Nation Amps Up New Year's Eve Security

Cyxeris · Joined: Oct 30, 2003 Posts: 1125 Location: Louisville, KY

Nation Amps Up New Year's Eve Security
Dec 30, 8:42 PM (ET)

By LAURA WIDES

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) - Security will be extra tight at this year's New Year's celebrations around the country, with military helicopters patrolling over the Rose Parade, Times Square and the Las Vegas Strip.

"I think the level of security this time around within the United States is absolutely unprecedented," Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said on CBS's "The Early Show."

As revelers prepare for New Year's Eve, the nation's terrorism alert is at its second-highest level, though officials said there were no specific threats against the holiday gatherings and urged people to go ahead with their plans.

In Las Vegas, where 300,000 revelers are expected on the Strip, officials announced that armed military helicopters will fly overhead.

Jerry Bussell, Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn's adviser on homeland security, said military helicopters will also be used in New York City, Los Angeles, Washington and other cities with big outdoor gatherings.

"These aircraft are equipped to dismantle or disrupt any kind of ground attack, and also other aircraft that would attempt to fly into our airspace," said Bill Young, the sheriff in Las Vegas.

Sharpshooters will be posted on hotel-casino roofs, and streets will be blocked off with concrete barricades, Young said. Sightseeing helicopters will be prevented from flying over the Las Vegas Strip from 8 p.m. New Year's Eve to 3 a.m.

In Pasadena, where thousands gather along the 5 1/2-mile Rose Parade route and attend the Rose Bowl football game on New Year's Day, video surveillance cameras will watch the spectators lining the streets.

Flights over the Rose Bowl will be limited to police and military aircraft, and everyone working in the stadium, from hot-dog vendors to TV camera crews, will be required to wear photo IDs.

"We decided not to live our lives in fear, and do what we want to do," said Janet Powles, 60, of Rapid City, S.D., as she watched volunteers apply flower petals to Rose Parade floats.

In Las Vegas, however, terror concerns apparently affected hotel bookings. Deutsche Bank analyst Marc Falcone said New Year's Eve cancellations jumped in the past week and were running twice as high as last year.

In New York City, the New Year's Eve preparations included flight restrictions and military helicopter patrols over Times Square.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said that there will be more officers on duty this year than last, and that they will focus more heavily on hotels, landmarks and ferry terminals. He would not disclose numbers.

Organizers said they expect this year's crowd to be larger than last year's gathering of 750,000.

Manhole covers are being sealed shut in Times Square, and mailboxes, trash cans and newspaper boxes are being removed. Plainclothes officers will mingle with the crowds, and elite counterterror teams will have equipment to detect chemical, biological or radiological contamination.

New Jersey Gov. James E. McGreevey warned revelers headed to New York City to expect long delays at bridges and tunnels - and to prepare for random stops and searches.

"We understand this may infringe on civil liberties but most of all we have a responsibility to keep our families safe," he told CNN.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the city was well-protected.

"Sadly, terrorism is something that we have to live with," he said. "Leave the worrying to the professionals."

Republican Rep. Christopher Shays, however, said people ought to avoid places like Times Square, calling it irresponsible for officials to make people think they don't need to take precautions.

"Secretary Ridge says just do what you normally do," Shays said. "If normally you go to Times Square, I wouldn't do what you normally do. I wouldn't go into places when you're packed and where if there was panic, a lot of injuries would take place."

In cities such as Columbus, Ohio, authorities urged people to be watchful.

"Because of the code orange, we're asking people to be extra alert and asking anyone who sees anything odd to talk to an officer," said police Lt. Karl Barth. "There will be a lot of officers around."

In New Orleans, security officials implemented a new game plan for the Sugar Bowl, where Oklahoma and Louisiana State University will play for college football's Bowl Championship Series title game on Sunday.

Superdome parking garages will be closed and a fence will be put up around the dome. Some streets will be closed.

elektro80 · Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2003 9:09 pm Post subject:

Great news! So now we over here in Europe can rest assured you all are safe and sound. Do they tap your phones too?

Cyxeris · Joined: Oct 30, 2003 Posts: 1125 Location: Louisville, KY

The incrementalism hasn't gotten to that point, yet. Publically that is. Perhaps next year.

elektro80 · Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2003 9:32 pm Post subject:

OK... I see.. Rome was not burned in a day.. progress!

Cyxeris · Joined: Oct 30, 2003 Posts: 1125 Location: Louisville, KY

I can smell it already...

December 30th, 2005

"The department of homeland security today announced that reports had been received indicating that there was a general alert about terrorists triggering explosives remotely via cell phones. In an effort to maintain the safety of the public, cellular phone traffic will be monitored by the department."

"We understand this may infringe on civil liberties but most of all we have a responsibility to keep our families safe," he told CNN

December 30th, 2007

"The department of homeland security today announced that reports had been received indicating that there was a general alert about terrorists bringing a suitcase nuclear device into New York City for new years eve via the trunk of a car, and triggered by a remote cell phone. In an effort to maintain the safety of the public, all vehicles traveling in the area will be stopped and searched, and all cell phone traffic will be monitored by the department."

"We understand this may infringe on civil liberties but most of all we have a responsibility to keep our families safe," he told CNN

mosc · Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2003 9:47 pm Post subject:

I'm bummed by the Ephedrin ban by the USA's FDA. This is a natural product, not a drug. The drug companies are behind this because Ephedrin is in 20% of all supplement products sold. They want to kill the until now unregulated vitamin and supplement business. It's is sickening the way the press is playing the patsy for this next step in government control. Some hysterical mother of a baseball player who died is on a crusade to ban this natural product, for the good of the children no less. Millions of people use this herb without any problems.

Surely Ephedrin is less harmful than tobacco or alcohol. Don't hear them crying for a ban of those.

Freedom is stolen bit by bit.

Crying or Very sad

Cyxeris · Joined: Oct 30, 2003 Posts: 1125 Location: Louisville, KY

mosc · Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2003 10:33 pm Post subject:

Never give up.
Never stop caring.
Never acquiesce with silence.

But you know that...

Cyxeris · Joined: Oct 30, 2003 Posts: 1125 Location: Louisville, KY

Yes, but that is just me, not the remaining 290,000,045 Americans out there who are apathetic by default. THEIR inertia is the real problem. Again, what are we supposed to do.

Such ugly business.

Cyx

mosc · Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2003 10:43 pm Post subject:

Cyxeris · Joined: Oct 30, 2003 Posts: 1125 Location: Louisville, KY

bal·last n.

Heavy material that is placed in the hold of a ship or the gondola of a balloon to enhance stability.

Coarse gravel or crushed rock laid to form a bed for roads or railroads.
The gravel ingredient of concrete.
Something that gives stability, especially in character.

We have far too much ballast in the wrong directions.

mosc · Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2003 10:56 pm Post subject:

Cyxeris · Joined: Oct 30, 2003 Posts: 1125 Location: Louisville, KY

God, it sucks to be right all the time.

elektro80 · Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2003 3:43 am Post subject:

seraph · Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2003 6:14 am Post subject:

elektro80 · Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2003 7:47 am Post subject:

But they aren´t banning athletes are they? They are not sent to concentration camps? Because they need customers when ephedrine goes 100% black market?

Banning handguns is not kosher though?

mosc · Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2003 9:09 am Post subject:

zynthetix

Cyxeris · Joined: Oct 30, 2003 Posts: 1125 Location: Louisville, KY

Police State America

elektro80 · Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2003 3:16 pm Post subject:

they are not burning books yet, eh? Which means you are still living in a democracy...? Shocked