The alleged conspiracy by six Muslim extremists to attack Fort Dix, N.J., was thwarted, as this article notes, not by tanks and combat but by a citizen tip and old-fashioned police work and intelligence. That’s been the case in almost every major anti-terrorist success since Sept. 11.
The Fort Dix case is a reminder of how irrelevant our war in Iraq is to preventing domestic and worldwide terrorist plots against the United States.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
-
Registered?
Commenting on WE Blog now requires you to be a Kansas.com member. Use the links above to register, if you haven't already, or to log in. -
Contact us
Daily Archives
-
Recent Comments
- biased1 on Obama’s mile-high expectations
- CapnAmerica on Obama’s mile-high expectations
- outlander on Open thread 8/28
- CapnAmerica on Obama’s mile-high expectations
- cosmos_originally on Open thread 8/28
- SolDevVB on Open thread 8/28
- StevenEDavis on Open thread 8/28
- GMC70 on Obama’s mile-high expectations
- bth on Is McCain overusing the ‘POW card’?
- BigFoot on Open thread 8/28
55 Comments
So what’s this Randy, the friday afternoon firebomb? Hehehehheh.
True though it is, you know it’s gonna send the 20 percenters into full spin, lie and deny mode.
Popping the corn right now…
Oh, and btw, it’s homegrown organic popcorn!
It actually has to be both. Homegrown guy’s like Ann Coulter’s hero McVeigh should have been stopped before they struck; foreign-sourced like the 9/11 Saudi’s should also be surveiled.
It will take local cops, FBI, and CIA probably more than marine divisions.
The plot again shows you the intelligence of a terrorist. They don’t pick a shopping mall or crowded theatre, they choose a military base to attack. Why these geniouses picked a location where weapons and those that know how to use them are located is beyond me. I think we give terrorists way too much credit for their planning and execution capability. Typically, they are poor and uneducated people that are so blinded by their hatred they misstep somewhere along the way and get caught. I am sure that soon enough the reich wingers will credit their war in solving this caper by bafoons.
From linked article: four were born in the former Yugoslavia, one in Turkey, one in Jordan. Of the six, three were here illegally, one a naturalized citizen, two permanent legal resident aliens. From earlier reports, it’s my understanding that at least three (if not all four) of the ones born in the former Yugoslavia are of Albanian descent.
I think all four were VT.
Maybe we need to tighten immigration, do you think? Or offer rewards to people like the store clerk, or protect our borders. Think of the billions we could save, or at least use for real securtity measures if we weren’t in Iraq on pee wees great adventure.
I call foul! We are fighting them over there, so we don’t have to fight them here! Didn’t these guys get the memo?
But at the end of the day, it was a tip from a citizen and good old fashioned police work that stopped this plot. As I recall, the same held true in Great Britain when they rounded up that bunch of terrorists - good old fashioned police work and tips from citizens.
So, now, will Homeland Security Department be given more funds to then hire more personnel to track these known terrorist cells? Or will Bush cut the Homeland Security budget to give it to his Iraq War? I’m just wondering if Bush even realizes the terrorists within our country is more of a threat to our way of life than his war in Iraq ever is or will ever be.
So far the “terrorists” we’ve caught have been a guy who was said to plot to blow up a “dirty bomb” although he had no plans or materials, another was some semi-literate, poverty stricken thugs in Florida who sent a letter to Bin Laden asking for millions for uniforms and weapons, and now some guys who trained with paint ball guns and delivered pizzas to the base. Surely this government can catch the most incompetent of terrorists because the Bush administration can think on their level.
They may turn out to be a bunch of “wanna be” terrorist. Practicing with paint ball guns, what’s that all about?
Perhaps the government is using the simple definition of terrorist as anyone who uses fear to promote a political, religious or ideological viewpoint. Then again, that would make your average fundamentalist preacher a terrorist, or any pundit on Faux News.
They appear to be your average attention whoring thug who is just as apt to appear on Jerry Springer or spray paint their names on the side of a Burger King.
duh!Of course it was police work, which includes citizens tips.
The CIA and the military are not authorized to do domestic surveillance and intervention into crimes.
If we were working as hard to make peace with the Arabs as we have been pissing them off, this all need not be happening.
Also blaming and publicly trashing their religion for their defense from being murdered and having their countries literally destroyed is somehow supposed to bring about different reaction?
