Zarqawi Planning U.S. Hit?
Intelligence officials say operatives may infiltrate via Central
America to strike at soft targets on American soil
By ADAM ZAGORIN, TIMOTHY J. BURGER AND BRIAN BENNETT

Sunday, Mar. 13, 2005
Two weeks after intelligence officials confirmed that Osama bin Laden
had sent a message to Jordanian-born terrorist Abu Mousab al-Zarqawi,
urging him to plan attacks on U.S. soil, details are emerging from one
of al-Zarqawi's lieutenants about what the man behind many of the
terrorist attacks in Iraq could have in mind. Intelligence officials
tell TIME that interrogation of a member of al-Zarqawi's organization,
who was taken into U.S. custody last year and has been described as a
top aide, indicates that al-Zarqawi has given ample consideration to
assaults on the American homeland. According to a restricted bulletin
that circulated among U.S. security agencies last week, the
interrogated aide said al-Zarqawi has talked about hitting "soft
targets" in the U.S., which could include "movie theaters, restaurants
and schools."

The bulletin also notes the Iraq-based master terrorist's apparent
belief that "if an individual has enough money, he can bribe his way
into the U.S.," specifically by obtaining a "visa to Honduras" and
then traveling across Mexico and the southern U.S. border.

Al-Zarqawi's aide also revealed that his boss, after pondering the
absence of attacks in the U.S. in recent years, concluded that a lack
of "willing martyrs" was to blame. Al-Zarqawi believes, according to
his lieutenant, that "if an individual is willing to die, there was
nothing that could be done to stop him," even in the U.S. There is no
evidence, say intelligence agencies, that al-Zarqawi's agents have
infiltrated the U.S. But authorities remain vigilant.

Security sources tell TIME that just last week the FBI sent out two
nationwide bulletins warning of a nonspecific threat to railroads in
Detroit and Los Angeles. On her visit to Mexico last week, Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice issued her own reminder of the border's
vulnerability. "There's no secret," Rice told reporters, "that
al-Qaeda will try to get into this country ... by any means they
possibly can."

Zarqawi Planning U.S. Hit?
Intelligence officials say operatives may infiltrate via Central
America to strike at soft targets on American soil

There is no
evidence, say intelligence agencies, that al-Zarqawi's agents have
infiltrated the U.S.

Zarqawi Planning U.S. Hit?
Intelligence officials say operatives may infiltrate via Central
America to strike at soft targets on American soil
By ADAM ZAGORIN, TIMOTHY J. BURGER AND BRIAN BENNETT

Sunday, Mar. 13, 2005
Two weeks after intelligence officials confirmed that Osama bin Laden
had sent a message to Jordanian-born terrorist Abu Mousab al-Zarqawi,
urging him to plan attacks on U.S. soil, details are emerging from

of al-Zarqawi's lieutenants about what the man behind many of the
terrorist attacks in Iraq could have in mind. Intelligence officials
tell TIME that interrogation of a member of al-Zarqawi's

who was taken into U.S. custody last year and has been described as a
top aide, indicates that al-Zarqawi has given ample consideration to
assaults on the American homeland. According to a restricted bulletin
that circulated among U.S. security agencies last week, the
interrogated aide said al-Zarqawi has talked about hitting "soft
targets" in the U.S., which could include "movie theaters,

and schools."

The bulletin also notes the Iraq-based master terrorist's apparent
belief that "if an individual has enough money, he can bribe his way
into the U.S.," specifically by obtaining a "visa to Honduras" and
then traveling across Mexico and the southern U.S. border.

Al-Zarqawi's aide also revealed that his boss, after pondering the
absence of attacks in the U.S. in recent years, concluded that a lack
of "willing martyrs" was to blame. Al-Zarqawi believes, according to
his lieutenant, that "if an individual is willing to die, there was
nothing that could be done to stop him," even in the U.S. There is no
evidence, say intelligence agencies, that al-Zarqawi's agents have
infiltrated the U.S. But authorities remain vigilant.

Security sources tell TIME that just last week the FBI sent out two
nationwide bulletins warning of a nonspecific threat to railroads in
Detroit and Los Angeles. On her visit to Mexico last week, Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice issued her own reminder of the border's
vulnerability. "There's no secret," Rice told reporters, "that
al-Qaeda will try to get into this country ... by any means they
possibly can."

Zarqawi Planning U.S. Hit?