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Al-Qaedaâs up to no good
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.Probably fall-out from Khalid Sheikh Mohammedâs arrest. 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 Ladenâs network still has a command structure and a determination to launch an attack that might rival the suicide hijackings. We know that the guy sent over here to do just that was Adnan El Shukrijumah and that the last time anybody saw him up in Maine, he was supposed in the company of a middle management type named Jdey. I donât exactly like the fact that thereâs been a BOLO on this guy since March and yet heâs just managed to melt into the background - thereâs no way in hell he could do that without help from other people here. "Itâs 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. U.S. analysts still say explosives typically used in more limited assaults, including vehicle bombs in suicide attacks, remain al-Qaedaâs most likely weapon here. But intelligence reports suggest that some of the networkâs operatives think that an attack using chemical or biological weapons could be a way to top the 9/11 attacks, the official said.
Especially since, partisan politics aside, thereâs still a good chunk of Iraqi WMDs that was reported by UNMOVIC in 1998 and remains completely unaccounted for one way or another. There was a report in the Washington Post in December 2002 that Sammy slipped al-Qaeda some VX and God help us all if these folks have that, as theyâve exhibited the capacity for long-term planning for mass casualty attacks and may well do so again in the future. The latest intelligence on al-Qaedaâs possible intentions comes at a time of heightened tension about terrorism here and around the world. A series of deadly bombings of synagogues and British interests in Turkey has led some U.S. analysts to suggest al-Qaeda is starting a new wave of attacks. The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security told law enforcement agencies last week to be particularly mindful of security around cargo jets and chemical plants. U.S. officials, however, have not said they plan to raise the nationâs color-coded threat level. It is at code yellow (meaning there is an "elevated" risk of an attack), the midpoint on a five-level scale. It isnât clear whether more aggressive efforts by U.S. agents during the past two years â including their increased authority to do wiretaps and other types of surveillance â contributed to al-Qaedaâs apparent shift in strategy here this year. My guess would be yes. It also is unclear who is directing al-Qaedaâs strategy. Saif al-Adel seems to be the main driver these days and Zarqawiâs the pivot guy. Both are in Iran, which makes stopping them problematic until a few of the Black Hats roll. Bin Laden is said to be hiding along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. And analysts suspect it is difficult for him to plot strategy while being hunted. Though one recent report has placed him in Iran as well in his capacity as an honorary Black Hat ... Posted by: Dan Darling 2003-11-28 |
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