Ministry of Defence (MOD) - Borders? Limits? Boundaries!

This post exposes another government department and how they operate. This example focuses on the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Iranian HMS Cornwall Fiasco, which took place 23 March through 5 April 2007.

Thanks to the Times Newspaper and their request under the Freedom of Information Act, we now know:

Fifteen British sailors and Marines were seized by Iran in internationally disputed waters and not in Iraq’s maritime territory as Parliament was told in 2007. The MoD insisted in PUBLIC that the Britons were 1.7 nautical miles on the Iraqi side of that boundary.

Ministry of Defence documents state:

• The arrests took place in waters that are not internationally agreed as Iraqi;
• The coalition unilaterally designated a dividing line between Iraqi and Iranian waters in the Gulf without telling Iran where it was;
• The Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ coastal protection vessels were crossing this invisible line at a rate of three times a week;
• It was the British who apparently raised their weapons first before the Iranian gunboats came alongside;
• The cornered British, surrounded by heavily armed Iranians, made a hopeless last-minute radio plea for a helicopter to come back and provide air cover.

The Times Newspaper also requested information “concerning the location and position of the search party”. The request for information was from a technical device that communicated, the boarding party’s position to the mother ship, HMS Cornwall however last week the MoD responded by claiming no information would be provided as it would disclose operational tactics, routines and capability.


MoD report to the Chief of the Defence (PRIVATE) Staff under the heading: ‘Why the incident occurred’, dated April 13, 2007
“Since the outset of the Iraq-Iran War there has been no formal ratified TTW [territorial waters] agreement in force between Iraq and Iran . . . In the absence of any formal agreement, the coalition tactical demarcation (the Op Line) is used as a notional TTW boundary. It is a US NAVCENT [US Naval Forces Central Command] construct based on an extension of the Algiers accord demarcation line beyond the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab [waterway] into the NAG [northern Arabian Gulf]. While it may be assumed that the Iranians must be aware of some form of operational boundary, the exact coordinates to the Op Line have not been published to Iran.”


Des Browne, Defence (PUBLIC) Secretary, House of Commons, June 16, 2007
What he said
“There is no doubt that HMS Cornwall was operating in Iraqi waters and that the incident itself took place in Iraqi waters . . . In the early days the Iranians provided us with a set of coordinates, and asserted that was where the event took place, but when we told them the coordinates were in Iraqi waters they changed that set and found one in their own waters. I do not think that even they sustain the position that the incident took place anywhere other than in Iraqi waters” -

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THE PUBLIC BITES BACK

As ever, the best part of these exposes are public attitudes/comments. Here are a few....

BRITISH CHARACTER. Has Mr Walker from Ladson USA no understanding of the steel like character of our British women? Other women from half the world, finding themselves in the situation of our Faye Turney, captured at gun point by the Irans and facing a possible firing squad at any moment, would have collapsed in hysteria. Not so our Faye, sitting erect, wearing a headscarf worn by many British women during Hitler's blitz while their homes were torn to pieces, their children killed, calmly smoked a cigarette! A British woman made of the calibre of Bodicia, of Grace Darling. Isolated, she alone of all the Admirals and Generals of the Iraq conflict, embarked on an exit strategy. Within fourteen days she had turned the incident around. The President of Iran ordered new suits to be made, and goody bags given as presents for the boats crews. Amazing. Could any women from any other Country single handed have prevented the situation from escalating into a third World War? In my book she deserves a medal. If only we had diplomats of yesteryear on hand with guidance from a strong Government to take advantage of the new situation and negotiate a peaceful resolve to the nuclear power station problem. Well done Faye. - Gut Liam, Hertford, Engtland

It was my position when this happened and is still my position: When the Iranians were in the process of taking British sailors and Marines captive, the British Navy and Air Force, with American help, if necessary, should have blown those Iranian gunboats to bits--along with any other Iranian forces that dared get mixed up in the situation.

Can the British public not understand that no nation that has any responsibilities on the international scene can allow its military to trodden on at will by a third-rate power? The Iranians have done this to Britain. It is an international humiliation, no matter what kind of face the politicians try and put on it. The Iranians have taken the measure of British political leadership and British resolve, and have found it wanting. The Iranians are dangerous, seeking hegemony in the Middle East, and are not now likely to be bound by anything the UK says or does. - Terry L. Walker, Ladson, SC / USA

Finally the truth is revealed. I wish people would just realize the government doesn't care about the truth. They only care that you believe the Iranians are evil just like they want you to. - Darius, Los Angeles, USA

Many thanks to President Ahmadinejad for delivering this important Wake Up Call to HMS Cornwall and the MOD but also for Iran's kind hospitality and generosity. This fiasco could have ended very differently. - Alison, Geneva, CH

What a load of nonsense. The British boat was seized by the IRGC "navy" because it was not properly supported by British or Coalition air and/or sea assets. Operating that close to Iranian waters, that boat should never have been sent anywhere at all without a proper plan for immediate air or sea coverage in case of an Iranian assault. - George Smith, San Antonio, Texas


All part of the American plan to try to create an incident to attack Iran. The Brits were being used as the bait. A few British soldiers in the interests of the US and Israel. Never mind. - Shaffiq Mahmood, Halifax, UK

This news item tells us that the capture took place in a disputed area. At the same time, let us not forget that the Iranians, when told that the coordinates they had originally provided, lay in Iraqi waters, supplied an alternative location. I wonder why. - Alice Cripps, Worthing, UK

I care. Because I'm shamed at the incompetence of the Royal Navy that allowed this group of children to be ambushed. I'm disgusted at the lies told to us in Parliament. And I'm concerned that the standing of our country was damaged by the incident. We have just seen two senior people leave BA because of the mess they made. Equally heads should roll at the Ministry of Defence. - Mike C, Chichester, England

