Terror Threat Level: ORANGE

[foghornl]

Just got breaking news e-mail alerts form both CBS & CNN that President Bush is going to raise Terror Threat Level (or alert level, if you prefer) to Orange. I don't have more details yet, but I don't have TV reception in this stinking building.

Homeland Insecurity Director Ridge is supposed to have a press conference/announcement at 12:30 Eastern today (2-7-03). If someone can get more info, we would all like to know.

====Edited with more info=====

This is from the CBS news website stroy:

CBS) The nation's terror warning system will be upgraded Friday from "elevated" to "high" — the second highest level of preparedness on the federal government's alert scale.

The move comes because intelligence agencies detect that terrorist "chatter" is "way up," a source tells CBS News White House Correspondent Mark Knoller.

CBS News will broadcast live a 12:30 p.m. ET press conference featuring Attorney General John Ashcroft and Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge, at which the elevation to code Orange will be announced.

President Bush approved the decision in a meeting early Friday. Senior White House, Justice and Homeland Security Department officials had considered raising the level for several days.

An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the decision was based on an increase in intelligence pointing to a possible attack around the Muslim holy period of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage Muslims make to Mecca. The holy period begins Sunday.

 

[Noban]

In California, that would be a "tangerine" threat level. Where's my latte?

 

[Azrael256]

That's the yawn smiley, right?

This is me quaking in my boots. I'll be out in the middle of nowhere with a whole bunch of guns this weekend, so I'm not too terribly worried if something does happen... but I'm not too terribly worried that something will happen. I guess it's time for all of us to "be vigilant," whatever that means.

 

[KMKeller]

Timing is everything! I just picked up some speed strips for my 340PD. What to fill them with...

 

[AZTOY]

Bush to raise terrorism threat level
From Kelli Arena
CNN
Friday, February 7, 2003 Posted: 12:38 PM EST (1738 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush will raise the national terrorism threat level Friday from an elevated risk of terrorist attacks to a high risk, sources have told CNN.

In addition, the heads of the nation's military branches on Friday were considering raising security levels at bases across the country.

"There is a large spike in threat reporting that shows al Qaeda cells are possibly close to attacks," a senior military official told CNN.

Also, state security officials said security will be increased at major bridges and tunnels. The officials said they would be calling authorities in the private sector and asking them to heighten security at key pieces of infrastructure such as nuclear power plants, railroad lines, and ports.

State Department officials told CNN that arrests of suspected terrorists in Britain with the chemical agent ricin, in France with cyanide compounds and in Spain with other chemicals prompted the caution.

The national threat levels, developed after the September 11 attacks, are part of a color-coded system. Currently the level stands at elevated risk -- or yellow. High risk would be orange.

The threat level change is expected to be announced at a 12:30 p.m. EST news conference, government officials said. Both Attorney General John Ashcroft and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge will be on hand.

Decision follows days of debate
Earlier sources told CNN that U.S. government officials had recommended to the president that he raise the threat level, following several days of debate within the government about whether to take such an action.

Counterterrorism officials have said they are more worried about a possible terrorist attack due to several factors, including an increase in the so-called "chatter" level.

Worldwide chatter prompted the State Department on Wednesday to issue a new worldwide warning that cautions Americans to be vigilant and aware of their surroundings. The chatter concerned possible a chemical or bioweapons terror attack against the United States.

The stepped-up chatter indicates a greater amount of intelligence coming in about a possible attack, especially by al Qaeda, the culmination beginning this weekend of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and the continuing confrontation with Iraq, according to officials.

Ridge called governors
Sources said that Ridge had been calling state governors and emergency preparedness officials to brief them on the threat, telling them that the level of chatter was at its highest level since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Ridge has also contacted officials in 13 sectors of private industry which control 85 percent of the critical infrastructure in the nation, including the energy, finance and transportation sectors. The officials said they were particularly concerned about chemical, biological and radiological threats.

On Wednesday, sources told CNN that the FBI is closely watching a "handful" of people believed to be Iraqi intelligence officers in the United States. There is also surveillance of at least several hundred Iraqi nationals living in the United States who are thought to be supporters of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Also worrisome to U.S. officials is increased intelligence from a variety of sources in recent weeks suggesting a possible future attack in the United States that could include chemical or biological weapons.

The information does not single out any specific chemical agent or target, but officials said they are mostly concerned about the vulnerability of so-called "soft targets," such as apartment buildings, sports arenas and amusement parks.

Since the inception of the color-coded threat level system -- officially called the Homeland Security Advisory System -- in March 2002, the status has been yellow the whole time except for a short period around July 4 when it was raised to orange.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/02/07/threat.level/index.html

 

[Baba Louie]

God forbid anything happen...

But it kinda reminds me of the story about the boy who cried "Wolf" once too often.

Still, better to be prepared than to sit on my thumb.

T'would be nice to know, from whence cometh these sources of intell. and their reliability level.

Keep muttering to myself, "Must trust the Gov't., They know best."

Adios

 

[Tady45]

"Must trust the Gov't., They know best."

Yes, well one would think, with the billions & billions they spend on Intel, that they would know best, but I am not so sure...Speculation can be very expensive to this country. We are on the verge of a war with limited facts, against a nation that can't harm us directly. The US population is skeptical. Maybe another Terrorist attack would prime the pump of public opinion...



Larry

 

[jmbg29]

Nay ta-ta eva doours, chickamaymay. Like tee inna win' chichapee.

Nell

 

[Bruce H]

Not a bad call actually, congress is in session.

 

[Agent Z]

Nay ta-ta eva doours, chickamaymay. Like tee inna win' chichapee.

Donna kee, donna kee poh neah!! Cuttin dun de tee inna win.
Neah be coal inde winner.

 

[Bainx]

I find it kind of ironic that our Govt. defines colors for various levels of awareness but still, the sheeple do not employ it on a personal level in every-day life.
Goes to show you, sheeple want to be lead.

 

[waterdog]

Propaganda for the sheople.

The Prez and his cronies have to keep the sheoples eyes on the smoke and mirrors.

Can't have citizens looking behind the curtain.

waterdog