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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.

"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.

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.

Middle Easterners Streaming Into Texas:

The HoustonChronicle.com ^ | August 2002 | Edward Hegstrom

Middle Easterners streaming to Texas

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.

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!