US apologises for terror news leaks

[cal04]

President Bush's chief domestic security official yesterday apologised for the disruption of a big MI5 and police surveillance operation in Britain. Tom Ridge, the homeland security secretary, said the leaking of intelligence in the US about alleged terrorist suspects here was "regrettable". Mr Ridge was speaking to journalists in London before meeting David Blunkett and Sir David Omand, the prime minister's security and intelligence coordinator. Whitehall was furious early last month when individuals were named and allegations about terrorist attacks were made public in the US.

The claims, about putative attacks on buildings in the US and on British targets, including Heathrow, were based on information found on the computers of an alleged al-Qaida sympathiser in Pakistan.
The disclosures forced the police to quickly arrest 12 suspects in raids across England. In Blackburn, Lancashire, armed officers pulled two men out of a Mercedes, and in Luton, Bedfordshire, neighbours told how dozens of police had halted a red Nissan in a residential street and pinned the driver against the door for almost three hours.

Anti-terrorist officials here have been seriously concerned about the disclosure of infor mation in America which, they say, could prejudice the outcome of prosecutions. They are also unhappy about the frequency of public warnings in the US about possible attacks - something which, say Whitehall officials, could lead to the dangers of "crying wolf" or "threat fatigue". Mr Ridge said that the US had raised its threat level and placed extra armed guards around buildings because of "credible" and "specific" information coming from Pakistan.
"The volume of potential information was the largest we have ever seen," he said. He added that there was credible intelligence of terrorist plans to "disrupt the democratic process" in the US.
The "intent" had been exposed but there was no specific intelligence, he said. Asked about the impact of a terrorist attack in the run-up to November's presidential election, Mr Ridge said it would unify the US "more than ever".

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/attacks/story/0,1320,1306640,00.html

I don't know if it's just me, but the last statement(sentence) by Ridge bothers me

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. It bothers me

but he knows the reality, we have an attack from now until before
November, the Americans will rally around bunny pants and even vote for him

[AndyTiedye]

3. And Bunnypants Is Counting On That

MIHOP

[radfringe]

8. old tactic

if you want ot unify a people - give them a common enemy/threat

[tibbir]

2. It bothers me a LOT

but I think it's true. The media would do their level best to convince the public that it once again made our beloved president a hero. How that stands to reason escapes me.

[COSFlyer]

4. what is sad

is that the european press and people generally know more about terrorism and the problems in the Bush WH than most Americans...and more than most on this board (who can't seem to find a nation news groups they can trust (not MSNBC, nor CNN, nor Fox, nor ABC)...only CBS now because 'they are on our side now!')....

go out and get some news from outside sources...you might be surprised what you will find.

Why doesn't tom ridge come and appologize TO US fro screwing up the raid...there are some terrorists out on the loose (maybe here) because he F'ed up....but since they think they got away with lying to Am. People (by telling us they disrupted nothing) they will do nothing...............

I think the world (at least America) is ready for a new news outlet!

[yardwork]

5. Welcome to DU!

[Nay]

6. So, which Repuke in the gov has lost his job over this grave leak?

Oh, forgive me!! No one loses high-paying neocon jobs, no matter how many people die! In fact, that leaker will probably continue on to retire with a full pension and health care, and will write a book for even more cash. Jesus.

[saigon68]

7. Operation " Scare the Shit out of Everyone"

That will get the old people to vote for you (Rove's Plan)

[JoFerret]

9. Keystone cops up to that point

scary indeed. Nice and convenient to have something in the UK too.

[Snazzy]

10. Odd that we even hear about this from Ridge

Recall that this is the Noor Khan matter (Pakistani al-Q mole), who, in outing and killing this critical intel source, and as a justification in order to kill Kerry's convention bounce and reporting, Ridge called super-special CODE ORANGE ALERT.

Which we haven't heard a damn thing about in a month or so. The latest polling clearly shows the American media doesn't give a shit, so they tell us (or would if we gave a shit).

All of this is key to remember when actual terrorists decide to come over here and blow up stuff next time. What to remember? THE MESSAGE. Somewhere, someone 'felt safer' because all the actual news about terrorists and news analyzing the keystone-cops-like approach to the problem championed by Ridge is forbidden. Terrorism, per Ridge and the rest, in the US media especially, is a political trump card, that's all it is because there's only so many brain cells and those are spoken for.

We are near powerless against terrorism, not because it is so successful a tactic, but because we haven't done a damn thing about it in three plus years, except to encourage it and undermine just about any real effort, be it military, spies, judicial, all of it. If it can be screwed up, it has--except to use terrorism as a political hebegeebie, which they are just plain complete pros at.

He said in July or so he was exiting. I don't blame him (although I do think he spawned from the same asshole pool as Whistless). Must suck to be him, the Bogeyman Czar. Maybe he can help out at Martha Stewart's shop in her absence, color coding things....