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Why Americans Weren't Warned of Mumbai Attacks
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ShareDecember 03, 2008 7:18 PM
ABC News' Martha Raddatz Reports: It was ABC's Brian Ross who first reported that prior to last weekend’s attacks in Mumbai, the U.S. government had warned India of possible terror attacks, including one at the Taj Hotel. Brian's reporting prompted ABC's Tom Shine, one of my very sharp colleague here in the Washington DC bureau to ask, "Did the U.S warn Americans to stay away from that hotel --- was there a travel alert or anything put out by our government that might have advised U.S. citizens to stay clear of the area?"
So today I sought an answer.
The State Department would not talk about specific intelligence, but acknowledged that no information was provided to Americans about the threat to the Taj Hotel. The official said there is a very specific set of criteria that must be met before the State Dept. is required to warn citizens.
The threat info must be "Credible specific, and non counterable (steps have not been or cannot be taken to counter) and must be associated with the American public or American interests."
When I asked why "hypothetically" an attack on the Taj wouldn’t be a threat to Americans the official said that "hypothetically" it was likely because the threat was not specific to Americans or American interests, so it would not meet the criteria. As for "hypothetically" telling the Indians of an attack, the official said that the US would be normal to pass on intelligence to the country that was targeted if the U.S. felt it was credible.
The only official warning to Americans came in a standard fact sheet about travel to India, which includes a section on security, and is issued for every country. The last one issued before last weeks attacks came on September 30, 2008 and read, in part: "While historically the state of jammu and kashmir have been a focal point of terrorist activity, bomb blasts resulting in deaths and injuries have occurred in public places such as markets, as well as on public transportation such as trains and on buses throughout India" The warning goes on to list prior attacks, including "simultaneous attacks on Mumbai commuter trains" in July 2006. It does make a point to note, however that "The motive for many of these attacks has not been clearly established although it is believed that US citizens and foreigners in general were not specifically targeted in these attacks."
December 3, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (12)
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Good point; however, perhaps we put too much faith in India's ability to control the terrorists threat in their own country. Maybe Americans need to rethink other countries ablility to control that threat when traveling overseas and take personal responsibility for our own safety rather than depending upon our government's influence on foreign soil which we have no control over...Maybe we need to take it upon ourselves to go to current travel warnings at travel.state.gov issued by the US Dept of State before traveling.....OOPS dare I suggest PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Posted by: socalindep | Dec 3, 2008 7:33:53 PM
nah, man. personal responsibility is the root cause of almost all of the evil in this darn world. look it up.
Posted by: boo | Dec 3, 2008 7:51:47 PM
Visor..what is that crap? Another conspiracy web site...damn left wing
Posted by: Jerry | Dec 3, 2008 8:54:45 PM
It should be obvious that this so-called warning to India amounts to US trying ot 'show off'!
For if the Iraqi-like 'intellige3nce' was of any value, Americans traveling to Indai would have to be notified.
In other words, the 'warning' to India was WORTHLESS!
Posted by: Patriot | Dec 3, 2008 8:55:17 PM
visor,
Good common sense. Yes, somebody knew about it. Yes, somebody made money on yet another crisis.
If somebody yells fire when there is no fire, then that's a problem that could land them in jail. When someone *smells smoke* then yells fire, that's egg on your face if there is no fire, but better safe than sorry.
The Bush administration doesn't know the difference between our safety and bad media coverage for his possible gaffes. Ego and self-doubt! Either that or Bush doesn't trust the public and thinks the public is idiotic enough to believe media spin.
I don't think Bush is dishonest as the media painted him. But, I *do think the people he surrounded himself with knew that he was driven by his Ego / self-doubt. Laura would have been a better pres than GW.
Posted by: Common Sense | Dec 3, 2008 9:09:36 PM
I do not know why ABC news constantly touts 'you heard it here first' when ABC news was the ONLY major news source that didn't report on the Walmart worker's fatal trampling until 5 days AFTER it occurred.
It leaves the impression that ABC is in the pocket of Walmart and other big businesses that don't respect human life/human opinions/human interests? This is America (not H1B-exporting India) where we value human life more than 'what the U.S. businesses think of us'.
Posted by: Common Sense | Dec 3, 2008 9:41:36 PM
Bashing Bush-
You realize that you only have one year to bash President Bush.
After that year is up, you are going to have to find someone else to blame for all your problems.
If we were attacked after 9/11, then I could see people complaining about Homeland Security.
But we have had NO attack. Not even a radical terrorist spitting on an old lady.
Even the blind can see some things.
Posted by: The Angry Republican | Dec 3, 2008 10:43:52 PM
Why ABC being an apologist for the U.S. intelligence? The truth is murkier.
Pakistani intelligence and the CIA have very close relationship. The current Pakistani spy chief was interviewed by Admiral Mullen before his appointment [ he met him secretly according to NY Times report ]. It is possible, that given the losing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the CIA staged this through its Pakistani assets.
Posted by: Maria | Dec 3, 2008 11:32:29 PM
Posted by: socalindep | Dec 3, 2008 7:33:53 PM
Clearly this person is an idiot. Personal responsibility is very important, I agree with you there. However, you posted in response to an article explaining that the US government did not warn Americans by suggesting that Americans check with the US government before traveling. Learn to read before you label people irresponsible morons.
Posted by: just missed | Dec 4, 2008 11:50:06 AM
just don't understand err missed...When traveling overseas it is only logical to check the travel warnings put out by the US State Department before leaving America..let me guess..you are "clearly" one of those morons who blame anyone and everyone for your bad decisions in regard to your personal responsibility when things don't go the way you planned...BTW read my response. Where did I label anyone a "irresponsible moron" you irresponsible moron?
Posted by: socalindep | Dec 4, 2008 8:14:35 PM
Because body counts make for good tv and another excuse for the "war on terror." Uh Shrub, War IS Terror!!! DUH! Are you listening O'bomba!!!
Posted by: please! | Dec 4, 2008 9:01:38 PM
Ultimately it is the terrorists themselves who are to blame. I think that these other countries need to get out of hate Bush/America mode and help stamp these organizations out. We failed to do the same and looked the other way, many, many times until we suffered an attack that was either too big to ignore, or we had a president (for once) who was actually willing to do something about it.
Posted by: Grand Old Party | Dec 5, 2008 12:20:23 AM
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