WASHINGTON, July 11, 2007
U.S. Report: Al Qaeda Has Strengthened
Intel Reveals Al Qaeda's Rise Since 9/11; Homeland Security Chief Cites "Gut Feeling" About Attack
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Chertoff On Summer Threat
CBS News RAW: Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff says he doesn't currently have "specific information that's credible about an imminent threat directed at the homeland this summer."
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Chertoff Fears Terror Attack
Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff has a gut feeling that the U.S. is entering a period of "increased risk" this summer, with the possibility of an al Qaeda terror attack. Bill Plante reports.
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Chertoff's "Gut Feeling"
Up to the Minute Military Analyst Col. Mitch Mitchell (Ret.) weighs in on Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff's "gut feeling" that the U.S. is vulnerable to a terrorist attack this summer.
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Michael Chertoff, United States Secretary of Homeland Security. (AP Graphics Bank)
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Targets Of Terror?
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The conclusion suggests that the group that launched the most devastating terror attack on the United States has been able to rebuild despite nearly six years of bombings, war and other tactics aimed at crippling it.
Still, numerous government officials say they know of no specific, credible threat of a new attack.
A counterterrorism official familiar with a five-page summary of the new government threat assessment called it a stark appraisal that will be discussed at the White House on Thursday as part of a broader meeting on an upcoming National Intelligence Estimate.
The official and others spoke on condition of anonymity because the secret report remains classified.
Counterterrorism analysts produced the document, titled "Al Qaeda better positioned to strike the West." The document pays special heed to the terror group's safe haven in Pakistan and makes a range of observations about the threat posed to the United States and its allies, officials said.
Al Qaeda is "considerably operationally stronger than a year ago" and has "regrouped to an extent not seen since 2001," the official said, paraphrasing the report's conclusions. "They are showing greater and greater ability to plan attacks in Europe and the United States."
The group also has created "the most robust training program since 2001, with an interest in using European operatives," the official quoted the report as saying.
At the same time, this official said, the report speaks of "significant gaps in intelligence" so U.S. authorities may be ignorant of potential or planned attacks.
John Kringen, who heads the CIA's analysis directorate, echoed the concerns about al Qaeda's resurgence during testimony and conversations with reporters at a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday.
"They seem to be fairly well settled into the safe haven and the ungoverned spaces of Pakistan," Kringen testified. "We see more training. We see more money. We see more communications. We see that activity rising."
The threat assessment comes as the National Intelligence Council is preparing a National Intelligence Estimate focusing on threats to the United States. A senior intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity while the high-level analysis was being finalized, said the document has been in the works for roughly two years.
Kringen and aides to National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell would not comment on the details of that analysis. "Preparation of the estimate is not a response to any specific threat," McConnell's spokesman Ross Feinstein said, adding that it would be ready for distribution this summer.
Counterterrorism officials have been increasingly concerned about al Qaeda's recent operations. This week, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said he had a "gut feeling" that the United States faced a heightened risk of attack this summer.
CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer explained that Chertoff will face a "fierce reaction" from Democrats if his warning is fueled by more than a "gut feeling."
Al Qaeda and its sympathizers have shown an interest in summertime attacks. Some examples from recent years:
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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See all 545 CommentsI don't think the risk has increased or decreased. I think maybe the republican fear tactics have/will increase as we come up on an election year in an effort to retain their influence in the white house.
RUN AWAY RUN AWAY
ONLY THE TEXASDICKTATER AND ROVE CAN SAVE US NOW WE SURLEY MUST STAY THE COURSE IN IRAQ BECAUSE IF WE DONT FIGHT THEM OVER THERE WE WILL FIGHT THEM OVER HERE!
WHERE IS BAGHDAD BOB OR TONY SNOWJOB TO GUIDE US AND TELL US WHAT TO DO?
MAYBE WE SHOULD ASK THE NEOCONS AT THE AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE TO MAKE US ANOTHER SURGE PLAN FOR THE MIDDLE EAST!
JOE LIEBERMAN SAYS THINGS ARE DOING WELL IN IRAQ HE CANT BE WRONG HE IS AN ISRAELI DISQUISED AS AN AMERICAN! 3 SOLDERS DEAD A DAY IS A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER BEEN IN THE MILITARY ANYWAY!
What does the CIA and FBI do with all that data mining information if they can't state a confirmed attack is coming instead of a gut feeling? We all have gut feelings another attack is coming. It does not go away.
Our boarders are wide open, of course we have a gut feeling an attack is coming. And when it does, Bush cannot claim it was the fault of Congress for tying his hands.
In the summer of 2004, the alert levels were all raised, just a couple months before Bush was re-elected, and there were more "feelings" in the summer 2006...and now as we approach the primaries.
Who should we really fear?
Faith-Based Threat Assessment
Not sure what country you live in but in the USA the founding fathers fought for and gave their lives for our Constitution. Too bad you let your fears treat it as if it were nothing more than toilet paper.
Posted by cathaleen at 07:57 AM : Jul 11, 2007
What are you saying cathaleen - You want another SLAM DUNK! We now know that was a fraud.
The CIA has been restricted from operating in the US since its creation. And isn't it something that the US signed the Geneva Convention.
In view of this it is alarming that Michael Chertoff says he has a "gut feeling" about terror attacks in the next three months.
1. President stole the election,
2. 911 is under the plan of the administration (www.reopen911.org),
3. Then, we can find an excuse to Iraq,
4. Osama bin Laden is a friend of the admin. Come out with video tape to threaten us right on time,
5. The anti-missile system never work, just waste our $ to the admin. team or their friends,
6. The admin controls the oil price, they are stealing the $ from the world, including us,
7. The admin is *** up us... our country.
Good luck.
The greatest restriction on the CIA in memory was the outing of Valarie Plame which led to the exposure of the CIA's anti-WMD front company. As a result, Iran & North Korea have obtained the nuclear material and technology to produsce nuclear weapons.
Professor Khan, the Pakastani who gave it to them is being protected by the government that the administration considers are key allie in the war on terror. Our Pakastani "allies" are also protecting Bin Laden & Al Zawari and we would rather let them go than offend the Pakastani dictator.
Conservatives have made their own contributions to our problems.
I have a gut feeling that whenever Bush is stuck in deep he plays the terror card. I fully suspect that the terrorists will strike soon and I'd like to hear Chertoff offer something other than a gut feeling, I'd like a plan to fight them over here so we don't have to fight them over there.
Chertoff added, "We could easily be attacked. The intent to attack us remains as strong as it was on Sept. 10, 2001."
Wow - you have been hard at work with Homeland Security haven't you, Chertie!! How many jobs are still open in your department? No wonder you are going on "gut feelings"!
What happened to the spin "Fighting them in Iraq is better than fighting them here!"
and ALL he can talk about is his
BOWEL MOVEMENTS
YOU KNOW I'M GETTING TIRED
of the
BUSH ADMINISTRATION
and
OTHER REPUBLICANS / DEMOCRATS
THREATENING TERRORIST ACTS
until we
GIVE UP ALL OUR RIGHTS...
"There's going to be a big fire."
"There's going to be a bank robbery shootout."
"There's going to be a terrorist attack."
Well, duh! Something bad is always going to happen in the future. Does it make you a prophet to predict the obvious.
There are plenty of people in the world who, for whatever reason, want to attack the US. Sooner or later someone will succeed.
Is that any reason to trash our Constitution, our Bill of Rights, and our freedom?
Especially by an incompetent political hack like Chertoff?
"You're doing a heck of a job, Mikey!"==George W. Bushit.
Posted by cathaleen at 08:26 AM : Jul 11, 2007
How many Iraqis were involved with 9/11? NONE
Congress declares war.
The Geneva Convention is not liberal nonsense.
He added, "We could easily be attacked."
Fear, fear, fear. . .let us all continue to increase our fear we have nothing to fear but . .
