Bob, or whoever you really are, and wherever you're really from, where do you come off attributing me to "baseless fearmongering" because I simply provided a link to a story that mentioned potential terrorist activity affecting railroads near our southern border? It's not as if I wrote the piece. And in case you haven't noticed, this somewhat informal forum called Altamont Press tends to be a place where some of us simply share things on a "hey, have you seen this?" basis. Take it or leave it. None of us have the time or need to fact-check outside news stories before laying them at your feet.

On the occasions where myself and others are here sharing our personal knowledge or insights into rail-related history, geography, or operations, I think it pretty well speaks for itself and is clearly coming straight from the source. Would it be any more meaningful to you if the news links stopped, and we instead confined ourselves to posting links to images of young girls on the right of way, or kittens snuggled up on a conductor's seat?

Until you or I or anyone else can provide evidence that the story's claims are false, or that their Mexican intelligence sources don't really exist, this discussion is fairly moot. You're welcome to disagree with whatever political or social agenda you apparently don't like about the outlet which released this story, but your disagreement alone does not in any way prove falsehood, or even "fearmongering" in this particular instance. Enough other news outlets have reported on the presence of persons and items with apparent or possible terrorist connection being found on or near our southern border that the subject merits at least a degree of attention for some of us. If you're not concerned, close the blinds and carry on.

You're right about one thing. I have lowered myself. To the point where I actually expended time responding to this. Time that I normally spend with my wife watching Jeopardy, followed by (wait for it...) the PBS News Hour and (gasp!) Nightly Business Report.