ZGram - June 28, 2002 - "Nuclear plot suspects freed after mix-up"

irimland@zundelsite.org irimland@zundelsite.org
Fri, 28 Jun 2002 15:36:09 -0700


ZGram - Where Truth is Destiny

June 28, 2002

Good Mornig from the Zundelsite:

When I read the article below, I thought at first it was a re-run 
from a previous, eerily similar article about some "Israelis" 
traveling in the Midwest with maps of nuclear plants, Alaska pipeline 
etc. and even  "box cutter" items. 

As you will remember, they were stopped on the highway by US Highway 
Patrol but let go - and guess what?  Right!  Another "security mixup"!

Will this story likewise drop into the Memory Hole?

[START]

Nuclear plot suspects freed after mix-up

Julian Borger in Washington

Thursday November 1, 2001

The Guardian

Six "Middle Eastern" men were stopped in the American Midwest while 
carrying pictures and plans of a Florida nuclear plant and the 
Trans-Alaska oil pipeline, only to be released after a security 
mix-up, it was revealed yesterday.

The incident, which took place in an unnamed state last weekend, is 
one of the factors that triggered a string of heightened security 
measures at US nuclear power stations, including a ban on flights 
below 18,000ft and within 10 miles of a reactor. The mix-up that led 
to their release has also opened up rifts between America's security 
services.

Another of the factors behind the FBI's general alert was revealed 
yesterday as the interception of communications between known members 
of al-Qaida. One of them was sent from Canada to Afghanistan, and 
passed to the US by Canadian intelligence. According to one report, 
the message referred to a big event which was supposed to happen 
"down south" this week.

A source close to the investigation into the September 11 attacks 
said the men stopped in the Midwest - travelling in two groups of 
three in light-coloured cars - were of Middle Eastern appearance and 
were carrying Israeli passports.

As well as the pictures and descriptions of the nuclear plant and the 
pipeline, retractable knives similar to the so-called box cutters 
used by the September 11 hijackers were found in the cars.

"The police did check the passport numbers with the INS (Immigration 
and Naturalisation Service), but got an OK on them, so they let them 
go," the source said.

It was unclear last night whether the men had Hebrew or Arab names, 
and a spokesman for the Israeli embassy said he was unaware of the 
incident. The INS also denied any knowledge of the incident.

The attorney general, John Ashcroft, and the FBI director, Robert 
Mueller, were said to be "furious" that the INS allowed the men to go 
free before the FBI could question them.

Vincent Cannistraro, the former chief of CIA counter-terrorist 
operations said the incident exposed the deficiencies of the US 
security organisations. "There's a lot of bickering, a lot of turf 
battles. You've got a culture which doesn't share information. I 
don't see how you go about breaking that," Mr Cannistraro said.

Tom Ridge, the newly created director of homeland security, has the 
task of forcing the competing agencies to cooperate, but so far he 
has had difficulties coordinating the administration's message.

=====

Source:  ( http://www.guardian.co.uk/wtccrash/story/0,1300,584658,00.html )