The major destruction caused by the recent crash of an oil tanker in San Francisco, as well as the increase in chlorine truck bombings in Iraq, prompted FSM Contributing Editors Mark and Renee Taylor to ask the question: is the new chemical weapon of choice for terrorists coming soon to your city?
By Mark R. Taylor and Renee E. TaylorMost consumers rarely notice chlorine. It is the substance that keeps our pools and drinking water clean. It is our household bleach. It is also now the chemical weapon choice of terrorists in the Middle East and, inevitably, in a city near you.
Imagine, if you would, the following:A terrorist, having crossed the border from Mexico, obtains his commercial drivers license (CDL) from one of many illegal documents processors operating behind closed doors throughout the United States. He passes the required Department of Transportation background checks on his assumed name. Obtaining a job at a chemical processing plant, he quietly works for several months, hauling hazardous materials around San Francisco, careful not to draw attention to himself as he studies the local traffic patterns and city layout.Early one morning, he picks up his load and embarks upon a deadly, horrific journey. His bill of lading is legitimate. The 48-foot trailer is placarded properly in accordance with Department of Transportation regulations. He chooses the interchange of MacArthur Freeway and Interstate 980 for its close proximity to heavily populated areas and a large medical facility. Intentionally coming off the exit ramp at a high rate of speed, the rig overturns. Explosives set inside the truck explode, ripping a hole through the sleeper and the front of the trailer. A silent cloud of yellow green vapor begins to creep over the congested interchange. Commuters, horrified by the “accident” they witnessed, begin to choke, asphyxiating on the deadly chlorine. Reaching unconsciousness, their cars turn into a massive pile up of Toyotas, Chevrolets and trucks.
The cloud drifts west, carried by the breeze. Creeping into the nearby hospital, thousands more – doctors, nurses and patients – begin coughing and choking as they breathe the deadly air.Soon thereafter, those not killed in the initial attack suffer the painful, potentially life threatening, effects of the chlorine-filled air.Worst-case scenario? Possibly. However, with our porous Southern border, infiltration of illegal aliens of all nationalities with forged documents working in the United States, and with the increase in chlorine bomb attacks in Iraq, the threat of a chemical attack on our soil is one that we must begin to take seriously.In what could possibly be a training exercise for terrorism elsewhere, at least five chlorine bomb attacks have occurred in Iraq in recent weeks. While not causing the same immediate property destruction as a vehicle bomb does, the devastating effect of chlorine is in the respiratory system – destroying the cells in the respiratory tract. The first use of weaponized chlorine was by the Germans in World War I. French soldiers were enveloped in the yellow green gas, panicking as they choked. According to FirstWorldWar.Com, throughout the rest of the war, Germany used chemical warfare agents in many of its military operations. Chemical warfare agents are chemical substances designed to kill, seriously injure or incapacitate humans and animals. Chemical agents can also deny or hinder the use of areas, facilities and materials.Until the increase of the chlorine truck bombings in Iraq, reports of its use as a chemical agent have been rare. However, we must not be complacent. The threat to American cities is real. The Chlorine Institute has recently alerted the FBI to several thefts and attempted thefts of chlorine in California. While claiming “no immediate threat”, the Department of Homeland Security also issued a warning to chemical plants and bomb squads across the country to guard against the use of chlorine truck bombs.The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s requirements for trucking companies and drivers transporting hazardous materials (HAZMAT) are extensive and include everything from ensuring proper placards are placed on a trailer to shipping papers that must fully comply with 49 CFR Part 172 Subpart C, which states in part: Each person who offers hazardous materials for transportation shall describe the hazardous materials on a shipping paper that conforms to the requirements of the HMR. No carrier may transport a hazardous material unless it is accompanied by a shipping paper that is prepared in accordance with the HMR. Federal regulations also require a background check on all CDL holders obtaining a HAZMAT endorsement.However, as noted in the above hypothetical scenario, the FMCSA regulations do not keep us safe from those with nefarious intent who may well be working within the trucking industry. It is a fact that Islamic terror groups are recruiting within our state and Federal prisons. As has been reported in the recent tanker incident in San Francisco, smaller trucking companies, including those hauling HAZMAT, are hiring those with felony convictions. Until the trucking industry becomes accountable for its hiring practices and our elected officials get serious about cracking down on illegal immigration, a chemical attack could easily be coming soon to a city near you.FamilySecurityMatters.org Contributing Editor Editor Mark R. Taylor served in Iraq from January 2004 to May 2005 as a civilian convoy commander. His commentary has appeared in Landline Magazine, American Daily and Townhall.com, and he has been interviewed on a variety of radio programs. His website is www.uglypuppy.net.Renee Taylor is the editor of http://www.greatmindsthinkright.com/, a freelance writer, photographer, home schooling mom and publicist for Joey Holiday. A former truck driver, she has devoted her time to studying convoy operations and promoting the positive image of the American Trucker in Iraq.© 2003-2007 FamilySecurityMatters.org All Rights ReservedIf you are a reporter or producer who is interested in receiving more information about this writer or this article, please email your request to COY7m@aol.com.Note The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of The Family Security Foundation, Inc. Click here to support Family Security Matters
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