Posted on 11/15/2002 2:32:51 AM PST by GeneD
Asia Times Online uploaded an article in this space entitled Apocalypse Now, or Alottanukes soon. The article has been withdrawn as it was based on the transcript of an interview that now appears to have been a hoax. We sincerely apologise to readers who were alarmed by the contents of the article. We thank those readers who pointed us to this page in antivirus.about.com, which, we would add, does not appear in a Google search for the name "Usuquf" or "Asuquf". We'd also like to point out that we did warn readers at the top of the article that "the identity of the man [al-Usuquf] has not been confirmed, nor has his membership within al-Qaeda".
I must confess, this whole episode put me a little out of sorts. As experienced posters will attest, it's difficult to post newsworthy articles that will attract comments; it's easy to post junk and get them. This was as base goods as I've seen in my year on FR; but it drew a response because knowing as little as we do about al Qaeda, we're willing to believe anything. And this hoax had enough of the note of fear to seem credible, though it came from thin air.
Ordinarily I'm not up at this hour -- 5:30 a.m. on the East Coast -- but I've got a raging insomnia.
And these CLOWNS have the nerve to bitch about not getting a White House Press Pass??? They don't deserve a Hall Pass!!
And this hoax had enough of the note of fear to seem credible, though it came from thin air.
Hell, I bought it hook, line, and sinker. The article, on first read, seemed to have a degree of verisimilitude to it. The whole thing about the Kyoto Treaty and the International Criminal Court should have been the dead giveaway.
Ah, well, you live and learn.
However, I do like the Freeper responses: nuke 'em till they glow and shoot 'em in the dark....
Be Seeing You,
Chris
Is this a vey series co-inki-dink?
clinton should have taken Bin Laden while he had the chance, and made Saddam keep the inspections going rather than trade our national security for sex.
Al-Jazeera: How many innocent people will die?
Al-Asuquf: According to estimates made by me and Ayman Al-Zawahiro, somewhere around 15 million due to the atomic bombs and their radiation. Of those exposed to smallpox, 25 percent will die, approximately five million, and many more due to the ensuing chaos and disorder.
Al-Jazeera: What about the American military response?
Al-Asuquf: There will practically be none. Even if five or ten cities were chosen at random to be destroyed, that would still be a small price to pay. The problem is the economic despair will be so great that even economizing by not using arms unnecessarily will occur, since the liquidity of American goods will be almost zero and at that point the United States will make more selling its Nimitz-class aircraft carriers, which cost about five billion dollars, to Turkey or Italy for one billion dollars, since the country will so urgently need to recapitalize, though it will be too late. Moreover, how will the morale of American soldiers be knowing that their entire families have died and their country no longer exists. Fight for what?
Al-Jazeera: And won't the global economy also be ruined? Al-Asuquf: In the beginning it will be very difficult; a serious economic crisis will ensue. However, without the United States, the world will soon arise in a more just and fraternal manner.
Al-Jazeera: And Israel?
Al-Asuquf: As they say... it will be dessert.
Al-Jazeera: Does bin Laden's spokesman, Sulaiman Abu Gheith, know that you are giving this interview?
Al-Asuquf: It was he and bin Laden who suggested I give it.
Al-Jazeera: Osama bin Laden is still alive?
Al-Asuquf: He is quite healthy, alongside his commanders Mohammed Atef and Khalid Shaik Mohammed and Mullah Omar.
Al-Jazeera: Aren't you fearful that Al Queda's plans will be discovered?
Al-Asuquf: The plan is already in its countdown, and nothing can stop it.
Al-Jazeera: Not even if the United States asks forgiveness and changes its attitudes?
Al-Asuquf: That won't happen, and even if it did, it's too late.
Al-Jazeera: When will the attack begin?
Al-Asuquf: I can't reveal that. Allah Akbar.
If you can't find those, go read the nutcase Sniper threads.
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