Terrorise This

[dcentity2000]

OK, negating the ramifications of the republican administrations actions, do you believe that the terrorist threat to the average person in the developed world has increased, remained static or decreased?

I'd probably vote for static; there are new threats but there are some old threats that have faded away.

Does the media fairly reflect this? Personally, I feel that the media is trumping up the terrorist threat in the name of sensationalism.

Thoughts?



Rich::

 

[JadenLayne]

I think the media trumps up anything they can........then again if there is serious truth to it I'm glad to know they caught it. It scares me that it was caught right before it was carried out but I also feel a bit better knowing that something was caught.

Did that make sense?

 

[Melissa0575]

I tend to be a little suspicious about news like this and the timing of it....is is just a coincidence that anytime the Bush administration has bad press or bad pollling numbers have just been released (like those I saw on the news yesterday), the terror alert suddenly goes up or the word terrorist" gets trotted out again in breaking news, covering up any negative things the media is reporting about the White House?

 

[Aidensmom]

I tend to be a little suspicious about news like this and the timing of it....is is just a coincidence that anytime the Bush administration has bad press or bad pollling numbers have just been released (like those I saw on the news yesterday), the terror alert suddenly goes up or the word terrorist" gets trotted out again in breaking news, covering up any negative things the media is reporting about the White House?

Just curious, are you saying you believe there was not really just a terrorist attack that was thwarted?

To answer the OP, I think that throughout the world as a whole, the threat of terrorism from time to time probably remains pretty static, but in individual places the threat is probably higher at some times than others.

 

[dcentity2000]

Slightly as an aside, there is perhaps one case where a leadership might have staged an attack just to thwart it for political reasons.

A man named Guy Fawkes along with some associates stockpiled gunpowder under the Houses of Parliament in London with a view to striking on the 5th of November, 1605. The plot was uncovered at the last moment and the King enjoyed new support.

To this day, the British celebrated Guy Fawkes Day, or Bonfire Night, when oddles of fireworks are let off and a straw "Guy" is burnt on a bonfire (sometimes other criminals are used, such as Bin Laden).

There is a school of thought that said that Guy Fawkes was lead into the conspiracy with a view to stopping him and capitalising on the near miss.

More here:

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



Rich::

 

[RNMOM]

I don't disagree that the media makes mountains out of mole hills. I was up during the night watching this unfold and the US media did not jump on it for a couple hours. The British networks were broadcasting urgently and I think a lot of it was to avoid a mess at Heathrow Airport due to the major changes that were being implimented.

I think of the media as a business. If they don't create more business for themselves the would be out of work. I often take breaks from the daily news as I can't take the negativity. One of our son's teachers wanted them to watch the evening news each day. This was in second grade. I did not do this. I don't think any kid that age needs to hear about all stuff.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I believe that every day Iran continues to work on bombs we are a little closer to trouble. When they get them, they will use them. I also believe that since the US has done almost nothing to stop terrorists that Israel is on their way to taking on Iran. This Lebannon thing is just the beginning. I think they're heading for Iran.

I also am sure that the most dangerous thing for those who love peace is to have crazy arabs with atom bombs.

I think the media trumps up anything they can........then again if there is serious truth to it I'm glad to know they caught it. It scares me that it was caught right before it was carried out but I also feel a bit better knowing that something was caught.

Did that make sense?

I tend to be a little suspicious about news like this and the timing of it....is is just a coincidence that anytime the Bush administration has bad press or bad pollling numbers have just been released (like those I saw on the news yesterday), the terror alert suddenly goes up or the word terrorist" gets trotted out again in breaking news, covering up any negative things the media is reporting about the White House?

Slightly as an aside, there is perhaps one case where a leadership might have staged an attack just to thwart it for political reasons.

A man named Guy Fawkes along with some associates stockpiled gunpowder under the Houses of Parliament in London with a view to striking on the 5th of November, 1605. The plot was uncovered at the last moment and the King enjoyed new support.

To this day, the British celebrated Guy Fawkes Day, or Bonfire Night, when oddles of fireworks are let off and a straw "Guy" is burnt on a bonfire (sometimes other criminals are used, such as Bin Laden).

There is a school of thought that said that Guy Fawkes was lead into the conspiracy with a view to stopping him and capitalising on the near miss.

More here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes
Rich::

I don't disagree that the media makes mountains out of mole hills. I was up during the night watching this unfold and the US media did not jump on it for a couple hours. The British networks were broadcasting urgently and I think a lot of it was to avoid a mess at Heathrow Airport due to the major changes that were being implimented.

I think of the media as a business. If they don't create more business for themselves the would be out of work.

I cannot believe there are people who think that terrorists were made up by George Bush and Tony Blair to make themselves look good, and all the investigative people and the media are playing along to help them. As a matter of fact, I don't believe it. And I am wondering what the motivation is to imply it...

 

[njzieglers]

I also am sure that the most dangerous thing for those who love peace is to have crazy arabs with atom bombs.

You mean they're Muslim ANDArab?
You may be onto something here.

 

[pat fan]

I tend to be a little suspicious about news like this and the timing of it....is is just a coincidence that anytime the Bush administration has bad press or bad pollling numbers have just been released (like those I saw on the news yesterday), the terror alert suddenly goes up or the word terrorist" gets trotted out again in breaking news, covering up any negative things the media is reporting about the White House?

Good grief. Do you believe what you say or just like to spout nonsense? Or maybe a little

I'm sure the USA media is so supportive of the Bush adm. that they invent stories just to try and distract us from the "real" problems at hand. And of course we're so gullible we believe it. Good to know I can go to sleep tonight knowing there are no terrorists or threats to us or anyone else (Britian etc...)

As to the OP's question, I think the threats ebb and flo. Sometimes it's greater than others, but I also think a lot of what we see and hear has to do with the media of today. In years past we didn't have the kind of coverage we do now, so that's something to remember.

 

[Patch'sD]

The press is alerting Us to the situation just as the politicianshave. Mitt Romey, Arnold, Bloomberg, Pataki, Mayor of LA, Chicago Mayor Daley, They were all on alerting the public of the threat and the increased security. The media did it's best to inform the public of what not to bring on the plane. I think the press has done a great job of keeping us up to date on the goings on today.

Now lets look back to when Monica Lewinsky was testifying before the Ken Starr Commision and Clinton was Lobbing Cruise Missles at the same time.

 

[Charade]

I tend to be a little suspicious about news like this and the timing of it....is is just a coincidence that anytime the Bush administration has bad press or bad pollling numbers have just been released (like those I saw on the news yesterday), the terror alert suddenly goes up or the word terrorist" gets trotted out again in breaking news, covering up any negative things the media is reporting about the White House?

Hey, did you call into the Rush Limbaugh show today? Someone called and said that exact same thing.

 

[JadenLayne]

I don't believe for a second though that this planned attack had anything to do with Bush's numbers falling. Bush will be out of the White House regardless at the next election.

 

[Melissa0575]

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I find this interesting... MSNBC reported the White House knew about this plot way back on Sunday and chose not to tell the rest of the country until after the CT primary election on Wed. They also decided to release a Republican fundraising email at just about the exact same time, and when questioned, blamed the bad timing on a low level staffer. It's all about the "state of fear". Just my two cents...