Sears Tower (Willis Tower) At 233 S. Wacker Dr. Chicago, IL

[nmm]

Official: 7 arrested in Sears Tower plot By KELLI KENNEDY, Associated Press Writer

23 minutes ago

MIAMI - Seven people were arrested Thursday in connection with the early stages of a plot to attack Chicago's Sears Tower and other buildings in the U.S., including the FBI office here, a federal law enforcement official said.

As part of the raids related to the arrests, FBI agents swarmed a warehouse in Miami's Liberty City area, using a blowtorch to take off a metal door. One neighbor said the suspects had been sleeping in the warehouse while running what seemed to be a "military boot camp."

The official told The Associated Press the alleged plotters were mainly Americans with no apparent ties to al-Qaida or other foreign terrorist organizations. He spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to pre-empt news conferences planned for Friday in Washington and Miami.

Miami U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta said in a statement that the investigation was an ongoing operation and that more details would be released Friday.

"There is no imminent threat to Miami or any other area because of these operations," said Richard Kolko, spokesman for FBI headquarters in Washington. He declined further comment.

FBI Director Robert Mueller, questioned about the case during an appearance on CNN's "Larry King Live," said he couldn't offer many details because "it's an ongoing operation."

"We are conducting a number of arrests and searches" in Miami, Mueller said, which were expected to be wrapped up Friday morning.

Residents living near the warehouse said the men taken into custody described themselves as Muslims and had tried to recruit young people to join their apparently militaristic group.

The residents said FBI agents spent several hours in the neighborhood showing photos of the suspects and seeking information. They said the men, who appeared to be in their teens or 20s, had lived in the area about a year.

The men slept in the warehouse, said Tashawn Rose, 29. "They would come out late at night and exercise. It seemed like a military boot camp that they were working on there. They would come out and stand guard."

She talked to one of the men about a month ago: "They seemed brainwashed. They said they had given their lives to Allah."

Rose said the men tried to recruit her younger brother and nephew for a karate class. "It was weird," she said.

Benjamin Williams, 17, said the group had young children with them sometimes. Sometimes, he added, the men "would cover their faces. Sometimes they would wear things on their heads, like turbans."

Xavier Smith, who attends the nearby United Christian Outreach, said the men would often come by the church and ask for water.

"They were very private," said Smith, 33. "The spoke with like an accent, sort of a Jamaican accent."

Gov. Jeb Bush was briefed on the situation Thursday, according to his spokeswoman, Alia Faraj.

"We have great confidence in the federal, state and local law enforcement agencies who are committed to keeping our country safe," Faraj said.

She added that there has been greater communication between state and federal agencies since the 2001 terror attacks.

The 110-floor Sears Tower is the nation's tallest building. Security was ramped up after the Sept. 11 attacks, and the 103rd-floor skydeck was closed for about a month and a half.

A spokesman for Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Illinois officials had been in contact with the FBI about the arrests and the investigation. He would not comment further, referring additional questions to the FBI.

The FBI's headquarters in Miami sits near a residential neighborhood just east of Interstate 95.

A huge crowd

[Jeebus]

I love how KPRC ran the story as a plot to destroy buildings in multiple cities, including Houston - all while showing a map with only Chicago, Miami, and Houston marked.

I then change the channel to KTRK where they are interviewing Harris County Court Judge Eckels who tells the reporter that he has not been informed by any law enforcement agency that Houston was a target by this group.

Somehow I find myself wanting to believe Judge Eckels over Dominque Sache. Go figure.

[brijonmang]

Somehow I find myself wanting to believe Judge Eckels over Dominque Sache. Go figure.

I think that has something to do with her decline after childbirth...HAHAHA

They did say the plot was in its early stages so who knows what all they planned to attack

[Trophy Property]

I think that has something to do with her decline after childbirth...HAHAHA

[johncoby]

Why is it that I smell some kinda of stupidity on this raid?

According to the indictment, they had no money, no tools, no supplies, but they did have thoughts and were intending to buy a camera to videotape buildings and a memory stick too!

Something just doesn't seem right.

Well at least we are fighting them over there so we dont have to fight them over here. Hum.......

[brijonmang]

Well at least we are fighting them over there so we dont have to fight them over here. Hum.......

well what do you mean by "them"? terrorists are everywhere. just because youre figthing one front overseas, it doesn't mean there arent going to be problems here...you know that

[editor]

Why is it that I smell some kinda of stupidity on this raid?

According to the indictment, they had no money, no tools, no supplies, but they did have thoughts and were intending to buy a camera to videotape buildings and a memory stick too!

Something just doesn't seem right.

Well at least we are fighting them over there so we dont have to fight them over here. Hum.......

Actually, they already had the camera and had traveled and done surveileance on potential targets.

They allegedly asked someone who they thought represented al-Qaida for machine guns, uniforms, and $50,000 to train troops to wage war on American soil.

Here's the full news release:

Seven Florida Men Charged with Conspiring to Support al Qaeda, Attack Targets in the United States

WASHINGTON

[johncoby]

Actually, they already had the camera and had traveled and done surveileance on potential targets.

They allegedly asked someone who they thought represented al-Qaida for machine guns, uniforms, and $50,000 to train troops to wage war on American soil.

These guys couldnt put together a 3 car funeral even with 2 cars already in line.

well what do you mean by "them"? terrorists are everywhere. just because youre figthing one front overseas, it doesn't mean there arent going to be problems here...you know that

You mean the "fight them over there so we dont gight them over here" excuse isn't valid anymore?

Damn, so what are we fighting for?

And its 1-2-3 what are we fighting for?

Don't ask me I dont give a crap

Next stop is sandy Iraq

[Jeebus]

And its 1-2-3 what are we fighting for?

Don't ask me I dont give a crap

Next stop is sandy Iraq

Good Lord..

[TheNiche]

Good Lord..

I think johncoby's going to give himself a heart attack one of these days. Then he'll blame it on Bush.

[RedScare]

Hard to blame the FBI for arresting incompetent morons. Clearly, these clowns were going nowhere, when their only "al Qaeda connection" is the FBI's own informant, and the closest they got to Chicago was North Miami Beach. But, the Feds have a job to do, so they did it.

The Cable News, on the other hand, is very much to blame for pissing all over themselves in an attempt to turn this into 9-11 Redux. This kind of fear-mongering only makes the restricting of our civil liberties easier.

[TheNiche]

Hard to blame the FBI for arresting incompetent morons. Clearly, these clowns were going nowhere, when their only "al Qaeda connection" is the FBI's own informant, and the closest they got to Chicago was North Miami Beach. But, the Feds have a job to do, so they did it.

The Cable News, on the other hand, is very much to blame for pissing all over themselves in an attempt to turn this into 9-11 Redux. This kind of fear-mongering only makes the restricting of our civil liberties easier.

The only thing that concerns me about this is that, as has been rightfully pointed out, these guys weren't particularly capable, stealthy, or generally cunning individuals...but those are the type that almost always either get caught or just end up spinning their wheels until attrition within the group causes it to disband.

Case in point: I seem to recall that the 9-11 cells were much better at not drawing attention to themselves and generally fitting in with American society.

To a great extent, I think that some degree of fear is justified...but you'd be correct that the cable news media does blow it way out of proportion. Lets just put it this way: if I worked in a nationally-recognized landmark building, I'd want a job that includes a life insurance policy as part of the benefit package.

[ricco67]

The only thing that concerns me about this is that, as has been rightfully pointed out, these guys weren't particularly capable, stealthy, or generally cunning individuals...but those are the type that almost always either get caught or just end up spinning their wheels until attrition within the group causes it to disband.

Case in point: I seem to recall that the 9-11 cells were much better at not drawing attention to themselves and generally fitting in with American society.

To a great extent, I think that some degree of fear is justified...but you'd be correct that the cable news media does blow it way out of proportion. Lets just put it this way: if I worked in a nationally-recognized landmark building, I'd want a job that includes a life insurance policy as part of the benefit package.

After watching the news for awhile and looking at the different angles as well as reading some things on here and other forums; I initially thought that the government did the right thing. As the whole thing unfolded, I believe that they panicked a bit too soon and prematurely moved in.

It's one thing to talk and bluster about all sorts of things. Unless they're actually mixing the chemicals and start becoming informational is when you start to move in.

The OKC bomber spent close to a day mixing his chemicals after it took him awhile to acquire a truck.

