U.S. Confirms Thwarted Al Qaeda Attack on Green Zone

FOX News ^ | March 15, 2006

[nuconvert]

U.S. Confirms Thwarted Al Qaeda Attack on Green Zone

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Testifying on Capitol Hill today, General John Abizaid said claims by Iraq's Interior Ministry that Al Qaeda terrorists tried to storm the highly secured Green Zone in Baghdad where the U.S. and British embassies are located were true.

Abizaid was asked about the reported plot that allegedly involved more than 400 Al Qaeda operatives infiltrating Iraqi Security Forces and taking over guard posts around the Green Zone which is also the seat of the Iraqi government.

"I think you can look at it that it's a good thing we found out about it before it moved forward and with a good deal of concern that people are trying to infiltrate the national security forces and various branches of the government," he said.

"As sectarian tensions increase, it becomes harder to hold things together. I am confident we can move in a positive direction and the security forces will stay loyal," he added.

Tuesday the interior minister of Iraq had said authorities had foiled the plot that would have put hundreds of its men at critical guard posts around the Green Zone.

A senior Defense Ministry official said the 421 Al Qaeda fighters were actually recruited to storm the U.S. and British embassies and take hostages. Several ranking Defense Ministry officials were jailed in the plot, the official said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information.

[desertlily]

They'll do it again, some day, and then they'll liberate Saddam and return him to power. Every Iraqi knows that this could happen. They're just treading water till it does. Which they don't wish for, but as long as we keep that man in his country, the people will live in fear.

Why are we so flockin' dumb?

[PsyOp]

Sounds like someone was going for a repeat of the Iranian Hostage Crisis. I'd bet money Iran had a dog in that fight.

[Altair333]

I'm sure we have a very large contingent of US Marines at that embassy in addition to regular army troops in the green zone. Plus, they'd have the advantage of defending a fortified position. I don't think even 400 terrorists could do the job.

[TexKat]

U.S. Confirms Thwarted Al Qaeda Attack on Green Zone ping!

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Sounds like someone was going for a repeat of the Iranian Hostage Crisis.

Sounds like a good way to turn American public opinion back in the President's favor.

[Marine_Uncle]

I would be carefull on this one. As al Qaeda continue to be decimated, and for all we know zman and his top lieutenants may have escaped via the eastern border into Iran to make their way farther east, this type of move could be a last ditch attempt at disrupting the finalizing of the government. As you understand, the key rule of al-Qaeda Iraq division is to attempt to create conditions of chaos, sectarian civil war etc.. If this was purely an al-Qaeda planned operation, it is possible it had little to do with remaining Baathist sponsors. And do remember, if Saddam was ever to return to power, al-Qaeda would be sought out and killed.
Zman wants total breakdown of any form of government in Iraq. His goal all along has been to set up conditions that would, in his feeble mind, enhance the chance for a future Caliph state in Iraq. As you understand, I hope, zman is on the record in saying his goals are to destablize all ME countries, start armed revolts (hard core Islamist) to overtake the governments and monarchies, and set up pure Islamic states under the role of Shari'a. Al-Qaeda has no interest in having Saddam spared, nor put into power.

[WLR]

The Council on Foreign Relations has been proven prophetic in their call for Iraq to be divided into 3 parts. I would suggest 4. Kurdistan in the north, Just south of them a small segment for the Chaldeans and Assyrians (Christian) then divide the south into Sunniland and Shialand. Let them be a loose confederation of states but let them split it up.

W

[SouthJrzReaganite18]

Thankfully for us if that's the case, its not Jimmy Carter in charge anymore.

[Marine_Uncle]

Hopefully the pressures shall mount against the SCIRI, Dawa, and other Shia parties to allow for secularist,Sunni candidates, such as Allawi to take the helm as PM, Interior Ministry, and Defense Ministry.
And of course for all parties to work toward eliminating Sadr from the scene. This is the only way things are going to improve over the next half year or so, IMHO.

[Marine_Uncle]

Thanks, just responded minutes before.

[nuconvert]

confirmation pong

[ASA Vet]

As al Qaeda continue to be decimated

A continuous 10% kill rate of remaining Al Qaeda will never get them down to zero, but will get them down to irrelevancy.

[Parmenio]

We dodged a bullet on this one. Their strategy was the same as the Tet offensive. Certainly a suicide mission, but it would have caused an uproar in the US. That's the only way they can win, on the home front. Al Quaeda and the Left both know this.

[Marine_Uncle]

" A continuous 10% kill rate of remaining Al Qaeda will never get them down to zero, but will get them down to irrelevancy."
Roger that.

[TexKat]

Check out what this blogger has to say. I did not link because I do not know whether it is against the rules or not.

http://brandon.redstate.com/story/2006/3/15/1556/35968

This would have been the most successful single Al-Qaeda operation since 9-11. Thank god it failed, but we that it almost succeeded raises some very serious questions that are going to need some serious answers. This plot was uncovered three weeks ago. Think about the timing. There seems little doubt that it was intended to be coordinated in concert with the mosque bombing.

The bombing alone was a close call, requiring the best efforts of everyone to keep it from sending Iraq down the drain. Had both plots worked, Iraq would be a nightmare that we would be hoping to wake up from. As it is, if most of those involved are rounded up, and those in custody are effectively interrogated, it may turn out to be a major blow against Al-Qaeda. We were lucky, but being lucky is not a confidence inspiring strategy.

[ASA Vet]

Tet was a hugh defeat for the VC. This failure by Al Quaeda will soon be touted as another Bush failure.
Truth has nothing to do with reporting as done by the DemonRAT MSM propaganda branch.

[nuconvert]

Interesting.(#16)

[PsyOp]

Sounds like a good way to turn American public opinion back in the President's favor.

In the end though, I think it would be spun and perceived by most as proof that what we are trying to do there will never work and that we should do a Murtha. Unless there was clear proof of outside involvement by Iran or Syria.

Thanks to our own media, we have lost the PR war.

The enemy knows this. They know if they can maintain the perception that we are failing by keeping bombings and killings on the front page, they stand a chance of altering the outcome of our Nov. elections in their favor. They know the Democrats will demogogue the issue and are doing everything thye can to help the like of Pelosi and Kennedy. If Dems win, they win.

They failed to sway the Iraqi election, now they have their sights on ours. It's gonna be a hot summer if they have their way.

[ASA Vet]

We were lucky, but being lucky is not a confidence inspiring strategy.

The blogger is clueless.
Intel gathering and reporting is not based on luck.