Magazine says Qaeda vows "back-breaking" strike

Reuters ^ | 12/26/03

[kattracks]

DUBAI (Reuters) - A London-based Arab magazine said on Friday that al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has vowed to launch a "back-breaking attack" on the United States by February, confirming an earlier message by the militant network. The weekly al-Majalla said it received an e-mail from Abu Mohammed al-Ablaj, a little known al Qaeda member, saying bin Laden would release a video tape in which he affirms his group's determination to fight the United States.

"A messenger of bin Laden informed him (Ablaj) that the al Qaeda leader will appear on a televised tape after the execution of an operation which bin Laden described as back-breaking and which would change the order of things," al-Majalla said in a report in its latest edition, a copy of which was sent to Reuters.

"They (Americans) should prepare...their coffins, hospitals and graves. The coming days will be full of surprises and great events which will make them a historic example," the magazine quoted Ablaj as saying.

The report came after U.S. officials ordered their color-coded alert system raised to orange, the second highest level, citing possible year-end attacks.

Air France canceled Christmas flights to Los Angeles on Wednesday after U.S. officials relayed information that extremist groups were planning "near-term simultaneous attacks that would rival September 11."

Al Qaeda is believed responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks on U.S. cities.

In the e-mail, which could not be immediately authenticated, Ablaj echoed his previous statement carried by al-Majalla in November saying the attack would take place before a Muslim feast which is celebrated on the last days of January or the first days of February.

The e-mail did not say what type of weapons would be used in the attack which Ablaj hinted would involve a series of strikes on the United States and other countries, the magazine reported.

[goldstategop]

Nope. I'm thinking they can dare one if they want but as for it happening again in our lifetime, no thanks. One catastrophe a millenium is plenty.

[Erik Latranyi]

They better remember that we took 2 countries with a military that was depleted and demoralized from 8 years of neglect.

A larger attack would cause such a rush by patriots to enlist that our "patriot movement" would outnumber their Jihad 10 to 1.

[cyncooper]

While some of this sounds like chest pounding, the recent actions by the Bush Admin (eg: "continuity of government" exercises conducted this past Tues, per CNN) are starting to really make me think there is something big going on here. Of course, if nothing happens by Feb 1, I am going to write these guys off once and for all as a bunch of loudmouthed whacko crackpots.

What's the consensus? Do you guys think we're just hearing chest thumping, or is something "big" really in the works? I fear it is the latter.

I hardly think if and when Feb 1 comes and goes without a strike you can conclude it has all been loudmouthed crackpots. My conclusion would be that we thwarted their efforts, ala the 12/24 12/25 flight cancellations.

[cyncooper]

I seriously believe that if they had anything they wouldn't be announcing it in advance and causing us to increase our security and intelligence efforts. I believe they are trying to scare the public; "prepare your coffins". They don't know our public very well.

I agree about our public not being easily scared. I also know that our current administration is not comprised of a bunch of nervous nellies, and if they think there was a plot afoot with the Air France flights, I tend to believe them. There is no way they would have frivously insisted that those flights not happen.

[cyncooper]

I believe that writing these guys off as "loud mouthed, whacko crackpots" would be ill-advised.

Thank you for a sensible post.

Those here who wish to pretend that all is well and they haven't tried attacks and been thwarted are being silly. They are the chest-thumpers, I'm afraid.

However, I am not afraid because of these threats because clearly this administration is close on their trail. Smoking 'em out, as they say.

[PoorMuttly]

Only read the Title.

"Hey Al! Shove it up your Spider Hole !"

Oh...that's right...our military wants the play-time...they get to Kick it there...fair is fair...

Come and get it bigshots. We DARE you. Gives us all the more steam to drive it over your ugly face. Here's for your own women and children that you hurt. Go to living hell.

We Deliver.

[Jim Noble]

We will win for two reasons: 1) we have Bush who will not be swayed by the left media or left voters

I imagine he is their target #1.

[RinaseaofDs]

I'm with you.

You pretty much have to assume they've got them. I think that our people did that a long time ago. The thing that we were hanging our hat on for so long is that they couldn't deliver them intercontinentally.

Well, that is no longer the case, so we are, defacto, in an arms race again. This time, it is theater and strategic ballistic missile defense technological maturity vs. China achieving 1975 levels of nuclear ballistic missiles.

As far as Al Qaeda having them, we are going to see about that. Iran has already said that 15 minutes after they get them they will use them on Israel.

Nuclear weapons are as nasty to handle in most cases as they are to deploy. They take maintenance.