The Pentagon said Wednesday it has raised the alert level at military bases in the United States as a "precaution" before the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. "The force protection level for military installations, mostly in the United States, is being raised in advance of 9/11," press secretary George Little told reporters.
"This is not in response to any particular threat, but is a prudent and precautionary measure." Little said al Qaeda has "focused on holidays and milestone events in the past" and the 10-year anniversary of 9/11 "was mentioned in the documents seized" in the US raid in May that killed Osama bin Laden at his Pakistani compound. The decision, which takes effect Wednesday, was taken by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on the recommendation of the head of US Northern Command, which oversees forces in North America, he said. The Pentagon declined to divulge the details of the new security level or what measures that might require at bases in the United States.