Bush says US at war with "Islamic fascists"

GREEN BAY, Wis., Aug 10 (Reuters) US President George W Bush said today a plot foiled by Britain to blow up flights to the United States was a ''stark reminder'' that the United States is ''at war with Islamic fascists.'' Bush said that the United States was safer than before the September 11 attacks, but it was still not completely safe and it would be a mistake to believe there was no longer a threat.

Bush launched a global war on terrorism after the 2001 hijacked plane attacks on New York and Washington killed nearly 3,000 people.

Faced with public discontent over the 3-year-old war in Iraq, he often tells Americans the threat remains.

Bush, speaking briefly on a visit to Green Bay, Wisconsin, said the foiled plane plot was ''..a stark reminder that this nation is at war with Islamic fascists who will use any means to destroy those of us who love freedom, to hurt our nation.'' The US government heightened security on passenger planes and barred air travelers from carrying liquids today after Britain said it had foiled the plot.

US officials said the aim was to blow up the planes in flight.

Two officials said there were no signs the attacks were directed at any one city, but they might have taken place on flights heading to major US cities.

AL QAEDA? Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the Islamic militant group al Qaeda might have been involved.

''This operation is in some respects suggestive of an al Qaeda plot, but because the investigation is still under way, we cannot yet form a definitive conclusion. We're going to wait until all the facts are in,'' he told a news conference.

White House spokesman Tony Snow said Bush had talked twice by phone with British Prime Minister Tony Blair about the plot -- on Sunday and yesterday. Bush called the cooperation with Britain, the chief US ally in Iraq, excellent.

The Department of Homeland Security said it took the unprecedented step of raising the threat level for commercial flights originating in the United Kingdom to ''severe'' or red, its highest level.

The threat level for all other commercial aircraft operating in or destined for the United States would be raised to ''high,'' or orange, Chertoff said.

The United States said the plot involved liquid explosive ingredients, and US Homeland Security barred passengers from carrying liquids, including beverages, hair gels and lotions, aboard planes.

REUTERS MQA RAI2257