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Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed

by TChris

With the primary season upon us and the November elections quickly approaching, it's time to raise the threat alert -- to red for flights originating in Britain. New travel restrictions are being implemented in response to the reported arrest of 21 terrorists who were plotting to blow up airplanes in flight from London to the United States.

In the United States, federal officials put in place new regulations barring passengers from carrying any liquids, gels or lotions onto planes, except for baby formula or prescription medicines.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the restrictions reflected the belief of investigators that the plotters planned to bring liquids on board, "each one of which would be benign, but mixed together could be used to create a bomb.''

Chertoff acknowledged the lack of evidence of any similar plots within the U.S.

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    More propaganda.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#2)
    by Punchy on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 07:33:15 AM EST
    If no threat to America, then why was the terror level raised? And why to red? (as if I even know what the colors mean!)... The hyperbole is out of control. I just read "STOCK MARKET SLAMMED DUE TO ALERT", then saw the Dow down only 30 points. The media is just another wing of this Admin...

    Time for some poltical jujitsu. Polls now say that Americans trust Democrats more than Republicans to keep us safe. Time for Democrats to start hyping the threat and loudly demanding answers from Chertoff regarding TSA (lots of issues from quotas for Marshalls, to demanding Marshalls dress like cops, to TSA not being able to recognize fake IDs...)

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#4)
    by Punchy on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 07:38:42 AM EST
    Hey....Israel suspending ground action for a few days... hmmmmm....any coincidence to the fact that the Bush Team wants this terror plot in the news cycle a few days? Wants to give CNN something ELSE to broadcast? This sh#t is so planned it's just obvious at this point.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#5)
    by Jlvngstn on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 07:41:33 AM EST
    Great job by the British investigators. Perhaps they can teach us a thing or two.....

    Oh please. If these allegations are true, Homeland Security has no choice but to raise the threat alert to red for flights originating in Britain.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#7)
    by roy on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 08:05:25 AM EST
    And will TSA screeners be taught how to determine whether a bottle labeled as prescription medicine really contains prescription medicine? If not, the restrictions seem like just more feel-good, "look how good we are at national security", insecure security measures.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#8)
    by Gabriel Malor on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 08:06:00 AM EST
    Some days I really love this place. Do you actually think that Israel is taking a break from its war so terrorism can be in the news cycle at the request of the Bush Administration? (Ignore the fact that the Israeli-Hizzy war is all about terrorism.) Thems some strong fumes, Punchy. Right along the lines of:
    a thought here.... all the carry ons..add weight to a flight ..more weight.. more fuel consumed.. now with BP oil shut down..could Blair being holding back fuel for the british airlines..and US carriers..in preperation for a air strike on Iran? i believe Blair shut down the oil fields of BP to reserve oil..in case of a oil shortage in the event of air strikes on Iran! think about it..its a self imposed reserve of oil... fly
    I also love the "question the timing" reflex. TChris, we've been in election mode for months now. Can you imagine your outrage if this had happened on Monday? Or perhaps back in March when there were primaries in Texas and Illinois. What about May when there were 10 primaries? The idea, "how dare they increase the alert level" boils down to "how dare they do something that's bad for my team!" The real question you should be asking is why terrorism-related news is bad for your team.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#9)
    by oldtree on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 08:07:01 AM EST
    sure is convenient when you can't win an election and can't afford to have your opposing political party regain power. If you can't prevent them from being elected, they will be coming to arrest you for high crimes. can you say, diversion?

