Gibbons: U.S. still is on high terrorism alert

Benjamin Grove

Wednesday, March 26, 2003 | 11:34 a.m.

With the war well under way in Iraq, U.S. intelligence networks continue to work overtime to thwart possible terrorist attack attempts, Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., said.

Expectations in the intelligence community remain high that terrorists might attempt an attack now that the war with Iraq has begun, Gibbons, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, said. Terrorists may consider the war a distraction for U.S. officials who are responsible for homeland security, he said.

Gibbons said he was "pleasantly surprised" no attack had occurred thus far. Intelligence agencies are doing their jobs well, he said.

Gibbons receives a daily classified briefing as a member of the Intelligence panel, a rough, less-detailed version of the early-morning briefing President Bush receives. The briefings have included some specific information about possible terrorist plots that were thwarted, Gibbons said. Authorities have found materials that may have been destined for attacks, such as chemicals, electronic equipment and dynamite, Gibbons said. He could not elaborate.

"Our government continues to intercept, disrupt and shut down" terrorist plots against targets in the United States and abroad, Gibbons said.

News about such interceptions is not likely to filter to the public in most cases because it would jeopardize intelligence sources, Gibbons said.

Jerry Bussell, adviser to Gov. Kenny Guinn on homeland security, said the state has had no reason to believe there is imminent danger, but several issues are being watched. He said the governor would decide if the state should raise its threat level to red, the highest level of terrorism alert.

"We are not going to red unless there is a specific or defined threat to somebody or something in Nevada," he said.

"When you go to red, a great deal of things change. It would change the way we do business in Nevada," Bussell said. In Califoria Gov. Gray Davis Tuesday ordered National Guard troops back to Los Angeles International Airport, almost a year after the Guard ended its post-Sept. 11, deployment there.

The 40 to 50 troops were to patrol the airport perimeter and guard outside checkpoints starting Thursday.

Guinn had no similar plans for Nevada, spokesman Greg Bortolin said this morning.

Sun reporter

Cy Ryan and the Associated Press contributed to this story.