<![endif]>Posted on 12/21/2003 5:28:25 PM PST by matrix2225
U.S. Raises Terror Alert to 'High'
Sunday, December 21, 2003
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WASHINGTON — The United States went on high alert for a possible terror attack Sunday as Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge (search) said that threat indicators are "perhaps greater now than at any point" since Sept. 11, 2001.
"Extensive and considerable protections have been or soon will be in place all across the country," Ridge said at a news conference in Washington as he announced that the threat level would rise from yellow, or elevated, to orange, the second-highest level.
"Your government will stand at the ready 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to stop terrorism during the holiday season and beyond."
Americans were told to stick to their travel plans despite intelligence indicating the Al Qaeda (search) terrorist network is seeking again to use planes as weapons and exploit suspected weakness in U.S. aviation security.
Some of the intelligence information gathered in the past few days suggests that "extremists abroad" are anticipating attacks that will rival or exceed the scope of those of Sept. 11, Ridge said.
He also said officials did not see a connection between last weekend's capture of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein (search) and the heightened security alert.
The threat information comes from multiple, credible sources but officials are unaware of a specific target or means of attack, added a senior law enforcement official.
Some of the intercepted communications and other intelligence mentions New York, Washington and unspecified cities on the West Coast, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Authorities also are concerned about dams, bridges, nuclear plants, chemical facilities and other public works.
Thousands of state and local law enforcement agencies have received an FBI advisory urging special notice of sites that could be a conceivable target and potential security upgrades, the official said.
In addition, Ridge has contacted his counterparts in Canada and Mexico about increasing border security.
The State Department issued a worldwide caution to U.S. citizens overseas. "Al Qaeda and its associated organizations have struck in the Middle East in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and in Europe in Istanbul, Turkey," the department's Web site said. "We therefore assess that other geographic locations could be venues for the next round of attacks.
"We expect Al Qaeda will strive for new attacks designed to be more devastating than the Sept. 11 attack, possibly involving nonconventional weapons such as chemical or biological agents," the State Department advised.
At a hastily arranged news conference at Homeland Security headquarters, Ridge said credible intelligence sources "suggest the possibility of attacks against the homeland around the holiday season and beyond."
"The strategic indicators, including Al Qaeda's continued desire to carry out attacks against our homeland, are perhaps greater now than at any point since Sept. 11," he said.
The alert level had stood at yellow, an elevated risk and in the middle of the five-color scale, since May.
The White House declined comment, referring all questions to Ridge's department.
Ridge said the government acted after U.S. intelligence agencies "received a substantial increase in the volume of threat-related intelligence reports."
"Recent reporting reiterates that Al Qaeda continues to consider using aircraft as a weapon. They are evaluating procedures both here and abroad to find gaps in our security posture that can be exploited," Ridge said.
But he added that U.S. aviation "is far more secure" than ever.
As a result of the change in threat level, all federal departments and agencies were putting action plans in place and stepping up security at airports, border crossings and ports, Ridge said.
The secretary sought to reassure Americans about the warning, urging them not to disrupt holiday plans and to use common sense and report suspicious items and to prepare or review personal emergency plans.
"We have not raised the threat level in this country for six months, but we have raised it before. And as before, Americans can be assured that we know what we must do and we are doing it," Ridge said.
Federal aviation security officials were in contact Sunday with general aviation officials, including the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, which represents 400,000, or two-thirds of all pilots in the United States.
U.S. officials by the end of last week were telling holiday travelers to be vigilant about the threat of attacks. The warning was prompted in part by a raised level of ominous intercepted communications that has not quieted for months.
On Friday, the Arabic television network Al-Jazeera aired a new statement from Ayman al-Zawahri, bin Laden's chief deputy. 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.
Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said earlier Sunday that officials were trying to determine whether the increased material detected was an aberration or something more serious.
"There is no doubt, from all the intelligence we pick up from Al Qaeda, that they want to do away with our way of life," he told "Fox News Sunday" after his return from a trip to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Four times before had the threat level risen to orange. Each change sets off a flurry of increased security measures by cities, states and businesses. The lowest two levels, green and blue, and the highest, red, have not been used since the system was put in place in early 2002.
Fox News' Anna Stolley and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Is it just me or is anyone else uncomfortable with this 'homeland' designator? Somebody having trouble pronouncing 'America,' or the 'United States?' Let's let the terrorists know they are messing with not just another generic 'homeland,' but a nation that is proud of its name and heritage and a nation that will chase their ragged terrorist a$$e$ to the ends of the earth, if necessary.
The HoustonChronicle.com ^ | August 2002 | Edward Hegstrom
Middle Easterners streaming to Texas
By EDWARD HEGSTROM Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle
Texas has one of the nation's fastest-growing Middle Eastern populations, and most of the state's immigrants live in Houston, according to a study based on census data.
Researchers at the Center for Immigration Studies say Texas' Middle Eastern population more than doubled in the last decade, to just over 100,000, including more than 52,000 in Greater Houston.
Everyone is so concerned about another, brutal massive terrorist event happening here, yet they all stick their heads in the sand and ignore this epic illegal invasion of our own land by millions that are entering illegally, from Lord knows where.
I find it pathetic.
Given the fact that Osama, or USAMA BIN LADEN and any number of terrorist could enter this country at will, routinely.
Osama Bin Laden could have slipped in with the other hundreds of thousands of illegal criminals, and could be sitting at a hotel bar in Houston Texas, wearing a New York Yankees cap, sipping a cool one...
Tom Ridge? Home Land Security? Boy, I feel safe.
Why would *anyone* that is concerned about security, leave the doors and windows wide open to their home? It's total complete lunacy.
Yes, by all means. Let's stay out of the way of the emergency workers who will be scooping up the body parts. Everyone just stay home and hope the blood that is trickling down the gutters past your house does not belong to one of your family who just happened to be at Wal-Mart buying your Christmas present when the evil deed was done.
Sorry, Charlie. These colors don't run. One-hundred pair of eyes are better than 10. There is not enough law enforcement/anti-terror personnel to cover the nation. The defense plan is useless without the incorporation of all the abled-bodied.
Does the government have a clue how many disciplined weapons-certified civilians and veterans who are still under oath are available to fill the gaps? Apparently not.
Thank you for your concern, but if this threat level is viable, we will not be sitting home drinking eggnog waiting for Millie and Tammy to come home from the mall.
This is the correct way to deal with the problem. Make the terrorists live in fear, not the innocent.
I hope this night Osama is living in squalid conditions pissing in his pants for fear he is next after Saddam.
Yes. Their families, friends and enablers as well. The Islam community would be doing the nation and themselves a great service by routing out these crazies before they strike. There will be damn few in America who will be able to say 'Islam is a religion of peace' without choking on the words if the Islam community doesn't act to prevent an attack. The terrorists are not operating in a vacuum, and it is foolish to believe that the terrorists are the only ones who know who they are and what they plan to do.
Yes. And that thread has become far too long and cumbersome to post in. I welcome a fresh discussion on the issue.
Where do you live? NYC?
WASHINGTON — The United States went on high alert for a possible terror attack Sunday as Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge (search) said that threat indicators are "perhaps greater now than at any point" since Sept. 11, 2001.
Hot dam! - SOMETHING must be happening!
Went from Orange to RED in less than 12 hours - mamamia!
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