Terror Alerts: Damned If You Do...

[phrenzy]

So, my girlfriend was at Heathrow today about to get on her United flight to San Francisco. A flight that I would not be surprised would have been targeted in this plot (on another day most likely) - She eventually got on the flight and is on her way safely. Anyway, having somebody I love get this close to a terror plot has kind of shaken me up.

First of all, it pisses me off that so many people are quick to dismiss this as 'made up' or whatever. As if there AREN'T a shitload of muslim fundies out there plotting new ways to do what I see is basically vandalism with as much loss of life as possible.

Anyway, it's one of those things that makes me wonder if we here on DU are really just as bad as the freeps. Today, with this news, people have used it to indict Bush / Blair - and claiming conspiracies related to a CT senate primary. It's fucking pathetic, i'm sorry. We have so many reasons to believe that this gang will lie and exaggerate when given the opportunity, but to stretch it into the realm of world-wide conspiracies of thousands of people in response to some vague political shift is ridiculous.

Anyway, what really bugs me is that what if NOTHING had been done and planes started blowing up? The same conspiracy theorists would be jumping up and down pointing to how they "LET IT HAPPEN ON PURPOSE" or whatever. I mean, how in the hell can the govt. win at this point?

Ugh, sorry just venting - When I think about it, I really DO hate Bush and how he has so damaged the fucking credibility of the government that many people are unwilling to believe even the simplest of explanations. He definitely has earned that stigma. At the same time, I think there's a line at which our suspicion turns into bizarre paranoia.

Can you despise Bush AND the fucking Muslim fundie nuts at the same time?

[bowens43]

1. What they are doing now is nothing but crowing.

If there had been a credible threat they would have increased security measures BEFORE making arrests.

You're right about one thing. At this point the governments of Great Britain and the US can't win. They have lost all credibility. Nothing they say should be accepted without extraordinary proof.

[phrenzy]

2. Crowing?

That makes no sense. So, because they went into action and swept up the people involved in the plot now it is "all for show"?

[Texasgal]

3. I completely agree with you!

Sorry... but the UK does not give a RATS ASS about the Lamont victory! SHHESH!

I have been having a helluva time on DU today.

Why wouldn't we have a possible terrorist attack? Have we not pissed off giant portion of the middle east?

I find the jokes insensitive and incredibly stupid.

I'm with ya. I hope your girlfriend returns safe and sound.

[kentuck]

4. After a while, people grow tired of being manipulated...

They cannot for one moment say, "we must trust Bush this time". Because he has not shown even once that he deserves anyone's trust. I can understand why people are so skeptical of this threat also.

[Strelnikov_]

5. Yes You Can. I Know I Do. Birds Of A Feather

My approach is to let the far out stuff slip by. Sort the wheat from the chaff, so to speak. This is an internet discussion board, after all.

Just because they are politicizing counter-terrorism does not mean terrorism does not exist.

[Iwasthere]

6. Wasn't because of Lamont

Closing in on the Administrations criminal acts (why George is trying to change the laws). Distractions!!!

[mhatrw]

7. CODE RED! CODE RED! CODE RED!

I think many of the major discussions going on around here are completely missing the point.

Sure, there may be something to this "foiled terrorist plot." Just because they are constantly pissing on our feet and telling us it's raining doesn't mean that it can't actually rain.

But that's not the real issue here. The issue is not whether or not this plot is as full of crap as the MIAMI SEVEN. The issue is] that the Bush administration has once again teamed with our breathless chicken little corporate media to hype a "TERRA TERRA TERRA" story to kingdom come for strictly political reasons.

Scotland Yard may or may not have caught a bunch of dangerous would-be terrorists, and the timing of this may or may not have been orchestrated to the day. But there is one thing we know for sure, and that is that BushCo yelling "CODE RED! CODE RED! CODE RED!" about this already foiled plot was and is a calculated PR gambit. And our corporate media is, once again, more than happy to play Charlie Brown to BushCo's "TERRA ALERT" Lucy football.

[phrenzy]

8. Code RED?

Umm, yeah, with my girlfriend about to get on a plane that could have easily been one of the 'targets' - Yeah, I'm screaming CODE RED as well.

[mhatrw]

12. CODE RED! CODE RED! CODE RED!

Phrenzy's girlfrend barely escapes certain death!

[Bluebear]

14. ...

:spray:

[Warren DeMontague]

9. I think the timing is funny.

I'd like to see exactly how "developed" this threat was, and why they needed to jack up the alerts TODAY.

That's not the same thing as dismissing it out of hand.

[smokey nj]

10. Don't get angry at the people who are skeptical,......

get angry at the people who seek to exploit this incident for their own political gain.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060810/pl_afp/britainattacksairline_060810185330

[Bluebear]

15. indeed

[sandnsea]

11. You're exactly right

This is the same kind of logic they use to claim "they knew" beyond all doubt there were no WMD in Iraq too. Speculation is not knowing and it cannot pass as knowing when people's lives are at stake.

But in any event, while some of these folks really do believe what they say, I think many of them are psyop type plants that are designed to get in the way of a true people's movement from taking hold. I don't know how serious this plot was but I do know there will be a real one sooner or later and nobody is going to vote for people who laugh after there have been so many bombings for 20 years now. So for those who jump on that bandwagon, they might want to think twice... or just think once for a change.

[Bluebear]

13. Well, wasn't this supposedly a "dry run"?

I thought this was a dry run and not actually the day they were soing to start 'blowing planes up'.