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 City since September 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.
Read on...
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