Take a deep breath, say homeland officials

US News and World Report ^ | February 14, 2003 | Paul Bedard

[ewing]

Indications from government sources are that the already heightened Code Orange security alert Washington D.C. is operating under may be increased to 'Code Red' in the next 24 hours because of a heightened concern about a possible terror attack.

Whispers learns that lawmakers are being encouraged to send their families back to their home states.

Other government sources are freely talking about the increased security alert possbily coming as soon as Friday.

Also, Equipment that can detect chemical and biological weapons has been deployed in Washington.

And some government workers have been warned that if terrorism strikes, agencies might not be able to provide enough food water or clothing.

[ewing]

Is Congress meeting today?

[dirtboy]

I just saw a AP article that the move to Code Orange was partially based on some intel that proved to be a fabrication - but now they're considering RED?

[dirtboy]

Maybe this is Bush's way of trying to end the Estrada filibuster... :^)

[leadpenny]

Bump comment #2.

[KeyWest]

Blix is reporting and what happens next? I would go to code red also.

[Loyolas Mattman]

Ditto. Is this article before or after the revelation that some of the Code Orange intel was phony?

In any event, if they are going to strike, they'd better do it soon. If it starts snowing the way they expect, this place is going to be a ghost town until the Spring thaw.

[ewing]

There must be another source here besides the Al Qaeda guy who failed the lie detector test reported by ABC News mentioned Detroit and Vigrinia, he didn't say anything about New York and Washington D.C.

[Carry_Okie]

Well the dirtbags wanted concentrated power in Washington...
Now maybe they'll learn how stupid that is!

Naaahhh...

[isthisnickcool]

I heard from a friend in D.C. who works with someone who's name you would recognize. He said to keep out of populated areas today and this weekend. Especially shopping malls.

[JennysCool]

I don't know. I have the feeling that increase to orange had a lot more to it than just the word of one Al Qaeda jerk.

[ContemptofCourt]

False Alarm?
Terror Alert Partly Based on Fabricated Information

By Brian Ross, Len Tepper and Jill Rackmill

Feb. 13 — A key piece of the information leading to recent terror alerts was fabricated, according to two senior law enforcement officials in Washington and New York.

The officials said that a claim made by a captured al Qaeda member that Washington, New York or Florida would be hit by a "dirty bomb" sometime this week had proven to be a product of his imagination.

The informant described a detailed plan that an al Qaeda cell operating in either Virginia or Detroit had developed a way to slip past airport scanners with dirty bombs encased in shoes, suitcases, or laptops, sources told ABCNEWS. The informant reportedly cited specific targets of government buildings and Christian or clerical centers.

"This piece of that puzzle turns out to be fabricated and therefore the reason for a lot of the alarm, particularly in Washington this week, has been dissipated after they found out that this information was not true," said Vince Cannistraro, former CIA counter-terrorism chief and ABCNEWS consultant.

It was only after the threat level was elevated to orange — meaning high — last week, that the informant was subjected to a polygraph test by the FBI, officials told ABCNEWS.

"This person did not pass," said Cannistraro.

According to officials, the FBI and the CIA are pointing fingers at each other. An FBI spokesperson told ABCNEWS today he was "not familiar with the scenario," but did not think it was accurate.

Despite the fabricated report, there are no plans to change the threat level. Officials said other intelligence has been validated and that the high level of precautions is fully warranted.

------------------------

So which is it???????

[Peach]

Key words being only partially based and I read it last night and did not find it credible. First released by ABC.

[cynicom]

The cowardly politicians are running like rats to leave the ship.

[patton]

.

[ErnBatavia]

Blix is reporting and what happens next?

Well, as of this minute he and Elbaradei have just been droning on; looks like they want to give Saddam another 'pass'.

[Drango]

Whispers learns that lawmakers are being encouraged to send their families back to their home states.

All safety to the families! However, this rubs me the wrong way. Congress scrambling out of DC, shows a lot of resolve. NOT

[mr.pink]

Run-a-w-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-y........freakin' nancies.

[leadpenny]

Think I'll go hang out in Washington for a few days.

[ewing]

Thanks for the DC warning, there were emails being passed around in New York City poitical circles last night to stay away from the subways until the 19th of this month.

The NYC DA's office and the terrorism task force had agreed that they will close the subways immediately in an attack, no matter if there are people inside.

So take a cab or walk in NYC

[tutstar]

"keep out of populated areas today and this weekend"

And what about an extremely large Baptist church whose pastor was vilified for making derogatory remarks about Islam? in a city which was already identified as having Al Queda (sp?) cells?

[Salgak]

If you'll recall, they also evaced senior members of the House and Senate on Sept. 11th to that well-known hideout, the "undisclosed location". . .

[Cicero]

Several possible explanations.

1) There's good intel of a pending attack on Washington.

2) Politicians always look out for themselves first.

3) What better way to persuade the country we are at war? It's about time everyone understood it, especially the traitors in the media. We've been at war with these people for 10 or 20 years, but we only noticed it on 9/11, and only some of us noticed it even then.

