9/11 Anniversary Terror Threat: At Least 2 Suspects In Possible Attack May Be U.S. Citizens, Say Officials
September 11, 2011 No Comment
WASHINGTON — U.S. intelligence agencies have found no evidence that al-Qaida has sneaked any terrorists into the country for a strike coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, senior officials said Saturday. But authorities kept a high alert as investigators looked for proof of a plot possibly timed to disrupt events planned Sunday in Washington or New York. Since late Wednesday, counterterrorism officials have chased a tip that al-Qaida may have sent three men to the U.S. on a mission to detonate a car bomb in either city. At least two of those men could be U.S. citizens, according to the tip. No intelligence supported that tip as of Saturday, and officials continued to question the validity of the initial information. While such tips are common among intelligence agencies, this one received more attention, and government officials chose to speak publicly about it, because of the connection to the anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history. Al-Qaida long has hoped to strike again on the anniversary. At the FBI field office in Washington, assistant director James McJunkin described the tip and the response as routine. The U.S. already had bolstered security nationwide before the upcoming anniversary and anticipated an increase in tips. “We expect we’re going to get an increase in threats and investigative activity around high-profile dates and events,” he said. “This is a routine response for us. It’s routine because it’s muscle memory.” Intelligence analysts have looked at travel patterns and behaviors of people who recently entered the country. While they have singled out a few people for additional scrutiny, none has shown any involvement in a plot, according to the senior U.S. officials, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the investigation. President Barack Obama met with his national security team Saturday, but the White House released no new information about possible threats. A statement said that counterterrorism efforts were working well and would not ease in the weeks and months ahead. The tip that touched off the most recent investigation came from a CIA informant who has proved reliable in the past, according to U.S. officials. They said the informant approached intelligence officials overseas to say that the men were ordered by new al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri to mark the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 by doing harm on U.S. soil. He took over as the group’s leader after the U.S. killed Osama bin Laden during a raid in May at his compound in Pakistan. The informant said the would-be attackers were of Arab descent and might speak Arabic as well as English. Counterterrorism officials were looking for certain names associated with the threat, but it was unclear whether the names were real or fake. Some intelligence officials have raised doubts about the threat, given the short turnaround time. Someone who recently arrived in the United States would have just days to plan and obtain materials for a car bomb attack, a difficult feat even with a long lead time. But they did not dismiss the threat. Extra security was put in place to protect the people in the two cities that took the brunt of the jetliner attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Both cities were clearly on edge. Police in New York were investigating two vans stolen from a World Trade Center site contractor and another from a New Jersey storage facility. Their counterparts in Washington were on the lookout for a pair of U-Haul vans reported missing from nearby Prince George’s County, Maryland, though U-Haul said one was later found. The company had no details Police connected none of the threats to a terror plot, but said they were taking extra precautions because of the recent threat. Law enforcement agencies around the country had increased security at airports, nuclear plants, train stations and elsewhere in the weeks leading to Sept. 11. The latest threat made those measures more urgent. U.S. embassies and consulates also stepped up safeguards in preparation for the anniversary. While authorities urged people to keep a watchful eye for suspicious activity as usual, they said there was no reason the latest tip should change anyone’s weekend. “Whatever you have plans for, it’s a beautiful day. It’s going to be a beautiful weekend,” McJunkin said. “It’s college football Saturday. Tomorrow is the start of the NFL season. So we expect the public is going to be out enjoying what it means to be an American.” ___ Associated Press writers Eileen Sullivan, Kimberly Dozier, Jessica Gresko and Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report. ___ Follow Matt Apuzzo at http://twitter.com/mattapuzzo
Continue reading …9/11 Anniversary Terror Threat: At Least 2 Suspects In Possible Attack May Be U.S. Citizens, Say Officials
