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The FBI and CIA and NSA have been playing the guessing game. Taking information from intercepts, an important Osama Bin Laden lieutenant, and who knows what other sources, the agencies have been releasing alert after alert. It is a giant shell game, and Osama is winning.
Targets, Targets, Targets. Play the Guessing Game
One of the key objectives in Terrorism is to terrify the target population. With the aid of U.S.' open society, OBL and his crew have done a magnificient job. How dare we say such a thing? Well truth hurts. Look at it from their frame of mind. They chop down the Twin Towers, and punch a hole in the Pentagon. They do it with airliners. This punches a hole in the U.S. economy which is just now starting to stop leaking too. The airline industry may never recover, the hole in its pocket book was enormous.
Some ass sent out Anthrax in the U.S. Mail. Maybe that was domestic, but who knows. It doesn't matter, it created terror too. Then it appears a nutcase from the Midwest decided to put pipe bombs in mailboxes. Oh that really helps.
Then the U.S. Intelligence agencies start crying wolf every time they get an intercept a dubious practice at best -- both because we shouldn't be talking about intercepts, that is method and sources and illegal -- and whining about unsubstantiated threats is just feeding the problem .
Then U.S. officials capture an Al Qaida leader and he starts spinning fiction. All this gets reported, making some think maybe the prisoner is simply doing the job he set out to do, terrorize America. Maybe he is leading the U.S. Intelligence guys around by the nose, yes? Then the GITMO prisoner's statements are found to be part of the source of threats as well. Are all the terrorist prisoners leading America by the nose, using our open system to simply worsen the problem with unfounded fears?
MILNET has played the game. We've pointed to general aviation. Unless someone has gotten smart and put some patriot batteries around every nuclear power plant, and locked up General Aviation REALLY tight, we are going to see a plane flown into a nuclear power plant. We also remarked on a few other possible targets just recently, like amusement parks, cruise liners, and other vacation deals.
In the week running up to Memorial Day weekend, and as Fleet Week begins in New York, we see an FBI terrorist warning against the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. More targets.
Many months ago, it was Governer Gray Davis wringing his incapable hands about the Golden Gate Bridge and other major California roadway landmarks.
All of us playing the guessing game, and playing right into the hands of terrorists who WANT us to be worried.
But is it Working?
Well the war of words has been won by OBL and his crew. Funny part is though, that while we are saying exactly what the Terrorists want us to say, there are several amazing facts that point to a major failure in the Terrorist's plans. The airliners continue to fill up, the boats have passengers, and finding a deal on travel or in a hotel might seem pretty easy right now, but don't wait too long. In other words, this summer looks like it might have lower than normal tourist travel, but it hasn't gone away, far from it. If you try to book less than thirty days you are going to be dissappointed.
And we don't see cruise liners offering Oceanview Suites for half price. Bottom of the line, hard to sell middeck porthole cabins yes, suites no. And the shore excursions are filling up, so you still have to order your tickets for snorkel trips, semi-subs and catamarran rides 30 days or more in advance. Airlines aren't yet giving away first class seats either.
There are great fares for travel cross country so you can take your cruise, but again, not many if you are reserving under 30 days.
This all sounds normal. The question is, are the airlines and cruise liners really booked, or are they hoping to keep the prices up so they stay afloat financially? Wouldn't you think you'd see half off on the best suites in hotels and ships worldwide?
If the Terrorists are winning, then how come we can't get the best cabin on the ship to the Caribbean for half price and why are the cheap seats already sold out? What's wrong with this picture?
Sorry OBL and friends. I don't think its really working. Let's see what your next trick will do, but we have a feeling that despite the rhetoric, Americans AND Europeans are a lot harder to scare then any of you thought. Tough, too bad, Asta La Vesta. Shut up and leave us alone.
© Copyright, 2002, Michael Crawford, MILNET
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