Captured Qaeda Figure Led Way to Information Behind Warning

New York Times ^ | 08/02/04 | DOUGLAS JEHL and DAVID ROHDE

[conservative in nyc]

More info on where the information causing the threat level to be raised may have come from. What purpose does it serve to be so specific? Why let the bad guys know how we know?

[rj45mis]

No problem here since it was reported by the uncredible NY Slimes.

[NautiNurse]

it demonstrated that Qaeda plotters had begun casing the buildings in New York, Newark and Washington even before the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Ouch

[RoseofTexas]

Because the NYSLIMES doesn't give a S*** if this country is hit again! Notice how the reporter says UNCONFIRMED, that's a dead give away!

[inkling]

I QUESTION THE TIMING! YEEEEARGH!

[TADSLOS]

Why let the bad guys know how we know?

Passive surveillance. We're watching for their next moves to identify and locate cells.

[finnman69]

Amazing what some panties on the head can produce.

[snooker]

Two schools of thought here

1. Tell all you can so we all can stop the terrorists, i.e. maybe a citizen spots them, All hands on deck approach.

2. Don't tell anything and hope you catch them in time. Don't tip them off to what we know approach.

I vote for #1. Dot connecting is hard before you know what is going to happen. Easy afterwards.

[Mike Fieschko]

What purpose does it serve to be so specific?

A reminder to the voters that the grownups are in charge.

[snooker]

Sounds like they put the panties on the computer and it coughed up the info.

[SlickWillard]

What purpose does it serve to be so specific? Why let the bad guys know how we know?

My thoughts exactly - and there are plenty of criminal statutes under which the NYT could be prosecuted for having released this info.

[Fast1]

Could be Worse I guess the ACLU could be there during interrogation

[nuconvert]

I didn't notice any mention of the S. Africans we've caught lately and the passport problem. I think they also had a direct bearing on the raise in threat level.

[nuconvert]

"Why let the bad guys know how we know?"

The bad guys know who has been arrested.

[airborne]

'The intelligence official provided information describing Mr. Khan as having assisted in evaluating potential American and Western targets for terrorist attacks, and as being representative of a "new Al Queda."'

A "new Al Queda"? But read further and...

'The Pakistani official described Mr. Khan as a fluent English speaker who had told investigators that he had visited the United States, Britain, Germany and other countries. Mr. Khan was one of thousands of Pakistani militants who trained in Afghanistan under the Taliban in the 1990's, the Pakistani official said.'

1990's?? Looks like the "new Al Queda" has been around since the Clinton Administration. The legacy continues.

[nuconvert]

pong

[BagCamAddict]

Looks like the "new Al Queda" has been around since the Clinton Administration. The legacy continues.

Enough Clinton bashing already. Or have you not seen the list of terrorist attacks on Americans that dates back to at least 1979 ?? Or if you have, do you want to blame all of those on Clinton also? Give it a rest.

[Jack Bull]

Clinton lied, people died.

[airborne]

I know, but the article refers specifically to "a new Al Queda" and that was what I was specifically pointing out.

[San Jacinto]

clinton deserves all the bashing gets--and more.

But having said that, we must recognize this enemy has been studying and planning for years. They intend to use America's freedoms to destroy America. If they get a nuke, they will not hesitate to use it. They mean business. And the voters better mean business this November and not let kerry anywhere near the White House.