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S.D. school crisis plan is found on disk in Iraq
San Diego Union Trib ^ | September 30, 2004 | By Kelly Thornton

Posted on 09/30/2004 5:12:44 PM PDT by Robert_Paulson2

No threat seen to district; children are safe, police say By Kelly Thornton UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

A man arrested by U.S. authorities in Iraq had a computer disk in his possession containing a public report downloaded from a U.S. Department of Education Web site on crisis planning in school districts, including San Diego Unified.

The man was described as an Iraqi national with connections to terrorism and the insurgency that is fighting U.S. forces in Iraq. Officials in San Diego said the man's intentions were unknown.

San Diego law enforcement officials said there was no indication of any terrorist plot against schools in San Diego or elsewhere in the country. They did not publicly release the information because there appeared to be no threat. The information was relayed to the San Diego FBI office last week and then to the school district Friday.

"The children are absolutely safe," said San Diego Police Chief Bill Lansdowne. "If there was a threat, we, the San Diego Police Department, would be first to notify (parents). This is not a threat."

The disk contained a document entitled "Practical Information on Crisis Planning, A Guide for Schools and Communities." The 50-plus page document, published in May 2003 by the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, is available to the public on the U.S. Department of Education's Web site, said San Diego District spokeswoman Peri Lynn Turnbull.

FBI officials visited the office of district Superintendent Alan Bersin Friday to inform him, Turnbull said. Because there was no indication that terrorists were targeting any schools, in San Diego or elsewhere, the district informed the school police department, but decided not to notify schools and parents.

"We certainly did not want to create any unnecessary panic in our community," Turnbull said. The FBI said because there was no specific threat, that was the appropriate response.

"The superintendent was alerted by the FBI that there were no direct threats to the district or any San Diego school and that by our maintaining our same level of care and concern that our schools would be safe," Turnbull said.

Dan Dzwilewski, head of the FBI office in San Diego, said there is no reason for alarm.

"We don't know the intention of the person that had this material," Dzwilewski said. "But the disk contained absolutely no threat information. It's only out of an abundance of caution – because it was discovered in Iraq

– that we shared this with another public agency."

Some counterterrorism officials said they were concerned that the information would be misinterpreted and would alarm people unnecessarily. They said the information was withheld from the public because there was no specific threat, and the public may become inured to repeated general warnings of vague possibilities of attacks.

"There is no threat here," said a San Diego police lieutenant who spoke on condition of confidentiality because of the sensitive nature of such investigations. "When you've put out information month after month after month, the public thinks we're crying wolf.

"The context here is, a public source document put out by the U.S. Department of Education was found on a computer. Period. My concern would be if a particular school district, or a particular school, or a particular institution was targeted, which it has not been."

Lansdowne said the situation shows that the federal government is sharing information with local agencies in an efficient manner.

"I think it's a good indication of how quickly we're notified and the thoroughness of the information we receive," the chief said. "They give us all the information now and allow local jurisdictions to do with it what they think they should."

Lansdowne said the report on the disk lauds the district as an example of good planning.

The document mentions other school districts and gives information about evacuations, lockdowns and other emergency procedures in the event of a disaster, such as an earthquake or terrorist attack.

"If somebody read the article, they would say we're not going to pick San Diego because they have a very good plan in place," Lansdowne said. "It's probably more good news than bad news."

Kelly Thornton: (619) 542-4571;

kelly.thornton@uniontrib.com


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; doe; education; islam; islamist; muslim; napalminthemorning; sandiego; terrorism; wot
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To: Robert_Paulson2
IN 1974, ISRAEL BEGAN ARMING PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS WHO VOLUNTEERED TO PATROL LOCAL SCHOOLS.

Israeli officials say since the program was implemented, no child has been killed in a school.

http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=680

Millions Diverted From School Guards UJC officials acknowledge less than half of $20 million raised for security in Israel now slated for that purpose.

Stewart Ain - Staff Writer

Some are questioning what will happen to remaining $12 million earmarked for protecting Israeli schoolkids.

Esther Hecht

Only $8 million of the $20 million raised from American Jews to provide security guards for Israel’s schoolchildren will be used for that purpose, The Jewish Week has learned.

“Something doesn’t smell good,” said Hilik Goldstein, a spokesman for the Union of Local Authorities, which is hiring the guards for Israel’s 124 municipalities and who revealed the funding cutback.

Hoffman stressed that authorities in Israel, not the UJC, made the decision to cut back on the $20 million security guard program. But Goldstein said Israeli parents would have a hard time accepting that decision in light of the July 30 bombing at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem that killed nine.

“After that bombing, we heard from police sources in Israel that Palestinian [terrorists] intended to do some activities against children,” Goldstein said. “A lot of parents went to the local authorities and asked them to ensure the safety of their children.”

