Terrorism
Major Terrorist Attack On U.S. ‘Within Weeks’?
I stumbled on the following article on the website of WND (formerly WorldNetDaily), an independent news company. Reza Kahlili wrote Monday:
Iran has given the go-ahead to operatives of three terrorist groups that have infiltrated the United States to carry out missions, including what is expected to be a Mumbai-style attack on a hotel where innocent bystanders would be killed, WND has learned…
Three targets have been chosen within America for imminent attack, and the terror teams have now cut communications with the operational center in Iran, a sign that they are moving ahead with the attacks, according to a high-level intelligence officer within the Islamic regime.
According to an update to the piece Tuesday, Kahili’s “source” revealed the major attack would take place “within weeks.”
Interesting reading (can’t speak for how reliable the information provided is though), which can be viewed in its entirety on the WND site here.
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
More Video Surveillance Cameras Coming To A Public Place Near You?
As I watched the television news coverage on the Boston terror attack right after it happened, one of the “talking heads” noted what some person responded with when asked what they thought would come from all this:
Less freedom.
While I support the law enforcement community and their mission “to serve and protect,” I am concerned about what I see is a steadily-developing Police State in America.
Regrettably, there are a number of civil servants who give public service a bad name in their lust for private glory and control over others.
I should know. I’ve met and worked alongside a few of these individuals during my past employment in different levels of government.
(Editor’s note: It’s been my experience that the majority of public servants are good, hard-working people who realize they answer to and work for you. Unfortunately, there are plenty of “rotten apples” in the barrel as well.)
One of the features associated with the Police State is the proliferation of video surveillance cameras in public places. Here in Chicago, these monitoring devices now number 22,000 according to an AP piece that was published earlier today.
Rather worrisome are the results of a recent poll conducted by The New York Times and CBS News asking Americans their views on security issues after the Boston Marathon bombings (April 24-April 28, 965 people surveyed), which could be construed as Americans being open to the increased use of surveillance cameras. From The New York Times website Tuesday:
Some people think installing video surveillance cameras in public places is a good idea because they may help to reduce the threat of terrorism. Other people think this is a bad idea because surveillance cameras may infringe on people’s privacy rights. What do you think?
Survey said…
• 78 percent good idea
• 16 percent bad idea
• The remaining 6 percent replied “both,” “don’t know,” or didn’t answer
In the wake of this poll, the Associated Press’ Tami Abdollah reported this morning:
Police and politicians across the U.S. are pointing to the example of surveillance video that was used to help identify the Boston Marathon bombing suspects as a reason to get more electronic eyes on their streets.
From Los Angeles to Philadelphia, efforts include trying to gain police access to cameras used to monitor traffic, expanding surveillance networks in some major cities and enabling officers to get regular access to security footage at businesses.
(Editor’s note: Italics added for emphasis)
Abdollah added the following:
Dozens are said to sit today around the house of George Orwell, the author of “1984,” a story that foretold of a “Big Brother” society. Privacy advocates in the U.S. are concerned that the networks proposed by officials today could grow to realize Orwell’s dystopic vision.
I’m no “privacy advocate,” but the danger of these cameras being used for purposes other than fighting crime (monitoring political opponents and so-called “enemies of the state” comes to mind) probably isn’t too far of a stretch of the imagination.
When it comes to the continued proliferation of these video surveillance cameras, it’s wise to remember what Orwell penned in 1984:
The end was contained in the beginning.
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
Sources:
“Americans on Terrorism Threats.” The New York Times. 30 Apr. 2013. (http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/04/30/us/poll-terror-graphic.html?ref=us). 2 May 2013.
Abdollah, Tami. “Police, politicians push surveillance post-Boston.” Associated Press. 2 May 2013. (http://news.yahoo.com/police-politicians-push-surveillance-post-boston-084307887.html). 2 May 2013.
