http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/09/17/eveningnews/main644096.shtml(CBS) Convinced that al Qaeda is still determined to disrupt the U.S. fall elections by an attack on the homeland, FBI officials here are preparing a massive counter-offensive of interrogations, surveillance and possible detentions they hope will disrupt the terrorist plans, reports CBS News Correspondent Jim Stewart.
FBI field offices and Homeland Security agencies will be advised of "extraordinary measures" that will go into place "beginning the first week of October through the elections."
An internal e-mail advisory to supervisory agents this week from the FBI's "'04 Threat Task Force" said the purpose of the counter-offensive is "to foster the impression that law enforcement is focused on individuals who may be a threat."
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Some of the exciting snips
"FBI officials here are preparing a
massive counter-offensive of interrogations, surveillance and possible detentions"FBI field offices and Homeland Security agencies will be advised of
"extraordinary measures" that will go into place
"beginning the first week of October through the elections."the purpose of the counter-offensive is "to foster the
impression that law enforcement is focused on individuals who may be a threat."the plan calls for
"aggressive - even obvious - surveillance" techniques to be used on a short list of people suspected of being
terrorist sympathizers, but who have not committed a crime. Other "persons of interest," including their family members, may also be brought in for questioning,
One element of the plan calls for addressing what some officials fears could be a wave of protests from
Arab-Americans and civil libertarians once the so-called "October Plan" kicks off.