The picture published along with the article illustrates the intentions of the author of the article endorsing annihilation of the United States:
A photocopy of the article published on the site that is identified with bin Laden's organization:
Posted on 01/20/2003 10:27:53 AM PST by yonif
January 20th, 2003
An Israeli security source stressed that "Al-Qaeda" persists in attempting to re-establish its terror infrastructure and is also striving to acquire unconventional weapons. Recently, they have set up covert cells in areas under Palestinian Authority control for the purpose of carrying out terror attacks. The increasing threat against the free world inherent in Al-Qaeda may be seen in the extreme anti-western line taken by that organization, in which all citizens of democratic counties are defined as "combatants", thus conferring religious legitimacy to the indiscriminate killing of civilians. An article published recently on one of the Internet sites identified with Al-Qaeda, endorsing annihilation of the United States and its allies through use of nuclear and biological weapons, conveys, according to the security source, the urgent need for cooperation in the fight against international terror.
The following is a translation of the article that endorses "annihilation of the United States" with nuclear and biological weapons:
Nuclear Warfare is the Solution for Destroying America
In the name of Allah the most merciful.
Thus, you are not mistaken in reading this text. This is the only way to kill the greatest possible number of Americans. The Americans have never experienced a threat like this one. During World War II, America used this [nuclear] weapon twice in three days following the successful Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Today, the United States uses the most powerful and advanced weapons of destruction against peaceful citizens of Iraq and Afghanistan, and it proudly supports the war that Russia is waging against Chechniya, not out of affection for Russia, but rather from its hatred of Moslems.
America has bombed Iraq with weaponry that will pollute the soil and underground water with radiation for thousands of years. It also enhances its bombs with spent uranium to cause even greater harm to the people and the environment. This, so that no one should think that after they leave the island of [the Prophet] Mohammed [the Arabian Peninsula], which they have transformed into a restricted area, just to return to the same place [because of the pollution perpetrated by them]. It seems, in fact, that the wild beasts in the White House have forgotten or have tried to forget one very important thing, which is, in all pride - the Al-Qaeda organization. This organization, which strikes fear in the hearts of the infidel West, turns youth into people who have nothing in this world but their devotion to Allah and to His Prophet Mohammed, and who are the tormentors of the sons of whores [i.e. - the West], and who are shining examples of estrangement from the sins of this world . . . and of selling their souls to Allah .
. . Therefore, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Even though the Americans have bombs possessing enormous power, Al-Qaeda is even more powerful than they, and it has in its possession bombs which are called "dirty bombs", and bombs with deadly viruses, which will spread fatal diseases throughout American cities . . . The coming days will prove that Kaedat el-Jihad [the Al-Qaeda organization] is capable of turning America into a sea of deadly radiation, and this will prove to the world that the end is at hand . . . Yes, we will destroy America and its allies, because they have used their power for evil against the weak. And now, the end approaches at the hand of the enlightened [Islamic] youth astride their horses [fighting the war against the infidels]; they will dismount either as victors or vanquished [i.e. - fall in holy war for Allah] . . .
Abu Shihab El-Kandahari
26 December 2002"
The picture published along with the article illustrates the intentions of the author of the article endorsing annihilation of the United States:
A photocopy of the article published on the site that is identified with bin Laden's organization:
January 20th, 2003
A recently published address to members of Al-Quaida, the global terrorist organization, details the objectives of anticipated terror attacks. The statement was publicized on Maalim Al-Jihad, an Internet site that is identified with Osama Bin Laden's terrorist organization. The top priorities of the terrorists: kidnapping American and Israeli citizens and striking embassies and airports.
The following is a translation of the published statement (Author's name is not mentioned):
"Present Objectives"
The following are a few of the goals that we must realize:
Preparing a refuge (for Al-Qaida militants)
Intensifying communications with brothers [terrorists] in the areas where Jihad [holy war] is being conducted.
The immense importance of Philippians to the Jihad
Not abandoning brothers [militant activists] in Jihad in Indonesia and Turkistsan.
Maintaining an atmosphere of horror within the enemy camp by continuously threatening airports and Israeli and American travel agencies.
Attempting to kidnap one to two American or Israeli hostages. Specifically important is the capture of journalists or famous people for the purpose of applying pressure [ie, to the Americans and Israelis] and in order to shorten the detention of the prisoners [ie, the goal of the kidnappings is to trigger the release of prisoners].