Tinley Park, Illinois, Site Of Urban Warfare Training Exercise
A little over a year ago, I blogged about Chicago hosting one of these military training exercises that since have popped up with increasing frequency in the news. From that April 16, 2012, post:
The City of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) released the following statement about the scheduled urban warfare training exercise today:
The City of Chicago is providing support for a routine military training exercise in and around the Chicagoland area on April 16 -19. This routine training is conducted by military personnel in cities across the country, designed to ensure the military’s ability to operate in urban environments as service members meet mandatory training certification requirements and prepare for upcoming overseas deployments.
The training sites have been carefully selected to minimize the impact on the daily routine of residents.
The training is not open to the public.
“The training is not open to the public.”
I guess downtown Chicago residents and workers were supposed to close their eyes and pretend the helicopters that buzzed them during last year’s event didn’t exist.
Anyway, last week, another one of these exercises took place in the Chicagoland area- in the southwest Chicago community of Tinley Park, Illinois. From the Chicago Tribune website today:
Department of Defense training exercises that included explosions heard miles away and helicopters flying over Tinley Park angered residents.
Residents said they heard “bomb” noises from about 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. on April 23 during what was an urban warfare training exercise at the former mental health center. Tinley Park police received about 25 calls from residents who were either fearful or angry, especially in the wake of the bombings in Boston the previous week.
Defense officials followed up with another exercise April 24 involving helicopters that flew over Tinley Park for much of the night. Residents reported hearing them from 8:30 p.m. until about 12:45 a.m…
Local police were not involved with the training, said Pat Carr, Emergency Management Agency director.
Like the Chicago urban warfare exercise last year, the public was not allowed to view the training. But that didn’t prevent a few from trying.
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
Source:
“Urban warfare exercise rattles Tinley Park residents.” Chicago Tribune. 2 May 2013. (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/suburbs/tinley_park/ct-tl-tinley-park-dod-exercise-20130502,0,7645588.story). 2 May 2013.
CBS Chicago Asks: Is Chicago, Cook County Safe From Terrorists?
From a CBS Chicago news broadcast last night:
ROB JOHHNSON: Chicago’s Mayor and Police Superintendent have said they would use lessons learned from the Boston Marathon bombings to make Chicago safer.
KATE SULLIVAN: But tonight, we’ve learned that they’ve already made some changes. Chief Correspondent Jay Levine sat down with Superintendent McCarthy and began by asking the simple question, “Are we safe?” So what do you say, Jay?
JAY LEVINE: One word Kate- absolutely.
Tuesday night, CBS Chicago’s Levine focused on Cook County as the second most populous county in the U.S. refines its anti-terrorism plans and procedures in the wake of the Boston terror attack (video segment here).
Personally, as long as our borders are as porous as they are, I won’t feel safe from terrorists. It won’t stop me from doing what I want, when I want, but you won’t see me at some mass gathering or in some other situation that screams “juicy jihadist target” anytime soon.
Besides, I dislike crowds.
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
Infowars: DOD, Army Warn Of May 2 Terror Threat On 2nd Anniversary Of Bin Laden Death
“Thursday, May 2, is a day to be especially watchful. Jihadists are particularly fond of celebrating anniversaries and on that day in 2011 Seal Team Six found and killed Osama bin Laden. September 11. 2001 is now an indelible part of U.S. history and on September 11, 2012, jihadists attacked and killed an American ambassador and three others.”
-Alan Caruba, RenewAmerica.com, May 1, 2013
Did you know that tomorrow, May 2, 2013, is the second anniversary of Osama bin Laden’s death?
To be honest, it totally slipped my mind. Until I happened to stumble across the following on Alex Jones’ Infowars website. Paul Joseph Watson wrote earlier today:
The Department of Defense and the US Army are warning of a possible terror threat to coincide with the second anniversary of the death of Osama Bin Laden, according to a memo sent to Infowars by a source based at Fort Hood.
The entire memo is posted on the Infowars site.
I haven’t heard/seen anything else about a potential terrorist attack tomorrow, although it wouldn’t be too shocking if Al-Qaeda, their affiliates, or someone/some people motivated by their cause attempt to carry out something on the second anniversary of bin Laden’s death.
