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MSNBC Analyst: Threat Against Letterman Should Not Be Taken Too Seriously

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Late Show host David Letterman made news when it was revealed that he was the target of an online threat by a member of a jihadist internet forum, precipitating an investigation by the NYPD and the FBI. MSNBC terrorism analyst Evan Kohlmann, though, put the threat into perspective in an appearance with Contessa Brewer, stressing that the guy who made the threat was more an emboldened internet crank than a dangerous terrorist.

“It’s not al Qaeda, it’s not a member of a terrorist group,” Kohlmann told Brewer, adding, “the person who’s making this threat is a registered user on an al Qaeda forum, he’s someone with no credibility.

Kohlmann also pointed out that the man’s message got almost no response, an indication that the man’s angst at Letterman (and his tongue) has “no resonance” with actual terrorists.

“This is not something that I think we can take very seriously.”

He went on to observe that this story had been “spun up” by the media because of Letterman’s celebrity, but that the NYPD and the FBI have far more importasnt threats to worry about.

There’s strangely reassuring in the fact that the impotent rage of the anonymous internet crank is no more effective on an al Qaeda website than it is anywhere else.

Here’s the clip, from MSNBC:


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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000152902441 Jeremy Volkens

    Yeah, don’t worry about it.  It’s not like Homeland Security issued warnings about pending lone wolf terrorist attacks JUST YESTERDAY! 

  • Michelle

    Big Sis is convinced it’s white males who are the threat:

    Despite causing controversy last month with a video that portrayed white
    middle class Americans as the most likely terrorists, the Department of
    Homeland Security has released yet another PSA that depicts an attempt
    to bomb a subway station not by Al-Qaeda Muslims, but well-dressed white
    people.

    http://www.infowars.com/big-sis-latest-terrorists-more-white-americans/

    Having her, Ozero, and Holder in charge makes me feel so safe. 

  • Anonymous

    The guy is prolly right.  For Letterman’s sake, I sure hope so.  Comics/political cartoonists, etc. are already deathly afraid of criticizing/joking about militant Islam so something like this just makes it worse.  

  • Anonymous

    Yeah, everyone hates Dave and his jokes, so let’s not worry about this guy!

  • Anonymous

    I’m sure Evan would feel the same way if it were him or his family.

  • Anonymous

    If it shouldn’t be taken seriously, it shouldn’t be news in the first place.  Bottom line.

  • Tony the Fist

    “Threat…Should Not Be Taken Too Seriously”
    Tell that to Salman Rushdie.

  • Anonymous

    Maybe Dave should meet with the Muslim to determine what it is about Dave that made this guy make the threat, and what Dave can do to prevent such future threats from Muslims.

  • Texan

    Islam is The Religion of Peace! It’s the Christians and The Tea Party we have to worry about!

  • Anonymous

    Uh oh! Did Dave make a joke about Allah?

  • Anonymous

    “…MSNBC terrorism analyst Evan Kohlmann,…”

    He was employed to keep a watch on the on air talen.. er , on air personali..er , on air clowns at MSNBC , especially Ed Schultz .

  • Anonymous

    “…MSNBC terrorism analyst Evan Kohlmann,…”

    He was employed to keep a watch on the on air talen.. er , on air personali..er , on air clowns at MSNBC , especially Ed Schultz .

  • Michelle

    Dave will probably be ok.  I’d be more worried for him if he refused to unionize.  That will get you shot these days.

    On that note, Tommy, How about a story on the liberal media totally ignoring the violene coming from unions?  Here I’ll help you:

    Open Season’: Union Removes Controversial Message Calling for ‘Torture’ of Verizon Managers

    http://www.theblaze.com/stories/open-season-union-removes-controversial-message-calling-for-torture-of-verizon-managers/

    Ohio Business Owner Terrorized & Shot for Being Non-Union
    http://www.theblaze.com/stories/ohio-business-owner-terrorized-shot-for-being-non-union/

  • Anonymous

    Ah, those lovable union thugs at it again? Why was Verizon such a great place to work for one day before the strike and such a horrible place one day after the strike?

