Posted on 07/15/2004 10:28:27 PM PDT by churchillbuff
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.
"But citizens themselves need to keep their eyes open and be alert," he said
LOL
totally screwed :)
You know I don't know what to make of these alleged terrorist reports any more. I thought after July 4th that it was starting to look like they issue a news story around ever holiday that is more of a CYA maneuver than trying to keep the public apprised.
And if they actually do know something why can't they tell us? Do they think we are too stupid to handle the information? It kind of reminds me of children on the playground who make it known that they know something and then make a big deal out of not telling. If you're not supposed to tell, why did you mention it in the first place?
Something big [and bad] is coming,......
Heads up, Miami.......
Now that's a fact, something I rarely see in any of these terriorst reports.
My simple answer to such things is this: if I was Putin, first thing I would make pure and clear to the Islamics and to their friends in the West: any nuclear device that explode anywhere in Russia will cause immediate, unquestioning and unilateral response of 25 20 megaton nukes on Mecca AND Medina...further nuclear explosion on Russia will cause 2 Islamic cities to equally die...names to be choosen at random...control your idiots or die.
"I'll go one step further. If this happens we should go to war with Iran AND Syria."
Why those versus Saudi Arabia? It is widely reported that nation is the principle source of money and people.
Even if we get a biggie, we wouldn't be able to convince the public war is needed again, they would think it a lie like they believe about Iraq.
Unless the media was supportive-HAH!!!
Fat chance of that.
We've got Iran surrounded on two sides right now.
I don't know if we have the resources to take on both Iran and Syria at this time. That would have us engaged all across the Middle East. We've got to get Iraq and Afghanistan settled down. Iran is a near-future possibility if it becomes necessary, but adding Syria could stretch things a little too thin.
Well, it certainly seems to be the case that putting Saddam in jail hasn't made us safer. So you think maybe invading Iran will make us safer, since invading Iraq didn't do it?
You aren't alone;this drives me up a wall too.
"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.
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.
"But citizens themselves need to keep their eyes open and be alert," he said
Where does one start to pick apart this nonsense? Something big is coming. We have solid information. We don't know where it is going to happen, how it is going to happen, or when it is going to happen, but it is going to be big, like Sept. 11th.
So we're supposed to go about our business and keepo our eyes open for anything unusual? Like what? A plane flying into a building? A nuclear explosion? A toxic gas cloud? What?
The ugliest part is that we actually pay these people good money for this nonsense. Without government employment, he'd be collecting unemployment. He's too stupid to do anything else.
Or maybe he just thinks we're too stupid to notice?
If he wins this election there will be a US Iranian showdown. It's long overdue.
Oh heck. I'll be blunt. When Democrats increase their assaults upon US values, there is either an terrorist assault just before the Dem assault; or immediately afterwards. These are increasing. Not only in frequency, but in near syncrony. In my observation, of course.
Did John Edwards really say that President Bush's snub of the NAACP is "unhealthy"? "Unhealthy?????????"
His word choice contains an implied threat. He could have chosen other words. He's a lawyer. Lawyers know the meanings of words. "unhealthy.." Hmm.
Overeating is unhealthy, as well as "tobacco", anal sex, unprotected sex, taking street drugs, voting democrat.. Hmm.. "unhealthy".
"War is Not Healthy for Children and Other Living Things" (http://www.anothermother.org/). A 60s slogan. Is the NAACP equal to "Other Living Things"? Is John Edwards suggesting that President Bush has "waged War" on the NAACP?
Sorry, Fatima, if this is not answering your question as clearly as you'd like; things are definitely moving fast. And, I'm thinking aloud. Thanks for listening.
I am sorry, but in my mind, this is non-specific enough to be worthless...
I mean, what exactly am I, or anyone else, suppossed to do with "warnings" like this?
Other than having a month's worth of canned food and bottled water in the basement, and the mindset and preparations for the possibility that the power grid may go down for a while at any time (like during the blackout last year), which I have done anyway since before Y2K, I plan to go on living my life as normal...
All these reports of terrorist dry runs is chilling. But I don't think the goal is to attack in September or October--I think they want the Republican party out of commission--so I think they want to crash aircraft into the Republican convention.
He=Bush
Or maybe he just thinks we're too stupid to notice?
I don't agree with your assessment. Every part of this announcement is probably true. Including that people should go about their business. There is no time-honored way of conveying this type of information, nothing that fits into a neat slot because terrorist attacks on our homeland are a new phenomenon. Don't shoot the messenger.
I took Latin for 5 years. Good rework of a quote from Cato "Carthago delenda est" < hard "th" like Car-TA-go. Carthage must be destroyed. One hell of a word before the Roman Senate (SPQR, Senatus Populus Que Romanus). Firebrand Cato makes our starched politicians look like fat- free soy twinkies.
Look at what happened to miserable Carthage, Rome finsished the Punic wars with vengeful finality. Salted the ground, sewed captives in hollowed out dead maggot-infested donkeys to bake in the hot sun, etcetera. Talk about revenge. Carthage got the works and then some.
http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/punicwars/a/thirdpunicwar.htm
http://history.boisestate.edu/westciv/punicwar/17.htm
http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=baldwin&book=thirty&story=carthago
"When the swords flash let no idea of love, piety, or even the face of your fathers move you." -Caesar
Sure, it can be nervewracking for "we the people"; however, I wager it is far more nervewracking for those working the intel data -- wanting so badly to get at the data, to prevent another assault. People specifically need to STAY on about their business; otherwise, how would they notice what is "amiss" or "out of the ordinary".
Here's the thing about intelligence: Omniscience ain't in the budget - No matter how big the budget is.
What he's trying to tell you is that there are general indications of a threat: Patterns of (probably encrypted or coded) communications probably mirror what they looked like before 9/11.
However, as before 9/11, we have no specific intelligence related to a single threat - So we are working the problem, and in the meantime, be prepared for anything.
Such a response might not sway whacked-out individuals like Osama Bin Laden, but at least it would make leaders in places such as Iran to give pause.
Unfortunately, our solders have been given rules of engagement that make it look like we're playing "tag" or something, not warfighting. "Oh wait, fellas, that van drove into a mosque. We can't do anything."
And of course the Liberal Media forever blabs the name of any Iraqi village with the prefix "the holy city of..."
I suspect the terrorists have figured out that when it comes to response, we'll basically wuss out.
If only the warfighters could be unleashed to perform to their potential. They have the willpower, and the tools. Our leaders need only to give the word.
If only the media would report the news. Just report the news, already.
If only our CIA worked like in the movies, what with secret assassins keeping us safe from scum like Al Qaeda.
But the fact is, here we are. I can only imagine that the forces of Al Qaeda look forward to four years of kowtowing and grovelling from a Kerry-driven USA; begging at the feet of Kofi Annan. And of course, in a show of gratitute, they'll ramp up their terror efforts, and eventually pull something big off.
And the Liberal Media will show Liberal Liberals wailing in the streets, blaming George W. Bush for the whole thing.
Michael Moore will make another movie and gross $200 million.
America will collapse, and we'll be taken over by Islam.
And in a show of gratitude, the mullas will see to it that Michael Moore is beheaded. Along with all of Liberal Hollywood. And all the other perverts who didn't bother to notice that Al Qaeda's version of Islam is at war with America and it's Liberal Hollywood immorality, not just George W. Bush. Of course, after chopping off the heads of Liberal Hollywood, they'll come for the rest of us.
I really hope and pray I'm wrong.
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