Free Republic

LONDON (Reuters) - The threat of an al Qaeda attack from the sea remains an "absolute concern" and could intensify as operations on land are countered, the U.S. Navy's top commander in the Gulf told Reuters on Monday. Since the September 11 attacks on the United States, governments and security experts have repeatedly voiced fears about the vulnerability of the maritime industry, which carries more than 90 percent of the world's traded goods. "I don't think there is any question that as we thwart their attacks and disrupt their operations on land, that we should expect them to turn to...

WASHINGTON –– Ports and ships are operating under heightened security after the Coast Guard warned of a possible terrorist attack by either swimmers or divers. Cmdr. Jim McPherson, a spokesman for the Coast Guard, said Monday the warning was issued over the weekend after the agency received reports of a possible attack. The Bush administration warned last month of possible terrorist activity by scuba divers. The new warning went to local Coast Guard units, who then notified port authorities, marine patrols and the maritime industry, he said, and added that the Coast Guard offered specific actions that ports could do...