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#10)
    by DonS on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 08:10:34 AM EST
    Once again, if true in significant dimension, this reinforces the folly of the US wasting treasure and human resources facilitating civil war in Iraq when the focus should be elsewhere. Far from making the dems cower, they should go after Bush's misdirection and incompetence. Some are noting the curious coincidence of the "red alert" just as the thugs are looking oh so vulnerable. Dovetails nicely with the pile of crap poodle Blair is also wallowing in.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#11)
    by Sailor on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 08:13:52 AM EST
    "We are confident that we have stopped an attempt to create mass murder on an unimaginable scale," he said.
    That's just hype, actually, the scale is quite well known, it's the number of passengers on an airplane. I seriously have my doubts about this tho, why pick one of the most guarded airports in the world to launch an attack when most every other country has direct flights to the US? Maybe it's true, but the US and britain have a pretty poor trrack record for honesty in this regard.
    Mr. Stephenson said that "a critical point" was reached last night that indicated "an urgent need to take action," but he declined to say what information led to that decision.
    Like maybe the Lamont victory?

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#12)
    by kdog on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 08:18:39 AM EST
    For some reason I thought of this...
    Man to man is so unjust, children you don't know who to trust, Your worst enemy could be your best friend, And your best friend your worst enemy.
    I never know what to believe anymore...the fact that there are people looking to blow people up isn't really news to me...I've learned to live with the threat, same as you live with the threat of a heart attack or car wreck. The cost of doing business on planet earth, if you will. As long as I stay relatively free it's cool...though I'm not looking forward to the TSA taking my bottled water as well as my lighter and nail clippers on my next flight. Oh well.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#13)
    by soccerdad on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 08:20:47 AM EST
    The reports are that the planes were headed to the US. As has been stated by many people our policies in the ME in the last couple of years have made the US more hated then ever. It is therefore no surprise that there was a terror plot and I suspect there will be many more. All in all good news for Bush and the neocons. They will use these incidents to instill more fear into the sheep thereby convincing everyone that an even wider ME war headed up the Repubs is the only way to save the nation. And in case the desired effect is not seen in the polls there is always the "Northwoods" approach. I suppose its too much to ask for people to understand that the more Muslims we and our allies kill and the more countries we destroy the angrier they will become and the more extreme their response will become. They will fight back with the few tools and tactics at their disposal.

    Sailor, your logic is truly childish. You state: That's just hype, actually, the scale is quite well known, it's the number of passengers on an airplane. Tell that to the people in the towers and pentagon...

    geez, that's dense. If this were 1938, TChris would be arguing that there's no need to worry about Imperial Japanese attacks in China, since that doesn't impact the US.

    It has been suggested by friends in Europe that the case was publicised by the Brits because the Americans wanted to use the Brit investigation for their own political purposes and the Brits feared that would have blown the entire investigation. Repukes are hardly tough on terror.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#17)
    by theologicus on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 09:09:25 AM EST
    Good sense over at Daily Kos. L C Johnson's diary: The British Lose Their Minds
    Rule of thumb: Initial, panicked reports are usually unreliable. The Brits reportedly have taken at least 18 people into custody--all residents of Great Britain. ... ... So, what next? Instead of a common sense approach to security, the Brits have hit the panic button. Here's what needs to be done: No liquids on board a plane weighing more than one pound. Eight ounce bottles are okay but you must drink the liquid to demonstrate it is not an explosive. One carry-on bag per passenger. All carry-on bags hand-searched. No cotton balls. No third-party cargo on passenger aircraft. The latter is the real gap in aviation security. Right now most checked baggage is subjected to inspection by a machine that can detect explosives. Hand carry and cargo are not. You can deal with the threat of hand carry by physical inspection but cargo is a different problem. In the back of my mind, I worry that this threat might be trumped up in order to divert attention from the disastrous US and British policy (or lack of policy) in Lebanon.


    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#18)
    by Slado on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 09:19:31 AM EST
    When I was watching the news this morning I have to admit the first thing that popped into my head was..."I bet TL and the gang won't like this inconvienent news flash that will ruin the Lamont high their on". Predictably you guys proved me correct. At least make up a reason for why terrorists want to commit such horrible crimes make your unreasonable arguments believable. Saying Bush hired Englishman of Arab descent to concoct a ill fated terror scheme or that the English government will make up an investigation at the will of President Bush. Laughable. The things you guys have to convince yourselves in order to maintain your posistions. Like I said just take the UN view that no matter what a terrorist does or tries to do its the fault of the US and you won't have to think so hard making up conspiracy theories.

