I agree with thecabal and granny on this..I feel this should stay off this thread. We have been sent to the chat room before and we don't need this type of scrutiny now. The S is about to HTF, we need to stay on track here.
Please, if you want to do this stuff, keep it in freepmail. I appreciate your concern and wanting to do something to help but this could do more harm than help. Let's stick with the FBI bulletins and news reports etc., things that we can back up.
Looks like we're going to be getting pictures of suspects soon. At least the public will have something to go on.
U.S. TO RELEASE PHOTOS OF POSSIBLE ATTACK PLANNERS, PERSON SAYS
May 26 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. will release photos of suspected terrorists as it girds against potential al-Qaeda attacks within the U.S. in coming months, according to a government official.
U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and Robert Mueller, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, will describe people ``most likely to have information about the attacks or be involved'' and will show photos of some of those people at a press conference at 2 p.m. in Washington, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
``The intelligence we're receiving suggested that there are people in place that want to carry out attacks against the U.S.,'' White House spokesman Scott McClellan told journalists in Washington today. ``Americans should be on a heightened state of awareness.''
McClellan said al-Qaeda's targets are unknown. Large events such as the World War II Memorial dedication in Washington on Saturday, the Group of Eight summit in Sea Island, Georgia June 8- 10, both political parties' nominating conventions and the presidential election in November ``certainly present opportunities for terrorists to carry out their attacks,'' he said.
There are 18,000 potential terrorists at large, and recruitment by groups is accelerating because of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, the International Institute for Strategic Studies said yesterday in its annual survey.
Reports `Credible'
The information gathered by the U.S. doesn't include a time, place, target or details about the method of attack, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said this morning on Fox News' ``Fox & Friends'' program.
``Several reports, some of which we have deemed credible,'' point to an attack on the U.S. Appearing on NBC's ``Today'' show, Ridge said the stream of threat reports is ``not unlike what we've seen in the past several years.''
The Associated Press said, citing an unidentified intelligence official, said the intelligence indicates that terrorists may have and plan to use a chemical, biological or radiological weapon.
Alert Level
Ridge said there are no plans to raise the nation's terror alert level, currently at ``elevated,'' or yellow, the middle of the five-color threat alert scale.
``There is absolutely nothing specific enough that rises to the level where we would presently, today, as we speak, make the recommendation to the president to raise the threat level,'' he said on Cable News Network's ``American Morning.''
The Homeland Security Department and the FBI alert law enforcement agencies to be on the watch for terrorist attacks when they receive credible intelligence. Last week, U.S. officials warned that suicide bombers may strike within the U.S. and rail agencies were directed to step up security.
The New York City Police Department, in a statement, said there is nothing in the recent reports ``to indicate a specific threat or looming attack against New York City,'' a target of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Still, the statement said, the department ``is taking all necessary precautions'' under the assumption that al-Qaeda still sees the city as a target.
Al-Qaeda Training
As many as 20,000 jihadists, or Muslims recruited to fight a holy war, were trained by al-Qaeda in Afghanistan since 1996, the International Institute for Strategic Studies said.
``Although half of al-Qaeda's 30 senior leaders and perhaps 2,000 rank-and-file members have been killed or captured, a rump leadership is still intact and over 18,000 potential terrorists at large, with recruitment accelerating on account of Iraq,'' the report said. ``Al-Qaeda will keep trying to develop more promising plans for terrorist operations in North America and Europe, ideally involving weapons of mass destruction.''
An al-Qaeda linked group said it carried out attacks on commuter trains in Madrid in March that killed 191 people, citing Spain's involvement with the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq.
The war in Iraq has increased the risk of terrorism, John Chipman, director of the International Institute, said yesterday.
``The Iraq intervention was always likely in the short term to enhance jihadist recruitment and intensify al-Qaeda's motivation,'' Chipman said in London.
"....keep it to FReepmail."
Sound advice.
Actually, my goal would be to take it off even FREEPMAIL to private email with just the graph and summary stuff being reported to FR as just another source of information.
What would you think about that?
Besides, we only have 3 participants at present. It will take at least a dozen to be very significant.
Am
UNCLEAR
about
HOW
you think it would cause more trouble than it was worth.
Please and thank you.