The arrested radical Islamist terrorist(above)
The US Embassy in Singapore, target of the intended major blast (above)
Posted on 07/09/2002 7:23:11 AM PDT by AmericanInTokyo
BREAKING NEWS (also in Filipino press this a.m. )
Text:
"The Philippines military has arrested a Filipino man they suspect of supplying a ton of explosives for use in an alleged plot to bomb Western targets in Singapore. Security forces arrested the man, Hussain Ramos, also known as Ali Ramos or Abu Ali, in the southern Philippine city of Marawi on Monday night."
Jailed militant Al-Ghozi implicated Ramos
Officials says he was identified by an Indonesian man convicted in April of buying explosives for the alleged operations, Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi.
Police say al-Ghozi is a member of the regional militant group Jemaah Islamiah, which has been linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.
Hauled Before President Arroyo
Military and police officials presented Mr Ramos, 35, to Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the presidential palace in Manila shortly after announcing his arrest.
The military said Mr Ramos admitted he had procured explosives for al-Ghozi between November and December, 2001 for use in Singapore.
A military report said that al-Ghozi was put in contact with Mr Ramos through the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the country's main Muslim separatist group which signed a ceasefire with Manila last year.
Army chief Lieutenant General Dioisio Santiago refused to name the group Mr Ramos was working for, but he said the suspect had revealed that this group was operating in distinct cells, and was actively recruiting.
Analysts say Jemaah Islamiah wants to establish an Islamic state to include parts of Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Bombing Plot
Officials allege that Jemaah Islamiah planned to attack US military personnel and naval vessels as well as the British high commission, the Israeli embassy and the Australian high commission in Singapore.
Al-Ghozi has been sentenced to 12 years in prison in connection with the discovery by Philippines police of a ton of TNT, 300 detonators and 17 M-16 assault rifles, buried in a backyard in the southern city of General Santos.
He has also admitted to involvement in a string on deadly bombings in Manila in December 2000 that killed 22 people and injured more than 120.
He still faces charges relating to the bombings, which may include murder charges.
Full coverage
The arrested radical Islamist terrorist(above)
The US Embassy in Singapore, target of the intended major blast (above)
Anybody remember all that GUANO we heard from assorted liberals, Islamic 'cultural' specialists, and other handwringers including State Department pansies, that we had better not roll forward with military action during so-called "Ramadan"? See, right here you have the enemy engaged in positioning their forces at the same time bleeding hearts in our own countries would handcuff our boys (and girls) in the field. Disgusting.
It also reported the Asian targets were to be: USA, Israel and Australia, all with diplomatic or military facilities in Singapore. They had decided to pack quite a punch. Probably would have made the USS Cole look like kids' play.....
The government position is apparently meant to prevent the lucrative tourism industry from being hit even though the popular beach destinations of Phuket and Koh Samui are hundreds of miles from Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.
On Monday, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra told reporters: "Thailand is not a target for terrorists, so don't worry about the reports that there is some terrorist movement in the south."
People die, things blow up, but not to worry: it's not al Quaeda, so it's not terrorism. Now where have I heard this reasoning before?
The only training I read about was where they would look into the the night vision, spot a hostile and train their sights on his shoulderblades. Live fire training on living subjects. Hey but it's training ok, so lay off. L-O-L.
Why does no one question this glaring inconsistancy in the propaganda of the enemy??
Most Muslims whine that they only kill innocent people because the dirty joooooos are occupying their land....
So, this groups justifies a hostile takover of the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.....how? Same inconsistancy applies to the attempted hostile Muslim takeover of the Balkans.
If they win, THEY will be the dirty occupiers of the land....won't they? Don't THEY wanna be exactly what they accuse Israel of being...only on a much larger scale?
OH, the paradoxes.
I wonder what interrogation methods were used.
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