    The Brits claim to have foiled a terrorist plot. I'll be delighted if it's true, but the memory of the young Brazilian, Jean Charles de Menezes, being murdered by Brit cops who were dead-sure that he was a maniacal terrorist leave me skeptical.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#20)
    by Slado on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 09:24:24 AM EST
    James, they would also argue that the breaking of the Nazi code by British intelligence was a violation of the rights of British citizens because they might be sending or receiving code from family in Germany. I know it crazy but that's their position.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#21)
    by Edger on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 09:29:06 AM EST
    noname says: Homeland Security has no choice but to raise the threat alert to red for flights originating in Britain. Sure. Great idea. Close the barn door after the horses are gone. Makes perfect sense... if fearmongering is the objective. Arrest 21 people for the plot after a long in depth investigation. Then raise the alarm to scare as many as possible? After they've been locked up? Right... Excuse me? Where were the alerts during the investigation, when there was still a possibility of these guys doing what it's claimed they planned to do? And were these guys so stupid they couldn't keep their plot a secret? Pretty incompetent boogeymen. About a scary as teddy bears. Then again 30% of people are too dumb to even know when 9/11 happened either, so they shouldn't be too difficult to sell some more fear to.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#22)
    by Slado on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 09:29:15 AM EST
    The other thing that bothers me is these same people blame Bush for not knowing 9/11 was about to happen based on a single memo that said Al Queda was going to strike but give them what appears to be a specific plot with specific goals and means and any government action is called alarmist and politically motivated. Double standard?

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#23)
    by jondee on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 09:39:03 AM EST
    Slado - Did you ever consider that the cynicism may have something to with the fact that we had practically bi-weekly "terror alerts" during the Presidential election run-up which tapered off strikingly afterwards? Or are you, as I suspect, one of those who still thinks that all of those warnings were perfectly legitimate?

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#24)
    by Sailor on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 09:40:47 AM EST
    Tell that to the people in the towers and pentagon...
    Those were 10 of thousands of flammable fuels impacting at a high and controlled speed, piloted weapons if you will. I see a difference between that and:
    British authorities said today that they had thwarted a terrorist plot to to blow up airliners traveling between Britain and the United States by constructing bombs in midflight using liquid explosives and detonators concealed in carry-on luggage.
    And once again, I doubt the veracity and timing, but time will tell.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#25)
    by Jlvngstn on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 09:41:44 AM EST
    What is funny is that while i was in Disney World, they hand checked all bags before entering the park and if you had a beverage you were bringing in you had to take a drink of it. Seems to me that Disney World is ahead of the gov't.....

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#26)
    by Gabriel Malor on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 09:42:48 AM EST
    Slado, what'll really get your goat is that while no reason is good enough to raise a terror alert during election season, these same folks will be crying "the terror alerts were good for nothing!" after the next big attack.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#27)
    by Jlvngstn on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 09:45:37 AM EST
    What about belts? It seems to me that if you were hiding a weapon that was in liquid form in a sealed tube it could go inside a belt rather easily. Or plastic weaponry that would not set off the detectors. I vote that all belts go through the screener as well.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#28)
    by Patrick on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 09:48:55 AM EST
    Nice timing. I'm leaving with my family to Ireland via Heathrow on Sunday, and out of SFO on United no less. I sure am glad they caught these guys.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#29)
    by squeaky on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 09:50:04 AM EST
    Sailor, your logic is truly childish. You state: That's just hype, actually, the scale is quite well known, it's the number of passengers on an airplane.
    Ah, we have a bedwetter extradonaire trolling about. Let's help him to deplete his supply of Depends. bocajeff- we have heard that the scale of this potential disaster is in the millions. Dirty bombs and homing pigeons armed with bubonic plague are part of the plot. If there were a higher alert that red it would now be in effect. Many plotters have been arrested but many are still on the loose. Since the republicans are confirmed pansies, incompetent at thwarting terror, you may want to consider lobbying for your local democrat in November, bocajeff. Unless, that is, you are a major Kimberly-Clark shareholder, the largest provider of quality incontinence panties. If that is the case well bombs away, and hold on tight to your teddy.

