Al Qaeda poised to hit us twice: CIA

NY DAILY NEWS ^ | Feb. 7, 2003 | JAMES GORDON MEEK

[conservativecorner]

WASHINGTON - The CIA fears that Al Qaeda is planning at least two large-scale attacks against American targets by mid-February or at the outset of war with Iraq, the Daily News has learned. The terrorist strikes - which may coincide with the end of the hajj, the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca - could include the use of a radioactive "dirty" bomb or chemical and biological weapons, the CIA has determined.

Federal terrorism officials have been warned that "Al Qaeda is organizing a 'new' type of attack that will surprise the United States."

Specific targets are not known, but U.S. officials have discovered plots against the homeland and Saudi Arabia, the warning said.

The CIA's alert said Osama Bin Laden's thugs may attempt strikes that "potentially could involve a radiological dispersal device," combining major assaults with "smaller attacks at multiple places around the world."

It cited "multiple reliable reports" that Al Qaeda is "ready to trigger" new attacks.

U.S. embassies have noted an increase in surveillance of their facilities and Al Qaeda sympathizers are preparing a possible assault on the American consulate in Lahore, Pakistan, as soon as next week, according to the new warning.

The new information comes from Al Qaeda detainees and surveillance of terrorist suspects.

Asked about reports of possible terrorism following the hajj, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer yesterday said the federal government was taking the threats seriously.

"With the convergence of information that comes in, the quality of the information and the upcoming hajj, this becomes relevant information that gets reviewed," Fleischer said. "Historically, we have seen an increase in reporting that coincides with certain holiday periods."

An FBI spokesman confirmed that the bureau has drafted a bulletin for law enforcement officials that likely will include fresh information about Al Qaeda's latest plots.

The State Department reminded Americans yesterday to remain vigilant due to a heightened threat of terrorist actions.

The Daily News reported last week that intelligence authorities were monitoring Iraqi spies crossing the Canadian border to stir up anti-war protests.

[AntiGuv]

Federal terrorism officials have been warned that "Al Qaeda is organizing a 'new' type of attack that will surprise the United States."

Considering the endless brainstorming since 9/11 - not only on the public airwaves but surely in the corridors of the CIA, FBI, and DHS - what could possibly surprise anyone? I'm intrigued by this remark, and not in a positive manner...

[Delmarksman]

Hmmm, very interesting. Lock and Load Bump.

[doosee]

The Daily News reported last week that intelligence authorities were monitoring Iraqi spies crossing the Canadian border to stir up anti-war protests.


Bring them on down to S. Carolina, it would surprise people how hunting accidents just happen sometimes.

[FreedomPoster]

>>The terrorist strikes - which may coincide with the end of the hajj, the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca - could include the use of a radioactive "dirty" bomb or chemical and biological weapons, the CIA has determined.

Well, that needs to be stopped. And if that comes to pass, we just need to counter-strike.

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[Solamente]

NUKE THE BORG CUBE!

[Peach]

I'm in SC too and there's a reason people think twice before they break into houses here. But the kind of attack AQ is planning is something that probably can't be stopped by a homeowner with a gun - but we will try.

[RightOnline]

"Abdula..........I have a terrific idea!!! Praise Allah's holy name!!! Let's slip into the Great Satan and go start anti-war protests in...........hmmm............let's see..............right here......Pigwrestle, West Virginia!!!!"

"Ahmed.................ummm...................well.................shows you're thinking, but..................."

[livius]

There's just something about a religion that celebrates its holy days with terrorist attacks...

[twigs]

Are we still jailing new Al Qaeda terrorists? Or are the ones we've had in custody all along somehow getting news of ongoing terror from their comrades?

[Mustang]

IMHO....Every American city with a subway transportation system must be bumped up a notch or two on the color coded terrorist alert scheme.

Mustang sends.

[Aquinasfan]

LOL!

[aquawrench]

That image reminds me of 2001 space odyssey when the non-evolved entities were freaking out over a black stone that came from nowhere. Hasnt it been determined that the rock at mecca is a meteorite?

[tessalu]

If Muslims do one more strike, Mecca and Medina should get the bomb, and that should be a promise.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

bump

[Spirited]

"should"

Dream on.

[Gorzaloon]

That image reminds me of 2001 space odyssey when the non-evolved entities were freaking out over a black stone that came from nowhere. Hasnt it been determined that the rock at mecca is a meteorite?

The difference is that in the movie, THAT black rock STARTED civilization and sentience.

Maybe the one in Mecca was sent as kind of a "Format" command. Observe the Palestinians et al when they demonstrate and throw rocks! Don't they look JUST LIKE the apes demonstrating and flinging excrement at the waterhole before the monolith arrived? Primitive simian behavior!

[gitmogrunt]

"There's just something about a religion that celebrates its holy days with terrorist attacks..."

Such a holy religion rates a nuclear pre-emptive strike.

[Tom Bombadil]

'new' type

Could just mean something besides flying airplanes into sky scrapers.

Or it could mean that the american people are still in denial about the threat.

[merak]

Ultimately we can't really defend every conceivable terrorist threat. There have to be credible threats of overwhelming and intolerable reprisals on the table. To my thinking this means targetting the cities of Mecca and Medina as well as a threat to totally ban the practice of islam in the United States and its territories.