  • Moderate

     Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh, who had received threats over a controversial film he made about Islam, was shot and stabbed to death while cycling on an Amsterdam street.Islam is a religion of peace, it would never happen here.

  • Michelle

    These union thugs are a combination of a toddler and a terrorist.  If you don’t give us what we want, we will throw a fit at the least or we might just shoot you. 

  • Harry Flashman

    Nothing to see here, folks.

    Unless, of course, it would have been a white male Christian who had made a threat like this. Then there would have been shrieks of horror from the left, demands that Holder’s DOJ investigate, head shaking tsk-tsking on MSNBC, and dire warnings that America is about to succumb to those damn Christians.

    But, don’t worry, mate. It’s just a fun lovin’ muslim and that IS the Religion of Peace.

    Isn’t it?

  • Harry Flashman

    Nothing to see here, folks.

    Unless, of course, it would have been a white male Christian who had made a threat like this. Then there would have been shrieks of horror from the left, demands that Holder’s DOJ investigate, head shaking tsk-tsking on MSNBC, and dire warnings that America is about to succumb to those damn Christians.

    But, don’t worry, mate. It’s just a fun lovin’ muslim and that IS the Religion of Peace.

    Isn’t it?

  • Anonymous

    Yeah, those 11% of the workforce certainly get way too much press and support  from the Dems.

  • Anonymous

    It’s not the idiot who made the call for cutting out Dave’s tongue that anyone should be worried about.  It’s the lunatics who take the call seriously and decide that THEY need to act on it.  Danish cartoonist anyone?

  • Texan

    Yep, sez so right here…

    http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/

  • Anonymous

    Kohlmann looks like Moe Howard’s Great-Grand Son!

  • TruDat

    BINGO

  • Anonymous

    Wow.  it’s the message that’s the problem for Michelle, it’s the actors Homeland Security hires to play the part in a PSA

  • Anonymous

    I’m sure if anything happens to Dave, this guy will be back on and say “My bad.”

  • Anonymous

    George Tiller was murdered while standing in the lobby of his church.  Christians are peaceful

  • TruDat

    Do what we did in Wisconsin; toss ‘em to the curb.

  • TruDat

    Letterman’s tongue is already forked, so what’s the big deal?

  • Anonymous

    I’m surprised most of the cons here care.  Why just today, we learned Dave was part of the left wing conspiracy

  • Michelle

    And why do you suppose she chose to use white men instead of who has historically been the threat to portray the terrorists?  

  • http://games-survival.com Justplaythegame

    internet crank is no more effective on an al Qaeda website than it is anywhere else.

     
    My goodness, someone said something in a forum… let’s run and hide..  better yet.. let’s make more laws to stop this in the future.. let’s block those type sites and others..  Government control.. before long, you will give all your rights away.. stupid is as stupid does.. If you believe in the boogieman.. he exist.. people spew all the time.. if i told you how many times since the 80′s people on the net told me what they wanted to do to me or my ‘mom’ for that matter through a forum it would make your head spin.. she passed peacefully at 87.. I have yet to see one of the boogiemen. I don’t see how a “celebrity” makes it any moreso to happen.

     

  • Anonymous

    And 3000 were killed while at work in the twin towers. You Muslims are just so peaceful!

  • Michelle

    The difference is we don’t defend our extremists. 

  • Anonymous

    Because she thinks you kooks from Utah are more dangerous?  Or, she wants to avoid being criticized for stereotyping Arab-Americans? Or, she knows that Richard Reed was a white dude and the underwear bomber was African and thus, specifying the actor rather than the action is less helpful.

    Still, as an oppressed white lady living under the constant racism against whites that is so prevalent in Utah, I can see why your resentment was stoked and your tribalism engaged.  After all, michelle, without outrage, how could you function?

  • Anonymous

    Yes, you do.  Tell us what you think Alan West or Ilario Pantano?Your religion of peace is currently bombing Muslims in Somalia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya and yet you have the balls to complain they aren’t peaceful.As a non-believer, I think y’all should just be friends, but I get that believers like to divide themselves into camps.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZIQS6YEA47QFXGOR4JWUBU2QRM Shark City

    No, he’s gonna say….it was just one person…one…still dont take it seriously!

