Posted on 01/17/2003 1:15:28 PM PST by Angelus Errare
Al Qaida Supporters Threaten Nuclear Attacks
Recently, the moderator of an Islamist Internet forum frequented by al-Qaida supporters wrote that Al-Qaida possesses, and will use, dirty bombs and "virus bombs" against the United States. The author, Abu Shihab al-Qandahari, is regarded by experts on the al-Qaida network as a figure of some importance, who appears to be fairly close to the organization's "official" propaganda apparatus.
For this reason, the threat is seen as being important, regardless of whether it can be regarded as a concrete threat; it is important in what it reveals about al-Qaida and its supporters, and how they see their war against the West. As ICT's Reuven Paz writes (see Commentary below): "even though this may be a false alarm, it would seem to reflect another stage in the escalation in the tone of al-Qa`idah propaganda, and as such, could raise the expectations of Islamists for a “mega operation” against the United States or Russia."
The First Islamist nuclear threat against the United States
Reuven Paz
Senior ICT Researcher
On December 26th 2002, the moderator of the radical Islamist Internet forum al-mojahedoon.net – Abu Shihab al-Qandahari – published a short article titled “The nuclear war is the solution for the destruction of the United States.” The forum is one of the main web sites of supporters of Qa`idat al-Jihad, and one of its most popular among radical Muslim youngsters. The author, nicknamed al-Qandahari, is a popular figure among the participants of the Islamist forums of al-Qa`idah supporters and one of the older ones there, and fought in Afghanistan. He appears to be of Yemeni origin, according to previous information he published in several of these forums. Naturally, the article gained lot of enthusiastic reactions in the forum from young sympathizers of al-Qa`idah.
The article could be viewed as a mere threat, which exploits numerous rumors from various sources. It may also be deliberate disinformation regarding al-Qa`idah’s possession of nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons. Or it could be propaganda aimed at encouraging Islamists. Yet, this is the first time that such a threat has been made publicly by supporters of al-Qa`idah, at least by a figure who is known as close to the al-Qa`idah propaganda apparatus.
The short article is interesting in several aspects. Al-Qandahari writes about the American and Russian use of “dirty” weapons in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Chechnya. Yet, he does not even mention at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This may lead to the conclusion that the use of “dirty” weapons by al-Qa`idah should be a retaliation only against countries that have already used it.
The article is short and the usual “philosophical” elements typical of the writings of Islamist scholars against the United States or the West are missing.
To sum up, even though this may be a false alarm, it would seem to reflect another stage in the escalation in the tone of al-Qa`idah propaganda, and as such, could raise the expectations of Islamists for a “mega operation” against the United States or Russia.
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Following is a translation of the article
The nuclear war is the solution for the destruction of the United States Yes, you did read the title correctly. It is the only way to kill the maximum number of Americans. This is the nuclear terror, which Americans have never feared. In the Second World War, the United States used this weapon twice in three days due to the successful Japanese attack in Pearl Harbor. These days the United States is using the most violent and modern weapons to bomb innocent civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan, and totally support the Russian war against the Chechens. Not out of love of the Russians but out of hatred of the Muslims.
The United States attacked Iraq using weapons that contaminated the lands and water by radiation for thousands of years. Furthermore, it used Uranium bombs to create maximum damage to the lands and human beings, so it could leave Muhammad’s Peninsula after turning it into a forbidden area that no one would consider visiting. Yet, it seems that the beasts of the White House have forgotten one very important fact – and we are very proud to note it – Al-Qa`idah.
This is the organization that terrorized the core of the infidel West, and made from several youngsters, who own nothing but love for Allah and his messenger, a means to punish the sons of the bitches. Moreover, these youngsters demonstrated the finest example of leaving the materialist life. They could enjoy the good life, yet they ran away from it, wishing only what Allah could give them. They sold their souls to Allah, and he accepted them.
Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. If the Americans have bombs that no one else owns, Al-Qa`idah is stronger. It owns “dirty bombs” and “lethal viruses bombs”, which could cover the American cities with deadly diseases and turn this nation, which is “a professional in contempt for other nations,” into a crowd of contaminated and sick people. The coming days would prove that Qa`idat al-Jihad is capable with Allah’s help, of turning the United States into a lake of lethal radiation, that would seem as the last days of humanity. It would also prove that Al-Qa`idah is very popular all over the Islamic world.
