Big one

THE WASHINGTON TIMES ^ | December 27, 2002 | Bill Gertz

[Mossad1967]

Big one U.S. intelligence officials say there are signs terrorists are planning a major attack during the holiday season. But the signs are not specific enough to issue a warning to the public. Increased chatter among terrorist groups associated with the al Qaeda network has been a common indicator in the past. Intelligence agencies have been picking up signals since early December from terrorist suspects indicating that an attack is being planned. "They are talking about 'the big one,'" an intelligence official tells us. U.S. government public warnings about terrorism over the Christmas and New Year's holiday have been limited to overseas-travel advisories. The latest intelligence says a major terror attack could be carried out in the United States, the officials said. The FBI warned this week that terrorists may attempt to blow up an airliner using explosives-laden shoes, similar to the attempt a year ago by accused shoe-bomb suspect Richard C. Reid. CIA Director George J. Tenet said in a recent speech that the al Qaeda network is preparing terrorist attacks. He noted that recent taped messages by al Qaeda leaders were "unprecedented in their bluntness and urgency."

[ml/nj]

Wake Forest Whatevers

Demon Deacons of the ACC! The ACC is tough.

ML/NJ

[OReilly]

I agree... Just once, I'd like to hear of an INS agent or border patrol guy slam a suspect up against the vehicle and shout "You're not going to kill anyone on my watch scumbag"

Institutional Cultures take a long time to change... that's we need a new organization to protect the borders and let the existing counter-productive wimps get busy with researching why some immigrants should be kept out.

[OReilly]

that's why we need

[potlatch]

It's the BIG ONE! I'm coming Elizbeth!

You're BAD!! I was even forbidden to view that image....maybe for the best, LOL.

[lelio]

"You're not going to kill anyone on my watch scumbag"
I would money to see that, especially at the local mall.

[sweetliberty]

My immediate reaction is "here we go again." It's not that I don't take these threats seriously, but it isn't like there is a h*ll of a lot we as citizens can do about it except to pray it doesn't happen and if it does to pray it doesn't happen to us or our loved ones. And I'm afraid until we make some serious effort to get some control over who enters our country and keep track of those who are already here, it isn't going to get any better. In my opinion the government is neglecting the one responsibility that is its appointed province and that is to defend the people of the United States. How can they say they are doing that if they won't even defend our borders because of the potential cost in illegal votes or illegal labor?

[SamAdams76]

After the novelty had worn off somewhat, I put in a VHS movie for the first time in a while. My initial reaction was, "what in the HELL is wrong with that picture?" I thought my VHS player had malfunctioned.

Exactly my experience. I got a DVD two years ago and still have my original VHS player hooked up but I have never once used it since. All my VHS tapes are collecting dust and I have even bought movies on DVD to replace those I already had on VHS.

I was just in the stores today buying the 4-DVD box set of LOTR. It is absolutely mobbed out there. I don't know why I keep reading that retail is off. It was like the weekend before Christmas all over again and people weren't just making returns. They were buying stuff and in mass quantities.

Anyway, I plan to spend New Year's Eve by the fireplace absorbing those LOTR DVDs. Not out of fear of terrorist attacks but I am sick and tired of crowds. Also, since all the city celebrations have become "alcohol-free", it's not even worth the bother. Not that I'm a lush or anything but New Year's Eve is just not New Year's Eve without the champagne.

[sweetliberty]

"You couldn't pay me enough money to go to Times Square tomorrow, or fly anywhere in the world."

Same here, but then I was that way before 9/11. I cannot see the attraction of being anywhere there is that many other people....and flying is way down on the bottom of my "favorite things to do" list anyway. 9/11 just convinced me I was right.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

All I can say is that when and if the 'Big One' does actually occur, I'm glad the Bush administration is in charge. There is an extra large can of whupa$$ waiting in The Bush/Rumsfeld arsenal for anyone even remotely associated with the islamist perps.

[sweetliberty]

ROTFL! As long as there is no plot to infiltrate FR I should be okay.

[sweetliberty]

"This costs untold millions of dollars each time they ramp up security to a higher level ..."

Not to mention proliferating generalized anxiety across the nation. In many cases it is enough for them to inhibit our ability to function normally and enjoy ourselves.

[sweetliberty]

"This is the second reference I've seen to 19 guys. I've only heard of the 5 guys"

Fox has made several references to as many as 19. The 5 are just the ones they are apparently certain about and whose pictures have been released but they are also saying that other pictures may be released as well.

[PoisedWoman]

You're right, Seattle is an easy target, as reported by FBI months ago. And now we have five FBI most-wanted Arabs who crosed over from Canada running around loose in Pacific Northwest. My bet is on Seattle, the space needle or WA State Ferries, which carry 1500+ passengers and 250 cars.

Our idiot Demwit congressman Jay Inslee, who lives in my neighborhood, is actually suing the Coast Guard to prevent them from making "intrusive" searches of passengers and autos boarding the ferries. A huge worry for me, as I ride the darned things.

[sweetliberty]

"Too bad you've all decided live isn't worth living........"

All those things you've mentioned wouldn't be living in my book, but torture, but then that's just me. I guess that is one of the benefits of having a small town mentality and preferences. It is easier to keep your lifestyle from being effected one way or the other. I still do whatever I want to do, I am just more thankful now that what I want to do doesn't ever include being in enormous gatherings of people or flying on airplanes.

[sweetliberty]

"the Dems have been attacking GW recently about not doing enough to protect the country."

Yeah, but can you imagine how much they'd be squealing if Bush actually got serious about defending the borders and they started seeing all the illegal votes going down the drain? They're just covering their bases so that Bush is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't and either way they can use what he does to attack him in 2004. That is the extent of their concern for the country.

[lelio]

suing the Coast Guard to prevent them from making "intrusive" searches
Is it that, or just searches that aren't completely random? Given that 95% of the passengers on a ferry are locals with no ties to any group that's sponsored terrorism random searches arejust a complete lack of resources. Let's see should I look into granny's car or the 25 year old middle easterners?
Oh and be thankful Jay's your rep. He was mind and then redistricting suddenly made me a Baghdad Jim constituent.

[sweetliberty]

"maybe January 9 (1-9) is the day to be on alert?"

LOL! Or maybe January 18 (1+18).

[sweetliberty]

"Must be the old age kicking in."

I don't think age has a thing to do with it. I felt that way at 20 and it hasn't changed.

[OldFriend]

Actually, I get the feeling that those people who list all the things they won't do now......never did them before either. Which is fine, but a bit disengenuous.

[anniegetyourgun]

hehe....go bucks!