So read this: U.S. seeks 7 figures tied to al-Qaida

OK... so the US Terror/Fear Alert is raised whenever there are 'credible threats with no specifics', but this "clear and present danger" doesn't get a raise on the fear-o-meter? What? Why not? I can only imagine two reasons (ok, 3, but "abject stupidity" is really not worth adding as an option just yet): 1) This alert has been manufactured to boost Bush's poll numbers [the 'daddy will protect us" response] or 2) The government knows when this group os rag-tag terrorists plans to attack but won't be telling us, the targets. Something smells really fishy here...

Let's take a look at the carefully constructed photo list. Maybe there are some clues there. Surely a manufactured threat will have some tell-tale markings. You know... images picked to spark specific feelings in people. Let's see what we have here:

1) Ah! The "American Traitor". Sure to get a rise out of the faithful/vengeful.
2) Hmm.. is that the young apprentice of...
3) The DC Sniper?
4) Look! It's that cleric who's been giving the US fits in Iraq... no, wait... Just looks like him.
5) Shoe bomber. Oops again! It's some guy from that place with the coelacanths and where they object (at the UN) to the Israeli military occupation of Palestinian territory.
6) The token Saudi. Looks like he might work in your office building, eh? Wait... maybe he does! Boo!
7) And finally, the "angelic-looking award-winning female scientist" (SMH). An addition worthy of a Bond film. And a nice bit of subterfuge if this is a manufactured alert. "It must be true, why there's even a woman on it!"

Look, I know these people are terrorist or, at the very least, people who would use force to fight the US government (If you classify that as 'terrorist' then Bush is also a terrorist, so 'think responsibly'.), but this whole alert just doesn't smell right to me. I find it all very convenient and suspicious. Only time, events and/or investigation will prove it out. I hope I'm right, since no one will get hurt that way, but, onthe other hand, I don't think we should completely laugh it off just yet.

However, if it comes to light that it was fabricated, I would hope that would finally wake up those who still support the folly of the Bush administrations policies and actions so they might see them for the vultures they are. because this is exactly the sort of thing they'd try to pull over on us all just to get back in power.

Let's just hope history proves me right.