Just pull, like this:
;)
Posted on 12/25/2003 6:00:52 PM PST by sarcasm
Chemical plants in New Jersey are specifically mentioned as potential terrorist targets in information obtained by intelligence agencies that was recently distributed to authorities here, officials said Wednesday.
The intelligence mentions the chemical industry and New Jersey, but does not include known references to specific production facilities or geographic locations, two officials familiar with the intelligence reports said.
State Attorney General Peter Harvey confirmed Wednesday that both state and local law enforcement agencies had been notified about the potential threat in areas where chemical production facilities are located.
"There are some enhanced security measures with regards to law enforcement at chemical plants and other critical infrastructure, but I'm not going to say what they are," Harvey said.
The state's chief law enforcement officer said facilities such as chemical production sites, pharmaceutical plants, and gasoline storage sites in New Jersey are considered to be attractive targets for terrorist groups simply because they offer the chance to unleash powerful destructive forces.
"They're always going to be targets, and we just have to be vigilant in protecting them," Harvey said.
In addition, authorities have expressed particular concern about Newark Liberty International Airport and have increased its already tight security.
Their concern focuses on the airport's use as a venue to hijack aircraft, officials said. However, commercial airports nationwide are high on the potential target list, given al-Qaeda's past use of jetliners in terrorist attacks, including one that departed from Newark on Sept. 11, 2001.
President Bush ordered the nation to be placed on a high level of terrorism preparedness Sunday, calling a high "orange" alert amid general reports of threats against a range of facilities that includes nuclear power plants in rural areas, other electrical installations, large dams, and bridges, officials said.
One official cautioned that most of these intelligence reports were uncorroborated - some were from only a single informant or communications intercept.
In New Jersey, Governor McGreevey has ordered state troopers and National Guard troops to help guard vital infrastructure sites, such as bridges, tunnels, and nuclear power plants. In addition, sheriff's agencies in Bergen, Passaic, and Morris counties, have, for example, increased patrols, some with bomb-sniffing dogs at area shopping malls.
The threat to chemical plants in New Jersey was being taken seriously by authorities aware that an attack could unleash secondary explosions and possibly release toxic fumes or substances, they said.
Harvey said state law enforcement officials have briefed local police agencies and key personnel at New Jersey's chemical firms. Local police agencies have increased their patrols at these sites, he said.
Additionally, a set of security measures previously formulated by the state's Domestic Preparedness Security Task Force was put into place, he said. Such measures include steps taken by chemical facilities themselves, such as stepping up surveillance of their perimeter fences and tightening access to the sites, he said.
Harvey said other key businesses in the state have also strengthened their security because of the national orange alert.
The attorney general said that beyond these measures, authorities are counting on New Jerseyans to report suspicious activities near chemical facilities and other important sites.
"Every citizen needs to be vigilant," Harvey said.
The White House released a white paper in February outlining a national strategy for the physical protection of the country's critical infrastructure and key assets. The report concluded that the well-being of U.S. chemical industry is vital to the country's economic health, given its current position as the nation's top exporter, accounting for 10 cents of every dollar and one out of every seven patents issued in the United States.
Chemical plants produce products ranging from fertilizer to plastics, and include a spectrum of items used in households, businesses, and the health-care industry. New Jersey ranks as one of the leading states for chemical production, industry experts say.
Du Pont and BASF are firms that count chemical production among their range of activities and are among the top 100 employers in New Jersey.
The White House report concluded that protecting the chemical industry is expensive, challenging, and complex.
"Unfortunately, the risk profiles of chemical plants differ tremendously because of differences in technologies, product mix, design, and processes," the report said. "Therefore, no single, specific security regime would be appropriate or effective for all chemical facilities."
I think the ol' Prez needs to step this up a notch and come on TV and state that we will respond with Nuclear weapons against "Unknown" countries in the event of another attack here.
< /dreaming>
Just pull, like this: ;)
I'm afraid that I was going to say the same thing...
"How did they name the city of Secaucus?"
That's the sound you make when you breath.
Mark
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