Government announces arrest of man suspected of plotting a terrorist attack [more details]

AP | June 10, 2002 | Ted Bridis

[The Energizer]

more details emerging . . .

[Eric in the Ozarks]

We need to smack em first.

[Bigg Red]

Gee, I hope they weren't profiling this lousy piece of clinton.

[WIMom]

      

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[bulldawg]

Mujahir was arrested May 8 as he flew from Pakistan into Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

These flights should be stopped immediately.

[Huck]

Abdullah Al Mujahir, also known as Jose Padilla

LOL

[Eric in the Ozarks]

What airline ?

[Grut]

``We don't believe it went beyond the planning stages,'' the official said.

...and they don't have any copies of the plans, any of the other planners under arrest or any hardware, apparently. What they do have is a non-case they can milk for publicity: "Sam Smith told us Joe Brown is going to blow up Washington."

Maybe there's more evidence than this article reports but what we're told doesn't incline me away from my usual cynicism.

[m1911]

I'm a little cynical too. The timing of it stinks to high heaven - we've had him under arrest for a month+, but now that Ashcroft is in Russia, we do the announcement via a special television hookup?

I'm tempted to believe it's real only because it's so transparently bad if it's supposed to be a PR/spin thing. Of course, then I'd have to believe that Clinton's al Qaeda cruise missile attacks were real too, and I just don't think I could get my head around that.

[itsahoot]

Rush is covering this story now. Asks; Why now, it is a month old?

[The Energizer]

Re the one month wait: Perhaps the Justice Dept., et al., wanted to make sure everything was being done by the book before going public with this.

Perhaps we'll hear more about the timing of this announcement as the day progresses.

It is interesting that the Justice Dept. was able to keep this secret with no leaks.

[John H K]

Abdullah Al Mujahir, also known as Jose Padilla

Interesting in that since 9/11 there hasn't been a single ARAB Muslim that has committed, or has been arrested or stopped from committing, a terrorist attack against the United States.

[mvpel]

You can get an inexpensive geiger counter here: Aware Electronics

[McGavin999]

I'm tempted to believe it's real only because it's so transparently bad if it's supposed to be a PR/spin thing. Of course, then I'd have to believe that Clinton's al Qaeda cruise missile attacks were real too, and I just don't think I could get my head around that.

Really? I'm tempted to believe that the plot was a lot further along then they want us to know. As a matter of fact, I would be willing to bet that these guys already have their hands on the material. We won't be told about that because everyone would panic. The fact that this guy is being held for a military tribunal tells me that this is far more serious then we are being led to believe.

Neither the FBI nor the CIA is involved in the reorganization of government (Homeland Security Department) therefore the timing has absolutely nothing to do with it being released now. However, with the announcement being made from Moscow by Ashcroft today tells me that he received some kind of confirmation from the Russians that pertain to this.

[Grut]

The fact that this guy is being held for a military tribunal tells me that this is far more serious then we are being led to believe.

Or maybe it's just that they feel they can milk it for better PR if they don't have to produce any of their 'evidence' in public?

[Coop]

Maybe there's more evidence than this article reports

Gee, ya think?!?

[Stevieboy]

This has all the earmarks of a PR scam. First of all, they say the guy is a street thug from Chicago. Secondly, the plot hadn't developed beyond the 'discussion phase'. Thirdly, the FBI and CIA are desperate to demonstrate how they are working together, and at the news conference, they gave virtually no information except to repeat (over and over) how wonderful their cooperation was on foiling this plot. Fourthly, the FBI director, Wolfowitz and Thompson rushed off the stage without even saying 'goodbye'... presumable because the questions started getting tough.

Unless of course they were just in a state of panic...

[miamimark]

"Another government official, who spoke only on condition of anonymity, said the intelligence that led to Mujahir's arrest came from captured al Qaida leader Abu Zubaydah"

Isn't this the same guy that "warned" us about the banks in NY & DC, Memorial Day weekend, subways, divers etc? A real credible snitch.

[ecru]

If this is really true. How many others are out there that they _aren't_ findng..../sigh

[truth_seeker]

President Bush, based on recommendations from Ashcroft and White House councel Al Gonzales, designated the suspect as a combatant...

For all of the same reason, the John Lindh fellow should have been treated this way. I think the US govt. knows that, and is, therefore, changing course.

With his trial in a US courtroom, the French-Morrocan is going to get the forum these folks desire, and that is not good.