Following the recent bombings in Saudi Arabia and Morocco, the Bush administration yesterday elevated the national terror alert level to “orange,” indicating a high risk of terrorist attacks (see GSN, April 16).

The change in the alert level, which had been previously at “yellow,” or “elevated,” was also based on recent electronic communications intercepted by U.S. intelligence agencies indicating that al-Qaeda or other terrorists might attempt to conduct an attack on the East Coast.  However, there are doubts about the credibility of that information, officials said.

“The United States intelligence community believes that terrorists continue to plan attacks against targets in the United States, and for this reason the alert level has been raised,” Homeland Security Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson said (Philip Shenon, New York Times, May 21).

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge urged Americans to continue with their planned Memorial Day holiday activities, but to remain alert.

“For all Americans, we recommend that you continue with your plans for work or leisure,” Ridge said yesterday.  “However, your vigilance at large public events or other locations where crowds gather can help us disrupt terrorists’ plans.  If you see anything suspicious, do not hesitate to contact your local FBI office,” he said.

Shortly before the alert level was raised, the FBI issued a bulletin to U.S. law enforcement agencies that said a terrorist attack in the United States was possible.  The alert said the Saudi Arabia and Morocco attacks might have been “a prelude to an attack on the United States.”

“Although the FBI possesses no information indicating a specific threat in the United States, recipients should remain alert to potential terrorist operations in this country,” the bureau alert said (Mintz/Schmidt, Washington Post, May 21).

Some Bush administration officials said the decision to raise the alert level was based, in part, on a belief that the Saudi Arabia and Morocco bombings were evidence that al-Qaeda has begun a series of attacks to demonstrate that it still exists.

“More than anything else, it’s the belief that if al-Qaeda and its friends could carry out an attack in the United States, they would want to do it now,” a senior Bush administration official said.  “This is an analytical judgment that we’ve entered a dangerous period,” the official added (Shenon, New York Times).

About Newswire  |  Contact National Journal  |  Re-Use Guidelines

HOME  |  CONTACT US  |  GET INVOLVED  |  SITE MAP

Back to top