Posted on 01/06/2005 6:41:54 PM PST by wagglebee
(Washington-AP, Jan. 6, 2005 4:03 PM) _ U.S. intelligence monitors are picking up less terror threat talk than a year ago, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Thursday.
A variety of factors could be contributing to the lull, Ridge said, and he warned that terrorists "are strategic actors and long-range planners" who could be merely lying low before striking again.
"There certainly is a diminution, reduction in the amount of intelligence, and the decibel level is lower," Ridge told reporters, comparing information picked up over the past several months to the similar period a year ago.
Ridge offered no single explanation for the drop, saying it could be stepped-up U.S. efforts to boost security, increase military action, disrupt terrorist leaders and their finances or, simply, the "hardening of America."
"Could be any of those and none of those," he said. "I suspect it's probably all of them."
Hamilton said Sunday that there was "a sense of urgency" in the U.S. government in the summer of 2001, when U.S. intelligence began picking up extensive "chatter" from terrorist suspects about an imminent attack. But Kean said the administration "let down their guard a bit" just before the attacks when the chatter subsided. And most U.S. officials believed the threat was overseas.
"There's no question about it," Kean said on Meet the Press. "We were not at the state of readiness on Sept. 11 that we'd been (at) back in August. ... I think when the chatter went down, when they didn't hear all these people talking to each other so much, there were other priorities out there."
So, I don't agree that the lack of chatter can unambiguously be attributed to success in the War on Terror.
I agree.
Well, keep in mind, they typically get quiet suddenly just prior to an attack.
However, the sudden quietness follows a period of really intense "chatter," which I do not believe was occurring prior to this quieting down.
Therefore, I think it is more likely this is GOOD news....that they are giving up for now to lay low for awhile.
However, I am not a CIA analyst, so what the heck do I know.
I wouldn't get too excited, just yet. Unfortunately, these weasels are resilient and still have supporters.
I'm not reading too much into it, personally.
Please see my post 23.
It is important to remember that Al Queda QUIETS DOWN immediately prior to an attack.
However, based on the fact that this quiet period does not seem to be following a period of extremely intense chatter, I am not inclined to think it is signalling an attack...probably good news that they are settling down for now at least.
And the reelection of President Bush......
Okay....
Bump.
The storm may have slowed them down for a day or two, but not much, as the terrorists are going to the different areas.
With our open borders, I would think we have plenty of them here waiting for orders.
I can't help but wonder. Is your login name associated with the alien that Niven featured in one of his early works where the alien had arms like pipes, and used to eat some kind of food that resembled a yam? I believe he drove a Rambooster space vehicle.
I think we are winning, but the lull in the chatter may not be as a result of that.
I recall reading, that in July 2001 they had a lot of chatter, than it all died down, then we had the attack in September.
I think the lull may just be to throw us off the track.
Stay vigilant.
Well, yes, but.....
I prefer to picture Pak Protectors as hyper intelligent members of the genus Homo, who are able to sacrifice their own well being to do the "right thing" to preserve their progeny (the Human race). Of course, I actually prefer the slightly mad and anarchic derivative of Phsstpok, created later in the story (when a human get's hold of one of those "yams") named Brennan. I had scant hope that anyone would recognize "Brennan Monster" as a handle, however. ;^>
I believe he drove a Rambooster space vehicle.
A Bussard Ramjet, actually. A very real design that should be a practical interstellar spacecraft, so long as you don't mind leaving your entire civilization behind while you travel to the stars (due to relativistic affects).
I actually had an argument with Niven in a con suite one time about his biological background for the relationship between humans and Pak Protectors. His science really doesn't hold up over time. He admitted it but couldn't see a way around it. I provided him a couple of ideas as well as a great "out" by simply pointing out that the "bogus science" was provided third hand from Phsstpok (the alien) by way of Brennan (the human Belter changed into a Protector) and it might be in their interests to provide us a false explanation for the similarities in physiology between humans and protectors. There was some tiny hints in the 4th Ringworld book that he may have remembered that conversation, but he never really tackled the question.
Ah well......
"Brennan". Yes. Now I remember. The belter who got transformed into the protector. I'll have to rote through my collection and see if I still got this one. It probably has been some five years plus since I may have read it.
Hang in there Phsspok........ what a name!
well crap, because that was my first thought also
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