September 11, 2011 No CommentWASHINGTON — U.S. intelligence agencies have found no evidence that al-Qaida has sneaked any terrorists into the country for a strike coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, senior officials said Saturday. But authorities kept a high alert as investigators looked for proof of a plot possibly timed to disrupt events planned Sunday in Washington or New York. Since late Wednesday, counterterrorism officials have chased a tip that al-Qaida may have sent three men to the U.S. on a mission to detonate a car bomb in either city. At least two of those men could be U.S. citizens, according to the tip. No intelligence supported that tip as of Saturday, and officials continued to question the validity of the initial information. While such tips are common among intelligence agencies, this one received more attention, and government officials chose to speak publicly about it, because of the connection to the anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history. Al-Qaida long has hoped to strike again on the anniversary. At the FBI field office in Washington, assistant director James McJunkin described the tip and the response as routine. The U.S. already had bolstered security nationwide before the upcoming anniversary and anticipated an increase in tips. “We expect we’re going to get an increase in threats and investigative activity around high-profile dates and events,” he said. “This is a routine response for us. It’s routine because it’s muscle memory.” Intelligence analysts have looked at travel patterns and behaviors of people who recently entered the country. While they have singled out a few people for additional scrutiny, none has shown any involvement in a plot, according to the senior U.S. officials, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the investigation. President Barack Obama met with his national security team Saturday, but the White House released no new information about possible threats. A statement said that counterterrorism efforts were working well and would not ease in the weeks and months ahead. The tip that touched off the most recent investigation came from a CIA informant who has proved reliable in the past, according to U.S. officials. They said the informant approached intelligence officials overseas to say that the men were ordered by new al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri to mark the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 by doing harm on U.S. soil. He took over as the group’s leader after the U.S. killed Osama bin Laden during a raid in May at his compound in Pakistan. The informant said the would-be attackers were of Arab descent and might speak Arabic as well as English. Counterterrorism officials were looking for certain names associated with the threat, but it was unclear whether the names were real or fake. Some intelligence officials have raised doubts about the threat, given the short turnaround time. Someone who recently arrived in the United States would have just days to plan and obtain materials for a car bomb attack, a difficult feat even with a long lead time. But they did not dismiss the threat. Extra security was put in place to protect the people in the two cities that took the brunt of the jetliner attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Both cities were clearly on edge. Police in New York were investigating two vans stolen from a World Trade Center site contractor and another from a New Jersey storage facility. Their counterparts in Washington were on the lookout for a pair of U-Haul vans reported missing from nearby Prince George’s County, Maryland, though U-Haul said one was later found. The company had no details Police connected none of the threats to a terror plot, but said they were taking extra precautions because of the recent threat. Law enforcement agencies around the country had increased security at airports, nuclear plants, train stations and elsewhere in the weeks leading to Sept. 11. The latest threat made those measures more urgent. U.S. embassies and consulates also stepped up safeguards in preparation for the anniversary. While authorities urged people to keep a watchful eye for suspicious activity as usual, they said there was no reason the latest tip should change anyone’s weekend. “Whatever you have plans for, it’s a beautiful day. It’s going to be a beautiful weekend,” McJunkin said. “It’s college football Saturday. Tomorrow is the start of the NFL season. So we expect the public is going to be out enjoying what it means to be an American.” ___ Associated Press writers Eileen Sullivan, Kimberly Dozier, Jessica Gresko and Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report. ___ Follow Matt Apuzzo at http://twitter.com/mattapuzzo
Continue reading …9/11 Anniversary Terror Threat: At Least 2 Suspects In Possible Attack May Be U.S. Citizens, Say Officials
September 11, 2011 No CommentWASHINGTON — U.S. intelligence agencies have found no evidence that al-Qaida has sneaked any terrorists into the country for a strike coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, senior officials said Saturday. But authorities kept a high alert as investigators looked for proof of a plot possibly timed to disrupt events planned Sunday in Washington or New York. Since late Wednesday, counterterrorism officials have chased a tip that al-Qaida may have sent three men to the U.S. on a mission to detonate a car bomb in either city. At least two of those men could be U.S. citizens, according to the tip. No intelligence supported that tip as of Saturday, and officials continued to question the validity of the initial information. While such tips are common among intelligence agencies, this one received more attention, and government officials chose to speak publicly about it, because of the connection to the anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history. Al-Qaida long has hoped to strike again on the anniversary. At the FBI field office in Washington, assistant director James McJunkin described the tip and the response as routine. The U.S. already had bolstered security nationwide before the upcoming anniversary and anticipated an increase in tips. “We expect we’re going to get an increase in threats and investigative activity around high-profile dates and events,” he said. “This is a routine response for us. It’s routine because it’s muscle memory.” Intelligence analysts have looked at travel patterns and behaviors of people who recently entered the country. While they have