Posted on 01/26/2006 9:11:12 AM PST by 1curiousmind
Let’s assume for the moment that the latest audiotape of Bin laden is not, as many have opined, simply an attempt to make himself relevant as he sees the methodical dismantling of his Al-Qaeda terrorist network. Instead, let’s assume for the moment that there is something to his bravado. That he isn’t just bluffing. But that the long-feared worst-case scenario has been achieved by his cohorts: that Al-Qaeda now has in its possession a dirty bomb. And more importantly, that this bomb is now in the targeted geographical location awaiting simply the designated hour for its detonation. Is that an unrealistic assumption? If only it were.
Notice that I didn’t say that the bomb was already in the United States. Because on Feb. 6, 2006 it won’t have to be in the US in order to kill 10’s of thousands of Americans while the whole world is watching. For on that date, Superbowl XL will take place in Detroit, MI at the new home of the Detroit Lions, Ford Field. What has yet to garnish any media attention is the fact that this will be the first time since 9/11 that such a high-profile event with such a concentration of Americans will take place so close to one of our borders.
Ford Field is located less than 2,300 yds from Canada. The Expo Center which will host the NFL Experience for families and children, is located directly on the riverfront, less than 700 yds from the Canadian shore. Windsor hotels and casinos will be jammed packed with thousands of American tourists from every state. The tunnel and bridge connecting the two countries will be at a crawl, cars and buses bumper to bumper along their entire stretch. The game itself will be broadcast live around the world. Even our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan will be tuning in.
Do we even need to pose the question whether Al-Qaeda would see this as a perfect target? There are indications that previous Superbowls may have been unsuccessfully targeted. During the 2003 Superbowl in Houston a Continental flight (CO 1519) from DC to Houston was cancelled at the last minute due to intercepted chatter mentioning the flight number. The plane was due to arrive in Houston mid-way through the third quarter. The 2002 Superbowl in New Orleans was completely swept for bombs, although this was not reported until later.
And then recently, on October 1, 2005, an Oklahoma University student blew himself up outside the UO stadium which was packed with 84,000 fans. The act was ruled a suicide unrelated to terrorism, although a secondary device was exploded by authorities and his apartment was found loaded with explosive chemicals known to be used by Al-Qaeda. The student, Joel Hinrichs , also had been active at the Norman, OK mosque also frequented by other known terrorists. And his roommate, from Pakistan, had purchased an airline ticket to Algeria. The roommate was interviewed and released. http://www.homelandsecurityus.com/site/modules/news/article.php?storyid=16
Then on Dec. 23, 2005 three Algerian terrorists were arrested in Italy. The Turkish Press reported that plans to blow up US stadiums and other targets were found in their possession. http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=93048 Is there a possible connection between the bombing in Oklahoma and these arrests? It seems probable.
One theory is that Hinrichs actually was in the process of arming a bomb with the intention on killing hundreds along with himself, but that the bomb accidentally detonated. Another theory is that he unknowingly was used as a guinea pig by this terrorist cell as a trial run in preparation for a much larger-scale attack.
And then there is the continued search for Adnan El Shukrijumah, who is thought to be to the next terrorist attack on US soil, what Mohammed Atta was to 9/11. He is thought to be the one organizing the whole operation. The Washington Times reported the following in 2003:
A key al Qaeda terrorism suspect was in Canada looking for nuclear material for a "dirty bomb," The Washington Times has learned. Adnan El Shukrijumah is being sought by the FBI and CIA in connection with a plot to detonate a dirty bomb — a conventional explosive laced with radioactive material. According to an FBI informant, El Shukrijumah was spotted last year in Hamilton, Ontario, posing as a student at McMaster University, which has a 5-megawatt research reactor. U.S. officials believe El Shukrijumah, whose photograph was posted on the FBI's Web site in March, was in Hamilton trying to obtain radioactive material…….U.S. intelligence officials said earlier this year that al Qaeda planned to detonate a dirty bomb inside the United States, a plot directed by Mohammed. According to the officials, the al Qaeda members were sent to North America and assigned with making the bomb from materials acquired there, rather than trying to smuggle conventional explosives and radioactive material into the United States.
