Posted on 07/25/2007 5:43:31 AM PDT by kellynla
The U.S. military commander in charge of defending the U.S. homeland said Tuesday that he believes there are al-Qaida cells in the United States or people working to create them.
Air Force Gen. Victor "Gene" Renuart said that while the terrorism threat within the nation's boundaries has increased in the past year, officials have strengthened intelligence sharing, particularly in an effort to shore up weaknesses in security at U.S. ports. [Editor's Note: Be prepared for terror with an Emergency Radio. Homeland Security says every home should have one. Get our FREE offer Emergency Radio -- Go Here Now.]
"I believe there are cells in the United States, or at least people who aspire to create cells in the United States," Renuart said in an interview with The Associated Press. "To assume that there are not those cells is naive and so we have to take that threat seriously."
He added, "Am I concerned that this will happen this summer, I have to be concerned that it could happen any day."
Other U.S. officials last week said they did not know of al-Qaida cells in the United States.
Renuart, who took over the job as the head of U.S. Northern Command just four months ago, said that to counter the growing threat, the military also needs to create two more brigade-size units to be available to respond to nuclear, chemical and biological incidents at home - because currently there is only one. A brigade is about 3,500 troops.
Renuart's comments came in the wake of a national intelligence report released last week, which concluded that al-Qaida is using its growing strength in the Middle East to plot attacks on U.S. soil.
Port security has long been identified as a key weak point, including the need to scan cargo containers coming into the country by ship.
Renuart said officials are expanding their use of sensors and other technologies that allow them to track ships, including their location, their speed and other commercial information. And, while he would not provide details, he said there has already been "real payback" in terms of identifying vessels of concern and either checking or boarding them well before they got into U.S. waters.
"Because the national intelligence estimate talks about the vulnerability of ports, and because of the importance that we place on the movement of a variety of goods through those ports, finding ways to improve that is a really important element of our day to day work," Renuart said.
At the same time, he said it will be a year or two before he is able to pull together the military units he needs to better be able to respond to a chemical, biological or nuclear disaster in the U.S.
The units, he said, will be made up of active duty, reserves and National Guard troops. And while portions of the brigades will be located in different states, they will be expected to train together and be able to respond quickly to a disaster.
Overall, Renuart said that as the terror threat increases, the nation's ability to detect problems has also improved.
The intelligence report, he said, is a "summary of drumbeats, and the drumbeats are getting more prevalent out there. You cannot afford to ignore that." But he said, a few years ago, the nation was not as able to hear and interpret those drumbeats.
Our ancestors didn't risk life & limb to emigrate to this country just so a bunch of camel jockeys could come here, terrorize our women & children and make hamburger out of our families!
Semper Fi, Kelly
I’d advise em to leave or find another religion now. The day AFTER the next version of 9/11 is gonna be a tad late.
I like your thinking, Kelly.
We need to keep up our dukes.
Remember Obama-jama’s response to how he would react to a terrorist attack? Yikes.
I saw IDIOTS on CNN and MSNBC (grrrr my hotel did not have FOX) actuall downplaying a report that there was numerous incidents of checked-in baggage with blocks of cheese or clay with wires attached.
No question of who the heck would do something like that. No outrage that the person who owned the luggage was not immediately tossed in jail..
Only a chuckle about how they had lame excuses for the reasons they did this...
Imitating a bomb IS A TERRORIST ACT. They are learning they can shut down a whole airport with a block of cheese.
Standard Method of Operation, deny, deny, deny and if an attack occurs, standard reply, "no terrorism suspected". We pay the majority of these people, big bucks to lie to US.
Cheese, clay in your suitcase? Jail in your immediate future.
We just need dialog with the terrorists. We need to understand their anger and forgive them. We need to understand that it is the US’s imperialist policies over the past 60 years that have driven them to violence. /sarc
if I understood your post,I agree. If the towell heads hit us again,other towell heads better duck and run cause America will come unhinged
Since 9/11/01, I have been on code red and will remain there until the day I die. In the mean time, I will have a life.
Once my eyes were open...May 17th to be exact....and I knew our nation's safety was not of paramount importance to this administration...
..then I knew we were very vulnerable indeed.
What do they care....?
They will go to their fortresses along with their families.
We will be the ones to suffer.
ALL the entreaties from everyday citizens to please secure our border, please enforce laws....
..fall on deaf ears...
..will continue to fall on deaf ears...
THE ENEMY IS HERE!.....and WE LET THEM IN
you gave me a great ad idea........have Fox cable and network represented by BRIT HUME in a commercial saying,when I travel,you bet I make sure the hotel offers Fox News.......Fox News, fair,balanced,and unafraid,then smile that sweet smile of success
I agree with the above statement of rickdylan. I also believe many mex or south of the border types are going to be caught up in the moment as well. jmho
Agreed. Get a gun. Fill your gas tank when it gets to half. Keep at a minimum three days food water and medicine on hand at all times. Have a family emergency plan worked out. Back up your business computer files. Stay vigilant.
and seal a room (professionally) and do not forget the pets
i think if we experience another major terrorist attack,there will be a lot of muzzies who won’t be able to leave
i think if we experience another major terrorist attack,there will be a lot of muzzies who won’t be able to leave
I disagree..if the towell heads bring it on,the mexicans will join our side,I bet.
me and my friends have said it for a long time after 9-11,al qaeda is gonna regret the day they even think about starting sh*t in detroit.
just my very brutally honest opinion.
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