August 3, 2004

Something Old, Something New

Yesterday the U.S. government raised the terrorist threat warning, disclosing chilling "new" intelligence that al Qaeda was planning to attack major financial instiutions in New York, Washington and Newark. As the New York Times reported, "Counterterrorism officials and experts said they had noticed a shift in the statements attributed to Al Qaeda's leaders, and their allies, in recent months." Today, it became clear (from Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge himself) that the intelligence on which the warning was based is at least four years old and pre-dated the 9/11 attacks. Terror Alert: How Four-Year-Old Information was Transformed into Clear and Present Danger [Independent.co.uk].

[A] transcript of a background briefing provided to the U.S. media on Sunday night by intelligence agencies reveals the extent to which officials were determined to imply the information was current. It was that briefing on which the majority of reports were based.

During the briefing one official, described only as a "senior intelligence official," said: "The new information is chilling in its scope, in its detail, in its breadth. It also gives a sense, the same feeling one would have if one found that somebody broke into your house and over the past several months was taking a lot of details about your place of residence and looking for ways to attack."

The official added: "[The information demonstrates] al Qaeda is meticulous in its efforts and since 9/11 there has been an effort made to ensure that they have the information that they need in order to carry out attacks."

Ridge says he is not "playing politics" with terrorist threats. There's no reason not to believe that, especially given the economic disruptions that the extraordinary security precautions at the World Bank, the New York Stock Exchange and other major financial locations entails. But then why were the Sunday background briefings premised on "new" intelligence about al Qaeda activities "since" 9/11? Ridge may not be playing politics, but someone sure seems to be playing fast and loose with the facts.

 Posted by glenn

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