Coalfield "terror" eludes authorities

Recent reports of terrorist threats have prompted me to share my observations. These reports are not only true, but there is a clear and present danger. Terrorists have taken to the high ground in the coalfields and have accumulated weapons of mass destruction.

President Bush and candidate Kerry have both recently flown over the coalfields. I realize they are both preoccupied with their respective campaigns, but if they would have just looked out their airplane window, they would have seen that the U.S. has been hit again. They would have had to ask themselves, who blew up those mountains? And what kind of weapons are those that are dumping all that debris into the valleys, and on top of our fellow American citizens? Oh my God, look at that. There’s a 3-billion-gallon chemical dump ready to be released onto Marsh Fork Elementary School!

It seems to me that if either of these two had seen the carnage below, they would have brought it to the attention of Homeland Security and every major television network in the nation. Either of them could have been touted as a hero. Alas, once again, our leaders are napping while the future of our country and the health and welfare of our citizens are threatened.

Bo Webb (a stellar volunteer with Coal River Mountain Watch)

Letter to the Editor, Charleston Gazette, August 13, 2004