Ya, the new enemies since the end of cold war are a day to day and month to month kind of thing. The Kosovo Liberation Army were branded a terrorist organization in the 1990's, and KLA members have since become upstanding political leaders while carrying out their narco-colonial administrative duties in the new NATO-friendly state of Kosovo. Drug trafficking terrorists and war criminals can become bosom friends of western world elites literally overnight.
NYC: suspicious car leads to closure of times square
Wed, 2010-05-05 00:35
#52
Wed, 2010-05-05 00:51
#53
Huh?
Pakistan, huh? The reason for this particular bit of disinformation is clear: The Pentagon wants to mobilize the American public to accept their illegal undeclared war against Pakistan.
Um, yeah.
Read anything about all the pilotless drones that have been killing innocent Pakistani civilians that Obama has escalated since he assumed office?
http://news.antiwar.com/2010/05/04/us-admits-not-focusing-on-leaders-in-...
How about the mega U.S. embassy being constructed in Islamabad?
Ever heard of the U.S. ground troops stationed in Pakistan conducting raids against the Pakistani "Taliban" and who knows who else?
Wed, 2010-05-05 00:52
#54
Sven
That doesn't scream to you that the Pentagon subcontracted out, made this guy a low level employee and put him on the 'company' payroll?
That must be one hefty "payroll" to make it worth spending then next 40+ years of his life in a max security slammer.
![http://i34.tinypic.com/11raq06.gif[/IMG]](http://i34.tinypic.com/11raq06.gif[/IMG]){kind=link}
Wed, 2010-05-05 00:57
#55
That doesn't scream to you that the Pentagon subcontracted out, made this guy a low level employee and put him on the 'company' payroll?
That must be one hefty "payroll" to make it worth spending then next 40+ years of his life in a max security slammer.
[IMG]http://i34.tinypic.com/11raq06.gif[/IMG][/quote]
Oh it all depends, Sven. One or two of their Islamic radical friends in NYC have murdered rabbis, gotten themselves arrested for it and later released by the feds with no follow ups. It's just like that old saying that says, It's not what you know but who....
![http://i34.tinypic.com/11raq06.gif[/IMG][/quote]](http://i34.tinypic.com/11raq06.gif[/IMG]</blockquote>){kind=link}
Wed, 2010-05-05 01:24
#56
That doesn't scream to you that the Pentagon subcontracted out, made this guy a low level employee and put him on the 'company' payroll?
That must be one hefty "payroll" to make it worth spending then next 40+ years of his life in a max security slammer.
Like Fidel says, wait and see what kind of verdict he gets.
He is singing like a canary. Can you say the word "inducements"? What kind of a deal are the Pentagon and other authorities copping with him?
Wed, 2010-05-05 01:29
#57
RevolutionPlease
Meanwhile, the system seems to have worked - good police work foiled the mass murder and apprehedned the culprit. The guy is apparently telling the authorities everything and hopefully more culprits can be arrested. Maybe they can put the guy in a cage in Times Square so that the New Yorkers he tried to kill can all yell obscenities, throw rotten fruit at him.
Actually no, the car bomb was discovered by a former Vietnam vet turned street vendor, and the report phoned in by his homeless assistant. So, a gazzillion gadgets, security cameras, a the huge Times Square security details did sweet fuck all. The only thing more hapless than these would be bombers and their bomb that would not go off, was the massively expensive security system that failed to detect it.
As for the "culprits". the American justice system is so tainted now by corrupt procedures that we will likely never know who was responsible for the "lemon bomb".
:)
Wed, 2010-05-05 01:36
#58
Sven
Like Fidel says, wait and see what kind of verdict he gets.
He is singing like a canary. Can you say the word "inducements"? What kind of a deal are the Pentagon and other authorities copping with him?
Even if he "cops a plea" he's going to spend decades behind bars.
So, again, that would have to be one helluva payday to make that worth it.
Wed, 2010-05-05 02:04
#59
Cueball
You don't even have to cop a plea or be convicted of anything to spend a decade behind bars under the care of the US security establishment. Omar Khadr is into his 10th year.