What else has Britain lied about? - oxi, Chicago

So what's new? Anyone who has even a minor understanding of the region realises that a lot of these borders are disputed and these types of incidents are extremely likely to happen. The British Navy messed up seriously by leaving the vessel unsupported and the British government messed up by spinning an already embarassing story into a national humiliation. - Mike Pemberton, London, London

I commented last year that the Persian gulf water boundaries near the Iraqi soil remains disputed. I also stated that it was not up to the UK or USA to muscle in and to try to draw an artificial line and set the boundary. Unfortunately, it appears that such intent and by default confusion lead to the arrest of our sailors. This is total arrogance and for us to think that a questionable UN mandate to be present in the Persian Gulf gives us the right to predetermine disputed territorial boarders beggars belief. I also find our reference to the historic Persian Gulf as the Arab gulf very rude and insulting to the Iranians and we should show more respect to a nation that has referred to this waterways as the Persian gulf for the last 2500 years. Our behaviour and our wording is provocative and we should be honest enough to face this fact. Lower down the Persian gulf, is the Arabian Sea. No amount of Arab appeasement is going to change this historic fact and we should show more respect. - John, Cheltenham, UK

A gutless performance by all concerned, especially the Secretary of State and his Admirals but not the Iranians who win this one hands down..- Michael, Wichester, England

Des Browne lied to the public. On such a sensitive issue and during such a sensitive time with the Iranians, this is negligent. - Martin, London, UK

Who cares? The embarrassment is that the Iranian boat was not obliterated. - Nick, Rotherham, UK

The seizure was made by the Revolutionary Guard Corps' boats and NOT by the Iranian Navy. The IRGC is well known for its smuggling activities and firm control over criminal rackets in Iran and Southern Iraq. Since the Defence Ministry stated the reason the British boat was where it was due to smuggling activity, perhaps this has more bearing on the incident. Even if the boundary had been set between the Iranian Navy and Coalition Forces, the IRGC still acts independently. - John Bates, Melbourne, Florida

Once the greatest sea-power the world has ever seen now reduced, by their lying, incompetent leaders, to a nation of wimps. Incompetence is encouraged by lack of accountability, coverups and hidden behind phrases like it would disclose operational tactics, routines and capability. Oh pleeeeeeeeeease! - R Bingham, Lauzun, France

MP lies - Why the shock? - jj, Cambridgeshire, UK

Replace misled with lies. When will politicians learn to speak the common language? - steve tea, manchester, cheshire

The important issue is that the sailors are all healthy and were released soon after the incident. Indisputably Iran treated them with respect and showed the civility and friendliness that exists in the Iranian culture and tradition. Unlike what some want to believe, the region belongs to those who are located there. The world must begin to accept the new Middle East. That is not Bush's Middle East. Hopefully UK will be able to talk directly to the Iranian regime and stay away from the warmongers in the US government. Daryush, London, London

It seems that Britain has lost its backbone, certainly Mrs Thatcher would have had none of it! Britain is a laughing stock!! - Colin, Surrey, uk

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NEWS ARTICLES

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3768243.ece
April 18, 2008 - Des Browne ‘misled MPs over seizure of British sailors in the Gulf’

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3761058.ece
April 17, 2008 - Report reveals Iran seized British sailors in disputed waters

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3761054.ece
April 17, 2008 - ‘We have cowboys . . . can we have the helicopter over ASAP?’

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On a different note, What does the MoD do for Recreation .... you need to be on the right wavelength!

REMOTE VIEWING
A study was undertaken in 2001-2002 to investigate theories about capabilities to gather information remotely about what people may be seeing and to determine the potential value, if any, of such theories to Defence. The Ministry of Defence has released the findings of this study in response to a Freedom of Information request and we are pleased to now make it available to a wider audience via the MOD Freedom of Information Disclosure Log. Where indicated information has been withheld in accordance with Section 26 (Defence), Section 27 (International Relations), Section 40 (Personal Information), Section 41 (Information Provided In Confidence) and Section 43 (Commercial Interests) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. http://www.mod.uk/defenceinternet/freedomofinformation/disclosurelog/searchdisclosurelog/remoteviewing.htm

FO & The Russians - Now We Really Have a Crisis!

One Minute the FCO is telling Me

"There is No Evidence!" (Buried in Spain)

and the next minute they are telling the world

"Now we really have a crisis".

Time To Say Good Bye to the FCO & SIS

***

This article reveals the FCO's definition of Harassment and a Crisis.

Let Russians be Russian:

'Now we really have a crisis' - Russia's man in London leaving the Foreign Office yesterday
· Security services harass British Council staff · Kinnock's son held on suspicion of drink-driving
Thursday January 17 2008
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/jan/17/world.politics

West Yorkshire Police - Serious Failings in Interrogation?

The Very Troubling Story of Shannon Matthews...

British Police need to learn how to interrogate people properly and extract the Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth, just as Courts of Law require. IT'S THEIR DUTY! If they can't do that, they should not be in the Police Force, in the first place. Common Sense, Really!





It is interesting to hear West Yorkshire (WY) Police have distributed leaflets telling the local community "Please do not take the law into your own hands and leave police to do their job." The police had nearly a month to do their job properly.

Shannon, a nine year old girl, disappeared in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England on February 19 and was eventually found on March 14 2008 in a flat belonging to her stepfather's uncle, near her own home, after a search operation costing police more than £1million.

