Experts fear attack is first of many (AFTERMATH OF BALI ALERT)

The Evening Standard ^ | October 14, 2002 | Robert Fox

[MadIvan]

The bombing of the Bali nightclub was one of several attacks by al Qaeda and its allies in the past 10 days, experts now believe.

Last week the Al-Jazeera news network in Dubai broadcast a tape from Osama bin Laden's lieutenant, Dr Ayman Zawahiri, which threatened a wave of attacks on "America and its allies".

Zawahiri was the founder of Egypt's Islamic Jihad, responsible for murdering President Anwar Sadat of Egypt in 1981. It had links to Gemaa Islamiya, which deliberately targeted tourists as terror targets. In November 1997 the group shot dead 58 tourists at the Valley of the Kings near Luxor in Egypt.

Zawahiri, 52, a surgeon, was believed to have died in the American air attacks against al Qaeda and Taliban strongholds in Afghanistan a year ago. But American experts think last week's tape was genuine - and that its threat of a broad-based terror campaign has started.

Examples include the explosion which tore apart the French tanker Limburg off Yemen last week, which is now confirmed to have been caused by a terrorist boat packed with explosives.

A US marine on exercise in Kuwait died after being shot by Islamic extremists known to have links with al Qaeda, and the Italian authorities say they believe they have uncovered a new al Qaeda cell in Italy.

There are also fears that the sniper operating around Washington may have links with the campaign. The random attacks are the essence of "asymmetric" tactics - hitting a society where it is believed it is most vulnerable and least vigilant. Several elements in the Bali bombings suggest the hand of al Qaeda or one of its affiliates, like Indonesia's most prominent Islamic extremist group, the Jemaah Islamiyah Group. The leader of Jemaah, cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, wants Indonesia, the most numerous Islamic nation in the world, to become a full Islamic republic.

Attacks by al Qaeda were thwarted earlier this year in neighbouring Singapore, and their most powerful regional ally, the Abu Sayyaf group, is extremely active in the Philippines.

The government in Djakarta has said that extremist Islamic groups are behind a series of bombings in the capital. Four or five bombs were set off at the time of the Bali club bombings - two against the clubs, and one against a Philippine consular building and the honorary consulate of the United States on Bali. This suggests a degree of planning at which al Qaeda is well practised.

Some experts believe it reflects a restructuring of al Qaeda, which has now broken into regional cells to take on the Americans.

[Polybius]

That's merely because they have no desire to die. They must realise by now that they are going to be hunted until they are all dead. And I do mean ALL of them.

And, in Indonesia, it will not be the U.S. they will have to worry about. That bombing hit Indonesia right where it hurts them : In the tourist money pocket book.

Indonesia will probably do a thorough house cleaning soon.

[MarineDad]

We ought to tell Al Qaeda - perpetuate one more outrage like this and we will nuke Mecca.

What the hell, let's do it anyway - just to see if we can blast the muzzies' "holy meteorite" back into space.

[skeeter]

JUST ON FOX NEWS. WOULD YOU BELIEVE AL QAEDA IS SAYING AMERICANS DID THE BOMBING!!! THEY ARE DENYING IT!!

Must've been some local Balanese 'whacko' who did the bombing.

According to the 'experts' commenting on the Maryland murders islamic terrorists always claim credit for their deeds.

[ladyinred]

Ah yes, the religion of peace has declared war on civilization. It will do the world well to acknowledge that.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

[James Jeffords (A-VT)]

What does "A" stand for?

Asshole.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

[There are also fears that the sniper operating around Washington may have links with the campaign. The random attacks are the essence of "asymmetric" tactics - hitting a society where it is believed it is most vulnerable and least vigilant.]

This has been my suspicion from early on. Shooting the schoolboy convined me. And I had read that assinations and drive-by shootings were found listed in the documents retrieved from Afghanistan. Only terrorists have killed men, wome, AND children indiscriminently in the recent past (Israel, 9-11, Philipines).

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Indonesia will probably do a thorough house cleaning soon.

We'll have to see. Like the Phillipines, Indonesia is a large, disorganized land mass (of islands) with a fairly unstable government. Not quite the anarchy that was Afganistan, but close. Al queda will be very difficult to defeat there.

[Almondjoy]

I think one in many of a series.. it's all refective of time line... not many over the last year..t hen boom 3 in a week. At any rate I think we are starting to see exactly how good these guys are. Many wanted to write off Al-Qaeda in the first days. this goes to show Bin-Laden alive or dead the network still thrives. Furthurmore this could be a series that is being triggered to something big. Al-Qaeda loves deception. If they set up 5-6 bombs throughout the world and the world intellgence agencies playing catchup.. they have a better chance of getting the big attack through. I guarantee you.. the big one has already been planned.

[Dec31,1999]

Bump.

[patriciaruth]

the big one has already been planned.

Zawahiri is the one I fear the most. And probably he is still alive.

I hope the Homeland Security Department is prepared for simultaneous hits of bomb and cyber attack on the NYSE and suicide bombings at malls.

[Almondjoy]

Prepared? In which do you mean? The only prepration they better have is to stop the mass hysteria afterwards if that happens. No matter how secure we are we will never be protected from suicide bombs.. country is too free and open not to get the supplies here to make a bomb strap it to yourself and walk into any crowded place you want.