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New York Tunnels Fit al Qaeda Strategy
DefenseWatch ^ | 02-12-2003 | Tom Knowlton

Posted on 02/13/2003 6:06:27 PM PST by Conservative News Hound

.........Dr. Joshua Sinai, a senior policy analyst in the Regional Conflict Division of Analytic Services Inc. (ANSER), acknowledged in his recent report, Forecasting the Next Waves of Catastrophic Terrorism, that "the 11 September attacks involved meticulous planning, training and precisely timed simultaneous execution. Al Qaeda is highly meticulous and innovative, operationally and tactically." Dr. Sinai further stated that "The simultaneous attacks of 11 September [2001] portend that the next phase will likely involve even more catastrophic assaults, with each successive plot employing newer and deadlier weapons and devices that seek to exploit additional U.S. and allied infrastructural vulnerabilities."

But most alarming in light of the recent terrorist threat advisory is Dr. Sinai's observation that "previous terrorist attacks, failed attacks or plots not yet executed serve as blueprints for intentions and future targeting."

It is important to note that several members of both al Qaeda and the al Qaeda-linked al Fuqra terrorist organization were convicted along with Sheikh Omar Abdul Rahman in connection with the first World Trade Center attack in 1993 and a plot to bomb New York City tunnels and landmarks. It has been ominously observed that since 1993, al Fuqra has hosted numerous low-level Tri-State area bridge and tunnel workers for weekend retreats at their compound in Hancock, N.Y.

Like the World Trade Center, the Holland Tunnel, although not the first Hudson River tunnel, represents a feat of American engineering and is a historic landmark, making it an attractive target for al Qaeda.

While "blowing up" the tunnel or even creating a breach in a tube that would allow the Hudson River to come rushing in is not a realistic threat, there is still a significant danger posed by such a terrorist attack.

An assault upon the Holland Tunnel, which handles approximately 100,000 vehicles per day, would likely take the form of three near-simultaneous explosions in at least one of the tunnel's tubes. The first two explosions would likely occur at the mouth of the tube's entrance and exit, areas not afforded protection by the Hudson River bed's subterranean rock. The goal of these explosions would be to damage or collapse the tunnel entry and exit ways to hinder or prevent both escape and rescue. The third explosion would occur within the tunnel and likely involve the dispersal of chemical, biological or radiological agents.

According to Steve Anderson's "Bridge and Tunnel Facts," the tunnel's ventilation system "consists of 42 blowing fans and 42 exhaust fans - totaling 6,000 horsepower - arranged in four ventilation buildings. (Only 56 out of the total 84 fans are in operation at all times; the other 28 fans are reserved for emergencies.) It takes approximately 90 minutes to completely change the air in the tunnel."

After the 9/11 attacks, an initiative to replace the fans was undertaken and is expected to be completed by 2004. While it would take an enormous amount of chemical, biological or radiological material to be dispersed in lethal amounts throughout the tube's entire 8,000-foot length, far more than could be conceivably be smuggled into the tunnel, a greater secondary danger may be posed by the exhaust fumes of trapped cars. It is believed that if the carbon monoxide level in the tube's air reaches only one-half percent it would be lethal.

To ignore the potential danger to the NYC subway would be a grievance mistake, but so too would be concluding that the "underground" target discussed was conclusively and exclusively the subway system.

Al Qaeda renewed its failed 1993 attack on the World Trade Center in 2001 with deadly efficiency, as well as revisited convicted al Qaeda terrorist Ramzi Yousef's foiled 1995 plan to hijack planes and utilize them as weapons of mass destruction. And only a year after failing to strike one U.S. Navy warship, al Qaeda inflicted serious damage on the USS Cole........

(Excerpt) Read more at sftt.org ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Free Republic; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: alqaeda; binladen; newyork; saveyerchange; terrorism; tunnels
After reading this I am thinking that the tunnels may be the more likely target!!!
1 posted on 02/13/2003 6:06:27 PM PST by Conservative News Hound
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To: Conservative News Hound
Don't be silly, don't you know that all this elevated status is just the Bush Administration trying to get us into war? </sarcasm>
2 posted on 02/13/2003 6:11:27 PM PST by Maigret
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Comment #3 Removed by Moderator

To: Conservative News Hound
Very unsettling, no doubt about it.

