Anybody that has been watching television or listening to the radio today is aware that a major terrorist plot to blow up JFK airport in New York has been thwarted.
*****Update: Michelle Malkin is all over this story.
*****Update II: LGF identifies Netroots' silence on this event.
*****Update III: Read entire DOJ press release here.
As reported by the Associated Press:
Three people were arrested and one other was being sought Saturday in connection to a plan to set off explosives in a fuel line that feeds John F. Kennedy International Airport and runs through residential neighborhoods, officials close to the investigation said.
The plot, which never got past the planning stages, did not involve airplanes or passenger terminals, according to the two officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because details of the arrests had not yet been announced.
Given President Bush’s current low poll numbers, and an ongoing media meme whenever reports concerning terrorism have surfaced in the past four years, an interesting question arises:
How quickly will some prominent media member suggest that the timing of these arrests has something to do with the Bush administration’s desire to make the public forget about what’s going on in Iraq, and draw attention to the war on terror?
Too cynical?
Well, before you answer, please consider how the media gushed over Democrat presidential candidate John Edwards’ recent comments concerning the “war on terror” being a bumper sticker slogan created by President Bush to foster an environment of fear. In so doing, the press completely ignored previous occasions when Edwards used the term himself.
Furthermore, consider how the media, with the exception of Fox News and CNN, completely ignored the recent revelation of an al Qaeda torture manual.
Moreover, consider that, as reported by WNBC.com: “Sources said counter-terrorism officials have been following the plot for a little less than one year.”
Finally, please consider how such assertions about the timing of reports on alleged terrorist activities being political in nature have been made by press members in the past.
Then, after considering all of the above, ask yourself whether I’m being too cynical, or likely quite prescient.
As always, we will know the answer in the fullness of time.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Noel,"ask yourself wheth
June 2, 2007 - 14:48 ET by drillanwrNoel,
"ask yourself whether I’m being too cynical, or likely quite prescient ..."
Neither ... It's a given with the MSM Lefties. Since it is the weekend ... and hot ... I give it `til Monday, Tuesday at the latest. One of the morning shows at the alphabet neties will drag someone on who is known for poo-pooing busted terror plots to, at the very least, minimize this as not linked to any terror group ... And LMSNBC's Olby-one-dumb-booby will have quite fun with it.
I actually did hear the CNN anchor insist: 1) was good we busted this plot up but, 2) on the other hand says we aren't doing enough to screen these airport workers ...
HUH??!! Isn't that what the left and ACLU gripe about?? Profiling?? What? They should be asked: Are you now or will you ever be a terrorist??!!
Until then, GO CLEVELAND CAVS!!!
Uhm, I'm not the media, and
June 2, 2007 - 15:11 ET by SQL_SamUhm, I'm not the media, and I'm not a lefty, but I'm starting to blame Bush for this myself. I dont wont to hi-jack this thread about illegal immigration, but after hearing about the Dix six and now this, you have to really question having this war and the lack of not securing the borders, not deporting (or able to find) 600,000+ people who's visa's have expired - and what does Bush want to do? Give amnesty and keep those borders WIDE open, great! I'm not keen on giving the "authorities" more powers to take away a citizens freedoms - that is not a solution but I have a funny feeling it's coming down the pipe. I can just imagine it now "The problem is to big, so instead of securing borders we have created more powers to watch over our citizens" I pray that scenario doesnt happen, but I can see it happening with power hungry elitists that think we are sheep.
So guess what Noel, yes I DO BLAME BUSH. secure are borders first stop the flood, and then I'll start to reconsider my current oppinion. I dont think I'm alone on this one.....
Sam, I voted for Bush twice,
June 2, 2007 - 19:43 ET by Sonny LykosSam, I voted for Bush twice, and I too balm him. Not for this, but for not closing our borders.
Republicans and GW: Big business wants them, so if we lose a few thousand more people via terrorist attacks (that''s plural), so be it. We still have 300,000,000, plus more Mexicans and who knows whomever for "workers."
Democrats: They want their vote, so if we lose a few thousand more people, so be it. We still have 300,000,000, plus more Mexicans and who knows whomever for "votes", and more welfare, which transfers into more control of the masses.
Either way, the general public (and America) is screwed. We represent the bottom link of the chain. The illegals represent the top.
So don't JUST blame Bush. Blame them all.
