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
It was in our interests to avoid a massive uprising in Iraq. A general uprising would have been uncontainable. We surely would have been driven out in humiliation.
Our forces have done a brilliant job in difficult circustances. How many other militaries could fight such nuanced warfare. Slowly but surely a friendly govenment is taking control in Iraq.
Amen, I liked Shaq and would have rather he stayed and Kobe went.
Someone else did and pointed it out to me day before yesterday.
The money out of SA is not from the official State whereas the Money and directed actions out of Iran are from those who control the State!!!!
And, they can't talk about what they do, or what they know; outside their jobs. Also, imagine being Homeland Security, or Intel, or CIA -- you get these solid bits of information, and have to listen to Dem lunatics scream "neener, neener, you are lying; you are just saying this to do "politics for Bush". Takes a special kind of person to be able to intel work; and while to ignore the emotionally immature...
It's late, typo. All things being equal??? OMG- I should know better. Lack of sleep is a wonderful thing. Not.
CORRECTION: Semper Paratus.
We always need to be prepared for any contingency.
hmmm...
All it would take is one person to open a vial in downtown SF, for example, to wipe out thousands of people. How do you track one single "person"? Suppose this person is.. the administrator of a hospital, with all bone fides in place -- but hates "America". This is where the admonition for individual citizens to observe/report what is "out of the ordinary" while in their daily pursuits in life.
I share your positive outlook. I also believe that bringing stability to Iraq and Afghanistan, cutting off funding and building up inmates in orange jumpsuits will eventually allow us to back them into one corner and make being a tango VERY unprofitable...kinda like this
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1171674/posts
Good post.
This phrase should be substituted every time where they, (the powers that be), now say, "They will be brought to justice."
Thanks. Saw it first thing this morning. Serious indeed. Thankfully there are a few voices of reason on this thread.
I am also very much aware that we are now beyond the 3 month open window for AQ's "truce" with Europe. Yesterday marked the end, if I'm calculating right. Since all countries explicitly or implicitly rejected the "offer" we can expect something here in Europe soon. They cannot issue a more or less explicit threat to Europe and then not attempt to follow through.
Why don't my links show up as hyper? Glad you posted it.
On a lighter note; if the target is Miami, do you think the usual Democrat race hustlers are going to declare it a "war upon African-Americans to deny them their votes" ?
There you go again.
Let's go over this again:
Removing one threat does not mean other threats don't exist.
Your argument is like saying that if two rapists are on the loose in your neighborhood that catching one of them doesn't make the neighborhood any safer so don't bother.
F-16 footage over Fallujah (check this out)
See post #165.
So, here's a game: if you were one of the terrorists, what would you hit?
Remember the rules: Kill randomly. Surprise. Get the media in attendance. Symbolism is ok, but terror is the desired end. Embarrass the leadership. Use all the advantages your arab/muslim ethnicity entitles you to in escaping scrutiny.
My bets: New Jersey's rail line, or perhaps Amtrak. (If they blew up SEPTA would anyone notice?) Or, a reprise of the random shooter along the highways and byways.
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