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Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: InfernoGod on January 22, 2005, 10:29:22 pm

Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: InfernoGod on January 22, 2005, 10:29:22 pm
About the anonymous tip about a Chinese terrorist attack that was supposed to happen in Boston sometime from Sunday to tomorrow? *looks for link*
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: Corsair on January 22, 2005, 10:45:23 pm
Yes.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,144935,00.html
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: Gank on January 22, 2005, 10:48:27 pm
Oooo fox guess we can chalk this one up to bull****.
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: Corsair on January 22, 2005, 10:49:43 pm
It was on CNN too. I couldn't find the link to the CNN story though.
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: Deepblue on January 22, 2005, 10:54:11 pm
Gank, don't be an idiot, its an AP story.
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: Gank on January 22, 2005, 11:00:21 pm
Well, when a chinese terrerist attack happens in Boston, I'll consider myself an idiot. Until then kiss my balls, cos its bull****.
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: Rictor on January 22, 2005, 11:10:52 pm
Woah, better bust out the nuclear-proof RVs.

Seriously though, these "Terror Alerts" go out ever week. Since 9/11, when the paranoia set in, I don't know how dozens of times they've been wrong. There's no real reason to suspect that this time will be any different, at least with the information publicly available.
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: Deepblue on January 22, 2005, 11:11:52 pm
What do you mean every week? This is the first alert in a long while.
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: Rictor on January 22, 2005, 11:20:31 pm
I meant it figuratively. I don't actually count them. I was reffering generally to the atmosphere or constant fear and paranoia.

Though I remember a slew of such alerts being issued concerning the inauguration, which was only yesterday.
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: JR2000Z on January 22, 2005, 11:24:26 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Gank
Well, when a chinese terrerist attack happens in Boston, I'll consider myself an idiot. Until then kiss my balls, cos its bull****.

Why does it matter if it's Chinese or not?
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: Drew on January 22, 2005, 11:55:48 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Rictor
Woah, better bust out the nuclear-proof RVs.

Seriously though, these "Terror Alerts" go out ever week. Since 9/11, when the paranoia set in, I don't know how dozens of times they've been wrong. There's no real reason to suspect that this time will be any different, at least with the information publicly available.


nobody cares.  Give me a gun Uncle Sam, ill be fine, thanks.
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: Rictor on January 23, 2005, 07:31:02 am
yup, scary terrorists coming to get you
...
bwahahaha

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=a_FuKxCSI6fg&refer=us
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: Flipside on January 23, 2005, 07:36:32 am
What could China have against Boston in particular?

Oh well, at least it means people get to see the security forces doing something for all their funding ;)
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: aldo_14 on January 23, 2005, 07:39:15 am
Threat level Reddish!

No, Indigo!

Actually, make it level Burlywood!

*whisper*  "what do you mean, there's no threat?  How else can we justify our extravagant funding?.... aah, 1 sec"

Threat level SILVER!!!!
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: Grug on January 23, 2005, 08:15:15 am
The stupid thing is that this kind of stuff has been going on for ages.
Nobody cared till it did actually happen.

I have to say that to a certain extent many americans are probably at least partially brainwashed via the media.

It does make a big difference, the media has more power than Governments just about these days.
And its difficult to suggest a method of policing the media.
You can't have the Govt involved or its just more propaganda (ie. Fox :p ).

Ah well.
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: BlackDove on January 23, 2005, 09:06:21 am
Quote
Originally posted by Gank
Oooo guess we can chalk this one up to bull****.
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: an0n on January 23, 2005, 09:09:26 am
Quote
Originally posted by Grug
I have to say that to a certain extent many americans are probably at least partially brainwashed via the media.

Let's test that theory:

Explain the structure of Al Qaeda, in as much detail as possible but without referencing other source material. Just what you know off-hand.
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: BlackDove on January 23, 2005, 09:43:23 am
THEY ATRE THE THERRORSISTSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RUN FOR YOUR LIPVES:


That's all I've got.
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: an0n on January 23, 2005, 09:50:04 am
I recently found out that Bin Laden and his associates had never even heard the name Al Qaeda till the US media started using it.

And that 99% of the terrorism convictions have been overturned or thrown out due to stupid evidence. And that the majority of the US's information on Al Qaeda came from a man wanted in dozens of countries for fraud.
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: BlackDove on January 23, 2005, 09:52:18 am
BUT BUT - THE AMERICA HAS A LOT OF AL QUADA AT GUANTANANAMAO!! THATS PROOF:
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: an0n on January 23, 2005, 09:56:35 am
Yeah, and look at the evidence against most of 'em:

There was one case where they took some doodles of planes in a day planner to be the schemings of the master terrorist. Apparently the incomprehensible scribble in the corner wasn't just someone getting the ink going, but was infact a crude sketch of Libya......:blah:

And then there's the evil bastards who were planning to attack dozens of tourist locations across some city in North America......that it to say: The FBI found a map with locations circled and took it to be a terrorist plot, when infact it had been left in the 'terrorist's' flat by an Australian backpacker who'd marked out his sight-seeing route on it.
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: Gank on January 23, 2005, 09:56:29 am
Apparently the name Al-Quada came from a map that was used to plan cruise missile strikes after the african embassy bombings. It literaly means "the base".
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: Gank on January 23, 2005, 09:59:34 am
A federal law enforcement official in Washington, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation, said the uncorroborated tip was received by the California Highway Patrol. The tipster claimed the men were awaiting a shipment of "nuclear oxide" that would follow them from Mexico to Boston, the source said.

What this latest "threat" is based on
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: aldo_14 on January 23, 2005, 10:01:03 am
Quote
Originally posted by Gank
Apparently the name Al-Quada came from a map that was used to plan cruise missile strikes after the african embassy bombings. It literaly means "the base".


I thought it had been first used in bin Ladins (absentee) trial for the embassy bombings in March 2001; they needed to use the old anti-mob laws to convict him, and to do that they needed to construct an 'organsiation' of which bin Ladin was the head.

 One defector (on the run after embezelling from bin Ladin) gave them a description of an appropriate organization (and I think the name Al-Queda), and in return got asylum and a few hundred k.  Not that safety and money could have influenced him to give a useful testimony, of course.

Quote
Originally posted by an0n
Yeah, and look at the evidence against most of 'em:

There was one case where they took some doodles of planes in a day planner to be the schemings of the master terrorist. Apparently the incomprehensible scribble in the corner wasn't just someone getting the ink going, but was infact a crude sketch of Libya......:blah:

And then there's the evil bastards who were planning to attack dozens of tourist locations across some city in North America......that it to say: The FBI found a map with locations circled and took it to be a terrorist plot, when infact it had been left in the 'terrorist's' flat by an Australian backpacker who'd marked out his sight-seeing route on it.


Former was also drawn by the nutty former apartment dweller who beleived he was minister of defense for the middle east, and was found down the back of the sofa.

And you forgot the arab youths (I forget their nationality, I think mst were Yemeni) who were charged and IIRC convicted of 'planning to attack America'..... they had been caught playing paintball.

NB:  Watching 'power of nightmares' on bbc2 then?
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: Gank on January 23, 2005, 10:12:44 am
The name was first used in November 98.
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: an0n on January 23, 2005, 10:13:10 am
Quote
NB: Watching 'power of nightmares' on bbc2 then?


:nervous: No......
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: karajorma on January 23, 2005, 10:22:18 am
Quote
Originally posted by JR2000Z
Why does it matter if it's Chinese or not?


Cause if it is you'll want another attack half an hour later :D
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: aldo_14 on January 23, 2005, 10:22:49 am
Quote
Originally posted by Gank
The name was first used in November 98.


My mistake.

Bin Ladins first use of it was after 9/11, wasn't it?  Didn't he deny involvement initially, as well?  (IIRC it was another guy who organised it, but he got some(?) funding from Bin Ladin)
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: an0n on January 23, 2005, 10:25:04 am
Bin Laden was like the Terrorist Abbey National. He just gave funding and some training to anyone and everyone who looked like they might be good at stirring up a ****storm.

He never had anything to do with their group's planning or the implimentation of plots.
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: Gank on January 23, 2005, 10:35:27 am
Quote
Originally posted by aldo_14
My mistake.

Could be mine too, but thats the earliest I can find any offical reference to it.

Quote
Originally posted by aldo_14
Bin Ladins first use of it was after 9/11, wasn't it?  Didn't he deny involvement initially, as well?  (IIRC it was another guy who organised it, but he got some(?) funding from Bin Ladin)


3 or 4 times, then a very poor quality tape was found where he claimed responsibility. Khalid Shaikh Mohammed planned the attacks and was captured 2 years ago, though hes never actually been charged with them.
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: vyper on January 23, 2005, 11:09:35 am
They're probably civil rights workers or something :lol:
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: Rictor on January 23, 2005, 01:34:15 pm
Lets not forget the group of teenage friends (Arab of course) who took a trip to Disneyland and were promptly charged with terrorism for making a videotape of their trip. The Feds said that it was a reconaissance video, planning out potential targets for attack. The evidence? At one point, while standing in line for a ride, the camera points over to a trash-can for  about 2 seconds. Clearly, the trash-can was to be used as an integral part of the attacks against America.

and so forth....
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: Ford Prefect on January 23, 2005, 02:09:51 pm
A terrorist attack on one of America's hotbeds of liberalism....

Any terrorist who does that should be hung from a tree by his genitalia just for being an idiot.
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: Bobboau on January 23, 2005, 02:44:48 pm
yeah, AlQueda doesn't exsist, the first WTC atack, the cobar towers bombings, the cole atack, and the 9/11 atack never happened its all just an invention of the US government to alow them to make there corperate masters rich, that's it, that's a much more rational explanation than there being a loose aliance of religous zelots around the world.
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: Gank on January 23, 2005, 02:54:26 pm
They do exist, they just dont call themselves that. Kobar towers were Hez'bollah btw, who are in no way allied with Al-Qu'ida.

btw ever heard of vigilant guardian?
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: Grey Wolf on January 23, 2005, 02:55:50 pm
IIRC, they had a thing in the paper the other day about this. Apparently, the guy who "informed" about this attack had smuggled them across the border and wasn't paid....
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: aldo_14 on January 23, 2005, 04:39:17 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Bobboau
yeah, AlQueda doesn't exsist, the first WTC atack, the cobar towers bombings, the cole atack, and the 9/11 atack never happened its all just an invention of the US government to alow them to make there corperate masters rich, that's it, that's a much more rational explanation than there being a loose aliance of religous zelots around the world.


Multiple terrorist attacks do not equal a single SMERSH type organisation, yes.  Whilst we are told al-Queda is this all pervasive organisation of thousands of terrorists, I think that in reality you'd be looking at a number of small groups who secure funding from- but do not delegate operation control to - the likes of bin Laden.

Of course, the idea of Al-Queda as some single super-terrorist organisation is useful for both the terrorists (makes them sound scarier, gives them kudos and power to attract disaffected youth) and the politicians (a single enemy is an easy target and 'easier' to defeat, and also again allows the politics of fear).  It may have also acted as a catalyst for these organisations to co-operate more closely, of course.
Title: Anybody hear...
Post by: Bobboau on January 23, 2005, 05:38:37 pm
I don't think anyone has said there is some massive monolithic block, it's like a franchise