NYT/AP: L.A. Police Chief Dismisses Taped Threat

[DeepModem Mom]

L.A. Police Chief Dismisses Taped Threat
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 12, 2005


NEW YORK (AP) -- Los Angeles's police chief dismissed as ''just rhetoric'' a taped threat by a purported al-Qaida member that was aired by ABC News on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks....

***

Los Angeles Chief William Bratton said officials were aware of no clear threat to the city and didn't see the tape as significant.

''At this juncture, we feel it's just rhetoric,'' Bratton said Monday on NBC's ''Today.'' ''He is a low-level operative. They put him out front during the national election and used him in a similar fashion.''

While no steps are planned in response to the video, he said, the city is always on the lookout for terrorists and plans heightened security measures in upcoming days because of the Jewish high holidays.

''The statement was meant to instill fear, and fear is the most potent weapon the terrorists posses,'' Bratton and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said earlier in a statement. ''Bombastic pronouncements are expected on the eve of terrorist incidents like September 11, but we cannot let such pronouncements alter our lifestyles.''...


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Tape-Threat.html?oref=login

[jsamuel]

1. WOW

smelling salts anyone?

[smoogatz]

2. Only in SoCal would anyone say

''Bombastic pronouncements are expected on the eve of terrorist incidents like September 11, but we cannot let such pronouncements alter our lifestyles."

Unbelievable.

[Terran]

12. Being a native of SoCal my self...

I'm not understanding what point you're trying to make. Is it the word "lifestyle" you have particular objections to? It seems pretty obvious that he was saying that people shouldn't be cowering in bunkers or living in fear just because some fanatic hoo-ha makes a scary statement. Seems like a universally acceptable idea to me.

[smoogatz]

13. He basically said "they may be about to attack us,

but don't let it ruin your day." It's the idea that our "lifestyles" are the most important thing in the world--more important, say, than trying to inspect more than 1% of the containers that come into Long Beach harbor.

[Terran]

14. Ok, two things

1) He said it was "just rhetoric". That's not akin to saying they "may be about to attack us," that's akin to saying, "This is bullshit and you don't need to cower in fear over it." There's no sense whatsoever in there that he means the way people live in LA is the most important thing in the world. That's pure hyperbole on your part, not to mention putting words in his mouth. It IS just that word "lifestyle" that you can't stand, isn't it? Go on, admit it.

2) He's the chief of the LAPD and has zero jurisdiction over security arrangements at the Long Beach harbor (maybe you thought Long Beach was part of Los Angeles...a common mistake of people who know nothing about LA). And clearly if such inspections were being done, which would be a very good idea, they wouldn't need to have any impact on anyone's lifestyle except maybe a slight rise in the cost of imported goods.

[smoogatz]

17. "Bombastic pronouncements are expected on the eve of terrorist incidents

like 9/11." Sounds to me like he's NOT altogether dismissing the threat, despite his earlier statement that it's "just rhetoric." Actually, my wife's from L.A., and I've spent a fair amount of time there--and I certainly wouldn't want to be around if a nuke went off in Long Beach harbor, whether it's in the L.A. police chief's jurisdiction or not. Call it a lifestyle choice on my part.

[bananas]

19. What does "bombastic pronouncement" mean to you?

To me, it means "just rhetoric".

[bananas]

21. "Qaeda videotape threat is propaganda: officials"

uh-oh maybe you're right,
"U.S. officials" say it's just propoganda,
they get everything wrong.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1774122

[Oreo]

3. Wow

Who is he referring to as "putting him out"? Al-Quaeda or the Bush Regime?

''He is a low-level operative. They put him out front during the national election and used him in a similar fashion.''

[jsamuel]

4. I know... this was on national television... smelling salts?

[Supersedeas]

22. lucidity is not the answer these folks seek

[AlGore-08.com]

5. Except that, given the criminal state of FEMA & Homeland Security

Would we even know ahead of time if there was a genuine terrorist organization planning a genuine attack?

Just because the Smirk admin cries wolf all the time, doesn't mean that we're safe. In fact, it means the opposite.

[jsamuel]

6. to me, it isn't so much that he is right as it is that he was allowed to

say it on national TV without getting booed off the stage. That is important in recovering our democracy and defeating the "fear" that the Bush Administration has put on us.

[kysrsoze]

7. I wouldn't worry about this one. They have NEVER announced an attack

prior to carrying it out. That takes away the element of surprise. If anything, the only reason to mention L.A. or Australia would be to scare people or give out disinformation.

[Catchawave]

8. Believe me, I'm no expert but.....

...it looked like an SNL skit. Right now I feel more insecure with our government "keeping us safe" than a "help Bush's numbers" news dump.

[Merlot]

9. I have to agree with the SNL comparison

It looked pretty silly. And since they'e never given advance warning, it sounded silly as well.

This is the first time I've liked Bratton. I think having Villarigosa to back this up helped. Doubtful this statement would have appeared under Hahn.

[KC21304]

20. Isn't Bratton the one who really reduced crime in NYC

for which Rudy gets the credit ?

[AtTheEndOfTheDay]

16. I'm glad it's not just me.

I laughed out loud when I saw that caucasian boy all decked out with his black thing on his head. I think the fear thing is wearing thin.

[gatorboy]

10. Look at it this way.

If it does happen. Now Bush can blame the City and State officials once again for not being prepared.

BUSH: "See? They didn't take it seriously. California, go red for me and I promise to keep you safe and snug."

[DeepModem Mom]

11. Just heard from someone going to work in LA that there is a police...

presence today. This person was guessing that, despite these statements, authorities had to do something in response to the publicized threat, just in case something did happen.

[lthuedk]

15. Each and every time bush shows low numbers...or needs

a political touch-up, there's another threat.

Why is this "coincidence" ignored by the media? It is not out of the question to consider a real connection.

Stephen

[ElectroPrincess]

18. Because the USA Media is owned by the Corporations who

are all Pro-Bush. :hi: