Canadian Cynic

Oh, fer Chrissake, here we go again

The terrorists are coming! The terrorists are coming! From this article, we have:

Al Qaeda plans a large-scale attack on the United States "in an effort to disrupt the democratic process" before November's elections, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Thursday.

Holy elective disruption, Batman! That's pretty specific stuff, and Ridge lets you know it in no uncertain terms:

Ridge cited "recent interdictions" for the new warning.

Wow! Apparently, the anti-terrorist intelligence network is finally doing its job, and getting the real goods on those nefarious evildoers. Details, dammit! We need details!

[Ridge] said U.S. officials have no precise knowledge of the time, place or method of attack, but said they are "actively working to gain that knowledge."

Um ... what? But ... but ... OK, but you're going to beef up the security protocols, anyway, right? Right?

Ridge did not raise the national color-coded threat level beyond its current yellow, or elevated, level.

Ooooooookay. And just in case you thought that, maybe, there might have been cause for alarm, we have:

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Cat Killer, speaking before the briefing, said the intelligence was "very non-specific" and there was "no reason for panic, no reason for paralysis."

And, apparently, no reason for alarm. Or concern. Or, for that matter, much interest. Actually, just forget we brought it up, OK?