Latin America on Alert for Terror

news.yahoo ^ | August 21, 2004 | OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ, AP

[Cincinatus' Wife]

MONTERREY, Mexico - Governments throughout Mexico and Central America are on alert as evidence grows that al-Qaida members are traveling in the region and looking for recruits to carry out attacks in Latin America — the potential last frontier for international terrorism.

The territory could be a perfect staging ground for Osama bin Laden (news - web sites)'s militants, with homegrown rebel groups, drug and people smugglers, and corrupt governments. U.S. officials have long feared al-Qaida could launch an attack from south of the border, and they have been paying closer attention as the number of terror-related incidents has increased since last year.

The strongest possible al-Qaida link is Adnan G. El Shukrijumah, a 29-year-old Saudi pilot suspected of being a terrorist cell leader. The FBI (news - web sites) issued a border-wide alert earlier this month for Shukrijumah, saying he may try to cross into Arizona or Texas.

In June, Honduran officials said Shukrijumah was spotted earlier this year at an Internet cafe in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. Panamanian officials say the pilot and alleged bombmaker passed through their country before the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft (news - web sites) in May singled out Shukrijumah as one of seven especially dangerous al-Qaida-linked terror figures wanted by the government, which fears a new al-Qaida attack. A $5 million reward is posted for information leading to his capture.

Mexican and U.S. border officials have been on extra alert, checking foreign passports and arresting any illegal migrants. In a sign of a growing Mexican crackdown, eight people from Armenia, Iran and Iraq (news - web sites) were arrested Thursday in Mexicali on charges they may have entered Mexico with false documents, although they did not appear to have any terrorist ties.

Jose Luis Santiago Vasconcelos, Mexico's top anti-crime prosecutor, said Mexican officials have no evidence that Shukrijumah — or any other al-Qaida operatives — are in Mexico. But Mexican authorities are investigating and keeping a close eye on the airports and borders.

"The alert has been sounded," Vasconcelos told The Associated Press last month.

In Central America, Honduran Security Minister Oscar Alvarez said officials have uncovered evidence that terrorists, likely from al-Qaida, may be trying to recruit Hondurans to carry out attacks in Central America. He did not offer details.

El Salvador (news - web sites) authorities last week reinforced security at the country's international airport and along the borders after purported al-Qaida threats appeared on the Internet against their country for supporting the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq. President Tony Saca, undeterred, is sending the country's third peacekeeping unit — 380 troops — to Iraq.

Terrorists have struck in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the United States. Latin America could be next, analysts say, especially as it becomes harder to operate elsewhere.

"If there is a crackdown, they are going to pick up shop and move," said Matt Levitt, a terrorism analyst and senior fellow at the Washington Institute.

Officials worry the Panama Canal could be a likely target. In 2003, boats making more than 13,000 trips through the waterway carried about 188 million tons of cargo.

Earlier this month, the United States and seven Latin American countries — including Argentina, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Peru and Panama — carried out a weeklong anti-terror exercise aimed at protecting the canal.

In South America, U.S. officials have long suspected Paraguay's border with Brazil and Argentina as an area for Islamic terrorist fund-raising. Much of the focus has fallen on the Muslim community that sprouted during the 1970s, and authorities believe as much as $100 million a year flows out of the region, with large portions diverted to Islamic militants linked to Hezbollah and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The more immediate concern is Mexico, which shares a porous, 2,000-mile border with the United States and is the home to widespread organized crime.

In December, Mexican officials canceled two Aeromexico flights from Mexico City to Los Angeles, and a third was forced to turn around after takeoff because of terrorism concerns.

At the time, the United States, Canada and Interpol told Mexico that officials suspected terrorists might be using Mexican soil to plan an attack, Vasconcelos said.

Concerns increased this summer about whether Mexico was doing enough to screen international visitors after a 48-year-old South African woman arrived in Mexico with a passport that was missing several pages and then waded across the Rio Grande into Texas.

Farida Goolam Mahamed Ahmed was arrested July 19 while trying to board a flight in McAllen, Texas. She pleaded innocent Friday to immigration violations and was under investigation for links to terrorist activities or groups. Court testimony indicated she traveled from Johannesburg on July 8, via Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to London, then to Mexico City on or about July 14. The countries she traveled through do not require South Africans to have visas.

Mexican officials said Ahmed was not stopped upon entering Mexico because her name did not appear on any international terrorist watch-lists.

Mexican officials say they are closely scrutinizing visa requests from the Middle East and have heightened surveillance at the nation's largest airports since Sept. 11.

"The requirements for a visa for people from the Middle East have not changed, but all requests are being checked more thoroughly," said Mauricio Juarez, a spokesman with Mexico's Migration Institute.

