[wordup] Ashcroft's "dirty bomb" scare was a complete exaggeration?

[Adam Shand]

Via: politech at politechbot.com

[Seems that it's reasonable to ask some basic question: Did Abdullah Al
Muhajir possess radioactive materials of the type that could be used for
a "dirty bomb?" Did he try to form those into a weapon? In short, was he
an (alleged) terrorist wannabe or someone who (allegedly) was serious
about causing widescale harm? Given that DOJ has in the past claimed
drunk airline passengers were "domestic terrorists" (to up its
anti-terror budgets), it makes sense to be somewhat skeptical here.
--Declan]

From: http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20020612/4185665s.htm

Threat of 'dirty bomb' softened Ashcroft's remarks annoy White House

By Kevin Johnson and Toni Locy

WASHINGTON -- Attorney General John Ashcroft on Monday overstated the
potential threat posed by ''dirty bomb'' suspect Abdullah Al Muhajir,
Bush administration and law enforcement officials said Tuesday.

Ashcroft's remarks annoyed the White House and led the administration to
soften the government's descriptions of the alleged plot. ''I don't
think there was actually a plot beyond some fairly loose talk and (Al
Muhajir's) coming in here obviously to plan further deeds,'' Deputy
Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz told CBS on Tuesday.

His comments echoed those Monday of FBI Director Robert Mueller and
Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson. They backed away from Ashcroft's
descriptions of the alleged plot but emphasized that Al Muhajir was
dangerous and that his arrest was a victory against terrorism.

When Ashcroft announced Al Muhajir's May 8 arrest, he said authorities
had ''disrupted an unfolding terrorist plot to attack the United States
by exploding a radioactive 'dirty bomb.' '' His 14-paragraph statement
mentioned radiation or dirty bombs five times, and said Al Muhajir was
being detained by the military ''for the safety of all Americans.''

Ashcroft's ominous tone surprised the White House and law enforcement
officials here and abroad, including some who had tracked Al Muhajir to
al-Qaeda meetings in Pakistan. The law enforcement officials say the
evidence against Al Muhajir, 31, indicates he was interested in many
scenarios involving explosives, and radioactive materials was one
possibility. They say that the former Chicago gang member once known as
Jose Padilla was up to no good, but that any plans involving radiation
were not as mature as Ashcroft suggested.

Administration sources say the White House emphatically told Ashcroft
that it was dissatisfied with his description of the alleged plot.

Publicly the White House defended Ashcroft, saying he was technically
correct. ''There's always a tendency at times like this (that) the
initial reports immediately lurch to the worst-case scenario,''
administration spokesman Ari Fleischer said. Justice Department
spokesman Mark Corallo said Al Muhajir ''was definitely planning an
attack.'' Ashcroft was traveling in Hungary on Tuesday.

Despite their private concern that Ashcroft overstated the alleged plot,
White House officials cited Al Muhajir's arrest as evidence that
Congress should quickly pass President Bush's plan for a homeland
security department.

Monday's announcement came a day before a New York judge heard a request
by Al Muhajir's attorney, Donna Newman, to try to force officials to
charge her client or release him. U.S. District Judge Michael Mukasey on
Tuesday denied prosecutors' requests to hold the hearing in secret,
citing Ashcroft's remarks about the arrest. Newman wants a civilian
court to decide whether Al Muhajir is being held lawfully.