Worldwide Attacks on embassies belonging to infidel states which spy on Moslems. The attacks will be executed in the following manner:
Packing cars with explosives that are triggered to detonateby remote control.
Suicide mission in which a number of "suicide attackers" will participate
Utilizing creativity in the production of explosives…the goal of our activities needs to be increasing the production in the factories of death and using any means conceivable [to aid the achievement of our goals]
The use of rockets specifically its worthwhile to note that portions of the embassies are located in places where missile attacks are viable.
The following is a photograph of the relevant section of the mission statement published to militants of the Al-Quaida terrorist organization:
Related article:
Bin Laden's Deputy Calls for Terror Attacks Against US Targets in Muslim Countries
***FBI.gov: "Statement for the Record of Robert S. Mueller, III Director Federal Bureau of Investigation on War on Terrorism Before the Select Committee on Intelligence of the United States Senate Washington, D.C." (STATEMENT SNIPPET: "The al-Qaeda network will remain for the foreseeable future the most immediate and serious threat facing this country. Al-Qaeda is the most lethal of the groups associated with the Sunni jihadist cause, but it does not operate in a vacuum; many of the groups committed to international jihad -- including the Egyptian al-Gama'at al-Islamiyya, Lebanese ‘Asbat al-Ansar, Somali al-Ittihad al-Islami, and Algerian Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC) --- offer al-Qaeda varying degrees of support. * FBI investigations have revealed a widespread militant Islamic presence in the US. * We strongly suspect that several hundred of these extremists are linked to al-Qaeda. * The focus of their activities centers primarily on fundraising, recruitment, and training. Their support structure, however, is sufficiently well-developed that one or more groups could be ramped up by al-Qaeda to carry out operations in the US homeland. Despite the progress the US has made in disrupting the al-Qaeda network overseas and within our own country, the organization maintains the ability and the intent to inflict significant casualties in the US with little warning. * The greatest threat is from al-Qaeda cells in the US that we have not yet identified. The challenge of finding and rooting out al-Qaeda members once they have entered the US and have had time to establish themselves is our most serious intelligence and law enforcement challenge.") (February 11, 2003)
***WASHINGTON TIMES.com: "FBI, CIA BELIEVE MASS CASUALTY AL QAEDA STRIKE MORE LIKELY" by Bill Gertz (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Al Qaeda's latest threat of terrorist attacks is focused on operations in three areas: the continental United States, the Persian Gulf region or Southeast Asia, according to intelligence officials. Intelligence from both the FBI and CIA indicates that al Qaeda is preparing to conduct a major attack that will cause mass casualties, like the September 11 attacks, according to officials. The CIA is worried that the new attack will be al Qaeda's first attempt to carry out a terror strike using deadly chemical, biological or radiological weapons, said officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity.") (February 11, 2003)
***INSIGHT On The News online: "AL-QAEDA OPERATIVES STILL ACTIVE IN IRAQ" by Kenneth R. Timmerman (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "An Islamic group with ties to al-Qaeda continues to operate in northern Iraq where it receives aid from Saddam Hussein's intelligence services, Iraqi opposition officials in Washington and London told Insight in recent interviews. The group, called Ansar al-Islam, is led by an Iraqi Kurd named Nejmeddin Faraj Ahmad (also known as Mullah Krekar) who trained with Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan in the 1980s.") (020403)
THE NEW YORKER - FACT: A Reporter At Large: "THE UNKNOWN" by Jeffrey Goldberg (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Intelligence officials told me that the agency also takes seriously reports that an Iraqi known as Abu Wa'el, whose real name is Saadoun Mahmoud Abdulatif al-Ani, is the liaison of Saddam's intelligence service to a radical Muslim group called Ansar al-Islam, which controls a small enclave in northern Iraq; the group is believed by American and Kurdish intelligence officials to be affiliated with Al Qaeda. I learned of another possible connection early last year, while I was interviewing Al Qaeda operatives in a Kurdish prison in Sulaimaniya. There, a man whom Kurdish intelligence officials identified as a captured Iraqi agent told me that in 1992 he served as a bodyguard to Ayman al-Zawahiri, bin Laden's deputy, when Zawahiri secretly visited Baghdad.") (February 3, 2003)
