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A Remarkable Series of Coincidences
A few days ago, I wondered if there had been any attempt to correlate terror alerts from Homeland Security and bad news for BushCo.
Well, ask and ye shall receive (thanks to Melanie at Just a Bump in the Beltway for pointing me at JuliusBlog's excellent chart and timeline).
Now, if we could just corral somebody with Nexis-Lexus access, to do a numeric breakdown of the frequency of these stories' appearance in the media just prior to and after the alerts...
A tasty quote from Julius Civitatus:
...for the record, we are not claiming that all these alerts are politically motivated. We are sure a considerable amount of these alerts were legit and caused by real and immediate information of potential threats. What is important to note is that many of these "immediate" terror alerts were later on discredited [p.f.: emphasis mine] (in some cases they used old data, in other cases the announcements were less immediate and less urgent that we were lead to believe, as the press reported.) Those are the cases that could be interpreted as politically motivated, especially when they seemed to coincide with political news and events unfavorable to the administration.
Posted by prof fate on August 9, 2004 at 08:38 PM | Permalink
Comments
Shame that, Wagie the Dog died. He was Popular in the 90's.
I got Tired of giving the admin benefit of the doubt Till I could find info on their claims but I found they Lied SO many times that Now I Just believe the Opposite of what they say. usually the Next day the truth comes out so Though I would Only have to wait One day to get the Truth, I don't get turned as hard when I Do find out. Less time Thinking about it, and More time laughing at the Liars/Fools. Sometimes I Think they are Just Stupit and screwed up, but not very often. They just LOOK stupid ALL the time and PEOPLE trust and Believe them ?? Shows how Dumb They Are. I keep thinking of that movie, Being There. That's what we have.
Posted by: Vince F | Aug 9, 2004 10:45:29 PM
I have Nexis-Lexus access what would you like me to look for? I.E. How would I enter something like that?
Posted by: Uncle $cam | Aug 9, 2004 10:52:34 PM
Mandelbrot and financial patterns Note: Ming kicks ass!
Posted by: Uncle $cam | Aug 9, 2004 11:07:28 PM
@Uncle Scam
I guess what I'm looking for is some evidence to demonstrate how terror alerts "crowd out" stories the Bushies would rather not have us see.
I mean, this seems to me to be a given, because the alerts are always front-page news -- and there's only so much front page/media bandwidth.
Since I'm unfamiliar with the interface, you'll have to tell me whether this is possible or not (and if you think it would be worth the effort):
Basically, what I'd envisioned was doing a search of U.S. media on each of the embarrassing stories listed by JC, sorting them by date and compiling total number of articles for each date. Perhaps a word count per day as well.
If the alerts serve the political purpose we suspect they do, after the alert is announced, there should be a sharp decline in both the number and word counts of the stories they wanted to disappear.
Now, I realize there's another piece to this: For a proper comparison, one would need to have some idea of the normal lifespan for these types of stories. And that might be a bit tricky, with so many extraneous factors involved.
Well, I never thought this would be conclusive proof. Still, if for starters you could pick a few of the major stories and compile the data, the results might be interesting.
Posted by: prof fate | Aug 9, 2004 11:47:47 PM
@ prof fate, have you seen this yet?
Posted by: Uncle $cam | Aug 10, 2004 3:06:08 AM
The OSCE is going to monitor US elections like they did in 02'. Welcome to the Third World..or is that Reich ?
Posted by: Vince F | Aug 10, 2004 8:07:28 AM
Conspiracy alert:Porter Goss nominated for Intelligence Czar. In case you forgot Porter Goss, along with Rep. Graham, was with the head of ISI M. Ahmad on Sept 11th when Ahmad made the $100,000 money tranfer to Mohammad Atta.
Posted by: x174 | Aug 10, 2004 11:57:39 AM
x174 - what is the cite for that statement that Goss was with M. Ahmad the day the funds were transferred? (Yes, I've read the Guardian article by Michael Meagher, but did not see reference to Goss). Provide source please.
Posted by: francoise | Aug 10, 2004 12:13:43 PM
correction: Intelligence Czar should read CIA Director
Posted by: x174 | Aug 10, 2004 12:17:36 PM
@francoise -- "According to the Times of India (10-9-2001), Mohammed Atta's financial bagman, Lt. General Mahmoud Ahmad had been fired as head of Pakistan's ISI, as 'U.S. authorities [FBI] sought his removal after confirming that $100,000 had been wired to WTC hijacker Mohammed Atta from Pakistan through Ahmad Sheikh at the instance (sic) of General Mahmoud." " link
more big picture details: the finances of 9/11
Posted by: x174 | Aug 10, 2004 12:26:22 PM
"The Bush-Cheney Regime must feel that it is a risk worth taking because they’re now in de facto control of mainstream media. So, therefore, how much of Goss’s past would be brought up? If it is, it’s going to be brought up in alternative media in the 3 or 4 million people that are interested in such a thing." link
Posted by: x174 | Aug 10, 2004 12:32:01 PM
We have to protect our sources and means of access to info on threats in the German case against the only guy convicted of planing 9-11 but we Out an agent in Pakstan and a US one. COULD it be that we Don't want some people to Talk Or we Don't want to catch OSAMA ?? Too many things are too stupid OR too slick. I guess Saddam was the Bigger Fish. How much oil does Osama have, enough to light his Genie lamp ?
