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U.S. has credible threat of new terror attacks (Ashcroft to speak )
Reuters via Google news ^ | Wed 26 May, 2004 14:18 | Sue Pleming

Posted on 05/26/2004 6:54:31 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach

U.S. has credible threat of new terror attacks
Wed 26 May, 2004 14:18



By Sue Pleming

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has "credible" information of new, unspecified terror attacks in the country in the coming months, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge says.

Ridge said in a round of morning television interviews on Wednesday that there had been disturbing new reports of possible attacks to coincide with high profile events across America, including the November U.S. presidential election.

"We have received several reports from sources that we do deem credible. That's not unlike intelligence we unfortunately see on a fairly regular basis," said Ridge.

"It's not specific but it's enough to continue to keep us vigilant and to keep us working every single day to make sure America is more secure," he told ABC's "Good Morning America."

Ridge said there were no plans to raise the colour-coded terror alert level, which is currently set at "yellow" for an "elevated" risk of attack.

Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller were due to hold a 2 p.m. (7 p.m. British time) news conference at FBI headquarters.

Ridge, who has been warning since April of potential attacks, gave no details on which events could be targeted in the coming months.

Next month, G8 leaders are meeting near Savannah, Georgia, and a World War Two memorial is being opened this weekend in Washington over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. There are also Democratic and Republican Party conventions in Boston and New York over the summer ahead of the November election.

HIGH PROFILE EVENTS

"There is a threat reporting stream that talks about an attack and if you couple that with the number of high profile events we are going to have in the United States and coupled with it being an election year, (that) gives us reason to be concerned," he told NBC's "Today" show.

The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that U.S. officials had information suggesting al Qaeda has people in the United States preparing for a large-scale attack this summer.

Asked whether a terror cell had recently entered the United States, Ridge said his department operated under the notion there were terror cells inside the United States at all times.

"Sometimes we get reporting of their presence and sometimes we get reporting that they are on their way to establish a presence," he told NBC.

The Post said Ashcroft and Mueller would ask Americans to watch for several suspected al Qaeda operatives who may be in the country.

The newspaper said the FBI likely plans another public push to find Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani woman who has a doctorate in neurological science and has studied in the Boston area, as well as in Houston.

Officials said Mueller and Ashcroft would not announce any arrests or any new criminal charges at their news conference.

Despite new threats, Ridge said the intelligence on possible new attacks was not the most disturbing since the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington that are blamed on al Qaeda.

And he said Americans should go about their business over the summer months.

"Our job is to have security improved every single day. Americans' jobs is to go about living their lives as Americans. We'll provide the security; they have to go out and figure out how to have fun," he told CBS.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: dhs; homelandsecurity; jihadinamerica; redcross; summerattack; threats
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To: firebrand

I think they are smart enough to figure some things out.

After all, they succeeded in altering the direction of the Spanish election.

Maybe the minions who put on the bomb-belts, etc., aren't the brightest bulbs in the socket, but the masterminds behind the planning are not dummies by any means.


41 posted on 05/26/2004 7:54:37 AM PDT by TomGuy (Clintonites have such good hind-sight because they had their heads up their hind-ends 8 years.)
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To: Semper Paratus
You said..."al-Qaeda release that they intended to kill upwards of 4 million Americans in their next major attack"

Al-qaeda was started and financed by the CIA.

Why would a CIA entity want to kill 4 million americans?

Something does not seem right here.

Why would a CIA group want to kill americans when it was american money that started Al-qaeda?

42 posted on 05/26/2004 7:55:36 AM PDT by Radioactive
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To: raptor29

I am waiting on approval from the DOJ as we speak. Conƒido.


43 posted on 05/26/2004 7:56:46 AM PDT by ßuddaßudd (7 days - 7 ways)
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To: Texans

What on Earth has Spain to do with AQ threats to the USA ?


44 posted on 05/26/2004 7:58:19 AM PDT by Atlantic Friend (Cursum Perficio)
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To: Radioactive
Al-qaeda was started and financed by the CIA.

I haven't seen Michael Moore's new movie. Do you have a smoking gun on this?

45 posted on 05/26/2004 7:58:46 AM PDT by Semper Paratus
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To: TomGuy

they did that already - with the anthrax in 2001.


