Israel's Sharon muzzles ministers on London blasts

[sabra]

<<SNIP>>
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L08668586.htm

Israel's Sharon muzzles ministers on London blasts

Source: Reuters


JERUSALEM, July 8 (Reuters) - Israel's Ariel Sharon has imposed a gag order on his cabinet over the London bombings to avoid offending British sensibilities with comparisons to his country's fight against Palestinian militants, officials said.

The prime minister muzzled his normally talkative cabinet after Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom seemed to equate Thursday's deadly attacks with suicide bombings against Israeli civilians, comments that Israeli commentators said were ill-timed.

"Keep quiet. Limit any response to expressions of condolences," was Sharon's message to his ministers after rush-hour blasts killed more than 50 people in central London.

"The feeling is the last thing the British need right now is Israeli ministers preaching to them about the war on terror," a Sharon confidant said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

<</SNIP>>

[obnoxiousdrunk]

1. Is it because of this ?

Terrorism expert says at least one person tipped off to London attacks
Tom Kenny
Action News 36
Jul 7, 18:25 PM EDT





Terrorism expert Tommy Preston of Preston Global in Frankfort, Kentucky, said sources in the intelligence community reported that at least one person in London, England was warned of Thursday morning's terrorist attacks moments before the initial blast. Preston, citing sources in the intelligence community, said former Israeli Prime Minister and current Finance Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was in London this morning for an economic forum. "Just before the first blast, Netanyahu got a call from the Israeli Embassy telling him to stay in his hotel room. The hotel is located next to the subway station where the first attack occurred and he did stay put and shortly after that, there was the explosion," Preston said.

http://www.wtvq.com/servlet/Satellite?c=MGArticle&cid=1031783713979&pagename=WTVQ/MGArticle/TVQ_BasicArticle

[Moderator]

3. Not true - debunked

Apparently in the confusion after the blast, the original AP
story was not correct. It has since been corrected, and it
looks as if the Israeli embassy was not notified until after
the attacks began. Here is a link to the updated story:

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050707/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_britain_explosions_3

[sabra]

4. thanks for clearing that up....

[Colorado Blue]

Yes, thank you. nt

[Colorado Blue]

5. self delete, duplicate

[Minstrel Boy]

10. your link takes me to this story:

Has the "debunking" been retracted?

Netanyahu Changed Plans Due to Warning

JERUSALEM - Israeli Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was on his way to a hotel near the scene of one of the London blasts Thursday when he received a call to stay put, the foreign minister said.

"After the first explosion, our finance minister received a request not to go anywhere," Finance Minister Silvan Shalom told Israel Army Radio.

Netanyahu was to have been the scheduled keynote speaker at an Israeli corporate investment conference at the Great Eastern hotel near the Liverpool Street subway station.

[Junkdrawer]

13. Wasn't the rest of London told it was a "power surge" for an hour...

or so after the attack? :shrug:

[geek tragedy]

28. No, you didn't read closely enough: "AFTER THE FIRST EXPLOSION,

our finance minister received a request not to go anywhere."

Take this Jew-baiting, conspirazoid lunacy somewhere else where they have lower standards.

[Coastie for Truth]

7. No-

But the United States Coast Officer who was my relief (several years apart) at Captain of the Port New Orleans (Port Security) and at Code "G-MHM" (Hazardous Cargoes) at Coast Guard Headquarters, Commander Stephen Flynn (author of "America The Vulnerable") has predicted that the "Next One" in the US will be an unprotected waterfront chemical plant, petroleum terminal, or container port.

And I have said the same thing - just a few miles south of the Port of Oakland CA.

And, I guess I am a "Terrorism Expert" too.

"Coastie"
Lieutenant, USCG (DD-214-CG "Honorable Discharge")

[cthrumatrix]

2. of course the media refuses to look at this

[geek tragedy]

8. Look at what? eom

[Kagemusha]

6. Sharon actually being smart here.

Grudging respect when it's earned.

[Zodiak]

9. Agreed

I agree...this decision is prudent and respectful. For once I am glad that Sharon kept a level head.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Behind the Aegis]

14. Notable how DU is trying to get CORRECT discussions going

Try using the UPDATED and CORRECTED version here: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050707/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_britain_explosions_3

First reports are often wrong. The idea is to "get the story," not "get the story CORRECT!"

