Wikipedia defines false
or black flags as "covert operations designed to deceive the public
in such a way that the operations appear as though they are being carried
out by other entities."
"The name is derived from the military concept of flying false colors;
that is: flying the flag of a country other than one’s own. False flag
operations are not limited to war and counter-insurgency operations
and can be used during peace-time."
Big lies substitute for truth. Stories are fabricated. Media scoundrels
promote them. At issue is heightening fear for planned policies. Pretexts
are needed for militarism, imperial wars, and homeland repression. If
and when people learn they were duped, it's too late to matter.
It's an American tradition. Incidents are strategically timed. Innocent
victims suffer. So does everyone living under heightened national security
state conditions.
Threats are manufactured. States of emergency are declared. Rule of
law principles are discarded. Unchallenged dominance alone matters.
Wars on humanity follow. Big lies facilitate them. False flags play
their part.
Here we go again. This one's a sequel. Perhaps Hollywood blockbusters
will follow, first the original plot, then the latest. More on the earlier
one below.
On May 7, AP headlined "US: CIA thwarts new al-Qaida underwear bomb
plot," saying:
Agents foiled "an ambitious plot by al-Qaida's affiliate in Yemen to
destroy a US-bound airliner using a bomb with a sophisticated new design
around the one-year anniversary of the killing of Osama bin Laden, The
Associated Press has learned."
AP described an upgraded underwear bomb plot. Like the earlier one,
it was "designed to be used in a passenger's underwear, but this time"
US officials called it "more refined."
On May 7, the FBI issued a brief statement, saying:
"As a result of close cooperation with our security and intelligence
partners overseas, an improvised explosive device (IED) designed to
carry out a terrorist attack has been seized abroad."
"The FBI currently has possession of the IED and is conducting technical
and forensics analysis on it. Initial exploitation indicates that the
device is very similar to IEDs that have been used previously by al
Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in attempted terrorist attacks,
including against aircraft and for targeted assassinations."
"The device never presented a threat to public safety, and the US government
is working closely with international partners to address associated
concerns with the device."
"We refer you to the Department of Homeland Security, including the
Transportation Security Administration, regarding ongoing security measures
to safeguard the American people and the traveling public."
The device contained no metal. It's not clear if body scanners could
have detected it. Officials said an alleged Yemen-based bomber hadn't
yet picked a target or bought plane tickets. CIA agents seized the device
before he had a chance. The suspect wasn't identified.
AP learned of the plot earlier but agreed to White House and CIA requests
to delay publishing because intelligence operations were ongoing.
On May 8, the White House and FBI confirmed AP's report. Deputy national
security council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said Obama knew last month.
"The disruption of the IED plot underscores the necessity of remaining
vigilant against terrorism here and abroad," she said.
"While the president was assured that the device did not pose a threat
to the public, he directed the department of homeland security and law
enforcement and intelligence agencies to take whatever steps necessary
to guard against this type of attack," she added.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesman Matt Chandler said:
The latest plot "demonstrates our adversaries' interest in targeting
the aviation sector." Protective "layers" are thus used.
They "include threat and vulnerability analysis, prescreening and screening
of passengers using the best available technology, random searches at
airports, federal air marshal coverage, and additional security measures
both seen and unseen."
"It's not clear who built the bomb," AP reported. Authorities "suspect
it was the work of master bomb maker Ibrahim Hassan al-Asiri." A Saudi
citizen, he's one of their most wanted. Earlier he was imprisoned and
released.
He's reportedly in Yemen with his brother Abdullah. He's another Saudi
most wanted. Washington claims they're both Al Qaeda connected. He's
blamed for earlier bomb plots.
On March 24, 2011, the State Department included Ibrahim on its terrorist
watch list. He's also on an Interpol Orange Notice one. It "warns police
and other international organizations about potential threats from disguised
weapons, parcel bombs, or other dangerous materials."
Washington considers Yemen strategically important. It's mostly for
its location near the Horn of Africa on Saudi Arabia's southern border,
the Red Sea, and Bab el- Mandeb strait.
