AP: Terrorists Planning Summer Attack

AP via Yahoo News ^ | Curt Anderson

[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.

[jimbo123]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,81700,00.html


In California, Highway Patrol Commissioner Dwight Helmick told reporters that police are double-checking tanker trucks hauling gasoline and other combustible substances because El Shukrijumah "has been known to utilize gasoline-type haulers" in the past. Helmick did not elaborate on that potential threat but said he had been briefed on the FBI alert.

[MeekOneGOP]

I just heard on the radio that the newscast will be at 11:00 PST.

Thank you ! Good info. :^)

[markman46]

H**L they can't even get their gang problem under control, let alone a terror threat.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Thanks. Someone said on another thread that LA is on tactical alert. If I find that one, I'll post it here, too.

[Greg Weston]

Yeah while our borders go woefully unprotected, worthless Neo-CON idiots and their flunky President Bush are making us safer getting our guys killed in senseless Iraq streetfights. Real Neo-CON logic for ya.

[sinkspur]

Your posts are a waste of bandwidth.

[eyespysomething]

Here you go:

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/georgia/news-article.aspx?storyid=19109

State of Emergency Declared in SE Georgia

ATLANTA (AP) -- Gov. Sonny Perdue has declared a state of emergency in six Georgia coastal counties beginning Monday as a security precaution for the G8 summit.

Citing, among other reasons, the "potential danger to the persons and property of this state from unlawful assemblages, threats of violence and otherwise," the executive order creates a
unified public safety command for the summit, set to take place June 8-10 on Sea Island.

The order, signed by Perdue on May 7, does not provide additional money or change criminal laws in Chatham, Bryan, Liberty, McIntosh, Glynn and Camden counties.

But the action, which could last through June 20, will align the Georgia Army National Guard, state law enforcement and public health agencies under one office, potentially reducing the response time in the event of terrorist strikes or disruptive protests, said Harold Melton, Perdue's executive counsel.

More at above link

---

and another:

http://us.cnn.com/2004/US/South/05/24/g8.plans.reut/

Georgia counties under G8 state of emergency
Monday, May 24, 2004 Posted: 5:23 PM EDT (2123 GMT)

ATLANTA, Georgia (Reuters) -- A state of emergency went into effect Monday in six Georgia coastal counties as the state prepared to host world leaders at the G-8 Summit.

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue signed an executive order this month establishing a central command to coordinate law enforcement operations for the summit, which will be held June 8-10 on Sea Island, located about 90 miles south of Savannah.

"The expectation is that everybody will go down there and voice their protest in a very law-abiding, peaceful manner," said Harold Melton, executive counsel to Perdue.

"Knowing the sensitivity of having the world's leaders all in place, being extra cautious given the state of the world right now, you just want to be sure that you are prepared in the event something should go wrong," he added.

The governor's order brings together a number of agencies under the authority of one office and sets up a chain of command to govern communication in case of an unexpected event.

The Group of Eight includes the United States, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Canada and Russia.

Protest groups called the state of emergency an overreaction.

Jamie Loughner, a self-described anarchist, known as "Bork," said she feared the Georgia order would lead to violence she experienced at last November's Free Trade Area of Americas talks in Miami, where police fired rubber bullets and pepper spray at demonstrators.

"I don't think anybody dismisses the fact that in this modern world we've made, there's a need for security," she said.

"Nonetheless, overreaction, paranoia and fear directed toward protesters is bound to produce more violence against people who are merely trying to speak their mind."

[take]

Court told man from Hull was asked to recruit terrorists
25 May, 2004, 12:26





A court has been told that a man from our region accused of being an Al-Quaida terrorist was asked to recruit other terrorists to be trained in bomb making.

52-year-old Jack Roche - who used to be called Paul Holland - was born in Hull and brought up in nearby Patrington. He's on trial in Australia accused of plotting to blow up the Israeli embassy in Canberra.

He was arrested after a raid on his home in Perth during which police recovered video recordings and details of the plot. A court's been told he met Osama bin Laden and received explosives training in Afghanistan.

[Brad’s Gramma]

.........against people who are merely trying to speak their mind."

Everyone please read Sammon's new book, "Misunderestimated". Please?

[GOPJ]

Thanks for the ping:

Call the FBI Toll Free at 1-866-483-5137 or your local law enforcement agency if you see or hear anything that threatens our national security.

[eyespysomething]

note at the end of the CNN story a self proclaimed anarchist claims they wil be the victims of violence.

Yeah, right. The State of Emergency is for the attendees and guests and families, not the protestors, et al

[GOPJ]

Thanks for the ping:

Call the FBI Toll Free at 1-866-483-5137 or your local law enforcement agency if you see or hear anything that threatens our national security.

[Slip18]

You are a total and undeniable arse. My nephew is in Iraq right now fighting for your freedom to speak and/or write. You are a sick joke.

[mrobison]

WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT THE INTENT OF THESE SLIMEBALLS IS NOT TO GET JOHN KERRY ELECTED PRESIDENT.

IT IS TO KILL US ALL.

THANKS, DEMOCRATS, FOR MAKING IT THAT MUCH EASIER FOR THEM.

[SierraWasp]

Yes he is! And here's still more proof his message was heard and understood around the world:

10:20 Japan April trade surplus up 30.3% on year
10:10 Asia Markets: Nikkei rallies on Wall St. gains overnight
10:02 Nikkei up 250 pts at 11,213.79 by midday break

Headlines from http://BigCharts.MarketWatch.com

[take]

Database firm tagged 120,000 terrorism 'suspects' for feds

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/business/technology/8715327.htm

[Slip18]

Thank you. My hands were shaking too badly to even respond.

[mrobison]

Joel Skousen sugests that the intermountain west is the safest place with Provo, UT the best of all.

http://www.joelskousen.com

[Greg Weston]

Yeah I hope it's a waste. I sure hope we don't get hit right here at home while our boys are getting killed by ungratefuls giving "democracy" in some sorry Iraq streetfight. What is coming over the border right now as you read this sinkspur? Do you know??

[Rancher_jean]

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.

You just made me feel really secure...I am going to be a hostess at the GOP convention. The reality of what might happen is just setting in.
On another note, I have weird dreams from time to time that come true and my latest dream is we will be attack on 6/11/2004.
Keep your fingers crossed this doesn't happen.