Wed, 2010-05-05 02:05
#60
Imagine if on September 10, 2001 we learned that a bunch of guys with boxcutters had been arrested and had this "absurd, amateurish scheme" to hijack planes and fly them into buildings - we'd all think it was sooo FUNNY - oh yeah, except they actually did it and 3,000 people died.
The sad and criminal thing is that 3,000 people wouldn't have died just from two planes crashing into the towers.
Funny how some people will believe the most absurd conspiracy theories.
Wed, 2010-05-05 02:32
#61
Cueball
Wed, 2010-05-05 02:36
#62
Cueball
Republicans say that suspects like Abdulmutallab and potentially Shahzad should be classified as an "enemy combatant," which gives authorities more leeway in seeking intelligence through interrogation and other methods.The Arizona Republican, however, said he expected the criminal justice system to play itself out in such a way that Shahzad would face the death penalty, if convicted.
McCain: 'Serious mistake' if car bombing suspect was Mirandized
Wed, 2010-05-05 03:14
#63
Cueball
At 6:40 p.m., firefighters were on the scene. After breaking the car's side and back windows to try to put out the fire, they discovered its sinister contents: three propane tanks, two gallons of gasoline and a load of fertilizer, with fireworks and some cheap alarm clocks as a trigger.
Wed, 2010-05-05 09:35
#64
Its good to know that so much of the terrorist infrastructure has been destroyed that this is an example of how low their level of competence is now!
Wed, 2010-05-05 09:41
#65
Its good to know that so much of the terrorist infrastructure has been destroyed that this is an example of how low their level of competence is now!
Yeah, now maybe we'll get some relief from the nonstop barrage of highly professional terrorist attacks on Amerika since 9/11.
Wed, 2010-05-05 10:08
#66
Sven
Its good to know that so much of the terrorist infrastructure has been destroyed that this is an example of how low their level of competence is now!
It is extremely difficult for organizational leaders to plan a complicated and massive attack when they can't use any electronic means of communication and are constantly on the move in an attempt to avoid predator drones.
Wed, 2010-05-05 10:31
#67
Its good to know that so much of the terrorist infrastructure has been destroyed that this is an example of how low their level of competence is now!
Push on to Paris.
Wed, 2010-05-05 11:08
#68
A Pakistani group initially claimed responsibility but initially was not taken seriously. 
Wed, 2010-05-05 12:34
#69
While mainstream media coverage of the Times Square almost-bomber has predictably focused on the fact that he's a Pakistani Muslim, no one has noted that the hero of the day - the first street vendor to notice the smoking car - is also a Muslim.
Wed, 2010-05-05 13:07
#70
I cannot for the live of me understand why anyone with ties to Pakistan would want to harm an American citizen. After all it is not like Americans live in a democracy and the people voted for the government that is bombing their villages. In this brave new world the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan pay for the brutality of the response to imperialism by some of their fellow countrymen even though they have no control over their actions but citizens in democracies are not responsible for their governments actions.
INNOCENT AMERICANS what about INNOCENT PEOPLE
The idea that an American's live is more important than a Pakistani live is imperialism. Strange how our resident "libertarians" are alright with murdering citizens of this planet unless they live in NATO countries. Imperialism is the evil that kills everywhere on the planet including in retaliatory strikes in Europe and the US.
So it’s odd that President Obama would make a crude joke about deaths that he is responsible for. But that’s just what he did at the May 1 White House Correspondents Dinner. "Jonas Brothers are here, they're out there somewhere,” President Obama quipped as he looked out at the packed room. Then he furrowed his brow, pretending to send a stern message to the pop band. “Sasha and Malia are huge fans, but boys, don't get any ideas. Two words for you: predator drones. You’ll never see it coming."
For people in Pakistan, where most of the drones are being used, the joke lost something in translation. According to Pakistani journalist Khawar Rizvi, few Pakistanis have ever heard of the Jonas Brothers or understood the reference to the President’s daughters. “But one thing we do know: There’s nothing funny about predator drones,” said Rizvi. “They’ve killed hundreds of civilians and caused so much suffering in Pakistan. And that’s no laughing matter.”
