|
Reason Behind All Those Flight Cancellations
Well, this is cute (if true), via InstapunditTHE panic gripping passenger flights on both sides of the Atlantic was sparked by the discovery of an al-Qaida plot to simultaneously hijack several planes and crash them into key US sites. The little darlings just never give up, do they? I didnât know "The Little Engine That Could" had been translated into Arabic. Top of the list was the White House but the terrorists also aimed to hit nuclear power stations on the US East Coast, unspecified targets in Los Angeles and the giant Valdez oil terminal in Alaska in an attack as spectacular as the September 11, 2001, hijackings. US and British intelligence operatives learnt of the plot from a tip-off on the weekend before Christmas, according to Britainâs Sunday Times newspaper. The informant said Islamic fanatics planned to hijack flights operated by British Airways, Air France and Mexicoâs national carrier, AeroMexico. That âsplains a lot. The warning explains the 10 groundings of airliners in Europe and the US during the festive break, including two in a row of BA223 â the afternoon flight between London and Washington. British security chiefs were last night in the midst of an intense manhunt for two al-Qaida operatives they believe "intended to board Flight 223 wearing shoe-bombs". Another source said they would be hiding the bombs in a more intimate place, but we wonât go there... They also believe the would-be hijackers may be carrying legitimate UK, US or other Euro passports in an attempt to evade stringent security checks. Another theory being pursued is that an extremist may have infiltrated the ranks of airline pilots. Iâd believe that. As a result, investigators will screen all pilots flying into the US. Good idea; letâs start with the Muslims countries, and France. Revelations of terrorist leader Osama bin Ladenâs latest audacious plot came after a court in Milan, Italy, heard of Londonâs key role in his terror network. Leaked police transcripts were released to the court showing that as recently as June, 2002, al-Qaida considered the British capital to be the organisationâs European "nerve centre". Members could be smuggled in and out of Britain on false passports with apparent ease. Just gives you a warm, cozy feeling, doesnât it? Canât question or profile any foreigners. PC at work! But by last March, London was considered "dangerous", perhaps reflecting a major crackdown that led to 500 arrests of terror suspects since September 11. Not bad - only took a couple of years. The documents formed part of a dossier against seven al-Qaida suspects on trial in the Italian city. According to one bugged conversation, al-Qaidaâs new recruits are mostly North Africans but a number are middle-class Europeans, including some "highly cultured foreigners" or non-Arabs. Youâre entitled to your opinion, bubby, but "highly cultured" and "suicide bomber" donât go together in the normal world. Posted by: Barbara Skolaut bskolaut@hotmail.com 2004-01-04 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=23766 |