Go Home

GAO says Al Qaeda attack likely and we have no plan

Heckuva job, Bushie! Wouldn't it have been nice to have a question on this subject at last night's debates?

Democracy Arsenal:

Here is the title of a report from the General Accountability Office on combating terrorism released today:

The United States Lacks a Comprehensive Plan to Destroy the Terrorist Threat and Close the Safe Haven in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

That is not some line buried in the report. That is the title. Wow.

This GAO report may be the most damning condemnation of the Bush administration's counter-terrorism efforts. The report goes on to say that the Bush administration has failed to develop any plan to address the Al Qaeda threat. Worse, the report finds that Al Qaeda is now able to attack the United States and represents the "most serious" threat to this country.

The report's opinion of the Bush administration efforts speaks for itself:

The United States has not met its national security goals to destroy the terrorist threat and close the safe haven in Pakistan…

Not only have we not met our goals but we have no plan to meet our goals. Read on...

But we have to stay the course in Iraq, for our safety.

UPDATE: Emptywheel has put together a fantastic timeline for a little perspective on the Bush Administration Fight Against Terrorism.

About Nicole Belle
Nicole Belle's picture
Mom, Wife, Media Critic/Political Analyst, Blogger, Austen Fanatic, Unapologetic Liberal NicoleBelle@crooksandliars.com
Share This Post

Link To This Post


117 Comments
burnt's picture

we need to invest in more flag lapel pins.

revko's picture

now that makes me bitter

L.A. Confidential's picture

The U.S. populace is being sacrificed to the rich regardless of a terrorist attack or not.

Powkat's picture

But, but . . . Bush ALWAYS wears a flag pin. Do you love America enough for George Stephanopolus?

Skeptic's picture

Someone's been ramping up the "eminent attack" warnings lately. Is it an election year again? I guess republicans can't win without fear mongering.

all hail the hypno toad's picture

But baby bush and the republics keep telling us we haven't had an attack since 9/11 and we should be thankful to our authoritarian masters. You mean to tell me that was wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

burnt @ 1:

we need to invest in more flag lapel pins.

Exactly, from China.

L.A. Confidential's picture

At the rate things are going Americans are being so dumbed down a future president could command everyone to commit suicide en mass and most will probably do it.

all hail the hypno toad @ 6:

But baby bush and the republics keep telling us we haven't had an attack since 9/11 and we should be thankful to our authoritarian masters. You mean to tell me that was wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Only at election time.

anneyhussein's picture

I truly don't think the Bush cabal CARED about al Qaeda except to use them to scare Americans. What they cared about was being able to go to war in Iraq, and didn't 911 give them a handy-dandy excuse! What's the POINT of being in Iraq? They've run out of excuses, military forces, plans, and plots, except for perhaps Iran now.

dadams's picture

All American Citizens to bush/cheney

we are tired of your lies and bastard threats.

we know this is just another of your fucking fear tactics.

we know YOU will do anything including destroying
the U S Constitution to do what you want.

we know you will sit on your ass and let this happen again.

it's time to IMPEACH bush and cheney before they have
the entire world at war.

Dr. Bitter Hussien Matt's picture

Who cares!?!? We need to talk about verbal gaffes, polling numbers, Rev. Wright, Bosnia, flag pins, and middle names!!!

burpster's picture

Thats actually pretty funny considering the US and it's mighty war machine. Some rag-tag band of arabs can make Americans quake in fear.

L.A. Confidential's picture

The U.S. Government’s total downstream liabilities and unfunded commitments (including Medicare, Social Security, Public Debt, Pensions, etc.) have now exceeded $53 trillion dollars (according to David Walker, the U.S. Comptroller General and Head of the Government Accountability Office). $53 trillion translates into a de facto debt of $455,000 for every American household.

No wonder they mention Terror! Al-Qaeda! two dozen times a day to distract the American populace from whats coming.

CEO,citizens,eyes,open's picture

Of course we have no plan, well their is a plan and that is to let it happen and call off the elections for the good of the country. We won't stand for it so don't even try!

all hail the hypno toad's picture

Dr. Bitter Hussien Matt @ 12:

Who cares!?!? We need to talk about verbal gaffes, polling numbers, Rev. Wright, Bosnia, flag pins, and middle names!!!

You forgot orange juice and whiskey.

Frybread's picture

The Imperator will just say he doesn't agree with the GAO report and that will be that.

Dr. Bitter Hussien Matt's picture

all hail the hypno toad @ 16:

Dr. Bitter Hussien Matt @ 12:

Who cares!?!? We need to talk about verbal gaffes, polling numbers, Rev. Wright, Bosnia, flag pins, and middle names!!!

You forgot orange juice and whiskey.

And bowling.

Mark's picture

Bush is 100% to blame for his incompetence here.

L.A. Confidential's picture

And imagine 10 Billion people running around this planet like an ant hill 40 years from now.

Philip Combs's picture

L.A. Confidential @ 8:

At the rate things are going Americans are being so dumbed down a future president could command everyone to commit suicide en mass and most will probably do it.

What exactly to you think is going on right this minute.

Never hear about that frog in the pan?

Better wake the fuck up folks.

all hail the hypno toad's picture

Dr. Bitter Hussien Matt @ 18:

all hail the hypno toad @ 16:

Dr. Bitter Hussien Matt @ 12:

Who cares!?!? We need to talk about verbal gaffes, polling numbers, Rev. Wright, Bosnia, flag pins, and middle names!!!

