Chertoff: Hunch Terror Attack Coming U.S. counterterror officials are warning of an increased risk of an attack this summer, given al-Qaida's apparent interest in summertime strikes and increased al-Qaida training in the Afghan-Pakistani border region.
On Tuesday, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told the editorial board of The Chicago Tribune that he had a "gut feeling" about a new period of increased risk.
He based his assessment on earlier patterns of terrorists in Europe and intelligence he would not disclose.
"Summertime seems to be appealing to them," Chertoff said in his discussion with the newspaper about terrorists. "We worry that they are rebuilding their activities."
Other U.S. counterterrorism officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, shared Chertoff's concern and said that al-Qaida and like-minded groups have been able to plot and train more freely in the tribal areas along the Afghan-Pakistani border in recent months. Osama bin Laden and his top deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, are believed to be hiding in the rugged region.
"The threat coming out of there is very real, even if there aren't a lot of specifics attached to it," one of the officials said.
Chertoff's department has not made any move to increase the nation's color-coded terror alert system. Now, airlines are under orange — or high — alert, which is the second most serious level on a five-point scale. The rest of the country remains a step below at yellow, or elevated.
Chertoff said he is convinced that terrorists are regrouping. "Our edge is technology and the vigilance of the ordinary citizen," he said. The secretary also urged Americans to be watchful for suspicious activities in the wake of recent terror incidents in England and Scotland. On June 29, two cars packed with gas cylinders and nails were discovered in London's entertainment district. The next day, two extremists smashed their flaming Jeep Cherokee into security barriers at Glasgow Airport's main terminal.
Al-Qaida and its sympathizers have shown an interest in summertime attacks. Some examples from recent years:
• In 2005, London faced two separate sets of transit attacks. The July 7 attacks on three trains and a bus killed 52. A second attack on July 21 was bungled when the detonators failed to light the explosives.
• Last summer, international counterterror authorities said they foiled a plot to use liquid explosives to take down roughly 10 U.S.-bound airliners leaving Britain.
On Tuesday, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told the editorial board of The Chicago Tribune that he had a "gut feeling" about a new period of increased risk.
there we go---step out onto your porch/doorstep,,put your finger in the air and----you also can tell the way the winds are blowing.....
Quoted Text
Chertoff said he is convinced that terrorists are regrouping. "Our edge is technology and the vigilance of the ordinary citizen," he said.
just put up ALL the cameras and be done with it......put in a microchip....scan my eye....fingerprint till the cows come home....freak me out until I cry "uncle".............
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
just put up ALL the cameras and be done with it......put in a microchip....scan my eye....fingerprint till the cows come home....freak me out until I cry "uncle".............
Thursday, July 12, 2007 6:37 p.m. EDT Intel: al-Qaida Stepping Up Infiltration Efforts
Al-Qaida is stepping up its efforts to sneak terror operatives into the United States and has acquired most of the capabilities it needs to strike here, according to a new U.S. intelligence assessment, The Associated Press has learned.
The draft National Intelligence Estimate is expected to paint an ever-more-worrisome portrait of al-Qaida's ability to use its base along the Pakistan-Afghan border to launch and inspire attacks, even as Bush administration officials say the U.S. is safer nearly six years into the war on terror.
Among the key findings of the classified estimate, which is still in draft form and must be approved by all 16 U.S. spy agencies:
Al-Qaida is probably still pursuing chemical, biological or nuclear weapons and would use them if its operatives developed sufficient capability.
The terror group has been able to restore three of the four key tools it would need to launch an attack on U.S. soil: a safe haven in Pakistan's tribal areas, operational lieutenants and senior leaders. It could not immediately be learned what the missing fourth element is.
The group will bolster its efforts to position operatives inside U.S. borders. In public statements, U.S. officials have expressed concern about the ease with which people can enter the United States through Europe because of a program that allows most Europeans to enter without visas. The document also discusses increasing concern about individuals already inside the United States who are adopting an extremist brand of Islam.
National Intelligence Estimates are the most authoritative written judgments that reflect the consensus long-term thinking of senior intelligence analysts.
Government officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the report has not been finalized, described it as an expansive look at potential threats within the United States and said it required the cooperation of a number of national security agencies, including the CIA, FBI, Homeland Security Department and National Counterterrorism Center.
National security officials met at the White House on Thursday about the intelligence estimate and related counterterrorism issues. The tentative plan is to release a declassified version of the report and brief Congress on Tuesday, one government official said. Ross Feinstein, spokesman for National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell, declined to discuss the document's specific contents. But he said it would be consistent with statements made by senior government officials at congressional hearings and elsewhere.
The estimate echoes the findings of another analysis prepared by the National Counterterrorism Center earlier this year and disclosed publicly on Wednesday. That report — titled "Al-Qaida better positioned to strike the West" — found the terrorist group is "considerably operationally stronger than a year ago" and has "regrouped to an extent not seen since 2001," a counterterrorism official familiar with the reports findings told The Associated Press.
