Apocalypse Now, or Alottanukes Soon

At a time when a tape handed over to the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera television station has received widespread expose for its purported comments by Osama bin Laden in praise of recent terror events around the world, another al-Qaeda message released to the same station has received little coverage.

Al-Jazeera was granted an interview with one Mohammed al-Usuquf, allegedly al-Qaeda's number three. Al-Usuquf is said to be a doctor in physics and to hold a masters degree in international economics. A copy of the interview was sent to the prestigious Arab-language daily Al Quds Al Arabi, edited in London, but it was not printed. Asia Times Online has obtained a copy of the interview, and reproduces excerpts here, with the caveat that the identity of the man has not yet been confirmed, nor has his membership within al-Qaeda.

Al-Usuquf says that al-Qaeda's Kuwaiti spokesman, Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, and bin Laden himself, suggested that he grant the interview. Bin Laden, he says, is "alive and healthy, along with his commanders Mohammed Atef, Khalid Shaik Mohammed and Mullah Omar".

Al-Usuquf starts by criticizing Washington's disrespect of the Kyoto Protocol on climatic change, the International Criminal Court and the Palestinian cause, as well as the "financial greed" engendering speculative gains over Third World countries. He also criticizes the manner in which America wastes wealth, like US$80 billion a year on gambling. "They [have] lost the notion of spirituality and only live in sin."

For this reason, America must be destroyed, and al-Usuquf insists that "aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines and spy satellites will be worthless in the next war".

Al-Qaeda, according to him, has 5,000 first rank operatives and around 20,000 all over the world. Of all the prisoners in the US, only "20 or 30" are al-Qaeda, and all of them "second-rank". Confirming Asia Times Online information, he swears that there are no first-rank prisoners in Guantanamo in Cuba. Al-Usuquf says, "We have more than 500 first-rank and 800 second-rank [operatives] inside the US." "First rank" are considered ones that have lived in the US for more than 10 years, most of them married with children. "They have an idea about the plans, and they are just waiting for a call." "Second-rank" operatives arrived in the past five years and "have no idea about the plans". They are all willing to die. Al-Usuquf insists that September 11 "was just the beginning. It was a way to call the world's attention to what's going to happen." He then details a plan to destroy the US by "attacking the heart of what they consider the most important thing in the world: money".

"The American economy is an economy of false appearances," says al-Usuquf. "There's no real economic weight. American GNP is something around $10 trillion, but only 1 percent comes from agriculture, and only 24 percent from industry. So 75 percent of its GNP comes from services, and most of it is financial speculation. For someone who understands economics, and apparently America's Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill does not, or cannot, the US as a whole behaves like an immense dot.com, and dollars are its stocks. The value of stocks from a given company is directly proportional to its profitability. When a company only provides services, but does not produce goods, the value of its stocks depends on its credibility. What I'm saying is if US credibility is affected, its stocks - the US dollar - will fall at tremendous speed, and the whole American economy will collapse."

Al-Usuquf is absolutely positive, "because, in a smaller scale, this is exactly what big financial conglomerates do with Third World countries to collect profits in one month that no Swiss bank would guarantee in four to five years". Al-Usuquf says that al-Qaeda could do the same by "provoking a deficit of $50 to 70 trillion, the equivalent to five to seven years of the GNP of the US". How? By "destroying America's seven largest cities and some other measures". The means? "Atomic bombs." Al-Usuquf's most startling revelation is that the bombs "won't be launched, they are already there". "Seven nuclear heads have already been positioned on American soil, before September 11, and they are ready to be detonated. Before September 11, American security was a fiasco, and even later, if we needed, we could position the bombs there. They arrived through seaports, as normal cargo. A nuclear head is not bigger than a fridge, so it can easily be camouflaged as one. Thousands of containers arrive at a seaport every day, and even with very efficient security, it's impossible to check and examine each one of them."

Al-Usuquf says that the bombs were bought on the black market: five from the former USSR and two from Pakistan. The five Russian heads "are from T-3 missiles, also known as RD-107, and their power is around 100 kilotons each, that is five times the Hiroshima bomb. The Pakistani ones are less powerful, something around 10 kilotons each." Each of the Russian bombs would have cost around $200 million. Al-Qaeda was able to raise the money "because we have many sponsors. Many countries sponsor us, and also some very rich people." And not all of these are Arab countries. "Some European countries as well are also interested in the fall of the US." As to the "rich people", they are "people who are also tired of seeing the US bleeding the rest of the world."

And Iraq's Saddam Hussein, says Al-Usuquf, is not one of these people, "but just a collaborator, represented by Abdul Tawab Hawaish, his vice prime minister and responsible for Iraq's arms program".

Al-Usuquf says that the bombs cannot be detected by US authorities. "Even if they are old, they were modernized and are very well hidden. Even if they were located, they have autodetonation mechanisms in case something or someone gets close. Even an electromagnetic pulse is not capable of deactivating them." The bombs allegedly cannot be detected because "they are enveloped in thick layers of lead". They could be detonated "by various methods - cellphone call, radio frequency, seismic shock or by their regressive clock".