[BooScout]

15. At this early stage how do we know what's correct?

Frankly all of it smacks of some sort of coverup to me and should be discussed.

[geek tragedy]

18. Then go somewhere else and discuss it.

Nutjob Jewish conspiracy theories have no business here.

[Malikshah]

25. Wow. big leap and rude to boot.

Trying to find out the accuracy of a story = "nutjob Jewish conspiracy theories"

Doesn't wash.

Too much water under the bridge.

Can't we have an adult conversation about this?

[geek tragedy]

30. Oh please. The only "adult conversation" the conspiracy loons

want to have is an imaginary conspiracy that forced the AP writer to change his story and cover up a Mossad plot.

There. is. no. story. here.

Spreading baseless conspiracy theories is immoral and dishonest.

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[geek tragedy]

35. Netanyahu was warned AFTER the first explosion. The earlier

reports were later corrected.

There's nothing for reasonable people to discuss.

[BooScout]

40. Then don't discuss it..........

Using your argument you have no reason to be here because there is nothing to discuss. Try somehwere else.

[geek tragedy]

44. Because spreading baseless conspiracy junk theories about Israel

is a hallmark of anti-semites, and we've had too many of those creeps around here.

It reflects extremely poorly on DU to have that junk discussed as if it's a legitimate topic of discussion.

[BooScout]

48. Keep it up........

It's only your opinion the discussion is baseless. I have not called you one name and you have called me or anyone wanting to discuss this a half dozen nasty descriptive terms. Who's got the real problem here? You or the rest of us?

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[geek tragedy]

33. And you'll have your nuttery and paranoia denounced in turn.

This is classic tinfoil hackery:

1. Early report in chaotic situation gets a fact wrong;

2. The author of the report goes back and corrects it;

3. The conspiracy loons and 'anti-zionists' insist that there must be more to the story and demand an investigation into an obvious Zionist coverup.

[BooScout]

46. Oh please.....

I'm no Zionist or Conspiracy Loon...and am getting rather sick of your personal attacks on me or others that happen to think that this issue merits a discussion. If you can't discuss this issue rationally without calling names then you need to step away from the computer.

I am simply putting forth the possibility that something just doesn't ring true about this story. I don't trust Bush, nor do I trust Blair or Sharon.

Last I heard Freedom of Speech had not yet been abolished by King George so until it is I will discuss anything I please.....and if you don't like it and want to continue flinging names then go ahead. You discredit yourself more each and everytime you do so.

[geek tragedy]

49. Do you trust the AP? How about DU's administration?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1609566&mesg_id=1610438

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4038345#4042258

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4045857&mesg_id=4045980

[Behind the Aegis]

19. So true

So why is it the mission of some to keep posting the same article instead of the one that has been CORRECTED by the AUTHOR? Any time an early story comes out about a politician, especially an Israeli one, then is changed/corrected, 'theories' abound. Maybe the real 'cover-up' is that the British had information and failed to act and protect its own citizens. Of course there is always the "winner" theory that Jews control the media and that is why the story was changed! :eyes:

Frankly, I don't understand why this is such a "big" story at all.

[Zodiak]

20. You have a point

There is a point to this....if the story were true, I can see why there would be a push to muzzle it. Not that this is the case, but I have nothing to fear from the matter being discussed. Sure, stories are often wrong during the chaotic phase of an event like this, but then gain, the message isn't controlled that early, either. So is the retraction the result of a bad story coming out of the chaos or message management when info that shouldn't have gotten out did? At this point, it is hard to say, but NO ONE will be able to make an informed decision if it is not allowed to be discussed.

Sometimes I think people here think the American people are hanging on to every word uttered on DU and try to squelch conspiracy theories and whatnot because the "freepers might see this" or "it makes us look like loons". So what? Discussions that are here are "in-houzse" where thy ought to be. The world doesn't pay attention to DU enough for us to be discredited for entertaining CT-type discussions. NOT having the discussion is far more dangerous, I would say.

Face it, we are not that important, and we are cetainly not a news source. If we were CBS, I understand, but we aren't.

ON EDIT: I can already see that "anti-semite" has been uttered with an off-handed comment to go to a skinhead site. Please be more respectful. Such accusations are childish, in my opinion, and serve no purpose other than to squelch discussion. How can someone reman even-tempered after they are accused of such an odious thing?

