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.

[Loyolas Mattman]

Ah, maybe because you don't know where the sender and recipient are at the time of the conversation and even if you figure it out, they're gone by the time you get there.

[ewing]

I was commenting on the sturdiness of the World War II generation in knowing how to deal with these warnings.

[Coop]

Isn't that what we said to Osama?

Osama and Al Qaeda are often used interchangeably.

Our folks and allies have killed about 3,000 terrorists and captured another 3,000.

But people like you want proof Osama is dead, or the war is failing. Bet you also think Saddam doesn't have any WMD since Hans can't find any, huh?

[LeftIsSinister]

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.

Hmm, seems like a good weekend for two separate 3-6" snow storms! I never thought I'd write that after all the shovelling I've been doing this winter.

[OldFriend]

Is it okay to buy Halloween candy?

[3D-JOY]

Family also in Fairfax. I am moving there, with them, in the late spring.

They sent emergency plan last night...I had hoped they were over-reacting.

Stay safe!

[sinkspur]

BTW, Al Qaeda: your days are numbered.

Isn't that what we said to Osama?

Haven't seen him lately, have you? He's deader than a door nail.

Why, the tape even predicted that he would "die a martyr" this year.

[Sangamon Kid]

...May their satanic god have mercy...

Now there's an oxymoron.

[Tall_Texan]

While you're checking out the rest of the USNWR column, FREEP the poll at the bottom of the page:

For our President's Day poll, choose the recent president you think should be added to Mt. Rushmore.

* John F. Kennedy
* Ronald Reagan
* Bill Clinton
* George W. Bush

Or maybe you're already doing that since Reagan is winning with 66% of the vote.

[Diddle E. Squat]

I wouldn't call 85-98% of Muslims a "small percent". Even Daniel Pipes says that at most 15% of the Muslims in America are sympathetic to the radical types, and up to 2% would actually assist in any way. So blaming 85% for the beliefs of 15% and the actions of 2% is rather stupid. 25% of Americans think that we should not go to war, should America then be viewed as weak-kneed spineless appeasing pacifists? Your logic would claim that. But of course, it is emotion, not logic.

[Aquinasfan]

Remember "Black Hawks Down"?

One of the best war movies ever made, IMO.

[mhking]

[OldFriend]

Please........congress is shut down for a week to celebrate President's Week.........this was a planned departure and my guess is they are just covering their butts and wagging the dog to hide the fact that they are NOT doing the nation's business. Hope they NEVER come back.

[twigs]

seems like a good weekend for two separate 3-6" snow storms!

I thought of that too. God's protection?

[Diddle E. Squat]

Yes, Muslim groups do need to be more vocal in their opposition to terrorism.

[dirtboy]

They should make the Washington press corps wear gas masks. Especially Helen Thomas.

Doesn't sitting on them damage them?

Thanks a lot - I now have an image of Helen Thomas and a gas mask positioned like a thong stuck in my head.

[linn37]

is DC getting a big snow storm this weekend?

[dep]

I now have an image of Helen Thomas and a gas mask positioned like a thong stuck in my head.

what would a thong stuck in your head look like?

dep

[aristeides]

The polygraph is voodoo crapola. It can't tell ANYTHING. The only thing it can do is scare someone into telling the truth.

It can also be used as a cover story for how something was learned when the real way it was learned has to be kept secret.

[SlickWillard]

Extremist Wahabbi Islam is a murderous cult just like the Nazis -pure and simple.

Correction: ISLAM is a murderous cult, just like the Nazis - pure and simple.

Medina Suras
The Chapter of Women
[Chapters from the Koran]
The Harvard Classics 1909–14

But if there befalls you grace from God, he would say—as though there were no friendship between you and him—‘O would that I had been with thee to attain this mighty happiness!’ Let those then fight in God’s way who sell this life of the world for the next; and whoso fights in God’s way, then, be he killed or be he victorious, we will give him a mighty hire.

What ails you that ye do not fight in God’s way, and for the weak men and women and children, who say, ‘Lord, bring us out of this town 19 of oppressive folk, and make for us from Thee a patron, and make for us from Thee a help?’

Those who believe fight in the way of God; and those who disbelieve fight in the way of Tâghût; fight ye then against the friends of Satan, verily, Satan’s tricks are weak.

Do ye not see those to whom it is said, ‘Restrain your hands, and be steadfast in prayer and give alms;’ and when it is prescribed for them to fight then a band of them fear men, as though it were the fear of God or a still stronger fear, and they say, ‘O our Lord! why hast thou prescribed for us to fight, couldst thou not let us abide till our near appointed time?’ Say, ‘The enjoyment of this world is but slight, and the next is better for him who fears;’—but they shall not be wronged a straw.

...

Why are ye two parties about the hypocrites, when God hath overturned them for what they earned? Do ye wish to guide those whom God hath led astray? Whoso God hath led astray ye shall not surely find for him a path. They would fain that ye misbelieve as they misbelieve, that ye might be alike; take ye not patrons from among them until they too flee in God’s way; but if they turn their backs, then seize them and kill them wheresoever ye find them, and take from them neither patron nor help,—save those who reach a people betwixt whom and you is an alliance—or who come to you while their bosoms prevent them from fighting you or fighting their own people. But had God pleased He would have given you dominion over them, and they would surely have fought you. But if they retire from you and do not fight you, and offer you peace,—then God hath given you no way against them.

Ye will find others who seek for quarter from you, and quarter from their own people; whenever they return to sedition they shall be overturned therein: but if they retire not from you, nor offer you peace, nor restrain their hands, then seize them and kill them wheresoever ye find them;—over these we have made for you manifest power.