[FedCom] Scannists can help prevent terrorism.

[refmon]

Hi Group,

Forgive me, but I must ask if the authorities, as part of this well-intended
effort, have provided guidelines, training, or reference material for the
well intentioned, untrained observers that are being invited to do this
reporting (knowing that very few would ever call the "for further info"
number.
I certainly hope that the list of bullet points is the final
recap of the full-bodied guidelines available to the public.

If not, the only innocent people in the country are celebrities without a
camera or personal organizer, who are not waiting for a friend and do not
run a roadside stand, and don't enjoy boating or fishing.

While I recognize the validity of the introductory points of vulnerability,
there is a huge body of information missing here.  For example:

What constitutes suspicious activity?  How in the name of Hannah will an
observer know everyone he sees, particularly in a tourist area?  etc etc
etc.  Obviously, there are ways to separate the tourists from the
terrorists...where is that info?  All this does is generate huge overtime
bills chasing down reports from anyone who becomes "uncomfortable", to use a
human resources term.

I'm sincerely interested to learn more-is there a url, a publication, etc
that expands on the bullet points and offers guidelines to the untrained
observer?  Is there more in the Notice to Mariners?

thanks

John Collins
_____________________________________
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <allanstern@aol.com>
To: <iScanMarine@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, June 01, 2003 08:38 AM
Subject: [iScanMarine] Scannists can help prevent terrorism.


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>
>      We scannists have often been maligned for "snooping" on comms, but
here
> is a great opportunity for scannists to redeem their reputation and to
help
> keep the country safe.  Below I have placed the notice that many of us
boat
> owners are receiving in our monthly "7th District (USCG) Local Notice to
Mariners."
>      Few groups of people have the opportunity to help identify potential
> terror opportunities as boater and scannists.  We are familiar with our
> "territories," and can quickly spot something that appears to be out of
the ordinary.
>      If the USCG will follow the lead of the IRS and provide rewards and
> anonymity to those of us who report suspected wrongdoing, I think they
might even
> be more sucessful.  And the USCG/USCS could do it; they probably seize
more
> assets of wrongdoers than the IRS !!  And imagine how many more scanners
Radio
> Shack and Grove would sell !!
>
> AL STERN  Satellite Beach FL
>
> Operation "On Guard"
>      US Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Miami announces Operation "On
> Guard." This operation is designed to employ Coast Guard active duty,
reserve and
> auxiliary, FBI, USCS, INS, and FDLE personnel in response to suspected
terrorist
> activity at the waterfont facilities of the US.  South Florida is
extremely
> vulverable because it is the terminus of illegal aliens and narcotics
smuggling
> routes from the Bahamas, the Caribbean and South America.  These routes
are
> well establlished and are readily available for use by terrrorist
> organizations.  An urgent need existed to make the American Public equal
partners in the
> fight on terrorism.  Operation "On Guard" creates an effective deterrent
measure
> that employs the eyes and ears of the marine industry and the boating
public,
> people that know every inch of the coastline because it is where they work
> and play. Potential terrorists are put on notice that their activities
will be
> seen and reported.
>      Operation "On Guard" takes a two pronged approach consisting of face
to
> face visits by USCG, FBI, USCS, INS and FDLE personnel combined witgh a
> coordinated joint agency media campaign to reach Marina Operators, Marine
> Dealers,Bridge Tenders, Commercial Fishermen, and the Boating Public.
This operation
> relies on Coast Guard Auxiliary programs already in place like the "Clean
> Marina" program, Vessel Safety Checks, Marine Dealer Visits and the
Commercial
> Fishing Vessel Safety Program to reach their normal customers, the
waterfront
> users.  THE PUBLIC IS PROVIDED WITH THE TOLL FREE NUMBER (1-800-424-8802)
for
> reporting suspected terrorist activity to the National Response Center,
and the
> 1-800-BE-ALERT number for USCS along with a list of reporting criteria.
>                            Report:
> Suspicious persons cnducting unusual activities
> Individuals establishing businesses or roadside food stands in proximity
to
> marina or
>      bridge
> Unknown persons photographing or creating diagrams.
> Unknown or suspicious persons loitering for extended periods of time
> Unknown or suspicious persons renting watercraft
> Suspicious venders attempting to sell/deliver merchandise or drop off
> packages.
>      For additional information contact: LCDR Armin Cate (305) 535-8735.