Videogame Character Threatens National Security?

Watchful Babbler writes "Apparently, 'the lead item on the government's daily threat matrix one day last April' was clear and definite: a reclusive millionaire had formed a terrorist group with the intent of launching chemical weapons attacks on Western cities. The White House was notified and the Director of the FBI briefed as the government raced to find information. But then, according to USNews.com, a White House staffer decided to Google for information on suspected threat Don Emilio Fulci and found him -- in a video game - Sega's action title Headhunter. No word on exactly which sources and methods came up with this gem, but word in the E Ring is that Fulci had issued the cryptic warning, 'You have no chance to survive make your time'."

FBI Tipster revealed to be drunken frat boy

[stratjakt]

When asked for a name, he responded "I. P. Freely".

This links comes from what amounts to a trashy "dc insider" gossip column. Though, this sort of stuff happens all the time. People phone in bogus tips all the time. If they sound legit, they get investigated.

I also object to the articles description of Headhunter as "popular".

Almost unbelievable...

[stefanlasiewski]

The story is so silly it's almost unbelievable.

But then Powell used a Graduate Student's Thesis [channel4.com] to justify a war against Iraq in front of the entire world.

Re:Did they get this info removed from google?

[yeremein]

When I tried "Don Emilio Fulci" [google.com], I got one result, in French, which is a review for the video game.

Also, Googling for "Don Fulci" [google.com] gives several results related to Headhunter.

Re:Jesus Fucking Christ.

[Anonymous Coward]

YHBT. YHL. HAND.

*points to GNAA link in parents signature*

Re:Again an example...

[Anonymous Coward]

Again an example of the knee-jerk reaction of /. retards against the US. What I don't get is how you are so eager to believe a Grade B uncorroborated Washington rumor like this.

Lets face it- the daily threat matrix is one of the most classified documents in the White House. It took weeks of negotiations for the 9/11 commission to see all of the documents that they wanted. Do you honestly think that some USA Today reporter somehow has an inside knowledge of what was in the document? Are you really that retarded?

Re:Did they get this info removed from google?

[hool5400]

Try google for "Don Fulci" or "Don Fulci headhunter" . A lot more hits.

Re:Did they get this info removed from google?

[stratjakt]

It was realeased worldwide for PS2.

There was moderate hype about it, but it was completely eclipsed by Metal Gear Solid SOL - of which Headhunter is but a second rate clone.

Re:Jesus Fucking Christ.

[Anonymous Coward]

Holy cow. Calm down. What USA Today printed was a RUMOR- a rumor about a highly classified document. In reality, the story that made it to USA Today probably bears little resemblence to what actually happened in the White House.

You have gone to level three tin-foil-hat alert over a silly rumor.

Re:Something's fishy.

[ReciprocityProject]

When I just googled, I saw nothing of the like... only 3 results, the usnews article was the top then some french article I didn't bother to read. Anyone know of this character or even the game? I'm not really a Sega person... speaking of which... Sega? When was the last time you saw a Sega? And htis happened last April.... hmm... something fishy.

Try googling "Don Fulci" instead of the full name. "Emilio Fulci" also got a little bit, but "Don Fulci" brings up a lot. I didn't see the article but didn't look very hard either.

Also I think the "French" article was actually Italian, despite google's attempt to translate from the French, but I don't know either language.

As for Sega, I've never heard of that. ;-)

Re:Jesus Fucking Christ.

[razol]

We're talking about the government with supposedly the most intelligence in possession of the most WMDs, the biggest army

I believe that Russia is actually the country documented with the most WMD, their biological reserves are quite vast.

I do not think the US Army is the largest, it was China the last time I checked.

they start a level three alert over a goddamned video game character

Level three alert? I must have missed this important distinction. Further, how do we even know this is true? Looking at the other stories on this web site carrying the story makes you wonder how much of it is just sensational BS.

Re:Sounds like we were trolled.

[gilrain]

Yes. Almost everybody knows about the game, at least. Apparently you live under a rock, or a large, rock-like object.

Another item for your rock-belabored self: the reason you haven't seen a Sega in a while is because they dropped out of the hardware business. They are now solely a game developer and publisher for other consoles.

If you really wanna get crazy and unrocklike, you could research the recent rumor that Sega may announce a new console at E3. Which, if the rock has been heavy on you recently, starts in the next few days. However, as you might find, this rumor is highly unlikely.

Re:Almost unbelievable...

[Kruid]

I believe that was Tony "the lapdog" Blair, hence the article's reference to "No. 10" as in 10 Downing St.

We should give credit where credit is due.

-k

Re:The E Ring?

[Anonymous Coward]

The E-Ring is the outermost ring in the Pentagon. Since all the offices with views are there, that's also where you'll find the heavy hitters in the DoD. Just as "seventh floor" is Washingtonspeak for high-level political appointees, "E Ring" is milspeak for the top brass.

- Watchful Babbler

Re:Almost unbelievable...

[cheezedawg]

The story is so silly it's almost unbelievable.

Its a freaking rumor. It probably has little truth behind it.

But then Powell used a Graduate Student's Thesis to justify a war against Iraq in front of the entire world.

No he didn't. Here [state.gov] is the text of Powell's UN address. He didn't mention anything from the UK dossier.

Re:Aha!

[cheezedawg]

Saddam never opened up for us to "come look". There were a dozen UNSEC resolutions during the 1990's condemning him for his lack of cooperation. In 1998 he completely gave up the pretense of cooperating and forced the inspectors to leave. It took 250,000 troops on his doorstep in 2003 to make him change his mind. And even then, he was unable to account for all of the weapons that UNMOVIC knew he had.