Playing Politics with Terror Alerts

As if it would be any different no matter who was disseminating the infomation? I for one completely disagree with you on Iraq. We were 12 years too late taking on that task, thanks mostly to U.N. involvement in the first gulf war.

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Yeah, let's stay out of a big Iraq debate. I know we are on opposite sides. The point I was trying to make is that the intelligence was bad then (right?) and is bad now, and the admin still seems to be passing it off as concrete truths to the public.

The timing is quite suspicious on this last one... considering there is no new information...

Cycloptichorn

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Much as it pains me to say anything which might vindicate the Shrub, it is only fair to point out that this information has only recently come to light. The Pakistanis arrested a man, whose computer contained the e-mails which detail this plan. As AQ has been known to plan for years for an operation, and to keep their operational options open, it is justifiable to keep this potential threat in mind, and to react accordingly.

What is suspicious is that the administration sat on the information, available to them for weeks now, until after the Democratic convention. When it comes to political cheese, the Shrub and company never disappoint.

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I sure as hell don't feel safer. Check out this article from Women's Wall Street. I happen to live in Detroit so it freaked me out.

http://www.womenswallstreet.com/WWS/article_landing.aspx?titleid=1&articleid=711

Safer my ass. As long as there are people that want us dead, we will not be safe. They will find a way. This is part 1. Followed by part 2 and 3 as follow ups.

http://www.womenswallstreet.com/WWS/article_landing.aspx?titleid=1&articleid=716

http://www.womenswallstreet.com/WWS/article_landing.aspx?titleid=1&articleid=726

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I know I feel immensely safer Rolling Eyes

now that they've taken all of the recycling boxes out of the subway here.

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Kristie,

Whether the article you posted is an example of the threat of terrorism, or the threat of hysterical Americans worried about terrorism, is a matter of debate.

This woman's story sounds pretty far fetched, and it is not just me who is saying that...

This story is nothing new...

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/SALEM.HTM

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I think you guys just like to complain and that no matter what the administration does or doesn't do you will find something to complain about. So, it might as well be this issue.

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Hmm. This presents me with a problem - am I supposed to complain when things aren't going the way they should, or not, McG?

I try not to be overly negative - constructive criticism is the best way to effect change, rather than destructive criticism - but it is difficult to see problems and not say anything about them.

Cycloptichorn

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McGentrix wrote:

I think you guys just like to complain and that no matter what the administration does or doesn't do you will find something to complain about.

Very much in the same way that no matter what the administration does or doesn't do, you will defend it.

There are a few arguments that may be considered trivial that come from the left, but you have to admit many of the more severe criticisms are quite valid. You can try to explain it away all you want, but no amount of sugarcoating on your or anyone else's part can hide the fact that there are some serious problems with this administration.
Not like you'll come to realize that, though.

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That's not true at all, JaO. I happen to disagree with Bush on many topics, I simply choose to keep my disagreements to myself.

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It seems to me that a board created with the intention of discussing and debating politics is the place where one does NOT keep disagreements to themselves, if they so choose, McG. Therefore, it is against the spirit of what we are doing here to claim that people shouldn't talk about what is on their mind, IMO.

Cycloptichorn

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I hardly keep my disagreements with you to myself... :wink:

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ebrown_p wrote:

Kristie,

Whether the article you posted is an example of the threat of terrorism, or the threat of hysterical Americans worried about terrorism, is a matter of debate.

This woman's story sounds pretty far fetched, and it is not just me who is saying that...

This story is nothing new...

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/SALEM.HTM

So basically you're saying that even a reputable paper like the Wall Street Journal is lying to perpetuate this "hysteria"? Or just women? And what does the Salem witch trials have to do with this? Maybe I am stupid but I don't make the connection.

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Just too funny not to share...

http://cagle.slate.msn.com/working/040802/sheneman00.gif

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I just noticed (ok - I got up and looked out the window) that the garbage cans on the street have been taken away as well. I work in the centre of the financial district here - the garbage cans being missing on the street is usually a sign of increased alertness.

I've always wondered where they store those containers when they're off the street.

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Kristie wrote:

So basically you're saying that even a reputable paper like the Wall Street Journal is lying to perpetuate this "hysteria"? Or just women? And what does the Salem witch trials have to do with this? Maybe I am stupid but I don't make the connection.

1) The Wall Street Journal has nothing to do with this story. Womans Wall Street is an unrelated organization.

2) In the Salem witch trials there was a public hysteria. Because people were looking for evidence of a public danger, they found it. Reputable members of society even swore under oath that they saw women flying.

There is the same type of public hysteria now. People are looking for an imminent danger lurking among them. They will jump to conclusions that normally they would see as irrational. Once you reach an interpretation that legitimizes your fear, it is easy to find more and more coincidences to back up your conclusion.

3) The more complete story is at Snopes...

http://www.snopes.com/politics/crime/skyterror.asp

It includes the point of view of the Sky Marshalls on board the plane

Quote:

Undercover federal air marshals on board a June 29 Northwest airlines flight from Detroit to LAX identified themselves after a passenger, "overreacted," to a group of middle-eastern men on board, federal officials and sources have told KFI NEWS.

The passenger, later identified as Annie Jacobsen, was in danger of panicking other passengers and creating a larger problem on the plane, according to a source close to the secretive federal protective service.

"The lady was overreacting," said the source. "A flight attendant was told to tell the passenger to calm down; that there were air marshals on the plane."

The middle eastern men were identified by federal agents as a group of touring musicians travelling to a concert date at a casino, said Air Marshals spokesman Dave Adams.

It seems like this particular woman made an ass of herself. Now she has a personal motivation to "prove" she was right, especially since everything points to the fact that her interpretation of events was wrong.

The sky marshalls have no motivation push a false conclusion. These men were completely checked out and there is no evidence (other than they are Arabs and this womans conclusions) that they have any connection to terrorists.

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I retract my erronous statement of WWS affiliation with WSJ...thank you for the correction.

I can't understand how you can believe a website called "Snopes" over another. Who is "the source" ?

The threat of terrorism is real. Play stupid if you want, think that the US is completely protected and capable of handling that threat...that's what we all thought back before 9/11. Ask any soldier stationed overseas in Iraq and they'll tell you how much many Middle Eastern people hate Americans. You try getting your ass shot at everyday and then we'll talk about over-reacting.

I don't call this hysteria, as you do. I call this people being aware that the US is not impenetrable. I don't see people running around freaking out. I see people wanting to protect the lives of US citizens before they protect the US rights of NON US citizins. If I was stopped at the airport and asked to answer a few questions or have my baggage checked, it would be an annoyance, I'll give you that. But if you have nothing to hide, you should have nothing to bitch about.

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Kristie, Snopes is one of the best sites for checking if some sort of internet story is true or not. It's where you go to see if that 'free phone', 'free clothes from the Gap', internet urban legends about men with axes in cars in parking lots - are legit.

They seem pretty non-partisan when it comes to their fact-checking. They don't believe anybody without proof.

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Whether the website is fact or fiction is not the real topic here. Terrorism is or the perception of it. Depending on who you agree with.

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ehBeth wrote:

Kristie, Snopes is one of the best sites for checking if some sort of internet story is true or not. It's where you go to see if that 'free phone', 'free clothes from the Gap', internet urban legends about men with axes in cars in parking lots - are legit.

They seem pretty non-partisan when it comes to their fact-checking. They don't believe anybody without proof.

Anyone who'd belive that you can get free clothes from the Gap or a lifetime supply of Coke or $.05 for every person you annoy with your chain email, and every person they annoy and every person they annoy....I've got some great ocean front property up for sale in Arizona.

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Playing Politics with Terror Alerts

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