Gold9472
11-07-2008, 09:10 AM
Barack Obama's 75 days of danger
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2008/11/07/barack-obama-s-75-days-of-danger-115875-20875711/
By Bob Roberts Political Editor 7/11/2008
America faces a heightened terror threat in the 75 days until Barack Obama takes office, US spy chiefs warned yesterday.
The CIA and other intelligence agencies gave him his first security briefing - and told him fanatics may try to exploit the period before he enters the White House to attack America.
Their concern was echoed by George Bush, who said outside the White House: "We are facing a struggle against violent extremists determined to attack us.
"They would like nothing more than to exploit this period of change to harm the American people."
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff added: "Any time there is transition, there is a danger or risk that vulnerability will increase because people become distracted."
Mr Chertoff said security agencies were now on heightened alert as he warned of the grave threat of a terror atrocity against the US.
He said: "We have put into effect some additional measures. We are looking very carefully at anything that might be a vulnerability, recognising that we can't guarantee against bad things happening.
"We need to take special pains to make sure that we are very focused on the security of this country."
The security supremo warned that the increased state of danger could continue for up to six months after Mr Obama's January 20 inauguration.
Meanwhile, Iran, which will have featured highly in spy chiefs' dossiers, congratulated him yesterday.
It is the country's first such goodwill message to a new American president since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hailed the incoming American leader for "attracting the majority of voters in the election".
And he urged him to "use the opportunity to serve the American people and leave a good name for history". Mr Ahmadinejad said world hoped the new administration would improve America's image.
And he continued: "Other nations expect war-oriented policies, occupation, bullying, contempt of nations and imposing discriminatory policies on them to be replaced by advocating justice, respect for human rights, friendship and non-interference in other countries' internal affairs." Relations between the two countries have been fraught since the Shah was ousted in 1979 and have grown worse recently over Iran's nuclear programme.
But Mr Obama has made clear he is open to direct talks with the Middle-East state.
He got a taste of the security blanket that will now surround him as he headed for his daily gym workout in Chicago yesterday with a small army of armed agents.
Mr Obama is due to to meet President Bush early next week to discuss issues such as the global financial crisis and the war in Iraq.
The new man has also begun to assemble his team, making tough Rahm Emanuel, 48, his White House chief of staff.
Gen Colin Powell is being tipped for Education Secretary while John Kerry, beaten by Mr Bush in the 2004 election, could become Secretary of State.
Bill Clinton's former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers, New York bank chief Timothy Geithner and former Federal Reserve boss Paul Volcker are in the running to be made new Treasury Secretary.
Two members of the Kennedy clan - Robert F Kennedy Jnr and his cousin Caroline - could also be handed posts.
However, Business Secretary Peter Mandelson fired an early warning about Mr Obama's economic policies putting the US on a collision course with Britain.
There are concerns Mr Obama may bow to pressure from senior Democrats and impose tariffs on overseas goods.
But Lord Mandelson said: "We want America to seize the opportunity of the Obama victory to reclaim its leadership role in the world.
"But Mr Obama will never succeed if Congress forces the new President into isolationism and protectionism, which forces America to turn in on itself.
"The only way forward for the US and for the world is if America thinks globally. Yet more trade barriers are not the answer.
And Britain needed to work with Mr Obama to "defeat those forces inside America that will try to hold him back", he added.
"No guarantee that bad things won't happen..."
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2008/11/07/barack-obama-s-75-days-of-danger-115875-20875711/
By Bob Roberts Political Editor 7/11/2008
America faces a heightened terror threat in the 75 days until Barack Obama takes office, US spy chiefs warned yesterday.
The CIA and other intelligence agencies gave him his first security briefing - and told him fanatics may try to exploit the period before he enters the White House to attack America.
Their concern was echoed by George Bush, who said outside the White House: "We are facing a struggle against violent extremists determined to attack us.
"They would like nothing more than to exploit this period of change to harm the American people."
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff added: "Any time there is transition, there is a danger or risk that vulnerability will increase because people become distracted."
Mr Chertoff said security agencies were now on heightened alert as he warned of the grave threat of a terror atrocity against the US.
He said: "We have put into effect some additional measures. We are looking very carefully at anything that might be a vulnerability, recognising that we can't guarantee against bad things happening.
"We need to take special pains to make sure that we are very focused on the security of this country."
The security supremo warned that the increased state of danger could continue for up to six months after Mr Obama's January 20 inauguration.
Meanwhile, Iran, which will have featured highly in spy chiefs' dossiers, congratulated him yesterday.
It is the country's first such goodwill message to a new American president since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hailed the incoming American leader for "attracting the majority of voters in the election".
And he urged him to "use the opportunity to serve the American people and leave a good name for history". Mr Ahmadinejad said world hoped the new administration would improve America's image.
And he continued: "Other nations expect war-oriented policies, occupation, bullying, contempt of nations and imposing discriminatory policies on them to be replaced by advocating justice, respect for human rights, friendship and non-interference in other countries' internal affairs." Relations between the two countries have been fraught since the Shah was ousted in 1979 and have grown worse recently over Iran's nuclear programme.
But Mr Obama has made clear he is open to direct talks with the Middle-East state.
He got a taste of the security blanket that will now surround him as he headed for his daily gym workout in Chicago yesterday with a small army of armed agents.
Mr Obama is due to to meet President Bush early next week to discuss issues such as the global financial crisis and the war in Iraq.
The new man has also begun to assemble his team, making tough Rahm Emanuel, 48, his White House chief of staff.
Gen Colin Powell is being tipped for Education Secretary while John Kerry, beaten by Mr Bush in the 2004 election, could become Secretary of State.
Bill Clinton's former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers, New York bank chief Timothy Geithner and former Federal Reserve boss Paul Volcker are in the running to be made new Treasury Secretary.
Two members of the Kennedy clan - Robert F Kennedy Jnr and his cousin Caroline - could also be handed posts.
However, Business Secretary Peter Mandelson fired an early warning about Mr Obama's economic policies putting the US on a collision course with Britain.
There are concerns Mr Obama may bow to pressure from senior Democrats and impose tariffs on overseas goods.
But Lord Mandelson said: "We want America to seize the opportunity of the Obama victory to reclaim its leadership role in the world.
"But Mr Obama will never succeed if Congress forces the new President into isolationism and protectionism, which forces America to turn in on itself.
"The only way forward for the US and for the world is if America thinks globally. Yet more trade barriers are not the answer.
And Britain needed to work with Mr Obama to "defeat those forces inside America that will try to hold him back", he added.
"No guarantee that bad things won't happen..."