Posted on 07/30/2003 1:59:38 AM PDT by sarcasm
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal officials say they have no plans to raise the nation's terrorism alert level despite warnings that five-man al-Qaida teams may be planning to hijack and crash more airplanes, similar to the Sept. 11 attacks.
"The hijackers may try to calm passengers and make them believe they were on a hostage, not suicide, mission," a warning distributed over the weekend to airlines and law enforcement agencies said. "The hijackers may attempt to use common items carried by travelers, such as cameras, modified as weapons."
Officials said the credibility of the threat was still being evaluated. But they noted there was no precise information on when or where such an attack could take place.
A copy of the warning from the Homeland Security Department, obtained by The Associated Press, suggests an attack could take place by the end of the summer. The warning said terrorists may use five-man teams to take over airplanes just after takeoff or before landing and crash them into buildings.
It suggested cities on the East Coast of the United States, in the United Kingdom, Italy and Australia as possible targets.
"No equipment or operatives are known to have been deployed to conduct the operations," the warning said.
The national terrorist threat level remained at yellow, signifying an elevated risk of attacks. The five-level, color-coded system was last raised to orange, or high risk, for 11 days in May. Officials said they did not plan to raise it to reflect the possibility of suicide hijackings.
Some complained the government still was doing too little to alert the public and key industries to terror threats.
"Our concern is that there will be bulletins put out that will not be made available to us," said Capt. Jon Safley, president of the Coalition of Airline Pilots Association, a pilots union. Safley, who doesn't fly, said he hasn't been getting warnings and wasn't sure all pilots know when advisories pertaining to air travel are issued.
Jim Schwartz, director of emergency management for Arlington County, Va., which includes both Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and the Pentagon, said his agency had received no warning from Homeland Security. He said he would need more specifics before increasing security based on published reports.
The warning was based on information gleaned from interviews of at least one al-Qaida prisoner as well as intercepted communications, said one intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity. The information was developed in the past several weeks.
"Cognizant of changes in aviation security measures since Sept. 11, 2001, al-Qaida is looking for new ways to circumvent enhancements in aviation security screening and tightening immigration requirements," the warning said.
Homeland Security Department placed a statement on its Web site saying the advisory was transmitted after U.S. intelligence-gatherers "received information that al-Qaida continues to be interested in using the commercial aviation system in the United States and abroad to further their cause."
In response to the advisory, the State Department on Tuesday revised an existing caution for American travelers to reflect the perceived hijacking threat.
"Terrorist actions may include, but are not limited to, suicide operations, hijackings, bombings or kidnappings. These may also involve commercial aircraft," the revised statement said.
Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Congress has taken a number of actions to limit the possibility of suicide hijackings, including arming commercial pilots, boosting the number of air marshals and hiring an all-federal work force to screen airline passengers.
Last week, House and Senate negotiators agreed to arm cargo pilots as part of a Federal Aviation Administration funding bill. The bill also would require that commercial airlines teach flight crews how to deal with terrorists, including self-defense, and Homeland Security and the FAA would have to review security at facilities that repair and maintain aircraft outside the United States.
Lawmakers are expected to pass the bill in September.
That won't "fly" any more
Oh what the heck am I thinking? That might work. The government will never try it.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE: "WORLDWIDE CAUTION - PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT" (PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT SNIPPET: "Tensions remaining from the recent events in Iraq may increase the potential threat to U.S. citizens and interests abroad, by terrorist and other groups. Terrorist actions may include, but are not limited to, suicide operations, hijackings, bombings or kidnappings. These may also involve commercial aircraft. Other potential threats include conventional weapons, such as explosive devices, or non-conventional weapons, such as chemical or biological agents. Terrorists do not distinguish between official and civilian targets. These may include facilities where American citizens and other foreigners congregate or visit, including residential areas, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, hotels, outdoor recreation events or resorts and beaches. U.S. citizens should remain in a heightened state of personal security awareness when attendance at such locations is unavoidable.") (July 29, 2003) (Read More...)
FOX NEWS.com: "REPORT: AL QAEDA MAY BE PLANNING MORE HIJACK ATTACKS" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "NEW YORK -- Al Qaeda may be planning new airline hijack attacks similar to the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks for later this summer, Fox News has confirmed.") (July 29, 2003) (Read More...)
WorldNetDaily.com: "FBI INVITES MUSLIM SCHOLARS TO PREACH New Islamic Sensitivity Training Program Required of Federal Agents, New Recruits" by Paul Sperry (July 30, 2003) (Read More...)
FBI.gov - Press Release: "STATEMENT BY FBI DIRECTOR ROBERT MUELLER REGARDING THE JOINT INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE REPORT INTO THE TERRORIST ATTACK OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001") (July 24, 2003) (Read More...)
That is, of course, the correct answer. We did this with Nazis and Communists. We need to do it with Wahhabis.
How about not letting more than 2 guys named Mohammed fly on the same plane?
That would probably make too much sense for the TSA
Good luck, Achmed. If more than one arab-looking person at a time even so much as stands up on any flight I am on, it's time to meet your virgins.
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