Report: al-Qaida May Target VA Hospitals

[Khephra]

WASHINGTON -- Al-Qaida may attempt to attack Veterans Affairs hospitals as an alternative to more heavily guarded U.S. military installations, the FBI and Homeland Security Department warn in a new nationwide terrorism bulletin.

Although U.S. authorities say there is no credible intelligence regarding a specific threat against such hospitals, the bulletin said there have been persistent reports of "suspicious activity" at medical facilities throughout the United States.

That includes "possible reconnaissance activities" this year at unspecified medical facilities in Bethesda, Md., and Aurora, Colo., the bulletin said. Even though later investigation of these two incidents uncovered no links to terrorism, the bulletin urges vigilance at VA hospitals on the part of police and security personnel.

"These facilities may be considered attractive targets due to their association with the military and a perception that such an attack may be more successful than an attack against traditional military targets, which generally maintain a more robust security posture," the bulletin says.

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-terrorism-va-hospitals,0,3508466.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[babylon_system]

1. GW Bush is doing a damn fine job filling up the VA Hospitals

al-Qaeda doesn't deserve any of the credit.

[radwriter0555]

37. Better close em so that thar tricky al kidder can't FIND em and blow em

up!!

YEAH! that's the best thing to do!

[BootinUp]

2. Please listen to our non-credible report!!

Did that scare ya?

[leesa]

3. They can't do any more harm than Bush has done the VA hospitals

I really doubt Al Qaeda exists. It is simply their fantasy boogieman to allow them to invade and blow up anyone they want to. They are their excuse to loot and pillage, just like the Communist boogieman of the 50s, 60s and 70s. Pure, unadulterated BS.

[Radius]

11. Uh

Communists were real, they drove tanks into romania and built a big wall in germany. put nuclear weapons in cuba and invaded afganastan. They had thousands of megatons of nuclear weapons pointed at us.

Alqueda, blew up embassies in africa, the uss cole, and the trade centers, and went on tape to brag about it. They leave a money trail and you can read lots about in the 9/11 reports and from reporters covering the civil war in Afganistan before they decided to attack us.

[frylock]

12. alqueda also killed jack kennedy..

you can read about it in the Warren Commission Report.

[saigon68]

17. They are also aligned with the Bush Criminals

Our friends the Saudis </sarcasm>

[thebigidea]

27. that's as maybe, but you honestly think the S. Union ever wanted a war?

It would've been suicidal to use any of those nuclear weapons.

[Radius]

36. Don't Know

I'm sure they had their lemay's too. Cuba is an example of things getting out of control.

I agree with your point and that was the entire purpose of both arsenals.

[thebigidea]

38. I thought the point was the generate huge deficits, paranoia,

... and terrible risk to all humanity now that they're floating around, available to your garden variety lunatic with a grudge and the money to fuel it.

[Vladimir]

43. The USA was real

It drove tanks through South East Asia, financed terrorists in Afganistan and elsewhere, financed the overthrow of many a democraqtic government in South America, turned a blind eye to apartheid in South Africa... see, I can play this game too!

[Name removed]

44. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[seventhson]

4. Too Late = Bush already has

Sounds like he's floating this one to cast blame elsewhere for the attacks by his administration

[SoCalDem]

5. Report: Al Qaeda may target Donut Shops

Nail Salons
Mommy n Me Gyms
Texas Friday Night High School Football
Nascar Races
Sea World
Leo's Hot Dog Cart

I am getting weary of hearing this nonsense.

AlQaeda will attack wherever it wants, whenever it can.. We just need to quit stressing.. There's not a damn thing we can do about it..

[GliderGuider]

7. And the fact that they haven't actually attacked Krispy Kreme

just shows what a good job the ol' Ridgeback is doing.

Doesn't it?

