Tom Ridge says Al Qaeda preparing "large-scale attack"

[quade 4]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/07/08/ridge.alqaeda/index.html

So, he makes the announcement and also doesn't bump up the threat level.

Ok . . .

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Cajun 0]

Ever wonder who is causing more terror ? Al Qaeda, or our own government with their warnings of attack?

[freeflydrew 0]

I had pretty much assumed at this point that Al-Queda has been moving forward with plans for a large scale "attack" this whole time... Good thing Tom Ridge is here to make that announcement, with no specific intelligence about anything at all... not even any "increased chatter" this time... Guess we'll all just keep on going on with our regular routines.

[happythoughts 0]

During the 60's/70's, there was a different threat. We went to school with the idea that during the day, we could be massively destroyed by nuclear weapons. 90% of the life in the US could end in an hour.

Todays threat is against several cities. As weird as it seems, somehow the smaller threat is less worrisome. The idea that it might be another town is somehow comforting.

[quade 4]

I believe a film recently posed that same question.

I will say this though, yesterday there were secure briefings on Capitol Hill on terrorism and I believe they continue today. These aren't the normal daily meetings but something special, so there may actually be something to this anouncement by Ridge today.

What I -don't- understand is why we have this stupid color coded system. It's not useful in it's current form. As an entire country, we're -never- going to satisfy the conditions to be at any level lower than yellow -- ever. That said, there are portions of the country that almost certainly will -never- be at a level above green.

BTW, the text of Ridge's speech can be found on the index page of the DHS -- http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[gjhdiver 0]

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http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/07/08/ridge.alqaeda/index.html

So, he makes the announcement and also doesn't bump up the threat level.

Ok . . .

Hmmm. Every time there's something in the news cycles that this adminstration doesn't like, up goes the terror alert. No details, no specifices, just up it goes.

Abu Ghraib ? Up it goes.
Kerry announces a populist choice for VP ? Up again.
Repeat as neccesary until public looks in the other direction.

You know, if I was a conservative, I might almost be inclined to a paranoid conspiracy theory, and create a website with lots of aminated gifs of the flag on geocities all about it.

[nacmacfeegle 0]

Isn't he just reminding people not to get complacent, maintain vigilance, etc, without spreading paranoia.
Or is he really just a clown?

--------------------

He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson

[happythoughts 0]

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That said, there are portions of the country that almost certainly will -never- be at a level above green.

True, they don't announce that the BATF is coming to your place.

BATF "Americas Source for Domestic Terrorism"

A lot of corporations use the threat-level to change security procedures. Purse/briefcase/package inspections increase at certain levels.

[quade 4]

Since the DHS has access to the entire internet . . .

I'd just like to make it clear -I- never called Tom Ridge a clown.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[markd_nscr986 0]

***Al Qaeda preparing "large-scale attack"


Could be al qaida's misguided attempt to influence the outcome of our presidential elections.

Marc SCR 6046 SCS 3004

[quade 4]

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Could be al qaida's misguided attempt to influence the outcome of our presidential elections.

Yeah, I've heard that floated several times.

What I can't understand is how any action would give any predictable results.

For instance, let's say there was another massive attack . . . the right wouldn't want you to change Presidents in the middle of a war, the left would see it the current Administration as totally ineffective in dealing with the problem. Net change = zero.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[markd_nscr986 0]

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Yeah, I've heard that floated several times.

What I can't understand is how any action would give any predictable results.

For instance, let's say there was another massive attack . . . the right wouldn't want you to change Presidents in the middle of a war, the left would see it the current Administration as totally ineffective in dealing with the problem. Net change = zero.


I agree.......key word being "misguided".....who ever is left standing after Nov. elections wont be soft on al qaida anyway!!!!

Marc SCR 6046 SCS 3004

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[Gravitymaster 0]

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Could be al qaida's misguided attempt to influence the outcome of our presidential elections.

Yeah, I've heard that floated several times.

What I can't understand is how any action would give any predictable results.

For instance, let's say there was another massive attack . . . the right wouldn't want you to change Presidents in the middle of a war, the left would see it the current Administration as totally ineffective in dealing with the problem. Net change = zero.

If they don't warn us, people will scream the govt. is ineffective because they didn't warn us and demand for a change in leadership.

[diverdriver 6]

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If they don't warn us, people will scream the govt. is ineffective because they didn't warn us and demand for a change in leadership.

Chicken. Egg. Egg. Chicken.

[quade 4]

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If they don't warn us, people will scream the govt. is ineffective because they didn't warn us and demand for a change in leadership.