46 posted on 05/26/2004 7:58:50 AM PDT by oceanview
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Upon attack, I suggest a new Bush Campaign Ad:

Video of attack with Kerry quoting that threats are overblown. "Do you feel safer with someone who is in denial?" "Vote for Bush"


47 posted on 05/26/2004 7:58:51 AM PDT by gathersnomoss
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

Sorry, we are fresh out of balls today. Please stop back tomorrow.


48 posted on 05/26/2004 8:00:31 AM PDT by gathersnomoss
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To: raptor29

The sad thing is this...

I live in the San Francisco Bay area, and watched the report of this last night on the local news.

The reporter interviewed many people going to the Giants game, and many of them said they don't believe it, because they don't believe anything this administration tells them. One idiot said that Bush is a liar, and they are making this announcement for political gain.


49 posted on 05/26/2004 8:02:12 AM PDT by sissyjane (Hol)
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To: KJacob

If they do set off an attack I hope more than 50% of the casualties are anti-Bush National Socialists.


50 posted on 05/26/2004 8:03:46 AM PDT by Dog Anchor
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To: TomGuy

More white terrorists I see. It is once again time for "Profile for Peace". Heads up, folks.


51 posted on 05/26/2004 8:06:08 AM PDT by gathersnomoss
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To: sissyjane

It's San Francisco. Don't sweat it.


52 posted on 05/26/2004 8:06:29 AM PDT by raptor29
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To: gathersnomoss
Video of attack with Kerry quoting that threats are overblown.

If the Republicans don't have such an ad ready and waiting, they are making a big mistake. People need to know that Kerry said this just weeks before the attack in Spain.
53 posted on 05/26/2004 8:08:00 AM PDT by Steve_Seattle ("Above all, shake your bum at Burton.")
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To: Steve_Seattle

Negative ad, "wouldn't be prudent". Sad but true.


54 posted on 05/26/2004 8:09:43 AM PDT by gathersnomoss
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

It's a good thing we have Mueller, Tenet and Ashcroft in charge of protecting us. They won't let something like 9/11 happen. Oh wait...


Mr. President, you should have fired these men over two years ago. You are too loyal sir.


55 posted on 05/26/2004 8:11:19 AM PDT by Buck72
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
So even though Homeland "Security" has "credible" evidence of a terror attack on U.S. soil before the election, it hasn't a clue who, where, when or how it will happen.

In other words, all the loss of freedom, increased surveillance and government monitoring and intervention in every facet of our daily lives we've had since 9/11 has been a colossal waste, or maybe not.

All we have to look forward to in this life is perpetual war, crushing taxes and a bigger police state to "serve and protect". Well, if you needed any further proof that Bush, Ashcroft, Ridge and the neo-cons are advancing a NWO, there you are.

And of all the bozo remarks Ridge could have made, there's this: "We'll provide the security. They have to go out and figure out how to have fun." Huh? Like America is a giant theme park for worker bees.

56 posted on 05/26/2004 8:14:18 AM PDT by Middle Man
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To: Buck72

Mueller took office one week before 9-11. Blaming him is silly.


57 posted on 05/26/2004 8:14:25 AM PDT by Steve_Seattle ("Above all, shake your bum at Burton.")
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To: Atlantic Friend

You haven't been paying attention.

Spain went like this: terrorists blow up a bunch of people days before election, blame their actions on the on warmongering head of government. Panicked population goes for safety, votes for pacifist hoping that terrorists will go elsewhere.


58 posted on 05/26/2004 8:15:29 AM PDT by cosine
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To: Radioactive; Admin Moderator; All

ZOT!


59 posted on 05/26/2004 8:15:34 AM PDT by txrangerette
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To: Middle Man
"In other words, all the loss of freedom, increased surveillance and government monitoring and intervention in every facet of our daily lives we've had since 9/11 has been a colossal waste"

Oh, come on - Since 9-11, the vast majority of Americans have gone about their lives pretty much as they did before 9-11. Apart from longer waits in airline terminals, the only change I've noticed is that there's a police car at the entrance to the Seattle bus tunnel, and the trash cans inside the tunnel have been removed. These three developments have totally ruined my life. (sarcasm)
60 posted on 05/26/2004 8:18:44 AM PDT by Steve_Seattle ("Above all, shake your bum at Burton.")
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