The Terror Question -- Possibility Not Ruled Out

[Lori Price CLG]

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/WorldNewsTonight/power_cause030815.html

The Terror Question
No Signs of Deliberate Attack in Blackout, But Possibility Not Ruled Out

Despite official assurances to the contrary, could terrorists have exploited a vulnerable power grid to cause Thursday's massive blackout?

The cause of the failure remains a mystery, as power was gradually returning from the largest-ever blackout in the nation's history, affecting some 50 million people in areas from Michigan to New York.

And while there is no indication the power grid was sabotaged, some experts caution it is too soon to rule out any possible explanation — including cyber-terror...

(AshKKKroft would have an excuse to severely curtail and/or shut down the Internet...)

-Lori

[QuietStorm]

1. For all the posturing on terror prior to the Iraqi Invasions

So far, until they nail this baby conclusively, I find it so interesting that they seemed to be quick on the draw to rule it out immediately without YET knowing the cause of what is a mammoth N. Eastern US blackout. How fumbling is this country all in all?

[snake1306]

2. Here is the cause:

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[Rose Siding]

4. Totally fumbling.

They "ruled it out" in minutes! Even as you hear it, your brain says, How can they KNOW that?

Cyber terror is the only kind of attack BushCo may withstand because any death toll would have focused anger and blame on him. Deaths resulting from power outages would be less directly connected to him in the media.

And if the feds monkey with cyber security, who loses most? Dems have used the net more for organizing than repubs.

There is NO way to know this was or wasn't terrorism yet. But I have speculated to myself before about what the next attack might look like. -This is all just "what if" thinking.

[QuietStorm]

10. How can they KNOW that? EXACTLY that is what the brain says

considering all their posturing on how much better they have gotten in decipherin intelligence, and nabbing Al Qaeda cells and known terrorists (let us not forget there latest "sting"). They would look like assholes if this was terrorism now wouldn't they. So the imbeciles that they are they rule it out immediately. What will happen if it is found to be terrorism either homegrown or from out of the country, they will say they ruled it out initially so as not to alarm people unnecessarily until they were able to conclusive call it terror.

then the issue will be was it Arab or the Aryan nation (timothy Mc Vie variety terrorist). What a joke. All I know to be true for me: I do not believe a word they or the media utters. They have zero credibility with me.

[underpants]

3. Hold it Dick Clarke is an ABC News analyst too?

I mean I know he knows all about the ball dropping but I had no idea he was an "expert".

"Anybody who says that they know what happened last night is lying," said Dick Clarke, an ABCNEWS consultant and former National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure, and Counterterrorism.

"The one thing I can say for certain is that this was not a terrorist act," President Bush said Thursday from California, where he was on a two-day fund-raising drive.

[Rose Siding]

6. Why would "no blown up equipment"

prove no terrorism? At the end, one guy says it wasn't terrorism because nothing was blown up. Isn't that rather narrow minded?

[underpants]

9. Clarke actually addressed this on ABC yesterday

He pointed out that we tend to associate terrorism with something blowing up and that we should get out of that mindset. He pointed out that there are many kinds of terrorism.

[QuietStorm]

14. Yes we should get out of that mind set we should also get out of

the mind set that associates all terrorism with arabs. We have the makings of much bubbling under the surface from patriot groups in this country. They may have much better inside proximity to pull something like a massive power outage off than "arab" terrorists.

my mind has fixated on those main circuits that were tripped. someone who worked at the plant in cohoots with a homegrown white supremist could have done damage to main circuits with knowledge of the kind of electric domino effect it would have in creating an outage of this magnitude. Wouldn't that be a fly in the ointment of bush & co's anti-arab crusade, if this was home grown terror the likes of Oklahoma city bombing? It could take the major anti-arab sentiment winds right out of the pentagon's sails.

[wabeewoman]

18. a homegrown white supremist

You raise a good point, QuietStorm. While we demos are foaming at the mouth about the bush administration, I bet these militia types are REALLY upset -patriot act, nation building,and all the stuff they hate. I thought the only reason we hadn't heard from them was that the FBI had taken out their leadership but seeing how 'effective' the FBI is, I doubt that. I'm not saying they are behind it but saying it isn't terrorism before you know what it is seems just plain dumb. And typical bush.

[bluestateguy]

5. Why was it ruled out so quickly?

Why the rush to say this is not terrorism? Doen't it take awhile to investigate and get to the facts of the matter? Until someone convinces me otherwise, my position is that this was either terrorism or deliberate sabatoge. It also could be a deliberate attack by terrorists to see how cities and citizens respond when the lights go out.

[Tracer]

7. Don't Call It "Terrorism"

This word is getting overused.

To me, "terrorism" means the deaths of innocent civilians for a political cause.

If SABOTAGE is determined to be the cause, then call it by its name.

[mjb4]

8. I said Iraq sympathizers

what they have to suffer in 120 degrees with NO ICE or WATER for 100 days

[underpants]

11. Don't rule out C.H.U.D.s either

[Neutrino]

12. Circuit-breaker device company stock up heavily in London

yesterday--hours before the event in NY. I heard it on Today this
morning--said it was being investigated.

[Lori Price CLG]

15. What if the blackout is the precursor to an actual Bush terror event?

That was my initial thought when my power went out at 4PM EST yesterday (it returned shortly thereafter. I live twenty-five minutes from Hartford, CT.)

-Lori

[duid12]

13. what I don't understand is...

what I don't understand is...how do they "fix" the problem without knowing what is broken?

[DoYouEverWonder]

16. The only way W could know it wasn't a terrorist attack

was if the BFEE was behind it.

Just like of 9-11 when none of them acted surprised. It's starting to look like another MIHOP to me.

