   October Surprises
  There has been a lot of talk recently about an "October Surprise" disrupting the US Presidential election this year. Much of this talk has been spurred by a essay asking if there would be a "July Surprise" announcing the capture of Osama bin Laden as a distraction from the Democratic National Convention later this month. A couple of weeks ago I posted an article about US Navy fleet movements in the Pacific in July and the possibility that Taiwan might take advantage of this to declare it's independence from China. There has even been speculation that the surprise would take the form of another large scale terrorist attack on the continental United States, giving the President a reason to declare a state of emergency and postpone the election or maybe even suspend it. Into the middle of all this comes another possible scenario - The October Surprises - an American-Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear facilities countered by an Iranian attack on US troops fighting insurgents in Iraq. So, if you think there is a surprise of some kind in store this year - which of these do you think it will be? do you think it will be something else? something that I didn't cover? If so what?   
  If I told you what it was going to be it wouldn't be a surprise would it?   ;  I was also thinking of that. Most plausible thing will be 9/11 Reloaded (some small/medium scale terrorist attack in the US), orchestrated by shruby.   ;  As outlandish and disgusting as planning this sounds, there is already strong rumour of Pakistan being given instructions to delay the hunt for Osama.  Considering the dirty tricks used in 1968 to get Nixon elected (attempting to sabotage Vietnam peace talks, a charge which equates to treason) I wouldn't doubt it.  Hopefully enough people will see through whatever is pulled in the coming months.   ;  Not too many Americans are aware of Nixon's dirty tricks in '68. The story didn't stay in the news very long when it broke. As far as a terrorist attack on the US goes, I've read about al-Qadea targeting Houston, Texas. From their perspective an oil-refinery or chemical plant would probably make a good target. Both are typically insecure and both have the potential for causing serious damage - on a scale of magnitude greater than 9/11. Another possibility is to blow up a liquid natural gas delivery from Algeria. From what I read, an explosion of that kind carries the same force as a small nuke.   ;  Wow, I thought the whole delayed election idea was just a joke until I heard it on ABC this morning, then I just got pissed off.We get the whole, "if we change our way of life, then the terrorists have won" speech, then we get that shmuck Bush looking into the legality of delaying the election "should" a terrorist attack happen. Things have gone too far. Hell, people already think he stole the 2000 election. He has got major balls to suggest delaying the 2004 election. If that happened, I'm guessing either revolution or assassination. He'd better stop screwing around before he really pisses people off.[edit] I'm sorry, not Bush, the department of Homeland Security, my bad! But still, close enough.If any of those things happen, it would just seem too suspicious, but I wouldn't be surprised.   ;  Maybe bush will develop a conscience and drop out of the race in October.  That would surprise the hell out of me.   ;Quote:Original post by GKWMaybe bush will develop a conscience and drop out of the race in October.  That would surprise the hell out of me.Me too. I can't see Bush pulling an LBJ.   ;  Why go to all the trouble of staging a state of emergency when you could just rig the election, like you did last time?   ;  Surely the Patriot Act makes it illegal to vote for anyone but your glorious leader? Read the small print [grin]   