Chertoff: Low threat of WMD terror attack

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Source: MSNBC

LONDON - Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff downplayed the threat of a nuclear terror attack Friday despite recent postings on al-Qaida-affiliated Web sites exhorting militants to pursue weapons of mass destruction for use against the U.S.

Speaking at London's Oxford Union, Chertoff said that while officials acknowledge al-Qaida's interest in developing such capability, the U.S. was more concerned about terrorists' use of conventional arms.

"The short answer is the intent is there. Its probability, particularly in the short term, is lower than conventional weapons," he told the students and journalists in attendance at the famed debating society.

Chertoff's remarks followed a series of anonymous postings on al-Qaida-affliated Web sites, including a 39-minute video, calling on militants to acquire weapons of mass destruction.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24901017/

[Newsjock]

1. The WMD 'threat' has already been revealed as a 'prank'

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/a-scary-prank-about-al-qaeda-and-wmd/?hp
The intel community appears to have (once again) fallen victim to poorly researched open source news reporting … While it is perhaps true that the video offered subtle encouragement for nuclear attacks on the United States, it featured no original content and could have been clumsily strung together with little more than two VCRs. The video was meandering, boring, and difficult to follow–and it certainly was not the product of Al-Qaida.

But this 'news' story by the AP (only republished at MSNBC) flippantly dismisses the 'prank' aspect and goes all paranoid over But it COULD have been real, oh noes:

Although none of the postings are known to be authentic, taken together they raise questions about whether jihadists have such capabilities and whether they can launch some kind of attack.

In other words, shut your f--- piehole, Mr. Chertoff.

[Ian David]

4. BREAKING: Terrorist reveal Super Flying Motorcycle Technology!

http://io9.com/376387/hello-i-will-do-the-flying-motorcycle-dance-for-you

[graywarrior]

2. Bet this shit keeps coming up more and more til November

[Ian David]

3. Skeletor says "Fallout 3" is most awesome game ever!

\

SITE red-faced as Islamist 'Washington ruin' image turns out to be from Fallout 3 game
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3332113&mesg_id=3332113

Free Special-Ops Cody!!!

[rucky]

5. But it's Threat Level ORANGE!

the second scariest color in the rainbow.