The point of using attack drones, which are piloted from 6,000 miles away in the Nevada desert, is to guarantee no U.S. casualties. But the increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles has led to an increase in the killing and maiming of innocents, often while they are sleeping in their beds.
Wed, 2010-05-05 13:24
#71
"I cannot for the live of me understand why anyone with ties to Pakistan would want to harm an American citizen. After all it is not like Americans live in a democracy and the people voted for the government that is bombing their villages."
...and i can't understand why anyone with ties to Pakistan would move to the US, get two degrees there, buy a house in Connecticut, get a full-time job, start a family...and then decide to attempt mass murder.
Wed, 2010-05-05 13:26
#72
You don't even have to cop a plea or be convicted of anything to spend a decade behind bars under the care of the US security establishment. Omar Khadr is into his 10th year.
Ya but I think his lawyers have since said he could finally be eligible for parole based on the fact he(and his brother) have been cooperating with the US army and CIA with gathering information about the Islamic fundamentalist wing of the CIA, "Al-Qaeda." The Khadrs will likely receive a decent payoff and severence package for their years of service as designated bogeymen.
Wed, 2010-05-05 13:30
#73
...and i can't understand why anyone with ties to Pakistan would move to the US, get two degrees there, buy a house in Connecticut, get a full-time job, start a family...and then decide to attempt mass murder.
The report says that roughly 252 to 315 Pakistani civilians were killed by Predator and Reaper drone strikes between 2006 and 2009. Other reports place the figure much higher. Pakistani authorities released statistics indicating that over 700 civilians were killed by drones in 2009 alone, the year Obama took office. The running tally on the website PakistanBodyCount.Org is even more shocking: 1,226 civilians killed and 427 injured as of March 2010!
Equally shocking is the ratio of civilians to militants killed, which Middle East scholar Daniel Byman estimates at ten to one. It is a cruel joke indeed for the people of Pakistan that the U.S. military finds it acceptable to murder 10 innocent people for every Al Qaeda or Taliban operative killed.
I think that is because you have no desire or the empathy to walk even a centimeter in their shoes.
Wed, 2010-05-05 13:32
#74
"I cannot for the live of me understand why anyone with ties to Pakistan would want to harm an American citizen. After all it is not like Americans live in a democracy and the people voted for the government that is bombing their villages."
...and i can't understand why anyone with ties to Pakistan would move to the US, get two degrees there, buy a house in Connecticut, get a full-time job, start a family...and then decide to attempt mass murder.
Why would the US army commit massacres in VietNam then or Afghanistan and Iraq now?
It's because they have lacked a legitimate enemy since the Sovs pulled out of the cold war. They know that with every innocent civilian killed and their dogs, new and wonderful enemies of America are created for the warfiteers to point their fingers at and say, Look there, they hate us for our freedumbs. Now fork over the taxpayer handouts! It's the ultimate in creating your own income security for about 8000 or so "private sector" military contractors and Pentagon capitalists.
Wed, 2010-05-05 13:50
#75
Snert
I cannot for the live of me understand why anyone with ties to Pakistan would want to harm an American citizen.
Because two wrongs make a right. People always act like they don't, but c'mon! Enough with the Pollyanna talk.
Wed, 2010-05-05 13:56
#76
Because American citizens just like Snert cheer every time a village is bombed and innocents are killed. It is just grossly unfair that America's oil just happens to be under the ground of other peoples countries. If those people would just accept that it is America's oil then they would not be bombed nearly as often.
But I understand that for America it is cultural. What else can you expect from a country founded by the English equivalent of the Taliban?
Wed, 2010-05-05 14:09
#77
Sven
It is just grossly unfair that America's oil just happens to be under the ground of other peoples countries.
Afghanistan has no oil.
Wed, 2010-05-05 14:13
#78
Sven
It is just grossly unfair that America's oil just happens to be under the ground of other peoples countries.
Oh, and Pakistan?
Well, Pakistan does have oil reserves -- but the U.S. would consume those reserves, in totality, in about 16 days.
Wed, 2010-05-05 14:25
#79
It is just grossly unfair that America's oil just happens to be under the ground of other peoples countries.
Afghanistan has no oil.
