Comments on: U.S. Wary Of Small Boat Terrorism

Administration Wants To Enlist Recreational Boaters To Reduce Chances Of Waterway Attacks

[cdfoxtrot]

Looks like the fear mongering crew at the WH are gearing up for November. I think most people are getting tired of these non-stories.

[gliderguy52]

After 9/11 the Department of Homeland Security decided those locks were in danger of a terrorist attack. To fix this problem they put up security fences all around the locks, confining visitors to small observation areas. No longer could you ask a question of a lock employee because you never saw them any more. But you couldn''''t drive your van of explosives up to the lock and detonate it because it was now fenced off.
Posted by creeper00 at 11:02 AM : Apr 28, 2008

I''m not sure why you have a problem with this. The locks are essentially a place of business, not a national park. Why should you be able to stroll up and expect the lockmasters to stop their work to entertain you any more than you should expect access to the interworkings of a military base, government courthouse, or any other place of business? I know it is a sad change since 9/11, but it is done for the security of the infrastructure and the workers who are there.
Public general aviation airports have gone through the same restrictions. No longer can just anyone enter the flight line. Now you have to show reason to enter the flight line, either as a passenger or crew member. We are all paying a price for greater security.

[creeper00]

Wanna hear something hysterically funny? You''ll love this one.

We live on the Mississippi River. We go boating a lot, through locks up and down the river.

You used to be able to visit the locks and walk right up to the edge of them. Schools brought children to demonstrate to them how locks work. Locals made locks a regular stop on their tours of the area. Lockmasters and their staffs were usually pleased to answer any questions.

After 9/11 the Department of Homeland Security decided those locks were in danger of a terrorist attack. To fix this problem they put up security fences all around the locks, confining visitors to small observation areas. No longer could you ask a question of a lock employee because you never saw them any more. But you couldn''t drive your van of explosives up to the lock and detonate it because it was now fenced off.

[creeper00]

What you can still do is drive your boat filled with explosives right into the lock itself and detonate it. That''s right. You can sail an entire barge load of explosives (nine of them, even, if you prefer) right into the lock that is protected from us citizens by chain link fencing and blow it to smithereens.

I expect the government''s next move will be to declare that citizens cannot use the locks. Perhaps this story is the beginning of that end. That still won''t keep the barge full of explosives out of the lock.

In the meantime we have spent millions of dollars on laughable "security" at our locks. It would be interesting to know who got the contracts for that security but half an hour''s searching on the web yields nothing.

[quetzal0666]

Does thatr mean the Coast guard wil start firing on cubans now???

[jdharman]

And another liberal dimwit pukes for us...

[drinuk]

No use in employing recreational boats to stop the real terrorists, Monsanto and Big Pharma. This story is a diversion to deflect from the real hurt and harm caused by our own corporate terrorists.