“I believe we are entering a period this summer of increased risk. We could easily be attacked. Summertime seems to be appealing to them. We do worry that they are rebuilding their activities.” – Chertoff bases ‘gut feeling’ on history, Al Qaeda statements
Following the 2004 elections, former Homeland Security Chief Tom Ridge admitted it flat out, that the terror warnings leading up to the election were bogus and entirely political in nature – TOM RIDGE’S BOMBSHELL: HOW THE BUSHIES ISSUED UNJUSTIFIED TERROR ALERTS
Republicans are arroused by the idea that we might get hit again sometime soon, as it would be a political win for the party of fear…“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 [Sept. 11, 2001], 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,” Dennis Milligan (GOP chairman of Arkansas) said. Here is another example of this from today: ‘Santorum Suggests New Terror Attacks Will Change View Of War’:
In an alarming display of fearmongering, former Republican Senator Rick Santorum has suggested that a series of “unfortunate events,” namely terrorist attacks, will occur within the next year and change American citizen’s perception of the war. (Source)
I’m not up to riffing on this, but wanted to point out one thing, and that being the dynamic of Congressional oversight. Not only is a letter like the one below written and delivered, but that very action is “news” in and of itself, which makes the fear mongering much more difficult to continue on with. I think this response by Rep. Bennie Thompson, Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee is perfect:
July 11, 2007
Dear Secretary Chertoff:
Over the past five years, tens of billions of taxpayer dollars have been dedicated to standing up and building capacity at the Department of Homeland Security. The Department of Homeland Security is charged with deterring, preventing and responding to the threat of terrorism. To that end, systems have been erected to identify risks and communicate them to the American public. With all the resources you have at your disposal and all the progress that you assure us that you are making, I cannot understand why you are quoted in the Chicago Tribune as saying you have a “gut feeling” that we are entering a period of heightened risk this summer.
Words have power, Mr. Secretary. You must choose them wisely—especially when they relate to the lives and security of the American public. What color code in the Homeland Security Advisory System is associated with a “gut feeling?” What sectors should be on alert as a result of your “gut feeling?” What cities should be asking their law enforcement to work double shifts because of your “gut feeling?” Are the American people supposed to purchase duct tape and plastic sheeting because of your “gut feeling?”
The Committee on Homeland Security has repeatedly emphasized the importance of getting specific, actionable information to our first preventers in law enforcement and other emergency response providers. I urge you to follow up on your “gut feeling” and share whatever information our nation’s first preventers need to be on alert and prepared. Otherwise, we run the risk of communities taking it upon themselves to mobilize for every possible threat. This not only would result in communities depleting their scarce homeland security resources but runs contrary to your efforts to move toward a risk-based approach to homeland security.
This fall, we will be marking the sixth anniversary of the most deadly terrorist attack on U.S. soil. With likely action on legislation to implement the unfinished business of the 9/11 Commission, Congress is poised to give you more and better opportunities to work with law enforcement in a constructive manner.
Mr. Secretary, I urge you to clarify your comments by providing concrete direction to the State, local and tribal stakeholders and if necessary make the required changes to the Nation’s threat level to ensure that the American public can take the necessary steps to protect their families, businesses and communities.
I would be happy to convene a classified briefing of our Members to discuss the threat to our nation if you believe that such a briefing is warranted.
Sincerely,
Bennie G. Thompson
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security
My “gut feeling” is that Santorum and many of his pals think they lost in 2006 becuase people were not scared enough. I think it makes them somewhat dangerous as you can see the right wing sponsoring domestic terrorism as they really do hate America in its current form. I was reading a post on Polipundit where the writer, Ace, was calling for an armed insurrection if the immigration bil passed. the real threat to America are the right wing extremist who seem to be losing political power and will do whatever it takes to get it back.
BTW I think Santorum lost becuase it is impossible to say his name without laughing, thank you Dan Savage.
Here is a press release from a Christian extremist group after they tried to disrupt a hindu prayer:
Theology Moved to the Senate and was Arrested
Theology has moved from the church house onto the floor of the United States Senate, and has been arrested.
Ante Pavkovic, Kathy Pavkovic, and Kristen Sugar were all arrested in the chambers of the United States Senate as that chamber was violated by a false Hindu god. The Senate was opened with a Hindu prayer placing the false god of Hinduism on a level playing field with the One True God, Jesus Christ. This would never have been allowed by our Founding Fathers.
“Not one Senator had the backbone to stand as our Founding Fathers stood. They stood on the Gospel of Jesus Christ! There were three in the audience with the courage to stand and proclaim, ‘Thou shalt have no other gods before me.’ They were immediately removed from the chambers, arrested, and are in jail now. God bless those who stand for Jesus as we know that He stands for them.” Rev. Flip Benham, Director, Operation Save America/Operation Rescue
At some point the US is going to have to figure out a way to mellow out the religous extremist in this country.
This one was pretty sick…I’ve got video of it, I’ll post it now.
I don’t see how the US can lecture other countries about about their muslim extremists when we are not doing anything about our homegrown nut jobs
I got this from too hot for TNR:
the real enemy, the real enemy:Abu Sarhan — a “general coordinator” between AQI and the remnants of the Zarqawi organization — says the U.S. shouldn’t immediately leave Iraq. An al-Qaeda affiliate wants the U.S. to stagger its departure. What a testimony to the franchise model of al-Qaeda: the thug considers himself, foremost, an Iraqi Sunni, rather than a member of a global jihadist movement. Iran is his real enemy, not the U.S., and he dreams the dreams of the genocidaire:
“I personally don’t have a hatred of the American people, and I respect American civilization,” he said. “They have participated in the progress of all the nations of the world. They invented computers. Such people should be respected. But people who are crying over someone who died 1,400 years ago” — referring to Shiites and their veneration of a leader killed in the 7th century — “these should be eliminated, to clear the society of them, because they are simply trash.”
“The real enemy for the resistance is Iran and those working for Iran,” he went on. “Because Iran has a feud which goes back thousands of years with the people of Iraq and the government of Iraq.”
–spencerackerman
I think this is the problem with letting any religion get a hold of politics, they are essentially looking at things that supposedely happened thousands of years ago and trying to make them right today, or trying to make reality match thier imagined world of perfection either way the endeavor is bound to fail and cause a lot of misery along the way. Religion needs to be kept out of politics.
Tremendous amount of insight right there karl. This is a holy war, only our religion isn’t involved…well, the REAL religion in American government is $$, so I guess our diety is in the mix as well.
Democracy, that is one person one vote may not be a good thing in places where a solid majoroty of the people really hate a large minority of people. Ultimatly that is a lot of the problem with Iraq, the Shias are a large majority who are going to win every vote, and they also really dislike the Sunnis. It is not a good thing to be in the middle of this and in restrospect bringing democracy to the middle east probably will not work until they can get over their age old hatreds.