ThinkFast: September 11, 2006
ThinkFast: September 11, 2006
“The clandestine U.S. commandos whose job is to capture or kill Osama bin Laden have not received a credible lead in more than two years,” the Washington Post reports. “Nothing from the vast U.S. intelligence world…has led them anywhere near the al-Qaeda leader.”
“The chief of intelligence for the Marine Corps in Iraq recently filed an unusual secret report concluding that the prospects for securing that country’s western Anbar province are dim and that there is almost nothing the U.S. military can do to improve the political and social situation there.”
A Miami Herald investigation found that at least 10 South Florida journalists “received regular payments…total[ing] thousands of dollars” from the Bush administration to appear on U.S. government-run stations aimed at undermining Cuba’s communist government.
“Iran is ready to consider complying at least temporarily with a U.N. Security Council demand that it freeze uranium enrichment, which can be used in developing atomic weapons, diplomats told The Associated Press on Sunday.”
A coalition of religious leaders, environmentalists and businesses are screening a new documentary about climate change to evangelical groups across the country. Their aim is to “turn the large and powerful conservative Christian constituency into a voting block united behind making the reduction of greenhouse gases a top priority among politicians.”
Al Qaeda’s second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahiri released a videotape to coincide with the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, underscoring the fact that he still has not been caught. Addressing the West, Zawahiri said, “Your leaders are hiding from you the true extent of the disaster.”
“The rates of homicide and firearm violence jumped in 2005, ending a decadelong decline, according to a new U.S. Justice Department report.” The National Crime Victimization Survey found that nationwide, homicides increased 4.8 percent, from 16,140 in 2004 to 16,910 last year.
Afghanistan’s ambassador to the U.S., Said Jawad, “called yesterday for more military and economic help from the West, citing a spike in terrorist activity in the past six months and fears that it could spread.”
A growing number of CIA counterterrorism officers are insuring themselves against possible civil lawsuits. “The new enrollments reflect heightened anxiety at the CIA that officers may be vulnerable to accusations they were involved in abuse, torture, human rights violations and other misconduct.”
And finally: The New York Times interviews families of victims of 9/11 and finds that, “while they were at markedly different stages in the healing process, many have found constructive ways of embracing life without forgetting.” Read their stories here.
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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When can we expect the numbers for the TV rating from last night?
Anyone? Anyone?
September 11th, 2006 at 9:04 am“The clandestine U.S. commandos whose job is to capture or kill Osama bin Laden have not received a credible lead in more than two years,†the Washington Post reports. “Nothing from the vast U.S. intelligence world…has led them anywhere near the al-Qaeda leader.â€
Have they tried looking into this story yet?
http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/osama_dead.html
Might be a good place to start.
September 11th, 2006 at 9:09 amSure, Iran is ready to comply with the U.N. at any time now…
September 11th, 2006 at 9:12 amA Miami Herald investigation found that at least 10 South Florida journalists “received regular payments…total[ing] thousands of dollars†from the Bush administration to appear on U.S. government-run stations aimed at undermining Cuba’s communist government.
Which one is the communist country again? Our tax dollars at work paying for government propaganda. “Oh..oh say can you see…..by the dawn’s early light…”
September 11th, 2006 at 9:13 am“turn the large and powerful conservative Christian constituency into a voting block united behind making the reduction of greenhouse gases a top priority among politicians.â€
So much for being good stewards of the environment as God directed.
September 11th, 2006 at 9:14 amA Miami Herald investigation found that at least 10 South Florida journalists “received regular payments…total[ing] thousands of dollars†from the Bush administration to appear on U.S. government-run stations aimed at undermining Cuba’s communist government.
Which one is the communist country again? Our tax dollars at work paying for government propaganda. “Oh..oh say can you see, by the dawn’s early light…”
September 11th, 2006 at 9:15 amtesting
September 11th, 2006 at 9:16 am“turn the large and powerful conservative Christian constituency into a voting block united behind making the reduction of greenhouse gases a top priority among politicians.â€
So much for being good steward of the environment as God directed.
September 11th, 2006 at 9:16 amWHOMP! THERE BUSH ISN’T!
WHOMP! THERE BUSH ISN’T!
WHOMP! THERE BUSH ISN’T!
