View Full Version : EXCLUSIVE: FBI Warns of Possible Terror Threat at Sporting Events
paganiniraq
03-11-2006, 02:05 AM
EXCLUSIVE: FBI Warns of Possible Terror Threat at Sporting Events
March 10, 2006 — With college basketball championships under way around the country, the FBI has warned stadium operators of a possible suicide bomb attack at sporting events.
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=1711158&page=1
rueben
03-11-2006, 02:18 AM
Is the threat real, or is it a ploy by the administration to garner public support for the war on terror at a time of the administrations lowest approval ratings? Just a thought...
Is the threat real, or is it a ploy by the administration to garner public support for the war on terror at a time of the administrations lowest approval ratings? Just a thought...
The adminstration can care less about approval ratings. If it did it would have never supported the ports deal.
Bush has never made decisions based on what the polls would say (like most politicians). Like the great leader he is (not a politician), he makes hard decisions for the best interest of the country, even when they themselves don't realize.
As for this threat, it's real and always has. Wake up America!
:mad:
It should be on everyone's minds. When I go to sporting events, I think about how many people could loose their life in one place. Think about it. The death toll would be much higher than Sept. 11. I've been to places where there were over 100,000 spectators ... not including the hundreds of employees/volunteers.
I wouldn't take things like this lightly, People. To think that this could be a govt. agenda is crazy. HELLO!?!?! You should be more concerned that it's the terrorist's that have their own agenda and it's not to improve their ratings.:no:
rueben
03-11-2006, 08:17 AM
I believe the potential for further terrorist activity in America is very real. I would venture to guess that there are sleeper cells laying in wait scattered across the country. More than likely they were organized long before 9/11, because the terrorists knew that their infrastructure needed to be in place before 9/11 because of the clampdown that would follow. Even with extensive homeland security we are still very vunerable. It took twenty years for the FBI to catch the Green River killer, and he wasn't even a moving target. He worked the same job for thirty years and lived within a twenty mile radius of where he committed his gruesome crimes.
And yes, I believe that Mr. Bush makes some very tough and unpopular decisions. But to quote a line from the movie 'Air Force One' - "The Presidency is bigger than any one person". Don't you think the Republican party will do whatever is necessary to retain their position in the mid-term elections? If their constituency doesn't believe they are doing a good job and have no reason to rally behind them, they could be convinced to jump ship and vote Democrat in the next election(s). It's just political posturing. Personally I never vote straight Democrat or Republican. I vote for whoever I believe will do the best job under the current circumstances, regardless of their party affiliation. Hopefully everyone else does too.
paganiniraq
03-11-2006, 08:17 AM
Is the threat real, or is it a ploy by the administration to garner public support for the war on terror at a time of the administrations lowest approval ratings? Just a thought...
9/11 was thought to be an idle threat until it happened.....
rueben
03-11-2006, 09:24 AM
How long has it been since we've had a terrorist alert in the U.S.? A year? Two years? Do you think we've been any safer in this interim period than we are today? I doubt it. There are plenty of hugh targets gathered together everyday in this country. How many people ride the New York subways each day? Probably millions. How many people gather in your local shopping mall each day? How many people were at the Super Bowl? Those gatherings are all easy targets. Why all of a sudden are we being warned about possible attacks at college championships? Why spook the populace unless there is a hidden agenda behind it?
I've been waiting for the suicide bombings to begin in this country. But I don't believe they will be advertised on an extremist message board like the ABC News story purports of this lastest warning. Maybe the CIA was aware of 9/11 before it happened. If so, do you think the terrorists are going to make that mistake again by announcing their intentions on a message board? If so, then they are dumber than I thought.
How long has it been since we've had a terrorist alert in the U.S.? A year? Two years? Do you think we've been any safer in this interim period than we are today? I doubt it. There are plenty of hugh targets gathered together everyday in this country. How many people ride the New York subways each day? Probably millions. How many people gather in your local shopping mall each day? How many people were at the Super Bowl? Those gatherings are all easy targets. Why all of a sudden are we being warned about possible attacks at college championships? Why spook the populace unless there is a hidden agenda behind it?
I've been waiting for the suicide bombings to begin in this country. But I don't believe they will be advertised on an extremist message board like the ABC News story purports of this lastest warning. Maybe the CIA was aware of 9/11 before it happened. If so, do you think the terrorists are going to make that mistake again by announcing their intentions on a message board? If so, then they are dumber than I thought.
Looks like you're too busy looking for cracks in the administration that you under estimate what the terrorist can and will do if given the chance. And believe me - that's exactly what the terrorist want - an unbelieving, laxed public. Do you think the Super Bowl had laxed security? It was probably one of the most protected events in the world.
