Did U.S. force the Brits to jump the gun on Liquidati?
NBC News reports that U.S. officials pressured the British to move in and arrest those suspected of plotting the bombing of airliners over the Atlantic. Strangely, according to a UK source, several of the "Liquidati" suspects didn't even have passports. It seems that getting onto an international flight would have been a bit difficult without such a document. But what do I know?
A senior British official knowledgeable about the case said British police were planning to continue to run surveillance for at least another week to try to obtain more evidence, while American officials pressured them to arrest the suspects sooner. The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the case.
In contrast to previous reports, the official suggested an attack was not imminent, saying the suspects had not yet purchased any airline tickets. In fact, some did not even have passports.
The source did say, however, that police believe one U.K.-based suspect was ready to conduct a "dry run." British authorities had wanted to let him go forward with part of the plan, but the Americans balked.
At the White House, a top aide to President Bush denied the account.
Why the rush? Was there a politically expedient reason for the U.S. to push for the bust? Why not wait and continue to surveil the situation?
Recent busts of alleged terrorist cells in Toronto, Miami and Lebanon (related to the NYC threat) all seem to have had somewhat odd timing. A cynic might even suggest that they all were timed for maximum media effect, including the latest event in the UK. None were anywhere near the execution stage, assuming that any of them could have reached that stage in the first place. But they have been spread out nicely over the last few months, perhaps quite purposefully.
At this rate, we should expect another big terror bust by, oh, mid-September. Hmmm. Just in time for the upcoming five-year anniversary of 9/11. I'm sure that will be a good one. I can hardly wait.
posted by DrewL @ 9:00 PM
7 bucket fillers
7 Comments:
Neither can I. The machinations of amateur jihadists are nothing compared to the partisan witchcraft of Karl Rove. In fact, one of my nightmare scenarios is a Muslim equivalent of Karl Rove suddenely appearing in the jihadist camp. Can you imagine??
Rove must be slipping, then.
Because if this really was just a highly orchestrated stunt by the evil mastermind, wouldn't it have helped to have these arrests occur before the Lamont-Lieberman runoff?
Not to spoil your conspiracy theory. Or dare interrupt the transmissions your perfectly crafted tinfoil hats are currenty receiving reminding you of just how EEEEEEVIL Rove really is.
Regarding Rove, anyone who paints as un-American a guy who lost three limbs in service to his country deserves to be branded as evil. Just ask Max McCleland.
Rove believes that all is fair in politics and war. As for love? Well, perhaps one should ask Jeff Gannon, er, James Guckert.
Anon:
For all we know, they wanted the bust to come down just prior to - or on the day of - the Connecticut primary. The Brits may have delayed it a bit. Who knows? When it comes to the shenanigans of the Bush cabal, anything is possible. Anything.
I hear you on the timing. Wonder what the next "surprise" will be?
Well they are trying to sell the case that three guys with 1000 cell phones were going to blow up a bridge in Mich. Problem is the FBI doesn't see any reason to assert that at this time.
Any administraion that would lie in order to start a war, can't be trusted on anything else. The war wasn't a "mistake" it was a crime.
Yeah, the 1000 cell phone guys have been getting a lot of press here in Texas since the three fellows are from Mesquite, near Dallas. Supposedly the only reason they suspected them of wanting to blow up the Mackinac Bridge is because one of them had a photo of the bridge on his digital camera. Now there's some brilliant sleuthing for you! I guess anyone with Arabic ancestry is hereby disallowed to take photos of things that tourists take photos of.
These guys are just looking to be capitalists and make a buck. Isn't that the American way? Apparently not if you happen to be of Middle Eastern descent.
Great. Just great.
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