singled out a few people for additional scrutiny, none has shown any involvement in a plot, according to the senior U.S. officials, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the investigation. President Barack Obama met with his national security team Saturday, but the White House released no new information about possible threats. A statement said that counterterrorism efforts were working well and would not ease in the weeks and months ahead. The tip that touched off the most recent investigation came from a CIA informant who has proved reliable in the past, according to U.S. officials. They said the informant approached intelligence officials overseas to say that the men were ordered by new al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri to mark the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 by doing harm on U.S. soil. He took over as the group’s leader after the U.S. killed Osama bin Laden during a raid in May at his compound in Pakistan. The informant said the would-be attackers were of Arab descent and might speak Arabic as well as English. Counterterrorism officials were looking for certain names associated with the threat, but it was unclear whether the names were real or fake. Some intelligence officials have raised doubts about the threat, given the short turnaround time. Someone who recently arrived in the United States would have just days to plan and obtain materials for a car bomb attack, a difficult feat even with a long lead time. But they did not dismiss the threat. Extra security was put in place to protect the people in the two cities that took the brunt of the jetliner attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Both cities were clearly on edge. Police in New York were investigating two vans stolen from a World Trade Center site contractor and another from a New Jersey storage facility. Their counterparts in Washington were on the lookout for a pair of U-Haul vans reported missing from nearby Prince George’s County, Maryland, though U-Haul said one was later found. The company had no details Police connected none of the threats to a terror plot, but said they were taking extra precautions because of the recent threat. Law enforcement agencies around the country had increased security at airports, nuclear plants, train stations and elsewhere in the weeks leading to Sept. 11. The latest threat made those measures more urgent. U.S. embassies and consulates also stepped up safeguards in preparation for the anniversary. While authorities urged people to keep a watchful eye for suspicious activity as usual, they said there was no reason the latest tip should change anyone’s weekend. “Whatever you have plans for, it’s a beautiful day. It’s going to be a beautiful weekend,” McJunkin said. “It’s college football Saturday. Tomorrow is the start of the NFL season. So we expect the public is going to be out enjoying what it means to be an American.” ___ Associated Press writers Eileen Sullivan, Kimberly Dozier, Jessica Gresko and Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report. ___ Follow Matt Apuzzo at http://twitter.com/mattapuzzo
Continue reading …9/11 Anniversary Terror Threat: At Least 2 Suspects In Possible Attack May Be U.S. Citizens, Say Officials
September 11, 2011 No CommentWASHINGTON — U.S. intelligence agencies have found no evidence that al-Qaida has sneaked any terrorists into the country for a strike coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, senior officials said Saturday. But authorities kept a high alert as investigators looked for proof of a plot possibly timed to disrupt events planned Sunday in Washington or New York. Since late Wednesday, counterterrorism officials have chased a tip that al-Qaida may have sent three men to the U.S. on a mission to detonate a car bomb in either city. At least two of those men could be U.S. citizens, according to the tip. No intelligence supported that tip as of Saturday, and officials continued to question the validity of the initial information. While such tips are common among intelligence agencies, this one received more attention, and government officials chose to speak publicly about it, because of the connection to the anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history. Al-Qaida long has hoped to strike again on the anniversary. At the FBI field office in Washington, assistant director James McJunkin described the tip and the response as routine. The U.S. already had bolstered security nationwide before the upcoming anniversary and anticipated an increase in tips. “We expect we’re going to get an increase in threats and investigative activity around high-profile dates and events,” he said. “This is a routine response for us. It’s routine because it’s muscle memory.” Intelligence analysts have looked at travel patterns and behaviors of people who recently entered the country. While they have singled out a few people for additional scrutiny, none has shown any involvement in a plot, according to the senior U.S. officials, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the investigation. President Barack Obama met with his national security team Saturday, but the White House released no new information about possible threats. A statement said that counterterrorism efforts were working well and would not ease in the weeks and months ahead. The tip that touched off the most recent investigation came from a CIA informant who has proved reliable in the past, according to U.S. officials. They said the informant approached intelligence officials overseas to say that the men were ordered by new al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri to mark the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 by doing harm on U.S. soil. He took over as