Guest wwF1587 Report post Posted February 7, 2003 Thanks to AOL for this. WASHINGTON (Feb. 7) - The Bush administration Friday raised the national terror alert from yellow to orange, the second-highest level in the color-coded system. Attorney General John Ashcroft cited an ''increased likelihood'' that the al-Qaida terror network would attack against Americans, either at home or abroad. Ashcroft said apartment buildings, hotels or other ''lightly secured targets'' in the United States. The attorney general also said terrorists might seek ''economic targets, including the transportation and energy sectors, as well as symbolic targets and symbols of American power.'' He told a Justice Department news conference the decision was based on an increase in intelligence pointing to a possible attack by Osama bin Laden's organization timed to coincide with the hajj, the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, Islam's holiest site. The holy period begins Saturday and ends mid-February. The change in the alert level will trigger a government-wide increase in security precautions. ''We are not recommending that events be canceled,'' nor should individuals change their travel, work or recreational plans, Ashcroft said. Even so, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge urged Americans ''in the days ahead, take some time to prepare for emergencies.'' As an example, Ridge suggested that families devise plans for contacting one another if separated by an emergency. ''Terrorist attacks can really take many forms,'' he said. The alert has been at code yellow, or ''elevated,'' which is the middle of a five-point scale of risk developed after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. It was last raised to orange in September and stayed there for two weeks to coincide with the first anniversary of the attacks. The highest alert level is red. Ashcroft said there was a ''sound basis'' for the decision. However, he declined to go beyond that. ''This decision for an increased threat condition designation is based on specific intelligence received and analyzed by the full intelligence community. This information has been corroborated by multiple intelligence sources,'' Ashcroft said. Other officials said U.S. preparation for a possible war with Iraq was also a factor in the decision to raise the alert status. ''Since September the 11th, the U.S. intelligence community has indicated that the al-Qaida terrorist network is still determined to attack innocent Americans, both here and abroad,'' Ashcroft said. Ashcroft said the recent bombings of a nightclub in Bali, Indonesia, and of a resort hotel in Mombasa, Kenya, ''demonstrate the continued willingness of al-Qaida to strike at peaceful, innocent civilians.'' He also said the global terror network could even try to mount a chemical, biological or radiological attack. Ridge said that local and state law enforcement agencies, the nation's governors, many mayors and Congress had been informed in the change in the alert status. ''We're asking all these leaders to increase their security and vigilance wherever necessary,'' Ridge said. Ridge outlined the threat Friday morning in a conference call with the nation's governors, urging them to increase their security efforts and discussing confidential security precautions. Ridge also plans to talk to congressional leaders and to several dozen business leaders who control critical infrastructure, which could include electric power grids, dams or nuclear plants. The public will likely see some changes, such as delays at some facilities and events and some buildings will be harder to enter. Other precautions, however, will be secret and go largely unnoticed by most people. Government officials have grown increasingly concerned about the likelihood of terrorist attacks within the United States as intelligence sources are reporting an increase in terrorist activity or ''chatter.'' One official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said this activity appeared to be peaking and was rivaling that seen before the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. Officials are increasingly worried that al-Qaida and other terrorist groups might try to use chemical, biological or radiological weapons such as a ''dirty bomb'' that spews radiation into the atmosphere over a relatively confined area. There is no evidence, they say, that al-Qaida has acquired nuclear weapons but there is ample proof that it was working with a variety of harmful substances. There is also concern that individual al-Qaida member or sympathizers could attempt small-scale attacks, such as a shooting or suicide bombing. The State Department on Thursday issued a worldwide caution to Americans about a greater risk of terrorism, including ''suicide operations, assassinations or kidnappings'' as well as use of chemical or biological agents. The reasoning behind Bush's decision was unclear early Friday. One U.S. official said there was no specific threat made, but the increase in chilling U.S. intelligence - much of it corroborated - led the administration to determine that there was sufficient reason to put Americans on notice. U.S. preparation for a possible war with Iraq and Saturday's start of the Hajj were also key factors in the decision to raise the alert status. Muslim holy periods tend to raise jitters about terrorist activity among U.S. intelligence officials. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob E Dangerously 0 Report post Posted February 7, 2003 It's one lucky thing for our government that they felt the need to hijack the top story spot and give it to this 'increase in threat' especially with the dossier being stolen from student papers and all. Look over here!