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themp
Supporter
Username: Themp
Post Number: 3041
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Friday, June 23, 2006 - 1:54 pm: | 
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These guys seem a little less than scary to me.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/06/23/miami.raids/index.html |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11925
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, June 23, 2006 - 2:32 pm: |
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Definetly a group of amateur wannabes. It is easy to laugh at them. The last thing a terrorist cell needs are uniforms and combat boots.
However, the whole "plot" brings up some important points:
First, 911 has gotten certain fringe elements thinking about Jihad within our borders. I think it pretty obvious that the Mohammed/Malvo partnership was motivated by 911 and Al Qaeda, although this was never really discussed. Unlike the disfunctional Miamians these two were pretty compedent, managed to kill a fair number of people and terrorized the Washington, DC area for a couple of weeks. I often wonder if the anthrax attacks shortly after 911 were motivated by Al Qaeda and 911 as well.
Second, thank Allah that Al Qaeda concentrates on really big, splashy operations such as 911. Their failure is that small scale operations within the United States such as those mentioned above can spread fear very effectively. I remember thinking when the anthrax letters started arriving, "oh sugar, 911 was just the beginning and there is going to be something happening every week." That thought was extremely scary and disheartening.
The question is if Al Qaeda is trying to bring in snipers, bombers, etc. and the FBI is thwarting them or if they are concentrating on something as big or bigger than 911 and have kept it under the radar screen. I don't know. |
themp
Supporter
Username: Themp
Post Number: 3042
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Friday, June 23, 2006 - 2:38 pm: |
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The anthrax attacks certainly were strange. They were carried out against the press and against democrats in the legislature. I think it was some right wing crank. I still wonder about that Hatfill guy. Who volunteers to go fight for Rhodesian and South African militias? |
Foj
Citizen
Username: Foger
Post Number: 1579
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, June 25, 2006 - 12:08 am: |
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Christians too. |
3ringale
Citizen
Username: Threeringale
Post Number: 265
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, June 25, 2006 - 7:22 pm: |
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They look like a typical bunch of moronic rap "musicians", so they must be guilty.
Cheers |
Foj
Citizen
Username: Foger
Post Number: 1582
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 8:05 pm: |
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They aspired to do something? 7 guys who aspired to overthrow the Government. I aspired to bang Jill Hennesy from "Law & Order" & "Crossing Jordan". |
mjh
Supporter
Username: Mjh
Post Number: 621
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 7:32 am: |
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Terror Alert: Severe Risk of Hype
By Richard Cohen
Tuesday, June 27, 2006; A21
It is the sheerest luck, I know, that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales looks (to me) a bit like Jerry Mahoney, because he fulfills the same function for the Bush administration that the dummy did for the ventriloquist Paul Winchell. At risk to his reputation and the mocking he must get when he comes home at night, Gonzales will call virtually anyone an al-Qaeda-type terrorist. He did that last week in announcing the arrest of seven inferred (it's the strongest word I can use) terrorists. I thought I saw Dick Cheney moving his lips.
The seven were indicted on charges that they wanted to blow up the Sears Tower in Chicago and the FBI bureau in Miami. The arrests came in the nick of time, since all that prevented mass murder, mayhem and an incessant crawl at the bottom of our TV screens was the lack of explosives, weapons or vehicles. The alleged conspirators did have boots, which were supplied by an FBI informant. Maybe the devil does wear Prada.
Naturally, cable news was all over the story since it provided pictures . These included shots of the Sears Tower, the FBI bureau, the seven alleged terrorists and, of course, Gonzales dutifully playing his assigned role of the dummy. He noted that the suspects wanted to wage a "full ground war" against the United States and "kill all the devils" they could -- this despite a clear lack of materiel and sidewalk-level IQs. Still, as Gonzales pointed out, if "left unchecked, these homegrown terrorists may prove to be as dangerous as groups like al-Qaeda." A presidential medal for the man, please.
It is not now and never has been my intention to belittle terrorism. Clearly, if what the government alleges turns out to be the truth -- look, that sometimes happens -- then these guys deserve punishment. But theirs was such a preposterous, crackpot plot that the only reason it rose to the level of a televised news conference by the nation's chief law enforcement officer was the Bush administration's compulsive need to hype everything. For this, Gonzales, like a good Boy Scout, is always prepared.
