is the threat on LA valid, or did george bush create it fraudulantly?
cnn and msnbc reported it as a potential hoax.

The fact that you need to ask that question says something about
Bush's credibility ~ of course he's creating it!  He needs to create a
scare, then "fix it," in order to look like he's competent.

'of course he's creating it!  He needs to create a scare, then "fix
it," in order to look like he's competent.'

Frankly, that is horrible logic.  The fact that fixing a scare could
help his ratings does not imply that Bush created a scare.  That would
be like saying "Dlvhh would get $500,000 in life insurance money if
his wife died, she's been missing for 3 days so obviously he murdered
her!"

A motive can and perhaps should create suspision, but please don't
claim that your thoughts are absolute reality unless you have a good
reason to believe so.  If you do have credible evidence that Bush's
claim is fraudulent then I would like to see it and then create base
my oppinion on fact.

Don't be fooled, America has the BEST Intel in the world, bar none!
However what the so called leadership does with it is whats
disgraceful. Their manipulation of the truth is what really bothers
me. So to answer the question, yes, every spot in this country is
under threat. L A  would be up there on the list but there are many
cities/locations which would have a higher priority. My humble
opinion.

The idea of using shoe bombs to blow open the cockpit door of an
aircraft, in order to hijack it and crash it into a tall building ...
is well rather bizarre.

It just sounds rather stupid, and very impractical.

There are undoubtedly threats, but if Bush believes that particular
scenario, then my opinion is that somewhere along the line someone is
having a laugh, albeit in rather poor taste.

Since 9/11, it is certain that Intel has improved, but things that
have been discovered should not be broadcast, unless one has got a
complete 'wrap'.

It does seem rather peculiar that this was just announced now.  It
seems much more likely that it would have been announced immediately
as proud proof that increased security controls were in place and
effective, and that the supporting details would have been shown as
evidence  - if they knew about the shoe bomb.

sad but absolutely true and i echo dlvhh, the fact that in sincerity
you ask the question is a statement all by itself about the state of
this administration. it simply has no credibility.

i don't want to get into a patriotic flag waving debate about u.s.
intelligence capabilities. on the other hand, over the last decade or
so, intel failures have been astounding. the documented, non-partisian
infighting and lack of cooperation between agencies is pathetic and
endangers every u.s. citizen. without venturing into what bush
personally knew or should have known, there is enough documentary
available to state without question that various agents and agencies
had plenty of information and warning that the 9/11 attacks were
coming and in what form they were coming. u.s. intel failed in a major
way to integrate agencies and information to protect this country. if
you are the best of the incompetent, you are still just good at being
bad. it has been over four years since 9/11/01 and we still do not
have enough or competent arabic speaking translators working to
decipher the mass of intel we have collected. who knows what is in
there. certainly not us. in four years it would seem like the best
intel in the world could have hired, security cleared and taught a
foreign language to people interested in telling us what our
intelligence efforts are uncovering. you don't get to be the best by
waving the flag.

if shoe bombs sound rather bizarre to you let me suggest a quick
google search for the term, richard reid.

as to the actual question, did the event really happen, i don't know?
what i find disturbing in weighing the credibility of the accounts is
that no perpertrators were apprehended. the story is that this
intricate plot involving unnamed foreign nationals was well in motion
and about to unfold until we caught khalid sheikh mohammed. reports
say he gave up all the details of the entire plan but i have seen no
reports that we were then able to take that information and track down
anything. money, people, safe houses, explosives, contacts, a shoe
bomb, a piece of paper or anything that would support an operation.
could be it happened that way or it could be that khalid made the
whole thing up. as i said, i don't know.

what i do know for absolutely positively sure or as close to that as i
can be is why it is being discussed today. bush's ratings are at or
near lows in almost every category except his approach to the threat
of terror in this country. the only time his ratings take a bounce is
when he rattles the fear and terror cage. in the face of his illegal
and unconstitutional domestic wiretapping coming under fire, his best
defense is to play the terror card and demonstrate how well his
domestic spying is working. people will do many things they shouldn't
when they are afraid. in response to that fear and in support of the
constitution, democracy and civil rights i think a most appropriate
thought at this time and in reaction to this administration comes from
james madison.

"If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise
of fighting a foreign enemy."

i believe, as i've said, this white house has an ulterior motive to
the release of this information at this time whether it is factual or
not and given the motive i suggest it almost doesn't matter. the
effect will be the same. if this white house needs this authority it
should go to congress and ask for it. the rubber stamp committee that
used to be a seperate and equal branch of government will give it to
him. your civil rights and your constitution will be damaged just the
same but at least your president won't be breaking the law.

Actually Richard Reid was one of two known 'shoe bombers'

The other was a Pakistani guy who hid his 'device'
- my take is that Reid also got cold feet, pun intended

Blowing the cockpit door with high explosive is extremely dangerous, a
long time ago a friend told me about somebody who tried to blow their
garage lock with a golf ball sized bit of Semtex
- the garage disappeared and the entire street looked like a war zone

If you want to take over an aircraft, you just don't blast your way
into the cockpit, get it just slightly wrong and you have major
decompression.

Personally I reckon that a major function of Intel is disinformation,
slinging out hints so that unpenetrated cells think they have an
informant, and rigidly protect penetrated areas, but to do so you have
to generate the same frenzy ... otherwise they will cotton on.

As such Bush /should/ never give details, an analyst can glean something from them.

The 'small white planes' stuff and the laughable idea of torturing
people for information (chemical interrogation rules) is quite good
disinformation, extra-ordinary rendition is a very amusing phrase.

I suppose, the simple thing I'm trying to say, is that if Bush tells
the truth then his information providers are idiots.

While I have serious doubts about Bush's IQ, I am pretty sure that
since 9/11, the Intel system has been revised, with the help of real
experts with Arab/ Moslem fanatic understanding - both of which
translate 'Office 2'
- we in the UK are probably getting pretty good as well

BTW foreign language speakers are not 'taught', they are recruited
- the only exception I know of was a ploy

After the Weapons of Mass Destruction lies, how can any Brit, Aussie
or Yank believe what their prime minister or president tells them ?