Official: Al-Qaeda plans something big

[PaDUer]

Official: Al-Qaeda plans something big By Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — A top counterterrorism official says al-Qaeda operatives dropped plans this year for several small attacks in the USA to focus on plotting a "more spectacular" assault comparable to the Sept. 11 attacks.

The U.S. counterterrorism official, who has access to all intelligence on the terrorist group, told USA TODAY this week that officials have no specific evidence to indicate how or when al-Qaeda might try to launch a massive strike on U.S. soil.

But, the official said, interviews with al-Qaeda detainees, intercepts of communications from suspected operatives and other sources have yielded evidence that Osama bin Laden's network still has a command structure and a determination to launch an attack that might rival the suicide hijackings.

About 3,000 people were killed in the Sept. 11 attacks.

"It's clear that al-Qaeda wants to strike here" and that it continues to seek opportunities for "a catastrophic attack," said the official, who asked not to be identified.

Recent intelligence reports indicate that al-Qaeda remains fascinated by the idea of using aircraft as missiles, despite the additional security at U.S. airports since the 9/11 attacks, the official said.

For full article--
http://usatoday.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&expire=&urlID=8381232&fb=Y&partnerID=1660

[Cush]

1. Hmmm

No specific evidence, yet they know something is going to happen?

Does this make sense to anyone, or is it just more fear mongering?

[Old and In the Way]

10. Odd isn't it?

We know enough to tell the public something big is gonna happen, but never any details about what and where. I can think of a dozen announcements like this in the past 2 years.

And what's the point of announcing it and tipping AQ that we know? Seems to me that this is a national security leak of the highest magnitude...why isn't Bush and Co. all over this? Maybe because they like to keep the public in a state of high anxiety?

We haven't been allowed to have a public investigation into the root cause of the 1st attack, so how can we possible be prepared for the next?

[Occulus]

15. it makes sense

given what I talked about last night- admittedly, in a chat room- with a guy claiming to know a colonel stationed at a base near where I lie who says things are MUSE closer to the brink than even we speculate.

I'd suggest those reading this begin to..... prepare.

[The Zanti Regent]

2. No, it's KKKarl who is planning something big.

Hmm now WHAT could make Dër Gropenführer popular??????

[whirlygigspin]

3. Hey look! the Reichstag is on fire!

been there, done that.

[genius]

8. And America will fall for it again

unless Bush hits a liberal state. That would be too obvious.

[freethought23]

6. The umlaut is in the wrong place.

It's over the "o."

[Philostopher]

14. Well, there was that little faux pas from Jebbie

Last month. Something about how those degenerates in San Fran practically deserved a terrorist attack.

Anybody taking odds on a plane (or planes) crashed into the Golden Gate bridge at rush hour? I don't know, maybe there's someplace else in SF that there'd be a higher concentration of people, but nothing says 'Al Qaeda' like an attack on a much-beloved landmark in a largely liberal city, right?

Cuz, wouldn't it just look bitchin' on Faux News, playing over and over, a plane crashing into the Golden Gate Bridge?

I'd better skip the Christmas shopping and go look for a brown shirt to go with my jackboots. Gotta keep up with fashion ...

[Guaranteed]

25. Yeah, it'll be in CA....

Bush wants their votes.

[freethought23]

4. This Could Be The Start of Something Big

Words & Music by Steve Allen

A7 Cdim D F#m Bm Bm7/E Em7 G/B A7
You're walkin' along the street, or you're at a party,

Cdim G G/F# Em7 Em6 Bm Bm7/E
Or else you're alone and then you suddenly dig,

B7 G G/F# Em7 Em6 F#m Em7 B7
You're looking' in someone's eyes, you suddenly re - al - ize

G G/F# Em6 Gdim D Bm7 Em7
That this could be the start of something big.

[truthisfreedom]

5. raising the spectre of the events of september 11th, 2001 is going to be

modus operandi for bushco during the next year, and we'll be falling for it, naturally, because they are playing on fears we cannot ignore... after all, they let the first big attack happen, and blocked the investigation... what's to stop them from letting the next big attack happen?

we are afraid of our own. this is like being trapped in a vehicle with a madman at the wheel and his crazy drunk buddies egging him on, as he careens from side to side of the freeway at deadly speeds screaming "YOU AFRAID, BOY?"... all the while knowing that he has a full tank of gas and there are no cops to stop him, and everyone with any authority in the vehicle is either on his side or too frightened to speak up...

[Wonk]

9. Hell of an analogy. Nicely put.

"we are afraid of our own. this is like being trapped in a vehicle with a madman at the wheel and his crazy drunk buddies egging him on, as he careens from side to side of the freeway at deadly speeds screaming "YOU AFRAID, BOY?"... all the while knowing that he has a full tank of gas and there are no cops to stop him, and everyone with any authority in the vehicle is either on his side or too frightened to speak up..."

:scared:

[drfemoe]

7. airport security

shouldn't be a problem for a'q since they managed to pull off the last one without even boarding the planes.

[sally343434]

11. They should know, since they're planning it

Let's face it. This administration is al-Qaeda. At least, that would be the only logical conclusion given their record so far.

What is the difference between someone shouting "Death to America!" and Gen. Tommy Franks saying that in the event of another "attack," the Constitution will likely be discarded in favor of a military form of government? (Newsmax magazine interview 12/2003)

The Republican cabal has gone quite far in its destruction of everything that makes America what it was, or once was. Osama couldn't have better agents working in our government than this crop of republicans.

