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Monday, December 11, 2006

Semi-Truck Terrorism?

This is weird:

A truck-driving student is in custody in Boston after raising suspicions when he wasn’t interested in learning how to back up his rig.

WLVI-TV (Ch. 56) reported last night that the would-be trucker is a 28-year-old Muslim from India and had overstayed his visa. An investigation is under way to see whether there is any connection between his unusual behavior and a terrorism plot. Federal authorities were alerted by instructors at the Nationwide Tractor Trailer Driving School in Smithfield, R.I., WLVI reported.

The student was described as a resident of New York, with driver’s licenses from New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island.

“Every indicator was there,” R.I. State Police Major Steve O’Donnell told WLVI. “Any one of these things alone is fine, but four or five together .

While a loaded semi-truck would make a fine weapon it’s hard for this ex-farm boy to understand that you’d need a lesson on how to drive it forward. 

I wonder what will become of this story?

Comments

So they were profiling, right?

Bastards.

How dare they do such a thing. Trying to catch terrorists and crap.

Brandon on December 11, 2006 at 11:57 am
Avatar for Robert Perry

Note that he didn’t need the training to drive one forward, but he did need it to get a Hazmat license and a cargo that could make life very interesting once he’d crashed it.  That’s what’s going on.

Robert Perry on December 11, 2006 at 01:04 pm
Avatar for WOOF

Hazmat license is just a written test, though a difficult one, as I found out when it was time to renew my license. feds got tough.
You can rent a very large straight truck with only a regular drivers license.
No need for a Class A tractor trailer license if you are a terrorist.
If you are a cigarrette smugler, maybe.

WOOF on December 11, 2006 at 01:41 pm
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Reminds me of the terrorist plot in Showtime’s “Sleeper Cell.”

Lanie on December 11, 2006 at 03:49 pm
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No need for a Class A tractor trailer license if you are a terrorist.

I love how Woof jumps to conclusions.

Terrorists would never need a commercial driver’s license.  Why?  Because Woof knows.


When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

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Rob on December 11, 2006 at 04:48 pm

Woofies seen every episode of BJ and the Bear so he knows all about trucking.


What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.


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The Whistler on December 11, 2006 at 05:53 pm
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WOOF has a bit of trucking Knowledge.

2001696213909109577_rs.jpg

Did some movie work with them.

WOOF on December 11, 2006 at 06:54 pm
Avatar for Mike H.

As an over the road driver on both refers and flatbeds, and with and without a hazmat endorsement, I can say that woof is partially correct. Any straight truck over 10,000 lbs gross needs a commercial license. Class B for the straight truck and class A for combination vehicles. The hazmat is rough to have under normal conditions and would probably be a nightmare right now. My endorsements are for doubles and tanks neither of which needs a hazmat. I believe that all drivers are under increased scrutiny today.

Mike H. on December 11, 2006 at 06:58 pm
Avatar for WOOF

NonCommercial Driver Licenses

CLASS E: Any non-commercial motor vehicles with Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) less than 26,001 pounds, including passenger cars, 15 passenger vans including the driver, trucks or recreational vehicles

Big vehicle.

WOOF on December 11, 2006 at 07:47 pm
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Right, and terrorists would never have need of a big truck.


When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

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Rob on December 11, 2006 at 08:07 pm

truck = payload
payload = American deaths
American deaths = happy Muslims
big truck = larger payload
larger payload = more American deaths
more American deaths = happier Muslims

big truck = happier Muslims

Maybe if you’re not good with math you won’t understand it.

Paulie B on December 11, 2006 at 09:50 pm

This story does not ring right. Terrorists have no need of a license nor do they need to go to a Truck driving school. This appears to be a case of the Flying Imams, only on wheels. This jackoff’s lawyer will now have a feild day with our judicial system and the press will slobber all over this Jihadi wannabe.

If you are going to steal a truck and use it as a bomb, you do not have to present a license. This is another sideways attack through our courts and media.


Una Salus Victus Nullam Sperare Salutem

2Hotel9 on December 12, 2006 at 02:33 am
Avatar for Robert Perry

2Hotel9 and others, I think that the trick is that somebody wanted to know exactly what was in the vehicle for the intended suicide crash.  You can certainly wreak havoc by stealing someone’s rig, but then you don’t know whether it’s going to do anything more interesting than crash and burn. 

Plus, when you steal the truck, doncha think that somebody might, say, call the cops and notify everyone on the road that a certain Peterbilt with a blue trailer is “hot”?  Do you think that just might, maybe just maybe, interfere with getting to your target?

Again, what this guy may have wanted to do is to be handed the keys to a certain kind of vehicle that was loaded with exactly the payload he wanted.  You can’t do that without CDL + Hazmat, and thank goodness he left a nice little paper trail so he didn’t get it.

Robert Perry on December 12, 2006 at 08:36 am
Avatar for Aundre Breeman

I dont believe any legitimate trucking company would allow him behind the wheel without first showing proof of a commercial license.  I have a class “A” with doubles, triples, tanker and HAZMAT certs. The Hazmat test is a written test, but you also have to get finger printed, and pay $90 dollars for an FBI back ground check…

Aundre Breeman on December 12, 2006 at 03:36 pm

RP, no one has to go to any school for that. Any state Driver’s Manual will suffice.

