Posted on 07/09/2007 10:38:22 AM PDT by Contentions
Is our domestic counterterrorism effort failing, and if so why?
We have not suffered an attack since September 11, which is obviously a critical indicator of success. Michael Chertoff, who heads the Department of Homeland Security, told George Stephanopoulos that he has no evidence of an impending attack on the territory of the United States. But news reports last week spoke of a secret warning by his department that al Qaeda is preparing a terror “spectacular” for this summer.
As always, the trouble is that Michael Chertoff, like the rest of us, doesn’t now what he doesn’t know. When it comes to terrorism, we cannot see around the corner. In this regard, there is a significant and little-discussed parallel between the latest plots uncovered in the United Kingdom and the planned attack on Fort Dix in New Jersey, uncovered back in May.
In both cases, the authorities were not on top of the problem. In New Jersey, the most striking thing about the planned attack was that it was averted not by successful police work but by an alert video-rental clerk. In the United Kingdom, the bombers actually got through.
In London, it was only technical incompetence in bomb-building that kept the plotters from successfully causing mass carnage. In Glasgow, bollards kept a Jeep Cherokee from penetrating the airport building. Hardening the target there proved to be a critical step in saving lives. Still, there was a complete absence of intelligence on the plot. Until they were caught in the act, the main suspects in the case were only dimly on the radar scopes of Scotland Yard.
Why? At this juncture, we are only confined to supposition; hard facts are not yet established. Could one possibility be that these presumably well-informed perpetrators maintained effective operational security, and avoided behavior, like engaging in telephone conversations and sending emails, that was likely to get them caught? And could this have anything to with the steady stream of news reports detailing many, if not all, of the counterterrorism techniques used by the authorities?
Last week, here in the U.S., a federal appeals court reversed a lower-court’s injunction (that had been stayed on appeal) shutting down the National Security Agency’s terrorist surveillance program. That program permits the interception, without warrants, of telephone and email communications where one party to the communication is located outside the United States and the NSA has a reasonable basis to conclude that one party to the communication is a member of al Qaeda or affiliated with al Qaeda.
The positive effects of last week’s reversal are limited, because the NSA program has already been modified and placed under the authority of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. But the entire episode reminds us once again of the damage that was done by the program’s initial disclosure by the New York Times.
Aspiring terrorists, here and overseas, have been made well aware that they are facing highly sophisticated monitoring technology. They act accordingly. Is that one reason we are not learning about their identities and activities until their bombs are already in place?
And if there is, can open season on muslims be far behind?
Yes, won’t it be interesting if we miss getting information on the next attack because the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court didn’t get back to our guys fast enough for them to intercept the critical terrorist communications.
If so, then here will be a spectacular
in Tehran
They will blame it on GlobalWarming.
Except that Anthrax thing... and the various plots nationwide foiled out of either dumb terrorists, dumb luck, or infiltration.
Great theory - the tip-off to the ragheads makes them more stealth, so how will we know until the big one happens.
Be prepared, be armed.
Open season? Haha, it should be on those who have openly aided and abetted the terrorists and done so for political empowerment at any cost. Plinking those bastards out of office ought to be priority number one, to send a clear message to the DNC that We the people are going to tolerate no more treachery and treason from Democraps and their leftist sycophants in media.
I know this is supposed to alarm me, but it actually gives me hope. We really can't sit around and expect the police to take care of us in the face of terrorism. We, as citizens, need to be alert and ready. The fact that an ordinary video-rental clerk foiled the plot shows me that some of us still are.
“Aspiring terrorists, here and overseas, have been made well aware that they are facing highly sophisticated monitoring technology. They act accordingly. Is that one reason we are not learning about their identities and activities until their bombs are already in place?”
YES, and instead of thanking the NYSlimes, America will blame Bush entirely.
At the most populous intersection of town....at high noon!...Dingy Harry, Ms. Pelosi, Ted Kennedy, Jack Murtha...et al.
Maybe Chertoff can get around to stopping the terror plot once he figures out how to enforce the law to stop illegal immigration.
I totally disagree with that statement. It is an indicator of nothing. What if the reason the US hasn't suffered an attack is because nobody's trying really hard, or allocating enough resources to do it? I wouldn't use that as a metric of success, and neither should the UK.
Her sources tell her the Scotland incident was a trail run to test 1st responders.
If you heard Glenn Beck today, he feels the Middle East is about to implode. Things are not good....
If we know it, it's not a secret.
The Muslim world should be warned in clear, unequivocal, terms that if anything “spectacular” occurs, or is even attempted, then Mecca and Medina will be nuked within 12 hours.
I think that the increased chatter that’s been picked up in recent weeks was mostly related to the UK car bombings. Those attacks by the “doctors” and their state sponsors were assuredly quite some time in the making.
You hit the nail on the head about “not tolerating any more treason by the democrats”. If we can vote them out and put in some people who love this country we won’t have to worry about the terrorists because they WILL be dealt with as needed.
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