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.
Hey, it is just a bunch of overgrown boys playing a game. Let's keep things in perspective.
They're gonna hi-jack the Good Year blimb?
That's about right. One town near Detroit voted to allow the local muezzin to screach over microphones five times daily..
Rest assured, Jack Bauer is already hot on the trail.
WRONG !
The site of the Superbowl is know several years in advance.
It's only the teams who will play in the bowl that is decided at a late date.
Detroit has been scheduled for this bowl for several years.
p.s. Downtown Dearborn is LESS than 8 miles from Ford Field.
Please, take out Detroit, Al-Qaeda. You'd be doing the rest of Michigan a huge favor!
I would advise Osama not to mess with Steelers fans.
Another Clancy novel...The Sum of All Fears. Nuc detonation at a superdome.
I'm more suspect of the porous Canadian border, and Canada's lack immigration policies. People have complained about the next terrorists entering from Mexico, but I think Canada is the big threat.
CC
Considering that the "latest" Osama Tape could be as much as a year old. It's possible that the Super Bowl could be a potential target.
So could LAX, The Pentagon, Washington, DC; any nuclear powerplant or myriad Targets Of Opportunity.
In other words, Business As Usual, Post September 11th.
Jack.
They can just detonate Windsor and get Detroit as collateral
Dearborn has the largest Arabic speaking population in the world outside of the Middle East.
"American Hiroshima" has nothing to do with a dirty bomb, IMHO. A dirty bomb is too unwieldly, too uncertain as to the amount of damage/contamination could occur. "Hirsohima" took many more lives that an dirty bomb could.
With Iran so close to getting the material to build its own atomic weaponry, and given their patience, I don't see a nuclear terrorist event occuring on our soil at this time. It would be much less trouble for Iran to simply build a suitcase nuke and give it to bin Laden for the proxy destruction of an American city.
I would go out on a limb and say that any Al Qaeda attacks on American soil at this point would be of the conventional variety, but perhaps with a Chem or Bio component (which would of course make it non-conventional). Specifically, I'm guessing we're going to see our first overt AQ suicide bombings on American soil. And it's going to happen quickly, and preferably (for Iran) before any conflicts between Israel and Iran. It may even be used as the lynchpin to start a Mid-East war - e.g. a quasi-Archduke Ferdinand scenario where AQ attacks the U.S. and the U.S. decides to retaliate against Iran...
Don't doubt for one second that AQ, Iran, Syria, and Hezbollah aren't in concert here. They're brewing the perfect storm, and with Hamas taking over in Palestinian territories, the cake might be ready to bake.
"The location was only determined a week ago by a football game."
You're mistaken there. Detroit has been the site for quite some time.
"That "American Hiroshima" was reported in World Net Daily as the phrase used by terrorists. I didn't make it up."
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I know you didn't make it up, it was made up a long time ago and continually predicted about every 6 months since then.
The logistics of hauling around and adequately maintaining a nuclear bomb of Hiroshima size in secret for soooooo long is just so freakin far fetched its just too hard to believe.
Yeah 911 was hard to believe too but far far far more easy to pull off than an American Hiroshima.
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