Thanks for the article :-)
4 posted on 02/13/2003 9:47:17 PM PST by Tamzee (There are 10 types of people... those who read binary, and those who don't.)
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To: Conservative News Hound
Indeed. They always want to come back and finish a job.
5 posted on 02/13/2003 9:52:44 PM PST by doug from upland (May the Clintons live their remaining days in orange jumpsuits sharing the same 6 x 9 cell.)
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To: Conservative News Hound
These arabs are not "highly meticulous" and "innovative". They got lucky on 9/11/2001 - pure and simple, because the US was not looking and they knew it. I am getting very tired of hearing about how smart they are, how clever they are, how they check every angle and contingency. To hear the media and FBI hyperventilate about them they are the fictional TV character "MacGyver", James Bond, Rambo, and Einstein all rolled into one. Well, I strenuously disagree. In my opinion, these muslims are skinny little dolts and cowards, in the same vein as the 10-foot tall Iraqi "Elite Republican Guard". We saw how those brave, baby-eating "warriors" crumbled. Give me a break - these "al qaeda" clowns are not warriors, they are not brave - they are puss*** and stupid ones at that.

The situation has changed now - we are looking, not just the "government" but the people. That was most eminently shown by the passengers on United 93 over Pennsylvania. Americans, I hope, have been transformed back into Minute Men. I think any muslim "holy warriors" now present in the US will be well-advised to stand down. It will be open season with no bag limit in the event of a NBC attack in our country. They have bit off more than they can chew.
6 posted on 02/14/2003 6:11:11 AM PST by astounded
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To: astounded
Americans, I hope, have been transformed back into Minute Men.

Nope. Unlike the originals, we cannot bear arms wherever we choose to go in our own defense -- not without some local or state authority graciously "permitting" us to carry a concealed weapon. And even with such "permit" requirements, we cannot defend ourselves on aircraft, period.

"Heightened awareness," Mr. Ridge? Why bother? We have no means to respond, in the figurative minute or otherwise, if we are to interact with others off our own property. And, often, when we remain on our own property. We are not Minute Men. We are statist-sheared sheep.

7 posted on 02/14/2003 10:32:35 AM PST by Greybird (“We have crossed the boundary that lies between Republic and Empire.” —Garet Garrett, 1952)
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To: astounded
in the same vein as the 10-foot tall Iraqi "Elite Republican Guard". We saw how those brave, baby-eating "warriors" crumbled.

Actually, IIRC, the RG did not "crumble". They retreated in fairly good order back towards Baghdad, until they ran into the US blocking force (24th Infantry Division, IIRC) and fought well, but were overwhelmed by the superiority of the M-1 tank and superior skill of the US tankers. Regular units of the Iraqi army pretty much crumbled in place after a few B-52 strikes having their tanks, artillery and other equipment "plinked" by LGBs.

8 posted on 02/14/2003 4:44:12 PM PST by El Gato
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To: Conservative News Hound
After reading this I am thinking that the tunnels may be the more likely target!!!

They plotted to do this once before, and they don't like to be foiled, remember? So I'd really be on the lookout for this, too. Plus, unless the bridges and tunnels (under whatever authority they may be) have gotten rid of their Al Fuqra employees, they have a built-in staff of terrorists or terrorist sympathizers.

9 posted on 02/14/2003 6:17:26 PM PST by livius
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To: Conservative News Hound
The third explosion would occur within the tunnel and likely involve the dispersal of chemical, biological or radiological agents

Ramsi Yousef did this in the first attempt to bomb the Trade Center. There was a cyanide bomb included, but the explosion vaporized the cyanide before it was dispersed.

The first building was supposed to topple and fall into the second building, and with the cyanide gas they wanted tens of thousands of dead.

10 posted on 02/14/2003 10:29:46 PM PST by patriciaruth
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To: livius
>Plus, unless the bridges and tunnels (under whatever authority they may be) have gotten rid of their Al Fuqra employees, they have a built-in staff of terrorists or terrorist sympathizers.

Note the absolute mania on the part of the airport authorities to get rid of all airport workers using phoney documents. There are other workers just as critical who work at buildings and landmarks. I doubt the tunnel people have gotten rid of the Al Furqa members or even have looked into it.

11 posted on 02/14/2003 10:31:55 PM PST by Dialup Llama
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To: astounded
Give me a break - these "al qaeda" clowns are not warriors, they are not brave - they are puss*** and stupid ones at that.

Al Qaeda are the foot soldiers. Osama bin Laden was the recruitment sergeant. And Iraqi Intelligence and its officers, like Ramsi Yousef, are the brains. The general and leader is Saddam Hussein.

12 posted on 02/14/2003 10:32:32 PM PST by patriciaruth
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