The U.S. government raised its terrorist threat level to orange or “high risk” Monday night even as President Bush was delivering his speech on Iraq. Top federal officials, meanwhile, asked many of the 50 states to deploy the National Guard or state police to protect sensitive sites across the nation from possible attack.
While National Guard troops have periodically been assigned to patrol some airports and other facilities since Sept. 11, 2001, this is the first request for deployment of the units across such wide swaths of the country.
They or state police contingents are expected to be assigned to patrol railroads, bridges, chemical plants, nuclear facilities and other key infrastructure sites, officials said.
“The intelligence community believes that terrorists will attempt multiple attacks against U.S. and coalition targets worldwide in the event of a U.S-led military campaign against Saddam Hussein,” Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said in a statement released Monday night.
The federal government has raised the alert level to orange, the second highest of five levels, twice before in the roughly one year that the color-code system has been in place: for two weeks in September 2002 and three weeks last month.
What ‘orange level’ means
– Triggers stepped-up security at power plants, dams, Wall Street and transportation systems.
– Further tightens security at borders, airports and hotels.
– Increases surveillance around government buildings.
– Imposes flight restrictions over New York, Washington and other unnamed areas.
– Prompts local police and emergency authorities to prepare for an immediate attack.
– The Homeland Security Web site offers advice at www.ready.gov and free brochures by mail by calling 800-BE-READY.
