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Homeland Security to cops: Prepare for Qaida car bombs
World Net Daily | November 24, 2003 | Paul Sperry

Posted on 11/24/2003 3:42:44 PM PST by jerseygirl

By Paul Sperry © 2003 WorldNetDaily.com

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has advised federal agencies to initiate emergency counterterrorism measures to prevent possible al-Qaida car bombings planned during the last days of the Muslim holiday Ramadan, according to a confidential department memo obtained by WorldNetDaily.

Citing al-Qaida's "increasingly sophisticated" car-bombing tactics, it recommends security guards tow all vehicles parked illegally in and around government facilities, if their owners cannot be identified, and inspect the undercarriage and other areas of vehicles entering sensitive areas, among other high-threat protective measures.

Al-Qaida could also target "liquid natural gas, chemical or petrochemical sites near major population centers using multiple vehicle-born improvised explosive devices similar to those recently seen in the attacks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Istanbul, Turkey," warns the internal department advisory titled, "Continued al-Qaida Threats Abroad and in the Homeland."

Marked "For Official Use Only," the four-page memo was distributed Friday to federal departments and agencies, as well as state security managers and first responders.

"This advisory is intended to raise the security awareness of the recipients based on recent terrorist attacks overseas and information suggesting al-Qaida continues to plan attacks against U.S. targets," the memo says.

It notes there has been at least one major terrorist attack resulting in substantial casualties each week over the past several weeks, and that the attacks have coincided with Ramadan.

"These terrorist bombings, coupled with public proclamations regarding al-Qaida's intentions to target Western interests, heighten our concern that a threat against the U.S. homeland and U.S. interests abroad continues," the document states.

The Homeland Security memo warns that al-Qaida might launch attacks "near the end of Ramadan (Nov. 24-27)," which happens to coincide this year with the Thanksgiving holiday.

The government is closed on Thursday, Nov. 27, for Thanksgiving.

But millions of Americans will be traveling throughout the holiday week, and Homeland Security warns in its memo that "we cannot discount multiple attacks involving the use of general-aviation aircraft."

The department's current terror threat level stands at yellow, or elevated, indicating there is only a significant risk of terrorist attacks. Publicly, it has recommended Americans continue with plans for work or leisure.

Behind the scenes, however, it has directed federal and state law enforcement, as well as security personnel, to initiate protective measures under its highest threat level – red – a condition when there is an imminent risk of terrorist attacks.

For instance, "Measure R.2" of the department's internal Threat Level Red recommendations advises government agencies to, among other things: "Identify the owners of all vehicles already parked at state facilities. In those cases where the owner or presence of a vehicle cannot be explained (owner is not present and has no obvious agency affiliation), inspect the vehicle for dangerous items and take steps to remove the vehicle from the vicinity."

Homeland Security officials insist they have no specific threat. Indeed, the department memo states: "We have no tactical information identifying timing, targets, tactics or locations for these operations."

However, it goes on to say that "recent information" and attacks reflect "al-Qaida's desire to repeat a mass casualty attack and/or strike major political and symbolic and economic targets" in America.

The document expresses concern over al-Qaida's "increasingly refined capability and sophisticated tactic" in carrying out car-bomb attacks. Among examples, it cites the terror group's new "ramming tactic to gain access to the target" and the use of "innocuous-looking vehicles," such as "a food catering truck which was detonated by a suicide bomber as it rammed the British consulate."

It recommends U.S. security personnel take additional protective measures to thwart car-bomb attacks, including:

"Consider adjusting buffer zone further [sic] from target."

"Increase the number of visible security personnel wherever possible."

"Rearrange exterior vehicle barriers, traffic cones and road blocks to alter traffic patterns near facilities and monitored by alert security forces."

"Institute/increase vehicle, foot and roving security patrols varying in size, timing and routes."

"Limit the number of access points and strictly enforce access control procedures."

"Deploy explosive-detection devices and explosive-detection canine teams."

"Review surveillance tapes (if available) for indicators of suspicious activity."


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: alqaeda; alqaida; carbombs; paulsperry; ramadan; terrorism; warning
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To: JustPiper; freeperfromnj; flutters; Dog; Sabertooth; Cindy; yonif; StillProud2BeFree; ...
Ping
21 posted on 11/24/2003 5:05:57 PM PST by Calpernia (Innocence seldom utters outraged shrieks. Guilt does.)
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To: JustPiper
Thanks for the ping.
22 posted on 11/24/2003 5:06:15 PM PST by Calpernia (Innocence seldom utters outraged shrieks. Guilt does.)
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To: illiac
Thanks for the link.
23 posted on 11/24/2003 5:11:29 PM PST by DeepDish (Depleted uranium and democrats are a lot alike. They've both been sucked dry of anything useful)
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To: jerseygirl
In terms of meeting this terrorist threat head-on, any possible Committees of Vigilance against the jihadist menace may require a kind of "Vigilance Handbook," containing tips on establishing and maintaining civilian awareness and alertness appropriate for heightened threat levels.

