BREAKING BBC------------------Assassination plot to kill Bush foiled

[underpants]

No Link yet

PLEASE people be careful I don't like him but it is the OFFICE of the Presidency. It is against the LAW to make threats against the office (DU rules too)and you would probably be investigated. DU would probably be shut down too.

Russian and British intelligence along with the FBI tracked a man (thread here earlier) who purchased a surface to air missile in Russia. He was tracked but the missile was sent with false shipping manifesto (to Baltimore I believe they said). He orginally told the dealer (again in Russia) that he wanted to shoot down a commercial airliner but apparently the DEALER said no he wanted Air Force One.

More details later.

edited for spelling.

[Rose Siding]

1. No kidding (link)

That would be the LAST thing we need.

Briton arrested in 'terror missile' sting

The FBI deny the presidential aircraft was a target
A Briton has been arrested after a suspected plot to supply a lethal surface-to-air missile to terrorists.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3146025.stm

[aquart]

35. So the FBI says Bush Was NOT a target?

And George says he was?

Hard to know who to believe.

[Pallas180]

36. Really? hard to believe who to believe? Hint: no weapons of mass

destruction, no antrhrax, no nukes in Iraq, and we still
don't know where Osama bin forgotten is.

Now is it still hard to know who to believe?

[DagmarK]

2. ACK! Change your thread title.........

It sounds like the BBC plotted to assasinate Bush. And frankly, the war between Blair and the BBC right now......I could seriously see Blair setting the BBC for just such an accusation.

Anyways.........I don't know what this story is about........who knows what is what??????

[underpants]

7. CHANGED

SORRY

[underpants]

3. W was warned at the G8 summit and Putin puts things in motion

Sorry I am trying to remember what was just said on BBC World News. Putin can assure that SAM sales are now under control.

[duid12]

4. I have a feeling

that shooting down AF-1 with a surface-air missle wouldn't be all that simple. I imagine there is quite a lot of anti-missle technology etc...perhaps only on take-off and/or landing when the plane is so close to ground the technology couldn't "react" quick enough.

That said, I would also think Af-1 landing and takeoff zones are pretty well protected from the ground each and every time it takes off and lands.

Lets hope it never happens no matter who is in the oval-office. The country would deal with it, but it would be painful.

[THUNDER HANDS]

5. I doubt that could even be done

AF1 takes off and leaves from very heavily guarded locations, on top of that whenever it flies it has jets patrolling both sides of it.

On top of that, I think the plane is one of the most heavily fortified aircrafts ever created.

Plus the guy shooting it would have to be one hell of a lucky shot.

[underpants]

9. Yes there is some antiaircraft fire missiles and decoys

From the Dixcovery channel if I remember correctly.

[Rick Myers]

20. AF One is nearly invincible re: heat-seeking missiles

IR decoys, flares and modified IR jammers!!!

[Braden]

6. curious

most containerized freight heading for the Eastern US is shipped through Baltimore. Could this be a false alarm to stir up fear in the container port, i.e to get more goverment involvement in shipping?

[MaineDem]

13. Containers are really underscrutinized

One of the Dem candidates made a point about this during the past week, I think. I'm embarassed to say I can't remember which candidate. Graham maybe??

[tedoll78]

16. Dean.

He mentioned that less than 2% are inspected.

[arcane1]

22. indeed. I work for a steamship company

and while it's often seemingly impossible to get a particular shipment through customs, that's usually a small number of the ones that go through daily

there have been many new rule changes, that I presume do more than just make life harder for shippers, but for the most part you can smuggle damn near anything

ESPECIALLY, if you own a sizeable chunk of CSX lines, as the Carlyle Group does


I've been trying to keep an eye on the containers coming in here on the west coast, but it's not easy. I can only see ctr that are moved by my company, for one thing, and nobody is going to declare their cargo as "warheads" or anything like that!

[catzies]

24. It was on a 60 minutes segment Sunday before last.

n/t

[lkinsale]

29. Graham has led the efforts to increase port security

A landmark bill that will bolster security at America's
deepwater ports passed the Senate by voice vote today

December 20, 2001

WASHINGTON - The bill (S. 1214 ) has been a top priority of Senator Bob Graham, D-Florida, for more than two years. The legislation is based on the recommendations of a blue-ribbon commission that Graham convinced President Bill Clinton to create in 1999. Graham, chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, has called seaports particularly vulnerable to terrorism and crime, including drug smuggling.

****

S. 1214 - The Port and Maritime Security Act of 2001

- Local port security committees will be set up to improve coordination between federal, state, local, and private law enforcement agencies who oversee portions of port security. Federal agencies involved include Intelligence, FBI, Customs, Immigration, and the Coast Guard.

