U.S.: ‘Credible threat’ of major attack in Italy

MSNBC.COM ^ | Updated: 5:56 p.m. ET Dec. 17, 2003 | MSNBC

[Smogger]

St. Peter's Square, Leaning Tower of Pisa get special attention

Italian authorities have clamped unprecedented security coverage over the Vatican and other Christian landmarks after receiving a "credible threat" of a Christmastime terrorist attack, senior U.S. officials said Wednesday.

Over the past two days, officials within the Vatican and elsewhere in Italy have increased security near major Christian symbols, including St. Peter's Square. The step was taken based on a warning from the Mossad, the Israeli security service, that there was a "high index of probability" that "an important symbol of Christianity" would be the target of an attack between Christmas and New Year's, senior officials told NBC News on condition of anonymity.

Italy has increased security around 8,000 or so sites, which are guarded by a 12,000-member security force, Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu told Agence France-Presse.

"There is a legitimate concern, a credible threat," one of the U.S. officials told NBC's Robert Windrem. "Italian police are taking the appropriate precautions."

[John Valentine]

Such an attack, in my world, ought to be countered by the conversion of the great mosque in Mecca to a gravel field, and by the high veloicity transportation of their sacred moon rock back to its place of origin.

[marshmallow]

That Bishop yesterday really took the cake, feeling so sorry for Saddam.

Jesus did something similar. When the soldiers came to arrest him in Gethsemane, Peter drew his sword and lopped off the ear of the High Priest's servant. Jesus healed him. Despite the fact that he was there to do wrong and harm him.

The "Peter" response is the attitude of most of the folk on FR, it would appear. The response of Jesus is altogether foreign to most, and the command of Jesus to "bless those who curse you" is as little understood today as it was 2,000 years ago.

[Peach]

Had the Bishop been trying to emulate Jesus, he would have found it in his heart to express concern and regret for 30 years of beatings, torture, rape and murder. He has not said ONE word on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi's but has found pity for the murderer? Sorry - your analogy does not wash in regard to this Bishop.

[mlmr]

JMO, but I think hitting the Vatican would be one of the dumbest things the jihadis could do.

Why?

[Maigrey]

Hitting the Vatican would truly turn this WOT into a battle of Islam v. Christianity.

It's time to buckle up, and hang on tight. The ride is about to get bumpy.

[Maigrey]

Hitting the Vatican would truly turn this WOT into a battle of Islam v. Christianity.

It's time to buckle up, and hang on tight. The ride is about to get bumpy.

[squidly]

It would increase European support for the WOT, probably increase support from the U.S. as well.

[July 4th]

I would think it a safe bet that if muslims struck St. Peter's, the whole of Africa would soon be at war. For strong Catholic countries in Europe, like Poland, they would be further drawn into the war on terror. And the Vatican would be forced to publicly admit that it's in a Holy War. Striking the Vatican would make it crystal clear that these are not some disaffected middle east youths angry at the US, but a violent religion bent on decimating the Christian world.

[prairiebreeze]

Second article I' ve read todeay about Italy as a target. And State is telling Americans to leave Saudi.

Things are most certainly heating up inside intel offices....

Prairie

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Ironic considering how the Vatican is preaching pity and understanding of terrorists these days. Sounds like the muslims don't want Christian friends these days.

[Guillermo]

To them, it's all about religion.

The goal of the terrorists is to convert everyone else to Islam, plain and simple.

[glock rocks]

Please don't describe a single Cardinal's viewpoint as representative of the Vatican as a whole or the Holy See in paticular.

I think there is a parallel to the majority of Americans'
reactions towards some mullahs and the
according response of the rest of organized Islam.

and yes, we're a Catholic family.

[Shermy]

Prophecy here...

[BurbankKarl]

Howard Dean will just say, "See, I told you so, you should have found Osama.." while Jim McDermotts repeats that we knew where Saddam was all along...

[Shermy]

Osama et al. wanted a global jihad, and it frustrates them that Bush has been successful in framing the war as a "War on Terror."

[Peach]

Yes, must be a lot of chatter these days, prairibreeze.

Woe to the agent(s) who guesses incorrectly where and how the next attack will go down. It's a heavy burden for those people.

[ruiner]

I wouldn't panic yet. Besides, we havn't hear Kofi's plan to keep us all safe from terror. :)

[prairiebreeze]

Romiyya"

Rome, I presume?

Prairie

[Shermy]

You presume correctly.

Type Romiyya into a search engine, links to Islamic prophecies.

[prairiebreeze]

And the odds are ultimately against them. They can't be right 100% of the time. Hard thing...

Prairie