Superbowl XL - Is this the target Al Qaeda has been waiting for? "the American Hiroshima?” (VANITY)

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 just found this site this morning after googling “Super Bowl 2006 terrorist attack”.

I am a member of several other message boards (including many whose members are from Detroit).

These are a few posts of my thoughts on this subject this past week. Thank you for letting me join here and express them.

1. WHY aren’t people even THINKING about this? I have felt uneasy about it this past month and am glad I found this board where others feel the same.

I found some other good links out there if you’d like them. There are MANY of us that are worried about this weekend and for the record I do NOT sit around daily, worried about terrorists.

But THIS weekend I’m worried. And everyone seems to think I’m crazy. Sigh.

Miggy, Las Vegas.

Comment by Miggy — February 1, 2006 @ 1:46 pm

2.Curt, being in law enforcement perhaps you can explain something to me that makes me crazy every time it happens?

I work in a casino on the Vegas Strip. For some reason and I don’t remember why, 2 years ago during the holidays we were all told daily for about 2 weeks that we needed to be aware of “suspicious” activity.

You can imagine what all that could include when you’re dealing with drunken, gambling tourists.

One night after work I went to a coffee shop in a major Strip casino and was seated next to 5 Middle Eastern men who did nothing more than drink tea and talk- an odd combination when every one else actually EATS there.

Is THIS considered suspicious beavior if I dine there 3 nights a week and have NEVER seen this occur?

And just what am I supposed to do?

Well, I told the manager and he wasn’t the least bit concerned and I looked like an idiot.

Long story short, New Years Eve goes without incident and the BIG story on the front page of the Vegas paper the next day is how WELL things went.

One of the quotes was from a high-ranking official who said the authorities had been afraid that a group was going to steal an ambulance or something in order to gain access to the closed off Strip and then attack.

OK. WHY weren’t we told to look for this instead of waste our time looking for all other kinds of crap?

Look for people posing as authority figures- not Middle Eastern men talking quietly in coffee shops!

The whole thing has me angry all over again.

I will be HAPPY to do my best to help but give me something to go on, you know?????

Miggy

Comment by Miggy — February 1, 2006 @ 5:08 pm

3. First, off Melch- I LOVED those photos but it was almost even more upsetting to see how vulnerable that dome is going to be. I’m sorry. I just don’t know how ANYONE can believe that place can possibly be totally secured. For all we know the food, beer, and t-shirt deliveries that have already been delievered have something inside them.

Second, to Curt:
Thank you for your reply but I don’t think anyone reports ANYTHING around here. I mean, God forbid a casino should lose money by questioning anyone who looks Middle Eastern or acts suspiciously.

Do you know how many bags and packages are accidently left laying around on a daily basis?

Think of all the maids carts in the hallways at all hours of the day and night UNATTENDED by the maid, who’s in the room cleaning.

I feel like trying an experiment and sticking something in about 50 of them one day and see if anyone even thinks twice about it.

In the casino I work at fire alarms are constantly going off and nobody even blinks an eye. That’s true at other casinos as well.

Most of the management is incompetent. Look how much the coffee shop manager cared.

When the city tries to be extra secure (yeah, right) they keep a security guard at each garage but they just wave most anyone through and even if they DO stop someone all they do is have you open your trunk and then stare at your luggage.

The whole thing’s a joke here and it infuriates me because those hijackers LIVED here for some time before 9/11. They even videotaped the casino’s delivery areas, etc.

I just pray this country is safe this weekend.

And just because Condi is supposed to be there I’ll believe it when I see it. In fact, knowing how much the terrorists hate this administration it’s almost egging them on by her attending.

I was going to go MGM Grand (largest hotel in the world) to watch the game but think I’ll just stay home.

That’s another thing. Whatever happened to the no-fly zone over the Strip? There’s planes flying over it constantly, not to mention all the helicoptors.

Sorry for the rant and interuption of the Superbowl topic. I guess I’m just upset that I don’t think ANY city takes this stuff seriously despite constantly being told “it’s not a matter of if, but when.”

Comment by Miggy — February 2, 2006 @ 12:35 pm

4. Hi, Eric. I’ve worked the Superbowl parties at different casinos every year since 1997. THIS year I’m staying home and not going anywhere NEAR the STRIP.

And something else I don’t remember if I brought up here or elsewhere. I collect casino memorabilia and I was going through some player slot cards to put on ebay the other day when I noticed I had 2 Palms cards- 1 with the name Osama Ishimi. So I googled that name and the FBI most wanted website came up. This was an older slot card the Palms used back when they opened in 2001.

Since the FBI office is about 4 blocks from my house I took it there because I figured a slot card can tell you a lot about a person like when they got it, how much money they gamble, and they have to show picture ID when they sign up for one.

First off, the building was locked so I couldn’t even get in. Then a security guy approached me and asked what I wanted and I told him. He couldn’t care less and I went home, card in hand.

I’m sorry my last couple of posts have been about Vegas instead of Detroit but my point is that this attitude is everywhere. They say we’re doing such a good job PREVENTING attacks. How do THEY (whoever THAT is) KNOW?

They certainly don’t encourage us for reporting anything strange. I realize there are a lot of Osama Ishimis out there but come one! There’s tons of these sleeper cells all over America and I’m getting sick of living like this.

1300 Arabs drowned in that ferry accident in the Red Sea last night. Who do YOU think is going to get blamed for it?

Yes, I think something is going to happen this weekend and the only ones in America I’ve been able to see even CARE about this are on this board.

Very sad.

Comment by Miggy — February 3, 2006 @ 12:04 pm

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