Officials say al-Qaida operatives may be fully trained airline pilots

MSNBC.com ^ | 12/22/03 | NBC

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Authorities raised the terrorist threat assessment over the weekend after new intelligence indicated that operatives of Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida terror network, possibly trained and licensed to fly passenger jets, may now be pilots for some foreign airlines, ideally positioning them to carry out suicide attacks, U.S. officials told NBC News on Monday.

Reinforced cockpit doors intended to thwart hijackers after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks would now protect any terrorist pilot at the controls, the officials said on condition of anonymity.

Authorities would not describe the terror threats in detail publicly, but the U.S. officials told NBC’s Jim Miklaszewski that the threat alert would remain at “orange,” or high, through the end of January, which they said was an indication of its seriousness.

[He Rides A White Horse]

Houston Texas.........not a far flight from Mexico; plenty of fuel left on such a plane at impact I imagine. The President's home state also.

[ConservativeMan55]

Al Michaels is a good man. He's a great Conservative.

[ChEng]

Well, if I had the need to control a medium to large aircraft (cargo) the first thing I would do would be to charter it. From that point the sky is the limit, who, what, where and how would be much easier once the plane is "your's". Oh, my plane of choice, 737, we're talking short range coming from the Bahamas, Canada, Mexico or from many domestic second or third tier airfields...

[Dave Olson]

If we have another Sept. 11th, not only will it kill the airline industry and Boeing but all of the related industries, suppliers, and vendors. It would tank the economy worse than we've ever seen.

I disagree. Britain had been attacked by IRA terrorists for years, and Israel is still under attack. Yet inspite of these attacks, both countries seem to be functioning fine. We will too.

[battousai]

"If something like this happens we will drop our no-bias-against-Muslims stance so fast, they'll be wearing garters in Mecca."

Call me sceptical, but I'll believe it when I see it, it should have happened after 9/11 but it hasn't.

[L`enn]

Speaking of charters, how is security involving charter aircraft I wonder?

[A CA Guy]

Going by the past, you check and see which foreign pilots are hanging out in nudy bars the night before their flight. Those would be your probable terrorist.

[autoresponder]

next hit in the USA and citizens will act before the government can think

count on it

[autoresponder]

I was working in Fort Apache then

[NewLand]

next hit in the USA and citizens will act before the government can think

What do you see happening? A few isolated reprisals? Or an organized movement?

[Kozak]

all foreign flights into the US from middle eastern airlines (and some others) should be halted, period. let them fly into canada and let the passengers connect there to come to the US.

Or, let them fly to a remote US base, say the one of the old SAC bases in Maine, with a US fighter escort from say 50 miles out, then tranfer crew to a vetted US crew.

[NewLand]

Or, let them fly to a remote US base, say the one of the old SAC bases in Maine, with a US fighter escort from say 50 miles out, then tranfer crew to a vetted US crew.

This is a great idea!

[Semper Paratus]

New England Patriot games in Foxboro(one this Sat. night) seem to fit the profile.

Not exactly rural being midway between Boston Providence but it is equidistant (7 miles) from 2 small airports and is easily seen from the air when lit up and is only a couple of miles from the major air route from Boston to NY.

[autoresponder]

I have my lists

I have checked them more then twice

A "book scenario" concept would be instant and massive actions, but unconnected by any overall leaders or groups

The internet is a wonderful thing

Recall how Korean merchants acted during the LA riots, killings, lootings, burnings?

You saw them outside their store with AR15s and scoped Rems on TV

Americans are fed up and will permit nobody to interfere in their God given Rights of self defense

Not even the Berserkly town council

If a "hit" occurs in the USA again it will be "Katie bar the NBC door" in America and abroad

GW will go to Plan C

The earth will tremble

History will change forever

The Germans and Japanese knew America was armed to the teeth
Over 90 million forearms owners in the USA

Islamics that support Al Quaeda stand out like Blaze Orange

As Holmes said "The game is afoot!"

[or sumthin']

When you see Muslims "on vacation" and/or "closing their stores" suddenly or neighbors "not around" you know what is coming next

It happened well before 911 in the US

This time we are ready

Great book concept, Huh?




Reminds me, time to run a few patches thru my vintage 1777 Charleville flintlock musket

[Vigilanteman]

"I didn't approve of 9/11 but if the US changed its..."

Yeah, and I don't approve of that accidential nuclear device exploding over that crowd of Muslims gathering round they moon rock, but violence begat violence, ya know.

[Vigilanteman]

True. Likewise Pearl Harbor was a big hit with the Japanese.

Very poor comparison. Few Japanese in America cheered Pearl Harbor. One of them, an old professor of mine, worked night and day during the war to help the U.S. crack the Imperial Navy Code which led to our victory at Midway. At the time, his parents were being held in a detention camp near Delta, Utah.

[radu]

There have been ALL kinds of uniforms, and vehicles, stolen over the past year and a half. Airline personnel and emergency personnel uniforms, emergency vehicles, police cars, you name it.

I worry that there will be disturbances in airports that will cause everyone to run outside. That's a scenario I've seen since the LAX shootings last year on July 4th. I've thought since that happened that it was a test run. I hope I'm wrong.

[thinking]

Try this link.....


http://alpha.fdu.edu/~bender/NYsplash.html

[He Rides A White Horse]

My comment was not intended to denigrate Al Michaels.

[Righty1]

Let me guess, Air Fraaaaancee!