Aundre, in order to steal a truck and use it for whatever purpose you wish no license is needed. You just steal whatever truck you want. Just exactly how stupid are people like you?


Una Salus Victus Nullam Sperare Salutem

2Hotel9 on December 12, 2006 at 05:24 pm

2hotel9 how stupid are people like ... Me ??? Oh brother.... where’s the iggy button. seems I have to explain everything. You’re a DEMOCRAT.. right ??? I knew it !!!

Sphincter_Muscle on December 12, 2006 at 07:48 pm

Thats right! I are a big fat lying Democrap. I done been voting for John Edwards and I loves me welfare check. Just like you.


Una Salus Victus Nullam Sperare Salutem

2Hotel9 on December 13, 2006 at 02:34 am

ROFL… yeah.... that’s what I thought

Sphincter_Muscle on December 13, 2006 at 08:25 am
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2Hotel9, I would suggest that anyone who doesn’t take some classes in driving school might have trouble passing the driving portion of the CDL exam.

Robert Perry on December 13, 2006 at 08:51 am

RP, they are terrorists who are going to steal trucks to use as truck bombs. Why do they need a CDL?


Una Salus Victus Nullam Sperare Salutem

2Hotel9 on December 13, 2006 at 12:25 pm
Avatar for Robert Perry

2H, I’d simply argue that the plan is somewhat more sophisticated than simply stealing a truck.  I think that the end goal is to become a driver who will be trusted with a very specific kind of load--a driver with CDL and various endorsements for hazmat, etc..

The trick is that drivers can (using CB radio, etc..) very quickly locate a stolen vehicle and run it off the road with no harm done except to that tractor-trailer.  What’s the Jihadi fun in that?  If you want to spill tons of chemicals in an elementary school or office building, you’ve got to have that license.

Robert Perry on December 13, 2006 at 12:56 pm

Robert, that’s an interesting point, but it doesn’t match with the fact that the guy only wanted to learn the basics.

In order to get that job he’s going to need to demonstrate the ability to drive a truck, including backing up.


What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.


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The Whistler on December 13, 2006 at 12:58 pm
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True--I simply saw something else about this that indicated he wanted hazmat endorsement.  My guess is that the wannabe driver’s logic (thankfully) broke down, and he didn’t figure out he wasn’t getting his CDL without learning to back up.

Robert Perry on December 13, 2006 at 01:24 pm

RP, why not recruit a stooge who already has license and job? You do not have to tell them what is going on. Make it a common criminal type operation, then move on to your actual goal.

As for effects, why so complicated? Have you an idea of the destructive force of a 10,000 gallon gasoline or liguified petroleum tanker? 10 pounds of explosive would be plenty of initiator.

As for stealing a truck, got a clue how many 18 wheelers are currently listed as stolen, just in the state of New Jersey? Much less nationwide?


Una Salus Victus Nullam Sperare Salutem

2Hotel9 on December 13, 2006 at 04:05 pm

No, this event has had its intended effect. Asymmetrical Warfare, a concept more Americans need to become familiar with, because our enemies already are.


Una Salus Victus Nullam Sperare Salutem

2Hotel9 on December 13, 2006 at 04:08 pm

why not recruit a stooge who already has license and job? You do not have to tell them what is going on.

You still need to have the guy to drive it the last mile or two.  That’s why you don’t need to know how to back up.


What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.


The Whistler's signature
The Whistler on December 13, 2006 at 04:14 pm

I doubt this is going to matter to 2hotel, but I drive a tanker… Gasoline, and when it is full sure you could blow it up with another explosive, but the fuel doesnt “DETONATE”, sure it would “IGNITE” and BURN and maybe be thrown all over everything locally, but as far as “the destructive force"… he he he… like I said Gasoline doesnt “DETONATE”. AN empty tanker with FUMES would DETONATE, but once again it would be a localized explosion…

SUBMITTED FOR YOUR REVIEW…

Sphincter_Muscle on December 13, 2006 at 04:15 pm

Yes, but you drive that tanker of gasoline into a soft target and IGNITE it it will cause a lot of trouble.


What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.


The Whistler's signature
The Whistler on December 13, 2006 at 04:33 pm

And the fuel not “detonating” is relevent how? Are you, asshole, attempting to tell the world that burning gasoline is harmless?


Una Salus Victus Nullam Sperare Salutem

2Hotel9 on December 13, 2006 at 05:22 pm

Never mind… I make a comment and you start with the vulgarity… I won’t waste any more time here.

Sphincter_Muscle on December 13, 2006 at 05:59 pm

You are the one who choose asshole as a usename.


Una Salus Victus Nullam Sperare Salutem

2Hotel9 on December 14, 2006 at 02:59 am
Avatar for Robert Perry

2 Hotel, a quick search revealed about 40 tractors--only a few trailers--nationwide.  This probably isn’t all of them, but I would have to guess that the owners of cargo would tend to do a very good job tracking it via GPS,LoJack or other means.

It is possible to find useful idiots.  That said, however, it does appear that Al-Qaida likes to do the driving itself.

I certainly won’t claim that this guy was the brightest light in the chandelier.  However, Michelle Malkin’s recent column on this subject does bring out information that indicates that we ought to be very, very, concerned.

Quite right on the tanker truck as well--10,000 gallons is, after all, the approximate amount of diesel fuel that heated the WTC structure to its failing point.

Robert Perry on December 14, 2006 at 06:17 am
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