Report: U.S. Alarmed by Use of Al Qaeda Bomb Term

Reuters ^ | 2/12/03

[kattracks]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. intelligence analysts were alarmed over the mention of a "package" in several intercepted conversations because al Qaeda has used the term in the past as code for bomb material, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

Messages from what the newspaper called "suspected terrorists" about delivering "packages" to American soil led officials to raise the country's terror-alert status last week, an official familiar with the new intelligence told the newspaper.

After examining other intelligence that they declined to describe, U.S. officials concluded al Qaeda might be planning attacks with "dirty bombs" laced with radiological agents for some time this week, according to the newspaper. The intercepts also mentioned the Arabian peninsula, officials said.

One U.S. official told the Journal there was no mention in the intercepted conversations that the attacks might involve chemical weapons or radioactive material, but said intelligence analysts pieced together a theory that those might be involved, based on who was talking and other information he refused to divulge.

Specific targets were not mentioned, another official told the newspaper, but there were references to Israel, to hotels and to "the underground," which analysts concluded might mean subway systems.

In recent weeks, an official told the newspaper, the U.S. has uncovered more intelligence suggesting cooperation between al Qaeda and Baghdad. Phone calls have been traced between Iraqi security agencies and suspected al Qaeda affiliates, the Journal said, citing the official, who provided no details.

[mgc1122]

"Package" could mean anything ... from the bombs the Feds fear to more ragheads infesting our nation waiting to strike as individuals. Stay sharp, and be ready.

[sam_paine]

Here's to you Binny....

Let the (Terrorist Devil) Bodies Hit the Floor

[Dog Gone]

I don't know what "package" means, but I bet it isn't a Candygram.

[VRWC_minion]

To my children's generation, package means something much different than my generation.

[Nexus]

Tenet (today):

"The CIA director said the information suggests the attack may involve a "dirty bomb" -- a weapon that spreads radioactive material over a wide area -- or chemical or poison weapons. Officials last week worried the attack could be timed to coincide with the hajj, a Muslim holy period this week."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,78342,00.html

[Jim Noble]

Why are they still here?

Here's my Homeland Security Alert plan:

Condition Green: Locate and register all visiting nationals from Saudi Arabia, Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Yemen and Pakistan.

Condition Blue: No new visas from those countries. All permanent residents ("green card" holders) required to register and report any movements.

Condition Yellow: All visas cancelled. No entry into the United States from those countries. All "green cards" previously granted cancelled and re-application required.

Condition Orange: Require male nationals aged 15-55 of these countries to report to detention centers. All local LEOs to cooperate in locating and detaining enemy aliens.

Condition Red: Shoot on sight.

Ya like it?

[Man of the Right]

Our folks are on a hair-trigger. If we or our friends get hit, let's clean out the NW Frontier Province, south Lebanon and Bekaa Valley rats nests.

[TimPatriot]

U.S. intelligence analysts were alarmed over the mention of a "package" in several intercepted conversations because al Qaeda has used the term in the past as code for bomb material, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday

Well, I guess they won't be using that term anymore. Why do any of these sources release any information is beyond me.

[citabria]

Sounds like a plan to me!

Good One!

Fregards

[sheik yerbouty]

Awesome!

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

This-Post 35 was my concern.

Smart Bombs, Dumb Bombs and why did OBL give out so much intel on trench hiding? I would BOMBard the mountainside and valleys and farms and cities now! All of the innocents have fled.

[Coop]

Well, I guess they won't be using that term anymore. Why do any of these sources release any information is beyond me.

Or they'll start using the term very frequently, to drive up alert levels and impact our economy and sense of security.

It's really pathetic how much intel is leaked nowadays, and folks never seem to get how much damage can be caused.

[mgc1122]

Mr. Noble, you have a plan I can live with. LOL!

[choicenotecho]

This couldn't be the dreaded Algore "package" from the Rolling Stone cover, could it? Al doesn't need any more "exposure."

[AmericanInTokyo]

The whole thing that stinks about this the following:

a)They put the entire US on alert.

b)They vaguely tell us to 'be alert' and look for ' suspicious things'

c)Yet they REFUSE to release any kind of profile of the types of people we should particularly watch.

d) And yet, without any doubt, they internally must have a suspect profile worked up from which they are operating,

YET THEY CANNOT PUBLICLY SHARE THAT PROFILE TO MORE FULLY MOBILIZE ALL OF US, BECAUSE THEY WILL BE ACCUSED OF 'RACISM'.

Who are we kidding??? If there is an attack within the domestic USA, there is a 95% chance it is going to be carried out by Arab-middle eastern-North African males between 18 and 40.

[DonaldC]

Sounds like a good strategy...of course there might be a few honest hardworking souls caught in the net. But hey, we would just be doing what their countries have done all along!

[2Smart2BLiberal]

I think our Homeland would be much more secure with your plan than the one we have now.

[Chad Fairbanks]

I need to stop talking about my packjage over the phone, apparently... sorry folks, false alarm...