You forgot orange juice and whiskey.

And bowling.

Aw man! Now everyone will know I'm elite, or should that be l33t?

diamondmc's picture

Sometime I think we over think the motives of bush and the neocons. I think its nothing more then a money grab. There is no ideology, faith or politics about it, its just about grabbing as much money as we can get. They are nothing but murderous crooks. I can't believe there are people out there, who would vote for, four more years of the samething with McCrazy.

L.A. Confidential's picture

Philip Combs @ 21:

L.A. Confidential @ 8:

At the rate things are going Americans are being so dumbed down a future president could command everyone to commit suicide en mass and most will probably do it.

What exactly to you think is going on right this minute.

Never hear about that frog in the pan?

Better wake the fuck up folks.

Right and Bush has already pretty much convinced people to commit suicide (long term blow back) with this middle east racket.

StevePam's picture

August 6, 2001, presidential daily briefing entitled Bin Laden determined to strike in US.

Bushco had no plan then and things have worked just fine to hear them tell it.Why should they change now?

The media is the problem more so than politics as usual.They make a mockery of our intelligence and likewise we should not ask them to clean it up but clean them up ourselves with series of boycotts.

pete's picture

as far as the Bush administration is concerned, "terrorism" was just the excuse and bogey man used to scare the witless, gutless Americans into giving up their civil rights for the illusion of safety.
nothing less, nothing more.
and it worked like a charm.

Perturbed's picture

Reminds me of another report titled "Al Qaeda Determined to Strike in the U.S."

"So?"

L.A. Confidential's picture

StevePam @ 25:

The media is the problem more so than politics as usual.They make a mockery of our intelligence and likewise we should not ask them to clean it up but clean them up ourselves with series of boycotts.

The Media is all under one roof now. It should be obvious to anyone with any basic critical thinking ability.

Powkat's picture

burpster @ 13:

Thats actually pretty funny considering the US and it's mighty war machine. Some rag-tag band of arabs can make Americans quake in fear.

Not all of us - some of us saw thru this tactic years ago. And, maybe wishful thinking on my part, but the number of people not fooled seems to be growing.

L.A. Confidential's picture

pete @ 26:

as far as the Bush administration is concerned, "terrorism" was just the excuse and bogey man used to scare the witless, gutless Americans into giving up their civil rights for the illusion of safety.
nothing less, nothing more.
and it worked like a charm.

And apparently content in this ill-fitting yet comfortable mold.

L.A. Confidential's picture

burpster @ 13:

Thats actually pretty funny considering the US and it's mighty war machine. Some rag-tag band of arabs can make Americans quake in fear.

We could have annihilated Iraq totally and completely in one day but that wouldn't be profitable in the long run.

L.A. Confidential's picture

Our flag should be battleship grey with a skull and crossbones on it.

L.A. Confidential's picture

Take a look around we're turning into a Military State look at business statistics everything from security, intelligence, to military hardware expansion and growth is booming.

28%r's picture

Get ready for the spin on this report. "The reason we don't have a plan and we are at risk is because the democrats didn't approve telecom immunity."

chuck's picture

Someone getting struck by lightning is also likely to happen. I am still planning on playing golf this saturday.

Restore the Constitution's picture

Or maybe, just maybe there's another possibility: perhaps Bush Co knows that al Qaeada is not quite the threat that they told us told us it is.

That would explain why they let Bin Laden escape to Pakistan. And why Bush said he doesn't worry about him anymore.

When this government keeps warning of another attack, hold onto your hats. Between now and the electio will be a scary time.

L.A. Confidential's picture

chuck @ 35:

Someone getting struck by lightning is also likely to happen. I am still planning on playing golf this saturday.

Watch out for terrorists that could suddenly pop up out of sand traps and yell Allah Akbar! then drag you under by the ankles.

dadams's picture

Restore the Constitution @ 36:

Or maybe, just maybe there's another possibility: perhaps Bush Co knows that al Qaeada is not quite the threat that they told us told us it is.

That would explain why they let Bin Laden escape to Pakistan. And why Bush said he doesn't worry about him anymore.

When this government keeps warning of another attack, hold onto your hats. Between now and the electio will be a scary time.

the only real threat to this country is sitting in the whitehouse.

Alice Hussein Nader's picture

King George, the dummy, and his evil ventriloquist Cheney should be impeached.

What's the point.

L.A. Confidential's picture

Restore the Constitution @ 36:

Or maybe, just maybe there's another possibility: perhaps Bush Co knows that al Qaeada is not quite the threat that they told us told us it is.

That would explain why they let Bin Laden escape to Pakistan. And why Bush said he doesn't worry about him anymore.

When this government keeps warning of another attack, hold onto your hats. Between now and the electio will be a scary time.

My guess is coordinated attacks on oil pipelines and facilities overseas would be enough for Bush to go on the tube and say,

My Fellua' Muricans, today Al-Qaeda shut off oil supplys with bombs, causing the price of oil to go to $1000 a barrel, and an inability to get our needed sustenance. I have hereby ordered U.S. forces to begin bombing Iran, and have temporarily suspended the U.S. Presidential Elections. John McCain and I will in the meantime be working together to insure our countries safe during this time of War and increasing hostilities. As soon as we can, we'll have the Elections, but for now, we're at war, and it's not wise to disrupt leadership during a time when Americans should be rallying for Country.

Something like that.

L.A. Confidential's picture

Everyone knows Bush enjoys punishing people.

