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Thread FIFTEEN: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1178024/posts |
Posted on 07/18/2004 6:57:48 PM PDT by JustPiper
Picture credit: TheCabal
"I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat"
CIA: 9/11 Plotters Transited Iran, Govt Tie Unseen
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - About eight of the Sept. 11, 2001, hijackers passed through Iran before attacking the United States, but there is no sign of official Iranian complicity, the CIA (news - web sites)'s acting director said on Sunday.
We are the "Stotters" who make ourselves aware of the enemy who wishes to do us harm
Meet It!
Greet It!
Defeat It!
I couldn't leave without posting this first- it does seem to confirm so much of what we have been discussing for the past months: (from Stratfor 7-23-04)
STRATFOR
The Next Attack: Piecing Together the Puzzle
Jul 23, 2004 1729 GMT
By Fred Burton
U.S. counterterrorism sources remain on high alert in anticipation of an attack within the United States prior to the November election -- a scenario that Stratfor believes is highly likely.
If al Qaeda has the operational capability to conduct an attack within the United States, it would be in the group's interests to do so. It also is possible that outrider groups sympathetic to al Qaeda's jihadist message could attempt a strike.
In recent conversations with several sources that are extremely close to evaluating the threat for the U.S. government, it has become apparent that no one really has a clue what form the next attack might take.
Though “chatter” levels are running high, the catches might be part of a disinformation campaign intended to send intelligence agents down empty rabbit holes.
In essence, Americans will not know what is next until it actually has occurred -- a sobering thought.
The process of making sense of threat information is very much like putting together a puzzle and hoping you have all the pieces.
Due to al Qaeda use of sleeper cells and the government's inability to penetrate the network, the United States' tactical intelligence remains weak -- officials are in no position to know specifically what al Qaeda might do.
That said, they are better positioned to know what al Qaeda will not do, following pre-emptive actions -- such as aggressive FBI interviews of Muslim fundamentalists within the United States and the hardening of physical security around government locations and infrastructure.
For example, the Transportation Security Administration's intense focus on aviation security upgrades would make it extremely difficult for militants to again turn a commercial aircraft into a suicide missile.
However, al Qaeda's history -- in which a steady progression of casualty counts can be charted with most major attacks -- indicates that it would like to exceed the casualty count of the Sept. 11 strikes if possible.
As a result, various doomsday scenarios draw speculation throughout Washington, D.C. -- many of them focusing on dirty bomb and chemical attacks.
We also have noted that al Qaeda is patient: Major attacks plots typically move in two- to three-year cycles, allowing for extremely methodical preparations.
Important missions are not carried out by new recruits; the success rate for major operations shows professionalism, experience and commitment on the part of the operatives chosen.
Thus -- almost three years after the Sept. 11 attacks -- the cells that Stratfor has previously discussed are believed to be in place and have had ample opportunity to religiously study their targets, rehearse their movements and steady their aim.
Stratfor agrees with government contacts that the next attack will involve massive casualties and might be chemical or radiological in design.
We also would not be surprised to see a plot involving a large number of conventional improvised devices, such as truck bombs, that could produce more casualties than a chemical attack.
Simultaneous attacks in underground subway or rail cars -- with or without the release of a toxic chemical -- also are a possibility.
However, we do not believe an attack will occur by air, even though al Qaeda has shown a continuing fixation on aviation-related attacks -- unless militants steal or commandeer a private aircraft from an unsecured private airport or hijack a cargo aircraft.
Other plausible scenarios include plots to kill prominent U.S. businessmen or executives -- either in scattered, simultaneous strikes or by targeting a conference or other venue where many executives are gathered.
The assassinations of multiple corporate leaders would significantly impact world markets and cause the kind of economic damage that al Qaeda seeks.
Operationally speaking, the cold hard truth is this: If members of a militant cell are willing to die for a terrorist act, they will succeed. Security forces are all but incapable of stopping an attack cycle once it is under way.
If that should be the case, where are the most logical cities for strikes to take place?
Al Qaeda has a history of staging simultaneous attacks -- they did so in New York and Washington, D.C., on Sept. 11, 2001; in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in 1998; and in Mombasa, Kenya, November 2002, when they targeted a hotel and an airliner on the same day. We therefore remain strongly convinced of the potential for a series of closely staged attacks in multiple cities, such as Washington, D.C.; New York; Houston, Dallas and Austin, Texas; Chicago or Los Angeles.
