From the AP comes a report about more ‘extremists’ wanting this time to acquire school bus licenses and buses, but the FBI says there is no “reason for concern” (with thanks to Sheila):
FBI issues alert about extremists
Memo suggests no plot but says some are school-bus driversMar 17, 2007
WASHINGTON — Suspected members of extremist groups have signed up as school-bus drivers in the United States, counterterror officials said yesterday in a cautionary bulletin to police. But an FBI spokesman said, “Parents and children have nothing to fear.”
Click here.Asked about the alert notice, the FBI’s Rich Kolko said, “There are no threats, no plots and no history [Foehammer note: Because apparently this FBI agent has never heard of the Beslan Massacre] leading us to believe there is any reason for concern,” although law-enforcement agencies around the country were asked to watch out for children’s safety.
The bulletin, parts of which were read to The Associated Press, did not say how often foreign extremists have sought to acquire licenses to drive school buses, or where. It was sent yesterday as part of what officials said was a routine FBI and Homeland Security Department advisory to local law enforcement.
It noted “recent suspicious activity” by foreigners who either drive school buses or are licensed to drive them, according to a counterterror official.
Foreigners under recent investigation include “some with ties to extremist groups” who have been able to “purchase buses and acquire licenses,” the bulletin says.
But Homeland Security and the FBI “have no information indicating these individuals are involved in a terrorist plot against the homeland,” it says. The memo also notes: “Most attempts by foreign nationals in the United States to acquire school-bus licenses to drive them are legitimate.”Kolko said the bulletin was sent merely as an educational tool to help local police identify and respond to any suspicious activity.
Sure it was. It’s all so innocent, as if our police and FBI have a history of proactive strategy and out-of-the-box thinking. Wait, how did 9-11 happen then? I don’t recall anyone saying not to be concerned by Muslim flight instruction students, so if they are warning me, then everything must be safe!
So you parents can relax. The FBI tells you so. The ‘extremists’ could be anyone –maybe only Mexican illegals still angry over the annexation of California perhaps? Maybe they only want to practice driving floats in the next Cinco de Mayo parades? School bus — parade floats. Yeah, that’s the ticket.
Does the FBI ever use the words jihadi or Muslim?
A relevant link to more reason not to be concerned:
Iraqi jihadists used kids as cover, then killed them
…because Muslims value life as you do. The Religion of Peace and Nature® will protect your kids. Go hire a Muslim babysitter today and prove to yourself how much you trust that they aren’t part of the “tiny minority of extremists”.
Why are you hesitating? Pick up that phone! Islamic Nannies — 555-5555.
A Must-Read Related Editorial: An American Beslan?
Comments on Jihad Watch:
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/015740.php
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“Parents and children have nothing to fear.”
Then why the alert?
And again, who are we looking for? Suspicious looking Norwegian grannies, suspicious looking Buddhist monks? If we cannot profile or even the name the enemy five years plus after 9/11, who the hell are we looking for?
Insane! We’re to look for suspicious things but everything is fine-no threats to us at all. What the hell’s wrong with the FBI-are they trying to get into the comedy business?
Time for the 64 dollar question: Why are those with ties to extremist groups allowed to drive school buses? Better yet-why aren’t they being thrown out of the country?
This world is making less sense to me every day.
Here is the problem. The onus is on the government (federal for policy but ultimately local for enforcement and preparedness) to ensure our communities and populations are safe. It is why we have public officials in the first place.
If I spot a known child molester driving a school bus or on school grounds, I am alerting authorities and expecting action to be taken to ensure that the event does not repeat itself. I also expect public notification as to what actions have been taken or will be taken. Background checks are mandatory, are they not? I went through an extensive background check in order to teach children at my church so that the organization may stay above reproach in light of unfortunate priestly activity in recent years.
So then why would we expect anything different when our children are threatened by known extremists who have expressed interest in harming “America” through her children and have proven (Beslan) they have the means to do so? My wife refuses to sign a friggin’ field trip permission slip for my 6 year old and I can’t honestly assure her there is no legitimate risk taken by him to ride a bus.
Responsible parties should absolutely have been prosecuted or at the very least fired for the unnecessary debacle that was 9/11. Thanks to Jamie Gorelick and friends in the infinite wisdom that was the Clinton administration deeming it best that the CIA and FBI (right hand/left hand) should not be privy to each others operations, here we are today.
There IS someone comforted by the FBI and its statements of denial regarding our safety and security and it is NOT the public they are sworn to protect and serve. No indeed it is the very extremists themselves that are comforted by these words. Thanks but no thanks. In the future, just come clean with the truth and involve the public. Your concerns about mass hysteria are unfounded and this country is mature enough to handle such things.
I need another drink…