Call me sensible, but why would there be more chance of an Al Quaida attack now than at any other time? Did they declare a cease fire before? Isn't the organization's whole purpose to use violence? Do they really need an excuse for another attack?

OBL dead? So where's the body? So convenient that after a 10 year search the body had to immediately be thrown in the sea to be eaten by sharks. Maybe being tortured at gitmo or sunning itself in some tropical paradise after cutting a deal with the U.S. on the condition that they publish a story about his heroic death. The problem with this report is that it requires blind faith in the US government. They don't have a lot of credibility with me at the moment. They have been caught in too many lies. Also what was with all those explosions if it was just a battle involving some automatic gunfire with a few guys? Even if Obama really is dead I detect the whiff of a large amount of manure in this story. US government = pathological liar. They cannot open their mouths without lying. In the interest of national security of course.

I knew the conspiracy theories would start sooner or later. Hey, I also heard the president is a foreigner!

What does having NG troops milling around with empty M-16s accomplish?


The U.S. Department of State alerts U.S. citizens traveling and residing abroad to the enhanced potential for anti-American violence given recent counter-terrorism activity in Pakistan. Given the uncertainty and volatility of the current situation, U.S. citizens in areas where recent events could cause anti-American violence are strongly urged to limit their travel outside of their homes and hotels and avoid mass gatherings and demonstrations.

<SNIP>

Media coverage of local events may cause family and friends to become concerned for their loved ones traveling and residing abroad.

Gee, where would the newz media get the idea to scare the crap out of people.



I would imagine the roll-outs will remain on schedule, that is, airports that don't have Nude-O-Scopes eventually will.


What, you want a long form death certificate?

Birth announcement: "Out of an Abundance of Caution�" has a baby sibling. Introducing "Threat of Retaliation�." Rolling off the lips of dozens of talking heads on TV.

Yesterday: Pistole to Congress: "We need more money, out of Fear of Osama."
Today: Pistole to Congress: "So what if Osama is shark food? TSA needs more money to protect us from that there FEAR of Threat of Retaliation�."

They don't need an excuse ... but if one of the purposes of terrorism is to make a political statement, then timing an attack as a response to OBL's death is a convenient way to do that.

If OBL isn't dead, it's easy enough for him to prove. He can issue one of his numerous video reports, with enough contemporary information in it to verify that it wasn't filmed before his purported death.

I have a message for the US Government I am still going to Europe Later this month and the US Government can kiss my rear if they don't want me too. This means we have let the morons win.....

+100

And I still plan on two trips to Brazil in June. Similar the shooting in Frankfurt, and subsequent warning, I still went to Frankfurt ^

This is our post-OBL future, and it looks good!

We have nothing to fear, but fear itself.

And water.
And shoes.
And panties.
And ourselves.

There are tons of comments following the OBL articles saying that we no longer need DHS/TSA. This includes so pretty strong posts on Michael Moore's blog that Drudge has linked.

http://www.michaelmoore.com/

It looks like with OBL gone lots of folks are really questioning the need to keep these agencies and the Patriot Act. There is a bunch of anti-Patriot Act commentary, so if that goes so does DHS/TSA.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/busines...s-week/1167294
Not good boys and girls!

I think there is a legitimate concern about an immediate retaliatory strike by OBL supporters (whether it's the Taliban, al Qai'da or some other group doesn't matter at this point). However, I don't believe the bad guys have a plan on the shelf for an immediate strike against commercial aviation. Doesn't make operational sense to have a plan and not execute it immediately. Instead, I think they'll go after a much easier target, most likely something not related to commercial aviation, and claim some sort of victory in the name of OBL. Otherwise, the threat against commercial aviation is no less than it was before OBL became shark bait.

Should TSA review its policies and make changes? Absolutely. Will it? Highly doubtful. The bureaucratic path of least resistance is to maintain the status quo in the name of security.

It adds another layer of TSA Kabuki Theater, nothing more.

So why the increased measures immediately following OBL's death?



I think you meant to say "The bureaucratic path of TSA is to take every opportunity to scare the country into believing that we face an imminent threat and that unless Congress and the Courts let TSA continue their reign of terror inside airport terminals, our cushy government jobs will be at risk."

Right?

Flew home from BRU yesterday morning, 4 fit guys, 2 black and 2 white were on the same hotel shuttle with us. I made a comment that I was getting to the airport earlier than normal as there might be some extra security, one the guys says "Oh there is"
The 4 guys ended up on my flight and I'm 95% sure that they were FAMs due to a number of factors. 2 were spread out in Business, one of them across the aisle from me. The other 2 were were spread out in coach.

I'm wondering if it's normal to have 4 on a TATL or were they able to up security that fast?