But back to this thread, I'm not going to be surprised if this does come true, close to election time when the annoyance of an election can be "discarded" along with the remaining tatters of the former constitution.

[Old and In the Way]

12. Well, AQ and this administration have a very curious past.

Since the bin Laden family is a big financial backer of AQ and the Bush Family ties go back to the 70s, it is a very interesting relationship that needs more mainstream attention.

Mutually co-enabling. They are the 2 groups that appear to have truly benefited from the "War on Terror" (tm).

[ConcernedCanuk]

13. Hmm - I dunno - AlQaeda may have their own version of "Shock n Awe?"

. .one might say that Bu$Co and thugs have been "asking" for it ?

. . ya know - ye ole Junior Cowboy - "Bring 'em On!"

. . and one might hafta admit,

. . that so-called "Shock N Awe" in Iraq makes the USA look a wee bit impotent

Just My Humble Canuk Opinion

[NJCher]

16. AlQ = bushco

The obvious target for AlQ is bush. Rummy, cheney and Condo. But no, they don't go after the source of the problem. They go after us. That, to me, is the proof they are one and the same.




Cher

[PaDUer]

18. Doesn't surprise me..

isn't it interesting this warning came out after * made his sneak visit to Iraq and the negative feedback just came out. Guess it pissed him off into throwing another tantrum. He's going to make everyone "pay" for his BS.

[Malva Zebrina]

17. fascinated with using airplanes as missiles -- hmm

makes me wonder in view of all the conspiracy theories I have read about airplanes with remote control devices. Certainly there would be less obvious ways now than the spectacular air crashes and catastrophic attack. A US counterterrorism official?--what is wrong with citing people by their name I wonder? Or don't these "officials" want to be held accountable? This also serves the additional purpose of reinforcing the notion that it was actually Al Queda who was responsible for the first attack on the WTC. We don't really know that and have no clear evidence that it indeed was AQ. All the circumstantial evidence in the world, planted or not, will not definately establish it was BL and AQ. That Bush is trying desperately to hide everything connected with it only adds to my suspicion that it is possible that it was not AQ.

[0007]

19. Chatter lots of chatter more chatter than usual lot a chatter...

kind of chatter we heard just before 911 except more intense chatter.....wait....is it the dollar chatter we hear.....what's the color cold?????

[54anickel]

20. 1st it was F*ck Saddam, we're taking him out. Now it's the Constitution-

F*ck the working class and their stinkin rights, we're taking 'em out.

[Timefortruth]

21. Who doubts there will be another attack on US soil

before the next “election?” AWOL’s approval depends on it, no one will ask why it is only during his reign that these things happen, instead they will rally around their leader as patriotism dictates. It will take care of the draft issue also; we have to have a draft because of all the attacks.

The attacks will be blamed on Syria or Iran, giving a reason to invade there also. The few people who know that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 will not mention it again, mush less the obvious question which is why were we using all our strength over there and not saving our homeland defense for the homeland.

[RedSock]

22. AQ = Bush Cabal

wasn't it fbi agent coleen rowley who said her and her agents' requests re: moussaoui were blocked so often and so completely that they joked that al-qaeda and obl must have infiltrated the upper levels of the fbi?

[xchrom]

23. it won't matter to the stock markets

where the attack comes -- doesn't have to be on u.s. soil to upset them.
however the consequences would indeed be desirable for bushco.
money, power, and greed are in play here just as they were in '00.
either osama is doing what bush wants or vice versa -- it make any difference to the victims -- will it?

[drb]

24. Well, they have to say that now...

...so when it happens at the end of October, they can say, "We told you so! We were on top of it all the time!"

[salin]

26. written just one week after General Frank's comments

re: our constitutional system not being able to last such an attack.

Is it possible the propoganda is to scare us into thinking this attack is inevitable... and that we should start dismantling the constitutional system "preemptively"?

The effective message NOW should be... WHY did the government pull intelligence resources and military resources AWAY from al queda by early march 2002... because they wanted Iraq, even though they have had to admit there was no connection. Thus, if there were to be another attack, some of the blame in not being able to prevent it, should be placed at the feet of this administration who:

1. Pulled intel resources away from Afghanistan and the international efforts to arrest al queada efforts within 6 months of the 911 attacks, in order to get intel to make a case to go to war in Iraq... it took a year from the time intel resources and military resources were pulled away from Al queada before they could 'sell' the war in Iraq... and even then the intel was shakey... and required 'manufacturing'. Where would things be if they had kept focused on Afghanistan and Al Queada instead of hotdogging in Iraq?

2. Decided NOT to go after off-shore tax shelter monies (for information) as a means to investigate and then choke money sources that would be needed to finance another big attack. (Didn't want our buddies using illegal tax shelters to get mad.)

3. Decided to BLOCK investigations into intel failures that led to 911 (remember, under the Clinton admin several BIG attempted attacks on US soil WERE averted.) STILL continues to block these efforts - leaving an inability to address those problems and allow them to recur.

4. Continues to BLOCK investigations into Saudi and other 'allies' financing, hosting and protecting al queada, leaving those systems of support for al queada uninterupted and in full strength.

5. BLEW up the ability to continue to gather intel information about the flow of Weapons of Mass Destruction (by watching industry) that was to be used to prevent WMDs falling into terrorist hands... by 'outing' a primary CIA undercover operative - and ALL of the related intelligence networks... for political reasons (trying to play political damage control against the disclosure that the "16 words" in the State of the Union Speech were KNOWN to be false, and thus intentionally deceiving the public.) Thus, for political gain, this administration endangered National Security - related directly to the sort of attack suggested by this article.