Al-Qaida likely planning unprecedented attack by sea, analyst says

The Associated Press ^ | 3/17/04 8:27 AM | D'ARCY DORAN

[freeperfromnj]

SINGAPORE (AP) -- The al-Qaida terror network likely is planning an unprecedented maritime attack, hitting targets on land with ships carrying chemical, biological or dirty bomb weapons, a defense analyst said Wednesday.

The terrorist network could easily exploit weaknesses in shipping companies' crew selection procedures by planting sleeper agents on vessels to eventually seize them, said Michael Richardson, a senior researcher at Singapore's Institute of Southeast Asian Studies who writes extensively on Asian security issues.

[Atlantic Friend]

Could work. And if I remember well, there are no shortage of pirates in the Indonesian straits. A friend of mine almost had its merchant vessel captured when taking that sea lane. So even without sleeper agents, all terrorists need is a dedicated prize crew.

[traumer]

- suppose there is an oil tanker by the US shore FULLY loaded - behaving suspiciously...
- suppose it doesn't listened to warnings and shoots back

Are we ready to sink it and face a huge oil spill disaster ??

[freeperfromnj]

all terrorists need is a dedicated prize crew.

Yes. The ferry that recently went up in flames in the Philippines comes to mind.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Most big tankers anchor out of the harbor and unload via a floating pipe connection.

[Atlantic Friend]

These pirates are something out of Barbary Coast. They take the sea with rusted hulls and small boats and get lost in the chaotic maritime navigation, hidden in all the trawlers, ferries, cargoes, etc.

They then as a pack of jackals, concentrate on the merchant vessel they target and either try to get aboard unnoticed or threaten the smaller ships with RPGs. Their goal is usually the cargo hold, but sometimes they also take hostages in ships carrying passengers.

Similar groups operate from Somalia, so you can't really assume you're safe from The Suez Canal to Japanese waters.

[Semper Paratus]

no shortage of pirates in the Indonesian straits

Go on the offensive and have Congress start issuing Letters of Marquis.

[dljordan]

There was a drill we practiced when I was in Navy boot camp back in 1968 which I don't think they do today. They would sound General Quarters and say "Stand by to repel boarders". Very handy if you're on a ship. Of course you need to be well armed and have a healthy supply of blood-thirsty 18 year-olds to pull it off.

[Dallas59]

Kerry and Dean would blame Bush for it.

[mtbopfuyn]

By Air - WTC

By Land - Madrid

By Sea - ?

[Atlantic Friend]

Ha, I'd really like to see that ! My job is helping fishermen to modernize and organize themselves, and I often think we should arm the trawlers and let them sort out their little quarrels... And in case they want a trial and a lawyer, the good old Naval Justice Code is here to settle the grudge once and for good.

My friend told me the most valuable merchandises were now guarded by an armed crew or by security personnel in these areas.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Could work. And if I remember well, there are no shortage of pirates in the Indonesian straits."

Well, it "could work" in the sense that it might be possible to actually pull off such an attack. However, the final result would NOT be the expected/desired collapse of the United States, but an uproar of outrage and determination that would result in the full mobilization of US might and determination (a la World War II). The US is NOT a bunch of "wussie pussies" like much of Europe.

[oh8eleven]

Of course you need to be well armed and have a healthy supply of blood-thirsty 18 year-olds to pull it off.
Or one Marine. Semper Fi ...

[Atlantic Friend]

Yes, of course, that's what I meant. Pulling off such an attack is reasonably doable, but only with realistic consequences : it would mean horrendous human and material losses, but also iron resolve for all civilized nations (even us Wussie Pussies) to crush them underfoot.

[Marauder]

It may get to the point that ships, like aircraft, are required to file a voyage plan which is entered into a database. Then it would have to remain on course under threat of attack if it strays.

Maybe IFF/location transponders - controlled via satellite - issued upon successful filing of voyage plan. If a ship is found with no IFF signals and queries are ignored, then it's scuttle time.

Bomb the boat into the sea, and drop a FAE to ensure that we take no prisoners; the recent release of those 119 people from Gitmo is going to come back to haunt us, regardless of what the liberal judges, celebs, and ACLU whacks say.

[freeperfromnj]

the recent release of those 119 people from Gitmo is going to come back to haunt us

I'm still trying to figure that one out.

[TheRightGuy]

al-Qaida's .. head of naval operations

Is this the guy that drive the inflatable boat?

[kjam22]

the recent release of those 119 people from Gitmo is going to come back to haunt us

I'm still trying to figure that one out.

I'd bet money we have a way of tracking each of these guys....

[Capriole]

You know, there are times when I look at stories like this and think, How can they ever be defeated? There are a billion of 'em, and any one of them could by a sleeper agent bent on destruction. I look around me, just living in a pleasant suburban neighborhood, and I can see a million opportunities for an evil person to commit mass murder and destruction. How can this ever be stopped? We can't watch or fight a billion Islamites.

[The_Reader_David]

But an attack would not need to deviate from the voyage plan if it was an attack on a destination port or a narrow strait through which the ship was scheduled to sail. It wouldn't even need to involve seizing a ship, just opening a large enough security breach that a shipment of radiological or chemical bombs could be brought on board with the cargo and not detected until in the target port.