Watch your six. As always.
You can head over to the Infowars site here to read what Jones and Watson have supposedly unearthed. Mind you, the memo is “unclassified/for official use only.”
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
Chicago May Update Emergency Plan After Boston Attack
Here’s something out of City Hall that all Chicagoans can get behind. From Craig Dellimore on the CBS Chicago website last week:
Mayor Emanuel says Chicago may revise its emergency medical plans in light of Boston’s response to the Boston Marathon bombings a week ago, reports WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore.
Mayor Emanuel says special circumstances not withstanding, Boston showed it was well-prepared to face a crisis when those bombs went off.
“Now not every time are you going to have an incident where you have medical care on-site because they had a marathon they had it on-site. That clearly saved lives. But having a well-rehearsed, well-planned, well thought out medical emergency response, was crucial in saving lives. We have a very good plan. We did it for NATO exercise. I have asked everybody to go back and look at it,” said Emanuel.
And he says after Boston authorities review their response, Chicago will see about updating its emergency plan.
I’ve never seen the City of Chicago’s “official” emergency preparedness plan. Even when I worked in the public safety field. Last I heard, the plan was closely-guarded. Leah Samuel wrote in The Chicago Reporter website back on September 12, 2007:
Although the federal government recommends that cities plan their responses to terrorism with inclusiveness and openness, Chicago’s emergency preparedness plan is known only to a few in city government, The Chicago Reporter has found.
Among those who haven’t been shown the plan are the city’s aldermen, firefighters and police officers.
“We do not discuss the particulars of our plan so as not to allow those who would harm us an additional way to create disorder,” Cortez Trotter, executive director of the Office of Emergency Communications, or 911 Center, said in a written statement. “Full disclosure of the plan might assist those who would thwart evacuation and rescue procedures.”
Samuel added later in the piece:
“We don’t want anyone to see it,” said Larry Langford, public information officer for the Office of Emergency Communications. He called the secrecy “an unfortunate by-product” of emergency planning: “You want to reassure everyone, but you don’t want to give the plan away.”
Here’s hoping more than just “a few in city government” are familiar with the City’s emergency preparedness plan in 2013.
Or else Chicago residents could really be screwed in a major crisis.
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
Sources:
Dellimore, Craig. “Chicago May Update Emergency Plans In Wake Of Boston Terror Attack.” CBS Chicago. 22 Apr. 2013. (http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/04/22/chicago-may-update-emergency-plans-in-wake-of-boston-terror-attack/). 1 May 2013.
Samuel, Leah. “Emergency Plan Eludes City Officials.” The Chicago Reporter. 12 Sep. 2007. (http://www.chicagoreporter.com/news/2007/09/emergency-plan-eludes-city-officials). 1 May 2013.
Deadly Chicago Weekend
As I type this late Monday night, it’s being reported that 3 people are dead and 140 injured from the Boston Marathon Terror Attack.
Compare this to last weekend here in my hometown of Chicago, were gunfire claimed 4 lives and wounded 21.
Sadly, such violent weekends have become all too common here in the “Windy City.”
And as the weather warms up…
Mark my words: Chicago will surpass that carnage out in Boston in no time. Give it just a couple of weeks.
And try to avoid being a victim in the meantime.
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
Boston Marathon Explosions Al-Qaeda’s Work?
“President Barack Obama has described al Qaeda as having been ‘decimated,’ ‘on the path to defeat’ or some other variation at least 32 times since the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, according to White House transcripts.”
-CNSNews.com, November 1, 2012
If the horrific explosions in Boston earlier today are confirmed to be the result of terrorism (MSNBC is still calling them “blasts”), I, for one, wouldn’t be surprised.
After all, I’ve constantly warned Survival And Prosperity readers that the threat of terrorism is alive and well these days, particularly from Muslim extremists.