    The sky is falling, the sky is falling. It didnt work for Chicken little and aint workin for Chicken George.

    Squeaky, I have not said whether or not the terror alerts are justified or not. I was merely commenting on the childish assertion that passengers are the only potential victims of these things. I am not calling Sailor childish, just his/her position. Now, your post is equally childish since it doesn't refute nor advance what I have said. You have merely resorted to name calling which is what my two kids do. And they're aged 3 and 5. You see it is possible to advance or refute a post without denegrating yourself or the thread. You have called me a bedwetter. Now, what I do at night with my bladder is not relevant to this discussion. My assertion that moving airplanes with bombs on board may be used for a myriad of reasons not limited to the destruction of the plane in flight.

    KDOG, Great quote- The cap definitely fits!!

    The idea, "how dare they increase the alert level" boils down to "how dare they do something that's bad for my team!" The real question you should be asking is why terrorism-related news is bad for your team.
    Slado and Gabriel, your comments prove that you just don't get it. Apparently you folks actually believe that these threats are real. But if you would just look more carefully at all the evidence, and find out more about where terrorist threats originate from, and when and WHY they appear at certain times, you might understand better. You are being manipulated, so that you can be better controlled. And you, and others like you, are swallowing it, hook, line and sinker. That is why it is so annoying (but hardly surprising) when these things happen during the run up to an election. We know that the present administration will now try to use these so-called terror threats to help make their case that the country needs yet more of their particular brand of fascism. You don't seem to realize the nature of the "team" you are rooting for.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#34)
    by squeaky on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 10:16:13 AM EST
    bocajeff-the #1 tip-off that distinguishes the bedwetters from the grownups is that the bedwetters always get 9/11 into the mix. Bedwetters also refute any remarks that attempt to cool down hyperbolic descriptions of terror threats. You accomplished both in your name calling comment to sailor. Yes, I know that it makes you feel like a grownup and in charge to call others childish, but it is name calling nonetheless.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#35)
    by Edger on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 10:27:09 AM EST
    Patrick: I sure am glad they caught these guys. Bad news, Patrick. They have friends. Couple of billion of them, so I'm told, according to bushco and the right wing. All crazy killers too, apparently. I guess there is just nowhere to hide. ;-) Maybe we should pick some defenseless country that is no threat and invade 'em, or nuke 'em?

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#36)
    by Slado on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 10:30:42 AM EST
    Cyrno, Thanks for the advice but I'll pass. You are letting your own prejudices, IE you hate GW, manipulate your capacity to understand the obvious. Rather then conceed that the raising of the terror threat is the necessary government raction to a real threat you would rather believe a complicated conspiracy theory. So be it. Telling me that I'm a moron for believing the obvious isn't going to change my mind. How about putting forth a reasonable explination about why terrorists bombing a dozen airplanes in mid-flight isn't cause for concern and governemnt action. Do you maintain these poeple are innocent? Or do you believe that a few planes being bombed in mid-air isn't worth the government lifting a finger because it might help the terrorist control out lives? You can't have it both ways. The government is charged to protect us. The terrorist use this to their advantage yes but I'd rather be controlled then let planes blow up to make a political or intellectual point.

    Slado, I'll just say that you are very naive, and leave it at that.

    First off why would anyone blow up a plane flying over the Atlantic? Not much terroism there is it. And who gave the Gov. the responsiblity to protect me, I didnt. The right to keep and bear arms did.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#39)
    by Patrick on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 10:38:59 AM EST
    Edgar, Well, when it's my time, it's my time. I'm not changing those plans for this, although, unlike some I think it was real. Kudos on the investigation!

