Ridge to raise Terror Alert, news conf. 1:30 pm Eastern

Fox News-TV

[putupon]

announcement, nothing furthur

[spookycc]

Apologies if I'm one of the ones whose humour you reacted to. It's how I deal with these. I know the colour codes are really intended to alert law enforcement, etc.

[knak]

WASHINGTON (AP) - The government is raising the national threat warning from yellow, the midpoint on its five-color scale, to orange, a federal official said Sunday.

Tom Ridge, the homeland security secretary, planned to discuss the chance at a midafternoon news conference at the agency's headquarters. A department official confirmed the elevated threat level but declined to provide details before Ridge's appearance.

U.S. officials by the end of last week were telling holiday travelers to be vigilant about the threat of terrorist attacks. The warning was prompted in part by a raised level of ominous intercepted communications that has not quieted for months.

The significance of the sustained level of intelligence "chatter" is unclear, the officials said.

Homeland Security officials said they did not expect a change in the threat level unless more specific intelligence was received.

On Friday, the Arabic television network Al-Jazeera aired a new statement from Ayman al-Zawahri, the chief deputy of Osama bin Laden. The CIA said Saturday it believes the tape is authentic.

"We are still chasing the Americans and their allies everywhere, even in their homeland," according to the voice on the tape.

Some statements from al-Qaida leaders are later regarded as preludes to attacks; others simply propaganda.

[RobFromGa]

Fearless leader Ridge says "Be Vigilent" and give Amnesty to 12 million Illegal Aliens.

Screw you, you don't sound like a Pubbie. You sound like a punk.

[LurkedLongEnough]

www.1010wins.com

Nation's Threat Level Rising to Orange

By JENNIFER C. KERR
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The government is raising the national threat warning from yellow, the midpoint on its five-color scale, to orange, a federal official said Sunday.

Tom Ridge, the homeland security secretary, planned to discuss the chance at a midafternoon news conference at the agency's headquarters. A department official confirmed the elevated threat level but declined to provide details before Ridge's appearance.

U.S. officials by the end of last week were telling holiday travelers to be vigilant about the threat of terrorist attacks. The warning was prompted in part by a raised level of ominous intercepted communications that has not quieted for months.

The significance of the sustained level of intelligence "chatter" is unclear, the officials said.

Homeland Security officials said they did not expect a change in the threat level unless more specific intelligence was received.

On Friday, the Arabic television network Al-Jazeera aired a new statement from Ayman al-Zawahri, the chief deputy of Osama bin Laden. The CIA said Saturday it believes the tape is authentic.

"We are still chasing the Americans and their allies everywhere, even in their homeland," according to the voice on the tape.

Some statements from al-Qaida leaders are later regarded as preludes to attacks; others simply propaganda.

Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Sunday morning that officials were trying to determine whether increased terrorist chatter being detected in recent weeks was an aberration or something more serious.

"There is no doubt, from all the intelligence we pick up from al-Qaida, that they want to do away with our way of life," he told "Fox News Sunday."

"And if they could use another catastrophic event, a tragedy like 9-11; if they could do that again, if they could get their hands on weapons of mass destruction and make it 10,000 (deaths), not 3,000, they would do that."

Myers said he and Ridge were to discuss the threat level "in the next 24, 48 hours" and raising the level was under active consideration.

"It's Secretary Ridge's business, but the Department of Defense does play a role in supporting federal agencies in this regard, and so we're discussing this right now," said Myers, who just returned from a trip to Iraq and Afghanistan.

[null and void]

I can't recall the FReeper's name, but just yesterday he/she made a tremendously astute observation!

These terrorists aren't stupid and surely they know that any attack at this time would simply empower President Bush like never before!!!

They may not care. IMHO their goal is to start an islam against the rest of the world war. Of course, they assume they'll win...

[nwctwx]

Maybe that's one reason why there has been a lot of chatter? Is AQ knowledgeable enough about our financial systems to know the results of threats in $?

If they werent knowlegeable enough in the past they certainly are now. They have had ample opportunity to watch what goes on during an orange alert. Our media has always reported how much these threat level raises cost the country.

[sgdill]

[RobFromGa]

I personally see no reason to run around the neighborhood yelling ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh in panic.

When did anyone ever tell any American to do this?

[oceanview]

that isn't really true. you can tell when security is "high orange" in NYC, as opposed to the "low orange". its been low orange for along time, the checkpoints at the bridges and tunnels are one sign. I suspect it will go to high orange now, I will see tomorrow on my way to work.

[Lessismore]

Since capturing Saddam means that we're all a lot safer now, why are we raising the threat level?

[nwctwx]

They may not care. IMHO their goal is to start an islam against the rest of the world war. Of course, they assume they'll win...

You are 100% correct... ever since OBL issued his fatwa in '98 urging muslims to kill Americans he has believed that he can turn "his followers" against us. They definately assume they will win.

[null and void]

So what are we supposed to do?

If outside run inside, if inside run outside. It doesn't matter where you run, just as long as you run...

[debg]

on the other hand, the terrorists listen to the leftists of the world and believe that a terror attack would bring bush down.

[spookycc]

Since capturing Saddam means that we're all a lot safer now, why are we raising the threat level?

I don't think we're worried about former Baathists here in the US. ;-P

[Pubbie]

I stand behind my comments - Ridge is a loser who is leaving the borders wide open and tells us to be "Vigilent" without telling us what to be on the lookout for.

He should say "Watch out for Middle Eastern Men or Women acting suspicously" but he doesn't because he would rather New York be destroyed than single out the 3rd World terrorists and freeloaders that are threatening US security.

[nwctwx]

Interesting, I am sure I am a little off... only been to NYC 2x since 9/11... just going off what I hear and read.

[Miss Marple]

I don't know about you, but I am getting really tired of people mocking Tom Ridge and Homeland Security. The threat level is being elevated because of reasonable precaution due to chatter indicating that Al Qaeda is planning on striking us here or in our outposts abroad.

I don't mind people calling it level Ernie. I do mind when people act like paying attention is foolish.

[relee]

CBS radio news at 1:00 had on a person from 'global options' who said they saw a movement of money and options.