Will International Terrorists attempt to attack our railways? We know from the Madrid Train Bombings and the Bombings in the Tube in London that they seem to like to go after rail targets. Recently this subject was brought up in an online think tank when a think tanker who previously worked for a contract company in the rail industry made the statement and asked the question:

What I noticed was the ease with which I was able to enter UPRR facilities carrying an Aluminum clipboard and dressed in appropriate railroad employee`s clothing. My impression was that practically everyone was hesitant to ask me what my business was because I simply acted like I owned the place and projected an air of authority that conveys a message of; If you know what is good for you, you better mind your own business.

Indeed this is a problem in many industries, not just rail. And Americans need to be more alert, although things have changed drastically since 9-11, we should not let our guard down now. In fact we need to be extra vigilant as Osama bin Ladens gang seems to be making some serious threats again. The think tanker goes on to state:

Trains (some of them carrying highly toxic chemicals were often left with the engines idling were often left at sidings for long periods unattended. My goodness gracious, I myself could think of several ways a train could be used by international terrorists to kill Americans.

Again true enough and perhaps they might try at a bridge crossing by detonating a device they snuck into a rail yard and planted on a rail car and we must remember that the authorities did catch some folks taking digital pictures of some bridges in MD and some in NY, both prevented. Whether they could have pulled off anything is unknown, but those plots were foiled using advanced surveillance.

Should we be impressed with the authorities in all this? Well, yes and no. Yes because kudos goes to the vigilant and no because like Rumsy says; We have to be right all the time and they only have to be right once! Any way those are my shoot from the hip comments, but if I sat down with a map I could point out all the vulnerabilities having been to every city in the US over 10,000 population and studied all the flows of our civilization and those throughout history. What say you on these thoughts? Please consider this in 2006 and keep your eyes and ears open, we all should.