Yeah, sometimes imperialism is just about good ol' geopolitical positioning.
Then again, there is that rumour about the Unocal pipeline that was supposed to run through Afghanistan.
Wed, 2010-05-05 14:37
#80
It is just grossly unfair that America's oil just happens to be under the ground of other peoples countries.
Afghanistan has no oil.
Neither does VietNam have much oil. But that country is situated near the China Sea, which is said to be a vast oil basin.
Afghanistan also borders Iran. That country has oil.
The Yanks have busied themselves with attacking and invading sovereign countries since the end of cold war. And now the vicious empire is threatening Iran, and any other country who looks the wrong way at America, with nuclear weapons. That's illegal according to international law since WW II. And it is a violation of Non-Proliferation Treaty to sell nuclear weapons technology to non-NPT countries, like Pakistan and India, Israel etc. This is the era of vicious empire hypocrisy.
Wed, 2010-05-05 15:11
#81
Sven
I'm not saying that the US is not imperialistic. But, it's a canard to simply roll out the It's-All-About-The-Oil reason for every single foreign US action, as if that is the only thing that drives US policy and actions. Obviously, oil is important, but it's not the reason we're spending tens (hundreds?) of billions of dollars in Afghanistan.
Wed, 2010-05-05 15:19
#82
I think that real estate grabs in general have been the MO of several empires in decline, Sven. China and Asia in general has shown signs of an empire on the rise. The US and Britain have attempted several strategies to foil the rise of competing interests since about the time of Chiang Kai-shek. And those strategies are not working as intended. The window of opportunity for unilateral actions is closing on them. It's getting so as few countries really believe that NATO is capable of putting down revolts against their oppressive colonial administrators. It's a bad precedent for vicious empires to allow to happen.
Wed, 2010-05-05 15:29
#83
Cueball
Ok then, maybe it isn't all about the oil. Maybe its about the collective fetishistic desire to torture and incarcerate teenagers without charge for years and years and years: collective sadism. But I was kind of giving the American people a break, thinking that the oil companies and other corporate interests that rule America dont mind at all having the Amercan taxpayer foot the bill for acquiring resources that the coroporation will then sell back to the American people.
But that is ok; what is good for Exxon, is good for America... right?
P.T. Barnum is one famous American who noted: There is a sucker born every minute.
Wed, 2010-05-05 15:46
#84
Snert
Because American citizens just like Snert cheer every time a village is bombed and innocents are killed.
Yes, of course.
And similarly I'm sure you jacked yourself raw on 11/09/01 at the sight of all those Little Eichmanns falling to justice.
Wed, 2010-05-05 16:22
#85
Saying that the US empire's motivation for being in Afghanistan and Pakistan is oil is mildly racist, or at least a form of racist stereotyping, as if all them there turban-wearers live on top of oil reserves.
Wed, 2010-05-05 16:22
#86
Sure, let's let anyone get a gun.
Times Square suspect bought gun in former hometown
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/05/AR201005...
Wed, 2010-05-05 16:23
#87
It seems like the airline should be fined for letting someone on the no-fly list get on bord a plane.
Wed, 2010-05-05 16:35
#88
Sorry I used oil as a short hand for resources. It also happens to be of particular importance to America since they have the largest and most gas dependent armed forces ever seen. AlQ I would say that oil also plays a major roll in the fact that Venezuela is being surrounded by American bases. Last time I looked the only real criteria for America to attack any regime is if they refuse to allow wall street to run their economy. That is why they hate Iran and Venezuela and Cuba and China etc.
Snert your sexist comments are not funny. I am sure that there were Canadians just like me who cheered when they saw the Twin Towers collapse. You should notice I didn't say whether either you nor I cheered any event. i merely pointed out that Americans cheer when its military bomb. You have politicians running for a main stream party like McCain that during an election campaign sings, "Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" and the crowd goes wild. What I said wasn't even controversial, what's your problem? Do you think people in Iran want to be bombed or thought it was a great joke?
How can libertarians not get the basic idea that all humans are equal.
Wed, 2010-05-05 16:43
#89
I'm not a libertarian and I don't think all humans are equal. I do think they should be treated equally, though.
