A dramatization based on Kurt Eichenwald's Op-Ed piece in the NY Times 9/11/2012

Mr. President, we have information that some group in the country is planning a terrorist attack.

Which group?

Sorry, sir, we don't know...maybe al Qaeda.

And the attack is planned for...when?

It could be any day now, but we don't know when. These guys are flexible.

Which guys?

Some group of terrorist guys.  And they're flexible in their timing.

When will they attack? What's the timing?

Sometime soon.

Soon when?

We're not sure, but we think it was delayed. It's going to be big, though, lot's of casualties.

What will it be, what type of attack?

We don't know, sir. But it'll be dramatic.

For example.

Um, couldn't tell you sir, we've got no clue.

Thanks, could you go back and give my something about their motivations, objectives, their history?

Yes, sir, will do.

Three weeks later, the Aug. 6. PDB is presented.

...and now the way Bush detractors would like to have seen it given all those classified PDB extracts Eichenwald saw...

But you have to do something, Mr. President.

Like what?

Put us on high alert.

High alert for what?? We don't actually have a system like that in place.

I don't know sir, but something's coming down real soon, or pretty soon, or sometime soon, anyway, we're not sure when but any day now. You've got to do something, sir.

Ok, ok, you're right. Here are my orders.

Yes, sir.

I want all the intel services to do their jobs like usual, but much harder, and faster, you know, better. Get the FBI to round up some people planning terrorist attacks, for example the ones already here in the U.S.

Yes, sir, excellent, sir. Now we're moving.

Make sure all the entries into the U.S., airports, border crossings, seaports are on high alert.

For what, sir?

Let's make it simple. Just people and cargo. Can you do that?

We'll have to get back to you, sir.

When?

Soon.

Okay, good, so make sure you all do your jobs like you've already been doing, but even better.  That's an order.

Yes, Mr. President.

And for God sake...

Yes, Mr. President?

Make everyone takes off their shoes at the airports. You never know what sort of explosives they might have in there.

Very funny, sir.

(Amazon $18.00  Kindle edition: $14.99)

For those of you who want to see a paragraph by paragraph paraphrase of Eichenwald's op-ed piece, please go to:

On Kurt Eichenwald's worthless New York Times Op-Ed 9-11 piece