Posted on 06/28/2002 4:57:08 PM PDT by Charlesj
"The Coming Attack" by J. R. Nyquist
On May 18 the New York Times reported that U.S. intelligence had intercepted a “troubling series of communications among Al Qaeda operatives” about an intensive effort “to carry out an operation as big as or bigger than the Sept. 11 attacks….” According to the Times, the details of al Qaeda’s plans are yet unknown. “There’s just a lot of chatter in the system again,” one official told the Times. This “chatter” is alarming because it contains references to attacks that would cause “vast numbers of American casualties.” What kinds of attacks are indicated? In the last few weeks al Qaeda spokesmen have begun to publicly discuss what the Americans can expect.
In a recent message broadcast on al Jazeera television in the Middle East, al Qaeda spokesman and Kuwaiti-born Muslim cleric Sulaiman Abu Ghaith said that Osama bin Laden is preparing further attacks on the United States. “The al Qaeda leadership is 98 percent intact,” said Abu Ghaith, and bin Laden is still running the show. Earlier this month Abu Ghaith reportedly said, “America should get ready and fasten its safety belt. We will come at them from a direction they do not expect. Yes, we will make attacks but at the right time, at the place we choose after the fashion we please.”
The place of attack will almost certainly be inside the United States and the time may be soon. The Arabic Sahab website (ÇáÕÝÍÉ ÇáÚÑÈíÉ ÇáÅÓáÇãíÉ ÓÍÇÈ ) has reported that Osama bin Laden will be releasing a video on July 4. The timing is suggestive, adding subtle confirmation to earlier reports that an attack against America has been planned for July. More than two weeks ago the website www.alneda.com (also now defunct) briefly carried a message in Arabic from Abu Ghaith that said, “We are still at the beginning of the road. The Americans have not yet suffered from us what we have suffered from them.” He then added that Islam has “the right to kill four million Americans, including one million children, displace double that figure and injure and cripple hundreds of thousands.”
The key comment in Abu Ghaith’s statement is his reference to “displacing double” the figure killed. Chemical and biological weapons cannot do this in the stated proportions. Furthermore, an attacker cannot come up with large approximate casualty projections for biological and chemical weapons, where the results of attacks depend on weather and variable weapon potency (often incalculable). Only nuclear weapons aimed at cities promise such casualty figures.
What kind of bombs would be needed for such results?
A handful of small tactical nuclear devices with yields between one and 10 kilotons could not produce such a large result. The Hiroshima bomb, which was 15 kilotons, only managed to kill 100,000 people. Today’s American cities would probably sustain fewer casualties than a 1945 Japanese city because of modern earthquake and fire standards. Even if the Hiroshima result could be replicated under American conditions, forty Hiroshima bombs would be required to kill 4 million Americans. Quite naturally, it is improbable that al Qaeda would be able to acquire, let alone manage, forty nuclear devices. If Abu Ghaith’s statements reflect an actual plan of attack, it would mean that al Qaeda has several large-yield nuclear devices in the 100 to 500 kiloton range. Such devices could effectively gut a major city, killing millions and leaving millions homeless. Furthermore, the successful use of such weapons against seven U.S. cities might collapse the U.S. economy, discredit the U.S. government and demoralize the American people. Such an attack would also make good on the terrorist promise that the U.S. dollar will become absolutely worthless in short order.
But are Abu Ghaith’s pronouncements reliable? Are they, perhaps, intended to frighten or impress weak-minded people?
It is significant that Ghaith’s statements mirror similar statements made privately among al Qaeda operatives. As a rule of thumb: when secret communications reflect public pronouncements, it is time to pay close attention. Under such circumstances, U.S. officials should be exhaustively investigating all reports suggestive of a possible nuclear attack.
When would such an attack take place?