[NoKingGeorge]

17. PANIC avoidence first

I have been in crowds ,being moved by the force of the crowds and it is not a good feeling. If I had been in NY yesterday it would have taken a concience effort to remain calm and not RUN home to my family. Maybe just maybe it should be SOP that when something happens involving large groups of people , we should actualley tell a white lie and say 'don't worry,you'll be ok' not terriorists'. Any socialologists (????) out here?

Then after area is cleared we can freak out on who or what.

[piece sine]

21. Doesn't Bush WANT a terror attack?!

been reading on this site for weeks on end that Bush rules by scaring us; the "fear factor" it's called here. Fair enough; I've been giving it some delberation. (I never swallow any concept whole) but now this thread argues the opposite -- that Bush is hiding or concealing terrorist threats. Or worse, that Karl Rove threw the circuit-breaker himself in a secret trip to Niagara Falls!

You know -- this posse in the White House need to be shown the door in 2004 but there's a LOT of blanks being fired at their behinds from Fort DU. How can you make a difference if you're not sure which end is up? I say the black-out was a technical fluke. Happens every few Augusts when it gets too hot. This morning, the lights came back on but the economy still sucks and world still hates us! No tinfoil required!

[jus_the_facts]

19. I SWEAR TO GOD......I READ A THREAD ON ANOTHER BOARD

...just the other day about a terrorist threat..if memory serves it was 'al quida' threats... where they were calling it a 'black wave' that was to overtake America....the site where I read this I've not been able to access since this all started but it's been on my mind and now I can't access the site anymore to find this thread....but I SWEAR TO GOD I READ OF A THREAT WITH THE TERMINOLOGY OF 'BLACK WAVE'='BLACKOUT'?????????????????????? :wtf: Granted it's a wacky :tinfoilhat: site but this really freaks me out because this is too coincidental...:shrug:

[jus_the_facts]

20. Okay it was called a 'black wind'......here's a snipett from that post...

....for what it's worth this was posted on 8/8/03 byut originally about an attack on Chicago???:tinfoilhat: or :evilfrown: or :shrug:

THERE HAS BEEN AN UPSWING IN CHATTER AMONG ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISTS WEBSITES REGARDING OF A COMING "BLACK WIND". WHAT IS DISTURBING ABOUT IS THIS IS RELATED BELOW.

these translated messages from known terrorism sites: "Sheik Osama bin Laden has now sent message from the island (?) and speaks of a matter that will happen, an odor of perfume to be cast among the infidels. He has directed his successor to carry the events long in the planning. The Sheik spoke of his plans to carry out against the aggressor unjust country himself a strong blow that aims at the very top of America. The Sheik spoke of a blow to the joints of the American economy that we together listened. It was following that message he spoke Allah willing of the death blow he will decide when to carry through. I cannot deduce the timing, only know and pray to it be soon."

A second message read: "To you, the lovers of Allah, I say this: America will witness great events so great that they will be beyond the believable. They will exceed those ever imagined, and those of 11 September. We are ready to execute the events on orders. They will devastate the region, and I do not know if this Iraqi- American war will lead to this event, it is not for me to decide. A great Black Wind will affect the infidels, the people of the book are awaiting this battle, a Armageddon, engaging the House of Saud, Palestinians and Israel. It will not be us, but America who will be effected. A Black Wind will blow across the land."

And a third: "To the Muslims lodging in America, I say for them to take caution and stay alert. Do not cause alarm by leaving en masse. Take arms as the deathblow at the hand of Sheik Osama from the back, where least expected, is at hand. Some members (al Qaeda) have received orders to leave the United States for their positions in the United Kingdom and Europe, as they have special knowledge in these workings as a science."

Additional Data Found on Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Sheik BASHIR in CURRENT & PLANNED EVENTS:

"Regarding the words of Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Sheik BASHIR, there are many current references to him in the Islamic jihad forums. In these same forums, there appears to be the reoccurring reference to the number four-(4) and the number two-(2), Note these dates of recent terrorist events:

"1. Russia bombing occurred on 8-01-03
"2. Pakistan bombing occurred on 8-03-03
"3. Indonesia bombing occurred on 8-05-03

"Based on the numerical references to the number four (and the multiples of "2" spoken of in chat and forums), one might extrapolate that the next planned bombing in that area will fall somewhere between 8-07-03 and 8-09-03. This is expected to be a "traditional blast" and not the Black Wind event referenced above." Interesting timing for government scientists to announce they´re close to an ebola vaccine. Hmmmmm......

What could be worse than black wind? This is smallpox that has been genetically altered to an even deadlier form. On Sept. 13, 1975, a prophetic message was given by ´Our Lady of the Roses´: “Your city and many cities throughout your country shall feel the plague. It is for the murders of the unborn that your city receives the plague. There will be sent upon your country a plague. Many shall die. When the great rains start, know that many shall die." More info was given July 1, 1985: “The world may call it the onslaught of holocaust, but not many will have the opportunity to try to figure what has happened about them, as they run back and forth and try to flee before the Chastisement. Don´t look back, My children, as you find the bodies, black--dead bodies--lying among your roads. Do not touch them or you will die, also.”

[Fovea]

22. Here is what I think happened.

I think that someone at Niagra or Softswitch was doing a dry run on a method of gaming the system involving bottlnecking Ontario sections of the grid to spike energy costs in N.Y.

This set nodes on the U.S. side of the system into overdrive in an attempt to balance the supply, and fried the system as a whole.

[Lori Price CLG]

23. Yes, and Cheney's 'energy bill' can sail right through Congress.

It is amazing that the 'powers that be' don't know the cause, yet know within *seconds* that the blackout was not caused by terrorism.
-Lori