Scouts Train to Fight Terrorists, and More
New York Times
May 13, 2009
By JENNIFER STEINHAUER
IMPERIAL, Calif. — Ten minutes into arrant mayhem in this town near the Mexican border, and the gunman, a disgruntled Iraq war veteran, has already taken out two people, one slumped in his desk, the other covered in blood on the floor.
The responding officers — eight teenage boys and girls, the youngest 14 — face tripwire, a thin cloud of poisonous gas and loud shots — BAM! BAM! — fired from behind a flimsy wall. They move quickly, pellet guns drawn and masks affixed.
“United States Border Patrol! Put your hands up!” screams one in a voice cracking with adolescent determination as the suspect is subdued.
It is all quite a step up from the square knot.
The Explorers program, a coeducational affiliate of the Boy Scouts of America that began 60 years ago, is training thousands of young people in skills used to confront terrorism, illegal immigration and escalating border violence — an intense ratcheting up of one of the group’s longtime missions to prepare youths for more traditional jobs as police officers and firefighters.
December 2nd, 2009 at 3:24 pm
The southern area of Campania includes the city of Naples and there are several tourist destinations, including the Greek Temples at Paestrum, Sibyl’s Cave at Cumae, the Roman ruins at Pompeii and the volcanoes at Vesuvius. Holidays in Italy, whether in town or country, offer multiplicity, sunshine and a warm welcome from the friendly local community.
December 2nd, 2009 at 3:25 pm
There is more art and architecture discover in Italy than one person could possibly experience in a lifetime.
December 2nd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Italy is a charming country with historical cities, scenic countryside, mountains, picturesque coast and art treasures.