Am I a "known affiliate" of al Qaeda or only a "link"?

[uppityperson]

THE PRESIDENT: After September the 11th, I vowed to the American people that our government would do everything within the law to protect them against another terrorist attack. As part of this effort, I authorized the National Security Agency to intercept the international communications of people with known links to al Qaeda and related terrorist organizations. In other words, if al Qaeda or their associates are making calls into the United States or out of the United States, we want to know what they're saying.

Today there are new claims about other ways we are tracking down al Qaeda to prevent attacks on America. I want to make some important points about what the government is doing and what the government is not doing.

First, our international activities strictly target al Qaeda and their known affiliates. Al Qaeda is our enemy, and we want to know their plans. Second, the government does not listen to domestic phone calls without court approval. Third, the intelligence activities I authorized are lawful and have been briefed to appropriate members of Congress, both Republican and Democrat. Fourth, the privacy of ordinary Americans is fiercely protected in all our activities.

We're not mining or trolling through the personal lives of millions of innocent Americans. Our efforts are focused on links to al Qaeda and their known affiliates. So far we've been very successful in preventing another attack on our soil.

As a general matter, every time sensitive intelligence is leaked, it hurts our ability to defeat this enemy. Our most important job is to protect the American people from another attack, and we will do so within the laws of our country.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/05/20060511-1.html
Liar liar pants on fire, (per wikipedia)A'uzu billahi minashaitanir rajim (I seek refuge in Allah from Shaitan, the accursed)

Edited to remove smiley

[otherlander]

1. You're a known affiliate

Because apparently Amnesty International is a terrorist organization working closely with Al Qaida. Damn those highly-esteemed nobel-peace-prize-winning terrorists... :sarcasm:

[uppityperson]

2. I think I'd rather be a link, though you are probably right.

affiliate since I was in Camp Casey. Note my recently changed sig line.

[kestrel91316]

11. WOW. My niece did an internship for Amnesty International last year.

We talk on the phone. I guess that makes her a terrorist and I and my sister, BIL, etc are known terrorist affiliates.

I feel honored to be on Bush's HIT LIST.

[Jim Lane]

12. Now I guess everyone who read your post is a "link". (eom)

[kestrel91316]

13. I'm sure EVERYBODY on DU and EVERY registered Dem is already

a target.

[katinmn]

3. Soon you may be an "insurgent"

[otherlander]

4. Then let us devise a signal

by which we may recognize each other in the Halliburton Archipelago.

[uppityperson]

5. Easy, we are the ones who are the prisoners.

[otherlander]

7. Something to tell us apart from the actual terrorists

there will probably be a few who were actual terrorists.

[katinmn]

6. A code would be useful!

[Dunvegan]

9. How about we greet each other with "DUDE!"

Which is our super secret shorthand for "Democratic Underground Dispora Electorate."

Dude!

[TahitiNut]

8. We're all links.

And Junior's the missing link.

[genieroze]

10. Too bad he's not missing......from office!!!!!

IMPEACH

[Hugin]

14. Linked Affiliate.

You? I have no idea.

It's all a state of mind or something.

[Ioo]

15. What's your phone number I will look it up :) (NT)

[Hugin]

16. Should they fax it to you?

[JuniperLea]

17. Seven degrees of separation

Your dad talked to some guy at the local auto repair, who talked to his girlfriend, who talked to her mom, who talked to the guy at the meat market, who RECEIVED a call from an al Qaeda "terrorist"... If they want any one of us out of the way, all they have to do is play seven degrees of separation... a little parlor game that will bite us in the butt.

[uppityperson]

18. It is even worse for me, I am a (gasp!) middle eastern dancer!!OMG!!!1

I am a light brown haired germanic looking middle aged woman. BUT:I buy things from the near and middle east online. I teach classes. I perform. I have had nightmares of being disappeared.