How did West Yorkshire Police spend £1 million?
The investigation was led by Detective Superintendent Andy Brennan. The West Yorkshire Police questioned 1,500 motorists and also searched 3,000 houses. By 5 March, more than 250 officers and 60 detectives were involved in the investigation, about 10% of West Yorkshire Police's operational strength. This became the largest police search for a missing person, in the country, since the Yorkshire Ripper investigation around 30 years previously. Of the 27 specialist victim recovery dogs in the United Kingdom, 16 were involved in the search.

On March 14, 2008, twenty-four days after going missing, Shannon was found concealed in the base of a divan bed in her stepfather's uncles flat in Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr.

What Type of Publicity and Money Masks Lies?
The Sun newspaper initially offered a reward of £20,000 for information leading to her return. This was increased on 10 March, to £50,000. A Huddersfield business also offered £5,000.

The West Yorkshire Police created a web page, 'Missing Shannon Matthews Appeal', to assist in the search. http://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/npt/LatestPressRelease.asp?id=4624 The police also released the 999 call made by Karen Matthews reporting the disappearance. An official website, 'Help Us Find Shannon', including the Shannon Matthews Appeal, was launched on 11 March.

What revenge might WY Police take when they are exposed as grossly negligent?

• Craig Meehan, the stepfather of Shannon, was arrested on 2 April, on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children. On 3 April he was charged with 11 offences of possessing indecent images of children.
• Michael Donovan, the uncle of Shannon’s stepfather, was charged with kidnapping and false imprisonment in connection with the incident on 17 March 2008.
• Shannon's mother, Karen Matthews, was arrested on 6 April on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice. She was charged with child neglect and perverting the course of justice, on 8 April.
• Amanda Hyett, Craig Meehan's sister, was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, on 4 April 2008. Alice Meehan, the mother of Craig Meehan and sister of Michael Donovan, was arrested on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice, also on 4 April. All three women are being held on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.
• The police announced, on April 8, that they were investigating approaches to the Madeleine McCann fund, for money to assist the search for Shannon.

A sad story but perhaps not for young Shannon Matthews. What child honestly wants instability, including a mother who has seven children by five different men? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Shannon_Matthews

Not forgetting the Dewsbury Crucifixion in February 2008.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2008/02/26/shannon-matthews-helper-is-found-nailed-to-a-cross-89520-20332100/

HOME OFFICE - They Have Refused to Apologize!

Why is this article relevant to the AA-1177 blog? In order to force an independent external inquiry we must provide some simple examples of government departments in action, which prove they can not be trusted in Word and Deed. In the 21st century it is Intent, NOT Incompetence/Negligence.

Branded as Criminals...but not Terrorists
21st May 2006

Nearly 1,500 innocent people have been wrongly branded as criminals by the Home Office, leading to them losing jobs or being barred from taking up courses.

In an extraordinary series of blunders, law-abiding citizens ranging from court ushers to teenage students have been labelled pornographers, thieves and violent robbers by the department's Criminal Records Bureau.

Victims have to suffer the indignity of going to their local police station to be fingerprinted in order to prove they are not criminals.

And incredibly the Home Office initially refused to apologise for this latest fiasco - and instead blamed the victims for having similar names and dates of birth to convicted criminals.

The 1,500 figure also represents only those who have successfully appealed in the past two years - suggesting that hundreds or even thousands more may have been wrongly labelled criminals without even knowing.

'Not our fault'
Despite its refusal to accept the blame for the latest blunder, the Home Office has quietly made a string of compensation payments to the people it has wrongly branded criminals.

Shadow Home Secretary David Davis last night lambasted the Home Office and said the fiasco added to the growing sense that the Government had simply lost control of the department.

"Every one of these errors could lead to an injustice and is therefore a disgrace,' he said. 'The fact that this Government admits to nearly 1,500 mistakes is very worrying because these reflect only the errors they have discovered, not ones where the injustice may have gone unnoticed."


Read More :
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=387064&in_page_id=1770

Pre 9/11 WTC History of Security Reviews and Terrorism Assessments

Pre 9/11 WTC History of Security Reviews and Terrorism Assessments

Be Proactive!..... What If.....Plan for the Worst Case Scenario and Save Lives

This post focuses on the New York Port Authority Departments with personnel, intelligence agencies and external consultants who were engaged in security matters and responsible for assessing security threats at the WTC, prior to the 2001 attack.

A few newspaper articles mention acts of concern one week prior to the attack, such as a power down in the South Tower and the removal of explosive sniffer dogs, however the authenticity of this information remains questionable.

HISTORY OF SECURITY ASSESSMENTS OF WORLD TRADE CENTER THROUGH 2001

EXTRACTED FROM World Trade Center Bombing Litigation - 2004 NY Slip Op 24030 [3 Misc 3d 440] January 20, 2004 - Supreme Court, New York County ttp://www.courts.state.ny.us/reporter/3dseries/2004/2004_24030.htm

& COOPERATIVE RESEARCH HISTORY COMMONS http://www.cooperativeresearch.org

The WTC was run by the World Trade Department of the Port Authority, which determined whether to open parts of the WTC to the public, whether public parking should be offered and what security should be provided for the buildings and the garage. Civilian management personnel had responsibility for the day-to-day administration of security guards assigned to the WTC. The Port Authority Police had a command post on the B-1 level, and were responsible for public safety. The civilian security guards were not police officers, did not carry weapons or handcuffs, and reported to the World Trade Department, not to the Port Authority Police. They provided security, were information agents (providing information and directions to the public), monitored access to the complex, reported accidents to the police, and detected intruders. The police were responsible for criminal investigations and accidents.