The story of Lebanese-born American Michael Hamdan may be relevant. Hamdan says he overheard a mobile phone conversation in Arabic about a projected attack on Las Vegas: “We are here in the city of corruption,” the Arab speakers allegedly stated, “the city of gambling and prostitution, the city of unbelievers.” They spoke of hitting the city on America’s “day of freedom,” the Fourth of July. While Hamdan’s testimony did not impress the FBI lie detectors, Independence Day has shown up elsewhere in reports related to terror. In fact, the Fourth of July has shown up in the internal al Qaeda “chatter” before. Also remember, as stated earlier, the Arabic Sahab website claims that bin Laden will deliver a special “televised address to the world” via videotape on July 4.
Statements from bin Laden since Sept. 11 have been few and far between. Normally talkative and in love with publicity, bin Laden’s great silence in recent months has been taken by some as evidence that he is dead. Now we are told to expect to hear from him on American Independence Day. Are all these references to one special day merely coincidental?
With limited information, nobody outside of al Qaeda can say with any certainty. What is certain, however, is that the United States remains vulnerable. The basic security problem that brought us 9/11 has not been solved. America has wasted the last nine months, failing to deal adequately with the domestic terror threat. This is obvious when it comes to the issue of foreign infiltrators determined to import nuclear, biological or chemical terror. Despite 9/11, American’s continue to put civil liberties first and security last. The prevailing mindset in the country emphasizes civil liberties at the expense of security, so that law enforcement, counter-intelligence and counter-terrorism are yet hamstrung.
The terrifying significance of countless enemy aliens operating in the United States has not registered. The fact that mass destruction weapons could be smuggled into the country has not altered the country’s adherence to political ideals that have always given way during times of war. But not today.
According to sources in law enforcement, forty terrorist infiltrators are believed to have entered the Los Angeles area by boat in early June. There are clues suggestive of a maritime terrorist attack against San Francisco. It seems that a “Middle Eastern” man recently took the ferry to Alcatraz. When the boat arrived on the island he didn’t get off. Instead, he videotaped naval traffic in the Bay while using a stopwatch. In another incident, dating back to October, three Middle Eastern men boarded a ferry at Pier 41 for Alameda. One of them alarmed the crew by climbing to the upper deck to watch the captain. Meanwhile his associates videotaped Anchorage Terminal 9, also using a stopwatch. In yet another San Francisco incident, dated Oct. 20, six Golden Gate Transit uniforms were taken from a ferry employee’s car, along with ferry schedules and maritime maps. The thieves neglected to steal money and CDs that were left in the car.
What does all this suspicious activity indicate?
Whatever the terrorists are planning, San Francisco is a chief target. There is growing concern that a sea-borne attack against U.S. cities is coming. And why would terrorists be interested in the ferry schedule to Alcatraz? Perhaps it makes sense because Alcatraz offers reliable sheltering and is a good observation point for terrorist operatives immediately after a nuclear weapon is set to detonate in a shipping container sitting at an anchorage terminal.
This column is intended to frighten Americans because Americans ought to be frightened. At present the country acts as if 9/11 did not happen. We are not taking sufficient steps, we are not acting with the warlike emphasis of times past, because America is not sufficiently alarmed. Apparently we cannot rouse ourselves to overhaul inadequate security measures, to pay the price of greater protection, on a basis of simple prudence. It seems that our hair must be made to stand on end. Unfortunately, if something dreadful happens next week (i.e., something nuclear) the attending panic might produce an even worse result – paralysis.
I pray that nothing happens. I pray that the terrorists lack the weapons since they do not lack the will to use them. For it is certain that we lack the will to eject all resident and illegal aliens from the offending region. And lacking that will, infiltration by enemy operatives is relatively easy.
© 2002 Jeffrey R. Nyquist
Yeah, but not one octogenerian with a hip replacement, girl scout with nail clippers, or war hero with a medal or a wired jaw from getting shot in the face has gone through undetected! So THERE!
(></ending ironic and sad-state-of-affairs sarcasm>)
That is hilarious. I truly LOL! That's a keeper. Add to hip replacements and 13-yo-Britney-wanna-be's in platform shoes ANOTHER potentially dangerous category of threat effectively stopped by airport security: an Indiana granny with suspicious UNDERWEAR!
