U.S. raises terrorism threat level - Ridge: Possible attacks could rival 9/11

CNN.Com / U.S. ^ | Sunday, December 21, 2003 Posted: 4:10 PM EST (2110 GMT) | CNN.Com

[Bobby777]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Department of Homeland Security raised the U.S. terror threat level from elevated to high Sunday, warning of possible terrorist strikes more devastating than the attacks of September 11, 2001.

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said the move was the result of a "substantial increase" in the volume of intelligence pointing to "near-term attacks that could either rival or exceed what we experienced on September 11."

Ridge urged the public to be patient with stricter security measures "in the coming days and weeks" and to proceed with holiday plans despite the threat.

"America is a country that will not be bent by terror," he said.

A senior administration official familiar with the decision said the volume of threats was "significantly higher" and was coming from known sources but that there was "nothing site-specific."

Top officials discussed the matter among themselves and with President Bush for several days. The intelligence "reached the level at which we felt this is [the] right decision, to ramp up in time for [the] holidays," the senior administration official said.

The move raised the warning level from yellow, or elevated, to orange, or high, on the Homeland Security Department's color-coded system. Yellow is midlevel on the five-color system, and orange is the second-highest threat, lower only than red, or severe.

The system was put into place after the September 11 attacks, launched by Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda terrorist network.

"Recent reporting reiterates -- and this is a constant stream of reporting -- that al Qaeda continues to consider using aircraft as a weapon," Ridge said at a Washington news conference.

"And they are constantly evaluating procedures, both in the United States and elsewhere, to find gaps in our security posture that could be exploited."

Ridge said the steps taken under an orange alert could help deter possible attacks.

"We have enhanced security at our nation's airports and around other transportation systems and infrastructure," he said.

"We will redeploy agents and other resources at our borders to meet the current threat. There will be more Coast Guard air and sea patrols off our shores, in our ports and escorting ships."

On Friday, a statement attributed to bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, claimed al Qaeda was "chasing America and its allies everywhere, even in their own home."

A CIA analysis determined the statement, broadcast on the Arabic-language news network Al-Jazeera, was "most likely" authentic.

Under an orange alert, the Department of Homeland Security urges increasing security at public events and restricting access to facilities that could be targeted. FBI field offices nationwide will operate their command posts around the clock.

Ridge said federal authorities have urged state and local governments to step up security, and executives in the private sector will be asked to take specific steps to protect resources "critical to our country."

Ridge urged Americans to use "common sense" and report suspicious packages, vehicles or activities to law enforcement, and to review emergency plans.

The United States last raised the domestic terrorism threat level to orange May 20, after suicide bombings in Saudi Arabia and Morocco blamed on al Qaeda. That alert lasted 10 days before the threat level was returned to yellow.

A state official involved in homeland security who was briefed by federal authorities told CNN that the United States had received the "highest volume" of credible threats since the attacks on New York and Washington.

The official cautioned, however, that every time the threat level has been raised in the past, federal officials have made such a "highest volume" claim.

Sen. Evan Bayh, an Indiana Democrat and member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Sunday that Americans overseas are at greatest risk.

"But al Qaeda would like nothing better than to carry out an attack here on the American homeland to prove that they're still relevant, raise their morale and convince their financiers they're still worth supporting," Bayh said on CNN's "Late Edition."

"No one wants to raise the threat level and alarm people needlessly, particularly at the holidays," Bayh said. "On the other hand, if you start getting in information, you have the public responsibility to let people know, to be more vigilant and to take reasonable precautions."

The State Department said Wednesday it had authorized nonessential diplomats and families of U.S. officials to leave Saudi Arabia because of security concerns, and urged Americans to defer travel to the kingdom.

"My guess is that our government is taking this very seriously, both in Saudi Arabia and here," Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on "Late Edition."

CNN's Jeanne Meserve, John King, Kathleen Koch and Kevin Bohn contributed to this report.

