Homeland Security says Weeki Wachee mermaids in terrorists' cross hairs?

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/04/22/news_pf/Hernando/Weeki_Wachee_mermaids.shtml

WEEKI WACHEE - Who on earth would ever want to harm the Weeki Wachee mermaids?

It staggers the imagination.

Still, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has named Weeki Wachee Springs as the potential terror target of Hernando County, according to a theme park official.

The Weeki Wachee staff is teaming up with the Hernando County Sheriff's Office to "harden the target" by keeping the mermaid theater and the rest of the park safe from a potential terror attack, said marketing and promotion manager John Athanason.

"I can't imagine (Osama) bin Laden trying to blow up the mermaids," Athanason said. "But with terrorists, who knows what they're thinking. I don't want to think like a terrorist, but what if the terrorists try to poison the water at Weeki Wachee Springs?"

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. Follow the money. I bet a lobbyist was hired to engineer the designation.

[Chan790]

2. WTF

(This post is blank to reflect stunned silence at the absurdity of this suggestion.) :wtf: :wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf:

[meegbear]

3. And where are these world famous Weeki Wachee mermaids?

The terrorists may, but I, for one, do not know where they are located.

[Coexist]

4. About an hour north of Tampa

they swim in front of a glass window and breathe through air tubes that are "offstage". It is really cute. Families love it:

http://mermaid.weekiwachee.com/

[William769]

6. Central, Florida.

[punpirate]

5. I would guess that every county has to have...

... a designated terrorist target to obtain DHS funds. County officials in central Nevada are still waiting on a ruling about sightings of suicide jackrabbits.

[AlCzervik]

7. hmmm, they are open only 4 days a week for 4 hours a day

so as Parker Lewis used to say they better "Synchronize Swatches!"
http://mermaid.weekiwachee.com/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=15&MMN_position=14:14

[China_cat]

8. I wonder if this has anything to do with

the travel channel's program on Weeki Wachee a few months ago. It reported that due to falling revenues, the springs might have to close. It just didn't come up to other attractions in the state.

The owner said he's been pressured to sell the property to developers but he'd fight to keep it open.

Good spot for 'terrorists'. If that doesn't work, it'll be eminent domain.

[sui generis]

9. must . . .go . .. to. .. weeki wachee

That's BRILLIANT marketing.

Brilliant - wish I'd thought of it.

"According to a theme park official"

I wonder if they'll sneak in disguised as bearded mermaids wearing turbans or something. It could happen!!!

DISCLAIMER to all DU Sikh compadres, just being mischievous with a redneck stereotype

[uppityperson]

10. Oh crap, you just spilled a National Secret.

Edited to add picture
" The roadside attraction was apparently one of about 80,000 sites named by the Homeland Security Department in its national database of potential terrorist targets. The list is being kept secret so terrorists can't learn about the nation's vulnerabilities.

"It's classified," said Homeland Security Department spokesman Kirk Whitworth. "We wouldn't want to identify for our enemies what assets we consider critical.""

[sui generis]

13. I don't even think the terra-ists have 80,000 dollars between all of them

much less a list with 80,000 sites on it, not in Arabic. Woopsie!! did I say Arabic? I guess my slip is showing again . . .

[sakabatou]

11. WTFH?

[sinkingfeeling]

12. Man, am I going to have fun next year when Asa Hutchinson runs

for governor of Arkansas. He was #2 in DHS and quit when he didn't get Tom Ridge's job. He also, is famous, for impeaching Clinton. I've been saving 'dumb' DHS stories and intend to ask him questions about them next year. This one will go into the file.