WASH POST: After letting bin Laden escape in late 2001, Bush called off the hunt for Osama and instead prepared for war in Iraq
by Joe in DC – 9/10/2006 02:52:00 PM
Bush should be run out of town on a rail. Bush called off the hunt for bin Laden only 6 months after September 11 because Bush wanted to invade Iraq. So much for 3,000 dead Americans. Bush gave up on them before the smoldering ashes at Ground Zero had barely gone cold. We are literally in greater danger as a country because of the incompetence of the man running our nation. God help us.
From today’s Washington Post
On the videotape obtained by the CIA, bin Laden is seen confidently instructing his party how to dig holes in the ground to lie in undetected at night. A bomb dropped by a U.S. aircraft can be seen exploding in the distance. “We were there last night,” bin Laden says without much concern in his voice. He was in or headed toward Pakistan, counterterrorism officials think.
That was December 2001. Only two months later, Bush decided to pull out most of the special operations troops and their CIA counterparts in the paramilitary division that were leading the hunt for bin Laden in Afghanistan to prepare for war in Iraq, said Flynt L. Leverett, then an expert on the Middle East at the National Security Council.
http://WWW.americablog.com
September 11th, 2006 at 9:19 amA Miami Herald investigation found that at least 10 South Florida journalists “received regular payments…total[ing] thousands of dollars†from the Bush administration to appear on U.S. government-run stations aimed at undermining Cuba’s communist government.
TIP. OF. THE. ICEBERG.
September 11th, 2006 at 9:19 amAre all Al Qaeda’s that we capture called #2 because we think of them as shit?
September 11th, 2006 at 9:19 amThe only reason they have to find Osama is to give him his check.
September 11th, 2006 at 9:21 amWASH POST: After letting bin Laden escape in late 2001, Bush called off the hunt for Osama and instead prepared for war in Iraq
by Joe in DC – 9/10/2006 02:52:00 PM
Bush should be run out of town on a rail. Bush called off the hunt for bin Laden only 6 months after September 11 because Bush wanted to invade Iraq. So much for 3,000 dead Americans. Bush gave up on them before the smoldering ashes at Ground Zero had barely gone cold. We are literally in greater danger as a country because of the incompetence of the man running our nation. God help us.
From today’s Washington Post
On the videotape obtained by the CIA, bin Laden is seen confidently instructing his party how to dig holes in the ground to lie in undetected at night. A bomb dropped by a U.S. aircraft can be seen exploding in the distance. “We were there last night,” bin Laden says without much concern in his voice. He was in or headed toward Pakistan, counterterrorism officials think.
That was December 2001. Only two months later, Bush decided to pull out most of the special operations troops and their CIA counterparts in the paramilitary division that were leading the hunt for bin Laden in Afghanistan to prepare for war in Iraq, said Flynt L. Leverett, then an expert on the Middle East at the National Security Council.
September 11th, 2006 at 9:22 amThe only reason they have to find Osama is to give him his check.
September 11th, 2006 at 9:27 amComment by Mr. Evil
and the script for the new video.
Addressing the West, Zawahiri said, “Your leaders are hiding from you the true extent of the disaster.â€
To call Bush et. al. a “Leader” is a real stretch. Ironically, FNC replayed video of 9/11 as it was happening – but brushed off his delayed reaction (while reading with school kids) as not wanting to scare them. If you look at his face in that famous video, he looked like a deer caught in the headlights.
Oh well, perhaps come this fall’s elections, America will wake up from the nightmare this administration has caused.
September 11th, 2006 at 9:30 amWatching the MSNBC replay of the the Today Show from 9-11-2001 and Andrea Mitchell was already saying “Osama bin Laden” at 9:34 EST as the Towers burn in the background. She also mentioned he was in Afghanistan.
Yesterday on Meet the Press Timmy forgot to ask Cheney why we’re in Iraq when it was bin Laden who killed Americans on US soil and not Saddam Hussein. Oops.
September 11th, 2006 at 9:31 amI was watching the MSNBC re-play this morning, and when the second plane hit the WTC, Matt & Katie couldn’t even work up a “Holy shit” between them.
That either says a lot, or very little. I can’t decide which…
September 11th, 2006 at 9:35 amYesterday on Meet the Press Timmy forgot to ask Cheney why we’re in Iraq when it was bin Laden who killed Americans on US soil and not Saddam Hussein. Oops.
