Member Since: 1/8/2011
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Officials confirm 'credible but unconfirmed' 9/11 threat
Quote:
Washington (CNN) -- U.S. officials said Thursday evening they have "specific, credible but unconfirmed" information about a threat against the United States coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Officials declined to disclose details of the threat, including any suspected method of attack or possible targets, although one source said the cities of New York and Washington were specifically mentioned as possible targets. Officials said they were taking the threat seriously, while evidently trying to temper the news by saying such threats are commonplace during key events.
"It's accurate that there is specific, credible but unconfirmed threat information," said Matthew Chandler, spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security. "As we always do before important dates like the anniversary of 9/11, we will undoubtedly get more reporting in the coming days. Sometimes this reporting is credible and warrants intense focus, other times it lacks credibility and is highly unlikely to be reflective of real plots under way.
"Regardless, we take all threat reporting seriously, and we have taken, and will continue to take, all steps necessary to mitigate any threats that arise. We continue to ask the American people to remain vigilant as we head into the weekend," Chandler said in a prepared statement.
A government official told CNN that members of Congress were briefed by White House and intelligence officials Thursday about the threat.
The lawmakers were told that officials are "strongly concerned" and "are not taking anything for granted," the source told CNN.
Earlier Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told reporters that intelligence officials have picked up "lots of chatter" on jihadi websites and elsewhere about the impending 10th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, but nothing yet that warranted issuing a threat advisory.Nonetheless, the department will be at a heightened level of readiness as the nation commemorates the anniversary, "staffing up" the Federal Air Marshals Service and other agencies.
"We don't have something that would reach that standard (of a credible threat), but we still have lots of chatter out there. And we take every bit of that seriously and are tracking it down," Napolitano said. "In the intel world, there's lots of chatter, and we're taking it all seriously. And should there be something that rises to the level where I have to issue a threat advisory, we will issue a threat advisory."
Napolitano said it is not uncommon to see increased chatter before major events. "We know it's an iconic day to al Qaeda, in part because of what was found at the (Osama bin Laden) compound. So we are preparing accordingly," she said.
"I don't want to give those (details) out because I don't want to tell the bad guys exactly what we're doing," Napolitano said. "But I think it's fair to say that in addition to asking citizens to be vigilant and so forth, that we have ourselves leaned forward and have made sure that we are doing all that we can from the DHS perspective." A senior administration official told CNN, "The president was briefed. He directed that the intelligence community and the administration take all necessary steps to ensure vigilance."
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http://edition.cnn.com/2011/US/09/08...l?eref=edition
Oh Lord 
We don't need any of this activity happening around September 11th 
May those who died that day, Rest in Peace
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