- For the first time, all ports in America will be required to have a comprehensive security plan.

- Ports will be required to limit access to security sensitive areas, develop evacuation plans, restrict firearms and other weapons, and conduct background checks on employees working in security-sensitive areas.

- Immediate funding, in the amount of $145 million, will be authorized for Fiscal Year 2002 for 1,200 new custom inspector positions and 300 new customs agent positions, other necessary port security positions, and for purchase and support of equipment. Equipment would include camera systems for docks and vehicle-mounted computers, canine enforcement for port security, and computer enhancements to update Customs reporting requirements.

- Overall, the bill authorizes more than $1.1 billion over six years, for improvements such as professional security training, hiring of additional customs agents, screening and detection equipment. The bill also provides another $3.3 billion in loan guarantees for local port authorities to finance security improvements.

Information on Our Nation's Seaports

- The United States has 361 coastal and inland ports that handle 95 percent of the nation's cargo coming from countries other than Canada or Mexico.

- The maritime industry contributes more than $750 billion to the US economy and employs 13 million people.

- Each day over 16,000 containers come through our ports, but less than 2 percent of these are actually inspected.

- Currently, the United States has no centralized port authority. Federal, state, and local authorities all share jurisdiction.

http://graham.senate.gov/pr122001.html


********

Of course it would be nice now if the administration would fully fund this, but they haven't.

******

Blog Graham! Join the original (b)logger at his new campaign blog.

Contribute to Graham For President (Enter "Laura Kinsale" as your BobCat if you want to give me credit toward my pledge to raise 1k for Bob.)

[MrPrax]

23. You Might Be On To Something

...didn't Steve Croft with 60 Minutes do a report on the 'container' security problem a week ago?

It's probably just my :tinfoilhat: being a little tight...

[LearnedHand]

51. Holy "Sum of all Fears," Batman...

n/t

[qanda]

8. Something doesn't sound right about this!

Don't know what it is, but it sounds like another ploy to boost up the squatter's poll numbers.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

10. Sounds like bullshit to me. Hope that's not an infraction

[NYC]

11. How did this evolve into a plot to assassinate Bush?

Go look at the original reports.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=63288

[MaineDem]

18. BBC Report

The BBC said that the dealer in Russia insisted the target be AF 1.

<He said: "It may not have happened, but when the dealer says he wants to bring down Airforce One, it's pretty dispiriting." >

[Gman]

12. ABSOLUTE BULLSHIT!!! KARL ROVE'S FINGERPRINTS ARE

all over this.

This story has been around since early today.. why is it only NOW that it becomes an assasination plot against the FI???

BULLSHIT! This is another 9/11 "they wanted to attack Air Force I" SCAM to make political hay...

These ASSHOLES will say ANYTHING to prop up Bush's ratings. They stole a United States presidential election. They are therefore capable of literally ANYTHING.

[liberalmuse]

33. Clinton kept it quiet...

when plots against him were foiled. Of course Rove doesn't know the meaning of the word, 'discretion'. He will try to garner as much sympathy for his puppet as he can. What a low-class slime-ball.

[TahitiNut]

34. It's be more Rovian to do the plotting -- avoid impeachment/loss

... and have a martyr for the Reich!

[Pallas180]

39. looking for sympathy vote...rally round the idiot.....NOT.

.

[snippy]

45. Definitely Turd Blossom Rove.

[celestia671]

14. I don't like Bush, but...

I certainly don't think anything should happen to him. I just wish he would go away, far away!

[reprobate]

27. don't think anything should happen to him......I disagree!

I think something should happen to him. He should be tried for treason along with all the rest of the cabal that stole our country.

It's getting more and more difficult for me to understand how the country let this happen.

On the brighter side, I went to my barber today. She is in a hi rent area. Her customers are doctors and lawyers for the most part. I asked her what the opinions of her clients are now. She said that most of them are so angry at the administration that they are just unable to articulate their anger. And this is in orlando, the home of the rabid republican. Seems like no matter what the polls say the cabal is losing popularity.

[Name removed]

41. Deleted message

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

[Maple]

15. Every president gets

assassination threats all the time.

And by every method.

[aquart]

38. But does he also get boils?

And/or other evidence of a pissed off higher authority?

[SayitAintSo]

48. you are too funny :)

:)

[dave29]

17. The real story here

is how easy it would be for someone to do this to a regular commercial airliner. AF1 has all sorts of countermeasures. The rest of us who fly the potenitally un-friendly skies (without the support of the the latest and greatest technologies) don't. I'm glad they are looking out for the President. I wouldn't mind them looking out for me as well.