Israel has dictated our foreign policy through their well-placed neocons, to justify their brutality against almost every country in the Middle East.
This course needs to be reversed and our troops need to be brought home before things get completely out-of-hand.
The Arab League has put forth a peace-plan which meets Israeli needs.
That plan has been disregarded by Israel in favor of total aggression.
Bush is allowing Israel to steer our Ship of State and set the course.
Do we want that?
Oh yes…
Lets put the defense of our country on the odds that some random person will be able to alert the police like this.
I am sorry Randy,
But the wonderful police work came AFTER a lucky break by a private citizen alerting the police.
Keep living in liberal la la land Randy.
Randy,
Are you completely ignoring all the top Al Queda terrorists that we have killed or captured overseas with *GASP* military actions?
Do you liberals even have a clue?
Liberals do have a clue and that is why the Republicans are having a hard time keeping any sense of dignity in anything they say or do.
And how convenient we have caught AlQueda terrorists when Bush’s poll numbders are plummeting.
In the words of your father, Nathan, do you believe all the conservative propaganda you read or hear?
The word “terrorist” is a political tool used by governments to justify mistakes.
Nothing more.
“Fighting terrorism is mostly good police work”
Thank you, scholfield, for showing us again why you people will not make it into the White House anytime soon. As long as you show the American people that you will not defend us, you will be outside looking in.
When the government gets around to rewriting history { Israeli style } it will be:
“And Paul Revere wrote from town to town yelling the “terrorists” are coming, the “terrorists” are coming.”
road
Did Fleetwood miss the 2006 election? Did he miss the bloodletting of the Republicans?
The majority of Americans no longer approve of Bush’s handling of the Iraq War or his domestic policies.
True patriots (those who love and defend our country) are those people willing to disagree with the president when he is clearly on the wrong path. Those bush supporters who never lift their voice to oppose Bush, are the ones in lockstep to disaster.
Let’s stop calling Bush dissenters people who are afraid to defend their country and confront the real issue which is Bush and his insane policies.
But, the terrorists are coming, the terrorists are coming.
“Did Fleetwood miss the 2006 election? Did he miss the bloodletting of the Republicans?”
I will stand back and let you people over-play your hand on that one.
I seem to recall the same false sense of security on your part the day before we voted in 2006. Again, you’re party is in trouble Fleetwood. And the star nitwit is your beloved leader.
Cat, there you go with your clear-minded reasoning.
Here, you can see why your tax dollars have been so ineffective in winning hearts and minds in Iraq–
It’s going right into contractor’s pockets:
100 dollars to do a small bag of laundry, four dollar cokes, 75K trucks destroyed because of a flat tire, contractors staying in the best hotels in the world while the soldiers smother in tents . . .
See it and weep, folks–
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cJlJudDtVE
Makes a true patriot cry, doesn’t it Capn?
And thank goodness our federal law enforcement people know how to stop real threats to America:Michael Moore.
Michael Moore blasts President Bush over federal probe into ‘Sicko’ documentary’s Cuba trip
By Associated PressFriday, May 11, 2007 - Updated: 02:20 PM EST
LOS ANGELES - Filmmaker Michael Moore has asked the Bush administration to call off an investigation of his trip to Cuba to get treatment for ailing Sept. 11 rescue workers for a segment in his upcoming health-care expose, “Sicko.”Moore, who made the hit documentary “Fahrenheit 9/11″ assailing President Bush’s handling of Sept. 11, said in a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson on Friday that the White House may have opened the investigation for political reasons.”For five and a half years, the Bush administration has ignored and neglected the heroes of the 9/11 community,” Moore said in the letter, which he posted on the liberal Web site Daily Kos. “These heroic first responders have been left to fend for themselves, without coverage and without care.http://theedge.bostonherald.com/movieNews/view.bg?articleid=1000724
Looks like Bush doesn’t want American health “outsourced” to places like Cuba.
Same with the Canadian drugs.
They can outsource YOUR JOB, but don’t try to outsource your health care, dammit.
I wouldn’t say it’s irrelevant, considering terrorism has grown and sentiment against us has as well due to the war in Iraq.
Randy: It’s a good thing you’re a journalist because you would be just pathetic in charge of anything important. Leave a safe haven for Al Qaida in Iraq and see if you “feel” (liberals feel, rather than think) the same way in 5 years.
(liberals feel, rather than think)
Huh?
