Last night brought the news that two men in New York had been arrested for plotting to bomb various synagogues in the city. The television was filled with pictures of the weapons that the two had purchased to carry out the plot: guns, ammo and grenades. According to the news report, the two wanted to kill Jews since Muslims were being treated “like dogs”.
The New York City police are to be congratulated for breaking up another terror plot. Why is it that nearly every plot of this sort seems to be in New York? Thankfully, the police are up to the task of dealing with these crazies.
What really interested me about the reports, however, was the note that the federal anti-terrorism taskforce declined to get involved in dealing with this plot. The feds left this to the local police. How can that be? Can you imagine what would have happened if these jerks had managed to carry out an attack and it came out that the feds had stepped aside from dealing with them? Someone had better explain why the feds did not get involved here.
7 comments:
Another fine summary and analysis of this outstanding opportunity. We just need to be patient for about six months!
My comment was intended for reference to the GASFRAC analysis not the Malloy article. Somehow it got connected.
Goggle has been having technical problems with the blogger site. posts have disappeared and access has been spotty. Sorry that the comment went to the wrong place, but there is nothing I can do about it.
This pertains to the terror plot post.
While we can't be sure we know all of the facts, it seems from all reports that these 2 thugs were acting on their own, with no connection or help from any terrorist organization. Given that, I fail to see the basis for Federal involvement, especially given the New York Police Department's expertise in such matters.
Hotpanera: Your basis for keeping the feds out of the mix in dealing with the terror plot is that these two guys were working on their own rather than with a terrorist organization? Suppose these two jihadists had managed to blow up a few buildings in New York. Would anyone say that the feds did the right thing to not get involved? I doubt it. The point of the Department of Homeland Security is that the entire US is to be kept safe from terrorists. The mandate is not limited to terrorists with the appropriate ties to Al Qaeda or Hamas or some other group. When the case was brought to the feds by the NYC police, the feds should have gotten involved. Their failure to do so is inexcusable in my opinion.
Jeff,
As you know, I generally have great respect for your views, so I'm puzzled by this one.
Is it that two people were involved that triggers the need for the Feds to get involved in your view, or would you say the same thing if one person was, as best could be ascertained, preparing to bomb a synagogue alone? Is it a special sensitivity because it is a synagogue? (If so, I share the sentivity but don't see how that makes Fed involvement mandatory), What if it were a hardware store? I'm trying to understand what triggers the mandated Federal involvement because I see this as a typical crime for which the N.Y.C. police appropriately acts alone.
Hotpanera
I assume you are kidding. You do not know why a person or persons planning a terror bombing in New York City should bring the involvement of the federal anti-terror task force? Maybe this will give you a clue: TERRORISM. Clear now? Drawing distinctions based upon whether or not it is one person, two people or a bigger group is irrelevant. Major Hassan who killed 13 should have been the subject of the feds, but they mjissed him. The location and identity of the target make no difference. It is the fact of terrorism, plain and simple.
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