Bin Laden Said To Have NukesPosted on 09/12/2001 6:09:38 PM PDT by Uncle Bill
Bin Laden Said To Have Nukes
Report: Extent of fugitive leader's arsenal 'no longer a doubt'
WorldnetDaily
By Jon Dougherty
© 2001 WorldNetDaily.com
April 28, 2001
Fugitive Saudi terrorist-sponsor Osama bin Laden is now known to have nuclear weapons, putting to rest previous speculation that left the possibility open, according to a weekly intelligence newsletter.
A report published in this week’s Geostrategy-Direct.com newsletter, edited in part by Washington Times staffers Bill Gertz and Robert Morton, indicated that bin Laden's possession of nuclear devices "is no longer a doubt."
"Saudi billionaire fugitive Osama bin Laden has nuclear weapons. The question is how many," the report said.
Gertz told WND he didn't write the assessment, but that the newsletter's primary editor, Morton, had a stringer in the Mideast who verified the information. Morton was out of his office and could not be reached for comment.
"Russian intelligence sources who are fighting bin Laden members in Chechnya believe [he] has a handful of tactical nuclear weapons," said the report. "Arab intelligence sources say the Al Qaida head has as many as 20 weapons."
Al Qaida is the name of the terrorist group bin Laden leads.
The report says "both sides agree" that the Saudi terrorist managed to acquire his weapons by supporting the Chechen cause with money and volunteers, in exchange for nuclear materials and technology.
Bin Laden "received [it] from Chechen insurgents who raided [Russian] nuclear installations for fuel and components around the former Soviet Union," the report said.
"With that came the recruits from among scientists from the former Soviet Union. The rest was easy," said Geostrategy-Direct.com.
The report said the actual location of the weapons is unknown, but "the assessment by both Arab and Russian sources is that bin Laden has managed to sneak at least some of the components to his lair in Afghanistan."
Bin Laden is one of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives. He is wanted in connection with the Aug. 7, 1998, bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa -- one in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and the other in Nairobi, Kenya. Over 200 were killed in the attacks.
He is believed to have a connection to the Oct. 12 bombing of the destroyer USS Cole as it refueled in Yemen, WND reported Oct 26.
The State Department had no comment on the report, but other intelligence officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told WND that any reports dealing with bin Laden are taken seriously.
"Reports regarding bin Laden are always taken seriously and investigated," the official said. "He clearly poses a threat to U.S. interests around the world, so you can't dismiss every rumor out of hand. It wouldn't be prudent to do that."
In January, the New York Times -- quoting U.S. officials -- said bin Laden's organization was making attempts to manufacture chemical weapons and "buy enriched uranium," one of the main components of a nuclear device.
But as far back as August 1999, counter-terrorism experts said bin Laden may have acquired "up to 20 nuclear devices."
"Yosef Bodansky, a researcher of the House Task Force for Counter-terrorism and author of a new book on bin Laden, told a news conference on Friday that bin Laden has been seeking to follow up on his bombings of two U.S. embassies in east Africa one year ago. Echoing U.S. officials, Bodansky said bin Laden was thwarted in plans to blow up the U.S. embassy and two consulates in India last December and January," WorldTribune.com reported.
"It was also reported that bin Laden has biological, chemical and nuclear weapons and has received technical help from Iraq, Bodansky said. The nuclear weapons include suitcase bombs acquired through Chechen rebels," the paper said.
"The Russians believe that he has a handful [of nuclear weapons]. The Saudi intelligence services are very conservative. ... They are friendly to the United States [and] believe that he has in the neighborhood of 20," Bodansky said, as quoted by the Internet paper.
Bin Laden reportedly obtained and purchased the suitcase bombs from multiple sources, he said. He has a "collection of individuals knowledgeable in activating the bombs" and "is recruiting former Soviet special forces [to learn] how to operate the bombs behind enemy lines," Bodansky said.
He noted that, according to his research, most of the weapons had been transferred through Pakistan.
Related stories:
Oklahoma City Blast Linked To Bin Laden
Suspect Pegged In Cole Bombing
Bin Laden Calls For War Against U.S.
FBI Admits That Russian Nuclear Suitcases Hidden In Secret Locations In U.S.
Are Suitcase Nukes on the Loose?
FRONTLINE: Atomic Suitcase Bombs
Former Soviet spy: Small nuclear devices planted in U.S. 
"A hooded, former Soviet spy with tales of threats to U.S. security was the star witness at a congressional hearing this week in California. The one-time military intelligence colonel testified that suitcase-sized nuclear devices are hidden on U.S. soil. "
Saudi Money Aiding Terrorist bin Laden
USA TODAY
By Jack Kelley
10/28/99- Updated 11:12 PM ET
WASHINGTON - More than a year after the U.S. Embassy bombings in East Africa, prominent businessmen in Saudi Arabia continue to transfer tens of millions of dollars to bank accounts linked to indicted terrorist Osama bin Laden, senior U.S. intelligence officials told USA TODAY.
The money transfers, which began more than five years ago, have been used to finance several terrorist acts by bin Laden, including the attempted assassination in 1995 of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Ethiopia, the officials said.