How does a warning to the public work:
By communicating to the people, it puts them on alert for suspicious activity. Averting an attack can come form the simplest of observations. We as citizens of this country are "in play". We need to be part of the strategy to stop terrorism in our own back yard. Keeping this info from the people would be a great disservice. Do you think Americans are sitting on extremists message boards looking for a warning post? That's why the FBI diseminated this info to the public.
Another thing it does is that it alerts the terrorist that we are looking out for them. Not just a couple of guys in blue suits but everybody. This puts them on the defensive and puts pressure on them to excute their plans flawlessly. I don't care how well trained they are, pressure on the enemy is a good thing. They are human. It leads to second guessing and mistakes.
Politicizing security in this country, as many have, is reckless. If you choose to not take threats seriously, then it's your choice. After all, this is America. I certainly hope most Americans are as vigilant to their surroundings as I am and that they are in the position to avert an attack if their efforts afford them the opportunity.
:wave:
Rueben, you bring up good points. There are many targets and many opportunities for terrorists, but I think the warning is a good thing. You said it's been a while since there's been a terror alert ... that's just it ...it's been while and some people have become a little lax in their thinking or they've returned to a "comfort zone".
Even where I live, the majority of the flags have been put away and the yellow ribbons have disappeared as time goes on.
I think there are many, many Americans who have not forgotten, but they've don't think about the terrorists (as much as they probably used to) looking for opportunities and doing something when we least expect it. I'm not wording it right ... I guess what I'm saying is a reminder here and there isn't a bad thing.
Whether the govt has an 'agenda' ... being reminded isn't a bad thing, imo.
And yes, I believe that Mr. Bush makes some very tough and unpopular decisions. But to quote a line from the movie 'Air Force One' - "The Presidency is bigger than any one person". Don't you think the Republican party will do whatever is necessary to retain their position in the mid-term elections? If their constituency doesn't believe they are doing a good job and have no reason to rally behind them, they could be convinced to jump ship and vote Democrat in the next election(s). It's just political posturing. Personally I never vote straight Democrat or Republican. I vote for whoever I believe will do the best job under the current circumstances, regardless of their party affiliation. Hopefully everyone else does too.
If that's the case then why did the administration take a hard stance on the ports - the most unpopular stance I've seen a President take since the Reagan years. Why is Bush now scolding his own Republican legislators? This is the total opposite to "party politics". Bush isn't (and never has been) about party politics. His stance on immigration is a glaring example - he looks like a bleeding liberal on this issue and his party hates him for it.
Like him or not, he does what he believes is right for this nation and he doesn't look at the polls - nor does he have to.
He's the President, not a "lifetime politician" without term limits. ;)
Michwlv
03-11-2006, 10:12 AM
It should be on everyone's minds. When I go to sporting events, I think about how many people could loose their life in one place. Think about it. The death toll would be much higher than Sept. 11. I've been to places where there were over 100,000 spectators ... not including the hundreds of employees/volunteers.
I wouldn't take things like this lightly, People. To think that this could be a govt. agenda is crazy. HELLO!?!?! You should be more concerned that it's the terrorist's that have their own agenda and it's not to improve their ratings.:no:
RET...100,000+ spectators where you at the Horseshoe?????? Believe me no self respecting person (terrorist or otherwise) would be found at that place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm sure you Buckeye's are safe!:D
:lmao:
Rueben, you bring up good points. There are many targets and many opportunities for terrorists, but I think the warning is a good thing. You said it's been a while since there's been a terror alert ... that's just it ...it's been while and some people have become a little lax in their thinking or they've returned to a "comfort zone".
Even where I live, the majority of the flags have been put away and the yellow ribbons have disappeared as time goes on.
I think there are many, many Americans who have not forgotten, but they've don't think about the terrorists (as much as they probably used to) looking for opportunities and doing something when we least expect it. I'm not wording it right ... I guess what I'm saying is a reminder here and there isn't a bad thing.
Whether the govt has an 'agenda' ... being reminded isn't a bad thing, imo.
I've seen the same RET. My flags fly proudly (and still in my car).
When they take down my flag, it will be to drape it over my body.
http://www.jscc.cc.al.us/ita/projects/mary_foy/images/eagle_flag.jpg
RET...100,000+ spectators where you at the Horseshoe?????? Believe me no self respecting person (terrorist or otherwise) would be found at that place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm sure you Buckeye's are safe!
:lmao:
Quote of the Day!!!
Spoken like a true Wolverine!
signed,
Joe Paterno :p
http://www.wb.psu.edu/images/WB/Flag_0002_rdax_140x187_90.jpg
just razzin' the Buckeyes here - you know we love you!
