Jack Kelly does a great job of connecting dots on two stories discussed in the ConBlogSphere: the recent arrest of terrorists in Italy planning attacks on stadiums and other public arenas the MSM has ignored; and the case of Joel Hinrichs who was a Muslim convert and who blew himself up outside a Oklahoma football game.

Last month Italian authorities arrested three Algerians who were members of the al Qaida -linked terror group GSPC.

The three were plotting attacks on ships, railway stations and stadiums in the United States in a bid to outdo the casualties caused on 9/11, said Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu.

The arrests made front page news in newspapers in Italy, Britain and France. But apparently the only U.S. newspaper to mention them was the Philadelphia Inquirer, in a short AP dispatch on page A-6. The AP did not mention that the principal targets of the plotters were in the U.S.

The incuriosity of our news media about the plotters and their plots is curious, especially in light of the mysterious death of Joel Hinrichs, 21, a Muslim convert who, wearing a suicide vest, blew himself up Oct. 1 on a park bench outside the stadium in Norman where the university of Oklahoma football team was playing Kansas State. When Hinrichs’ apartment was searched after his death, the FBI found a plane ticket to Algeria.

Many of us were making the observation on the Hinrich story that this needed to be take seriously because it might be a single element of a multi-pronged plan. This is what I wrote about Hinrich on October 12th, well after the story was hitting the ConBlogSphere

I have not posted much on it (except when this Georgia Tech bomb threat appeared to create a possible terrorism pattern) because of all the great work being done in the blogosphere by so many made my participation seem pointless.

But the mainstream media is not even giving this story minimal coverage? And that makes no sense. Even if this is a distraught kid in an isolated case (I doubt this, BTW) you want to cover this just to remind kids and parents and friends to keep an eye out for someone who may be in need of support.

But on the flip side, if it is the beginning of a coordinated terrorist attack, we should definitely be getting the word out so people know what to watch out for.

Jack Kelly’s reconnecting the possible dots between these two events shows just how dangerous it is to be ignorant of key events. Even small, apparently isolated news events could be the tip of a much larger, wide spread effort on the part of our enemies.

Let’s remember that the Millenium Bomber was detected by an alert border guard. We all need to be aware of what is going on so we can participate in keeping our eyes pealed for suspicious activities.

But the liberal media is a dangerous game, apparently for partisan reasons. Jack Kelly has more to say on this when comparing the NY Times handling of Echelon in 1999 and their hyperventilation over the NSA passing the FBI tips in 2006:

Journalists who are not supposed to be expressing opinions in the news columns make their views known by the term they use — “whistle blower” — to describe the person or persons who told the New York Times about the ultra-secret NSA program.

What, you may ask, is the difference between a whistle blower and a leaker?

A whistle blower is someone who discloses secrets helpful to Democrats or embarrassing to Republicans.

Well, up close and without context that appears to be the focus. But when Republicans are in power and trying to protect us from attack, this general rule has dire implications for us non-aligned independents. Because to impede or disrupt Republicans also includes the Federal Government – since they are the party in power right now.

Most people assume the partisan dirty tricks would include a no-trick zone around foreign policy and national defense. We would assume mature, responsible parties would not risk our lives for winning elections. It seems this higher standard on political discourse is beyond too many on the left right now.

The fact the Italian arrest was not reported is a crime. A crime of deliberate negligence. A crime of ommission of facts that are critical to America protecting itself. If those in the fourth estate cannot handle the responsibilities they have taken on, it is time to look for alternative sources of news that can handle the responsibility.