Consider what I wrote on September 10, 2012:
Since I started blogging in 2007, I’ve noticed that complacency seems to be growing over a major terror attack by Al-Qaeda. I guess it’s only natural, considering the amount of time that has passed since September 11, 2001, and the successive blows suffered by the leadership of Al-Qaeda and their affiliates. Still, security was heightened in the U.S. with the 10-year anniversary of 9/11 and in Great Britain with the 2012 London Olympics. But as September 11 rolls around again tomorrow, and being informed that the terror group is big not only on anniversaries but on raising the bar on casualties, I sense a huge degree of complacency as it concerns another terror attack in the United States tomorrow and down the road…
Al-Qaeda is like the Rodney Dangerfield of terrorist organizations these days- can’t get no respect. Look at these recent headlines on some mainstream media websites:
“Terror takes back seat; Americans safer now”
-From the Associated Press on Yahoo! News, September 8, 2012“Never have so few been able to frighten so many”
-Philly.com (joint project of The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Philadelphia Daily News, September 9, 2012)“On anniversary of 9/11, fear is present but not all-consuming”
-The Boston Globe, September 10, 2012There’s even this out of Hong Kong:
“Americans stop fretting about the threat of terrorism”
-South China Morning Post, September 10, 2012I loathe Al-Qaeda as much as any other American. But let’s not call the outcome of the game (Al-Qaeda is now kaput) while it’s still in the early innings, as the next generation of terrorists- inspired by the American response and presence in the Middle East after 9/11- start to replace their predecessors who have been captured, incapacitated, and killed.
As such, keep watching your six, because I don’t think Al-Qaeda is all out of bullets just yet.
So, was today’s incident in Boston Al-Qaeda’s handiwork?
I don’t think so. From what I’ve learned about the terror group, their modus operandi would have demanded significantly more casualties than were suffered today. 9/11 is now supposedly the “bar.” An American Hiroshima- their “wet dream.” Remember their goal: 4 million Americans dead- 2 million of these children. Initial reports claimed the blast occurred well-after the first runners reached the finish line, when many reporters and news cameras had already departed. It’s widely-known Al-Qaeda recognizes the importance of the news media in broadcasting their message- and terrorist activity. Unless it’s subsequently discovered a glitch delayed the explosions, this doesn’t sound like an Al-Qaeda operation.
Plus, I understand that Al-Qaeda is fond of “celebrating” anniversaries. As far as I know, April 15 isn’t a significant date for them.
However, that’s not to say today’s carnage wasn’t the work of one of their affiliates. Or someone motivated by their cause.
Hopefully, time will tell exactly what transpired this afternoon in Boston. And if it was terrorism, who was behind it.
At which point, may justice be served.
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
Chicago Police Department: ‘No Known Threat’ To City Related To Boston Explosions
All’s well in Chicago after the Boston Marathon incident?
From the Chicago Sun-Times website late this afternoon:
Chicago Police said Monday afternoon there is “no known threat” to the city, although police in Los Angeles, New York and London are stepping up security following explosions at the Boston Marathon.
“We are closely monitoring events as they unfold in Boston and the City of Chicago’s public safety departments are actively communicating with our law enforcement partners both locally and throughout the country,” said Melissa Stratton, spokewoman for the 911 center. “At this time, there is no known threat to Chicago.”
Good to know.
I’ll keep all of the above in mind as I continue practicing eternal vigilance in these uncertain times.
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
Source:
“‘No known threat’ to Chicago, official says.” Chicago Sun-Times. 15 Apr. 2013. (http://www.suntimes.com/19504594-761/no-known-threat-to-chicago-official-says.html). 15 Apr. 2013.
Urban Warfare Training Exercises To Desensitize, Prepare For Mass Civil Unrest In Cities?
The City of Chicago is providing support for a routine military training exercise in and around the Chicagoland area on April 16 -19. This routine training is conducted by military personnel in cities across the country, designed to ensure the military’s ability to operate in urban environments as service members meet mandatory training certification requirements and prepare for upcoming overseas deployments.
The training sites have been carefully selected to minimize the impact on the daily routine of residents.
