Officials say al-Qaida operatives may be fully trained airline pilots

MSNBC.com ^ | 12/22/03 | NBC

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Authorities raised the terrorist threat assessment over the weekend after new intelligence indicated that operatives of Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida terror network, possibly trained and licensed to fly passenger jets, may now be pilots for some foreign airlines, ideally positioning them to carry out suicide attacks, U.S. officials told NBC News on Monday.

Reinforced cockpit doors intended to thwart hijackers after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks would now protect any terrorist pilot at the controls, the officials said on condition of anonymity.

Authorities would not describe the terror threats in detail publicly, but the U.S. officials told NBC’s Jim Miklaszewski that the threat alert would remain at “orange,” or high, through the end of January, which they said was an indication of its seriousness.

[af_vet_1981]

We predicted this scenario as soon as Mineta the Moron said "In reinforced doors we trust." Of course, we can't let our American pilots have guns---they might abuse them and shoot off their foot.

Umm, if "this scenario" is in play, just how to guns in the hands of American pilots protect against foreign pilots flying foreign aircraft into our cities ?

I'm waiting with bated breath for your explanation ...

Oh yeah, they'll shoot at them out of the window when they see them in the sky with foreign logos ...

Yep, you had "this scenario" nailed.

[luvbach1]

Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant.

Interned the Japanese-American for far less.

[cyncooper]

The Patriots in the American Football Conference!

Is my tin foil hat too tight?

No. Just earlier today I was thinking about the alert level being raised and flying and that led to recalling the airlines used on 9/11 of "American" and "United". I don't think one is amiss to consider it.

[L`enn]

But, what about international flights departing the US?

[meyer]

This is an extremely well-armed country, and there just aren't enough police to protect the Muslims here from what will happen if we do get hit again.

Might be a good idea to get some photographs of the regular constituency at the local mosque for future reference. They are pretty good at "blending".

[Beck_isright]

TERROR ALERT TO TRUCKERS

[MamaB]

There are several nuke plants on the TN River. The one closest to us is near Athens, AL.

[luvbach1]

Will we abandon PC for the duration of the upcoming WWIII?

[FairOpinion]

It may not be "just" planes flying into buildings.


http://www.stevequayle.com/

New York City;
Los Angeles; Washington, DC.; Chicago

Stolen cargo planes loaded with WMD. Concern for radio controlled, large model aircraft containing biologicals. Additionally, female suicide bombers in cities previously noted, targeting large gatherings like sports events, malls, etc.

COMMENT: DoD sources have indicated FOUR 5-man teams in possession of cargo aircraft headed for previously noted targets: the White House, the Pentagon and speculation of the NY Stock Exchange. Additionally, US counter-terrorism units are specifically concerned with radio-controlled model aircraft being used as a platform to disperse biologicals over target cities. Several U.S. military gunships were spotted chasing RC aircraft on Dec. 20. In the last 48 hours, actual photographs of suitcase nukes have shown up on "disappearing" Jihad websites. Developing. . .

[Happy2BMe]

"Interned the Japanese-American for far less."

Times have changed, my good man - times have changed.

---

[Beck_isright]

Ya beat me to it. Yet the warning is critical. I've seen entire towns evacuated due to hazmat screw ups. God help us if we ever have an intentional attack.

[Revel]

"Even our courts are hampering the Bush Administration's efforts."

If we were to start sealing off our borders then I might believe a little more in his efforts.

[oceanview]

that is true, and what we learn each day is that there is really only one Islamic nuclear program. Iraq, Libya, Iran, etc, it all comes from Pakistan. If we did have to use nuclear weapons in response to a similar attack in the US, it would have to be against Pakistan to be effective. Take out all their military facilities, and all of the tribal regions near the Afghan border where the Taliban remnants and AQ live.

[L`enn]

But remember 9-11 final toll was 3k+. Major sporting events have 50K in a concentrated area. Many would be killed by impact, many other by the resulting stampede. They would get their dollars worth.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

[Reinforced cockpit doors intended to thwart hijackers after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks would now protect any terrorist pilot at the controls, the officials said on condition of anonymity.]

This is of course total nonsense. The only adequate protection for the cockpit is an armed flight crew. But the GW administration has reneged on his promise to protect us in this regard due to the insane PC argument regarding sidearms. And if this avenue is used again to attack us, GH Bush will be FULLY responsible for the outcome.

[thoughtomator]

It won't be riots. It will be death squads.

[luvbach1]

If we were to start sealing off our borders then I might believe a little more in his efforts.

Agree fully. Courts hampering Bush Admin's less-than-effective efforts is what I should have said.

[Metternich]

it all comes from Pakistan

Do you have a link for that? Thanks.

[usafsk]

LGA and DCA are not an issue, as no Arab-based or Muslim-based airlines land at either airport. However, JFK is not much farther away than LGA from Manhattan.

Yesterday, on my way to the new Air and Space Annex near Dulles I watched 2 F-16s doing runs down the Dulles 16L approach. I'm assuming they will be wingtipping certain flights (Saudi Arabian Airlines lands a few times a week, as does Malaysian Airlines and Emirates Air) on approach to keep them from diverting. If they do, they'll get splashed, but in such a densely populated area, there will be ground and passenger casualties.

By the way, the Annex is fantastic. Also spent the week before at Kitty Hawk for the Centennial. I was standing next to a Coast Guard rescue swimmer when a B52 did a flyover. He said, "I guess that's the last thing a lot of Aghans and Iraqis get to see." Followed by two B1B's flashing over and then going near vertical. Even the Coast Guard chopper pilot was covering his ears from the roar.

GBA

[Beck_isright]

"The rural reference is a puzzler, though."

Not to me. Which is worse; one stadium attacked with 3000-5000 dead, or 50 smaller cities having malls and WalMarts attacked killing 10K plus. The economy screeches to a halt with the latter. Of course then 30% of America will start attacking all Muslims, but then again, that's what happens when you get too PC.