DHS THREAT LEVEL: ORANGE Specific Threat Information

homelandsecurityus.com ^ | 12/21/03

[DannyTN]

21 December 2003-- A somber Tom Ridge, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security announced the increase of the color coded alert to "Orange" today, stating: "The strategic [intelligence] indicators, including al Qaeda's continued desire to carry out attacks against our homeland, are perhaps greater now than at any point since September 11th. Information indicates that extremists abroad are anticipating near-term attacks that they believe will rival, or exceed, the attacks in New York, at the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania."

[flashbunny]

If nothing happens between now and february 2nd, and nothing at all like they predicted, do you thionk they'll admit they were wrong?

Hmm, I wonder if they have archives of their 'threats' listed...

[diamondjoe]

Even a broken clock is wrong twice each day. If they just keep predicting a huge attack, but extending the deadlines, sooner or later they'll be right. Then they'll claim "look--we accurately predicted it!" If you look at their "specific intelligence," they are throwing everything and the kitchen sink at this, and trying to see what sticks. Suicide bombs, dirty nukes, bio/chem, cargo planes, passenger planes, truck bombs, you name it. They are taking the theories they've already put out there and cobbling them together with what DHS put out yesterday to make them seem more substantial.

[seraphMTH]

Easy. They have an "archives" page, and rationale is always, "threat secretly thwarted by HDS"

[FITZ]

DHS might have been busy getting Americans to take off their shoes at the airports so we can all feel safe --- but over a million people manage to come over the border every year illegally --- and who knows what all is coming over?

[diamondjoe]

I also like this:

" In the last 48 hours, actual photographs of suitcase nukes have shown up on "disappearing" Jihad websites."

Me: Ok, so let's see some of those photos.

Them: Uh, they "disappeared."

I love crank theories with a built-in escape hatch.

(Not to mention the fact that anyone who knows how to type "suitcase nuke" into Google can probably find a photo of one.)

[DannyTN]

"but this level of detail is not Al Q's m.o."

Al Q's making the same kind of vague threat they always do.

If I understand correctly, this level of detail is not being released by Al Q. It's being intercepted through intelligence operations within Al Q, from captured Al Q operatives, intercepted communications and elsewhere.

[monkeywrench]

I believe he was dealing behind the scenes with the administration for about 9 months. That's not "sudden".

[Dante3]

LOL!!!

And all along Tom Ridge and our politicians have been scheming to get more illegals into this county by offering amnesty, reduced college tuition, free medical care, other perks. Why, there even was a lawsuit by relatives of some Darwin award winning illegal aliens (I don't know what eventually happened to it). They wanted some $40 because we failed to provide enough snack stations to make it easier for illegals to invade this country.

[Pro-Bush]

Thanks for the post Danny. Some FReeper's only want news from the likes of ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Reuters, AP, AFP, and the like.

[TotusTuus]

I thought the Pope didn't have an army.

True, but he has one helluva'n air force!

[DannyTN]

Thanks for the encouraging word. I must say the stick your head in the sand crowd seems particularly active this week.

[LizardQueen]

" In the last 48 hours, actual photographs of suitcase nukes have shown up on "disappearing" Jihad websites."

Must be the time of year, but I just read this statement as being about "fruitcake nukes"...

LQ, wandering off to go make an eye appointment...

[txhurl]

What's strange is that you'd think the DHS would be loathe to damage the shopping season in any way - but they have decided the risk is high enough. You have to consider that.

[StatesEnemy]

. Time Frame: the anticipated window of greatest exposure appears to be from the present through 2 February 2004

At which time Puxatawny Phil will come out of his hole, and we'll find out if we will have 6 more weeks of Orange or not.

[Pro-Bush]

Jihad websites stated previously that an attack would occur 60 days after Ramadan, hence February 2,2004. Plus the whole 4 4 reference from the infamous daleel and nin. Could be a bunch of crappola, but then again, maybe not.

[flashbunny]

I looked through the archives and all their stories, and I can't find ONE prediction or alert that actually panned out.

Additionally, they use intelligence from online forums and web sites. I've never heard of one attack that was actually planned or discussed on a web site before it happened. If you're a terrorist, are you going to be putting your plans on a publicly accessible web site?

[baltodog]

Allow me quote from the book of Baltodog, Ch 1, verse 1:

"Woe unto him that forces the Great Dog Balto to re-allocate his Christmas Beer Fund to that of distilled water and dry goods. For he shall have his territory marked with the musk of a large Sheppard-Mix and mis-guided affection shall be shown to him whilst he be kneeling and facing east, for the Great Dog Balto does not realize that he is fixed."

[flashbunny]

"Thanks for the post Danny. Some FReeper's only want news from the likes of ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Reuters, AP, AFP, and the like."

No, we just want our news from places that have been proven right at least once.

[DannyTN]

"fruitcake nukes"...

Talk about a WMD!!!! That's truly scary!

[Coop]

I have to say, this sounded an awful lot like Debka.

Debka looks reliable compared to this fiction.