Intelligence 'Chatter' Links LAX Shooting to Al Qaeda Plot (Hedayet)

Newsmax ^ | Sunday July 21, 2002; 4:02 p.m. EDT

[flamefront]

Communications intercepts by U.S. intelligence agencies indicate that the July 4th attack on El Al Airlines at Los Angeles International Airport may have been an al Qaeda dry run in preparation for a larger attack, two members of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security said Sunday.

Asked on CNN's "Late Edition" whether the committee had developed any information linking LAX shooter Mohamed Hedayet to al Qaeda, ranking Democrat Jane Harman, D-Calif., described a meeting she attended at LAX last Monday, where FBI and Transportation Security Administration officials revealed that "chatter" monitored by U.S. investigators pointed to a tie-in.

"They're investigating it. I mean, there is chatter, as we now say, that (Hedayet) may have been affiliated - but there's no proof," said Harman.

The California Democrat said U.S. intelligence intercepts have picked up "people suggesting that he might have been connected. He might have been a trial balloon to see how tight security is and then there may be other attacks on security lines."

Harman emphasized again that there was no proof tying the LAX shooter to al Qaeda, saying, "I want people listening to this show to understand, this is all under investigation but there is no proof at this time that he is linked to any terrorist organization."

But committee chairman Saxby Chambliss, D-Ga., confirmed that they had information suggesting the LAX attack was an al Qaeda decoy operation.

"They may have been trying to get us to concentrate and get to a higher level of preparation for July 4th and then be really thinking about coming back with some acts of terrorism later on after our guard was down," he told CNN.

Chambliss cited interviews with al Qaeda prisoners as well as intercepts by U.S. intelligence.

"As we go through the interrogation process of them we're picking up bits and pieces - that's part of the chatter that she mentioned," he told CNN. "And in that chatter there will be some intentional statements by these criminals to try to get us off guard and try to get us focused in a different direction."

[flamefront]

So, perhaps actually not a JAII - just another isolated incident as has been guessed from the beginning.

[cardinal4]

So, perhaps actually not a JAII - just another isolated incident as has been guessed from the beginning.

No,its just another example of how easily available guns are to right -wing crazies./sarcasm

[Clara Lou]

She stresses that there's "no proof." What difference does it make if there's proof? The dead are dead. A Muslim did it on the 4th of July after he sent his family back to Egypt. Who needs proof?

[jigsaw]

...coming back with some acts of terrorism later on after our guard was down....

Oh, Heavens! Does anyone really think the Democrats would allow America's guard down? Why, they all have the phrase "We Care" tattoed across their hearts. (I know 'cause I wuz in a Thruway restroom recently and saw one of them tattoos when some Dem dropped his drawers. Ya gotta trust me on this one. Really. Had a photo but PhotoMart wouldn't return it. Honest.)

[thucydides]

During recent trips to the airport, I have seen large lines caused by the ineffective and politically correct security procedures, and have thought the large crowds of people outside security would be the next target. It's not like no one can expect it: there have been a number of previous terrorist attacks on airport check in lines. Best to use carryon luggage and at least avoid the baggage check lines.

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

The guilty must be protected.

[Clara Lou]

If the guy had left a suicide note or had actually known the people he killed, the suicide or gone-postal options might be viable. I don't understand why the gov wants to keep JohnQ from believing it's terrorism. What's the benefit of doing so? Smaller homicide missions like this-- smaller than the WTC, I mean-- are relatively easy to do and are what's happening in Israel.

[ladyinred]

Gee, who knew? (sarcasm)

[Fithal the Wise]

Almost a month and still waiting for info on what should a simple matter to determine.

Who did Hedayet work for from 1992 until he started his limo service?

Did he have an employee or contractor relationship with MERCURY AIR GROUP or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates?

[Mike Darancette]

So, perhaps actually not a JAII - just another isolated incident as has been guessed from the beginning.

As the shooter said, "Read the Koran".

[TomGuy]

Smaller homicide missions like this-- smaller than the WTC, I mean-- are relatively easy to do and are what's happening in Israel.