New York City: From a predictive and target progression standpoint, we believe New York City -- specifically midtown Manhattan -- is the most probable location for an attack at this time, because of its dense population and casualty potentials.
Al Qaeda also is comfortable operating in New York City and has many off-the-shelf plans that could be carried out there. Additionally, the city has propaganda value -- it is recognized as an icon of Americanism and perceived as a center of Jewish business -- that runs high within al Qaeda's Muslim audience. And it is a high-profile location for an economic strike. Wall Street would be a prime target, as would symbolic targets such as Madison Square Garden and Penn or Grand Central Stations.
Despite serious concerns for the security of the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, we do not believe they will be targeted by militants; security would be far too tight, and al Qaeda never strikes exactly where it is expected. Having said that, an attack anywhere in Boston or New York City during the conventions would resonate around the globe -- specifically in Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Iraq.
Washington, D.C.: A close second on the target list would be Washington, D.C., due to its political, propaganda and military value. Here, the Metro subway or Union Station would be high on the priority list -- most specifically, a bomb blast in the Metro at the Pentagon stop. This kind of attack would satisfy many of al Qaeda's goals, by killing Americans with military connections.
Houston: This city remains high on the list due to the oil/gas/port targets; it also is an area of past logistics support for al Qaeda, dating back to the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993. It also is home to former President George H. W. Bush, giving it added political significance to al Qaeda's Muslim audience.
Austin: A symbolic target that is near Fort Hood and U.S. President George W. Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas.
Los Angeles: This city has been set as a target zone by al Qaeda in the past, as shown in the millennium bombing plot. The El Al ticket counter at Los Angeles Airport also was attacked by a lone wolf fundamentalist in 2002.
Dallas: This city cannot be ruled out as a potential target, given the connections between Texas and the White House.
Chicago: Another viable target -- particularly if strikes involved the Sears Tower or commuter/passenger trains.
Prior to the Sept. 11 attacks, a discussion of such scenarios probably would have been viewed as grandiose and delusional. Not anymore.
(http://www.stratfor.com/coms2/page_home )
It all sounds plausible to me- but I would not discount the use of planes as missiles.
I have been absent from the thread due to an accident and numerous visits to the doctor (and brain fog from medication). Concequently I am hopelessly behind :-). Kind of jumping around to try and see what is going on.
Please fill me in on your post so I can figure out what I can do to help. Many thanks.
Maybe but I doubt it. The numbers begin with the Dem. convention location and end with the Repub. convention location.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,126810,00.html
"Media May Be Targeted at Dem Convention"
Friday, July 23, 2004
LOL! Priceless.
Here's exactly the problem we're facing now, on planes.
The sky marshalls are apparently only allowed to prevent attacks similar to those that were done in the past.
These terrorists now are up to something else, it's likely that they're trying to put together chemical attacks of some sort.
And the hijacking of the plane will not come till most people on the plane are disabled.
A lot of good the sky marshalls are going to do if they're just sitting there, waiting till the old scenario plays out, if the bad guys are working on a new scenario!
No. It was emailed to me. Just trying to lighten things up a bit, although I know how serious TM is. Read it every day. I'll try to make a more somber contribution next time.
What happened to you Oorang?
We wouldnt be able to do much without our resident EOD tech..
Hope you're doing better
Hope you're ok and glad you're back!
Wow. These AQ guys have a plan, and whatever it is, it is meticulous and very large in scope. Thanks for this new info.
FWIW: Many tsunamis are actually caused by underwater landslides, not the earthquake that triggers the landslide.
Much of the east coast is considered vulnerable to this type of tsunami.
Good one!
We will miss you JP, but you will be "occupied." Keep in touch and let us know all about Riley's birth! (smiling).
I'll third that.
Now, I don't know that I am the resident EOD tech. I'm not sure what EOD is. Fill me in and maybe I'll apply :-)
Yep.
Whether it's perverts or terrorists; they both want attention.
Thanks. Internet/TM withdrawls are bad :-)
I've done the ladder things before, and it plain hurts. I came out with 6 stitches, a concussion, and a lifelong scar.
EOD=Explosive ordinance disposal...LOL
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