Al-Usuquf details the whole plan. "First, one head would be detonated, which would cause the deaths of 800,000 to 1 million people and a chaos never seen before. During this chaos, two or three planes, which are now disassembled inside barns near empty roads in the US countryside, would take off in suicide missions to pulverize another two or three big American cities with chemicals. Once the disease was identified, all seaports and airports would be quarantined. Land borders would also be closed. No plane, boat or car would enter or leave the US. This would be total chaos." The first target would be the city "that would offer the best conditions, for example bright sky and winds of eight or more miles an hour blowing towards the center of the country, so radioactive dust can contaminate the largest possible area".

This attack would not knock out the US, recognizes al-Usuquf, "But the process would be initiated. As with the World Trade Center, it would be just a question of time for the whole economic structure to be turned to dust. If the objectives are reached with one bomb and diseases, probably we will save the lives of other people, but it's risky, and probably six more bombs will be detonated, one a week, and more attacks with chemical weapons will be launched." According to estimates made by al-Usuquf "and Ayman al-Zawahiri", al-Qaeda's number 2, about 15 million people would die, victims of the bombs and the radiation. Among those contaminated by diseases, "25 percent will die, a figure around more than 5 million, plus many others due to the chaos and disorder".

Al-Usuquf does not fear an American military response. "Even if five or 10 cities are chosen at random to be destroyed, it will still be a small price to pay. The problem is that the economic despair will be so great that even if it saves [money] by not using weapons, American liquidity will be near zero, and the US will make more money selling a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier to Turkey or Italy for $5 billion, because they will urgently need to recapitalize. But it will be too late. Moreover, what will remain of an American soldier's morale to fight knowing that his whole family died and his country ceased to exist? To fight for what?"

The world economy would not collapse, says al-Usuquf, although "in the beginning, it will be very difficult. But without the US the world will soon rise in a more just and fraternal manner. Nothing can stop the plan."

And whatever America does, "it's too late". When will the attack begin? "I can't tell."

Many countries sponsor us, and also some very rich people." And not all of these are Arab countries. "Some European countries as well are also interested in the fall of the US." As to the "rich people", they are "people who are also tired of seeing the US bleeding the rest of the world."

More chest thumping. Period. Rich arabs and a few krauts and frogs thrown in for good measure maybe. But that's about it.

Another indication of chest thumping...why haven't they used their "hidden" nukes then? Even a West Point plebe knows you strike when you have the tactical advantage of surprise. September 11th was all they had. Besides, one nuke goes of in this country and you can bet we reserve the right to defend ourselves. I doubt they'll ever get a chance to use the other six he's dreaming about.

Al-Usuquf does not fear an American military response. "Even if five or 10 cities are chosen at random to be destroyed, it will still be a small price to pay.

You think too small my friend. How about 5 or 10 Muslim countries - to hell with mere cities. How about if all your Islamic buddies worldwide are exterminated? A "small price" I guess.

The problem is that the economic despair will be so great that even if it saves [money] by not using weapons, American liquidity will be near zero, and the US will make more money selling a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier to Turkey or Italy for $5 billion, because they will urgently need to recapitalize.

What, he thinks he can start setting off nukes in the US & we'll still play nicey-nice? There's no need to buy & sell to raise needed capital & raw materials. A much easier way is to occupy all their sand-flea infested countries and milk them for everything we can get. Immediate control & ownership of most of the world's oil supplies by the U.S. will generate all the revenue we need. No need to sell anything. We'll need all of our military hardware to continue the worldwide extermination of Islamicists while we take over their rat-hole countries and get rich on the spoils of war.

But it will be too late. Moreover, what will remain of an American soldier's morale to fight knowing that his whole family died and his country ceased to exist? To fight for what?"

This is a really stupid comment. Easy answer - to fight for the extermination of all murderous Islamic pukes and their evil spawn worldwide. Both revenge and self-preservation are powerful motivators. Particularly when elimination of the source of the problem is easily achievable because you have the might & means to carry it out.

What do you foresee as the US, regional or global response to such an event?

Talk. More talk. And still more talk. A "call for healing". A promise to "bring these monsters to justice." A bill to barcode every person in North America on the forehead. And, of course a strongly-worded note of protest to the UN.

