U.S. braces for terrorism attack; Air France flights canceled

[Newsjock]

Mods and others: Some of what's in this story is already up as LBN. But I call your particular attention to the HEADLINE that's new here. This is the headline that The Associated Press has put on the story -- and, therefore, it's the headline that's appearing on dozens and dozens of websites as I write this. Either they "know" something we don't, or this is some of the most irresponsible fear-mongering and panic-spreading that I've seen in a long, long time. Either way, I'm absolutely livid.

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/7567033.htm

WASHINGTON - Air France canceled several flights to the United States after U.S. officials, on heightened alert for holiday terror attacks, passed on "credible" security threats involving passengers planning to fly from Paris to Los Angeles, U.S. and European officials said Wednesday.

Six flights scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday were canceled - three headed to Los Angeles, and the three return flights to Paris. U.S. officials have repeatedly warned that al-Qaida terrorists may be eyeing Los Angeles International Airport.

U.S. officials were also in intense security talks with officials from several other countries on Wednesday, as intelligence concerns again intensified about possible plans by the al-Qaida terror network to use aircraft to attack American targets. One industry official, who asked not to be identified, said a Mexican airline, Aeromexico, was another focus of U.S. concern.

more

[pinto]

1. how commom is it for AP to re-headline an ongoing story? Thanks, pinto n/t

[PinkTiger]

2. Actually, very common. Put no credence on it.

It just means that someone on the night desk is framing it in this context because it seems to be the best headline for now.
Whether or not the attack comes, the truth is, the U.S. is bracing for it.
I don't fault AP. But I do fault the Homeland Security folks for scaring everyone if there is no reason for it. I'd hate to see an attack happen, but there'd better be a good reason for all this hype.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Devils Advocate NZ]

11. This is bollocks.

Someone posted about this right wing dork (the author of the stuff you just posted) yesterday or the day before. He claims to find "evidence" of attacks all the time, and they always turn out to be bullshit.

[Paschall]

3. I haven't seen the other thread on this

But French media last night provided a few more details than this:

"A spokesman for Raffarin said the United States had threatened to refuse the planes permission to land in Los Angeles if they took off.

"But U.S. officials refused to confirm that they had made the request, leaving the question of who actually ordered the cancellations unclear. ...

"Before the French ministry issued its statement that the United States had requested the cancellations, U.S. officials in Washington, speaking on condition of anonymity, had said the United States had been "hoping that we would be able to lure some of these people in" and arrest them when they showed up for the flights.

"The official said then that there was some frustration within the Homeland Security Department that the flights were canceled, thus allowing the word to get out about the security concerns.

"But Homeland Security officials declined to clear up the conflict after the French announcement."

-------

Two different networks here said last night the US told French officials that if the Air France flights took off, they would not be allowed into US air space.

The whole story sounds extremely odd to me.

[fshrink]

4. Ideal tool

With it you can do everything that suits you whenever you need it. You need a little push in the polls: terrorist alert. You need to signify to some country that you're not happy: terrorist alert. You need to soften the laws to make your friends richer and more powerful: terrorist alert. You want to take public attention away from some bothersome problem: terrorist alert. Everybody reacts as expected , like a well-tuned engine. That's the magic button. And it's here to stay. It's so convenient and user-friendly that you might want to do what's needed to keep it running for ever.

[xchrom]

5. bush used osama for 9-11

and he's using osama now for christmas 03.
plus homeland security gets to act as an arm of bush's foreign policy by spanking the french.
how much is this elmo alert costing the american tax payer?

[KoKo]

6. Cynacism aside, if Bushies are using this to Punish France powerful

Business people need to step forward. This is the kind of tactic which could bring down our already weakened economy. One even wonders if this alert wasn't in anticipation of the Mad Cow release. It's so bad that everything they do must be questioned for motive. Chaos rule.

I have faith that more Americans are catching on to this. We are a "selfish people" in many ways, but even if it's only the "inconvenience factor" we like our freedoms and we expect our Government to "work" for us. This sounds like such a rogue operation, one has to believe folks will see through it.

[legin]

7. It has taken a fair amount of hard work by bush*

to get his populace into a warlike frame of mind so he does not want people thinking after the capture of Saddam and with Christmas here, "we'll now we got Saddam we have succeeded in the war on terrorism we can put our feet up a bit" (exageration). bush* wants this war to go on for at least 20 years.

Whilst i am sure that there are people that want to make a reply to the capture of Saddam, bush* and his cronies will be very willing accomplices in making sure any threats will get maximum public exposure.

[legin]

10. this is all so sufficiently assured and to be fair, successful

that one would have to deduce that bush* has a department of government set up to accomplish these propaganda effects, staffed perhaps with experts in mass psychology and top flite advertising people.

After all Hitler had an entire offical department of government, the Ministry of Propaganda under Goebbels, set up to make sure his populace would hop around on one foot when he wanted them to.

[pinto]

8. MSNBC reporting Air France says no credible threat found (by AF)

edit for clarity, live report