    That is why it is so annoying (but hardly surprising) when these things happen during the run up to an election.
    ...and, just as significantly, these things always seem to happen in a month who's first letter is capitalized. Is there a particular point in time in American politics that can't be (reasonably or not) construed as being during a run up to an election? I think not.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#41)
    by HK on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 10:47:59 AM EST
    While this is undoubtedly a serious issue, the news report on Yahoo made me laugh. It states that:
    Britain's security services upped the threat level in the country to "critical" from "severe"
    Meanwhile:
    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security raised the threat level for passenger aircraft to "red"
    So the British have scary words to convey what an important job somebody is having to do in this crisis, while the Yanks plump for a colour code. It says a lot about our two countries, doesn't it? Apart from that, I can see GWB poised with a magnetic aeroplane in front of a colour chart on his fridge, saying to some suit on the phone, "Red - is that above or below yellow?"

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#42)
    by Sailor on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 10:48:39 AM EST
    Rather then conceed that the raising of the terror threat is the necessary government raction to a real threat you would rather believe a complicated conspiracy theory.
    they lied about WMDs, they lied about padila, they lied about the lawyer/madrid bombing, the brits lied about the subway shooting, they lied about the 45 minutes ... etc. Pardon me if I see a pattern to their lies. Maybe this was a great bit of work, but I'll wait and see.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#43)
    by Edger on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 10:53:00 AM EST
    Patrick: Well, when it's my time, it's my time. I'm not changing those plans for this Very good. Now you're getting it! I knew you would eventually. :-)

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#45)
    by Sailor on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 11:10:33 AM EST
    Authority just foiled a really really serious terroist plot with arrest and detailed information
    How do you know? Just because they said so? You aren't a bit sceptical?

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#46)
    by Patrick on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 11:18:47 AM EST
    Edgar, I'm pretty sure you're being flippant. My attitude also reflects my confidence in the security forces of both invovled countries, and the statistical unlikelihood that even though I'm there in the heart of the threat, the chances of being caught up in it are slim. Of course that reminds me of a joke...90% of all accidental deaths of rednecks are preceeded by the words, "watch this."

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#47)
    by Edger on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 11:21:30 AM EST
    Patrick - I am not being flippant at all. My words are meant to say exactly what they say, with nothing between the lines.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#48)
    by Patrick on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 11:26:52 AM EST
    Then I apologize for reading into your statements.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#49)
    by Edger on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 11:33:13 AM EST
    the statistical unlikelihood that even though I'm there in the heart of the threat, the chances of being caught up in it are slim ... is exactly why the whole WOT line of manipulative fearmongering bullsh*t that has been fed to this country for six years is exactly that... manipulative fearmongering bullsh*t. Done for political and financial gain by bush and his puppeteers and cronies. How does it feel to have been so manipulated? Well... the best answer to that is in the comments by many of us here at Talkleft for that past few years.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#50)
    by squeaky on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 11:49:36 AM EST
    A blast from the past:
    The Bush administration periodically put the USA on high alert for terrorist attacks even though then-Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge argued there was only flimsy evidence to justify raising the threat level, Ridge now says. Ridge, who resigned Feb. 1, said Tuesday that he often disagreed with administration officials who wanted to elevate the threat level to orange, or "high" risk of terrorist attack, but was overruled. (...) The level is raised if a majority on the President's Homeland Security Advisory Council favors it and President Bush concurs. Among those on the council with Ridge were Attorney General John Ashcroft, FBI chief Robert Mueller, CIA director George Tenet, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Colin Powell. (...)
    The link has a log comparing the timing of color coded terror alerts to negative republican political events and bad WH news. Not much doubt that the current WH blitz comparing Liebermans loss to a vote for Al Qaida is connected to the current "red alert". or Maybe the Cheney was right: when the terrorists found out that Lieberman lost the CT primary they decided to attack. If Lieberman won the terrorists would all hide under their beds, just like they have been doing during the entire Bush WH.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#51)
    by Edger on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 11:56:06 AM EST
    Thanks, Squeaky. Good link.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#52)
    by Patrick on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 12:13:36 PM EST
    Edgar, When they weren't releasing the content of PDB's those opposed to the administration were saying they weren't doing enough. Now that we hear about some of this stuff it's fearmongering. Some people are just hard to please.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#53)
    by Edger on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 12:26:08 PM EST
    It is a hard thing for many to accept that their government has been cynically manipulating them for years. The U.S is still a country where people grow up taught that the president is a leader, an honest man dedicated to preserving freedom, and defending the constitution, the country, and it's citizens. They want to believe it. Most here spend extreme amounts of time and energy staying extremely well informed. Most people don't know they can, don't know how to, or just don't have time, I think... bushco counts on that.

