http://newsbusters.org/node/2031

Apparently, at MSNBC hysterical rumour-mongering is a qualification to host a prime-time show.

You have a point. Actually I was speaking in a broader sense of using the Blogos as a collective think tank to refine concepts and ideas on how to win this war which is more a war of information and ideologies.

In the narrow sense, yes you are quite correct that the Blogos doesn’t have access to the “inside” inforamtion. But I tend to believe people give the government more credibility and competence than it deserves. At least domestically it’s a lot of smoke an mirrors.

Actually I believe the Blogos has more relevant info sometimes than what circulates in official domestic governmental channels. I know I’ve seen stuff on the net and passed it along to others who should be in the “know,” but it was obvious they heard it first from me. That doesn’t give me confidence in their abilities. Katrina is an example of how info doesn’t flow around very well within the fed bureaucracy.

We still harass old ladies at airport terminal gates. The relative risk of them being suicidal Islamfascist agents is nil. Further our PCism is going to be are undoing with our lax border policy. OTMs caught on our side of the border deserve more than being cited and released to our immigration courts if they don’t appear on one of the watch lists.

I have some personal experience with the “watch lists.” I don’t believe for one minute that AQ would attempt to slip someone across the border if they knew they were on a list. They are going to send “newbies” who are clean as the driven snow. This is all “feel good” stuff that doesn’t do anything for real security.

I would much rather be honest with the American people and give them resonable profile info on potential enemy agents. While enemy agents can be of several ethnic backgrounds there is a strong likelyhood they will come from the area of the former Islamic Empire which stretches from Western Africa thru the Middle East, Asia to the Phillipines.

AQ et al have trained using the IRA model. Cells consist of four to five males. There are financial, logistics, and operations cells. They operate independently of each other. They will stand out in our society from their behaviors that citizens will notice. They almost always travel together for operational security and to prevent “deprograming” of individual members. They will have large sums of money and generally pay cash for purchases. They don’t appear to have regular jobs. They will use rental cars. They will pay rent several months in advance. They will stay low profile and keep to themselves.

They will stay in one place for a number of months at a time. The 9/11 hijackers were seen by apt managers and neighbors.

In short they will be seen. It’s like America’s Most Wanted. It only takes one call to trip a cell. I would much rather take out a cell before it becomes operational and strikes.

The threat to New York’s subway system originated in Iraq and involved the use of explosives hidden in bags or baby strollers, officials familiar with the investigation told CNN.A previously reliable source tipped authorities to a terror plot involving 15 to 20 people, one official said….Other details of the possible threat emerged from a Department of Homeland Security memo obtained by The Associated PressThe memo, according to the AP, said the attack was to take place on or around Sunday and involved timed or remote-controlled explosives hidden in briefcases, suitcases or baby strollers.The memo, issued Wednesday to state and local officials, said that Homeland Security and FBI agents were skeptical, the AP reported.But the memo provided four pages of advice about averting a possible attack, according to the AP. – CNN &nbsp(10/08/05, 9:37 a.m.)

Leak to CNN or the AP. Next time they can post an anonymous comment on Rantburg.And no, I am not and never have been a participitant in any national security apparatus. Nor have I played one on TV or on the internet.

There is one problem with your paradigm. The Blogos actually have to have access to the data, which given the nature of intelligence they don’t have. What works for uncovering Rathergate does not work for restricted information. The Blogosphere only has public domain to work with so it can be a mechanism for disseminating rumor and false or misleading information. the IC is trying to mimic the blogosphere with what has been termed horizonatal integration of the intelligence agencies. Hopefully, this program will bring to the IC what the network of bloggers brings to politics.

Old Grouch: I doubt very much that the terrorists picked dates when the Yankees would be in town. AQ planning takes months to years to bring a plot to fruition. Unless Osama is a Yankees fan I doubt that this entered his mind. I am also skeptical that AQ would choose a weekend to carry out attacks. They are out to cause maximum casualties and would chose the morning rush hour to attack.

No rational human can object to an abundance of caution. Yes, you are right.

It is a bit off point but what is odd in this whole issue is that, without the free access to the Frank Rich and Nick Kristof’s of the Times, the rest of cyberspace don’t give a flying **** to what they are saying.

In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king; in cyberspace, no one is listening to Pinch and his silly crew of writers so if they are complaining as we are not reading. If a tree falls in the forest, no ears are there to hear.

Point On!

You’ve made my point with regard to the Blogos and it’s intrinsic ability for imagination, innovation, and creativity. Your level of tactical thinking ability I’m afraid exceeds that of those in our federal bureaucracy. I hope someone clues them in to read this and other blog sites that ponder these substantive questions.

My thoughts from previous comments here:

This is exactly my thoughts re decentralized, organic/dendritic networks, that build from the bottom. They don’t have to wait for the bureacrats to first become aware of danger/ disaster, assess priority, developed ops plans, and then give orders to carry out plans. Anyone in area that can offer assistance can immediately act e.g. like radio “mesh” tech now emerging.

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I’ve commented on this before here, re the tremendous power of the Blogos. This concept can be applied to our domestic response in the GWOT. I’ve termed this, “Mission Focused Strategic Communications.” This is just plain common sense to any experienced street cop but you know everything must have a buzzword nowadays

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RLS Link

The the Blogos essentially is an organic, intelligent, interactive, distributive, network that can be focused on complex human problems or in more common terms “puzzles.” The Blogos can find solutions, correlations, understanding, and bring order to widely diverse, seemingly unconnected bits of information or data across all fields of human intelligence, thought and understanding.

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RLS Link