FBI says possible al-Qaida threat against LA malls not credible

[Newsjock]

Source: Associated Press

Los Angeles (AP) -- The FBI said Thursday it received a tip that al-Qaida was planning to attack shopping malls in Los Angeles and Chicago this holiday season, but downplayed the purported threat.

The warning, contained in an FBI memo to local law enforcement agencies that was declassified Thursday, said the terror network "hoped to disrupt the U.S. economy and had been planning the attack for the past two years."

Federal and local officials downplayed the significance of the warning. The memo, known as an intelligence information report, was given to authorities in Chicago and Los Angeles "out of an abundance of caution," FBI Special Agent Richard Kolko said.

"Al-Qaida messaging has clearly stated they intend to attack the U.S. or its interests," Kolko said. "However, there is no information to state this is a credible threat."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/11/08/state/n150452S32.DTL

[TwilightGardener]

1. Oh oh, sounds like some Orange Julius and Waldenbooks managers got pissy..

[villager]

3. Waldenbooks is still in business?

:shrug:

[TwilightGardener]

7. Don't know--LOL! Tells you how long it's been since I've been in a mall!

[merwin]

13. I believe they are now Borders Express

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

2. What's worse, AQ or the price of driving to the mall to buy overpriced

stuff?

If AQ attacks the mall, they won't hit broke me. MKJ

[Historic NY]

4. Where have we heard this before...........

http://www.snopes.com/rumors/nov26.asp

http://www.snopes.com/rumors/soapbox/juvalaviv.asp
(the most recent rumors)

[liberalmuse]

5. Be scared. Be vewwy, vewwy fwightened.

Al Qwaida is huntin' fer Amewican mallwats.

[Frustratedlady]

6. Say what?

"hoped to disrupt the U.S. economy and had been planning the attack for the past two years."

We've already disrupted our economy, so move on...nothing to see here. You'd think someone was threatening to impeach Cheney or somethin'!

[MetaTrope]

8. Hm, if the "Phoenix Memo" FBI says so...

sounds like it's time to start doing your holiday shopping online!

[dysfunctional press]

9. not credible? i still don't understand how it wasn't "phase II" in 2001.

unless 9/11 was an operation northwoods-type inside job, that is.

if there were a REAL terror threat in this country, this would have already happened- years ago.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Boss they are not buying it

what?

Well that Mayor in LA.. he actually said that they've gotten these things every year... and well damn it, since 9.11

What do we do now?

Call it not credible? I mean what's the use in trying to scare them when they are laughing in the wings?

[Journeyman]

11. Must be the Writers' strike at fault here. . .

I was far more impressed with the threat of al Qaeda frogmen attacking our shipping than I am with the fear of al Qaeda shoppers attacking our sales.

Remember when Washington asked Hollywood scriptwriters to join the "Homeland Team," and help devise possible terrorist scenarios for al Qaeda attacks? I guess the Writers' Guild strike now extends coast to coast, even to Homeland's Fiction Department.

[mikeytherat]

26. I agree. The writing has gone in-house, and it's really gone downhill.

Remember the unmanned drones that could attack the eastern seaboard of the United States? Man, those were the days; over-the-top-sci-fi-lunacy. I'm actually quite surprised they never tried to work zombies into the script.

mikey_the_rat

[Islander Expat]

12. But DAMNIT PEOPLE, it could happen, some say its past due happening

anything could happen, at any time, anywhere, anyday...........


anyway, thats what Dick sez...

[cornermouse]

14. If you want to look at it from the logical point of view...

In their minds, all they had to do to be successful for a second hit is to kill more than they killed the last time. Now. How many buildings do you know that have more than 3,000 people at any given moment during the day? I know several and I'm not even in a major city. That's why all these "warnings" are pretty silly.

[jordi_fanclub]

15. WHO needs TERRORISTS with BUSH around?!?! n/t

[formercia]

16. See, the FBI reading DU is a good thing

We called bullshit on this yesterday and the FBI realized it wasn't going to get traction.

[eShirl]

17. Maybe if we didn't torture

we wouldn't be getting so many false alarms all the damn time.

When was the last time one of these scares was a credible threat?

[C_U_L8R]

18. Then why'd they mention it !!!!!!!

Manipulative assholes

[formercia]

22. The Mukasey confirmation vote?

Driving the Congress lie a bunch of sheep.

[Ian David]

19. The Nexus of Politics and Terror,

Keith Olbermann, "Countdown," "The Nexus of Politics and Terror," Part II
Topic started by DeepModem Mom on Jun-05-07 10:53 PM (7 replies)
Last modified by whistle on Jun-06-07 04:35 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=385&topic_id=33176

Keith Olbermann, "Countdown," "The Nexus of Politics and Terror," Part I
Topic started by DeepModem Mom on Jun-05-07 10:51 PM (2 replies)
Last modified by GreenTea on Jun-06-07 01:00 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=385&topic_id=33175

[tanyev]

20. We must not let the terrorists win!

It is every patriotic American's duty to go shopping NOW, and SHOP LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SHOPPED BEFORE!!!!!


For the land of the free, and the home of the brave!!!!

:patriot:

*tears**sniffle**tears*

*FIREWORKS!!*

[watercolors]

21. Just keeping us all in line

I imagine we will get more and more of them as election draws near. Problem is when it is a credible warning we will not listen.

[The Stranger]

23. SHOP SHOP SHOP TILL YOU DROP!

[ohio2007]

24. they have enough gang trouble without stiring in the jihadi pot

snip
...Ali Khalil Elreda, 32, who was detained at Los Angeles International Airport last year, accused of trying to smuggle $120,000 in money orders and cashier's checks, hidden in a child's toy, to Lebanon....
snip

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-drugring7nov07,1,7911591.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

Merry Christmas.....Ya filthy animals ;)

[Wise Doubter]

25. "However, there is no information to state this is a credible threat."

So why "alert" us ?? re:puke:

[orleans]

27. bush administration HOLIDAY CARD & TERROR THREAT TO AMERICANS

randi said this on her show yesterday--you can always tell when the holidays are coming because we get another terror threat for the malls

[demnan]

28. DK Terror Alert

Dennis Kucinich introduces articles of impeachment - quick! let's get a terror alert out there!