SQL Sam
June 2, 2007 - 19:47 ET by SportPoliticsSo, these 3 or 4 came in over the southern border ? Not what I heard about them. It appears to me were looking at "been here for years".
2.35 million Muslims here already. Ya think that since let's say 1993 any of those came in as sleepers and haven't been detected ? I'm not convinced they even need the border open to do the damage.
The 300 million in and out of the USA legally every year - are we going to stop that ? Billions of tons of imports... Look, it appears they cannot stop bales of mary jane, or cocaine, or anything else, including crates of Cuban cigars.
I'd suspect that the covert looking at this group for a year as they plotted was more for the reason of sneaking a peak at the connected networking here, rather than gathering enough evidence for a court case. If not I'm severly disappointed.
I'm not saying the borders are safe, but just the regular human LEGAL travel on boats and planes really cannot be effectively secured. You think our government can have an accurate database on 1.2 billion muslims ? I really , really doubt it.
In an overall analysis, Pakistan teeters on the brink, or is the brink, with 20-40 nukes known, the ISI that has offered and provided direct support to the Taliban and AQ, and it appears still does to this day, and AQ Kahn(what a name) the father of the isalmic bomb....a propagator of nuke tech, and for all we know nukes themselves... How do we combat that, far more dangerous than kim jong il, no doubt about it.
I read yesterday there is an ongoing nuclear radiation choke checkpoint sniffing going on around DC, continuously. As for the other 7 USA cities named by The Base as their nuclear targets, I do not know.
We need a lot more people doing this security in my opinion, yet the more we have, the less safe is the knowledge about what's protected and how. It is a very difficult problem, especially when the language barrier is considered. Do you hire speakers of the tongue in question, and when you do, how correct is your backround check ?
SQL,You aren't alone here, by
June 2, 2007 - 19:52 ET by Dave RSQL,
You aren't alone here, by any means. After observing the saga of the TB lawyer, and the fact that he had no problem re-entering this country even though our "homeland security" people had been alerted, along with all the other breeches we have been hearing about, you really have to wonder, is Mr. Chertoff really the man for the job?
This republic will not survive the continued neglect of its people.-Neal Boortz
This was an alarming incident
June 3, 2007 - 09:20 ET by dahliatraversThis was an alarming incident. Two of the 911 hijackers were on a watch list and waltzed right in. Six years later, so does this guy. Multi billions spent on homeland security in the meantime but how much have things improved?
For the record, someone did a great job foiling the JFK terror plot. But the TB guy's re-entry makes it clear that our border security is spotty at best and that the proposed tracking of amnesty-ed undocumenteds in the Bush-Kennedy bill is completely infeasible.
Keith
June 2, 2007 - 15:17 ET by PeterDI'm already planning to watch KO on Countdown Monday. He is always the first out of the box with conspiracy theories about the timing of these terrorist announcements. For example, on Tuesday Scooter Libby will be sentenced. In addition there is a Democratic debate this week in New Hampshire. Keith will say this announcement is timed to overshadow these events. He will even say the federal prosecutor used over the top rhetoric when she described the plot as "one of the most chilling imaginable". I'm sure the left wing blogs have already started down this road. So sad and pathetic.
http://www.democraticundergro
June 2, 2007 - 16:46 ET by Del DolemonteAnd so predictable!
http://www.democrati...
The other Iraq demedia silent about
June 2, 2007 - 15:43 ET by acumenHow quickly will some prominent media member suggest that the timing of these arrests has something to do with the Bush administration’s desire to make the public forget about what’s going on in Iraq, and draw attention to the war on terror?
A whole lot quicker than some prominent media member will show America this.
Kurdistan - The other Iraq the demedia doesn't want America to hear about.
The teenaged Kool-Aid drinker
June 2, 2007 - 16:45 ET by Del DolemonteThe teenaged Kool-Aid drinkers at Democratic Underground already have their panties in a wad over this story. Be sure to de-louse yourself after reading their comments!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2867780
Those people at Demented Unde
June 2, 2007 - 16:53 ET by well99Those people at Demented Underground are certified nuts.Same type of people that drool over casualty reports.
What a load of ignorance!No w
June 2, 2007 - 16:56 ET by NL207What a load of ignorance!
No wonder DU bans conservative posters on sight. Most decent conservative debaters would take this lot apart in an afternoon.
In a quick scan of that filth
June 2, 2007 - 19:58 ET by NCConservativeIn a quick scan of that filth I read a post that was concerned with the "alleged" terrorists getting a fair trial and another post that said they will believe these plans are true when there is "concrete evidence." I suppose by concrete they mean explosions, fires blazing, and thousands (if not millions) dead. Outrageous. And when that happens they'll start up with the conspiracy theories that Bush let it happen. It's a wonder how some of these people are able to function in their daily lives.
The Left and the MSM want i
June 2, 2007 - 18:29 ET by mlongThe Left and the MSM want it both ways on Terrorism....one the threat doesn't exist and Bush is just using it to scare Americans...or two it's a real threat and Bush is failing to protect us because he's wasting resourses in Iraq.
Bottom line is the Left and the MSM will use the threat or non-threat of terrorism in which ever way works best to bash Bush.
HuffPoers are ridiculing this
June 2, 2007 - 19:11 ET by chessplayerHuffPoers are ridiculing this, also. Even worse than DU. And CNN has virtually ignored the story.
Noel,I'm just waiting for our
June 2, 2007 - 19:14 ET by Dave RNoel,
I'm just waiting for our resident Kos children to come in here and tell us all, yet again, how our distrust of the peaceful "religion" of Islam is entirely mis-placed, racist and totally paranoid.
Edit: I also cannot wait to here, again, exactly why it is that wiretaps on these people is a violation of their "rights."
BTW-WSB Radio reported these four men were Muslims right from the get-go. :-)
This republic will not survive the continued neglect of its people.-Neal Boortz
where's R J, now ?
June 2, 2007 - 19:27 ET by tumblerAsk R J, my pal who has called me "filth, demented"--
A few weeks back; as I reflected on the tragedy of 9-11; others were wondering if it was a punishment from God. I maintain it was not; but it had to be a wake-up call. A very serious and obvious one. Because a city in which so many evil things are taken for granted sooner or later must start asking; what did we do to deserve this ?
I stated matter-of-factly, we only lost 3,000 people in 9-11; out of a city so heavily populated; as well as Pentagon and skyjack victims.
A relatively light count. -- After all, --is it now 20 million, what's NYC's population ? Next time it might be so horrendous it'll make New Orleans--Katrina look like tiddly winks. We could lose half a million people in one day.
R J said I was "FILTH" --the very words; he judged that I was making light of "only" 3,000 deaths during 9-11. But in fact I was pointing out the potential for a humongous body count, seeing the enormous population of New York City. If this plot had been successful, who knows how many would've died ? I cautiously estimate: 75,000 dead and another 40,000 hospitalized. Men, women and children. Anybody willing to correct me ? How 'bout YOU R J ?
tumbler,What sort of "un
June 2, 2007 - 21:26 ET by upcountrywatertumbler,
What sort of "unthinkableness" u thinkin?
LIGHT IT watch it go off like :
http://www.semp.us/publications/biot_reader.php?BiotID=356
The lack of ZERO gang want is a "MAD MAX" just hear me the "end of oil "is at hand.
I am REALLY BOTHERED by the w
June 2, 2007 - 20:39 ET by upcountrywaterI am REALLY BOTHERED by the word... UNTHINKABLE... These kooks that failed to invent the ZERO are planning the unthinkable... What about the countermeasures to the unthinkable? Good job to catchen these "humans"*
* as in "humans" as described in "runaway train"
1300 IRANIAN GAS CENTRIFUGES OPERATING 24-7, opps it's now 8,000.. umm how many pounds of uranimun per hour is that? All this for a power plant that will NEVER go online.
Nothing new with the MSM.Fox
June 2, 2007 - 20:56 ET by Airforce_5_ONothing new with the MSM.
Fox has been on it most of the day but I haven't seen anything from the Alphabet Networks yet.
The Moonbat sites might have some leftiod conspiracy by Monday that it is a Karl Rove plot to draw attention from the War.
I must commend the AP for ide
June 2, 2007 - 21:02 ET byI must commend the AP for identifing the enemy it shows progress
NEW YORK -- Federal authorities announced Saturday they had broken up a suspected Muslim terrorist cell
Supreme Court, National Security, Borders, Fiscal Restraint, my litmus test for President.
I'm just glad this article di
June 3, 2007 - 04:48 ET by carolina conservativeI'm just glad this article didn't mention anything about potables, combustibles, sharp objects, or sports fans. That gets old.
Speak for yourself, friend.
