Tom Ridge 8/3/04: We don't do politics in the Department of Homeland Security.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/terrorism/july-dec04/threat_08-03.html

ASSESSING THE THREAT
August 3, 2004

RAY SUAREZ: As the security clampdown continued around financial institutions in New York, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C., today, a controversy grew over the timing of the release Sunday of heightened terror information, and about whether the intelligence was outdated. The documents identifying specific threats were found mainly on the computer of an al-Qaida suspect detained in Pakistan.

In briefings Sunday, officials said the intelligence was new. But since then, they've said some of the data predated the 9/11 attacks. In Manhattan today, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge defended raising the terror alert. He spoke after meeting with government and financial sector leaders at the Citigroup Building, identified as one of the potential targets.

TOM RIDGE: I don't want anyone to disabuse themselves of the seriousness of this information simply because there are some reports that much of it is dated; it might be two or three years old. We don't do politics in the Department of Homeland Security.

Our job is to identify the threat, match that threat information with potentially the targets that have been identified, to integrate an entire country, to build partnerships with the state and local government, to invest in technology so that as we combat international terrorism, we can put more people and technology in place to make ourselves safer. But it is -- frankly, I would point out that this is the most significant, detailed pieces of information about any particular region that we've come across in a long, long time-- perhaps ever.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/2004-08-01-prudential-security_x.htm

Posted 8/1/2004 5:27 PM Updated 8/3/2004 11:02 AM
Police beef up security at sites around USA

==snip==

Along with the international institutions, authorities placed the Citigroup Center building in New York, the New York Stock Exchange and Prudential Financial Inc.'s headquarters in Newark, N.J., under heavy scrutiny after unusually detailed information identified those buildings as terrorism targets, and prompted the government to raise its terrorism alert.

"We are a nation in danger," President Bush said as he met with reporters at the White House to embrace the concept of a new national intelligence czar. "We are doing everything in our power to confront the danger." He called the alert a "solemn reminder of the threat we continue to face" and said all institutions of government must be prepared against terrorism well into the future.

New York police closed several streets in midtown Manhattan and banned trucks from bridges and tunnels leading to Wall Street. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) and New York Gov. George Pataki rang the opening bell at the stock exchange in a show of confidence in the city's precautions.

***

In Newark, Prudential employees threaded through police and concrete barriers into their offices. "I'm a little nervous given the 9/11 situation, but I'm confident Prudential's doing everything they can to ensure our safety," said Tracy Swistak, 27, an analyst in the international finance department.

A heavy contingent of authorities checked identification and bags at the 59-story Citigroup Center, midtown Manhattan's third largest building.

"It's definitely a scary building to be working in when we're a big target," said Chip Persons, 35, who works on the 24th floor.

***

In Newark, police set up metal fences surrounding the Prudential Plaza building, blocked off two city streets and toted assault rifles.

And in Washington, Mayor Anthony Williams put the entire city on an orange alert, although the Homeland Security Department has not officially raised the threat level outside financial-sector buildings.

***

Frances Townsend, the White House counterterrorism chief, would not verify the operative's identity. She denied in response to a question that political considerations affected the timing of the intelligence disclosures, which came the week after Democrats nominated John Kerry as presidential candidate.

"It had nothing to do with the Democratic National Convention," she said.