REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS

Are we realy this gullible?

POSTED BY: OLDENGLANDDRY
UPDATED: Monday, August 21, 2006 15:53
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Thursday, August 10, 2006 5:19 AM

OLDENGLANDDRY


Another non-existant "plot" by non-existant "terrorists" to blow up Airliners with baby milk has been "foiled" by our magnificent security services.
21 people have been arrested in the UK in connection with the terror plot. I wonder how many of these 21 will actually be charged with an offence.
The Uk's airports are now in a state of utter confusion and chaos because liquid explosives (do such things realy exist?) might be used to blow up planes in mid flight.
Of course, because the "plot" has been "foiled" we will never know who was telling the truth.
Coincidentely, the Isreali offensive into Lebanon has suddenly become un-newsworthy.

Are we realy this stupid?

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 5:22 AM

PENGUIN


Yes, we are. Rather sad, isn't it??


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Thursday, August 10, 2006 5:23 AM

CITIZEN


Quote:

Originally posted by oldenglanddry:
The Uk's airports are now in a state of utter confusion and chaos because liquid explosives (do such things realy exist?)

Yes.



More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 5:31 AM

FELLOWTRAVELER


Do you guys have elections coming up over there? Or is there some scandal (besides Israel-Lebanon thing) that needs to be off the front page?

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 5:34 AM

WASHSYOUNGERSEXIERBR

Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges


No lebanons a big enuf scandal

They said theyd had the info for a while but only just implemented it.

So y couldnt we all get a heads up yesterday???

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 5:39 AM

BIGDAMNNOBODY


Quote:


Originally posted by oldenglanddry:
Of course, because the "plot" has been "foiled" we will never know who was telling the truth.
Coincidentely, the Isreali offensive into Lebanon has suddenly become un-newsworthy.

Are we realy this stupid?



So much better to let the terrorists blow up the planes and kill innocent civilians. Then would you consider it newsworthy?


De-lurking to stir stuff up.

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 5:47 AM

HKCAVALIER


What really pisses me off about the coverage of this "attack" is how much the commentators sound like John Madden on Monday Night Football, "a classic al-Qaida tactic"..."By comparison, the London subway attacks look like child's play"..."These people are obsessed," he said. "They will try and try and try again to accomplish their mission"..."could very well have been an attempt at 'the Big One.'" http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060810/ap_on_re_eu/terror_plot_the_big_on
e


"Could very well have been..." What kinda b.s. is that? And what makes this truly miserable news (if indeed it can be called "news") so dang exciting to these people?

"Yet another vicious attack on all we hold dear by Goldstien and his gang of thugs has been twarted by our brave men and women in customs! Double plus good, that! Liquid explosives! Can you imagine, comrade? What will they think of next??? Stay tuned!"


HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 5:47 AM

RUE

I have a vote and I'm not afraid to use it!


dbl

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 5:49 AM

RUE

I have a vote and I'm not afraid to use it!


Are we really this stupid?

Is this a vote?

YES


No hanging chads, spoiled ballots or electronic tampering allowed !

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 5:52 AM

RUE

I have a vote and I'm not afraid to use it!


http://www.gcn.com/online/vol1_no1/41600-1.html

Secure Flight has been in development since 2004, after two earlier prescreening efforts were scrapped over privacy concerns. In all of the programs, passenger names are checked against lists of known and suspected terrorists.

GAO reported in February that Secure Flight is at serious risk of being ineffective, because it was rushed through development without rigorous, disciplined definition of its requirements. What’s more, it may fall short on protecting privacy and system security.

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 6:16 AM

YINYANG

You were busy trying to get yourself lit on fire. It happens.


My vote's for yes.

---

Go to http://richlabonte.net/tvvote/ and vote Firefly!

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 6:30 AM

FREMDFIRMA


No, we're not - they only wish to hell we were.

And once again, yon ringleader of this merry band of coulda-woulda-shoulda terroristas is what ?

Why none other than our old friend and listed intelligence asset Ramzi Youssef.

You know, the guy who wanted to bomb the WTC in 1993, but couldn't seem to get his hands on any real explosives, which were then provided by the FBI during a botched sting operation, which then caused a REAL bombing ?

Emad Salem (unknown if he is involved in this latest go-round) a paid FBI informant, even offered to sabotage Ramzi's bomb so that it would NOT go off, but was told by the case supervisor not to do so.

