posted 12-21-2003 01:26 PM            

U.S. to Raise Terror Alert to 'High', Officials Say

11 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will raise the nation's terror alert level on Sunday, warning of a "high" risk of terrorist attacks after U.S. authorities said they were alarmed at the volume of threats at home and overseas.

Officials said U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge would make the announcement in Washington at 1:30 p.m. EST.

The department's decision to raise the color-coded alert warning system to orange or "high," from yellow or an "elevated" level, followed a White House decision on Friday to order U.S. security personnel to be extra vigilant for terror attacks during the Christmas period.

An orange alert is one notch below the highest threat level -- red -- denoting a "severe" risk of terrorist attacks. Experts have said a red alert would be declared only if an attack on U.S. soil were imminent or underway.

The alert was last raised to orange from yellow in May, after suicide bombings killed dozens in Morocco and Saudi Arabia.

On Friday, al Jazeera television broadcast a purported audio tape by al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's deputy Ayman al-Zawahri, vowing to defeat the "infidel" United States. The speaker said al Qaeda would target Americans everywhere, including the United States.

An audiotape purportedly by bin Laden -- broadcast on Saturday -- accused Arab governments heeding U.S. calls for democracy of being "infidel" agents of America, but the CIA cast doubt on the tape saying it appeared to be old.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation dismissed an ABC television report that there was credible information pointing to a possible strike against New York, target of the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001.

posted 12-22-2003 03:38 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Mech:
[B]BOOGA BOOGA!!!....BUshLAden is gonna get ya!

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Once again, Mech's arguments amount to childish quips such as BushLaden instead of any serious debate.

Nevertheless, I'd like to ask Mech: Since everyone seems to be so upset at the Bush administration for not letting the nation know about potential threats to 9/11, why is it you are now upset or critical if they raise the "alert" level. Seems like the Bush admin gets criticized for not publishing known threats before 9/11 and now gets criticized when it makes threats known--yet if there were an attack and they had information and didn't publish it you'd probably be the first to criticize the administration from hiding it... maybe even plotting it.

posted 12-22-2003 02:10 PM            

Because its all about FEAR...thats all this administration knows how to control the people with...FEAR.

Our government had all the anti-terror tools in the world. They LET Sept. 11th happen.Now the government has grown by leaps and bounds
that makes Bill Clintons growth seem tame by comparison. Now they USE FEAR as a weapon to convince people to give up their liberty.Its all fake. When another supposed "terror" attack comes Tommy Franks said the suspension of the Constitution will occur. That's treason as far as i'm concerned.These megalomaniacs want total control over our lives.