These guys have to be the dumbest. I Can't believe they are smart. TOO stupid looking.
Posted by: Vince F | Aug 10, 2004 1:07:42 PM
@prof fate --
the recent nomination of Rep. Porter Goss to head the CIA appears to be another one of those issues which ">>crowd out<< stories the Bushies would rather not have us see." the phoney issues surrounding the handling of the double-agent M. Khan were just beginning to unravel. by nominating a contoversial and political character to head the CIA (for possibly a couple of months if Kerry gets elected), diverts the critical issue of the Bush administration's incompetent/treasonous exposure of a potent ally in the battle to undermine al Qaeda into one of the appropriateness of Goss as a nominee for the directorship.
NOTE the curious 180 performed by Sen. Schumer: yesterday he was questioning the White House on contradictions made by Condi Rice on whether or not her giving information 'on background' constituted exposure; today some of his remarks make him seem content to have Goss nominated for the directorship of the CIA:
But Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) called Goss "a fine man" and said the fact that the nominee is a Republican congressman does not bother him.
NOTE: Schumer on Plame
Posted by: x174 | Aug 10, 2004 2:39:52 PM
FWIW, here's the output from the 9/11 timeline from the Center for Cooperative Research when the search is made on the word "Goss"
Posted by: x174 | Aug 10, 2004 2:59:53 PM
prof fate- nice to see a post from you!
this support for Goss among dems seems odd. I don't get it...but that's nothing new, I'm sure.
the only thing that makes sense that I'm aware of is the pressure from the 9-11 Commission to deal with their recommendations would give the Bushies an issue to play up against the dems if they could be seen as hindering an implementation of the Commission's recommendations.
As far as the terror alerts go, I saw an article from a Friends Committee (Quaker) site a while back that did note that alerts the earlier alerts were timed around American holidays.
One, in February of 2003, I think, was based upon bogus information..the guy who made the claim didn't pass a lie detector test..which he wasn't given until after the alert.
It seemed to me that around the mid-terms, and leading up to the invasion of Iraq there was lots of talk about alerts, but maybe that's just my perception.
But recently it hasn't been the use of the color-coded alerts. It's been the press conferences, like Ashcroft's and then the one from Ridge after the dem convention.
Posted by: fauxreal | Aug 11, 2004 12:14:44 AM
Wonder where Goss got to be thought of as such a reformer?
Q Some of the Democrats are questioning Porter Goss's commitment to reform and also raising these partisan charges against him --
MR. McCLELLAN: I'd say "a few." I'd say "a few" Democrats. And the fact that a few Democrats are all of a sudden now claiming that Congressman Goss is partisan really lacks credibility. One, look at some of the -- what some of the other Democratic leaders said, which was -- I know Senator Graham and Senator Nelson talked about him, as well as some other Democrats, and they said that he was someone of high integrity, someone with unique experience, and someone who has always been viewed as nonpartisan. So I think it would be unfortunate if a few Democrats all of a sudden try to politicize the process. I noticed that there were no Democrats that stepped forward and said that they would block the nomination. Congressman Goss is someone who has unique experience and brings a reform-minded approach to the agency, which is needed during this critical time in our nation's history.
Q Are you anticipating a confirmation battle over this?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, that's why I said it would be unfortunate if all of a sudden now a few Democrats want to try to politicize this important position. We continue to urge the Senate to move forward quickly on his nomination and fill this vacancy. Congressman Goss is someone of tremendous experience and integrity, who has always brought a reform-minded approach to our intelligence. The President has great trust in Congressman Goss to do what is right and to make sure that the decision-makers are provided with the best possible intelligence. (11 Aug 2004)
From Newseek article: "Goss's wish list""
"Rep. Porter Goss, President Bush’s nominee to head the CIA, recently introduced legislation that would give the president new authority to direct CIA agents to conduct law-enforcement operations inside the United States—including arresting American citizens.
"The legislation, introduced by Goss on June 16 and touted as an “intelligence reform” bill, would substantially restructure the U.S. intelligence community by giving the director of Central Intelligence (DCI) broad new powers to oversee its various components scattered throughout the government.
