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Call to Ban Carriage Horses, Close Stable
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Oh D'Oh They Didn't! TSA Posts Airport Screening Manual On Web
The NY Times has an interesting look at how Mayor Bloomberg has been reassuring NYers about the recent terror alerts, the latest in a post-September-11 administration filled with terror warnings. Bloomberg has been shifting his tone a bit: Though still reminding NYers to "go about their business" and partake in the city, trying to lead by example by taking the subway and going to targeted buildings, he's become more serious about the threats ("Every day in a very dangerous world is a challenge"). This gives political consultants an opportunity to opine about the Mayor's performance and offer backhanded praise (he's doing great, which is a surprise since he doesn't seem good at human interaction). But Gothamist got a kick out of a quote from Mayor's press secretary, Ed Skyler, about thoughts that the Republican National Convention would cause more problems for the city:
“What is the alternative? Shutting down? Should we tell the Yankees and the Mets not to get into the World Series? Should we tell the Knicks not to make the playoffs? I don’t think New Yorkers would like us to go in that direction.”It's a moot point, but having the President and thousands of his supporters in town is very different from a sports team. As far as Gothamist can tell, George Steinbrenner did not claim there were WMD in Iraq. But it's moot, the convention will be here, it'll be crowded, noisy but fine and we'll keep giving out-of-towners really awesome directions.
More terror alert fun: Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge was in town, meeting with NY officials (like Commissioner Kelly, the Mayor, and Governor Pataki, above photo; the Times articles notes that meetings like that make the Mayor seem aligned with the Bush administration, which poses other issues for the Mayor's reelection effort), and he defended the terror alerts, which may have been outdated. Newsday on NYers dealing with "another day, another terror threat". And like many of the other NY politicians, Senator Hillary Clinton is asking Washington for more terror funding. Finally, check out the city's Office of Emergency Management site. Do you have a go bag?
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Observation from August 3 AMNY (p.8): refers to Bush rally on July 4th in Charleston, W. Va.--those who applied for tickets were required to supply names, addresses, birth dates, birth places, and social security numbers. In addition, people wearing anti-Bush t-shirts were arrested, cuffed, and charged with trepassing (just for wearing those t-shirts). Have fun, New York--the control freaks are coming to town.
- It's a moo point.
- A MOO point?
- Yeah, you know, like a cow's opinion - it doesn't count.
Sorry. Couldn't resist.
I think the Knicks making it to the playoffs is the moot point, not gonna happen.
I have to disagree. To the Islamic terrorists who would like to blow up things and kill peoplein the U.S., the Republican Convention and the World Series is pretty much the same thing. Both offer the allure of a closely-watched, highly significant event, both provide opportunities to inflict mass casualties and disrupt major American events, and both would be thought of as a huge success for the terrorists because it would prove that terrorists can strike even when security is highest and show that Americans can never be safe.
Moreover, many Islamists actually want to see Bush re-elected because his policies are more likely to bring on a major confrontation between Western secularism and Islamic fundamentalism. Islamic terrorists want to see a war between civilizations because they want to see Western values destroyed, make moderate Muslims choose sides, and ultimately (if things work out for the Islamists) spread the rule of Shariah across the globe.
yeah I was gonna say, nobody has to say to the Mets that they can't play in the World Series this year...
Aaron Swartz presents three reasons why Al-Qaeda wants President Bush to be elected (or re-appointed).
1. Reuters reported a letter from an al-Qaeda group that said “it supported U.S. President George W. Bush in his reelection campaign, and would prefer him to win in November rather than the Democratic candidate John Kerry, as it was not possible to find a leader ‘more foolish than you (Bush), who deals with matters by force rather than with wisdom.
2. A top CIA expert on al-Qaeda has concluded that al-Qaeda loves President Bush, and might go so far as to plan an election attack to rally the country around Bush.
3. Even administration officials concede “al-Qaeda has morphed into a loose and expanding association of regional terror cells [and] the Iraq war has fueled rather than doused the fires of jihad.”
YAY!!!!
fer chrissakes, will you give it up already on the WMD?
"The community of nations may see more and more of the very kind of threat Iraq poses now: a rogue state with weapons of mass destruction, ready to use them or provide them to terrorists. If we fail to respond today, Saddam and all those who would follow in his footsteps will be emboldened tomorrow." -- Bill Clinton in 1998
UN report on Iraq, October 1995
In summary, Iraq has declared the production of at least 19,000 litres of concentrated botulinum toxin (nearly 10,000 litres were filled into munitions), 8,500 litres of concentrated anthrax (some 6,500 litres were filled into munitions) and 2,200 litres of concentrated aflatoxin (1,580 litres were filled into munitions);
"There is a problem—the probable possession of weapons of mass destruction by an uncontrollable country, Iraq. The international community is right ... in having decided Iraq should be disarmed." Jacques Chirac in Time Magazine, February 2003.
Do you really think this was all made up by Karl Rove? Grow up.
The answer is to everything is pornography and prozac. Let's keep exporting to the rest of the world and everyone will be pacified. After all, these things keep our civilization together.
Stephen, the WMD were the entire premise for the invasion you idiot. They lied and falsified documents about Iraq attempting to purchase uranium in Africa. Powell made a presentation to the UN (that reminded me of a 6th grade social studies report) about these alleged WMD. The deception was deliberate, the WMD werent there. Over 1000 American troops have died. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have died. Islamist fundamentalists have been bolstered. The world thinks we are a bunch of assholes. The whole thing has cost us over $120 billion as of June 30. Anyone with half a brain and a sense of justice will refuse to "give it up already".
Al Qaeda was too weak to bring down the USA. One big reason for 9/11 was to goad the USA in doing an action that would upset and radicalize a lot of Muslims. Certainly Iraq has done--even before the torture scandals. I think George Bush--due to stupidity or rigidity--is easily manipulated by Al Qaeda. Most men who try to be macho (I don't think Bush is strong--he couldn't even handle the National Guard) are actually easily to manipulate because they are always seeking to "prove" or "teach a lesson" rather than take a wise, patient course.
Stephen, why are you responding to a Gothmist weblog; shouldn't you be doing your patriotic duty and be volunteering to fight in Iraq? You know, that place that had its finger on the button, just waiting to unleash the scourge of weapons of mass destruction on America... Women and childeren would scream, birds would stop in mid flight, fires would ravage the cities, the sky would turn to blood...
Oh wait, there aren't any WMDs! Duh! [Smacks forehead]
ugh, really...WMD's again? When did this website become nearly 100% politcal.....
Did you not hear about the highlights of the 9/11 Commission report? This is the very document that everyone at the DNC touted as the end all and be all answer to our war on terror. I agree that the report is extremely important and we should take heed. However, the report states clearly that the Bush administration did not falsify or lie about WMD's, rather that the information was incomplete and inaccurate. The information presented to the CIA was corroborated by the Russian and British intelligence. How can we blame the president alone for this? If we are to do this, then we must place equal blame on everyone who voted to allow the attack on Iraq (John Kerry anyone?)
WASHINGTON (CNN) --Intelligence documents that U.S. and British governments said were strong evidence that Iraq was developing nuclear weapons have been dismissed as forgeries by U.N. weapons inspectors.
The documents, given to International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Mohamed ElBaradei, indicated that Iraq might have tried to buy 500 tons of uranium from Niger, but the agency said they were "obvious" fakes.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell referred to the documents directly in his presentation to the U.N. Security Council outlining the Bush administration's case against Iraq.
With all due respect, can you reall trust anything the U.N. says or does? Libya chaired the UN Commission on Human Rights, which had as some of its members Syria, Uganda, and Sierra Leonne.
Thanks to the Arab/Muslim bloc in the U.N., the agency can barely get enough votes to pass a weak warning to the Muslim rulers of Sudan, where Arab militias have killed, raped and displaced thousands of Africans. And Mohamed ElBaradei is the guy who lets Iran play him and string him along while they develop their nuclear weapons program, no matter how many times it has been proved that Iran is lying and intentionally deceiving weapons inspectors.
Sorry it's off-topic. Remove it if you must.
what an ignorant comment.
There was some analysis several weeks ago regarding Chalabi--he was a channel for a lot of information from Iran. Iran is an enemy of Iraq. For Iran, it would be ideal for two enemies to destroy each other. Let the United States destroy Iraq. And be sure that Chalabai does not give the United States details about the guerilla operations that it knew Saddam had already in place (Iran had a lot of spies in Iraq). It knew the United States would end up getting bogged down....etc. Get the drift? Pretty humbling analysis--no wonder the media won't touch it.
Thomas, resorting to the ad hominem "you idiot" commentary is the standard for your ilk. Did you read any of the quotes? Do you understand that everyone - i.e., the UN, Europe, Bill Clinton - believed that the intelligence about WMD was correct? Actually - it doesn't matter to your kind - the truth is irrelevant. What matters is your loathing of Bush and your need to have what you see as the moral high ground irrespective of facts.
james, what do you know about my military status? My guess is nothing. As an aside - your prose is kind of juvenile, you might want to tone it down to make it a bit more effective.
Stephen should run for president.
Raealf Nerder you farceur you! I'm humbled by your cleverness.
the facts are that the intelligence was at best flawed if not intentionally misleading. No one really knew what was in Iraq since they kicked inspectors out in 1991. When the inspectors returned before the most recent war they found NOTHING and still have found NOTHING. Bush was planning this invasion before he was even elected. This invasion had nothing to do with WMDs, it was and still is all about making money for Halliburton, Bechtel, and a personal grudge between the Bush family and Saddam Hussein, who was aided in his rise to power by then CIA director Bush Sr.
I was being serious. Republicans are great; they help independent candidates get on swing-state ballots. I love Republicans, mostly because of how compassionate they are. Republicans are really good at feeding the poor. I also love how Republicans handle women's rights--I tell you, women have been saved by the Republican way. Republicans are the bee's knees when it comes to racial harmony, too.
So Bush and Cheney didn't really believe that there were WMD in Iraq (though Bill Clinton and many of your other heroes did). Or that taking out Saddam would ultimately lead to an Iraq that was less friendly to terrorists. Or that other middle eastern leaders might think twice about harboring terrorists after seeing us remove Saddam. Instead this whole thing was about settling scores and making money, which is totally plausible because Bush and Cheney were impoverished before this war. And everyone within the administration who supports the war is beholden to Halliburton. Not to mention the many journalists who support the war, who are also in on this great scheme.
Reasonable people can take different positions on how to address the threat of terrorism, but these conspiracy theories are strictly for imbiciles and lunatics. Crackpots like sp shoud stay front and center over the next few months. Let the undecided voters see the ugly face of the Michael Moore minions and Kerry/Edwards won't have to pretend to be regular guys anymore.