Ridge warns of plot to disrupt elections

Ridge warns of plot to disrupt elections

Says al Qaeda planning attack but color-coded threat level remains unchanged

By Thomas Frank

Newsday

WASHINGTON - Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge announced Thursday that al Qaeda is "moving forward" with plans for a "large- scale attack" in the United States aimed at disrupting the November elections.

Ridge told reporters he doesn't know when, where or how an attack would occur, and said he was not raising the color-coded threat level.

His comments echoed an announcement May 26 by Attorney General John Ashcroft that al Qaeda "plans to attempt an attack on the United States in the next few months."

Responding to Ridge, New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said hours later, "There is no new information." He added, "Nothing in today's announcement from Homeland Security causes us to change our posture."

A senior U.S. intelligence official who briefed reporters hinted that New York remains a target because of "strong indications that al Qaeda will continue to try to revisit past targets - those that they were able to attack as well as those they were unable to attack."

Al Qaeda struck the World Trade Center twice and planned in 1993 to bomb the United Nations, the Hudson River tunnels, the George Washington Bridge and the FBI's New York City office. The plot was foiled and 10 people were convicted in 1995.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said al Qaeda is inspired by the political aftermath of the bombing of four commuter trains in Madrid, killing 191 people in March. Three days later, Spanish voters ousted the party that had supported the Iraq war.

Kelly said city police had made adjustments, mostly to better protect transit systems, after NYPD investigators spoke to Madrid authorities. "We do adjustments literally every day," Kelly added.

There was little new information in the warnings about al Qaida's interest in an attack, likely involving truck bombs, airplanes and transit systems. "I think we're here today to say that we are concerned at this point, from this point on, and looking out over the next many months," the intelligence official said.

Congressional aides said the announcement reflected legitimate concern about a possible attack and a desire to forestall potential criticism about inadequate warning should a strike actually occur, particularly before the Democratic National Convention in late July.

"He's kind of damned if he does, damned if he doesn't," said Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., of Ridge. "If you have a lot of intelligence reporting and you have to tell some people, you know that's going to get out. But you don't want to be in a position where you're sending out alerts and the American public isn't finding out."

Earlier this week, Ridge privately briefed administration officials, Congress, state homeland security advisers and local authorities on the most recent threat information.

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