Somehow it makes it easier for outlander to disagree with a point of view if he can characterize it as being a shared trait amongst a given group, viz. “they are all like that, you know.” I have a hard time seeing how that could really be helpful, but it does seem to be.
Over-generalization, anyone?
We could just as easily say that all neo-cons go with feelings over thought. Recall GW Bush saying he goes with his “gut”, his “instincts”. He can even peer into people’s souls. Do those quotes make you think he is a thinking person? Not me. But I don’t have data on neo-cons as a group, so I will avoid the over-generalization error.
All the security in the world will not stop another terrorist attack against the USA, they’ll find a way to do it if they want. The real problem is that we’ve given Islamic extremists so many reasons to hate us…we’ll never be free of the terrorist threat in our lifetime, thanks to George Bush. His belief that we can either kill them all or subdue them shows how out of touch with reality he is.
Just glad they are off the streets.
But we need to pass a whistle blower’s and citizens tip law, to protect people who come forth with evidence of terrorism, even if it’s just a suspicion.
The guy that brought the video disc to the police can be sued by the allege terrorist, if somehow any of them are found not guilty or set free.
The Republicans have been trying to submit one, but the Democrats say No! Why? I don’t know.
outlander,
“Leave a safe haven for Al Qaida in Iraq and see if you “feel” (liberals feel, rather than think) the same way in 5 years.
Besides your false “feel” not think claim, you need to do some research.
You’ve got the “safe haven” idea completely backwards. Do some research on why the Iraqi insurgents allow A-Q outsiders to be in Iraq. And try to “think” about the issue.
I was wondering if anyone besides WS was going to respond to my think vs feel comment. No statement like that is true 100% of the time. But my comment is very mild to the blatant insults that are a matter of routine for some of the more emotional liberal posters. I would assume that these insults are coming from feelings rather than logical thought.
Just look at posts in general. See if it isn’t the case that the content of liberal posters are much more emotional.
And the posts of the Conservatives are NOT emotional, Outlander?
Looks like the doo doo is going to hit the fan (or is that too emotional of a statemenWitness granted immunity in prosecutors probe 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former aide to U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales received immunity from prosecution on Friday to testify in a congressional probe into the firing last year of federal prosecutors.
ADVERTISEMENTLawyers for Monica Goodling, who had served as the Justice Department’s liaison to the White House, said she would appear before the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee.
“Monica Goodling is a critical witness,” said Committee Chairman John Conyers (news, bio, voting record), a Michigan Democrat. “We look forward to hearing her testimony as promptly as possible.”
A hearing date was not immediately set.
Gonzales has told Congress that the firing of eight of the 93 U.S. attorneys last year was justified, but mishandled. He has rejected claims that some may have been ousted to influence politically charged investigations.
Goodling resigned earlier this year after Congress began looking into dismissals, and invoked her right against self-incrimination in refusing to testify.
The Judiciary Committee voted last month to seek immunity for Goodling, and the chief judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia signed an order granting it.
Under the order, prosecutors would be barred from using Goodling’s testimony to bring a case against her unless she is untruthful.
t?):
If we can protect a former Administration member for blowing the whistle, why not pass a law protecting someone turning in their “person of interest”? Could it be it might turn out to be like the Salem Witch Hunt? Or like in Iraq, where one’s enemy is turned in to be taken out, without trial?
Mary, I don’t know follow your logic. “Islamic extremists” didn’t hate us before the Iraq war? Was 911 before or after Iraq? Have we been attacked more or less since Iraq? And wouldn’t you expect our sworn enemies to hate us? I would hope that they would. It means we are doing something right.
outlander,
“I would assume that these insults are coming from feelings rather than logical thought.”
So please dazzle all of us with YOUR “logical thought” — explain why the Iraqi insurgents allow A-Q outsiders to be in Iraq.
“…we’ll never be free of the terrorist threat in our lifetime, thanks to George Bush. His belief that we can either kill them all or subdue them shows how out of touch with reality he is.”
Thanks, Mary. This is the basic political issue that we have failed to recognize. This position shows how out of touch the rest of the U.S.A. is, also.
If we were killing all of the terrorst in Iraq that we were creating, at least then it would be a non zero sum game, unfortunately, we’re not even doing that and these terrorist will and are being exported, with skills honed. I read the other day Saudi Arabia was complaining that the terrorist they captured had been training in Iraq. OOOh that proves GW was right!
