Senior U.S. officials say intelligence "chatter" suggests terrorists plotting major US attack

CNN ^ | 5-20-03

[dogbyte12]

CNN flashing alert. More details to follow. Could be a drudge like siren, or series. CNN thinks this one is serious.

[areafiftyone]

I heard this yesterday on MSNBC - They think New York City, Washington D.C. and The Chicago Sears tower might be hit!

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

I believe it when it happens, which it hasn't yet since 9/11.

[conservativeinbflo.]

speculation i heard is New Mexico/Arizona area...

[FourtySeven]

Again?!?

What I wonder is: Do all these announcements do any good by warding off terrorism (at the last moment)? or...

Do they simply desensitize our nation to the very real threat of terrorism, vis a vis "Boy who cried wolf"?

[conservativeinbflo.]

i'm afraid that it will have the "boy who cried wolf" effect.

[blam]

I just heard on ABC radio news that "imminent" is being defined as "within the next 48 hours."

[xsmommy]

why there?

[Spiff]

speculation i heard is New Mexico/Arizona area...

As I live in Arizona, I'd greatly appreciate it if you told me who is doing such speculation and how reliable it may be.

Thanks.

[Geezerette]

Arizona = largest nuke plant in the US, 50 miles from me. It's being very well protected ... I hope they take this hugh warning vey seriesly.

g

[dogbyte12]

Story up Now

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Senior U.S. officials said Tuesday that intelligence "chatter" suggests terrorists may be planning a major attack inside the United States.

One official called the intelligence "reasonably spooky stuff."

The FBI warned state and local law enforcement authorities Tuesday that the terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia and Morocco "may be a prelude to an attack in the United States."

The message was sent to police agencies nationwide on a secure telecommunications system, two senior law enforcement officials said.

"While these attacks produced a significant loss of life and destruction, recent intelligence suggests that the attacks may be a prelude to another attack in the United States," the message said.

Officials said as they monitor suspected al Qaeda members talking about future operations, the problem is separating the "wishful thinking and bluster" from discussion of real plots that are under way.

"There is some chatter that points to the U.S.," an official said, "but we don't really know if it is real."

But law enforcement officials stressed that the message also said the FBI possesses no specific threat information. The message on the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System urged local police agencies to report any suspicious activity and to remain alert to potential terrorist operations in the United States.

Authorities believe al Qaeda was responsible for May 12's multiple suicide bombings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that killed 25 people and nine bombers. Moroccan officials said 42 people, including bombers, were killed in Friday's attacks in Casablanca.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials are expected to meet at the White House on Tuesday to discuss whether the nation's threat level should be raised in light of the Saudi attacks.

A Homeland Security official said the United States continues to see a credible threat overseas against U.S. and British interests. The official said there were no credible or specific threats against targets in the United States.

"Right now, it doesn't appear to be anything that would lead us to raise the threat level," the official said.

However, Homeland Security principals are "very concerned" and are trying to figure out if there is a correlation to threats in the United States, the official said. (The U.S. threat level system)

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge appeared Monday on Capitol Hill to discuss U.S. preparedness for terrorist attacks as intelligence officials warn that new strikes may be imminent.

Ridge said his department still had a lot of work to do but added it had made much progress since its creation in response to the September 11, 2001, attacks.

"We are significantly safer than we were 20 months ago," Ridge said. "We are safer because as a nation we are more aware of the threat of terrorism and much more vigilant in confronting it. We are safer because our homeland security professionals now have a single department leading them and our states and cities have a place to turn for financial, technical and operational support."

Ridge's testimony before the House Select Committee on Homeland Security comes after the United States announced that it was closing its embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and its consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran on Wednesday after receiving "credible information that further terrorist attacks are being planned against unspecified targets in Saudi Arabia." (Full story)

Officials have not decided when the facilities will reopen, according to an embassy statement, but officials said that it would be Sunday at the earliest. The missions are usually closed Thursdays and Fridays, according to the embassy's Web site, and they already were scheduled to close Saturday for the Memorial Day holiday.

Britain also plans to close its Riyadh embassy Wednesday, officials said. They did not say when it would reopen.

Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the Saudi ambassador to the United States, said Monday that he believes the suicide bombers who struck Riyadh last week were planning a much bigger operation and that he fears another devastating attack.

Saudi Arabia has raised its threat level to its highest point ever in response to the bombings.

