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.

[not_apathetic_anymore]

I didn't compare each and every name on the two lists but it pretty much looks like this is a list of the 100 largest cities in the US based on census data.

[OldPossum]

I suspect our President is always a target but there is no way in hell these slimeballs are going to even get close to him. Can you imagine the number of Secret Service agents around him and F-16 air coverage the White House, Camp David, and Crawford, Texas have nowadays?

[cibco]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1046649/posts

Latest AQ warning. Not formatted so it is painfull to read.

[aristeides]

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

If memory serves, he was also at Camp David during the last orange alert.

[No Truce With Kings]

"If we're not creeped out, our intel guys seem to be, and that's reason enough to be concerned."

Well, we don't know that our intel types are creeped out. We know that the press is reporting that they are creeped out. And this is the same press that claimed we were stalled out on what turned out to be the fastest-ever advance in history in Iraq. This is the same press that reported that this is the worst economy in 50 years -- while we were in recovery. This is the same press that reported that post-conquest Iraq was turning into a quagmire. This is the same press that reported that "W" took a plastic turkey with him to Baghdad.

Maybe I just have a sanguine nature, but I am not too worried. The terrorists put their pants on one leg at a time, just like the good guys. And "W"'s been doing a pretty good job of turning the bad guys into the featured players of a global "whack-a-mole" game.

Finally, keep things in perspective. Lets say they match 9-11. That's 3000 dead in two cities. Let's say they get real lucky this time and manage 9-11 x 10. That is 30,000 dead in 10 cities. It sounds like a lot, but we have 300 MILLION people in this country. We can survive a dozen WTCs. We could even survive a dirty nuke without it reducing the capacities of this country. And a bio attack is pretty damn hard to pull off, even if you have a whole nation behind you -- much less creeps operating out of caves. The anthrax attacks of 2001 killed only handfuls -- and that was with some highly sophisticated stuff. I just don't see bio as a credible threat.

The only thing required for victory from the American people is resolution, and a refusal to be panicked. Even given the worst case I outlined here, my chances of being killed by lightning would still be better than being killed in a terrorist strike. So steady on, everyone and enjoy Christmas.

[varina davis]

I would not like having any of the motley crew of Dem candidates in charge right now. We need fierce statesmen protective of our homeland, and Pres. G.W. Bush is the best there is at this point in history.

I would, however, feel more comfortable if the administration would level with us a little more. This "go about your business" and let the gov. worry about your safety talk, is getting on my nerves. The American people don't need nannies and babysitters.

They need to see leaders with backbone initiating a proactive program of border protection -- land, sea and air.

[ladyinred]

Yes, I saw that thread earlier today. They seem pretty confident don't they? I have been visiting as many security type websites as I can find, and they are all reporting the same basic things. This is serious that is for sure.

[ladyinred]

I don't get that sense at all from reading the responses here. We are simply responding to the things we have been told by the President and Homeland security. Would you prefer we all bury our heads in the sand? Being vigilant is a good thing. I trust that our government is doing all they can, but some things just can't be prevented.

[genefromjersey]

Breaking News !!

Terrorists Planning Fruit Cake Barrage !

Little Drummer Boy Hiding in Undisclosed Location !!

10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1

Rum-a-Tum-Tum !!!

[jungleboy]

Is AQ linked to Mad-Cow??? tia

[rs79bm]

That is precisely what I was stating in my post. Thanks for clarification.

[Wondervixen]

>>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.

If it has, and IS, I think a fast response of "Hiroshima & Nagasaki II" needs to be lofted into those mountains where Bin Laden is known to be 3 steps ahead of our troops!

NO FRICKIN' MERCY!!!

[windchime]

Bill Clinton Mediating on Kashmir: Musharraf (My title: more x42 meddling in int'l affairs)
Hindustan Times ^ | Dec. 25, 2003 | Asian News International
Posted on 12/25/2003 12:00:26 PM EST by mountaineer

[cibco]

Thanks...

[cajungirl]

I agree,,,I think they think something very big is threatening to come down. This seems alarming to me and I think they have good info about it.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Bakersfield, Modesto and Stockton? I never would have guessed, although I think the Modesto area now has a sizeable Muslim population.

[winker]

If this Administration was doing absolutely everything in its power to collect and identify deportable illegal aliens including sealing our Borders to the highest extent possible I would agree with you. But unfortunately we have a socialist plan that wants to expand and enhance un-documented illegal aliens that when you figure all the extraneous costs involved that have to be serviced by Tax Paying Citizens; we are being led down the path to Nationally Sanctioned Suicide. The serriousness of what we are being challenged with cannot be minimized. REDRESS& IMPEACH any member of Congress who votes for this Socialist Disaster.

[cajungirl]

Noone seems panicky to me. We are pooling info, discussing the threat and assessing whether we think it is serious. Noone is crying the sky is falling. This is serious, we are talking about it.