Another Terror Plot
So, there were plans to blow up the Holland Tunnel in hopes of flooding the finanical district in New York.
Including the Miami plot, this is the second thwarted terror attack that's been reported in recent days. And even though neither plot was entirely airtight or close to fruition, it seems right that the American people be informed (when there's no impact on any ongoing investigation) about the plans that are being hatched against them.
No doubt these are not the only plots that have been disrupted over the past months and years, and it's unfortunate that we don't know about the others (unless, again, there are valid security reasons for nondisclosure). Silence about thwarted threats results in a false sense of security that leads to less vigilance and less focus on the terrorist threat -- both pernicious developments.
It's worth noting that the New York terrorists were supposed to receive some sort of aid from Al Zarqawi. For all those who wonder why we're in Iraq, think of it this way: If Al Zarqawi hadn't been busy over there, might his participation entailed a bit more than simply financial support over here?
Oh, and one final thing: The linked piece reports that:
The Lebanese government had been expected to release a statement about Andalousli's arrest but was asked by the U.S. to hold off while operations to disrupt the plot continued.
Amazing that the Lebanese government would be more respectful of American security concerns than, say, The New York Times.
Including the Miami plot, this is the second thwarted terror attack that's been reported in recent days. And even though neither plot was entirely airtight or close to fruition, it seems right that the American people be informed (when there's no impact on any ongoing investigation) about the plans that are being hatched against them.
No doubt these are not the only plots that have been disrupted over the past months and years, and it's unfortunate that we don't know about the others (unless, again, there are valid security reasons for nondisclosure). Silence about thwarted threats results in a false sense of security that leads to less vigilance and less focus on the terrorist threat -- both pernicious developments.
It's worth noting that the New York terrorists were supposed to receive some sort of aid from Al Zarqawi. For all those who wonder why we're in Iraq, think of it this way: If Al Zarqawi hadn't been busy over there, might his participation entailed a bit more than simply financial support over here?
Oh, and one final thing: The linked piece reports that:
The Lebanese government had been expected to release a statement about Andalousli's arrest but was asked by the U.S. to hold off while operations to disrupt the plot continued.
Amazing that the Lebanese government would be more respectful of American security concerns than, say, The New York Times.
posted by LadybugUSA at 8:31 AM
4 Comments:
Cliff asked, "Does it really matter who they were, or how they were dressed? A plot was foiled, right?"
Remember how Carol talked about the terrorist plot to blow up the Brooklyn Bridge? (See for example, here.) Remember how Carol used the seriousness of that plot to bash the NY Times?
What Carol never told you was that the Brooklyn Bridge plot was for half a dozen people to cut the support cables with blow torches. The plot was a joke, trumpeted by Republicans and their lapdogs in the right wing media solely so the Bush administration could point to a sorely needed "success" in something or other.
Cliff--yes, it does matter whether the people arrested are actual terrorists or a bunch of morons playing dress up. The difference is that arresting terrorists keeps Americans safer, whereas trumpeting cockamamie plots as if they are serious does nothing more than frighten people to score cheap political points.
In what is an rather unsurprising development, it appears that the initial reports about this "terror plot" were inaccurate and/or exaggerated. According to the FBI agent in charge, the plot was not against the Holland Tunnel but involved "martyrdom, explosives and certain of the tubes connecting New Jersey and Lower Manhattan."
According to counter-terrorism officials quoted in the WaPo, One said the alleged plot was "not as far along" as described and was "more aspirational in nature." The other described the threat as "jihadi bravado," adding "somebody talks about tunnels, it lights people up," but that there was little activity to back up the talk.
Cliff asks, Mr. Twister, is it possible that terrorists might think extra hard before plotting an atack, knowing that we even go after cockamamie crackpots?
Cliff, you may want to take this up with Carol. She has made a fine art of ridiculing law enforcement approaches to dealing with terrorists.
For my own part, I am not persuaded that someone who is planning on martyring himself is really all that concerned that the Bush administration has chosen to trumpet the arrests of goofball terrorists to make itslef look good.
The left:
"Terrorists? What terrorists? There is no threat. Bush is just trying to scare you. He is the real threat."
Note to Twister & Co.: The above is satire.
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