Why is it that these "plots" always seem to be formulated (and mostly in half-ass ways that never would have worked) by intel assets and plants ?

I can understand them wasting resources on puff-pieces to drive up the fear ratio and benefit them politically, but what frightens me more is that one day these plants are gonna give the bad guys a GOOD idea and the ability to carry it out.

WTC 1993 was a damn near thing, and if it weren't for the FBI providing real explosives so they'd have a 'real' bust, it never would have happened.

And why is ole Ramzi *still* listed as an intelligence asset after successfully bombing us on our own turf ?

Pumping up these bogus terrorism busts is going to bite us on the ass again like it did in 1993, only, next time it's probably going to get worse.

This is like a cop buying some guy drinks so he can bust him for drunk driving - what then happens if the guy leaves while the cop is taking a leak, and causes a 3-car, 2-fatality pileup ?

The gravest threat to our national security....
is our National Security.

-Frem


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Thursday, August 10, 2006 6:37 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.


My vote is for yes, but...

We shouldn't be too quick to dismiss the probability of a successful terrorist attack. A lot of people in the world truly hate us... more than ever before. Some place, some day, somebody will get thru and set off an attack as destructive as the WTC or the Madrid train attacks or the the London subway attacks and it will set off political repercussions that will be impossible to corral if "the left" has a reputation for pointing and gibing.

So, yes people are often that gullible, but my response is not that "terrorist threats" are faked/ exaggerated - it is s true, serious threat- but that this is an example of how Bush and Bliar have failed because we are not more secure than before.


---------------------------------
Reality sucks. Especially when it contradicts our cherished ideas.

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 6:40 AM

CHOO1701


Just i just piont out for the record.

No choas or confusion. Just people being annoyed. Thats all. The informations getting out, people are understanding, and where just a little hacked off.

Come on in the past 100 years we've survived German Bomb Raids (twice), the IRA (who sometimes warned us when they were going to strike...) and the recent Underground suicide bombings. We just keep moving on. No need to throw our arms up in panic.

Besides. Airports are usually choas, and this sort of thing (airports closing and grounding to a halt) has happened before (on a small scale, granted). Were organised and theres plans of actions.

UK = A OK!

(well, if they could change the PM, it might help. )

-----------------------------
"Remember, always be yourself. Unless you suck."-Joss Whedon

Ralph Wiggum(after walking into the 'Adults Only' section): Everybody's hugging!

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 7:36 AM

RUE

I have a vote and I'm not afraid to use it!


Siggy,

I definitely agree. There are real people out there with real plots and real weapons aiming to kill lots of real people. And eventually they will succeed at some level, large or small. (My nightmare scenario is a dirty bomb.)

B & B have made the world less secure politically - by radicalizing moderate Muslims with their actions; less secure internationally - by alienating allies and torpedoing int'l police cooperation; and less secure procedurally - Bush by failing to secure the US borders. (see my posting from government computing news)

What is FAR worse, B & B have politicized security issues. Remember the melon-shade-of orange pronouncements, where threat alerts were timed to political events? People are cynical about terrorist plots b/c of B & B's cynical manipulations.

But you're right. It's counter productive to point and jibe. The opposition should instead be raising hell about the documented lack of security a full 5 years after 9/11.

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 8:20 AM

STILLSHINY


I stay out of these political / real world forums. But as a human being I feel the need to say something about what happened today.

All I can say is this. I am thankful. Thankful that 1 terrorist plot was stopped. Can we really afford to live so paranoid?

I refuse to live thinking there's a terrorist behind every tree.

But I also refuse to live believing that the government is "pretending" there are terrorists behind every tree as well.

if you live that way, you still believe there are terrorists, only now they are "the government." No thank you.

Unfortunately, we live in a world where the news & sensational journalism feed the appetites of those who want to live either in fear of terrorists, or in distrust of their government.

I'm not promoting being ignorant of what's going on, but I can't be paralyzed by such fear & distrust.

The truth is that something happened. Or more importantly, something didn't happen.

A very possible terrorist plot was stopped.

Had it not been stopped, had we been minding our own business, typing away in our little chat rooms, and suddenly we hear or read, that several planes full of innocent people were blown out of the sky, by possible terrorist bombers, would we be shocked, would we be sad, upset, hurt, or angry?

Or would it just be another excuse to rant our opinions, and criticize the government?

If it's the latter....what's wrong with us?

"We had ties that could not be broken, except by the passing of time. Like a rock. A broken time rock. And you're very special to me, my broken time rock people." - Nathan Fillion

Stillshiny's Shop - Original creator of the -isms series
http://www.spreadshirt.com/shop.php?sid=4728

http://www.myspace.com/robdhiii





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Thursday, August 10, 2006 8:28 AM

CITIZEN


Quote:

Originally posted by Stillshiny:
Or would it just be another excuse to rant our opinions, and criticize the government?

Are you saying that such a responce is not indicative of being hurts, sad and/or angry?



More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 8:29 AM

DESKTOPHIPPIE


I'm keeping an open mind on this one. See what evidence they come up with over the next few weeks and months. If it turns out like that raid in London a few weeks ago then I expect there will be a looooot of very angry voters in the UK.

I've said this already on another thread but ANYONE TRAVELLING INTO OR OUT OF THE UK OR US is going to be delayed. And there are loads of restrictions on hand luggage. Be aware! Expect a long wait!

As for this distracting people from Lebanon - Yes, I too noticed how the war suddently seemed to end today. Or at least according to the media it did, since there's not a peep about it on any TV station. But that's not down to any government - that's the media themselves. They find something that'll grab people's attention and they stick with it. The horrible truth is that the conflict in Lebanon is old news now - it's been going on for a while - and this story is new and exciting. It's up to us to demand informed news covering global events and not just the latest big thing that hits close to home.




More animations available at http://desktophippie.googlepages.com

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 8:30 AM

HERO


Quote:

Originally posted by oldenglanddry:
Of course, because the "plot" has been "foiled" we will never know who was telling the truth.



I've noticed lately that the only thing that's going to convince some people is if the government would just let these attacks happen.

Sure, there'd be no end of the people like you asking "how could you just let this happen?" But at least you'd admit that the threat was real...its hard to argue against a smoking pile of World Trade Center or a bunch of dead London commuters.

The gist of your argument seems to be:

If you stop the terrorists, you are wrong, if you don't stop them, you are wrong.

I think this might be a hint to which side your really on, even if you don't realize it yourself, since the only folk you don't seem to have a problem with are the folk putting the Nitro in the baby formula to sneak it onto the planes.

And to answer one question you asked, liquid explosives have been around for a long time. For example, Dynamite is made by mixing Nitrogylcerin with sawdust...

You might recall Pan Am Flight 103 blown up over Lockerbe, Scotland in 1988. Terrorist used 12-16oz of liquid explosives placed in checked luggage to blow the plane up. 270 people from 21 countries including 11 on the ground in Scotland were killed.

I was thinking that it would be really great if the NSA's Terrorist Surveilance Program listened in on a conversation involving these folk and some unnamed US citizen and that was the big break that saved thousands of lives...but it probably was a super-secret British program that the US media would happily tell us every detail of so that they can help the terrorists learn from their mistakes.

H

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 8:37 AM

EMPXENU


So you think this was fabricated because someone high up wants us to forget about Israel vs. Lebanon. Are you wearing your tin foil hat right now?

----
"As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light of meaning in the mere darkness of being" - Carl Jung

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 8:39 AM

DESKTOPHIPPIE


Ah, the tin foil hat. So glittery and pretty...




More animations available at http://desktophippie.googlepages.com

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 8:46 AM

CITIZEN


Flying out to the US in two weeks, I hope they relax the restrictions a bit by then, don't like the idea of an 8 hour flight without anything to do or read.

EDIT:
The tin foil hat suits you. Did you get it from ConspiracyBarn?



More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 8:46 AM

STILLSHINY


Quote:

Originally posted by citizen:
Quote:

Originally posted by Stillshiny:
Or would it just be another excuse to rant our opinions, and criticize the government?


Are you saying that such a responce is not indicative of being hurts, sad and/or angry?



More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.





Indicative of being hurt, sad and or angry? absolutely. Attacking & criticizing the government though? That would be misdirected. You don't get mad at the police for not stopping the bad guy from pulling the trigger. You get mad at the bad guy. After all....he pulled the trigger.

"We had ties that could not be broken, except by the passing of time. Like a rock. A broken time rock. And you're very special to me, my broken time rock people." - Nathan Fillion

Stillshiny's Shop - Original creator of the -isms series
http://www.spreadshirt.com/shop.php?sid=4728

http://www.myspace.com/robdhiii





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Thursday, August 10, 2006 8:48 AM

RIGHTEOUS9


Problem with your philosophy StillShiny is that it is often exactly what certain powers bank on.