Back in the first US invasion of Iraq, in 1991, I was on the U of S campus, standing around a TV watching a CNN report on the war with some other students. When they showed a video of a laser-guided missile bombing a bunker, one of the kids said, "Ooh, cool," perhaps forgetting that he had just witnessed the deaths of fellow human beings in that swell explosion.
Wed, 2010-05-05 16:50
#90
Okay, how about we try all humans are siblings.
Wed, 2010-05-05 16:53
#91
Saying that the US empire's motivation for being in Afghanistan and Pakistan is oil is mildly racist,
I think the US-led military occupations of those countries period is entirely racist and fascist in general. Isn't that what the Nazis did, marching into sovereign countries without invitations?
Wed, 2010-05-05 17:17
#92
Catchfire
Because American citizens just like Snert cheer every time a village is bombed and innocents are killed
Keerist. kropotkin, you can't make these kinds of smears against other babblers. Maybe you think you're being grammatically cute by not actually saying that Snert cheers when innocents are killed, but you're not. Being cute, that is. So stop it.
And Snert, I realize you were provoked and were making a point, but your response escalates and perpetuates the same offence. So, you know...don't do that either.
Wed, 2010-05-05 17:53
#93
Saying that the US empire's motivation for being in Afghanistan and Pakistan is oil is mildly racist,
I think the US-led military occupations of those countries period is entirely racist and fascist in general. Isn't that what the Nazis did, marching into sovereign countries without invitations?
Well it doesn't look like anyone's arguing this point, so we'll have to assume they agree.
Wed, 2010-05-05 21:24
#94
Because two wrongs make a right. People always act like they don't, but c'mon! Enough with the Pollyanna talk.
Sorry about being a pollyanna, what ever that particular sexist remark is supposed to mean. Also sorry Catchfire I forgot that imperialist apologists are now a protected species on babble.
Posting links to "Jihad Jane" is alright though. I need to keep on top of these things.
Wed, 2010-05-05 21:34
#95
Frustrated Mess
I'm not saying that the US is not imperialistic. But, it's a canard to simply roll out the It's-All-About-The-Oil reason for every single foreign US action, as if that is the only thing that drives US policy and actions. Obviously, oil is important, but it's not the reason we're spending tens (hundreds?) of billions of dollars in Afghanistan.
Yes it is. I found the charges against the bomber fascinating. If he is responsible for planting the bomb, I hope he is provided a fair and public trial and convicted and sentenced. But, he was charged with, "trying to explode a weapon of mass destruction". That's interesting. When do we put on trial all of those who routinely explode weapons of mass destruction in Pakistan from remote control? Surely that too is terrorism and a crime. Or are innocent Pakistani lives worth less?
Wed, 2010-05-05 21:58
#96
Ask the Pakistani government if they want to charge anyone. But since the government of Pakistan is a US ally and supports the bombing that's not going to happen.
Wed, 2010-05-05 22:07
#97
oops
Wed, 2010-05-05 22:10
#98
Even if he "cops a plea" he's going to spend decades behind bars.
So, again, that would have to be one helluva payday to make that worth it.
He's not going to spend years behind bars. Guys like him never do. Wait and see.
Wed, 2010-05-05 22:14
#99
Its good to know that so much of the terrorist infrastructure has been destroyed that this is an example of how low their level of competence is now!
Either that or it's a Pentagon inside job.
Wed, 2010-05-05 22:23
#100
...and i can't understand why anyone with ties to Pakistan would move to the US, get two degrees there, buy a house in Connecticut, get a full-time job, start a family...and then decide to attempt mass murder.
Pentagon sleeper agent.
Wed, 2010-05-05 22:29
#101
Cueball
Could be a dupe, I guess. Maybe they have something on him. Could have threatened to wipe out his family in Pakistan using one of those predator drones, after all "collateral" damage is easy to arrange. Could be he did it, though the shear ham handedness of this attempt raises questions. Seriously, the "operative" is assumed to go to Pakistan to be trained by people who are really good a making bombs, but this one is so amateurish is could be a bad Steve Martin movie.
The bottom line is that we can not trust the US National Security State to find out what is going on.