Posted on 09/10/2002 8:51:21 AM PDT by newsperson999
URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2002/09/10/national1205EDT0589.DTL
(09-10) 09:33 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) -- On the eve of the Sept. 11 anniversary, the Bush administration decided Tuesday to raise the terror alert level for the first time to code orange, signaling a high danger of attack, a government official told The Associated Press.
The official, who spoke only on condition of anonymity, said the decision would be announced at 1 p.m. EDT by Attorney General John AShcroft, FBI Director Robert Mueller and Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge.
A second government official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said the threat that prompted the increased alert involves specific and credible information about threats to American embassies overseas.
"As a result of new information we have received, the threat level is increasing from yellow to orange. It's a nationwide alert," said another official, also declining to be named publicly.
U.S. intelligence officials have been saying since the weekend that there has been an increased amount of chatter among al-Qaida sympathizers.
The FBI issued a warning that became public Monday asking operators of computer networks, utilities and transportation system to be wary during the anniversary this week of the suicide hijackings that leveled the World Trade Center and damaged the Pentagon.
An official said that while the threat pertains to embassies overseas, the administration has not ruled out that interests in America could be targeted. Thus, security at federal buildings throughout Washington were increased Tuesday.
U.S. embassies in Malaysia and Indonesia were closed because of specific threats about potential terrorist activities.
Since the administration created a five color coded threat system in March, the government had kept the warning at code yellow, signifying an elevated condition of alert and a significant risk of terrorist attacks.
The code orange set Tuesday is the second highest alert status, signaling a high risk for terrorist attacks.
Under the system set up by Ridge, government officials must:
* Coordinate necessary security efforts with armed forces or law enforcement agencies.
* Take additional precaution at public events.
* Prepare to work at an alternate site or with a dispersed work force.
* Restrict access to essential personnel only.
Vice President Dick Cheney spent Monday night at an undisclosed location outside Washington. Aides said there was no specific threat against Cheney, but the anniversary has produced a heightened buzz in the intelligence community and officials want to protect the continuity of government in case of an attack.
Cheney was working in the White House on Tuesday morning, but his upcoming schedule, including a speech Tuesday night and participation in Sept. 11 commemorations Wednesday, is under review, aides said.
The FBI told police, utilities, banks and the transportation industry to be wary. U.S. military bases and diplomatic missions worldwide also are on high security alert for the week.
And U.S. Navy officials in Bahrain issued a warning to shippers Tuesday following unconfirmed reports that al-Qaida may be planning attacks on oil tankers.
"While the U.S. Navy has no specific details on the timing or means of the planned attacks, and there are no indications than an attack is imminent, the threat should be regarded seriously," said an advisory from the Navy's Maritime Liaison Office in Bahrain.
It said shipmasters should exercise extreme caution when traveling through strategic choke points such as the Strait of Hormuz or Bab-el-Mandeb, or sailing in traditional high-threat areas such as along the Horn of Africa and other confined waters.
White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said the threat of new attacks has U.S. officials on a "higher sense of guard."
"As the anniversary approaches, our concerns increase and that's based on information that we've obtained. That's also based on historical facts about what anniversaries mean. ... Anniversaries can be occasions -- not always are but can be occasions -- for terrorists to attack again. We're cognizant of that, we're vigilant about that," Fleischer said.
The State Department issued a worldwide caution Monday night urging Americans to remain especially vigilant this week.
Get my drift..??
'Course they won't apologize: they'll just act like the mistake never happened and wait for the viewing public to forget that Clinton News Network's reporting is untrustworthy.
Nope -- we used to think that way in South Florida, when we'd get warning after warning of hurricanes that never hit. Andrew changed that. The media will criticize, but most people know it makes perfect sense. We've gotten a bit too complacent, and need to be reminded that there's plenty of lone Islamist loonies in our midst, even if Al Quaida doesn't get their act together.
isn't that kind of like locking the barn door after the horse has bolted? Although, I can see the possibility of terrorist attacks on rescuers, or leave-behind bombs, etc...
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