Slowdown in 'chatter' worries officials

[5X]

(CNN) -- A drop in so-called "chatter" among suspected terrorists is troubling some counterterrorism officials, who noticed a reduction in intercepted communications before the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, government sources said.

Diminished communication prompted the concern because the counterterror experts don't know why suspected terrorists would be talking less. But they noted that similar reductions have happened several other times during the past few years.

Pakistan authorities arrested a key al Qaeda suspect, Muhammed Naeem Noor Khan, in mid-July. Officials said chatter continued after that arrest, but has fallen off in recent days.

<http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/08/06/terror.wrap/index.html>

Wish they would make up their minds.

[aquart]

1. I thought there was an INCREASE in "chatter"????

It would work better if I believed even one word they said.

[Dhalgren]

6. Right! They are orwelling their asses off!

"Encreased chatter is a sign that teh-rah is near!" "Decreased chatter is a sign that teh-rah is near!" "We must declare war on chatter! Chatter is what we fear!"

[Jackpine Radical]

9. Ominously, the chatter level is staying constant...

[Dhalgren]

11. "Oh My God!!! That's the worse sign of all!!"

(He runs around flapping his arms in panic. Then he jumps through the closed window.)

[arwalden]

38. Auntie Em, Uncle Henry, Toto . . . its a twister, its a twister!!!

[LiberalFighter]

24. Isn't that what gw* does all the time??

chatter chatter chatter

[Ravy]

13. Well, ya see..

there was this increase. Greater... more chatter. The terrist were talking more, which means we listened more. We listen to their chatter, see. So we listenend to more chatter. That is why we said there was more chatter. 'cause we listened to it, and they were talking more for us to listen to.

See, if they weren't talking, then we wouldn't be listening. But we HAVE to listen in case they talk. It is very simple.

Next question please.

</shrub>

[5X]

14. It's such an honor to have you posting

on our board, Mr Prezeldent.

[mom cat]

20. lol

:yourock:

[xchrom]

30. ok -- scary and

funny!:bounce: :bounce:

[leQ]

33. by george, i think you've hit the bullseye

n/t

[The Backlash Cometh]

34. Suspension of disbelief.

Generally a necessity when reading fiction, but critical in real-life scenarios, eh?

[PartyPooper]

2. Does this mean the terra' 'lert will be lowered sometime before 11/2?

I dunno. But, I don't really think so.

:eyes:

[glitch]

3. think it might have something to do with this?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2172596
morans

[devinsgram]

32. Yes, this is what it is all about.

One of their guys got caught, so now they are shredding and laying low. Case closed.

[gmoney]

4. isn't this a definition of paranoia?

"Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're NOT out to get you."

"It's quiet out there...a little bit TOO quiet."

[johnfunk]

5. TRANSLATION: Slowdown in "chatter" has Preznit Shemp worried...

... that he won't be able to scare public into voting for him following second Al Qaeda attack...

[Kool Kitty]

26. Hey! Don't insult Shemp!

He's a genius compared to W. And he's probably be a better President.

[johnfunk]

37. My apologies for comparing a comic Stooge...

... to a dictionary-definition stooge.

[truthisfreedom]

7. fear of silence is equal to fear of unknown noises. bush is running on the

fear platform, so they generate fear any which way they can.

[Minstrel Boy]

8. Anyone have links for the streaming chatter?

Preferably not Real Media. TIA.

[enigmatic]

10. Jesus Christ..

This has to be the Mother of all doublespeak..

[mmonk]

12. I'm confused

so are we not to worry if there is an increase in chatter? Or is it a decrease in chatter?:shrug:

[shraby]

15. Either way, apparently they don't

know whats being said because they just call it "chatter", not information.

[absolutezero]

16. war is peace

slavery is freedom

bellyfeel bush double plus good. Kerry crimethinker, iraq war malreported doubleplus victories. Democrats crimethinkers. economy malreported......

[Jack Rabbit]

17. The Olympic Games start next Friday

A target won't necessarily be in the US.

[Geo55]

18. Ahhh....but

if there is alot and nothing happens and there's a little and nothing happens , it's probably the AVERAGE between the two.....
Anbody got the counterterrorism hotline number ?
THEY GOTTA KNOW 'BOUT THIS !!!

[Neshanic]

19. The IBM Chatmaster 3000 will solve this!

[DBoon]

21. Weren't the Japanese interred by logic like this?

They were "too loyal", therefore there must be some treasonous plot brewing in their ranks. Send them to Manzanar!

[Beetwasher]

22. Is There Anything That WOULDN'T Worry Them?

An uptick worries them, a downtick worries them, the wind blows, it worries them, etc. I'm sensing a pattern here...:eyes:

[cliss]

23. Chatter....let's define it.

When I read the word 'chatter', I'm reminded of 2 teenage girls who talk on the phone for hours, about absolutely nothing. Do these fools really think they're being subtle by broadcasting that they know about the "chatter"?

What makes them think that the supposed terrorists don't know that they're supposedly listening? This is worse than Inspector Gadget. Of COURSE they know they're being eavesdropped on.

Here's what a caller said on the Randi Rhodes show:

Caller: you know what I think of when I hear the word chatter?

Randi: no, what?

Caller: I think of these plastic wind-up teeth that jump around, clacking their teeth together.

Randi: hah, yeah.

[LiberalFighter]

25. Why do they need to chatter to implement anything?

I could do it without sending email.
I could do it without sending snail mail.
I could do it without a phone.
I could do it without sending anything.
I could do it without talking to anyone.
I could do it without anyone seeing me.

[54anickel]

35. Hmmm, could make a good Cat in the Hat rhyme. n/t

[ThePhilosopher04]

27. If they were doing such a good job, as they claim, shouldn't there...

be a decrease in chatter?

[KeepItReal]

40. EXACTLY!!!

<eom>

[radfringe]

28. "the Goldilocks effect"

Too much chatter triggers a "struggle against ideological extremists who do not believe in free societies and who happen to use terror as a weapon to try to shake the conscience of the free world alert"

Too little chatter triggers a ""struggle against ideological extremists who do not believe in free societies and who happen to use terror as a weapon to try to shake the conscience of the free world alert"

ummmm..so when bush*'s numbers are "just right" we are safe?

[0007]

29. The chatter mat be the auctioneer at the stockyards

...now that all the cows have been sold, no chatter.

[Roy]

31. Chatter is like tax cuts

Economy is bad ---- tax cuts are needed
economy is good---- tax cuts are needed

[wolfgirl]

36. Once the WH

blew the cover of the Pakistani...the chatter dropped so Al-Q could regroup...the chatter will pick up...

Alternately...the Olympics start up next week (i think)...so all he plans for disrupting the games are now set and they are just waiting to strike...

So many theories and so little space to air them all.

[genius]

39. Before, an increase was bad. When protestors are near,everything's bad

[5X]

41. Pakistani 'Khan', computer expert that caused the orange alert

of Sunday was working as double agent to keep us
informed on Al Queda. His outing by "Bush administration
Official" as reported in Mondays New York Times and now
further exposed on Reuters, could account for the reduction
of 'chatter'.
If any criminal finds out one of his guys is talking,
they would usually shut up and dissapear.

<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x734964>