Tough Call on Terror Alert

Should we go to threat-level Orange for IMF and World Bank buildings in DC that al Qaeda may be targeting? The two organizations have done so much harm worldwide over the years. Maybe if there was a way to keep all the employees away and still make al Qaeda think we'd hate, hate, hate to lose the World Bank and the IMF.

Comments

[thoreau]

The reports on this that I've read give me mixed feelings.

On the one hand, we've gotten so many reports of imminent terrorist attacks (remember the report that we should buy duct tape and plastic sheeting?) that I have a hard time taking this seriously.

On the other hand, it's nice to see something specific. It used to be Tom Ridge announcing that terrorists may, at some point, with some unknown method, attack any of the following:

Airports, museums, factories, apartment buildings, shopping malls, residential neighborhoods, post offices, office buildings, sports arenas, public property, private property, large events, small events, national parks, movie theaters, harbors, bridges, pet stores, Chinese restaurants, homeless shelters, hospitals, farms, or grocery stores.

I guess it's good that he's finally being specific, instead of getting everybody scared because it could happen anywhere. I just don't know whether it's any more reliable than before. If nothing happens, does that mean Ridge was wrong or that he was successful? If they catch some guy, claim that he was plotting to attack those buildings, and refuse to put him on trial, how will we know he wasn't some Richard Jewell arrested in a hurry because, well, they needed to arrest somebody to prove that they're doing something?

The lesson from this cynical post: If the government wants us to believe them when they warn us about threats, they should release information in a manner that bolsters their credibility, rather than saying whatever they think will best cover their asses.

[Tom]

This crossed the line in a way I haven't seen since Ann Coulter wished that Tim McVeigh had blown up the NYTimes building.

So you'd be heartened by terrorists destroying buildings in America, as long as there are no people in them?

I don't care if you were being facetious. That was sickening.

[Jennifer]

As an infidel female whose entire life is a complete affront to Allah, let me just say that I'd be utterly heartbroken (nay, suicidal) if anything were to happen to the DEA buildings.

[Jennifer]

No offense, Tom.

[Eric II]

Well, there is such a thing as insurance coverage.

There's also such a thing as a martyrdom reaction. Think Mel Carnahan. Or JFK. The scenario you envisage would likely serve to strengthen public support of the affected institutions. I can hear the soundbytes now: You're either with the IMF or with the terrorists!

[matt]

Hey Tom...lighten up.

Thoreau: If it helps, I have a hard time taking anything the government says seriously. Their main focus has always been covering their asses.

[RandyAyn]

They're fucking with us. Come on, extremely specific chatter, from multiple sources, all pointing to the same, detailed threat? Think diversion here folks. Ridge and the rest of the Homestone Kops should take a look now at the vague chatter, and try to figure out what the terrorists actually have in mind.

[Hank Reardon]

They may be religious nuts but they aren't complete idiots. Why attack institutions Americans have never heard of, much less got a dime from.

[king crimson]

In reference to the next post (whose comments I am unable to access): Does Kerry really think he will be able to get France and Germany to send troops to Iraq?

[Hank Reardon]

The French may send troops to Iraq. To blow up the archives proving they were Saddam's lap dogs.

[Shannon Love]

Hank Reardon,

"Why attack institutions Americans have never heard of, much less got a dime from."

The Islamist have their own world view and place a vastly different emphasis on symbols and institutions than Americans do. Prior to 9/11 few Americans would have selected the WTC as significant target for a terrorist attack. The WTC was not a national symbol for most Americans but just a pair of big ugly buildings in New York. In the Islamic world, however, the WTC was highly symbolic of American culture and dominance.

In the Islamist paranoiac world view, the IMF and the World Bank are instruments of Western secular imperialism. They may believe striking at them would play well with the masses of the 3rd world who must deal with the consequences of IMF and World Bank policies on a daily basis.

[Skip Oliva]

I live about a block from the IMF-World Bank buildings, and my first reaction was to laugh at Ridge's "warning." I seriously doubt either building is a target. So what is Ridge's agenda? My guess is that since the two buildings are in close proximity to the White House, Ridge (and the Secret Service) wanted a pretext for expanding the security perimeter around the White House. The Secret Service would declare martial law in D.C. right now if they thought they'd get away with it.

The threat to the New York financial institutions may be genuine, but that's probably been true since 9/11.

