| Topic: |
Science > Prophecies-Of-Nostradamus |
| User: |
"World War Three 2003" |
| Date: |
29 Jul 2003 10:51:28 PM |
| Object: |
World War III ***NEWS*** Wednesday, July 30, 2003....+ |
goto:
http://www.endtime.com
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Memo Warns Of New Plots To Hijack Jets
Terrorists operating in teams of five may be plotting suicide missions
to hijack commercial airliners on the East Coast, Europe or Australia
this summer possibly using "common items carried by travelers, such as
cameras, modified as weapons," according to an urgent memo sent last
weekend to all U.S. airlines and airport security managers.
The "information circular" issued July 26, 2003 was drawn from recent
intelligence reports that detail the most specific terrorist plots
involving passenger aircraft in the United States since four hijacked
jetliners were used in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, crashing into the
World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in western Pennsylvania.
"The plan may involve the use of five-man teams, each of which would
attempt to seize control of a commercial aircraft either shortly after
takeoff or shortly before landing at a chosen airport," the
Transportation Security Administration memo said. "This type of
operation would preclude the need for flight-trained hijackers."
The threat comes just as the federal government has started to trim
the nation's new airport security agency, by cutting the number of
security screeners and other resources. Just one day before the memo
was distributed, an official with the undercover Federal Air Marshal
Service canceled what are considered some of the most vulnerable
flight missions because they required marshals to spend nights in
hotels, as well as cutting training for Washington-area agents next
month. The official cited "monetary considerations," according to an
e-mail obtained by The Washington Post.
Government officials have detected many threats of possible terrorist
attacks on the United States and abroad, raising the nation's "threat
level" as recently as May after suicide bombings in Riyadh, but no
incidents have since occurred.
President Bush was briefed on the hijack threat yesterday by CIA
Director George J. Tenet in a meeting attended by national security
advisers and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge. Officials said
that the information came from one or more high-ranking al Qaeda
prisoners and has been corroborated by other intelligence; the
circular specifically cites "Islamic extremists" as the planners of
the possible attacks.
"We continue to assess the credibility of this information while
taking additional steps to plug any gaps that may be in our aviation
security system," said Homeland Security Department spokesman Gordon
Johndroe.
The Transportation Security Administration declined to comment on air
marshal operations. Spokesman Robert Johnson said the undercover
program is "is not exempt from budget realities facing the TSA."
While the information disseminated to the airlines is unusually
specific, the intelligence community remains somewhat wary that the
alleged hijacking plot could be a feint by al Qaeda to divert
attention from a real threat elsewhere.
"That possibility is something we are looking at right now," a
Homeland Security Department official said. But, he said, the threat
to airliners "is consistent with previous al Qaeda methods of
returning to previous places of attacks" after taking time to size up
altered security.
In response to the airline threat, the department directed U.S.
airlines Monday to cooperate with additional screening procedures that
will begin immediately for certain international travelers to the
United States who do not have U.S. visas, according to people familiar
with the document. It was not clear what the new scrutiny entails.
A source familiar with the document said airlines are being asked to
provide additional scrutiny at originating airports outside the United
States of certain non-citizens traveling to American airports and
connecting to other international destinations. "It's the most
specific I've seen since we entered this new world" after the 2001
hijackings, the source said. "It's very clear to me they're taking it
very, very seriously."
More than 361,000 people fit that category last year. They are people
who, for example, fly from Rio de Janeiro to London with a layover in
Miami, and typically do not need a U.S. visa because they are simply
passing through. In such instances, travelers are directed on arrival
to remain in a secure lounge during the layover.
The July 26 memo suggests that terrorists plan to exploit this visa
loophole and evade authorities by taking a flight from a foreign
country with less-stringent security to a U.S., European or Australian
airport and then plan to hijack a second, connecting flight. "The
consideration of airports in the United States, Australia and several
western countries suggests the planners believe current aviation
security measures can either be defeated or will not detect the
hijackers and/or their weapons," the memo said.
New York's John F. Kennedy International, Newark International, Miami
International, Chicago's O'Hare International, Hart Field
International in Atlanta, San Francisco International, and Los Angeles
International airports typically handle the most connecting
international travelers.
Washington's Dulles International Airport has a secure lounge, but
does not have international connecting flights. Baltimore-Washington
International and Reagan National airports require visas on arriving
international flights.
James May, chief executive of the Air Transport Association, which
represents U.S. airlines, declined to comment on new security
procedures.
Homeland Security Department officials have not raised the
government's threat index, which requires stepped-up measures by
local, state and federal officials throughout the country, in part,
they said, because the current threat is narrowly focused on airlines.
The aviation industry can increase security without the disruption of
putting the entire country on high alert, one official said.
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