The latest terrorist attack in Moscow can be considered as a declaration of war on Russia by international terrorism, Russian defense minister Sergei Ivanov said on Wednesday.
There is a marked escalation in violence not only between the Russians and Muslims but throughout the world. The timing is due to the Chechnya election but globally even more so to the fact that Bush will probably get reelected. This will be the ultimate catalyst at some time in the near future that unleashes Armageddon.
Bush through Iraq has made terrorism worse.
Bet the Moss Bluff natural gas storage cavern’s explosion cause comes back as ‘accidental’ even though it is evident we have been getting hit by terrorists on U.S. soil all along. Gotta lie to the public and get those votes.
Refinery Fires - Cause Unknown Or Untold? Tuesday, 13 April 2004, 3:54 pm Article: Patricia L Johnson
CAUSE UNKNOWN or UNTOLD?
By Patricia Johnson February 20th 2004 - Friday " Fire reported at Tesoro California refinery " Tesoro Petroleum Corporation Martinez CA (click here)
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March 9th 2004 - Tuesday " Fire reported at Marathon Ashland Garyville refinery " Marathon Ashland Petroleum Garyville LA (click here)
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March 23rd 2004 - Tuesday " Subduing Oklahoma fire " Sunoco Tulsa OK (click here)
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March 27th 2004 - Saturday " Rosemount refinery fire could push up gasoline prices " Flint Hills Resources Rosemount MN (click here)
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March 30th 2004 - Tuesday " Explosion rocks Texas City refinery" British Petroleum Refinery Texas City TX (click here)
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April 1st 2004 - Thursday "Exxon Mobil chemical plant unit damaged in blaze" Exxon Mobil Corporation Baytown TX (click here)
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April 9th 2004 - Friday " Refinery explosion near Gallup, N.M. hospitalizes four with serious injuries" Giant Industries Refinery Gallup NM (click here)
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National average retail price of regular gasoline $1.78/gal. as of 4/05/2004 Source: DOE (click here)
When the F.B.I. Houston Joint Terrorism Task Force issued the advisory on March 25 to the Texas petrochemical industry, it was intended to warn the oil industry of potential terrorist attacks by Al Qaeda “near the time of the November presidential election” (click here).
Most articles linked above are listing the cause of the explosions and subsequent fires as unknown, but my guess is we either need to send all refinery workers back to school for a refresher course in safety procedures, or this country is crawling with Al Qaeda.
Whatever the cause of the fires, it may be a good idea to keep your tanks filled as gas prices will only go up, up, up....
Excerpt: Chemical plants are a major target for terrorist attack, and their security is not adequate.
The National Infrastructure Protection Center Warned of Al-Qaeda Threat to Chemical Plants. In February 2003, the National Infrastructure Protection Center warned that Al-Qaeda "may attempt to launch conventional attacks against the U.S. nuclear/chemical- industrial infrastructure to cause contamination, disruption, and terror." (NIPC, 2/12/03)
PRESIDENT BUSH AND GOP HAVE BOWED TO CHEMICAL INDUSTRY DONORS, OPPOSED STRONG MEASURES
Administration First Recognized Threat and Pushed for New Security Regulations: EPA and White House Homeland Security Office Warned Voluntary Measures Not Enough. The EPA and Ridge's Office of Homeland Security (prior to the creation of DHS) produced documents that "dispute(d) the chemical industry's claims that it can improve security against terrorism without federal oversight." The documents listed 30 chemical facilities in or near populated areas that required "immediate government attention." (Washington Post, 8/5/02)
-- DHS Spokesperson Criticized the Effectiveness of the Chemical Industry's Measures. Homeland Security spokesperson Brian Roehrkasse said, "Voluntary efforts alone won't be sufficient to assure the appropriate level of security across the chemical sector." (Washington Post, 4/8/03) Administration and Republicans Reversed Position After Industry Lobbying:
Chemical Plant Security Bill First Passed Unanimously, Then Blocked After "Intense Lobbying Campaign." In July 2002, the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works unanimously passed tough homeland security legislation authored by Senator Jon Corzine. "The petrochemical industry then launched an intense lobbying campaign to upend Corzine's proposal for mandatory security measures, prompting most Republicans on the panel to withdraw support." (Washington Post, 04/08/03)
Administration "Abandoned" Tough Regulations After "Resistance from the Industry." In 2002, EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman, with support of Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge, pushed for new rules requiring heightened homeland security. But the Bush Administration subsequently "abandoned efforts to impose tough new security regulations on the chemical industry ... following months of intense internal fighting within the administration and resistance from the industry." The Bush Administration's approach requires "relying solely on voluntary safety programs developed by chemical-industry trade associations." (Washington Post, 10/03/02; National Journal, 08/02/03)
An Array of "Heavyweights" Went to Bat Against Government Regulations of Chemical Plants. Corporations that went to Capitol Hill to lobby against the EPA plan to require security fixes at chemical plants included such "heavyweights" as Dow Chemical, Exxon-Mobil, the US Chamber of Commerce, and the American Chemistry Council. (National Journal's CongressDaily, 9/10/02) http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=110-04292004
Global Violence Swells: 30 Killed, 100s Injured in Israel, Russia Pakistan Times Monitoring Report
No you are not imagining the escalation in violence.
