Airlines Ground 6 Flights to U.S. Over Concerns About Terrorism

New York Times ^ | Published: February 1, 2004 | By ERIC LICHTBLAU

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 — Foreign and domestic airlines canceled six flights from Europe to the United States on Saturday after American officials raised concerns about the possibility of terrorist attacks, including hijackings.

The concerns prompted the American officials to urge that armed sky marshals be placed on those routes; instead, the British and French airlines canceled the flights.

American intelligence officials said that in recent days they had developed what they considered to be "specific and credible" information about the prospect of Al Qaeda or related terrorist groups trying to seize an international airliner.

The groundings revived the trans-Atlantic anxieties over the Christmas and New Year's holidays, when more than a dozen flights from England, France and elsewhere were canceled, and travel plans for thousands of international passengers were disrupted, because of hijacking concerns...

(Excerpt)

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This is an update, although I searched prior to posting. If for some reason this has already been posted, please delete.

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Most things seem to center around 6 PM, the Super Bowl time. I imagine flights from Central and South America to the LA area are being closly watched too.

One wonders how much is based on intercepts and how much is based on scenarios of "what would we do to make as large an impact as possible"

The last "al Quada" transmission linked a spectacular event with a holiday. Feb.1 is Super Bowl and Feb.2 is Eids. 6 PM EST on 2/1 is 2/2 in the Middle East.

Gamers I know, have pointed to this date as the last chance for awhile for al Quada to show it has a hair on its ass. If nothing happens, we can be pretty sure that BL is bat meat in some Afgan cave.

The reverse scenario is for the US to nail aQs all over this AM and be back to base for the game and pre-empt their PR.

Today could be the end of worldwide Islamic terror and the start of the clean up on those in the "Flypaper" of Iraq.

Best pre-game show in years possible and it won;t be at the stadium.

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Looks like your optimism is right on. Thanks for the positive note.