Meanwhile, ten swarthy turban-heads and Atta-lookalikes entered unchallenged because no one wanted to appear prejudiced against a group of people who have been trying to kill us for 1400 years and who have killed thousands of Christians and Jews---including THOUSANDS of Americans---in just the last decade.
There is so much comedy there. I envision "Airport Security Squad," starring Leslie Neilson. His Police Squad character, Lt. Frank Derbin, is transferred to guard LaGuardia (a little play upon words there.)
"We've got a situation here. 10-37, 10-37!" the call goes out in code over walkie-talkies. "Someone is attempting so smuggle a Victoria's Secret 34C onto an aircraft. MAY DAY! MAY DAY!"
Then while they do a body-cavity search of a June-Cleaver-lookalike, a parade of mohamedanss boards the plane in the background, carrying box cutters, shoes shaped like sticks of dynamite, uzi's, suitcases bearing the yellow radioactive warning label and a ticking alarm clock strapped to the luggage tag, etc.
911 was devastating to the airline industry. Were there another round of similar hijackings and divebombings, the impact upon the economy would be beyond catastrophic. Scaring people off of airplanes for weeks or months AGAIN would have a domino effect on the world's economy. Actually, slowly destabilizing the world economy probably suits their purposes better than a quick, large-scale hit that could (though admittedly probably wouldn't since we are such self-hating wusses in the U.S.) provoke mutual destruction.
Meanwhile, in my "Airport Squad" movie staring Leslie Neilson, while grandma is patted down by a airport guard played by Mel Gibson (and grandma is loving every second of it), the ragheads are boarding the plane flashing passports that are acutally, a) a Sam's wholesale card, b) Blockbuster card, c) AARP discount card, d) McDonalds employee badge, etc.
Jimmy "JJ" Walker (remember "dy-no-mite"?) appeared at a local comedy club and said, only half jokingly, there should be two lines and only two at airports: one for Arabs, one for other passengers.
I would add that if it takes an Arab 18 hours to get through the boarding procedure, so be it. We have the personnel to do a complete check---it's just that they are too busy looking out for hip replacements and granny's underwire bra.
Let's put it this way: if an overweight, middle aged redneck (who looks vaguely like that governor from the 50's who sicced the dogs onto the protesters) driving an SUV had just bombed a black chruch in Alabama, then *I would FULLY expect to be thoroughly checked if I tried to park in the lot of, and to enter, a black church in Mobile. Duh.
I'm a grandpa, so you and I are old enough to remember the old tv commercial...with my new twist:
"I dreamed I was held up in airport security as a suspected terrorist in just my MAIDENFORM BRA!"
Well, you must have been looking at the wrong channel(s). Certainly it was on the KING 5 local news in full detail.
The Wilderness of Mirrors Revisited: How I got here, pt.1
The Wilderness of Mirrors pt.2
I've been reading over the posts in this thread, and many people are making statements about Nyquist that just aren't true. One person claimed that he believes the "Russians are Coming" and that he proscribes to every new conspirasy theory that comes along.
This is just plain false. Mr. Nyquist has one belief and one belief only. He has written countless articles debunking the most popular "theories" (Illuminiti (SP?), masonic cabal, etc). Here are just two:
So many conspiracies, so little time
Not all Conspiracy Theories are Created Equal
He also has a website: HERE
I would highly encourage you to read his articles. I would also encourage you to write Mr. Nyquist an e-mail with your analysis of his articles. I have done this and have found him to be very responsive. He is personable and appears to be well learned. I found his correspondances to be thought provoking and enjoyable, even if I did not always agree.
Think what you will about Nyquist, but personally, I do not put him in the tin-foil hat category. There are just too many things happening in the world that Russia and China have their hands in, as was pointed out to me by a fellow freeper with the following links:
Geopolitical Strategies of Russia, The 'Commonwealth of Independent States' and China.
