Ridge denies 'doing' politics

BOSTON — Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Wednesday the warnings he gave the public last week about a possible terror attack before the elections have nothing to do with politics.

"We don't do politics at Homeland Security," Ridge said at a news conference, adding that the department's job is to transmit credible information to the public. Those who suggest otherwise have reached "rather cynical" conclusions, he said.

With Boston Harbor as a backdrop, Ridge said the government is going to tremendous lengths to create unparalleled security for a Democratic National Convention, which begins July 26 at the city's Fleet Center.

"Our goal is to deter any potential attack with multiple layers of security," said Ridge, the former Republican governor of Pennsylvania.

On Tuesday, a search for Democrat John Kerry on the department's Web site brought up a link to a news release from a GOP congressman critical of the presidential candidate. Government officials blamed a technical glitch at the government's official Web portal.

Some Democrats have accused the Bush administration of playing politics with information about terror threats. Ridge's news conference last week came the same day that Sen. John Edwards was named as the Democratic vice presidential pick.

In Boston, Ridge said security levels for the Democratic convention will likely surpass the Salt Lake City Olympics in cost and certainly in complications to secure the densely populated area.

When asked if he would feel safe bringing his family here during the event, he said: "You bet." But he plans to attend neither party's convention.

Ridge said counterterrorism authorities are still getting "credible information" indicating al-Qaida is interested in attacking the United States to disrupt the democratic process. He said his department has no specific information about time, place and type of attack.

Talking to reporters later, Ridge said he cannot narrow down what type of attack may be coming. But he said, "The toughest attack to defend against is suicide bombers," whether wearing a vest or driving a truck.

The focus of extremist groups appears to be on an attack that would inflict mass casualties, but that does not mean they would not try smaller suicide bombings, he said.

The Democratic convention, with its expected 35,000 visitors, is designated a national security special event. That makes it eligible for federal money and heightened security overseen by the Secret Service.

Ridge toured the main security command center, where roughly 80 agencies will be located to coordinate with thousands of federal, state and local law enforcement officials. He met Adam and Jackie from the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad, two of the bomb-sniffing dogs that will be joined by others from around the country to look for explosives.