Schools warned after plans found in Iraq

Well well.... isn't this a surprise? (yeah, right!) Less than a month before elections, the Bush Administration has issued yet another round of fear-mongering, thrust upon the American sheeple. Following the Russian school takeover just a few weeks ago, what better way to scare all the "security moms" into submission than with some good, old-fashioned scare tactics involving the warning of a possible threat to their own children.

And, yet again, there are no specific threats.

How convenient.

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Schools warned after plans found in Iraq
School officials also advised to watch for spying

The Associated Press
Updated: 11:20 p.m. ET Oct. 7, 2004

WASHINGTON - Federal law enforcement authorities notified school districts in six states last month that a computer disc found in Iraq contained photos, floor plans and other information about their schools, two U.S. officials said Thursday.

The downloaded data found by the U.S. military in July — all publicly available on the Internet — included an Education Department report guiding schools on how to prepare and respond to a crisis, said one official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The officials said it was unclear who downloaded the information and stressed there is no evidence of any specific threats involving the schools.

The districts mentioned are in Georgia, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, Oregon and California. The officials said last month FBI agents in charge of those areas alerted local education and law enforcement officials about the finding.

The officials did not provide the names of the districts. But Salem, Ore., Superintendent Kay Baker confirmed her district was among them.

“Local law enforcement has no knowledge of a specific threat to any of our school buildings,” she said. “We will work collaboratively with law enforcement on any further developments.”

San Diego schools also were included, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune, and ABC News said there was a second California district. The Salem Statesman-Journal reported the other districts were Fort Myers, Fla.; Jones County, Ga.; Birch Run, Mich.; and Franklinville and Rumson, both in New Jersey.

The disc contained an Education Department report called “Practical Information on Crisis Planning: A Guide for Schools and Communities,” published in May 2003, as well as photos and floor plans.

In a separate but more widespread warning put out this week, the Education Department advised school leaders nationwide to watch for people spying on their buildings or buses to help detect any possibility of terrorism like the deadly school siege last month in Russia.

The warning follows an analysis by the FBI and the Homeland Security Department of the siege that killed nearly 340 people, many of them students, in the city of Beslan.

“The horror of this attack may have created significant anxiety in our own country among parents, students, faculty staff and other community members,” Deputy Education Secretary Eugene Hickok said in a letter sent Wednesday to schools and education groups.

The Education Department’s advice is based on lessons learned from the Russia siege. But there is no specific information indicating a terrorist threat to any schools or universities in the United States, Hickok said.

Federal law enforcement officials also have urged local police to stay in contact with school officials and have encouraged reporting of suspicious activities, the letter says.

In particular, schools were told to watch for activities that may be legitimate on their own — but may suggest a threat if many of them occur.

Among those activities:

*Interest in obtaining site plans for schools, bus routes and attendance lists.

*Prolonged “static surveillance” by people disguised as panhandlers, shoe shiners, newspaper or flower vendors or street sweepers not previously seen in the area.

*Observations of security drills.

*People staring at or quickly looking away from employees or vehicles as they enter or leave parking areas.

*Foot surveillance of campuses involving individuals working together.

The effort is the latest by the Education Department and other federal agencies to encourage school officials to maintain and practice a plan for responding to emergencies.

“It’s a positive sign that they’re finally discussing this after years of downplaying or denying even the possibility of a terrorist strike on schools,” said Kenneth Trump, a Cleveland-based school safety consultant who has worked with officials in more than 40 states. “Public officials are in fear of creating fear, but we have to put the cards on the table, educate people in the school community and make sure they are well prepared.”

After the terrorist takeover of the Russian school, President Bush asked his top advisers to review their strategies for dealing with hostage situations, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has said.

The federal government is advising schools to take many steps to improve the security of their buildings. Those include installing locks for all doors and windows, having a single entry point into buildings and ensuring they can reach school bus drivers in an emergency.

The Education Department sent its letter by e-mail Wednesday to school police, state school officers, school boards, groups representing principals and many other organizations.

The Homeland Security Department also sent a bulletin to federal, state and local emergency officials to provide fresh guidance based on the review of the school siege in Russia.

© 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

 

Well isn't that conveeeeenient?

 

*rolls eyes*
I don't feel safe putting my kids in public school but it has little to do with terrorists.

 

yeah, that news about the school thing comes as no shock to me..because they just had the weapons inspectors news today about the WMD's..so of course they are gonna have something major to scare us..
I just listened to the news about finding Saddam to not be an imminent threat on us, and getting rid of his weapons back in 1991..sorry but listening to it, and KNOWING there were none and finally after all of this time having SOLID proof, that there were none..and that he was only doing this to make Iran believe he had them in his possession and the Bush administration led us into this stupid war, no we jumped into this stupid war, and so many people are dead and FOR FUCKIN WHAT?!..pisses me off so much..*takes deep breaths*

 

It'll be ok...just breath ;-)

Just someone please tell me the Bush family doesn't have yet another family member waiting for his place as head war criminal...ahem..I mean president.

 

I'm thinking this may work against the Republicans. Any idiot who actually believes there is a danger is probably a moron who would vote for Bush anyways.

