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The Straight Story

(48,121 posts)
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 10:47 PM Apr 2013

UM Coach: Bomb Sniffing Dogs, Spotters on Roofs Before Explosions

University of Mobile’s Cross Country Coach, who was near the finish line of the Boston Marathon when a series of explosions went off, said he thought it was odd there were bomb sniffing dogs at the start and finish lines.

"They kept making announcements to the participants do not worry, it's just a training exercise," Coach Ali Stevenson told Local 15.

Stevenson said he saw law enforcement spotters on the roofs at the start of the race. He's been in plenty of marathons in Chicago, D.C., Chicago, London and other major metropolitan areas but has never seen that level of security before.

"Evidently, I don't believe they were just having a training exercise," Stevenson said. "I think they must have had some sort of threat or suspicion called in."

Stevenson had just finished the marathon before the explosions. Stevenson said his wife had been sitting in one of the seating sections where an explosion went off, but thankfully she left her seat and was walking to meet up with him.

http://www.local15tv.com/news/local/story/UM-Coach-Bomb-Sniffing-Dogs-Spotters-on-Roofs/BrirjAzFPUKKN8z6eSDJEA.cspx

27 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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UM Coach: Bomb Sniffing Dogs, Spotters on Roofs Before Explosions (Original Post) The Straight Story Apr 2013 OP
Kind of eerie that so far no one or group has claimed responsibility. JaneyVee Apr 2013 #1
al Qaeda doesn't claim responsibility to my knowledge alcibiades_mystery Apr 2013 #6
Every time I hear about an attack overseas in a marketplace/carbomb/etc. group claims responsibility JaneyVee Apr 2013 #7
Really? alcibiades_mystery Apr 2013 #8
Drill ChangeUp106 Apr 2013 #2
Weren't they doing a drill during 9-11 dixiegrrrrl Apr 2013 #11
IDK ChangeUp106 Apr 2013 #13
yes. They were. PDJane Apr 2013 #21
The problem is if there is a tip what do you do?? titaniumsalute Apr 2013 #3
I think that the information should be shared so that people can make a choice as to what they want lonestarnot Apr 2013 #19
Didn't some MORON try to blow up a MLK day parade in the Pacific NW Leslie Valley Apr 2013 #4
Yeah, in 2011 or 2012. I think it was 2012. n/t krispos42 Apr 2013 #9
I see dogs and heavily armed cops around NYC all the time and nothing happens Renew Deal Apr 2013 #5
Boston radio station ChangeUp106 Apr 2013 #10
Sounds like SOP for a large multinational race n/t FreeState Apr 2013 #15
Or a lot of big events Retrograde Apr 2013 #26
It's just a shame there are not more dogs and cameras. Because there are not enough. graham4anything Apr 2013 #12
Are you serious? bluedigger Apr 2013 #14
oh bull. HiPointDem Apr 2013 #16
Israel and London have about as much security as you can have without locking down Renew Deal Apr 2013 #17
Another Benjamin Franklin quote that seems appropriate mythology Apr 2013 #18
I think you're being sardonic... Fawke Em Apr 2013 #20
If they kept making announcements, how is this guy the only one who heard? eom tarheelsunc Apr 2013 #22
Things always get magnified defacto7 Apr 2013 #23
Yeah. Remember this? The 7/7 bombing? napoleon_in_rags Apr 2013 #24
There was an account of someone seeing a sniper (security type) on a rooftop. cui bono Apr 2013 #25
This top,answers #18 and the rest adds to my earlier. Feel free to disagree. graham4anything Apr 2013 #27
 

JaneyVee

(19,877 posts)
1. Kind of eerie that so far no one or group has claimed responsibility.
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 10:50 PM
Apr 2013

If this was Al-Qaeda they would have been all over it. This has home-grown written all over it.

 

alcibiades_mystery

(36,437 posts)
6. al Qaeda doesn't claim responsibility to my knowledge
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 11:08 PM
Apr 2013

Indeed, the whole idea of "claiming responsibility" is much more of the 1960's to 1970's terrorist eras - the various "Liberation Organizations" and the like. It's not really a feature of contemporary terrorism.