Thats no secret.

burpster's picture

L.A. Confidential @ 31:

burpster @ 13:

Thats actually pretty funny considering the US and it's mighty war machine. Some rag-tag band of arabs can make Americans quake in fear.

We could have annihilated Iraq totally and completely in one day but that wouldn't be profitable in the long run.

Why? Did Iraq attack you?

Marge's picture

Hot diggty dog watch obama and his plan. He'll get one of his speech writers to write a speech and he'll stand up in front of the zonked out cult members and give it, they'll cheer and wave and the threat will go away...Those speeches are THE THING.

Anacher Forester's picture

I can see just Bush now:

"Term limits? What term limits? We jus got attacked again see. I'm the Decider and I've decided ta stay the course ta keep 'Merica safe. Plus Dick says I don't hafta leave and I'm aint gonna. Don't bother me with yer facts and The Constiterution and all that smarty-pants stuff. I don't ker what anybody thinks. I'm the Decider."

Anything is possible here folks.

-AF
Andrew Sullivan Is A Fraud

Alice Hussein Nader's picture

L.A. Confidential @ 40:

Restore the Constitution @ 36:

Or maybe, just maybe there's another possibility: perhaps Bush Co knows that al Qaeada is not quite the threat that they told us told us it is.

That would explain why they let Bin Laden escape to Pakistan. And why Bush said he doesn't worry about him anymore.

When this government keeps warning of another attack, hold onto your hats. Between now and the electio will be a scary time.

My guess is coordinated attacks on oil pipelines and facilities overseas would be enough for Bush to go on the tube and say,

My Fellua' Muricans, today Al-Qaeda shut off oil supplys with bombs, causing the price of oil to go to $1000 a barrel, and an inability to get our needed sustenance. I have hereby ordered U.S. forces to begin bombing Iran, and have temporarily suspended the U.S. Presidential Elections. John McCain and I will in the meantime be working together to insure our countries safe during this time of War and increasing hostilities. As soon as we can, we'll have the Elections, but for now, we're at war, and it's not wise to disrupt leadership during a time when Americans should be rallying for Country.

Something like that.

Georgie doesn't get Osama because we would say 'we got the guy that did it, let's go home'.

This would put an end to his super Constitutional powers as Commander in Chief, powers that exist primarily in his own small mind. There and the delusional minds of the likes of John Yoo and the Itty Bitty Torture Committee.

Pericles's picture

What did you expect? All the ambitious rats have deserted the sinking ship, and it's just Dick, George, and Barney left running things. (And, rumor has it that Cheney spends most of his time shredding documents, and Barney is seriously considering a Chair at the Heritage Foundation.)

L.A. Confidential's picture

burpster @ 42:

L.A. Confidential @ 31:

burpster @ 13:

Thats actually pretty funny considering the US and it's mighty war machine. Some rag-tag band of arabs can make Americans quake in fear.

We could have annihilated Iraq totally and completely in one day but that wouldn't be profitable in the long run.

Why? Did Iraq attack you?

Don't ask stupid questions. I was being a smart ass.

L.A. Confidential's picture

Pericles @ 46:

What did you expect? All the ambitious rats have deserted the sinking ship, and it's just Dick, George, and Barney left running things. (And, rumor has it that Cheney spends most of his time shredding documents, and Barney is seriously considering a Chair at the Heritage Foundation.)

The problem is these guys have made off with the biggest bounty-loot haul in History. From which the U.S. may not recover from.

Pericles's picture

burnt @ 1:

we need to invest in more flag lapel pins.

$100 says that the MSM spends more time this week on Obama's lapel pin flip-flop, than on this report. Any takers?

L.A. Confidential's picture

Pericles @ 49:

burnt @ 1:

we need to invest in more flag lapel pins.

$100 says that the MSM spends more time this week on Obama's lapel pin flip-flop, than on this report. Any takers?

They'll figure out some way to push peoples buttons and get them hurling tomato's at him.

XuYu's picture

Luckily GWB still has a YEAR left in office to handle this NEW THREAT!

I stutter to think what would have happened if either of the DEMOCRATS were in office now.

They'd probably SURRENDER!

GOD BLASS George W. Bush for KEEPING US SAFE!

gemHusseinpei's picture

GAO says Al Qaeda attack likely and we have no plan

So what else is new?

Jesus wept.

Mafuskas's picture

Pericles @ 49:

burnt @ 1:

we need to invest in more flag lapel pins.

$100 says that the MSM spends more time this week on Obama's lapel pin flip-flop, than on this report. Any takers?

I don't take bets that I know I'll lose.

L.A. Confidential's picture

gemHusseinpei @ 52:

GAO says Al Qaeda attack likely and we have no plan

So what else is new?

Jesus wept.

Please leave Jesus out of it.

Xbalanque's picture

God willing, they'll target Cheney's 'undisclosed location.'

L.A. Confidential's picture

Xbalanque @ 55:

God willing, they'll target Cheney's 'undisclosed location.'

Go troll elsewhere. As despicable as Cheney is we do not support that frame of reference here.

Verdillac's picture

L.A. Confidential @ 54:

gemHusseinpei @ 52:

GAO says Al Qaeda attack likely and we have no plan

So what else is new?

Jesus wept.

Please leave Jesus out of it.

Jesus Gonzalez?

Verdillac's picture

Hey! Zeus! Get off of my cloud!