the group’s leader after the U.S. killed Osama bin Laden during a raid in May at his compound in Pakistan. The informant said the would-be attackers were of Arab descent and might speak Arabic as well as English. Counterterrorism officials were looking for certain names associated with the threat, but it was unclear whether the names were real or fake. Some intelligence officials have raised doubts about the threat, given the short turnaround time. Someone who recently arrived in the United States would have just days to plan and obtain materials for a car bomb attack, a difficult feat even with a long lead time. But they did not dismiss the threat. Extra security was put in place to protect the people in the two cities that took the brunt of the jetliner attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Both cities were clearly on edge. Police in New York were investigating two vans stolen from a World Trade Center site contractor and another from a New Jersey storage facility. Their counterparts in Washington were on the lookout for a pair of U-Haul vans reported missing from nearby Prince George’s County, Maryland, though U-Haul said one was later found. The company had no details Police connected none of the threats to a terror plot, but said they were taking extra precautions because of the recent threat. Law enforcement agencies around the country had increased security at airports, nuclear plants, train stations and elsewhere in the weeks leading to Sept. 11. The latest threat made those measures more urgent. U.S. embassies and consulates also stepped up safeguards in preparation for the anniversary. While authorities urged people to keep a watchful eye for suspicious activity as usual, they said there was no reason the latest tip should change anyone’s weekend. “Whatever you have plans for, it’s a beautiful day. It’s going to be a beautiful weekend,” McJunkin said. “It’s college football Saturday. Tomorrow is the start of the NFL season. So we expect the public is going to be out enjoying what it means to be an American.” ___ Associated Press writers Eileen Sullivan, Kimberly Dozier, Jessica Gresko and Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report. ___ Follow Matt Apuzzo at http://twitter.com/mattapuzzo
Continue reading …9/11 Anniversary Terror Threat: At Least 2 Suspects In Possible Attack May Be U.S. Citizens, Say Officials
September 11, 2011 No CommentWASHINGTON — U.S. intelligence agencies have found no evidence that al-Qaida has sneaked any terrorists into the country for a strike coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, senior officials said Saturday. But authorities kept a high alert as investigators looked for proof of a plot possibly timed to disrupt events planned Sunday in Washington or New York. Since late Wednesday, counterterrorism officials have chased a tip that al-Qaida may have sent three men to the U.S. on a mission to detonate a car bomb in either city. At least two of those men could be U.S. citizens, according to the tip. No intelligence supported that tip as of Saturday, and officials continued to question the validity of the initial information. While such tips are common among intelligence agencies, this one received more attention, and government officials chose to speak publicly about it, because of the connection to the anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history. Al-Qaida long has hoped to strike again on the anniversary. At the FBI field office in Washington, assistant director James McJunkin described the tip and the response as routine. The U.S. already had bolstered security nationwide before the upcoming anniversary and anticipated an increase in tips. “We expect we’re going to get an increase in threats and investigative activity around high-profile dates and events,” he said. “This is a routine response for us. It’s routine because it’s muscle memory.” Intelligence analysts have looked at travel patterns and behaviors of people who recently entered the country. While they have singled out a few people for additional scrutiny, none has shown any involvement in a plot, according to the senior U.S. officials, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the investigation. President Barack Obama met with his national security team Saturday, but the White House released no new information about possible threats. A statement said that counterterrorism efforts were working well and would not ease in the weeks and months ahead. The tip that touched off the most recent investigation came from a CIA informant who has proved reliable in the past, according to U.S. officials. They said the informant approached intelligence officials overseas to say that the men were ordered by new al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri to mark the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 by doing harm on U.S. soil. He took over as the group’s leader after the U.S. killed Osama bin Laden during a raid in May at his compound in Pakistan. The informant said the would-be attackers were of Arab descent and might speak Arabic as well as English. Counterterrorism officials were looking for certain names associated with the threat, but it was unclear whether the names were real or fake. Some intelligence officials have raised doubts about the threat, given the short turnaround time. Someone who recently arrived in the United States would have just days to plan and obtain materials for a car bomb attack, a difficult feat even with a long lead time. But they did not dismiss the threat. Extra security was put in place to protect the people in the two cities that took the brunt of the jetliner attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Both cities were clearly on edge. Police in New York were