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ABC News: Terror alert based partially on info now believed to be bogus

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by Swopa, Feb 13, 2003.

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  1. Swopa

    Swopa Member

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    http://printerfriendly.abcnews.com/printerfriendly/Print?fetchFromGLUE=true&GLUEService=ABCNewsCom

    A key piece of the information leading to recent terror alerts was fabricated, according to two senior law enforcement officials in Washington and New York.

    The officials said that a claim made by a captured al Qaeda member that Washington, New York or Florida would be hit by a "dirty bomb" sometime this week had proven to be a product of his imagination.

    The informant described a detailed plan that an al Qaeda cell operating in either Virginia or Detroit had developed a way to slip past airport scanners with dirty bombs encased in shoes, suitcases, or laptops, sources told ABCNEWS. The informant reportedly cited specific targets of government buildings and Christian or clerical centers.

    "This piece of that puzzle turns out to be fabricated and therefore the reason for a lot of the alarm, particularly in Washington this week, has been dissipated after they found out that this information was not true," said Vince Cannistraro, former CIA counter-terrorism chief and ABCNEWS consultant.

    It was only after the threat level was elevated to orange — meaning high — last week, that the informant was subjected to a polygraph test by the FBI, officials told ABCNEWS.
     
    #1 Swopa, Feb 13, 2003
  2. B-Bob

    B-Bob "94-year-old self-described dreamer"
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    Please, please, somebody tell me this can't be true. We've been through enough as a nation already. But if I have to now consider the possibility that captured Al Qaeda members could lie to us, to our faces, then I will just fall apart.
     
    #2 B-Bob, Feb 13, 2003
  3. Apollo Creed

    Apollo Creed Contributing Member

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    Oh man, I bought 250 rolls of duct tape for nothing.
     
    #3 Apollo Creed, Feb 13, 2003
  4. B-Bob

    B-Bob "94-year-old self-described dreamer"
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    [​IMG]
    Only six more months 'til Oct. 31! ... :confused:

    edit: ooooooooooooooooooooo sorry. seven, eight, what-the-**** ever not the point. :p
     
    #4 B-Bob, Feb 13, 2003
    Last edited: Feb 13, 2003
  5. BlastOff

    BlastOff Member

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    I'm not surprised by that at all. In fact, I believe that there was at least one other warning a while back where the Feds followed a tip from a lying detainee.

    Not sure why the masses aren't simply reminded to be watchful of unusual activity rather than cause panic over a bio or chem attack. Whether they know it or not, they are discouraging the everyday watchful citizens while encouraging would be terrorists who feed off of fear.

    Besides, bio or chem attacks doesn't seem part of al-Qeda's m.o. anyway. Had they used a bio or chem attack instead of the airplanes on September 11 there would have been even more deaths.
     
    #5 BlastOff, Feb 13, 2003
  6. bobrek

    bobrek Politics belong in the D & D

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    What calendar are you using?
     
    #6 bobrek, Feb 13, 2003
  7. Isabel

    Isabel Member

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    don't suppose this "informant" works for a duct tape or plastic sheeting company? :)

    As a nation, we are so paranoid it's pathetic...
     
    #7 Isabel, Feb 13, 2003
  8. B-ball freak

    B-ball freak Member

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    uh, two words



    sodium pentathol
     
    #8 B-ball freak, Feb 13, 2003
  9. montelwilliams

    montelwilliams Member

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    Told ya so.
     
    #9 montelwilliams, Feb 13, 2003
  10. glynch

    glynch Member

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    Do you remember the Al Qaeda guy(s) who we have been interrogating in Guantanamo for the last year? The guy(s) who Powell relied on for his secret links of Al Qaeda to Sadam that he cited in his recent blockbuster speech to the UN could also be lying or exaggerating too? I don't suppose there was any reason to polygraph them?

    The way these guys try to prove things, no wonder they have to try all the terrorists in secret trials or hold them in offshore locations without access to lawyers.

    Only a few fact oriented nuts who are't true believing Dubya fans will ever remember what was the real truth about the great duct tape level orange alert. People will be buying duct tape for months and clamor to go to war against Iraq in part due to this alert.

    This may very well be another lesson in real politics as played by the Duba guys.
     
    #10 glynch, Feb 14, 2003
  11. ROCKSS

    ROCKSS Member
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    No, what you said was

    "The terror warning is way to manipulate consumers into wasting money on "emergency supplies." The politicians are country club friends with the CEO's of the companies who profit from selling emergency supplies. It's no wonder how they came up with this idea.

    If you want to waste your money, then go ahead."

    Not quite the same thing is it :rolleyes:
     
    #11 ROCKSS, Feb 14, 2003
  12. stra

    stra Member

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    Cool B-Bob you have a quote by my hero Niels Bohr! Nice
     
    #12 stra, Feb 14, 2003
  13. MadMax

    MadMax Member

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    This is good news! I realize some of you couldn't find the sunny side of a story if it hit you over the head...but certainly we can all be glad that this guy was not right.
     
    #13 MadMax, Feb 14, 2003
  14. glynch

    glynch Member

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    ...but certainly we can all be glad that this guy was not right.

    Agreed. I certainly don't want this country to turn into another Israel as I believed we agreed onin another thread. I believe our policies might be leading to this.

    Can you also agree that they shouldn't frighten the hell out of the American people and send them into a duct tape frenzy if they don't have all the facts?

    .
     
    #14 glynch, Feb 14, 2003
  15. fatfatcow

    fatfatcow Member

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    if ur government dont frighten the american people how is bush going win support for the war on iraq!
     
    #15 fatfatcow, Feb 14, 2003
  16. giddyup

    giddyup Member

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    How do you know when you have all the facts? Aren't the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay Combatants and not US Citizens?

    Isn't it better to err on the side of caution? The government can't be held responsible for people who go over the edge. Anybody need my duct tape? We got some as a gag wedding gift but I'd gladly give it up to someone who is anxious.
     
    #16 giddyup, Feb 14, 2003
  17. BlastOff

    BlastOff Member

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    It amazes me how some people refuse to admit when the government is wrong. Fortunately, there will be plenty of opportunities in the coming days, weeks and months....
     
    #17 BlastOff, Feb 14, 2003
  18. Pole

    Pole Houston Rockets--Tilman Fertitta's latest mess.

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    which government?
     
    #18 Pole, Feb 14, 2003
  19. BlastOff

    BlastOff Member

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    Ours.
     
    #19 BlastOff, Feb 14, 2003
  20. giddyup

    giddyup Member

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    Well, gee, I'm sure glad someone knows exactly what is going on!
     
    #20 giddyup, Feb 14, 2003
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