(well sort of);)
RET...100,000+ spectators where you at the Horseshoe?????? Believe me no self respecting person (terrorist or otherwise) would be found at that place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm sure you Buckeye's are safe!:D
lol ... busted. :lmao:
Ummm ... what's the "Horseshoe"?:lmao: :drunk: (I'm really afraid to ask because it might show my naiveness.)
rueben
03-11-2006, 10:54 AM
Sportslux and Ret - I absolutely agree with both of you. We as Americans need to be vigilant in taking the threat of terrorism seriously. At all times. And yes, I believe the public has become complacent in that vigilance. If the threat of terrorism is so important to national security though, why has it been so long since we've had any public alerts? Why hasn't our government been proactive in keeping the messages coming that terrorism is still a real threat? Haven't we been under threat since the last warning, a year or two ago? Do I believe that security should be tight at the college championships? Yes. Absolutely. But I also believe that security should be tight at any and all public gatherings. The CIA is constantly picking up terrorist chatter on the internet. Is it all valid? I don't know. Maybe they do only issue warnings when there is a true threat.
Why has the American public turned against the war on terror? Because we have a very short attention span. 9/11 is ancient history to most people. If we truely wish to protect ourselves against terrorism on the homefront, we need to keep the possibility of it at the forefront of our collective consciousness at all times. Not just when the mood strikes us. It will be interesting to see if the alerts increase between now and the mid-term elections, and then cease for another year or two until the Presidential elections in 2008.
COMPLACENT ... thank you! That's the word I was looking for!
I thought the threat level was elevated within the past year ....???? Maybe I've lost track of time, too.
Is the threat real, or is it a ploy by the administration to garner public support for the war on terror at a time of the administrations lowest approval ratings? Just a thought...lmao..
seems everyone is too busy to realize or even consider they have already tried this method recently as 2005. But the MSM covers it up.
http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/10/10/434a8f7944e01
Ten days have passed since a 21-year-old University of Oklahoma engineering student was killed when a bomb he was carrying exploded 100 yards from the stadium where Oklahoma and Kansas State were playing football before a crowd of 84,000 – and there are still more questions than answers to exactly What? and Why?http://media.nebraska.statepaper.com/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/s-434a8f7944e01-27-2.jpg
Guess he was just considered an AMISH!!
Rueben, I catch your drift about complacency, but if the gov't is constantly rolling out warnings, people will become complacent to the warnings themselves.
Your memory is short on the terror warnings in 2005. There were terror warnings issued last year after the London bombings in July.
A terror alert was also issued in October of 2005 in New York City.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/10/06/newyork.subways/
I'm not going to sit here and research all the terror warnings ever issued, but we cannot have selective memory when they try to prove a point.
Lets put "all the facts" on the table and not omit some to paint the picture we really want to paint - a picture which looks "political" at best.
rueben
03-11-2006, 11:38 AM
I'm an American. I was born in America. I've lived my entire life in America. I will probably die in America. And I believe in America and what it stands for. I believe this is the greatest country in the history of man and woman kind. The beauty of being Americans is that we can have this kind of open dialog without fear of bodily harm. That cannot be said of alot of places in the world. Just because I question some of the motivations of my government does not make me anti-American.
The days of 'America, Love It Or Leave It' are over. The idealogies in this country are much too diverse to not constantly question the underlying motives of our leaders. Blind faith in anything is dangerous. Just ask ex-Nazi Germany.
I forgot about that one BigE.
I remember you posting that and your WHY ISN'T THE MEDIA COVERING THIS rant.
I'll tell you why, they are too busy politicizing every event that happens. And it's amazing how people in this country eat it up. Then they have the nerve to call us sheep! MSM followers are easy to find here. They all have the same talking points.
They will go as far as defend the MSM:
http://www.investorsiraq.com/iraqi-govt-society-forum/15525-lets-remember-we-playing-chess-post175983.html
I don't question your patriotism Rueben and you have every right to question things. It's what makes America so great.
I respect your concerns and together we will all come to the bottom line truth in due time.
:wave:
Just because I question some of the motivations of my government does not make me anti-American.
True.:wave:
There's many times I question the motivations of our government. There's times I question motivations of many groups, organizations and individuals. Questioning is not a bad thing.
Bottom line ... warnings or no warnings ... on September 11th, LIFE as we know it changed big time and should not be complacent.
rueben
03-11-2006, 12:10 PM
I don't question your patriotism Rueben and you have every right to question things. It's what makes America so great.
I respect your concerns and together we will all come to the bottom line truth in due time.
Thank you Sportslux and Ret. Life would be so much easier if we all saw reality through the same lens, but we don't. It's called being human. It's nice to know that we can agree to disagree and still remain committed to the same ultimate goals. For that I am greatful.
G-O-D Bless...
G-O-D Bless...
Well in this we truly AGREE!
God bless you too!
:wave:
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