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.]
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