Today's terror warning

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Al Qaeda may be planning "spectacular attacks" in the United States that will cause "mass casualties" and "severe damage" to the economy, according to a federal law enforcement bulletin.

Says CNN

Is this the boy calling wolf? Are these things useful? Will this change your upcoming plans?

― Yancey (ystrickler), Friday, 15 November 2002 18:35 (twenty-three years ago)

Of course they would want to do that. They did that LAST time. Therefore, my lack of surprise continues.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 15 November 2002 18:40 (twenty-three years ago)

Let's see:

"The warnings have not caused the Homeland Security threat level to be increased from yellow ... and FBI officials said there is no new intelligence that led to the strong wording of the bulletin. . . . There is no specific information about the time, place or method of such attacks and no new intelligence that sparked the bulletin. FBI officials, in fact, believe the message in the bulletin is being overplayed and overstated by the media. . . . 'The warnings that have gone out recently really are a summary of intelligence, not a new warning,' [Rice] said."

― nabisco (nabisco), Friday, 15 November 2002 18:59 (twenty-three years ago)

The obvious: "spectacular attacks" was a spectacularly bad word choice. What, death by ice capade???

― Yancey (ystrickler), Friday, 15 November 2002 19:04 (twenty-three years ago)

I was envisioning death by fireworks.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Friday, 15 November 2002 19:19 (twenty-three years ago)

OK, so maybe I'm not up on all the news, but hasn't this happened EVERY SINGLE DAY for the past year? (The announcement, not the attacks). How many of these ass-covering "Something's going to happen, but we don't know what or where" press conferences have they had. The boy who cried wolf is an appropriate analogy, because eventually everyone will just tune them out (most people already do) and they will be completely meaning- and effect-less.

― Nick A. (Nick A.), Friday, 15 November 2002 19:41 (twenty-three years ago)

yep its all nasty stuff but the more it is bandied about the less effect it will have. besides, even over here it seems to be a constant thing, the 'threat of attack on the USA' so unless there is something more specific it all seems to be a case of someone running out of things to put on the news and deciding "hey i know! lets up the terrorist thing again! "

― donna (donna), Friday, 15 November 2002 19:55 (twenty-three years ago)

Didn't Bin Laden basically announce he's going after Europe next anyway?

― James Blount (James Blount), Friday, 15 November 2002 20:09 (twenty-three years ago)

"The obvious: "spectacular attacks" was a spectacularly bad word choice. What, death by ice capade??? "
*ahem*
The word spectacular comes from the latin word spectare meaning to look at or look at closely. Spectacular doesnt really mean with a firework display and costumes - its more like "make a spectacle of yourself" i.e. make your self the object of attention. And no no plans changing - anything this gov says to make me think that war might be a good thing - and i dont trust em.

― Lucy W, Friday, 15 November 2002 20:36 (twenty-three years ago)

NOOOO!!! I'M TOO YOUNG TO DIE MUMMY!

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Friday, 15 November 2002 20:56 (twenty-three years ago)

the republicans used these bogus warnings to make people vote with fear in the elections. What they are for know, i don;t know?...

― g (graysonlane), Friday, 15 November 2002 21:42 (twenty-three years ago)

As long as it's not this weekend. I mean I did say I would die happy if I get to see The Sun City Girls and Savage Republic, but sheesh Mr. Creator, do we have to be so literal......

― brg30 (brg30), Friday, 15 November 2002 23:13 (twenty-three years ago)

it IS scary but what is the point? are we supposed to just not be surprised and shocked by sudden mass death and bloodshed and all?

― Maria (Maria), Saturday, 16 November 2002 03:35 (twenty-three years ago)

It's supposed to heighten awareness and caution - the FBI can't expect the American populace to be on alert all the time, but they can try to raise alertness at times it has reason to suspect a potentially eminent attack, be it either a marked increase in message traffic or the sentencing (or in this case execution) of an Islamic radical. The operating principal being some combination of 'better safe than sorry' and 'be prepared'. It's not that different from the your various opsec or defcon levels, or smog levels in some big cities.

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 16 November 2002 09:40 (twenty-three years ago)

are you threatening me?

mmmm, do not threaten el gato espectaculaaaaaar

― Queen G (Queeng), Saturday, 16 November 2002 10:37 (twenty-three years ago)

Didn't Bin Laden basically announce he's going after Europe next anyway?

Hahahaha, and I'm going to Straussburg next Thursday to visit the European Parliament!!

― Daniel_Rf (Daniel_Rf), Saturday, 16 November 2002 13:02 (twenty-three years ago)

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