Early Al Qaeda Plans Targeted 10 U.S. Sites -Panel

Reuters ^ | June 16, 2004 | Deborah Charles

[QQQQQ]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Al Qaeda had originally planned to crash hijacked planes into 10 targets in the United States and carry out simultaneous attacks in southeast Asia, the panel investigating the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks said on Wednesday.

The commission issued a report saying that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, believed to be the main planner of the Sept. 11 attacks which killed nearly 3,000 people, had originally drawn up a more-extensive scheme in which he would also pilot a hijacked airplane.

Al Qaeda had drawn up a list of targets that originally included the sites hit on Sept. 11 -- the World Trade Center twin towers and the Pentagon -- plus the White House, the U.S. Capitol, CIA and FBI headquarters, nuclear power plants and the tallest buildings in California and Washington state.

According to the commission report, the plot was launched in 1999 when al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden approved a proposal by Mohammed -- who is referred to in the report as KSM -- to use aircraft as weapons.

Mohammed had originally hoped to pilot one of 10 airplanes to be involved in the attacks. But instead of crashing the plane, he would have killed every adult male on board then landed at a U.S. airport to make a speech denouncing U.S. policies in the Middle East.

It gave details of 10 candidate hijackers who were slated to be part of the attacks but were pulled out because they failed to get U.S. visas, faced pressure from their family or had trouble with immigration or security officials.

The actual date of the attacks was not chosen until about three weeks before Sept. 11, the report said. Bin Laden had reportedly pressured Mohammed for an earlier date but the hijackers were not ready.

It said Moussaoui, who took flying lessons in Oklahoma and Minnesota, was being readied to replace Ziad Jarrah, who was apparently showing signs of wanting to pull out of the plot in the summer of 2001.

[QQQQQ]

Some interesting information here:

"the plot was launched in 1999"
Who was president then, for two more years? (1999, 2000)

"The actual date of the attacks was not chosen until about three weeks before Sept. 11"
Almost nobody knew the date until the last minute (3 weeks is last minute in terror attack planning), but "Bush Knew". (/sarcasm)

"10 candidate hijackers who were slated to be part of the attacks but were pulled out because they failed to get U.S. visas, faced pressure from their family or had trouble with immigration or security officials."
Shows that our immigration system can work, and that even terrorists are not all anxious to die for their cause. These were seriously trained terrorists, yet, some of them wanted to pull out. I find that very interesting. I think this is an Achilles heel of the terrorists and we can capitalize on it. That's why we have to be ruthless, when fighting the terrorists: Make them realize that being a terrorist = a very short life, one way or another.

[FlJoePa]

"Mohammed...instead of crashing the plane, he would have killed every adult male on board then landed at a U.S. airport to make a speech denouncing U.S. policies in the Middle East."

Umm, how was he planning on doing this? These people make Pitt fans look sane.

[Steve_Seattle]

"the tallest building in Washington State"

That would be the 80-story Columbia Center, two blocks from where I sit, and right across the street from the newly-named Seattle Municipal Tower (formerly Key Tower), one block from here, to which my office is supposed to be moved in 2006 and where most City of Seattle employees already work.

[Steve_Seattle]

Actually, I got the buildings reversed - the Columbia Center is one block from here, the Seattle Munipal Building/Key Tower, two blocks.

[JamesWilson]

These people make Pitt fans look sane.

And to think I never thought it was possible. ;-)

[GOP_Proud]

< ... faced pressure from their family... >


They TOLD their families? I find that facinating. My family can't keep a secret for 10 minutes...make that 5. It seems like it would be an "I'd have to kill you if I told you" situation.

[The KG9 Kid]

"... These were seriously trained terrorists, yet, some of them wanted to pull out. I find that very interesting. I think this is an Achilles heel of the terrorists and we can capitalize on it. That's why we have to be ruthless, when fighting the terrorists: Make them realize that being a terrorist = a very short life, one way or another."

I think we should take it out on whomever they hold dear: If that means going after their families or hometowns, then so be it.

If they choose to get involved in terrorism, they have to understand that their hometown may go up in flames -- starting with their dearest mother's own kitchen with her in it.

Just call me 'The Hadrian Kid', I guess.

[The KG9 Kid]

"... They TOLD their families? I find that facinating."

I noticed that too. Hence, my previous reply.

[jnarcus]

Oh you must be wrong....every knows that the Aug 6th memo told us EVERYTHING we need to know to prevent the dastardly deeds.... And let's not forget these yahoos also think that there is no credible evidence that links Saddam and ALQaeda...What a farce this has turned out to be

[HighWheeler]

"...the plot was launched in 1999 when al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden approved a proposal by Mohammed..."

Lemme see.

Clinton was first offered Osama on March 3, 1996 at an Arlington VA hotel suite, and turned down the offer.

Looks like Clinton is at fault by sheer incompetence. I wonder if he has included a couple of chapters on this subject in his multi-million dollar book?

[Fedora]

"the tallest building in Washington State"

Ping.