The country is a popular U.S. entry point for people trying to sneak into the United States, and the majority — 46 percent — of all people arrested on immigration violations in Mexico come from Brazil. The rest are largely from the Americas, China or Singapore.

It has become nearly impossible for people from Muslim countries to get visas to come to Mexico since the Sept. 11 attacks.

Fayesa Amin, a 37-year-old Pakistani, started the process to get a Mexican visa two months before she was to attend a wedding in Mexico. The Mexican consulate in Karachi asked her to fill out several forms and to turn in copies of her credit card and bank statements for a full year.

Amin, who runs three beauty salons in Pakistan, said Mexican authorities told her a visa had been approved and it could be picked up in London. But Mexican officials there said her visa was being held in Ankara, Turkey. In the end, she ended up spending her holiday stranded in London.

"I knew it would be hard to get to that part of the world and that everything had become more difficult," Amin said in a telephone interview from Islamabad. "But I didn't realize how hard it could be."

___

On the Net:

www.fbi.gov

[Old Sarge]

I'm at Drill - can you PING the gang?

[Calpernia]

Ping

[swampfox98]

Governments throughout Mexico and Central America are on alert as evidence grows that al-Qaida members are traveling in the region and looking for recruits to carry out attacks in Latin America — the potential last frontier for international terrorism.

I'm surprised the terrorists didn't do this long ago. The only reason Mexico and Central America are on alert is that they are looking out for #1. If there is a terrorist raid in America, where the terrorists have crossed the Mexican border, the American people will demand our government put soldiers there and stop the illegals. That would cause difficulty for President Fox, as he wants millions more Mexicans to flood this country in the next few years.

I don't know how our elected officials can lie down and go to sleep at night, knowing the horror they have allowed to come onto this country. And all for money, cheap labor and votes.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

IDs easily bought in Venezuela could aid terrorists, U.S. fears

Chavez appoints radicals to head Venezuelan passport agency - reports of Arabs otaining ID documents

[swampfox98]

Thanks for the links. Good grief! Things are moving much faster than I thought they would, and it sounds very serious . I really fear for the life of President Bush with these crazy people in the country running wild. The problem with them is they don't care to sacrifice their lives in order to achieve their murderous goals. I don't like Bush's open borders policy, but God protect him from the brutal savages at both at home and abroad. So many people hate him because of the lies from the left. I've never seen anything like it. The hatred against him is more vitriolic than the left's hatred of Ronald Reagan, if that be possible.

[happygrl]

They will attempt a Bali type incident at a location with Gringo tourists.

Then the Mexican government will have to change its pants as their tourism inductry is threatened.

[Cindy]

Thanks Calpernia;Old Sarge for the ping.

[Cindy]

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The strongest possible al-Qaida link is Adnan G. El Shukrijumah, a 29-year-old Saudi pilot suspected of being a terrorist cell leader. The FBI (news - web sites) issued a border-wide alert earlier this month for Shukrijumah, saying he may try to cross into Arizona or Texas.

In June, Honduran officials said Shukrijumah was spotted earlier this year at an Internet cafe in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. Panamanian officials say the pilot and alleged bombmaker passed through their country before the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft (news - web sites) in May singled out Shukrijumah as one of seven especially dangerous al-Qaida-linked terror figures wanted by the government, which fears a new al-Qaida attack. A $5 million reward is posted for information leading to his capture.

Mexican and U.S. border officials have been on extra alert, checking foreign passports and arresting any illegal migrants. In a sign of a growing Mexican crackdown, eight people from Armenia, Iran and Iraq (news - web sites) were arrested Thursday in Mexicali on charges they may have entered Mexico with false documents, although they did not appear to have any terrorist ties.

Jose Luis Santiago Vasconcelos, Mexico's top anti-crime prosecutor, said Mexican officials have no evidence that Shukrijumah — or any other al-Qaida operatives — are in Mexico. But Mexican authorities are investigating and keeping a close eye on the airports and borders."

ON THE NET...

(Note: Some of these links may expire.)

BORDERLAND NEWS.com - EL PASO TIMES.com: "FBI LOOKS FOR POSSIBLE TERRORISTS ALONG THE BORDER." by Louie Gilot, El Paso Times (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Officials on both sides of the border have asked law enforcement officials, including Border Patrol agents and El Paso's bridge inspectors, as well as the community at large to be on the lookout for Adnan G. El Shukrijumah, 29, a native of Saudi Arabia who may be using a Guyanese, Canadian or Trinidadian passport. Shukrijumah was spotted in Honduras earlier this year, FBI officials said, and used to reside in Trinidad and Tobago, off the coast of Latin America. "He is believed to be one of the most dangerous cell leader below the leadership of al-Qaeda who plans to hurt the United States," Art Werge, spokesman for the FBI in El Paso, said. Officials said Shukrijumah might be using immigrant-smuggling routes through Central America and Mexico to get to the border.") (August 17, 2004) (Read More...)

