Report: Al Qaeda Targeting Oceanliners

FoxNews ^ | Dec. 28, 2003 | FoxNews

[Leonine]

I was on the Norwegian Sun three weeks ago. We had to put our hands under a sanitizer constantly--when we embarked, every morning at the breakfast buffet, before lunch, returning from a shore excursion, re-boarding from port, etc. The precaution was strictly enforced. Also, the balconies were sprayed silly with salt water, the towels were washed twice and were often in short supply, and on and on. I'm glad they were so careful--don't recall a single person with anything worse than seasickness.

[cpst12]

Just a thought, but if the intention was not to destroy the oceanliners, but instead to use them as a weapon (much like they used the planes on 9/11), what kind of things could they ram into at full-speed to cause a catastrophe? A big LNG tanker at a busy port?

[FairOpinion]

"what kind of things could they ram into at full-speed to cause a catastrophe? A big LNG tanker at a busy port?"

==

Another good point.

[liberallyconservative]

Good to hear. I'm glad that particular line seems to be taking the neccessary precautions.

As a US Postal worker, the thought of any bioterrorism strikes fear in my heart. And the vast majority of the precautions taken by the USPS after the anthrax letters of Sept./Oct. 2001 were just as quickly abandoned when there was no further spread.

Initially, a large amount of funding was earmarked for expensive equipment to irradiate the mail. Sadly, haven't heard anything more about this in quite a while. I hope it hasn't been put on the back burner.

[CindyDawg]

symbolic targets

Mickey Mouse?

[liberallyconservative]

I actually heard Disneyland/Disneyworld listed as potential targets in a thread last week.

[Leonine]

Changing the focus a bit--the cuckoo news network (CNN) has really done its job of propagandizing. There were 58 nationalities on the ship and others yet in port. Even though practically all of those folks are basically conservative (anti-abortion, pro-freedom, family-oriented, etc.), they are confused by CNN into thinking Bush is impulsive and unstable. I reached maybe a hundred people, but CNN World reaches a billion.

[CindyDawg]

Yeah. I was thinking of THE BIG RED BOAT though.

[liberallyconservative]

Yes, the damage inflicted by the liberal media is truly incalculable. Glad you did your part, though.

[ex-snook]

Nah not Mickey Mouse. But you are on to something. AQ could try Hollywood or Vegas as symbols of 'American depravity' to impress their home folks and get recruits.

[cheesebus]

Political asssassination attempts are alrady occurring: Musharraf.

Over the past couple days, I've been pondering the relationship between the attempts on Musharraf's life and threats to the United States.

Two days before Al Qaeda's last spectacular strike in the United States, on September 9th, 2001, two Tunisian Al Qaeda operatives assasinated Northern Alliance leader Ahmed Shah Massoud at his headquarters in Afghanistan. Of course the Taliban and Al Qaeda had already been engaged in civil war with the Northern Alliance, but the timing was meant to weaken the Northern Alliance, knowing that they would assist the Americans in their response to what was coming soon. It is possible that the successful assasination of Massoud was actually the "Go" signal to Mohammed Atta and the other hijackers.

Now that Al Qaeda has been flushed out of Afghanistan, they expect United States retaliation for another attack to be directed toward their terror bases and training camps in Pakistan. If Musharraf is dead, the U.S. will have a much more difficult time moving military into Pakistan. With Musharraf, we can count on at least some assistance from Pakistan's military and intelligence. Without Musharraf, we would likely be forced to fight Pakistan's military to get to the imbedded Al Qaeda.

I predict if Musharraf is successfully taken out, it will be a precursor to a large scale attack in the U.S. Had the attempts on Musharraf's life of the past week been successful, this major attack might have already taken place.

[Viking2002]

I doubt that Al Queda is looking at an Achille Lauro scenario; more like a U.S.S. Cole type of attack. Get a ship loaded with explosives close enough to the hull, and blow an immense hole in it - big enough that the watertight doors won't be enough to prevent a quick trip to the bottom. Hey, if we can sit here and think this stuff up off-the-cuff, you can be sure that Mohammed's Heathens have done extensive research into the possibility.

[FairOpinion]

"Had the attempts on Musharraf's life of the past week been successful, this major attack might have already taken place."

====

Excellent points.


There is another article, which describes the potential consequences of Musharraf being taken out by the jihadists: they take control of Pakistan and its nukes.


Analysis: Al-Qaida's second breath (Al Qaeda, Pakistan, Saudi) -- IMPORTANT INFO)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1047422/posts

[happygrl]

Without Musharraf, we would likely be forced to fight Pakistan's military to get to the imbedded Al Qaeda.

If such a scenario played out, I would fear to be a Pakistani.

There would be NO IMPEDIMENT for us to wage total war on Pakistan, with the help of our new ally, India.

[Capt. Tom]

Hey, if we can sit here and think this stuff up off-the-cuff, you can be sure that Mohammed's Heathens have done extensive research into the possibility

I can think of 3 very easy to do and relatively inexpensie acts that would be effective. They would likely not be able to be stopped, if the persons involved was willing to be killed in carrying out the operations.

What puzzles me is they have the motivation, money, suicide volunteers and opportunity to do the same but it hasn't happened. Yet! Thank goodness. We may be operating on an "If in doubt,take them out mode." I hope so.

I'm sure other Freepers can think of some spectacular easy tagets that can be hit with a minmum of effort.

The terorists have the advantage of not worrying about escaping, or how to avoid capture.

[TimPatriot]

We have heard the same thing the past 3 years....we went to Disney 3 years in a row and now we are going to go on a cruise this year. We are not going to let these maggots have us living in fear.

[CindyDawg]

We are not going to let these maggots have us living in fear.

We can't. That is what they want. We just have to be cautious though. That's why I was reluctant to bring this up because last year I was flamed a little because people were going on cruises and didn't want to hear anything about this possibility.

[TimPatriot]

We can't. That is what they want. We just have to be cautious though...

I hear you, I think things through as well, can't stick your head in the sand....just makes me angry at the jihadist that they have attacked our way of life and our freedom. As far as the Norwalk virus episodes, I don't know...that actually is a common, highly contagious virus that has been around forever. Our whole family got that from one of the kids 2 years ago. It's just 24 hours of pure hell. I hope that we are totally on the offensive in this war and not holding back due to political realities and collective ignorance. It's good to discuss.

[JustPiper]

Well they better not mess with the freeper cruise:')

And that is when? And where?

[JustPiper]

The Al Qaeda may be planning a series of strikes on the United States and other countries sometime in January/February 2004.

In the ongoing thread there is one pic of a stadium I'm sure your familiar with. My 15 yr old's first words where-Olympics