Breaking the Al-Qaeda code

Timesonline (UK) ^ | 2/13/2005 | Christina Lamb

[1066AD]

Hope they've covered their own security too.

[bahblahbah]

I really wish the State Department gave out there Arabic courses out for free. There is no good online resources for learning Arabic. I'd love to go troll on some Jihad message boards.

[auboy]

BTTT

[doug from upland]

Finally, a plantiff's attorney for whom we can cheer.

[My2Cents]

Yeah, that was my thought. Loose lips...

[marktwain]

Don't be so sure Doug.

But as those involved in the war on terror belatedly realise the importance of following the money trail, more and more officials are coming to Charleston.

This raised red flags with me, as Bush and this administration have said, shortly after 9/11, that going after the money trail was one of their high priorities. It was also one of the prime reasons given for the Patriot Act.

Another red flag is that this attorney was one of the key players in the tobacco lawsuit scam, where lawyers lobbied legislators to change centuries of civil law so that they could sue the tobacco companies - promising the legislators a cut of the action. That is exactly what happened, with current smokers paying the burden, not the tobacco companies.

This looks like another big scam in the making, and this article is greasing the skids.

[doug from upland]

Thanks. Maybe I was premature.

[NewRomeTacitus]

This is a case for those goldanged meddling kids at the Threat Matrix.

[japaneseghost]

These really are the good guys. Motley is close to lawyer Harry Huge, a Charleston/DC big wig lawyer. Harry Huge is very honest, no BS, I know him. Got kicked out of a DC firm because he liked to take on clients who couldn't pay. He is as honest and ethical a lawyer as you're gonna find.

These lawyers made their big bucks, and they're southern gentlemen who have the testicular fortitude to do what's right.

I expect some big things to come from this 'private investigation.'

[ccmay]

Finally, a plantiff's attorney for whom we can cheer.

Maybe, maybe not. I suspect these guys will be suing the hell out of the FAA and other government agencies, as well as the airlines. But if they really to intend to let the dogs out on the Saudi royal family and some of the other Arab co-conspirators, then bully for them.

-ccm

[Cicero]

The tobacco scam was a scandal, but there are some hardnosed people who will do whatever it takes yet may develop a conscience. Evidently he has enough money to be very comfortable for the rest of his life, and this is a real challenge.

Moreover, there could be a lot of money in it if he collects a billion or two from the Saudis and similar terrorist supporters with oil money. I don't think he's looking for donations. I think he's willing to invest a few millions in hopes of doing some good and maybe getting another huge return on his money if he strikes gold.

The U.S. followed the money trail in the early days, but there was a lot of obstructionism from France and other European countries, if you can believe the reports. And the Saudis have simply refused to cooperate at all. This guy has the advantage that he can cut corners in ways the intelligence agencies may be afraid to do, and he can offend political sensibilities without fearing punishment.

It sounds extremely interesting to me. I presume he has the sense to guard himself and his operation well.

[ModelBreaker]

This is one of the first useful acts I have heard of from the plaintiff's bar in a long time. It sounds like they have done a great job of collating a lot of available information into useful form.

[wildbill]

Doesn't this article give enough details to put this man and his operation in deadly danger from terrorists?

Why would they do that?

[Tunehead54]

Doesn't this article give enough details to put this man and his operation in deadly danger from terrorists?

---

My very thought. I like knowing we're using this intelligence but I don't want to know what city its based in much less the office itself. Arrrgh! MSM working against us?

[Santiago de la Vega]

Thanks for posting this article.

This type of database is a crucial step in destroying the power of petrodollars.

Notice the first search concerned bank accounts. There is where our resources must go if we're ever to defeat terrorism.

It's not enough just to kill the existing terrorists - though that's essential - we must also defeat the funding mechanism.

There's an unlimited supply of idiots willing to throw away their lives for some loony Islamic ideology. All they require is a pile of money to hire them, compensate their families, and put the bomb in their hands.

Until we choke off the money, the killing won't stop.

Thanks again.

[libstripper]

One of the most surprising things about the war in Iraq and our response to 9/11 is apparently how little we've used the tremendous resource of Iraquis who fled here to esacpe Saddam. Each of these people who knew English should have, if possible, been recruited as a translator, given a pile of documents, a scanner, and a computer and put to work. If they're doing it here instead of in Iraq, they would be relatively safe and, as a group, would be a tremendous assist in the WOT.

[Smokin' Joe]

Hope they've covered their own security too.

There should be enough data here in the article(if accurate) to imperil not only the home office, but several key figures as well.

I bet it will be a while before anyone else from the media gets access.

[Calpernia]

ping

[TADSLOS]

...said Motley, who works from an enormous yacht named Themis...

So much for security...

[SunkenCiv]

The EU is too busy dictating how everyone should make pizza or embalm the dead to worry about sharing law enforcement information. And the bus drivers can't possibly keep their timetable if they have to stop to pick up passengers.