This is not 1945 and President Bush isn't Harry S Truman. He's not going to incinerate eight hundred thouand Arab civilians to prove we mean business. There isn't a politician alive today with balls big enough to do the obvious thing in such a situation. It might interrupt te delicate Mideast peace process, and what of the reaction of the Arab Street? No, we'll send over some regular, non-nuke cruise missiles to "dominate the radarspace" or something, with lots of grainy infrared footage of outhouses and telephone exchanges going boom; meanwhile, in a speech carried live on CNNANCCBSNBCFOXMSNBCAlJazeera, a tearful president will join hands with leading Democrats for a prayer service with the survivors at Falllout Decontamination Camp #42. "This is not a time for anger. Rest assured that the people who blew up Dallas will be hunted down and brought to justice. But let us not forget that the 865,566 known victims of this tragic event are vctims not of the peaceful religion of Islam, but of a few madmen who have perverted the message of the prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) for their own ends. No, for now, we must grieve for our loved ones, and begin the process of healing our nation. Also, please call your broker and buy some stock."

The ashes and rubble will be bulldozed over and a suitably somber Memorial Wall will be erected at the site of the CityPlace tower: "On this spot once stood the international headquarters of Seven-Eleven, plus the seventh largest city in America,." Crack squads of Grief Counselors will be airlifted to the nation's elementary, middle, and high schools. Ritalin will flow like water. Britney's fairy-tale reuinion with Justin will displace war news in the headlines. People will call the TV networks to complain about all that yucky bomb stuff on TV that keeps interrupting Will and Grace. Life will go on.

I'd like to agree with you guys, but after several nukes blow up in the states, most people would be scared. Then they will get vengeful. Then the usual suspects will begin their hand wringing. Lots of debates and shrill talk. America will be resolved to continue fighting this, but almost no one will justify nuking any arab country.

Truth is, they will strike at some major cities but our campaign will plod along, much like it is now, the tortise and the hare. We will focus our attention next on Iran, then Yemen, then......

That scenario, while perverse, has some anchorage in a Clinton-Gore world of politics--a world repudiated after 9-11. There are career bureaucrats at State that subscribe to your notion of response, but they will be worked throught he system over time, like the proverbial rat moving through the snake.

The world has changed after 9-11. It is almost inevitable that we (or one of our strong allies) will be visited by a WMD horror. I predict that with adults in charge (Bush is more like Harry Truman than you suspect, if understand what you meant by that comment), the response will be immediate and overwhelming. Disproportionate, in fact, as the Bush Doctrine essentially disavows measured, proportionate responses.

I think we will move away from the pretense of separating Islamic regimes from the "lunatic fringe" that would do us harm, and act much less discriminatingly. In essence, we will tell peace-loving Islamic people: kill or turn the terrorists over to us now, or face the consequences of being considered as harboring them (see Tora Bora for an illustration of those consequences).

You might have been right in 1997; I hope and pray you are wrong post 9-11.

"Number two ... these people do not understand us. If they are successful in accomplishing what he decribes ... very soon thereafter the Muslim world (and anyone standing in the way) will cease to exist."

What you said.
Count on it, if and WHEN the morons pull their crap.
They toppled two buildings and four airplanes. We toppled a muslim nation and are about to diddle the second one soon enough... I doubt they will have any planes left when we are finished with operation decimation.

The smart money now is on the probability that we probably have our neutron warheads back on line. bomb today... bulldoze ashes and build a new disneyland park tomorrow.

We got lotsa new TOOLS NOW we did not have before afghanistan. The boys with unlimited funds and imaginations have been busy.

These new tools make the recent auto-baptism by hellfire missile via a predator drone, look like a cool dip in the river with pastor roy on a sultry lousiana sunday afternoon.

These folks don't understand why we are the "land of the FREE and the home of the BRAVE..." I am sure Gibson's portrayal of an American father at war in "The Patriot" is rather confusing to them.

I have very little doubt, we WILL use nukes again in our lifetime. America may be brought down one day. But our NATURE is one of rebelling against oppressors no matter the cost, to the last man, woman and child. They have NO idea how fiercely independent and stubborn we are. Viscious and brave, with ZERO fear at the event horizon.

If I were an islamaniac, I would take little comfort from the president's mantra of "islam is peace"... W ain't exactly stupid. They think we don't know... we do.

I'm not being smug ... just realistic. They wanted to kill as many of us as possible ... they made that clear. They wanted to wreck our financial and military institutions and leadership ... and they tried and nearly succeeded.

If they had a nuke on 911 they would never have had a better time ... now we are warned, awake, alert and loaded for bear. If they had them then, they would have used them ... no doubt in my mind about that.

If I was smug, I would probably believe that there is no way they could ever have them or hurt us that way. I do not. I know that they are trying and will use them if they can get there hands on them and get them in place.

I pray they do not ... I also pray we are prepared if they do.

... by the way, you seemed awful smug about my perceived smugness ... LOL!

(The hoax aside) One thing overlooked is how utterly futile it would be for the Islamists to want to disrupt the U.S. economy. The "world's breadbasket" would be empty for them. That would be suicidal. The value of all their years of carefully calculated preplanning of attacks would go up in smoke, and that even before a military response. Dumb.

And to make the point even more realistic - did you notice that today the Bush administration is actually debating the issue of stopping food shipments to North Korea? Just imagine how devastating that could be.

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