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White House, FBI Agents Race to Disrupt 'Summer of '07' Threat
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ShareJuly 11, 2007 2:18 PM
Senior law enforcement officials said today that the growing signs of a "Summer of '07" terror attack on the U.S. have led the FBI to dispatch dozens of agents to track down new leads across the country.
The threat has also led the White House to begin a weekly meeting of senior law enforcement and intelligence officials.
The group met last Friday and will meet tomorrow in the White House Situation Room at 1 p.m., according to the officials.
Blotter Al Qaeda Cell in the U.S. Or On Its Way, According to New Intel
The White House has described the meeting as "not urgent" and "regular," but law enforcement officials tell the Blotter on ABCNews.com the new weekly sessions, to be held every Thursday, were designed specifically to counter the summer threat.
"The Thursday meetings will be regular, but the first one is tomorrow," said one official.
Dozens of FBI agents have been given a two-week deadline to run down more than 700 leads on an FBI "worry list," developed in the wake of the failed attacks in London and Glasgow. The list includes some 100 specific leads in the New York area, senior law enforcement officials also told ABCNews.com.
Although the White House says there is no credible, imminent threat to the United States, the origin of the intelligence that a small group of al Qaeda terrorists was headed to the United States came from a credible intelligence source, who in the past has been reliable, officials said.
The source of the intelligence specified the small cell was traveling from Pakistan.
The new threat comes as FBI agents were already trying to sort through a mountain of e-mails, jihadist message board postings, telephone intercepts and human source intelligence, in an effort to pluck an intelligence gem from the background of "chatter" louder than has been heard in any recent summer season.
There is so much terrorist "noise" that some agents and officers have already dubbed June and July a "summer of chatter."
Agents also have been running down financial leads and telephone records that could have linked several members of the recent failed London and Glasgow, Scotland incendiary bomb plots to North America.
Do you have a tip for Brian Ross and the Investigative Team?
July 11, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (193)
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The mistrust of the current administration is so high now that I wouldn't be surprised if people blame THEM for any attack. Shame.
Posted by: Doctor Donut | Jul 11, 2007 2:37:12 PM
"Weekly Meetings"? doesn't sound like a good way to handle urgent terrorist threats.
Posted by: Padme | Jul 11, 2007 3:13:52 PM
Some will worry that the administration might help along an attack. But, much more likely possible false flag operations by a opportunistic 3rd party group (perhaps a splinter cell within a U.S. government agency or contractor) intended to bolster Republican support, contract acquisition, or related purposes. I hope that good investigators will consider this possibility. Especially, considering the Anthrax terrorists are still out there...
Posted by: NextAttack | Jul 11, 2007 3:19:53 PM
Hmm? Terror alert in the wake of failing Bush support. Coincidence or are they just playing on our fears to gain support once again?
Posted by: Fedup | Jul 11, 2007 3:46:49 PM
Whatever the cause of the announcement , better safe that sorry. But if we get hit because in six years they did not secure our borders, then they should be held criminally accountable and prosecuted.
Posted by: Andy | Jul 11, 2007 4:02:51 PM
I agree with Fedup. Mighty big coincidence that the fear machine is starting again when support for Bush is dwindling.
The problem with this admin is, they have no credibility. We have been fed so much bull that you can't believe anything anymore.
I think that is a danger to our security. It causes apathy.
Posted by: jPoz | Jul 11, 2007 4:04:29 PM
We should have been having "regular" meetings all along, don't candy coat the facts. I believe the American people can handle the truth, what a concept that would be!
Posted by: cbmm | Jul 11, 2007 4:05:41 PM
I'm amazed that people put politics before national security. Some day intel will be unclassified and you people will learn. anyone look at the communist history? the same type of "mistrust" talk was going on. When that intel was unclassified what happened? oh yea... all the threats were as real as they were portrayed. Do you really think the Feds are going to let their citizens know every little detail? NO... enjoy your freedom while you can
Peace...
Posted by: Jereme | Jul 11, 2007 4:09:34 PM
Fedup - I agree with you wholeheartedly. I think there are indeed attacks in plan from our enemies, but I find it somewhat amusing how this all falls upon us as a crisis - right at the time when Bush's numbers are low and he is losing his stand with Congress over extending the war in Iraq... Our government has a lot to answer for! I can't wait until November 08 - when OUR voices will be heard once and for all!
Posted by: BrandonBoston | Jul 11, 2007 4:38:15 PM
Good reporting Brian...keep informing us because we are not getting this information anywhere else.
Posted by: good reporting | Jul 11, 2007 4:41:56 PM
Stupid comments.
Posted by: You posters are idiots | Jul 11, 2007 4:42:25 PM
Does this mean everyone should sell all of their stock in the stock market? I mean, if a terror attack is IMMINENT, the market is going to crash, isn't it?
Posted by: Eric | Jul 11, 2007 5:09:51 PM
Doctor said, "The mistrust of the current administration is so high now that I wouldn't be surprised if people blame THEM for any attack."
You need to GOOGLE 'Operation Northwoods'. A rogue group in the US military planned EXTENSIVE terror attacks against US targets, and then planned to blame those attacks on Cuba to foment support against them. History tells us rouge parts of our government, i.e. a small group of people with the will and the necessary secrecy mechanisms, will kill their own people in order to promote an agenda.
Posted by: Eric | Jul 11, 2007 5:16:53 PM
I AM A VOTING 30 YEAR REPUBLICAN, BUT NO MORE. THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION IS SO DISHONEST THEY CAN'T BE TRUSTED. THEY WOULD INVITE AN ATTACK JUST TO KEEP THE NEWS OFF OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION. WITH OUR OPEN BORDERS WE SHOULD OF ALREADY HAD SERVERAL ATTACKS.
Posted by: ex-republican | Jul 11, 2007 5:30:21 PM
Bush's ratings??? Who cares about his ratings, he sure doesnt, it's his last term folks, he's done after this... I'm thankfull that we have not had an attack since 9/11. So what ever our feds are doing seems to be working... Only the weak fall into the scare tactics, and then if you are scared the terrorists have wone. What happened to proud, vigilant Americans????? This country has turned into a bunch of weaklings all suing over getting a hang nail at mc donanlds... It's WE the people that our destroying our own country and our rights, not to mention our poloticians that cant accomplish a single thing... time to stand up and break free of this folks... only WE the people can do it... Take care.
DB
Posted by: Dane Breitzig | Jul 11, 2007 6:32:53 PM
Inside the mind of a typical Republican: Juanita comes tomorrow to do the basic maid duties. She is illegal and came over last month. She is worth it, even if leaky borders mean another terrorist attack.
Posted by: Bob | Jul 11, 2007 6:37:09 PM
It's a wonder Chertoff can talk with that "bit" in his mouth and Bush "pulling" on the reins. Why do you think Bush doesn't want "US" to know whats going on?!?! It's all part of the(his and others)plan....One WORLD order, and he's part of it....This is only the beginning my friends....Only the beginning...............
Posted by: Kim | Jul 11, 2007 6:42:01 PM
Padme...hourly, daily meetings? when would they have time to do their jobs...jeez
Posted by: eaglesdontflock | Jul 11, 2007 6:47:13 PM
Brian Ross and ABC News have got it wrong - AGAIN!
Posted by: walt dukehart | Jul 11, 2007 6:50:37 PM
what is wrong with you people? You all scare me more than anything else. Your apathy and twisted minds are really...I don't even have the words....I guess if Bill Clinton were still in office we'd be safer eh?! My guess is your answers would be yes- God help our children.
Posted by: birdy | Jul 11, 2007 6:54:39 PM
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