Terrorism, yawn

Isn't it interesting that there hasn't been a change in the terror alert level since before last year's elections, and now the day after a strong anti-war Democrat won in a closely-watched primary, the day after anti-war became electorally viable, the day after a poll came out that said that 60% of the American people are against the war, all of a sudden we have this KILLER PLOT TO CREATE CARNAGE ON AN UNIMAGINABLE SCALE AND MUST RAISE ALL OF OUR ALERT LEVELS TO RED RED RED BECAUSE WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE? And how suddenly Ned Lamont and people powered politics are off the front pages?

Just wondering.

Interesting that the republican talking points on Lamont are that he's part of the fringe left of the cut-and-run Democrat party and that another 9/11 will happen if this sort of democrat gains office.

Interesting that they seem to be licking their chops about painting anyone against the war in Iraq as soft on terrorism, and then they have this big terrorist scare.

Interesting that apparently Karl Rove, the Turdblossom himself, called Joe Lieberman and offered The Boss's help in his independent run.

Especially interesting if you read the actual facts known (so far) about this airplane terror OMG WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE PANIC plot. For example, the attack was not scheduled for today. They don't know when it was scheduled for. According to Michael "Skeletor" Chertoff, "They [the suspects] had accumulated the capability necessary and they were well on their way." Well on their way? Wow, that sounds really...dangerous? But gosh it doesn't sound like "today."

Also interesting is this part:

Britain's Home Secretary, John Reid, said that "we think that the main players are already in custody."

"But we should always err on the side of caution," he added, explaining why the threat level remains elevated.

Mr. Stephenson said that "a critical point" was reached last night that indicated "an urgent need to take action," but he declined to say what information led to that decision.

Mr. Chertoff said that "some threads had been pursued for some time," by investigators in Britain, but that in the last two weeks or less evidence had arisen suggesting that the plotters were targeting American carriers.

They've known about this for two weeks but decided last night, even though they apparently knew the locations (since they were able to arrest them) of what they believe (but are not sure) are all the suspects, to raise the terror level in some areas to red, meaning an attaack is "immenent." Which means that while they were sitting on the information and the suspects were loose, no raised threat level or heightened security. But once the suspects are in custody the word goes out for everyone to panic. Hm.

Interesting in light of the fact that Tom Ridge, the original head of Homeland Security, stated after resigning that the terror threat level was raised unecessarily (in his view) and at the urging of the Administration in the run-up to the 2004 election. Or as he put it, "... There were times when some people were really aggressive about raising it, and we said, 'For that?'"

Interesting that this is happening just as we gear up for the 1st anniversary of Katrina. Katrina? What's that?

Interesting that this happens as we approach the 5th anniversary of the World Trade Center - a time when you might start asking things like, "what ever happened to that bin Laden fellow?" but instead will be thinking "TERROR IN THE SKIES."

Look, I ain't saying they're fear mongers, but...