It takes quite a bit of time and planning as well as putting all the pieces together and currently, the government, from what *I* can tell (as told by their rep) doesn't have much of a case.

If they had simply waited until they could see how the group would grow, perhaps they could have merged with OTHER groups that might be more advanced.

As usual, some manager was doing a bit of CYA and blew the whole thing.

[editor]

the closest they got to Chicago was North Miami Beach.

Actually, the leader made a videotape of the security situation at the Sears Tower. So, the closest they got to their target was their actual target.

I'm not saying these guys could carry it out. But I think it's a good thing they happened to get in touch with an FBI informant instead of an actual member of al-Qaida.

Remember, after 9/11 there were all these calls about "Where was the FBI?" So, now that they're stepping up to the plate and stopping bad things before they can happen they get jumped on again? I guess they can't win.

[RedScare]

After watching the news for awhile and looking at the different angles as well as reading some things on here and other forums; I initially thought that the government did the right thing. As the whole thing unfolded, I believe that they panicked a bit too soon and prematurely moved in.

It's one thing to talk and bluster about all sorts of things. Unless they're actually mixing the chemicals and start becoming informational is when you start to move in.

The OKC bomber spent close to a day mixing his chemicals after it took him awhile to acquire a truck.

It takes quite a bit of time and planning as well as putting all the pieces together and currently, the government, from what *I* can tell (as told by their rep) doesn't have much of a case.

If they had simply waited until they could see how the group would grow, perhaps they could have merged with OTHER groups that might be more advanced.

As usual, some manager was doing a bit of CYA and blew the whole thing.

The act of conspiracy requires the intent to commit a crime, PLUS an overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy. As weak as it sounds, taking a few pictures and meeting with someone they thought was a potential co-conspirator may well be enough to make a conspiracy case.

Admittedly, not much info is out there (in spite of the 24 hour news coverage), but I suspect that the FBI moved in because it was becoming clear that this was as far as these amatuers were going to get. Waiting would not garner much more evidence. Federal law enforcement has been remarkably inept at times, but I don't think that is the case here. I think they just found a small group of complete idiots, incapable of actually committing the crime they envisioned. Again, the FBI cannot control the overblown coverage by the media, just as they cannot control the limited intelligence of the perpetrators. I almost sense disappointment that these fish were to small to fry. I also wonder why the indictment makes no mention of a video of the Sears Tower...only the Miami Federal Courthouse.

[nmm]

im just happy the Sears Tower didnt blow up

The Sears Tower is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere

[Jeebus]

Again, the FBI cannot control the overblown coverage by the media, just as they cannot control the limited intelligence of the perpetrators.

What I wonder is how this one got picked up by the media, versus all the other terror cell related arrests the FBI makes?

I also wonder why the indictment makes no mention of a video of the Sears Tower...only the Miami Federal Courthouse.

The same reason Dominque Sache made it a point to involve Houston in the story, even though Houston had nothing to do with the story.

[editor]

What I wonder is how this one got picked up by the media, versus all the other terror cell related arrests the FBI makes?

Officially, it was because the Department of Justice put out a news release.

Unofficially, I suspect some junior prosecutor shot off his mouth to a local reporter, and the DoJ was trying to get ahead of it.

[lockmat]

CHICAGO (Reuters) - The 110-story Sears Tower, tallest office building in the Western Hemisphere, will be renamed the Willis Tower, global insurance broker Willis Group Holdings said on Thursday.

Willis said it was leasing multiple floors in the 1,451-foot (442-meter) structure in downtown Chicago to consolidate offices. As part of the deal, it will become the Willis Tower this summer when the move takes place, the company said.

Sears, once the largest U.S. retailer, occupied what was then the world's tallest building as its headquarters after the skyscraper was completed in 1973. But it moved out in the early 1990s.

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE52B54J20090312

No more free publicity for Sears. That was quite a deal, huh?

[Pumapayam]

CHICAGO (Reuters) - The 110-story Sears Tower, tallest office building in the Western Hemisphere, will be renamed the Willis Tower, global insurance broker Willis Group Holdings said on Thursday.

Stupid name.

Certain names like Tiffany, Webster, and Willis have a certain recognition to them

So now most anyone who at least grew up in the 1980's will automatically think of Willis Jackson for Diff'rent Strokes first. At least I did when I heard the name.