***AFTENPOSTEN.no: "USA WANTS NORWAY TO WATCH KREKAR" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Mullah Krekar has been, and likely remains, the leader of Ansar al-Islam, a fringe Islamic group in Iranian Kurdistan accused of having connections to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist network. The New York Times reported the connection last week after interviews with Ansa al-Islam members, and after finding documents in Afghanistan mentioning direct links to al-Qaeda.") (January 17, 2003)
WorldNetDaily.com: "NEW EVIDENCE LINKS SADDAM, BIN LADEN" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Unit 999 of Iraqi intelligence has helped train both Arafat's shock troops and bin Laden's Islamists for suicide operations utilizing weapons of mass destruction. According to Bodansky's book, some of these terrorists have already "succeeded in infiltrating several Arab countries. They are provided with instructions, secret codes and advanced weapons." According to Israeli sources, the Iraqis permitted the terrorist trainees to test chemical weapons in southern Kurdistan.") (120902)
***News.TELEGRAPH.co.uk: "CHEMICAL WAR THREAT BY IRAQ'S 'TALIBAN'" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Mullah Mohammad Hasan is the new leader of Ansar Al-Islam, a radical Taliban-style mini-state in Northern Iraq where ricin and other chemical agents have been been tested as potential weapons. He has vowed to use his arsenal to fight America and its allies if a war is launched against Saddam Hussein. Ansar has also given shelter to Abu Musaab al-Zarqawi - the al-Qaeda quartermaster responsible for planning the terrorist group's attacks - in its camps, according to Kurdish officials in the area. The group has told recent visitors to its enclave that it holds stocks of the deadly chemical agents ricin, cyanide gas and aflatoxin.") (January 12, 2003)
stepping back in time...CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR: "TALIBAN-STYLE GROUP GROWS IN IRAQ" (ARTICLE SNIPPETS: "HALABJA, NORTHERN IRAQ - A radical Islamist group - with possible links to Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein - is growing and threatening the stability of the Kurdish region in northern Iraq."..."Since, Ansar al-Islam has nearly doubled in size to 700, including Iraqis, Jordanians, Moroccans, Palestinians, and Afghans - a composition similar to the multinational Al Qaeda network. Villagers here claim it has ransacked and razed beauty salons, burned schools for girls, and murdered women in the streets for refusing to wear the burqa. It has seized a Taliban-style enclave of 4,000 civilians and several villages near the Iran border.") (March 15, 2002)
***ISLAM-ONLINE.net: "MULLAH OMAR URGES JIHAD AGAINST U.S. WAR ON IRAQ" by Hasbanullah Mutawakel, IOL Correspondent (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Peshawar, December 18 (IslamOnline) - Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar exhorted Muslims on Tuesday, December 17, to prepare for Jihad against the United States if it unleashes a military offensive against Iraq. In a statement published in the Pakistani Mashraq newspaper, Mullah Omar stressed it was time for the Islamic nation to stand in the face of world atheism and to attack American interests worldwide.") (121802)
stepping back in time...ALBAWABA.com: "EXPERTS: AL ZAWAHIRI TAPE IN AL JAZEERA TRIGGERED RECENT WAVE OF ATTACKS" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "A tape played on the Qatar-based Al Jazeera television last week from Ayman al Zawahiri and later authenticated by the Americans seemed to have triggered the recent wave of attacks. According to the British Daily Telegraph, that has suggested to Western experts that al-Qaeda has now devolved the timing and possibly the targeting of terrorist attacks to its cells in the field.") (101402)
stepping back in time...HOUSTON CHRONICLE.com (NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE): "BIN LADEN DEPUTY, AN EGYPTIAN SURGEON, HAS LONG BACKED EXTREMIST CAUSES" (September 24, 2001) (ARTICLE NOTE: The "Bin Laden deputy, Egyptian surgeon" is identified as Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, age 50. ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The man, Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, 50, was the leader of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, the terrorist group blamed for the 1981 assassination of President Anwar el-Sadat. He joined in an alliance with bin Laden's group in 1998. After the American cruise missile attacks on al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan that year, it was Zawahiri who telephoned a Pakistani reporter on bin Laden's behalf and warned: "The war has started. The Americans should wait for the answer."") (September 24, 2001)
Why does that not surprise me at all?
"The increasing threat against the free world inherent in Al-Qaeda may be seen in the extreme anti-western line taken by that organization, in which all citizens of democratic counties are defined as "combatants", thus conferring religious legitimacy to the indiscriminate killing of civilians."
