| This thread has been locked, it will not receive new replies. |
|
Locked on 04/02/2004 3:41:28 PM PST by Sidebar Moderator, reason:
Thread Six: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1109459/posts |
Posted on 03/12/2004 8:23:06 PM PST by thecabal
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- This week's deadly train bombings in Spain will not lead to a rise in the U.S. color-coded terror threat alert system, a Department of Homeland Security spokesman said Friday.
"Based on the current intelligence, we have no specific indicators that terrorist groups are considering such an attack in the U.S. in the near term," said department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Too bad, so sad!
That's why my Dad (bless his soul) was correct. It is, however, next to impossible to be "tolerant" of jihadis. Disliking them intensely also does little to help me vent about what they do, how they do it and what I'd like to do about it. It's not like we can send them to a deprogrammer and expect them to be just like the rest of us.
The one time I watched them, the political bias was so pronounced I knew I could watch them no more. It is not a hearing, it is a stage for an agenda.
Whatever Bob Kerry says, it will be retrofitted to meet his objectives later on (his favorite exercise is back peddling).
He did fail us by writing this book as a gesture to demean the current President's credibility with foreign leaders in this time of terrorist threats at a time when the strength of our country is questioned by those same foreign leaders. He should be ashamed of himself and people should be disgusted with his need to capitalize at the expense of his country. This is a scorned employee with an axe to grind.
And despite the claim this is a RARE phenomenon, bison are very large animals. Humans hike, camp and access those areas of the park. We've got dophins dead, massive elk kill, bisons down. How long until humans are affected by one of these "rare", "lichen caused," or "unexplained" caused deaths?
Thanks for the info. but I'll take my chances. You see I noted in the title of my post to Velveeta that is was "Updated Information". I was posting last night as the situation was unfolding.
You might want to catch up on your reading as well; it seems that post #3724 indicates that this area of I95 received a specific threat.
Considering the thousands of posts that have been on each of these threads, everyone has developed a synergy. Sometimes double posts happen...usually because we have all found the info. around the same time. So you know what they say "If you have nothing nice to say...it is best to say nothing at all"...Have a great day.
smoke in cockpit again
By CURT ANDERSON, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - The deadly train bombings in Spain and the impact they had on Spanish elections are increasing concern that terrorists might target the U.S. presidential nominating conventions and the Olympics to make an even bolder statement, FBI Director Robert Mueller says.
"We understand that between now and the election, there is a window of time in which terrorists may well wish to influence events, whether it's in the United States or overseas," Mueller said in an interview with The Associated Press.
He also said Islamic extremists are changing tactics to focus on recruitment of local sympathizers less likely to arouse suspicion than outsiders. And terrorist groups may well move away from fortified targets, such as airports and government buildings, he said Thursday.
"I do believe that when we enhance our security, harden targets, terrorists look for other targets that are soft targets," Mueller said. When new security measures are taken, he said, "the terrorists are thinking about ways to circumvent them."
The March 11 train bombings in Madrid that killed 190 people were a factor in the ouster of Spain's government. That has added to uneasiness about the U.S. political conventions in New York and Boston this summer.
"In the wake of what happened in Madrid, we have to be concerned about the possibility of terrorists attempting to influence elections in the United States by committing a terrorist act," Mueller said. "Quite clearly, there will be substantial preparations for each of the conventions."
U.S. officials also are very worried about security for the Athens Olympics in August. Mueller said he was awaiting a review of a recent anti-terrorism exercise to "see again what we could do if there are areas that need to be shored up."
Asked if security would be adequate by the time the Olympics begin, Mueller said: "It's premature to make any definitive judgment as to where we are in the stages of preparations."
Regarding new al-Qaida recruiting tactics, Mueller pointed to the May 16 suicide bombings in Casablanca, Morocco, as evidence of change. In those attacks, local Islamic extremists were recruited by outsiders probably linked to al-Qaida to carry out the mission.
"We, along with our counterparts, have to be alert to that type of combination of local persons as well as others who may have expertise in timing devices and constructing (bombs), coming together with those who are willing to sacrifice themselves," Mueller said.
He said there is no good explanation as to why no suicide bombings have been attempted in the United States — "knock on wood," he said — other than the FBI's effort to make state and local law enforcement officials aware that "this is a threat" and "the need to be alert to it."
Mueller praised the efforts of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in assisting U.S. counterterrorism efforts. Saudi Arabia in particular has moved aggressively to root out al-Qaida cells since last May's bombings in Riyadh, discovering tons of explosives and large caches of weapons.
"Saudi Arabia has become a very inhospitable place for al-Qaida," Mueller said. "That was not always the case."
He said about 70 FBI agents, analysts and other personnel helped the Saudis investigate the bombings.
In the interview, Mueller also said:
_The FBI supports full reauthorization by Congress of the Patriot Act, which provides the FBI with updated surveillance capabilities. Concerns about civil liberties and privacy violations "are overblown."
_Emerging terror hotspots include Indonesia, southeast Asia, the Philippines, North Africa, the Horn of Africa and Europe. In America, Mueller said, "we are more knowledgeable of those who are supporters of terrorism" than before the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
_Terrorist groups undoubtedly include computer-savvy operatives who may attack U.S. computer systems, even though there is little evidence such attacks have occurred so far. Mueller added that the biggest concern now is from homegrown hackers who do it largely for the thrill.
_The FBI, CIA and other U.S. and foreign agencies are compiling a database of explosives and tactics used in terrorist bombings worldwide. The database, at the FBI academy in Quantico, Va., compiles knowledge about how to identify signatures of various explosives and where they might have been manufactured.
_The investigation into the 2001 anthrax attacks is focused on scientific work in an effort to learn how the anthrax was made and who might have been capable of it.
___
On the Net:
FBI: http://www.fbi.gov
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.