According to World Net Daily: “Adnan el Shukrijumah, a trained nuclear technician and accomplished pilot, has been singled out by bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri to serve as the field commander for the next terrorist attack on U.S. soil, a nuclear event that is known among al-Qaida planners as "the American Hiroshima”….At McMaster, where they may have enrolled under aliases, el-Shukrijumah and his associates reportedly wasted no time in gaining access to the nuclear reactor and stealing more than 180 pounds of nuclear waste for the creation of radiological bombs.” http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46158
El Shukrijumah is still on the loose, and his whereabouts are unknown. But he is thought to be either in Florida or, get this, Canada.
If he indeed is in Canada, and if he has succeeded in his mission to assemble a dirty bomb, then the only thing stopping him from detonating it is the arrival of the designated hour. He also is an accomplished pilot who successfully high-jacked a plane in Mexico in 2004. And guess where he got his training? That’s right, Norman, OK.
So now, back to Bin Laden’s message. The following are excerpts from the actual transcript. He repeatedly indicates the imminency of an attack. Especially troubling is the phrase, “days and nights will not go by.” I am not an authority on Arabic, but this phrase seems to indicate something is going to happen soon…very soon.
In fact, reports indicate that the defeat and devastating failure of the ill-omened plan of the four - Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Wolfowitz - and the announcement of this defeat and working it out, is only a matter of time, which is to some extent linked to the awareness of the American people of the magnitude of this tragedy.
Days and nights will not go by until we take revenge as we did on 11 September, God willing
And then he specifically references our boastful dependence on “modern weapons” which he contends will ultimately cause us to “lose the war.”
"Do not be deluded by your power and modern weapons. Although they win some battles, they lose the war."
Then twice he indicates that our defenses have been breached and that the operation is well underway.
"On the other hand, the mujahideen, praise be to God, have managed to breach all the security measures adopted by the unjust nations of the coalition time and again." "As for the delay in carrying out similar operations in America, this was not due to failure to breach your security measures. Operations are under preparation, and you will see them on your own ground once they are finished, God willing."
Then he concludes with this almost Messianic phrase as if it is directed at a specific chosen person.
"We will remain patient in fighting you, God willing, until the one whose time has come dies first. We will not escape the fight as long as we hold our weapons in our hands."
Is Bin Laden referring to Adnan El Shukrijumah? Is it possible that his “time has come” and that Bin Laden’s message is intended to not only take advance credit for the attack, but also as a message to El Shukrijumah to proceed with it?
It is very possible, even probable, that the real reason for no attack on US soil since 9/11 is that they have been patiently awaiting the right timing to pull off the perfect sequel to 9/11. No one knows what that “perfect sequel” would be for Al-Qaeda. But no one would argue against the probability that an event like the Superbowl would be near the top of the list. Six years ago Detroit was named as the host for the Superbowl. Since then Al-Qaeda terrorists have been in Ontario, stolen nuclear waste, and have disappeared. Their leader is an accomplished pilot and has already successfully high-jacked a small plane. His mission to attack the US with nuclear weapons, specifically dirty bombs, is a very real threat.
Unfortunately, for whatever reason the vast majority of Americans and Canadians have no idea who he is and the threat he poses. I believe that his name, picture and the video of him http://www.amw.com/fugitives/video_photos.cfm?id=27869 needs to be broadcast in both countries wherever possible. The White House and The Department of Homeland Security have often said that the greatest defense against terrorism is an alert and informed community. It is important that the word of this potential threat be spread with the hopes that El Shukrijumah could be apprehended before his mission is accomplished. Whether it be the Superbowl in Detroit or some other target.
I have family in Seattle (Steeler fans all). Having visited often, I know what $5 can buy there: one cup of coffee.