"Election Fraud? ridiculous"

"Government collusion in 911? Traitorous to even think!"

etc. etc.

Don't just refuse to believe things based on your gut, or on the ever popular "common sense." Just because something sounds outlandish, doesn't make it impossible. It's your job to police your government, and you can't do that if you strike possibilities out of hand. You should always entertain the worst.

That doesn't mean you believe it, it just means that you are keeping an open mind as to its potential. I can imagine that if somebody had told a German during World War II that they were gassing Jews, he would have said that person was crazy.

Bad theories come out of bad information. It could very well be that those of us who distrust the government are wrong for our suppositions, but our distrust is based upon the very little we do know, and the vast ammount that is constantly being kept from us that could allay alot of our doubt.

The way these cases come up...the way Bush came out on tv and said they'd foiled some attacks when the nsa wiretapping scandal hit the news, is all just too convenient to be convincing(though I"ll add, possible). The lack of information that the administration has provided into these cases has not helped to earn our trust. We are not supposed to blindingly support our government. We after all, are the government, and need at least, the very basic hard evidence to do our jobs as citizens.

Nor has this administration's use of terror alerts, many of which could not be adequately explained,helped me to trust them.

Nor has the timing of Bin Laden tapes.

Nor has the way they igonred intelligenc on Bin Laden, or how they flew out the Bin Laden family when all other flights were supspended...etc.

While I am certainly skeptical of this last foiled plot, I do not take it lightly. As Sygm said, we are hated more than ever now. I agree with Bush(who has told us time and again how much safer we are), "there will be another attack. It's just a matter of when." and I hold him and the enabling GOP (and DLC) greatly responsible for the energy they have infused into Al Quaida, and the sympathizing they have fueld throughout the world.




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Thursday, August 10, 2006 8:58 AM

HKCAVALIER


No, the problem is not that a possible terrorist attack was thwarted, the problem is how it's handled and the timing of the press release. I think OED was pretty clear.

In typical hysterical fashion, all liquids have been banned from U.S. flights. First of all it's shutting the barn door after the cows have run off. Secondly, "the terrorists" would have to be pretty dumb not to know that our government would do exactly what it's done. I assure you, "the terrorists" don't have a bunch of explosive baby bottles in reserve in case it doesn't work the first time. No, banning all liquids from our planes can now only be a symbolic act. But symbolic of what, exactly? That our government will rashly infringe upon the privacy of its citizens on any pretext as long as it looks like the people will accept it?

And actually, it's the folks who passively accept our goverment's hysterical abuses of personal privacy at every turn that "help the terrorists" by turning what has actually been a legitimate beacon of liberty in the world, more and more each day into a morally bankrupt police state.

Yes, liquid explosives have been around a good long while, and as Hero so helpfully pointed out, they've been used in exactly this way in the past. So why are we only now banning all liquids from our planes? Only a fool honestly believes the government does this to curb a threat (unless the threat we're talking about is the threat of the people kicking these incompetent power-fetishists to the curb and getting on with our lives).

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 9:08 AM

CITIZEN


HK:
You're not listening to 'Hero'! Don't you understand, are you that naive? WE NEED to phone tap everyone everywhere, we can't be allowed privacy because we can't be trusted, don't you see?

We're children, evil terrorist children, all of us, especially Liberals, give us an inch and next we'll be voting.



More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 9:49 AM

RUE

I have a vote and I'm not afraid to use it!


Huh - why did this dbl post?

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 9:50 AM

RUE

I have a vote and I'm not afraid to use it!


Did you know that there are gates one can walk through - similar to metal detectors - that can sniff explosives? Did you know the US STILL doesn't screen checked baggage - at all?

Yep. All those illegal wire taps,
and pen-registers, and trap-and-traces,
massive data bases,
the USPATRIOT Act,
Afghanisan (where is ObL ?) and Iraq,

- they've really worked.

Feel safer now?

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 10:17 AM

BIGDAMNNOBODY


Quote:


Originally posted by HKCavalier:
Only a fool honestly believes the government does this to curb a threat (unless the threat we're talking about is the threat of the people kicking these incompetent power-fetishists to the curb and getting on with our lives).



Then the Government must be doing this because they want to sell all of the confiscated products to needy Russians on the Black Market to further their GWT.

De-lurking to stir stuff up.

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 11:51 AM

HKCAVALIER


Quote:

Originally posted by BigDamnNobody:
Then the Government must be doing this because they want to sell all of the confiscated products to needy Russians on the Black Market to further their GWT.

