Posted on 12/25/2003 3:42:34 PM PST by 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.
It's like we're in the middle of Tom Clancy plot, only the type is in white ink. We can't see anything.
The terrorists are desperate for a win, however minor. I believe this is a serious time and we should all be alert.
Maybe they thwarted part of it yesterday with the French flights (thanks again, France, for letting all passengers leave the airport).
But now it looks like they're prepared for a massive bio attack, too.
If we're not creeped out, our intel guys seem to be, and that's reason enough to be concerned.
The Brits went about their business each day, kids going to school, people going to work, and lived through it. Whatever, if anything, happens, America will live through it, become stronger over time, and defeat the evil.
These camel humpers are not Superman
MKM
We went to Orange before and they never did this..
Folks we are thisclose to a Code RED..
Gee's, look at the bright side, no major attacks have been accomplished since 9/11, and to the complaints of some, we are prepared for such a diabolical deed.
Well, time to drag out all those things we learned during the Y2K scare. Although that was a fiasco, we did learn a lot about survival. God works in mysterious ways.
Last time the 'disaster teams' were used, was at the last shuttle crash. It was a drill weekend, so everybody was already there. They are called the Reserve, and the Guard. They will be there if there's a problem.
There are also Active Duty teams ready to respond. Some are always awake. That's what they do. They protect us.
/john
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