[madrchsod]

10. yes--- krispy kream donuts just reported

a huge decline in profits due to the low carb terrorists..see it`s started already

[truth2power]

30. And bombs disguised as floating beer coolers.

I swear this was one of the alerts earlier this summer. :silly:

[ima_sinnic]

6. now wouldn't that be a good way to get rid of those pesky vets

... if wounded vets get blown up, no more need to pay for their medical care

PLUS

they won't be around to cause any more trouble with their constant complaining about cuts in benefits

PLUS

the dickless wonderboy should get a "bounce" from an attack like that

=

a true TRIFECTA

[MaryH]

8. OH FOR GOD'S SAKE

Is there anything left that they can out.

[ChickMagic]

9. Quick! Close them down!

That way they can't be attacked! :eyes:

[Beetwasher]

13. Blatant Disgusting Attempt To Sway Vets To Bush. Shameful Propoganda

This is a shameful piece of propoganda...Appalling, incredible...

But if you read between the lines, this means the ARE worried about the vet vote if they feel the need to do this....

[nyhuskyfan]

14. Report: Al Qaeda May Target Everything

WASHINGTON -- Al-Qaida may attempt to attack everything, the FBI and Homeland Security Department warn in a new nationwide terrorism bulletin.

Although U.S. authorities say there is no credible intelligence regarding a specific threat, the bulletin said there have been persistent reports of "suspicious activity" throughout the United States.

That includes "possible reconnaissance activities" this year at unspecified places in the Continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii, the bulletin said. Also Guam. Even though later investigation of these incidents uncovered no links to terrorism, the bulletin urges vigilance.

"We have definitely seen people looking at things," the bulletin says. "These people may have also been looking at other people, who were standing near the things. There's no way to know for sure. Given Al-Qaida's history of targeting both things and people, we feel that the American people should be on alert at all times."

"It is our best estimation that everything in the United States is currently being targeted," said the bulletin. "Buildings, streets, planes, trains, trees, water, food, people you name it. So if you are near anything or anyone, you should be especially suspicious and vigilant. But don't forget to live your lives as normal and go shopping!"

[MetaTrope]

15. There are still VA hospitals?

:shrug:

[ibegurpard]

16. How fucking convenient.

And just who do you think that would benefit?

[Joanne98]

18. They stole this idea from the Republicans

Sorry Al Quaeda, they're already being targeted.

[saigon68]

19. They are going to target the Lions Club Bean Feed Next

Or maybe sister Cynthia's School for the Blind, the Lame, and the Halt.

[JSG]

20. UNbelievable

How many of us were speculating tongue-in-cheek the other day that we were due for a new terra alert what with the Smear Boats backfiring and all that.

I am not the least bit surprised to see this.

And notice how this particular alert will have absolutely no negative logistical affect on the RNC.

:eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

[Aidoneus]

21. We're hearing all this..

VA hospitals, banks, federal buildings, Chicago, LA, Seattle, Atlanta, BE AFRAID, duct-tape, go shopping--wait, they might hit malls too... Open any nearby window, look outside and listen:--you are not mistaken, those ARE crickets chirping. There IS a highly organized campaign of terrorizing going on, but the Qa'idat al-Jihad doesn't have to do a damn thing to get the full terrorizing effect--their so-called enemies are doing it all for them.

[0007]

26. Man how could you forget Jose Padilla?

And al-Qaeda leaders reportedly discussed with him schemes ranging from "dirty bombs" to blowing up gas stations and apartemnt buildings.

[Aidoneus]

28. The way they always showed his picture was a little scary

Picture freezes on the screen, slight zoom kicks in steadily, horror-flick music in the background starts up.......theatrics over content. bah.

[Rabelais]

22. this has to be a joke

IS there one person on earth who would believe this?

[A_Possum]

23. Let's scare the disabled vets!

Indeed, let's pile on the vet vote while it's hot. We're gonna save you guys! Don't you worry! But worry. And BTW, Kerry, lied about his medals.

[The_Casual_Observer]

24. More ridiculous scenarios invented by out of work script writers

who fancy themselves as potential Tom Clancys.

[Fovea]

25. Why?

A VA hospital is not a military facility.
It would only increase opposition in the Islamic
world. It would not serve to paralize either military or civilian life.
It would serve no purpose whatsoever... in otherwords, it sounds more like Rovian policy.

This is disinformation.