To counter the jihad propaganda of the internet terror-propagandist Daleel and others of his ilk, perhaps a "vigilantism" propaganda machine can be forthcoming with some kind of manual of anti-terrorist vigilance. The manifestation of a multi-redundant nationwide civilian intelligence network would be prudent, and could prove dispositive in daunting the jihadist menace here in the homeland.

Some pieces of information to consider publishing in such a manual might include:

1. Keeping watch on local jihadist suspects who fit the profile. The profile is established by the terrorists themselves in their own jihad manuals.

2. Keeping watch on local areas or specific buildings for possible patterns indicative of terrorist preparatory activities.

3. Basic reconnaissance operations.

4. How to profile, identify and locate possible terrorist suspects in your own area.

5. Legal considerations: "plain sight," public areas, etc. The scope of legally-permissible civilian conduct in observing, identifying and apprehending terrorist suspects.

6. Use of binoculars, night vision, and cameras.

7. Effective note-taking and information-gathering.

8. Coordination of local observations at a general level. Example: http://www.freerepublic.com

9. Use of GPS, maps, walkie-talkies, scanners, etc.

10. Radio communications and scanner frequencies. Example: http://www.cityfreq.com/

11. Electronic monitoring of various internet and radio sources for new information and leads.

12. Use of parabolic microphones and other electronic monitoring of conversations.

13. Use of Arabic-English/English-Arabic dictionaries in effective identification of suspects' topics of communication.

14. Patrol operations and urban camouflage.

15. Tailing suspects.

16. Other tactical operations, by type.

I do not advocate vigilantism or other illegal activity. Please check your local statutes and ordinances. Also, check your ordnance.

Number 16 is not necessarily my favorite.
24 posted on 11/24/2003 5:19:31 PM PST by Unknowing (Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.)
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To: Orangedog
Al Qaida has already proven that they don't care what the soccer moms think. I also was not thinking of car bombs at malls and schools. I was thinking of such devices at major power tranmission towers and substations, during a blizzrd perhaps. Their stated goal is the destruction of the U.S. economy. These are the type of attacks I was thinking of. AQ has had a history of crrying out major attacks about every two years.

As far as I am concerned the next major attack can be followed by 100-200 minuteman laydown on muslim population centers with the objective of maximizing casualties. It will come to this I fear.
25 posted on 11/24/2003 5:22:22 PM PST by DeepDish (Depleted uranium and democrats are a lot alike. They've both been sucked dry of anything useful)
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To: jerseygirl
This ties in with the worldwide alert for "cars of death" that came out on 11/21.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1026833/posts
26 posted on 11/24/2003 6:09:10 PM PST by freeperfromnj
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To: Sir Charles
50 cal machine gun?
27 posted on 11/24/2003 6:11:19 PM PST by John Robertson
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To: DeepDish
Until the meainstream press realizes that Islam is no more a legitimate faith than Scientology, I fear we are lost. This is a war against Islam. And while this may be a cold war, it cannot be fought as an entirely hidden war.
28 posted on 11/24/2003 6:11:48 PM PST by eno_ (Freedom Lite - it's almost worth defending)
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To: jerseygirl
Maybe the MiddleEasterners should be more concerned about the al Quida operative with Hepatitis doing his business in a vat of, let's say, green scallions or some such harmless food source.
29 posted on 11/24/2003 6:12:14 PM PST by spald
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To: pacman50
ping
30 posted on 11/24/2003 6:13:13 PM PST by cmsgop ( my cap's key got into a fight with a beer and lost)
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To: jerseygirl
And watch out for donkey cars parallel parked in loading zones.....
31 posted on 11/24/2003 6:14:02 PM PST by myprecious
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To: myprecious
CARTS not cars. Woops
32 posted on 11/24/2003 6:17:33 PM PST by myprecious
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To: eno_
Yes but I don't like where this may take us eventually. The us or them, the convert or die attitude that is.
33 posted on 11/24/2003 10:41:43 PM PST by DeepDish (Depleted uranium and democrats are a lot alike. They've both been sucked dry of anything useful)
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To: jerseygirl
We're going to find out, sooner or later,

If Osama will pray, to a glowing crater.

34 posted on 11/24/2003 10:44:07 PM PST by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
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To: All
Related Thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1028432/posts
35 posted on 11/25/2003 12:23:06 AM PST by Cindy
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To: Pro-Bush
I thought so, too.
36 posted on 11/25/2003 10:26:51 AM PST by jerseygirl
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