On Thursday, news of the counterterrorism center's threat assessment renewed the political debate about the nature of the al-Qaida threat and whether U.S. actions — in Iraq in particular — have made the U.S. safer from terrorism.
At a news conference Thursday, President Bush acknowledged al-Qaida's continuing threat to the United States and used the new report as evidence his administration's policies are on the right course.
"The same folks that are bombing innocent people in Iraq were the ones who attacked us in America on Sept. 11," he said. "That's why what happens in Iraq matters to security here at home."
Yet Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said Iraq has distracted the United States. He said the U.S. should have finished off al-Qaida in 2002 and 2003 along the Afghan-Pakistan border.
Instead, "President Bush chose to invade Iraq, thereby diverting our military and intelligence resources away from the real war on terrorism," Rockefeller said. "Threats to the United States homeland are not emanating from Iraq. They are coming from al-Qaida leadership."
He called for the U.S. to end its involvement in what he called the Iraqi civil war.
In recent weeks, senior national security officials have been increasingly worried about an al-Qaida attack in the United States.
Appearing on a half-dozen morning TV shows Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff laid out a list of factors contributing to his "gut feeling" that the nation faces a higher risk of attack this summer: al-Qaida's increased freedom to train in South Asia, a flurry of public statements from the network's leadership, a history of summertime attacks, a broader range of attacks in North Africa and Europe, and homegrown terrorism increasing in Europe.
"Europe could become a platform for an attack against this country," Chertoff told CNN, although he and others continue to say they know of no specific, credible information pointing to an attack here.
National security officials are frustrated by an agreement last year between Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and tribal leaders in western Pakistan, which gave tribes near the Afghan border greater autonomy and has led to increased al-Qaida activity in the region.
Nevertheless, Bush administration officials still view Musharraf as a partner.
Speaking to a congressional hearing, Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher said that Pakistan under Musharraf has captured more al-Qaida operatives than any other country and that several major Taliban leaders were captured or killed this year.
"There is a considerable al-Qaida presence at the border, but they are under pressure," Boucher told a House national security subcommittee.
Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., was skeptical, saying Osama bin-Laden and other terrorist leaders apparently feel safe there. "Is this a Motel 6 for terrorists?" he asked.
Security officials concerned about possible attack on U.S. BY KATHERINE SHRADER The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — National security officials worry about a possible attack against the United States in the months ahead even though the government’s leading terrorism experts have not found concrete information about an imminent strike. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff spoke this past week of his “gut feeling” that the nation faces an increased risk of attack this summer. President Bush’s instincts point in the same direction. “My head also tells me that al-Qaida’s a serious threat to our homeland,” he said at a news conference Thursday. “And we’ve got to continue making sure we’ve got good intelligence, good response mechanisms in place.” As early as this coming week, the administration is expected to release an unclassified version of a new National Intelligence Estimate — spy agencies’ most authoritative type of appraisal — on al-Qaida’s resurgence and the group’s renewed efforts to sneak operatives into the United States. A look at what the government says it is most worried about and what it is doing to thwart potential attacks: TRANSPORTATION Chertoff is asking people to be on watch for suspicious behavior or activities in transit systems or other public places. “When you see something, say something,” he often says. That means picking up the phone to alert local authorities or federal law enforcement about anything out of the ordinary, such as a suspicious person, package or vehicle. Just before the July 4 holiday, the Transportation Security Administration dispatched VIPR teams (Visible Intermodal Protection and Response) to airports and mass transit systems in Washington, Baltimore, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco. They include canine teams, agency officers trained in behavior observation, additional air marshals, surface transportation security inspectors and local police. Federal air marshals already had bolstered their presence on domestic and international flights since last August, when international authorities foiled a plot to blow up about 10 U.S.-bound jetliners coming from London. That stepped-up presence continues today. The department also sent out bulletins to state and local officials about routine steps they can take and new precautions after the largely botched car-bomb plot in Britain late last month. Any more precautions expected this summer? “It can change at a moment’s notice,” said Chertoff’s spokesman, Russ Knocke. TREASURY The Treasury Department is keeping close watch for fresh clues on sources of financing for terrorist groups. Yet counterterrorism offi - cials say that attacks do not have to be expensive. The Sept. 11 Commission estimated the 2001 attacks cost $400,000 to $500,000. “By exploiting financial intelligence, the Treasury can map terrorist networks and reveal who is sending money to al-Qaida, Hezbollah and like-minded terrorist groups,” department spokeswoman Molly Millerwise said. “These efforts allow us to detect and disrupt the flow of finances to terrorists, making it harder and riskier for them to store and move money.” The Sept. 11 strikes in New York and Washington hit the country’s financial nerve center and symbol of capitalism. Since then, regulations have been tightened to better guard the financial system against abuse from terrorist financiers and others. ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCIES These agencies report a high level of vigilance, but few if any specific changes because of the latest worries. With 4,000 law enforcement officers, the Interior Department says it is keeping busy. It is charged with protecting one of every five U.S. acres. “We ask our employees always to be vigilant,” spokeswoman Tina Kreisher said. The officers have bolstered security along borders, at sites such as the Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and the Washington Monument, and at national assets such as Bureau of Reclamation dams and the roads that lead to them. The Environmental Protection Agency is the lead for hazardous materials response and works closely with industry. Under a government mandate, chemical makers are taking stock of chlorine, anhydrous ammonia (the basic ingredient for most nitrogen fertilizers) and other “chemicals of concern” that could — if stolen — cause damage by release or explosion. ENERGY AND NUCLEAR Nuclear power plants long have been viewed as a top target of terrorists and have tightened security since Sept. 11. But the latest concerns have not led to significant changes or alerts. “We are paying close attention to what the intelligence community is reporting and will act accordingly,” Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokesman Eliot Brenner said. At the Energy Department, which oversees the government’s nuclear weapons facilities, including its national research labs, security requirements have been revamped since 2001, especially in the protection of nuclear materials. Thousands of miles of oil and natural gas pipelines as well as refineries also have been regarded as potential terrorist targets. But with no specific threat, the industry’s response to the latest concerns has been simply to remain cautious. AGRICULTURE The Agriculture Department is most concerned about devastating animal or plant diseases that could be introduced intentionally into the United States. These include avian influenza and others that could move from animals to humans. The department has worked with farmers and shippers to educate them on prevention against tampering, asking them to make sure supplies are locked, for example, and asking truckers never to leave shipments unattended.
Ground zero workers sue insurance fund for sick pay BY AMY WESTFELDT The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Ailing ground zero workers went to court Tuesday to demand that the company overseeing a $1 billion Sept. 11 insurance fund spend the money to pay for their health care. The workers have already filed a class action lawsuit claiming the toxic dust from the World Trade Center site gave them serious, sometimes fatal diseases. On Tuesday, they sought compensation from the WTC Captive Insurance Co., the company in charge of money appropriated by Congress to deal with Sept. 11 health-related claims. “The WTC Captive has consistently refused to pay any of the ground zero workers who have become ill on the work site, including any compensation” for lost salaries, pain and suffering, medical treatment, medical monitoring or burial expenses, said the lawsuit, filed in Manhattan’s state Supreme Court. It was filed by attorneys representing thousands who became ill after working to clean up the site while breathing toxic trade center dust, including more than 100 who have died. “She hasn’t paid a penny to one of my 10,000 people,” David Worby, an attorney representing the workers, said of the company’s CEO, Christine LaSala. “It was their mandate.” Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who was named in the suit along with LaSala and board members, said Tuesday that attorneys are wrong about the company’s structure. “They just don’t know the facts. The truth of the matter is, Congress didn’t set up a victims’ compensation fund,” the mayor said. “We’d like them to do that, we’ve asked for that, they set up a captive insurance company. And the insurance company can only pay out monies if somebody sues us in court and wins a judgment against us.” Congress directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency to set up the fund, appropriating up to $1 billion “to establish a captive insurance company or other appropriate insurance mechanism for claims arising from debris removal, which may include claims made by city employees,” according to the 2003 resolution. The lawsuit, relying on testimony from federal officials over the years about the fund’s purpose, said officials meant for the money to be used to compensate ailing workers. Federal and state governments never said “that a captive insurance company be established solely to defend the city of New York and its contractors from all rescue, recovery and debris removalrelated claims, at all costs,” the lawsuit said. The company said in a statement Tuesday that the lawsuit was “completely without merit” and that WTC Captive has been operating as the federal government intended it, insuring the city and its contractors from Sept. 11 claims. Since it began operating in 2004, the company has spent more than $73 million of the insurance money in legal fees and other expenses, the lawsuit says. Worby and other attorneys plan to go to Washington later this week to lobby congressional leaders to urge the company to make the $1 billion available immediately for sick workers. The largest study conducted of about 20,000 ground zero workers reported last year that 70 percent of patients suffer respiratory disease years after the cleanup. The city earlier this year added to its Sept. 11 death toll a woman who died in 2002 of lung disease, five months after being caught in the dust cloud of the collapsing twin towers. Bloomberg and other city officials have estimated the cost of caring for the workers who are sick or who could become sick at $393 million a year and urged the federal government to pay for their treatment and monitoring.