That's the Achille's Heel of Islamic terrorists. The Koran clearly states that the killing of non-combatants is haram (unlawful), so in order to justify the indiscriminate murder of civilians, the terrorist must subvert the teachings of the very religion he claims to be defending.
To destroy Al-Qaeda from within, the fact that they are doing that must resonate from every moderate Mosque in the world. I hope that moderate Islam realizes that by not fighting back, they are ensuring their own destruction, along with the extremists.
There was an article in FR a few days ago, discussing the fact that the house of Saud is making moves towards democratizing the system of government there. They are implementing elections for all sorts of parliamentary-like bodies of government, leading perhaps to a government similar to the British, with the ruling house being largely symbolic in nature.
The speaker also commented on another goal being the removal of Wahabbi influence from education, and moving towards a more secular system.
The cultural impact of this would be tremendous, and while I have doubts about the timeliness (it may be a little late for this), if they manage to loosen the grip of the Wahabbi clerics on Saudi Arabia, they will lose power and influence everywhere.
I think the ruling house is getting tired of the Wahabbis, scared of the Americans, or both.
Have you heard anything about this?
HIPAKISTAN.com: "OSAMA BIN LADEN'S SON SPOTTED IN IRAN: REPORT" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "RIYADH: Osama bin Laden's eldest son, Saad, who was with his father during the US-led air campaign against Afghanistan in 2001, is currently in Iran, a Saudi-owned newspaper reported Thursday. "Saad, the eldest son of Osama bin Laden, head of the al-Qaeda network, was spotted in Iran," Al-Sharq Al-Awsat said, citing a diplomatic source and without giving further details. The pan-Arab paper added that bin Laden himself "is not in Iran." Asharq Al-Awsat reported last July that Saad had taken over the command of al-Qaeda since the US offensive against al-Qaeda bases in Afghanistan. That disclosure, the daily said at the time, "substantiates the theory that Osama was killed or seriously wounded" in the US-led military campaign.") (February 15, 2003)
***WASHINGTON TIMES.com: 'BIN LADEN SON, AL QAEDA TERRORISTS SPOTTED IN IRAN" by Bill Gertz (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "U.S. intelligence agencies say Osama bin Laden's oldest son, Sad, is in Iran along with other senior al Qaeda terrorists, as Iranian military forces have been placed on their highest state of alert in anticipation of a U.S. attack on Iraq, according to intelligence officials. Sad bin Laden was spotted in Iran last month, according to officials familiar with intelligence reports. Sad is believed to be a key leader of the al Qaeda terrorist network since U.S. and allied forces ousted the ruling Taliban militia in Afghanistan.") (February 15, 2003)
***INSIGHT On The News online: "MISSILE TECHNOLOGY SENT TO CHINA" by Scott L. Wheeler (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Indianapolis-based Magnequench Inc. has not yet publically announced the closing of its Valparaiso, Ind., factory, but Insight has confirmed that the company will shut down this year and relocate at least some of its high-tech machine tools to Tianjin, China. Word of the shutdown comes as the company is producing critical parts for the U.S. Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) project, more widely known as smart bombs, raising heavy security issues related to the transfer of military technology to the PRC.") (020503)
SAAG.org - SOUTH ASIA ANALYSIS GROUP Paper No.610 by Dr. Rajesh Kumar Misra: "NUCLEAR SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY OF PAKISTAN: CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO NONPROLIFERATION" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Recent revelations of support to North Korean uranium enrichment programme and the connections of some of the scientists with Al Qaeda appear to confirm that Pakistan is developing into one of the most dangerous proliferant countries in the world. The nuclear scientific community plays a pivotal role in it. Right at the top, Dr. A.Q. Khan to several other scientists who were involved in the nuclear development programme of Pakistan, remain suspects. More than a dozen scientists in Pakistan can be called as nuclear proliferation agents. Including a list of suspected scientists in Pakistan, this paper is an effort to draw attention of the international community on the existing alleged rogue nuclear scientific community in Pakistan and their potential involvement in proliferation of weapons of mass destruction worldwide at different state and non-state levels.") February 7, 2003
