Article: Al-Qaeda issues fresh threat

The Age ^ | December 26, 2003 - 8:05AM

[slagish]

Al-Qaeda issues fresh threat

December 26, 2003 - 8:05AM

Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden will issue the next of his video messages after a massive attack on US territory, Saudi weekly Al-Majallah quotes an official of the terror network as saying, in its next edition.

Quoting an e-mail received from a man who goes by the name of Abu Mohammed al-Ablaj, the weekly reports that "an emissary of bin Laden has informed me that the al-Qaeda chief's (next) appearance (on video cassette) will come after a deadly, far-reaching operation on American territory.

"In the video, bin Laden will evoke the success of his backers in once again striking the United States to the core and America's failure (in its anti-terrorist campaign) both outside and inside the country," the al-Qaeda official was reported as saying in the e-mail.

"Bin Laden will also reaffirm al-Qaeda's determination to continue its war against America, until its defeat," said the message from Ablaj, who last February announced to the Saudi weekly that bin Laden would release a video statement after the US-led war in Iraq.

The most recent message alleged to be from bin Laden was an audiotape broadcast last week by Dubai-based Al-Arabiya satellite channel, but its Qatar-based rival Al-Jazeera said the tape was the same one it had aired more extensively on October 18.

Both Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya, the leading Arab news channels, have been accused by US officials of inciting violence by airing such tapes of al-Qaeda leaders as well as those of deposed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein before he was captured by US forces on December 13. They have denied the charge.

A day before the alleged bin Laden tape was aired, Al-Jazeera broadcast a tape purported to be from bin Laden's right-hand man Ayman al-Zawahiri, in which he said the Americans were beginning to stagger under the blows of al-Qaeda.

A US intelligence official said in Washington that CIA analysts had concluded that the Zawahiri tape was "most likely" authentic.

The report in the Saudi weekly came as Americans celebrated a nervous Christmas under heightened terrorist alerts and tight security nationwide.

©2003 AAP

[Teri0811]

"On the other hand, something feels VERY different about this "Orange Plus" alert we are apparently at. It has an ominous feel to it..kind of like something truly huge is about to happen. Yet, they are going after airplanes again. Bizarre!"

I agree, this one does have a more ominous feel to it and something bothers me about the cancelled flights. These "imminent attacks" are supposed to rival or surpass that of September 11th; yet, all of the passengers that the US said were on the watch list were all on one flight. One airplane doesn't even come close to what took place on September 11th.

[Imal]

The report in the Saudi weekly came as Americans celebrated a nervous Christmas under heightened terrorist alerts and tight security nationwide.

Nervous? Granted, I'm an American in Singapore for the holidays, so maybe we're just more laid back here (everyone knows how easygoing Singapore is).

Not only am I unable to discern any nervousness on the part of Americans or anyone else in Singapore, but Christmas Eve saw the usual massive crowds and brisk business without a hint of trouble.

Likewise in Kuala Lumpur, in the Muslim nation of Malaysia, where it was impossible to avoid the thousands of "Merry Christmas" banners and well-wishes (seemed like everyone was wishing me a "Merry Christmas" in Malaysia, in those exact words) from everyone I met there on Monday and Tuesday of Christmas week. Maybe behind their warm smiles and impeccable friendliness, they were quietly wishing my death, and I just didn't pick that up. Also, business was booming there, too.

Maybe I'm just what I like to call an "Ignorant Abroad", and am ignoring the myriad of threats surrounding me that I am unable to perceive. And maybe the dozens of friends and family members throughout America that I talked to by phone on Christmas Day were cleverly hiding their nervousness from me, because no one I talked to sounded very nervous (a few were a bit hammered, though).

Nervous Christmas? Guess I didn't get the memo.

[My Dog Likes Me]

NSA needs more Arabic speakers with ears against the telephone poles.

[endthematrix]

Who would want to be an Al-Qaeda wannabe? I have read other unreliable reports of the suitcase theories. Any techie wish to comment on the working condition on these devices? This guy is too intellectual to be cave dweller. Most likely Berkley grad student in Islamic studies with visions of being a Lindh.

[ZAKJAN]

FYI
That nasty yahoo site is gone!! Pays to report to fbi.gov folks!!

JAN

[endthematrix]

And at the DOJ, FBI, CIA, DHS and SOCOM! Our failure to understand history and anticipate and prepare for the future has left the US vulnerable to more attacks.

[Cvengr]

Thanks for the post.

I grow more sceptical of the Al-Quada's actual capacity to render any substantial threat in part because of the repetitive threats without follow-through and in part because I am not much intimidated by somebody who claims they have a more sophisticated method of destroying the planet than entire superpwers are able to generate in programs dedicated to the task for decades. Especially when the most critical threats are communicated via VCR tapes in a world of digital communications.

I assume the secret command codes must be reserved for the all impressive quadraphonic 8-track player to be released only when they are truly upset.

[KingNo155]

Bring it on just remember the proud indian tribes who thought Americans were weak!

[endthematrix]

When two Chicago area Islamic Charities Benevolence International Foundation and Global Relief were shut down, video of attendees statements on 9/11 were shocking. They advocated themselves as not American and that America deserved what they had received. I'm sure they were of the 5000 questioned and monitored. Goes to show that elements of terrorism and anti-Americanism is alive and flourishing.

[bootless]

"Bin Laden will also reaffirm al-Qaeda's determination to continue its war against America, until its defeat,"

Okay, NOW will the leftists believe this is a war, and not religious diversity in action?

[bootless]

Americans are staggering under the blows of Al Quaeda?

Since when? Now I know where Baghdad Bob is working...

[Arpege92]

"Americans are staggering under the blows of Al Quaeda?"

I'm not Baghdad Bob and that was only a quote from the original post.

[bootless]

Oh, I knew that wasn't your opinion. :-) Just quoting from the article.