The training is not open to the public.
-City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC), April 16, 2012
Back when I blogged about Chicago hosting an urban warfare training exercise for U.S. military personnel in April 2012, I mentioned other major American cities had experienced something similar: Boston (July 2011) and Los Angeles (January 2012).
Since that time, countless other municipalities have hosted this training.
However, in that April 16 post I pointed out the U.S. military was already busy developing its urban warfare training resources, including the construction of mock cities. I wrote:
Now, I’ve heard the U.S. military has been busy developing its urban warfare training program for some time already. Spencer Ackerman wrote in the Wired.com blog Danger Room back on January 18, 2011:
American soldiers spent seven years patrolling the urban neighborhoods of Iraq; its troops battled insurgents there block-by-block and house-by-house. Now that the Army is getting out of Iraq, it wants to make sure its urban combat skills don’t wither away. So it today it gave Lockheed Martin a contract worth up to $287 million to build Urban Operations Training Systems — essentially, giant simulation facilities and modules to help soldiers get ready for life in the big, bad city.
Versions of those training systems can be as simple as shipping containers tricked out to resemble multi-story houses and arranged in village formations, so soldiers can practice how to seize a building without causing needless damage. The Army’s got an entire 1000-acre facility in Indiana it uses to train soldiers in urban combat.
As for the Marines? From the CBS Channel 2 (Los Angeles) website on January 25, 2011:
A 1,560-building mock city has risen in the Southern California desert.
The $170 million Marine Corps urban training center at the Twentynine Palms military base, some 130 miles northeast of Los Angeles, is roughly the size of San Diego.
The Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center facility uses mock cities and role players to prepare Marines and sailors for urban terrain missions.
If our armed forces already have such resources, what’s with the urban warfare training in American cities then?
I added this about the Chicago training at the time:
I wonder if the exercise isn’t related to counter-terrorism.
Responding to an “American Mumbai” or dirty-bomb attack, perhaps?
However, these days, a Midwest-based writer and decorated Navy veteran is claiming that an unnamed “high-ranking, military source” in the Department of Homeland Security says the military exercises, conducted jointly with local law enforcement, are being conducted to desensitize urban dwellers in preparation for mass civil unrest in American cities. David Bard wrote on “progressive liberal” sociopolitical commentary blog The Allegiant on February 6:
I spoke with a high-ranking, military source in DHS. Preferring to remain unnamed for obvious reasons, he told me, “DHS and DOD are conducting desensitizing exercises all across the U.S.,” he paused, then added, “we’re being prepared for mass civil unrest in major U.S. cities. DOD will be expected to help – when we’re requested.”
I asked if there was a timeline for expecting civil unrest in our cities and why should we expect it to begin with. I was told that there were many reasons, but that the continued devaluation of our currency, the predicted history-setting prices for gasoline this summer and the continued gun control debate are forming a perfect storm of civil discontent. When this storm hits, it will most assuredly produce mass casualties. When does DHS expect this to happen? This summer.
(Editor’s note: Italics added for emphasis)
I can’t speak for Mr. Bard’s credibility, so “take it or leave it” as it concerns this explanation for the urban warfare training.
Still, I’ve heard similar talk about the purpose being to prepare for civil strife since I first blogged about those exercises in spring of last year.
You can read Bard’s entire piece here on The Allegiant. Disturbing stuff.
By Christopher E. Hill, Editor
Survival And Prosperity (www.survivalandprosperity.com)
Sources:
Ackerman, Spencer. “Lockheed Gets Big Bucks to Prep Soldiers for Urban War.” Danger Room. 18 Jan. 2011. (http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/01/lockheed-gets-big-bucks-to-prep-soldiers-in-urban-war/). 22 Feb. 2013.
“$170M Mock City Built For Marine Training In Twentynine Palms” CBS Channel 2 (Los Angeles). 25 Jan. 2011. (http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/01/25/170m-mock-city-built-for-marine-training-in-twentynine-palms/). 22 Feb. 2013.
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