While anything can happen on any given Sunday, the Hawks are playing in arguably the weakest division in football--and you don't have to argue too hard. Holmgren is always going to do a good job preparing the troops, but I think the NFC in general and the West in particular haven't prepped his guys very well for what they're up against. Carolina isn't Indy, New England or Denver--they're barely even Cincinnati. Maybe next year.
This not the first article with the suggestion, although it is more thought out than most. With TV advertising going for multi millions a minute, the economic impact would be hugh.
Hah!!!
As my furry friend says ..."You don't know us verry well do you" ...
GO HAWKS!!!
While we can only speculate about specific dates and places, in the long run I'd say the odds are about 99% that we will be hit worse than 9/11 in the next few years.
The Superbowl is certainly an attractive target. I can't believe however that they would take out all the Muslim population around Detroit...it's the wrong target.
However they could target somewhere else on that day, knowing that the TV coverage for millions would switch from the game to the attack...
If I were President, I'd state out loud what will happen if a WMD attack occurs on American soil. That within hours, certain places will be destroyed.
That might not be much of a deterrent to Islamokazi crazies, but it might give them second thoughts, if they knew that their mission would bring about the destruction of...certain places. Forever.
No, but the Michigan militia would, which when I use to live in Michigan was rather large, nor should we forget the gangs in Detroit who survive.
Any large scale successful attack in the US by muslims would put all the rest at risk, but you are right they would not care.
Are you into fantasy football? That's not gonna happen.
Chiefs fan here :-)
"If I were President, I'd state out loud what will happen if a WMD attack occurs on American soil. That within hours, certain places will be destroyed."
I agree. Lets look for that in the State of the Union speech. Also, an attack that employed nuclear weapons of any kind would give Bush the green light by the majority of Americans to take out Iran's nuclear program pronto. I'm not suggesting (like some anti-Bush conspiracy types) that we would purposely allow an attack to happen but that we would seize on the opportunity that it presents.
Here are some more websites with interesting facts, etc..
This one is actually a study of the effects of a nuclear bomb detonated in Detroit. I'm thankful I live 30 miles northwest. Depending on the wind directions, Cleveland could be wiped out too. see pages 11-14.
http://www.fas.org/nuke/intro/nuke/7906/790604.pdf#search='detroit%20nuclear'
These have alot of specific info regarding dirty bombs. Very interesting and could be helpful at some point.
http://www.fas.org/ssp/docs/030602-kellytestimony.htm
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/dirtybomb/ ( a video)
http://cfrterrorism.org/weapons/dirtybomb2.html#Q11
Did anyone see the CBS 60 minute piece last night on the need for a stockpile of meds to combat radiation poisoning?
bookmark for later
bookmark
Wow. Interesting links.
My post # 120 above detailed the air and river restrictions in place - I would hope such a plane gets shot out of the sky before it reaches the stadium.
Thanks, Jane - I think he was just making fun of OUR team - just wait and see though ; )
"Certain places" as in "Mecca"? You realize then you just gave a motive to anyone who wants Mecca destroyed, right? I don't think naming "certain places" does much good, and possibly more harm, than you would think.
Call me paranoid, but I've had a bottle of potassium iodide handy since 9/11. You just never know.
They already want to die as martyrs, fear of their own death is useless. Fear of reprisal against most cities and countries would be acceptable damages.
So what would make them fear a big hit against us? I am open to ideas.
I think he should come right out and give a warning during the speech:
"If you rag head bastards disrupt the Superbowl we are going to turn the Middle East into glass."
Don't worry about inspiring evil minds. This scenario is not that original and has been thought of long before today.
I don't think squat is going to happen and the pointless ranting of "Bin Laden" does not concern me.
Even catching bin Ladin the day after 9/11 would not give some of the real wackos "fear" - long-term democracy in the region is probably what those kind fear the most - for what that's worth, I think GWB is trying to get us there.
Hell these nutballs trample hundreds to death each year worshipping Satan.
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