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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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 Tue May 25, 2004 9:55 pm Terrorists gaining support |
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From Newsmax:
| Quote: | AP Exclusive: Terrorists Are Here and Preparing to Strike Hard
WASHINGTON - U.S. officials have obtained new intelligence deemed highly credible indicating al-Qaida or other terrorists are in the United States and preparing to launch a major attack this summer, The Associated Press has learned.
The intelligence does not include a time, place or method of attack but is among the most disturbing received by the government since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, according to a senior federal counterterrorism official who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Tuesday.
Of most concern, the official said, is that terrorists may possess and use a chemical, biological or radiological weapon that could cause much more damage and casualties than a conventional bomb.
"There is clearly a steady drumbeat of information that they are going to attack and hit us hard," said the official, who described the intelligence as highly credible.
The official declined to provide any specifics about the sources of the information but said there was an unusually high level of corroboration.
Despite that, the official said there was no immediate plan to raise the nation's terrorism threat level from yellow, or elevated, to orange, or high. The threat level has been at yellow - midpoint on the five-color scale - since January.
Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller plan a news conference Wednesday to outline an intensive effort by law enforcement, intelligence and homeland security officials to detect and disrupt any potential plots. And the FBI plans to dispatch a bulletin to some 18,000 state and local law enforcement agencies warning of the threat.
The FBI also has already created a special task force that is focused solely on dealing with this summer's threat. The task force, whose existence until recently was classified, is intended to ensure that no valuable bits of information or intelligence fall through the cracks - as happened repeatedly before the Sept. 11 attacks.
Other actions to be taken include new FBI interviews with people who may have provided valuable information in the past and a fresh examination of older investigative leads to determine if they might point to elements of the summer plot.
Beginning with Saturday's dedication of the new World War II Memorial in Washington, the summer presents a number of high-profile targets in the United States. They include the G-8 summit in Georgia next month that will attract top officials from some of America's closest allies, the Democratic National Convention in Boston in July and the Republican National Convention in August in New York.
The FBI and Homeland Security Department also are concerned about so-called soft targets such as shopping malls anywhere in the United States that offer a far less protected environment than a political convention hall.
U.S. authorities repeatedly have said al-Qaida is determined to mount an attack on U.S. soil, in part to announce to the world that it remains capable of doing so despite the money and effort that has gone into homeland security in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.
There also is concern terrorists might try to mount an attack to coincide with the November election. The political fallout from the March 11 train bombings in Spain taught al-Qaida that an attack timed to an election can have a major impact. Spain's former ruling party was ousted in the voting that followed the bombing, which killed 191 and injured more than 2,000.
The official did not say how many suspected al-Qaida or other terrorist operatives are believed in the country, whether they made their way into the United States recently or have been here for some time. The FBI has warned in the past that Islamic extremist groups may attempt to recruit non-Middle Easterners or women for attacks because they would be less likely to arouse suspicion.
Special security attention already is being focused to the nation's rail, subway and bus lines. The FBI last week sent out an intelligence bulletin to law enforcement agencies urging vigilance against suicide bombers, who have been used by terror groups worldwide to devastating effect but not so far in the United States.
Separately, Immigration and Customs Enforcement chief Michael Garcia told reporters Tuesday that some 2,300 of its agents are being deployed to assist in security for the high-profile events scheduled this summer in the United States. These include as many as 20 agents each day working with the Secret Service to protect the campaigns of President Bush and Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic presidential candidate.
Garcia said his agency also is working to "tighten the investigative system" to ensure that terrorists do not enter the United States by way of human smuggling operations or through the vast, largely unprotected border with Canada.
� 2004 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
Last edited by Republican_Man on Wed May 26, 2004 4:57 pm; edited 2 times in total
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"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Jeff Miller
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 22 Nov 2001
Posts: 23947
Location: Mental Ward for the Mentaly Unstable 6th floor, Saint John's 1615 Delaware Longview Washington 98632
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| Tue May 25, 2004 10:30 pm |
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No offense but I'm starting to ignore these warnings I mean atleast once a month they have a warning I remember one last month about them attacking malls in California. I mean we need to be carefull but after awhile they just get annoying.
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IntrepidIsMe
Pimp Handed
Joined: 14 Jun 2002
Posts: 13057
Location: New York
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| Wed May 26, 2004 3:06 pm |
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Please put your articles in quotes, thank you.
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"Nelly, I am Heathcliff! He's always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself, but as my own being."
-Wuthering Heights
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Wed May 26, 2004 4:58 pm |
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Sorry, I meant to...It's fixed.
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"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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| Wed May 26, 2004 5:01 pm |
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tut tut tut, you are such a bad person now RM, i dont think we can forgive you for that one  
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Leo Wyatt
Sweetest Angel
Joined: 25 Feb 2004
Posts: 19045
Location: Investigating A Crime Scene. What did Quark do this time?
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| Wed May 26, 2004 5:05 pm |
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He's only human Longs as it fixed. 
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Wed May 26, 2004 5:07 pm |
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| JanewayIsHott wrote: | | tut tut tut, you are such a bad person now RM, i dont think we can forgive you for that one |
What? That's so mean! 
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"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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charlie
American Soldier
Joined: 26 Feb 2004
Posts: 598
Location: In The United States
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| Wed May 26, 2004 5:36 pm |
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He is probably joking with you RM
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Wed May 26, 2004 5:49 pm |
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I know that he was...I was joking myself...
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"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Wed May 26, 2004 9:11 pm |
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Yeah, ignore the warnings,  And the next time 9/11 happens, no b1tching, ok?
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Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Wed May 26, 2004 9:49 pm |
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Another 911 WON'T happen so long as Bush is in office (knock on wood).
If a Liberal, like Kerry, is, we won't take the fight to the terrorists, and, pray no, another one may happen.
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"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Wed May 26, 2004 10:03 pm |
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Ever hear the old adage, "If someone is willing to trade his life for the kill, you won't stop him"? It's basically true. And if you don't think that there are people already here in the US, even American citizens who wouldn't act on the behalf of of the (Iraqi bad guys, I can say it, but not spell it, ), or al Qaieda, you are sorely mistaken, and naive.
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Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
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Leo Wyatt
Sweetest Angel
Joined: 25 Feb 2004
Posts: 19045
Location: Investigating A Crime Scene. What did Quark do this time?
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| Wed May 26, 2004 10:20 pm |
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Kerry would not stand up and fight for America like Bush does. He is too big of a coward like Clinton. Clinton just went over there set a few bombs and left. Well sent soliers, airforce, whoever& He did not get the job done. Bush did and is. God help America if Kerry gets in office.
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Wed May 26, 2004 10:24 pm |
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| kmma wrote: | | Kerry would not stand up and fight for America like Bush does. He is too big of a coward like Clinton. Clinton just went over there set a few bombs and left. Well sent soliers, airforce, whoever& He did not get the job done. Bush did and is. God help America if Kerry gets in office. |
Amen to that, sister! It is true...*shudders at the thought of if Gore was elected.*
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"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Leo Wyatt
Sweetest Angel
Joined: 25 Feb 2004
Posts: 19045
Location: Investigating A Crime Scene. What did Quark do this time?
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| Wed May 26, 2004 10:28 pm |
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OMG, don't mention Al Gore the sore loser. Hey that ryhmes or will I get into trouble for that? OOOOOOOOOOOOOOps.
ouch! 
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charlie
American Soldier
Joined: 26 Feb 2004
Posts: 598
Location: In The United States
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| Wed May 26, 2004 10:40 pm |
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chill other people might not might not take to kindly
of that even though i agree with you.
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