Rice: U.S. Bracing for Terror Before November elections

I'll be very surprised if there's not a terrorist attack in the US leading up to the election. Regardless who it's perpetrated by, I know who the sponsor will be!

You "know" no such thing, Wilso.

You have an opinion - many will contest it and the basis on which you have come to it.

If the result of any pre-election attack on the U.S. should be more votes for the administration, Wilso and many others will suspect more than coincidence.

Al Q
What group does Ms Rice brace herself from?

If another attack from Al Q. or any other group is carried out I have no doubt that GW Bush will declare Martial Law, suspend the elections and the Constitution of the USA.

I it looks like the NeoFascists are going to lose their bid for another term of terror I am expecting another attack in the USA.

Re: Al Q


I've asked about this and the information I've got from other members is that it's highly unlikely that anything could happen that would prevent the elections being held.

?
I wonder what sort of attacks Ms Rice is alluding to?

Surely, our airlines are protected to extent that whoever... won't try that method.

I do not underestimate these NeoFascists of the present USA Admin. and their lackeys in Congress, after knowing what methods they have employed to get what they want.

OK, I have a fearful suspicion.

I just think that the administration has absolutely no bounds of honor. They are saying in effect that if Bush gets voted out of office it is what the terrorist want. It just gets me so frustrated and mad I could spit because half the people fall for it and another portion that don't; feel that the end justifies the means while a small minority just have to scream in useless frustration of it all.

That whole spain issue has just spinned to death. The public in spain was against the war before the attack so it don't mean they are giving in to terrorist if they vote for a guy who will get their troops out of the war they are against in the first place. They say that we shouldn't let terrorist dictate our actions (don't know how to word what I mean exactly) but if Spain decided that they would vote for a guy who was for the war when before they were against it just because of the attack isn't that letting terrorist dictate their actions as well?

I am just speechless.

?
Could Ms Rice be using what happened in Spain as an election issue in the U.S., warning that if they would likely try it here, we need to send them a message by re-electing Bush. It's a really sleazy campaign tactic that they've been injecting since 3/11 and Kerry needs to call them on it.

Amazing.

Rice is trying to frighten voters into extending her boss' contract for 4 more years.

Fear is all these hooligans have to offer.

It would seem to me that with all the domestic security changes made by this administration, that a successful terrorist attack would point to failure by said administration.

Ridge Forms New Terrorism Task Force
Ridge Forms New Terrorism Task Force
Monday April 19, 2004 3:46 PM
By KATHERINE PFLEGER SHRADER
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - With an eye on a large number of symbolic gatherings, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge is forming a new government task force to better coordinate public and private security - and hopefully prevent the next terrorist attack.

Beginning with the dedication of the new World War II Memorial in Washington over the Memorial Day weekend, Ridge said high-profile public events this year may be attractive targets for al-Qaida and like-minded terrorist groups.

``We are rich with opportunities this year for terrorists to shake our will,'' Ridge said in a telephone interview Sunday. ``The message is that Homeland Security doesn't wait to raise the threat level in order to make us safer and more secure.''

``We are going to increase our vigilance,'' he said later.

With the new task force, Homeland Security officials will be joined by representatives from nine Cabinet-level agencies in an effort to improve coordination as the government works to secure critical infrastructure and increase the nation's readiness.

Ridge was to announce the move officially in a speech Monday at a National Association of Broadcasters meeting in Las Vegas.

Ridge said officials don't have specific intelligence about possible attacks. But based on analysis, the government is paying attention to potential targets.

These include next month's war memorial dedication, the June meeting in Georgia of the Group of Eight industrialized nations, large gatherings nationwide for Fourth of July celebrations, the July Democratic convention in Boston, the August Republican convention in New York and the August Olympics in Athens.

Jose Maria Aznar, outgoing prime minister of Spain and a strong U.S. ally in the war in Iraq, has warned President Bush that terrorists may try to affect the U.S. elections in November, as they did in Spain with the March 11 Madrid train bombings. Nearly 200 died, and Aznar's ruling Popular Party lost to a rival calling for the pullout of Spanish troops from Iraq.

National security adviser Condoleezza Rice said Sunday the United States is bracing for possible attacks before the elections.

Ridge, however, said the elections are not the factor in forming the ``working group,'' which still lacks an official-sounding name. ``Depending on how the terrorists interpret Spain's response - whether it did or did not impact - is almost immaterial to this effort,'' he said. ``Again, we know we are the No. 1 target.''

Even though the nation spends most of its time at yellow alert - the middle of a five-point terror warning spectrum - Ridge said security is still stronger than it was a year ago and will continue to improve.

Extensive plans are already in the works to protect the party conventions and the G-8 meeting, which have been classified as National Security Special Events. With the designation - a concept that evolved from the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta - comes heightened security coordinated by Homeland Security's Secret Service agency.

To improve security operations for these and other high-profile events, Ridge said his department is leaning on its authority from two of Bush's homeland-security directives to create the task force, which will also work with industry, governors and police and other first responders. The group, for instance, will coordinate with states to implement the infrastructure strategies they have submitted to his department.

``Chemical facilities have been on everybody's mind,'' Ridge said, noting that Homeland Security is already working with states and companies to protect more than 300 identified chemical sites.

``There will be a lot more activity in the months ahead,'' he said.