistry and the like, why haven't attacks on rail cars occured yet?  Your point is that they don't need to watch some stupid reporter to find out their next move, so why haven't they carried out the doomsday scenario that the reporter described? 

Because we've been lucky and the Department of Homeland Security has been busy.  Sooner or later though, we're likely to get hit again.....

Now that was an honest and logical answer.

[TimChgo9]

And being as how the public does not "need to know" how do we know that the Department of Homeland Security has busted a plot or two to do exactly that? 

 Just because we don't hear about it, doesn't mean it hasn't happened.  And if a plot was thwarted, perhaps it wasn't publicized because the DHS didn't want to comporomise other operations... Or maybe, the terrorists aren't that creative.  Who knows any longer. 

All of that said, really all that reporter served to do was scare people, which may have been their intent.  Besides, if you ever want to do a little reconnaisance.... just open up Google Earth, and have a look see... Besides, I am sure, somewhere in a cave in Afghanistan, or in a terrorist safe house in Iraq is a Metra schedule for the Chicago area.... I would bet on that.

 

[J. Edgar]

And what if an individual, not knowing of the reporter's cute little fear mongering publicity stunt, retreived his shotgun and killed the guy thinking he was a terrorist?  What if, while this reporter was taking notes on yet another marvelous 'what if' scenario, someone confronted the reporter?  Would the story then be about how Americans are beholden to fear?  What was he doing in the railyard anyway?  Tresspassing in an effort to keep the public informed? 

 not to quote limbaugh but.....that is fearmongering driveby media at its finest......the only thing worse is the sheeple suckin it up.......and love the rosie shot dsktc

[solzrules]

Thanks.  Just don't sue me..........

[mudchicken]

Jerks like that reporter make it harder on those of us who have legitimate reasons to be on the grounds of some of these plants. We have a water treatment plant in Denver that has a section corner off in part of the plant with accessory points (used to verify that the section corner is where it's supposed to be) also inside the gate & fence of the plant.

Does this circle jerk of a reporter have an address.????  I feel the need to bill him for some of my delay time caused by those like him. Security at the plant is more afraid of reporters than the criminal element. Sad....

[Poppa_Zit]

Does this circle jerk of a reporter have an address.????  I feel the need to bill him for some of my delay time caused by those like him. Security at the plant is more afraid of reporters than the criminal element. Sad....

Those of you who'd like to share any words of appreciation with this moron can email him at:

[e-mail]

[Datafever]

Can't the reporter still be charged with trespassing based on his own words, plus the evidence that he left behind?

[Poppa_Zit]

Whaddaya expect? The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, for pete's sake... a mediocre paper in a great railroad town. The Post-Gazette has a ton more readers...

The guy's probably knocking down at least 18K... for writing fiction.  

[tomikawaTT]

Whaddaya expect? The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, for pete's sake... a mediocre paper in a great railroad town. The Post-Gazette has a ton more readers...

The guy's probably knocking down at least 18K... for writing fiction.  

If that's all he's getting, maybe he should consider honest work (or a better paying line of fiction.)  OTOH, if he keeps it up and some security guard DOES shorten his life, should we consider that improving the breed?

Chuck

[PBenham]

And what if an individual, not knowing of the reporter's cute little fear mongering publicity stunt, retreived his shotgun and killed the guy thinking he was a terrorist?  What if, while this reporter was taking notes on yet another marvelous 'what if' scenario, someone confronted the reporter?  Would the story then be about how Americans are beholden to fear?  What was he doing in the railyard anyway?  Tresspassing in an effort to keep the public informed? 

 not to quote limbaugh but.....that is fearmongering driveby media at its finest......the only thing worse is the sheeple suckin it up.......and love the rosie shot dsktc

[Anonymous]

Henry Posner of Railroad Development Corp. responds
to the Trib story:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/letters/s_488820.html

Dave

[Datafever]

He makes a good point about the inability to control the placement of a train as opposed to trucks or planes, but nevertheless, if a tank car holding a chemical that will produce highly toxic gas is exploded in the middle of a metropolitan area, the repercussions will still be quite dramatic.

[Anonymous]

Mark W. Hemphill, former U.S. government's senior railway adviser to the Iraqi Republic Railways, responds to the Trib. story:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/letters/s_488823.html

Dave

[samfp1943]

Henry Posner of Railroad Development Corp. responds
to the Trib story:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/letters/s_488820.html

Dave

    To Henry Posner: "... More to the point, the rail industry moves toxic chemicals reluctantly as part of our common carrier obligation. But we do so in partnership with the chemical industry and in close cooperation with the many regulatory agencies involved, and we recognize that the alternative presents far greater risks. Imagine, if you will, toxic chemicals shifting to truck transport or the shutdown of our water treatment systems as result of a complete ban on the movement of chlorine.

As for the revelation by the Trib's series that business cards can be left behind hazardous-materials placards on tank cars, my colleagues have so far convinced me not to take my own dramatic steps, such as leaving a backpack in a shopping mall, a paper bag in a movie theater or an envelope in the so-far-unguarded Pittsburgh Trib offices, in each case containing nothing but my own business card. "

                                      Henry Posner III
                                        Green Tree

           Nice Retort!  It is a shame, that dunderheads such as this particular reporter, are not able to wrap their minds around the fact that if the Terrorists win; they will be on the Terrorist's short list to be sent on to interview Saddam H .  

                          

 

[jp2153]

This morning as I was drinking my cup of coffee and learning my Seaboard Signals for my upcoming class, I came upon this news story about "HAZMAT DEBATE" here in Nashville. What ever happened to GOOD REPORTING? It seems that none of the reporters know how to be part of the solution rather than be part of the problem.

Maybe, they should think about how INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT, and the PUBLIC can discuss how to better track and secure HAZMAT. We have this new monster in the Government called "HOMELAND SECURITY". States have received some funding to upgrade their call centers. Some of the states have done well where as others have not done so well.

I say that these new Disaster Centers be notified of what is coming and going out of their jurisdictions that travels on Rail that is a potential hazard. In theory, the carrier could send a manifest prior to the load leaving to the Disaster Center and in theory they will be able to respond quickly. The response up there in Kentucky was pretty good from what I saw on FOX News.

Here is the link: http://www.newschannel5.com/global/story.asp?s=5947195