Orangutan.'s picture

There's a lot of money to be made from fear and chaos. Look at Halliburton as a prime example or Naomi Klein's Shock Doctrine. It is also easy to see happen when the men in charge of running your government don't care about the Constitution or the Country for that matter. They are oil men with international ties to defense industries and interests in world government run by corporations as opposed to Constitutions. Wake up.

Orangutan.'s picture

I wonder if the GAO would be willing to give us their interpretation of the history of Al Qaeda. Do you know the history of Al Qaeda? As Americans we'd be smart to better understand our enemies in my opinion.

Avid Reader's picture

put a tail on the VP

tr's picture

the criminal oligarchy are using their unregulated hedge fund investments to speculate the price of commodities out of the reach of the slave class, who were formerly working and middle class americans. they now have a private military that has been lavishly bankrolled and supplied by bushco and they won't hesitate to unleash these blackwater type militias on americans that resist. we will become el salvador circa 1975.

Avid Reader's picture

Orangutan. @ 60:

I wonder if the GAO would be willing to give us their interpretation of the history of Al Qaeda. Do you know the history of Al Qaeda? As Americans we'd be smart to better understand our enemies in my opinion.

Al Kida was founded by our current defense secretary Gates . . . to attack the soviets . . . loosely translated it means "the base" although in Arabic Al Qaeda is "the toilet" . . . it was the "database" of fighters . . . the CIA's excel spreadsheet.

Al Qaeda is controlled by western intelligence agencies and is used create chaos . . . so that our enemies keep fighting amongst themselves and don't coallate into a force that could oppose the west . . . that is Iran's sin . . .they can oppose the west.

Its all about money and power . . . do the research . . . its a facinating story.

Mike from Colorado's picture

I bet those America-hating-homasexul-illegal-Iranian-librul-abortionist are behind this!

Avid Reader's picture

The Bushes dine with the Bin Ladens . . . it is a conspiracy and its not theory . . . completely challenges our national mythology . . . junior highschool bulletin board version of history . . . as the general said . . "you can't handle the truth".

Most can't . . . . put me back in the matrix . . . I know its all fake . . . but the steak tastes great!

Mike from Colorado's picture

Mike from Colorado @ 64:

I bet those America-hating-homasexul-illegal-Iranian-librul-abortionist are behind this!

Whoops! forgot to mention the Cleenus!

longnow's picture

Having no plan to stop an attack is called "allowing" an attack without facilitating it
so that nothing can be traced back to you and your hands are clean. Kinda reminds
you of something doesn't it? McCain could use that extra boost and so what if we
incur a few civilian deaths if it gets the straight talker into the old cockpit for a few months
before VP Romney takes the rains.

It worked with the anthrax attacks and...well maybe they should just settle for killing Bin Laden
on the date of the Democratic nomination. The stupid voters will never stop to wonder because
the average voter has no idea when democrats or republicans hold their nomination. They know their
constituents so damn well.

skeezix's picture

well let's just hope they take out WDC in it's entirety.. our system is so fucked the only solution is
to let the whole thing come to a crashing halt and rebuild from there.

folks, it ain't gonna happen - we're just gonna turn the keys over to China OR merge with Mexico
and Canada into something akin to a "North American Union" with a single currency, ala Europe
and the Euro..

America is finished as an autonomous country - heckuva job, Bushie, heckuva job!!

the Bilderberg Group is going to be SO pleased.

Orangutan.'s picture

Avid Reader @ 63:

Orangutan. @ 60:

I wonder if the GAO would be willing to give us their interpretation of the history of Al Qaeda. Do you know the history of Al Qaeda? As Americans we'd be smart to better understand our enemies in my opinion.

Al Kida was founded by our current defense secretary Gates . . . to attack the soviets . . . loosely translated it means "the base" although in Arabic Al Qaeda is "the toilet" . . . it was the "database" of fighters . . . the CIA's excel spreadsheet.

Al Qaeda is controlled by western intelligence agencies and is used create chaos . . . so that our enemies keep fighting amongst themselves and don't coallate into a force that could oppose the west . . . that is Iran's sin . . .they can oppose the west.

Its all about money and power . . . do the research . . . its a facinating story.

Thanks. sounds interesting.

longnow's picture

XuYu @ 51:

Luckily GWB still has a YEAR left in office to handle this NEW THREAT!

I stutter to think what would have happened if either of the DEMOCRATS were in office now.

They'd probably SURRENDER!

GOD BLASS George W. Bush for KEEPING US SAFE!

And GOD BLASS you stuttering XuYu because no one else will. I wrote a comment about you
and about how Bush knows and manipulates people like you so well.
So, my fellow democrats, remember not to surrender...the election to people like this.

Jack Damage's picture

So this GAO report reveals we haven't met our security goals and we have no plan to meat our goals... Hmmm, I'm not entirely sure given what I know about PNAC and neocon ambitions that this actually still isn't part of the big plan to remake this nation.

Maybe they figured they'd have to totally destroy the nations infrastructures, political and social institutions totally first. Then they would get to remake this country in the sick image they want and noone would care or have the time or energy to care and complain about repealing civil rights, having governmental snooping into our bedrooms, one rightwing evangelical religion shoved down everyones throats, state sanctioned predudice against and ostracism of people and groups not considered worthy and the big goal? A return to Upton Sinclairs world of the jungle. A world more in tuned to a 1900 of monopolized industry with no unions, no decent wages, and no future save for the already guilded few....

