Did this alert come from the White House or from HS intelligence ?

[kentuck]

My bet is that Dubya and Rove decided to raise the alert level and they informed Ridge? And they probably had a little chat with the NY Mayor also? Has anyone asked where the 'intelligence' came from?? Has it been reported that it came from the FBI or the CIA ??I don't think so? If it did, give us a name? We can question those individuals.

[Frodo]

1. What's the difference?

I thought they were the same people?

[kentuck]

3. Well, they are......but

Should Dubya be calling the time when we should have terror alerts?

[Frodo]

4. "Should"?? No.

But what's to stop him?

[kentuck]

5. Certainly not our inquisitive press...

The people have a right to know where this threat originated and who's decision it was to raise the threat level? Was it the FBI? Or was it the WH?

[Frodo]

9. See, the thing is... they DON'T.

We don't "have a right to know" where a threat comes from. In the "normal" process of intelligence gathering, it could only harm our ability to spot the next threat.

And if the threat is made up? We sure won't know before November.

But no, I wouldn't want the next administration hamstrung by the idea that the people get to vet any terrorism intelligence.

[kentuck]

11. We have a right to know more than they are telling...

They don't have to say we got it from a prisoner we captured in Pakistan specifically but we can be informed that the intelligence came from that sphere of activity.

[NightOwwl]

2. Bloomberg was 45 minutes late to his press conference

and he looked really pissed throughout. I think there was a bit of arm-twisting involved.

[madfloridian]

6. He also said it was info that had been around a while.

He did look irritated, and the reporters were asking harder questions today.

[Gin]

8. I think I heard Ridge say the source was out of this country.......hmmmmm

do ya think god called him?

[kentuck]

10. If it came from abroad.....

It did not originate with the HS...It would have come from the Pentagon or the CIA or military intelligence? Where did it originate? I think that is a legitimate question?

[The_Casual_Observer]

7. They have been working up to this for the last week or so

Lots of stories about the Mexican border and plots. It is very transparent and childish. However, it works very well on the public.
remember the scare of two weeks ago about the suitcase nukes?

[edhopper]

12. Most likely..

There will not be a terror attack on NYC (we can never be sure) and Ridge will announce how some arrest or action recently taken thwarted the attack. Of course National Security will prevent us from hearing any details.

[lanparty]

27. No doubt, the person arrested ...

... will turn out to be COMPLETELY innocent like so many people the Bush Admin has ensnared in their net.

If the Bush admin was Tuna Fisherman, their catch would comprise 98% dolphin.

[Snoggera]

13. With this bunch, it really doesn't matter

We will never know the truth about anything ever again if * remains in the White House.

For all I know, Barney could have someone reading the signs and portents in his daily crap and making decisions based upon it.

[Fleshdancer]

14. Well the Homeland Security website looks like a Bush re-election site...

I think it's fitting that the web address is http://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/
instead of homeland.gov

and I know I feel safer with stories like:

"President Bush Discusses Progress in Homeland Security in Illinois"

"President Bush signs Project Bioshield Act of 2004"

"President Highlights a More Secure America on First Anniversary of Department of Homeland Security"

"President Bush: Information Sharing, Patriot Act Vital to Homeland Security"

"President Bush Calls for Renewing the USA PATRIOT Act"

it goes on and on.

I don't have any direct evidence that the White House and Homeland Security are one and the same, but sometimes you just gotta go with what your gut tells ya. :)

[kentuck]

15. Tomorrow would be an important day for Iraqi resistance...

August 2nd, the day Saddam invaded Kuwait..

[rube]

16. Are their any websites

that keep track of all these terror alert announcements? They seem to come every other week now. There was one just before the DNC that terrorists were going to attack reporters. I am wondering if there is any group keeping track of when the terror alerts are announced, w/what frequency, and what generally results (obviously no actual terror has, at least in the USA). Quite frankly, I don't believe anything this administration says anymore. I wouldn't be surprised if nothing at all comes of this.

[NightOwwl]

18. Rube, that's a good question.

It would also be interesting to track Bush's poll numbers against the timing of terror alerts.

And Welcome to DU! :hi:

[tinanator]

20. and vice versa

if ya know what i mean

[NightOwwl]

22. Yep.

Either way, it would be very illuminating.

[Davis_X_Machina]

17. Check out this paragraph from Ridge's statement.

But we must understand that the kind of information available to us today is the result of the president's leadership in the war against terror, the reports that have led to this alert are the result of offensive intelligence and military operations overseas, as well as strong partnerships with our allies around the world, such as Pakistan.

This is a campaign commerical.

This is un-fucking-acceptable.

I want hearings TOMORROW.

I want calls for Ridge's resignation TOMORROW.

I want an FEC complaint TOMORROW.

[NightOwwl]

19. And you know what?

That was the sole reason for this "new" terror threat.

Kerry was gaining in the polls and Bush needed a little boost from his friends. You are right. This is un-fucking-acceptable and I want to help. Is there a website where one can file complaints with the FEC?

[ProfLefty]

21. new terror alert=falling job approval

I think that clearly there is a nexus between this new "terror alert" and little bush's falling job approval numbers which were also released today.

[CaTeacher]

23. Welcome!

Welcome to DU ProfLefty!

I agree with you 100%

:toast:

[kentuck]

24. Welcome Professor !

Maybe he said, we'll call the specific alert when and if we get 5 points down in the polls??

[radfringe]

25. it came from bush*'s poll analyst

not finding WMD's in Iraq and blaming it on the CIA

bashing Kerry for 3 months and blowing 70% of his campaign money on negative ads

and F-9/11 movie breaking records

then running around telling everyone we are safer - only to have Ridge issue warnings

his numbers are in the toilet - hence the half-orange alert

[DemBones DemBones]

26. High School Intelligence? Sounds about right.

Maybe Middle School.