9/11 Plot Began in Malaysia, Finalized at Spanish Resort

Washington Post ^ | 07/14/2002 | Peter Finn

[Pokey78]

TARRAGONA, Spain -- On the morning of July 9, 2001, Mohamed Atta drove a silver Hyundai rental car east out of Madrid toward this Mediterranean beach area, a ribbon of resorts crowded with vacationers. The attacks on New York and the Pentagon were just weeks away and Atta was headed to a secret meeting to complete the planning, according to U.S. officials and a Spanish police investigation of the lead hijacker's movements.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

.

[Dixie Mom]

From the article:

Atta's and Binalshibh's movements in the area were first detailed by the Spanish newspaper El Pais.

No Vacancies

According to Pere Gomez, the hotel manager, the receptionist on duty declined to rent them a room, despite vacancies, because she didn't like the look of Binalshibh; the other man stayed in the car and the receptionist did not get a clear view of him, the hotel manager said. The two drove off to the nearby Hotel Tropicana, which was full but whose receptionist offered to call other hotels to find the pair a room. She located a double room -- back at the Hotel Monica.

The Hotel Monica?

[spanky_mcfarland]

Good observation and lame humor attempt...A blowjob vs. the most horrible act of violence ever seen on American soil. Geez, where is the balance in your thinking?

[thegreatbeast]

I actually start drooling thinking about these guys being out there, and the infinitesimal chance that Providence might let me get within arm's length of any of these actors! I wish we could see photographs of all these bastards; you never know when they might be useful.

[Dixie Mom]

Geez yourself, spanky. Do you see a smiley face or emoticon anywhere? It was not a joke. I thought it was a peculiar detail that I had not seen reported previously. @@

[RandyRep]

Thanks for posting this. Fascinating article, and apparently good detective work on both sides of the Atlantic - if one believes it. It shows what we are up against - open borders, lax security, etc.

Unfortunately, it seems like only the Washington Post and New York Times have the staff depth and knowledge base to routinely do this type of reporting. I know there are a few others for the news magazines and the WashTimes, but it seems like the WP and NYT routinely have articles like this.

Which raises the point - how do the reporters obtain this information. Digging through the Spanish police reports? Probably getting to know the police folks in Spain, plus having government contacts ("US officials"). Sources are sources, and sources often have agenda.

And the other issue in my mind is - how reliable is this report? What spin does the reporter put on it - it seems pretty factual to me, not biased one way or another.