| This thread has been locked, it will not receive new replies. |
|
Locked on 01/26/2004 2:00:53 PM PST by Admin Moderator, reason:
The size of this thread is causing FR to slow down whenever it is accessed. It is going to be locked and moved to the chat/general interest forum. If anyone wants to post a ‘Part 2’ thread, go ahead, but post it to chat. Thank You http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1065689/posts |
Posted on 11/03/2003 9:17:27 AM PST by tubavil
Edited on 01/26/2004 3:58:09 PM PST by Sidebar Moderator. [history]
Monday, November 3, 2003
A new message was posted in the last few hours by the Jeddah-based al-Qaeda-linked Al-Islah (Reform) society calling on Muslims to flee New York, Washington and Los Angeles in advance of major al Qaeda attacks in those cities. This is revealed by DEBKAfile.
The message accuses the United States of predetermining its end (doom) by its policies. ?The Jews rule the Pentagon by remote control and (are the cause) of Muslims being killed in every corner of the world. The United States should therefore expect more blows.?
The message is signed on behalf of the al Bayan (The Threat) movement by ?your warrior brother, Abul Hassan al Khadrami?.
Our Muslim expert identifies the name of the signatory as belonging to a Yemeni from Hadhrameuth, the Bin Ladens? place of origin where Osama enjoys substantial tribal support.
DEBKAfile?s counter-terror sources stress that warnings appearing on these forums are taken both very seriously and with caution by the intelligence services keeping track of the terrorist network?s electronic traffic.
Last November, Jeddah-based fundamentalist forums addressed a message to an Al Qaeda member, saying whoever understands ? understands; whoever knows, knows, but we are marching towards an operation that will take us to Paradise. Three days later, the Mombasa Paradise hotel was blown up killing 12 Kenyans and 3 Israelis and a failed shoulder-launched Strela anti-air missile missed an Israeli airliner at Mombasa airport.
"Instead of losing thousands of lives, we might lose tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of lives in a single day of war"
The Associated Press
1/16/04 4:03 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Two members of a Virginia-based Islamic terrorism network pleaded guilty to weapons and explosives charges Friday and promised to help the government, Attorney General John Ashcroft said.
Randall Royer and Ibrahim al-Hamdi, who entered their pleas in Alexandria, Va., had ties to the Lashkar-e-Taiba group seeking to drive India out of Kashmir. A federal indictment said the Northern Virginia group also had broader goals of helping the al-Qaida network; Afghanistan's former ruling militia, the Taliban; and rebels in Chechnya.
Both Royer, 30, and al-Hamdi, 26, pleaded guilty to using and discharging a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime of violence; and with carrying an explosive during commission of a felony. Royer faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison, al-Hamdi 15 years.
The plea agreement, accepted by U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema, requires Royer and al-Hamdi to cooperate fully with the government in the prosecution of other individuals associated with the Virginia network.
In the agreement, Royer admitted helping four people gain entry to a terrorist training camp in Pakistan operated by Lashkar-e-Taiba. He also admitted helping al-Hamdi get into the camp.
Additionally, Royer said he was committed to helping terrorists gain entry to the camp after a meeting on Sept. 16, 2001. Documents said an unindicted co-conspirator said at the meeting that the terror attacks five days earlier, on Sept. 11, would be used as an excuse to trigger a global war against Islam. The time had come, the man said, for fighters to go abroad and, if possible, join in a holy war.
Al-Hamdi admitted to possessing a rifle with a telescopic site and various ammunition, including tracer rounds, to enhance his ability to train for a holy war in Chechnya, Kashmir or other locations outside the United States. He also admitted to carrying a rocket-propelled grenade as part of a conspiracy to undertake a military operation against India.
Four other members of the Virginia network pleaded guilty in August and September. Five members of the network are awaiting trials.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.