General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIncreased chatter from Al Qaeda has been detected.
Just heard on my local news that there is an elevated risk of terrorist attack and that Americans and Europeans need to be on the lookout. Those who detected the chatter have no specifics, and a terrorist attack could be in the works anytime anywhere. So stay vigilant.
...And thank the dogs for our intelligence agencies.
I wonder if we are now at "threat level orange" or something.
JaneyVee
(19,877 posts)hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)DJ13
(23,671 posts)Ed Suspicious
(8,879 posts)Raksha
(7,167 posts)GlashFordan
(216 posts)AgingAmerican
(12,958 posts)nt
GlashFordan
(216 posts)Increased electronic surveillance!!
rl6214
(8,142 posts)Not all the Quedas.
Ed Suspicious
(8,879 posts)guns pointed to the air, and it gave zero details. The only concrete in the story was that an increase in Al Qaeda chatter has been detected. No supporting details and no explanation why increased chatter is expected to equal elevated risk of terrorism. It's like the report was the most terrifying thing intended to instill a sense of unease and even terror.
RC
(25,592 posts)They're slipping.
Ed Suspicious
(8,879 posts)promotion is awarded by the U.S. government posthumously.
wandy
(3,539 posts)Now come on folk, if you somehow found out how someone you really didn't like's security system works, would you not jerk their chain?
If you were, say George W Bush wouldn't it be great fun to jerk Saddam Hussein's chain if you somehow learned how to do it.
Then and again our great country does occasionally tell us little white lyes. Who know maybe we will have the color of the day again.
Oh darn, I'm all out of duct tape.
Ya just never know.
RC
(25,592 posts)Instead of being too busy spying on private US citizens going about their business.
They'll find someone, even if they have to do another sting. Either that, or we will do a drone attack on some more "terrorests" just in time to save their hide the day.
That's the typical cynical response but really no reason for the gov to do this ( wag the dog ) at this point. Would have made more sense the day after Snowden first surfaced.
The repubs have been very successful in defining the gov as bad that anything they do is automatically suspect
AgingAmerican
(12,958 posts)Goldstein isn't really dead!
Sounds like they are doing damage control from the NSA nonsense.
We didn't fall for this crap when Bush was president and we don't fall for it now.
NewThinkingChance40
(289 posts)seems like a CYA move.
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)AgingAmerican
(12,958 posts)nt
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)AgingAmerican
(12,958 posts)nt
Autumn
(44,753 posts)It's so hard to accessorize orange. That color and colors that go good with orange just don't look good on me.
niyad
(112,434 posts)Autumn
(44,753 posts)niyad
(112,434 posts)Autumn
(44,753 posts)But I guess if we are going back to terror, terror, terror there's just nothing on the terror scale that teal looks good with. Now I'm going to be sad. If I go to Cripple Creek and wear my jeans and lucky teal top and the terror alert goes to red or orange, I'm screwed.
niyad
(112,434 posts)Autumn
(44,753 posts)When I was a child we would go camping and fishing up in that area. Lord, I remember waking up in the morning in that old canvas Army tent and there would be frost on the roof. Mom caught a 12 inch trout in a small stream with her hands. That place sure has changed from 55 years ago.
PowerToThePeople
(9,610 posts)dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts).
Brother Buzz
(36,213 posts)Jesus Malverde
(10,274 posts)Ed Suspicious
(8,879 posts)niyad
(112,434 posts)threats and chatter popping up all over. agent mikey, you don't mind if I dont have the vapours over this, do you? come on guys, you need a new schtick. this one is seriously OLD.
Autumn
(44,753 posts)It really didn't work then and it sure as hell doesn't work now.
Warpy
(110,903 posts)right after Stupid was rigged back into office in 2004, after it had done its job of scaring the crap out of people in the heartland who had a near zero chance of ever seeing a terrorist drive through town, let alone attack it.
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)Hell, there are places where they probably think we're in a war against tourism.
