Expect More Pop-Up TFRs, Restrictions, Etc.

The national terror alert level was hiked Tuesday from elevated "yellow" to high "orange," based on intelligence reports that al Qaeda terrorists may attempt to again strike the United States or target Americans abroad.

Earlier in the day, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge (right) had appeared before the House Homeland Security Select Committee. Committee Chair Rep. Christopher Cox reported there that Ridge would be on his way to the White House to update President Bush on the homeland security situation after testifying. Ridge assured committee members that his department is on guard for possible terrorist acts. "I truly believe that we're considerably… safer today than we were on September 10 (2001)," Ridge said. Then he went back to the office, and raised the alert level.

Since his department became operational less than three months ago, Ridge noted that his agency has "made a great deal of progress" in going about its business of protecting America and its people from terrorism. "We're off to a good start, understanding that we still have a long way to go," he pointed out.

For example, as part of Operation Liberty Shield during the heightened threat period in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Ridge noted that federal, state and local governments "identified critical assets and went out and hardened those assets."

And the Top Officials 2 emergency preparedness exercise that was held May 12-17 in Chicago and Seattle, Ridge noted, is being used to gauge the effectiveness of first responders, the adequacy of hospital facilities and the availability of medicines in the event of a real chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear terrorist attack.

"We are not more vulnerable because of what happened on September 11," Ridge pointed out. "We're just more aware of our vulnerabilities."

He acknowledged that protecting the U.S. homeland, its citizens and critical infrastructure against terrorism is a challenge, due to the country's size and long borders.

"The fact of the matter is, we have an open, diverse and welcoming country," Ridge pointed out. America, he noted, has extensive inland waterways, coastlines and borders to protect, as well as millions of visitors each year. [Visitors will now be fingerprinted, as reported in other news Tuesday --ed.]

"We do have a lot of challenges ahead of us, but I think the men and women of the (Homeland Security) Department are up to it," he concluded.

Ridge last raised the threat level from yellow to orange on March 17, when the president provided his ultimatum to since-deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

The U.S.-led coalition military operation that kicked Saddam and his regime out of power -- Operation Iraqi Freedom -- commenced March 19.

News reports May 19 quoted Saudi Arabian ambassador to Washington Prince Bandar bin Sultan, as commenting that al Qaeda is planning another attack on the United States or his country. He reportedly based his information on intelligence-intercepted "chatter" of suspected terrorist communications.

[Thanks to Gerry J. Gilmore, American Forces Press Service --ed.]

FMI: www.dhs.gov