June 3, 2007 - 07:52 ET by dahliatraversSpeak for yourself, friend.
I usually do.
June 3, 2007 - 17:36 ET by carolina conservativeI usually do.
CC
June 3, 2007 - 10:50 ET by Noel SheppardCC,
Yeah, you know, two of the last ten pieces I wrote included such terms. If THAT's what you consider overusing a signature catchphrase, you must have hated Johnny Carson, Archie Bunker, Jerry Seinfeld, and virtually every situation comedy on television since the genre was created. :-) ns
Not to mention the Simpsons w
June 3, 2007 - 10:59 ET byNot to mention the Simpsons where most of the characters are defined by catch-phrase.
Oh-Yeah - - - - Duffman
Supreme Court, National Security, Borders, Fiscal Restraint, my litmus test for President.
BOTG
June 3, 2007 - 11:12 ET by Noel SheppardBOTG,
Exactly. You know, no writer wants to be redundant and repetitive. However, the potables bit actually emanated from readers here asking me to warn them at the beginning of a humorous post so that they wouldn't spit coffee or soda all over their monitors. Obviously, I knew they were being funny, but it started this bit which has now evolved into variations on the same theme to basically let the reader know that this isn't going to be a serious post.
Let me give you an idea as to why I think this is important. Sarcasm is a difficult thing to convey in the blogosphere, for there is always a percentage of people who don't get the joke. Let's take for example my posts about cold weather and snow in May and how it relates to global warming. If I didn't make it clear that these posts were comedic, there would be a percentage of folks who thought the point I was trying to make is that sub-average temperatures disprove the existence of global warming. Yet, by adding a catchphrase at the beginning, I hope the reader understands that the joke is on the media and those who believe that every above-average temperature phase proves AGW.
Make sense? ns
Makes sense to me, and it rem
June 3, 2007 - 11:16 ET byMakes sense to me, and it reminds me of an SNL skit called 'The Pepsi Syndrome" (take-off of The China Syndrome movie) where a nuclear power plant is decimated by Pepsi being spilled on a keyboard.
Supreme Court, National Security, Borders, Fiscal Restraint, my litmus test for President.
If I didn't make it clear tha
June 3, 2007 - 17:51 ET by carolina conservativeIf I didn't make it clear that these posts were comedic, there would be a percentage of folks who thought the point I was trying to make is that sub-average temperatures disprove the existence of global warming.
Okay... I understand the use of the catchphrase now. It's for the liberals who have no sense of humor (or irony). That being the case, you should probably downsize your words. i.e. drinks and things that burn. Hopefully they understand sharp objects.
And now that I think about it, maybe you shouldn't warn them about such objects. Because the warning decreases the risk that they might choke or be burned or impaled. And as most of us know, there's only three good types of liberals:
1. Choking liberals
2. Burning liberals
3. Impaled liberals
(Do you think I should have lead this post with a warning?)
Plot to Bow Up Kennedy - no problem.
June 3, 2007 - 08:03 ET by Jack BauerI have to admit that when I saw the headline in Drudge..
My first thought was hey, what a great way to kill the shamnesty illegal alien bill... but then no...
It's just another one of those darned plots to murder thousand of Americans. You know, the ones the lib***ls always dismiss, because you know, such a thing is inconceivable from the 'religion of peace.'
Never happened, move along, nothing to see here. Except when it does happen (as it will) it'll be... well how come the intelligence agencies never found out. Who's to blame.
Can I say here and now that when the Islamo-terrorists finally succeeed (it's inevitable)...
I intend to put the blame where it lies. The LIBERALS, SOCIALISTS and assorted leftists including the part of the Democrat(ic) party which has thrown its lot in with the terrorist enablers.
I didn't even think of that J
June 3, 2007 - 08:12 ET by ArchConservativeI didn't even think of that Jack, but if they did plot to blow up Teddy "the killer" Kennedy, I think I would be ok with that. They'd have to use A LOT of TNT though. Those rolls of fat of his and the years of alcohol abuse make him tough as an armadillo!
Just load nitro in a Jack dan
June 3, 2007 - 09:11 ET by Airforce_5_OJust load nitro in a Jack daniels bottle and done.
My mind was immediately bro
June 3, 2007 - 13:15 ET by lnthompMy mind was immediately brought around to the 1970 dynamiting of a dead whale on the Oregon coast.
Lee T.
