I posted earlier about the Bush administration's latest bit of fear-mongering - the story that says an Al Qaeda cell is either on the way to this country, or already here. I treated it as the joke it is in that post, but after reading a couple of other articles, I'm curious as to what the administration is up to. I'll try to keep the tin-foil hat wearing to a minimum, but at the same time there are a lot of random quotes that raise questions in my head.
You've probably read about DHS chief Michael Chertoff's interview with the Chicago Tribune, in which he mentioned a 'gut feeling' that an attack was about to happen on US soil. The following is from a Newsday analysis of the interview.
Fearing complacency among the American people over possible terror threats, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in Chicago Tuesday that the nation faces a heightened chance of an attack this summer.
"I believe we are entering a period this summer of increased risk," Chertoff told the Chicago Tribune's editorial board in an unusually blunt and frank assessment of America's terror threat level.
"Summertime seems to be appealing to them," he said of al-Qaeda. "We do worry that they are rebuilding their activities."
Still, Chertoff said there are not enough indications of an imminent plot to raise the current threat levels nationwide. And he indicated that his remarks were based on "a gut feeling" formed by past seasonal patterns of terrorist attacks, recent al-Qaeda statements, and intelligence he did not disclose. But Chertoff's statement is mild compared to other Republicans. About a month ago, I blogged about Arkansas Republican chairman Dennis Milligan and the odd comment he made in an interview with the Northerwest Arkansas News. Basically, he came right out and said the one thing that would reverse Bush's massive unpopularity would be a terrorist attack on American soil. The wistful tone is what really bothered me about it - he actually said that a terrorist attack is
what we need.
“At the end of the day, I believe fully the president is doing the right thing, and I think all we need is some attacks on American soil like we had on , and the naysayers will come around very quickly to appreciate not only the commitment for President Bush, but the sacrifice that has been made by men and women to protect this country,” Milligan said. And of course, this article would not be complete without the Fucking-Crazier-Than-Thou wing of the Republican party weighing in. Rick Santorum said this on the Hugh Hewitt Show:
"Between now and November, a lot of things are going to happen, and I believe that by this time next year, the American public’s going to have a very different view of this war, and it will be because, I think, of some unfortunate events, that like we’re seeing unfold in the UK. But I think the American public’s going to have a very different view," said the former senator from Pennsylvania. I find it difficult to interpret that paragraph as anything other than a threat against this country. Santorum doesn't bother to qualify this threat with an 'I believe' or an 'It's a possibility.' He's coming right out and saying that between now and November, there
will be a series of events that
will change the public's view of the mess in Iraq. No maybe about it.
(snip)
While I take the latest warning of possible attacks in this country with a huge grain of salt - after all, how many times have we heard stories like this in the past six years? - I will say this. If an attack happens on US soil any time soon, someone had better have the presence of mind to ask Chertoff, Milligan and Santorum point-blank why they seemed to know so much about the future.
It's getting to the point where these statements can no longer be considered idle speculation. They are starting to sound far too much like threats.
More at
http://www.blah3.com/article.php?story=20070710234237484---
-as
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