Current Events Watch

The Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff has a “gut feeling” that there will be a terrorist attack this summer!

“I believe we are entering a period this summer of increased risk. Summertime seems to be appealing to them.” When pressed for specifics, the Chicago Tribune wrote “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.”

What?

Look, al-Qaeda has had the US in the crosshairs for at least the last ten years. That’s nothing new. It’s always a threat. Most of the targets have been overseas, against military bases, embassies, and remember the USS Cole in October of 2000?

Al-Qaeda must have been behind schedule in 2000, I guess, missing their summertime deadline.

So now, because of this imminent threat that Chertoff feels in his gut, the White House has scheduled an “urgent” meeting for Thursday. I know he said it’s based on intelligence gathering, but seriously, if it’s that urgent, why didn’t they raise the terror alert level? (Which is a joke, by the way… yellow, orange, red, whatever… but they never seemed to mind using it for their propaganda in the past.) And why wait until Thursday if it’s that urgent? And what exactly is the threat…and what is one to do?

Just in case, I’ll probably buy more plastic and duct tape.

It’s such a joke. This administration has constantly, whenever it is convenient to take the attention from either an upcoming election, or pending Congressional sex scandals, bad press from the Libby pardon … suddenly issued a terror warning! I like this comment I read today from the person posting as JD on the ABC News blog:

“Suspicious timing, anyone? Based on all the crap that has come out on this adminstration in the last few weeks, the cynic in me sees this as yet another attempt by the administration to scare and distract the American public from the real issues at home and abroad: GW’s own party deserting his position on the war, the Libby fiasco, the ex-surgeon general’s statements about politics trumping science, the billions we are pouring into the war each month, etc.”

Yep. Amen, JD.

They have constantly in their rhetoric since 9/11 used the same sort of tactics to convince the masses that, well, despite everything, even if you disagree with us, hate us, didn’t vote for us, and whatever else is going on right now, we’re still taking care of you and you’re safer because we’re running the show. And when an attack doesn’t happen, it’s no doubt because we are in control.

Give me a break.

At least Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson is demanding more details of the terror threat that apparently intelligence has uncovered. As he said, assuming Chertoff’s gut and intelligence sources are correct, which are both questionable:

“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?’”

Yes, no doubt at some point we will be attacked again, whether here or abroad. But I’m tired of the “terrorist fear” being propagated whenever it’s convenient to overshadow other issues. If there’s something we should know, then tell us. Something a bit more credible than a “gut feeling”. Otherwise, shut up, and take some Pepto Bismol.

michael chertoff, terrorist attack, terrorism, terrorist attacks