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High terror alert to continue?
Air France agreed to cancel all Air France flights between Paris and Los Angeles Wednesday and Thursday over security concerns expressed by U.S. officials. The Bush Administration may extend its heightened terror alert into the new year, according to various government officials. A surge in recent terrorism-intelligence points to the possibility of a spectacular attack that terrorists abroad “believe will rival or exceed the scope and impact we experienced on September 11,” said White House press secretary Scott McClellan in wire stories. The government a few days before Christmas raised the national threat level to orange, the second-highest, saying attacks were possible and that terrorism threats were “perhaps greater than at any other point since Sept. 11, 2001.” The indicator was raised from yellow, which is the mid-point of the five-color-scale. Members of the US tourist community have been relieved in recent months that the color has not been designated orange since last May, which has helped reassure visitors of their safety. While they raised the threat level, US government officials such as Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge urged travelers not to change their plans. “Gather with your family and friends,” he was reported to have said. ”We will show the terrorists this holiday season both our goodwill towards our fellow men, and our readiness and resolve to protect our families.” Government officials said they were particularly concerned about attacks on commercial airlines. Security was tightened everywhere. Airline travel slowed to the point where passengers were reporting the usual two-hour check-in was more likely to involve four to six hours. Atlanta’s Hartsfield airport was quoting six hours to complete the process from counter check-in to bag-check to security check-in to boarding airplanes.
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