There has been an apparent rise in the number of stories in the news media about terror threats. However much of the stories we hear about concerning al-Qaida have pretty much been the same for the last few years now. Tapes are released with what they call Al-Qaida propaganda and so forth. The questions are: Are we really entering into a period of increased risk? Are we more at risk locally now than ever before? Take a look at some of the voluminous amount of news items, threats, and gut feelings since June 30th concerning a possible al-Qaida strike in the United States: 

–The attempted bombings in London and Glasgow–two cars packed with gas cylinders and nails 

July 10th–U.S. intelligence reports that a small al-Qaida cell is on its way to the United States or may already be here. 

July 10th–U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff says he has a “gut feeling” about a possible terrorist attack in the United States this summer 

July 11th–U.S. Intelligence analysts have concluded that al Qaida has rebuilt its operating capability to a level not seen since just before 9/11. 

July 11th–reports that Al Qaida is regrouping along the Afghan/Pakastani border 

July 12th–Reports that Al Qaida is stepping up its efforts to sneak terror operatives into the U.S. and has acquired most of the capabilities it needs to strike here, with a more ominous possibility that they are pursuing chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons. 

July 13th–A top terror commander says an attack is coming in the U.S. that would dwarf the failed bombings in London and Glasgow. 

July 14th–Video of Osama Bin Laden emerges 

July 14th–New tape by Al Zawahri that may contain coded signals to attack. 

July 16th–Medical clinics flooded with requests from foreign nationals from Pakistan and other Muslim countries to help them gain visa entry into the U.S. as patients. There are fears that Al Qaida could be using the medical industry to infiltrate terrorist cells into the country. 

July 16th–The United States said to be growing numb to terror threats as the real threat lurks. For Americans who have grown skeptical of terrorism warnings, the professionals in the intelligence community say they understand. They also say that this time–”It could be for real.” 

July 16th– Jihadist activity worldwide this year appears disturbingly familiar to those who hunted Al Qaida even before 9/11. A U.S Intelligence official stated: “What you have been seeing has had a feeling, to me, a lot like the summer of 2001, where you’ve got a lot of things happening. It would not surprise me at all to see another terrorist event this summer in the U.S.” 

July 17th–Brian Ross and ABC’s Blotter report that the FBI is investigating an alleged human smuggling operation based in New Mexico. The report says the group is bringing Iraqi’s and other Middle Eastern individuals across the Rio Grande from Mexico. 

July 23rd–Officials are worried about terror sleeper cells. An intelligence official says their attempt is to cause mass casualties, and that “what we see currently is primarily a focus on explosives–explosives that can generate a large explosion with commercially available material.” 

July 27th–Pentagon officials tell Congress that Al Qaida continues to plan attacks in the U.S. and are seeking nuclear and other unconventinal arms for strikes. 

August 1st–”As Sahab” Al Qaida threatens “big surprise” soon

August 1st–Counterrorism expert Juval Aviv met recently with reporters at Fox News and revealed information, which he believes is accurate, concerning an attack on five to seven cities simultaneously. He stated, ”Based on information floating around in the Middle East and Europe, it could be tomorrow or in the next few months (90 days at the most).” Now here is where all of this becomes a local issue: Juval Aviv, who spoke with FOX Fan Central about what Americans can do to protect themselves in case of a terror attack, further stated: “This  time, which is the message of the day, it will not only be big cities. They’re going to try to hit rural America. They want to send a message to rural America: “You’re not protected. If you figured out that if you just move out of New York and move to Montana or to Pittsburgh, you’re not immune. We’re going [to] get you wherever we can and it’s easier there than in New York.” 

Not to diminish the threat, but this article was posted on Worldnet Daily in July, 2005:

 http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=45194

He said the same thing back then. So should these threats still be taken seriously nationally as well as locally? Or is it becoming too redundant? Will Al Qaida strike again? Is it for real this time? My “gut” tells me they are certainly going to try something soon, but whether or not they succeed remains to be seen. 

Here is one final note concerning predictions of a major event. This is what Pat Robertson, who predicted a major attack would happen in 2001, stated on January 2nd of this year on the 700 Club:  

“Well, the other thing I felt was that evil men; evil people, are going to try to do evil things to us and to others during the last part of this year. I don’t know whether it’ll be in the fall or September or later on, but it’ll be the second half, somehow, of 2007. There will be some very serious terrorist attacks. The evil people will come after this country.” 

 ”I’m not saying necessarily nuclear. The Lord didn’t say “nuclear,” but I do believe it’ll be something like that that’ll be a mass killing, possibly millions of people, and major cities injured. I hope I’m wrong, and I hope people will pray and that won’t happen. But nevertheless, that seems to be what’s coming up.” 

 

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