Mueller: Terrorists Could Try to Affect U.S. Election

[BEER980]

I know we talked about this but now TPTB are speaking about it. This looks like a little CYA.

Mueller: Terrorists Could Try to Affect U.S. Election

Thursday, March 25, 2004



WASHINGTON — Terrorists could attempt to influence the outcome of this year's U.S. presidential election by launching attacks in America and overseas, FBI Director Robert Mueller (search) said Thursday. In an interview with The Associated Press, Mueller also said Islamic extremists have changed tactics and are focusing on recruiting local sympathizers who are less likely to arouse suspicion than outsiders sent into a country to conduct terrorist operations.

The deadly March 11 train bombings in Madrid, which were a factor in the ouster of a pro-U.S. Spanish government, could embolden Al Qaeda (search) or other extremists to attack the United States during this summer's presidential nominating conventions in New York and Boston, Mueller said. "In the wake of what happened in Madrid we have to be concerned about the possibility of terrorists attempting to influence elections in the United States by committing a terrorist act," Mueller said.

Those conventions will bookend the Summer Olympics (search) in Athens, another venue that could draw terrorist attacks. The United States has been concerned that security efforts in Athens may fall short of what is necessary to protect athletes and spectators. "We understand that between now and the election, there is a window of time in which terrorists might try to influence events, whether it's here or overseas," Mueller said. The FBI and other U.S. agencies are assisting the Greeks to identify and shore up potential weaknesses.

Regarding the new Al Qaeda recruiting tactics, Mueller said that the homicide bombers who took part in last May's attacks in Casablanca, Morocco, were local extremists and indicated that similar efforts are likely going on in the United States. Mueller also applauded the cooperation of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in U.S. anti-terrorism efforts. Since the deadly May 12 bombings in Riyadh (search), Saudi Arabia has moved aggressively to root out Al Qaeda cells and discovered huge caches of explosives and weapons. "Saudi Arabia has become a very inhospitable place for Al Qaeda," Mueller said. "That was not always the case


Source

[streetsoldier]

One has to wonder who would politically "benefit" from an attack during the US elective process...

[janswizard]

I actually worry more about the athletes at the Olympics than I do about our conventions. I'd like to think we can trust that our government is doing all they can to protect us; as the conventions get closer, more and more safeguards will be in place.

However, even though the FBI is supposedly helping the Greeks with security for the Olympics, I've read so many articles about how far behind the Greeks are in construction of these facilities and how so many people are wary that they won't be completed in time for the Olympics. I also worry that because they are being held over there, the US can only monitor what is going on - we are not in a position to take charge unless the Greek government would be willing to allow us to do that. And I can't see that happening.

[JTD]

Beer, I am scared to death of what is going to happen in Athens. Don't you think the chance of their not being an attack against the olympic games is extremely low. I think there will be a terrorist attack for sure, given the complete chaos. What do you think?

[BEER980]

Well streetsoldier it would depend on what type of attack it was. It is no secret that AQ would like Kerry to win, but how to do it. The obvious is a sucessful asasination of Bush. They would need something real good to make him look stupid though. I would have many effective events with fairly specific warnings to show that they couldn't be stopped. I would hit our infrastructure and not go for a high BC. A high BC IMO would allow him to rally us to come together. Our grid could be taken down fairly easy. Random ricin attacks. Hit a port here, knock out the power over there, blow up a bridge, hit a chemical plant, Bio outbreak, etc.

jason0509 the games will have high security but there is always a chance. It would not be the first time terrorists hit the games.

[Corona]

Beer, are you any relation or student of Randy Beers?

[BEER980]

Sorry Corona I don't know anything about randy beers.

[stormraiser]

@randy beers