<Threat of 'dirty bomb' softened - Ashcroft's remarks annoy White House

“WASHINGTON -- Attorney General John Ashcroft on Monday overstated the potential threat posed by ''dirty bomb'' suspect Abdullah Al Muhajir, Bush administration and law enforcement officials said Tuesday.

“Ashcroft's remarks annoyed the White House and led the administration to soften the government's descriptions of the alleged plot. ''I don't think there was actually a plot beyond some fairly loose talk and (Al Muhajir's) coming in here obviously to plan further deeds,'' Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz told CBS on Tuesday.”

First, the sack dance. Then the distancing, as it seems the guy (who is bad and needs to be in jail, charged under the constitution) had pretty much just talked. Had no access to the stuff, and not the kind of guy who was going to be able to put on a white coat and buy it.

I have to say again that if Ashcroft is this proud of catching this inept gangbanger, I’m worried. I’m certain there are far more sophisticated folks out there. You have to wonder why he was so darned enthusiastic about this.

A few weeks ago I said that 20 years ago I had thought of shooting at Reagan’s helicopter. Wondered how one would pick out Reagan’s from the other helicopters. I didn’t have a missile, access to a missile, and wouldn’t have shot it if I did. But I did talk about it on this board.

Would that have been enough to throw me in the slam? A Navy brig? Without an attorney, sentence, evidence or trial. Sounds like it.

Good thing I’m not pedigreed, maybe named Albert and Victoria’s Royal English Bowser, something like that.

A signature like “Al Bowser” might be interpreted as “al-Bowser”, and I could be in a lot of trouble. Termed an "enemy", "combatant", and stripped of my citizenship by eb. By the thought police. Yipes!!

Arf