Posted on 05/25/2004 4:59:02 PM PDT by johnfrink
U.S. officials have obtained new intelligence deemed highly credible indicating al-Qaida or other terrorists are in the United States and preparing to launch a major attack this summer, The Associated Press has learned.
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, D.C, 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 and Sen. John Kerry, 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.
Unfortunately, I think you are right. Americans are ALREADY starting to fall back into a pre-9/11 false sense of security.
Bush's committment in going after the terrorists has been perhaps too successful for his own good.
The way the economy has rebounded since, and the fact the US leads all western nations in the economic growth, AFTER such an attack, and the way our unrivaled military power has been displayed since..I think has made Americans a bit overconfident.
I was thinking the same thing, well, minus Lady Liberty and the bat. But holy smokes, if we get zapped by Al Qaeda here while we're supposed to be eradicating them over there, there should be some serious hell to pay.
Homeland security is a joke. What security? We are wasting billions of dollars on checking old ladies' suitcases at the airports but we are still letting people from Yemen, Syria, Saudia Arabia, Iran and other countless Islamo-scumbag countries into this country.
It makes me sick to my stomach my friend. The solution is simple. If you show up at an airport and face Mecca on your knees, you don't need to be here. I don't have anything personal against people practicing a religion but they need to clean up their own house before we start letting them in ours. This crap about us singling out muslims needs to cease. Of course we should be singling out Muslims and Arabs and Persians. I don't see people from Mexico or S. Korea blowing up busses or flying airplanes into skyscrapers. No more foreign muslims in my country dammit!!!!!!
How about just more images of the Minute Man? Paul Revere riding to warn clolonists? Patrick Henry?
Odd how the media blacks out history so we can't be inspired and learn from it. They want voters incapable of communicating. (why they hate the internet and FR)
no, 1st mecca
Middle Easterners Streaming Into Texas:
The HoustonChronicle.com ^ | August 14, 2002 | Edward Hegstrom
Middle Easterners streaming to Texas
By EDWARD HEGSTROM Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle
Texas has one of the nation's fastest-growing Middle Eastern populations, and most of the state's immigrants live in Houston, according to a study based on census data.
Researchers at the Center for Immigration Studies say Texas' Middle Eastern population more than doubled in the last decade, to just over 100,000, including more than 52,000 in Greater Houston.
If that is the case, you will see a spint by DNC operatives to get soccer moms to say GW Bush killed my baby. The question is whether motherhood is alive enough in the USA to exact revenge against the perps.
One would think that a story with such importance to the US would NOT be released by an anonymous source.
Although I am sure there are threats to the US, I strongly believe this is just more hype by the AP, which is becoming virulently anti-Bush, to throw the Administration off stride following the President's successful speech on Monday night.
I am in the news business and I no longer trust the AP. This story stinks.
High corroberation ..... where the freak is Homeland Security. Why does some anonymous source make this statement.
Nah, it don't make sense.
"The bigger the attack, the better. That's the only way all of America will understand we are on an ultimate war footing."
America would have caught on a little quicker if Bush had shown a little bit of wartime leadership and hadn't said "We're at war! Just keep shopping, and don't mind these long lines at the airports, and everything will be OK." /NSHO
TELL us something we don't already know, anonymous source.
Once again, this story is bogus. It is simply a rehashing of hundreds of old stories WITHOUT so much as one tiddle of new information.
The AP once again is trying to control the tempo of the news.
Why?? With things going fairly well in Iraq the past few days, and with GWB making a well-received successful speech on Monday night, the anti-Bush press (the AP) just can stop themselves from attempting to throw cold water.
Don't fall for it, folks. This is too obvious.
I do think we should have more of an efforrt to get people involved in doing things, however.
While our so-called leaders stand in silence as millions continue to flood into our country illegally from Lord knows where. Very disturbing.
That is a questions you need to make to your representatives in your state and Congress. Don't email them. Call. The number for Congress is 202 224 3121. The switchboard will connect you right to your representative - or any other congressional member.
Everyone should make a point of asking this question. Sounding off here is not going to do the job.
That said, I could not agree with you more and I share your frustration.
This is a scary question you ask. If it gets as bad as all that, it will be really bad. I think you are correct, if there is a large scale attack, part of the aftermath will be that certain people in this country that will not be safe living here.
It was that way for Americans in China for a while after the U.S. bombed the Chinese embassy and that was only a small event. Having been through that, I've had a taste of what it it is like. American society is different but not all that different.
Sadly, I believe you are correct. Most people wait until that absolute worst has happened, no matter the warnings, to get involved, to get angry. Most people are extremely short-sighted.
"The question is whether motherhood is alive enough in the USA to exact revenge against the perps."
Well, I can't speak for all mother's, but let me guarantee you that the animal kingdom has nothing on this mother when it comes to protecting her young. I'm a loving person by nature, but I'm also a _itch if you mess with my kid. :-}
Time to send the morons on the 9/11 Commission another email, asking them to use their crystal ball to pinpoint exactly when and where the attack will come, and why the President, Mayor, PD and FPD should be there 5 minutes before the attack to accomplish such brilliant and choreographed damage control that nobody dies and nothing gets destroyed.
;-D. Never threaten anyone, remember, it ruins the surprise. Also, it makes the Feds start looking at you. Just let them bring it on.
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