U.S. Intelligence Learn of Possible Threats to New York and Ot

[twilight]

Dec. 19— Authorities are evaluating a surge of information related to possible terrorist threats to a number of cities in the United States, including New York City, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., ABCNEWS has learned.

Threat information is coming from intelligence intercepts, interrogation of recent detainees and other methods, sources say. Intelligence and law enforcement officials are currently evaluating the threat information.

Sources say the threat to New York City possibly involves a female suicide bomber, but no specific target has been identified and intelligence sources are still evaluating the credibility of this threat. The New York City Police Department released a statement saying it has "no credible intelligence pointing to a specific or imminent terrorist threat" in the city.

In the threats received for other cities, including Los Angeles and Washington, no mode of attack has been identified and no location or specific cells were named.

Senior officials from the Department of Homeland Security, intelligence and law enforcement have a planned meeting Monday to evaluate the recent surge in information related to possible terror threats.

Link:

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/World/threat_newyork_031219.html

:dem:

[wryter2000]

1. Whatever happened

Whatever happened to the color-coded threats?

[caledesi]

3. Well you do know that Tom Ridge is colorblind. LOL!

This is true. Heard him in an interview. What irony, huh?

[twilight]

4. click on the link - more there

<<Preparations Already Under Way

Officials around the nation were already actively engaged in serious discussions with the Department of Homeland Security about whether events, chatter and the time of year warrant elevating the threat level inside the United States to orange, or high, for the upcoming holiday season that starts tonight at sunset. >>

If you read further down you'll see more about the colored alerts ... *sigh*

:dem: :kick:

[0007]

9. Thank you twilight -

My mind was flooded with many questions of mixed emotions as I read this article.

Again we have no specifics as what to expect or how to prepare. I don't know what the answer is or how one should prepare for an attack of terrorism that appears inevitable here in the United States. What can one do?

So far nothing disastrous has happened since 911. How many fearful alerts have we had? It seems to me that this may be the plan. To keep us jumping until all credibility of the alerts have lost effectiveness.

Fear is a powerful weapon. Especially the ones that already have experienced the attack of 911 in New York City.

[MattNC]

2. i'm not too worried

usual holiday time 'chatter' - we'll see though.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Ok, Ok lets assume for a moment

that this one is for real and not just your dose of fear from
the admninistration... (Which could back fire as people stay home
and do not shop)

Now we were told by one Presidential Candidate that the capture
of Sadamn did not make us any safer... as the administration
was sugesting and even gushing with gusto, (or at least Pravda like
talking heads)

So lets assume (and lets hope it does not come to pass), that we
do have an attack at insert city here, and we have a fairly large
number of casualties.

Will this candidate look more and more like a prophet?

Oh and for the record, reality is, we will have another attack, it is
just a matter of when, and those who do follow National Security issues know this... that said... if anybody believes this will event will not be used for political gain by the pubbies (see we can make you safer, it worked for Likkud), and by democrats, (see we are NOT safer), is really dreaming

Now this is not a lamblast on the particular candidate... anybody who has been paying attention knows exactly who he is, and for the record he is correct, as well as Hart and Rudman.

Now if this attack should include oh I do not know, a dirty bomb... this will actually back fire on the lack of real spending on Homeland Security Bush Administration.

Overall I pray this does not happen, since we really do not need another attack for both political and practical reasons... remember kiddies, a frightened nations is a pliable nation.

[KoKo]

6. Every holiday they issue a warning. I guess it's logical but it becomes

like the "little boy who cried wolf" after awhile. We expect them to protect us not for us to have to be quaking in fear everytime they issue one of these. Sounds like "butt covering" when they do that. But, given how sucessful the Bushies were in protecting us from 9/11, I guess "butt covering" is what they do best.

[kysrsoze]

7. I'm just a little freaked this time b/c

from what I can remember, this is the first time they've ever mentioned suicide attacks in multiple locations. They specifically mentioned a woman so they must have some solid info.

They've talked about soft targets before, but not specifically suicide bombings - what I think is probably the easiest to do here and probably much more damaging to peoples' psyches than a plane hitting a tower. This means anybody anywhere is a potential target. Now, if they did it in small cities, I'm sure everyone would experience some paranoia. Hope they're paying attention there.

[0007]

10. This alert certainly took a different form than the others, huh?

[MasonJar]

8. Well, we all know

where Cheney and Bush will not be for the indefinite future.

[Corgigal]

11. Well I certainly HOPE

they make sure Times Square/New Years celebration okay.
Would hate to be a cop working that area.

[schultzee]

12. There is nothing we can do about this except stay away from crowded

areas. I plan to do that anyway. I am just sick of traffic and crowds and have boycotted gifts this year except for hubby, nephew and in-laws, and I have already sent the gifts.

[moondust]

13. But...but..."We got him!"

How can this be? Why have all those people died? Goober says Iraq is the center of terraism. Goober says we're safer now. Thou Shalt Not Question Goober. Remember: "We got him!"

[tlcandie]

14. Interesting security items....

<snip>
Heavy weapons teams, bomb squads, city, state and federal weapons of mass destruction units, bioterror sensors, undercover agents, thousands of uniformed officers and so-called Arch Angel convoys — units trained to remove dignitaries in case of an incident — are all part of the plan.
<snip>


state and federal weapons of mass destructions units

thousands of..... and so-called Arch Angel convoys - units trained to remove dignitaries in case of an incident are ALL part of the plan.

Isn't this like WAY over the top here? Looks to me like they are looking more for bioterror rather than suicide bombers or a massive invasion instead of a suicide bomber? :shrug: