Thinking like a terrorist
Picture this: A man ducks under a broken fence at a water treatment facility in a small American town. He slips through an unlocked door and stands before a 20-ton tank of chlorine gas. No one bothers to ask him who he is or what he is doing there. If the chlorine tank were tampered with, the lives of more than 100,000 people in surrounding areas would be endangered (PDF).
Unfortunately, this scenario isn't make-believe. In the wake of the September 11 attacks, officials called for tightened security at potential terrorist targets across the country. The nation was on edge. Then in early 2002, President Bush revealed that terrorists in Afghanistan already possessed detailed maps and plans of U.S. nuclear power plants and chemical facilities. Were we prepared for another attack? Carl Prine, a newspaper reporter at the PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, wanted to find out.
Prine decided to "think like a terrorist." With a notebook and camera, he strolled, unannounced, into hundreds of water treatment plants, chemical facilities, and dockyards across the country. What he found was frightening: unlocked gates, unguarded toxic chemicals, and numerous opportunities for sabotage that would threaten millions of people.
Today Exposé premieres its second season online with "Think Like a Terrorist (Pt. 1)," a behind-the-scenes look at Prine's investigation as he retraces his steps through the back alleys of industrial parks across the country. The broadcast launch on PBS is this Friday. Check local listings.
>> Read Carl Prine's original reporting in the PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW.
>> Stay tuned to find out:
- Why did government officials attack Prine, in one instance calling him "Osama Bin-Laden's best friend"?
- How did Prine's personal story set the stage for his work as an investigative reporter?
- Did Prine's reporting spark any new security laws for storing hazardous chemicals?
Comments
The program actually made me very angry. Prine strikes me as an uncritical, ultra-conservative, obsessive individual . Rather than questioning the terror based fear machine that the Bush administration engendered since 9/11 that has allowed an illegal war, he's the fear machine's head publicist. The work is great if it leads to getting rid of unnecessary chemicals and hazards, but that isn't his agenda. He is searching for more elements that will stir fear and concern amongst people. Fear that has already allowed massive death through an illegal and misguided war.
He wasn't satisfied with fermenting fear in the US middle states, so then he goes off to participate in a ridiculous war and he thinks he's helping to bring down al qaeda when he's probably just fanning the anger and hatred toward the US from poor people with little recourse. It's as if this man has been brain washed by every ultra-conservative perspective that clear thinking people have finally begun to question. Now he's apparently returned to the US with self-righteousness over having participated in an ill conceived war that had nothing to do with 9/11 to find a new vehicle of fear - the trains! Carl Prine reflects the sort of ignorance that I would expect PBS to not support.
Posted by: ricardo | June 20, 2007 11:04 PM
Americans today thrive on sensationalism, and 'Think Like a Terrorist" is as bit of sensational TV as the possible sensational scenarios is seeks to avoid. The harm of this type of sensational TV is truly far surpassed by the possible dangers it brings to us. Through this one program you have given so many ideas to the terrorists that can have a field day with it.
If these vulnerabilities are there in our facilities, then what is so wise about exposing them to the whole world, instead of keeping it a secret and work on in eliminating them wit the help of authorities.
If the next terrorist attack occurs in any of these facilities that you have covered, i will hold you responsible for the atrocity.
May God protect us from us from imprudence of our own ideals.
Posted by: A Rehman | June 23, 2007 08:46 PM