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Galactic Gigolo Report post Posted February 7, 2003 How many times has our pretty little pie chart been raised to high since September 11th? I'm really starting to think that terrorists are pussies. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted February 7, 2003 Only about 4 times...If the Terroist were smart...Attack at the lowest color (blue?) and make us regret this stupid threat chart. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted February 7, 2003 Better Safe than Sorry. It's better to be vigilant than have something like 9-11 happen again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest NoCalMike Report post Posted February 8, 2003 it really doesn't matter though. The whole point of the terrorist attacks was to cause this whole stupid pie chart garbage, to take people out of the ordinary routines. I rememeber some of my family right after Sept. 11th were afraid for my uncle since he lives in San Francisco and there were "rumors" of the golden gate bridge being targeted, but I mean, what was the government going to do, tell the 50,000 people that use it to get to and from work, to just stay home for a few months? I mean look, whether or not the "level of danger" is high or low, if I see something suspicious enough to contact law enforcement, I will do it. Otherwise, shut up about the "level of danger" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jobber of the Week Report post Posted February 8, 2003 there were "rumors" of the golden gate bridge being targeted LOL. That thing is sturdy as hell, and the earthquake prevention measures have only made it stronger. They'd be better off bombing the Financial District. I can't really think of anything the terrorists can do to the GG Bridge besides weapons of mass destruction that'll do much more than maybe snap a cable. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest hardyz1 Report post Posted February 8, 2003 Oooh, I'm SOOOO scared! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted February 8, 2003 That whole Golden Gate thing was ludacris...What good would that done? Here the legit targets for possible Attack... White House=Might have been the planned 4th plane attack target. Capitol=Also might had been the planned 4th attack. Times Square-Center of Capitalism. Pentagon=To finish the job. Kennedy Space Center=Obvious reasons Super Bowl/World Series=Obvious reasons Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest NoCalMike Report post Posted February 8, 2003 Golden Gate bridge though is a well known WEST COAST landmark, plus if it was damaged badly during rush hour traffic, there would be majory casuilties in the gridlock traffic peak hours. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted February 8, 2003 No more than A couple Hundred...They couldn't collaspe the the Bridge like they could with the WTC. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Tyler McClelland Report post Posted February 8, 2003 They can't destroy the entire Pentagon without a nuke. It's utterly impossible. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jobber of the Week Report post Posted February 8, 2003 Golden Gate bridge though is a well known WEST COAST landmark, plus if it was damaged badly during rush hour traffic, there would be majory casuilties in the gridlock traffic peak hours. You truly don't understand the engineering behind it. Those towers are damn solid, and all the retrofitting for earthquakes since the 89 quake have only made them stronger. The bridge itself is actually shaped in an upward arch. For it's 50th birthday, they closed the bridge to traffic and let anybody walk around the bridge. Click here to see a picture. So many people crowded onto the bridge that the arch flattened. Engineers were worried, but it held up fine. When everyone left, it arched up again. Each strand in those cables weigh many tons. The actual cables themselves are downright huge. The point of this? Even if you set off a bomb on the bridge in rush hour traffic, the most damaging thing that could happen is a cable could snap. If that happened, the bridge is still strong enough to hold up as long as it takes to clear everyone off. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Eagan469 Report post Posted February 8, 2003 I should But yet I'm Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DrTom Report post Posted February 9, 2003 That whole Golden Gate thing was ludacris... OMG the rapper is a terrorist!! Someone call John Ashcroft! I've heard that the east coast is again the rumored target this time, but I wouldn't be at all surprised to see an attack on the west coast. California, after all, is where all those "sinful" movies get made. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MrRant Report post Posted February 9, 2003 Disneyland would be my pick if it were going to be a CA attack or Las Vegas just because of the amount of people there during convention season. P.S. Las Vegas IS where all the really "sinful" movies are made. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted February 9, 2003 They can't destroy the entire Pentagon without a nuke. It's utterly impossible. They could hit a more important section of the Pentagon. The side that was hit was undergoing repairs and thankfully there wasn't as many casualties has their might of been other wise. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted February 9, 2003 You bring up a great point in Vegas...In reality it hits the Trifect of things "WRONG" with America... GREED Prosecution Pornography Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MrRant Report post Posted February 9, 2003 You bring up a great point in Vegas...In reality it hits the Trifect of things "WRONG" with America... GREED Prosecution Pornography And I can't wait to move back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
