Terror alert issued for school bus drivers

The Payson Roundup ^ | Friday Oct. 15 | Max Foster

[winodog]

Department of Public Safety authorities have put school bus drivers from around the state on a heightened state of alert regarding the possibility of terrorist activity, including those in Payson, Pine and Tonto Basin.

State authorities have asked all school bus drivers to be alert for any possible terrorist activity in the next six weeks.

A Sept. 28 information bulletin from DPS Student Transportation Supervisor Vicki Barnett to PUSD Director of Support Operations Joe Martin, directed bus drivers to "pay particular attention to any unusual activity around school buses; to unusual vehicles; to vehicles repeatedly seen in the vicinity; and, to any vehicles or individuals in unauthorized locations."

[Damocles]

Gee, I hope everyone's keeping a close eye on those nefarious homeschoolers! (sarcasm obvious)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1223057/posts

[nw_arizona_granny]

There is much to think about in this thread.

[winodog]

One thing that scares me is how close this is to the border. If a illegal crosses the border and creates a minor attack or a failed attack with children involved before the election, kerry and the MSM will blame the President. That may be all it takes to tip the scales and give us President Kerry.

The muslim terrorists know this and are more then willing to do anything to see a President Kerry. It worked for them in Spain and it would not take anything major for the MSM to paint President Bush as a failure on border security. Lord forbid any children actually get hurt in the week before the election. IMHO we would have a President who is a appeaser and would kiss muslim butt while we are at war with them.

[WildTurkey]

Not done very often but I like to see the location in the title. It helps to see which topics to click on. Particularly if the location is out of the US.

For example: Terror Alert Issued for Bus Drivers [AZ]

[timetogo]

I am a public school teacher and I can tell you firsthand how easy it would be to pose as a school bus driver. First of all, our drivers don't even wear uniforms most of the time. Also, they call in sick alot, so the bus company always sends replacement drivers. If we saw someone different, we probably wouldn't think twice. Also, with the circular drive in front of the school, you could just pack the bus with explosives, drive right up to the front door and keep on going. You would kill 1000+ people in my school alone. It is a frightening thought,and no one in the MSM seems to be paying much attention to this issue.

[prairiebreeze]

danged nuisance ping

[jpw01]

As I mentioned earlier in this thread, I contacted the DHS over a year ago about this scenario. I have no idea what measures have been taken to address this issue, if any.

If, however, I were a terrorist and wanted to strike fear into the heartland, I know I could do so without a lot of effort.

The feds cannot do everything, though. The only insurance against this sort of attack is vigilance on the part of ordinary citizens. We have to keep our eyes open for people watching school busses and other areas where our kids congregate.

[AngrySpud]

Just an hour's drive from my house. Dunno how legit this threat is, but I've said since 9/12 that the next terrorist hit will be in the heartland.

[verity]

In my community I've noticed at heightened times of alert, if there is a bus convoy (maybe three to five busses), you will see a sheriff's escort

How effective do you really think this is?

[maine-iac7]

FBI and Homeland Security officers have served search warrants around the country on suspected terrorists and found school bus route schedules and information on public school systems.

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coupled with the terrorist in Iraq that had a CD on him with the floorplans and security methods of many of our schools - it sounds ominous - Children seem to be their new victims of choice.
Long haul truckers are being trained to be eyes on the road...
I used to drive and was in management of buses for private schools in California - we had high risk for abduction kids - for ex" I frove Clint Eastward's son and Paul Anka's daughters. WE were trained in such security methods as described here.
We need to start training "Citizen Eyes" in all walks of life across this country.
Not only would it give us much more secret but intimidate the terrorists just knowing there were eyes everywhere....
How do we get this going?

[MOgirl]

Hello,

Well, I am officially freaked out. What can we do? I would like to contact my son's principal and superintendent, but would like to offer suggestions on how to avert this threat. It is my opinion that (at least here), there is a belief that since we are in the Midwest, the terrorists would stick out like a sore thumb. That is semi true, EXCEPT if we are talking about Muslim Terrorists that do not look Middle-Eastern.

Let's try to come up with sensible ideas that can be incorporated into our school systems. Ideas?

Glad to be here, (despite the subject), MOgirl

[MOgirl]

Hello,

Well, I am officially freaked out. What can we do? I would like to contact my son's principal and superintendent, but would like to offer suggestions on how to avert this threat. It is my opinion that (at least here), there is a belief that since we are in the Midwest, the terrorists would stick out like a sore thumb. That is semi true, EXCEPT if we are talking about Muslim Terrorists that do not look Middle-Eastern.

Let's try to come up with sensible ideas that can be incorporated into our school systems. Ideas?

Glad to be here, (despite the subject), MOgirl

[Quix]

Scream bloody murder to the police, the FBI, Homeland Security; any reliable media outlets and a letter to the editor. Copy this article and include it.

Send copies of this article to parents you know and invite them to Scream.

