Terrorist Threats Keep Airport Security High

Terrorist Threats Keep Airport Security High
Christian Broadcasting Network

January 2, 2004


CBN.com – WASHINGTON - 2004 is starting just as 2003 ended, with officials 
shutting down international flights due to fears of terrorist attacks. More 
flights have been cancelled between London and Washington, and Al Qaeda is 
promising major attacks against the United States. 

Flights between London and Dulles airport, just outside of Washington D.C., are 
getting special scrutiny. Five have been cancelled or delayed since New Year's 
Eve.

Officials are keeping mum, except to say they've been acting on specific 
information about these flights, not just suspicious names on passenger lists.

Philip Baum, editor of Aviation Security, said, "Authorities don't just cancel 
flights for little or no reason. There must have been a very specific threat 
against this aircraft." The French also cancelled six U.S.-bound flights, and 
Mexico cancelled one and had another turned away from U.S. airspace.

U.S. officials have been especially worried that al Qaeda might have a couple 
of dozen trained airline pilots in its ranks now, and two of them may been 
French nationals.

Military jets have been escorting some airliners to their landings, while armed 
helicopters have taken to cruising over urban areas like New York City. 

And security's heightened around much of the rest of the world, especially in 
hot spots like Indonesia and Israel - the target of the Palestinians' bloody 
Intifada for the last three and a half years.

Will the New Year see the terror threats, and security, continue? 

Drew MacIntyre, an American tourist, said, "Only the Lord knows about 2004, but 
for sure it is going to be an exciting time."

Back here in the U.S., you might think since we all got through Christmas and 
the New Year unscathed by terrorists, Washington would downgrade us from Code 
Orange back to Code Yellow. Not so. Al Qaeda websites are buzzing with chatter 
that terror attacks bigger than 9-11 are coming in the weeks ahead, and a Saudi 
paper is reporting Osama bin Laden is preparing to make another videotape 
appearance just after a major attack on U.S. territory. 


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