US terror warning a blunder, says spy chief

[rooboy]

An honest bureaucratic error was probably to blame for a United States advisory warning of possible terror attacks in Australia, head of the domestic security agency said today.

Earlier today a spokesman for the US Department of Homeland Security told ABC radio the Australian government's comments were inaccurate and there would be no revised warning.

The spokesman also said he was unaware of any contact between Australian officials and officials from the US Department of Homeland Security.

But Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today the Australian government had been told the US would amend its travel warning.

Dennis Richardson, director-general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), said the warning issued by the US Department of Homeland Security did not accurately reflect the available intelligence.

"The central point here is that threat advisories, whether they go to industry or whether they go to anywhere else, must accurately reflect the intelligence on which they are based," he told reporters.

"Unfortunately the threat advisory issued by the (US) Department of Homeland Security in so far as it referred to Australia, did not accurately reflect the intelligence which was available to that department.

"I think it was probably an honest bureaucratic mistake.

"It is not a case of interpretation.

"It is simply a question of fact.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/07/31/1059480457712.html

[0007]

1. Man this is a fucking joke, 'eh?

One couldn't write a book and make it this good.