You could, I suppose, notify the supt's office again and add that in 24 hours, your warning notices will be going to both a wider and a higher set of offices. And include this article linked to above.

Not that this would help but I'd personally be very tempted to ask the Supt when he last had a brain scan.

I think I'd also include Beslan articles.

If he's elected, one might note that. If he's appointed, send the same stuff to the idiot that appointed him.

I'd also be tempted to ask:

"Which of the following words is beyond your vocabulary:

"TERRORIST," "PLANS," "SCHOOL," "CHILDREN?"

If all that didn't work, I think I'd get a vehicle with wide sides like a van or truck and make huge signs for each side and park it near the parked busses--something like:

"UNATTENDED SCHOOL BUSSES AWAITING TERRORIST HIJACKING AND BOMB RIGGING. THANK YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL SUPT."

OR

"UNATTENDED SACRIFICIAL VEHICLES--AWAITING 1) YOUR CHILDREN; 2) TERRORISTS AND 3) THEIR SUICIDE BOMBS. COURTESY YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL SUPT."

This is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo OUTRAGEOUS.

I might even hand out fliers at my kids' schools.

If nothing changed, I'd withdraw my kids from school.

[maine-iac7]

This alert should probably be going out to every state and school district in the union.

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As a former bus driver in Mass and Calif - I can tell you just talking to your school districts is spitting in the wind.
You have to put teeth into it. 1. Print out this story (valid backup) take it to your school BOARD - attach a cover letter that gives your advice on establishing safety awareness and training. THEN tell them, and have it in writing in your cover letter, that if they do not take the steps and, God forbid, something happens. then not only the district will will be held accountable but each and everyone of them will be named as being forewarned - but negligent.
School boards have an elitist tendency that shrugs off the parents and other tax paying citizens. Your opinions don't really matter. BUT, they care about themselves and if they can envision public accountability - they may be motivated to act - even if only halfheartedly. But if they even do that then the cat will be out of the bag and parents and others will take up the banner
2. Take the very same thing to your local papers with the same cover letters and warnigs of responsibility. 3. Get an url to the Beslan photos and put in a letter to the editor with the above information. We need "Citizen Eyes" out there. This is a huge country. EVERYone must be on guard. (Long haul truckers are being trianed to be eyes on the road. WE must become eyes on the schools and buses.) I have nightmares thinking about it, but there seems to be little doubt that our kids are in the cross hairs - for what other purpose would they have this information on our schools and buses?
And Beslan showed they are barbaric enough to do it.
Oprah had all 200+ photos of the Beslan massacre on at one time. It was not pretty. But everyone should look at them and get it through their complacent, naive brains that these barbarians WILL do this. They want a Pres. Kerry that will allow them to once again have the room and peace to regroup...like in pre-9/11. They WANT to thought of only as a "nuisance" like before, like Kerry and his wife think.
NOW is the time to start making a very LOUD noise.
WE are the ones who must spearhead the defense - BEFORE we have to suffer the consequences.
NOW,

[valleygal]

great...my daughter rides a school bus, we're in Phoenix and because I'm an overprotective mom she's most likely going to be driven for awhile.

I'll share this with the neighbors.

[maine-iac7]

How hard is it to buy a used school bus? Or even to steal one? We can't provide police escorts for every bus in each school district, can we
*****888
it's even easier to strap a bomb underneath in the dark of night -

[KoRn]

There is absoloutly nothing to stop someone from going to where buses are parked virtually anywhere. Most of the time all there is keeping people away is a barbed wire fence at best. Without giving anyone any ideas, what could those killers do with a bunch of parked school buses on a school night? Imagine if it was done in multiple locations to multiple buses. Would make 911 seem like a petty bank hiest, and thats hard to imagine, I'm sad at the thought of it.

[valleygal]

The Payson, Pine, Tonto area is up near the Mogollon (MO GEE YON) Rim. It's forrest area. When you hear about Arizona wildfires, this is one of the areas that they often talk about(east of Payson to Show Low was where the big fires were two years ago. My kids go to church camp up near Payson every summer.

It is more "rural" and spread out. Cooler weather up there, not like down here in the desert.

[maine-iac7]

an addendum to my post #34 -

Start using a buzz word - People need to identify with a name for a movement;;;
I coined the phrase "Citizen Eyes"

feel free to use it.

Also, if we are untied and using the buzz word "Citizen Eyes" the press is more likely to pick up on it, realizing it's not just some little neighborhood thing

[maine-iac7]

There is absoloutly nothing to stop someone from going to where buses are parked virtually anywhere. Most of the time all there is keeping people away is a barbed wire fence at best.

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8
exactly - and I don't think it would be out of line to demand that the schools - and/or maybe parents? - form "guard duty" watches, in shifts, at least until after the elections...this is NOT an alarmist proposal. This is reality.
These barbarians mean business - and our kids are their new target