Homeland Security chief’s 'gut feeling' is 'Increased risk’

Source: Chicago Tribune via Newsday

Homeland Security chief’s 'gut feeling' is 'Increased risk’
Chertoff bases it on history and al-Qaeda statements
By E.A. Torriero
Tribune staff reporter

July 10, 2007, 2:36 PM EDT

In an unusually blunt and frank assessment of America's terror threat level, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in Chicago this morning that his "gut feeling" is the nation faces a heightened chance of an attack this summer.

"I believe we are entering a period this summer of increased risk," Chertoff told the Chicago Tribune's editorial board.

Calling it "a gut feeling" based on past patterns of terrorists in Europe, recent al-Qaeda statements and intelligence he did not disclose, Chertoff said of terrorists: "Summertime seems to be appealing to them. ... We worry that they are rebuilding their activities."

A recent terror plot in London and Scotland has America's defense system on alert, Chertoff said. He urged Americans to be attentive if something appears suspicious. But he said there is an assessment "not of a specific threat, but of increased vulnerability."

Read more: http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/nation/chi-070710chertoff,0,6464324,print.story

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And we've got Santorum yammering like this on Hugh Hewitt:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=293564&mesg_id=293564

RatBastard's numbers are in the toilet, so let's crank up the TERRA TERRA TERRA ...

The sad thing is, if there WERE a legitimate threat, I wouldn't believe it coming from these goons.

He plays on fear to keep the Axis in power.

the US was at a "comfortable" level, and there were no threats to worry about.

Still waiting for the next false flag to cover for bushco's crimes...

As most of these jerks are crapping their panties because people aren't buying it anymore. :grr:

its all they're good for.

*LOL*

The are pushing a lot of deadlines, time frames, benchmarks, even trials to be held of until September. There is something wrong with that.

Too much is going on in September (the last month of the fiscal year).

just in case anything does happen.

in the United States? No, foreign visitor, you WON'T be safe in New York or Chicago or LA.

The Bush vendetta against the travel industry is just vicious. HE must be the one who was offended by a stewardess.

Or the messenger preparing the nation for the next attack and another failed republicon mantra "keeping you safer"

If they allow another attack on American soil it will be just one more failure by the republicons.

That's MY unusually blunt and frank gut-feeling assessment.

"This is the type of tragedy that reminds us of the danger that surrounds us every day. "

Jesus H. Christ. I for one am sick of these fearmongering assholes.

This is a sad excuse for leadership.

I think we are overdue for an incident. Lots of wanna be crazy people out there and it isn't as if we haven't made a bajillion enemies. I think if it does happen, they will try to cover it up. God forbid an incident happens on their watch with all of their talk of how safe they have made us.

He said that it was too convenient, Skeletor's (my word, not Keith's) "gut feeling" was made into BREAKING NEWS so that the lead story on every news show wouldn't be Gonzalez or Bush.

-- bush/cheney poll numbers in the toilet

-- republics jumping ship

-- congressional investigations/subpoenas

-- Dem Candidates out fundraise republics

...fear itself"? When did it become the fashion to be cowed and afraid? A free people should hold their heads up and face whatever danger may come -- and a free people's leaders by the gods should be helping them to do so.

Americans seem to be finally waking up to the heinous manipulation of Bush/Cheney/Rove.

Hekate

That'll help.

"Look - over there - it's Osama"

If he has to rely on a "gut feeling", that tells me we have absolutely no fucking clue what the terrorists may or may not be planning.

This is EXACTLY what Carl Sagan warned against--the age where reason is replaced with magical thinking :puke: