So how do you feel about the terror alerts now that we know.....
Original post by prncssrachel
a lot of the intelligence was gathered almost three years ago? I think it just inches my thoughts towards this being a politically motivated 'terror alert'. It's amazing how quickly the Democratic Convention was forgotten after the 'terror alert'. I don't know, maybe I am just reading and hearing things wrong.
sweetadeline
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Re: So how do you feel about the terror alerts now that we know.....
Maribelle is right -- be alert 'no matter what the government says.' Because it seems like a new government lie gets uncovered every single day. No wonder almost everyone I know doesn't trust a word that comes out of Bush's mouth. Even my 86 year old grandmother scoffs at him, and she's not exactly political.
jannshari
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Re: So how do you feel about the terror alerts now that we know.....
Posted by m&m
If I remember correctly, the plans for 9/11 had been in development for a couple of years, so it may not matter how old the intelligence is. Also from the news reports on Sunday, the reports I heard did not state that the terrorist act was suspected on Monday, only that there was a threat between now and the election. After the bombings in Spain, terrorism scholars agreed occurred was a way to impact the elections there. I don't think it is too far off to expect something similar could happen here - making this new information pretty valid. After 9/11 many people complained that they weren't told of the dangers, and now that they are being told, everyone is complaining. The administration is damned if they do and if they don't tell everyone what might be going on. The information in that intelligence is scary whether the threat is imminent or not. 9/11 proved we as a nation have many enemies who want to kill Americans, learning that they have specific building plans will help us better secure these possible targets.
All the reports I heard said that they were expecting the attacks on Monday, which is why it was an 'imminent' threat, and not just a probable threat. I understand that the information is out there and I would rather be safe than sorry, of course, but if this info has been around for years, why the sudden scramble to alert the public, beef up security, and scare the crap out of people when it may not have been necessary?
We should always be aware and on the alert. I'm glad that they are at least taking steps to safeguard us should there be an attack, unlike 9/11. However, that being said, I still think, in light of the investigations into the credibility and imminence of this threat, that there was a great deal of politics behind this.
I was watching CNN on Sunday and the tickler across the bottom stated that Ridge said that there was no credible evidence that there was an imminent terror threat. Within less than an hour, he did a complete 180 and said that an attack was imminent based on credible information. Get yourshit together before you release information to the public, for crying out loud!
Sassyz75
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Re: So how do you feel about the terror alerts now that we know.....
while they do believe that some of the information has been recently updated, I think this is slightly politically motivated...
as a post script to an editorial on 7/30, Krugman wrote:
P.P.S.: Three weeks ago, The New Republic reported that the Bush administration was pressuring Pakistan to announce a major terrorist capture during the Democratic convention. Hours before Mr. Kerry's acceptance speech, Pakistan announced, several days after the fact, that it had apprehended an important Al Qaeda operative.
It is no surprise that the information for this recent alert came from that operative..
Kriss2c
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Re: So how do you feel about the terror alerts now that we know.....
I agree that when it concerns politics and press... there usually are no accidents. However... Some of the data dates back to 2000. If 9/11 intelligence was ignored, why not that as well. It's possible that it wasn't thought of again until newer info came out.
pinky424
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Re: So how do you feel about the terror alerts now that we know.....
Working directly across the Citicorp building on Lexington get me nervous. When I got off the train Monday morning there was every news channel outside my building, cops all over and a increase in security. Seeing this everyday makes me scared. FH wants me to start looking for a new job he hates that I work here.
prncssrachel
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Re: So how do you feel about the terror alerts now that we know.....
Don't get me wrong, these terror threats SHOULD be addressed. I just think that we should be prepared no matter what. I also think that Bush uses his 'war on terror' to distract from other areas that he is much weaker in. I almost never doubt the credibility of the information they have, I just find it disgusting how we're just used as pawns in the political game. And yes, I do think they time the release of this information for political gain or persuasion, or whatever. And I'm sure if it wasn't Bush as president doing it, it would be some other president doing the same thing. So it's not a Bush thing, it's a political thing. I just get very sick of the bs that we call democracy.
eogara
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Re: So how do you feel about the terror alerts now that we know.....
Posted by 121502
Don't get me wrong, these terror threats SHOULD be addressed. I just think that we should be prepared no matter what. I also think that Bush uses his 'war on terror' to distract from other areas that he is much weaker in. I almost never doubt the credibility of the information they have, I just find it disgusting how we're just used as pawns in the political game. And yes, I do think they time the release of this information for political gain or persuasion, or whatever. And I'm sure if it wasn't Bush as president doing it, it would be some other president doing the same thing. So it's not a Bush thing, it's a political thing. I just get very sick of the bs that we call democracy.
Point taken.
KerrC
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Re: So how do you feel about the terror alerts now that we know.....
I care about my country and those that are working in the buildings mentioned on the list of possible targets.
But, To be honest, I think they are politically motivated. I wish they would eliminate the 'terror warning scale', also. It does the country no good to keep perpetuating a culture of fear and uncertainty.
JMHO
Bride626
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Re: So how do you feel about the terror alerts now that we know.....
I find it offensive that some people follow the Howard Dean theory that something as serious as a terror threat would be a politically motivated move by the President. Joe Lieberman wisely denounced such a theory as nonsense and overly cynical.
Look at the facts: Intelligence recently uncovered in Pakistan revealed this detailed plot against financial targets. While these plans go back several years, the 9/11 attack was in the planning stage for several years also. Further, the current plot has been updated in 2004 and it is widely known that the terrorists want to impact the election.