[donotpassgo]

19. The FBI wont confirm that...

It's a media myth, like the Kuwaiti Incubator Babies, or Jessica Lynch, or the Iraqi child jails. Six months from now, were gonna hear the story about how Saddam tried to shoot down Air Force One.

[htuttle]

21. This whole story is contrived...I just heard ABC describe it

Apparently, it goes like this.

Undercover officers (US ones) posing as 'terrorists' in the US contact a British arms dealer, and ask him to obtain a SAM for them.

Hapless British arms dealer goes to Russia to try to buy a SAM. Russian arms dealer with missiles for sale is also in on the sting (working with Russian police), suggests that arms dealer would like to use it to blow up Air Force One.

Fake missile is delivered, arms dealer is busted.

So, did they bust anyone trying to assassinate the President? No.

At best, they busted a shady arms dealer, and I'm always happy for shady arms dealers to be busted, but there was no plot to kill the President.

[Threaderizer]

30. agreed

another diversion? Drum up support through sympathy.

[Imalittleteapot]

44. Same reported by Rather on CBS.

He said that government officials, WH, etc. denied that there was ever a threat to AF1 or GWB.

[DavidDvorkin]

25. How would he even know where AF1 was going to be?

The potential assassin would have to happen to be in the right position, with his missile ready, when AF1 flew by.

I'm assuming that AF1's flight path isn't predictable the way that of a commercial airliner would be. Which seems to me to be a reasonable assumption.



http://www.dvorkin.com]/i]

[htuttle]

26. There was no potential assassin

The arms dealer who was busted was buying the missile for some federal undercover officers here in the US. There was no plot.

[atreides1]

31. Maybe the FBI...

...wanted to shoot AF-1 down. Just think Cheney as pResident, and then
he would pick Asscrack as his Vice pResident.

It could happen.LOL

[MrBenchley]

28. You might note

that Rainbow Ridge has been dragging his feet on this issue too...

http://cgi.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/12/02/clinton.missiles/

http://www.house.gov/israel/issues/homeland.htm

[liberalmuse]

32. People tried to 'off' Clinton too...

but were stopped (except for the repubs, that is) Anyway, please don't kill Bush--whomever. I want to see him tried and convicted for his crimes, not become another revered dead president.

[truthisfreedom]

37. at any rate, the administration will milk this for all it's worth, while

they conveniently forget that actual anthrax attacks were used against DEMOCRATIC senators.

[Pert_UK]

40. Hmmmmm.....dodgy arms dealer? Yes. Plot to kill Bush? No...

Yep, they've taken one dangerous piece of worthless scum out of circulation and that's a good thing - I hope he never gets out of jail.

However, the only "plotting" against Bush or to use the missile in any terrorist capacity came solely from US/British/Russian police.

The Police - "Can we have a missile to blow up passenger planes and / or Air Force One?"
Arms Dealer - "Certainly, that will be $100,000."
The Police - "Ha ha! You're under arrest. We've just foiled a plot to assassinate Bush!".

Bizarre.

Still, at least it highlights how easy it is to buy a SAM these days, so maybe security will get a bit tighter around airports.

P.

[Pallas180]

42. You think security will get tighter around airports???? read this:

Tue Aug-12-03 06:47 PM

Cong Ed Markey (D-Mass) says "homeland security my "___" he needs

your help to help YOU and is asking that you call both the SEnate and
house "Homeland SEcurity Appropriations Committee AND your own senators and reps to pressure them to provide safety for YOU.

They are refusing to pass his bill REQUIRING ALL CARGO PUT ON PASSENGER AIRLINES GO THROUGH THE SAME CHECKS AS PASSENGERS.

Right now they frisk you, put you through a magnetometer, put your luggage through x ray and then put you on a plane sitting on top of cargo that has never been checked in any way. You could be sitting on top of an A bomb or a box full of poisonous spiders....they dont know (or obviously care, what the hell you aint ashcroft, dimwit, or cheney, but you might).

Call/e mail/fax these reps and senators on the Homeland Secuirty Appropriations Committee and tell em you want Ed Markey's bill passed
cause he obviously cares about your safety while they don't. (They dont have to ...they have private planes with no cargo to travel on)

Thad Cochran, Chairman Republican Senator Mississippi head of Senate
Homeland Security Apropriations Committee
[phone]
Web Form: cochran.senate.gov/contact.htm

from his site you should be able to, but I cant get onto the committee site which gives the rest of the members of The Senate Homeland Security Appropriations subcomittee members... maybe you can.