Four people believed to be linked to al Qaeda have been detained in connection with the Riyadh attacks, said Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef, adding that each had prior knowledge of the bombings. (Full story)

Iran denies hosting al Qaeda Iran again denied Tuesday that it is harboring suspected al Qaeda operatives, turning aside U.S. beliefs that some members of the terror group are using the country as a base for attacks. (Full story)

The U.S. government has been in communication with Iran about the presence of al Qaeda members, making it clear to the nation's Islamic leadership that it must take more steps against terrorism, U.S. officials said Monday.

Senior U.S. government sources last week told CNN that evidence suggested al Qaeda's operation chief was in Iran and may have played a role in planning the Saudi attacks.

However, on the Web site of Iran's state-owned Islamic Republic News Agency, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi rebutted remarks by U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld that al Qaeda leaders are in Iran, adding that Iran has no links to the "fundamentalist and violent" network.

[conservativeinbflo.]

speculation by local new officials and political pundits. nothing official from the pentagon. but because of the nuclear reactor there, that's probably why there's speculation.

[m1-lightning]

CNN will say anything to get people to think Bush hasn't protected this nation.

[rwfromkansas]

bump

[ken5050]

What worries me in NYC is Fleet Week..it's such an obvious target....and there are thousands of visitors to the ships, as well as thousands of young sailors "on the loose" in NYC, which can be risky during normal times....they're vulnerable...

[Grampa Dave]

Also, the last so called news agency to ever hear from the Bush administration or real intel people will be CNN!

[clamboat]

why there?

Because that's what the local news anchors said.

The local news editors of your 6 o'clock news want to make sure there is a local angle on every story they present. So when presented with a national terrorism alert, they immediately look around for local landmarks that might be targetted, whether that makes any sense or not.

That's why the 6 o'clock news leads with a story like:
"Federal officials say there is an risk of attack, and downtown might be a target. Our own Margie Shamlts has the story. Margie?"

If you listen to the news in Portland, Maine or Portland, Oregon, they will all say the same thing -- "our little town may be a target!" The fact is that local officials have no idea if they are targeted or not, but it never hurts the budget to claim to be a target.

[conservativeinbflo.]

problem is, same newsflash is on foxnews.com as well...

[Spiff]

speculation by local new officials and political pundits.

Where is "local"? Arizona? NM? Which news officials? Which political pundits?

I'm not trying to harass you, just trying to determine the credibility of the people making such speculation.

Thanks.

[jerseygirl]

In their (sick) minds, I believe that they have probably believe they need to do something even more "spectacular" than 9-11. My guess is a dirty bomb set off in a port city, or attack on a reactor.

[MizSterious]

There is only so much President Bush or anyone can do to fully protect everyone in the U.S. When I see these stories, I view them as opportunities for prayer. There's nothing "I" can do, except pray for divine internvention. (Woops, is that politically correct, to say that?)

[dogbyte12]

Fox's sources tell them that they see a possibility of attacks on Europe and/or the US in the next few days. That is why the FBI alerted the local law enforcement all over the US.

[conservativeinbflo.]

no one in Arizona... that's why i said "speculation..." it's people discussing it...

i'm surprised you haven't heard about this before. Arizona has been mentioned a number of times.

[xsmommy]

i live in No.VA outside of DC, we don't need to trump up any angles!!

[Grampa Dave]

What is Fox's source.

As much as I like Fox, during the Iraqi war, they quoted Retuers and AFP phoney reports as gospel just to have something to say.

[conservativeinbflo.]

not sure about Fox's source. I just saw it in bold letters across the website...

I live in Buffalo, and as you all know, we're swarming with Al-Qaeda members/wannabes. I can only hope they adhere to the adage, "don't sh!t where you eat."

[BluH2o]

They think New York City, Washington D.C. and The Chicago Sears tower might be hit!

Perhaps Chicago, my feeling is that NY and Washington will be avoided as security is tight. My guess is the terror cells will be looking for the easy hit ... Boston, Denver, Miami, San Francisco, etc.

[P.O.E.]

From last week:U.S. public warned to be on alert for truck bombers

[rwfromkansas]

I would prefer to be warned so people can't whine: "but nobody told us."

[rwfromkansas]

And if it causes the boy cried wolf effect, too bad for those folks.