The Port Authority Establishes a Terrorism Planning Office
In the early 1980's the Port Authority was aware of terrorist activities occurring in other areas of the world, and that the WTC, as a highly symbolic target, was vulnerable to terrorist attack. In fact, the Port Authority recognized that, in 1983-1984, two thirds of domestic terrorist incidents occurred in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan region.

In response, the Port Authority created a Terrorist Planning and Intelligence Section, and assigned Detective Sergeant Peter Caram the tasks of identifying terrorist groups and Port Authority targets, and to assess the vulnerability of Port Authority facilities to terrorist attack. The Terrorist Planning Section submitted its report in 1984, in which it warned that the threat of domestic terrorism was rising, that the WTC was vulnerable to terrorist attack, and that the underground public parking garage was highly vulnerable, easily accessible, and, if attacked, could critically affect the WTC's infrastructure.

In another report, entitled "Terrorist Assessment—World Trade Center—1984" prepared at the request of the Port Authority Superintendent of Police, the Port Authority was warned that, more than at any time in its history, the WTC should be considered a prime target for domestic and international terrorists. The report also specifically warned that the parking lots "are accessible to the public and are highly susceptible to car bombings."

Later that year, again in 1984, the Port Authority created the Office of Special Planning (OSP) to address and evaluate the vulnerabilities of Port Authority facilities to terrorist acts, and to formulate recommendations to prevent and minimize the risks of such acts. Port Authority Executive Director Peter Goldmark, in a memorandum to Vic Strom, Director of the Port Authority's Public Safety Department, Edward O'Sullivan, Director of OSP, and Hank DeGeneste, the Assistant Superintendent of Port Authority Police, noted the particular concern the authorities at Scotland Yard expressed to Port Authority officials in August 1984, about the vulnerability of the WTC parking garage to terrorist attack.

The OSP staff included Port Authority civilian or police personnel with experience in terrorism, operational security, tactical technology, bomb investigation, operations, and military operations. OSP's Director, Mr. O'Sullivan, was experienced in terrorism and counter-terrorism from his 10-year career in the Navy and Marine Corps. OSP's mission was "to study and prepare measures which would make Port Authority facilities less vulnerable to terrorist attack, to improve the organization's prevention and defensive capabilities, to establish liaison with foreign and domestic units engaged in counter-terrorism activities and to develop an awareness among staff of the potential terrorist threat and the need for vigilance and preparedness. "

OSP consulted with the FBI, the CIA, the National Security Agency, United States Secret Service, United States Department of Transportation, Department of State, Department of Defense, and security officials from the governments of France, England, Italy, Switzerland and Israel, as well as private consultants. The scope of OSP's activities included reviewing and addressing vulnerabilities, identifying alternatives and solutions, presenting recommendations to the facility's management, and obtaining responses from each facility that would be coordinated with the Director of Public Safety.

OSP's Study of the WTC
The OSP spent four to six months studying the WTC, including its building design through examination of photographs, blueprints, diagrams, and plans. OSP brought in experts, such as those who built the WTC, and those who operated it, as well as experts familiar with sabotage and explosives, and had them walk through to assess what was vulnerable, and identify critical areas of the WTC that, if damaged, could impair the building's ability to function or require it to shut down. The OSP visited other large commercial buildings in the City, reviewing their security and the way they handled and responded to bomb threats.

To formulate its recommendations, OSP conducted a "target analysis" in which it analyzed Port Authority targets in terms of "criticality, accessibility, vulnerability, recuperability and extended effect that destruction of the specific target" would have. Criticality is the measure of the impact on the normal flow of events by the target's destruction. Accessibility refers to the terrorist's ability to reach and attack a vincible point. Vulnerability is the extent to which the target would be damaged. Recuperability is the speed at which normal operation would resume after an attack. Finally, OSP evaluated the extended effect of destruction of the target. In a preliminary report entitled "WTC Study Brief", OSP staff considered several attack scenarios, including, most significantly, a "bomb-laden truck attack." In the report, it was stated that, given the recent truck bombings in Lebanon, it was important to consider this possibility, and that a "strategically positioned truck or van could cause extensive structural damage to the Trade Center as well as a large number of casualties." OSP raised questions about this scenario, including which areas, i.e., across the street or in the parking lot below, provide the greatest "bang for the buck," what security exists for a truck bombing at WTC, and what other security measures against this scenario are viable.

In 1985, before the OSP issued its report, the Port Authority hired an outside security consultant, Charles Schnabolk, to review the WTC's security systems. Schnabolk's report focused on the threat of terrorism to the WTC. Schnabolk, in a letter to O'Sullivan, urged that action be taken as soon as possible to implement his recommendations. In the report, the terrorist threat of "bombing attempts" was placed in the "probable" category, and the report warned that the WTC "is highly vulnerable through the parking lot . . . With little effort terrorists could create havoc without being seriously deterred by the current security measures."

The OSP Report
In November 1985, OSP issued its report entitled "Counter-Terrorism Perspectives: The World Trade Center" (the OSP Report). The OSP Report recognized that the WTC was a "most attractive terrorist target" based on its symbolic value, its visibility, and the fact that it is immediately recognizable to people from around the world. The report listed 25 bombing incidents that took place in and around New York City from 1980-1984, including several car bombing incidents. It also listed a bombing at the beginning of 1985 in an office building just a few blocks from the WTC, and the Port Authority was aware of three bombs that had been placed in downtown buildings in August of 1985. " The underground public parking garage was particularly singled out as a "definite security risk."

In proposing potential terrorist scenarios at the WTC, the OSP Report predicted nearly precisely how the February 26, 1993 bombing would occur: "A time bomb-laden vehicle could be driven into the WTC and parked in the public parking area. The driver could then exit via an elevator into the WTC and proceed with his business unnoticed. At a predetermined time, the bomb could be exploded in the basement. The amount of explosives used will determine the severity of damage to the area."

