Can't repeat this enough!!! I hope people are bookmarking!
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.
Mears, I had no idea! Was he with the NYPD in 2001? I will keep him in my prayers.
I believe law enforcement grew an extra set of eyes after 9-11. They know that there is more to keep an eye out for then just "drug dealers," etc.
Just in general or from this latest news???
LOL!! Laurie is so TWEET TWEET! hehe!!
bump
"......will blame President Bush, who is the only one trying to stop it."
In your dreams.
Bush knows full well that every 24 hours, thousands sneak across our borders in Cochise county Arizona, let alone the rest of our border areas between legal border crossings.
I heard last night that the FBI APOLOGIZED PUBLICLY to him! The FBI NEVER apologizes! What's up with that? Who heard the apology? I sure didn't.
Thanks for clearing that up. Now I notice that the "LIVE" logo isn't on the top left of the screen with him like it is for the other live programs. Thanks!
Ok, detroit: largest islamic community, not very far from indianapolis, largest collection of americans in one place at one time (race this weekend). 400,000 people in one spot.
I believe the way you do: I will go about my normal life but with more prayers in my heart. My late hubby used to say "It's their world, I am just passing through."
I'm just a little gal in the sticks. Not much I can do about it. Just hang on tight!
"But this sleeping giant is frankly still half asleep (9/11 didn't do it, not really) -- "
Sad, but true! It has become clear that half this country is wimpy selfish twits. Of course JFnK will get their vote!
At first I thought the senate brought up,and passed real quick, S.15 due to the Sarin/Mustard gas found in Iraq.
Now w/ this new terror threat I think there may have been other reasons..
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.html
S.15
Title: A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide protections and countermeasures against chemical, radiological, or nuclear agents that may be used in a terrorist attack against the United States by giving the National Institutes of Health contracting flexibility, infrastructure improvements, and expediting the scientific peer review process, and streamlining the Food and Drug Administration approval process of countermeasures.
5/19/2004:
Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Yea-Nay Vote. 99 - 0. Record Vote Number: 99. (YES, THE ONE VOTE MISSED WAS JF'nK!!!)
5/20/2004 10:04am:
Received in the House.
5/20/2004:
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
5/20/2004 6:42pm:
Held at the desk.
Anyone know when Ashcroft's and Mueller's press conference is today?
02:00EST pm C-span1
LIVE
0:45 (est.) News Conference
Terrorist Threat
Department of Justice
John Ashcroft , Department of Justice
Robert Mueller , Federal Bureau of Investigation
I woke up this morning and couldn't believe that we are still at elevated.
Can't repeat this enough!!! I hope people are bookmarking!
Please do not destroy Hollywood!
Thank you!
(Sorry, I got up almost two hours ago and I just caught up with your post).
The people in Michigan are becoming outraged over the information about Muslim women having babies in Detroit, all at the expense of the Michigan taxpayer. I, too, would be outraged. And the Michigan lawmakers don't know how to stop it?
We in Maine are flipping the welfare bill for over 1,200 Somali's brought into Lewiston, Maine. I believe most of the States are in this same boot.
What race is that? Indy? I just follow NASCAR. And that's a whole lot of people, eh?
I swear! I think we have made more out of this then the media. I had to go to bed last night and when I got up this morning I put on Fox News. They just gave little "blirps" about this. And Ridge was on Fox & Friends between 6 and 7am. I wasn't up to hear him, thinking that it would get plenty of replays. WRONG!
And the terror level isn't even raised. I'm totally mind boggled here............
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