[leetrisck]

29. Suspicious activity consists of veterans getting so angry

while they are at the hospitals - our government assaults veterans every day - if you complain very loudly, they call the FBI or their cop on the spot

[RummyTheDummy]

31. Is there anything BushCo. wont do to get the vet vote?

I mean besides not cutting funding for their benefits. I'm going to hazard a guess that there has been no suspicious activity near veterans hospitals and this is completely made up fantasy land bullshit.

[LuminousX]

32. OMG! They are going after our sick and wounded Veterans!

Those bastards.

Wait. Do you think this is a way for Bush to keep Vets away from the VA to keep costs down?

[Merlin]

33. I hear Al Qaeda is targeting churches, nuns, tiny children and old people.

Plus they are going after motherhood, apple pie and all the flags in America. They are doing a careful study to find out what it is that the American people like, and they are then going to wipe it out.

Be afraid, you people, sayeth the Shrub. But I shall save you! Maybe.

[jeanmarc]

34. Karl Rove must be practicing his Arabic over cell phones and radio[nt]

[Hobarticus]

35. Suspicious 'fund-pulling' and overcrowding reported...

'Swear to God, we really mean it this time!"

[Just Me]

39. ,..."no credible intelligence" really means,...

,...making shit up to keep the masses under the manipulative thumb of fear for political purposes.

[soup]

40. What, the shredder missed some documents?

Report Finds Contract, Training Problems with VA Computer System

March 22, 2004

Federal investigators found that Department of Veterans Affairs officials could not document how they awarded a contract for a $472 million financial and supply tracking system at Florida's Bay Pines VA Medical Center, the St. Petersburg Times reports. According to an interim VA report, project managers for the computer system and contractor BearingPoint "still have significant work" before the system functions correctly, and there are no guarantees that the system will meet the VA's needs.

The report found that on Oct. 2, 2003, four days before the Core Financial and Logistics System, or CoreFLS, was launched, project managers ignored warnings by the VA inspector general that "several risks had not been mitigated," the Times reports. The report also found that some employees, including the chief of the surgical supply division, had not taken the available Internet training before Bay Pines switched to the new system (De La Garza, St. Petersburg Times, 3/20). In addition, 81 surgeries were cancelled between November and February because of surgical supply problems that could have been avoided, and surgery delays continue, the report found (Associated Press, 3/20). VA Secretary Anthony Principi is reviewing the report.
http://www.ihealthbeat.org/index.cfm?Action=dspItem&itemID=100800

-----


Aug 20, 2:36 PM EDT
Sen. Nelson seeks criminal investigation of VA computer debacle

By MITCH STACY
Associated Press Writer

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson said Friday that the U.S. Justice Department will investigate the failed computer system at Bay Pines VA Medical Center that cost taxpayers $278 million and hindered patient care.

Nelson, D-Fla., said he prompted the preliminary investigation with a letter sent Thursday to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft. The focus, the senator said, will be on whether there was criminal wrongdoing by the project's contractor or VA management officials involved in the project.

"What we need to do is get to the bottom of all of this," Nelson said. "This is rotten. It smells."
really long url to article


U.S. plans criminal inquiry into VA computer system
By PAUL DE LA GARZA, Times Staff Writer
Published August 20, 2004

>snip<
Last month, VA Secretary Anthony Principi pulled the plug on the pilot project at Bay Pines. The system was designed to track and control finances, vendor payouts and supply inventories, but it failed to work properly after installation in October. Software glitches and inadequate training have triggered surgery delays. Hospital staff members also say they can't keep track of expenditures.

Congress had set aside $472-million for the project; the VA spent about $278-million.

Nelson wrote that the findings by investigators suggest "that problems with CoreFLS may go well beyond mismanagement or incompetence."

BearingPoint spokesman John Schneidawind said the company would have no comment.
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/08/20/Southpinellas/US_plans_criminal_inq.shtml

[ignatius 2]

41. For God's sakes, can we please have a new president and let

this nightmare end!!!!

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

42. Report: Bush will cynically use terror to drum up Vet support

What a bunch of bullshit.

JB