    Patrick:
    Some people are just hard to please.
    There's nothing wrong with healthy scepticism, is there? Maybe you'd rather be easy to please, and gullible to boot.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#56)
    by Patrick on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 01:26:13 PM EST
    There's nothing wrong with healthy scepticism, is there? Maybe you'd rather be easy to please, and gullible to boot.
    Not until that scepticism borders on paranoia. IIRC someone up thread indicated these arrests were a scam arranged by the governments of the UK and USA for political purposes.... That's not really healthy scepticism in my book.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#57)
    by Peaches on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 01:40:11 PM EST
    Not until that scepticism borders on paranoia.
    Oh, the irony. Terrorists plan random attacks on civilains to instill fear in a population. The administration raises security levels to raise awareness of terroistic activities. The opposition claims the administration is using fear for political gains and offers correlation between threat leavel alerts and political events. Proponents for the adminsitration call the opposition paranoid. Phew, I have no idea. I think I'll go camping/hiking and leave the speculation to the air travelers.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#58)
    by Patrick on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 01:49:18 PM EST
    I called claiming the entire operation was a government scam was bordering on paranoia. I assume you were referring to my comment since you quoted it, then took it out of context. Nice try, but very elementary.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#59)
    by chemoelectric on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 01:50:37 PM EST
    It's getting to the point where being on a bombed airplane would at least break the monotony of 'BE AFRAID! YOU ARE SAFE BECAUSE BUSH IS IN CHARGE!" Ho hum. I think I'll go clear some brush on my pig farm.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#60)
    by Patrick on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 01:51:56 PM EST
    Oh the irony is right....An opponent of the administration cherry picking quotes to make a false point.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#61)
    by Peaches on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 02:21:06 PM EST
    Patrick, Talk about paranoid. My comment was not directed at you, although your quote was used to make my point. I was making the point that both sides want to use fear or accuse the other side of using fear to further an agenda. One side says, "be aware" The other side says, "I won't succumb to fear, I am skeptical of your warning" the retort you offered was "Your skepticism borders on paranoid" That, my friend, is ironic. Have a good trip.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#62)
    by Patrick on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 02:26:59 PM EST
    Peaches, You quote me, then make a comment that uses my terms, yet want me to think your comment wasn't directed at me through what? Osmosis? I'm on the side that says be aware, and still don't think there's anything wrong with that message. Nor does it neccessarily preclude the other side of your point. One can be aware yet still be skeptical and not succumb to fear. The only people hyping this thing are the press who need to fill the ever hungry 24 hours news cycle.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#63)
    by Che's Lounge on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 02:28:16 PM EST
    When was the last time they elevated the threat level?

