Posted on 10/07/2001 10:39:46 AM PDT by TLBSHOW
WASHINGTON (AP) -
Terrorists could well try more strikes at America once threatened U.S. military action begins in Afghanistan (news - web sites), senators close to the investigation of the Sept. 11 attacks said Sunday.
That prospect, however, cannot deter the United States from going on the offensive, said Sen. Bob Graham (news - bio - voting record), D-Fla., chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, in remarks echoed by the committee's senior Republican, Sen. Richard Shelby (news - bio - voting record) of Alabama.
``Once we do start direct military engagement ... the threat level is likely to go up,'' Graham said on ABC's ``This Week.'' ``There will be a tendency for the terrorists to want us to step back.''
Even while encouraging people to return to normal routines, officials in the administration and Congress have said Americans should be alert to the possibility of more attacks from the terrorist network of Osama bin Laden (news - web sites), the No. 1 suspect who's hiding out in Afghanistan.
That advice was underscored by the senators as U.S. action in Afghanistan apparently grew closer during the weekend, with military forces amassing outside the country, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld back from a round of coalition-building and President Bush (news - web sites) declaring Saturday: ``Full warning has been given and time is running out.''
Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., said, however, that in the absence of specific threats against Americans, people cannot do much to protect themselves.
``You don't take stupid risks, and you put it in God's hands, and you go on with your life doing the best you can,'' he said on ``Fox News Sunday.''
The White House quickly rejected an offer from Taliban leaders Sunday to try terrorist suspect bin Laden in Afghanistan.
The proposal, apparently made in an attempt to head off a U.S. assault, was a variation on one made earlier: This time, the Taliban asked for a formal allegation against bin Laden and did not insist on having the evidence against him in advance.
But White House spokesman Scott McClellan said: ``The president's demands are clear and nonnegotiable.''
President Bush is demanding that the Taliban turn over bin Laden, shut terrorist training camps and open them for inspection, and release eight aid workers in custody, including two Americans.
Bush ignored shouted questions about the offer when he went to Emmitsburg, Md., on Sunday morning to participate in an annual memorial service for fallen firefighters.
``Our nation still mourns,'' he said. ``The courage and loss we saw in New York we've seen in every community that has laid a firefighter to rest.'' The nation lost 101 firefighters on the job last year and more than 300 in the attack that brought down the World Trade Center.
Graham said terrorists probably want to create a ``pervasive sense of fear'' and he predicted they will try means other than the airline hijackings of Sept. 11.
``We could expect the next shoes to drop to be something different,'' he said.
He added: ``This is not a war that we can win by playing on the defensive. We cannot reasonably maintain what is essentially America and try to protect every possible source of terrorist attack. Therefore, we have to go on the offensive.''
Graham said ``taking out'' bin Laden would be a significant step in the campaign against terrorism. Asked to define that, he said, ``That may mean capture but it probably means death.''
Shelby, too, asked Americans to remain on guard.
``I don't know when or where or how but you can just about believe that there are going to be more attacks,'' he said. ``To lull the American people to sleep ... would be a terrible thing to do.''
I think the thing that bothers me more than thinking of dying, is dying a victim, it is the worse thing to deal with. Most on FR are not the victim type and it doesn't sit well to think of not going down fighting, it seems a waste of fighting spirit, but I guess those feelings just have to be delt with also.
"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand."
You can invoke this protection by saying this:
I will not fear, for You (Jesus) are with me; I will not be afraid, for You (Jesus) are my God; You will strengthen me; You will help me; You will uphold me with Your victorious right hand.
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