Text 1025, 104 rader
Skriven 2004-08-08 04:58:04 av RICHARD JOHNSON (1:10/345)
Ärende: Playing politics
========================
From the web:


Playing Politics With Terror Warnings
August 6, 2004  |  Permanent Link

Many thanks to some diligent researchers from the Democratic Underground
website for digging up this information.  It leaves little doubt that there is
indeed a direct correlation between news that is unfavorable to the Bush
administration and the bogus terror alerts that have been issued over the last
few years. 

So here is the compiled evidence:

Last week of October, 2001:  A wealthy Saudi businessman who lives and works in
the U.S., with many ties to important American businessmen is found to have
funneled money to terror organizations.

October 29, 2001:  Terror alert.  F.B.I. and Tom Ridge cite no specific
evidence for basis of alert.

 

First week of December, 2001: Enron bankruptcy plastered all over the news. 
Ken Lay's close ties to Bush spotlighted.

December 3, 2001:  Tom Ridge announces a general alert, with no specific
information concerning who, what, where or when an attack may occur.

 

September 9, 2002:  While the administration was putting on a media blitz to
make a case for going to war in Iraq, a New York Times/CBS poll shows that 64%
of Americans believe that the government had failed to adequately explain it's
position on Iraq, and why military action was needed.  During this week,
Condoleeza Rice, Colin Powell and Dick Cheney all made the Sunday morning talk
show rounds trying to make a case.  On September 8,  Cheney made the famously
erroneous assertion that the administration knew with absolute certainty that
Saddam Hussein was attempting to procure aluminum tubes needed to enrich
uranium, in order to build nuclear weapons. 

February 6, 2003:  Colin Powell gave an unconvincing performance at the United
Nations, as he tried to make a case to the world for going to war against Iraq.
 Chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix summarily dismissed Powell's testimony,
creating a credibility problem with the administration's case for war.

February 7, 2003:  Orange terror alert was issued by DHS on general
information, throwing Powell's poor performance the previous day off of the
front pages of major newspapers.

 

March 17, 2003:  Terror warning by DHS, citing possible multiple attacks by
al-Qaeda, in retaliation for the eminent invasion of Iraq.  The president
addressed the nation this same evening, issuing a 48 hour ultimatum for Saddam
Hussein to leave Iraq, or else.  As we know now, Saddam had no links to
al-Qaeda and did not want them operating in Iraq.

 

May 19, 2003:  The Jessica Lynch story is proven to have more holes in it than
Swiss cheese, and DHS is taken to task for being used inappropriately for
tracking down Texas Democrats who fled the state to keep Republicans from
re-districting the state for the benefit of the Republican party.

May 20, 2003:  DHS issues terror alert, again citing no credible specific
information.

 

The month of December, 2003:  Numerous news stories, unflattering to the
administration covered the front pages of major newspapers and media outlets. 
On December 12, Halliburton was found to have overcharged the army by $61
million for gasoline delivered to the citizens of Iraq.  On December 17, Thomas
Kean, co-chair of the 9/11 commission declared that the 9/11 attacks could have
been prevented.  On December 20, there were widespread reports that the
American version of Saddam Hussein's capture was pure fiction.  Sources said it
was a betrayal by a Tikrit family whose daughter was raped by Saddam's son Uday
to Kurdish forces, who then found Saddam, captured him, drugged him, and then
handed him over to U.S. forces.  On December 19, a federal appeals court ruled
against the administration, in a case pertaining to detainees rights to legal
counsel.

December 21, 2003:  Another terror alert was issued, citing possible attacks
for the holidays.  Again, no credible information prompted the alert.

 

July 6, 2004:  John Edwards announced as John Kerry's running mate. 
Announcement was met with widespread approval.  A lot of positive press
coverage. 

July 8, 2004:  Tom Ridge announces that U.S. elections could be a target.

 

Late July, 2004:  The news is dominated by the Democratic convention.  John
Kerry gets bounce from the convention and inches ahead in the polls. 

August 1, 2004:  Tom Ridge announces that there is specific information on a
possible attack on certain U.S. financial institutions.  Information is later
found to be more than three years old. 
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