investigating two vans stolen from a World Trade Center site contractor and another from a New Jersey storage facility. Their counterparts in Washington were on the lookout for a pair of U-Haul vans reported missing from nearby Prince George’s County, Maryland, though U-Haul said one was later found. The company had no details Police connected none of the threats to a terror plot, but said they were taking extra precautions because of the recent threat. Law enforcement agencies around the country had increased security at airports, nuclear plants, train stations and elsewhere in the weeks leading to Sept. 11. The latest threat made those measures more urgent. U.S. embassies and consulates also stepped up safeguards in preparation for the anniversary. While authorities urged people to keep a watchful eye for suspicious activity as usual, they said there was no reason the latest tip should change anyone’s weekend. “Whatever you have plans for, it’s a beautiful day. It’s going to be a beautiful weekend,” McJunkin said. “It’s college football Saturday. Tomorrow is the start of the NFL season. So we expect the public is going to be out enjoying what it means to be an American.” ___ Associated Press writers Eileen Sullivan, Kimberly Dozier, Jessica Gresko and Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report. ___ Follow Matt Apuzzo at http://twitter.com/mattapuzzo
Continue reading …9/11 Anniversary Terror Threat: At Least 2 Suspects In Possible Attack May Be U.S. Citizens, Say Officials
September 11, 2011 No CommentWASHINGTON — U.S. intelligence agencies have found no evidence that al-Qaida has sneaked any terrorists into the country for a strike coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, senior officials said Saturday. But authorities kept a high alert as investigators looked for proof of a plot possibly timed to disrupt events planned Sunday in Washington or New York. Since late Wednesday, counterterrorism officials have chased a tip that al-Qaida may have sent three men to the U.S. on a mission to detonate a car bomb in either city. At least two of those men could be U.S. citizens, according to the tip. No intelligence supported that tip as of Saturday, and officials continued to question the validity of the initial information. While such tips are common among intelligence agencies, this one received more attention, and government officials chose to speak publicly about it, because of the connection to the anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history. Al-Qaida long has hoped to strike again on the anniversary. At the FBI field office in Washington, assistant director James McJunkin described the tip and the response as routine. The U.S. already had bolstered security nationwide before the upcoming anniversary and anticipated an increase in tips. “We expect we’re going to get an increase in threats and investigative activity around high-profile dates and events,” he said. “This is a routine response for us. It’s routine because it’s muscle memory.” Intelligence analysts have looked at travel patterns and behaviors of people who recently entered the country. While they have singled out a few people for additional scrutiny, none has shown any involvement in a plot, according to the senior U.S. officials, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the investigation. President Barack Obama met with his national security team Saturday, but the White House released no new information about possible threats. A statement said that counterterrorism efforts were working well and would not ease in the weeks and months ahead. The tip that touched off the most recent investigation came from a CIA informant who has proved reliable in the past, according to U.S. officials. They said the informant approached intelligence officials overseas to say that the men were ordered by new al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri to mark the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 by doing harm on U.S. soil. He took over as the group’s leader after the U.S. killed Osama bin Laden during a raid in May at his compound in Pakistan. The informant said the would-be attackers were of Arab descent and might speak Arabic as well as English. Counterterrorism officials were looking for certain names associated with the threat, but it was unclear whether the names were real or fake. Some intelligence officials have raised doubts about the threat, given the short turnaround time. Someone who recently arrived in the United States would have just days to plan and obtain materials for a car bomb attack, a difficult feat even with a long lead time. But they did not dismiss the threat. Extra security was put in place to protect the people in the two cities that took the brunt of the jetliner attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Both cities were clearly on edge. Police in New York were investigating two vans stolen from a World Trade Center site contractor and another from a New Jersey storage facility. Their counterparts in Washington were on the lookout for a pair of U-Haul vans reported missing from nearby Prince George’s County, Maryland, though U-Haul said one was later found. The company had no details Police connected none of the threats to a terror plot, but said they were taking extra precautions because of the recent threat. Law enforcement agencies around the country had increased security at airports, nuclear plants, train stations and elsewhere in the weeks leading to Sept. 11. The latest threat made those measures more urgent. U.S. embassies and consulates also stepped up safeguards in preparation for the anniversary. While authorities urged people to keep a watchful eye for suspicious activity as usual, they said there was no reason the latest tip should change anyone’s weekend. “Whatever you have plans for, it’s a beautiful day. It’s going to be a beautiful weekend,” McJunkin said. “It’s college football Saturday. Tomorrow is the start of the NFL season. So we expect the public is going to be out enjoying what it means to be an American.” ___ Associated Press writers Eileen Sullivan, Kimberly Dozier, Jessica Gresko and Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report. ___ Follow Matt Apuzzo at http://twitter.com/mattapuzzo
