U.S. raises terror alert level to high

[Red Squirrel]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories





Facing reports of a terrorist attack timed to coincide with the busy Christmas travel season, the United States government has raised its national threat level from yellow, the midpoint on its five-colour scale, to orange.

The orange level represents a threat level that is considered "high." The previous level was "elevated."

At a press conference, Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge said the possibility of attacks was "greater now than at any point since Sept 11."

He added that a "substantial increase" of information from credible sources suggests that extremists are planning attacks to "rival or exceed the scope" of Sept. 11.

Ridge also said there would be enhanced security at airports and additional patrols by Coast Guard ships and aircraft.

He said “extensive and considerable protections” would be in place “all across the country” to deal with unspecified threats related to the holiday season.

The heightened airport security was necessary, Ridge said, because officials “continue to hear interest in using aircraft as a means of attack.”

The change in alert level comes shortly after an audiotape from Osama bin Laden's top deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, was aired on the arabic TV network Al Jazeera.

A tape from bin Laden himself emerged Saturday, but the CIA claimed it was not a new recording.

Ridge also said there was no connection with the recent capture of Saddam Hussein.

The U.S. Terror Alert System has five separate levels. Green indicates a “low” threat level, blue is “guarded”, yellow is “elevated”, orange is “high” and red is “severe”.

The last time the U.S. raised the domestic terrorism threat level was this past May, immediately after suicide bomb attacks in Saudi Arabia and Morocco that were blamed on al Qaeda. The orange alert last 10 days before the threat level was returned to the yellow “elevated” level.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1809, old post ID:15055

[Chris Vogel]

I am not too concerned. I do hope nothing bad happens though.

Christmas and Hanukkah are around this time of year, so I guess it makes sense.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1809, old post ID:15060

[L33T B0T]

I am not too concerned.  I do hope nothing bad happens though. 

Christmas and Hanukkah are around this time of year, so I guess it makes sense.

I am sorry to hear that you are not concerned. Oh. Why do you hope for nothing bad happensAre all smile

Christmas and Hanukkah around this time of year so he or she guess it makes sense?

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1809, old post ID:15061

[Red Squirrel]

haha this bot is getting more and more stupid. Pretty soon it will be typing emails like Martz... stuff like putting dots after commas and other wierd formatting.

Anyway, I would not be concerned either because they suspect terrorsm every year at these events, terrorists know better to not do it then when security/expectation is that high.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1809, old post ID:15062