News In Brief 31 October 2005

White House Sets Mark With No Terror Alert During Indictments

Libby's Bad News Passes Without Fear Package; Homeland Security Looks Into Missed Opportunity

As Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald held a press conference on Friday, outlining the five counts of indictment against Vice President Dick Cheney's Chief of Staff, I. Lewis 'Scooter" Libby, the nation remained calm, with no change in the terror alert, or fear-invoking news of any imminent attacks.

For journalists and media watchers, it was, perhaps, the first time since 9/11 that such an occurrence has happened.

"It goes to show just how much the White House is in disarray," offered media critic, Maxwell Throckmorton, of the monthly "We're Watching!".

President Bush as in Norfolk, Virginia, giving his standard Defending The War In Iraq/Terror speech to a group of naval cadets. Vice President Cheney was in Georgia, fundraising for Republican candidates and Karl Rove was likely as far away from Washington - and the Special Prosecutor - as he could be.

"Someone fell asleep at the switch", offered Throckmorton.

Recently, Keith Olbermann, host of MSNBC's 'Countdown' news program, read off a list of 13 occurrences in which bad news for the Bush Administration coincided with the change in the terror alert, or news of a dangerous threat.

On October 6th, a day when the special prosecutor said he could not guarantee he would not indict Karl Rove, the news of a planned attack against the New York Subway system was announced (and later proved coming from a unreliable source). Olbermann, with guest Craig Crawford, author of "Attack the Messenger", went through the list of 13 incidents of "news that significantly impacted the White House negatively, there has been some sudden credible terror threat somewhere in this country".

Crawford noted that "it is a pattern".

"There is a pattern here. And I think it's difficult sometimes to take it at face value. But in these moments, when it looks like a crisis, it's … those of us who bring it up get accused of treason. That's what Howard Dean was accused of when he raised that after the Democratic Convention scare alert."

"This administration have been real pro's at this. They've done it like clockwork." offered Throckmorton. "It's inexplicable how they missed this one."

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, when asked about why there was no terror alert on Friday, declined comment, referring the questioner to Homeland Security.

A spokesperson for Homeland Security issued a statement late on Friday, that read, in part;

"An alert should have been issued and we are endeavoring to see it the threat is still viable".

Both McClellan and Homeland Security refused comment if there will be future terror alerts should Special Prosecutor Fitzgerald hand-down further indictments.