Yeah, I am weird like that.

[sheeats]

Somehow, I don't think this will prevent people from continuing to refer to it as the Sears Tower (much as we do here in Houston with Transco Tower).

Still...Willis Tower? Just sounds...wrong.

[Pumapayam]

Somehow, I don't think this will prevent people from continuing to refer to it as the Sears Tower (much as we do here in Houston with Transco Tower).

Still...Willis Tower? Just sounds...wrong.

Transco FTW!

[Deut28Thirteen]

I think they should keep sears in the name. No one is going to know what Willis towers is, and to me it sounds better as Sears-Willis.

[infinite_jim]

It will always be the "pack of smokes" bldg to me.

[Pumapayam]

I think they should keep sears in the name. No one is going to know what Willis towers is, and to me it sounds better as Sears-Willis.

Could be worse, Like Arnold-Willis Tower.

[editor]

HAIF's sister site, the Chicago Architecture Blog had this story yesterday. I'm not particularly attached to the building or to the Sears brand, but I still find it sad.

Chicago has suffered several dozen similar indignities in last decade or so. Marshall Field's became Macy's. Fannie May candies went bankrupt and then moved to Ohio. Frango mints also went to Ohio. Brachs went to Dallas. Chicago Stadium was razed for the United Center. Commiskey Park became U.S. Cellular Field. The Rosemont Horizon became the Allstate Arena. Several downtown department store chains closed. Carson Pirie Scott closed its architectural gem flagship store. Amoco moved to Cleveland and became BP. Chicago's once mighty banking sector is gone (LaSalle bank got eaten by ABN AMRO, Harris Bank got eaten by Bank of Montreal, First Chicago got eaten by BankOne and then Chase, National City just got eaten by PNC, etc...).

Chicago is in a state of transformation. It's going from a regional powerhouse into a world city. But in the process it's losing its identity and the things that make it special. In spite of hizzonor's hard on for the Big Apple, Chicago is in danger of turning into New York Lite in the next 10 years.

The problem with Chicagoans is that unlike Houstonians, they won't keep their traditions alive. In Houston you'll hear "Transco Tower" for at least another ten years, maybe more. Chicagoans will call the Sears Tower "Willis Tower" or "Arnold Tower" or even "Mrs. Garrett Tower" as long as it doesn't interrupt the steady flow of beer into their addled minds.

Anyway, here's some of my pictures of the Sears Tower. For more, hit the Sears Tower - Willis Tower page on HAIF's sister site, Chicago Architecture Info (you can check out the other 928 buildings on that site, too).

[IronTiger]

This is the worst news I've heard all day.

[JLWM8609]

Chicago has suffered several dozen similar indignities in last decade or so. Marshall Field's became Macy's. Fannie May candies went bankrupt and then moved to Ohio. Frango mints also went to Ohio. Brachs went to Dallas. Chicago Stadium was razed for the United Center. Commiskey Park became U.S. Cellular Field. The Rosemont Horizon became the Allstate Arena. Several downtown department store chains closed. Carson Pirie Scott closed its architectural gem flagship store. Amoco moved to Cleveland and became BP. Chicago's once mighty banking sector is gone (LaSalle bank got eaten by ABN AMRO, Harris Bank got eaten by Bank of Montreal, First Chicago got eaten by BankOne and then Chase, National City just got eaten by PNC, etc...).

You forgot to mention that Mayor Daley illegally razed the Meigs Field runway in the middle of the night. It was a move that helped to drive away business.

http://friendsofmeigs.org/html/chicago_lost_market_share.htm

[editor]

You forgot to mention that Mayor Daley illegally razed the Meigs Field runway in the middle of the night. It was a move that helped to drive away business.

http://friendsofmeigs.org/html/chicago_lost_market_share.htm

Yep. That was another biggie. What did we get for it? Nothing. The island is abandoned except for an avian rescue center operating in the old terminal building. I still think the long-term plan is to put a casino there.

[memebag]

Try not getting attached to names; they change all the time. Galveston used to be named "Island of Doom", for instance. On the bright side, sometimes old names come back.

I think Amazon should buy the naming rights to that building, since they are the new Sears.