Posted on 05/26/2004 6:54:31 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
U.S. has credible threat of new terror attacks
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.
Wed 26 May, 2004 14:18
By Sue Pleming
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.
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?
I am waiting on approval from the DOJ as we speak. Conido.
What on Earth has Spain to do with AQ threats to the USA ?
I haven't seen Michael Moore's new movie. Do you have a smoking gun on this?
they did that already - with the anthrax in 2001.
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"
Sorry, we are fresh out of balls today. Please stop back tomorrow.
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.
If they do set off an attack I hope more than 50% of the casualties are anti-Bush National Socialists.
More white terrorists I see. It is once again time for "Profile for Peace". Heads up, folks.
It's San Francisco. Don't sweat it.
Negative ad, "wouldn't be prudent". Sad but true.
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.
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.
Mueller took office one week before 9-11. Blaming him is silly.
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.
ZOT!
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