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."

[JustPiper]

Saudi, Italy, London,DC,NY,LA 2-2-04?

[Lady In Blue]

I can't remember the name of the official spokesman for the Vatican.He's a Spanish layman.This Cardinal is NOT THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE VATICAN! He's head of the Vatican's Peace and Social Justice Office.

[eastforker]

Just a note here folks but didn't the beginnings of WWII start in 1939 and the world didn't really get involved until 1941.

[Grampa Dave]

The young lady that I mentioned looks Italian and speaks enough Italian to be considered an Italian. She was very uncomfortable in S. Italy because of the tension related to 9/11, the threats by al Qaeda and the need to blame someone else. So Americans got the blame.

In N. Italy, it was just the opposite. They blamed the French, Germans, Belgiums and Russians for the problem. Only the old commies and greens blamed Americans, and they were tolerated as the local idiots.

She and her parents plan to return next spring to visit N. Italy.

[wideminded]

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.

Very well said.

[Salvation]

**But then the capacity of the left to deny a threat continues to shock me.**

I wonder how much this attitude reflects "denial"?

[Peach]

Yes, although see my #72.

[Dog]

I've read somewhere that AQ when it is about to launch an attack will use the NUMBER.....4....4....to tell its troops to launch. Based on the warning of a possible AQ attack on 2-2-04...I think we have seen the 4...4...launch codes issued.

Now look at this:

Saudi, Italy, London,DC,NY,LA 2-2-04?

2+2=4....2004

You have the launch code.

[Coop]

I think you should get into the fortune telling business; you're gut has been telling you things that have proven accurate.

Easy now. Dog and I go way back, but our FR mutt almost always "has a feeling." :-) Occasionally (unfortunately) those feelings are right.

[Coop]

Just as the Church looked the other way for decades when young children were being sexually abused in the church by our priests

Oh, come on! The Church did what was recommended by "experts" back then, who thought pedophiles could be rehabilitated.

As a Christian, I find such behavior shameful.

I feel the same way about deliberately misrepresenting a situation.

[samtheman]

Just as the Church looked the other way for decades when young children were being sexually abused in the church by our priests, they will not act now to apologize for one of their own pitying a madman who murdered hundreds of thousands of innocent people. The pity that Bishop expressed for Hussein yesterday is more pity than he or most member of the Church hierarchy have expressed for those innocent Iraqis.

The Bishop's remarks are so bad that the church has to come out publicly and disavow them. Either that, or they have to accept the Bishop as their official spokesperson (which he is) and his words as their official position (if they stand uncorrected).

[Peach]

Definitely.

[Peach]

I hope you don't think I am deliberately misrepresenting a situation.

It is not in dispute that the church moved priests around from city to city, despite obvious evidence said priests were not being "rehabilitated". Only some experts said that pedophiles could be rehabilitated; a vast number said they could not be helped or stopped unless removed from the situation.

[Peach]

LOL!

[TYVets]

Cardinal Martino will stand up and personally take the first bullet, defuse the bombs and throw himself on the handgrenade.

If you think this will happen, do not contact or come near me.

[Ashamed Canadian]

You said it partner, that would be the appropriate response.

[eureka!]

Re#34 Yep. And Hillary. The Rat party knows no shame...

[bert]

Why?

[Peach]

Thank you!