U.S. Navy (ret.) / Vancouver, Washington
The history of the race, and each individual's experience, are thick with evidence that a truth is not hard to kill and that a lie told well is immortal.-- Mark Twain
Bingo Jack. The war on terr
June 3, 2007 - 09:10 ET by Airforce_5_OBingo Jack. The war on terror bleeds us within and without as dose the war on socialism in dem party.
Muslims want to kill us? Nooo
June 3, 2007 - 08:09 ET by ArchConservativeMuslims want to kill us? Nooooo, can't be. I can only hope that this starts to open the flood gates to racial profiling. Every muslim or perceived muslim should be taken to the side and searched, not grandma Alma who's flying down to Florida for her yearly migration.
Will this make Edwards rethink his "there is no global war on terrorism" statement? No. Will this make the left rethink their views on how President Bush is trying to protect us? No. Will this make people change their views on how we should make the borders more secure? No.
I fear that we are now so concerned with other peoples' feelings that we would rather slit our own throats than try to defend ourselves the way we need to.
These four animals should be executed by the state of New York and made an example of. They didn't think twice about doing to McVeigh in Oklahoma, we should do it to these a**holes now.
Let's finally get a backbone and get serious with these terrorists. Eye for eye: no. The whole body for an eye? Yes.
"Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists."
- President George W Bush September 2001 speech to a joint session of Congress.
Arch. Here is the perfect e
June 3, 2007 - 08:48 ET by USA4freedomArch.
Here is the perfect example of P.C. I was in the airport standing in line when they started to check (I’m not kidding) a woman that had to be 90 white hair weighing about 80 lbs. in her wheel chair. She had to get out of the wheel chair and they checked her and then the dam chair turning it over to check the bottom. Standing 5 or 6 people behind me were 3 very Arabic looking men, not a word or even a glance. I told my wife it we get high jacked I will team up with the woman in the wheelchair to kick their ass.
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc.
Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
thank you MSM
June 3, 2007 - 09:34 ET by LionKingI am so glad that the media is reporting all the how's and what didn't work, etc.
Now the enemy can revise their plans and modify so that they can improve the success of their next attempt.
Thanks MSM!!!
*** GOOD PROGRAMMING ALERT
June 3, 2007 - 13:01 ET by dahliatravers*** GOOD PROGRAMMING ALERT ***
Tonight at 8:00 pm, C-Span will have Frank Gaffney on "Q & A" to discuss his film "Islam vs Islamists" and, presumably, why PBS chose not to air it.
http://www.q-and-a.org/
thanks DSupreme Court, Nati
June 3, 2007 - 13:05 ET bythanks D
Supreme Court, National Security, Borders, Fiscal Restraint, my litmus test for President.
DAHLIAThis is rather cool, i
June 3, 2007 - 21:37 ET byDAHLIA
This is rather cool, i watched the show on C-SPAN and just went back to your link, and it will be available there (though it is not yet loaded)
Supreme Court, National Security, Borders, Fiscal Restraint, my litmus test for President.
Excellent.
June 3, 2007 - 21:38 ET by dahliatraversExcellent.
truly, cuz i missed part and
June 3, 2007 - 21:40 ET bytruly, cuz i missed part and was interuppted for part
Supreme Court, National Security, Borders, Fiscal Restraint, my litmus test for President.
Have any of you seen the Huff
June 3, 2007 - 17:54 ET by Dad GummitHave any of you seen the Hufftard's general take on this? They are discounting it as some goof ball wannabes without know-how or means that the administration has been watching, waiting for the right moment to pop so GW will look good.
You know, the next time we get hit, they will be so happy to have something to blame on Bush.
"If you don't read a newspaper, you are uninformed. If you do read a newspaper, you are mis-informed."-Mark Twain
Let's see how the MSM can spi
June 3, 2007 - 21:33 ET by thefightinggopLet's see how the MSM can spin these:
The Six Dix---had they succeeded, blame Bush for too much attention on Iraq and none on U.S. soil; or, they get caught, blame Bush because they're here illegally, even though they got here 20 years ago (and get more traction because of the illegal immigration hot button in the country).
The JFK Four---had they succeeded, blame Bush for too much attention on Iraq and not enough back home; or, they get caught, blame Bush "because of our troops in Iraq," according to Jack Murtha this morning on ABC News with George Stephanopoulos.
The MSM have the "Blame Bush" mantra downpat!
thefightinggop.org