U.S. Raises Terror Alert to 'High'

Fox News

[Nebr FAL owner]

Ok so I go & load a couple more magazines for the .45 & check on the first-aid kit in the hall closet & the one in the car . Stay safe folks

[TBall]

I always keep the gas tank full and the bags packed and ready during these alerts.

[harpseal]

There is a possibility this one will be the real deal. Hitting the USA any time btween Dec 21 and Jan 6 would conform to the AQ psychological goals.

More ominous is the quote from the state Dept ""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." The use of WMD is what is most ominous.

Clearly a loaded .45 or equivalent and full gas tanks are very good measures.

[Eastbound]

"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."

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.

[Boundless]

I suspect this alert bump is not just CYA, as
any number of readers have proposed in similar
threads. The DHS has been very reluctant to change
levels for most of this year. Particularly now, I
imagine they'd rather they didn't need to.

For those wondering "what am I supposed to do?",
this alert change isn't for you. It's for those who
do have a plan, instructions or orders. And based on
the cost complaints from various quarters, a lot
happens that isn't necessarily visible, and it's not
cheap. A relative of mine is a rural sheriff, and
his office does alter the routine at Orange.

Certainly anyone can chose to have a plan, and alter
their routine with level changes. For example, if
you were planning to hang out at the mall with your
pals this week, perhaps less crowded destination is
in order.

If we ever move to Red, by the way, I expect we'll
all see our routines altered, whether we planned
for it or not.

[ServesURight]

THIS HAS BEEN POSTED HOURS AGO!!!

[1ofmanyfree]

> Is it just me or is anyone else uncomfortable with this 'homeland' designator?

Never liked it or calling high department officials Czars either. It is un-Amercan and offensive to me!

[Sabatier]

I am, too. It sounds so "1984", Orwellian, if you know what I mean. This is the United States of America. Sounds just right.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Middle Easterners Streaming Into Texas:

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.

[Eastbound]

"Certainly anyone can chose to have a plan, and alter their routine with level changes. For example, if you were planning to hang out at the mall with your pals this week, perhaps less crowded destination is in order."

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.

[Eastbound]

Thanks. 'Orwellian' was the word I was looking for.

[blackbart.223]

"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."

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.

[Eastbound]

ping

[Eastbound]

"This is the correct way to deal with the problem. Make the terrorists live in fear, not the innocent."

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.

[MadeInOhio]

Secretary Ridge says the current threat-climate eclipses all others post-9/11/01. I hope he's wrong.

If not, however; if Islamofascists exploit a security weakness to perpetrate a crime that overshadows 9/11, it will be a terrible day for America.

And, henceforth, a terrible life for American Muslims.

As Eastbound noted, no more religon-of-peace platitudes will be accepted. No more will political correctness intimidate. Should Osama and his cohorts drop a supersized version of 9/11 on the U.S., domestic Muslims will absorb a portion of the consequent fury. Right or wrong, it will happen.

So Eastbound's advice to the Muslim community is sound. Followers of Allah ought to rat out any mass-murderers-in-waiting of whom of they're aware.

I remember in 1979 after the Tehran hostage incident began. In certain venues, it wasn't safe to be identified as an Iranian and show yourself in public.

We lost 3,000 lives on 9/11/01. If terrorists pull off a demonic coup that claims anywhere from 30,000 lives to 300,000, it won't be safe to be indentified as a Muslim and show yourself in public.

Furthermore, widespread clamor will compel President Bush to respond to the atrocity with swift, blanket vengeance more in character with the Roman Empire than the American republic.

It won't be pretty. That's why I pray Ridge's fears are groundless.

[Born in a Rage]

Some talking head said on a TV program this evening that attacks/planned attacks have taken place approx. 2 years and 2 months apart - so this would fall into that time frame - he said they foiled terrorists plans once when they wanted to blow up a cathedral in France on Christmas Eve.

[Jorge]

THIS HAS BEEN POSTED HOURS AGO!!!

Yes. And that thread has become far too long and cumbersome to post in. I welcome a fresh discussion on the issue.

[Jorge]

I always keep the gas tank full and the bags packed and ready during these alerts.

Where do you live? NYC?

[Happy2BMe]

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!