[Stoner]

Reuters

Reports: Material Behind New U.S. Alert Is Years Old

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Much of the information obtained by al Qaeda that led the United States to raise terror alerts in Washington and New York was at least three years old, and U.S. officials are unsure if the group's surveillance continues, according to published reports on Tuesday.
The Washington Post and The New York Times reported in Tuesday editions that officials were still analyzing documents seized late last month after a raid in Pakistan that showed al Qaeda surveillance of specific U.S. targets.

Documents, computers, surveillance reports and sketches were recovered related to the capture of suspected al Qaeda computer expert Muhammad Naeem Noor Khan, also known as Abu Talha, in July, officials said.

Much of the information that resulted from the arrest was compiled before the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, The New York Times reported, citing intelligence and law enforcement officials.

Federal authorities said they are unsure whether al Qaeda's surveillance continues, the newspapers reported.

"You could say that the bulk of this information is old, but we know that al Qaeda collects, collects, collects until they're comfortable," a senior government official was quoted in the Times as saying. "Only then do they carry out an operation. And there are signs that some of this may have been updated or may be more recent."

The Post cited officials as saying that much of the information al Qaeda gathered on buildings in Washington, New York and Newark, New Jersey, was obtained through the Internet or other "open sources" available to the general public, including floor plans.

"What we've uncovered is a collection operation as opposed to the launching of an attack," said a senior American official quoted by the Post.

U.S. officials have previously warned of possible attacks before the presidential election in November. The latest warnings on Sunday were of al Qaeda threats to attack symbols of U.S. financial might such as the New York Stock Exchange, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund, among other targets in the New York area and Washington.

Al Qaeda was behind the Sept. 11 hijacked plane attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center in New York and struck the Pentagon in Washington.

[Ciberblade]

Its kind of a double edged sword.

If the terror level is raised, and there is no attack - then it could have been politically motivated.

Then again if the terror level is not raised, and there is an attack - then he is concentrating on politics and not protecting the country.

[sligo]

Better safe then sorry---If the Bush Junta is making this stuff up in order to scare us into voting for him, then heck, we are in worse shape then even I thought.

[mach9]

Living in the heart of NYC, subject to the horrific traffic jams caused by searches as frequent as right after 9/11, I do not appreciate 3-4 year old news being foisted on us as though it was just last weeks news. With all the hoopla on Sunday, it only came out Monday that much of this was ancient-so to speak. It could have been announced with the addendum that it was very precise, exact details, and though many years old, might still be part of current plans. Please give us the whole truth when you are going to scare those of us who've already been thru the real thing. Politics?

[angelize56]

"You could say that the bulk of this information is old, but we know that al Qaeda collects, collects, collects until they're comfortable," a senior government official was quoted in the Times as saying. "Only then do they carry out an operation. And there are signs that some of this may have been updated or may be more recent."

I say better safe than sorry! Al Qaeda has been known to plot for years in advance....besides...the info contained on the pc in Pakistan may be outdated...but somewhere on another pc could be the newer updates! Politically motivated or not...someone has to take a stand here in the US to protect us better! Airport security remains lax....and good luck spotting a terrorist in NY, Washington, Jersey, anywhere, who doesn't conform to the PC profile of one!

[angelize56]

White House: Intelligence Behind Alert 'Chilling', Not Old

POSTED: 1:36 pm EDT August 3, 2004
UPDATED: 1:40 pm EDT August 3, 2004

DALLAS -- The White House says the intelligence behind the latest terror alert is "chilling" -- and not old, as critics have suggested.

Press Secretary Scott McClellan says it's "wrong and quite irresponsible" to call the information outdated. He says it was updated as recently as this year, and he says al-Qaida has a history of planning attacks well in advance, then updating plans just before striking.

McClellan spoke to reporters on Air Force One as President Bush flew to Texas.

Officials have acknowledged that some of the documents found in Pakistan that prompted the alert are undated, and may be pre-9/11. The documents reflected surveillance of financial institutions in New York, New Jersey and Washington.

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean has suggested the alert -- right after the Democratic convention -- was timed for political effect, but Homeland Secretary Tom Ridge denies that, saying, "We don't do politics in the Department of Homeland Security."

[deh]

Terror alert for real or election politics?


You are kidding right?

[angelize56]

Now when have you known Smilin' Jack to ever be kidding!

[deh]

Back in the day whenever I got that paranoid I merely quit smoking that kind of herb and went onto something a little more mellow.

[angelize56]

Well Jack lives in a very precarious state!

[plschwartz]

Press Secretary Scott McClellan says it's "wrong and quite irresponsible" to call the information outdated. He says it was updated as recently as this year, and he says al-Qaida has a history of planning attacks well in advance, then updating plans just before striking.

Updated this year but released a couple of days after the Dem convention

[Stoner]

Originally Posted by angelize56

Well Jack lives in a very precarious state!

Jack's been listening................

[deh]

Hey stoner how are ya?

PS. I thought about it and referring to the icky of the sticky that made me paranoid had nothing to do with your screen name as I know (or think) that is your last name. It was just a coincidence. Just so you know.

[Stoner]

Hey deh

It's Angel that's some splanin' to do


My favorite form of mind numbing used to be beer, now I'm alergic to the yeast in it. Took me a lot of time to find a brew that was low in yeast, but .....I managed

[angelize56]

Angel doesn't have 'splane herself to you....you know me by now!