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is expected to raise the issue with Prince Sultan, the Saudi defense minister, during his visit to Washington next week. Saudi Arabia, the main U.S. ally in the Persian Gulf, has pledged to fight terrorism.
According to a Saudi government audit acquired by U.S. intelligence, five of Saudi Arabia's top businessmen ordered the National Commercial Bank (NCB), the kingdom's largest, to transfer personal funds, along with $3 million diverted from a Saudi pension fund, to New York and London banks.
The money was deposited into the accounts of Islamic charities, including Islamic Relief and Blessed Relief, that serve as fronts for bin Laden.
The businessmen, who are worth more than $5 billion, are paying bin Laden "protection money" to stave off attacks on their businesses in Saudi Arabia, intelligence officials said. Bin Laden, whose family runs the largest Saudi construction firm, has called for the overthrow of the Saudi government.
The money transfers were discovered in April after the royal family ordered an audit of NCB and its founder and former chairman, Khalid bin Mahfouz, U.S. officials say. Mahfouz is now under "house arrest" at a military hospital in the Saudi city of Taif, intelligence officials said.
His successor, Mohammad Hussein Al-Amoudi, also heads the Capital Trust Bank in New York and London, which U.S. and British officials are investigating for allegedly transferring money to bin Laden. Amoudi's Washington lawyer, Vernon Jordan, could not be reached for comment.
Mahfouz's son, Abdul Rahman Mahfouz, is on the board of Blessed Relief in Sudan. Suspects in the Mubarak attack are linked to the charity.
Bin Laden faces U.S. criminal charges for allegedly masterminding the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania that killed 224 people. Bin Laden, who is in Afghanistan, denies the charges.
Saudi Ambassador Prince Bandar bin Sultan declined to comment on the reports.
[End of Transcript]
Bin Laden Funneled Money Through UAE Bank
Bin Laden Getting Financial Support - Links
Osama Bin Laden’s International Terror Network
Orrin Hatch Was BCCI’s Mouthpiece
Gold Depositories Buried Beneath Trade Center Rubble
..
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This is a game of poker. W knows a bluff when he sees one, expecially since he's holding all the cards.
Shays, who has held 18 hearings on terrorism over the last two and a half years, delivered the frightening warning in an interview with WABC Radio's Sean Hannity.
"We've known for years that the host countries have developed nuclear and biological agents and that they haven't been reluctant to share them with the terrorists."
I'm sure you're all feeling safe knowing that the FBI and the CIA are such pillars of integrity. (haha)
Pakistan still evasive on "full cooperation" with planned US strikes
Pakistan's 'godfathers of the Taliban' hold the key to hunt for bin Laden
Bin Laden Claimed Pakistan's Nukes Are His
Pakistan’s Nuclear and Missile Facilities Revealed
Pakistan’s Nuclear Punch Experts: India’s Neighbor Can Act Fast
An Elusive Warlord's Deadly 'Sleepers'
Russian Spooks Still Spying on U.S. - Sleepers
Suicide terrorism: a global threat - October 20, 2000
Suicide bomber Dhanu with a sandlewood garland minutes before attacking former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. She is wearing an explosive device beneath her dress, intended to kill her and her target.
Manual Advised Terrorists How to Act
Al-Qa'eda henchman found refuge in Manchester (details of terrorist manual)
U.S. acquires reputed terrorism guide - USA Today - September 17, 2000
Bin Laden CD-ROM Terrorist Manual Found
Bin Laden CD-ROM Terrorist Manual Found
Includes Bomb and Assassination Instructions
Sept. 18, 2000
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) -- U.S. intelligence agencies have obtained CD-ROM copies of a six-volume manual they believe is used by Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden to train recruits at his terrorism camps in Afghanistan, USA TODAY reported.
The 1,000-page manual contains information on how to recruit followers, shoot weapons, carry out assassinations and other terrorist operations and assemble bombs similar to those that destroyed U.S. embassies in east Africa in 1998, the paper reports in today's editions, citing unnamed U.S. intelligence officials.
Bin Laden, who is believed to be in Afghanistan, has been indicted in the United States in connection with the attacks in Kenya and Tanzania that killed more than 200 people.
He has denied involvement.
USA TODAY said the CIA and FBI declined to comment on the manual, but that other intelligence officials called it a "gold mine" of information they hope to use to help slow or disrupt terrorist operations.
It said the manual, in CD-ROM form, recently was given to the CIA and the FBI by intelligence officials from Jordan, who seized it from one of 16 men arrested in Jordan in December for allegedly planning New Year's attacks in Israel and Jordan.
The paper quoted U.S. officials as saying they have "positively confirmed" copies of the manual were distributed by bin Laden.
Bin Laden's Manual A Bestseller - "Encyclopedia"
"BLOWBACK" - Jane's International Security News
All is well. I heard George today saying that employees of the CIA were staying late, sleeping on the floor and eating pizza. Hopefully, Clinton won't hear about the female CIA workers eating pizza.
Texasbluebell - see the articles regarding the "sleepers" above. These people are planted deep within our society ALL over the country.
"And miles to go before I sleep..."
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