Anyway, while on a sailing trip I once had a gut feeling like Michael Chertoff, turned out it was an upset stomach.
I suggest he take some Pep-tol.
MAD I AM
I wake up this morning to news that
some BUREAUCRAT (Dept. of LABOR(OSHA))
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=FEDERAL_REGISTER&p_id=19509
is trying some BACK DOOR ATTEMPT
TO OVER THROUGH MY COUNTRY
THIS YEAR ALONE
I had (have) to call
MY REPRESENTATIVES and VOICE MY OPINION
on
1) the NORTH AMERICAN UNION
2) the IMMIGRATION BILL and IMMUNITY for ILLEGAL ACTIVITY
3) a BACK DOOR ATTEMPT on MY SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS
DOES ANYONE ELSE BESIDES ME SEE A TREND HERE???
AM I , and OTHERS GOING TO HAVE TO
TAKE UP ARMS
and PUT
SOME THIRD WORLD BANANA REPUBLIC DICTATOR(s)
OUT OF BUSINESS
and TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY
(NOTE: THE BUSH FAMILY OWNS MORE LAND IN SOUTH AMERICA
THAN THEY OWN IN NORTH AMERICA..(PARAGUAY / NO EXTRADITION))
DOES ANYONE ELSE BESIDES ME SEE A TREND HERE??
85-95% of the PEOPLE
want our border CLOSED
and OUR IMMIGRATION LAWS ENFORCED
and what do we get ???
CORRUPT POLITICIANS,
CORRUPT CRIMINAL GOVERNMENT
and
CORRUPT COURTS
I would suggest people
that everyone buy FOOD, GUNS, and AMMUNITION
while you still have the right to do so...
Posted by guyfrompa45 at 08:22 AM : Jul 11, 2007
guyfrompa45 First responders, firefighters and police are all on the record as stating they were told Building 7 was to be "brought down" and many took that to mean that it was going to be intentionally demolished by means of explosives. Some even reported a 20 second countdown preceding the building's collapse, which can only mean one thing - that it was deliberately imploded according to a pre-determined schedule.
I am not accusing but I AM asking no building falls straight down or into itself unless it was intended to.
When buildings are imploded it takes weeks of looking at blueprints and the placing of explosives. Building 7 came down 8 hrs. after first plane can anybody explain how??? ( it's not like just throwing a stick of dynamite )
How can we believe these people are really serious about stopping a terrorist attack when the southern border is open, and the military is recruiting the border guards to go to Iraq? The shipping containers are only inspected at about 5 per cent. Mexican truckers are driving on US highways, and who knows what they bring in. China is shipping us poison pet food, poison fish, and bad toys......that we know about.....is there more?
Oh, I heard several REPUBS say yesterday on cspan that "the insurgents are on the run, we're getting Al Qaeda...." (They can't be following us home for our military is still over there. Duh!)
If the 24% vacancies at the HS gets filled with loyalites, then YES, I will be afraid, very afraid, just like someone else noted, that 2008 could motivate an attack for political gain.
Vigilance from the people could be an effective tool........SAY WHAT.....someone did report the fact that pilots were training in Arizona and Fla and his report got "tossed or ignored."
Having stories such as this one printed could be covered in one statement: VOTE REPUBLICAN AS WE ARE THE PROTECTORS.
The 'Best of Bin Laden' collection gave us nothing like this...It looked like it could have been from 'BREMYA', any eastern Euro or Middle Eastern studio. I would think anything with the molded blue and orange forms and bronze looking plaques would stand out in the minds of anyone in this region of mud huts and rocketed madrasahs.
We have a mechanism for indicating threat levels based on credible information, it's called the Homeland Security Advisory system. Perhaps we should create a new threat color - Chartreuse which indicates "The director of the agency believes he has a gut feeling". This is different from Taupe which means "The director merely has a case of acid reflux".
Summer passes with no terrorism incidents - Administration claims they were EXTRA successful at preventing the attack. Summer passes with a terrorism incident (heaven forbid) - Administration says "we told you so".