I dunno folks, am I just crazy to suspect the worst? That people running things in this nation right now have only themselves and their own pet cliques best interests at heart and fuck the rest???? Am I the nut here, or am I just the latest guy to see behind the curtin???? Is there truly any way out of this shithole that won't involve blood in the streets and violence??? I'd really hate to see it all go to hell like that over George W. Bush and Dick Cheneys sick ambitions.......... JD

Post Americans's picture

I've been calling my Rep. Heather Wilson (NM-R) every week for the last seven years asking about the hunt for the infamous Osama Bin Laden, they've never been able to answer my question, and in seven years have never sent me back a letter or an email. Finally they transfered me one day to Rep. Wilson's Military Expert, and he told me we are all in this war on terror together. Anyway when I called her DC office the other day about the car bombings in Iraq, the lady just hung up on me. We sure do live in interesting times

Eliz's picture

Gee, I'm surprised they didn't wait until a Friday to release this info....
(That way they can bury the ineptitude with all the other Friday releases)

Keith H.'s picture

Don't you get it ?
Not having a plan . . . IS their plan .

abarts's picture

"I think it said something about Bin Laden determined to strike within the U.S." - Condi

General_Rennenkampf's picture

burpster @ 13:

Thats actually pretty funny considering the US and it's mighty war machine. Some rag-tag band of arabs can make Americans quake in fear.

Well, to be fair, look what happened to the U.S.S.R. and the Red Army while fighting those "rag-tag band(s) of (A)rabs." You ever wonder why we refer to Vladimir Putin as President of Russia instead of General Secretary, CCCP, USSR? It was those same rag-tag bands of Arabs. Unfortunately, we armed those fuckers. >.>

Anacher Forester's picture

Keith H. @ 74:

Don't you get it ?
Not having a plan . . . IS their plan .

Always was and always will be...at least for for al Qaeda. There's too damn much money to be made in this now perpetual war. If they were to bring all of our resources together to find a way stop it, it's no longer perpetual is it?

-AF
Andrew Sullivan Is A Fraud

Bluestocking's picture

Actually, at this point, I find myself inclined to suspect that an al-Qaeda attack on US soil might work more to the advantage of the Bush administration than to its detriment. This is one of the reasons why I've said at least once that if there truly are people in the Bush administration who'd be willing to use a "false flag" operation in order to further their own interests (as some people believe there are), between now and the election would be a particularly opportune time for them to pull such a thing off -- which is one of the reasons why this story makes me a bit suspicious.

Think about it...Bush's approval rating with the American people is at its lowest point ever, our military is stuck in a quagmire of our own making overseas, oil prices are steadily rising, the economy is to say the least not in good shape, and there is at least a good chance that voters will choose the Democratic candidate over McCain in the presidential election come November. I don't know how many Americans are aware of this -- but in May of last year, President Bush also signed an executive order which not only grants him the authority to declare martial law in the event that a "catastrophic emergency" (whether natural or man-made, accidental or intentional) takes place on US soil but also grants him the right to decide exactly what constitutes a "catastrophic emergency". I think most people would admit that if another terrorist attack of any significance were carried out on US soil and attributed (whether rightly or wrongly) to al-Qaeda, President Bush would almost certainly consider that grounds for declaring a "catastrophic emergency" -- especially since nearly everything that the Bush administration has done over the past six-odd years has ostensibly been implemented to prevent just this very thing from happening, so that we can "fight them over there instead of having to fight them here". Add to that the fact that Kellogg, Brown, and Root has (under US government contract) been building a number of detention centers right here in the US over the past few years, ostensibly in case there should ever be a dramatic upsurge in illegal immigrants or refugees...and I think that even the most hardened skeptic has to at least acknowledge that mechanisms are already in place which would make it very easy for Bush to declare martial law and suspend civil liberties if he chose to do so and if circumstances granted him the opportunity.

WC's picture

Skeptic @ 5:

Someone's been ramping up the "eminent attack" warnings lately. Is it an election year again? I guess republicans can't win without fear mongering.

Won't be long before they resurrect the old standby, "If a Democrat gets elected President, we'll be attacked again." Wouldn't be surprised if they somehow spun the GAO report to convince some of the idiots who actually believe this.

WC's picture

XuYu @ 51:

Luckily GWB still has a YEAR left in office to handle this NEW THREAT!

I stutter to think what would have happened if either of the DEMOCRATS were in office now.

They'd probably SURRENDER!

GOD BLASS George W. Bush for KEEPING US SAFE!

You are kidding, right? Perhaps you'd like to remind us the exact steps Bush took to handle the terrorist threat prior to 9/11.

Wait...I'll answer that for you. Not a GD'mned thing.

tHezombieHusseinGaMeOfLiFe's picture

No Shit!

This is what I don't need another 2 mins of chimpy's war on terror, playing chase the __________ all over the world. Yeah, round them up yeeehawww, tap dance boy. Can his stupid ass be any more stupider? This idiot doesn't know which way is up.

chimpy's prized dumbass dumbass playing cards are now in a game of 52-pick-up. All his garbage and sewer. And monkey-boy thinks it's hilarious!

repugs know ugly inside and out

Go Obama!
Go USA!
Go PA!

tHezombieHusseinGaMeOfLiFe's picture

WC @ 79:

Skeptic @ 5:

Someone's been ramping up the "eminent attack" warnings lately. Is it an election year again? I guess republicans can't win without fear mongering.

Won't be long before they resurrect the old standby, "If a Democrat gets elected President, we'll be attacked again." Wouldn't be surprised if they somehow spun the GAO report to convince some of the idiots who actually believe this.

repugs and sillihili will call it a coincidence.