Here's the HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS- &
you know when it comes to protecting the public the Republican house
is not interested...so let them know that YOU ARE INTERESTED IN YOUR OWN SAFETY AND THEY ARE THROWING BULL ABOUT HOMELAND SECURITY WHICH LEAKS LIKE A SIEVE.

Homeland Security Subcommittee
(Appropriations)
B307 RHOB
Washington, DC
[phone]
OR http://clerk.house.gov/committee/index.php?subcomcode=HAP15

Republican
Democrat
Harold Rogers , KY,Chairman
C. W. Bill Young , FL
Frank R. Wolf , VA
Zach Wamp , TN
Tom Latham , IA
Jo Ann Emerson , MO
Kay Granger , TX
John E. Sweeney , NY
Don Sherwood , PA
Martin Olav Sabo , MN
David E. Price , NC
José E. Serrano , NY
Lucille Roybal-Allard , CA
Marion Berry , AR
Alan B. Mollohan , WV

Call them and tell them securing this country is more important than
securing oil fields in Iraq.

[joeunderdog]

46. More security at airports is not the answer.

You can't protect every tanker, every plane and every stadium. It's like buying more buckets instead of plugging the dam. Spend time on diplomacy and foreign relations rather than money on homeland security. Bush is doing neither.

[DisgustedTX]

43. More tripe. As believable as any other story.

The fact this even inspired discussion is alarming.

Reminds me of Iraqis with peashooters and stones as 45-minute threats, a "shoe bomber" - pick any poison.

[goforit]

47. Are you sure Bush didn't set this fiasco up himself? Wag the dog

Hey I wouldn't trust anything coming out in the news.

Anyway.....Bush is in Crawford. This story is absolutely absurd!!!

Has anyone checked the Pravda lately?

[grasswire]

49. ha! I predicted this!

I said months ago that the only thing that could ultimately save W is to portray him as a victim of terrorism.

It's the only card they have left. Aside from a threat of harm coming to his family -- which is probably the ace they're holding.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

54. Me Too!

In the weeks following Bush's election, when his poll numbers started to crash, I predicted that a patriotic war would become a remedy for him. I think a phoney stunt such as you suggest, portraying Bush as a victim is the type of thing they would at least contemplate. Charles De Gaulle was said to have faked at least one of the plots against his life, in order to manufactue patriotic support, following the Algerian crisis.

[Zero Gravitas]

50. There was no plot to kill *

This was a double sting. The FBI posed as terrorists and went to this guy for a SAM. The guy goes to Russia and buys SAM from Russian police working with the FBI. They tell him the SAM is very sophisticated and could shoot down a plane with counter-measures. They sell him disarmed SAM. He gets arrested.

There was no plot and no terrorists, although it is certainly good that someone willing to buy and sell SAMs on the black market has been caught, the underlying "terrorism" aspect is fake.

[Sick of Bullshit]

53. This "shady arms dealer" was probably just trying to muscle in

on their territory. Didn't he know that "shady arms deals" are supposed to be the exclusive domain of reactionary governments?

[Rex]

52. What happened? Another rogue pretzel find its way down

Dubya's windpipe? No wait - lemme guess, he nearly fell off another segway (which was secretly working for Osama). No no no, I know...he was attacked by the door of his SUV, again!



Maybe they need to screen the SUV doors better, so when drunkass gets out he won't topple over like a weevel.

[visteons]

55. don't stoop to that level

don't want to see someone killed just kicked out of office

[visteons]

56. breaking news about bush planting wmds

hey guys I am new here but I just found out by listening to ray taliefierno(he is in san fran) about this lady who is a 28 yr. veteran of the dod who is a whistleblower talking about bush planting weapons here is the link: http://100777.com/node/view/433 it states that the cia failed b/c the us army showed up. lol I hope these guys get canned. Also could someone post this as its own thread b/c I am new and I can't post a new thread. also if the link doesn't show up here it is again http://100777.com/node/view/433

[Ganja Ninja]

57. Message to terrorists!

I have a message for any terrorist!

If terrorists think they can frighten or break the resolve of the American people by attacking our fearless warrior-president then all I can say is “Bring’em On”.

I can say that can’t I?

[VolcanoJen]

58. Locking... not LBN

After reading carefully through this thread, I've decided to lock it based upon the fact that it contains no newsworthy material. A link to the BBC's claims that the arms dealer wished to shoot down Air Force One was never provided, so therefore this story has not been substantiated. It also seems unlikely, given that the arrest has been revealed to be a sting operation.

Please continue discussion about this story in the original, earliest thread on the arrest of the arms dealer, which can be found here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=63288&mesg_id=63288

Thanks,
VolcanoJen
DU Moderator