Yes, the United States and its allies would be destroyed, as a result of the misuse of their power against the weak. Their end is closer now, by the arms of the uprising youngsters, who while riding their horses, never step down but victorious or martyrs. In both cases this is their victory.
Pray much for your victorious brothers and to Allah who is almighty.
This is an announcement to all people, to enlighten only the believers. As to the deviates we ask Allah either to direct them or hurry in gathering their souls. As to our enemy – Allah will help us to defeat them.
Allah is behind all intentions, and he is merciful.
Abu Shihab al-Qandahari
The thing that's so unusual about the al Qaeda/Hamas/Taliban/Jihadi thing is that there is no geographical enemy to single out, no one upstart country to stomp on, no single face to put on the boogeyman. There's just as many in Egypt and Pakistan and Saudi as there are in Iraq or Afghanistan, and quite a few probably in the US and Canada and all over South America, you name it. We can't get them all...can we?
It's like we're dealing with the Borg, one mass consciousness of millions of potential martyrs, all plugged in to the diabolical server somewhere. If we could just unplug that server...
Personally, I would rather be instantly vaporized than face what our terrorist enemies are facing. Although we're playing a game of catch-up right now, we're doing a very good job of it.
I am both proud and not a little concerned about the secret juggernaut we're building. It won't be too long before we can find, reach out and touch anyone, anyone, anywhere in the world, as easily as we can buy lunch. Hell, once we find them, we can kill them all with chemically-induced heart attacks if we wanted to.
Pity our enemies. While I'm sure they will hit us again, and hit us hard, we don't face anywhere near the sort of slow, painful extinction they do.
Geeky side note: Every Borg vessel has a "vinculum", a device which links the minds of the drones so they can act as one.
For Muslims, the "vinculum" could be abstractly considered to be the Quran and Sunna. On a more practical level, the local Mosque is a "vinculum".
And the Prime Vinculum is the Qaaba in Mecca. If it were destroyed by a 50-megaton urban renewal project, Muslims everywhere would be praying to a glass-lined crater five times a day, and expected to make their pilgrimage (the Hajj) to a radioactive pit.
That would be justified only if Islam itself were finally considered to be "the Enemy". I only see that happening if the war becomes couched in those terms. As it is, the U.S. has many, many honorable and powerful Muslim allies, and would be wise to keep them.
Just as fundamentalist Christians shouldn't be cause for destroying Christianity, fundamentalist Muslims shouldn't be cause for destroying Islam. I haven't always felt this way, but I finally figured it out.
Rather, we're going to hunt down everyone even remotely related to terrorist acts against the U.S. and render them unable to ever do so again.
Not as dramatic, I know, but far more effective, and far more terrifying for the targets of our wrath.
Bad Example. Fundamentalist Christians are the ones who are obeying what it says in spreading the Gospel, and teaching the Church to obey God's word.
Muslim clerics are teaching their people to hate.
Believeing the Bible and what it says brings a person to peace. Believing what the Koran says teaches a person to hate Jews and Christians.
What freakin planet is this retard from ?? We had (and to some degree still have) 10,000 nuclear weapons pointed at us by the BIGGEST and BADDEST enemy on the planet !!
You think one nuke is going to scare us ? Hell, we'll turn around and let fly 100 nukes and then get ready with the rest of them. Islamic terrorists are too stupid for words if they think that one is going to do us in.
America, land of the usually fat, dumb and happy crowd. Till you piss us off; then we go forth and exterminate ENTIRE cultures.
Oh, they know, they know. Terrified, the rats have gone to ground. They should pull dirt in on themselves before we end their days with a BLU-82.
There is no asylum; there is no haven or safe place. They are hunted 24/7 by America's finest. One by one they will wink out like candles in a sudden night breeze.
I agree. I was very worried in the first few weeks after 9/11 that there was a second shoe to drop. It never did. IMHO, we have grossly overestimated Al Qaeda's power. If they had a nuke, they would have used it. However, I am still worried about the hijackers' interest in cropdusters. They definitely have or expected to have access to chemical or biological weapons. I hope our guys massing in the Middle East for the attack on Iraq have good anti-aircraft defenses, especially against simple small planes.
We've been lucky in the sense that Bin Laden had no strategic vision. Immediately after 9/11, a series of follow up attacks would have sent our economy into chaos and depression.
No big trick to that, what with the thousands of uninspected maritime cargo containers delivered to our seaports each month.
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