OSP's Director, O'Sullivan, testified terrorists conduct surveillance of potential targets to determine the one with the greatest impact with the least risk to themselves, they can be deterred if they get a sense that the facility is protected, guarded, and presents some risk to them. The OSP Report was submitted to the Executive Director of the Port Authority, the Director of Public Safety of the Port Authority, the Superintendent of the Port Authority Police, and the Director of the World Trade Department.

Port Authority's Actions with Respect to OSP's Recommendations
Guy Tozzoli, the Director of the World Trade Department, in February 1986, in a letter to Stephen Berger, the Port Authority's Executive Director, addressed the OSP's recommendations. With respect to the subgrade levels and OSP's recommendation to ensure proper venting of smoke evacuation devices, Tozzoli responded that adequate ventilation was being provided by the subgrade exhaust fans. As to the public parking recommendations, Tozzoli responded that: (1) the elimination of transient parking would not be implemented, because of the inconvenience to tenants and the loss of revenues; (2) manning the public parking would be too expensive and would not deter a terrorist; (3) restricting pedestrians is impractical because there are many other ways to gain access to the areas; and (4) random inspections of vehicles could not be done without probable cause.

The SAIC Report
The Port Authority sought a second opinion about the OSP's recommendations, and hired an outside consultant, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), to conduct a general security review of the WTC. SAIC was given a copy of the OSP Report as well as Tozzoli's letter to Berger rejecting OSP's recommendations about the subgrade level. SAIC's Report rated the attractiveness of the WTC's public areas to terrorist attack as "very high." It identified the vehicle ramps as vulnerable areas. It specifically noted that vehicle access for security purposes is uncontrolled. The report found that a "well-placed vehicle bomb in each of these locations [the vehicle ramps] would likely damage at least half of the support services (fresh water, steam, cooling water, electrical and telephone) to the WTC users." The SAIC Report found that an adversary would have "little difficulty" in procuring explosives which are "readily available" in the quantities envisioned in the report. Like the OSP Report, the SAIC Report described an attack scenario, remarkably like the one which occurred, in which a small delivery truck with explosives could be positioned on a ramp to the complex, and detonated following a short time delay for the driver's escape.

In SAIC's presentation to the Port Authority's Executive Director in October 1986, SAIC featured "barriers to deter car bomb attempts" at a cost of $83,000, as an upgrade "for immediate implementation" to counter a terrorist attack, with a risk reduction figure of 40%. The presentation also included a comparison of OSP's recommendations about eliminating parking, or instituting more stringent controls and monitoring, and SAIC's recommendation that these actions were "considered but not recommended" based on discussions with the Port Authority.

The Burns and Roe Securacom Report
In 1991, because of the Gulf War and the increased risk of terrorism to United States targets, the Port Authority commissioned another security consulting firm, Burns and Roe Securacom, to prepare reports. Securacom was told by the Port Authority that the WTC was a terrorist target, and the report would help it plan its capital expenditures to maintain its competitive status with nearby buildings that offered more advanced security features. Securacom's draft report recognized that in the "aftermath of MidEast events," there would be a significant increase in "international activities." It included the subgrade utilities and the parking garage as areas of vulnerability. Its final report recommended that the WTC adopt a master plan approach to the development of security systems.

On January 23, 1993, one month before the bombing, the Port Authority received an intelligence report from the FBI that there was a threat from the MidEast to blow up a major office building in New York. Some heightened security measures were implemented over that weekend (Jan. 23 was a Friday) as a result, including some increased patrols around the perimeter, which patrols also drove through the underground areas, but these were scaled back after the weekend was over.

The Bombing
On February 26, 1993, at 12:18 p.m., a bomb exploded beneath the WTC, on the B-2 level of the underground parking garage, on a ramp that leads toward an exit from the garage. The explosion had the force of 1,500 pounds of dynamite. The investigation revealed that the bomb had been detonated in a yellow van parked on the ramp of the public parking garage. Six people were killed, and many, many more were injured, mostly from smoke inhalation. There was evidence that the perpetrators had made several surveillance visits to the garage, and drew maps of the garage. The explosion made a crater six stories deep, compressed several levels of concrete slab, blew down a wall onto the PATH concourse, and destroyed the walls of a number of elevator shafts. The explosion destroyed the communications system, the police area and operations control center, and vital utility systems, including water and electrical, and fire standpipes. Because of the loss of the operations control center, the Port Authority lost the ability to communicate with tenants and their employees in the complex, and to institute its emergency evacuation procedures.

In 1993 Kroll Associates, an investigative and security consulting firm headquartered in New York, was asked by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the owner and manager of the World Trade Center at the time, to assist it in dealing with the aftermath of the terrorist bombing that took place in February of that year and to help design new security measures. This report's Principal Investigator, Brian Michael Jenkins, was then Deputy Chairman of Kroll and led the analysis of future terrorist threats and how they might be addressed. Assessments conclude that a second terrorist attack against the WTC is probable. Although it is considered unlikely, the possibility of terrorists deliberately flying a plane into the WTC towers is included in the range of possible threats

In October 1996, A security company called Stratesec acquires an $8.3 million contract to help provide security at the World Trade Center. This Firm has connections with the Bush Family. It is one of numerous contractors hired in the upgrade of security at the WTC following the 1993 bombing. Stratesec, which was formerly called Securacom, is responsible for installing the “security-description plan”—the layout of the electronic security system—at the World Trade Center. It has a “completion contract” to provide some of the center’s security “up to the day the buildings fell down,” according to Barry McDaniel, its CEO from January 2002. Marvin P. Bush, the youngest brother of future President George W. Bush, is a director at Stratesec from 1993 to June 2000, when most of their work on these big projects is done. Wirt D. Walker III, a distant relative of George W. Bush, is chairman of the board at Stratesec from 1992, and its CEO from 1999 until January 2002. Another of Stratesec’s directors, from 1991 to 2001, is Mishal Yousef Saud Al Sabah, who is a member of the Kuwaiti royal family. After 9/11 Stratesec CEO Barry McDaniel is asked whether FBI or other agents have questioned him or others at Stratesec about their security work related to 9/11. He answers, “No.”

