America on alert for 9/11 anniversary

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration raised the nation's terror alert warning to its second highest level Tuesday -- code orange -- signaling a "high risk" of attack ahead of the Sept. 11 anniversary. The government increased security at federal buildings and monuments and closed some U.S. embassies abroad.\n"We take every threat seriously. The threats that we have heard recently remind us of the pattern of threats that we heard prior to September 11," President Bush said.\nHe said there was no specific threat to the U.S. mainland. But, Attorney General John Ashcroft cited intelligence from a senior al Qaeda operative "of possible attacks on U.S. interests overseas." He said there was information about possible car bombings and other attacks on U.S. facilities in south Asian countries and the threat of a suicide attack against U.S. interests in the Middle East.\nAshcroft and Homeland Security Adviser Tom Ridge announced the new alert level.\nAt the same time, the State Department announced that the government was temporarily closing for public business about two dozen U.S. diplomatic posts worldwide. Officials cited specific threats against U.S. embassies in southeast Asia, including embassies in Indonesia and Malaysia.\nEven before Ashcroft and Ridge made their announcement, Vice President Dick Cheney left the White House for a secure, undisclosed location, canceling a Tuesday night speech and sending the disappointed audience a videotaped address instead. Cheney's schedule for Wednesday was up in the air, as well.\nWhite House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Cheney had also spent Monday night at a secret, safe spot "based on an ongoing review of information that is received as well as out of precaution."\nBush's own public schedule for Sept. 11, including a major speech at the Pentagon and an emotional visit to New York's Ground Zero, remains unchanged, Fleischer said.\nAshcroft said the government was not urging Americans to change their travel plans or that there be a cancellation of events. Similarly, he said there was no call for government workers to stay home.\nAshcroft said the United States had gathered intelligence suggesting that such attacks are intended to coincide with the Sept. 11 anniversary of the terrorist attacks.\n"Symbols of American power and authority," such as embassies, military facilities and national monuments are possible targets, Ashcroft.\nHe said terrorists might "lash out in even small strikes," including car bombings and other suicide attacks.\nSecurity was also being increased at military bases worldwide, Ashcroft said.\nThe level, which reflects a "high risk of terrorist attacks," is one step below the top "red," or "severe risk." The level had been at "yellow," in the middle of the five-color scale.\nCode orange calls for government officials to take extra precaution at public events and to coordinate their efforts with the military. Access to various government installations is restricted to only "essential personnel."\nOfficials said there was no specific threat against targets in the United States, but the government opted to raise the alert level because of an increase in communications -- what the intelligence community calls "chatter"-- among suspected terrorists.\nAshcroft said Americans should remain "alert but defiant in the face of this new threat."\nRidge, speaking of the threat at home, said "specific protective measures" would be taken by federal agencies as a result of the heightened alert status.\nHe said these would likely include more barriers around federal buildings and more inspections.\nAmericans should use their common sense and be more alert to possible threats, Ridge said. "Be wary and be mindful," Ridge cautioned.\nRidge had spoken earlier Tuesday with governors and their staffs.\nAmong them was George Vinson, the anti-terror chief in Gov. Gray Davis' administration in California. Ridge called the governors to prepare them for the Justice Department's announcement, Vinson said.\n"New information has become available very recently," including information provided to the U.S. intelligence community by a senior al Qaeda official, Ashcroft told reporters. He did not elaborate.\nHowever, another U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the intelligence that led to the new warning came during the last 48 hours.\nThe plans are believed to be linked directly to al Qaeda, rather than one of its affiliates, the official said. The al Qaeda leader that provided some of the information has been in U.S. custody for several months, the official said.\n"We are very concerned about a full range of terrorist activities," Ashcroft said. He said intelligence has concluded that "the most likely al Qaeda targets are the transportation and energy sectors."\nRidge said that U.S. sky marshals would be out in force over the next few days to foil any possible new hijacking attempts.\nAshcroft said he was hopeful that, by publicizing the new threat and elevating the alert level, the government could "prevent the attacks that might otherwise exist."\nMeanwhile, the General Services Administration, which operates and provides security for most of the government's buildings, immediately alerted federal agencies and put in place new security procedures. The agency declined to specify changes, citing security concerns.\n"We've been at a high state of alert already but we're ramping up a little bit. Most things won't be visible," GSA spokeswoman Viki Reath said.\nThe development came as the government closed its embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was the second embassy in the region to be ordered closed because of terrorist fears on the eve of the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, closed earlier Tuesday.\nThe FBI had issued a warning that became public Monday asking operators of computer networks, utilities and transportation systems to be wary during the anniversary this week of the suicide hijackings that leveled the World Trade Center and damaged the Pentagon.\nSince the administration created a five color coded threat system in March, the government had kept the warning at code yellow, signifying an elevated condition of alert and a significant risk of terrorist attacks.\nThe code orange set Tuesday is the second highest alert status, signaling a high risk for terrorist attacks.\nAt the Pentagon, security was already heightened because of the anniversary. A mobile surface-to-air missile launcher -- part of an exercise announced Monday -- was parked several hundred yards from the Pentagon Tuesday morning.\nAnd U.S. Navy officials in Bahrain issued a warning to shippers Tuesday following unconfirmed reports that al Qaeda may be planning attacks on oil tankers.\n___\nOn The Net: NIPC: http://www.nipc.gov/publications/infobulletins/2002/ib02-007.htm