Terrorists in California?

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Tuesday, October 28, 2003 | Joseph Farah

[JohnHuang2]

People thought I was crazy when I suggested the D.C. snipers were probably Islamic terrorists.

My staff knows I went so far as to name one of the shooters in advance – Mohammad.

I looked at the evidence – including the evidence that was being ignored by law enforcement because of political correctness and an irrational phobia about "racial profiling" – and concluded that the shooters were most likely acting in solidarity with al-Qaida.

I turned out to be right.

I'm not going quite that far today.

But I am suggesting it would be a mistake to overlook the distinct possibility that Islamic terrorists have contributed to the California wildfires.

Here's what we know:

• arson is suspected in at least some of the blazes;

• al-Qaida was planning, according to one captive and an FBI memo last June, to torch forest land in the western United States as late as last summer;

• al-Qaida is believed to have practiced for such a mission in the Australian bush country;

• al-Qaida has taken inspiration before from Palestinian terrorists, who have torched hundreds of thousands of acres of Israeli forest; and

• the fires plaguing California are, in many ways, the worst ever to hit the state.

To me that adds up to a strong circumstantial case. To me it would be crazy to dismiss the possibility without thorough investigation. To me it is always better to go where the facts lead you, to be suspicious of coincidences and to follow your gut instincts as a journalist.

That's why I am shocked no one is asking the obvious questions about the wildfires in Southern California.

I saw this happen last year in the Washington area. I saw policemen discount eyewitnesses because they didn't like the information they got. I saw government agencies bend over backward to say there was no reason to believe the shootings were connected with terrorism.

Yes there was.

The shootings were terrorism. There was no other apparent motive for them. The timing and the location were other clues.

Am I suggesting we attribute every bad thing that happens in the United States to terrorism or al-Qaida? Absolutely not. That, too, would be a mistake. Al-Qaida is not omnipresent, nor omniscient. Al-Qaida is, in fact, on the run – and probably weaker than at any time since 2001.

And that is precisely why a desperate act like this would be up its alley. It's easy to start forest fires. It's easy to start brushfires in parched Southern California when the Santa Ana winds are blowing. It's easy to create mayhem and cause massive property damage and kill Americans when those kinds of blazes are already burning.

Could the arsonists be individuals unconnected to terrorism or al-Qaida? Absolutely. But no one has the motivation to resort to this kind of terror like Osama bin Laden's agents.

What difference does it make who the arsonists are?

It makes a difference to me. I don't think we're doing all we can to defend our homeland. I don't think we're doing enough to patrol our borders and enforce our immigration laws. I don't think we're doing enough to monitor groups and individuals whose loyalty to the United States is questionable at best. I don't think we're doing enough to protect Americans, even while we are battling the terrorists in Afghanistan and Iraq.

I could be wrong about my suspicions this time. I hope I am. But I think it's better to be safe than sorry. I think it's better to investigate with an open mind rather than by the dictates of political correctness.

We've missed clues before. We don't want to miss any more.

[joesnuffy]

Terrorists dont necessarily take credit for their terror
al-Qaeda has already practiced such terror in Australia
al-Qaeda has already stated that such fires are in their play list
The borders are wide open...terrorists are not being profiled
and thanks to the Saudis influence muslims are nearly as untouchable here at home
as they are in Eruope Canada and Australia
Is it really that far fetched that al -Qaeda or even la Raza couldnt be behind "this" terror?

[familyofman]

"Just because there is no evidence means nothing. "

I like your reasoning - don't let facts get in the way. But you may want to consider that if these are the acts of AQ & the gov't had prior knowledge of the plans (from Gitmo detainees) - then our Homeland Security Dept failed miserably in defending us from a "known" terrorist threat. This would also have happened entirely on GWB's watch (responsible for national defense) and he would need to take the blame for not acting on the "intelligence" he had.
We will now have to prepare to defend ourselfs from the "winter storms" being planned by AQ to coincide with both Christmas and President's Day - they won't leave any evidence of their involvement = but we'll all know who's to blame. The Great Lakes area & upper midwest had better prepare for the terrorism to come.

[Destructor]

"I think it's terrorists .. the question is whether it is domestic or foreign?"

What motive would domestic terrorists have for arson?

[ItsOurTimeNow]

What motive would domestic terrorists have for arson?