-Am
MOSCOW (Russia): Amid swelling acts of violence, the world-over, at least 30 people were killed with close to 200 injured in blast episodes, three in Israel and the one in Russia on Tuesday.
Whereas, 20 people died in two blasts in the area of the closest US-ally, Israel, over 10 lost lives in an explosion, which jolted the capital city of Moscow.
Details
Reports says that in Israel, bombs exploded on two buses in the southern Israeli city of Be'er Sheva, killing at least 20 people.
Around 100 more were injured when the bombs went off on buses in the town's main street. One bus was left in flames while the windows were blown out of the second vehicle.
Police sources said one bomber had boarded each of the buses several moments before the explosions. A third explosion was also reported near a shopping centre in the town.
One Caged
Earlier in the day, the Israeli army caught a man strapped with explosives as he tried to cross into Israel from the Gaza Strip. Be'er Sheva is 25 miles west of Gaza City.
Palestinian group Hamas said it was behind the suicide attacks, the first in Israel in six months.
Suicide bombers last struck in March, killing 10 people at the southern port of Ashdod. That attack prompted Israel to assassinate the spiritual leader of the Hamas group in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon vowed there would be no let-up in his government's "fight against terrorism". "The struggle against terror will be pursued to the fullest extent," he told reporters.
Palestine Condemns
Palestinian authority spokesman Saeb Erekat condemned the latest bombings, saying: "Hate breeds hate, bullets bring more bullets."
Palestinian negotiations minister Saeb Erakat, condemned attacks targeting civilians Tuesday, after a twin suicide bombing in southern Israel that left almost 20 people dead and more than a 100 wounded.
"The Palestinian Authority condemns attacks which target civilians, whether they be Israeli or Palestinian," Erakat told media
He also appealed to the backers of the troubled roadmap peace plan "to intervene immediately" to bring peace to the region.
Dead-end of Roadmap
The roadmap has run into a dead end as it could not put a halt to skirmishes nor bring peace to the Middle East. Palestinians say Israel is flouting its obligations by continuing settlement activity in the West Bank.
Female Suicide Bomber Hits Moscow Station
And in the Russian capital, Moscow, Security sources say a female suicide bomber caused an explosion near an underground station in Moscow, killing at least 10 people.
Reports suggest the bomb was packed with metal bolts.Officials said more than 50 people were wounded, including children.
The blast happened near the Rizhskaya metro station in the north of the city just after the rush hour at 5.17pm [GMT}.
Vehicles get Ablaze
The shock wave shattered windows in the station entrance. Vehicles were left ablaze and bodies lay near the scene. Initial reports said there were two explosions in cars. "It was like a big thunder clap. There was one explosion, then another small one," said witness Alexei Borodin, 29.
"I saw five people who could not stand up. And there were other people who were in small bits. There was one man without a stomach shouting: 'Where are the police?'"
Backdrop
In February, a suicide bombing killed at least 39 people on an underground train in Moscow and a Chechen rebel group claimed responsibility.
Many bombings in Russia in recent years have been linked to the Chechen conflict, but some have been blamed on organized crime.
The blast comes a week after two Russian passenger planes crashed simultaneously after explosions, killing all 90 people aboard, in what authorities said was a terrorist attack.
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