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Al Qaeda Cell in the U.S. Or On Its Way, According to New Intel
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ShareJuly 10, 2007 6:30 PM
Senior U.S. intelligence officials tell ABC News new intelligence suggests a small al Qaeda cell is on its way to the United States, or may already be here.
The White House has convened an urgent multi-agency meeting for Thursday afternoon to deal with the new threat.
THE BLOTTER RECOMMENDS
Top intelligence and law enforcement officials have been told to assemble in the Situation Room to report on:
--what steps can be taken to minimize or counter the threat,
--and what steps are being taken to harden security for government buildings and personnel.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told the Chicago Tribune editorial board on Tuesday he had "a gut feeling" that an attack was coming.
"We do worry about whether they are rebuilding their capabilities," Chertoff said. "We strike at them; we degrade them; but they rebuild."
"It suggests they have information that the cell or cells coming this direction want to attack a government facility," Brad Garrett, a former FBI agent and ABC News consultant, said.
Law enforcement officials say the recent failed attacks in London have provided important new clues about possible tactics.
Click Here for Full Blotter Coverage.
And officials say the London attackers' use of the Internet left important clues that are being used to decode other e-mails that had initially been deemed unimportant but are now taking on new significance.
A senior administration official said the level of concern of a new terror attack is now higher than it has been in some time, and the meeting this week in the situation room is one of a number that have been convened in light of the new intelligence and what happened in London.
_______________________________________
"World News" closer between Charles Gibson and Brian Ross:
Charles Gibson: The obvious question, Brian, is how hard and how specific is the intelligence?
Brian Ross: Not hard, but good. It's being taken very seriously, in connection with increased chatter, e-mail traffic back and forth, the attacks in London, and a general concern, as Secretary Chertoff said today, that summer seems to be a time that al Qaeda likes to attack.
Charles Gibson: And there's been a bunch of tapes that have been coming from al Qaeda lately.
Brian Ross: In fact, Zawahri put out his eighth tape today and says he had easy access to the Internet, and he threatened new attacks against London.
Charles Gibson: Once was the day when this intelligence came in, they would raise the level of concern going to a different color.
Brian Ross: The concern, now, by doing that and not telling Americans what they can do, where the attack is coming, serves no useful purpose.
_______________________________________
White House response:
After the attempted terrorist attacks in the U.K., the U.S. government convened meetings to discuss the situation -- that is what citizens should expect. There is no credible evidence of an imminent threat, however, and counter-terrorism officials regularly meet -- that is not unusual. We are taking all threats seriously and working to ensure we can keep the terrorists from striking at innocent people.
_______________________________________
Listen to Secretary Chertoff's remarks to the Chicago Tribune.
This post has been updated.
July 10, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (529)
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No duh! They've been here since Clinton was president. Why is this news now? Look at the UK, some of those guys were there all their lives, why should this be a surprise or news is beyond me.
Just a ratings scare story is all it is.
Posted by: SlipSter01 | Jul 10, 2007 6:47:15 PM
Hmmm? Major sex scandal about to hit the fan and what happens?
TERROR ALERT! TERROR ALERT!
Sorry-these folks are transparent now.
Posted by: shirley | Jul 10, 2007 6:50:27 PM
Probably just a publicity stunt from the White House to keep us all scared
little rabbits....Where's the CREDIBLE EVIDENCE ?????
Posted by: Leprkin | Jul 10, 2007 6:51:15 PM
Sure, the report was probably put together by the Bush administration in an effort to take away more of our civil rights. Nothing this president does would surprise me. Yeah, look it's a terrorist... now let us record your phone calls and emails. Bush sucks!
Posted by: JD | Jul 10, 2007 6:55:55 PM
Suspicious timing, anyone? Based on all the crap that has come out on this adminstration in the last few weeks, the cynic in me sees this as yet another attempt by the administration to scare and distract the American public from the real issues at home and abroad: GW's own party deserting his position on the war, the Libby fiasco, the ex-surgeon general's statements about politics trumping science, the billions we are pouring into the war each month, etc.
Posted by: jurist | Jul 10, 2007 6:57:00 PM
1. close the borders. no one gets in.
2. if you love this country, then fight for this country. otherwise get out.
3. if you want a life in this country, earn it. get a job.
4. if you want to be protected from harm. earn it. get a job. there's more than one way to get a job.
5. if you want to vote, earn it. become a citizen. then get a job.
6. if you want to keep this country going so that you can be free. earn it.
7. if you don't like the laws, vote to have them changed.