The Commies are comming, the Commies are comming...
Anyway, that's my two cents, for what it's worth.
RLTW!
Semper Suo
We have nuclear weapons, and did not use them on 9/11.
Glad to learn that at least one local station thinks NEWS should be broadcast.
Roger that sergeant. I agree with you one hundred percent. The question is, who are they? Are they middle eastern terrorists? The terrorist organizations involved with the "axis of evil" countries have never shown themselves to be interested in destabilizing countries (with the exception of DPRK operatives in the ROK, but they are't terrorists). They have always been inclined to terrorize the populace. That, of course, doesn't mean they couldn't change their method of operation. They could have evolved.
However, there is another possibility. It has always been the MO of the communist party to destabilize a countries economy to set the stage for "revolution". The PRC generals in the PLA have already stated that war with America is inevitable. China Reveals Nuclear War Plans Against U.S., China Eyes War vs. No. 1 Enemy, PLA weekly outlines war options with U.S., China backs the euro at dollar's expense
We also know that both the Russians and Chinese are providing weapons, technology and money to the "axis of evil" countries. CIA Report Blames China, Russia for Massive Weapons Proliferation, China providing advanced aid in long-range missiles to Iran, Syria, China helping Russia with Iranian missiles, China continues nuke cooperation with Iran, U.S. failed to stop Chinese technical aid to Iraq, U.S. Says China, Russia, Cuba, Syria, Libya Abet Terrorism
Call me paranoid, but I think there is more going on than appears. There is a reason China and Russia are arming the middle east. There is a reason they are working together and with Cuba to destabilize Latin America. There is a reason China has taken control over the Panama canal, and is presently in talks with Bermuda to buid the largest port facility in the world.
The terrorists may be doing the dirty work, but they are being funded by Russia and China directly and via the axis of evil countries who in turn are funded by Russia and China. The end purpose being to economically destabilze the U.S. Economy. So the question is why.
It is highly unlikely they believe they can destabilize the economy and America will open her arms to communism/marxism/socialism. Americans are not Latin American peasants. However, there probably would be some chaos in the US if the economy was destablized bad enough. Such chaos may prevent any swift miltary action on our part, which would be a perfect opportunity for China to attack Taiwan, the DPRK to attack the ROK, and for the various middle eastern states to attack Israel.
Whether the above scenario is just the loony ramblings of an ex-grunt remain to be seen, but the question should be asked; why do the Russians and Chinese continue to do the things they are doing? What do they expect to gain by continuing to fund terrorist organizations and axis of evil nations? I would suggest that our national security may very well depend on whether that question is addressed by the Bush administration.
RLTW!
Semper Suo
I had to have a motherboard recently installed into my notebook, and it appeared to me there is plenty of room there for something to be hidden and the machine still boot up normally. If the heel of a Nike can be a bomb, the slot where a cdrom is housed could also be used for same.
Point is, security is going to have to get real and realistic to improve the odds above the very POOR odds we have today of preventing a moham from pulling off another 911.
This starts with total, no-exception profiling. You appear Arab or have an Arab name, you are subject to rigorous screening. Arrive early, plan to stay late. If you are Arab and not a citizen, you may fly---directly, one way, to your country of origin.
Terror can come in forms other than swarthy middle-easterners. Yes, and profiling mohamedans frees up 90% of our airport security resources to then scrutinize non-Arabs, since the Arabs are taken out of the line and processed seperately.
People like Moussaui (spl?), or like that freakly looking shoe-bomber, or American-taliban Lindh----these people are summarily executed for war crimes, air piracy, treason, or whatever is applicable.
What will it take for common sense to reign? Will it take the nuking of Manhattan, making it uninhabitable for 15 thousand years?
Here's my recommendation in case of a nuclear "terrorist" attack (quotation marks intentional).Nuke the Axis of Evil. That's the only response that is not appeasement. Yes this is harsh, and very risky. But there are no other real options if one wants to gain the upper hand. All other options and compromises would set us up for losing WW-III.
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