FBI.gov - Seeking Information: "ADNAN G. EL SHUKRIJUMAH" (ALIASES: "Adnan G. El Shukri Jumah; Abu Arif; Ja'far Al-Tayar; Jaffar Al-Tayyar; Jafar Tayar; Jaafar Al-Tayyar") (VIEW POSTER. Click Here.)

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "RIO GRANDE: GATEWAY TO TERRORISM" by Julian Coman, London Telegraph (August 16, 2004) (Read More...)

INTERNET-HAGANAH.US (DALLASNEWS.com): "BORDER BREACHES STIR FEARS [TERRORISTS APPROACHING USA FROM THE SOUTH]" (August 14, 2004) (Read More...)

Travel.State.gov: PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT: MEXICO (Read More...)

Travel.State.gov: CONSULAR INFORMATION SHEET: MEXICO (Read More...)

[Cindy]

FOR DOCUMENTATION PURPOSES:

YAHOO! News (AP) - World - AP Latin America: Monterey, Mexico: "AL-QAIDA SAID TO RECRUIT IN LATIN AMERICA" by OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ, Associated Press Writer

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=5&u=/ap/20040821/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/terror_latin_america

[Happy2BMe]

"In South America, U.S. officials have long suspected Paraguay's border with Brazil and Argentina as an area for Islamic terrorist fund-raising. Much of the focus has fallen on the Muslim community that sprouted during the 1970s, and authorities believe as much as $100 million a year flows out of the region, with large portions diverted to Islamic militants linked to Hezbollah and the Palestinian militant group Hamas."

"The more immediate concern is Mexico, which shares a porous, 2,000-mile border with the United States and is the home to widespread organized crime."

"In December, Mexican officials canceled two Aeromexico flights from Mexico City to Los Angeles, and a third was forced to turn around after takeoff because of terrorism concerns."

______________________________

Mexico is feeding us much more than just lettuce, tomato, strawberry, corn, and chicken pickers.

An added bonus we get from the deal are Islamic terrorist - flowing at will with no known mechanism to stop them coming from the cesspool of our border with Mexico.

Onward Muslim Soldiers ping. (Have you ordered your "How To Speak Spanish CD ROM yet?)

[Happy2BMe]

* * *

Illegals from terrorist nations crossing border into Arizona.

* * *

" Here's what the Eyewitness News 4 Investigators uncovered. "It's a Muslim prayer blanket. It was found about a mile and a half west from the Douglas port of entry in 2001." Vance says, "Other log books, diary-type things, other bits and pieces of paper with Arabic written on them found in the area over the last few years. They pay to learn Spanish language skills, and by the time they reach the U.S., they're acting and talking like Mexicans to fool border agents."

* * *

* * * *

MIDDLE-EASTERN INVADERS CAUGHT CROSSING FROM MEXICO IN COCHISE COUNTY IN PAST SIX WEEKS

Woman With Possible Terror Ties Arrested (smuggled thru our southern boarder)

______________

Congressman: Al Qaeda entering southern border and changing names to Mexican surnames

______________

Arab terrorists 'are getting into the US over Mexican border

AL-QAIDA Suspect Arrested in Texas______________

* * *

Officials Fear Terrorists Could Try to Enter U.S. Through Mexico

________________________________

Tue Apr 20, 8:09 AM ET

Jermaine Jackson(L), brother of Michael Jackson, Jackson family spokesman Firpo W. Carr(C) and Khawaja Khurshid Reshi hold a rug with a woven picture of Michael Jackson April 19, 2004, in Manama. Jermaine Jackson, in the Gulf to promote understanding between Muslims and his fellow Americans, said Tuesday that Muslims are 'the new Negroes in America.' Jermaine, a convert to Islam and dressed in white Arab garb, has been speaking about Islam and U.S. 'adventures' in Iraq to enthusiastic audiences at Koranic centers and universities in the Gulf Arab state of Bahrain. (Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters)

* * *

 

 

FROM THE KORAN ITSELF...
"HEIL HITLER" Now Upgraded to "ALLAH AKBAR?"

You may already know about this one: O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for friends. [al-Ma'idah 5:51.11]

But did you know that there are 123 verses in the Quran concerning fighting and killing for the cause of Allah? Here are but a few passages:

-Muslims are encouraged to be wholly occupied (Sura 2:273) with fighting for Allah's cause.

- Allah will give "a far richer recompense to those who fight for him" (Sura 4:96).

- Regarding infidels (unbelievers), they are the Muslim's "inveterate enemies" (Sura 4:101). Muslims are to "arrest them, besiege them and lie in ambush everywhere" (Sura 9:5) for them. They are to "seize them and put them to death wherever you find them, kill them wherever you find them, seek out the enemies of Islam relentlessly" (Sura 4:90). "Fight them until Islam reigns supreme" (Sura 2:193). "Cut off their heads, and cut off the tips of their fingers" (Sura 8:12).

- If a Muslim does not go to war, Allah will kill him (Sura 9:39). He is to be told, "the heat of war is fierce, but more fierce is the heat of Hell-fire" (Sura 9:81).

- A Muslim must "fight for the cause of Allah with the devotion due to him" (Sura 22:78)

- Muslims must make war on the infidels (unbelievers) who live around them (Sura 9:123).

- Muslims are to be "ruthless to unbelievers" (Sura 48:29).

- A Muslim should "enjoy the good things" he has gained by fighting (Sura 8:69).

- A Muslim can kill any person he wishes if it be a "just cause" (Sura 6:152).

- Allah loves those who "fight for his cause" (Sura 61:3).
Anyone who fights against Allah or renounces Islam in favor of another religion shall be "put to death or crucified or have their hands and feet cut off alternative sides" (Sura 5:34).

- Whoever changes his Islamic religion, kill him. Sahih Al-Bukhari (9:57)

- Slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush. (Koran 9:5)

- Take him and fetter him and expose him to hell fire. (Koran 69:30-37)

- I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers, Smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger tips of them. (Koran 8:12)

- They should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides. (Koran 5:33)

- Know that paradise is under the shades of swords. Sahih al-Bukhari Vol 4 p55

And Speaking of Paradise...

"There will be "gushing fountains" and everyone "shall recline on jeweled couches face to face, and there shall wait on them immortal youths with bowls and ewers and a cup of purest wine." Suras (or chapters) 55 and 56 of the Quran.

"Therein are bashful virgins whom neither man nor jinnee will have touched before ... virgins as fair as corals and rubies," sura 55. A few lines later, you might remind them of "virgins chaste and fair ... they shall recline on green cushions and fine carpets."

"The smallest reward for the people of Paradise is an abode where there are 80,000 servants and 72 wives, over which stands a dome decorated with pearls, aquamarine, and ruby, as wide as the distance from Al-Jabiyyah [a Damascus suburb] to Sana'a.'"

It will be the day, God willing, you spend with the women of paradise...Know that the gardens of paradise are waiting for you in all their beauty, and the women of paradise are waiting, calling out, "Come hither, friend of God."

For much more on "PARADISE... A Better World?" click HERE

.

 

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Thank God we have troops in Colombia. We will need them.

Closer ties with President Fox of Mexico would help.

The recall of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela failed (a fraudulent vote count blessed by Jimmy Carter) and now Castro has oil and oil money and Hugo says he has a mandate and will spread his revolution in the region.

This makes Christopher Dodd and Ted Kennedy and all the socialists on the Hill very happy.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

We need to strengthen our ties with President Fox and work together to combat these terrorists coming across our border.

[Happy2BMe]

Strengthen ties with Fox? Uh huh. Right. We'll get right on it.

[7.62 x 51mm]

"It has become nearly impossible for people from Muslim countries to get visas to come to Mexico since the Sept. 11 attacks."

Precisely what we should be doing, IMO!

[swampfox98]

We need to strengthen our ties with President Fox and work together to combat these terrorists coming across our border.

Honest to God, how do we do that? We have taken millions of his poor, criminals and dregs of the Mexican society into our own country, paying their bills from the cradle to the grave. We've allowed open borders to the point that we have allowed Muslim terrorists free reign - and our politicians have even lied to us about this, saying its not true, and then passing a law to silence our border patrol.

Our open borders policy has endangered many lives of Americans, and possibly those of our politicians, all because of the fear of angering Fox.

We have allowed unrestricted illegal immigration to the point that our culture is in deep trouble of surviving. Our grandchildren will be living in a 3rd world hell, because of our politicians kissing up to Fox. We have sacrificed our future freedom and a Constitution which has kept us a free people for over 200 years, in order for politicians here to buy cheap votes and cheap labor, making them ripe for charges of treason if Americans had any sense, which they don't.

We have brought this menace on ourselves, as our politicians have sucked up to Fox to the detriment of our nation and its future.

We need soldiers on the border to keep everyone out. Enough Mexicans already! Enough open borders!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

The alternative is to let that country slip permanently back into communist control.


It would be better to cultivate a working relationship and fix the problem.

Yes, I suggest you DO get right on it.

Sarcasm doesn't become you.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

We must work to have a good relationship with the government (encourage a more democratic govt. as Fox is almost singlehandedly trying to do) and build from there. Be firm but use stick and carrot.