On August 11, the Rocky Mountain News published a news graphic displaying three statements by public officials responding to the British disruption of a terrorist plot to blow up commercial airliners. The statements published by the News, which apparently extracted them from an August 10 Associated Press list of "[q]uotes from American officials on [the] terror plot," came only from two administration officials -- President Bush and his Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff -- and from Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (CT), who recently announced his intention to run as an independent for re-election to his Senate seat rather than support Democratic nominee Ned Lamont, who defeated Lieberman in the primary. The original AP list contained reactions from 17 public officials, including Democratic Party leaders whom the News did not quote: Senate Democratic Leader Harry S. Reid (NV), House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA), Sen. John F. Kerry (MA), Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (MA), and Rep. Edward Markey (MA).
The Bush, Chertoff, and Lieberman quotes published by the News appeared alongside a separate AP article about the terrorist plot, also published by the News.
From the August 11 edition of the Rocky Mountain News:
“This nation is at war with Islamic fascists who will use any means to destroy those of us who love freedom, to hurt our nation.” President Bush
“This plot was well advanced ... They were in the final stages of planning for its execution.” Michael Chertoff, Homeland Security secretary
“This should serve as the latest, most serious evidence that we are in a war against a brutal enemy that intends to attack us over and over again in the most indiscriminate way.” Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn.
From the original August 10 AP item, “Quotes from officials on terror plot”:
“The Iraq war has diverted our focus and more than $300 billion in resources from the war on terrorism and has created a rallying cry for international terrorists. This latest plot demonstrates the need for the Bush administration and the Congress to change course in Iraq and ensure that we are taking all the steps necessary to protect Americans at home and across the world.” Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
“Today's news is an urgent reminder that we must make America safer and the world more stable. We must implement the strong recommendations of the independent 9/11 Commission to improve airport security screening at checkpoints.” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
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“This is a stark reminder that the war on terrorism is global and extends far beyond Iraq to our very shores. Terrorism is the biggest threat to Americans' security, and this event exposes the misleading myth that we are fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them here.” Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.
[...]
“While this terrorist plan may have been thwarted, I still am gravely concerned about gaping aviation security loopholes that continue to put passengers and crew members at risk.” Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass.
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“This new threat is enormously serious and is an ominous reminder that we must be more vigilant than ever. Five years after 9/11, it is clear that our misguided policies are making America more hated in the world and making the war on terrorism harder to win.” Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.