Comment Submitted's picture

Lies no longer protect us?

Pericles's picture

skeezix @ 68:

well let's just hope they take out WDC in it's entirety.. our system is so fucked the only solution is
to let the whole thing come to a crashing halt and rebuild from there.

folks, it ain't gonna happen - we're just gonna turn the keys over to China OR merge with Mexico
and Canada into something akin to a "North American Union" with a single currency, ala Europe
and the Euro..

America is finished as an autonomous country - heckuva job, Bushie, heckuva job!!

the Bilderberg Group is going to be SO pleased.

What do you mean? The United States has ALREADY merged with Mexico and Canada through NAFTA. The theory was, and still is that Canada will supply the oil, gas, coal and water, Mexico will supply the cheap labor, and the U.S. will do the value-added retail.

The only difference between this and a formal 'American Union' is that, unlike the European Union, Americans would never accept a common currency unless it's the U.S. dollar. Canada and Mexico have the odd public debate every now and then, asking if it would be a good idea to use the U.S. dollar, but usually decide against it because, of all the currencies in the world, the U.S. dollar is the easiest to forge.

drudge2's picture

How could the GAO get this so wrong? After all, Oklahoma Rep. Sally Kern recently revealed, homosexuality is "the biggest threat that our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam, which I think is a big threat." Unless.... unless..... Oh....my....GOD!!!! Al Qaeda is made up of gays! Now we are in trouble!

crazylikeafox's picture

L.A. Confidential @ 32:

Our flag should be battleship grey with a skull and crossbones on it.

Wouldn't that look great as a lapel pin?

chuck's picture

The GAO (Government Accounting Office) is supposed to investigate waste, fraud, and abuse. Why the hell are they making statements like this?

Big John's picture

Keith H. @ 74:

Don't you get it ?
Not having a plan . . . IS their plan .

Exactly right !!!

Big John's picture

crazylikeafox @ 86:

L.A. Confidential @ 32:

Our flag should be battleship grey with a skull and crossbones on it.

Wouldn't that look great as a lapel pin?

Have you checked the back of NeoCon lapels lately?

Gretchen's picture

The terror threat is so great that, according to Bush, the war needs to be our #1 priority. Chain of logic:

1. Assess the threat
2. Brainstorm solutions
3. Choose solution(s) that solve the problem with the most efficiency
4. Set goals to put solution(s) into play
5. Develop plan to meet goals, with timetables
6. Put plans into action to begin the process

It seems we got to 1 OK... decided on only one possible solution (war) and put it into action. It obviously isn't working, but we have no other possible solutions. So why am I surprised to read we have no goals or timetables? Why would we need them if the intent is just to bomb the hell out of someone to begin with? That was the goal anyway, right? And we met that goal.
No wonder crap like lapel pins and remarks about people being bitter are all we hear about. God forbid the masses realize what is really happening. They might actually think about looking to see who is profiting.

ferrofluid's picture

WHAT !!!! they are admitting that they dont have the cajones to invade a country with a mere population of only 200 million !!!!
these neocons and their MIC poodles are gutless.

Terrible's picture

Lets not forget the al-Qaeda safe havens in Saudi Arabia either shall we.

♣Bangkok Bob♠'s picture

Bush could have taken care of this on his watch, in eight years he could have gotten OBL, but after deserting the National Guard, he HAD to save face by going after someone he could get. (Saddam) So the little preppy kid from the N.E., who claims to be a texan, (cause their tough) who destroyed five corporations in his past (and one baseball team) goes on to destroy the Largest Corporation in the world, The U.S. Government.

Yes George, THAT will be you Legacy, that and the fact that you'll never be able to leave the shores of America again because the rest of the world wants you tried for crimes.

Andrew's picture

Here's the plan. Forget Osama but kill free speech, kill Habeus Corpus, kill the financial system and remember the Constitution according to Bush is just a God damed piece of paper. Oh, and don't forget to get Chertoff's unmanned droans in the air to protect us here while further eroding our personal privacy and while your at it, make sure every state complies with the Real ID act and remember that clicking sound on your phone is a reminder that Big brother is keeping you safe and paranoid in your forelcosed home.

ali kazam's picture

all hail the torture pRESIDENT!!

Greg's picture

There's a sucker born every minute. That applies to politics as well as business.

bullfrog's picture

Greg @ 96:

There's a sucker born every minute. That applies to politics as well as business.

by my math, it's 3 suckas born every new york minute...

motorfingaz's picture

"I don't know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority."

- G.W. Bush, 3/13/02

"I am truly not that concerned about him."

- G.W. Bush, repsonding to a question about bin Laden's whereabouts,
3/13/02 (The New American, 4/8/02)

Isn't it amazing how the "so-called" liberal media ignores these quotes by the giggling bafoone in the White House.

Imagine if a Democratic President were this traitorous.

Anonymous's picture

No plan . . .What's the President been doing the last 6 going on 7 years? Glad to hear the GAO told us what Congress refuses to admit: The President is useless and should be lawfully removed.

motorfingaz's picture

Big John @ 88:

Keith H. @ 74:

Don't you get it ?
Not having a plan . . . IS their plan .

Exactly right !!!

I beg to differ.

Thier plan is to maintain power through "fear"(False Events Appearing Real).

Transfer as much wealth to the "elites" as possible and destroy the New Deals plan for a LARGE middle class in America.

