(Updated Tuesday, December 1): First we hear a remarkable story about how an ordinary couple makes it past the Secret Service into a State dinner and now word comes out of Florida that 33 illegal aliens from Cuba took a boat right up to the property of a supposedly impenetrable nuclear power plant on Thanksgiving. Both incidents raise questions for the Secret Service and DHS as to just how prepared we are for a terrorist attack and also how secure our national power grid is.
The Miami Herald last Friday reported that a boat carrying twenty-nine adults and four children called the control room for the Turkey Point Nuclear Power plant in the early afternoon and advised them they had landed their craft in one of the facilities cooling canals and needed assistance. That it was Turkey Point and happened on Thanksgiving is a curious coincidence but plant security are apparently not amused and neither is DHS. They were caught totally unprepared at one of the nations most "secure" nuclear power generating facilities.
The real question is where was security, heavily armed and trained, as the hapless Captain, crew and passengers wandered into the cooling canals through a wildlife refuge wilderness area teaming with crocodiles.
Border Patrol and ICE were called to collect the illegal invaders who since they found terra firma before getting caught can now apply for refugee status.
An investigation is underway and more details will undoubtedly come to light as security at all of our power generating plants will likely be re-examined. Florida Power and Light, who owns the facility, maintain that the cooling canal in question is some six miles from the power plant itself and that at no time was there any danger to the facility nor was there any real incursion. Still, the intruders were on FPL property and one again must question where does the responsibility for plant security begin and end.
Correction: (Dec. 1, 2009) A previous version of this article incorrectly indicated that the Cuban migrants "broke into" the facility at Turkey Point. In fact, the Cubans came ashore at the outskirts of the facility but never breached secure areas inside the nuclear plant. This article has since been revised to confirm this fact.
Comments
These individuals never “broke in” or even came close to the power plant. They were over six miles away in an environmental area that is home to birds, snakes and crocodiles. At no time did they pose any sort of threat or come anywhere near the heavily protected facility. To suggest otherwise is irresponsible and completely false.
FPL’s (and every other nuclear power plant in the country’s) security program is regularly tested and evaluated by the Federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission. While the idea that Cuban migrants “broke in” may make interesting reading, if you consider the facts, simple logic dictates that these assertions simply cannot be true. Don’t believe everything that you read.
Aside from the fact that the Cubans did not enter the plant, 6 miles away is what I read also, I am not sure these Cubans are "illegal aliens". I seem to remember something about dry feet means they are refugees that may be granted expedited permanent residency and eventually citizenship in the US. Permanent residency brings along a green card so they can earn a living (not that there are a lot of available jobs these days) and citizenship brings along nearly all the rights of a natural(born) citizen. They will never be President of the US (unless they claim to have been born in Hawaii and moved to Cuba as a child) but otherwise their rights as a citizen are about the same as mine.
What I read was "they had landed their craft in one of the facilities cooling canals". Sounds rather clear to me!
the canals are hundreds of miles long. they were no where close.
Did they bring any cigars with them? So security is slacking, what do you expect? There's a liberal in the white house and the nations security is the last thing on their mind! C'mon why do you think we have an energy policy that favors giving all control to foreign countries. Since no one wants to do anything about the problem, I'm preparing for the worst, it's coming sooner than we think!
the canals are hundreds of miles long. they were no where close.
Hundreds of miles long? Really? Half the State? The area is protected by Security. They found a phone in the middle of the everglades and called in? FPL says the ENTIRE property is protected better than the a military installation (which isn't hard really). They were illegally in the country. That makes them illegal aliens.
Big Dog: Do a google image search and see for yourself. Just take alook at how far from the plant this is. Also, read the miami herald article - the call boxes are there for maintinence.
Big Dog: Do a google image search and see for yourself. Just take alook at how far from the plant this is. Also, read the miami herald article - the call boxes are there for maintinence.
6 miles is nothing folks. Our own Special Forces teams would think nothing about a 6 mile distance from a target. What some are missing is the fact that this is supposed to be a secure facility. No one should be anywhere on the property without security knowing about it.
Once while visiting ghost towns in the desert I came across the boundaries of a military installation. Now this was out in the middle of no where. Flat and desolate. They had an anti vehicle/tank trench dug at the property line. As I and my friends were stretching and taking in the view, a couple of Jeeps appeared out of no where. Armed to the teeth, the soldiers politely asked us what we were doing. Of course no further encouragement was needed, we left the area. It was obvious the soldiers had been observing us for a while. There is no excuse for not knowing some 33 people were on the property. Not everyone will stumble across a phone and call in.
wackenhut security blew it again, check it out in google search.
florida is in it's southern end allready part of cuba by the way of miami.
Does America have HOMELAND SECURITY FOR AMERICANS? We Americans know theres a HOMELAND SECURITY AND A.C.L.U. FOR MEXICO not AMERICA? Why dont REAL 100 PERCENT LEGAL AMERICAN VOTERS AND CITIZENS HAVE SOMETHING FOR THEM? CAN SOMEONE PLEASE ANSWER THIS FOR ME? AN AMERICAN BIRTH CERTIFICATE CARRING LEGAL CITIZEN>>>>
Well Turkey Point takes the prize away from Vermont Yankee. Up until this news story Entergy Nuclear's Vermont Yankee had the distinction of one of, if not the worst security rating of any nuclear power station. Entergy's earned a grade of a Yellow finding in a planned security test. A Yellow finding is about a grade of D- if school grades were being used instead of the ambiguous NRC color-coded grading system. The security forces at Turkey Point could have served turkey sandwiches, milk and warm
cookies when the refugees landed as a way to let the "invading force" know they had been monitored for the past hour. But no, they had to call the guards to get some service.
If they become refugees, they should receieve deluxe benefits. Search for articles on refugees at Vdare.com, also look for website "Refugee Resettlement Watch."
More info on immigration and who supports the always expanding Refugee Program (from the State Department) at www.NumbersUSA.com.
MARCO RUBIO is a GOP candidate for Florida senator. He is the US born of Cuban immigrants.
Marco Rubio has been running around Florida bashing 'illegal aliens'.
If the 33 'illegal aliens' on board that boat were nationals of ANY country other than Cuba (Mexico, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, etc), they would be on their way back to their home countries -- but because they are CUBAN -- they get to stay and receive cash assistance payments, subsidized housing and free medical care.
The utter hypocrisy of Cubans, like Marco Rubio, railing against 'illegal aliens' and 'amnesty', while simultaneously supporting instant legal status of for any CUBAN illegal that touches US soil is just over the top!
Marco Rubio also loves to rail against 'preferential treatment' -- if the policy granting Cubans ALONE automatic US residency upon touching US soil isn't 'preferential treatment', then what is?
Yet, Marco Rubio defends the policy of PREFERENCES for Cubans...
So, now they're "refugees," eh? Are we Americans, or should I simply say "Gringos?" total suckers?
34000 more to mideast, nuclear plants open?! This has got to CHANGE! I HOPE!
How does a boat loaded with 33 Cubans not get tracked or boarded at sea. Why do we spend BILLIONS on DEA,Customs,Navy and Coast Guard? Seems the best money can buy "SUCKS BIG TIME".
Was any of these people dressed up like they were going to a formal dinner?
FACE IT AMERICA,WE ARE SO FAR BEYOND SCREWED AND MOST OF OUR CITIZENS DONT EVEN KNOW THE END IS COMING AND WOULDNT KNOW IT IF IT SPIT IN THEIR FACES.
all racist whites can go to hell.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!