KOOL AID TIME WITH SCOTT MCCLELLAN

SCOTT McCLELLAN SERVED UP some more  fresh  White House Kool Aid today [White House transcript]  The timing of Bush's speech today and later events are (fill in the blanks according to political persuasion) connected.  Somehow.  Now give us a rundown of past terror events, Scott McClellan.

Q Scott, the President said today in his speech that there were 10 al Qaeda attacks that have been averted since 2001. Can you tell us what they were?

MR. McCLELLAN: That's right. Some of them are known publicly, like the capture of Jose Padilla and Iman Faris . Jose Padilla, if you remember, was involved in plots involving the possibility of a dirty bomb, and then Iman Faris was someone who had been in contact with people like Khalid Shaikh Muhammed and captured with plots looking at a -- blowing up or destroying a New York bridge. And then there are other incidents that are still classified.

Q You can't give us any more details?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, those are two public matters that would be in reference -- what he was referencing in some of his remarks that you're referring to. And then in terms of other ones, we'll continue to make information available publicly, as we are able to do so.

Q Can you give us a sense of when they were, or how recently these were averted?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I just mentioned two.

Q Those are the only public ones?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, those are two off the top of my head. I'll be glad to see what additional information we can get you. Some of that information is classified, though.

Q Why is this the first time we've heard about these eight others from the President?

WHY, SCOTTIE? Why now? (a) tanking in polls? (b) indictments coming? (c) Miers down the tubes?  Scottie, tell us when can we expect another rise in the terror alert?

DOGWAGGING TIME [WaPo] City officials stepped up mass transit security Thursday, saying they had received a credible threat that New York's subway system could be the target of a terrorist attack in coming days.

AND THE HERETIK SAYS Hey, where is my tinfoil hat?

[Terrorism Unveiled] Sources say that three  insurgents who were captured in Iraq released specific information on a date, time, target and method of attack in the NYC subway system.

This is being treated as a credible threat.

I DON'T THINK SO [Maha] There is breaking news on MSNBC of increased terrorist warnings for the New York City subways. It's not clear to me where this threat is coming from. Combined with Bush's "they're still out to get us" speech from this morning, I am (shall we say) skeptical.  (Hey! Over here! Terrorism! Don't look at Karl Rove, look at terrorism! Look heeeeere!)

[Andrew Cochran/Counterterrorism Blog] LOTS of inconsistent and cautious information from official and other CT Blog sources - DHS and NYPD clearly do not agree on this info. For instance, MSNBC: "Sources told NBC that the information came from a single informant of varying credibility...A homeland security official tells NBC News that though the source has "doubtful" credibility, the heightened security in NY is necessary out of an abundance of caution. The source has apparently given some accurate information in the past, and some inaccurate." CNN reports that DHS sources said that the threat was deemed "not viable" although investigation still ongoing, indicating that DHS possibly would not have released info to public. Fox News & CNN first reported that their DHS sources indicate NO specific credible threat. CBS News's Jim Stewart cites a source that this is "imagination run amok," with no suspects currently in the U.S.

THE HERETIK WILL hold his breath.  Then breathe out deeply.

Comments

[Night Bird]

ugh!

Timing