I've suspected the loons of E.L.F. from the beginning.

[jedwardtremlett]

"People thought I was crazy when I suggested the D.C. snipers were probably Islamic terrorists ... I turned out to be right"

He did, huh? ; )

Well, the trial's going on now, so let's see what shakes out the other end.

But, yes, Farah IS crazy. I have the feeling most of his amazing insight comes to him at 3 am after a long night sniffing toner.

J

[agrace]

I read recently here on FR that several of her rescue team have since died, and the speculation was made that they were being hit. Wish I could recall the thread.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

...What if the idea here is not to take credit for the fires, just sit back and watch a BUSH-Supporting ARNOLD be forced to go back on his promise not to raise taxes because of the cost of these sudden massive fires in 2003..?

Enter President HILLARY in 2004.

HILLARY aided Terrorists during the Vietnam War.

HILLARY is aiding Terrorists now.

Sometimes HILLARY's Terrorist Friends keep silent ..for effect.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

...Wish you could go on Total Recall as well.

...HILLARY and Friends.

...The Enemy is now Within...

...And always has been.

[Consort]

What motive would domestic terrorists have for arson?

To make good on their threat, as described in other threads.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[cookcounty]

The A-Q signature is NOT to take credit, or only obliquely. Watch for a new tape at Al-Jazeera in about a week, speaking of this as "Allah's fire of wrath."

A-Q did not ever take direct credit for 9-11, though some of the leadership's later (months later) indirect comments made that the inescapable conclusion.

[gridlock]

I would bet you dollars to donuts that somebody has already claimed responsibility for these fires on behalf of al Qaeda. They take responsible for everything, including an earthquake a few weeks ago. But such a claim would probably be discounted, wouldn't it?

If this is part of a disorganized effort by al Qaeda, isn't this exactly what it would look like? Isolated fires could easily be set by one or two people inserted as sleepers. The start of Ramadan would be a natural date to trigger the activities. If it is an isolated cell, they would not be claiming responsibility, or would be discounted if they did.

We may never know for sure. But to discount the possibility is to live with one's head in the sand.

[cwb]

I wouldn't put it past disgruntled liberals who want to see Arnold have to raise taxes and/or fail at his job. What better way than to create an (un)natural disaster. Boy, I'm getting cynical in my old age.

[Mo1]

I wouldn't either, that's why I asked the question .. because the way I see it .. both want to this country fall to her knees

[snickeroon]

Glad you posted this, and I concur. Make all the tin foil remarks you wish, I totally agree that this is terrorist related, and am going in search of the threat posted by "bin's son laden" about ramadan and fire.

This has every earmark of terrorism based on the area, number of fires, use of Santa Anas as an accelerant and the fact that homes, movie lots, businesses, etc. have obviously been targeted.

The government may be making an enormous mistake in trying to suppress public knowledge if they have facts in hand. They may be correct in assessing a possible backlash however, or maybe they are biding their time for other reasons.

BUT, even AFTER 9/11 there seems to be a massive number of citizens who can not or will not acknowledge that the war is on OUR soil and continues unabated. If we don't begin to believe and accept the truth we have no hope of winning. Hopefully, as facts come into focus we will get a clear picture. Then again, if this event is covered up by disinformation, we can just go on waiting for the next destructive round of dejavu headline news.

[DoctorZIn]

Ping! BTW, visit the new web site for the OC Chapter of the Free Republic!

[Half Vast Conspiracy]

"People thought I was crazy when I suggested the D.C. snipers were probably Islamic terrorists ... I turned out to be right"

That jumped out at me too. What's he smoking?

[TADSLOS]

I suspect ELF also. Fits their M.O.

[Half Vast Conspiracy]

I suspect ELF also. Fits their M.O.

I suspect ELMO.

[justa-hairyape]

I did not have time to read this entire thread, very busy here in so cal, but here is my 2 cents. Whoever set these fires is homicidal and wants to kill and destroy entire comminuties. In short, they are mass murderers who want us dead. Death and destruction of us is their goal. That fits the Islamic terrorist goal as they themselves have stated that death to America is their goal. It also theoritically fits the goals of orginizations who may want to kill the inhabitants of these areas for future repopulation. In short, this attacks seem to be much more serious then ELF sponsered terrorism.