Althouse: The plot to crack the Holland Tunnel and flood lower Manhattan.

July 7, 2006

The plot to crack the Holland Tunnel and flood lower Manhattan.

Yes, the terrorists are idiots. That's part of the problem.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...: I see the NYT still puts "terrorist cell" in scare quotes...

I question the timing. I question the abuse of this innocent's civil rights. I question the "War on Terror." I blame Bush.; 7/7/06, 11:25 AM
Glenn Howes said...: For those of us who are boycotting the NY Times, here's a link to the same story in the Washington Post.; 7/7/06, 11:41 AM
Icepick said...: From the article:

[NY Senator Charles] Schumer said the arrest in Lebanon was the result of intercepted Internet conversations. "They were caught by people talking," he said. "In this case, intelligence did its job."

Both Mr. Schumer and Mr. King said that the investigation showed the need for New York City to receive more federal aid, and undermined the argument by Michael Chertoff, the head of the Department of Homeland Security, that federal financing should be directed toward infrastructure improvements and not paying for personnel involved in anti-terrorism efforts.

"This is very draining on New York City's treasury," [NY Congressman Peter] King said in a televised interview, referring to the investigation. "Without going into detail, an extraordinary amount of money has been spent by the New York City Police Department on this particular plot."

King's last comment indicates that the NYCPD did significant work on this intelligence operation. Is the NYCPD now intercepting email? In Lebanon? What?; 7/7/06, 11:44 AM
DRJ said...: From the article:

"Mr. Schumer said the arrest in Lebanon was the result of intercepted Internet conversations. "They were caught by people talking," he said. 'In this case, intelligence did its job.'"

Apparently it's impossible for our government leaders and the media to keep their mouths shut about how our intelligence services foil terrorist plots. I blame their incredibly large egos.; 7/7/06, 11:46 AM
J. Cricket said...: PatCA: You are totally right. Any arrest, based on any kind of information, that might possibly maybe be connected to terrorism is justified. And anyone who does not understand that is a fool!

By the way, I had a dream last night that someone with the initials "patca" was plotting something. It was an idiotic dream, and it's probably nothing, but just to be on the safe side, I'm calling the tip line right now.

You won't mind, I'm sure, if you end up in Gitmo, cuz hey, even if my dream sounds nutty, you can never be too safe!!; 7/7/06, 11:51 AM
Glenn Howes said...: From the original New York Daily news article
Experts also said that even if the tunnel cracked, the Financial District would not be flooded because it is above the level of the river.

Thank goodness the typical jihadi knows as much about hydrodynamics as the typical teacher of Islamic studies knows about structural engineering.; 7/7/06, 11:53 AM
buddy larsen said...: yep, catherine--and you get banished to the nether lands.; 7/7/06, 12:04 PM
DaveG said...: [NY Senator Charles] Schumer said the arrest in Lebanon was the result of intercepted Internet conversations. "They were caught by people talking," he said. "In this case, intelligence did its job."

And the definition of "in this case" is "because it was us that were targeted, I couldn't care less if the proper warrants were issued."

Situational politics at its finest.; 7/7/06, 12:11 PM
buddy larsen said...: yuk yuk--the tenth circle--the legions of the amster damned--; 7/7/06, 12:40 PM
Anonymous said...: Whatever you feel is right, ajd. Go ahead and tell the FBI that a dream revealed a terror plot. You might at least get some good meds.

When you 'wake up', please tell us why this arrest is unconstitutional.; 7/7/06, 12:41 PM
The Drill SGT said...: Dave,

Ah the good old days when only NYC had an intelligence agency and its own foreign policy. Since the Vietnam war, every village and town has felt the need to develop not only a foreign policy but a global environmental one as well.

Drj:

Senator Schumer is in love with the sound of his own voice. And yes, his view of civil liberties varies depending on the threat.; 7/7/06, 12:42 PM
KCFleming said...: We stopped a terorist plot?

OMG, we're in a fascist police state!
Oh, for the good old days when we'd wait until a bombing, blame ourselves, and ask why they hate us so.

Well at least Bush looked defensive on Larry King last night; we've got that going for us. Plus Kerry's hat. He's still got the hat.; 7/7/06, 12:55 PM
buddy larsen said...: ...and the hat proves that 911 only happened in ajd's dream.

Everything's simple, when you're "simple".; 7/7/06, 1:06 PM
MadisonMan said...: It's really depressing to see how much press is devoted to explanations that an explosion in a tunnel under a river won't flood the city.

As an educator in Science, all I can say is (sigh). There's a lot more work to be done.; 7/7/06, 3:10 PM
buddy larsen said...: Yep, if you want water to go uphill, you have to pump it. Which means, why blow the tunnel, just build a billion horsepower pumping system some dark night when the authorities are loafing.; 7/7/06, 3:19 PM
Tibore said...: "yuk yuk--the tenth circle--the legions of the amster damned--"

Buddy Larsen, off topic: I initially read that as "Hamster Danced". So I blame you for the sudden retching I experienced... :)

Just proof that speed kills, even in reading. (*drops over, dead*).

Word Verification: uwizhf.
University of Wisconsin, I Zee How you Feel. Okay, I'm reaching... gimme a break, I'm dead...; 7/7/06, 3:29 PM
buddy larsen said...: Tibore, LOL--really, re speed and dancing hamsters...ah well...I better just shut up.
:(; 7/7/06, 3:48 PM
Anonymous said...: Good thing we're slashing anti-terrorist funding for New York.

No landmarks there.; 7/7/06, 6:39 PM
Derve Swanson said...: cmon now... that's not anti-American to click on the link and have a chuckle at that photo of those four... is it? ann set the mindframe and I know they're just being serious and all, but damn, those four faces are just plain funny; 7/7/06, 9:10 PM