Continue reading …9/11 Anniversary Terror Threat: At Least 2 Suspects In Possible Attack May Be U.S. Citizens, Say Officials
September 11, 2011 No CommentWASHINGTON — U.S. intelligence agencies have found no evidence that al-Qaida has sneaked any terrorists into the country for a strike coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, senior officials said Saturday. But authorities kept a high alert as investigators looked for proof of a plot possibly timed to disrupt events planned Sunday in Washington or New York. Since late Wednesday, counterterrorism officials have chased a tip that al-Qaida may have sent three men to the U.S. on a mission to detonate a car bomb in either city. At least two of those men could be U.S. citizens, according to the tip. No intelligence supported that tip as of Saturday, and officials continued to question the validity of the initial information. While such tips are common among intelligence agencies, this one received more attention, and government officials chose to speak publicly about it, because of the connection to the anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history. Al-Qaida long has hoped to strike again on the anniversary. At the FBI field office in Washington, assistant director James McJunkin described the tip and the response as routine. The U.S. already had bolstered security nationwide before the upcoming anniversary and anticipated an increase in tips. “We expect we’re going to get an increase in threats and investigative activity around high-profile dates and events,” he said. “This is a routine response for us. It’s routine because it’s muscle memory.” Intelligence analysts have looked at travel patterns and behaviors of people who recently entered the country. While they have singled out a few people for additional scrutiny, none has shown any involvement in a plot, according to the senior U.S. officials, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the investigation. President Barack Obama met with his national security team Saturday, but the White House released no new information about possible threats. A statement said that counterterrorism efforts were working well and would not ease in the weeks and months ahead. The tip that touched off the most recent investigation came from a CIA informant who has proved reliable in the past, according to U.S. officials. They said the informant approached intelligence officials overseas to say that the men were ordered by new al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri to mark the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 by doing harm on U.S. soil. He took over as the group’s leader after the U.S. killed Osama bin Laden during a raid in May at his compound in Pakistan. The informant said the would-be attackers were of Arab descent and might speak Arabic as well as English. Counterterrorism officials were looking for certain names associated with the threat, but it was unclear whether the names were real or fake. Some intelligence officials have raised doubts about the threat, given the short turnaround time. Someone who recently arrived in the United States would have just days to plan and obtain materials for a car bomb attack, a difficult feat even with a long lead time. But they did not dismiss the threat. Extra security was put in place to protect the people in the two cities that took the brunt of the jetliner attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Both cities were clearly on edge. Police in New York were investigating two vans stolen from a World Trade Center site contractor and another from a New Jersey storage facility. Their counterparts in Washington were on the lookout for a pair of U-Haul vans reported missing from nearby Prince George’s County, Maryland, though U-Haul said one was later found. The company had no details Police connected none of the threats to a terror plot, but said they were taking extra precautions because of the recent threat. Law enforcement agencies around the country had increased security at airports, nuclear plants, train stations and elsewhere in the weeks leading to Sept. 11. The latest threat made those measures more urgent. U.S. embassies and consulates also stepped up safeguards in preparation for the anniversary. While authorities urged people to keep a watchful eye for suspicious activity as usual, they said there was no reason the latest tip should change anyone’s weekend. “Whatever you have plans for, it’s a beautiful day. It’s going to be a beautiful weekend,” McJunkin said. “It’s college football Saturday. Tomorrow is the start of the NFL season. So we expect the public is going to be out enjoying what it means to be an American.” ___ Associated Press writers Eileen Sullivan, Kimberly Dozier, Jessica Gresko and Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report. ___ Follow Matt Apuzzo at http://twitter.com/mattapuzzo
