WP: Election Heightens Terrorism Offensive

[kskiska]

Officials to Publicize Increased Surveillance And Disruption Efforts

Monday, September 27, 2004; Page A01

Agencies across the federal government are launching an aggressive and unusually open offensive aimed at thwarting terrorist plots before and during the presidential election in November.

Numerous law enforcement and counterterrorism officials also warned last week that a heightened threat of terrorist attack will persist through the January inauguration.

The government's strategy will include heavy surveillance by the FBI, increased checks of terrorism watch lists by local police and heightened security at polling places on Nov. 2, officials said. At the U.S. Capitol, Police Chief Terrance W. Gainer has ordered a number of his officers to wear sophisticated new equipment to protect them from a biological or chemical attack.

Counterterrorism officials concede they do not have new or specific intelligence outlining plans for an attack, but they say they remain alarmed by indications that al Qaeda and other terror groups might seek to influence U.S. elections as they did in Spain last spring by setting off bombs on commuter trains in Madrid. By publicizing the government's disruption efforts, which will begin in earnest later this week, authorities say they hope to forestall any plans for similar attacks here.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52562-2004Sep26.html

[The Straight Story]

1. October

Will be a wild ride. Let's hope for us all it goes well and * and crew don't go off on some damn weird tangent. Keep an eye on the news, tivo kicking, and be on top of things. Last time we were taken by surprise and for a ride, this time I will be watching those two faced b*stards :)

[Cha]

2. I'm not reading the whole article but how the hell

do they know there are going to be "terrorist attacks". Is it on the governments word? Cause if it is..that means absolutely ZERO TO ME!

[asjr]

4. It is their scare tactics again. I do not believe one word

that comes from this administration.

[UCLA Dem]

3. Is it October already?

Someone should tell the Bushies that its not the late Sept. surprise!

[DeepModem Mom]

5. WP page-one, big story --

[llmart]

6. Well, here we go folks!

This is what we at DU were saying was going to transpire all along. First, they'll start with the scare tactics - get the public all "afeerd" and then tell them how ole' W is gonna keep them safe if only they elect him. Unfortunately, it will work with a lot of people. This country is full of people who live every day in fear of something. They don't truly know how to enjoy life on a day to day basis, because they are constantly afraid of one thing or another. They never get off their Barcolounger and away from Fox News long enough to know that life is passing them by, and the things they should be afraid of, like heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes from their lifestyles are what is going to get them quicker than all the things they think they should be afraid of.

[Nancy Waterman]

7. I heard a government official on TV

say the terrorists are likely to strike "because they don't want George Bush reelected"!! These people are just shameless. This was supposed to be a neutral Gov official!! These poor terrorists are so frightened of War Hero Georgie Boy. Not.

[WillyT]

8. Vote Suppression, Courtesy Of YOUR Tax Dollars !!!

<snip>

Officials said the FBI's tactics, which will be outlined in an electronic communication to be sent to field offices this week, will include aggressive and often overt surveillance, widespread interviews and, in some cases, arrests. Local police will be urged to run the names of suspicious people through the federal government's terrorism watch list, even during traffic stops and other minor encounters.

<snip>

Link: Same article.

Take what happened in Florida, and multiply it by 50.

:nuke: