Post by Sílený Jízda on Jan 16, 2008 9:38:26 GMT -6
Chertoff says Europe poses terrorism threat
Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:48am EST
By Kate Kelland
LONDON (Reuters) - Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said on Wednesday that one of the biggest threats to U.S. security may now come from within Europe.
In an interview with BBC radio, Chertoff said that American authorities were becoming increasingly aware of a real risk of Europe becoming a "platform for terrorists".
He said it was important to step up security checks on passengers coming from Europe to the United States.
"One of the things we have become concerned about lately is the possibility of Europe becoming a platform for a threat against the United States," Chertoff said.
"We have watched the rise of home-grown terrorism," he added, citing the Madrid train bombing in March 2004 and recent foiled plots in Britain and Germany.
"That suggests to us that the terrorists are increasingly looking to Europe both as a target and as a platform for terrorist attacks."
Chertoff's comments came after reports that British intelligence services are investigating an Islamist Web site which said that a branch of al Qaeda had been established in Britain.
Security experts fear a posting on the site, urging young Muslim men to rise up against what it called infidels such as Prime Minister Gordon Brown and former Prime Minister Tony Blair, may be genuine.
Chertoff said that while Washington had no plans to suspend a visa waiver program that allows most Europeans who travel to the United States as tourists to do so without a visa, authorities would like to step up advance checks on travelers.
"We do want to elevate some of the security measures in the program," he said, proposing an advance travel authorization system which would require potential visitors to register online their intention to travel to America to allow authorities to clear them in advance.
Chertoff also said that the absence of any attacks in the United States since September 11, 2001 had created "a certain sense of complacency" which needed to be dispelled.
"When I lift my eyes and look around the world and I look at what happens in Britain and Germany and Spain and Bali and Pakistan, I don't see terrorism going away, I see an al Qaeda that's emboldened, he said.
"I don't see any diminishment of the threat and my concern is that we not relax and let the enemy get ahead of us."
(Editing by Tim Castle and Myra MacDonald)
Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:48am EST
By Kate Kelland
LONDON (Reuters) - Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said on Wednesday that one of the biggest threats to U.S. security may now come from within Europe.
In an interview with BBC radio, Chertoff said that American authorities were becoming increasingly aware of a real risk of Europe becoming a "platform for terrorists".
He said it was important to step up security checks on passengers coming from Europe to the United States.
"One of the things we have become concerned about lately is the possibility of Europe becoming a platform for a threat against the United States," Chertoff said.
"We have watched the rise of home-grown terrorism," he added, citing the Madrid train bombing in March 2004 and recent foiled plots in Britain and Germany.
"That suggests to us that the terrorists are increasingly looking to Europe both as a target and as a platform for terrorist attacks."
Chertoff's comments came after reports that British intelligence services are investigating an Islamist Web site which said that a branch of al Qaeda had been established in Britain.
Security experts fear a posting on the site, urging young Muslim men to rise up against what it called infidels such as Prime Minister Gordon Brown and former Prime Minister Tony Blair, may be genuine.
Chertoff said that while Washington had no plans to suspend a visa waiver program that allows most Europeans who travel to the United States as tourists to do so without a visa, authorities would like to step up advance checks on travelers.
"We do want to elevate some of the security measures in the program," he said, proposing an advance travel authorization system which would require potential visitors to register online their intention to travel to America to allow authorities to clear them in advance.
Chertoff also said that the absence of any attacks in the United States since September 11, 2001 had created "a certain sense of complacency" which needed to be dispelled.
"When I lift my eyes and look around the world and I look at what happens in Britain and Germany and Spain and Bali and Pakistan, I don't see terrorism going away, I see an al Qaeda that's emboldened, he said.
"I don't see any diminishment of the threat and my concern is that we not relax and let the enemy get ahead of us."
(Editing by Tim Castle and Myra MacDonald)
Well, it seems they've exhausted their options with everyone else. Europe does seem the next logical step in their blame game though. After blaming these folks the only other people left to hang their 'potential terrorist' moniker on will be Sweden. In the times I've been over there I've been impressed with their security efforts. Paperwork is hard as hell to get. It has security measure that we are only just now beginning to use over here to prevent counterfeiting. Take a look at the money in your pocket. Most of the 'new' security features attached to that was in place there long before it was used in this country. Documentation (ie, id cards, passports, etc.) have feature there that haven't even been implemented here. Fingerprint scanners, palm scanners, electronic documentation (RFID, mag strip etc) is used on a much broader scale. Security cameras all over the damned place. I felt safer and more secure walking the street there than I ever felt in this country.
Funkoff says we have to remember the fact we haven't had any attacks since 9-11. I remember during the last set of elections they said the same thing. Over and over, and over, and... and made the point that if we ever let the democraps gain control we'd all be condemned to death and it would practically rain planes form the sky. After all, we all know the republican'ts are the ONLY one that can protect us from the forces of evil. You think they could come up with something more to base their support on. Bush touted his anti-abortion stance from day one. Has he made it illegal? No, and don't hold your breath on it, no politician will. He swore if a democrat made it in office we'd be paying $3.00-$5.00 a gallon for gasoline. Guess what? We are, big shock there. He and his party have sworn they would stem illegal immigration. Something that, by the way, I know the Czech Republic doesn't take lightly. You get caught, you get shipped back bottom line. What has this administration done to stop it, prevent it, and get rid of them? You got it. Squat, diddley, bupkiss, not a single thing. Why? They'd have to give up their housekeepers and ground keepers along with their kitchen help, most likely, and actually have to pay a citizen a legal wage.
Get ready folks the election is upon us and the towel wrapped bearded boogy man is under our bed's again. Remember it wasn't only a few months ago that they declared that Al Quida and their twisted lot had their backs broken and were all but defeated. Now, they are full strength, funded up, and gunning to get us again. No wait, that happened during the last election cycle again. Or was that the one before? Funny how that always seems to happen only during election times.