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.
Exactly. Although just one major strike in Boston or D.C would get the desired effect.
sw
LOL! The RNC should create an army of faux Kerry supporters with dumb smiles on their faces who go door to door to hand out daisies.
MAY??? I guess they don't want to cause mass panic.
I am SO thankful for Free Republic. The media sure likes to keep blinders on us.
How bout these terror inspiring headlines?
Sacramento Attacked; State Legislature Wiped Out.
or
San Francisco Attacked: 100,000 Gays Perish
Is 1,756,823 a prime number? I'm too sorrowed to check.
You're right, but apparently they ran more sensitive tests, because at the top of the hour there was a special report stating that the official results confirmed sarin.
The funny thing is that Alan Colmes, as he was introducing the report, referred to it as the bomb that some people think might have been sarin.
Well, we are paying big tax dollars for Homeland Security. But I don't hold much hope for them. I might be a doubting Thomas, but I don't know how they can protect the whole USA.
I guess we have to wait and see. The terrorist attacks come like "the thief in the night," and I can't imagine having a fore-warning, ever.
Use it...and kiss Mecca goodbye. --- We, the American street, will demand it.
Our President can't P*SS straight enough for them!hahahaha ! Yeah, that's right.
Dubya: Meek, you're right! FreeRepublic.com IS the "Best site on the 'Net!"And that SheLion is really great, too !
In small towns, everyone owns a gun. Probably several. It's the liberals, as well as some conservatives in suburbia who have disarmed.
ABC News is already blaming Bush (indirectly). In it's report of this news, it included a sentence quoting a report that said the war in Iraq has increased al-Qaida membership and that destruction or pursuit of their top leadership has lead to more independent planning by lower ranking members.
.........Alan Colmes
Excuse me, but he's a dip weed! I can't stand that wuzz.
See my #271.
never happen - about the best we might get is the destuction of Syria and the Bekaa Valley.
so did Fox News - that's exactly how Steve Centanni reported the story. everytime I flip on FNC, even for a minute, I hear something like this and flip it right off.
Religion by groups in percentage......
Christianity: 2 billion -- Islam: 1.3 billion
Hinduism: 900 million -- Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist: 850 million
Buddhism: 360 million -- Chinese traditional religion: 225 million
primal-indigenous: 150 million -- African Traditional & Diasporic: 95 million
Sikhism: 23 million -- Juche: 19 million
If they attack us with chemical weapons...then this would be a good start...I'd take it.
After watching Israel for some time, I see their terrorists don't go after the major strikes...City busses, filled restaurants, colleges, hot-spots where young people hang out...
Areas with lower security...Seems to be pretty effective...
I suspect the terrorists are already here...If the gov't hears chatter, it's in my view, not in Iraq or Iran...I suspect they're picking it up from places like Pittsburg, Pa and Oreville, Ohio...
Again, they're not going to try to sneak past a metal detector...They'll go where there isn't one...
LOL! I needed that. And you know what, there is a lot of truth to that.
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