DISASTER TEAMS SAID READY FOR TERRORISM (Pres. Bush receiving updates at Camp David)

AP Wire ^ | Dec. 25, 2003 | AP Wire

[varina davis]

Disaster Teams Said Ready for Terrorism

December 25, 2003 05:16 PM EST

WASHINGTON - Disaster teams are ready to respond to any strike by the al-Qaida terrorist network and special equipment is monitoring the air for biological agents in some 30 cities, the Bush administration said Thursday.

Four days after the nation went to a high Code Orange status and turned up its vigilance against terrorism, the threat had not diminished. "Credible reporting suggests al-Qaida continues to desire to attack American interests," said Brian Roehrkasse, spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security.

"People have their antennas up," he said.

President Bush was spending Christmas at his mountaintop retreat at Camp David, Md., where he received updates from senior advisers and military aides, said White House spokesman Jim Morrell.

The increased threat level triggered activation of the disaster teams, composed of government experts from different agencies.

The teams would:

-Provide expert advice and support to the on-scene commander if there's a threat, or an incident involving weapons of mass destruction.

-Respond to any release of radiation with advice and air monitoring equipment.

-Provide medical personnel to assist state and local medical authorities.

Besides the contingency teams, Homeland Security officials have stepped up their vigilance in searching for evidence of a biological attack.

The agency previously modified air pollution monitoring equipment in 30 cities to pick up any biological agents and provide test results in 12-to-24 hours.

With the latest threat, officials took several dozen units from the government's inventory and installed them in some of the same cities. The cities were not identified for security reasons.

U.S. officials were conferring with other governments in an effort to prevent suspected terrorists from boarding airplanes heading to the United States.

"We're concerned about flights originating from international countries including Mexico and others," said a national security official, insisting on anonymity.

U.S. officials were closely monitoring the situation in France, where six Air France flights between Paris and Los Angeles were canceled Wednesday and Thursday.

French investigators questioned seven men pointed out by U.S. intelligence but found no evidence they planned to use a Los Angeles-bound jet to launch terror attacks against the United States, French authorities said Thursday.

U.S. intelligence officials told their French counterparts that members of al-Qaida would try to board the planes over Christmas, said a French judicial official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

[Daniel Ramsey]

I do not know how to start a live thread but in light of whats going on recently perhaps we need a dedicated thread about the current threat level, I noticed a posting about a missing chemical truck in Oregon, we have reports of two middle eastern men trying to charter a plane up north of me here in Alaska next to the Alaska pipeline and recently the news that las Vegas was a viable target.
I agree that we are if not already in code Red at least Orange +1/2.
And if an event does happen what to do militarily in return?
Its all wrong, we need to counter propose to the extent borders mean nothing to us. They cut us in the arm we amputate their leg, by the very fact we are willing to bloody our very name of a decent society and fight in the mud we will prevail. If the middle eastern countries like Saudi Arabia saw suddenly the very real deployment of large scale weapons and that includes tactical nukes upon Islamic holy sites there is a possibility of a change of venue, on the other hand it may mean nothing to OBL.

Ghadafi decided to throw in the towel, OBL is after him so he sidles up to us for protection now, this is an important turning point possibly an important one though I personally wouldn't turn my back on him.

So should the moderators start a live thread? or just leave things the way they are? could we use this new thread to report very suspicious activity, and not trivial stuff mind you folks?. my two cents worth for the day.

[wny]

The dems and their media toadies are praying on their knees for an attack. Then they can whine that "Bush Knew"!

[diamondjoe]

"Well, we don't know that our intel types are creeped out. We know that the press is reporting that they are creeped out."

Exactly. That's not to say we shouldn't be worried, but everyone always talks about how good Al Q is with the head fakes, and assumes that everything our press reports is exactly what's happening.

[rs79bm]

"in a fox hole engaged in a dog fight."

Pronunciation: 'dog-"fIt
Function: noun
Date: 1656
1 : a fight; broadly : a fiercely disputed contest

You've already lost the Battle of Metaphors.


Really? Please explain.

[Almondjoy]

I think it could be also allowed that the Air France flights were part of either a test against our intel and defenses by putting them on the flights(I still don't get with all the ability to fake a passport why they would fly under their real names?).. or two they flew under their assumed names on purpose as a way of distraction.. perhaps even false security.

[bvw]

We'll you try to get in my fox hole ... and there will be a dog fight. Go dig your own -- over that-a-way a six miles or so. Okey-dokey?

[ASA Vet]

I know you didn't ask me, but I had to put in my 2 cents.

The sheeple with whom I work are blissfully ingorant, (about almost everything.)

[ASA Vet]

Dean has the emotional stability of an habitual cocaine user

Your comment is a below the belt insult to habitual cocaine users.

[ASA Vet]

Hey dummy, use the spell-checker! Sheesh!

"ignorant"

[Miss Marple]

It is as I thought. My sisters, who are well-educated, know almost nothing. Most get their news from the television (not Fox) and don't read anything on the internet except shopping links and such.

I had to give a ten-minute dissertation to my manicurist, who thought we were LOSING the war in Iraq.

My New Year's project is to make sure everyone knows how loony Dean is.

[rs79bm]

Instead of reading the substance of my post you decided to take issue with
nonexistent grammatical errors.

So be it. Happy freeping ;)

[mitchbert]

There is no reason on earth not to train neighborhood associations to deal with some of the fallout of terrorism.

I would highly recommend a book called "Life After Doomsday" by Bruce Clayton. I believe you can get it from Amazon, etc. Practical info from shelter to food and defense. Written in the late 70's I believe or early 80's but well referenced and easy to read. Lots of expedient info for little advance warning.

Oops! Found my copy!

Paladin Press ISBN: 0-87364-175-2

Stay safe.

[FITZ]

The threats are sounding increasingly serious and credible.

It doesn't seem all that serious or credible with the borders still very open --- I don't see why cocaine and other shipments are getting through so easily, and all kinds of people crossing over the border if there is really a terror threat.

[FITZ]

and he told me that he and his family have done nothing to prepare for the possibility of a terrorist attack.

I don't know anyone personally who has done anything to prepare for the possibility of an attack. I know I haven't. I live right on the border and nothing seems any different.

[EGPWS]

My New Year's project is to make sure everyone knows how loony Dean is.

Sounds like a very relaxing New Year's project MM. (let Dean do ALL the work!)

[bvw]

The content of your post was a whine, and mean to boot. Go take your bag of complaints to the far territories, jake. Not wanted or helpful here.

[rs79bm]

Not wanted or helpful here.

Sorry, you're the only one urging everyone to post according to your guidelines and etiquette.

[bvw]

RS79BM, Here's what you wrote that got this started:

... it seems like you all think the apocalypse is near. For the most part, I would not want any of you with me in a fox hole engaged in a dog fight. Having attained that notion, it seems that indeed the terrorist have won. I think you all need to take a deep breathe ....

You smeared everybody. Now, finally, you can see one person, instead of a crowd. Why? Why couldn't pick one particular point of a particular poster to start with?

This is why I'd not have you in any fight on my side -- you'd waste all your ammo firing off into the dark at nothing. Just drawing the wrong kind of attention.

Do you want to be wicked good at telling your enemy "Here I am and I have no more ammo!"?

[rs79bm]

BVW:

Which is precisely why you should include yourself as those I was intending to reach in my original comments. Apparently I was so right that you got a little (or perhaps more than a little) annoyed about it.

[bvw]

You were right. If you try to drag your sorry butt into my foxhole I'll be throwing you back out into the muck.