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New leads point to election (terror) attack
The Courier Mail ^ | Oct. 24, 2004 | Jennifer C. Kerr

Posted on 10/23/2004 4:09:20 PM PDT by FairOpinion

FBI investigators have made new arrests and developed leads that reinforce concerns that terrorists plan to strike around the US presidential election.

However, the CIA has discredited one person who told its agents of such a plot involving al-Qaeda.

A senior FBI official, speaking on condition of anonymity, today said some of the leads were culled from interviews with thousands of individuals that agents had conducted in the Muslim community.

The official would not be more specific, but said the FBI continued to have misgivings about possible al-Qaeda intentions to launch an attack with the goal of affecting the elections.

Several people had been taken into custody recently on charges not related to terrorism, but officials were investigating whether they might have been involved in terror activities, said another law enforcement official, also speaking on condition of anonymity.

As for the person who warned the CIA, at least some of that individual's reporting was no longer seen as credible, said a US intelligence official, who asked not to be named.

The official stressed, however, that a number of other sources pointed to terrorist activity around the election season.

The official said no concrete plot had been discovered so far with specific mention of time, place, method or identity of would-be attackers.

James Carafano, a homeland security expert with the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, said there was little doubt that al-Qaeda wanted to send a message with an attack.

"I think they're probably less concerned with affecting the outcome of the election, whether Bush or Kerry wins, but it would be more prestigious, the capability to do something before the election and really undermine the confidence of the United States," he said.

Top government officials have warned for months about al-Qaeda's desire to attack during the election with the hope of orchestrating something similar to the March commuter train bombings in Madrid. The bombings, which killed 191 people, were a factor in the ousting of Spain's former ruling party.

The FBI has partnered with American Muslims and others as part of what the agency describes as a prevention plan aimed at disrupting an attack. Thousands of agents from bureaus across the country are participating in the effort.

FBI agents have interviewed thousands of people considered possible sources of information as well as about 10,000 operators of self-storage facilities, which are considered likely places to hide bomb-making materials or other items that could be used in an attack.


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: alqaeda; attack; cia; fbi; homelandsecurity; islamoviolence; jihadinamerica; novemberattack; politicalterror; terror; terrorists
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I personally think the terrorists are plotting the attack us.

But I hope we will continue to be able to foil these attacks, as we foiled hundreds already.

1 posted on 10/23/2004 4:09:21 PM PDT by FairOpinion
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Comment #2 Removed by Moderator

To: wolf24

Actually they do care who wins the election.

What they are uncertain about, is that if they attack, it might have the opposite result in the US, as it did in Spain.

Putin made some very good points about how a Kerry win would indeed be a win for the terrorists.


3 posted on 10/23/2004 4:13:52 PM PDT by FairOpinion (GET OUT THE VOTE. ENSURE A BUSH/CHENEY WIN.)
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To: wolf24

"I think they're probably less concerned with affecting the outcome of the election, whether Bush or Kerry wins, but it would be more prestigious, the capability to do something before the election and really undermine the confidence of the United States,"

This would also be a good rational for striking immediately after the election.

4 posted on 10/23/2004 4:14:39 PM PDT by ml1954 (Kerry, A Legend In His Own Mind.)
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To: ml1954

Putin: Terrorists target Bush’s election bid

DUSHANBE - International terrorism pursues a goal of causing the maximum possible damage to US President George Bush and preventing him from being reelected for a second term, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday during his visit to the Tajik capital Dushanbe.

“If international terrorists achieve this goal, they will celebrate a victory over America and the whole anti-terrorist coalition, which could lead to an increase in international terrorism,” the Russian leader stressed.

http://www.russiajournal.com/news/cnews-article.shtml?nd=45978


5 posted on 10/23/2004 4:17:33 PM PDT by FairOpinion (GET OUT THE VOTE. ENSURE A BUSH/CHENEY WIN.)
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To: FairOpinion

Related (?) article:

(Russian) Tycoon (living in London) foils ‘nuclear bomb sale’ plot

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1254777/posts


6 posted on 10/23/2004 4:24:02 PM PDT by FairOpinion (GET OUT THE VOTE. ENSURE A BUSH/CHENEY WIN.)
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Comment #7 Removed by Moderator

To: FairOpinion
From the evidence I have seen, the major terror threat to the election is coming from liberals who are intimidating voters, stealing/defacing Bush/Cheney04 signs and vandalizing Republican campaign offices. demoncRATs are the AQ affiliate in the USA.
8 posted on 10/23/2004 4:28:20 PM PDT by twntaipan (Question: Just how many OTHER SeeBS stories were frauds?)
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To: FairOpinion
orchestrating something similar to the March commuter train bombings in Madrid. The bombings, which killed 191 people, were a factor in the ousting of Spain's former ruling party.

I think the murdering scum who pulled off the Madrid bombings will find that we here on this side of the Atlantic are made of much sterner stuff than our Spanish...ummm...friends.

9 posted on 10/23/2004 4:32:08 PM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts (Which Star Trek Capt. would you want for President? Picard or Kirk? In wartime, the choice is easy.)
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To: FairOpinion
If they hit us BEFORE the election - Bush is re-elected. Nobody would trust sKerry's "plan". After the election? I think we would re-double our anti-terror efforts - lose - lose for the terrorists. :-)

10 posted on 10/23/2004 4:54:24 PM PDT by Tunehead54 (OK Swifties - Its October! Let'm have it!)
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To: Bloody Sam Roberts

There have been reports on a couple of websites that terrorits may launch small attacks in a variety of areas on election day, in an effort to disrupt the vote.

If that happens, what are the provisions, if any for suspending the election?

Or.....

Would a winner be named based on whatever results come in ?


11 posted on 10/23/2004 4:54:38 PM PDT by mimmson (www.nationalterroralert.com)
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To: FairOpinion

Loading 20-round mags for my AR-10 (.308cal), 10-round mags for my Barrett M82A1 (.50cal BMG), 50-round drum mags for my Class III AR-15 (.223cal), and 40-round mags for my stock AR-15s.

My Kimber "Eclipse Target II" 1911A1 .45cal ACP and Glock 32/ .357 SIG, are with me, daily (CCW-PA).

Okay, okay, it really doesn't do any good, but I'm having fun.


12 posted on 10/23/2004 5:00:12 PM PDT by 7.62 x 51mm (• veni • vidi • vino • visa • "I came, I saw, I drank wine, I shopped")
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To: Tunehead54

Arrests Made in Possible Election Day Plot
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1254790/posts


13 posted on 10/23/2004 5:02:35 PM PDT by FairOpinion (GET OUT THE VOTE. ENSURE A BUSH/CHENEY WIN.)
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To: FairOpinion; 7.62 x 51mm
Yeah thanks - I saw that. Don't worry see #12 - I think 7.62 x 51mm has it covered.
;-)
14 posted on 10/23/2004 5:26:44 PM PDT by Tunehead54 (OK Swifties - Its October! Let'm have it!)
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To: FairOpinion
Next Thursday October 28 is the peak timeslot for an October Surprise by international and domestic terrorists.

The year 2000 DUI slimebomb was dropped on Thursday November 2nd, 5 days before that election.

The Madrid train bombings also occurred on a Thursday, THREE days before their Spanish national election the following Sunday.

A Chechnya election on Sunday Aug 29th, with a Moscow-backed candidate in the lead, was preceeded by the downing of TWO Moscow-to-Chechnya commercial jets the THURSDAY before. A militant Muslim group claimed credit for the attacks.

One timing 'problem' for the democRAT slime-bombers... INTERNET bloggers... Dan raTHer's slime-bomb backfired very quickly thanks to them. Any damage raTHer did to Bush in the polls was reversed within 24hours.

Many of the weekend talk shows are recorded Thursday or Friday. Newspaper articles for the weekend too. And it takes 24 hours for a slime-bomb to build up to fever pitch.

15 posted on 10/23/2004 5:42:12 PM PDT by Future Useless Eater (FreedomLoving_Engineer)
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To: Tunehead54

LOL! The Hoppe's is taking effect!


16 posted on 10/23/2004 5:43:37 PM PDT by 7.62 x 51mm (• veni • vidi • vino • visa • "I came, I saw, I drank wine, I shopped")
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To: Tunehead54; FairOpinion

Here we go:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1254824/posts


17 posted on 10/23/2004 6:02:43 PM PDT by 7.62 x 51mm (• veni • vidi • vino • visa • "I came, I saw, I drank wine, I shopped")
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To: 7.62 x 51mm

Very interesting.

I've read about terrorists trying to get in from Mexico, some of them probably did.

Some "harmless" illegal Mexicans, would not be interested in ammunition plants.


18 posted on 10/23/2004 6:04:56 PM PDT by FairOpinion (GET OUT THE VOTE. ENSURE A BUSH/CHENEY WIN.)
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To: FairOpinion

Who says they're "harmless"?


19 posted on 10/23/2004 6:48:47 PM PDT by 7.62 x 51mm (• veni • vidi • vino • visa • "I came, I saw, I drank wine, I shopped")
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To: 7.62 x 51mm

I was trying to make a distinction between the illegal Mexicans who come here to work, but aren't violent, and the terrorists, who sneak over the Mexican border.


20 posted on 10/23/2004 6:51:00 PM PDT by FairOpinion (GET OUT THE VOTE. ENSURE A BUSH/CHENEY WIN.)
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