De-lurking to stir stuff up.

BDN, I usually understand the thrust of your quips, but this one baffles me. What?

Liquid explosives pose no greater threat today than they did yesterday--and arguably less. What is the point of banning all liquids from U.S. flights except to manipulate the public into thinking the government is "doing something?"

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 12:08 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


Quote:

oldenglanddry wrote:
Thursday, August 10, 2006 05:19
Another non-existant "plot" by non-existant "terrorists" to blow up Airliners with baby milk has been "foiled" by our magnificent security services.
21 people have been arrested in the UK in connection with the terror plot. I wonder how many of these 21 will actually be charged with an offence.
The Uk's airports are now in a state of utter confusion and chaos because liquid explosives (do such things realy exist?) might be used to blow up planes in mid flight.
Of course, because the "plot" has been "foiled" we will never know who was telling the truth.
Coincidentely, the Isreali offensive into Lebanon has suddenly become un-newsworthy.

Are we realy this stupid?



Are you really this naive and cynical? Just how many times have you seen V for Vendetta ?? Would you prefer the bombs have gone off, and several airliners full of men,women and children be blown to bits and the pieces scattered across the Atlantic like flakes of human flaoved fish food ? But if/when that happens, you'll be quick to BLAME the very same authorities who stopped this attack for not catching the terrorist. And you'd problably blame Bush and Blair for making the terrorist mad enough in the 1st place to even pull such an attack off in the 1st place.

You're pathetic. You really are.

People love a happy ending. So every episode, I will explain once again that I don't like people. And then Mal will shoot someone. Someone we like. And their puppy. - Joss

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 12:19 PM

HKCAVALIER


"Naive and cynical?" You wanna maybe try that again? lol

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 12:20 PM

RUE

I have a vote and I'm not afraid to use it!


Why is the government's EVERY response to any incident to remove even more freedoms?

USPATRIOT Act, no fly lists and personal searches, wire taps and other illegal domestic spying coupled to massive data bases, monitoring billions of bank transactions, special categories of people outside of legal protection, et cetera.

And what have these Stalinist programs gotten the US in terms of security? Nothing. The US can't point to one single instance where all their spying actually netted anyone dangerous.

The security issues do have effective 'point of use' technological fixes - like explosive-sniffing entry gates. Simplest things first - Have the physical borders been secured? No. Checked luggage X-rayed and sniffed? No. Temporary airport workers screened? Port cargo containers checked for radiation? In fact, ANY attempt to standardize port security across the country? Chemical plants secured? No. No. No. And no. No across the board on any effective measures available.

So let's see - elections coming up ... street people down in Florida are going to blow up Sears Tower ! nitwits in NYC going to flood Manhattan ! And now this !

Whether or not this turns out to have been a real threat, it will be used to keep people off-balance and unquestioning about why the government needs to be more intrusive but completely ineffective at the same time.

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 1:00 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


Quote:

Originally posted by HKCavalier:
"Naive and cynical?" You wanna maybe try that again? lol

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.



Nope, no need to try again. Got it right the first time.

Naive for those who think such terrorist attacks can't happen, or that folks aren't motivated to do such destruction. How many more examples does it take before you GET it ?

Cynical for those who think that every time a plot is discovered or that a nation tries to fight back against the terrorist, there MUST be something ulterior, sinister going on here.

You literally can't handle the truth. And because of that, you must invent an entirely new foe, while ignoring the one which has openly vowed to kill you and destroy your culture.




People love a happy ending. So every episode, I will explain once again that I don't like people. And then Mal will shoot someone. Someone we like. And their puppy. - Joss

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 1:01 PM

HKCAVALIER


So Rue, doesn't it get you to thinking about the admin.'s push to war on the pretext of WMD and then sending our troups in without anything respembling adequate protection against chemical and biological weapons? What does it suggest to you when our government does absolutely nothing--nothing--substantive to make our homeland any more seccure than it was 5 years ago?

Any threat of terror which exists today, existed 5 years ago and yet our government acts as if none of this stuff existed prior to them noticing it. How many more times will we hear "No one could have predicted..." before we, as a nation, call b.s. on the lying sacks of ? It's all so freakin' Louis XIV!

On the other hand, there's an argument to be made that it really is all a matter of incompetence. All of this could be a consequence of reflexive ass-coverage by mediocre minds trying to come off as powerful and decisive. God help us all!