ChangeUp106

(549 posts)
2. Drill
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 10:52 PM
Apr 2013

I heard (not from Alex Jones ) that they were doing a drill for something like this earlier in the day. I wonder if they had a credible threat

EDIT: I'm in no way trying to make this a conspiracy. I understand that sometimes it's best that we don't know about some things.

titaniumsalute

(4,742 posts)
3. The problem is if there is a tip what do you do??
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 10:53 PM
Apr 2013

You can't cancel major events because of a tip or suspicion. We'd live a pretty boring lifestyle if that were the case. I feel bad for law enforcement. They have to deal with so many false leads and when one is occasionally legit and they fail to stop it that must take a mental toll on the individuals.

 

lonestarnot

(77,097 posts)
19. I think that the information should be shared so that people can make a choice as to what they want
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 11:52 PM
Apr 2013

to do.

 

Leslie Valley

(310 posts)
4. Didn't some MORON try to blow up a MLK day parade in the Pacific NW
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 11:02 PM
Apr 2013

some time ago?

I'm afraid this has become SOP for large public events.

Renew Deal

(81,801 posts)
5. I see dogs and heavily armed cops around NYC all the time and nothing happens
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 11:02 PM
Apr 2013

It's no surprise that they would be near a crowded area of a large event.

ChangeUp106

(549 posts)
10. Boston radio station
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 11:15 PM
Apr 2013

I was listening to WEEI tonight (they're playing another station, it's not sports) and a guy called in claiming to be in the hotel near the blast site. He said SWAT came in the building in full battle gear about 15 min before explosions.

It's a serious show and the guy sounded legit. He didn't try to exaggerate things. Sure sounded like a true story. Take it for what it's worth.

Retrograde

(10,069 posts)
26. Or a lot of big events
Tue Apr 16, 2013, 01:58 AM
Apr 2013

I've been on MUNI is San Francisco (the bus/light rail agency) during World Series playoffs when a police person with a dog walked through the train near the ball park. The problem is, they can't be everywhere at once.

 

graham4anything

(11,464 posts)
12. It's just a shame there are not more dogs and cameras. Because there are not enough.
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 11:18 PM
Apr 2013

With proper security all across the country, all of these things can be stopped.

As Ben Franklin said "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
Time to listen to Ben, don't you think? I do.

As Teddy Roosevelt said "Talk softly, but carry a big stick". Of course he was talking about proper security.

bluedigger

(17,077 posts)
14. Are you serious?
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 11:34 PM
Apr 2013

Please expound on what you think the proper level of security would be to guarantee perfect public safety.

Renew Deal

(81,801 posts)
17. Israel and London have about as much security as you can have without locking down
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 11:48 PM
Apr 2013

And yet these things still manage to happen

 

mythology

(9,527 posts)
18. Another Benjamin Franklin quote that seems appropriate
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 11:49 PM
Apr 2013

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

defacto7

(13,485 posts)
23. Things always get magnified
Tue Apr 16, 2013, 12:30 AM
Apr 2013

out of proportion when looking backward in time at a tragedy. That's how we try to fill in the unknowns and deal with the fears. Human nature.

cui bono

(19,926 posts)
25. There was an account of someone seeing a sniper (security type) on a rooftop.
Tue Apr 16, 2013, 01:41 AM
Apr 2013

She said she saw secret service or something and took a pic of a sniper on a rooftop. I saw it on HuffPo amidst all the updates and tweets.

 

graham4anything

(11,464 posts)
27. This top,answers #18 and the rest adds to my earlier. Feel free to disagree.
Tue Apr 16, 2013, 06:59 AM
Apr 2013

referring to post #18 and the quote that poster wrote-
Benjamin Franklin was referring to letting the terrorists win here. They can be stopped.

Benny above was referring to V for Vengence above with V's temporary quest for terrorism,anarchy and terrorism.(yeah, it was a great special effect MOVIE though).
(Ben Affleck's not very good movie what was the name, the town? was just a MOVIE too).

Freedom from terrorism and guns on the other hand is really being free.
One is not free in the USA with terrorism and anarchy and chaos.

Why do you think they call it Benny and the Jets after all?

Real Freedom is attained when they capture Tim McV, the awipe that killed John Lennon,
and OBL.And all the others like them.
Freedom was NOT attained when those terrorists did what they did.
Freedom was having John Lennon Alive. Freedom is having the people all these people take away from us alive.