“We don’t know where they [terrorists] are going to hit next and we have to do the maximum to protect our children and make sure that everything is OK,” she said.

“The high schools have their own guards and there are a lot of teachers who walk around with weapons,” she added. “But in the kindergartens, there are 38 kids with two unarmed women. They are more vulnerable [to attack].”

=======

Group Advocates Armed Parent Patrols for U.S. Schools

By Jim Burns

CNP Senior Staff Writer

March 27, 2001

(CNSNews.com) - A senior citizens' group is offering what it calls a "safe schools initiative," based on an Israeli model, in response to the recent spate of school shootings in the United States.

The Dallas, Texas-based group calls itself "Seniors United Supporting the Second Amendment."

Executive Director John Bender said SUSSA will offer scholarships for courses in handgun safety and the use of guns in defensive situations to five volunteers, selected by the first public school in the United States that adopts the Israeli model for protecting the school from violence.

In 1974, Israel began arming parents and grandparents who volunteered to patrol local schools. Israeli officials say since the program was implemented, no child has been killed in a school.

Some Israeli schools continue to use armed parent- and grandparent-patrols, while other schools have hired armed guards for protection. The Israeli government also requires groups going on school field trips to have one armed guard for every 10 students. Many parents double as guards and chaperones on such field trips, and most of those parents have had army training and know how to use a gun.

According to SUSSA, if the Israeli program been in place at U.S. schools, recent shootings, including the two in California, might not have happened. "SUSSA urges every school in America to implement the Israeli safety program before there is another school shooting," the group said.

"We want to make our schools safe and stop the killings. Israel has a program that is tested and proven to work. By adopting the Israeli model we can stop the tragic school shooting and protect our Constitutional right to own and carry firearms.

"We will also gain from having parents and grandparents involved and visible in our schools. This will cut down on the bullying and tormenting that we now see as a major problem in our schools," Bender said.

The idea has received support from the 60-Plus Association, a senior citizens rights group.

"Clearly, it would be beneficial to all students to have senior citizens, parents and grandparents patrolling the halls of schools. This would be a good use of senior citizen know-how and manpower," said Jim Martin, president of the 60-Plus Association.

Handgun Control, Inc. had no immediate comment on the proposal.

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=\Nation\archive\200103\NAT20010327a.html

101 posted on 10/01/2004 8:09:12 AM PDT by bunkerhill7 (senior citizen school security a la Israelis)
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To: Robert_Paulson2

I just woke this morning from the worst dream about something like this.


102 posted on 10/01/2004 8:25:02 AM PDT by Delphinium
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To: Robert_Paulson2

This can't be true.

Moi Kerry, the choice of Islam, has told us that there are no al Qaeda and international terrorists in Iraq.

Looks like Kerry got caught Rathering Americans again about al Qaeda, terrorists and their connections with Iraq.


103 posted on 10/01/2004 8:27:45 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (When will the ABCNNBC BS lunatic libs stop Rathering to Americans? Answer: NEVER!)
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To: Robert_Paulson2
Tensions High As Middle East Schools Begin

By LARA SUKHTIAN and JOSEF FEDERMAN

The Associated Press

Sept. 3, 2003

JERUSALEM - Armed guards stood watch outside Israeli schools. ...In all, 13,000 officers, security guards and soldiers - some armed with submachine guns - were deployed at Israeli schools, well above the typical daily level, Kleiman said.

========

One of the arriving buses had bulletproof windows because it carries students who live in West Bank Jewish settlements that are often targeted by gunmen.

104 posted on 10/01/2004 9:04:57 AM PDT by bunkerhill7 (yup)
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Comment #105 Removed by Moderator

To: Travis McGee

chuckling softly under my breath.
we got a situation there don't we?


106 posted on 10/01/2004 9:36:25 AM PDT by Robert_Paulson2 (the madridification of our election is now officially underway.)
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To: Robert_Paulson2

Yep. The border and illegal immigration/terrorist threats are Bush's blind spots.


107 posted on 10/01/2004 9:38:09 AM PDT by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
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To: Travis McGee

all national guard trainees could be doing their 'high desert' training in the Soutwest. Add a few hundred predator drones and a border patrol with the authority to call for help from guard reinforcements to track and hunt down infiltrators... and a civil patrol of volunteers with radios doing private property between san diego and elpaso... and we could cut that down to a trickle.

I would also like to see the Army,Navy,Airforce, and all the guard and auxilaries re-opting to open training ON HIGH SCHOOL campuses to recruit and train men and women who actually WANT to learn self-defense, officer skills, military prep, law enforcement, security and patrolling basics and such. You ought to be training our next generation of 'throat slitters' two days a month at Patrick Henry High. (and people like you who have "the gift") It would go further to change our nation's mental state on defense and undermine criminal activity in the public school system, than all the bills the dems in sacramento could pass in five years.

