July 31st 2004
The Bush Administration has triggered yet another Orange Code Alert, based on so-called “credible” information that al Qaeda is planning to attack the Washington based international financial institutions including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the New York Stock Exchange. “This is not the usual chatter. This is multiple sources that involve extraordinary detail,” Tom Ridge said.
Following are excerpts of Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge’s news conference in which he announced raising the terror threat level to orange in NYC, Washington DC and Newark. N.J:
RIDGE: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
President Bush has told you and I have reiterated the promise that when we have specific credible information, that we will share it. This afternoon we do have new and unusually specific information about where Al Qaida would like to attack.
And, as a result, today the United States government is raising the threat level to code orange for the financial services sector in New York City, northern New Jersey, and Washington, D.C.
Since September 11, 2001, leaders of our commercial financial institutions have demonstrated exceptional leadership in improving its security. However, in light of new intelligence information, we have made the decision to raise the threat level for this sector in these communities to bring protective resources to an even higher level.
This will allow us to increase protection in and around those buildings that require it, and also raise awareness for employees, and residents, and customers, and visitors. We know, and we know from experience, that increased physical protection and added vigilance from citizens can thwart a terrorist attack, and that is our goal.
Now, this is the first time we have chosen to use the homeland security advisory system in such a targeted way. Compared to previous threat reporting, these intelligence reports have provided a level of detail that is very specific.
The quality of this intelligence, based on multiple reporting streams in multiple locations, is rarely seen, and it is alarming in both the amount and specificity of the information. Now, while we are providing you with this immediate information, we will also continue to update you as the situation unfolds.
RIDGE: As of now, this is what we know: Reports indicate that Al Qaida is targeting several specific buildings, including the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in the District of Columbia, Prudential Financial in northern New Jersey and Citigroup buildings and the New York Stock Exchange in New York.
Let me assure you — let me reassure you, actions to further strengthen security around these buildings are already under way. Additionally, we’re concerned about targets beyond these and are working to get more information about them.
Now, senior leadership across the Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the White House, the CIA, the FBI, and other federal agencies, have been in constant contact with the governors, the mayors and the homeland security advisers of the affected locations I’ve just named.
We’ve talked with executive leadership of the companies that own these businesses and operate these buildings, the people who know these facilities best. We have told them at this time there is no information that indicates a specific time for these attacks beyond the period leading up to our national elections.
Though, of course, just because we know where but not precisely when, that does not mean that we cannot take preemptive action. Just the opposite. When collection activities provide specific information, we can tailor security measures to the particular vulnerabilities of those potential targets.
Now, understandably, security measures at each facility will not be uniform in nature, given the scope and the scale of building architecture, access to and from roads, and other variables. And certainly we will not broadcast our security intentions to our enemies.
RIDGE: But you may expect to see special buffer zones to secure the perimeter of the buildings from unauthorized cars and trucks, restrictions to affect underground parking, security personnel using identification badges and digital photos to keep track of people entering and exiting buildings, increased law enforcement presence, even more robust screening of vehicles and packages and deliveries.
These and other security measures, both seen and unseen, create added layers of protection to an already vigorous security effort around this country.
For full text of transcript: http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/nyc-ridgetest0802,0,2513607.story?coll=ny-nynews-headlines
This is the sixth orange code alert since September 11, 2001.
There is evidence from police sources that at least two of the previous high profile post-9/11 code orange terror alerts were fabricated. (February 7, 2003, and December, 21, 2003) (for details and documentary evidence see http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/CHO402A.html ).
Is the administration planning on triggering a code red alert, which in the words of Sec Tom Ridge, would “close down the country”? What is the hidden agenda? Needless to say, the terror warnings create conditions for insider trading and speculative activity on financial markets.
For further reference see the following articles:
Coup d’Etat in America? by Michel Chossudovsky, 13 July 2004 http://globalresearch.ca/articles/CHO407B.html
Will the 2004 Election Be Called Off? Why Three Out of Four Experts Predict a Terrorist Attack by November, by Maureen Farrell, April 2004, http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/FAR404A.html
CIA warns of “New 9/11”: Why has John Kerry remained Mum on the Issue of Postponing the Elections? Michel Chossudovsky, 16 July 2004, http://globalresearch.ca/articles/CHO407D.html
Bush Administration “Guidelines” for Postponing or Canceling the November Presidential Elections by Michel Chossudovsky, 10 July 2004, http://globalresearch.ca/articles/CHO407C.html
Bush Regime working out Procedures for postponing November Election by Webster Griffin Tarpley, 10 July 2004, http://globalresearch.ca/articles/TAR407B.html
Rumor Becomes Fact as Bush Administration Asks for Authority to Suspend the Election by Michael C. Ruppert , 13 July 2004 http://globalresearch.ca/articles/RUP407A.html
Bush backers discuss canceling elections, Emergency Rule and Martial Law, by Webster G. Tarpley 12 July 2004 http://globalresearch.ca/articles/407A.html
The Criminalization of the State, by Michel Chossudovsky, http://globalresearch.ca/articles/CHO402A.html February 2004
Homeland Defense: The Pentagon Declares War on America by Frank Morales, Global Outlook, Issue 3, Winter 2003, http://globalresearch.ca/articles/MOR312A.html
“Homeland Defense” and the Militarisation of America by Frank Morales, 15 September 2003, http://globalresearch.ca/articles/MOR309A.html
FBI points finger at the CIA: Terror Alert based on Fabricated Information, 14 February 2003, http://globalresearch.ca/articles/CRG302A.html
Bush’s Christmas Terror Alert, by Michel Chossudovsky, 24 December 2003, http://globalresearch.ca/articles/CHO312D.html
Manufacturing Hysteria: Bogus Terror Threats and Bush’s Police State, by Kurt Nimmo, 31 December 2003, http://globalresearch.ca/articles/NIM312A.html
Orange Code Terror Alert based on Fabricated Intelligence, by Michel Chossudovsky 3 January 2004. http://globalresearch.ca/articles/CHO401A.html
E-Democracy: Stealing the Election in 2004 by Steve Moore, 11 July 2004, http://globalresearch.ca/articles/MOO407A.html