And support it.
Warpy
(110,903 posts)when they wouldn't let me knit on a flight from Orlando to NM, even though I'd been able to knit on the flight out. They'd changed that stupid alert system from yellow to orange to scare the rubes. Sadly, it worked but it didn't work on me.
I was furious.
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)Sounds suspicious to me.
You know what they say:
If you SEE anything, SAY anything.
Warpy
(110,903 posts)and I certainly did need it in NM, it gets cold in the high desert in winter.
Vanje
(9,766 posts)when it's people are scared out of their wits.
Compliant citizens shiver alone in their houses.
Common Sense Party
(14,139 posts)Mr. David
(535 posts)And nothing happens.
donco
(1,548 posts)CHATTER outta Al Qaeda central wondering WTF?
IDemo
(16,926 posts)AQ#2 is sh*#%ing bricks about now..
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)Catherina
(35,568 posts)...
Some analysts and Congressional officials suggested Friday that emphasizing a terrorist threat now was a good way to divert attention from the uproar over the N.S.A.s data-collection programs, and that if it showed the intercepts had uncovered a possible plot, even better.
The bulletin by the State Departments Bureau of Consular Affairs did not advise against travel to any particular country, but it warned Americans to be particularly mindful of their surroundings, especially in tourist areas, and recommended that they register their travel plans with the State Department.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/03/world/middleeast/qaeda-messages-prompt-us-terror-warning.html?hp
Buns_of_Fire
(17,119 posts)the intelligence agencies bother to give "classified briefings" to congresscritters.
1) the agencies are only going to tell Congress what they want them to know, anyway;
2) I'd wager a majority of congresscritters wouldn't understand any ramifications even if you took Ron Popeil's "Flavor Injector" and pumped it up their butts (keep in mind that Michele Bachmann is on the House Intelligence Committee); and
3) if it's "classified" and they're sworn to secrecy, how is that supposed to help anybody but those selected members (except to perhaps advise them not to schedule any campaign stops in Possum Wallow, Virginia, between June 15 and June 18, inclusive)?
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)the Executive branch. They are NOT helping matters.
Common Sense Party
(14,139 posts)the terrorism emotional roller coaster game! Thank goodness we have adults in charge who wouldn't dream of trying to frighten or distract the masses.
Nevernose
(13,081 posts)I thought we were at war with Oceania!?! I'm so confused!
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)Here is the actual story:
The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens to the continued potential for terrorist attacks, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, and possibly occurring in or emanating from the Arabian Peninsula. Current information suggests that al-Qaida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks both in the region and beyond, and that they may focus efforts to conduct attacks in the period between now and the end of August. This Travel Alert expires on August 31, 2013.
Terrorists may elect to use a variety of means and weapons and target both official and private interests. U.S. citizens are reminded of the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems and other tourist infrastructure. Terrorists have targeted and attacked subway and rail systems, as well as aviation and maritime services. U.S. citizens should take every precaution to be aware of their surroundings and to adopt appropriate safety measures to protect themselves when traveling.
We continue to work closely with other nations on the threat from international terrorism, including from al-Qa'ida. Information is routinely shared between the U.S. and our key partners in order to disrupt terrorist plotting, identify and take action against potential operatives, and strengthen our defenses against potential threats.
This was a worldwide travel alert which is issued on a periodic basis by the State Department. I live overseas and get emails on any changes in security worldwide or near where I live.
Note: This is only the first three paragraphs
xfundy
(5,105 posts)It's on Fox Noise every day. Doesn't take too much to see it. It's there.
forestpath
(3,102 posts)Waiting for the Obama admin. to trot that out.
agent46
(1,262 posts)Mass hysteria!
Eddie Haskell
(1,628 posts)We're supplying Al Qaeda with weapons in Syria so they can use them on us. That way, we can justify our MIC expenditures and continue spying on US citizens. Yep, it all makes sense.
snappyturtle
(14,656 posts)Be vwery,vwery careful. Stay alert when traveling by land, sea or air.
