But Islam is a religion of peace.... < /sarcasm >

What year?

Ashcroft first said this last week

I hadn't heard about the extension until just now.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Bush administration wants Americans to remain on a high state of alert at least through the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, government officials said Monday.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge would make the announcement at the White House. The alert was based on threats received by law enforcement, the officials said.

Ramadan's end, which can vary from country to country, will come in mid-December.

Meanwhile, Attorney General John Ashcroft is warning that terrorists won't be able to hide behind religious or political protections.

Rest of article:  http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2001/12/03/national1616EST0690.DTL

From an e-mail I just received:

Gov. Ridge, in a newser to come this afternoon, will urge the nation to remain at a heightened state of alert during Ramadan.

He'll say, officials tell us, that the US has received a number of "general threats" that indicate attacks could come during this period. Therefore, he'll say, the period of heightened alert should last at least through Ramadan, which began mid-November and runs another two weeks or so.

Warning : The sky is falling. Repeat: The sky is falling.

"Oh little town of Bethlehem..." tears... All's fair in love and war?

Speaking of terrorism alerts (kinda), I ran across this conundrum earlier today ...

Reading the Patriot act revealed a stunning Catch-22. It's a crime, under the Patriot Act, to give funds to any organization which is, or has, given money to a known terrorist or terrorist supporting group, even if you don't know you did it.

Well, the Taliban is listed as a Terrorist Supporting group now by our government. And, the U.S. Government has given them millions of dollars, thus making the Feds one of those criminal organizations supporting terrorists.

Which means, if you pay your taxes, you're a criminal.

Gotta call the IRS about this.

Wow! This changes everything! My government at work!

The new tax sucking "Homeland Security" bureaucracy is getting more pathetic in it's quest to justify it's being by coming out and parroting yesterday's news....GAG!

Homeland security:

Army
Navy
Airforce
Marines
Coast Guard
National Guard/reserves
FBI/CIA....

Not a paper pushing bureaucracy with a feel good name spouting yesterday's news.

How? I thought it was indefinite in the first place...

...thus letting the terrorists know exactly when we will stop paying attention.

I'm only half-joking. It seems to me, though, that we ought not put an end date on the terror alert. Keep them guessing.

Has our "director of homeland security" mentioned when he plans to roll out the most important, effective initiative of his department - the distribution of M16s & equipment and the establishment of training programs for the unorganized militia?

Get a life!

Ridge press conference indicates there are credible threats, and is alerting law enforcement agencies through their network.

Deje vous? Not specific, no targets mentioned...

Has our "director of homeland security" mentioned when he plans to roll out the most important, effective initiative of his department - the distribution of M16s & equipment and the establishment of training programs for the unorganized militia?

Don't hold your breath! That, along with arming pilots and effectively guarding our borders simply makes too much sense!

My gut says that these anouncements are given to try and flush somebody/somebodies out. I really can't see any other reason since Joe Citizen can't really do more than he's doing already and local police don't have any additional info to change their operations.

Has our "director of homeland security" mentioned when he plans to roll out the most important, effective initiative of his department - the distribution of M16s & equipment and the establishment of training programs for the unorganized militia?

The Civilian Marksmanship Program