WH admits terror alerts are politically motivated (May 2002)

[RedSock]

May 20-24, 2002: The Bush administration issues a remarkable series of terror warnings that many believe are politically motivated. Vice President Cheney warns it is "not a matter of if, but when" al-Qaeda will next attack the US. (CNN, 5/20/02) Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge says the same thing. Defense Secretary Rumsfeld says terrorists will "inevitably" obtain weapons of mass destruction. FBI Director Mueller says more suicide bombings are "inevitable." (Washington Post, 5/22/02) Authorities also issue separate warnings that al-Qaeda terrorists might target apartment buildings nationwide, banks, rail and transit systems, the Statue of Liberty, and the Brooklyn Bridge. USA Today titles an article, "Some Question Motives Behind Series of Alerts." (USA Today, 5/24/02) David Martin, CBS's national security correspondent, says, "Right now they're putting out all these warnings to change the subject from what was known prior to September 11 to what is known now." (Washington Post, 5/27/02) Remarkably, even Press Secretary Ari Fleischer says the alerts were issued "as a result of all the controversy that took place last week." (Village Voice, 5/23/02, Washington Times, 5/22/02) Time notes, "Though uncorroborated and vague, the terror alerts were a political godsend for an Administration trying to fend off a bruising bipartisan inquiry into its handling of the terrorist chatter last summer. After the wave of warnings, the Democratic clamor for an investigation into the government's mistakes subsided." (Time, 5/27/02)

http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0222/gray-web1.php
http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20020522-217139.htm

The controversy Liar's talking about was the Bush Knew flap around May 15, 2002.



It's all part of Paul Thompson's Complete Timeline
http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/timeline/index.html
http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/timeline/main/timelineafter2001.html