Zarqawi Planning U.S. Hit?

TIME ^ | 3/13/05 | By ADAM ZAGORIN, TIMOTHY J. BURGER AND BRIAN BENNETT

[ApesForEvolution]

N O T E B O O K Zarqawi Planning U.S. Hit? Intelligence officials say operatives may infiltrate via Central America to strike at soft targets on American soil

By ADAM ZAGORIN, TIMOTHY J. BURGER AND BRIAN BENNETT

Sunday, Mar. 13, 2005 Two weeks after intelligence officials confirmed that Osama bin Laden had sent a message to Jordanian-born terrorist Abu Mousab al-Zarqawi, urging him to plan attacks on U.S. soil, details are emerging from one of al-Zarqawi's lieutenants about what the man behind many of the terrorist attacks in Iraq could have in mind. Intelligence officials tell TIME that interrogation of a member of al-Zarqawi's organization, who was taken into U.S. custody last year and has been described as a top aide, indicates that al-Zarqawi has given ample consideration to assaults on the American homeland. According to a restricted bulletin that circulated among U.S. security agencies last week, the interrogated aide said al-Zarqawi has talked about hitting "soft targets" in the U.S., which could include "movie theaters, restaurants and schools."

The bulletin also notes the Iraq-based master terrorist's apparent belief that "if an individual has enough money, he can bribe his way into the U.S.," specifically by obtaining a "visa to Honduras" and then traveling across Mexico and the southern U.S. border.

Al-Zarqawi's aide also revealed that his boss, after pondering the absence of attacks in the U.S. in recent years, concluded that a lack of "willing martyrs" was to blame. Al-Zarqawi believes, according to his lieutenant, that "if an individual is willing to die, there was nothing that could be done to stop him," even in the U.S. There is no evidence, say intelligence agencies, that al-Zarqawi's agents have infiltrated the U.S. But authorities remain vigilant.

Security sources tell TIME that just last week the FBI sent out two nationwide bulletins warning of a nonspecific threat to railroads in Detroit and Los Angeles. On her visit to Mexico last week, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice issued her own reminder of the border's vulnerability. "There's no secret," Rice told reporters, "that al-Qaeda will try to get into this country ... by any means they possibly can."

[international american]

Evidently.

[Mr. Mojo]

The Mexican Border has been shut down tighter than a drum < / sarc >

It's actually looser than a Deadhead chick's .........;)

[backhoe]

According to a restricted bulletin that circulated among U.S. security agencies last week, the interrogated aide said al-Zarqawi has talked about hitting "soft targets" in the U.S., which could include "movie theaters, restaurants and schools."

I've been beating on this vulnerability for years:

-The Fire Down South...( Latin America--)--

Castro, the Carribean, and Terrorism

-The Web of Terror--

-Terror Tips--

[Happy2BMe]

A FReeper's Guide To Immigration Reform

[johnmilken]

"Why, they want muslims in America taste my fists again?"

Bless, are you new here?
Are you really a Conservative Chinese?
Then I'll extend a warm 'ni hao' and suggest you be careful where you put your fists if you want you stay in American to be a long and pleasant one. On a table or in your pockets would be great options.

'Zai jian, wo de xin de bao shou Zhong Guo peng you'.

[backhoe]

Copied & saved, will pass it on. Thanks.

[Happy2BMe]

Sounded good to me (whatever it was).

[varon]

There is no evidence, say intelligence agencies, that al-Zarqawi's agents have infiltrated the U.S.

This definitive statement is based on what? Do these so called intelligence agencies know every illegal and their motives, that have crossed our borders in the middle of the night?

What do they have now, a policy requiring every illegal terrorist that crosses our borders to register with the FBI and obtain a work permit to do work no American will?

The more public statements these spokespersons make about our intelligence agencies the less confidence I have in them. Something is not right. I smell a rat and I don't mean Democrat!

[Allegra]

Zarqawi's still pretty busy in Iraq.

The guy's not omnipotent.

[Happy2BMe]

Thank you.

I browsed the 'Fire Down South In Latin America' thread briefly.

Surely Fidel would have no part of this.

[Travis McGee]

There are already millions of Spanish-speaking Moroccans who can "pass" for Hispanic. All they need to do is get to Central America.

[johnmilken]

Just 'hello', then 'goodbye by new conservative Chinese friend'.

Chinese rocks, as, in general, do the Chinese.

...although, living in Taiwan, I am about to go to bed knowing that several dozen missiles are aimed at my neigborhood as I sleep!

[Travis McGee]

"There is no evidence, say intelligence agencies, that Osama Bin Ladin's agents have infiltrated the U.S...."

Intelligence agencies, prior to 9-11.

[TheForceOfOne]

I agree, I keep hearing this BS about Hillary Hillary Hillary Hillary geez either they like her or they have no faith in our party. They borders can be secured if we put forth the effort to solve the problem. People didn't think we could beat Hitler either. People thought Iraq and Afghanistan were mistakes. People can be wrong and it is an easy cop out to say we can't do it. You would think we were out of power and not in power the way some speak the way they do. I don't hate them for it, I just want a little faith we can do it. Since when did we need a Democrat to solve our Republican problems?

[Happy2BMe]

It's to the point now in America you can't even buy a piece of furniture (let alone any known electronic device) without it being made in China.

The Mexicans are taking care of all the rest.

(Sleep well.)

[FreeReign]

The bulletin also notes the Iraq-based master terrorist's apparent belief that "if an individual has enough money, he can bribe his way into the U.S.," specifically by obtaining a "visa to Honduras" and then traveling across Mexico and the southern U.S. border.

Our influence in Honduras over the years has bee good. Specifically the CIA and what it has accomplished.

Wasn't it John Negroponte who trained so-called "death squads" in Honduras.

I've always felt that the biggest risk of Visa falsification was Nicaragua. But again Honduras is the border to the north of Nicaragua.

There's more to the story than Time will ever know.

Al-Zarqawi's aide also revealed that his boss, after pondering the absence of attacks in the U.S. in recent years, concluded that a lack of "willing martyrs" was to blame.

It's strange to me that a bunch of Freepers would believe Time magazine who quote unnamed sources who quote terrorists and they soak it like -- milksops.

[MeekOneGOP]

bump! bump! bump!

[Happy2BMe]

"There are already millions of Spanish-speaking Moroccans who can "pass" for Hispanic. All they need to do is get to Central America."

===============================

First link on #23

(America is like a fattened chicken just waiting for the BBQ.)

[MarMema]

The bulletin also notes the Iraq-based master terrorist's apparent belief that "if an individual has enough money, he can bribe his way into the U.S.

Basayev later bragged that he and his convoy of more than 100 heavily-armed rebels had bribed their way through more than 24 checkpoints, joking: "We would have got all the way to Moscow if our money hadn't run out" (Daily Telegraph, September 2).

[hosepipe]

[ The bulletin also notes the Iraq-based master terrorist's apparent belief that "if an individual has enough money, he can bribe his way into the U.S.," ]

If you have enough money you can charter a plane from Cozumel hijack it and fly it into anything you WANT... or from Montreal or Vancouver.. or New York City for that matter..