'Disturbing' data suggest plot for summer terror

Washington Times ^ | 5/26/04 | Jerry Seper

[kattracks]

Federal authorities have what one U.S. official described as "credible and disturbing" new information suggesting that a terrorist attack on the United States is planned for this summer, and government officials already are upgrading their efforts to respond.

Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III were scheduled to hold a press conference today to describe the intelligence data.

[Interesting Times]

The U.S. official, who asked not to be identified, said there was "a certain level" of collaboration for the intelligence data, but he declined to elaborate.

It's not certain that the official actually said, "corroboration" instead of "collaboration," but one can hope...

[pbear8]

Yes, I'm concerned.

[philetus]

Siskel only gives it one thumb up.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Authorities also have been concerned about "soft targets" such as unprotected shopping malls, and railroad, train and bus depots.

My sister would be upset if I cancelled my train trip that I got a ticket for last Winter, but I'm going to go through with it. I'll be damned if a terrorist is going to make me cower at home.

[backtothestreets]

Free Republic should have a category titled "Well Duh!".

What were the two major political parties thinking with their selection of convention sites, Boston (Democrats) and New York City (Republicans)?

In a further report on this story: "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."

Also, Immigration and Customs Enforcement chief Michael 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.

This should have begun in earnest on 9-11 and never ceased.

Hopefully no attacks take place. If attacks do take place, politicians will have to requisition additional fingers for all the finger pointing to be done.

[Clock King]

Is this from the same screwed up intelligence agencies we've been listening to for the past decade? Well yeah, there's a threat.

[backhoe]

My primer on terror:

-Time to kick the tires & light the fires, folks- terrorism gathers across the World...--

-Jihad! Across the World....--

-All Terror, All the Time-- FR's links to NBC Warfare, Terror, and More...--

-IRAQ- some links to terror--

-The Web of Terror--

-Terror Tips--

-The Fire Down South...( Latin America--)--

Castro, the Carribean, and Terrorism

-Terror Strike! Madrid--

Nuclear, Biological, & Chemical Warfare- Survival Skills, Pt. II

[bayourod]

It might help if the government made people feel more secure about reporting suspicious people.

I discovered some information about a person that I thought the Homeland Defense office should know about, but I was afraid of the complications of getting involved, so I kept quite for several months until a specific alert was issued that fit this person perfectly. My conscious overcame my fear or retribution, government interrogations, investigations etc...

I tried for hours to find the terrorists hotline number (I thought FR had it on the home page.)but gave up. I drove across town to a pay phone with easy escape routes and called the FBI to ask for the terrorists hotline number.

No automated phone system. A live operator answered on the first ring. Before I could even finish asking her for the terrorist hotline number another voice came on identifying herself as the duty officer and wanted to know what information I had.

Unfortunately, after briefly stating the facts, the first thing she wanted to know was my name. I refused to give it. She then proceeded to ask me specific questions about the individual which were suggestive and leading.

Interestingly enough, she wanted the individual's address and land line telephone number, but wasn't interested in his three cell phone numbers.

It's been more than a month now and no FBI agents have knocked on my door so I guess I'm safe. But there may be many more people like me who haven't given info because of distrust of our own government.

[backhoe]

Thanks for telling me that.

[bayourod]

Don't get me wrong. I'm not criticizing the government's handling of my report. In afterthought it was a foreign threat that motivated my call. The government alert didn't come until a day or two later.

The point I'm trying to make is that in order for the government to connect the dots, they first have to have some dots to connect. I had one little dot that by itself didn't justify the hell the government could put me through if I reported it. (I almost got called before a Congressional committee just for being Fed-Xed talking points about the Grenada invasion before Congress was told about the invasion).

It's just that my personal experience has made me realize that it's scary for a private citizen to supply a single dot when he might be crucified by some commission or committee because he can't paint the whole picture.

The government wouldn't have to "shake the tree" if they just made it safe for the nuts to fall voluntarily.

[backtothestreets]

You got involved. That's the important thing, getting involved. The country would be much different, and much better if more people got involved.

I'm not going encourage, or discourage anyone on giving their personal information when reporting suspicious activities to the FBI, or any other agency. If no personal information is given, get the agents name you speak with and call back at a later date to see if further information is needed on the suspicious activity first reported. You can still withhold your personal information, but the agent may ask for more specifics on the activity the second time around.

[ought-six]

"Also, Immigration and Customs Enforcement chief Michael 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."

I guess he has no problem with the massive illegal immigration crossing the Mexican border, which brings with it a great many gate crashers from suspect countries. But, hey, as long as they blend in with the tide of illegal Mexicans crossing the border, it's okay, huh?

[backtothestreets]

Make yourself a promise if an attack takes place, and the evidence indicates the attacker(s) walked in illegally. Don't vote for anyone running for any elective office that felt there was no danger, or made border protection a low priority.

BTW, any terrorists captured should be given a free flight home rather then imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay. Just make certain to secure their ankle chains to the missile fin before pressing the launch button.