6 chapters across the catalog
Catherine Herridge cites the Times Square bomber and the Fort Hood shooting as evidence of a rising homegrown terror threat. She describes Anwar al-Awlaki as the "Dear Abby of the jihadist world" for his role in motivating American citizens. The hosts argue that many of these cases are the result of FBI sting operations targeting individuals with limited capabilities.
Domestic Terror Arrests and the "U.S. Persons" Paradigm
Janet Napolitano highlights the shift toward monitoring "U.S. persons" and domestic threats rather than just foreign attackers. She cites the arrests of Najibullah Zazi and Faisal Shahzad, as well as a sting operation in Portland, Oregon. The hosts argue that these events are often orchestrated or facilitated by the government to justify increased surveillance in local neighborhoods.
Lone Wolves and the "Golden Passport" Threat
The CBS report continues by discussing "lone wolf" terrorists who blend into American culture and possess "golden passports" (U.S. citizenship). The hosts criticize the narrative that average citizens are "free to look for targets" in theaters and restaurants. They identify the phrase "death by a thousand cuts" as a new media meme being used to justify the erosion of civil liberties.
Janet Napolitano cites the apprehension of Faisal Shahzad, the Times Square bomber, as a success story for citizen reporting. The hosts characterize the event as a potential false flag operation and compare the DHS surveillance requests to the Stasi system in East Germany. They specifically mock Napolitano's laughter during her interview when asked about the "Big Brother" nature of the program.
Times Square Bombing, Michael Chertoff Security Pitch
The attempted bombing in Times Square by Faisal Shahzad is linked to a renewed push for the "Secure Flight" program and the "Clear" biometric ID system. Former DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff is criticized for promoting security solutions without disclosing his financial ties to the companies involved. CNN is also noted for promoting a special titled "American Al-Qaeda."
Reports indicate that a bomb squad training session was occurring in New York at the same time as the Times Square incident, raising suspicions of a staged event. Anomalies in Faisal Shahzad's background, including his father's high-ranking status in the Pakistani Air Force and his own quiet life as a systems analyst, are explored. The narrative is compared to the "Jihad Jane" case.