After being awarded the lease to the WTC, SILVERSTEIN PROPERTIES offered John Patrick O'Neill (FBI's Counterterrorism Head) the post of Chief/Head of Security at the WTC in 2001. He retired from the FBI on 22 August 2001 and commenced work at the WTC either on 23 August or 10 September 2001 (sources differ). He was recommended for the post by MD Jerome Jauer, Kroll Associates.

* * * * * *

Various sources highlight Acts of Concern during the week leading up to 11 Septemer 2001.

Heightened Security Alert Had Just Been Lifted By Curtis L. Taylor and Sean Gardiner - NEWSDAY STAFF WRITERS - September 12, 2001 http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-nyaler122362178sep12,0,1255660.story

The World Trade Center was destroyed just days after a heightened security alert was lifted at the landmark 110-story towers, security personnel said yesterday. Daria Coard, 37, a guard at Tower One, said the security detail had been working 12-hour shifts for the past two weeks because of numerous phone threats. But on Thursday (6th), bomb-sniffing dogs were abruptly removed. "Today was the first day there was not the extra security," Coard said. "We were protecting below. We had the ground covered. We didn't figure they would do it with planes. There is no way anyone could have stopped that." Security guard Hermina Jones said officials had recently taken steps to secure the towers against aerial attacks by installing bulletproof windows and fireproof doors in the 22nd-floor computer command center.

"When the fire started, the room was sealed," said Jones, who was in the command center when explosions rocked the building. "Flames were shooting off the walls....We started putting wet towels under the doors. The Fire Department unsealed the door and grabbed us by the hand and said, 'Run!' " Security worker Diane Easton said she was out front writing tickets when notice of "a plane flying too low" placed security personal on alert. "The plane went right through the building...and debris started falling everywhere, then 15 minutes later the second plane," Easton said. Nancy Joyner said several police officers were knocked down and then were stampeded in the ensuing frenzy." People were flying out of the windows; there was nothing we could do," Joyner said. "People were pulled from the top floors by the wind tunnel created."

K-9 UNIT - The Port Authority Police Department formed its K-9 (police dog) Explosive Detection Unit in the fall of 1996 in response to the crash of TWA Flight 800 off the coast of Long Island that summer. The department subsequently expanded the unit to include a K-9 Narcotics Detection Unit. The K-9 unit, which consists of 45 police officers, three sergeants, one inspector and 48 dogs, patrols all Port Authority facilities on a 24-hour basis. The dogs are trained to detect either explosives or narcotics, but not both. The unit currently has 40 dogs trained to detect explosives, including 22 certified by the federal Transportation Security Administration. Sirius, PAPD Badge #17, died in the collapse of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

Other quotes have been widely circulated on the internet however I have not tested their authenticity.

Ben Fountain, 42, a financial analyst with Fireman's Fund, was coming out of the Chambers Street Station, headed for his office on the 47th floor of the south tower: "How could they let this happen? They knew this building was a target. Over the past few weeks, we'd been evacuated a number of times, which is unusual. I think they had an inkling something was going on." Evacuated?

Scott Forbes, an IT employee at Fiduciary Trust located in top floors of the South WTC tower, sends an email to a 9/11 researcher John Kaminski claiming that there was a "power down" in the South Tower, which would have disabled all security cameras and locks, on Sept. 8th and 9th for "cable upgrading" that lasted approximately 36 hours from floor 50 up and that many "engineers" were coming in and out of the building.

Global Warnings and Chatter Before 9/11

All the 9/11 chatter fell on death ears. ................

Many countries supposedly warned George Bush and the US about 9/11, including Afghanistan, Argentina, Britain, Cayman Islands, Egypt, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Morocco, and Russia however not Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. What a coincidence, 15 SB from Saudi Arabia, 2 From UAE, 1 from Egypt and 1 from Lebanon and not one country knew what their citizens were planning.

Saudi Arabia supposedly provided intelligence prior to the 7/7 London Bombings. Where is the proof that the Saudis actually provided anything relevant to the British Security Services, besides a much publicized media story, After the Fact?

Isn't it time for all security services and governments to retain evidence of their communiques and provide proof when their advance warnings of MCIs are ignored by foreign governments?

This Excellent Article provides information about the warnings, in advance of and After 9/11!

They Tried to Warn Us: Foreign Intelligence Warnings Before 9/11 - By Paul Thompson
http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/essay.jsp?article=essaytheytriedtowarnus

The White House had (at least) 28 Advanced Intelligence Warnings Prior to 9/11
Compiled by Eric Smith - 11 February 2004
http://www.globalresearch.ca/

Two Months Before 9/11, an Urgent Warning to Rice
Sunday, October 1, 2006 - The Washington Post
Rice responded in an interview that "what we did in the eight months was at least as aggressive as what the Clinton administration did in the preceding years."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/30/AR2006093000282.html

Report cites warnings before 9/11
Thursday, September 19, 2002 - CNN
In 1998, U.S. intelligence had information that a group of unidentified Arabs planned to fly an explosives-laden airplane into the World Trade Center, according to a joint inquiry of the House and Senate intelligence committees.
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/09/18/intelligence.hearings/

Joint Inquiry Staff Statement, Part I Eleanor Hill, Staff Director, Joint Inquiry Staff
September 18, 2002
http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2002_hr/091802hill.html

Fires and Planes Attack Skyscrapers

IMPACT OF FIRES AND PLANES ON TALL BUILDINGS

Keeping in mind the following facts about the Twin Towers, what impact do fires and planes really have on tall buildings?