Comment by Above the Clouds
I saw this interview – and Timmy let Darth Cheney off the hook. Why can’t media pundits ask serious questions? I don’t expect Fox to ask anything serious, but the rest of the supposed “liberal” media should be able to do their jobs.
September 11th, 2006 at 9:37 amEveryone, let us not forget the day that are president and his cabinet officials failed our country, 9/11. Columnist and journalist seem to blame Clinton, but even though Clinton wasn’t able to capture/assassinate Osama, Bush had enough HumInt and ComInt to prevent this act of terrorism. Thanks alot Bush! I really despise him and his cabinet.
September 11th, 2006 at 9:39 am#14 Juan C: Sorry, I forgot about that part. Thanks for clarifying.
September 11th, 2006 at 9:46 amA coalition of religious leaders, environmentalists and businesses are screening a new documentary about climate change to evangelical groups across the country. Their aim is to “turn the large and powerful conservative Christian constituency into a voting block united behind making the reduction of greenhouse gases a top priority among politicians.â€
It should be very interesting to see how much the Republican Party will stick with their evangelical supporters when this concern about climate change runs smack up against the desire of the Republicans to help businesses avoid complying with as many environmental laws as they can. In recent years, no Republican could expect to win a nomination without the support of the evangelical community. Sounds like a major conflict of interest is brewing.
September 11th, 2006 at 9:48 amDrudge has the ratings from last night.
TPT9/11 bombed big time.
NBC football had double the viewers….
September 11th, 2006 at 9:49 amI’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again…it’s easy to hide when you’re dead.
September 11th, 2006 at 9:52 amTripMaster,
I don’t know if Osama bin Laken is dead, but I do know this. If OBL is dead, Bush can’t even be bothered to find out for sure. It boggles the mind.
September 11th, 2006 at 10:04 amOne more thing on the attempt to get the evangelical community to support efforts to minimize the effects of climate change, I would be surprised if they turn to the Democratic Party after all these years of believing that they are immoral. Perhaps they will turn to the Green Party with their support and that this could be the first step toward getting another major political party in the mix, something this country sorely needs. We as a supposedly democratic nation have to disabuse ourselves of the idiotic, simplistic notion that one HAS to choose between the Republican Party or the Democratic Party or their vote is wasted. In fact, the complete opposite is the truth. The greater the diversity of thought and opinion in our government, the better it works for ALL the people.
September 11th, 2006 at 10:07 amOne more thing on the attempt to get the evangelical community to support efforts to minimize the effects of climate change, I would be surprised if they turn to the Democratic Party after all these years of believing that they are immoral. Perhaps they will turn to the Green Party with their support and that this could be the first step toward getting another major political party in the mix, something this country sorely needs. We as a supposedly democratic nation have to disabuse ourselves of the idiotic, simplistic notion that one HAS to choose between the Republican Party or the Democratic Party or their vote is wasted. In fact, the complete opposite is the truth. The greater the diversity of thought and opinion in our government, the better it works for ALL the people.
September 11th, 2006 at 10:07 amWayne,
It’s the comment so nice, it posted twice. Well said.
September 11th, 2006 at 10:14 am#25-6,
September 11th, 2006 at 10:22 amWayne,
Who knows if they will turn to an existing party if they parade the message of environmentalism is god’s work. But whomever they decide to hook up with politically that grooup had better watch out and protect themselves from being taken over by bible thumpers and have their whole organiztion used as a religious political tool. Having one common goal if nice especially environmentalism but beware of those that have ulterior motives.
Zooey, dlet,
Thanks. I accidentally hit the submit button twice. Interesting how it sometimes knows you’ve already entered a comment, but not when you do that.
And I am aware that an already existing party could be usurped by the religious right, but it has the advantage of having all the paperwork and groundwork already laid out. Starting from scratch is more difficult.
See you all later. Much work to be done.
September 11th, 2006 at 10:27 amAmerica is at war; there’s no question about it, however the main battle-front is right here in America as we fight the enemy from within!
Too few Americans are aware of this internal threat, one that undermines our constitution, Bill of Rights, and the rule of law. We are under assault by the Neo-conservatives and the right-wing Evangelical Christian movement, and they are wealthy and well-armed in their battle against our democracy!