If you encounter problems, keep in mind the embassies are closed.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)The NSA is coming under intense scrutiny and there was even a vote to defund some portions of it.
Now there's an Al-Qaeda threat!!!!11
If this wasn't such an insult to the intelligence of the American populace, it would be laughable it's so transparent.
ConcernedCanuk
(13,509 posts).
.
.
cuz they can't touch Snowden,
even though they can "drone" people to death in other places.
Ya see,
Snowden is in a country with a REAL military,
and nukes.
Besisdes - they might be using a method the USA has used for decades -
PSYOPs
"hey -let's "terrorize" the USA a bit"
"They always freak when we increase our chatter!"
Al Qaeda can stay home and watch the USA squirm . . .
CC
wtmusic
(39,166 posts)What a pantload.
The more this administration carries on with these obvious PR plays the less I trust them.
Scurrilous
(38,687 posts)<snip>
"Three militants wearing explosives-rigged vests killed at least nine civilians, most of them children, in a botched attack Saturday on the Indian consulate in an eastern Afghan city near the border with Pakistan, security officials said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the assault in the city of Jalalabad, and the Afghan Taliban denied in a text message that it had carried out the attack. Militant groups based in Pakistan have been blamed for past violence targeting Indian interests in Afghanistan, including two attacks on the embassy in Kabul in 2008 and 2009.
Saturdays attack began when two men wearing explosive vests got out of a car as it approached a checkpoint outside the consulate, prompting a police guard to immediately open fire on them, said Masum Khan Hashimi, the deputy police chief for Nangarhar province. As the two sides exchanged fire, a third militant still in the car detonated a large bomb inside the vehicle.
The blast killed nine bystanders and wounded another 24 people, including a policeman. Six of the dead and three of the wounded were children, said Jalalabad hospital director Dr. Humayun Zahir. All three attackers also died, although it was not clear how many were killed by police fire and how many by the explosion."
<snip>
"Without laying the blame for the bombing on any group, Akbaruddin hinted that the assault had been planned outside Afghanistan."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/afghan-police-say-suicide-bombers-attack-indian-consulate-in-eastern-city-of-jalalabad/2013/08/03/c71a4788-fc09-11e2-89f7-8599e3f77a67_story.html
Ed Suspicious
(8,879 posts)Something went down. See we told you.
Hey, somewhere today someone is going to get into a car accident on a highway and it will kill people so stay vigilant. This car crash prediction report contains more meat than the nefarious terror alert.
Scurrilous
(38,687 posts)It was a terrorist attack on an diplomatic facility.
"There are few specific details about the Qaeda terror threat that led the State Department this week to announce the closures of 22 embassies and consulates in cities across the Muslim world Sunday and prompted U.S. officials to issue a global travel alert warning Americans everywhere to take special precautions."
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-33816_162-57596866/u.s-embassy-closures-indicate-real-and-significant-plot-from-serious-terrorist-group-expert-says/
Looks like the alert had merit.
Ed Suspicious
(8,879 posts)the alert did to help people? How might future blanket non specific alerts help people? Should we stock up on duct tape and plastic and board up our homes? How should one react to a terror alert that covers all potential targets on three continents and gives no other specific information? I believe I've heard there is a one in 20 million chance you will die in a terrorist attack. 1 in 600,000 chance of dying of lightning strike. 33.4 times more likely to die of lightning strike than terror attack. How efficiently can we predict lightning strikes? How accurately are we able to predict terrorist attack?
The warnings are junk. They are useless to public safety, they are much more useful as a tool of public control.
GreatCaesarsGhost
(8,584 posts)sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)them in Syria.
Skip Intro
(19,768 posts)Distraction through fear. Where have we seen this before?
mokawanis
(4,434 posts)Might be some of them al qaeda fuckers hiding in the bushes or laying in wait at the little shop where I buy donuts.