Does it matter? Yes, it does. It matters because the Bush administration has already lost almost all credibility when it comes to terrorism. It said there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and there were none. It said al-Qaeda and Iraq were in cahoots and that was not the case. It has so exaggerated its domestic success in arresting or convicting terrorists that it simply cannot be believed on that score. About a year ago, for instance, President Bush (with Gonzales at his side) asserted that "federal terrorism investigations have resulted in charges against more than 400 suspects, and more than half of those charged have been convicted." The Post looked into that and found that the total number of (broadly defined) "terrorism" convictions was 39.
This compulsion to exaggerate and lie is so much a part of the Bush administration's DNA that it persists even though it has become counterproductive. For instance, the arrest of the seven suspects in Miami essentially coincided with the revelation by the New York Times that the government has "gained access to financial records from a vast international database and examined banking transactions involving thousands of Americans." Almost instantly, the administration did two things: It confirmed the story and complained about it. The Times account only helped terrorists, Cheney said.
Is he right? I wonder. This is a serious matter. After all, Americans are being asked to surrender a measure of privacy and civil liberties in the fight against terrorism -- essentially the argument Cheney has been making. I for one am willing to make some compromises, but I feel downright foolish doing so if the fruit of the enterprise turns out to be seven hapless idiots who would blow up the Sears Tower, if only they could get to Chicago.
Cheney in particular has zero credibility, but his administration colleagues are not far behind. Prominent among them, of course, is the attorney general, a man so adept at crying wolf and mouthing the administration's line that he simply cannot be believed any more.
The Sears Tower. The Miami bureau of the FBI. Please. Someone, put the dummy back in his box.
cohenr@washpost.com
© 2006 The Washington Post Company
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bottomline
Citizen
Username: Bottomline
Post Number: 449
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 9:16 am: |
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Yeah, really, what was Gonzales doing in this escapade?
It is good and right that the FBI arrested these guys based on their stated intentions. We don't know exactly how violent or crazy they are. We can only speculate what might have happened if they had gotten a hold of some guns and ammo, even if they never made it to Chicago or tried to blow up a skyscraper.
But the news announcement should have been made by some mid-level government operative. Gonzales’ participation in the news conference was way out of proportion to the threat posed by this aspiring band of renegades. Hence, we can only conclude that his appearance was primarily for purposes of political hype, not criminal justice.
Anybody surprised?
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Southerner
Citizen
Username: Southerner
Post Number: 1189
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 9:32 am: |
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I love this.
Why do so many of you act shocked and surprised that during an election season the two parties will play politics?
Just because the Repubs stayed quiet and gave the Dems a free year of 2005 to bash doesn't mean we won't engage when needed. This Admin and I believe we are right and will do whatever it takes to continue on this path. The only way to continue down this path is to win in November. So, don't be shocked when we pull out all the stops to win. And please don't give me your utopian view that the Republicans shouldn't play politics with their power positions. It has been happening since our nation was formed. The Dems just aren't use to being the minority. The Dems used their power for years like we currently are. I agree, it doesn't make it right, but right and wrong is in the eye of the beholder. I want the Repubs to maintain power so I want them to point out their strengths. When the Justice Department breaks up a terrorist ring, I want the country to know who put in the hard work. It sure wasn't a bunch of peace loving whiny liberals. |
bottomline
Citizen
Username: Bottomline
Post Number: 450
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 10:35 am: |
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Southerner,
I'm not shocked or surprised at Gonzales' political behavior, just disappointed. I'm mocking him for being the shill that he is. You are correct about the behavior of both parties with respect to showboating, but I still don't have to like it.
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tom
Citizen
Username: Tom
Post Number: 5180
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 11:20 am: |
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He seems to be saying it's alright for the administration to make stuff up, inflate threats, scare people unnecessarily, in order to win. The Dems couldn't have possibly used their power like this, because they haven't held power since 9/11.
Of course, enough false alarms and people will inevitably stop paying attention. "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" isn't a strong metaphor for nothing. It's quite possible that the real threat, if it ever comes, will be ignored by a populace grown cynical. People will die unnecessarily.
But is that OK, if it helps the GOP win? |
Madden 11
Citizen
Username: Madden_11
Post Number: 954
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 1:47 pm: |
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But is that OK, if it helps the GOP win?
Absolutely. If it takes more lethal terrorist attacks for Americans to be convinced that the Republicans can best protect them from lethal terrorist attacks, then so be it. You just don't get politics.
I love this! |
Foj
Citizen
Username: Foger
Post Number: 1588
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 9:14 pm: |
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Jon Stewart takes on the Miami 7.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8a4z9N3eYc |
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