One problem with your scenario is that he's been dead over 2 years.
Posted on 12/26/2003 5:45:14 AM PST by 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.
One problem with your scenario is that he's been dead over 2 years.
More and more, al-Qaeda is playing defense, and the team that settles into a purely defensive posture is marked for eventual failure. Sure, they may pull off a few impressive, even brilliant, plays, but they have largely lost the initiative. They have made the mistake of making too big a strike early in the game, and essentially they have wasted that volley only to rally the US into a state of readiness they were not prepared to counter.
Soviet suitcase nukes require nuclear triggers. These triggers have a limited shelflife before decaying into Americanium. They must be regularly serviced (disassembled, recooked) in order to work - some reports suggestion replacement every 42 days.
The Soviet government thought that regular maintenance was cheaper and easier than producing high grade "pure" plutonium triggers with longer shelflife.
I think there is something very different about this "Code Orange," particularly since the standard for code orange today is a bit higher than it was several months ago. I also think that the LEO as coordinated through DHS is more in tune now than at any time since 09.11, and when they show signs of heightened concern, we need to be extra suspiscious, vigilent, cautious, etc., etc.
The fact that AQ hasn't used nukes or other WMD means nothing to me other than (a) they don't have them, yet; (b) they have them, but lack the logistics to use them at this time; (c) they have them and have decided for strategical reasons not to use them yet; or (d) they have tried to use them, but the attack was thwarted by LEO, DHS, our spooks, whatever.
As to why AQ would use jet planes and more conventional explosives as weapons if they in fact have WMD, my theory is two fold: Either AQ didn't have the weapons on 09.11 or lacked the logistical network to use them effectively; or they chose not to use them at the time because they don't have many and are saving the best for last. In other words, why use WMD on 09.11 when you can hijack a few airplanes and kill 3000 plus people -- a number which could have easily been ten times that amount if AQ had attacked the WTC an hour later that morning and crashed the planes into the middle of the towers rather than the upper floors. Jet planes are not as easy to hijack these days so AQ will use a different plan to obtain maximum death and destruction, which is why they may choose to use WMD at this time, because that may be all they have left.
In my view, AQ is not so much a terrorist organization as it is an army at war. The goal is not to terrorize, but to defeat the west and establish the Wasabi brand of Islam worldwide. An occassional car bomb, sniper attack, power outage, or airport shooting is not going to win the war when LEO can provide a less threatening explaination for the event. AQ will plan carefully and take their time between attacks so as to cause maximum death and destruction when the time is right. They used airplanes 09.11 because they could do so with relative ease. They may use WMD this time, because that's all they have left.
Lastly, I don't know whether these threatening internet posts are from one person or many, or whether the writers are members of AQ or AQ wannabees, or just kids looking for kicks or whether the purpose is to instill fear in the infidel or send messages to AQ cells. I do beleive, however, that the fact that AQ has not warned of attacks in the past is meaningless. The only thing worse than a catastophic attack in the USA would be advance warning of the attack and our inability to stop it.
Yeah, I wonder if that was an intentional slam that got forgotton after all these years? lol
Sorry, please clarify. You WANT another 9-11? Not me, bub.
If you listened to Rush yesterday, and I think most of us were already thinking this, but he said if this slime bags, do this again, the world may be a very different place to live, after we get done with them. I hope and pray this 9/11 stuff never happens again, but if it does, I also hope Rush is right.
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