US Media Oddly Silent as Terror Warnings Dismissed by Usual Suspects
Good news for those of us who are in Europe now. Some people think that the Obama administration's terror warnings were overstated. Our friends in Europe seem to think so. From The Guardian:
Thomas de Maizière, Germany's interior minister, publicly expressed his scepticism about the US terror warning, saying he saw no sign of an imminent attack on Germany. He described the danger to Germany as "hypothetical."
And they get snippy about it, too:
Dismissing claims of a developed, co-ordinated plot aimed at Britain, France and Germany, European intelligence officials also pointed the finger at the US, and specifically at the White House. "To stitch together [the terror plot claims] in a seamless narrative is nonsensical," said one well-placed official.
It's left to a Pakistani official to utter what no one in the US media would dare to, now that George W. Bush is safely back in Crawford, Texas:
The non-specific US warning, which despite its vagueness led Britain, France and other countries to raise their overseas terror alert levels, was an attempt to justify a recent escalation in US drone and helicopter attacks inside Pakistan that have "set the country on fire," said Wajid Shamsul Hasan, the [Pakistani] high commissioner to Britain. Hasan, a veteran diplomat who is close to Pakistan's president, suggested the Obama administration was playing politics with the terror threat before next month's midterm congressional elections, in which the Republicans are expected to make big gains.
Okay, so he has to say that. But what's interesting to me is that he's the only one saying it. The compliant, lickspittle, in-the-tank American press wouldn't even think of it now that You-Know-Who isn't president anymore.
I think I'll spend the rest of the day in Paris hanging around popular tourist areas, looking incredibly American.
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Comments :
May '10
Re: US Media Oddly Silent as Terror Warnings Dismissed by Usual Suspects
It sounds like that Pakistani official didn't get the memo that things have Changed (TM) and it is simply impossible that the Administration would use terror alerts for sheer political gain or rear-covering. I always felt slightly miffed at the suggestion that the Bush administration was playing on Americans fears or providing themselves with political cover. I am inclined to give the current administration the same benefit of the doubt. Perhaps I'm terribly naive. Nevertheless, a nice observation, Rob. I will not hold my breath waiting for Keith Olbermann to condemn the White House in high dudgeon over the terror alert.
Aug '10
Re: US Media Oddly Silent as Terror Warnings Dismissed by Usual Suspects
le bloody Mary at deux magot followed by le big mac ?
May '10
Re: US Media Oddly Silent as Terror Warnings Dismissed by Usual Suspects
I thought the Europeans liked Obama. Rob, are you saying that this White House has lost credibility with its core constituency?
Jul '10
Re: US Media Oddly Silent as Terror Warnings Dismissed by Usual Suspects
I make it a point to wear my cowboy hat in Paris. Unironically.
May '10
Re: US Media Oddly Silent as Terror Warnings Dismissed by Usual Suspects
Actually, Rob, you look like a Barcelonan.
Jul '10
Re: US Media Oddly Silent as Terror Warnings Dismissed by Usual Suspects
Barcelonian my hind end! Rob would have to wear a beret, paint a little bitty mustache on, and stick a Gauloises in his mouth to avoid being labeled as a Yank.
May '10
Re: US Media Oddly Silent as Terror Warnings Dismissed by Usual Suspects
Rob looks more like a man who would smoke Gitane sans filtre, whilst finishing off a few Andouillettes. Give the man plenty of room please.
Edited on Oct 9, 2010 at 10:15pm