Hat tip to LGF. Haven't seen this in any other source...
Los Angeles police have detained about 200 people believed to have connections to foreign terrorists, Police Chief William Bratton said Wednesday during a morning call-in radio program. Bratton characterized those arrested as a "variety of individuals we feel have some connection to issues of terrorism." He said the arrests were made in conjunction with federal agents and it is unclear whether they will face terrorism-related charges. "Our philosophy is get them before they get us," Bratton said. "So if I can get them on an immigration violation, anything, we're going to get them." Previously, LAPD counter-terrorism head John Miller has said there are people affiliated with al-Qaeda in Los Angeles who have set up support networks and raised money for attacks. U.S Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., also warned of the ongoing threat of terrorism during an address she gave Wednesday to the West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. She said that there are thousands of al-Qaeda operatives around the world, and many in the state. "I can't tell you how many because it's classified information," Feinstein said. "But if I told you the number of terrorist cells in this country, you would be shocked."
| I'm sure most of us would be. What surprises me is that we don't see more articles like this, even just in our local papers. Occasionally chatting with policemen, I know that there is a background noise of arrests, but they never seem to splash. In the immediate wake of 9-11 there were reports every day for about three weeks of investigations — then almost nothing. Probably the people in charge of the investigations don't want them followed. Probably the majority of investigations end up with no charges, maybe — maybe — a quiet deportation. But at least some should be. The public needs reminded that there are Bad Guys out there and that the threat's more than just a color code that nobody pays attention to. |
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