Something big [and bad] is coming, says CIA director

Washington - Warnings that terrorists are plotting "something big" against the United States are based on "very, very solid" information, the CIA's acting director said on Wednesday, likening the threat reports to those that preceded the September 11, 2001 attacks.

John McLaughlin, the acting CIA director, noted in an interview with National Public Radio that the US had ample warning of an attack before the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington but no specifics on the timing and targets.

"But we did have conviction that something big was coming at us. We have that same conviction now," he said.

"And the reason I say that it is serious is that I think the information I've seen is very, very solid. We have very little doubt about the information we have in terms of its sourcing and its authenticity," he said.

McLaughlin would not comment on the specificity of the intelligence this time, but said the agency has developed much more intelligence on al-Qaeda and its intentions since September 11.

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge warned last week that "credible reports" indicate al-Qaeda plans to carry out a large scale attack in the US to disrupt the elections.

Ridge said precise knowledge of the time, place and method of attack was lacking, but security is being stepped up at the sites of the Democratic and Republican nominating conventions this summer.

The Democratic Party's national convention is to be held in Boston July 26-29, while President George Bush's Republican Party is to hold its convention in New York August 30-September 2, ahead of the November 2 US presidential election.

Asked whether Americans should cancel vacation plans or stay away from Boston and New York during the conventions, McLaughlin said people should go about their business.

Every time these alerts get issued, also questioned by people is: Should I take a vacation or stay home?

I used to think this question had only to do with a person's sense of "security" while traveling domestically or abroad. It could be this. Nonetheless, when one is traveling (vacation or business) to a "not usual" locale, one thinks (he) they wouldn't notice anything unusual and because everything there is "unusual" from the standpoint of a guest. Not so. When one is away, one's "security register" is in higher gear, usually, than when one is in one's routine daily life. Therefore, conducting business/life as usual is more than just an operative phrase and directive.

They already are here!

Figures vary, but there are probably no more than 5 million muslims in this country (don't count Calypso Louie's Nation of Islam folks. They've got their own ideology and aren't really muslim).

So, of that five million, half are going to be women and they aren't going to be a part of any army. Of the remaining 2.5 million, maybe a third are going to be too old or too young to be part of any army.

That leaves you with a potential pool of around 1.5 million military-age muslim men. Even if every single one of them picked up an AK-47, do you really think they could conquer half of the USA?

The sing and dance between the US major media and Al Jazeera (and Reuters) is very clear. Well, to some, I suppose. I concur with Your postulation, analogy, analysis, and proposed. I'd like to take a different tack in response to yours.

The major problem, as I see it -- is conflicting "visions" as in: Pursuing the American Dream vs. Facing Up to Realities.

American Major Media, which is lib, continues to foster the idea that the so-called "American Dream" is intact, and that Repubs are simply foisting a war on the world in order to get re-elected. The major media, does not provide connections which would clearly rebut this view of "normalcy" -- instead, they do "disconnected" news reporting. Bombings in Israel are not put anywhere near the stories about 911 investigations, or latest local terrorist attempts in America and Europe. It's the visual equivalent of newsprint only printing pertinent aspects of headline stories on, say, page B-22, small para. So, there's a percentage of Americans who either wishfully think all this hoopla about being murdered simply will not happen to them; but rather it happens to other people -- over there; or there's Americans who see the connections, despite "editorial attempts" at disconnection -- and all labelled "conspiracists" by same media disconnecting these events for digest by American citzenry. It's a displacement/placement issue.

Elections in America, are the classic means, far more reliable than polling data -- as to where or how this connection/disconnection really falls, or is perceived. Right now, polling data is being used in attempts to determine how disconnected or connected are Americans from the realities of what is going on in re terrorists, and/or how clear they are. President Bush must be re-elected, IMHO. If, when his admin is, directives such as you propose can be more readily accomplished. Why? The Admin are representatives of the majority VOICE of the people. And, US leaders need to know exactly how to "use" their offices in accord with the will of THE PEOPLE of the United States. And this, IMHO, is why the directives such as you suggest, are not being openly implemented. Currently.

An asidem? The Democrat Strategy in re winning election. Clearly, they are going off their rockers (whoopi, Mel Watts, NAACP). What fascinates me? They are against the US as a military power; but instead by their very actions and words, propose themselves as the militants (military) wrangling "for" America. They propose that "war" be ended via civil means. That we can just talk our rapists/terrorists out of hurting us. But they themselves are most uncivil. Another "conflict" in the vision thing. It's got to be confusing, a very confusing matter to those who get their news from the mainstream, partisan media. How can a "peace by talks" person be supporting representatives of a party who are constantly uttering the rhetoric of uncivil violence?

A fascinating disconnect, IMHO.

"But citizens themselves need to keep their eyes open and be alert," he said

Reminds me about the 16 y-o arab student in that private school in NYC who, when asked by his teacher a few days before 9/11 why he was looking out the school window at the WTC, told his teacher he was looking at the twin towers "because they won't be there long."

I'm as certain as tomorrow's sunrise that the US muslim "community"knows exactly what is about to happen, when, and where! Like prior to 9/11, they are silent on the subject. This is further proof that there is no such thing as an innocent muslim - they are all complicit in terrorism (the killing of infidels, or anybody they disagree with, as directed by their koran). This totally justifies playing (with all due apologies to the American Indian) "cowboys and muslims" if they pull any of their stupid muslim death tricks (euphomistically called "terrorist attacks") here in the US!

PLEASE, show me where I could possiby be wrong! I do not believe in anarchy, which is what "cowboys and muslims" is, but, frankly, I don't see an alternative......

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