Posted on 05/25/2004 4:52:15 PM PDT by Wolfstar
17 minutes ago (at time of posting) The intelligence does not include a time, place or method of attack but is among the most disturbing received by the government since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, according to a senior federal counterterrorism official who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Tuesday.
Of most concern, the official said, is that terrorists may possess and use a chemical, biological or radiological weapon that could cause much more damage and casualties than a conventional bomb.
"There is clearly a steady drumbeat of information that they are going to attack and hit us hard," said the official, who described the intelligence as highly credible.
The official declined to provide any specifics about the sources of the information but said there was an unusually high level of corroboration.
Despite that, the official said there was no immediate plan to raise the nation's terrorism threat level from yellow, or elevated, to orange, or high. The threat level has been at yellow — midpoint on the five-color scale — since January.
Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller plan a news conference Wednesday to outline an intensive effort by law enforcement, intelligence and homeland security officials to detect and disrupt any potential plots. And the FBI plans to dispatch a bulletin to some 18,000 state and local law enforcement agencies warning of the threat.
Beginning with Saturday's dedication of the new World War II Memorial in Washington, the summer presents a number of high-profile targets in the United States. They include the G-8 summit in Georgia next month that will attract top officials from some of America's closest allies, the Democratic National Convention in Boston in July and the Republican National Convention in August in New York.
The FBI and Homeland Security Department also are concerned about so-called soft targets such as shopping malls anywhere in the United States that offer a far less protected environment than a political convention hall.
U.S. authorities repeatedly have said al-Qaida is determined to mount an attack on U.S. soil, in part to announce to the world that it remains capable of doing so despite the money and effort that has gone into homeland security in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.
There also is concern terrorists might try to mount an attack to coincide with the November election. The political fallout from the March 11 train bombings in Spain taught al-Qaida that an attack timed to an election can have a major impact. Spain's former ruling party was ousted in the voting that followed the bombing, which killed 191 and injured more than 2,000.
The official did not say how many suspected al-Qaida or other terrorist operatives are believed in the country, whether they made their way into the United States recently or have been here for some time. The FBI has warned in the past that Islamic extremist groups may attempt to recruit non-Middle Easterners or women for attacks because they would be less likely to arouse suspicion.
Special security attention already is being focused to the nation's rail, subway and bus lines. The FBI last week sent out an intelligence bulletin to law enforcement agencies urging vigilance against suicide bombers, who have been used by terror groups worldwide to devastating effect but not so far in the United States.
Separately, Immigration and Customs Enforcement chief Michael Garcia told reporters Tuesday that some 2,300 of its agents are being deployed to assist in security for the high-profile events scheduled this summer in the United States. These include as many as 20 agents each day working with the Secret Service to protect the campaigns of President Bush (news - web sites) and Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites), the Democratic presidential candidate.
Garcia said his agency also is working to "tighten the investigative system" to ensure that terrorists do not enter the United States by way of human smuggling operations or through the vast, largely unprotected border with Canada.
You may want to notify your ping lists.
And we can blame the media of this country and a few well placed democrats for it when it happens. However, they will have the floor, and will blame President Bush who is the only one trying to do anything to stop it.
FNC said it is expected this summer and may be a chemical attack that is far worse than a conventional bomb.
If such an attack takes place we can thank the liberal press, the Democratic Party and Hollywood for helping AlQueda do us all in.
Well, I have no idea as to method, but as far as time and place... well, that's easy. New York City, Madison Sq. Garden, GOP Convention.
Haven't the Democrats been planning this one for a couple of years now?
Explains why I didn't find it when I did a search. Different news source and different headline. Yahoo News makes it seem like this news is just breaking. In any case, it's extremely important, which is why I posted the thread and notified some folks with ping lists.
Just heard it too.
Time to Let loose the hounds of hell on AQ and all the LIBs.
How convenient!
We already have lots of personnel and hardware right in their neighborhood and in the pipeline, and the Halliburton supply system is working like a finely tuned instrument.
September 12th will be a lot different, this time.
Great. So something *may* happen at some time, some place, some how...
Thanks ! FOX News Channel just broke this too !AP: Terrorists Planning Summer Attack
Excerpt:
17 minutes ago (at time of posting) The intelligence does not include a time, place or method of attack but is among the most disturbing received by the government since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, according to a senior federal counterterrorism official who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Tuesday.
Of most concern, the official said, is that terrorists may possess and use a chemical, biological or radiological weapon that could cause much more damage and casualties than a conventional bomb.
"There is clearly a steady drumbeat of information that they are going to attack and hit us hard," said the official, who described the intelligence as highly credible.
The official declined to provide any specifics about the sources of the information but said there was an unusually high level of corroboration.
Despite that, the official said there was no immediate plan to raise the nation's terrorism threat level from yellow, or elevated, to orange, or high. The threat level has been at yellow — midpoint on the five-color scale — since January.
Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller plan a news conference Wednesday to outline an intensive effort by law enforcement, intelligence and homeland security officials to detect and disrupt any potential plots. And the FBI plans to dispatch a bulletin to some 18,000 state and local law enforcement agencies warning of the threat.
Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my General Interest or Texas ping list!. . .don't be shy.
Full Texas Ping List
Could that be the October surprise that Hillary was talking of?
It's all very frightening, because most of us have a sense that we can't deter everything....and much time has passed since 9/11. I'm just thanking God that the adults are in charge these days. I believe they're doing their level best. God help us all if Kerry is elected in Nov. The terrorists will see it as much a victory as the Spanish elections last March.
Why anonymous?
We need more info from the terrorists, pronto. Time to pull out the panties and get Maidenform on their *sses.
No, no, let's just wait til they kill us. That's more humane...
The times we live in..............I long for the "good ole days."
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