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
So true. When I was in NYC, the big Reuters billboard in Times Square ran a story about the US military attacking some village or whatever, with the typical momma crying in the camera scene. This is the top story. On the same day that the most recent American was beheaded, the guy from New Jersey (apologies; forgot his name at the moment).
The major problem, as I see it -- is conflicting "visions" as in: Pursuing the American Dream vs. Facing Up to Realities.
Again, so true! The Lib Left want to live life under the premise that they will never have to make a personally inconvenient decision. Islamic terrorism? Couldn't possibly be due to the wretched perversion we export in the name of Hollywood. NooOoo. It must be that George W. Bush! AIDS epidemic? Couldn't possibly be due to the 'anything goes' bedroom morality we possess, it must be that George W. Bush!
Conservatives, on the other hand, tend to have a more pragmatic view on things. Personal responsibility, disdain for welfare, interest in facing down our enemies, foreign and domestic.
How many hardcore leftie libs do we have?A huge load more than 1.5 mil. They will all sell us out in a moment. They will be the proverbial "useful idiots." Just like the Jews who sold their own out during the Holocost, they eventually find themselves on that last train to Auschwitz.
And as in Iraq, there will be a healthy stream of "advisors" streaming in from Mexico and Canada, willing to give us a crash course on bootlicking. Behead a few "rebel" figures (i.e. us) on CNN (they'll gladly cover it, probably offer their services as informants), and get the general public to cower in fear.
However, in America, we do not live these fears as a constant as others do elsewhere around the world.
The Bush administration has done a good job preparing and attempting to educate Americans that we must face and brace ourselves to combat this evil, lest it grow. It requires us to be cognizant that we are afraid of random assault and violence, and that we are willing to stand up and against it.
This is not something America has had to face for a very long time. But you are.
I very much appreciate your honesty. :)
I would never shoot a moose. Not even a moose who bit my sister . . .
>>Not even for cheese?
Well, if terrorists
attack, and I need to take
a shower, and if
a moose were hogging
the shower stall, then I might
get out my moose gun . . .
I want some of what your taking!!! rofl
Fine. Let's revisit the topic after the elections in November. They took 8 years to engineer the re-run against the WTC. They are clearly more interested in results than meeting some arbitrary time table.
Watch out for September 11th or 19th. Dates seem to have significance to these scum. Spain and the Phillipines are playing right into their hands. As if appeasement has ever worked in the past.
"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"
This dude has a keen grasp of the obvious.
The problem with this is that it would make it too tempting for a third part (like China) to do something and make it look like the Muzzies did it -- then shallow up both sides after they're done destroying each other
Two weeks ago my brother was at a bar in Austin when he noticed a clean cut middle eastern man sitting in the corner of the bar scoping the place out. My brother thought he seemed out of place because he was dressed warmly and was sweating profusely.According to my bro the guy seemed very nervous and edgy so my bro walked up to him and put his arm around him. He acted drunk and was overly friendly to this man. "Dude your sweating like crazy? Whats up?" all the while he had his arm around the guys shoulder in a friendly way. "You look like your stressin' out man!" my bro says.
"No no I'm ok" the squirrly gut says and heads for the door. My bro tells the bouncers to keep an eye on the guy but he is long gone.
That may have been nothing at all but it could have been something too. Thats called keeping your eyes open. These terrorists are not robots and for the most part to pull something off they will show signs of stress.
Citizens need to be armed.
F Iran. Take out the Saudis now.
"I took Latin for 5 years."
I had 8 years of Latin and 2 years of Classical Greek, back in the 60s, and can't remember most of it. I did enjoy it, though.
ping, read my FReepMail first.
Wow. We are all gonna die.
24 - "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."
If only our leaders were so smart.
I nominate you for president of the US.
"I think you need to go change your underwear, Mac. Taken over by Islam? Please."
What do you think will prevent it?
Many European nations and Canada are well underway to being fully Islamated. The US culture lacks the will to defend itself. It will start in the blue areas and spread. Many nations have already fallen. I can't think of any nation besides Isreal that has successfully resisted Islam.
"Like that, when we get a second 911 then everyone will know. If we were to get nuked you can throw out all the political correctness and wishful thinking for the duration."
Kerry is within striking range of the presidency. One well timed media flap over some playground offense from Bush's kindergarten days would put Kerry in office.
If Kerry is president and the US gets nuked then the left would blame it on Bush and his provocation of the peaceful Islamic peoples of the world. We wouldn't retaliate no matter how much you and I may seethe. If we take action ourselves or agitate against the government, we will be eliminated by the US military.
The libs are looking forward to the time when they can get rid of all those who are standing in the way of "progress"
I don't think you know our military very well.
70 - "All it would take is one person to open a vial in downtown SF, for example, to wipe out thousands of people. "
That might not be such a bad idea (except that Bechtel Headquarters is located there), though opening one in Hollywood would be better.
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