They should make the Washington press corps wear gas masks. Especially Helen Thomas.

[DCPatriot]

The bad weather forecast (snow storm)only exacerbates the "problem".

Can you imagine a biological or chemical attack while a foot of snow is falling in the Washington, DC region? They freak out, and shut down schools simply on the forecast of an inch or two.

Keep an eye peeled on where President Bush and Vice-President Cheney spend the next couple of days.

[Boundless]

> There must be another source here besides the
> Al Qaeda guy who failed the lie detector test

Debka is reporting that Adib Shaaban, a close aide of
Uday's (Saddam's son) defected 3 days ago.

Dekba is crediting "US Intel" as their source.
Normal cautions and caveats re Dekba apply.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Keep that Pray For President Bush thread in mind.

BTW, Al Qaeda: your days are numbered.

[Monty22]

I find it amusing that since the 'informant' supposedly failed a polygraph test, they are acting like he lied.

People.. The polygraph is voodoo crapola. It can't tell ANYTHING. The only thing it can do is scare someone into telling the truth.

[Sir Gawain]

Force the democrats to keep the filibuster going and all the Republicans should go take a "bathroom break". That would take care of 50 enemies of America at least.

[TonyInOhio]

[twigs]

It says that their families should leave, not them. I think that's good advice. I assume that whether or not they leave with them is their own choice. This article does not say they are encouraged to do so.

[dirtboy]

Normal cautions and caveats re Dekba apply.

Such as hip waders and a pitchfork?

[Coop]

The cowardly politicians are running like rats to leave the ship.

I see nothing at all wrong with sending families out of town. And since Congress was scheduled for a normal recess, the politicians can leave the area without (hopefully) promoting too much alarm.

Outside of Free Republic, that is.

[JennysCool]

You, Sir, earn the kewpie doll!

[TShaunK]

Yeah, it sounds like a long weekend alert.

[finnman69]

Awwww crap....here it comes.

[dirtboy]

They should make the Washington press corps wear gas masks. Especially Helen Thomas.

And then put the duct tape to good use by taping it on Helen so it STAYS on.

[Peach]

It's been all over the news that the alert was raised because of the increased intelligence chatter. CIA director Geo. Tenet and Secy of State Powell have said it, repeatedly. PERHAPS there was a terrorist in custody who had specific info which didn't pan out. But the level didn't get raised due to one guy who hadn't even been polygraphed.

[Revolting cat!]

Whispers learns that lawmakers are being encouraged to send their families back to their home states.

Poor babies! D'ya think they'll find their way? D'ya think they know what their 'home states' are supposed to be?

[Peach]

Frist was going to force the Senate to stay in session next week but changed his mind abruptly yesterday. This would account for his change of mind.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

ping

[blackdog]

A biological attack is not likely. During the months of May thru September, yes. But a biological attack in February would be a waste of weapon/s. That is of course unless they spread it from infected individuals. Which will take months.

[cynicom]

Sending them is one thing, sending them because of inside information or fear, not shared with the public is a bit much.

[SJackson]

Fox News was running an announcement of Code Red at the bottom of the screen last night, though I saw no confirmation of it anywhere. Since it wasn't on FR, I figured it wasn't true.

Did anyone else see that?

[AmericanInTokyo]

This is bad both ways.

Either there is an attack as they predict, which will be BAAAD.

Or, there will be no attack, this was all hype and innuendo by disinforming islamists in custody, the American people will say "WTF!?", they will think Homeland Security called 'wolf', there will be scores of jokes on Leno/Letterman about the color codes, and then when the next national alert is announced, everyone will ignore it as groundless, and the terrorists could well sink one of their WMD's into action.

[ewing]

Why shopping malls and not the subway?

[Diana Rose]

Hey you all!

You think Hillary! will be staying in DC this weekend?

[RAT Patrol]

There is no way Bush would play politics with these security alerts. If he did they would never be believed again. Clinton would have done something like that, not Bush.

[ewing]

You mean FOX was running this same report last night, without the information about the Congresscritters heading for the hills?

[44magnum]

I live in the Fairfax area. My kids are scared to death. I'm getting tired of having to reassure them that they aren't going to be killed. This is BS. We shouldn't have to put up with this. We can thank the democRATS and their damn open door immigration policy. If something happens this weekend we need to demand that our government round up ALL muslims and confine them immediately. I don't give a crap if a small fraction of them are innocent. I want them OUT of my country! Islam is evil, PERIOD!!!!

[Diddle E. Squat]

Oh yeah, and the AP/ABC would never mislead, exaggerate, or misrepresent in order to make the administration look bad. Nope, no sirree, would never happen.

Don't be so gullible. The threat assessment wasn't based on a single piece of info.

[Samwise]

This confirms what Greg Garrison was saying on his show yesterday. His sources also told him that the intell was coming in so fast and furious that the Feds didn't know what to concentrate on. I tend to believe this. Of course, some of the intell has turned out to be false. Leave it to ABC to jump on the red herring. Anything that comes from them will be slanted.