CBS News Slamming the "Terror Warning"

[Cush]

No one was notified about the warning, not the Dept Of Homeland Security, City Mayors, the FBI, Local Law Enforcement Depts.

They also mentioned that there is no new evodence to point to anything happenning in the US and that people aren't sure why Ashcroft had the conference. Some are saying there is a "turf war" going on to control homeland security and that Ashcroft was trying to "Usurp" Tom Ridge

[Killarney]

1. CBS is the only station with balls lately. Thumbs up to them

for not drinking the Kool Aid.

[Warpy]

6. They're the only news department to be separate

from the rest of the network. They escape a lot of the politics that cause the other networks to drop important stories.

Oh, and I know that at least 3 of Asscrack's photos were recycled from earlier terra alerts.

The whole thing's got a flashing neon sign saying BOGUS.

[Killarney]

10. Wow. I didn't know that (about the news separate from the network)

that explains a lot.

I always wondered how they got away with telling the truth.

Thanks for the info.

[LuCifer]

33. My thoughts on this

I think CBS is really sticking it up BUSHitler's blowhole cuz they are PISSED at the FCC for all the CRAP they've been unleashing on Howard Stern, who makes CBS's parent company Viacom a buttload of money. Just my thoughts, I could be paranoid, but, stop and think...ESPECIALLY keep in mind that Viacom's eMpTyV did that Stupid Bowl Half Time thingy, and the FCC gave them a load of crap over that too. Nice to know that the FCC isn't doing anything to monitor TERRORIST COMMUNICATIONS, instead, they worry about a nipple showing for 1/2 a second and Howard Stern saying BUTT on morning radio! Great priorities, and do we wonder why we are in this MESS????????

I hope CBS rams it in and breaks it off so deep to BUSHitler that there isn't a chance of any blood coming out!!!!!!!!!!!!!

F. THE FCC, CRAP CHANNEL AND THE BUSHitler ADMINISTRATION, THEY ALL MUST RESIGN AND GO TO JAIL WHERE THEY BELONG!!!!!

"HOW DARE THEY TAKE THE GOOD NAME OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND DRAG IT THROUGH THE MUD OF SADDAM HUSSIEN'S PRISONS!" -- Al Gore, finally growing a pair, which he should have done back in 2000.

Lu Cifer

[Sapphocrat]

51. What about Fox?

Just curious if you have any info that might explain why the programming end of Fox appears completely detached from the White House Pravda, a.k.a. Faux News.

(I mean, this is the network that nearly sued itself over the content of a Simpsons episode, until their idiot lawyers realized who actually owns the show!)

I'd lay odds that Faux's Un-News Dept. is separate from the rest of the network, too. (The only other explanation is MPD.)

[adriennel]

56. yes! 60 Minutes II

always has at least one in-depth story about Iraq each week. this impressed me so I try to catch it whenever I can.

[AlCzervik]

2. Why would asshat

want to marginalize Ridge? I think the whole thing is bs anyhow but whats the rub between those 2? Is asshat trying to cleanse the Bush admin of anyone pro-choice? Or is it merely just a powere grab?

[DancingBear]

5. I think Ashcroft was mad

that Tom wouldn't rub oil on his forehead and talk in tongues every morning.

Or something like that.

[AlCzervik]

7. eeewwww

thanks for that visual. Maybe tom has a kitty and you know asshat doesn't like them.

[MO_Dem]

11. I think asshat knows

they are going to lose the election in Nov, and time is running out for him to remake the U S of A into a nation for his king, jaysus.

[PinkTiger]

41. "His king, Jaysus...." Hilarious.

sorry - just had to comment

[wtmusic]

15. There are turf wars over HS

the organization is a mess--complete confusion over who's supposed to do what (CIA, FBI, and DHS)

[Spazito]

3. Canada wasn't alerted either, no one was "alerted"...

this "warning" is a crock, imo. The seven suspects have been suspects for a long time, nothing new there. In fact, there was NOTHING new in anything Ashcroft said.

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. The seven suspectsq

was the only real thing in this which got me going
this actually sounds like the real deal.

Yep have sat on briefs like that in the past, with actual
bona fide ones... don't ask more.

I guess they put those in there for us who do have a clue to
go... hmm maybe this is bona fide.

[Spazito]

23. Those seven suspects are the same as they have had "on notice"

long before this alert. Homeland Security has come out and said, in effect, there has been no increase in chatter or intelligence that rated a heightened alert.

[Kool Kitty]

50. You're right, no one was alerted because there is nothing

to be alerted about! (Does that sentence make sense?) The only reason that they got out there with a big splash is that they felt they had to change the subject a little. Which is why a new "terrah" alert isn't a real smart diversion, IMO. No specifics, no real time period, and if they have all these pics, and the people are here-why don't they just round them up? And if they're here, when did they get here? Pre-September, 2001 or post-September, 2001? And if they got here after September of 2001, how did they get in here, with all the brand-new security measures we supposedly have now?
Didn't W say that we were all safer since they caught Saddam? Looks like he was wrong, and Dr. Dean was right. A dumb move.

[Cocoa]

4. good for CBS

this is risky, I'm sure they realize that Bush is capable of pulling another 9/11, just to make CBS look bad.

[ILeft]

8. Further evidence of the complete incompetence of Bush, Inc.

Sure they drip with malice and intend only bad things for our citizens, but they are the Keystone Kops of evil. Totally f***ing amateur hour!

[Q]

9. Another bogus alert...

...this time to COVERUP the growing prison scandals and the 'strange' video of Berg's execution. In another time and place they'd call it...

WAG THE DOG.

[wildwww2]

28. Al Gore, the real President spoke the truth. Wag the lies must follow.

It would be against the GOP`s rotten nature. Not to divert attention from our war criminal in chief`s neglect of our country.
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[wtmusic]

12. CBS once again, first out of the gate

:thumbsup:

[Must_B_Free]

25. Lou Dobbs point much of that out last night

you don't realize how much of the media has turned.

[PA Democrat]

34. Lou Dobbs read a funny email from a viewer tonight

It said that we need to develop a new color code scale to rate the reliability of the data on which these terror warnings are based. Lou had a grin on his face after reading this.

So, is Dubya Chicken Little or the little boy who cried wolf?

BTW, of those 7 terra suspects, only one (the American guy) is a new face. All the others have been on the FBI's watch list for quite some time.

[wtmusic]

38. Yeah, I meant network newscasters

Jennings and Brokaw are still hanging on to the dream

[maggrwaggr]

13. even CNBC had a story on this today

the follow through was terrible, but they made kinda a big deal out of it, promoting it before the commercial break, etc.

The two people they had on were lame as hell, though. Can't remember who they were.

Nobody really said what needed to be said. But the intention was on the mark.

I was very surprised, usually CNBC is corporatist to the point of being silly.

[SemperEadem]

21. they are very pro-business

that's where their sources primarily are.

[xchrom]

14. nooooo -- how could they say such a thing?!?

attorney general asscrack would never, ever play politics with terror threats now would he?
sarcasm thingy

[onecent]

16. No good decisions for them in ANY COUNTRY

Seems the Bush people CANNOT make good decisions in ANY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. I sure don't like them messing with ours!

Makes me feel really safe to know they are playing these kinds of games with the media and the public.

I can't take 4 more years of these people...

[Paradise]

18. yeah, a n d we need a sarcasm thingy, besides! n/t

[robbedvoter]

17. Ridge is a no good Catholic - Asscrack just wants to purge the government

of people of the wrong faith. I think it's exemplarary and we should be thankful. (well, I acually am cripped out - but also get the popcorn ready - sice it seems that Ridge's people alerted the media.)

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. It's over, when you have things like

turf wars you know it is over... and wehn the media
FINALLY and OPENLY questions the Orwellian tactics, it
is OVER...

Now somebody pass me the popcorn as we watch the house
of bush fall on its face

[Joanne98]

22. It is over, you can feel the change of tone. The rats are jumping the ship

What kind of popcorn do you like? I like extra butter. :)

[Stephanie]

29. Thank god - I really didn't believe it would ever happen

To see the network news finally saying things that we've been saying for 2-3 years - it's incredible.

[robertpaulsen]

24. The biggest lie was the 90% statistic.

We don't know where the attack will happen, don't know who will carry it out, don't know exactly when, don't know exactly how, but by God we KNOW that their plans are 90% complete. That's a firm fact corroborated from the Highest Authority!

Then again, the biggest lie might be that they don't know where, when, how or who will attack this nation. The question then is who to frame. Syria? Iran? Cuba? Oh, the possibilities!

[Lugnut]

26. Pathetic.

This administration can't even lie competently.

[thecrow]

27. al-Queda said that months ago..

that their plans were 90% complete. (winds of the black death)
My question is why Ashcroft and Tenet just found out...and why NOW they are releasing this information?

[VolcanoJen]

32. Al-Qaeda said no such thing.

Al-Qaeda is not known for announcing their intentions and readiness level to the world. Did they announce to Spain that they were "90% ready" to bomb the trains?

From this new Newsweek article:

In his briefing, Ashcroft cited no specific new information other than a claim that was sent to an Arabic newspaper in London immediately after the March 11 Madrid bombing. In it, a shadowy group asserted that a major attack against the United States was “90 percent ready.” But the authenticity of the group—and whether it really spoke for Al Qaeda—was questioned at the time by some U.S. officials.

[thecrow]

54. Reuters Reported that...

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:Znx1piqPB-sJ:quantumphilosophy.net/Topic7.html+al-queda+black+winds+of+death+reuters&hl=en

And this was all over the news after the Madrid bombing:

DUBAI (Reuters) - A letter purporting to come from Osama bin Laden's militant Islamist al Qaeda network said a big attack on the United States was in the final stages of preparation, a London-based Arabic newspaper said on Thursday.

"We bring the good news to Muslims of the world that the expected 'Winds of Black Death' strike against America is now in its final stage...90 percent (ready) and God willing near," the letter said.

The letter, signed by the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades which said it is part of al Qaeda, was sent to the London-based al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper. A copy of the letter was faxed to Reuters in Dubai.

It was not possible to independently authenticate the letter.

<snip>

But a group claiming to be acting on behalf of Al-Qaeda said it was behind the blasts which ripped through the packed carriages of trains in central Madrid.

"The death squad (of the Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades) succeeded in penetrating the crusader European depths and striking one of the pillars of the crusader alliance – Spain – with a painful blow," it said.


<snip

"We bring the good news to Muslims of the world that the expected 'Winds of Black Death' strike against America is now in its final stage . . . 90 per cent (ready) and God willing near."
************************
OKay but the officials are now saying that al-Queda DID DO the bombing... and al-Queda is seen quoting the same group as responsible for doing it and then go on to talk about the Winds of Black Death.
So now I ask my question again: Why are Ashcroft and Tenet just now saying the "90% ready thing and WHY NOW?

[Old and In the Way]

43. Unless, of course, the administration is drafting the plan themselves.

They'd probably have a pretty good idea of how far along the plan has been developed.....

[DemBones DemBones]

30. CNN had "WAG THE DOG?" scrolling across the screen

as part of the intro for Anderson Cooper's show. I TiVo'ed it to watch later (have a movie on now.) In the voiceover Cooper was saying something like "Is it really about terra? Or about votes for Bush?"

[Hekate]

52. CNN?! Do pass the popcorn...

:wow:


Hekate

[VolcanoJen]

31. Newsweek agrees, with this new article... "An Overreaction?"

Newsweek seems to be going with the CBS approach to this story. It's a good read, here's an excerpt:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5069746/site/newsweek/

An Overreaction?
Not everyone thought John Ashcroft’s warning was justified

Even as Attorney General John Ashcroft warned on Wednesday that Al Qaeda planned “to hit the United States hard” in the next few months, U.S. intelligence officials were privately divided about whether the government had obtained any fresh information that justified such an extraordinary public announcement.

<snip>

In his briefing, Ashcroft cited no specific new information other than a claim that was sent to an Arabic newspaper in London immediately after the March 11 Madrid bombing. In it, a shadowy group asserted that a major attack against the United States was “90 percent ready.” But the authenticity of the group—and whether it really spoke for Al Qaeda—was questioned at the time by some U.S. officials.

Although the U.S. intelligence community says it has been concerned for some time about the potential implications for the United States of the Madrid bombings, some U.S. counterterrorism officials told NEWSWEEK they were aware of no sudden surge in “chatter”—intercepts of terrorists communications—or other indicators of a possible imminent attack. “We’re always getting new threat information, but I wouldn’t point to a steep spike in chatter” said one U.S. official. Another counterterrorism official added: “What we’re seeing is a lot like what we’ve seen before.”

[taquinas101]

36. BOOO! VOTE FOR BUSH! BOOO!

There is no specific information regarding:

1. The nature of threat;
2. Where it might take place;
3. What we as citizens can do to avoid the threat;
4. What the government is going to do to prevent the threat;
5. No additional resources to help local governments combat the threat.

So, what exactly is the point? You can almost anticipate fraternity hazing crowd announcing that Americans should simply bend over and assume the position for some good nature hazing. Again, thank you Mr. Ashcroft for doing your best to Americans feel fearful and helpless.

If a terrorist attack were to occur, I think the Bush administation would be even more culpable, since the only thing they can manage to do these days is run photo ops to combat these terrorist threats.

[Generic Other]

35. Even Bush noticed

He was quoted as having asked if Ashcroft and Ridge were "synched."

[Straight Shooter]

44. bush asked, "Are you guys synched up on this plan?"

People are pissed! The FBI, local law enforcement agencies, Mayor Daley is really angry.

"Are you guys synched up on this plan?" In other words, hey, didn'tyou get the "freak the people out" memo?

Could they possibly look any more incompetent at this critical stage of bush's poll numbers? Ashcroft, thank you for your idiocy :)

[mopaul]

37. stupid shits, can't even get their phony terror warnings straight

i swear, i only have half a brain, and i could run things 90% better than these clowns. vote for mo, at least he has half a brain.

[number6]

39. 3 terror suspects already in jail

http://prisonplanet.tv/articles/may2004/052704wantedlist.htm

[WillyT]

40. VIDEO HERE - VIDEO HERE - VIDEO HERE - VIDEO HERE !!!

For those who missed it (like me)!

Needs RealPlayer: http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/videoplayer/newVid/framesource2.html?clip=/media/2004/05/27/video620064.rm&sec=201&vidId=201&title=Qaeda$@$Alert$@$A$@$Shock&hitboxMLC=national

Got it it off the Top Story on BuzzFlash!!!

Enjoy!

:argh:

[goclark]

42. Things Are Looking Up

They were blasting with both barrels - YES!

[VOX]

48. Thanks for posting, WT.

:kick:

[spanone]

55. Thanks for the video link

[LincolnMcGrath]

45. UHTENSION `MERICANS

B Skeered B Veerry Skeered!

[Cat Atomic]

46. Ashcroft's warning sounded like early Nazi politics to me.

1. 'Al Qaeda operatives could be anybody now- not just Arabs. And we can ship any suspected terrorists off to detention camps'.

2. 'A vote for Kerry is a vote for the terrorists' (with his "influencing the elections" garbage).

Ashcroft is fundamentalist psycho. He knows they're going to lose in Novemeber and he's just trying to jump-start the reich.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

47. Good

I am heartened to hear that there are finally some people in the media and elsewhere FINALLY raising questions about these terror alerts and the timing thereof. Frankly, I'm sick and tired of hearing about these idiotic terror alerts that don't tell the general public anything about where or when these attacks MIGHT occur much less what we should do to protect ourselves (hide under our beds?). In short, these alerts seem to serve no other purpose than keeping us in a perpetual state of fear and anxiety making it easier to continue policies such as the indefinite detention of so-called "enemy combatants," Patriot Act, and military adventures such as Iraq in the name of "national security." As for this latest terror alert, I really wish that the GOP would STOP flogging this STUPID idea that Al-Queda somehow "influenced" Spain's recent election through the 3-11 train bombings and that Al-Queda might attempt to somehow influence elections here. How anybody thinks that a terrorist attack here before the election would HELP Bush is beyond me and I fail to make the connection between voting for Kerry and supporting Al-Queda! Actually, since Kerry is not actually talking about withdrawing our troops from Iraq if/when he wins in November and his positions and strategies for fighting terrorists aren't extremely different from Bush's (except for his belief in multilateralism vs. Bush's unilateralism), I don't exactly know how he would be considered to be a "better" candidate for Al-Queda. The only way in which Al-Queda could "influence" the election is if Bush decides to suspend elections and/or declare martial law as a result, however I don't think that there will be a groundswell of support for such an action no matter how much we might be concerned about another attack. In my opinion, another successful attack on our country should actually prove ONCE AND FOR ALL that Bush/GOP can NOT protect us from terrorists and that Bush's Iraq adventure has been a waste of time and resources that should have been used to shore up our defenses and intelligence-gathering abilities here at home and that invading Iraq and removing SH from power has done absolutely NOTHING to make our country any safer.

[newyawker99]

57. Hi butlerd!!

Welcome to DU!! toast:

[Pachamama]

49. No one is taking it seriously...the administration being the "it"...

...regarding the terror alert - can someone explain not only why it was asscroft giving the announcement (as opposed to Ridge) and also why if they were coming out and saying this info (which turns out ofcourse to be old news) that if its so "scary" and requires our attention, why they aren't implementing the color-coded system and elevating us to "Orange" Alert? I mean, does this mean that they have heard something but its not as much as the last time when they raised the "alert" status?

They want to scare people and I am not scared about terrorists, only them....

[NewHampshireDem]

53. Let's keep this kicked so folks can see the CBS video

:kick:

[WillyT]

58. OK !!! - Kick !!!

:kick: