BBC: Palestinian group says responsible for WTC attack (Background of Terrorist Group)

Jerusalem Post ^ | 9/11/01 | Miriam Shaviv

[truthandlife]

The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine has claimed responsibility for the attacks on the World Trade Center, according to the BBC and Abu Dhabi television. However, DFLP sources have denied any involvement.

To read more about the group, click here.

It is unclear who is responsible for today's apparent terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York, but it is unlikely that Palestinian groups are involved, said an expert on international terrorism.

"They have a lot to lose because America would react very harshly against the Palestinians, however it is not impossible that a radical group was involved," said Eli Carmon, of the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center's counter-terrorism department.

Two jets, one of them apparently an American Airlines 767 hijacked from Boston, crashed into the Twin Towers shortly before 9 am. EST.

Carmon noted that the World Trade Center has been targeted once before in 1993, when a bombing killed six people and injured more than 1,000. Carmon said that there have been threats by unidentified Islamic groups to target the World Trade Center again if Sheikh Omar Abdul Rahman, the militant Egyptian cleric, who is serving a life sentence in the US after his conviction in a plot to bomb the United Nations and New York landmarks, was not released.

He added that it is possible that terrorist mastermind Osama Bin-Laden is also involved.

Carmon said that the alleged terrorist attack amounts to a "declaration of war" on the US, and that the US will have to "react in an extremely harsh manner."

Israel, he noted, had already envisioned the possibility of an air attack, and shot down a small plane that took off from Lebanon in May after it flew menacingly into Israeli airspace.

[truthandlife]

Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP)

TERRORIST GROUP PROFILES DUDLEY KNOX LIBRARY Naval Postgraduate School

Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP)

From: Patterns of Global Terrorism, 1998. United States Department of State, April 1999.

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Description

Marxist-Leninist organization founded in 1969 when it split from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Believes Palestinian national goals can be achieved only through revolution of the masses. In early 1980s, occupied political stance midway between Arafat and the rejectionists. Split into two factions in 1991; Nayif Hawatmah leads the majority and more hardline faction, which continues to dominate the group. Joined with other rejectionist groups to form the Alliance of Palestinian Forces (APF) to oppose the Declaration of Principals signed in 1993. Broke from the APF - along with the PFLP - over ideological differences. Has made limited moves toward merging with the PFLP since the mid-1990s.

Activities

In the 1970s, conducted numerous small bombings and minor assaults and some more spectacular operations in Israel and the occupied territories, concentrating on Israeli targets. Involved only in border raids since 1988, but continues to oppose the Israel-PLO peace agreement.

Strength

Estimated at 500 (total for both factions).

Location/Area of Operation

Syria, Lebanon, and the Israeli-occupied territories; terrorist attacks have taken place entirely in Israel and the occupied territories. Conducts occasional guerilla operations in Southern Lebanon.

External Aid

Receives limited financial and military aid from Syria.

Created: 03/26/95
Last Updated: 08/31/99
Page Maintained by the DKL Web Committee.

[Faeroe]

I've been in contact with my friends in ME analysis in DC and they say, and the info in the profile supports their view, that the DFLP doesn't have the organizational ability to pull this off. Whatever else one may say about the paople behind these attacks, they certainly displayed a VERY high level of organizational control and planning. It remains to be seen who might be responsible.

[SauronOfMordor]

Whatever else one may say about the paople behind these attacks, they certainly displayed a VERY high level of organizational control and planning.

The only entity with enough high-quality people to pull this off is a sophisticated nation-state.

In any investigation, the first question must always be: who benefits?

Who would have the most to gain from putting the US into termoil right now, and getting the US military possibly over-committed in the Middle East?

One candidate is China. They want Taiwan. They've said so many times. The US military is an obstacle. Well, if all the US carrier groups are helping carpet-bomb Iraq & Co, they won't be available in the South China Sea if the Chinese decide to blitzkreig Taiwan.

[redhawk]

I've had the same thoughts this morning, no terrorist group could pull this off without the support of a terrorst state (Iraq, Iran, etc).