SCUBA attacks

[sharpenu]

Has anyone really thought out how much it would take to perform an attack on our infrastructure? It seems to me that the difficulties in navigation, carrying the large load that blowing up a ship would require and the swim in and out of the target area (all without being noticed) would make other avenues of attack more likely. I think the FBI could better spend their resources somewhere else.

And, before it is said, I know the SEALs do it, but they have access to better training, equipment and other SEALs than a terror organization. I suppose it is possible, but wouldn't a truck full of fertilizer parked in the center of a span be an easier way to blow up a bridge? Or, (like in Oklahoma recently) how about a runaway barge?

Is there any sanity or expertise in the FBI that could realistically look at this? I am not looking for specifics, as I don't want this thread to be a blueprint for some whacko, but I was taught that terrorists look for the soft target. The technical difficulties of these attacks would seem to exclude SCUBA as being the soft target.

 

[Burke]

I agree with you, but, you have to admit their is alot of technical difficulties involved in flying a boeing 767.
However I do agree with you about their being easier and more likely targets.

 

[gomez]

Interesting thought, but I'd agree that it seems like too much effort given much easier alternatives.

I was reading this morning about the terrorist cell caught in Morocco and their plans to launch attacks on naval vessels off Gibralta.

While scuba would not obviously present itself as a practical mechanism for the attack (a boat ram is much more straightforward), it could give an avenue for escape.

 

[danceswithoctopus]

I dunno. Boat support? A little underwater activity in the dark, and BLAMMO! There goes the dam. You time it youreslf, say for a couple of days down the line to give enough time for a getaway?

I'd rather not start discussing the possibilities here, but I can imagine some pretty credible threats using SCUBA (even a single 80).

What do you think about regulator registration?

 

[Spectre]

Originally posted by sharpenu
The technical difficulties of these attacks would seem to exclude SCUBA as being the soft target.

Think about the range you'd have with 3 hours of no-deco time @ 35 ft. All the options you've listed involve reaching the destination in view. If your heading to a guarded dam, a runaway barge is going to get sunk long before it reaches the dam, and you wouldn't have a chance in hell of getting a truck full of fertilizer onto the damn.

 

[tchil01]

Take a look at what those knuckleheads did to the Cole...

From what I read the threat was more twards cruise ships, power plants amd marine traffic, not so much against bridges. How much explosives do you really need to blow a hole in a cruise ship or wreck the inlets of a power plant...

An as they have demonstrated time after time, they only have to get there... they don't worry about getting back.

Ty

 

[pt40fathoms]

It's really not all that difficult. You'e got to remember that these are religious fanatics who see themselves as martyrs on a mission from God.

To them it would be a one way trip!

 

[cmay]

Keep in mind the Sept. 11th hijackers proved that these terrorists are a pretty intelligent, and extremely dedicated bunch. Even with just basic instruction I think they could be a viable risk. My navigation skills are not perfect, but I think I could find a ship after a 3 or 400 yard swim even at night. Think how easy it would be to find a dam. With the rebreather technology out there now it is pretty easy to acquire the equipment to not be detected. Remember these guys are extremely well funded.

 

[ebbtide]

You can loose allot of sleep if ya keep on thinking about theyse different senerios , but dont let yer guard down ither , it is up to people like us, who are familiar with other divers and other situations that when you see something NOT right to question it .
I know it dident happen to me as i am canadian BUT it could have ,i am only a ferry (3hours) away, and i express every type of sympathy towards the victoms and there familys , and if i ever see something that seems the least outa place like a u-haul on a dam or any other activity that seems out of place ill be sure to question it !
and like was also stated theys people are really well funded and you would not see there bubbles i think they would use rebreathers , or some other technolgy (computer attacks)
i hope i dident offend anyone but this is only my opnion.

 

[danceswithoctopus]

So if we outlaw SCUBA, only outlaws will have SCUBA! Same goes for rebreathers.

Register those regulators! Those tanks! Those BCD's!