Posted on 10/30/2003 11:17:40 AM PST by FairOpinion
OSAMA bin Laden's al-Qaeda terror network is planning a "death blow" against Americans during the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, a Saudi magazine reports in its issue due out today.
"Al-Qaeda is going to carry out a death blow against Americans during the month of Ramadan," Al-Majallah said, quoting an e-mail sent by Abu Mohammed al-Ablaj, identified as a senior member of al-Qaeda.
Ablaj, who regularly communicates with the London-based weekly via e-mail, did not specify if the threatened strike will be carried out in the United States or against American interests abroad.
"Muslims have the right to draw the blood of Americans, civilian or military, everywhere in the world," Ablaj said.
He did not dismiss the possibility of a "painful" strike in Iraq, which is currently under a US-led occupation following the overthrow of dictator Saddam Hussein.
"Bin Laden has ordered his supporters to carry out a guerrilla war against Arab and Muslim countries where there is an American military and commercial presence," Ablaj said.
"The guerrilla war decided by bin Laden and his assistants won't be limited to martyr (suicide) operations mentioned in his last two messages. This (war) will be carried out by other means and (using) different types of weapons," he added.
In a message purported to be from bin Laden and aired on October 18 by Qatar's Al-Jazeera television station, the terror chief threatened to send suicide bombers to the United States and attack any forces joining the US-led coalition in Iraq.
OK, and this genius believes the average American isn't gonna think, "good enough for you sand rat, good enough for me too.."
I'm as big a fan as Reagan as anybody here. But it must be pointed out that Reagan had the opportunity to do something when 241 U.S. Marines were slaughtered by a suicide bombing attack on their barracks. And not a damn thing was ever done about it. At least Bush has taken some concrete action against this terrorist scum - at the risk of his political career, I might add.
What about the first Trade Center bombing?
Absolutely ...
What contingency do you believe would cause that plan to be executed?
A chemical weapon or nuclear strike on an American city will cause them to fly.
Let's stop fantasizing and start thinking strategically.
Strategically the places to strike will be Mecca, Medina and Riyadh. Tactically the places wil be where known bases of terrorists or terrorists supporters are.
Seriously, they should have considered attacking the US BEFORE they dumped all that money into the "Mecca makeover".
Although I applaud your sentiment, and agree with your reaction, I don't believe anyone in power has the intestinal fortitude to do such a thing, nor make the threat to do such a thing. Men like this died when Ronald Reagan left the office.
I heard a story on Houston talk radio yesterday about an army officer who saved American lives by scaring an Iraqi informant with use of his sidearm, and firing two shots in the general direction of the informant's head. The US trained Iraqi police officer who was working for the Bathists was not harmed. After this happened, the Iraqi blabbered, and told the American officer anything he wanted to know. The information given was about an attack on American forces and an attempt to take this particular officer's life. This officer has been relieved of his command and awaits a possible court marshall for his trouble. In my opinion, this Iraqi should have then been shot through the head and the Officer given a medal.
We have become a civilization of cowards, unable to make the tough decisions about our future. Those who do make the tough decisions and are proven right are punished and ridiculed.
Socialism, political correctness, and tolerance will be the death of this society unless our leaders look back on and take up the examples of brave souls who were the saviors of our country in the past.
Me too. I hope they don't attack with X-acto blades this time...
I am inclined to agree. We've made war so precise and directed with our laser-guided conventional weapons that something as titanic and ham-fisted as a thermonuclear bomb would seem like a step backward.
Moreover, we're dealing with a decentralized enemy. That alone invalidates use of city-annihilating weaponry. Sure, if all of al Qaeda was holed up in Mecca or Beirut, I'd say "nuke 'em"...but that's not how they're fighting this war. They -- like all other guerillas -- are hiding amongst civilians in largely non-industrial areas.
Nuclear weapons were ideal for nation-to-nation wars, but they are wholly inappropriate for use in fighting terrorist groups. To suggest such use is like recommending a threshing machine to lance a boil.
I would hope so. I would think that something short of 9/11, but significant would at the least warrant some very high altitude air-bursts over strategic locations to further convince those warned that nothing short of total cooperation will next be met with sure, total destruction. I would want to see immediate massive public executions of those terrorists that are well know to the ruling tyrants, including some of them.
And if the Frogs so much as croak a peep, assure them that they are not immune.
I as an American citizen, would be quite disapointed with anything less, F*** 'World opinion'. Enough is enough!
I would like to believe that such plans are in place (see post #158 from SamAdams). I would like to believe that key leaders have been informed of the likely consequences of certain actions, but I have a difficult time believing it. Why? For the simple reason that in a city that leaks like DC, we've heard not a peep, not a rumor, not a hint that anything like this is in place. Now just think for a minute, wouldn't you want this kind of "leak" to happen if you were high up in the administration or military? It should have quite a deterrent effect. But so far, in over two years, complete silence.
It started a couple days ago. Even the Muslims debate which day since it depends on crescent moon sightings.
You can bet that the targets have been identified and approved, the coordinates are programmed in and the warheads are already at the ready.
Can't say I agree. What would be the point of annihilating an entire city if only a couple hundred al Qaeda operatives live in its borders? The military has long since grown squeamish at such overkill. Note the almost complete reliance on precision-guided munitions instead of carpet bombing; note the military justice actions against officers who engage in effective interrogation of terrorist prisoners.
And you really want me to believe that we're going to change overnight and give the enemy the Full-Body Atomic Tan if they strike us again? Our catering to special interest groups and the "religion of peace" (gag) says otherwise.
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