[Hank Reardon]

As the original post implied: just how would the loss of the two biggest third world benefactors bother us? Kerry lovers would rather build fire stations here.

[Rick Barton]

Our government should do the right thing and quit forcing us to fund the IMF and the World Bank. The existence of both is for the benefit of politically well connected businesses and they are an affront to the economic freedom of capitalism.

I'm suspicious that what drives these terror alerts is not this cryptic "chatter" but rather, political considerations.

[Rick Barton]

Hi Reason, could you folks be so kind as to fix the "comments" section for the thread right above?
Thanks

[kevrob]

Just as anyone who shoots "knows" that there is no such thing as an unloaded gun, any freelance demolition "experts" should remember that there is no such thing as an "empty" building.

Consider the murder of Robert Fassnacht.

http://www.leemark.com/featuredcontent/sterling/sterling.html

Hoping to destroy only property when using bombs is a fantasy.

Kevin

[Native NYer]

If the terrorists want Bush to win, why are they attacking NY and Washington again?

Should they try for the Baldwin brothers (ala Canada's strategy) or some other Hollywood target and make the left coast liberals as reactionary as the NY ones are these days?

[Ruthless]

My sources tell me the steel skeleton of the UN building will melt like butter.
It's address is mid-way on the east side of Manhatten... easily accessible by that stinky river there.
I also heard Kofi Annon is about to propose some faith-based initiatives for peace and love. (Could he have recently been born again?)

[Ruthless]

Why attack institutions Americans have never heard of, much less got a dime from.

Comment by: Hank Reardon at August 1, 2004 06:35 PM

Do you mean, Hank, they'll attack some Walmart?

Now I truly am terrorized.

First our government attacks them for gender discrimination, now al Qaeda piles on. Life is just not fair.

[Phil]

Prior to 9/11 few Americans would have selected the WTC as significant target for a terrorist attack.

Yeah, it't not like it was attacked before or anything.

The WTC was not a national symbol for most Americans but just a pair of big ugly buildings in New York.

You've got to be kidding. If nothing else, after the Yankees and the Statue of Liberty, the WTC had long since supplanted the Empire State Building as the preeminent symbol of the biggest city in the most powerfuln country in the world. Just think of its prominence in any movie skyline shot of NY, or its position in the popular culture.

[Ruthless]

Phil,
If it's creative destruction al Qaeda is looking for, Adam Smith, Shumpeter et al. have already beat them at their game:

Empire State Building: done by an ape (and Faye Wray)
Chrysler Bulding: done by Lee Iaccoca
Rockefeller Center: done by ratings.
Transamerica Building: done by looking silly.
Sears Tower: done by the softer side
Hancock Building: done by being in Chicago instead of Boston?
Statue of Liberty: done by Freedom Fries.

Talk amongst yourselves.

[thoreau]

I have no idea what Ruthless meant in that last post.

[Ruthless]

Let me put it to you this way, thoreau:

If Osama could disrupt cell phones for just 12 hours--half a day--ruthless terrorism; the most barbaric terrorism!

And if he could also take out, say, a half dozen SUV's plus Klick and Klack, the Tappet Brothers of Car Talk, we'd all be willing to say Praise Allah instantly.

If fact, Praise Allah, just for a practice warm up.

[Claire]

HAHAHAHA
CITICORP A TERRORIST TARGET?

HAHAHAHA ROTFLMAO

IT'S A SYRIAN OWNED CORPORATION!

Color me reeling with laughter

[SM]

"IT'S A SYRIAN OWNED CORPORATION!"

Is that some sort of obscure joke, Claire ? Seems to me, without having iterated thru' it's legal framework, that Citicorps as American as Frank Sinatra.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citicorp

[thoreau]

Even if Citicorp was Syrian-owned, I'm pretty sure that terrorists have hit Middle-Eastern targets now and then.

Not all Middle Easterners on the same side, you know.

[Mr. Nice Guy]

Okay, so our Hometon Cops have these specific buildings locked down and guarded 24-7 (for the next few weeks, anyway). Suppose there are teams of terrorists with truck bombs at the ready.. they're just going to quietly defuse their bombs and go home? They have no plan "B" or plan "C"?

[Gary Gunnels]

Hank Reardon,

I would suspect that if there were any truth to those stories, that something substantiated would have come out about it by now. The French have apparently become the new Trilateral Commission. 🙂

[joe]

"I'll take the warning as seriously as someone who lives 2000 miles away from the cities in question and has no personal connection to any of the targets can... which is not much."

Fine, Jack. Just as long as you don't sit in your sunbelt suburb and call New Yorkers "cowardly" for not wanting the government to romp around the world pissing off Muslims, it's all good.

[Native NYer]

Actually, as someone who has to work down here on Water Street, the lack of tourists today made my lunchtime stroll a pleasure!!

[thoreau]

Alright, Native NYer, fess up! You just phoned in this threat to scare away the tourists, didn't you? :->

[Native NYer]

Yikes!!

Don't even think such a thing! The jackboots will be at my door in a jiffy.

Especially since I think some of the regular posters on this board are actually administration officials!

[Dan]

This crossed the line in a way I haven't seen since Ann Coulter wished that Tim McVeigh had blown up the NYTimes building

Didn't have a chance to see "Fahrenheit 9/11" yet, eh? And I guess you missed it last April when that Columbia Univerity was calling for "a million Mogadishus" to punish the United States?

The world is full of pundits saying outrageously stupid things. Coulter doesn't especially stand out from the crowd.

I don't care if you were being facetious. That was sickening

If THAT was sickening, I don't see how you're able to read the Hit & Run forums without becoming completely catatonic...

[Dan]

"when that Columbia University professor", I meant to say.

[Douglas Fletcher]

"I have no idea what Ruthless meant in that last post."

...and the beat goes on...

[Evan Williams]

Eric says,

"Well, there is such a thing as insurance coverage."

Why worry about insurance coverage anymore? I was looking over the bids for a recent Animal Shelter we designed, and attached to the back of one of the bids was what was called a "Rider Containing Disclosure Notice of Terrorism Coverage".

In it, it states, "You should know that, effective November 26, 2002, any losses caused by certified acts of terrorism would be partially reimbursed by the United States under a formula established by the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002. Under this formula, the United States reimburses 90% of covered terrorism losses exceeding the statutorily established deductible paid by the insurance company providing the coverage.

"There is a cap on our liability to pay for such losses if the aggregate amount of insured losses under the Act exceeds $100,000,000,000 during the applicable period for all insured and all insurers combined. In that case, we will not be liable for the payment of any amount which exceeds that aggregate amount of $100,000,000,000."

Good to know we taxpayers are good for it...

[Jack]

Thoreau wrote: "If they catch some guy, claim that he was plotting to attack those buildings, and refuse to put him on trial, how will we know he wasn't some Richard Jewell arrested in a hurry because, well, they needed to arrest somebody to prove that they're doing something?"

Obviously you're a puppet of the Arab-controlled media, thoreau. Everyone knows that top investigative journalist, Laurie Mylroie, proved conclusively that Richard Jewell was *really* a major general in the Iraqi intelligence service. But maybe you missed it because it was in between the section in which she showed that "New Coke" was actually an Iraqi biological weapon and the one where she demonstrated conclusively that Lee Harvey Oswald was indeed a patsy, with the true killer of JFK being Saddam Hussein, on the Grassy Knoll.

[joe]

There should be absolutely no doubt, when the government issues a warning like this, that it is real, needs to be taken seriously, and isn't being done for political purposes.

This administration, unfortunately, has such a bad record of politicizing intelligence and terror warnings that a threat to the city where they're about to hold the convention sounds, first and foremost, like a ploy.

The problem with crying wolf is that sometimes a wolf shows up.

[Jack]

joe, I'll take the warning as seriously as someone who lives 2000 miles away from the cities in question and has no personal connection to any of the targets can... which is not much.

[gaius marius]

Homestone Kops

lol!

i must admit, i went over to the heard-it-all-before side of the crying-wolf story looong ago.

radicals will successfully attack buildings and other targets in the united states again, and as often as they wish. this is not new to the world.

what IS new is the mass paranoid mania and subsequent leveraging of public fear by the government to usurp more legal and military power than they had ever previously dared to dream. POMPEY'S PIRATES, people... or (if you please) the reichstag fire... or any of a hundred other examples -- it's all been done before.

i wouldn't expect the stream of "warnings" to stop short of dictatorship, and i'd expect them to get ever more outrageous and attention-getting as time goes on in order to continue to sustain real fear among the masses.

[jc]

Re: Evan's post,

Sounds like a new phenomenon: Muslim Lightning.

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