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Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On , a column about consumer technology. The first thing worth noting about Sifteo Cubes — which recently became available for pre-order at $149 for a starter pack of three that should start shipping this month — is that they are not geometrically true to their name. Their square surfaces sit atop depths that are less than half their side length, so even stacking two Cubes won’t produce three-dimensional symmetry. They are a little smaller than the game pieces from the much more limited and less expensive Scrabble Flash digital letter-arranging game that was a hit last holiday season. The pieces fit comfortably between two fingers for easy gripping, flipping and rearranging, which you’ll need to do a lot of in their various games. They are also a good size to substitute for many handheld playthings, reminding one of overstuffed Mahjongg tiles but also akin to shrunken toddlers’ alphabet blocks or playing cards. The sides and back are otherwise nondescript except for a set of contacts on their rear used for charging. Sifteo Cubes are charged via their tray, which showcases them through a translucent plastic top with room for three more Cubes at $45 each. Different games derive different levels of benefit from having more than three tiles, but most work fine with the starter set. Continue reading Switched On: A toy for the smartphone gaming generation Switched On: A toy for the smartphone gaming generation originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Sep 2011 19:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Sunset Manor Grandparents Day 2011 Happy Grandparents Day 2011 Grandparents Day @ Will’s School LexyCapp says: RT @ lasvegasnannies : Happy Grandparents Day 2011 !! http://t.co/ErJHVQS
Continue reading …Africa and Middle East in spotlight as group launched to tackle homophobia
September 11, 2011 No Comment
Days after men executed in Iran for homosexuality, activists from around the world come together to lobby for change An international pressure group is to be launched in Britain on Tuesday to tackle the rise in homophobic violence around the world, with a focus on Africa and the Middle East. The UK’s three main political parties have declared their support for Kaleidoscope, an independent group campaigning for the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, after a series of high-profile attacks on sexual minorities in developing countries. In January, the Ugandan gay rights activist David Kato was bludgeoned to death after he was pictured on the front of the Ugandan tabloid Rolling Stone alongside the headline Hang Them. Last week three men were executed in Iran for homosexuality. According to Kaleidoscope, more than third of all countries still have laws against consensual homosexual acts and 38 of the 54 members of the Commonwealth criminalise homosexuality. Bisi Alimi, a Nigerian gay rights activist who fell foul of the authorities after being the first person in his country to come out on a national television, is among the founding members of the organisation. “I was attacked, tied up and beaten in my own home in Lagos. For the first time in my life I not only saw a gun but I felt it right against my head. I was forced to leave my country. My dream is that others like me will be free to stay and be happy, surrounded by the love of their friends and families,” he said. Despite some progress for gay rights in the US and Latin America — such as the abolition of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in the US military and the legalisation of same-sex marriage in New York and Argentina — the global campaign for the rights of sexual minorities has experienced a series of setbacks in recent years. In May, the UN human rights chief, Navi Pillay, warned that hate crimes against LGBT communities were on the rise around the world. Speaking from Uganda, Francis Onyango, the lawyer representing several other gay activists also named by Rolling Stone, said not much had changed since Kato’s death. “The danger is always there. All activists mentioned in that newspaper still face death threats by religious fanatics in their so-called war on homosexuality, and stigmatisation remains widespread. But international pressure can play an important role.” The new initiative has pledged to use “effective international lobbying” with its access to the UK government and the EU to delay or prevent homophobic legalisation around the world and help strengthen groups of men and women “who take a stand against injustice and discrimination in their own countries”. Apart from its focus on international discrimination against LGBT people, Kaleidoscope will also campaign for national causes. “There are still some big issues to address,” said Lance Price, a Kaleidoscope founding member and former 10 Downing Street media adviser. “Gay marriage is one; the attitude of the immigration service towards people seeking refuge from countries where their lives could be in danger is another.” Despite the achievements in the UK, the prominent gay rights activist Peter Tatchell said many refugees fleeing homophobic persecution “are still being refused asylum and locked up in detention centres like common criminals”. The UK Border Agency rejected an asylum application of a gay Iranian on the basis that he could ‘remain discreet’ in his country, although homosexuals are executed there. The ruling was later reversed in court. Paul Canning, an activist who has campaigned for those with a well-founded fear of persecution who have been refused asylum, highlighted the case of the Ugandan gay man Robert Segwanyi. “Segwanyi fled jail and torture for what he hoped would be sanctuary here,” he said. “Despite everyone describing him as ‘obviously gay’, the Home Office still wants to return him to what would be a likely death: it has taken a big campaign to – we hope – stop them. There are many cases just like Robert’s.” Gay rights Immigration and asylum Iran Uganda Peter Tatchell Saeed Kamali Dehghan guardian.co.uk
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