New York Subways. Vs. Alabama Petting Zoo. DHS Isn't Sure What To Protect

[JABBS]

You'll never guess which one the Department Of Homeland Security is amply protecting.

<snip>

In the past week, terrorists -- most likely from India, rather than from Al Qaeda -- set off a string of bombs on Mumbai commuter trains, killing at least 163. Meanwhile, an investigation by the FBI and its counterparts in six other countries led to the arrest of a 31-year-old Lebanese native who claims to have ties to Al Qaeda and had plans to send suicide bombers to blow up PATH tunnels under the Hudson River. The PATH system is used by 215,000 daily commuters between New York and New Jersey.

Is that enough to have DHS see the big picture? After all, it didn't make changes after last year's terrorist attack to London's transit system. It didn't make changes after the 2004 terrorist attack to Madrid's transit system.

<snip>

While DHS is cutting funds for New York and Washington transit system protection, it is paying close attention to such things as a petting zoo in Woodville, Ala., the Sweetwater Flea Market in Sweetwater, Tenn., the Apple and Pork Festival in Clinton, Ill., and the Mule Day Parade in Columbia, Tenn. Auditors also found entries in the database such as "Amish Country Popcorn," “Nix’s Check Cashing,” “Mall at Sears,” “Ice Cream Parlor,” “Tackle Shop,” “Donut Shop,” “Anti-Cruelty Society” and “Bean Fest.”

“We don’t find it embarrassing,” DHS deputy press secretary Jarrod Agen told the New York Times.

[anarch]

1. huh. NYC...9/11..."My Pet Goat". I can see where it could be confusing.

:eyes:

[JABBS]

11. my pet goat

was last seen at the alabama petting zoo ...

[kurth]

2. Tackle Shop and Donut Shop could use federal anti-terrori$m grants

[Glorfindel]

3. Apple and Pork Festival in Clinton, Ill.?

Wow...I MUST mark my calendar! Especially now that I know it's well protected, thanks to DHS. I'm so happy they have their priorities sorted out. :bounce:

[tanyev]

4. Here's the real problem:

“We don’t find it embarrassing,” DHS deputy press secretary Jarrod Agen told the New York Times.

[JABBS]

5. it sounds like a piece for Jon Stewart

... that we should all laugh at.

[marmar]

6. The rest of the world must be laughing their asses off...

at the joke that is America these days.

[Generic Other]

7. We are talking about sacred institutions man!

You gotta protect the homeland.

Old McDonald's Petting Zoo, Woodville, Alabama


http://www.aviewofamerica.com/Alabama/Attractions/OldMacDonaldsPettingZoo/oldmacdonaldspettingzoo.htm

Sweetwater Flea Market, Sweetwater Tennessee

http://www.sweetwaterfleamarket.net/

Apple and Pork Festival, Clinton Illinois

http://www.chmoorehomestead.org/apple-pork.htm

Mule Day Parade, Columbia, Tennessee

CLICK HERE FOR SOME KICKASS MOOD MUSIC: http://www.maurywebpages.com/muletown.htm
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cocoon/legacies/TN/200003531.html

[JABBS]

9. great research finding the photos

... the Times interviewed someone who guessed that the threat his festival posed was that "popcorn explodes."

[Ravenseye]

8. This is how out of touch most Americans truly are

What probably happened is that someone contacted these towns and asked them identify any possible terrorist targets in their area. Who better to know the area, than locals.

So they sit around in a room (I'm imagining a flourescent lit room with folding tables and chairs. A small conference room, maybe in a sublevel with high ceiling windows letting in some natural light.) with maybe the Mayor and Sheriff. A couple of 'local leaders'.

"Well hell, if them Terr'ists knew it they'd hit Zeke's Tackle Shop on a Saturday morning. Nearly every male worth his salt 'sin there that time of day gettin' bait."

"You know where else them Ay-rabs would hit us? The Donut Shop. Ain't that right Sheriff?"

"It'd be a quick way ta get rid of the law round these parts, that's for sure."

"Don't forget the Mall at Sears. On shoppin' days that place can be pretty crowded. Might be a place one o' them islams would try an hit us."

---Meanwhile in Manhattan---

BOOM!

[Ghost in the Machine]

10. as long as they keep protecting the Sweetwater Flea Market...

that is 10 miles east of me, I won't worry one bit about the Nuclear Plant that's 8 miles west of me. :sarcasm:

[jmowreader]

12. The scary part is that DHS knows what it's doing

All those things are in red states. New York City is in a blue one.

[KatyaR]

13. I've decided that this must be a way for the goverment to

make Joe Everyman feel safe--we can go to the Apple and Pork Festival and the mall and the donut shop and not have to worry about those awful "terrorists." We're SAFE.

Maybe this is part of that "fight the war on terror by going shopping" thing they tried after 9/11.