NYT, pg1: "NYC Tourist Copters Terror Target"(+plot to disrupt elections)

[DeepModem Mom]

Here's today's NYT page-one terror story, sourced by "officials." The Times has front-paged at least one such story every day since the day they broke the story, on page one, that the intel on which the latest terror threat was based was old. Don't know if the stories reflect the natural interest of the Times and NYC readers, who were struck on 9/11, or if the "officials" for some other reason have chosen to get these stories out through the NYT.


SECURITY
Tourist Copters in New York City a Terror Target
By DAVID JOHNSTON and ERIC LICHTBLAU

Published: August 9, 2004


WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 - Pakistan has given American officials what they regard as credible and specific information indicating that Al Qaeda has considered using tourist helicopters in terror attacks in New York City, domestic security officials said Sunday.

As a result, the officials said, security measures for helicopter operators in New York City will be stepped up in a new directive as early as this week. Among the new measures under review is a requirement for operators to conduct airport-style screenings of passengers for suspicious items, said an official with the Department of Homeland Security who had been briefed on the plan. So far, no groundings of helicopter operators are planned....

***

Separately, a senior American intelligence official said that more than 1,000 computer disks had been seized by British authorities during arrests last week of 12 suspected operatives for Al Qaeda in England.

The seized files are now being subjected to intensive analysis by British and American intelligence, but they appear to contain evidence of previously unknown terrorist planning activities in the United States, the official said. As a result, Bush administration officials are preparing for the possibility of expanded public and private threat alerts....

***

THE SENIOR INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL AND SECURITY ADVISERS TO PRESIDENT BUSH HAVE SAID THEY INCREASINGLY SEE THE INTELLIGENCE ABOUT THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND ABOUT POSSIBLE PLANS BY AL QAEDA TO STAGE AN ATTACK IN THE UNITED STATES AS PART OF A UNIFIED TERROR PLOT TO DISRUPT THE ELECTIONS IN THE FALL....


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/09/politics/09terror.htm...

[Paschall]

1. Anyone taking wagers?

I think this "election plot" is setting the stage for the Republican convention. I think we'll see GOP operatives--if not Shrub himself--pushing the argument that voting is anti-terrorist, that voting means defying those who would harm us. I think they'll enfold this seamlessly into the GOP get out the vote campaign.

[whirlygigspin]

2. PT Barnum

couldn't have created a more well timed parade for his circus.

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. This is beyond ridiculous

This is incredibly irresponsible journalism. But what should we expect from a rag that still employs that liar Judith Miller?

[lostnfound]

11. Well put. Totally agree. nt

[radfringe]

4. meanwhile - bush*'s favorability average is at 45%

in head to head campaign polls: http://www.pollingreport.com/wh2004.htm

averages: 8/1-8/5 polling dates (based on 5 polls)
bush* 46.2%
Kerry 49.4%

averages: 8/1-8/5 polling dates (based on 8 polls)
bush* 44.4%
Kerry 49.4%

terror-polls: http://radicalfringe.freeservers.com/about.html

[DeepModem Mom]

5. Thanks very much for adding this info, radfringe --

Interesting, indeed -- and no doubt related to these stories!

[DeepModem Mom]

6. Posted very early -- kicking, in case anyone's helicopter-touring NYC...

nt

[R Hickey]

7. I helicopter-toured NYC

The only helicopter I ever rode on.

[DeepModem Mom]

8. Good for you, R Hickey - must be a great way to view that great city! nt

[nodehopper]

9. has everyone seen this graph of *'s ratings vs. terror threats?

http://juliusblog.blogspot.com/2004_08_01_juliusblog_archive.html

[DeepModem Mom]

10. Nominated that for homepage -- very interesting!

[nodehopper]

12. how does one nominate things for the frontpage?

[TahitiNut]

14. Click on "Nominate Topic for Homepage" found on lower border of OM.

(OM = Original Message)

[nodehopper]

17. thanks :)

[Simeon Salus]

13. What's next? "NYC sidewalks seen as possible Al Qaeda infiltration point"

Duh?

If the "paper of record" can't source a "domestic security official," why the heck should anyone pay that unammed source (or that paper for that matter) any goddamned credence?

This is just so freakin' Orwellian!

You can just see all the little Homeland Security mice running this way and that way.

[DeepModem Mom]

18. Hot-dog carts? Central Park horse-buggies? Chinese delivery bicycles?

Shouldn't be flippant -- New Yorkers ARE under threat, and shell-shocked still from 9/11. But the NYT kind of asked for it, front-paging this headline.

Korean flower markets? Fake handbag salesmen? Donald Trump's hair?

[SOS]

15. Next week's headline:

"Golf Carts in Florida and Ohio a Terror Target"
by Judith Miller with additional reporting by Ed Gillespie.

[SoCalDem]

16. NYC..Choppers of DOOM.. sounds like a Faux Reality show

:)