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#64)
    by Slado on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 02:36:00 PM EST
    The left and many on this site would have us believe that the protection of the nations citizens by a republican government is fear mongering. This flies in the face of reason because they criticize the administration for not stopping 9/11 while simutaneously criticizing the administration for for doing whats necessary to not allow another attack. They criticize the administration for not catching OBL but say that terrorism is not a threat. This reasoning leads them not to acknowledge the success of the administration in not allowing another attack in the US even though attacks have been carried out in Spain, the UK, Bali, Phillipines etc... instead they resign themselves to theories of paranoia and political posturing. The american people regard the left as in denial and the right as aggressive. Who would you choose. The police officer that would break push the envelope to deal with the local crack dealer or the police officer who would run lemonade socials and out reach programs while letting the criminals run amock? That the choice amercians are again reminded of today and the looney left all but garuntees that america will again side with GWB and the republicans.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#65)
    by Peaches on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 02:36:04 PM EST
    Patrick, I just find this whole thing sort of laughable. I apologize if you have felt hurt by my pointing out the irony of the whole debate. I wasn't trying to ridicule you. I just think it is funny and interesting, how arguments are framed. I have no idea what happened in London and I have no way to find out. Since I am not flying, I don't need to be aware. If your plane falls out of the sky, I'll turn into the news and express outrage over the cowardly acts of the terrorists. But, I think, I'll be enjoying a nice microbrew while you enjoy a guiness and all the speculation, awareness, and skepticism will be mute points. Until the next terroristic threat, action, movie, video game springs the next debate.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#66)
    by Sumner on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 03:30:58 PM EST
    For those pesky perishable New York Times Links; a link generator For a glimpse at what others are reading...

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#67)
    by squeaky on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 03:45:19 PM EST
    We are like a puppet on a string. al-Qaida or whoever is behind the latest nonsense must be rolling on the ground in laughter. It is a solution Maxwell Smart would come up with. Could CHAOS be behing it all?

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#68)
    by Sumner on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 03:53:52 PM EST
    Che, previously the US Department of Homeland Security elevated to Code Orange (with no credible explanation), during the time it took the US Congress to rush through Orrin Hatch's over-the-top "Protect Act", (legislation also giving to DHS, more jurisdiction).

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#69)
    by Sailor on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 04:10:47 PM EST
    Squeakster, I beleive what you meant to say was: Would you believe AQ was involved? No! How about Hezbollah? No, Mr Smart, you are just wasting time. OK, 20 British citizens and a Hasbro chemisrty set? OR Ah hah! the old hide a two part liquid explosive in a bottle of gatorade and Chanel #5 trick! OR Don't tell me CHAOS is behind this! Max, CHAOS is behind this. I asked you not to tell me that.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#70)
    by squeaky on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 04:55:21 PM EST
    Sailor- I was thinking more that that Maxwell Smart figured out how to stop Wyle E. Coyote and his Acme three part liquid explosive from blowing up planes. Ergo the long lines and mile high piles of toiletries and soda pop. Meanwhile cargo on passenger air lines still goes unchecked. Seems, to me it's like the anti-terrorism version of The Cone of Silence

    Now seems like a good time to replay one of my fave quotes of all time: (With shout outs to SLADO, GABRIEL MALOR, JAMES ROBERTSON, BOCAJEFF and the whole trembling, bedwetting crew of the 101st!) "I don't know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority." - G.W. Bush, 3/13/02

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#72)
    by Sailor on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 05:15:26 PM EST
    Ahh, I see your point: tho it's on a different subject I think I addressed it here. Seriously folks; bush knew about this imminent attack for 2 weeks, but he never bothered to raise the terror level then. And in previous alerts, the DHS head said he disagreed with raising the level. So why today? Ummm, could it be because they see the wrinting on the stall? Maybe it is for real ... but nothing bush has done would have protected us.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#73)
    by squeaky on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 05:37:57 PM EST
    Good one sailor! Obviously Acme was able to survive its devastating crash and is back up and running big time, thanks to those whose #1 priorty is keeping us safe and catching dem dern terrist varmints.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#74)
    by glanton on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 05:52:52 PM EST
    In the United States, federal officials put in place new regulations barring passengers from carrying any liquids, gels or lotions onto planes, except for baby formula or prescription medicines.
    Does anybody know if this applies to carryon only, or if it also applies to baggage? For example, is a bottle on wine or a makeup kit out of bounds now, even in the luggage?