[geek tragedy]

23. But the story isn't true. The author of the story corrected it.

If you want to idly speculate about it, do it somewhere else. There's too much anti-semitic crap at DU the way it is.

[BooScout]

31. Your accusations are baseless...

I haven't said one thing anti-semitic but you sure as hell are trying your damnedest to turn the discussion in that direction.

I heard that story from several news sources yesterday and then retracted in several different manners. I think discussing it has merit.

Do not tell me to go somewhere else. If you don't care for my discussions hit the ignore switch.

[geek tragedy]

37. The change was very simple: Netanyahu was warned not to go

any further AFTER the first explosion instead of before.

That's it.

Several threads have been locked over this subject already:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1609566&mesg_id=1610438

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4038345#4042258

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4045857&mesg_id=4045980

[geek tragedy]

17. Because DU doesn't support Jew-baiting lies.

Take that shit somewhere else, like Stromfront.org.

[BooScout]

12. I find all of this rather suspect.....

First they were warned........then they weren't.....then they were....no they weren't. People are told to keep quiet. Very odd. Very odd indeed.

[geek tragedy]

21. First it was a power surge, then a bomb.

Early reports sometimes get facts mixed up.

The AP has corrected its own story.

Get over it. It wasn't the Jooos.

[BooScout]

36. What is your problem?

You are the one trying to start an argument by bringing up anti-semitism? Why? Repeatedly you are spouting off with BS that no one has put forth. A little defensive if you ask me.

[Zodiak]

41. I suggest ignore. I am in the process of it now.

[BooScout]

50. *sigh*

I really want a rational discussion on this issue but perhaps your right and he's one I should discount as not willing to be reasonable.

[eardoc]

16. This is obviously a big issue

It needs to be discussed both on DU and in the MSM.
Telling everyone it is "debunked" and Sharon telling the cabinet to keep quiet is no solution.

More appropriate would be to release all the phone records.

Do you think that will happen???

[sabra]

22. according to the article, Sharon was telling his cabinet to focus

on condolences over terrorism comparisons. It does not make any reference to him telling them to be quiet about when they were warned...

[geek tragedy]

24. It's a big issue to two groups of people:

1) Anti-semites;

2) Conspiracy loons

The book is closed in everyone else's mind.

Go peddle this shit somewhere else.

[Junkdrawer]

29. Well...imagine a family member was on the double-decker bus..

and you learned that Netanyahu was warned almost an hour before your loved one was killed and while the British people were still being told it was a "power surge"?

Think you might want some answers?

[Behind the Aegis]

34. Read again

Even if you are working from the first story, which has since been corrected, it reads:

"British police told the Israeli Embassy in London minutes before Thursday's explosions that they had received warnings of possible terror attacks in the city, a senior Israeli official said." 7:14am version

Yet you said "hour." See how rumors get started.

[Junkdrawer]

42. First blast was 8:51 am. The bus blew up 9:47 am...

56 minutes is "almost an hour" in my book.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/uk/05/london_blasts/html/default.stm

[Behind the Aegis]

45. Perhaps

Maybe they thought the target was the Israeli politician and not a full on terrorist attack. Maybe they were even told that. So, why does it matter that the "possible intended target" was told, while they tried to figure out what was happening?

[geek tragedy]

39. So, you're upset that they told the Israeli minister about an explosion?

Oy.

[Junkdrawer]

47. IF they told VIPs one thing and the public another, I'd suspect..

the victim's family's might have a problem. And, funny, you seem to be the only Jew-Baiter on the thread.

[warsager]

38. What's with the hostility?!

Man are we sensitive!! I think its extremely important not to make a conspiracy about everything but why are you being so hostile at the mere mention of something strange?

Maybe it's purely accident that the AUTHOR said he was warned before the first bomb, maybe he was rushing to get the story out (irresponsible) but why such rudeness at the idea?

I am sincerely confused about this.

:yoiks:


edit typo

[geek tragedy]

43. Because it was debunked several times yesterday, and people

still keep dragging it up.

This always seems to happen if the subject is Israel or if the source (tbrnews.org) is a Neo-Nazi site.

[fshrink]

27. And

the bombs the budding Israel detonated sixty years ago against the colonists of the area... the British.
As Chomsky says: "the term terrorism is used, standardly, to refer to the terrorism that 'they' carry out against 'us', whoever 'we' happen to be".

[Moderator]

51. Lock

This thread is seriously off-track.