Dry Run?

A security alert was issued at Camp Pendleton after three Middle-Eastern men drove in under suspicious circumstances. (KABC Photo)

Security alert issued at Camp Pendleton KABChat tip Diane

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (KABC) -- A security alert was reportedly issued at Camp Pendleton after three Middle-Eastern men in two vehicles drove onto the base under suspicious circumstances Saturday night around midnight.

The drivers said they didn't know each other, but both said they were lost and trying to get to Glendale.

One of the drivers reportedly ignored orders to wait at the main gate and drove onto the base.

A search turned up no weapons.

But an airbag had been pulled out and reattached with duct tape and wires were hanging free.

The next morning the other driver returned to the base and said he made a mistake and was trying to get onto Interstate 5.

A background check showed that the men all had clean records.

Comments

[shocked and old]

quite surprisingly, the 'national news' actually reported all three names this morning..

maybe barry's kinetic kittman directive hadn't yet filtered down from on high...

[Person of the Book]

On the bases I have entered, EVERYONE is required to stop and let the guard check your ID before you enter the base. Then, if the guard is satisfied that you are authorized to enter the base, he will wave you through.

If you didn't stop for the guard to check your ID, they would probably come after you.

And there is no way to be confused about it. It will be clear that you are entering a military base, and that the guard wants you to stop.

So all of this "I was confused" talk is a bunch of baloney. AND THE MEDIA KNOW IT.

[Person of the Book]

Yes, Pam, it was most definitely a dry run. Especially in light of the fact that one of the drivers returned to the base again, the next day, and made the same "mistake" again!

ALL military people will confirm everything I have said.

[Person of the Book]

From the Camp Pendleton web site:

"Military installations around the world have been the target of attacks, and as a result of these attacks, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton has been directed to implement policies that focus on the access control procedures for visitors."

In other words, you can't just drive onto the base without first being approved for entry.

[Choi]

What adds another twist is that Petrossian & Avanosian seem to be Armenian names.

[Tom Billesley]

Naeem as a name is associated with muslim Urdu speakers in Pakistan or India.
Petrossian and Avanosian however are likely to be Armenian names.
Petrossian means son of Petros (Peter)
Avanosian ? possible related to the place Avanos in Cappadocia.

[Tom Billesley]

More on
http://pendletonunderground.com/topic.jsp?topicId=11631753
40-year-old Afghani Ahmad Rahmani Naeem, 41-year-old Iranian Vahik Petrossian and 27-year-old Iranian Sengekdi Norvik Avanosian

[Tom Billesley]

The two Iranian nationals may still have an Armenian background.
However, if you were of 'Middle Eastern' appearance and wanted plausible
identity for false papers, Armenian wouldn't be a bad choice.

[Tom Billesley]

More details of the incident on 10news

According to a Be On the Lookout (BOLO) alert issued to high-ranking Camp Pendleton officials, someone reported hearing hateful comments and terrorist threats from three men at a gas station in Oceanside Saturday.

Investigators at Camp Pendleton said the men asked the attendant for directions on how to get to Camp Pendleton before they left the gas station.
According to the alert, shortly after midnight Sunday, a rented silver Toyota Corolla driven by Naeem attempted to enter Camp Pendleton through the main gate. As it was being searched, Petrossian and Avanosian drove up in a black Mercedes, but were told to wait. Instead, they continued past the gate and onto the base. Following a short pursuit, the Mercedes was stopped and searched.

No weapons or contraband were found in the Mercedes, but base security noticed the air bag in the steering wheel of the Mercedes had been pulled out and re-attached with duct tape and had wires hanging free, the alert said.

According to the alert, Naaem told base security he was lost and was trying to go to Glendale. When interviewed, Petrossian and Avanosian said they were lost and trying to go to Glendale. The three men claimed not to know each other, the alert said.

Naaem, Petrossian and Avanosian were photographed and released after questioning, and a warning about the trio was posted to law enforcement.

However, later that morning about 8:30 a.m., Naeem returned in the Toyota and tried to get on the base again, saying he made a mistake and was trying to enter Interstate 5, the alert said. After his vehicle was searched, Naeem was issued a letter of debarment from the base and escorted to the freeway.

Since the incident, 10News learned high-ranking Camp Pendleton officials have notified other military bases and law enforcement of a potential threat.

According to a local security expert, that comes with good reason.

"I think after 9/11, anybody on any government facility should be worried," local expert John told 10News.

John, who does undercover security and anti-terrorism work for Eagle Eye Security Solutions, did not want to be identified.

He told 10News the Camp Pendleton incident sounds like a possible probe or dry run and said their visits raise a few red flags.

"Number one: they went on base twice. Their stories didn't stick, kinda wishy washy. Number two: the vehicle, the condition of the vehicle," said John. "They could have been probing the security, not just cameras, sensors, individual security from MPs. Three: [they] could have wanted to know what background checks would have produced."

A criminal background check on the trio conducted by the Department of Homeland Security found no "derogatory records" for the men. Additionally, the U.S. Border Patrol said the immigration statuses for the three men were confirmed and they did not appear on any terrorist watch databases.

This was probably recon. The air bag ? Well if you wanted to tuen your car into a bomb that detonated on impact if the driver was incapacitated by gunfire, the airbag circuit could be used as a trigger attached to a detonator: after all airbags unmodified have an explosive (gunpowder) to generate the gas to fill the bag.

[AuntieMadder]

Thanks for sharing that additional news report, Tom Billesley.

[mk750]

Petrossian and Avanosian are Armenian names. How many Armenians have been terrorists?