Robt's picture

"Wouldn’t it have been nice to have a question on this subject at last night’s debates?"

You must be some kind of socialist, marxist commi liberal to place America's future presidential decisions
ahead of Corporate media ratings and profit.

JLee's picture

The bad news: Al Qaeda is reemerging, preparing to attack and the U.S. has no plan.

The good news: There's a chance that Americans will fully wake up to the fact that Bush, the Republicans, and the Iraq War have done nothing to make them safer. They may even elect an administration that will do something about this.

The ball's in the media's court, though blogs will need to press this hard because the more traditional outlets might not. God, this is the kind of news that should be screamed from every rooftop.

Chico Hussein's picture

all hail the hypno toad @ 6:

But baby bush and the republics keep telling us we haven't had an attack since 9/11 and we should be thankful to our authoritarian masters. You mean to tell me that was wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually, Bush has the WORST record ever for any President serving 2 terms as far as number of days with no attack on the Homeland.

All 2-term Presidents except Bush and Clinton -- 2922 days with no Terror attacks on American soil.

Clinton suffered the first WTC attack on 2-26-03. After hunting down, convicting and JAILING all the guilty parties, he presided over an additional 2885 days with no attacks on the US.

Bush suffered the second WTC attack on 9-11-01. After all but ignoring the guilty parties for 7 years, he has only gone 2411 days with no new attack on the Homeland, the worst record in the history of our country.

Chico Hussein's picture

Chico Hussein @ 103:

all hail the hypno toad @ 6:

But baby bush and the republics keep telling us we haven't had an attack since 9/11 and we should be thankful to our authoritarian masters. You mean to tell me that was wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually, Bush has the WORST record ever for any President serving 2 terms as far as number of days with no attack on the Homeland.

All 2-term Presidents except Bush and Clinton -- 2922 days with no Terror attacks on American soil.

Clinton suffered the first WTC attack on 2-26-03. After hunting down, convicting and JAILING all the guilty parties, he presided over an additional 2885 days with no attacks on the US.

Bush suffered the second WTC attack on 9-11-01. After all but ignoring the guilty parties for 7 years, he has only gone 2411 days with no new attack on the Homeland, the worst record in the history of our country.

WTC #1 was 2-26-93 of course, not '03.

I misspoke.

Norse's picture

Chico Hussein @ 104:

Chico Hussein @ 103:

all hail the hypno toad @ 6:

But baby bush and the republics keep telling us we haven't had an attack since 9/11 and we should be thankful to our authoritarian masters. You mean to tell me that was wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually, Bush has the WORST record ever for any President serving 2 terms as far as number of days with no attack on the Homeland.

All 2-term Presidents except Bush and Clinton -- 2922 days with no Terror attacks on American soil.

Clinton suffered the first WTC attack on 2-26-03. After hunting down, convicting and JAILING all the guilty parties, he presided over an additional 2885 days with no attacks on the US.

Bush suffered the second WTC attack on 9-11-01. After all but ignoring the guilty parties for 7 years, he has only gone 2411 days with no new attack on the Homeland, the worst record in the history of our country.

WTC #1 was 2-26-93 of course, not '03.

I misspoke.

Clinton had Oklahoma City bombing I believe, or doesn't that count as it was a republican doing it?

Bush had anthrax attacks, or doesn't that count as it was (probably) a republican doing it?

Chico Hussein's picture

Norse @ 105:

Chico Hussein @ 104:

Chico Hussein @ 103:

all hail the hypno toad @ 6:

Actually, Bush has the WORST record ever for any President serving 2 terms as far as number of days with no attack on the Homeland.

All 2-term Presidents except Bush and Clinton -- 2922 days with no Terror attacks on American soil.

Clinton suffered the first WTC attack on 2-26-03. After hunting down, convicting and JAILING all the guilty parties, he presided over an additional 2885 days with no attacks on the US.

Bush suffered the second WTC attack on 9-11-01. After all but ignoring the guilty parties for 7 years, he has only gone 2411 days with no new attack on the Homeland, the worst record in the history of our country.

WTC #1 was 2-26-93 of course, not '03.

I misspoke.

Clinton had Oklahoma City bombing I believe, or doesn't that count as it was a republican doing it?

Bush had anthrax attacks, or doesn't that count as it was (probably) a republican doing it?

Remember, we're using REPUBLICAN logic here, so only attacks by "towelheads" count as a terrorist attack.

Space_Poet's picture

Marge @ 43:

Hot diggty dog watch obama and his plan. He'll get one of his speech writers to write a speech and he'll stand up in front of the zonked out cult members and give it, they'll cheer and wave and the threat will go away...Those speeches are THE THING.

I'm sure you were saying the same thing back in 2000 with boosh, right? Nice projection there.

Space_Poet's picture

Bluestocking @ 78:

Actually, at this point, I find myself inclined to suspect that an al-Qaeda attack on US soil might work more to the advantage of the Bush administration than to its detriment. This is one of the reasons why I've said at least once that if there truly are people in the Bush administration who'd be willing to use a "false flag" operation in order to further their own interests (as some people believe there are), between now and the election would be a particularly opportune time for them to pull such a thing off -- which is one of the reasons why this story makes me a bit suspicious.