GUARDIAN.co.uk: "ITALIAN JUDGE FREES PAKISTANIS HELD IN TERRORISM RAID" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "An Italian judge ordered the release of 28 Pakistani men yesterday after they spent two weeks in a Naples prison, admitting there was not enough evidence that any of them were involved in an al-Qaida plot.") (February 13, 2003)
FOX NEWS.com (AP): "28 PAKISTANI AL QAEDA SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN ITALY" (ARTICLE SNIPPETS: "During the raid of an apartment in the city center, they uncovered about 2 pounds of dynamite, 165 feet of explosive fuse and various types of detonators, the police statement said.The official said police also uncovered maps of Naples with "sensitive" targets circled. He refused to elaborate. Italian news reports citing unidentified sources said the areas marked included the U.S. Consulate in Naples and NATO bases in nearby Bagnoli and Capodichino."... "In addition, religious texts in Pakistan's Urdu language and other documents were also found in the apartment, as well as photos of "martyrs of the Jihad," the police statement said.") (January 31, 2003)
***TV.KSL.com (AP): Salt Lake City. "ASSAULT ON REMOTE OIL FIELD WORKER RAISES TERROR FEARS" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Navajo Nation police and the FBI were patrolling a remote area of southeastern Utah Thursday after reports that an oil company employee had been attacked by armed men who asked questions about the oilfield's operations. The victim, whose name wasn't released, told authorities four armed men attacked him at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday at the ExxonMobil oil and natural gas processing facility in Aneth, Utah. "He did not get a good look at them," said Leonard G. Butler, acting executive director of Navajo Nation public safety in Window Rock, Ariz. "They were speaking a language he did not understand.")(February 20, 2003)
AZ CENTRAL.com - THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC: "IRAQI WITH ALLEGED TERRORIST TIES ARRESTED IN PHOENIX" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Phoenix authorities have arrested an Iraqi man on the FBI's Watch List who is suspected of having connections to "known terrorist groups" and who fought against the United States in Desert Storm in 1991, authorities said. Alidai Al-Hamdani, 27, was formerly employed by Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, according to police reports.") (February 20, 2003)
AZ CENTRAL.com - THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC: "AFGHAN MAN ARRESTED IN TUCSON" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Tucson police arrested an Afghan man Tuesday after he apparently crossed the border illegally, authorities said. Investigators were tight-lipped about the arrest, saying the 26-year-old man was in federal custody on immigration-related charges. "I can confirm we did arrest someone from Afghanistan, but the case is under investigation by us and the FBI," U.S. Border Patrol spokesman Rob Daniels said.") (February 20, 2003)
FOX NEWS.com: "FLORIDA PROFESSOR CHARGED WITH OPERATING GLOBAL TERROR ORGANIZATION" (ARTICLE NOTE: The Florida professor is Sami Al-Arian. The terror organization is Palestinian Islamic Jihad.) (February 20, 2003)
US DOJ.gov: "MEMBERS OF THE PALESTINIAN ISLAMIC JIHAD ARRESTED, CHARGED WITH RACKETEERING AND CONSPIRACY TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO TERRORISTS" (PRESS RELEASE SNIPPET: "WASHINGTON, D.C. – Attorney General John Ashcroft, Assistant Attorney General Michael Chertoff of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Paul I. Perez of the Middle District of Florida, and James F. Jarboe, FBI Special Agent In Charge of the Tampa Field Office, today announced the arrest of four members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a designated foreign terrorist organization, following the return of a 50-count indictment by a federal grand jury in Tampa, Florida. The indictment, returned Feb. 19 and unsealed today, charges a total of eight defendants under RICO with operating a racketeering enterprise from 1984 until the present that engaged in a number of violent activities. In addition, the indictment charges conspiracy within the United States to kill and main persons abroad, conspiracy to provide material support and resources to PIJ, conspiracy to violate emergency economic sanctions, engaging in various acts of interstate extortion, perjury, obstruction of justice and immigration fraud. If convicted, the defendants face up to life in prison. "The individuals named in this indictment play a substantial role in international terrorism – they are 'material supporters' of foreign terrorist organizations. They finance, extol and assist acts of terror," said Attorney General John Ashcroft. "Our message to them is clear: We make no distinction between those who carry out terrorist attacks and those who knowingly finance, manage or supervise terrorist organizations. We will bring justice to the full network of terror." The defendants arrested today are: *Sami Amin