(Emphases added)
Posted by: x174 | Aug 11, 2004 8:36:40 PM
I just noticed a bunch of articles on a planned Al Quaeda assasination plot of US or European leaders timed to disrupt US elections - Reuters has the most reasonable accounts and includes commentary that it might be a red herring ... it looks like the first source was that bastion of journalistic credibility, the Washington Times - so perhaps BushCo thinks W will get the sympathy vote if we think he's targeted? So far, I haven't seen anything on tv news which surprises me ...
Posted by: Siun | Aug 11, 2004 9:12:32 PM
Here's the original MoonieTimes article.
I love how "intelligence experts" leak to these guys!
Posted by: Siun | Aug 11, 2004 9:20:16 PM
if you haven't yet had the opportunity to read about how the nation's security is presently being handled in this editorial from the Washington Post, here it is:
Credible and Direct?
Friday, August 13, 2004; Page A24
WITH THE LATEST blast of confusing statements about terrorist threats, most of the homeland security officials involved have slipped into parody. The trouble began last weekend during an interview on CBS's "Face the Nation" when Frances Fragos Townsend, the White House homeland security adviser -- who now seems to be in higher favor as a spokesman than Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge -- appeared to have said that the intelligence behind the recent decision to raise the alert level in Washington and New York to orange contained specific threats to Congress and the Capitol. Close reading of the transcript reveals that Mrs. Townsend did not, in fact, quite say that; instead she referred to "this continuing threat stream" that implied a danger to the Capitol, not to a specific recent threat. But "this continuing threat stream" is a vague term. In the context, it was even more vague. Those who watched the program can be forgiven for not having quite gotten her point.
But then, in response to Mrs. Townsend's comments, the Capitol police chief, Terrance W. Gainer, took the opportunity to contradict what she had not said. As far as he knew, he said, "there is not a specific, credible, direct threat against Congress as an institution, or its members." We welcome his clarity -- but wonder, if that is the case, why he remains so intent on closing a major thoroughfare near the Capitol and setting up vehicle checkpoints that will significantly disrupt the officials and tourists who need access to this country's most symbolic and significant public building. In fact, his statements this week make clear that Chief Gainer had long been planning to increase the fortifications around the Capitol and simply seized on the latest intelligence as an excuse, without bothering to inform other District officials of his intentions. Worse, Chief Gainer's office now confirms that the blockages will last "indefinitely."
To sum up: The country has an administration that has still not mastered the art of conveying clear, useful information about terrorist threats to the public. The city has a Capitol security team that doesn't act according to that information anyway. Surely there must be a better way.
Posted by: x174 | Aug 13, 2004 3:01:08 PM
thought some of you may enjoy this refreshing, intellegent voice discussing some recent headline news (from the Washington Post):
Bush's Withdrawal From the World
By Ronald D. Asmus
Wednesday, August 18, 2004; Page A19
Harry Truman must be turning over in his grave.
The planned withdrawal of U.S. troops from Europe and Asia that President Bush announced this week, if allowed to stand, could lead to the demise of the United States' key alliances across the globe, including the one that Truman considered his greatest foreign policy accomplishment: NATO.
The president proposes something that generations of U.S. diplomats and soldiers fought to prevent and that our adversaries sought unsuccessfully to achieve: radical reduction of U.S. political and military influence on the European and Asian continents. The Bush message, delivered at a campaign rally, also smells of political opportunism. Under pressure but unable to withdraw troops from Iraq, the president has instead reached for what his advisers hope is the next best thing politically -- a pledge to bring the boys home from Europe and Asia.
Whether this is good or bad politics remains to be seen. But there is little doubt that it is bad strategy and bad diplomacy, for which the United States is likely to pay a heavy price. The reasons are fairly simple. In Europe after the Cold War, the United States decided to significantly reduce its former troop levels but to leave sufficient military forces on the ground to accomplish three objectives: help ensure that peace and stability on the continent would endure; have the capacity to support NATO and European Union expansion and project the communities of democracies eastward; and provide the political and military glue to enable our allies to reorient themselves militarily and prepare, together with the United States, to address new conflicts beyond the continent's borders.
Each of these goals remains important. Each will be undercut by the president's plan. With transatlantic relations badly frayed, Russia turning away from democracy and the United States facing the challenge of projecting stability from the Balkans to the Black Sea, Washington should be putting forward a plan to repair the transatlantic alliance, not ruin it. . .
Posted by: x174 | Aug 18, 2004 3:02:35 AM
From the USAToady:
"Al-Qaeda allies are believed to be scouting U.S. targets, and the terror organization is using non-Arab recruits to avoid detection, U.S. law enforcement and intelligence officials say."
Interpretation: "non-Arab recruits" == Bush Maladministrators.
BTW, x5634 - thought to be the drug that the CIA slipped GG Allin before he died "ignobly" on the street -- as opposed to the stage.
Posted by: x5634 | Aug 18, 2004 4:39:05 AM
