Take a deep breath, say homeland officials

US News and World Report ^ | February 14, 2003 | Paul Bedard

[ewing]

Indications from government sources are that the already heightened Code Orange security alert Washington D.C. is operating under may be increased to 'Code Red' in the next 24 hours because of a heightened concern about a possible terror attack.

Whispers learns that lawmakers are being encouraged to send their families back to their home states.

Other government sources are freely talking about the increased security alert possbily coming as soon as Friday.

Also, Equipment that can detect chemical and biological weapons has been deployed in Washington.

And some government workers have been warned that if terrorism strikes, agencies might not be able to provide enough food water or clothing.

[ewing]

Is Congress meeting today?

[dirtboy]

I just saw a AP article that the move to Code Orange was partially based on some intel that proved to be a fabrication - but now they're considering RED?

[dirtboy]

Maybe this is Bush's way of trying to end the Estrada filibuster... :^)

[leadpenny]

Bump comment #2.

[KeyWest]

Blix is reporting and what happens next? I would go to code red also.

[Loyolas Mattman]

Ditto. Is this article before or after the revelation that some of the Code Orange intel was phony?

In any event, if they are going to strike, they'd better do it soon. If it starts snowing the way they expect, this place is going to be a ghost town until the Spring thaw.

[ewing]

There must be another source here besides the Al Qaeda guy who failed the lie detector test reported by ABC News mentioned Detroit and Vigrinia, he didn't say anything about New York and Washington D.C.

[Carry_Okie]

Well the dirtbags wanted concentrated power in Washington...
Now maybe they'll learn how stupid that is!

Naaahhh...

[isthisnickcool]

I heard from a friend in D.C. who works with someone who's name you would recognize. He said to keep out of populated areas today and this weekend. Especially shopping malls.

[JennysCool]

I don't know. I have the feeling that increase to orange had a lot more to it than just the word of one Al Qaeda jerk.

[ContemptofCourt]

False Alarm?
Terror Alert Partly Based on Fabricated Information

By Brian Ross, Len Tepper and Jill Rackmill

Feb. 13 — A key piece of the information leading to recent terror alerts was fabricated, according to two senior law enforcement officials in Washington and New York.

The officials said that a claim made by a captured al Qaeda member that Washington, New York or Florida would be hit by a "dirty bomb" sometime this week had proven to be a product of his imagination.

The informant described a detailed plan that an al Qaeda cell operating in either Virginia or Detroit had developed a way to slip past airport scanners with dirty bombs encased in shoes, suitcases, or laptops, sources told ABCNEWS. The informant reportedly cited specific targets of government buildings and Christian or clerical centers.

"This piece of that puzzle turns out to be fabricated and therefore the reason for a lot of the alarm, particularly in Washington this week, has been dissipated after they found out that this information was not true," said Vince Cannistraro, former CIA counter-terrorism chief and ABCNEWS consultant.

It was only after the threat level was elevated to orange — meaning high — last week, that the informant was subjected to a polygraph test by the FBI, officials told ABCNEWS.

"This person did not pass," said Cannistraro.

According to officials, the FBI and the CIA are pointing fingers at each other. An FBI spokesperson told ABCNEWS today he was "not familiar with the scenario," but did not think it was accurate.

Despite the fabricated report, there are no plans to change the threat level. Officials said other intelligence has been validated and that the high level of precautions is fully warranted.

------------------------

So which is it???????

[Peach]

Key words being only partially based and I read it last night and did not find it credible. First released by ABC.

[cynicom]

The cowardly politicians are running like rats to leave the ship.

[patton]

.

[ErnBatavia]

Blix is reporting and what happens next?

Well, as of this minute he and Elbaradei have just been droning on; looks like they want to give Saddam another 'pass'.

[Drango]

Whispers learns that lawmakers are being encouraged to send their families back to their home states.

All safety to the families! However, this rubs me the wrong way. Congress scrambling out of DC, shows a lot of resolve. NOT

[mr.pink]

Run-a-w-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-y........freakin' nancies.

[leadpenny]

Think I'll go hang out in Washington for a few days.

[ewing]

Thanks for the DC warning, there were emails being passed around in New York City poitical circles last night to stay away from the subways until the 19th of this month.

The NYC DA's office and the terrorism task force had agreed that they will close the subways immediately in an attack, no matter if there are people inside.

So take a cab or walk in NYC

[tutstar]

"keep out of populated areas today and this weekend"

And what about an extremely large Baptist church whose pastor was vilified for making derogatory remarks about Islam? in a city which was already identified as having Al Queda (sp?) cells?