  • Anonymous

    I like the fact that you non-believers can’t stand it that others believe.  That bothers ya don’t it?

    I knew it did, because you are nothing but hate incarnate. I don’t give a damn what one’s beliefs are, but your sure do and ya have to spend time spreading your bigotry.

  • Anonymous

    BTW, you non-believers killed millions upon millions in Russia and in China. So much for peaceful non-believers!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZIQS6YEA47QFXGOR4JWUBU2QRM Shark City

    I am laughing because your kidding…………right?

  • Michelle

    Um Obama is in charge, take it up with him. 

  • Michelle

    Well unlike you libs, just because we disagree with someone, that doesn’t mean we wish them dead. 

  • Anonymous

    Yeah, that describes liberals….always wishing people were dead and all.

    But, you don’t hate the people you think want everybody dead, right, michelle?  You just pity their ignorance?  I mean, ’cause accusing several million of your countrymen of wanting to kill everybody they disagree is part of the “pity”?  Right?

    I’m sure you can help understand how your “pity” results in sweeping, silly generalizations against millions of fellow Americas who you don’t know.  Must be a new use of the word

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZIQS6YEA47QFXGOR4JWUBU2QRM Shark City

    Because he’s a human being and a fella american. Is your heart really that dark?

  • http://games-survival.com Justplaythegame

    welp, as hard as they threaten him should tell you something? that was in the 80′s he is still live.. you can live in fear if you wish.. I choose not to.

  • Texan

    Funny, you seem pretty “outraged” at Michelle. Hypocrisy, anyone?

    Also, the undie bomber was a muslim and so was richard reid. Next?

  • Anonymous

    By your standards, texan, how do you know the actors in the PSA weren’t Muslim?

  • Anonymous

    You have to watch out for emboldened internet cranks. ”Betty” and “Veronica” have taken out restraining orders against Tommy Christopher.

    Stranger Danger!

  • Anonymous

    You don’t read the wingnut comments here, do you?

  • Anonymous

    Can you name for me a single Christian leader who has issued a Fatwa  – a proclamation demanding the death of someone who blasphemies Christ?

    Not only do “respected” Muslim leaders issue Fatwas, they do it with some regularity, just ask Salman Rushdie and Raheel Raza.

  • timburns116

    Two quiblles: First, are either of them dead, republitarian?

    Secondly, a fatwa is merely an opinion on religious scripture made by an Imam.  The prohibition against illegal drug use in Islam, for instance, originated from the Prophet ordering Muslims not to drink.  The Imams got together and issued an opinion that illegal drug use was similar and against Islam.

    Still, I’ll play.  By the way, I dabble a bit in the classics, so how far do I get to go back? 

    To Constantine killing his prisoners in a Civil War?  To the Order of St. John paying per head of Muslims taken at Rhodes or Malta?  To the Pope who called for the First Crusade and called the slaughter of innocents in Jerusalem a glory to God?  To the Catholic father who condoned the slaughter of several thousand Incas at the Battle of Cajamarca?  To the murder and torture of Muslims during the Reconquista and Inquisition?  To the murder of travelers in Scotland and England during the English Civil War who were suspected of being Catholics?  To the Church’s okay of pogroms during the outbreaks of plagues to kill Jewish people?

    You let me know if General William Boykin constitutes a religious leader, since he is apparently fighting a Holy War

  • Michelle

    Never said that’s true of all libs, but in my experience, those calling for the death of someone that doesn’t agree with them are usually liberals.

  • CarmanK

    It’s not the libs who are threatening Letterman. And any threat from a crank pot needs to be taken seriously. If the perpetrator gets away with such criminal activities, than others will be emboldened. We have enough people/celebrities getting away with spreading poison of hatred, racism and bigotry across our public airwaves in the name of free speech and without consequences. Threats against persons is to be taken seriously. That is why we have police to protect the public, the common good. If he’s mentally ill he needs treatment before he harms himself or others and if he is a bully he needs to be in jail.

  • waiting for 11-2012

    Letterman has been murdering comedy for decades.

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