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