No matter what your feelings are towards the current administration, like it or not, this country is at a war on terror that requires vigilance and proactivity. I was in the towers on 9/11 and lost friends in that terrorist attack. The administration is undertaking concerted efforts to prevent a simlar tragedy from happening again. Their actions should not be second guessed or criticized as politically motivated.
jannshari
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Re: So how do you feel about the terror alerts now that we know.....
The information was updated in January. Why the sudden need to instill fear in people in August?
Frankly, just because Joe Lieberman denounced something doesn't mean I have to follow his lead. Furthermore, it is our duty as citizens of this country to question actions and their motivation when questions are raised about them, and not to follow blindly because the president said so.
prncssrachel
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Re: So how do you feel about the terror alerts now that we know.....
Posted by jannshari
The information was updated in January. Why the sudden need to instill fear in people in August?
Frankly, just because Joe Lieberman denounced something doesn't mean I have to follow his lead. Furthermore, it is our duty as citizens of this country to question actions and their motivation when questions are raised about them, and not to follow blindly because the president said so.
My thoughts exactly.
HearzBellz
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Re: So how do you feel about the terror alerts now that we know.....
Posted by 121502
Don't get me wrong, these terror threats SHOULD be addressed. I just think that we should be prepared no matter what. I also think that Bush uses his 'war on terror' to distract from other areas that he is much weaker in. I almost never doubt the credibility of the information they have, I just find it disgusting how we're just used as pawns in the political game. And yes, I do think they time the release of this information for political gain or persuasion, or whatever. And I'm sure if it wasn't Bush as president doing it, it would be some other president doing the same thing. So it's not a Bush thing, it's a political thing. I just get very sick of the bs that we call democracy.
I agree..... it is like we know about things that always go on only when it is advantageous to someone that we know it. (does that make sense?) It is like we are not being told for our own well being- which should be the top priority, it is like we are being told only so that we are distracted from something else, or to make someone look better than they are....it is a bit frightening.
It is not just Bush..it has happened all throughout history...it is just dangerous to us, so we take it a bit more personally.
heidla
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Re: So how do you feel about the terror alerts now that we know.....
I think that the lowering and raising of the 'terror alert' is just insane. We need to just realize that we are always on 'high alert'. I think that the government realizes that fact and that they are just using this system to keep us in fear.
kiwijonze
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Re: So how do you feel about the terror alerts now that we know.....
Posted by jannshari
The information was updated in January. Why the sudden need to instill fear in people in August?
Frankly, just because Joe Lieberman denounced something doesn't mean I have to follow his lead. Furthermore, it is our duty as citizens of this country to question actions and their motivation when questions are raised about them, and not to follow blindly because the president said so.
Exactly.
The reality is, politics are just as much about spin as the entertainment industry. And though there is little doubt that another terrorist act will happen somewhere, this administration has demonstrated that they are looking out for their own interests, and that is not right.
marymoon
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Re: So how do you feel about the terror alerts now that we know.....
The fact that the info is old does change the way I think about it because all this time we didn't have all of this heightened security, and how long can it go on for? It's such a huge inconvenience and expense. it's worth it, of course, if it saves lives, but after awhile it is going to go down, and what justificatioin will there be? We can't say 'we never know when they'll strike', and then selectively add and take away this heightened security. It seems a little politically motivated to me, but at the sme time, you cant ignore any threat. I'll leave it at that for now.
Bride626
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Re: So how do you feel about the terror alerts now that we know.....
The intelligence was uncovered this past Friday and security was beefed up almost immediately. Of course, for security reasons, we cannot know the full scope and specificity of the new intelligence.
Perhaps, the government should sit on the new information and let Kerry enjoy his post-convention boost (which incidentally never materialized even before this new threat warning) to avoid accusations of political motivation. I'm not a terrorism expert, but I take these threats seriously....and I, for one, prefer that the government take swift action and increase security immediately when such intelligence is uncovered as we fight this war on terrorism. I'm glad they did, despite the minor inconvenience and stress that these alerts might cause me.
And while everyone is entitled to their opinions, I find it unduly cynical to attribute political motivation to increasing a threat level to keep us safer. We may have thwarted a major terrorist attack and, for that, I am grateful.
ChristineC68
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Re: So how do you feel about the terror alerts now that we know.....
Posted by heidla
I think that the lowering and raising of the 'terror alert' is just insane. We need to just realize that we are always on 'high alert'. I think that the government realizes that fact and that they are just using this system to keep us in fear.
NYC has been in an elevated state of alert since 9/11.
From what I understand the plans were made years ago and updated months ago were only revealled to US intelligence days ago.
I do not believe millions of dollars are being spent to raise security in NY, NJ & DC as part of a political agenda to derail the democratic party (since replublicans are in office now) and I don't see how it is taking anything away from the success that Kerry had least week at the convention.
Kriss2c
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Re: So how do you feel about the terror alerts now that we know.....
Posted by Bride626
We may have thwarted a major terrorist attack and, for that, I am grateful.
While I am grateful for the added security... I doubt very much that it thwarted anything.
MCDO15
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Re: So how do you feel about the terror alerts now that we know.....
two quotes
'it is what it is'
and
'better safe then sorry'
marymoon
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Re: So how do you feel about the terror alerts now that we know.....
Ok, I won't leave it at that. The threat levels change at convenient times. That isn't the point. What's the point of them? No one is faulting the government for acting quickly on the evidence they have. That should always be done, and we've seen the consequences of when it isn't done. However, what do these threat levels accomplish? They just scare people into giving our rights away. Notice how Bush took his press conference about the warnings as a time to push for extension of the USA PATRIOT Act. And Tom Ridge saying that the response shows how great Bush is doing. THEY have politicized it. We're just noticing.
