[Rutles4Ever]

I am 100% convinced these Internet jihad postings are baloney up and down. I played along to see what would come of them, but I'm skeptical now. Whether or not NEIN can find a dimaond in the rough remains to be seen. I don't believe they're making this stuff up out of whole-cloth, but
what they are gleaning IS made up out of whole-cloth -- in my opinion.

I think the misdirect was well-planned, and that actual communications are taking place under more conventional means with extreme care. I'm thinking couriered messages, coded conversations, etc. While the feds are scouring websites and deciphering encyrpted pictures, a small but tight-knit group is plodding along their next strike on the U.S., in a way that will surprise us all since we're chasing shadows in cyberspace.

Do I think it's WMD? No. My belief is that the next attack will be conventional. It will affect a large number of people, and we will be surprised in its ability to create panic.

Power outage? Maybe. Suicide bombers. Very possible. Nuclear weapons? Doubtful. Chemical/biological? No delivery system they can use would be reliable enough to afford the certain and brutal response of the United States if a WMD were released. Planes? The government thinks so.

Point is, this has been an intriguing discussion, but it's no longer worth anyone's angst. The message has been conveyed, and I have to call BS on it. February 2nd is practically a Free Republic holiday the way everyone is anticipating the end of civilization. Let's remember that "al Qaeda" does not look as good on a resume as it used to in the Middle East. Even Saddam apparently wanted no part. How telling is that when the Monster of Iraq gets squeamish about your application for employment?

At any rate, life is unpredictable. All I know is what I can see with my own two eyes, and I have to divide my trust to the outside world as I see fit. I don't trust Internet posts without a verifiable source. I do trust government agencies that have much deeper intel resources than we'll ever come into contact with. I have no choice.

Perhaps I'm wrong, but the days are a little nicer without worrying about some random shipping crate in an under-protected harbor. That's the error of a bombardment of misinformation. Pretty soon, the threat and situation is purported to be so bleak, it's not worth worrying about. It's like admitting we'll all die one day. That will be the end of my own personal Western civilization with unforgiving finality. I can't stop it from happening, so I choose not to worry about it.

Life is too short. I wish everyone a blessed 2004.

[angkor]

Life is too short. I wish everyone a blessed 2004.

I'm with you. I've concluded that anything jihadi-like on the Internet is now about as "secret" or mysterious as broadcasting in the clear. It is a completely compromised communication medium. Coded or not, PGP or not, in Arabic or not. Makes no difference, there are people with enough serious resources, technology, and smarts to track these guys down.

I also agree that they're back to running their secrets on the back of camel couriers, because the Internet is no longer safe for them, just as they were long ago busted on satphones.

You would think the jihadis were educated by the speedy apprehension of the Dan Pearl murders, and probably the smarter, real guys were. So the stuff on the Internet is the product of fools, shills, and delusional losers.

Yeah, AQ Inc. may have something in the works, and it may be "big", but then again they may be in the process of utter meltdown. I do trust the USG to put a seriously destructive and frightening wrench into their plans and their organization.

[Hegemony Cricket]

R4E - Well stated position - I can't find much in there to disagree with at all. I guess my only point was that our government needs to continue looking for these clowns (eom, daleel, etc.) and shut them down even if they are 100% baloney, because there are undoubtedly other clowns out there who take them seriously.

Other, than that, I'm with you - loving and enjoying life - just keeping my eyes open.

Blessings to you also.

[Domestic Church]

"I am 100% convinced these Internet jihad postings are baloney up and down."

We all will be very, very happy if they do turn out to be baloney but somebody has to turn them over and look at them through various lens and filters and gizmos (especially the gizmos;), sending anything odd down the road to the feds, state and local police. We have put up with derogatory comments from some quarters...it doesn't matter. If one tidbit that has surfaced helps some cryptographer or cubicle bound analyst we have done well...and I think we've already heard and read some positive feedback.

[JustPiper]

February 2nd is practically a Free Republic holiday the way everyone is anticipating the end of civilization.

You are crude and I cannot believe anyone would ever make such an ignorant statement!

[Pro-Bush]

If we had another terrorist strike, you would be the first in line in saying that the Bush Administration did not do enough.

...Maybe because we grounded 90% of inbound flights over the Christmas/New Year holiday, you know the AQ plot that the CIA picked up on for a 9/11 style attack coming from British Airways, Air France, and AeroMexico inbound flights.

We need to do whatever we can to avoid another 9-11 that would send the nation into a recession, ..or worse.