I think, and maybe I'm wrong about this, most people would rather them spend their energy on capturing the terrorist than telling us there -may- be an increased threat.

So far, tellings us seems to be the main result of the DHS. Very few captures.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Gravitymaster 0]

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If they don't warn us, people will scream the govt. is ineffective because they didn't warn us and demand for a change in leadership.

Chicken. Egg. Egg. Chicken.

Sad isn't it?

[Gravitymaster 0]

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If they don't warn us, people will scream the govt. is ineffective because they didn't warn us and demand for a change in leadership.

I think, and maybe I'm wrong about this, most people would rather them spend their energy on capturing the terrorist than telling us there -may- be an increased threat.

So far, tellings us seems to be the main result of the DHS. Very few captures.

I fail to see how you think they are expending a lot of energy informing us. You think that takes away from the effort to capture and kill terrorists when Tom Ridge goes on TV and says we have a credible threat? How so?

I see news about terrorists being capture and killed all the time in Iraq and Afghanistan. You don't think that requires any effort? You think they would kill and capture more if Ridge didn't go on TV? How so?

Have you heard that some of the terrorists being kept at Gitmo were released because of all the hysteria about them being denied their rights? They are now back in Iraq and Afghanistan and have joined back up with Al Qaeda and will be killing more American Troops in the future, I'm sure.

[rushmc 23]

Quote

Quote

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/07/08/ridge.alqaeda/index.html

So, he makes the announcement and also doesn't bump up the threat level.

Ok . . .

Hmmm. Every time there's something in the news cycles that this adminstration doesn't like, up goes the terror alert. No details, no specifices, just up it goes.

Abu Ghraib ? Up it goes.
Kerry announces a populist choice for VP ? Up again.
Repeat as neccesary until public looks in the other direction.

You know, if I was a conservative, I might almost be inclined to a paranoid conspiracy theory, and create a website with lots of aminated gifs of the flag on geocities all about it.

Oh ya....... next we can go bomb an aspirin factory!

Can the administration win????? Don't say anything and get hit and then are asked why we didn't know or say something and it's a conspiracy.
Shhhheeeesshhhh

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[SkyDekker 1,465]

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Have you heard that some of the terrorists being kept at Gitmo were released because of all the hysteria about them being denied their rights? They are now back in Iraq and Afghanistan and have joined back up with Al Qaeda and will be killing more American Troops in the future, I'm sure.

Or they were innocent.

Ohh I forget, Bush and his followers don't make mistakes.

[billvon 3,073]

>Have you heard that some of the terrorists being kept at Gitmo were
>released because of all the hysteria about them being denied their rights?
>They are now back in Iraq and Afghanistan and have joined back up with
>Al Qaeda and will be killing more American Troops in the future, I'm sure.

Yeah, I even heard that Kris might be allowed to renew her driver's license anyway, despite the Patriot Act provision that was preventing her from doing so. I'm sure she will be back with Al Qaeda real soon too; don't forget, our government doesn't make mistakes.

[kelpdiver 2]

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What I can't understand is how any action would give any predictable results.

For instance, let's say there was another massive attack . . . the right wouldn't want you to change Presidents in the middle of a war, the left would see it the current Administration as totally ineffective in dealing with the problem. Net change = zero.

There is a fairly predictable rally around the flag and President effect whenever there is a major event, be it good or bad. That has lead to some fairly simplistic thinking that all a president needs to do is cause some shit in October.

I personally believe it is a well that can be drawn from only so many times before it starts to run dry.

[TheAnvil 0]

And with that extra intelligence you would do...what, exactly?

Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

[billvon 3,073]

>So, he makes the announcement and also doesn't bump up the threat level.

I heard he is considering raising it to the "Wolf!" level.

[bsoder 0]

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What I -don't- understand is why we have this stupid color coded system. It's not useful in it's current form. As an entire country, we're -never- going to satisfy the conditions to be at any level lower than yellow -- ever. That said, there are portions of the country that almost certainly will -never- be at a level above green.

It needs to be included in the weather forecast... "Tomorrow's forecast for those of you in the Phoenix area is yellow, with a chance of orange later in the day."

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[freeflydrew 0]

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And with that extra intelligence you would do...what, exactly?

I don't know what you mean? Do you mean if He was more specific with his information what would I do? or do you mean "you" more as a generalization? Regardless of what they are saying, unless they say when and where, I'm going to keep on going to work everyday, and go to the dropzone every weekend... Is that what you're asking me?