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 1:02 PM

FELLOWTRAVELER


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060810/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_terror_plot_a
nalysis_3


Analysis: Plot feeds political frenzy
By TERENCE HUNT, AP White House Correspondent

Cheney said Lieberman's loss might encourage "the al-Qaida types" who want to "break the will of the American people in terms of our ability to stay in the fight and complete the task."

As Cheney made those comments, the administration was aware of the plot unfolding in Britain but waited for a signal from the British government before moving forward with the public alert.

-Could this be why people are skeptical?

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 1:07 PM

RIGHTEOUS9




And they'll keep saying if they don't do those things the terrorists win.

Bottom line though,

if the public falls for it, AGAIN, and lets our government continue to strip us of any semblance of freedom, the terrorists have won.

Maybe there's method to the madness though. If the terrorists "Hate us for our freedoms,"and we get rid of all our freedoms, then maybe they'll leave us alone. Clever Bush administration, very clever.

Because we sure as hell know that confiscating shit at the airport is not going to solve a goddamned thing. Even if this attack was real, it was caught with good intelligence, not with wiretapping of the Raging Grannies, not with nonsense fear tactics.

What will everybody say when we get hit anyway, In-spite of all of our illegal stripping of American Rights? "SEE, we still have too many?"

Because we will get hit. Al Queda has time to probe for the holes in our security, which are legion. Will the sacrifice still have been worth it?

I don't want to get hit anymore than the next guy. Neither do the New Yorkers, who I'm sure have no illusions that lightning doesn't strike twice. But we don't want the illusion of safety. We want the real thing, but not at the cost of everything this country is supposed to be about.

If we trade that, then we've got nothing left to defend - nothing left to fight for - nothing to flag wave about - so stop waving it if you don't really support it already.

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 1:07 PM

RUE

I have a vote and I'm not afraid to use it!


HK
Quote:

the lying sacks of
This is not the thoughful reply you deserve, I need to get back to work. But now I've got that little jingle stuck in my head:


You're a lying sack of crap, You're a lying sack of crap, You're a lying, stinking, squishy smelly, Sack of liquid crap!

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 1:31 PM

HKCAVALIER


Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:
Naive for those who think such terrorist attacks can't happen, or that folks aren't motivated to do such destruction.

Um, you made these people up. Do you honestly believe that OED, or I--or anyone on this board!--believe that terrorist attacks can't happen? Why would you ever think such a thing? And better yet, why would you bother even replying if that were the case?

Quote:

Cynical for those who think that every time a plot is discovered or that a nation tries to fight back against the terrorist, there MUST be something ulterior, sinister going on here.
And you made these people up too.

This is a favorite neo-con method of misrepresenting their opposition. People don't hate the Administration for a long list of specific reasons, oh-no, they just hate Bush arbitrarily. People don't suspect the government of wrong doing because the government has in their view behaved in an untrustworthy fashion, but because they simply don't trust the government outright.

Quote:

You literally can't handle the truth. And because of that, you must invent an entirely new foe, while ignoring the one which has openly vowed to kill you and destroy your culture.


AU, why do you think that is? Why do you think I can't handle the truth? And how is it that you can?

No one has to invent the idea of government corruption and no one is advocating that our govermnent simply ignore the threat of terrorism. When you argue your point like this, I don't get the impression that you're remotely interested in legitimate debate or rational discussion.

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 1:46 PM

FELLOWTRAVELER


Quote:

Cynical for those who think that every time a plot is discovered or that a nation tries to fight back against the terrorist, there MUST be something ulterior, sinister going on here.
And you made these people up too.

This is a favorite neo-con method of misrepresenting their opposition. People don't hate the Administration for a long list of specific reasons, oh-no, they just hate Bush arbitrarily. People don't suspect the government of wrong doing because the government has in their view behaved in an untrustworthy fashion, but because they simply don't trust the government outright.



One of the fallacies, I think. Straw Man.

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 2:06 PM

MISBEHAVEN



Quote:



B & B have made the world less secure politically - by radicalizing moderate Muslims with their actions; less secure internationally - by alienating allies and torpedoing int'l police cooperation; and less secure procedurally - Bush by failing to secure the US borders. (see my posting from government computing news)

What is FAR worse, B & B have politicized security issues. Remember the melon-shade-of orange pronouncements, where threat alerts were timed to political events? People are cynical about terrorist plots b/c of B & B's cynical manipulations.