[ken5050]

The administartion damned if they do, damned if they dont....IF, there was a terrorist attack and there hadn't been a warning....they'd be excoriated..it's what Dems do....so, they raise the threat levels, and then when hopefully, nothing happens, you'll start to hear the response, from the admin, as the politicfal season heats up, that they've successfully BROKEN UP terrorist threats..

[areafiftyone]

No New York will be hit again. The security in New York is not as tight as you think it is. They realize that New York will never survive another hit and is now a great target - especially the stock exchange! They didn't mention any other cities but New York, Washington and Chicago. Other cities wouldn't make as much a dent in the economy as these three would! They are thinking logically according to our economy not according to who should we hit next. These people want to destroy our economy not just buildings!!!

[Dolphy]

If Ridge is in the White House right now, as ABC is reporting, I am surprised since FNC said he would be testifying before Congress for most of the day.

[dogbyte12]

Andrea Mitchell is reporting that "senior US officials" believe that the attacks in Saudi Arabia were a diversion to distract us from a US attack. The Al Quaida folks fled saudi arabia several days before the attacks in Saudi Arabia and might be headed here.

Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the US, Prince Bandar bin Sultan said, "there is chatter, a high level of chatter.” He added,“My gut feeling tells me something big is going to happen here or in America,”

[Sans-Culotte]

Well, for a start, The president could get serious about policing the borders.

[xkaydet65]

Listening to ABC RadioNews I would not be surprised if threat level jumped from yellow to red. Being a teacher in NYC we have some pretty draconian lockdown measures for up to three days. There's stuff going on now and I don't think it's some politically driven stuff from CNN or PMSNBC. I thinj something's about to go down, and I'm hoping the Feds et.al. get there first.

[areafiftyone]

I wonder how much this ambassador really knows! I don't trust him!

[toddst]

. . . they've successfully BROKEN UP terrorist threats.. .

We certainly hope and pray terrorists are prevented from acting within the U.S. again. So far, so good. However, all that aside I'm glad to be living in "flyover country." The terrorists want more "bang" for their "bang" than will be the case here.

[ken5050]

Agreed..that was a very interesting coment he made, not to mention the timing of it....OTOH..if nothing happens, the quote is foregotten..if something occurs..he looks prescient...

[MizSterious]

Yes, I would like to see that, too. However, there are probably already enough sleepers in this country already that border protection reforms would probably be like closing the barn door once the horses are out. Still, it wouldn't hurt to at least start reforming immigration policies, especially with the countries bordering the U.S.

[ken5050]

The only way to truly defeat terrorists is to kill them where they live, and also all those who give them id and comfort....we can't keep playing defense....

[dogbyte12]

We certainly hope and pray terrorists are prevented from acting within the U.S. again. So far, so good. However, all that aside I'm glad to be living in "flyover country." The terrorists want more "bang" for their "bang" than will be the case here.

Weird thought. Will the price of real estate in flyover country start going up? If Al Quada attacks big cities again, people might start slowly trickling out to rural areas, feeling, logically so, that they are safer from an attack due to their lack of signifigance.

[ewing]

Unconfirmed reports just from FR folks have 2 Islamokazis arrested in the US planning bad stuff the past few days...

[Normal4me]

FNC now alerting that 3 Al Queda have been caught in Jedda, SA.

/Too lazy to post.

[Nexus]

I would not be surprised if threat level jumped from yellow to red.

Neither would I.

From the above CNN story:

One official called the intelligence "reasonably spooky stuff."

Is it not strange to hear an official calling a serious threat "spooky"?

[m1-lightning]

Notice this came soon after the Dem Candidates recent attack on Bush so for their called 'failure' to fight terrorism. Since there have been no attacks here since 9/11, all they can do is hype the threat and every liberal rag media source will flame it.

[Shermy]

"One official called the intelligence "reasonably spooky stuff."

Perhaps intel is monitoring religion lectures in Saudi Arabian high schools?

[ewing]

I noticed that also.

These NSA/CIA guys see a lot of raw 'hot' intel, anything they categorize as 'sufficiently spooky' is probably freak out time for the breaking news crowd at FR

[Chemist_Geek]

There's nothing "I" can do, except pray for divine internvention.

Ahem. There's plenty that ordinary people can do to help secure America, even just on evenings and weekends... Examples follow.

Citizen Corps

Amateur Radio Emergency Communications

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary

Civil Air Patrol

[Gasshog]

"there is chatter, a high level of chatter.”