Code Orange...

[dgmodel]

By RON FOURNIER

.c The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (Sept. 10) - The Bush administration raised the nationwide terror alert to its second highest level, closed nine U.S. embassies overseas and heightened security at federal buildings and landmarks in America as new intelligence warned of car bombings, suicide attacks and other strikes linked to the Sept. 11 anniversary.

Americans were urged Tuesday to be alert but unbowed - go to work, to school and on trips - despite specific threats against U.S. interests abroad and less credible concerns that terrorists might attack America again.

''The threats that we have heard recently remind us of the pattern of threats we heard prior to September the 11th,'' President Bush said on the eve of the anniversary. ''We have no specific threat to America, but we're taking everything seriously.''

Security precautions in the nation's capital rivaled measures taken immediately after last year's attacks. For example, Vice President Dick Cheney canceled a Tuesday night speech and was taken to a secret location to protect the presidential line of succession in case of an attack.

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld ordered that live anti-aircraft missiles be stationed near launchers that had been deployed around Washington for a training exercise.

Across the country, access was restricted to public places and events. Colorado Gov. Bill Owens, announcing security measures at the state capitol, told residents, ''You should probably bring your driver's license'' to the building.

Local police were on edge. They urged residents to report any suspicious activity.

''There's no such thing as a stupid phone call,'' said Lt. Kelly Willis, spokesman for the Des Moines, Iowa, police department. ''We're here to be bothered.''

Among 15 or so U.S. diplomatic posts closed overseas, the embassy in Jakarta and a consular office in Surabaya, both in Indonesia, were shut down due to what officials called credible and specific information about security threats.

Despite no evidence of a plot against America, the Sept. 11 anniversary and threats of car bomb or other attacks against U.S. interests abroad made officials nervous enough to seek the higher threat status.

Bush approve raising the level from a ''significant risk'' of attacks - code yellow - to a high danger or code orange. It is the highest alert level imposed since the system was established in March.

''The United States government has concluded, based on analysis and specific intelligence of possible attacks on U.S. interests overseas, to call government, law enforcement and citizens - both at home and overseas - to a heightened state of alert,'' Attorney General John Ashcroft said in announcing the change with Tom Ridge, Bush's homeland security director.

A grim-faced Ashcroft said U.S. intelligence, based on information from a senior al-Qaida operative in the last day or so, believes terrorists operating in several South Asian countries hope to explode car bombs or launch other attacks on U.S. facilities abroad.

The plans are believed to be linked directly to al-Qaida, rather than one of its affiliates, said a government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The al-Qaida operative who provided some of the information has been in the custody of an unidentified foreign country for several months, but he has not been publicly identified.

Ashcroft said the government also has learned of plans in the Middle East to launch one or more suicide attacks against U.S. interests. ''At this time, we have no specific information as to where these attacks might occur,'' Ashcroft said.

The intelligence community believes the most likely targets at home and abroad are transportation and energy facilities or other symbols of U.S. power, such as military facilities, embassies and national monuments, he said.

''In addition, U.S. intelligence has concluded that lower-level al-Qaida operatives may view the Sept. 11 anniversary as a suitable time to lash out in even small strikes to demonstrate their worldwide presence and resolve,'' Ashcroft said.

''Widely dispersed, unsophisticated strikes are possible,'' he warned.

U.S. officials found little solace in the fact that the threats focused on overseas targets overseas; a similar pattern was detected just before the Sept. 11 attacks, they said.

''Americans need to go about their lives,'' Bush said. ''They just need to know that their government, at the federal and state and local level, will be on an extra level of alert to protect us.''

He planned to travel Wednesday under extraordinarily tight security to the sites of last year's attacks in suburban Washington, New York and Pennsylvania. The Secret Service bolstered security around the White House, paying special attention to vehicles riding on a nearby road recently closed to trucks.

The State Department issued a notice of ''worldwide caution'' to Americans abroad.

The General Services Administration, which operates and provides security for most federal buildings, implemented new security procedures.

The Environmental Protection Agency ordered water system operators to bolster security.

The Agriculture Department told meat inspectors to look for anything suspicious.

Military bases worldwide also were put on higher alert this week because of the anniversary, and the military resumed 24-hour fighter jet patrols over New York City and Washington.

On Capitol Hill, the House sergeant at arms installed steel cabinets in the press gallery to store ''escape hoods'' that allow people to breath in case of a biological or chemical attack. Congress has bought 25,000 of them.

AP-NY-09-10-02 1803EDT

[trancerxn112]

Fucking crap... i gotta go to school in the city all day tomorrow... im not really scared but i dont feel like dieing.

[stacychase]

If you don't feel safe than stay home.

[rachel1997]

And I have to work tomorrow!

Who's off?

[nycmuzik]

Nothings gonna happen.....

[kingartur]

I'm off, i'll be sleeping the whole day.

[dgmodel]

ill be at work, doing what i do best... and if i go out, at least i go out doing what i like... (rather go out next to my love of my life however i cant find her) if you had to choose between a last person or the last place where or who would it be???

[donstyles]

That means my boyz back in Oki will be on lock down...hate to be them....

[stacychase]

We are off today our building is across from the site. The firm decided that first the commute would be to hard, that it could have a negative impact on our people and no work would get done, cause everyone would be standing at the windows.