Steve Quayle News Alerts

December 23, 2003

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Numerous people named on America's terrorist watch lists have been prevented from entering the United States since December 1, after "credible" intelligence pointed to possible major terrorist attacks, a government official said Tuesday.

The official, who would not provide specifics, said the people were turned back at various locations. Another government official said a handful of flight crew members from other countries also have been stopped in recent days.

The United States has been working with airlines and governments of other countries in an attempt to improve their security, especially after Sunday's move by the Department of Homeland Security to raise the nation's terror threat level from "elevated" (yellow) to "high" (orange).

In addition, a senior State Department official said Tuesday the U.S. government has received intelligence that al Qaeda is planning attacks against U.S. interests in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Yemen and Kenya. The official said the intelligence spells out "a general threat of attack" against U.S. interests in those countries, but does not mention a specific target.

The official said the United States is getting "good cooperation throughout the [Persian] Gulf" in terms of providing extra security to U.S. facilities.

In Washington, high-level Pentagon officials, with the exception of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, were scheduled Tuesday to move at a moment's notice to secret locations, in a drill to practice what happens if the Defense Department is disabled by terrorists, U.S. officials said.

The so-called "continuity-of-government" exercise is a direct result of the heightened terror threat alert, the officials said. The secret locations are outfitted with communications and other facilities to keep the Pentagon functioning.

Missile batteries placed in Washington

Missile batteries were being moved into place around Washington, and possibly around New York City, and "irregular air patrols" were ordered because of what one senior Pentagon official called "specific, reliable, credible" intelligence regarding a possible terror strike.

Some of that relates to the possible use of aircraft originating in other countries as weapons in suicide attacks, a homeland security official said.

There are particular concerns about Washington, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and a handful of other cities and, according to some sources, two rural areas -- one in the East and one in the Southwest, the official said.

U.S. authorities are concerned about possible terrorist attacks using airplanes from Mexico and Canada, because of their contiguous airspace, and about France and several other countries, an official said. Governors have been given lists of specific measures and sites to be protected, including critical infrastructure which, if hit by an aircraft, could cause extensive problems, the official said.

"International aviation security standards are still voluntary," said Rafi Ron, an airline security analyst. "We know that many countries around the world do not exercise those standards."

President Bush assured Americans Monday, "Our government is doing everything we can to protect our country."

The threat level has been raised to high several times since the attacks on September 11, 2001, but officials at all levels said the threat this time around seems more serious than prior threats.

Some homeland security officials predicted the increased security could last into February, at a cost of about $1 billion per week -- much of it in increased overtime costs for law enforcement personnel.

Thirty members of the Alabama National Guard were deployed Tuesday to assist with security in four major Alabama airports in response to the heightened terrorism threat alert. According to Alabama National Guard representative Bob Horton, Gov. Bob Riley requested that the National Guard supplement existing security at airports in Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery and Mobile.

President Bush speaks about the terror alert on Monday: "Our government is doing everything we can to protect our country."

New York Gov. George Pataki told reporters that he signed an executive order to allow state troopers from New York, Connecticut and New Jersey to ride and monitor commuter trains.

In addition, he said, "we've increased patrols along the Canadian borders and ... are working to make sure everything from airports to bridges, tunnels and other mass transit facilities have heightened security."

But Pataki urged visitors and residents to get out and enjoy the season. "Go to the restaurants, see the shows; there's no more exciting or better place to be."

Los Angeles Mayor Jim Hahn said security efforts were escalated at Los Angeles International Airport and the Port of Los Angeles by increasing police patrols and perimeter checkpoints, and performing random vehicle inspections.

Police dogs roamed many airports, most trained in sniffing out explosives.

Some travelers expressed annoyance at the delays, but most appeared to take the changes in stride.

"I travel international and I don't feel it's giving me a lot of comfort," one Los Angeles airline passenger told CNN. "It seems like there's a lot of confusion."

The airport is expected to handle 2.6 million passengers between December 19 and January 6.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/12/23/threat.level/index.html