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#75)
    by Sailor on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 06:41:29 PM EST
    Squeaky, I guess it never occured to them to stop investing in ACME. After all, they profit either way. et al, while the last couple of exchanges may have seemed OT, they were right on target ... a big X.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#76)
    by jimcee on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 06:58:24 PM EST
    If the Brits managed to foil a plot that could have killed a bunch of innocent people that is a good thing. Isn't it? Apparently not if I were to believe the absolute stupidest stuff that I have just punished my eyes with on this thread. What a bunch of idiotic speculation. This site used to be a respectable site but it is just become another asylum for those who suffer from Bush Derangment Syndrome. Would you feel better if ten airliners were sabotaged? A few hundred or thousands killed? Men, women and children? No, you would claim that Bush ordered Tony Blair to personally plant explosives on those airliners because a Democrat Senator lost his primary. And that the conversation that Bush had with Blair, you know the one I'm talking about, "Hey Blair....". Remember the bit that was indistinguisable on the open mike video? THAT WAS BUSH TELLING BLAIR TO BLOW UP THOSE AIRLINERS. Visiting here has been a tour of an amazing assemblege of the idiocy. What a bunch of dolts.

    Slado:
    This flies in the face of reason because they criticize the administration for not stopping 9/11 while simutaneously criticizing the administration for for doing whats necessary to not allow another attack. They criticize the administration for not catching OBL but say that terrorism is not a threat.
    There is no such inconsistency on our side, it's all on the side of the administration. What you are missing is that they are the ones making the rules, and all we are saying is that they should play by their own rules. In the case of 9/11, since they claim it was done by outside terrorists and that they could not have prevented it, we want them to EXPLAIN the inconsistencies in their official story, EXPLAIN why many of the official "hijackers" are still alive, EXPLAIN why they ignored all the advance warnings they had, and EXPLAIN why there was no credible investigation afterwards. In the case of OBL, again they are the ones who said he was the bad guy who would be hunted down and brought to account for 9/11, so we'd like them to EXPLAIN why they stopped pursuing him? If they did not make these ridiculous statements in the first place, then there would be no inconsistencies between their statements and their actions, would there?

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#78)
    by soccerdad on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 07:39:42 PM EST
    The use of binary chemicals for explosians has been around since WWII. Here's something from the Joe Scarborough show two years ago.
    Referring to Ramzi Yousef, the mastermind of the first World Trade Center attack in 1993) He got aboard the plane and built that device in the lavatory, took it back, put it under the seat, got off the plane, someone else got on board. The plane took off and it exploded in flight. So one of the gaps still in place is that we havenÅ’t come up with effective detector at screening checkpoint for liquid explosives.
    link So the real point is What has Bush done to make us safer here in the US? especially wrt Chemical plants, railroad cars carrying chemicals, nuclear plants, etc. Give me a list wrong wingers. They do practically nothing here at home except to jump up and down and raise the terror alert and scare everyone thats what they are good at. And the amount of hysterics they put out in the past has little to do with the severity or reality of the threat. Thats what drives me crazy. The Repubs are not strong on terrorism because they do nothing to protect us here and they manage to make more terrorists overseas that will eventually end up here.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#79)
    by Al on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 11:31:04 PM EST
    Poor jimcee, I think he's finally cracked. So young, too.

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#80)
    by Al on Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 11:39:31 PM EST
    The same journalists who love nothing but to embarass their government. (narius)
    Damn liberal media ... Oh, wait:
    Furthermore, it is not OUR government, it is the British government.
    Damn British liberal media ...

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#81)
    by Sailor on Fri Aug 11, 2006 at 07:20:17 AM EST
    Visiting here has been a tour of an amazing assemblege of the idiocy.
    don't let the door hit ya ...

    Re: Threat Alert Raised After Terror Plot Revealed (none / 0) (#83)
    by soccerdad on Fri Aug 11, 2006 at 12:25:46 PM EST
    BB- yeah its all the lefts fault. Gimmie me a break. They've done close to nothing because there is no WOT. Just a WFER, war for energy resources.