[Chris]

Having spent the last three years of my military service at Camp Pendleton, The only gate that takes you close to interstate 5 is through the navel Weapons station. Thia connects you into the town of Fallbrook. If these guys were looking to short cut across Pendleton to I-5 this is the route to take. I doubt that they were trying to do this. It is clearly marked outside of Pendleton that it is a Military Base and not a drive through route.

Highly suspecious in the act.

[Nat's daughter]

Obviously right-wing, birther, Tea Party nutjobs. Tom, thanks for the comment(more details) below. Interesting. I knew nothing about this recent dry run and I'm a news-aholic. But I do know the latest on Charlie Sheen. Wake up America!

[Mac-101]

Is there any doubt that we are being lead by TRAITORS? Stop Islamic Immigration NOW!

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1275807923]

That's so weird.
I wonder if this is related to the three Middle Eastern men who acted strangely on a plane bound for Oregon. One of the Middle Eastern men sat down on his ass at the back of the plane and said he felt ill.
The other two paced nervously back and forth in the aisles. The refused orders from the crew to go back to their seats. The plane was ordered to land at Chicago's O'Hare where the men were disembarked and questioned. Another dry run, perhaps?

[Mike.S]

Entering a Military Base and Failing to Stop When Ordered, Should have more of a consequence than just being "Turned Around!"
Our Military Men & Women are in Constant Danger when abroad. They should be able to live And feel Safe when home!

I came up with the following acronym, Feel free to use it. I'm Hoping it catches on. Our Military Deserves All Our respect and Thank you's!
GBOM-God Bless Our Military

[Madeleine]

GBOM!!!
Sell it sweetie before it takes off and you aren't given a red cent!
Put it on tee shirts and sell your product! lol, ever saw the movie
Forest Gump??? lol

Seriously though, were these men frisked?
I know their cars were searched, but were their bodies searched?
Could they have had explosive devices rigged under coats?
On their balls?
In their shoes?
Were they carrying cell phones in their hands?
This story is beyond serious!!

[Auntie Gin]

There should have been an arrest made after they "crashed" the gate and drove on through. That wouldn't have happened in Israel.

[aprilnovember811]

Of course it's a dry run. Clean records so what. It's so nice under a Muslim Impostor president isn't it.

[James]

I know they have automatic weapons at those guard posts.

I want to see them used next time.

[Rodney]

Dry run for sure, but also seeing how far they will get even if stopped. And plan accordingly.

[arius]

Two of the three have Armenian names. I can hardly believe it. What Armenian would be in support of the Islamic jihad? It doesn't make sense. Those two could be from Persian Armenian families that converted to Islam to avoid Muslim threats.

[Auntie Gin]

Who cares what ethnicity the names imply. There are traitors among us who were born here who would be happy to do their jihad on a base. Their names could have been Manny, Moe, and Jack...what does it matter. No one should be allowed on a military installation without the proper papers and IDs.

[dee dee]

I know wikipedia's unreliable but its quick and it carries an article on Armenian
Muslims http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Armenia

[Person of the Book]

So why didn't they lock up the guy who tried to enter the base a second time with the same lame excuse?

Should have locked him up and shipped him off to GTMO. He's a military criminal; he should be tried in a military tribunal.

[Person of the Book]

I'm encouraged by the fact that they landed and put them off of the plane.

[wri7913]

At Fort McDill, head of US Centcom in Tampa Florida, there were two incidents in past few years where someone tried to enter the base without stopping for authorization. In one instance that person was killed by the security guards, the other incident was a couple or two people and one was injured by both were alive I think. Armed Forces should be ever vigilant and take action when necessary.

The first incident where the guy was killed, everyone howled over improper action. Sorry, I don't buy that line. I grew up living on Military bases around the country and I know the dangers military people face by extremists in this country and in this day and age. They have EVERY justification to use lethal force no matter what the circumstance is found to be later. Shoot first, ask questions later. I'm just hoping and praying these jihadists are foiled before getting a terrorist attack off. What will it take for people to wake up that Jihadists mean business.

[wri7913]

Next time instead of going on a chase, open fire when they don't follow orders to stop. The Military Base near where I live its very difficult to just "drive on base" without being allowed to. If you tried it you would likely end up running into a concrete barrier.

[Person of the Book]

Perhaps in the civilian world, they should be slow to shoot the perpetrator. But this is a military base, and someone invading the base has committed an act of war. By doing this, they have declared that military action, i.e. shooting them, is appropriate.

[ann]

Muslims are Muslims it doesn't matter what name they have! Yes, this is a dry run to see if they can get on the base---I am with you Rodney it was to see how far they could get and when they would be stopped...So we know a plan is in the works for this base!

[John Joshua Sweet]

I wonder if it had anything to do with the van load of illegals dressed in Marine Uniforms that were caught at the boarder, which is just a short distance to the Camp Pendleton gate?

[darwin-t]

What bothers me is that they were allowed onto the base. What's up with that?

[DanS.]

No, now you watch them and gain intel on contacts, phones, etc.

[Tom Billesley]

Perez Invasion
Those were the men, all with "Perez" name tapes on their USMC BDUs, that were apprehended by Border Patrol officers March 11th 2011. The vehicle they were in, which had cloned plates belonging to a USMC vehicle, crossed the border at Mexicali/Calexico and was stopped 70 miles to the west at Campo CA.
Story here: (Homeland Security Today March 22nd 2011)

On Thursday, March 24, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano stated that: "There is a perception that the border is worse now than it ever has been. That is wrong. The border is better now than it ever has been."

[Tom Billesley]

Sorry, not cloned plates: According to this report they'd just changed one digit on some stolen government plates.

[Guy Macher]

For anyone drives into Camp Pendleton without permission, the only back to Interstate 5 should be by ambulance in a body bag.