[Peace-discuss] Bush's campaign strategy unveiled

[Ricky Baldwin]

OK, here's an experiment.  Just how dumb ARE the
American people...
(We shall see.  -RB)

Ridge Warns of Election Terror Plot
7-8-04
By KATHERINE PFLEGER SHRADER, Associated Press Writer 

WASHINGTON - The United States is tightening security
in the face of a steady stream of intelligence
indicating al-Qaida may seek to mount an attack aimed
at disrupting elections, the White House and Homeland
Security officials said Thursday.

The Department of Homeland Security is addressing the
threat and has efforts under way to "ramp up
security," White House press secretary Scott McClellan
said. 

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said the Bush
administration based its decision to bolster security
on "credible" reports about al-Qaida's plans, coupled
with the pre-election terror attack in Spain earlier
this year and recent arrests in England, Jordan and
Italy. 

"This is sobering information about those who wish to
do us harm," Ridge said. "But every day we strengthen
the security of our nation." 

U.S. officials do not have specific knowledge about
where, when or how such an attack would take place,
but the CIA, FBI and other agencies "are actively
working to gain that knowledge," Ridge said. 

Notwithstanding the heightened air of vigilance, the
government is not raising its color-coded terror alert
status, he said. 

A continuing stream of intelligence, including nuggets
of information gleaned from sources including
militant-linked Web sites, indicates an attack is
being planned, said a senior intelligence official,
speaking on condition of anonymity. Plans for such an
attack are believed to be near completion, the
official said, echoing what officials said earlier in
the summer before the Memorial Day weekend. 

When asked if the threat is considered higher at the
political conventions this summer or as the nation
gets closer to the presidential election in early
November, the official said concerns are high from
this point in time forward. 

In addition to ramping up security at the conventions
in Boston and New York, authorities have begun working
through the process of how to secure the thousands of
polling sites that will be used around the country
this fall, said another senior intelligence official,
also speaking on condition of anonymity. 

"We have briefed the campaigns, both campaigns — the
Kerry-Edwards campaign as well as the Bush-Cheney
campaign — about the security measures that are being
put in place for those conventions in New York and
Boston," said White House press secretary Scott
McClellan. 

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist told reporters that
Americans should not expect a major announcement on
homeland security any time soon, indicating that the
nation's threat level could remain at its "elevated"
level. 

"There's, obviously, no reason for panic, or
paralysis," Frist said after a briefing for senators
on intelligence matters. "The country is at some
increased risk between now and the time of the
presidential election. It's important for people to be
aware of that." 

"What is clear is that law enforcement has generally
been notified. ... There are enhanced activities on
behalf of law enforcement around the country to engage
in deterrence and prevention," he said. 

In April, a working group made up of representatives
from agencies that touch on law enforcement, homeland
security and intelligence was established to deal with
a series of events through the election that may be
attractive targets for terrorists, including the
presidential nominating conventions. 

Senior administration officials and counterterrorism
experts view the coming months as a time to increase
vigilance out of concern that Islamic militants may
try to replicate the political success they had in
Spain with coordinated pre-election train bombings. 

Nearly 200 died in the March attack, and the prime
minister's ruling Popular Party lost to a rival who
promised a pullout of Spanish troops from Iraq. 

Elaborate plans are already in the works to protect
the Republican and Democratic party conventions in New
York and Boston, which have been classified as
National Security Special Events. With the designation
— a concept that evolved from the 1996 Summer Olympics
in Atlanta — comes federal funds, increased
preparations and heightened security. 




		
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