'Chatter' Led to Increase in Threat Level, Suggests Attacks Could Be Imminent

THE WASHINGTON TIMES ^ | Tuesday, December 23rd, 2003 at 17:24:53 GMT | Audrey Hudson and Jerry Seper

[maquiladora]

The nation was put on high alert after officials intercepted phone calls and e-mail between al Qaeda and associates along with newly evaluated intelligence from sources suggesting multiple attacks are imminent, federal law-enforcement officials said yesterday.

Los Angeles and San Francisco are mentioned as potential targets, along with Washington and New York, authorities said. General targets include bridges, tunnels, nuclear power plants and dams.

The communication intercepts originated in several foreign countries and suggest that al Qaeda is seeking to repeat the attacks of September 11, using passenger or cargo jets hijacked from foreign airports to strike unidentified U.S. targets, the authorities said.

Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge on Sunday put the nation on Code Orange, or high alert to a possible terrorist attack that could "rival or exceed September 11."

However, President Bush yesterday said Americans should "go about their lives."

"Our government is doing everything we can to protect our country. American citizens need to go about their lives, but as they do so, they need to know that governments at all levels are working as hard as we possibly can to protect the American citizens," he said.

In addition to the calls and e-mail, new intelligence data was obtained from al Qaeda detainees. A captured Saudi cleric suspected of having ties to al Qaeda disclosed to Saudi authorities that the terrorist network was planning new attacks using aircraft against U.S. targets, officials said.

A separate FBI "Be on the Lookout" advisory to police agencies throughout the United States urged increased security efforts at potentially vulnerable sites.

Early yesterday morning, Mr. Bush convened the Homeland Security Council and was briefed on increased security activities. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said "extraordinary steps" were being taken to protect the nation.

Although airplanes are specifically mentioned in the "chatter" reviewed by intelligence operatives, officials say air travel is safe.

"We‘ve taken extraordinary steps to improve and strengthen aviation security, to improve and strengthen our border security, to make sure that our critical infrastructure is protected as well," Mr. McClellan said.

"There‘s close coordination between the federal government and states and local governments as well. I‘d say it‘s unprecedented cooperation," Mr. McClellan said.

The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is under increased security, the National Guard was deployed to New York‘s airports, bridges and tunnels, and the National Park Service stepped up security on the Mall in Washington.

The State Department issued a warning worldwide that U.S. citizens abroad might be targeted by terrorists, including a note that "al Qaeda will strive for new attacks ... possibly involving nonconventional weapons such as chemical or biological agents."

[maestro]

" Purple Haze "

'Merry 9/11'

PC /sarcasm

[Cicero]

You can post Washington Times articles in full. Here's the rest:

This is the fifth time the country has been put at orange in the color-coded threat advisory created after the September 11 attacks and the fourth time this year. The nation has never been put at Code Red, for severe threat, which Mr. Ridge said "basically shuts down the country."

Mr. Ridge appeared on network and cable morning news shows and emphasized that Americans should be alert during the holiday season, but go about their business.

"Keep going, keep going," Mr. Ridge said.

Mr. Ridge has not disclosed specific targets, but told NBC that terrorists "like to go back to targets that they've previously struck; the nation's capital and New York City [are] certainly included in that list."

However, nearly every major American city has been mentioned in chatter over the past two years, and Mr. Ridge said it was "very appropriate for us to raise it across the country so that all metropolitan areas increased their level of security."

Another alert trigger was a statement issued last week from Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden's chief deputy, saying al Qaeda is "still chasing the Americans and their allies everywhere, even in their homeland."

U.S. officials believe al-Zawahiri is hiding, as is bin Laden, somewhere along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

Notable anniversaries and holidays are also factored into alert decisions. Shoe-bomber Richard Reid was arrested exactly a year ago today on a flight from Paris to Miami.

"We've got a lot of friends around the world that are pulling in information about these bad guys. We've got a lot of efforts under way ourselves internally," Mr. Ridge told CBS. "And again, the volume is up. The quality of the reporting is up. The credibility is there."

The administration was criticized the last time it put the nation at high alert, in May, and indicated afterward it would be more conservative in raising threat levels.

"This new warning reflects a real concern on behalf of the administration that the threat to Americans today is more serious than in the past," said David Heymann, director of homeland-security initiatives for the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Mr. Heymann put the cost of going to orange alert at $1 billion a week, with most of the burden on New York and Los Angeles.

