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.

[mathluv]

It was not on this site.
4. Top 120 Cities At Risk For Nuclear, Biological or Chemical Attack

Even though one may not live in NYC, D.C. or L.A. it does not guaranty immunity from terrorism. The top 120 list below is not tied to military bases. Target factors include population density, landmark / cultural / heritage centers, proximity to nuclear plants / NBC waste sites, its importance as a shipping / trucking route / port, type of industry performed in the area, dams, communications hubs and other critical infrastructure sites, plus a variety of other considerations. Is your city here?
Akron, OH
Amarillo, TX
Albuquerque, NM
Anaheim, CA
Anchorage, AK
Arlington, TX
Arlington, VA
Atlanta, GA
Aurora, CO
Austin, TX
Bakersfield, CA
Baltimore, MD
Baton Rouge, LA
Birmingham, AL
Boston, MA
Buffalo, NY
Charlotte, NC
Chattanooga, TN
Chesapeake, VA
Chicago, IL
Cincinnati, OH
Cleveland, OH
Colorado Springs, CO
Columbus, OH
Columbus, GA
Corpus Christi, TX
Dallas, TX
Dayton, OH
Denver, CO
Des Moines, IA
Detroit, MI
El Paso, TX
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Fort Wayne, IN
Fort Worth, TX
Fremont, CA
Fresno, CA
Garland, TX
Glendale, CA
Glendale, AZ
Grand Rapids, MI
Greensboro, NC
Hialeah, FL
Honolulu, HI
Houston, TX
Huntington Beach, CA
Huntsville, AL
Indianapolis, IN
Irving, TX
Jackson, MS
Jacksonville, FL
Jersey City, NJ
Kansas City, MO
Kansas City, KS
Knoxville, TN
Las Vegas, NV
Lexington-Fayette, KY
Lincoln, NE
Little Rock, AR
Long Beach, CA Los Angeles, CA
Louisville, KY
Lubbock, TX
Madison, WI
Memphis, TN
Mesa, AZ
Metaire, LA
Miami, FL
Milwaukee, WI
Minneapolis, MN
Mobile, AL
Modesto, CA
Montgomery, AL
Nashville, TN
New Orleans, LA
New York, NY
Newark, NJ
Newport News, VA
Norfolk, VA
Oakland, CA
Oklahoma City, OK
Omaha, NE
Orlando, FL
Philadelphia, PA
Phoenix, AZ
Pittsburgh, PA
Portland, OR
Providence, RI
Raleigh, NC
Richmond, VA
Riverside, CA
Rochester, NY
Sacramento, CA
Salt Lake City, UT
San Antonio, TX
San Bernardino, CA
San Diego, CA
San Francisco, CA
San Jose, CA
Santa Ana, CA
Seattle, WA
Shreveport, LA
Spokane, WA
Springfield, MA
St. Louis, MO
St. Paul, MN
St. Petersburg, FL
Stockton, CA
Syracuse, NY
Tacoma, WA
Tampa, FL
Toledo, OH
Tucson, AZ
Tulsa, OK
Virginia Beach, VA
Warren, MI
Washington, D.C.
Wichita, KS
Worchester, MA
Yonkers, NY


Source: U.S. Army's Domestic Preparedness website at: http://dp.sbccom.army.mil/fs/fs_120c.html

---

[maquiladora]

I haven't been up to speed with the news and rumors today and last night, have there been any developments apart from the Air France incident? I'm trying to work out what we could be looking at in terms of threats.

[ladyinred]

I agree Miss Marple. Some of us have been trying to make others understand that the Patriot Act was not just something the government did to take away our rights. It was a very necessary part of the defense of this country. Thank God we have the President we have right now.

[night reader]

The terrorists are desperate for a win, however minor. I believe this is a serious time and we should all be alert.

And yet, a minor win won't work. A lone suicide bombing, even if it killed thirty or forty people, would be considered a sign of weakness, The bad guys must successfully pull something of 9/11 caliber or greater, else be considered losing the war.

[mathluv]

I thought they would spend Christmas at Camp David, and then come to Crawford for New Year's.

[af_vet_1981]

It's giving me the creeps, too. It certainly looks like our intel guys think 9/11, Part II, has been launched, and it could be bigger and badder than the first.

"I see in your eyes, the same fear that would take the heart of me! A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day."

"This day we fight."

[Dog]

There was an attempt at two bombings in Spain the other day...they caught the bombers.

AQ trying to kill the President of Pakistan almost daily now..

[hoosiermama]

DID you see this thread?

Al-Qaeda issues fresh threat
Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden will issue the next of his video messages after a massive attack on US territory, Saudi weekly Al-Majallah quotes an official of the terror network as saying, in its next edition.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1046649/posts?page=25#25

[night reader]

Folks we are this close to a Code RED..

Don't believe they'll go RED unless they KNOW of truly definitive plans. I mean who, what, when, where, why, and how! And know that they still can't stop it. We'd be talking mass evacuations at that point.

[hoosiermama]

Since the Thanksgiving trip, I've been wondering if he is where he says he is or even if he should be where he says he is....Let's face it GWB is a target also.

Sure hope he stays safe.

[rs79bm]

Having read through this thread 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 and be certain (and thankful) that our gov't is doing everything possible to defend and defeat terrorism. Those measures require hard times and diligance. We are not, and shall not, ever again take anything for granted. And that is exactly the kinds of measures we are seeing today.

[riri]

looks like they're expecting anthrax ---

My biggest concern. I am convinced they pulled the anthrax attacks post September 11th. I am convinced the anthrax came from Iraq. I am concerned that Saddam's capture triggered the release of the location or transfer of the substance.

[alnick]

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.

I don't think they're keeping the info from us as much as they're keeping the info from them,. It wouldn't do to let on to the enemy exactly what we know. We'd do better to give them the impression that we know far less than we do, which is what I think (hope) we're doing.

Merry Christmas. :o)

[Finalapproach29er]

AQ wants to get one of Pakistan's nukes. We should be whacking/kidnapping/lobotomizing every Muslim scientist w/experience in making nukes.

Musharrif should be kicking ass right now not just to save his life, but also his country.

The nuke scientists are going to show the terrorists how to do it. What are we waiting for?

[Alas Babylon!]

think it's time to get out our dog-eared copies of Alas Babylon...

Ha! See my profile page!

[Wild Irish Rogue]

" I want to extend special thanks to the Houston Chronicle, who yesterday printed a front page story on the vulnerability of the Houston Ship Channel, complete with photos of where to place explosives to do the most damage. Way to go, Chronicle."

And Ed Markey( Moron-Mass) who held a press conference on Tuesday and detailed chapter and verse,the vulnerablities of certain aviation areas.

[night reader]

Yes....the attempts on him are part of this plot.

Good! Then it would appear that at least three of their attacks have already been thwarted, two assassination attempts and an air launched attack somewhere between Orly and LAX.

[bd476]

"It's like we're in the middle of Tom Clancy plot, only the type is in white ink. We can't see anything."

From one Tom Clancy fan to another, I wish I didn't know what you were talking about and I wish that I didn't agree with you completely.

[ladyinred]

Yes, my city is there thank you very much! (Jeepers!)