 

Im not voting for bush.... But there is a threat. There will always be a threat as long as the US has people who don't like them. (because were infidels) We walked around day to day thinking there was no danger till Sept 11th happend. I think thats a reason to fear safety. To say there is no danger in a day and age as now, is idiotic in itself.

 

Why are you voting Bush?

 

He didn't say he was voting for Bush. I however, am saying that I will vote for Bush. Out of the two people running, Bush is the one I would prefer.

As far as the disc containing US school's safety plans and escape routes, this is week old news. It was touched on for maybe five minutes last week then passed over by the libral media. Of course you people will think it is a voting ploy to scare people into voting for Bush. Most of you are the same people that think Bush had something to do with the attack on 9/11. I however find it as no surprise because we are dealing with people that despise our freedom of religion, despise our filth that give us a bad name, and all in all, just plain hate America.

 

YOU ARE AN ASSHOLE,GO FUCK YOURSELF YOU HEARTLESS PIECE OF SHIT. Think about someone other than yourself for once, like the young people of this country. Do you want us to die?

What liberal media? This was reported on FOXNews.

There is more evidence linking the Bush admin to the attacks than anyone else.

 

I'm sorry, it was early and I was tired.

How about you tell me why you are then (voting Bush)? As before, there is no way to prove either way where this "disc" came from. You can trust your politicians (haha)...

I'm not surprised though. I'm sure we'll "find" more things as the elections draw closer. Bush has got to make sure that this war was for a purpose. Now all the mothers will want to vote Bush to make sure their little kiddies in school stay safe.

 

even without a computer disc there is still a good chance that another operation like beslan will take place in the west .

most of these groups take techniques from each other.

at one time suicide bombing happened just in isreal now it could happen anywhere ,
so if you see something like a attack on a school having a big effect in russia you can expect it to be used in other places

I wouldnt be surprised if you had kidnapping and beheading in the west to.

I think a attack like beslan in america or europe is very likely .

we certainly have people living in the west who would take part in such a attack.

There are reports that one of the people in the beslan siege was british and a couple of the people beheading people in iraq are also brits ,but you could find americans to do this kind of thing too Im sure

 

This is true, but just because something happens on the other side of the world dosnt mean it's going to happen here. A lot of shit happened to Russia that never happened here. This whole school shit is no different.

People really need to calm down and stop listening to everything that administration puts out. If anyone has been doing their reading, you'd realize how many "terror reports" that administration has put out already. And still nothing happens. Why? Because it's based on nothing. That's a fact. It's been that way since day one when we invaded Iraq - based on what? nothing.

 

I'm not nearly as afraid of terrorists as I am of many other "dangers", O.K. I think things like pollution, unemployment, lack of healthcare are much more serious (more realistic, that is) dangers.
Please use discretion when you get your info, especially if it's from the T.V. They want you to be afraid, it's so obvious, can't you see that?

Oh yeah, and BUSH ALLOWED (if not planned it) 9-11!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You need to know that.

 

Wait wait wait, you better not own a car or drive in one. You better be at some random persons house making this post instead of actualy owning something that has been manufactured at a plant that puts out the polution you detest. You better live in some straw house that didn't invlove lots of wood to make and lots of puloting trucks to deliver said wood...

If the people would get off their asses and go get jobs they wouldnt have ot wait in the welfair lines so long. Wonder why? Because they wouldn't be on welfare. I don't know about you, but I can go out and find about 50-60 places a day that are hiring.

What lack of health care? Even fast food resturaunts offer health care plans. And if you don't have a job you can get health care for free from my tax dollars.

And we are hiding aliens in Area 51 right?

 

Bandit are you that stupid? Most people can't afford health care.and come on fast food restaurants like the pay you make there, you can AFFORD health care insurance? You must be rich, niave, or something because you aren't living in the same world as i am..also, people do try to find jobs, doesn't mean they are lazy, just means there are NONE! Most jobs I see hiring, don't pay shit! Then there are the Professional jobs, alot of people don't have the money to go to college to get Professional jobs..I myself have a huge bill to pay for loans for going to college, now before you are in these peoples shoes, I think you shouldn't judge them. You make every excuse there is to say how great a job Bush is doing, when all in all he's doing a SHIT job! and YES i can say that because I see it on the news, i read it everywhere i go..how can you not say he isn't when it's been all over everything that he and cheney are nothing but LIARS! and about polution, i believe she (green thumb) was referring to how much pollution there is in the air not from cars alone but from other things, so you don't have to be a smart ass about someone driving a car, riding a bus or anything else, people have to have transportation to get to work, school, etc. There are other instances of pollution.

 

Bandit, cut out the selfish ignorance. I get so sick and tired of hearing the myth that anyone who can't get a job is a welfare-hog, or lazy, or a criminal. Bandit thinks that he could get 50 jobs...well good luck bandit, you are going to need 50 of those jobs to actually be able to support your family. They dont pay so well.

 

I heard a little bit about it today.....supposedly the disk was owned by a guy who was using the info to help make plans to make schools in iraq safer. I only heard a bit of the report though, so I don't know the details or how true this info is.

 

What's dangerous is this "crying wolf" game the administration has been playing. Will we be able to trust our government when we need to most?

 

I'll never be able to trust the government because I know what it's capable of.