We could do a lot more. And it would REALLY make the difference. I am not as worried about the borders as I should be. But my decades in San Diego, tell me THIS is no longer just a 'wetbacks' problem related to migrant 'fruit pickers'.. not any more. Ridge is either being intentionally disengenous or wrong. I prefer to beleive the former. but fear the latter.

I pray W does take action to close that opening down, and that he does it in such a way that keeps our relationship with mexico great, and in fact, enhances it. Where would we be without sport fishing in baja?


108 posted on 10/01/2004 9:54:20 AM PDT by Robert_Paulson2 (the madridification of our election is now officially underway.)
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To: Robert_Paulson2

Sir with all due respect; the powers that be believe as an article of religeous faith that the average citizen is literally a booger eating moron that is to stupid to wipe ,flush, wash their hands in the proper order when the use the toilet. You asked a simple straight forward question I hope my reply provided an equally straight forward answer.


109 posted on 10/01/2004 9:57:39 AM PDT by Nebr FAL owner (.308 reach out & thump someone .50 cal.Browning Machine gun reach out & crush someone)
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To: bunkerhill7

kinda like I was saying to another freeper earlier.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1231973/posts?page=84#84

I like the israeli model for school safety. Getting kids used to the use and appearance of firearms as part of their American Heritage is a good thing afterall. And the guns could be used to repel or slow down bad guys, while the reinforcements are coming.

I agree with you.


110 posted on 10/01/2004 10:02:14 AM PDT by Robert_Paulson2 (the madridification of our election is now officially underway.)
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To: truth_seeker

sounds like we need to triple our number of 'volunteers' for the coast guard auxilary with some folks like you... one weekend a month, one day a week.

They are 'taking names' even as we speak.


111 posted on 10/01/2004 10:04:58 AM PDT by Robert_Paulson2 (the madridification of our election is now officially underway.)
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To: two23

I like the idea of our kids seeing guns, and uniforms EVERY DAY. I have no fear of americans in uniforms wearing guns. In fact, I think we need to see the majority of our adults ARMED in public. It's not just about terror.

It is about giving our kids the gift of loving guns and defending America from its enemies. Lots of women are scared of guns and military displays that look all 'threatening' and such. But I see them more like a 'warm blanket' and it reminds me of family members, now passed, who NEVER made me fear the military, or guns... only the enemy.

I think they OUGHT to wear khakis or camo on campus... with a little rank or insignia to let onlookers know there are military personnel of the united states on our campuses. Even if they are auxillaries and semi-retirees of limited rank.

but hey, that's just me.


112 posted on 10/01/2004 10:10:39 AM PDT by Robert_Paulson2 (the madridification of our election is now officially underway.)
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To: Robert_Paulson2

Yes. I live in San Diego as well. With the navy and marine bases here and the sub base, unfortunately I think we'd be one of the top places on the list of targets.

To me it's only a matter of time.

Yeah right, John Kerry protect us...


113 posted on 10/01/2004 10:11:01 AM PDT by It's me
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To: truth_seeker
Immediately after 9/11/2001 it peaked at about twenty. It dropped down to just a few each day. Lately it has increased to above twenty. Today I counted thirty. The most I have ever seen.

Maybe it peaks every October?

114 posted on 10/01/2004 10:12:49 AM PDT by ladyjane
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To: Smokin' Joe

sorry bout that.


115 posted on 10/01/2004 10:13:38 AM PDT by Robert_Paulson2 (the madridification of our election is now officially underway.)
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To: Blood of Tyrants
"The children are absolutely safe," said San Diego Police Chief Bill Lansdowne. "If there was a threat, we, the San Diego Police Department, would be first to notify (parents)."


Sure. Then what? You'd have a city full of crazy, demanding parents who'd keep their children home. It would be chaos.
116 posted on 10/01/2004 10:13:52 AM PDT by It's me
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To: bunkerhill7

Bookmarking


117 posted on 10/01/2004 10:14:36 AM PDT by EdReform (Free Republic - helping to keep our country a free republic. Thank you for your financial support!)
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To: Skooz

kerry is a real assclown.
we don't need a president who lives in a state of denial.
kerry is a resident of that state.


118 posted on 10/01/2004 10:14:45 AM PDT by Robert_Paulson2 (the madridification of our election is now officially underway.)
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To: Core_Conservative

without a doubt.
this is defintely on their "wish list" for the holidays.

americans are watching.
some at least.
God help us prevent having yet another beslan here.


119 posted on 10/01/2004 10:16:21 AM PDT by Robert_Paulson2 (the madridification of our election is now officially underway.)
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To: Hat-Trick

Hillarious. And a great word picture. I can just see it.


120 posted on 10/01/2004 10:17:22 AM PDT by Robert_Paulson2 (the madridification of our election is now officially underway.)
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