It is called "death by a thousand cuts." The purpose is to eek away, slowly, methodically. This very well could be the intermediate plan. A little attack here, a little bomb there. Just small incidents that easily get pushed aside--no proof of larger terrorism, for example. They could use these small incidents or use them while they are also building their resources for another massive attack.

We can only hope the FBI and various governmental agencies are doing much more than we know. Maybe the recent Keystone Kops type actions are actually a decoy.

[AM2000]

I don't understand why the gov wants to keep JohnQ from believing it's terrorism.

Well, the problem really is in the word itself. What is terrorism? If any crime that creates terror in atleast one other person is terrorism, then almost every case of violent crime in this country is terrorism. The FBI is only trying to set a definition for the term (any definition would be arbitrary) and being consistent with the definition it has set. There is nothing wrong with that, as long as they don't lie or cover up the facts of the case. John Q is smart enough to hear the facts and make his/her own judgements, regardless of terminology.

[AM2000]

It is called "death by a thousand cuts."

The irony is that "death by a thousand cuts" was something the CIA taught the Afghan mujahideen. They then used it, with great success, against the Soviets. In later years, the Pakistani ISI tried to use it against the Indians, with varying degrees of success. And now, "they" are using it against us.

[Pylot]

I think it is because our federal government knows that Americans can get really nasty with others if they feel pressed or threatened.

When a member of a US Civil Rights Commission openly and publicly worrys about Americans demanding that those of Middle Eastern descent be rounded up and detained you know it is not an idle thought. I have to agree with this fellows thoughts on the matter. I would add that if the government does not do somthing pre emptive, Americans might just go on a jihad of their own and being a society famous for instant gratification those of Middle Eastern descent would be in extreme danger. I am not advocating this behavior, I am just pointing out that one more sensless act of mass violence and the American Gloves are likely to come off.

See this link:

http://www.freep.com/news/metro/civil20_20020720.htm

Many have already asked repeatedly why we are allowiing any one from the Middle East easy access to this country.

Perhaps there are some other unintended consequences of this action, like actually sealing up our southern borders, that worry our spineless political class.

[Clara Lou]

I can agree with asking why we're permitting anyone from certain countries to enter this one. I have a huge problem with internment camps, by that name or any other, at this point in time. Who will be put in them? Just anybody Middle Eastern? Just anybody Muslim? It would be wrong.

[watchwoman]

After the LAX incident, Israeli leaders said they would consider it an act of terrorism until proved otherwise. I think they have the right idea. Our leaders tend to take the opposite view -- they start with the premise that it is NOT terrorism, and they set out to prove it isn't (...like TWA 800, for instance.)

[Clara Lou]

OK-- now tell me, if flight 800 was a dyed-in-the-wool act of terrorism, why didn't anyone claim to be the doer? What's the value of committing such an act if you're not going to use its propaganda value?

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..Harman emphasized again that there was no proof tying the LAX shooter to al Qaeda...

Then why does the article's title directly contradict that?

[piasa]

Because she also said this:

"They're investigating it. I mean, there is chatter, as we now say, that (Hedayet) may have been affiliated - but there's no proof," said Harman.

The headline is sensationalist in the conclusion it leads you to (if you don't read the article you might conclude that the 'chatter' about a link is coming from US officials), but the headline is technically correct in that 'the chatter' from overheard conversations indicates that there is a link. It's just that by government standards, but 'chatter' is not considered sufficient proof as it could very well be be a couple of people on the watch list who really don't know anything about the event, just doing some speculating for themselves, or trying to mislead those listening in.

Even if there was a link, no one's going to jump out and take credit for this one since it wasn't all that successful. As a rule, groups don't take credit for anything that comes off poorly- it would make them look ineffective. And it did look more like something put on by one guy than a plan put together by a cell of experienced people.

[BigBobber]

As I posted on a previous thread after this shooting occured - the future target could well be the thousands of people who are forced to evacuate the terminal by knee-jerk security personnel, anytime there is even a minor security incident.

The shooter's collegues could have been on the scene at LAX to see where people were massed together after the evaluation. Out in the open, huddled together, the evacuees would make a good target for a truck bomb, several terrorists with automatic weapons, or a bio/chem attack.