[backhoe]

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... Jihad In America By Evan McCormick FrontPageMagazine.com | September 5, 2003. Federal
agents are peeling away the layers of an extensive domestic terrorist ...
www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=9706 - 34k - Cached - Similar pages

VPC - Firearms Training For Jihad in America
Firearms Training For Jihad in America. The Violence Policy Center (VPC)
has obtained a copy of the document, How Can I Train Myself for Jihad. ...
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[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Hmmm...my perspective is a little different...dh is an airline pilot and a reservist.

Perhaps this is bold of me to even suggest this, but I will, with no offense intended.

Instead of how you and many others have been ignoring our national alert system, perhaps, at very least, consider praying for everyone on the front lines. Pray for the Lord's protection for those who are right this second protecting your life and daily routines to continue on as usual.

[expatpat]

Give pilots guns!

.

[PoorMuttly]

Since Muttly has become quite fond of all the wiggling on the ground he was advised to do during the Sniper Scare...I suppose he'll just keep doing it until this threat goes away, too.

[cubreporter]

They continue to cry wolf and nothing happens????????????



What are they supposed to do? Should they hear of somethng and not warn us? Good Lord Almighty then everyone would complain that they had no warning. I can hear it all now.

Should they hear of something and warn us? Heck yes. That way everyone can decide for themselves what it is they want to do to try and secure themselves and their familes and THAT is ALL they and we can do.

They are NOT mind readers for goodness sakes. They don't know exact things that will happen. How could anyone except the mindless scum who plan these things. I think the Homeland Security is doing all they can. We have to take responsibilities for ourselves as well. If you are nervous about flying....don't fly. If you are nervous about going to a public mall...don't go. If you are nervous about going to public places at all or any other place like that then don't go.

It's up to us to make those decisions. We get the warnings and thank God we do. But...to expect Homeland Security to know the exact time, location and method of such warnings is absolutely ludicrous.

[cake_crumb]

"Instead of how you and many others have been ignoring our national alert system, perhaps, at very least, consider praying for everyone on the front lines. Pray for the Lord's protection for those who are right this second protecting your life and daily routines to continue on as usual."

Thank you for injecting some sanity into what's already been turned into a vapid agenda-furthering session.

[cubreporter]

You are right on.

[Bobby777]

yep, and the airlines should donate at least one free seat to a federal air marshall for each flight ... perhaps this is how it's already being done ...

[cake_crumb]

Being extra alert and ready to act if you ARE flying commercial or in a mall or live near a reservior would be a good idea too...

[livius]

Good indeed. All we can do is be vigilant - and pray.

I'm flying on both Christmas and New Year's Day, but really, all I can do is say that it's in God's hands. And, of course, that I plan to go down fighting, if it comes to that...

[risk]

bttt

[concerned about politics]

Northeast Intelligence Network

[ALOHA RONNIE]

NEVER FORGET


'HILLARY & TERRORISM's plan to regain the White House'

http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1022571/posts


NEVER FORGET

[OldFriend]

Bring back the Gary Condit story.................

[P8riot]

I hope you're right. I amd my family are flying from Virginia to Arizona for the holidays.

[Travis McGee]

Practical translation: "Don't whine about spending an extra hour at the airport getting searched."

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

I am just becoming a little tired hearing people whining or laughing and ignoring the Alert System. It is in place for them. The goal is protection from nutcases with murderous agendas.

And at Christmastime, no less, to hear people on the tv, the radio, in newsprint, and even here on FR acting callous and ungrateful...yes, callous and ungrateful...is simply disturbing.

I see America as a team, and as a family. It is disgraceful, in my opinion, to think there are many on our team who aren't doing their part.

[concerned about politics]

I agree ... but, it's out there, so what to do?

Hang on to that duct tape and plastic wrap.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

'Remember the Lost and Suffering on September 11, 2001'

http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=33

.

[ladyinred]

It is specific enough for me! I just returned a few minutes ago from a large shopping mall which was jammed with Holiday shoppers. While in the middle of it all, the threat of terrorism crossed my mind. Didn't stop me from going, but I did think about it.