Homeland Security Protecting The Nation!

My friends, today is another proud day in American history.

A photographer taking pictures of a BP refinery in Texas was detained by a BP security official, local police and a man who said he was from the Department of Homeland Security, according to ProPublica, a non-profit news organization in the U.S.

The photographer, Lance Rosenfield, said he was confronted by the officials shortly after arriving in Texas City, Texas, to work on a story that is part of an ongoing collaboration between PBS and ProPublica.

Rosenfield was released after officials looked through the pictures he had taken and took down his date of birth, Social Security number and other personal information, the photographer said. The information was turned over to the BP security guard who said this was standard procedure, ProPublica quoted Rosenfield as saying.

Rosenfield, a Texas-based freelance photographer, said he was followed by a BP employee after taking a picture on a public road near the refinery, and then cornered by two police cars at a gas station. The officials told Rosenfield they had the right to look at the pictures taken near the refinery and if he did not comply he would be "taken in," the photographer said according to ProPublica.

BP gave ProPublica the following statement after the incident:

"BP Security followed the industry practice that is required by federal law. The photographer was released with his photographs after those photos were viewed by a representative of the Joint Terrorism Task Force who determined that the photographer's actions did not pose a threat to public safety."

You mean -this- refinery?

Didn't take long to find this baby next to Texas City, from the comfort of my own living room. Street names and everything. Wanna see what's in that blacked out square? How close can we get?

If you blow this section up to max size you can tell what make of pick-up truck is parked on the dock and see guys standing around on the ships. From Ontario, Canada. On a crappy DSL line to boot.

So you Amercans, rest easy in the knowledge that your Department of Homeland Security is keeping you safe from the mean terrorists and spending your money wisely. Uh huh.

The Phantom