From Cheney's closing statement in the Vice Presidential debate:
------------- Now we find ourselves in the midst of a conflict unlike any we've ever known, faced with the possibility that terrorists could smuggle a deadly biological agent or a nuclear weapon into the middle of one of our own cities.
That threat -- and the presidential leadership needed to deal with it -- is placing a special responsibility on all of you who will decide on November 2nd who will be our commander in chief. --------------
There was reporting of a bomb being set off in the "Green Zone" in Iraq. This is an area that is heavily fortified and heavily guarded, but someone somehow setup a bomb and detonated it, killing 10 people, including four of our citizens. Our borders are porous and there does not appear to have been any serious attempt to fix that problem in my adult lifetime. If we cannot defend a tiny zone, then how can we defend a large country that has borders that are too easily infiltrated. It is highly probable that we will be struck again in a tragic and damaging fashion, the only question then will be whether we have the determination to completely focus on those responsible and not allow ourselves to get sidetracked at an inappropriate time.
I know a guy who is charged with security for one of the largest malls in the world. 10's of thousands of people a day he has a legal obligation to protect.
Former military, extensive law enforcement, private security, contacts worldwide. He is no dupe. He takes these very seriously.
This crapola about Karl Rove is lunacy. Sleep well.
I don't know how familiar you are with the protocols that change pursuant to changes in threat levels. I've perused them briefly. I can tell you there are huge costs associated with these changes that impact all levels of government and private business. To suggest that "Karl Rove" can just waive his wand and move the needle is giving him more power than he has.
That, of course, is a great deal of power, since the President is a powerful person who does in fact exert power over this nation's intelligence apparatus. Even without influence from Bush, who do you think Tom Ridge would rather see as President, Bush or Kerry?
Are you seriously suggesting that the fact that a terrorist alert would cost money would preclude the administration from pushing for one in the next 18 days, if they thought it would have a large positive impact on Bush's chances of being re-elected?
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