Pentagon to widen air patrols around United States

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, December 24, 2003

Pentagon to widen air patrols around United States

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The Pentagon will widen warplane patrols around the United States to guard against possible terror attacks during the holiday season, General RichardMyers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Tuesday.

Myers told a Pentagon news conference that there would be additional air patrols over selected cities and facilities. "And combat aircraft could be put on a higher alert at different air bases throughout the country," he said.

The military is also boosting air defense in Washington, Myers said.

Security has been beefed up around the country since the US government raised the nation's terror alert to orange, the second-highest level in the five-color warning system, from the middle level of yellow. The government cited increased number of reports indicating that al-Qaida may attempt to attack the United States during the holiday season.

Local media reports quoted anonymous defense officials as saying the military is deploying surface-to-air missile systems around Washington and is considering locating more anti-aircraft systems in the New York City region. In the past, such missile systems were deployed around the capital when the terror alert level was raised.

US Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, when announcing the decision to raise the alert level on Sunday, said that terrorists abroad anticipated attacks that would "rival or exceed" the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

US officials did not give details on potential targets. Intelligence pointed to various targets from major cities such as Washington, New York and Los Angeles to remote infrastructures such as nuclear facilities, power plants, and even oil facilities in Alaska.

There have also been reports saying terrorists might be interested in targeting sports events or holiday celebrations.

On Tuesday, the Pentagon conducted an emergency-response exercise, one goal of which was to practice contingent leadership of the US military in an attack.

"You do not do it lightly," US Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said at the Pentagon news conference while talking about the terror alert. "You ask, 'Is it serious?' Yes, you bet your life."

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