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Bush isn't protecting our seaports?
Shadow War: The Untold Story of How Bush is Winning the War on Terror | 2004 | Richard Miniter

Posted on 10/18/2004 6:49:46 AM PDT by TexasTaysor

(John Kerry stated in the 3rd debate that our seaports were not being protected, that Bush had failed miserably and he would do it better. Bush is doing it just fine.)

Chapter 5 - Terror At Sea

“This is the story of that war, one that America and it’s allies have unequivocally won so far. It is the largely untold tale of ingenious terrorist plots, modern-day pirates, and attack on a French-flagged oil tanker, the high-speed pursuit of bin Laden’s fifteen-ship fleet, the capture of the “al Qaeda admiral,” the killings of two key al Qaeda operatives, and the ominous designs of deep-sea terrorists who wanted to learn how to dive but not to resurface.”

“At the height of his powers, al-Nashiri commanded a fleet of some fifteen cargo ships, which he dispatched to smuggle terrorists, tons of explosives, and cartons of cash or drugs....even had the power to order the conversion of freighters into floating bombs.”

“He arranged for the shipment of explosives for the 1998 embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania…..”

“Naval intelligence had suspicions about the ship’s owners. The Sara, originally known as the Ryno, was owned by a Pakistani American, Rifat Muhammed, and Dimitris Kokkos, a Romanina who is wanted by the Greek government for smuggling and other activities.”

“A French-flagged oil tanker, the Limburg……October 6, 2002…..three hundred thousand barrels if Iranian crude oil……Members of al Qaeda were waiting in a small, explosives-packed fishing boat…..their primary target, a U.S. warship…..they steered for the Limburg…..”We would have preferred to hit a U.S. frigate”, a terrorist from the Islamic Army of Aden said,” but no problem, because they are all infidels.”

“Agents nabbed al-Nashiri…..”

Countries involved in our efforts at sea include Italy, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Turkey, Britain, Greece, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Singapore, among others.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bush; kerry; seaports; terror

1 posted on 10/18/2004 6:49:47 AM PDT by TexasTaysor
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To: TexasTaysor

Good job. Thanks.


2 posted on 10/18/2004 7:00:07 AM PDT by wizr (God helps those who help themselves. But, God help those he catches helping themselves.)
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To: TexasTaysor

Naval intelligence had suspicions about the ship’s owners. The Sara, originally known as the Ryno, was owned by a Pakistani American, Rifat Muhammed, and Dimitris Kokkos, a Romanina who is wanted by the Greek government for smuggling and other activities.
How appropriate-- a ship that was intended to deceive people into thinking it had legitimate purposes but was really intent on disseminating destruction was named RINO.


3 posted on 10/18/2004 7:05:22 AM PDT by rightsmart (Kerry's pretending to be Joe Sixpack when he's really Joe Cognac)
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To: TexasTaysor
"John Kerry stated in the 3rd debate that our seaports were not being protected, that Bush had failed miserably and he would do it better."

Of course, that would be the easiest promise in the world to shirk. It would be evident that he doesn't have a clue as to how to go about it, if only someone would have the guts to really pin him down on it.

Kerry knows (well, maybe he really doesn't!) that it is virtually impossible to inspect all traffic through our seaports 100%.

The best approach is the one Bush is taking - to take the battle to them instead. Iraq, like a great magnet, attracts terrorists from all over the world to fight and die.

4 posted on 10/18/2004 8:11:54 AM PDT by nightdriver
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To: nightdriver

"Kerry knows (well, maybe he really doesn't!) that it is virtually impossible to inspect all traffic through our seaports 100%."

You got it right! And Kerry unless he is truly a bumbling fool that has no idea as how anything works, (this may actually be a part of his problem), most probably just said we are not doing a good enough job because he has watched or has had his minions point out various things shown on sixty minutes/nightlines type shows for the past two years or so.
Obviouse to most of us, it would take many many billions to put in place the required x ray and other type equipment and trained port authority security groups etc., to actually inspect every container coming into the country's ports. This is going to have to be a huge project well thought out and executed to truly be worth the monies that will required to be spent. It is no quick fix.
Kerry just used it as one more bit of "half truth" info to disturb the masses of voters that have little power to think for themselves as to how things really work. The slim ball is a true profesional in this regards. Point out problems but have not the slightest idea as how to fix em.
Besides, during the time frame such a inbound inspection system was put in place and proven worthy, we must remember that it is going to truly disrupt how quickly incoming shipments can be transfered to those industries that need the materials etc.. A no win situation to be sure other then someday perhaps we would have a more secure system in place to monitor what comes into the country.
No easy answer on this one.


5 posted on 10/18/2004 8:25:40 AM PDT by Marine_Uncle (.)
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