Your Doctor: "I have a gut feeling you may come down with brain cancer this summer"
You: "Oh my god. What tests did you do? Am I going to die?"
Doctor: "I can't tell you about the tests. I refrain from calling them credible. Yes you might die. Trust me".
You: "Now I'm filled with anxiety, what should I do to prepare for my brain cancer"
Doctor: "Be vigilant"
You: "What? I'm going to die of brain cancer and I'm supposed to be vigilant?"
Doctor: "Hey hey hey, calm down. I said you might die. It's just my gut feeling"
kills you if you don't join it...
http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=82201&ln=eng&txt=islam%20law%20kill%20kaafir
kills you if you leave it...
http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=696&ln=eng&txt=kaafir%20kill
kills you if you don't do what they tell you to do..
http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=6035&ln=eng&txt=kaafir%20kill
kills you if you speak against it%u2026.
http://islamqa.com/index.php?QR=22809&ln=eng
kills anybody that is not a member of it...
http://www.hauns.com/~DCQu4E5g/koran5.html
still practices slavery
http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=12562&ln=eng&txt=slavery
still practices pagan rituals...
http://answering-islam.org/Silas/pagansources.htm
allows the r a p e of babies and animals...
http://www.homa.org/default.asp?TOCID=2083225445
a. satanic cult???
b. islam???
c. all the above???
Our Prophet commanded us to fight the kaafirs when we are able and to attack them in their homelands and to give them three choices before we enter their lands: either they become Muslim and be like us, sharing our rights and duties; or they pay the jizyah (poll tax) and feel themselves subdued; or they fight, in which case their wealth, women, children and homes become permissible as booty for the Muslims.
http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=13759&ln=eng&txt=before%20islam%20arabia%20pagan
1. We can dismantle the Homeland Security department, because from now on, Chertoff will be reading tea leaves and entrails to project whatever nonsense Bush wants him to say.
2. The good Lord can take me home, because now I have seen it all. Instead of a government of checks and balances, we have a government of frat boys networking to keep their naked emperor in power, just long enough to squeeze one more dime out of the taxpayers.
3. Polls and intelligence data count for nothing, "gut feelings" rule!
Faith-Based Threat Assessment
Posted by Smirk5 at 08:03 AM : Jul 11, 2007
good point!!
We wouldn't want to use science or technology.
Doesn't everyone know the entire war,9-11,terrorist etc. is a farce? It is all a sham designed by the Microsofts gaming division in cooperation with Mattel toys,Pixar and Walt Disney.No one died from terrorism or the war in Iraq those were creations by Pixar and Walt Disney.The Koran is also nonexistent is was created by Bantam Publishing.
Believe all or part of this and I have some land to sell you in cyberspace.
They are all wagging the dog and we are following the tail.
Land in cyberspace for sale only 1 million a lot.
Posted by rushman71
Famous quotes:
Politicians are the lowest form of life on the earth. Liberal Democrats are the lowest form of politician.
Another one: Man is war. War is conflict. Fightig is an elemental exposition of the age old effort to survive.
It is very easy for ignorant people to think that success in war may be gained by the use of some wonderful invention rather than by hard fighting and superior leadership. On this may I add do you see any one with integrity in that Congress?
Guess the boys have to do something to make those bad poll ratings turn around...
It worked last time.
Lots in cyberspace come complete with neon headstones.
Posted by rushman71 at 09:09 AM : Jul 11, 2007
No instead you get words that include: Vice rat is a neo con
*** !!,.. so sorry,.. this "gut" feeling thing is more important..Keep up the great job Brownie, i mean Chertoff..America put it's faith in you ?...LOL
Gen. Patton, how dare you say that in the futcha all wars will be fought by politicians? They don't carry riffles! Why they sit on their fat butts and think base, oh, hahaha, "the base". How do we keep the base from tossing us out on the street. The base, hahahah, base. Are ya listening Harry? Are ya paying attention Pelosi? The Bumperstickers are coming! Yikes!
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