Think about it...Bush's approval rating with the American people is at its lowest point ever, our military is stuck in a quagmire of our own making overseas, oil prices are steadily rising, the economy is to say the least not in good shape, and there is at least a good chance that voters will choose the Democratic candidate over McCain in the presidential election come November. I don't know how many Americans are aware of this -- but in May of last year, President Bush also signed an executive order which not only grants him the authority to declare martial law in the event that a "catastrophic emergency" (whether natural or man-made, accidental or intentional) takes place on US soil but also grants him the right to decide exactly what constitutes a "catastrophic emergency". I think most people would admit that if another terrorist attack of any significance were carried out on US soil and attributed (whether rightly or wrongly) to al-Qaeda, President Bush would almost certainly consider that grounds for declaring a "catastrophic emergency" -- especially since nearly everything that the Bush administration has done over the past six-odd years has ostensibly been implemented to prevent just this very thing from happening, so that we can "fight them over there instead of having to fight them here". Add to that the fact that Kellogg, Brown, and Root has (under US government contract) been building a number of detention centers right here in the US over the past few years, ostensibly in case there should ever be a dramatic upsurge in illegal immigrants or refugees...and I think that even the most hardened skeptic has to at least acknowledge that mechanisms are already in place which would make it very easy for Bush to declare martial law and suspend civil liberties if he chose to do so and if circumstances granted him the opportunity.

This is why impeachment was so important.

ysbaddaden's picture

The United States Lacks a Comprehensive Plan to Destroy the Terrorist Threat and Close the Safe Haven in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

Shades of Ben Laden Determined to Attacked the United States?

RMHK's picture

Did the GOP say when they were planning this attack?

yakfitguy's picture

7 years of neo-con fascist misery, billions and billions of dollars, and we're no better off than we were on 9/10/01.

Except, now I have to take my shoes off every time I board a frickin' plane.

karlo's picture

Better call Condon Rice, she will know what to do.................give her husband bushit a BJ.

karlo's picture

Sorry....... Condom Reich.....my bad

yakfitguy's picture

Space_Poet @ 108:

Bluestocking @ 78:

Actually, at this point, I find myself inclined to suspect that an al-Qaeda attack on US soil might work more to the advantage of the Bush administration than to its detriment. This is one of the reasons why I've said at least once that if there truly are people in the Bush administration who'd be willing to use a "false flag" operation in order to further their own interests (as some people believe there are), between now and the election would be a particularly opportune time for them to pull such a thing off -- which is one of the reasons why this story makes me a bit suspicious.

Think about it...Bush's approval rating with the American people is at its lowest point ever, our military is stuck in a quagmire of our own making overseas, oil prices are steadily rising, the economy is to say the least not in good shape, and there is at least a good chance that voters will choose the Democratic candidate over McCain in the presidential election come November. I don't know how many Americans are aware of this -- but in May of last year, President Bush also signed an executive order which not only grants him the authority to declare martial law in the event that a "catastrophic emergency" (whether natural or man-made, accidental or intentional) takes place on US soil but also grants him the right to decide exactly what constitutes a "catastrophic emergency". I think most people would admit that if another terrorist attack of any significance were carried out on US soil and attributed (whether rightly or wrongly) to al-Qaeda, President Bush would almost certainly consider that grounds for declaring a "catastrophic emergency" -- especially since nearly everything that the Bush administration has done over the past six-odd years has ostensibly been implemented to prevent just this very thing from happening, so that we can "fight them over there instead of having to fight them here". Add to that the fact that Kellogg, Brown, and Root has (under US government contract) been building a number of detention centers right here in the US over the past few years, ostensibly in case there should ever be a dramatic upsurge in illegal immigrants or refugees...and I think that even the most hardened skeptic has to at least acknowledge that mechanisms are already in place which would make it very easy for Bush to declare martial law and suspend civil liberties if he chose to do so and if circumstances granted him the opportunity.

This is why impeachment was so important.

Absolutely.

I believe strongly that the administration made a diabolical calculation in 2002. They can go after Bin-Laden in Pakistan and wipe him out, which would be very difficult and would risk further destablization of that region.....OR

They can sit back and use him as a perfect Boogey man with which to manipulate public fears and control votes. Sure, pick off a few lieutenants with drones flying over the tribal areas now and then and play up the 2% of the Iraqi insurgency that is Al-Qaeda in Iraq...all to keep us thinking we're fighting them.

The right-wing's power derives soley from fear. Whether it's Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, El Salvavdor under Samosa, Chile under Pinochet, the list goes on.

They need external threats to control you, but on a more sinister level, they have been slowly working toward, and I qoute the neo-cons: "A PERMANENT "Republican majority".

What does that mean? It's code for a quasi-dictatorship. Fascism American style.

yakfitguy's picture

Terrible @ 92:

Lets not forget the al-Qaeda safe havens in Saudi Arabia either shall we.

Yep.

Funny, how the largest supporter of terrorism in the world is considered a "friend".

Is it 1984?

B. Cobb's picture

Six and a half years later, the man believed to be responsible for the greatest crime ever committed against the United States is still at large.

Not only does the White House refuse to mention his name, they've also spent $3 trillion and 4000+ American lives distracting the American people from the real threat.

The possibility that G.W. Bush (whose family is, after all, good friends with the bin Laden family) is protecting Osama bin Laden is sounding less and less like a "conspiracy theory" and more and more like "a theory".

Candy P.'s picture

What can I say that hasn't already been said? Bush is an ass and a total disgrace to this country! He should have gone from the classroom he sat in on 911 directly to his impeachment!! He has done nothing but bring this country down and trust me, it's gonna get much worse before it ever gets better. The Dixie Chicks said it all!!!

Comments are closed on this entry