Barbie
12-22-2003, 07:53 PM
YOU CALL THAT A DELAY? (http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/12/22/newterror_alert031221)
U.S. terror alert causes border delays
Last Updated Mon, 22 Dec 2003 11:04:13
WASHINGTON - Canadians are facing delays at border crossings with the U.S. as a result of Washington raising its national terror threat alert.
Traffic backups are developing at key crossings in southern Ontario – the Peace Bridge near Niagara Falls, the Queenston Bridge west of Toronto and the tunnel at Windsor.
U.S. Customs is reporting delays of between 10 and 15 minutes for passenger and commercial traffic.
The U.S. government raised its national terror threat warning from yellow to orange Sunday, following intelligence of possible terrorist strikes that could be worse than the Sept. 11 attacks.
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge told Americans to take extra precautions while travelling over the holiday season.
Tom Ridge
"The U.S. intelligence community has received a substantial increase in the volume of threat-related intelligence reports," Ridge told reporters.
The information gathered indicates that extremists abroad present a threat "perhaps greater now than at any point" since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, he said.
"These credible sources suggest the possibility of attacks against the homeland around the holiday season and beyond," Ridge said.
He said the intelligence points to "near-term attacks that could either rival or exceed what we experienced on Sept. 11."
Aircraft threat
Intelligence agencies believe that al-Qaeda continues to consider using aircraft as a weapon, he added.
The orange alert, or "high risk of terrorist attack," is one level below red, the highest warning level of the five-colour scale.
The Homeland Security Office has kept a yellow, or "elevated risk," alert warning in place since May.
Ridge telephoned Canada's new security minister, Anne McLellan, to fill her in on the details of Sunday's announcement. But he didn't ask the minister of public safety and emergency preparedness to make any changes.
A spokesperson said McLellan told Ridge that Canada wants to be a "good neighbour… and to support the U.S. in any way we can.''
McLellan, who is in her Edmonton riding, has asked officials in Canada to review this country's security procedures and ensure they're adequate.
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I remember waiting HOURS at the Abbotsford/Sumas border crossing (BC/Washington State) - just to get some gas back in 1990. HOURS.
We would go over and get the gas, smokes (cause I did smoke back than) and/or go to Bellis Fair in Bellingham. Than, we would wait HOURS just to get back across.
10 - 15 minutes is NOT a long time to wait to cross the border.
U.S. terror alert causes border delays
Last Updated Mon, 22 Dec 2003 11:04:13
WASHINGTON - Canadians are facing delays at border crossings with the U.S. as a result of Washington raising its national terror threat alert.
Traffic backups are developing at key crossings in southern Ontario – the Peace Bridge near Niagara Falls, the Queenston Bridge west of Toronto and the tunnel at Windsor.
U.S. Customs is reporting delays of between 10 and 15 minutes for passenger and commercial traffic.
The U.S. government raised its national terror threat warning from yellow to orange Sunday, following intelligence of possible terrorist strikes that could be worse than the Sept. 11 attacks.
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge told Americans to take extra precautions while travelling over the holiday season.
Tom Ridge
"The U.S. intelligence community has received a substantial increase in the volume of threat-related intelligence reports," Ridge told reporters.
The information gathered indicates that extremists abroad present a threat "perhaps greater now than at any point" since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, he said.
"These credible sources suggest the possibility of attacks against the homeland around the holiday season and beyond," Ridge said.
He said the intelligence points to "near-term attacks that could either rival or exceed what we experienced on Sept. 11."
Aircraft threat
Intelligence agencies believe that al-Qaeda continues to consider using aircraft as a weapon, he added.
The orange alert, or "high risk of terrorist attack," is one level below red, the highest warning level of the five-colour scale.
The Homeland Security Office has kept a yellow, or "elevated risk," alert warning in place since May.
Ridge telephoned Canada's new security minister, Anne McLellan, to fill her in on the details of Sunday's announcement. But he didn't ask the minister of public safety and emergency preparedness to make any changes.
A spokesperson said McLellan told Ridge that Canada wants to be a "good neighbour… and to support the U.S. in any way we can.''
McLellan, who is in her Edmonton riding, has asked officials in Canada to review this country's security procedures and ensure they're adequate.
__________________________________________
I remember waiting HOURS at the Abbotsford/Sumas border crossing (BC/Washington State) - just to get some gas back in 1990. HOURS.
We would go over and get the gas, smokes (cause I did smoke back than) and/or go to Bellis Fair in Bellingham. Than, we would wait HOURS just to get back across.
10 - 15 minutes is NOT a long time to wait to cross the border.