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.
Aren't they though, prairie? I used to be able to distinguish between them but lately...
Your comment has convinced me I must re-read Steven Emerson's excellent book "American Jihad" as I cannot remember if he found out whether journalists had infiltrated the ranks, so to speak.
Why Is Mohammed Atef still on the most wanted list?
He is worm dirt, one of the first to checkout, he has left the building
I don't own any of those items, sigh. I thank God for folks who will be so well-dressed.
LOL! While our borders look like the Boston Marathon, with millions flooding into our country from God knows where.
What lunacy!
I don't mind at all.
Another freeper reminded me that if my computer goes down, you will lose those pictures! So if you really like them, save them on your hard drive.
I stole the pictures from other freepers and can't remember how to save onto the hard drive but must learn...
Thanks, Howlin.
Yes, they walk in the country every day and they are protected by our laws. Michael Moore will make another crockumentary after the next attack.
Ack! Me bad. Thanks!!!! I know she said one of them. Tom Ridge? Ok! :)
let's not play into the hands of those who want to suspend the constitution - Hillary Clinton may want that power someday, want to let her use it?
If Wall Street is hit by a WMD, I see no reason for the constitution to be suspended in Texas or Florida or Missouri.
I SO hate terrorists.
This probably will spook some into not going and doing their summer plans.
And if something does happen, the newswhores will be all over it smugly shoving it in our faces.
I hope the homeland security guys pay attention and stop doing stupid stuff like letting several arabic guys go while having elderly travelers in for questioning.
Oh my gosh. They aren't Mexican and are just crossing into our country? I don't like the sounds of that at all.
Definitely going online with our library to reserve Emerson's book again...
Chemical attack? What kind of weapon would we use to retaliate?
And everyone will pretend that the chemicals didn't come from Iraq.
I know. Blond haired blue eyed boys. Pity.
"If everybody had a pipebomb
Across the USA,
Then everybody'd be Bombin'
Like U-S-A-M-A"
I don't understand your question.
The report states a chemical may be used against our country.
Um. In the hills still? I dunno. But IMHO I don't think the "militia in the hills" will count for much.
The thing that will count are the reactions of everyday Americans. It might not be a vast majority that stands up, but in the right circumstances enough will. I'm not really a hot-head --I only play one on FR-- but from various conversations with various people (not a scientific sampling!) since 9/11 I think maybe even I would be surprised. (I confess I was at the response to 9/11...)
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