It's a key chokepoint separating Yemen from Eritrea. Around three million
barrels of oil pass through it daily. The Gulf of Aden connects to the
Indian Ocean. Since 2009, Obama waged drone war on the country. CIA
and Special Forces operate on the ground. Death squads are deployed.
America's at war with Yemen without declaring it. Predator drones escalate
killing. Media scoundrels say little. Yemen gets attention when foiled
bomb plots are claimed. They're pretexts for stepped up measures there
and at home.
Washington's targets are global. US citizens share risks with foreign
ones. Waging war on humanity leaves no one safe. Everyone everywhere
is fair game. Any place could erupt in free-fire zone violence. Anyone
can be accused of terrorism or conspiracy to commit it.
America's hegemonic ambitions threaten humanity. Too few at home understand.
Public ignorance and indifference let Washington get away with murder.
It's a global killing machine to remove all challenges.
The Earlier Underwear Bomber False Flag
It was fake like the sequel. In December 2009, US officials claimed
Nigerian citizen Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab traveled to Yemen, got Al
Qaeda training, and explosive PETN chemicals.
Supposedly he tried using them to blow up an Amsterdam-Detroit-bound
airliner on Christmas Day. In fact, he was a fall guy for a joint CIA/Mossad/India
Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) false flag.
The same alliance staged coordinated 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Dozens
were killed and hundreds wounded. They also were behind former Pakistani
Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's 2007 assassination.
The same issue then remains US policy now. Destabilizing and balkanizing
Pakistan is planned. It's also perhaps intended for Afghanistan and
Libya. Iraq's already divided. Always it's for easier control and exploitation.
Abdulmutallab was a convenient patsy. He was used to facilitate America's
war on Yemen. Britain denied him an entrance visa. His name was on a
State Department terror watch list.
Yet he wasn't on a No Fly List. He paid cash for a one-way ticket to
Detroit, checked no luggage, had a US visa but no passport, and was
helped onboard by a "well-dressed Indian" gentleman (a RAW agent) to
facilitate Washington's scheme to use him as a convenient dupe.
His PETN was virtually harmless. It was technically deficient, failed
to go off properly, and had fire cracker strength. Following the incident,
Washington's war on Yemen escalated and enhanced airport screening began.
Full body scanners the ACLU calls "virtual strip search(es)" are used.
False flags create opportunities to advance America's imperium. They
also facilitate its war on dissent. In May 2011, three key Patriot Act
powers were extended for another four years. Little debate assured swift
passage. As a result:
(1) Unlimited roving wiretaps continue unchecked.
(2) Section 215 pertains to alleged suspects. It authorizes government
access to "any tangible item." They included financial records and transactions,
student and medical records, phone conversations, emails, other Internet
use, and whatever else Washington claims essential.
(3) Alleged suspect organizations and individuals can be surveilled,
whether or not evidence links them to terrorism or complicity to commit
it. In other words, police state powers to monitor anyone for any reason
or none at all remain unchecked.
Racial profiling and waging war on Islam got boosts. Abdulmutallab benefitted
Washington at his own expense. Expect the underwear bomb sequel to provide
more.
Washington will take full advantage. Perhaps Obama has another war in
mind.
A Final Comment
On May 8, The New York Times headlined "Rare Double Agent Disrupted
Bombing Plot, US says."
Most likely it's double-dealing official lies and misreporting. According
to Times-speak, a Saudi intelligence agent "infiltrated (a) terrorist
group and volunteered for the mission, American and foreign officials
said Tuesday."
Washington claims he provided an "innovative bomb" designed for "aviation
attack." The Times reported the story without checking for reliability.
If official sources say it, accounts follow true or false.
The agent is back in Saudi Arabia, The Times said. CIA agents were involved.
What's true or false isn't clear. What's certain is another false flag
for reasons similar to previous ones. They repeat well-timed for strategic
advantage.
They're manufactured to look real. Media scoundrels headline them. Most
people don't know they've been had. The scam repeats because it works.
No wonder America gets away with murder and much more.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
His new book is titled "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized
Banking, Government Collusion and Class War"
http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge
discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News
Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time
and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy
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