And Al Queda is believed to 18,000 strong, primed and ready thanks to your
neocon buddies in Washington. George 'The War President' fought a war to
line the pockets of his buddies.
"TonyZ2001" <tonyz2001@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20040526120212.07231.00002265@mb-m02.aol.com...
Terrorists feared here for summer onslaught
Federal officials believe America targeted for attack with weapon of mass
destruction
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
------
Posted: May 26, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern
2004 WorldNetDaily.com
Al-Qaida has operatives currently within the United States who are
preparing to
mount a major terrorist attack on America this summer, according to
government
intelligence deemed to be highly credible.
The prediction was made public after a study by the International
Institute of
Strategic Studies revealed that despite the elimination of many top terror
leaders - President Bush says two thirds of al-Qaida's leadership has been
killed or captured - the terror network responsible for 9-11 still has a
functioning leadership and over 18,000 potential terrorists in its global
network, reports Fox News.
In response, Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert S.
Mueller
will hold a joint press conference later today to describe what is known
of the
threat. They will also ask Americans to be on the lookout for several
particular al-Qaida operatives, reports the Washington Post.
Intelligence obtained last month pointing to a major attack on the
American
homeland sometime before Labor Day is corroborated by other intel
"chatter"
revolving around the change in government in Spain that immediately
followed
al-Qaida's March 11 bombings in that country. Osama bin Laden's terror
network
was reportedly emboldened and inspired by the apparent Spanish
capitulation to
terror.
"They saw that an attack of that nature can have economic and political
consequences and have some impact on the electoral process," one federal
official privy to counterterrorism intelligence told the Post.
Probable targets? Both of the presidential nominating conventions this
summer
- the Democrats in Boston and the Republicans in New York - as well as the
World War II Memorial ceremony this Saturday in Washington, D.C., and the
Group
of Eight summit June 8-10 in Georgia. Also of concern, outside the U.S.,
are
the Summer Olympic Games in this August in Greece.
What kind of attack? Biggest concerns are over use a chemical, biological
or
radiological weapon that could cause much more damage and casualties than
a
conventional bomb. But, according to one FBI bulletin to law enforcement
agencies, truck bombs are also a key concern. Still another FBI bulletin
warns
of suicide bombers - replete with warnings about people dressed in bulky
jackets during warm weather, clothing that smells like chemicals or has
trailing electrical wires, and the like. Bombers also could be disguised
as
pregnant women, the memo cautions.
The Department of Homeland Security's top intelligence official, retired
Lt.
Gen. Patrick Hughes, warned earlier this month that al-Qaida may be
planning to
use a chemical or biological weapon in the U.S., mentioning specifically,
anthrax and ricin.
"If the past is indeed prologue, then we are going to screw up, or they
are
going to get lucky. I can't sleep," Hughes said, according to the
Associated
Press.
Asking the public's help
In a news conference yesterday, Los Angeles Police Department
counterterrorism
expert John Miller said: "We would be foolhardy to ignore those
statements, but
I think it would be irresponsible to panic."
And New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly says his city has not been
warned of a specific terrorist plot there, Fox News reports. "We are
receiving
highly sensitive intelligence information on a regular basis, including
today,
and there is nothing in that reporting to indicate a specific threat or
looming
attack against New York City," Kelly said in a statement.
In response to the threats, the FBI has created a special task force
focused
entirely on this summer's terror threat. It is designed to make sure no
valuable pieces of information or intelligence go unconnected with other
bits
of information - a syndrome widely blamed for the agency's failure to
anticipate and prevent the catastrophic Sept. 11 attacks.
Ominously, one counterterrorism official told the Post, it is necessary
for
al-Qaida to pull off a large attack that kills large numbers of people,
such as
an attack on airlines or ships. Smaller attacks, such as a suicide
bombing,
would appear "weak" to the terror groups financiers, he said.
American citizens will reportedly be asked for their help in locating
several
suspected terrorist sympathizers, the Post reports. One person of
interest,
said the report, would likely be 32-year-old Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani
woman
with a doctorate in neurological science, as well as a man Siddiqui has
been
linked to, Adnan G. El Shukrijumah - a suspected member of al-Qaida.
Indeed, it was a member of the public - not law enforcement - that finally
identified and was responsible for the capture of the Beltway snipers.
Federal
officials are evidently hoping Americans are up to the challenge again.
The International Institute of Strategic Studies' "Strategic Survey
2003-4"
says the U.S. remains al-Qaida's prime target, and quotes one of the
network's
leaders as saying 4 million Americans will have to be killed "as a
prerequisite
to any Islamic victory," according to a report by the Associated Press.
"Al-Qaida must be expected to keep trying to develop more promising plans
for
terrorist operations in North America and Europe, potentially involving
weapons
of mass destruction," the think tank's director John Chipman told a news
conference, AP reported. At the same time, Chipman added, the terror group
will
continue its attacks on "soft targets encompassing Americans, Europeans
and
Israelis and aiding the insurgency in Iraq."
Vice President ***** Cheney, national security adviser Condoleezza Rice and
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld have all said they expect another
terrorist
attack before the November election, reports AP.
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.690 / Virus Database: 451 - Release Date: 5/22/04
.
