Fearing complacency among the American people over possible terror threats, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in Chicago Tuesday that the nation faces a heightened chance of an attack this summer.

"I believe we are entering a period this summer of increased risk," Chertoff told the Chicago Tribune's editorial board in an unusually blunt and frank assessment of America's terror threat level.


"Summertime seems to be appealing to them," he said of al-Qaeda. "We do worry that they are rebuilding their activities."

Still, Chertoff said there are not enough indications of an imminent plot to raise the current threat levels nationwide. And he indicated that his remarks were based on "a gut feeling" formed by past seasonal patterns of terrorist attacks, recent al-Qaeda statements, and intelligence he did not disclose.

There is an assessment "not of a specific threat, but of increased vulnerability," he added.

There have been reports already that suggest intelligence warnings at a similar level to the summer before Sept. 11, 2001 and that al-Qaeda may be mobilizing.

In recent days, ABC news reported that a secret law enforcement report prepared for homeland security warns that al-Qaeda is preparing a "spectacular" summer attack. On Tuesday, ABC News also reported that "new intelligence suggests a small al-Qaeda cell is on its way to the United States, or may already be here."

Chertoff sternly echoed those sentiments at the Tribune.

"We've seen a lot more public statements from Al Qaeda," he said. "There are a lot of reasons to speculate about that but one reason that occurs to me is that they're feeling more comfortable and raising expectations.

"We could easily be attacked," Chertoff added. "The intent to attack us remains as strong as it was on Sept. 10, 2001."

rest of the article here:
http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/nation/chi-070710chertoff,0,4168207.story

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We need to be "on guard" for the next "terrorist" attack on our shores...the Bush administration is desperate for any event that will create fear in the country once
again like 911.....I hope we are more aware now than we were then...anyone interested in
learning about the use of false flag ops should google Webster Tarpley and listen to a couple of his lectures.....many sources in Washington are dropping hints....

I think the only questions are where & when

more rumblings about an attack soon here:

http://www.signs-of-the-times.org/articles/show/136332-Be+Afraid%21+U.S.+intel+warns+al-Qaida+has+rebuilt

Yes, there will probably be more false flag situations, until we put the culprits out of business. there is probably about five persons at the top(not all men) , who are behind all the troubles on this PLANET. (the head of the snake) As soon as enough of us wake up, the GAME WILL BE OVER !!!! they will be running trying to hide somewhere.

I know there are those who say we have no freedom, but the freedom we enjoy and open nature of your society makes us vulneralbe to attack. So I have to agree with "News" that it is a matter of when. Our nation is not secure by any means. It could be more secure, but I don't see any way to make it completely secure from from terrorists. As long as terrorists have a safe haven to operate from and states that sponsor and finance their activities no one will be safe. When the next attack comes, there will be another round of recriminations and finger pointing by the same group of people who have stiffled every effort to make us more secure. The fact is there is a large group of people in this world that will stop at nothing to kill as many of us as possible and if we do not deal with these individuals decisively they will continue their actions. We have been mucking around with these terrorists for 50 years and they have become more bold as the years have gone by because we have tried everything from ignoring them to apeasement. It got us nothing but more terrorism. Unfortunately it will take a massive attack with tens or hundreds of thousands of casualties before the American people get mad enough to demand that something be done to put an end to all of this. Three thousand dead at the World Trade Center was not enough they have already been forgotten by most Americans or are seen as victims of a government plot by others. Perhaps if we apologize to Osama for putting the World Trade center in the way of the planes his people were trying to fly he will forgive us.

Attacks or not, Michael Tanji of ThreatsWatch.org lays it out...

http://commentary.threatswatch.org/2007/07/summer-of-terror/

"Our actions during a summer of terror will send a loud and unambiguous message to the freedom-loving peoples around the world who wonder if the United States is still the nation to turn to in order to help defeat hatred, oppression and totalitarianism. Do we understand the nature of that message, or will we continue to think that our rhetoric will be taken more seriously than our actions?"