What al-Qaida could do with 'terror navy'
International hunt continues for Osama's 15-ship 'navy'
Posted: October 20, 2003
1:00 a.m. Eastern
2003 WorldNetDaily.com
Terror experts are beginning to examine worst-case scenarios should al-Qaida
use any or all of its 15-ship armada to conduct terror attacks on Western
targets.
As WorldNetDaily reported last week, based on an exclusive dispatch from Joseph
Farah's G2 Bulletin, there are increasing warnings the next dramatic al-Qaida
attack will not be in the air a la Sept. 11, but in the sea.
Al-Qaida has reportedly taken possession of 15 ships, forming what could
loosely be described as the first international terrorist navy. The ships were
purchased from a Greek shipping magnate with a direct relationship with Osama
bin Laden.
Lloyds of London has reportedly helped Britain's MI6 and the U.S. CIA to trace
the sales made through a Greek shipping agent suspected of having direct
contacts with bin Laden.
The ships fly the flags of Yemen and Somalia – where they are registered –
and are capable of carrying cargoes of lethal chemicals, a “dirty bomb” or
even a nuclear weapon. British and U.S. officials worry that one or more of
these ships could civilian ports on a suicide mission.
The freighters are believed to be somewhere in the Indian or Pacific oceans.
When the ships left their home ports in the Horn of Africa weeks ago, some were
destined for ports in Asia. Sources say other potential targets of the al-Qaida
armada, besides civilian ports, include oil rigs. Another threat is the ramming
of a cruise liner.
But what could such attacks really accomplish? Could they really be as dramatic
and devastating as the Sept. 11 attacks?
One scenario that sends shivers down the spines of homeland security officials
is what happened in Texas City, April 16, 1947.
In one of the worst disasters in the history of Texas, the ship SS Grandcamp
exploded at 9:12 a.m. at the docks in Texas City. The French-owned vessel,
carrying explosive ammonium nitrate produced during wartime for explosives and
later recycled as fertilizer, caught fire early in the morning, and while
attempts were being made to extinguish the fire, the ship exploded.
Disaster struck Texas City in 1947
The entire dock area was destroyed, along with the nearby Monsanto Chemical
Company, other smaller companies, grain warehouses, and numerous oil and
chemical storage tanks. Smaller explosions and fires were ignited by flying
debris, not only along the industrial area, but throughout the city.
Fragments of iron, parts of the ship's cargo, and dock equipment were hurled
into businesses, houses, and public buildings. A 15-foot tidal wave caused by
the force swept the dock area. The concussion of the explosion, felt as far
away as Port Arthur, damaged or destroyed at least 1,000 residences and
buildings throughout Texas City. The ship SS High Flyer, in dock for repairs
and also carrying ammonium nitrate, was ignited by the first explosion; it was
towed 100 feet from the docks before it exploded about 16 hours later, at 1:10
a.m. the next day.
The first explosion killed 26 Texas City firemen and destroyed all of the
city's fire-fighting equipment, including four trucks, leaving the city
helpless in the wake of the second explosion. No central disaster organization
had been established by the city, but most of the chemical and oil plants had
disaster plans that were quickly activated. Although power and water were cut
off, hundreds of local volunteers began fighting the fires and doing rescue
work. Red Cross personnel and other volunteers from surrounding cities
responded with assistance until almost 4,000 workers were operating; temporary
hospitals, morgues, and shelters were set up.
The exact number of people killed will never be known, although the ship's
anchor monument records 576 persons known dead, 398 of whom were identified,
and 178 listed as missing. All records of personnel and payrolls of the
Monsanto Company were destroyed, and many of the dock workers were itinerants
and thus difficult to identify. Almost all persons in the dock area –
firemen, ships' crews, and spectators – were killed, and most of the bodies
were never recovered; 63 bodies were buried unidentified. The number of injured
ranged in the thousands, and loss of property totaled about $67 million.
But keep in mind – this was an accident.
What would be the potential damage in a deliberate attack with a ship laden
with chemicals, explosives – even, perhaps, a nuclear weapon?
That's the nightmare consideration for some officials as al-Qaida continues to
hide from international authorities 15 ships it has purchased.
G2 Bulletin sources say there are reports al-Qaida and other terrorist
organizations have been practicing high-seas terror attacks by hijacking ships,
kidnapping crews and studying diving – much as the Sept. 11 skyjackers
learned to fly airliners.
If a maritime terror attack comes, it won't be the first. In October 2000, the
USS Cole, a heavily armed ship protected with the latest radar defenses, was
hit by an al-Qaida suicide crew. Seventeen American soldiers died. Two years
later, following the attacks on the Twin Towers, a similar attack was carried
out against a French supertanker off the coast of Yemen.
A Rand Corp. study released last month in London warns terrorists might use
container ships in terror attacks meant to cause massive casualties.
The report warns cargo ships or shipping containers could be used to deliver
weapons of mass destruction for terror groups such as al-Qaida.
The report, produced in cooperation with the European Commission, said: "The
potential threat of terrorists using containers poses a large risk to our
economies and to our societies. Ultimately, this means that the marine sector
– and specifically the container transport sector – remains wide open to
the terrorist threat."
Rand says the international community has not become sufficiently aware of
al-Qaida's threat at sea, with most counter-insurgency efforts being focused on
stopping an attack from the air.
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| User: "CJ" |
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| Title: Re: What al-Qaida could do with 'terror navy' |
26 Oct 2003 07:05:09 AM |
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"TonyZ2001" <tonyz2001@aol.com> schreef in bericht
news:20031020040630.22348.00000977@mb-m29.aol.com...
What al-Qaida could do with 'terror navy'
International hunt continues for Osama's 15-ship 'navy'
What if they grab space shuttles ?
Invent teleportation ?
Research invincibility cloaks ?
Purchase Microsoft ?
Gain control of China or Russia ?
Scary world..... ;-Q
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| User: "WH" |
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| Title: Re: What al-Qaida could do with 'terror navy' |
20 Oct 2003 05:05:31 AM |
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"TonyZ2001" <tonyz2001@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20031020040630.22348.00000977@mb-m29.aol.com...
What al-Qaida could do with 'terror navy'
International hunt continues for Osama's 15-ship 'navy'
Posted: October 20, 2003
1:00 a.m. Eastern
2003 WorldNetDaily.com
Terror experts are beginning to examine worst-case scenarios should
al-Qaida
use any or all of its 15-ship armada to conduct terror attacks on Western
targets.
Fark.orff now...Jules Verne has already been there!
WH
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| User: "Leigh_Bee" |
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| Title: Re: What al-Qaida could do with 'terror navy' |
20 Oct 2003 05:28:25 PM |
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"WH" <bollogs@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<3f93b464$1@fnewsb.telia.net>...
"TonyZ2001" <tonyz2001@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20031020040630.22348.00000977@mb-m29.aol.com...
What al-Qaida could do with 'terror navy'
International hunt continues for Osama's 15-ship 'navy'
Posted: October 20, 2003
1:00 a.m. Eastern
2003 WorldNetDaily.com
Terror experts are beginning to examine worst-case scenarios should
al-Qaida
use any or all of its 15-ship armada to conduct terror attacks on Western
targets.
Fark.orff now...Jules Verne has already been there!
WH
Imagine Jet Skis with Torpedoes and gattling guns etc Aqua-kamikazi
against, all those costly battleships, or Zodiacs with nukes, hey this
what they should have done with Waterworld!
But thos Al Qaeda naval uniforms will need work, hey assault wind
boarders!
LB
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