But you're right. It's counter productive to point and jibe. The opposition should instead be raising hell about the documented lack of security a full 5 years after 9/11.




Well said RUE.

Morbid and creepifying I got no problem with, so long as you do it quiet like.

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 2:10 PM

MISBEHAVEN


Quote:

Originally posted by EmpXenu:

So you think this was fabricated because someone high up wants us to forget about Israel vs. Lebanon. Are you wearing your tin foil hat right now?



I'm wearing mine. It helps keep the aliens out.



Morbid and creepifying I got no problem with, so long as you do it quiet like.

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 2:25 PM

HKCAVALIER


Quote:

Originally posted by FellowTraveler:
One of the fallacies, I think. Straw Man.

Oh, yeah! Big time! The neo-cons have become the undisputed masters of the framed debate, painting their view in the most euphemistic light while presenting any opposing arguments as the most outlandish nonsense; everything's a false dichotomy with these folks.

"You're either for us, or against us."

And if you're against us, their false logic concludes, you are allied with everyone else who is against us. So if you oppose the current President, you are in league (whether you realise it or not!) with "the terrorists." The peaceful protestor, the democratic candidate, even the casual left leaning contributer to this board, and the rabid terrorist hiding in a cave are all "united" against the poor Bush Administration.

The whole "tinfoil hat" thing is a perfect example--never mind your argument or your evidence, if you question the official story on anything you're obviously a fruit cake. The mere fact of holding opinions at variance to the administration discredits you.

The underlying premise is that, for all practical purposes, our current government is infalible and you either recognize that "truth" or you "can't handle" it.

Don't you see? If the people in power were really corrupt they would tell us!


HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 2:32 PM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.


You know, the funny thing is I think that Au and Hero are so scared of a terrorist attack, they'll do anything, give up anything to prevent it. But as Ben Franklin said " People who are willing to give up freedom for the sake of short term security, deserve neither freedom nor security"

The next terrorist attack won't surprise me. I'm not in a state of denial but OTOH I'm not about to be stampeded by fear. Are we next going to discover a weapons cache on Grenada? Oh... wait... that's already been done. So, like a lot of folks I'm taking a wait and see attitude.

And you know, I'm not sure that wide-net security precautions do much. I wonder if ANY terrorists have ever been caught at an airport security checkpoint or by listening in on hundreds of thousands of phone calls or through Biowatch or financial transactions screening the many other monitoring programs "out there". If you spread your net TOO wide, you'll catch so much data that it's impossible to filter out the one or two dozen nuggets from the (literally) tens of millions of data points. And I'm not sure that "generic" security at a chemical plant (for example) would stop a dedicated terrorist either. I'm almost at the point of forgoing all broad-brush security measures because I think they only give an appearance of security. The FBI prolly does a much better job tracking specific persons of interest than these Rumsfeldian techno-nets.

But what I WOULD like to see is much better First Responder support. As of today fire, police, health authorities and other first responders STILL don't have a common radio frequency. because of our work with the DOD I've been in contact with the vars Hazmat groups and they've been gutted- severely gutted- over the past three or four years. Programs have fallen apart and personnel have drifted away. Think of all the $$$ that's been spent on near-universal monitoring and ask yourself: What kind of sense does THAT make?

It's a game... it's all a game to the current administration. They're not interested in doing anytting other than furthering their own ends -which have nothing to do with security.
---------------------------------
Reality sucks. Especially when it contradicts our cherished ideas.

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 2:38 PM

BIGDAMNNOBODY


Quote:


Originally posted by HKCavalier:
BDN, I usually understand the thrust of your quips, but this one baffles me. What?

Liquid explosives pose no greater threat today than they did yesterday--and arguably less.



Let me start out by saying I totally agree with your 'closing the barn door after the horses have left' statement. But if you do not ban all liquids, than you are doing nothing. Of course optics plays a part, so does liability, and I'm sure we can throw safety in there as well.

Where was the outcry when box cutters were banned? Was that not infringing on my right to cut boxes at my destination? What about not using electronic equipment during takeoff or landing? What about smoking on airplanes? Times change and policies change to keep up.

I would consider my rights infringed upon if the Government started to tell me Who I could fly with. Or What carrier I chose, When I could fly, Where I wanted to fly, or Why. I left out How because we have been told How to fly since we have been flying.

Quote:


What is the point of banning all liquids from U.S. flights except to manipulate the public into thinking the government is "doing something?"



