U.S. Officials Warn of New Tactics by Al Qaeda

[radfringe]

In time for weekend news cycle, 2nd anniversary of September 11, Iraq's in a mess and whistass's numbers are circling the drain.... so is anyone surprised?

U.S. Officials Warn of New Tactics by Al Qaeda
Homeland Security Dept. Cites Concern About Attacks, but Does Not Raise Alert Level
By John Mintz and Sara Kehaulani Goo
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, September 5, 2003; Page A02


The Department of Homeland Security warned yesterday that al Qaeda might launch attacks in the United States using tactics not employed here in the past, such as car bombs, men dressed as women to avoid scrutiny and hijacking airliners in Mexico or Canada that can be flown into U.S. targets.

But the department did not raise the national threat alert level from yellow for "elevated risk" to orange for "high risk" because, department spokesman Gordon Johndroe said, "the intelligence information we have isn't specific enough to do that."

Homeland Security officials have said they would avoid frequent raising and lowering of the threat level for fear that Americans would grow jaded about terrorism threats. Earlier this year, the government sounded three orange alerts in four months, and many citizens as well as public officials all but ignored them.

The government sounded the alarm yesterday because of several factors, officials said: the approaching second anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks; an alarming rise in intelligence indicating al Qaeda operatives are scouting an array of targets; and recent terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Iraq.

[radfringe]

1. booga-booga from CNN front page

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/09/04/homeland.advisory/index.html">Advisory: Al Qaeda planning new U.S. attacks
Laundry list of possible attack scenarios
From Jeanne Meserve and Kelli Arena
CNN Washington Bureau
Friday, September 5, 2003 Posted: 2:28 AM EDT (0628 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A Department of Homeland Security advisory issued Thursday warns that al Qaeda is working on plans to hijack airliners flying between international points that pass near or over the continental United States.

A department official said most of the flights fitting this description originate in Canada, and that U.S. officials have been working with Canada over the past month to ensure it is improving screening and other security measures.

----snip----

The advisory includes a laundry list of possible attack scenarios, and says al Qaeda may be researching how to disseminate diseases and toxins by contaminating water and food, or aerosolizing an agent in an enclosed space.

But the advisory says there is no specific information on individual targets or dates that would warrant raising the nation's threat alert level from the current yellow (elevated) to orange (high).

Some tactical information and six pages of suggested protective measures were redacted from the version of the advisory provided to the press.

[Rollins]

2. FEAR!!

I find the Bush advisors use of fear very interesting. They have taken propoganda to a new level. Even the Nazi party and Joseph Goebbels didn't hold a candle to the mind control by the Bush handlers in 2003.

"We are on the hunt. We are getting the terra'sts one at a time."

God that scares me.

[emad]

7. Who's more scared, them or us?

Dubya thought he could walk on water, Poppy and Jeb fixed all that for him back in 2000. Pity he never really learned how to win at poker. The only bluff that ever wins is the one that's hardest played at the very beginning of the game. After that, it's no contest.

[Voltaire99]

3. Be afraiiiiiiiid Americans, be very afraiiiiiiiiid!

Remember: Papa Bush and Uncle Ridge only have your best interests at heart. They will protect you from Evil, which lurks everywhere--everywhere!

Does everyone know this great Auden poem? It speaks to where society ends up when it is continually bullied and terrorized by its leaders...


What Is That Sound

O what is that sound which so thrills the ear
Down in the valley drumming, drumming?
Only the scarlet soldiers, dear,
The soldiers coming.

O what is that light I see flashing so clear
Over the distance brightly, brightly?
Only the sun on their weapons, dear,
As they step lightly.

O what are they doing with all that gear,
What are they doing this morning, this morning?
Only their usual manoeuvres, dear.
Or perhaps a warning.

O why have they left the road down there,
Why are they suddenly wheeling, wheeling?
Perhaps a change in their orders, dear.
Why are you kneeling?

O haven't they stopped for the doctor's care,
Haven't they reined their horses, their horses?
Why, they are none of them wounded, dear.
None of these forces.

O is it the parson they want, with white hair,
Is it the parson, is it, is it?
No, they are passing his gateway, dear,
Without a visit.

O it must be the farmer who lives so near.
It must be the farmer so cunning, so cunning?
They have passed the farmyard already, dear,
And now they are running.

O where are you going? Stay with me here!
Were the vows you swore deceiving, deceiving?
No, I promised to love you, dear,
But I must be leaving.

O it's broken the lock and splintered the door,
O it's the gate where they're turning, turning;
Their boots are heavy on the floor
And their eyes are burning.

-- W. H. Auden

[FormerOstrich]

4. Fear run amouk

Why can't they get the fear line down so we know what we are suppose to be afraid of. As I said on another thread (link below)....I'm so confused. I might be scared of the wrong threat.

The Arizona Republic said they were going to try to poison us with nicotine and potatoes. It didn't say anything about hijacking! Seems a person can't figure out what to be frightened of!

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0904FBIterrorism04-ON.html


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=97764

[Devils Advocate NZ]

5. I have a question... If they are listening in on Al Qaeda operatives...

why aren't they sending troops to kill or capture them? Isn't there supposed to be a War On Terror?

I mean, you could argue that gathering intelligence on their movements is important, but if they kill them they won't be able to move will they?

What is the problem? Has Al Qaeda figured out a way to communicate that prevents the US from locating them, or has the US decided to stop killing or capturing Al Qaeda operatives until AFTER they blow shit up?

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

6. The truth for them is not the same as it is for the rest of the world...