Secret Service Investigating Facebook Poll Asking Whether Obama Should Be Killed

“The Secret Service is investigating the circumstances surrounding an eye-opening Facebook poll that asked whether Obama should be assassinated, a Secret Service spokesman confirms to us.

‘We are taking the appropriate investigative steps,’ the spokesman, Ed Donovan, told our reporter, Amanda Erickson. ‘We are aware of it.’

The poll asked: ‘Should Obama be killed?’ It offered four choices: No, Maybe, Yes, and Yes if he cuts my health care.”

(Secret Service Investigating Facebook Poll Asking Whether Obama Should Be Killed | The Plum Line)

Two disputed construction projects holding up Homeland Security FY 2010 appropriations

“Disputes between House and Senate versions of the FY 2010 appropriations measure for the Department of Homeland Security remain unresolved as the end of the fiscal year approaches, and are not likely to get solved in the next two days. The Senate version of the funding measure requires Homeland Security to build 700 miles of reinforced double layered fencing along the Mexican border, at an estimated cost to taxpayers of about $4.55 billion, to be completed by December 31, 2010. The House version of the bill does not provide funds for the fence construction.

The second dispute is over a much smaller appropriation of $36.3 million to build a Kansas State University laboratory for biological weapons defense and defense against attacks on American agriculture. The House version of the appropriation measure prohibits funding of the facility until completion of a risk assessment from outside the Homeland Security Department, while the Senate version is satisfied with the Department’s internal analysis of project risks.”

(Two disputed construction projects holding up Homeland Security FY 2010 appropriations)

U.S. terror suspects accused of targeting Marine base

“Two men charged in North Carolina last month with plotting terrorist attacks overseas also planned to attack the U.S. Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, authorities said on Thursday.

The two were among seven suspects arrested in August for conspiring to provide material support to terrorists and for conspiracy to murder, kidnap, maim and injure people overseas.”

(Source: U.S. terror suspects accused of targeting Marine base | U.S. | Reuters)

Illinois man charged in plot to bomb federal offices

“An Illinois man was ordered held on Thursday on charges he tried to blow up a federal building in the state capital, a case unrelated to the New York terrorism plot.

Michael Finton, also known as Talib Islam, was arrested in Springfield, Illinois, and charged with attempted murder of federal officers or employees and trying to use a weapon of mass destruction, charges that carry a life sentence.

‘Fortunately, a coordinated undercover law enforcement effort was able to thwart his efforts and ensure no one was harmed,’ David Kris, assistant Attorney General for National Security, said in a statement.”

(Source: UPDATE 1-Illinois man charged in plot to bomb federal offices | Markets | Markets News | Reuters)

Man arrested in alleged attempt to bomb Dallas skyscraper

“Federal authorities arrested a 19-year-old Jordanian citizen whom they said placed an inactive car bomb today at Fountain Place, a 60-story skyscraper in downtown Dallas.

Hosam Maher Husein Smadi has repeatedly voiced his intent to serve Osama bin Laden and al-Qa’ida and commit ‘violent Jihad,’ authorities said in a prepared statement”

(Source: Man arrested in alleged attempt to bomb Dallas skyscraper | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Latest News)

Is Las Vegas a prime target for terrorism?

“New concerns are swirling about potential terror attacks on stadiums, hotels, and other places where large numbers of people gather. These concerns are outlined in a new warning from federal counterterrorism agents to police around the country.

The bulletins went out Tuesday, urging police to be on guard anywhere people come together in groups. The Las Vegas Strip and all local resorts certainly qualify.

These are not terror alerts but something less: a heads-up to police nationwide. The new federal bulletins remind local officials and law enforcement that terrorists would like to hurt a lot of Americans. “

(Is Las Vegas a prime target for terrorism?)

FBI’s Data-Mining System Sifts Airline, Hotel, Car-Rental Records

“A fast-growing FBI data-mining system billed as a tool for hunting terrorists is being used in hacker and domestic criminal investigations, and now contains tens of thousands of records from private corporate databases, including car-rental companies, large hotel chains and at least one national department store, declassified documents obtained by Wired.com show.

Headquartered in Crystal City, Virginia, just outside Washington, the FBI’s National Security Branch Analysis Center (NSAC) maintains a hodgepodge of data sets packed with more than 1.5 billion government and private-sector records about citizens and foreigners, the documents show, bringing the government closer than ever to implementing the ‘Total Information Awareness’ system first dreamed up by the Pentagon in the days following the Sept. 11 attacks.

Such a system, if successful, would correlate data from scores of different sources to automatically identify terrorists and other threats before they could strike. The FBI is seeking to quadruple the known staff of the program.”

(FBI’s Data-Mining System Sifts Airline, Hotel, Car-Rental Records)

Terrorism security alerts add stadiums, hotels

“Counterterrorism officials have issued security bulletins to police around the nation about terrorists’ desire to attack stadiums, entertainment complexes and hotels – the latest in a flurry of such internal warnings as investigators chase a possible bomb plot in Denver and New York.”

(Source: Terrorism security alerts add stadiums, hotels)

NY Terror Plot: Officials Worried Attack Plan Could Still be Lurking

“Law enforcement officials say the alleged terror plot against New York City may be ’still alive’ despite the arrest of its alleged ringleader, 24-year-old Najibullah Zazi of Denver, Colorado. “

(Source: NY Terror Plot: Officials Worried Attack Plan Could Still be Lurking – ABC News)

At least 4 people shot in Mexico-U.S. border incident

“The San Ysidro Port of Entry on the U.S.-Mexico border in California was temporarily closed Tuesday after four people were wounded by gunfire that erupted from three vans packed with than 70 people headed from Mexico toward the border, officials said.

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent and a Customs and Border Protection officer also fired their guns, said Angela Decima, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Border Patrol.

Three of the casualties were critically wounded, said San Diego, California, Fire Department Spokesman Maurice Luque. The fourth person wounded was in a separate vehicle, said Decima.”

(Source: At least 4 people shot in Mexico-U.S. border incident – The CNN Wire – CNN.com Blogs)

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