Feds Say

BREAKING NEWS!

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Federal authorities have received a "plausible but unsubstantiated" report that al Qaeda may have discussed targeting transit systems in or around New York City, the Department of Homeland Security said.


Al Qaeda suicide bombers could target New York City subways, federal security officials say.

"These discussions reportedly involved the use of suicide bombers or explosives" on subway or passenger rail trains, according to a joint DHS and FBI statement issued Tuesday.

"We have no specific details to confirm that this plot has developed beyond aspirational planning, but we are issuing this warning out of concern that such an attack could possibly be conducted during the forthcoming holiday season," the statement said.

To which I say: NO SHIT SHERLOCK.

Isn't this why we've had our bags checked for 7 years upon entering the subway? Isn't this why there are machine guns all around the city now?

Was anyone over the last 7 years not operating under the assumption that there was "aspirational planning" for an attack on crowded places like subways?

Sounds like this is just regular ass-covering.

However, [CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson ] said, it also would be possible for al Qaeda deliberately to plant false information.

"They would love to sort of create fear when they're not actually capable of creating a strike. ... I've seen it myself, in Afghanistan."

You don't say? Sown fear? Has anyone seen a climate of fear created any closer than Afghanistan?