[LeArc] Credible Threat announcement from Sect Ridge

[Emergencyemail.ORG]

Homeland Security Secretary Ridge
makes credible threat announcement.

JULY 8, 2004

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said "credible" information indicated 
that Al Qaeda wants to stage a "large-scale attack" in the United States.

COMPLETE transcript of Ridge's remarks as provided by the Department of 
Homeland Security:

Good morning. You have heard me and other senior administration officials 
the National Security Adviser, Director of the FBI and the Attorney General 
-- discuss with the American people the increased risk of a terrorist 
attack this summer. I wanted to take this opportunity to update Americans 
on both the status of that threat, as well as the efforts of law 
enforcement and homeland security professionals across the country, under 
the Presidents leadership, to increase security.

Since September 11, 2001, we have had intelligence that al-Qaeda intends to 
launch more attacks against the homeland. Credible reporting now indicates 
that al Qaeda is moving forward with its plans to carry out a large-scale 
attack in the United States in an effort to disrupt our democratic process. 
Based on the attack in Madrid and recent interdictions in England, Jordan 
and Italy, we know that they have the capability to succeed and hold the 
mistaken belief that their attacks will have an impact on America's 
resolve. We lack precise knowledge about time, place and method of attack 
but, along with the CIA, FBI and other agencies, we are actively working to 
gain that knowledge.

A few weeks ago, I led a classified briefing on the threat for our Nations 
governors in an effort to keep them apprised as we continue through this 
period of heightened risk. Last night, I spoke with state homeland security 
advisers, law enforcement leaders, and first responders.

While we are not raising the color-coded threat level today, we are 
constantly reviewing threat reporting and strengthening the nation s 
security. We have permanent protections in place today that did not exist a 
year ago. These protections make it harder for terrorists to attack us.

As of today, we now have full nationwide connectivity to the Homeland 
Security Operations Center -- a 24 hour a day, 7 days-a- week, nerve center 
for homeland security information and incident management -- and all 50 
states through our Homeland Security Information Network&a goal weve 
reached five months ahead of schedule.

For the first time ever, this national operations center allows us to 
receive information in real time, and turn that information into actions 
that protect the homeland. It helps us to work even more closely with all 
our Federal partners, sharing law enforcement and state and local 
intelligence information about terrorists as never before.

The most advanced technologies including the newly created, internet based 
Homeland Security Information Network allow us to maintain up to the minute 
information&to map that information against our critical infrastructure and 
known threats&and then share it instantly with the White House, all 50 
states, more than 50 major urban areas, and thousands of state and local 
agencies.

And the reverse is true as well information flows into the Homeland 
Security Operations Center from our partners throughout the country. Many 
of them are physically represented in the operations center, including 
seats for 35 government agencies and local representatives such as the New 
York and Los Angeles police departments.

This is unprecedented communication and cooperation at the national, state, 
and local levels. This new ability to receive and distribute critical 
information allows us to make better decisions, more quickly, and take 
action that will deter, detect, and defuse terrorist attacks.

For instance, we will begin a new pilot program that utilizes technology to 
track high-risk trucks on our Nations highways in all 50 states. And our 
Operation Respondwill provide homeland security and law enforcement 
officials with the ability to quickly identify and track locations of rail 
shipments across the country.

We have also begun to deploy hundreds of handheld radiological detectors 
just the size of an average pager for use by law enforcement officers to 
help, for example, in locating and preventing the use of so-called dirty 
bombs. Hundreds more are on their way so that these important resources can 
be used around the country later this year.

And we will be monitoring via web-enabled perimeter cameras chemical 
facilities of greatest concern. The cameras will link to our Homeland 
Security Operations Center they provide one piece of the real-time data I 
spoke about earlier and more are due to come online by the end of the year.

In the coming months, the Nation will host high profile events, including 
those associated with our democratic traditions. We are working very 
closely with state and local officials in New York and Boston to ensure the 
security of the Democratic and Republican national conventions. I have 
designated these events National Special Security Events, making the United 
States Secret Service the lead agency for identifying and implementing 
protective efforts in these locations. I will soon travel to those sites 
myself to review the security measures being implemented.

In two weeks we will meet the with the security officials from the 
professional and collegiate sports associations to determine how to 
increase security for upcoming large sports events as well. We live in 
serious times, and this is sobering information about those who wish to do 
us harm. But every day we strengthen the security of our country, and as a 
nation we are committed to the absolute protection of our citizens.

Efforts each of you make to be vigilant such as reporting suspicious items 
or activities to authorities do make a difference. Every citizen using 
their common sense and eyes and ears can support our national effort to 
stop the terrorists.

Thank you for your continued resolve in the face of the ongoing threat of 
terrorism. We must continue to work together to ensure that the freedom we 
just celebrated continues as the hallmark of this great nation.

Thank you.


Click Here for complete transcript.
http://www.emergencyemail.org/homeland07082004.asp

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