US goes orange
With war drums beating, the United States terror alert level has been shifted to 'high', writes Anayat Durrani from Washington
While the Bush administration prepares for possible war with Iraq, at home the country has been placed on high alert against new terrorist attacks. United States President George W Bush, on recommendation from Attorney-General John Ashcroft, approved a decision on Friday to raise the country's terrorism-alert status to the second highest level, citing "specific intelligence".
"This decision for an increased threat condition designation is based on specific intelligence received and analysed by the full intelligence community. This information has been corroborated by multiple intelligence sources," Ashcroft said.
US officials cited an increase in terrorist activity or "chatter" and pointed to the possibility that the Al-Qa'eda network may be planning possible attacks against the US. Key factors in the decision to raise the alert status from yellow to orange included US preparation for a possible war with Iraq and the end of Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca.
Ashcroft said there was an "increased likelihood" that the Al-Qa'eda network would attack Americans at home and abroad to coincide with the end of the Hajj pilgrimage which finishes in mid-February. He said that Al- Qa'eda would attack "soft targets" like hotels and apartment buildings and cited the recent bombings of a nightclub in Bali, Indonesia, and a resort hotel in Mombasa, Kenya, as examples of their determination. Ashcroft added that any attacks may include the use of chemical, biological and radiological agents. He also said that targets particularly at risk include "symbols of American power" such as economic, transportation and energy infrastructures.
"The US government has specific intelligence and experience demonstrating that heightened awareness and readiness on our part deters terrorism. Since 11 September, 2001, the US has substantially improved its capacity to disrupt, deter and prevent terrorist attacks; terrorist attacks against innocent Americans," said Ashcroft.
He noted that since the 9/11 attacks against America, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has investigated over 3,000 terrorist threats within the US and issued 103 warnings to state and local law enforcement agencies. Ashcroft said that many Al-Qa'eda key commanders have been apprehended and 3,000 suspected terrorists have been arrested worldwide.
"We've uncovered and stopped terrorist conspiracies in the United States, in Yemen, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, the Straits of Hormuz and Gibraltar. We've broken Al-Qa'eda cells around the world, and with the support of the American people, we will prevail in this war on terror," he added.
US officials have tightened security at subways, hotels, and airports and other points of entry. The additional security measures will include more random inspections of baggage at airports, heightened security along the US borders as well as more checks of cargo coming into US ports. US officials have stepped up security nationwide on various facilities from nuclear plants to amusement parks from New York City to San Francisco. While the terror alert has been raised to orange, US officials have asked Americans to go on with their daily lives but to report any unusual or suspicious activity.
"We are not recommending that events be cancelled, nor do we recommend that individuals change work or domestic travel plans," he said. "We ask that Americans continue their daily work and leisure activities, with a heightened awareness of their environment and the activities occurring around them."
This is the third time the US has raised its terror alert. It was raised last April and again for two weeks around the anniversary of the 11 September attacks. The terror alert system consists of five levels, red being the colour of the highest level.
On Saturday, Newsweek magazine reported that one of the major factors prompting the decision by the Bush administration to raise the national terror alert from 'elevated risk' to 'high risk' was the increase in threats against Jews. The magazine said a number of intelligence reports lead US officials to believe that Al-Qa'eda may be planning to launch several attacks on Jewish groups or Jewish-owned businesses. US officials said fresh intelligence warned about possible attacks on synagogues, Jewish community centres, Jewish hospitals, youth groups, hotels and resorts, which prompted the FBI to contact Jewish leaders and rabbis nationwide, wrote Newsweek.
Meanwhile, the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), a national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group based in Washington DC, expressed concern over Ashcroft's terror alert announcement on Friday that links Hajj, and ultimately the religion of Islam, with terrorism.
"The unnecessary linkage of Hajj to terrorism merely serves to promote the growing perception in the Muslim world that the war on terrorism is in reality an attack on Islam," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. "That perception damages our nation's interests and could generate increased suspicion of and discrimination against ordinary Muslims. Hajj has nothing to do with terrorism. To imply otherwise is an insult to the American Muslim community. Attorney-General Ashcroft needs to clarify his position on this important issue." Awad added that the Bush administration also linked Islamic religious observances to terrorism during the month-long Ramadan fast.
A day before Ashcroft's announcement, the State Department issued a worldwide caution to Americans living abroad regarding terrorist attacks that may include "suicide operations, assassinations or kidnappings" as well as the "growing threat" of non- conventional weapons such as chemical or biological agents.
"Private Americans should remain vigilant with regard to their personal security and exercise caution," the notice said. "The Department of State reminds Americans that US citizens and interests are at a heightened risk of terrorist attacks." American targets abroad could include schools, places of worship, restaurants, clubs, hotels and other areas Americans are known to frequent. The last global travel warning was issued in November. The current warning will expire in May.