All of us in the Blogoshpere who know the truth must work harder to get it out to all – and the time to fight is now, before the Republicans effectively turn public opinion once again using fear and propaganda as their tools. Only the truth, widely disseminated, will help to halt this assault on our country. This is a war – for the heart and soul of America and our very democracy, so failure to act is as un-American as those who are attempting to steal the American Dream!
Right-wing Evangelical Christian’s War on Democracy!
September 11th, 2006 at 10:41 amTesting Im here
September 11th, 2006 at 11:07 amHello Im Back almost
September 11th, 2006 at 11:08 amMark my words: them Iraq troops will be coming home sooner than expected – nothing more can be done.
September 11th, 2006 at 11:24 amA quick comment re “Thinkfast” items. I would suggest that you make the whole post visible as a default. Showing a “collapsed post” is good for single items, but for “Thinkfast” one can completely miss a substantive item which is hidden when skimming.
September 11th, 2006 at 1:29 pmJust to keep everyone posted that despite the Supremes ruling BushCo is still making people disappear and rendering them and not giving them their civil rights:
It’s the latest legal challenge to the Bush administration’s authority to keep terrorism cases, even those involving U.S. citizens, out of American courts.
Shawqi Omar, a citizen of both Jordan and the United States who once served in the Minnesota National Guard, was captured in Iraq in 2004. He is being held at Camp Bucca, a prison in southern Iraq, where his family says he has not been charged or allowed to speak with a lawyer.
His family is demanding that Omar be brought before a U.S. court, where prosecutors would have to show probable cause for detaining him and he could consult with an attorney.
September 11th, 2006 at 3:30 pm[...] Think Progress [...]
September 11th, 2006 at 5:23 pmHere is an interesting piece on the financial incentives to keep the “war on terror” alive and well:
Five years after the World Trade Centre fell, a highly lucrative industry has been born in America – homeland security. There has been a goldrush as companies scoop up government contracts and peddle products that they say are designed to make America safe.
September 11th, 2006 at 7:52 pmThe figures are stunning. Seven years ago there were nine companies with federal homeland security contracts. By 2003 it was 3,512. Now there are 33,890. The money is huge. Since 2000, $130bn (£70bn) of contracts have been dished out. By 2015 annual federal spending on the industry could be $170bn.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/september11/story/0,,1868963,00.html
Here is an interesting news piece on the financial incentives that keep the “war on terror” alive and well:
Five years after the World Trade Centre fell, a highly lucrative industry has been born in America – homeland security. There has been a goldrush as companies scoop up government contracts and peddle products that they say are designed to make America safe.
September 11th, 2006 at 7:55 pmThe figures are stunning. Seven years ago there were nine companies with federal homeland security contracts. By 2003 it was 3,512. Now there are 33,890. The money is huge. Since 2000, $130bn (£70bn) of contracts have been dished out. By 2015 annual federal spending on the industry could be $170bn.
How US merchants of fear sparked a $130bn bonanza
My apologies for the double post… I am having problems with my browser…. aarrgg!
September 11th, 2006 at 7:56 pmGregor,
The county I work for got a bunch of bucks from homeland security, so in November we’re having a simulation in the courtroom where some asshole shoots another asshole, and we’re supposed to figure out how best to handle it.
What a joke….this is frickin’ Idaho.
I mean, assholes do shoot each other in Idaho, but do we need homeland security money to work out what to do about it in the courthouse? I’m thinking….no.
September 11th, 2006 at 10:05 pmZooey,
Call me unimaginative, but I don’t see how a courtroom shoot out is in anyway related to terror threats, or homeland security. It is amazing what a free-for-all the “war on terror” has become.
Your simulation is another example of what critics warned years ago would happen eventually: homeland security is being expanded to include all kinds of situations that would normally be handled as plain ole boring local law enforcement, and anti-terrorism laws are being used prosecute people in cases unrelated to terrorism. Check this news piece from 2003.
Following on the subject of huge expenses under the pretext of “anti-terrorism” efforts, here is another article:
Institutions historically charged with protecting the nation have produced a new generation of bureaucratic offspring — the Pentagon’s Counterintelligence Field Activity (CIFA) and Joint Intelligence Task Force for Combating Terrorism (JITF-CT), the Treasury Department’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis (OIA), and the FBI’s National Security Service (NSS), to name a few — many with seemingly overlapping missions.
September 11th, 2006 at 11:10 pmA Fight Against Terrorism — and Disorganization
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