Article

2003-12-28 Terror Networks

Al-Qaida targeting cruise ships, aircraft carriers

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Posted by Old Patriot 2003-12-28 7:55:18 PM|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 'twould surely have to be a large bomb to do damage to QM2, and as for an aircraft carrier - in their wet dreams!

Posted by Tony (UK) 2003-12-28 8:30:20 PM|| 2003-12-28 8:30:20 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 Yeah, come after a carrier, boys... [evil grin]

Posted by Chuck 2003-12-28 8:47:06 PM|| [http://blog.simmins.org] 2003-12-28 8:47:06 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 Something's funny with the link--its not showing up on the front page (or its anchor tag isn't there). You can't click on the story title, you have to click on the little chain/link thing.

Posted by RussSchultz 2003-12-28 10:34:06 PM|| 2003-12-28 10:34:06 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 I don't think you can take much comfort that an unarmed tramp freighter couldn't get close enough to a carrier to damage it. Al-Qaeda usually has the element of surprise. The NORK mines are a minor nuisance, but suppose one of these ships was turned into a giant AMPHO bomb. Or simply run at best speed into an offshore oil platform, or rams a laden tanker, or a loaded inter island ferry somewhere in the WestPac.

The point here, lads, is that we don't have much maritime patrol available to prevent this sort of thing from happening. My estimate is that Al-Q will succeed on their first attempt at seaborne mischief, simply because, like the US before 9-11, there are no assets in place to stop them.

Of course, we could go premptive and simply sink all 15 of these ships on the high seas, and I wouldn't be surprised if such action isn't being debated at 1600 PA-Ave now. My guess is that the CINC has set rules of engagement that will pretty much allow them to make the first move. We could be surveilling them from the air/satellites, but unless we seize the ships or sink them, they will get the first shot.

Posted by Rivrdog 2003-12-29 1:45:56 AM|| 2003-12-29 1:45:56 AM|| Front Page Top

01:45 Rivrdog
00:30 phil_b
23:43 Les Nessman
23:34 Les Nessman
23:25 Les Nessman
23:20 Bomb-a-rama
22:34 RussSchultz
22:12 Glenn (not Reynolds)
22:01 Anonymous
21:52 Pappy
21:05 John Anderson
20:59 Cheddarhead
20:53 john
20:49 Penguin
20:47 Chuck
20:44 john
20:43 Tony (UK)
20:37 Frank G
20:30 john
20:30 Tony (UK)
20:25 NotMikeMoore
20:09 Arch
20:08 Tony (UK)
19:58 Tony (UK)