Maybe we should just ban opaque liquids. Maybe just liquids over a certain volume. Maybe just make sure all liquid carrying people don't all head to the bathroom at the same time for a 'mix-up'. And people thought the lines were long now.


De-lurking to stir stuff up.

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 2:40 PM

WHIMSICALNBRAINPAN


"Are we really this stupid?"

I could go on and on about the endless human potential for stupidity but I think Albert Einstein said it best.

"Only two things are infinite-the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not so sure about the universe."

"Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle." http://whimsicalnbrainpan.blogspot.com/

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 2:48 PM

RUE

I have a vote and I'm not afraid to use it!


"... officials at the highest levels of the department recognized the seriousness of the threat posed by liquid explosives and have been pushing aggressively to introduce equipment that could help.

But no such devices are ready to be rolled out.

'This is not a case of them being caught like a deer in the headlights and saying, 'oh my god we never expected this,' Mr. Carafano said. 'In fact, they expected this threat.'"

And the reason no such devices are ready to be rolled out, you might ask? For the same reason the gummint was unprepared for Katrina. (A small part of my current job is to keep up to date on Federal R&D for detection devices.)


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Thursday, August 10, 2006 3:03 PM

RUE

I have a vote and I'm not afraid to use it!


Siggy,

Awesome. Solid, astute, insightful, and convincing, as usual.
Quote:

Originally posted by SignyM:
You know, the funny thing is I think that Au and Hero are so scared of a terrorist attack, they'll do anything, give up anything to prevent it. But as Ben Franklin said " People who are willing to give up freedom for the sake of short term security, deserve neither freedom nor security"

The next terrorist attack won't surprise me. I'm not in a state of denial but OTOH I'm not about to be stampeded by fear. Are we next going to discover a weapons cache on Grenada? Oh... wait... that's already been done. So, like a lot of folks I'm taking a wait and see attitude.

And you know, I'm not sure that wide-net security precautions do much. I wonder if ANY terrorists have ever been caught at an airport security checkpoint or by listening in on hundreds of thousands of phone calls or through Biowatch or financial transactions screening the many other monitoring programs "out there". If you spread your net TOO wide, you'll catch so much data that it's impossible to filter out the one or two dozen nuggets from the (literally) tens of millions of data points. And I'm not sure that "generic" security at a chemical plant (for example) would stop a dedicated terrorist either. I'm almost at the point of forgoing all broad-brush security measures because I think they only give an appearance of security. The FBI prolly does a much better job tracking specific persons of interest than these Rumsfeldian techno-nets.

But what I WOULD like to see is much better First Responder support. As of today fire, police, health authorities and other first responders STILL don't have a common radio frequency. because of our work with the DOD I've been in contact with the vars Hazmat groups and they've been gutted- severely gutted- over the past three or four years. Programs have fallen apart and personnel have drifted away. Think of all the $$$ that's been spent on near-universal monitoring and ask yourself: What kind of sense does THAT make?

It's a game... it's all a game to the current administration. They're not interested in doing anytting other than furthering their own ends -which have nothing to do with security.
---------------------------------
Reality sucks. Especially when it contradicts our cherished ideas.


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Thursday, August 10, 2006 3:19 PM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.


Well, I do wonder if all that ... monitoring has really done any good? If I remember correctly, there was only one case where a potential terrorist was caught by a routine security check... it was that guy crossing into the US from Canada, and he had explosive in his car or something.

So after Timothy McVeigh, all purchases of fertilizer over a certain amount are recorded (I kid you not). Have we actually CAUGHT anyone since by monitoring fertilizer purchases? I doubt it. What has all of this snooping, spying, and list-making really gotten us?

---------------------------------
Reality sucks. Especially when it contradicts our cherished ideas.

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Thursday, August 10, 2006 3:22 PM

FELLOWTRAVELER


Quote:

Originally posted by SignyM:
Well, I do wonder if all that ... monitoring has really done any good? If I remember correctly, there was only one case where a potential terrorist was caught by a routine security check... it was that guy crossing into the US from Canada, and he had explosive in his car or something.

So after Timothy McVeigh, all purchases of fertilizer over a certain amount are recorded (I kid you not). Have we actually CAUGHT anyone since by monitoring fertilizer purchases? I doubt it. What has all of this snooping, spying, and list-making really gotten us?

---------------------------------
Reality sucks. Especially when it contradicts our cherished ideas.



One step closer to a totalitarian state!

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