The Bush administration will catch Bin Laden if he ever goes into a 7-11 and buys a Slurpee and an employee recognizes him and calls the police. Until then Bush is working with OJ to catch the real killers.
You don’t get it Outlander…the more we intrude on their land, the more they’re sworn to take revenge..that’s the culture. And having no terrorists attacks on our soil since 9/11 means absolutly nothing…they count on the fact that America has a short attention span. Osama likes to take his time, it’ll happen you.. wait and see. I’d love to be wrong about it, but I doubt that I am.It’s not the Germans or the Jaanese we’re fighting this time…it’s a whole different game with these people. Bush never took their culture into account when he made this massive blunder. Invading Iraq was like giving a huge gift to Bin Laden.
Amen, Mary.
Yeah, and it was mostly good police work after the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993. This good police work did what exactly, to stop later attacks at the American Embassy in Africa, the attack on the Cole, followed by World Trade Center bombing #2 on 9/11/01?
Max, perhaps you failed to remember that those responsible for the first attack on the Trade Center were caught. Has Bin Laden been caught yet? Sure he might be a little harder to catch since Reagan and Poppy Bush provided him with so much training, weapons and cash, and Bush Jr. provided him a safe hiding location in Pakistan but as you still on the “blame Clinton” tirade? Clinton hasn’t been President since 2000. It’s about time you buy a new calender.
Oh yes, I forgot to point this out but the U.S. police don’t work in Africa or the Middle East. I’m amazed I even have to point that out.
How many terrorists are either dead now or in prison due to our military?
How many terrorists are either dead now or in prison due to domestic law enforcement?
Randy, you dont know what you are talking about.
Give us some numbers, would you please?
We must do BOTH!
If the police could use “alternative interrogation techniques” you would see their number of terrorist prosecution sky rocket. Thank God we haven’t come to that yet!
Say, Doug the cops only caught a couple of the terrorists who bombed the World Trade Center in 1993. Their buddies came back to finish the job. If would have been treated as more than a police action, the trail would have been followed to whole gang, and we could have wiped them out before 3000 Americans died.
And your right, the cops don’t work in Africa or the Middle East, you just made my point. Thanks.
If cops can’t work overseas, how did they catch up with international fugitives?
This dirty bomb threat on the transportation systems is very real and this is exacty why The army should be concerned with this threat. Recently a Korean spy was caught in a new jersey restaurant and was charged on July 20, 2007 with lying to the FBI and spying in Federal District Court in NYC. The restaurant may have been the same one which is owed by Robert Egan, but even if it is not the same restaurant there is still a grave security issue that needs to be addressed. Robert Egan a confirmed n Korean representative and self professed advocate with ties to n Korea per Newsweek magazine article by m. Hirsh 0ctber 2006 called we are a nuclear power. Robert Egan is associated with a Fort Dix New Jersey National Guard Jag officer LTC Mark Winkler. Mark Winkler has a law practice in Franklin lakes NJ and is a personal friend and attorney for Robert Egan. LTC Mark Winkler was probed by the FBI and Military Intel Omar Bolotok on Fort DIx for espionage issues with N. Korea and for failing to report on his past security clearance applications contact with a representative of a foregn government. This was also confirmed by the 1079th GSU Commander who had a meeting with the FBI, MI Officer Omar Bolotok in 2007 but fort dix officials prefer to ignore the threat to avoid media attention and embarrassment. LTC Winkler was never held accountable for the last 12 years he placed the NJ army national guard and fort dix and united states at risk with failing to disclose this information and the JAG corp on fort dix are supporting LTC Winker out of fear that his exposure will mean they failed to report this incident and risk timely. Please contact the appropriate authorities to make sure the potential threat is investigated and not covered up. Thousands of NYC civilans lives and our soldiers lives are at risk behind this incident and LTC Winkler had access to troop key nyc transportation chokepoints, national guard mobilization strategy and troop movements, locations of our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, IED risks, and military protective instructions as well as locations of our Nuclear power plants in the US and transportation safety issues. Your help is needed, please write to your congressman if you are a nyc or new jersey resident and report this on to your commander if you are a member of the armed forces. Act today before it is too late. Waiting more than a day or a week to report this will mean high casualities. Click on this link to hear Robert Egan’s Radio Interview http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6665732