AP: U.S. Didn't Warn Las Vegas of Threats

[Walt Starr]

AP: U.S. Didn't Warn Las Vegas of Threats

2 minutes ago

By JOHN SOLOMON, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - A year after the Sept. 11 attacks, the Justice Department (news - web sites) obtained video surveillance tapes suggesting terrorists were targeting Las Vegas casinos but authorities never alerted the public as they discussed whether a warning might hurt tourism or increase the casinos' legal liability, internal memos show.

The mayor of Las Vegas said Monday he was never told about the tapes uncovered in Detroit and Spain in 2002, and had been assured by the FBI (news - web sites) there were no credible threats against his city. "If I were told, I would certainly tell the public," Mayor Oscar Goodman said.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=2&u=/ap/20040809/ap_on_re_us/terror_las_vegas

[Worst Username Ever]

1. But let me guess, we're safer, right? n/t

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. Don't you know the terrorists only target blue states

They never issue alerts in red states.

[Hornito]

8. Yeah but, Las Vegas is a Democratic city! The mayor, and a

majority of their other elected officials, are Dems. The only reason Nevada went to Bush last time, was votes from the conservative north (ie: Reno), and the rural areas.

Knowing this, it makes even more sense that the Bushies wouldn't let Vegas know......

[Eurobabe]

10. I thought it was swing states they targeted?

get your facts straight, dammit! ;)

[Alpharetta]

3. yet the Bush regime was angry at NY for sending agents to Spain

When NYC mayor Bloomberg sent agents to Spain after the train bombing and got there and interviewed witnesses and investigators before the FBI could, the Bush administration complained. Bloomberg said he was in it to make NY safe. The Bush administration said they would share any info with local authorities.

Sure.

[Coventina]

4. Crap, I'm going there in 2 days.

:-(

Thanks, Bush, I feel so much safer, now.

I'm appalled by the casinos refusing to watch the videos so they can pretend that they are unaware of the threats. If the trip wasn't so close, I'd cancel.

I don't think I'll be going back to Las Vegas after this.

[julialnyc]

6. Don't worry

I just got back yesterday and it was a great trip.
Being a New Yorker who lives across from the Stock Exchange I can guarantee you you will see lots of security since this news broke. They should want to protect us because they are good Americans, but unfortunately sometimes it takes publicity to get protected. The casinos won't want bad PR and therefore you will see the security.

Casinos have always been a business based on greed and scandal, so this news will bring safety because they can't stand losing profit (twisted, I know, but hopefully now they will be on alert)

Have a great trip!

[Coventina]

7. Thanks. I also gave the SO instructions

to sue the crap out of the casinos and anyone else he can think of if anything happens.

[Alpharetta]

5. What a happy cover-up

The mayor claims the feds never told him.

The feds claim they did.

Maybe we need a new agency to oversee Homeland Security. Yeah, that's the problem.

[aquart]

9. No worries about disrupting NY tourism?

Which was just fine this Sunday as I strolled past the Prudential building with its barricades and directed two foreigners with cameras toward Wall Street.

[struggle4progress]

11. Aw, DHS was gonna tell Goodman, when the elections were closer. And ...

... this irresponsible reporter has just ruined what would have been a perfectly good terror alert opportunity.