as we mimic the bush / american ways and place terror fears ...

Military, government prepare for terrorist attack on oil and gas platforms
April 19, 2006

HALIFAX (CP) - The Canadian military is working to prevent possible terrorist attacks against several giant oil and gas platforms currently drilling off the country's East Coast. ...

McNeil admitted the biggest threats facing the oil and gas rigs these days are bad weather and icebergs that move through the region and can cause extensive damage if they run into the platforms.

HALIFAX (CP) - The Canadian military is working to prevent possible terrorist attacks against several giant oil and gas platforms currently drilling off the country's East Coast.

Rear Admiral Dan McNeil said Wednesday that various government agencies are trying to come up with defence strategies against possible scenarios that could leave the numerous rigs vulnerable to threats.

We most certainly do look at scenarios that would be what we call the Maritime equivalent of 9-11, McNeil, commander of Joint Task Force Atlantic, told a breakfast meeting of people involved in Nova Scotia's oil-gas sector.

We are scoping it out. Think about your worst nightmare and I'm there with you.

McNeil said Ottawa has made preparing for such occurrences its top priority, despite the fact there are no perceived threats facing the nine rigs now sitting off Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

The fear is that if terrorists go after the massive structures, they could cause widespread ecological harm, take many lives, and cost businesses and governments millions in damages and lost revenue.

There are only about 100 people on the four of nine rigs that have manned crews. One is off Nova Scotia while the others are off Newfoundland.

McNeil said he couldn't reveal details of the military's plans for security reasons, but added they're trying to prepare for attacks that could involve everything from small boats to aircraft or missiles.

I'm working with my partners to develop a whole set of planning scenarios . . . and who would do what if something bad was to happen, he said.

I can stand before you today and say I don't see a threat. What I can't tell you is when I wake up tomorrow and get briefed that there will not be.

McNeil admitted the biggest threats facing the oil and gas rigs these days are bad weather and icebergs that move through the region and can cause extensive damage if they run into the platforms.

Alan Jeffers, a spokesman for ExxonMobil, which operates several rigs in the Atlantic, said he couldn't disclose what security measures the company has developed for its facilities.

Margaret Allan, a spokeswoman for Husky Energy, which operates the White Rose project east of St. John's, N.L., also refused to reveal what the company has done to prepare for a possible terrorist threat. However, she said it's an issue Husky officials have worked on extensively.

Several experts have suggested Canada isn't a top target for international terrorists and if it was, Atlantic Canada's offshore rigs would likely not be at the top of their hit list.

A recent survey found that Canadians felt a terrorist attack was highly unlikely given the proximity of other, more attractive targets - namely the United States.

Public transportation systems, particularly subways, figured as a potential target because they would be easy to attack and such a crime would succeed in spreading mass fear, according to the study prepared for the Transport Department by Ekos Research Associates.

But David Harris, a former CSIS strategic planner, said the offshore operations are high-value targets that would have devastating economic impacts and be an effective psychological blow against North America.

Harris said terrorists have been focusing increasingly in both their doctrine and operations on the energy and energy supply industries.

The threat level is surprisingly high, Harris, now a lawyer and director of terrorist intelligence at Insignis Strategic Research Inc., said from Ottawa.

In many ways, we're about a generation behind in understanding the nature and extent of the threat we're facing.

Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network has repeatedly singled out Canada as a candidate for attack.

{let's remember this statement: 'Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network has repeatedly singled out Canada as a candidate for attack.' there have been numerous reports that this statement made on tape, was never 100% authenticated as bin Laden's; several sources (if you care to do a search) have suggested like many other apparent bin Laden tape recordings could have, very well been dubed by the american government in one of their many propaganda blitz's}