100 al Qaeda here, senator tells CNN

Check the 7-11's .... that would be a good place for a sleeper agent to just work.

Do you ever really think about the guy you're handing money to for gas and sodas ?

Colleges and medical services are a likely locations for many sleepers. WWIII has started. Israel is in for the fight of their lives, which as a nation they may not survive. Pan-Islam is our mortal enemy.

I have a take that has gotten me flamed more than once on this board. I will try and express my concept a little more clearly. I would venture that we are safer today than we were pre 911. Consider...

Al-Qaeda is a new animal. They have added a completely new twist to terrorism than we have seen previously. What do the US Embassy bombings, the Cole, and 911 all have in common? Nobody came forward and claimed responsibility, at least not immediately. What is the point in terrorism if the people that are supposed to get your message can't read it? What is to be gained from random acts of terror, with no goal, no message to be sent?

That is the point, there is none. Most terrorist groups don't and won't operate like that. It makes no sense.

Which brings me back to my premise. Whereas we have declared war on Al-Qaeda, and should not be suprised should they attempt to retaliate, I cannot imagine that other international terrorist organizations would consider this a good time to attack the US. Are you kidding me? Most of these groups have some tactical intelligence, and terror is only a message.

I do not know what the official head count of active Al-Qaeda soldiers was pre-911, but I assure you it is far less today. Current estimates are that we killed or captured 2/3rd's of the Al-Qaeda leadership. Perhaps not their top leadership, but their NCO corp, their engine....is Kaput. The surviving leadership is scattered and in deep hiding. They have gone into survival mode. They are most likely not risking communications of any kind. If they are managing to get messages out to their surviving members, they are most likely brief and non-descript.

Perhaps there is a sleeper cell or 3 in the US right now. Is this really a good time to attack? The pressure to do so from Al-Qaeda leadership is virtually non-existant. They probably haven't even heard from them since before 911, and they know their homebase has been decimated. How many will get married, buy a liquor store and settle down? Those with green cards probably will. And the noose has tightened on those without green cards. It is only a matter of time for them.

Do you ever really think about the guy you're handing money to for gas and sodas ?<>P> Or give your credit card info to?

Al Qaeda's greastest strength is also its greatest weakness. The cell structure in which different cells are responsible for different aspects of a given operation make the detection of a specific operation difficult, but this cell structure requires adequate communication which has been severely disrupted by the worldwide crackdown on terrorists. Thus, strength atrophies into weakness.

"Do you think it's time for the United States government to review its opposition to negotiating with kidnappers and, perhaps, even consider the payment of ransom?" co-host Robert Novak inquired.

this is total insanity at work here. What is it with Robert Novak anyway? How can he be so close to the reality of daily events, yet be completely blind to common sense?

Another thing to consider with these terrorists in the USA is that their financial support has probably been interrupted. Certainly they are no longer able to access the same accounts as the 9/11 hijackers.

It's been several months now, and things didn't go like Osama planned. He never expected us to succeed in destroying Afghanistan as a safe haven for his organization. Years of work in setting his camps and the enormous cave complexes is all gone. Hundreds of millions of dollars has been either frozen in accounts, or spent on facilities that are now a pile of rubble.

Any remaining al-Qaida terrorists in this country see this. The war on terror has gone badly for them. I have no reason to think that this has given them a change of heart, but without the continuing support from al-Qaida leadership, they may be laying low indefinitely. Getting a job to put food on the table may be their biggest priority right now.

Indexing.

"Which brings me back to my premise. Whereas we have declared war on Al-Qaeda, and should not be suprised should they attempt to retaliate, I cannot imagine that other international terrorist organizations would consider this a good time to attack the US. Are you kidding me? Most of these groups have some tactical intelligence, and terror is only a message."

We have not declared war on anyone. I mean, there has not been a formal declaration of war by Congress. Therefore, we are not at war, no matter how often anyone says we are.

"I do not know what the official head count of active Al-Qaeda soldiers was pre-911, but I assure you it is far less today. Current estimates are that we killed or captured 2/3rd's of the Al-Qaeda leadership. Perhaps not their top leadership, but their NCO corp, their engine....is Kaput. The surviving leadership is scattered and in deep hiding. They have gone into survival mode. They are most likely not risking communications of any kind. If they are managing to get messages out to their surviving members, they are most likely brief and non-descript."

My own estimate is that there are 100 active cells, not individuals. And--were I Osama-- I would have at least some of them primed to 'self activate' in the event orders are not received.

--Boris

I think a lot of people give Osama way too much credit. Agreed, one should never underestimate their opponent, however, there are certain realities to be considered.

The cost and logistics difficulties involved with training a suicide terrorist in Afghanistan, sending him to the United States to remain undeteteced for many months, or years...perhaps even recieving more training while here, would be enormous. To begin with...this would require some degree of intelligence...not something a lot of suicide terrorists are inherently known for. They are usually not the brightest apples in the basket (shoe bomber Reid), if you know what I mean. It would require about $1K/month per terrorist, just to survive. And that is not including the cost of explosives or other expenses involved in a major act of terror.

Of course I could be wrong, but I just don't see 100's of Al-Qaeda terrorists in the US just waiting for the word to strike. But I see no problem with behaving as though it were the case.

"Of course I could be wrong, but I just don't see 100's of Al-Qaeda terrorists in the US just waiting for the word to strike."

We have been infiltrated and subverted for decades.

You can take it to the bank that there are dozens--perhaps hundreds--of in-place cells, primed and ready.

They are not finished with us yet and it is going to take another atrocity or two before we get serious. Alas.

--Boris

I saw and heard one of them in Jacksonville, FL, prior to 9/11/2001. Man, he stopped speaking Arabic on the phone and hung up right quick. And yes, I told authorities, WHO HUNG UP ON ME.