Posted on 01/30/2002 3:41:41 PM PST by anniegetyourgun
SEATTLE - NBC News is reporting that the Space Needle in Seattle - a high-profile landmark in America's Pacific Northwest - was apparently a target for al-Qaida terrorists.
U.S. officials tell NBC News evidence found in Afghanistan uncovered plans to attack the high-profile Space Needle along with other monuments in Washington State, including massive hydroelectric dams, like the Grand Coulee.
According to the NBC News report, plans were also found that targeted the Los Angeles International Airport for a second time. An earlier plot to bomb the airport was foiled two years ago when convicted terrorist Ahmed Ressam was arrested crossing the border into the U.S. at Port Angeles, Washington.
NBC News added U.S. officials report American troops in Afghanistan have recovered designs and diagrams that target U.S. nuclear power plants and water facilities and surveillance photos of U.S. monuments and landmarks.
One plot apparently included an attack on the U.S. mint in Philadelphia.
President Bush revealed the deadly terrorist plots during his State of the Union speech Tuesday night.
The Grand Coulee Dam holds back 421 billion cubic feet of water "We have seen the depth of our enemies' hatred in video where they laugh about the loss of innocent life. And the depth of their hatred is equaled by the madness of the destruction they design,” said Bush.
Algerian Ahmed Ressam, 34, was arrested in December of 1999 when he tried to cross the U.S-Canadian border at Port Angeles, Washington, with explosives in the trunk of his car. An investigation into his arrest uncovered a terrorist plot that targeted Los Angeles International Airport and implicated that the Space Needle as a potential target.
The incident incited a terrorism scare that prompted then Seattle Mayor Paul Schell to cancel the Space Needle New Years millennium celebrations at the Seattle Center, which drew as many as 40,000 people to its New Year's Eve party - one of the best turnouts ever.
After Ressam’s arrest, many questioned whether the Space Needle was a bonafide terrorist target. The evidence uncovered in Afghanistan now lends to some credence that the Space Needle was indeed a target.
Ressam was brought to trial and convicted in April of 2001. In an effort to reduce his 130-year prison term for his part in the terrorist plot, Ressam cooperated with authorities by providing crucial information about Zacarias Massaoui, the only person indicted in the September 11th attacks.
Ressam has told the FBI that he saw Moussaoui at a training camp they both attended a few years ago, the law enforcement official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Moussaoui, a French citizen of Moroccan descent, is charged with conspiracy to murder thousands in connection with the Sept. 11 attacks.
Okay, I'll profile and you check the grannies. Guess who'll get more terrorists? (I do agree with your concerns about the threat coming from a new and unexpected direction/source)
Years ago when I worked in a bank, we were always reminded not to be any more suspicious of the grubby guy in tattered clothes than the guy in the three piece suit.
Terrorists are undoubtedly masters of deceit and have strived diligently to infiltrate and blend into common society where it serves their purpose.
I guess we need to remember that actions speak louder than words and appearances.
if you ever dream a lottery number, could you please email it to me?
Profiling need not be a trap, just one of many productive tools that must not lay unused in our 'toolbox.'
Ok, now I am tired....;-)
Major population centers are typically democrat strongholds with all the liberal leftist crap emminating. Forgive me, but if some of these social garbage heaps were leveled by terrorist actions, or parts of city given a strong dose of World Reality, it just might wake scare enough of the Utopian crap out of those general populace's to tilt the political landscape back to something sensible.
I sometimes wonder if everything doesn't happen for a reason, or if there isn't a silver lining in every cloud:)
Why, I NEVER! Hummmppppfffffff
Seriously, folks, MM's right. Very right. I'd be real surprised if it's NOT already being planned by some fringe group. Of whites. In America.
You mean like the average looking American today in the SF airport? These people are highy sophisticated and we must never ever forget that.
and it won't be over during my life. or, it might continue until 3000 a.d.
when did mohammed sweep outta the deserts and across northern africa?--640s a.d.
aren't religions fun?
How old are you, my fellow poster?
OK, I'm gonna step waaaaayyy out on a limb here....and dispute your statement. What those idiots did on 9-11 and what they're still planning on doing, is NOT religion. They're murderers hiding behind the name of religion.
therefore it follows that the violence in ireland, israel, and india will end soon.
Ken, it'll end when Jesus returns to this earth and establishes His kingdom. Not a moment sooner.
but, the more i think about it, the onus is then on you to explain why those suicide bombers come forward "in the name of allah" and kill innocents?
obviously they don't think as you or other civilized people.
i doubt that there is an answer. christians sent armies on the crusades.
it just goes on and on and on.
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