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=> Gov raises terror alert to orange

Posted by Andreas (Guest) - Sunday, December 21 2003, 17:01:05 (EST)
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Gov raises terror alert to orange

Not that I'd ever doubt the gov insiders' and other puppetmasters' callousness to repeat the 9-11 stunt ...

Til then they'll keep whipping up the frenzies and subjecting Americans to a collective traumatisation by hystery.

Will produce fine malleable minds.

Andreas

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HOMELAND INSECURITY
Government raises
terror threat level

Ridge says danger 'perhaps greater
now than any point' since Sept. 11

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: December 21, 2003
3:06 p.m. Eastern

© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com

Saying indicators of potential terror attacks on the American homeland during the holiday season are “perhaps greater now than at any point” since Sept. 11, 2001, the Bush administration today raised the national terror threat level to orange, the second-highest level, meaning a high risk of terrorist attack.

Out of fear over seeming to "cry wolf," the government has resisted raising the terror threat level in recent months, being prompted to do so now because of the high degree of ominous indicators.

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, in a press statement issued before his news conference, said: “Information indicates that extremists abroad are anticipating near-term attacks that they believe will rival or exceed the scope and impact of those we experienced in New York, at the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania more than two years ago.”

"A substantial increase in the volume of threat-related intelligence reports” seen by the intelligence community prompted the increased threat designation from yellow to orange, last raised in May.

Ridge warned that "credible sources suggest the possibility of attacks against the homeland around the holiday season and beyond. These strategic indicators, including al-Qaida’s continued desire to carry out attacks against our homeland, are perhaps greater now than at any point since Sept 11."

The government's chief official in charge of homeland security, Ridge added: “Recent reporting reiterates that al-Qaida continues to consider using aircraft as a weapon. They are evaluating procedures both here and abroad to find gaps in our security posture that can be exploited.”

Last week, prompted by a large amount of ominous intercepted communications, U.S. officials advised holiday travelers to be on their guard because of the possibility of terror attacks. According to an NBC report, U.S. officials say analysis of recent al-Qaida "chatter" turns up the word "big" and the desire to hit America with a "WMD attack."

Friday, Al-Jazeera broadcast a new tape al-Qaida bigwig Ayman al-Zawahri – a tape the CIA believes is authentic – in which bin Laden's chief deputy said: "We are still chasing the Americans and their allies everywhere, even in their homeland."

As the Associated Press reported, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Richard Myers said in a "Fox News Sunday" interview: "There is no doubt, from all the intelligence we pick up from al-Qaida, that they want to do away with our way of life. And if they could use another catastrophic event, a tragedy like 9-11, if they could do that again, if they could get their hands on weapons of mass destruction and make it 10,000 (deaths), not 3,000, they would do that.”

At his news conference today, Ridge told the nation: "Extensive and considerable protections have been or soon will be in place all across the country. Your government will stand at the ready 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to stop terrorism during the holiday season and beyond."

Intelligence analysts are reportedly concerned in particular with the threat of 9-11-style attacks, where hijacked jetliners are used by terrorists as weapons.

"Recent reporting," said Ridge, "reiterates that al-Qaida continues to consider using aircraft as a weapon. They are evaluating procedures both here and abroad to find gaps in our security posture that can be exploited."

Security at airports, border crossing points and ports is expected to be tightened in response to the increased threat level, said Ridge.

Urging Americans not to disrupt their holiday plans, Ridge added: "America is a country that will not be bent by terror. America is a country that will not be broken by fear."

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