Al-Arian, 45, born in Kuwait, a resident of Temple Terrace, Fla., and for many years a professor at the University of South Florida's College of Engineering. Al-Arian was the alleged leader of the PIJ in the United States, and Secretary of the "Shura Council," or worldwide governing group of the PIJ; *Sameeh Hammoudeh, 42, born in the West Bank, a resident of Temple Terrace, Fla., an instructor and student at USF, and administrator at the Islamic Academy of Florida. Hammoudeh was an alleged member of the PIJ in the Tampa area; *Hatim Naji Fariz, 30, born in Puerto Rico, a resident of Spring Hill, Fla., and a manager for a medical clinic. Fariz also was an alleged PIJ member; and *Ghassan Zayed Ballut, 41, born in the West Bank, a resident of Tinley Park, Illinois, and a small business owner. Ballut was an alleged member of a PIJ cell in Chicago, Illinois. The other defendants charged in the indictment remain overseas. They are: *Ramadan Abdullah Shallah, 45, born in the Gaza Strip in the Occupied Territories, a resident of Damascus, Syria, current worldwide leader of the PIJ and a member of the PIJ's Shura Council. Shallah, formerly of Tampa, is former Executor Director of the World Islam and Studies Enterprise (WISE) and a former instructor at USF. Shallah was named by the United States as a Specially Designated Terrorist in November 1995; *Bashir Musa Mohammed Nafi, 50, born in Egypt, a resident of Oxfordshire, England, and a professor at Muslim College, formerly associated with WISE. Nafi was the leader of the PIJ in the United Kingdom, a member and founder of the PIJ, and a member of the Shura Council; *Mohammed Tasir Hassan Al-Khatib, 46, born in the Gaza Strip in the Occupied Territories, a resident in the Beirut, Lebanon area, formerly associated with Islamic Committee for Palestine (ICP) in Tampa. Al-Khatib was Treasurer of the PIJ and a member of the Shura Council; and *Abd Al Aziz Awda, 52, born in Gabaly, Israel, a resident of the Gaza Strip and Imam of the Al Qassam Mosque in the Gaza Strip. Awda was a founder and spiritual leader of the PIJ and a member of the Shura Council. In January 1995, Awda was designated by the United States as a specially designated terrorist.") (February 20, 2003) (Click here to read the full text of this press release.)
FOX NEWS.com: "MOROCCAN CONVICTED IN FIRST SEPTEMBER 11 TRIAL" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "HAMBURG, Germany -- In the first trial anywhere of a suspect in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, a 28-year old Moroccan student was found guilty Wednesday of being an accessory to the murder of more than 3,000 people. Mounir el Motassadeq received the maximum sentence: 15 years in prison. A Hamburg state court found him guilty of membership in a terrorist organization and of planning logistics for the Al Qaeda cell that included three homicide pilots, including lead Sept. 11 hijacker Mohamed Atta, who flew one of two planes that demolished the World Trade Center. El Motassadeq, who showed no emotion as the verdict was read, was convicted of 3,045 counts of accessory to attempted murder, as well as five counts of attempted murder and bodily injury.") (February 19, 2003)
***NY DAILY NEWS.com: "JUST PLANE BAFFLING" (ARTICLE SNIPPETS: "It was also revealed that Peter Williams, 59, is a licensed pilot who owns a plane - and attended the same flight school as some of the Sept. 11 terrorists, sources and authorities said." ... "Airport screeners found a plastic knife and the piano wire, with handles, in the luggage, sources said.") (February 14, 2003)
BBC NEWS.com: "SAUDIS JAILED FOR 'AL-QAEDA' PLOT" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The three men, Abdullah Mesfer Ali al-Ghamdi, 22, Zouhair Hilal, 26, and Hilal El-Assiri, 31, were convicted on charges of attempted murder, attempted sabotage with the use of explosives and belonging to a "criminal organisation". They were found to have plotted to buy small speed boats, fill them with explosives and use them for suicide attacks against British and US warships as they crossed the narrow Straits of Gibraltar. The Moroccan wives of two of the men were sentenced to six months in prison for their part in the plot. Three other Moroccans received sentences ranging from four months to one year. One Moroccan was acquitted.") (February 21, 2003)
WASHINGTON TIMES.com: "SHIP GETS ARMS IN AND OUT" by Bill Gertz (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The North Korean ship that last year delivered Scud missiles to Yemen transferred a large shipment of chemical weapons material from Germany to North Korea recently, U.S. intelligence officials said. The ship, the Sosan, was monitored as it arrived in North Korea earlier this month carrying a shipment of sodium cyanide, a precursor chemical used in making nerve gas, said officials familiar with intelligence reports.") (February 18, 2003)
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