Counterterror Officials Say Little Specific 'chatter' About Any New Plot

[Minstrel Boy]

Counterterror Officials Say There's Little Specific 'chatter' About Any New Plot

By Curt Anderson Associated Press Writer
Published: Dec 23, 2004
WASHINGTON (AP) - The threat of a terrorist attack on the United States still exists, but counterterrorism officials say there is a conspicuous lack of intelligence "chatter" being picked up indicating a plot is in the works.

...

U.S. and foreign intelligence and law enforcement services report a continuing stream of vague, lower-level threats from al-Qaida and other Islamic extremist groups against American interests at home and abroad. But officials say nothing specific and credible has emerged in recent months that would require the government to raise the risk level above yellow, or "elevated," the midpoint on the five-level threat scale.

...

Still, officials and outside experts say the relative calm and lack of an al-Qaida attack on the U.S. homeland since Sept. 11, 2001, should not be viewed as evidence of decisive victory over terrorists. Al-Qaida is known to plan attacks patiently and could have operatives already in the United States primed for a long-awaited signal.

"When we're in a state of high alert, that's when things are not going to happen," said Michael Greenberger, director of the University of Maryland's Center for Health and Homeland Security. "It's when we're not looking, when we're overconfident, that something will happen."

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBA34QF33E.html

[VegasWolf]

1. no us elections planned. n/t

[mcscajun]

2. What was that line Rumsfeld liked?

"Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence."

Invert it now...Evidence of absence (of impending terror attacks) is proof that the evidence of those attacks was absent to begin with.

Or something like that...

[Dem2theMax]

3. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We've heard it a zillion times before.

Now if things heat up in Ohio, watch those terra lerts go crazy.

Don't you just love this line, "When we're in a state of high alert, that's when things are not going to happen."

They forgot to add the part about "high alerts just mean we're trying to scare you into submission."

I guess they just want to give us a little reminder that the TERRA is still out there. Oooooh, I'm scared. Not.

[TO Kid]

4. Sounds like they're just saying "I dunno"

But given their need for attention they have to make some kind of announcement. On a more practical note this means two possibilities- either the threat is reduced or the bad guys are better at covering their tracks. In either case this info is useless.

[Moloch]

5. This is just ridiculous!

They are trying to scare people into submission. I'm glad that it has abated somewhat, I remember the Anthrax scare.. whoa.. at least people aren't afraid to open their mail anymore.

[LandOLincoln]

6. Why should they attack now? Osama got what he wanted,

got his boy re-selected, so he ain't going to rock the boat this soon.

There won't be an attack until there's a plausible distance in time between the attack and the "election," and then they'll blame it on Clinton.

[Selteri]

7. Using average statistical data...

The next attack will be on...

2009-2010

[bemildred]

10. Yes, why interrupt the bleeding when it's going so well? nt

[Massachusetts]

8. Heres some chatter

BUSH SUCKS, I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, and Merry Cringle to All.O8)

[seemslikeadream]

9. 12/27 in Houston?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=2846220

[shanti]

11. EXACTLY

they disavowed the 9/11 "chatter" too.