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.
Al Qaeda (search) still has a functioning leadership, over 18,000 potential terrorists in its global network and a swelling membership thanks to the war in Iraq.
So, if we're attacked this summer it's all Bush's fault...? NOT!
btt
All true, but I'd still like to see it if I can :) BTW, FNC has it starting at 2 pm EST?
BTW, mug shots will also be shown at the presser. Can't hurt to put that info out there.
The press conference at 2:00 should be interesting; there will be mug shots of specific people they are looking for.
"Windsor, Ontario (right across a small river from Detroit) and N. Vancouver, British Columbia host the two largest FUNDELMENTALISTS Muslim communities outside of the Arab world."
Add to that the Dearborn community that is about a half hour from the Windsor community. Dearborn, MI has one of the highest concentration of middle eastern immigrants in the US (on the east side).
FYI - the AQ guy just seized in Japan was tried in absentia for attacking the G7 summit in Lyon, France 1996.'
I don't hold much stock in mug photos. If our government knows about WHO it is, then why don't they know where, when and how? And if they have an idea of WHO it is, then why don't they raise the level.
I'm not sure, but some poster said earlier, in the US it sure doesn't have to be ME to pull off an attack. We don't know how many of our own have been recruited into service by "them."
Just wait and see, I guess. The Conference is at 2? I will be sure to watch it, that's for sure!!
see 567
Washington Post reports the following terror suspects are subjects of this warning:
Aafia Siddiqui
http://www.fbi.gov/terrorinfo/siddiqui.htm
Adnan G. El Shukrijumah
http://www.fbi.gov/terrorinfo/adnan.htm
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/Primetime/iraq_terrorthreats030320.html
The FBI issued a "be on the lookout" alert for Adnan G. El Shukrijumah, asking all law enforcement personnel to notify the bureau immediately if he is located.
Sources described El Shukrijumah as an al Qaeda field commander who trained under alleged terror financier Ramzi Binalshibh. They told ABCNEWS that the 27-year-old lived for years in Florida, and was identified by captured al Qaeda attack planner Khalid Shaikh Mohammed. Binalshibh and Mohammed are both in U.S. custody in undisclosed locations.
Mohammed also said that El Shukrijumah had been sent to the United States to carry out an operation, probably via Canada, sources said. He also may be linked to a so-called dirty bomb plot in which American Jose Padilla has been accused, they said.
More mugshots:
http://www.fbi.gov/terrorinfo/terrorismsi.htm
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1142483/posts
"I fold it up an' put it in my shirt,
Pick up my gun an' get back to work
An' it keeps me driving me on,
Waiting on letters from home"
Well I only thought it for a few minutes, because my sister pointed several things out to me, and then after going on FR I realized she was right about it being a Mid East connection
I think the reason I thought China was because of them downing our plane .. and there was Chinagate
Speaking of Chinagate .. have you seen this one??
Good catch
I did see that article about ChinaGate and thought it was fascinating.
The reason I thought it was China for a couple of hours is because my husband was poll managing that day and I was alone. I called my brother who was working from home that day and he hung up immediately and got his kids out of school. Same with my sister.
So no one set me straight until about 11'ish. I should have logged onto FR and I'd have understood immediately.
Amazing, for once they actually have specifics.
value judgements aside, I am simply saying what will happen
It was with some sadness and horror I saw that a woman I know, a Navy widow, had a "Republicans for Kerry" sticker on her car.
I know that we have many good GOP in California, but if they must strike..... hit Hollywood first, however, they have probley all hit their private planes for their homes over seas.......... chickens.......
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