WTC1 North Tower Hit (1st) at 8:46am >> Floors 93rd - 99th << / Collapsed (2nd) at 10:28am / 102 minutes later.

WTC2 South Tower Hit (2nd) at 9:02am >> Floors 78th - 84th << / Collapsed (1st) at 09:59am / 57 minutes later.

NB Differences: Floor levels hit in each Tower. Aircraft fuel fireball Outside South Tower and Inside North Tower. People only jumped from the North Tower. The South Tower was the last to be Hit but the First to Fall.

ALSO READ POST 9/11 WTC Demolition, Insurance & Redevelopment

SKYSCRAPER FIRES

No severe fire has ever caused a steel framed tall building to collapse. The following examples are being used by people to challenge the government's official account of the collapse of the Twin Towers.

THE WINDSOR BUILDING FIRE - Madrid, Spain

The most recent example of a severe high-rise fire is the Windsor Building in Madrid, Spain on February 12, 2005. The fire started on the 21st Floor of the 32 story building, spreading to all floors above the 2nd Floor. The Fire lasted for 18 to 20 hours. Unlike all of the other identified buildings the Windsor Building was framed in steel-reinforced concrete rather than steel.




CARACAS TOWER FIRE - Caracas, Venezuela
The tallest skyscraper in Caracas experienced a severe fire on October 17, 2004. The blaze began before midnight on the 34th floor and spread to more than 26 floors. The fire burned for more than 17 hours. Lax enforcement of fire codes in Venezuela was blamed for the malfunctioning of water pumps and a lack of fire extinguishers inside of the building. The building was empty when the fire broke out and no civilians were killed or injured.

ONE MERIDIAN PLAZA FIRE - Philadelphia, PA, US
This 38-floor skyscraper experienced a severe fire on February 23, 1991. The fire started on the 22nd floor and raged for 18 hours, gutting eight floors. The fire caused window breakage, cracking of granite, and failures of spandrel panel connections.

FIRST INTERSTATE BANK FIRE - Los Angeles, CA, US

The 62-story skyscraper suffered the worst high-rise fire in the city's history. From the late evening of May 4, 1988 through to the early morning of the next day, 64 fire companies battled the blaze, which lasted for 3 1/2 hours. Firefighting efforts resulted in massive water damage to floors below the fire, and the fire gutted offices from the 12th to the 16th floor, and caused extensive smoke damage to floors above. There was no damage to the main structure and only minor damage to one secondary beam and a small number of floor pans.

1 NEW YORK PLAZA FIRE - New York
A 50-story office tower, within a mile of the World Trade Center site. Experienced a severe fire and explosion on August 5, 1970. The fire started around 6pm and burned for more than 6 hours.

The following websites provide more detailed information about the damage caused by fires to tall buildings.

Skyscraper Fires http://911research.wtc7.net/wtc/analysis/compare/fires.html#ref7
One Stop Shop in Structural Fire Engineering by the University of Manchester http://www.mace.manchester.ac.uk/project/research/structures/strucfire/CaseStudy/HistoricFires/BuildingFires/

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THE EAGLE HAS LANDED........

Fri 19 October 2007 - Richmond, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

A twin-engine Piper Seneca plane crashed into the ninth floor of a 15 story suburban apartment building, Rosario Gardens, just East of Vancouver International Airport, killing the pilot and injuring at least two people in the building. Airport officials said the Piper Seneca had been en route to suburban Pitt Meadows several miles to the east. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,303738,00.html

New York City Plane Crash
A Cirrus SR20 fixed-wing, single-engine light aircraft piloted by Cory Lidle and Tyler Stanger hit the 30th-floor apartment numbered 40ABG, owned by Dr. Parviz Benhuri and his wife Ilana, of a 50-story condominium Belaire building, with 183 apartments at 524 East 72nd Street on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, at about 2:42 p.m. The crash caused a fire in several apartments but was extinguished within two hours. Twenty-one people were injured including 11 firefighters. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_New_York_City_plane_crash

Tue 6 December 2005 - Tehran, Iran
At 14:10 local time an Iranian Air Force C-130 military transport aircraft crashed into a ten-floor apartment building in a residential area of Tehran. The plane bound for Bandar Abbas on the Persian Gulf, was carrying 10 crew and 84 passengers, of whom sixty-eight were reportedly journalists en route to watch a series of military exercises off the country's southern coast. The pilot reported engine trouble shortly after takeoff. The plane came down in a populated area of Towhid, crashing into an apartment building where many Iranian Air Force personnel resided. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20051206-0

Thu 18 April 2002 - Pirelli Tower, Milan, Italy
A single propeller Rockwell Commander A112 piloted by a 68-year-old Swiss man hit the 26th floor of the 32 story Pirelli Tower (415ft/127m high) tower in an apparent accident at 5:48 pm, 18 minutes after take off. The crash killed the pilot and at least three other people. Sixty more people sustained injuries in the building and on the ground. The tower, located near Milan's central train station, is one of the world's tallest concrete buildings. http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/04/18/italy.milan/

