Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The United States has extended the closure of its
embassies in the Middle East as a published report said the Obama administration was acting on intelligence reports that are not new.

Officials said the U.S. intelligence community has relayed information
that prompted a State Department decision to delay the reopening of close to
20 embassies and consulates, most of them in the Middle East. They said the
information warned of an imminent Al Qaida attack either in the Horn of
Africa or Gulf.

Bill Gertz, reporting for the Washington Free Beacon, said “Intelligence regarding Al Qaida plans to attack U.S. embassies, officials, and interests last Sunday was known for months by U.S. intelligence agencies but was used only recently to trigger the closure of embassies and issuance of public warnings of impending attacks.”

On Aug. 4, the State Department said 19 embassies and consulates would remain shut until Aug. 10. On Aug. 2, the department closed 21 embassies and consulates, but reopened those in Algeria, Iraq and Mauritania.

“We’ve received information that high-level people from Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula are talking about a major attack,” Rep. Charles Ruppersberger, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said.

Officials said Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula marked the most
dangerous of Al Qaida’s franchises. AQAP is based in Yemen but also operates
in neighboring states, particularly Saudi Arabia.

“This is not an indication of a new threat stream, merely an indication
of our commitment to exercise caution and take appropriate steps to protect
our employees including local employees and visitors to our facilities,”
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

Officials said Al Qaida might have plotted to attack on Id El Fitr,
scheduled for Aug. 8 and which ends the Muslim fast month of Ramadan. Id has
been regarded as the most joyous festival on the Muslim calendar.

“Al Qaida is in many ways stronger than it was before 9/11, because it’s
mutated and it spread and it can come at us from different directions,”
House Counterterrorism and Intelligence Subcommittee chairman Rep. Peter
King said. “And Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula is probably the most
deadly of all the Al Qaida affiliates.”

The Al Qaida threat was discovered through intercepts by the U.S.
National Security Agency of the AQAP leadership, including commander Nasser
Al Wuhaishi. Officials said the intercepts indicated that AQAP was coordinating with other Al Qaida franchises in what could constitute multiple attacks.

“This is the most serious threat that I’ve seen in the last several
years,” Sen. Saxby Chambliss, the ranking Republican on the Senate Select
Intelligence Committee, said.

  19 U.S. embassies to remain closed through Aug. 10, Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, House Intelligence Committee, Nasser Al Wuhaishi, Rep. Charles Ruppersberger, Sen. Saxby Chambliss