Posted on 01/22/2007 12:16:37 PM PST by maquiladora
Edited on 01/22/2007 12:29:11 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
ABC NEWS: DOCS SEIZED IN IRAQ REVEAL INSURGENT PLAN FOR ATTACK IN U.S.
Suspects, Reportedly Tied to Al Qaeda in Iraq, Sought Student Visas
WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2007 — Mimicking the hijackers who executed the Sept. 11 attacks, insurgents reportedly tied to al Qaeda in Iraq considered using student visas to slip terrorists into the United States to orchestrate a new attack on American soil.
Lt. Gen. Michael D. Maples, head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, recently testified that documents captured by coalition forces during a raid of a safe house believed to house Iraqi members of al Qaeda six months ago "revealed [AQI] was planning terrorist operations in the U.S."
At the time, Maples offered little additional insight into the possible terror plot. ABC News, however, has learned new details of what remains a classified incident that has been dealt with at the highest levels of government.
Watch the full report tonight on "World News with Charles Gibson."
Sources tell ABC News that the plot may have involved moving between 10 and 20 suspects believed to be affiliated with al Qaeda in Iraq into the United States with student visas — the same method used by the 19 al Qaeda terrorists who struck American targets on Sept. 11.
U.S. officials now require universities to closely track foreign nationals who use student visas to study in the United States. University officials must report international students who fail to arrive on campus or miss class regularly.
In August, the FBI and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement alerted intelligence agencies and state and local law enforcement about 11 Egyptian students who had failed to report to their classes at Montana State University. The students were ultimately apprehended.
Still, despite the heightened precautions, some security analysts fear that skilled terrorists — handpicked because of their clean records and because they are carefully trained — could still slip through an academic setting.
The plot was discovered six months ago, roughly the same time that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, was killed by coalition forces. Sources tell ABC News that the suspects involved in the effort to launch the U.S. attack were closely associated with Zarqawi.
The plan also came only months after Ayman al-Zawahiri, al Qaeda's No. 2, had requested that Zarqawi attempt an attack inside the United States.
"This appears to be the first hard evidence al Qaeda in Iraq was trying to attack us here at home," said ABC News consultant Richard Clarke, former chief counterterrorism adviser on the U.S. National Security Council.
The plan was uncovered in its early stages, and sources say there is no indication that the suspects made it into the United States. Officials also emphasize that there is no evidence of an imminent attack.
The hunt for suspects continues, however, and some fear that al Qaeda recruits in Iraq could be easily redirected.
"Anyone willing to go to Iraq to fight American troops is probably willing to try to come to the United States," Clarke said.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=2813235&page=1
Students, and foreign students especially, are supposed to show up a week or several weeks in advance of classes for orientations and such.
Traitors like these are satisfied if their treason harms President Bush and the US...they don't need anything else to feed their BDS!
Oh, I remember that story. There was a lot about that story that didn't make sense.
There's also an enrollment deadline, usually a couple weeks before classes. (I'm not sure how the foreign student registrations works, but it seems as if safeguards were in place, and worked as designed) It's most probable they were red flagged during registration.
OH OH NOT GOOD
RE: #76. Wouldn't it be a little strange to get busted in August 2006, for not showing up for your college course, which, by the way, doesn't even START until September 6!?!
Some things here don't add up.
Perfect description of the way the moonbats think!!
See my #104 for a theory.
Hillary to Mark Halprin to the publc.
Not exactly Tinkers to Evers to Chance.
BOY Iraqi terrorists must be tick off that team didn't win
The only problem there is that it's not just the liberal mind that works in. The overwhelming majority of jihadist propaganda runs directly down that line, as well.
One of the most fascinating aspects of al-Qa'ida is it's ability to mutate and adapt. In this regard, they may well be incorporating the words of American left wingers, as they find that subverting propaganda already in use is very effective.
So, true or not, your "logical progression" arguement is used not only by liberals, but by terrorist recruiters.
"This outta get the conspiracy moonbats tweaking, coming just before SOTU."
Ah! But "24" is on tonight. ;)
ABC = Spies and Saboteurs
When are we going to see TREASON TRIALS?
I concur.
Wonder if any 18-wheelers will be used in tonite's 24.
And of course 9-11 was a direct result of Bush getting elected (or stealing the election)!
...or the left will say, "See, if we weren't in Iraq, these people would mean us no harm."
Charlie Gibson!!!!!
You ought to b charged with TREASON.
Well, we know whose fault this is. If we'd just sat down and talked with them, we could have found out what they wanted, bargained a little, and everyone would be happy. (From dem handbook...They really believe this.)Forget that they murdered more than 3000 Americans, etc. Just give them what they want. They don't care who gets killed as long as it's not themselves or anyone they mix with at cocktail parties. As long as they can continue their upscale lifestyle, the rest of us should sit down and shut up.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.