Sat 5 January 2002 - Bank of America Tower, Tampa, Florida
A Cessna 172 crashed into the 23rd and 24th floors of the 42-story Bank of America Tower in downtown Tampa, Florida. At 5 p.m. EST, the 15-year-old pilot, Bishop reportedly stole the small aircraft. The impact killed the teenager and damaged an office room. There were no other injuries. http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/01/05/tampa.crash/

Sun 4 October 1992 - Apartments, Amsterdam, Netherlands
El Al Flight 1862, a Boeing 747-258F, registration 4X-AXG cargo plane crashed into flats in the Bijlmermeer neighbourhood of Amsterdam, Netherlands. A total of 47 people were killed, consisting of the plane's crew of three and a non-revenue passenger in a jumpseat, plus 43 persons on the ground. Many more were injured. The plane was traveling from New York to Tel Aviv and made a stopover at Schiphol. During the flight from New York to Schiphol, three flight issues were noted: fluctuations in the autopilot speed regulation, problems with the shortwave radio, and fluctuations in the voltage of engine. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Al_Flight_1862



Sat 28 July 1945 - Empire State Building, New York, USA
At 9:40 am, a twin engine B-25 Mitchell bomber, piloted by Lieutenant Colonel William F. Smith, Jr., who was flying in thick fog, accidentally crashed into the Empire State Building (102 floors) between the 79th and 80th floors, where the offices of the Catholic War Relief Office were located. One engine shot through the side opposite the impact and another plummeted down an elevator shaft. The fire was extinguished in 40 minutes. Fourteen people were killed in the incident. http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/0112/News/News8-0112.html

9/11 Key Dates - US Intelligence Community, WTC Privatization & Bin Ladin

The following timeline contains dates of Bin Ladin public statements and activities, the US Intelligence Community's Activities and the privatization of the World Trade Center before 11 September 2001.


In August 1998, the US Intelligence Community obtained information that a group of unidentified Arabs planned to fly an explosive-laden plane from a foreign country into the World Trade Center. This information was passed to the FBI and the FAA. It should be assumed the Port Authority of New York was informed, given that the target was clearly identified and the twin towers remained a high risk target following the failure of the 1993 bombing.

In September 1998 the Port Authority of New York commenced privatization of the twin towers, two other office buildings and a 90-store mall. The Port Authority would remain the landlord with the title to the land after awarding the 99 year lease.

The eventual destruction of the Twin Towers could be recognised as satisfying the interests of different parties.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

PANY - The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
http://www.panynj.gov/

USIC & BL - Joint Investigation Into September 11th: First Public Hearing - 18 September 2002 Joint House/Senate Intelligence Committee Hearing - Staff Statement, Part I, September 18, 2002
http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2002_hr/091802hill.html

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

KEY DATES

BL - 23 August 1996 - Public Fatwa authorizing attacks by his followers against Western military targets on the Arabian Peninsula.

BL - 23 February 1998 - Usama Bin Ladin and four other extremists publicly issue another public fatwa expanding the 1996 fatwa to include U.S. military and civilian targets anywhere in the world.

BL - May 1998 - Press conference, Bin Ladin publicly discusses "bringing the war home to America."

USIC - June 1998, the US Intelligence Conununity obtains information from several sources that Usama Bin Ladin is considering attacks in the U.S., including Washington, DC and New York. This information is provided to senior U.S. Government officials in July 1998.

BL - 7 August 1998 - BL Attacks US Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya & Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

USIC - August 1998, the US Intelligence Community obtains information that a group of unidentified Arabs plan to fly an explosive-laden plane from a foreign country into the World Trade Center. The information is passed to the FBI and the FAA. The FAA find the plot highly unlikely given the state of that foreign country's aviation program. The FBI's New York office takes no action on the information, filing the communication in the office's bombing repository file. The Intelligence Community acquires additional information since then indicating there may be links between this group and other terrorist groups, including al-Qa'ida.

PANY - 24 September 1998 - IN HISTORIC SHIFT, PORT AUTHORITY PUTS WORLD TRADE CENTER ON THE MARKET

PANY - 18 August 1999 - PORT AUTHORITY SEEKS PRIVATE BIDDERS TO OPERATE WORLD TRADE CENTER UNDER LONG-TERM LEASE - Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

PANY - 20 September 1999 - PORT AUTHORITY DEADLINE FOR PRIVATE BIDDERS

USIC - March 2000, the US Intelligence Community obtains information regarding the types of targets that operatives in Bin Ladin's network might strike. The Statue of Liberty is specifically mentioned, as are skyscrapers, ports, airports, and nuclear power plants.

BL - 12 October 2000 - BL Attacks the USS Cole.

USIC - April 2001, the US Intelligence Community obtains information from a source with terrorist connections who speculates that Bin Ladin is interested in commercial pilots as potential terrorists. The source warns that the United States should not focus only on embassy bombings, that terrorists sought "spectacular and traumatic" attacks, and that the first World Trade Center bombing would be the type of attack that would be appealing.

WIKI - 15 February 2001, the Port Authority announces Vornado Trust Realty has won the lease for the World Trade Center, paying $3.25 billion for the 99-year lease. Deal falls through in March 2001.

PANY - 26 April 2001 - PORT AUTHORITY TO LEASE WORLD TRADE CENTER TO SILVERSTEIN PROPERTIES, INC. AND WESTFIELD AMERICA, INC

PANY - 24 July 2001 - GOVERNOR PATAKI, ACTING GOVERNOR Di FRANCESCO LAUD HISTORIC PORT AUTHORITY AGREEMENT TO PRIVATIZE WORLD TRADE CENTER - Silverstein Properties, Inc., and Westfield America, Inc. win the lease of the Twin Towers and other portions of the complex in a deal worth approximately $3.2 billion.


After Six weeks the Twin Towers fall......... Tuesday 11 September 2001