[Infowarrior] - Fact-Check: How the NYPD Overstated Its Counterterrorism Record

[Richard Forno]

Fact-Check: How the NYPD Overstated Its Counterterrorism Record

by Justin Elliott
ProPublica, July 10, 2012, 11:33 a.m.

The NYPD is regularly held up as one of the most sophisticated and significant counterterrorism operations in the  country. As evidence of the NYPD's excellence, the department, its allies and the media have repeatedly said the department has thwarted or helped thwart 14 terrorist plots against New York since Sept 11.

In a glowing profile of Commissioner Ray Kelly published in Newsweek last month, for example, journalist Christopher Dickey wrote of the commissioner's tenure since taking office in 2002: The record "is hard to argue with: at least 14 full-blown terrorist attacks have been prevented or failed on Kelly's watch."

The figure has been cited repeatedly in the media, by New York congressmen, and by Kelly himself. The NYPD itself has published the full list, saying terrorists have "attempted to kill New Yorkers in 14 different plots."

As Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in March: "We have the best police department in the world and I think they show that every single day and we have stopped 14 attacks since 9/11 fortunately without anybody dying."

Is it true?

In a word, no.

A review of the list shows a much more complicated reality — that the 14 figure overstates both the number of serious, developed terrorist plots against New York and exaggerates the NYPD's role in stopping attacks.

< - BIG SNIP - >

http://www.propublica.org/article/fact-check-how-the-nypd-overstated-its-counterterrorism-record

---
Just because i'm near the punchbowl doesn't mean I'm also drinking from it.