Tim McV is actually the best example.
This political assssassssin took away the lives of people, kids and adults because of some
weird conspiracy theory he had at the same time period both events happened.

The killer of Dr. Tiller is another best example. Doing what he did to stop what he did not want.
NO, a private person has no right to decide for the majority. In America,That is the function of the US Supreme Court as the very last step. The average persons have their ability to vote or not vote for the people who pick that court.

No gun in the hand of a private person has ever done any good nor did a bullet.
EVER. IMHO

Terrorism, murder, anarchy and chaos have no place.

Now no one will ever again be able to peacefully or safely or without a care, race in a marathan again, go to the movie, go to the supermarket, go to a townhall, or assemble anywhere peacefully. My family always went to the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade.
Those days are now over.

Terrorism,anarchy,chaos, assssasssinations, murder by private people can be stopped.


And a great post yesterday by someone said-
the very people belieiving in conspiracy theories think government is inept and don't work.
How would such ineptitude, logically played out, be able to do such a thing?
I used to believe in conspiracy theories. Logically playing that Brooks Brother Riot thing out to conclusion convinced me they are impossible.
After the Brooks Brothers Riot, we all saw what happens in actual
CONSPIRACIES.- they ALL talk and brag about it. Put it in their resumes!
Ain't NO way these major conspiracy theories could be hidden by silence. These type people all have too big a mouth to keep quiet. Criminals always talk. They cannot possibly keep quiet.
Because they are so full and proud of themselves for pulling off the perfect crimes, they have to brag about them.

Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose (c) K. Kristofferson
and the true meaning as Kristofferson wrote it is-
the person he is talking about is sitting, crying, howling on the beach at 3am, absolutely free.
And he lost the person he wanted because he gave that person up.
As long as there is more than one person in the world NO ONE is free and something is left to lose.
Anarchy,Guns,Terror,Political Asssasssination by private people all take freedom away.
They don't give it.

Example in a lesser sense-one can be free to drink 100 48 ounce sodas however, later on they get a major illness and die. They were free to indulge.
Their family and friends and associates left behind are now free to cry and howl at the moon by the freedom the person had.

An ounce of prevention is indeed, worth a pound of cure.
Freedom is attempting to help that person not drink 100 sodas, so that that person can remain with their family and friends later on in life when the excesss catches up, that in the youth doesn't affect them.
take it from me, one year ago I was over 400 pounds. Now I am well under 300 and able to sit here and write posts on a political board with you all.

Love everyone of you. Which is why sometimes I try so hard to help you.
Especially you in the OP!!!
If I didn't care myself, I wouldn't be here.

This is NOT satire. And I care.
And I used to have the opposite opinion, and I grew up. Almost losing everything so I could be free.

Feel free to disagree.
Feel free to debate.
Feel free to your opposite opinions on a political debate board.

And in essence, it don't matter why these events happen.
What matters is, these events can be stopped.

Yesterday was (IMHO NOT coincidental to the day or week it was, or someone attempting to piggyback off this particular time), but yesterday was the day I do my taxes.
At around 445 pm I went to the post office and took my taxes in.
I do it old school, writing them, mailing them not E-filing them.
I always feel proud doing so. Do I like the concept? Could it be easier?
But it is like voting, something everyone does as a group.
Freedom is being able to be in a group, and once there on line, we talked.
We talked with the people working.
Freedom is being able to talk in a public place, to feel that feeling of with strangers, that others are here.

Terrorism and these mass events (which no matter what reason, all are terror) take that freedom away.

Sorry, but freedom to me is to be able to freely assemble without fear of these mass events.
And I don't need no gun or bullet to feel free to do so.

If there is a camera or police cat or police dog, I don't consider that a violation of my rights.
Hate me for it, but I consider the camera and the bomb sniffing cat and bomb sniffing dog and bomb sniffing squirrel a friend.
Why would I hate a cat, a dog or a squirrel(and squirrels like some cats and people and chimps and great apes, are one of the few that actually eat with their hands, I love watching squirrels play, especially in the spring, where in the next day or two, green leaves are going to blossom on the formerly winter trees.

feel free to disagree.

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