Report: al-Qaida plotting attacks The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — U.S. spy agencies worry that international cooperation against terrorism will be hard to sustain as memories of Sept. 11 fade and nations’ views diverge on what the real threat is. Even now, the top analysts say in a new report, al-Qaida is plotting attacks on U.S. soil. That concern may explain a lot of the traveling by U.S. officials in recent months. In the last year, CIA Director Michael Hayden and his deputy, Stephen Kappes, have visited 25 countries on six continents, with counterterrorism coming up at virtually every stop. Vice President Dick Cheney was with Kappes in February when they personally pressed Pakistan to do more. And Bush’s homeland security adviser, Frances Fragos Townsend, said she was recently in seven countries over eight days with a counterterrorism message, adding that she found cooperation “as strong as it’s ever been.” The new National Intelligence Estimate — “The Terrorist Threat to the U.S. Homeland” — found that al-Qaida is using its growing strength in Pakistan and Iraq to plot attacks on U.S. soil, heightening the terror threat facing the United States over the next few years. Prepared for President Bush and other top policymakers, the document lays out a range of dangers — from al-Qaida to Lebanese Hezbollah to non-Muslim radical groups — that pose a “persistent and evolving threat” to the country over the next three years. The findings focused most heavily on Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida network, which was judged to remain the most serious threat to the United States. The group’s affiliate in Iraq, which has not yet posed a direct threat to U.S. soil, could do just that, the report concluded. Al-Qaida in Iraq threatened to attack the United States in a Web statement last September. National Intelligence Council Chairman Thomas Fingar warned that the group’s operatives in Iraq are getting portable, firsthand experience in covert communications, smuggling, improvised explosive devices, understanding U.S. military tactics and more. The Iraqi affiliate also helps al-Qaida more broadly as it tries to energize Sunni Muslim extremists around the globe, raise resources and recruit and indoctrinate operatives — “including for homeland attacks,” according to a declassified summary of the report’s main findings. In addition, analysts stressed the importance of al-Qaida’s increasingly comfortable hideout in Pakistan that has resulted from a hands-off accord between Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and tribal leaders along the Afghan border. That 10-month-old deal, which has unraveled in recent days, gave al-Qaida new opportunities to set up compounds for terror training, improve its international communications with associates and bolster its operations.
Schenectady company to analyze 9/11 debris Concerns remain that NYC neighborhoods are contaminated by pollutants from 2001 attack
By CHRIS CHURCHILL, Business writer First published: Wednesday, July 18, 2007
SCHENECTADY -- Nearly six years after the terrorist attack that felled the World Trade Center towers, questions remain over whether the dust and debris that rained down on lower Manhattan have contaminated New York City neighborhoods.
A small company in Schenectady is helping to answer those questions.
Northeast Analytical Inc. has been selected by the Environmental Protection Agency to analyze samples being taken from apartments and businesses in lower Manhattan, in an area south of Canal Street.
Specifically, Northeast is testing the samples for lead and contaminants called polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. It's the only company chosen by the EPA to do so, although other companies will test for asbestos or airborne pollutants.
If contamination is found, apartment or business owners will have their property professionally cleaned for free.
The EPA announced the voluntary program in December, following years of complaints from New York City residents about supposed government inaction on the possible contamination.
"The residents of New York City have been waiting a long time for this to be done," said Ann Casey, a chemist and program development manager at Northeast.
The Schenectady company began testing the samples Tuesday, Casey said, and expects the work to take about a year. The contract is worth an estimated $500,000, she added.
The EPA says it has $7 million available to spend on the program, and admits the amount may not be enough.
Mary Mears, a spokeswoman for the agency, on Tuesday said the EPA will test homes nearest to the World Trade Center first.
"It's not clear that we'll be able to cover everyone who is signed up for the program," Mears said. "It's going to depend on what we find."
The EPA stresses, however, that many apartments and businesses in lower Manhattan have been repeatedly tested and cleaned.
And the agency hopes the latest round of testing will provide, in the words of regional administrator Alan Steinberg, "peace of mind to the people who live and work in lower Manhattan."
The EPA also is describing the latest testing its final cleanup phase in response to the Sept. 11 attacks.
But some want more. U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, for example, has called the latest testing program "totally inadequate."
"More than five years after the attacks of September 11, 2001, the EPA's work to address the environmental health consequences of those attacks remains unfinished," Clinton said in a written statement released last month, adding that "there has also been a familiar pattern in which the agency has sought to downplay the potential risks and convey false assurances regarding World Trade Center contamination."
Chis Churchill can be reached at 454-5442 or by e-mail at cchurchill@timesunion.com.
The insurance companies learned the stall tactic from our own government. Remember when all the Vietnam Vets came home with mysterious ailments and blamed it on agent orange. The Federal Govt said that there was no data to suggest that agent orange caused any illnesses and refused to pay for the veterans medical care. Many years later when many of the vets were dead or near death the government finally admitted that agent orange caused their illnesses.
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