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.
*Keep on worshipping those Neo-CONS you big sheep*
You're kidding, right? I only mention it because I didn't see your [sarcasm/] tag. Guess you got excited and hit "Post" before adding it.
Because, minus that *sarcasm off* tag, what you posted basically translates as: "Keep on worshipping those JEWS you big sheep."
Tell us it ain't so....
Yawn, just why would we want to watch that? I'm sure President Bush will head off to the nearest Mosque, tip toe in, in his stocking feet, surround himself with the heads of terrorists charity fronts, and remind us that we are not at war with Islam, and caution us not to violate the civil rights of Muslims.
Correct, the threat is not specific enough, but it's enough to make everyone aware.
I can see your concern for the borders, but Joe, what about ALL the borders, the Florida Keys, the Louisiana bayous, the riverways, the shipyards, the oceans, the international airports--you want it all closed 24/7/365 EVERYWHERE? Would you include Alaska and Hawaii, or sacrifice them? Puerto Rico?
I think you might be asking for the impossible. Where there's a will, there's a way, if terrorists are already here, what resources would you allocate right now, that aren't already being utilized, to find every single one of them, check them out, deport them, etc? Not to mention the relatively innocent illegals already here, some 15 million or so?
Are you calling for a total lockdown on the country everywhere, in order to not blame the President when some whacko islamofascist perpetrates another act of terror?
Isn't that like Russia was, back in the cold war? Is that how you want to live?
Doubt it. The threat is not specific enough to warrant raising the threat level.
The thing I have noticed from all your threads here at FreeRepublic....is that you are one cantankerous and miserable individual, going out of you way to engage people in a hostile way.
Okay now, take you and your army and go out to our borders and protect us, we're counting on you!
Yawn is right; I see you haven't been able to come up with any new material to trash Bush with.
Yes, I think I'll blame Joe for not doing enough. He has all the answers, after all.
Where have you been? The suggestions have been many, and have been routinely been ignored by the politicos.
Nothing has been done to secure our borders. After 911 there was *no* real immigration reform, since then literally *millions* from Lord knows where have entered this country. Nothing was done to stop it.
When people suggested putting the military on our borders they are laughed at. We have thousands of trucks entering from Mexico with unknown loads all the time. It's a national security nightmare. We are still allowing *thousands* from middle eastern countries to immigrate here. I could go on for an hour for crying out loud.
How come the common man can see all of these security time bombs, yet they are routinely ignored by those in this administration and the rest in DC. That includes both beltway parties, just so you don't think this is all about *your* candidate. Jezzzzuz.
Is not the security of America priority #1? Am I missing something here? LOL!
I think Joe would require every American citizen to move and take up residence on one square acre on all our borders to "keep-an-eye-out" on the enemy.
Here we go again, lets make Joe the issue!
LOL! Just like clock work!
Evening Joe. You do have the ability to bring it out in people.
Only fools that want to make me the issue while burying their heads deep in sand. Funny, how it always gets around to me while they ignore the real security issues. LOL!
"Bush in socks at a mosque..."
You raise an excellent point!
The US should have halted all Islamic immigration on 9/12, except for diplomatic personnel.
As I've said before here, it will take yet another major, and worse attack before we take this very rational step in the war on terror (i.e., Islamic fascism).
Never going to happen. Immigration reform amounts to "feel good legislation".
Do you think you might have hit on something there. But that aside, did you every understand the nuance he made...it was terribly funny.
Who said security was the first priority? I thought FREEDOM was the first priority.
Now, how would you make sure the oceans, the islands, the lakes, Alaska, Hawaii, the riverways--what would you do about those?
And how would you pay for this security? And which freedoms would you like to surrender?
What about American citizens, born and raised here, who want to commit terrorist acts? How would you find all of them, and stop them? Where and when would you stop looking?
I never thought of that, what you said, only because I live a sheltered life. My partner, woke me with that news that morning. I will never, ever forget. NEVER FORGET is an ALOHA RONNIE saying. But it means more. Of course, Aloha Ronnie knows the difference in what I say/mean. And NEVER FORGET means more. Aloha Ronnie is a great resourse. Some don't check out his history and that's a shame, I think. Click on his name and check (home page) plus what he says. He has a fascinating history as a great soldier. Just dig a little at his site name.
I guess just VN Vet guys/gals might understand what I say. But, God Bless them, they know one another and to see to one of their own (or a partner to one of them). God Bless.
"Is not the security of America priority #1? Am I missing something here?"
Bet your bippy it is! But you kill your enemy, not try to build a 190 trillion dollar 25 foot concrete wall around our country.
Sorry, kiddo, I meant that post for Joe, of course, and others. I'm really curious, though, how far they'd go for security...
I'd rather have freedom, myself. ;-D
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