Posted on 10/14/2002 2:48:55 AM PDT by 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.
Regards, Ivan
Many what? Many in Bali?
Lemme see.
WTC 1993, Somalia (Black Hawk Down), Kohvar Towers in Saudi Arabia, Berlin nightclub, 2 embassies in Africa, The Cole, 9/ll attacks on WTC, Pentagon, and failed Capitol or WH attack, unknown anthrax murderer(s), Finland, Parisian mayor stabbed, French tanker bombed, unknown sniper murderer(s) in Maryland.
And this is what I know about and remember readily.
Lincoln Chafee (R-RI)
Daniel Akaka (D-HI)
Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Robert Byrd (D-WV)
Kent Conrad (D-ND)
Jon Corzine (D-NJ)
Mark Dayton (D-MN)
Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Russ Feingold (D-WI)
Bob Graham (D-FL)
Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
James Jeffords (A-VT)
Ted Kennedy (D-MA)
Pat Leahy (D-VT)
Carl Levin (D-MI)
Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
Patty Murray (D-WA)
Jack Reed (D-RI)
Paul Sarbanes (D-MD)
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Paul Wellstone (D-MN)
Ron Wyden (D-OR)
What does "A" stand for?
I am sick of their "religion of peace".
Regards, Ivan
Sounds good to me. Took Indonesia long enough to admit it. The defense minister of Indonesia was afraid to say so because of a backlash because the muslims were the ones that helped put them in power. At least 2 Americans so far among the victims and they are searching for more. Our hearts and prayers go out to ALL the victims and their families. JUST ON FOX NEWS. WOULD YOU BELIEVE AL QAEDA IS SAYING AMERICANS DID THE BOMBING!!! THEY ARE DENYING IT!!
Regards, Ivan
You are not alone Ivan!
That Bali bombing has absolutely shocked and sickened me at the magnitude of the blast and the brutality to all those people who were young, innocent and enjoying their life.
Last night, I caught a car radio talk program where the host said...I'm going to say the unthinkable here...but after much debate for more than a year, I've come to no other conclusion... WE are at war with ISLAM!
It's not PC to say that, but the fundamentalist view of ISLAM that the terrorists believe and seems to dominate the in the world wants to destroy the WEST. It's time everyone wake up to it!
I'm in agreement, and the task is daunting but we really will have no other option. WE didn't pick this fight, but we'll have to end it!
And to clarify the confusion, every non-Islamic secularist regime in a Arab country should be changed. Let us start with Iraq and after that with Syria.
They say this because they know they have enough allies in the American media, in the liberal Left, and in Congress that will take this statement as gospel... and will refuse to give any credence to the President's statements. This will be sufficient to keep Americans from being united enough to respond, and they will be free to kill more innocents.
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