8. everyone better get their heads out of the sand, because it's gonna take us to make things better in this country.
9. As for the administration...if you would make an effort at minding our own country's business instead of trying to rule the world, maybe terrorist crap this wouldn't happen. All you're doing is being a bully to rest of the world. If another country has issues, they should be responsible for taking care of it. Hell, we have to solve our own issues when something happens to us. I don't ever see another country coming to aide when there is a flood or earthquake or such.
Anyone else agree ???
Oh and by the way... a word to the terrorists... There was a Japanese Officer during the attack on Pearl Harbor that said he was worried that they just woke a sleeping giant after the attack had happened. Learn a lesson from history. Why test the patience of the only country in the world that used nukes on foreign soil ? is it so hard to learn something like that ?
Posted by: Todd | Jul 10, 2007 6:58:04 PM
It may be that the Bush Goverment in order to reestablish some credibility has created this threat over the people and make the people of this country to live in a constant fear of a terrorist attack that may never happens again, if this is the case, then we are waesting our resources with so many airports check points and invading people phones calls.
Posted by: Joaquin Valor | Jul 10, 2007 7:00:29 PM
Like we didn't know this. I wouldn't call this breaking news, I'd call it more like, OK now what?
Posted by: pamb3 | Jul 10, 2007 7:01:12 PM
Do we need another attack in order to CLOSE THE BORDERS?
I'm sorry, but the only people who should be allowed in the United States are people who are born in the United States.
Drastic times call for drastic measures.
Posted by: Jennifer | Jul 10, 2007 7:02:47 PM
Maybe the $12 billion a month being spent on the Iraq debacle would be better securing our own borders and hiring more police.
Posted by: Wendy | Jul 10, 2007 7:04:12 PM
Sounds like things aren't going Bush and Cheney's way so it's time for scare tactics again! You know it's real funny Al-Qaeda wasn't even in Iraq til Bush started his war there. Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein hated each other...and saddam had most insurgents at bay at the corner of Iraq. Who are these insurgents...they are not all Al_Qaeda...I read only 2% were Al-Qaeda..We should impeah these monsters....Bring our soldiers home....and watch it all disappear
Posted by: Susan | Jul 10, 2007 7:07:20 PM
wHAT THE HECK,YOU MEAN THEY LET AL QUAIDA ESCAPE FROM IRAQ?I THOUGHT THE WHOLE POINT OF US BEING IN IRAQ WAS TO KEEP THOSE GUYS FROM COMING HERE.I GUESS THAT THEORY IS SHOT ALL TO HECK.
Posted by: Steve Wilson | Jul 10, 2007 7:07:52 PM
It's an ultra-important emergency and they're waiting to have a meeting the day after TOMORROW???
Posted by: Michael | Jul 10, 2007 7:09:08 PM
what has george done now? every time he sticks his foot in it or opens his mouth about something he has no clue about, here come the terrorists. its getiing really old
Posted by: chuck | Jul 10, 2007 7:09:19 PM
Shirley..please. My God, do you think that they are kidding, the Islamofacists that is? I honestly do not understand this at all, and frankly I am not going to worry about it.
It is time to END this war, but crushing them once and for all, enough. IF they dare attack us again on this soil, libs watch out, shock and awe will have a whole new meaning..Give them hell W. Americans WAKE UP
Posted by: Trinity | Jul 10, 2007 7:09:37 PM
Todd - 100% agree with you! Anything that may happen should wake a sleeping Giant!! And SHUT UP THE LIBS!!!
Posted by: Rob | Jul 10, 2007 7:10:46 PM
Time for Bush to take another three month vacation at his rancho, like he did when he was specifically warned about 9/11.
Posted by: wilder5121 | Jul 10, 2007 7:10:46 PM
What is it going to take for us to close our borders? This is ridiculous. Any other country would never put up with this crap. It's time we start focusing on our own country's problems and stop jumping in to help other countries who beg for our help and then thumb their noses at us after we've given it. We are rapidly becoming a laughingstock around the world. And to Jurist...I'm with you all the way!! Enough is enough.
Posted by: Alexis | Jul 10, 2007 7:11:44 PM
They're here? Then we can pull out of Irag and start fighting on the homefront. Nor more excuses!
Posted by: doodle | Jul 10, 2007 7:12:19 PM
Wendy - and let the terrorists come attack us freely like they did in the 90's and on 9/11...good grief...
Posted by: Rob | Jul 10, 2007 7:12:33 PM
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