[maquiladora]

Alaska oil facilities may be among possible terror targets

(Washington-AP) -- There are some details about one of the terror threats being taken seriously by U-S officials.

They say they've received information from a credible source about an al-Qaida threat against oil interests in Alaska. But they say the information hasn't been fully corroborated.

Still, they're taking no changes -- and they're taking extra security precautions.

There are also stepped-up defenses and near power plants -- and there are more officers than usual along the border with Canada.

Higher security is also in place around major bridges, tunnels, seaports and landmarks.

And, there's extra protection for chemical facilities and other places that could be vulnerable to attack.

[holdmuhbeer]

i don't think they would be so stupid as to try to use planes again. anybody hijacking a plane now will get their ass beat to a pulp instantly.

[Freemyland]

I suspect that what will happen is that time will pass, there will have been no terrorist attack, but there will have been a number of terrorists who will have quietly "disappeared".

OK, I don't as much suspect this as I hope it, but I hope I am correct.

[Coop]

i don't think they would be so stupid as to try to use planes again. anybody hijacking a plane now will get their ass beat to a pulp instantly.

Oh, I don't think they'd try the 9/11 route again. But I could certainly see the use of private planes, hijacked cargo planes, or there are even reports of AQ terrorists in place as commercial pilots for int'l airlines. Remember Egyptair a few years ago?

[glock rocks]

i don't think they would be so stupid as to try to use planes again. anybody hijacking a plane now will get their ass beat to a pulp instantly.

hihacking? I know it's harder to get a driver permit for a school bus than a semi rig... I'm supposing it's similar situation with a passenger airplane vs. cargo...

[AngieGOP]

If, God forbid, anything should happen, those responsible and their countryfolk will see their 72 virgins and then some.

[Tired_of_the_Lies]

Mr. Heymann put the cost of going to orange alert at $1 billion a week, with most of the burden on New York and Los Angeles.

At this rate Al Queda will chatter us into bankruptcy. We really need to catch the leaders of those lowlifes soon, and hopefully as ignominiously as we caught Saddam Hussein.

[Pearls Before Swine]

i don't think they would be so stupid as to try to use planes again. anybody hijacking a plane now will get their ass beat to a pulp instantly.

That might be true if the MO wasn't changed. Two ways to change it which I saw mentioned somewhere -- maybe on MSNBC -- would be to use cargo planes, which don't have passengers, or to infiltrate with pilots who were Muslim, although this would obviously have a long lead time and need some "deep sleepers."

[kjam22]

IF we had nuked about half of the middle east right after 9-11... most of these guys would not be here now to "chatter".

[BlueNgold]

How come no one ever mentions San Diego? The flightline there literally splits BETWEEN high rise buildings, and the Pacific Fleet sits not 3 miles away. This, to me, is the most vulnerable and high value location on the West Coast.

[Tired_of_the_Lies]

I suspect that what will happen is that time will pass, there will have been no terrorist attack, but there will have been a number of terrorists who will have quietly "disappeared".

OK, I don't as much suspect this as I hope it, but I hope I am correct.

I share your hope.

[RightWhale]

I hope they can't get another large airplane and crash it into a building. It would be simply horrible if they flew into the UN Building in NYC. A tragedy of the highest order.

[musical_airman]

Please don't give out that kind of info on here......that is very irresponsible.....

[BlueNgold]

Please tell me you're kidding ...
No more discussing public information or facts obvious to the casual observer!

[musical_airman]

I'm not kidding.....if they figure it out for themselves, that's one thing. You just shouldn't no matter how obvious you may think it is. Who's to say some crazy fool will read that info (intel?) and say, "You know.....I hadn't thought of that! Mohammed, Have we got another bomb handy?" (slight sarcasm/ON)

[BlazingArizona]

At this rate Al Queda will chatter us into bankruptcy.

Which is why perhaps we shouldn't be trumpeting these terror threat levels to the general public. Would it not be better to quietly inform a few key security officials in each part of the country? The current system encourages terrorists to simulate increased activity, to keep our engine revved until it runs dry of oil and burns out.

[familyofman]

All I can see is OBL & his buds sitting in some dark cave in the mountains laughing themselves silly. "See how we make the devil dance & with only chatter". Not only that, but they know it costs a bundle to go to Orange & it gives them better ideas as to how we respond.

Not bad for a bunch of camel-humpers wearing bath towels.