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.

[Columbine]

No thanks, Dr. Dean. I will take my chances with the man who has a proven record of a steady hand on our national security.

Me too, Miss Marple, and I will not be distracted by legislation I don't like, amnesty or anything else.

[hoosiermama]

Weren't the Bush's originally going to spend the week in Texas? Looks like they changed their plans and are at Camp David.

THe Pakistani nukes were the first thing I thought of when the attempt was made on leader's life earlier in the week. This time I thought we should bomb the hek out of one of the enemy tribes. Just to make our point.

Got a new computer for Christmas.....am playing with my new toy! MERRY CHRISTMAS

[FreeReign]

looks like they're expecting anthrax ---

I bet there have been threats made about using anthrax -- if we were to get Saddam -- going way back.

So we get Saddam, some threats come in and we go into code orange+ mode.

[Dog]

Read the article again....and notice they have used military inventory to beef up our ability to snif out a chem/bio event.

Never did that before in an Orange alert.

[boris]

"If they manage to get through our country's defenses"

What defenses? Did we put up some defenses while nobody was looking?

Our borders remain wide open.

We're still issuing visas to citizens of terrorist nations.

We could have revoked the visas of all citizens of terror-supporting states at any time. We have not.

We're still training pilots from "Saudi Air".

"Profiling" is an un-PC no-no.

And so forth.

It would be nice if we, you know, put up a few defenses...instead of drifting along in head-in-the-sand denial.

--Boris

[Conservative4Ever]

I agree...this sounds seriouso. Damn, this is the first Christmas I have had off in years. A day or two to kick back relax at home, listening to Mr. C4E and his brother in the home studio lay down some tracks for the song I wrote, eggnog aplenty, some home heating and serving for Christmas dinner, pumpkin pie and whipped cream. Just damn. Now I got to worry about some muslim religious zealots trying to ruin my day. I must say, I couldn't be better protected than by Mr. C4E and his brother.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE

Red

[Dog]

It is different this time......they cancelled peoples vacations.....heck they sent a plane for Ashcroft over the weekend to bring him back.

[FreeReign]

Two assasination attempts on Pakistan's Musharraf (one today) and a surprise deal by him yesterday with "anti-American Islamic opposition" to give up control of Pak's army by end of 2004 (read NUKES)...

I didn't see that. That would be a major victory for the Islamists.

[flashbunny]

"There is no indication they are "at the ready" for a mock drill."

Yes, and would they be anything other than ready? Would you expect the teams, which have drilled in the past, to be reported as 'on an aspen ski vacation'?

That's what they do: They prepare, and they're ready.

[maquiladora]

Hey, just looking at the DHS website and whats happening now sounds more like something listed under 5. Severe Condition (Red)

..."Assigning emergency response personnel and pre-positioning and mobilizing specially trained teams or resources"

[Nexus]

Here it is:

Pakistan President to Quit As Army Chief

[Dog Gone]

We're at something like Orange and a half.

[mathluv]

I am currently reading Leonard Goldberg's 'Fever Cell'. It is about terrorists and weaponized smallpox. Very scary.

[Dog]

Like I posted earlier we are thisclose to Red.

[oceanperch]

They know the cities that are targets sounds like...I pray to God HS can prevent any and all attempts of terrorism.

I think they should give all Americans more info. We are adults and we all can be useful in being vigil.

IMO our Govt. should not keep this info from us. It's frustrating being in the dark.

[mathluv]

There was a list on this site sometime back of the 120 cities most likely to be hit. I'll try to find it.

[maquiladora]

We're at something like Orange and a half.

[bcoffey]

We're at something like Orange and a half.

I think you're right... and it explains my uneasy feeling the past couple of days.

[Gritty]

I have over 1,000 illegal aliens in my county alone that testifies loudly our borders are still open, way open, and we are a long way from securing against any serious threat. Any Al Qaeda with a few thousand dollars can buy a guide from Mexico, or even drive across either the Canadian or Mexican border with no more than a STOP sign to slow him down. Of course, he otherwise could just as well come here on a visa courtesy of our helpful State Department.

It's probably no accident President Bush is spending Christmas at Camp David.