Article

2004-08-25 Russia

Putin was the possible target of a terrorist attack

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Dan Darling 2004-08-25 2:53:14 AM|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 from al-Qaedaâs perspective heâs likely a major enemy

Are you kidding...that would be a major success story for them. He's as much of a legit target as Bush, Blair, Howard, Berlusconi, Kwasniewski, ~~Zappy~~...

Posted by Rafael 2004-08-25 2:58:04 AM|| 2004-08-25 2:58:04 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Agreed and I'd even count Chirac in that list - they hate him because whatever the man's other vices, French support of Algeria keeps the GSPC from taking over the country. In addition, given that Russia isn't exactly the most open society these days I would wager that whacking Putin would send a message to other heads of state who might be thinking about cracking down on the group.

Posted by Dan Darling 2004-08-25 3:12:05 AM|| [http://www.regnumcrucis.blogspot.com] 2004-08-25 3:12:05 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 While details are still being sketched out, one possibility. Both planes go off radar around the same time. The one headed to Volgograd blows/crashes almost immediately. The second, headed for Sutchi where Putin is, goes missing. Hijack button is tripped and it ends up crashed a bit further south.

The first plane may have been a distraction. Create confusion and the possible thought of a mid-air collision. This allows the second to continue towards it's ripe destination. Even if spotted, it's going where it was supposed to.

Obviously if it was an attempt on Putin, it didn't work. Maybe the Russians where in no mood to play with an unresponsive plane that had been marked hijacked. Maybe the pilots didn't play ball. Hopefully we'll find out more dteails in the coming days.

But if this was an attempt against Putin, could it be the assassination attempt of a major world leader that kicks of a string of attacks? We'll see. But if it is, there's one piece missing and that's the Bin Laden tape trigger. Not absolutely necessary, yes, but has there been anything out there?

Posted by chthus 2004-08-25 6:07:23 AM|| 2004-08-25 6:07:23 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 Good question, IIRC there was some buzz on the Islamic postingboards about a Binny-tape coming out in the last couple of weeks, I'll see if I can dig something up, eventhough I tend to think that the promising of the tape was an attempt at disinfo though.

Posted by Heysenbergmayhavebeenhere 2004-08-25 6:30:52 AM|| 2004-08-25 6:30:52 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 Chthus: Another possibility is that like the passengers aboard flight 93, the people on the two Russian flights realized what was going to happen.

Posted by Charles 2004-08-25 8:02:51 AM|| 2004-08-25 8:02:51 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 They've been promising a new Bin Laden video for years. I wouldn't hold my breath. Odds are the first plane wasn't just a distraction, it probably had a target of its own. Hitting the Kremlin would be a major propoganda score for example.

Posted by RJ Schwarz 2004-08-25 10:38:42 PM|| [http://politicaljunky.blogspot.com] 2004-08-25 10:38:42 PM|| Front Page Top

04:59 Sock Puppet of Doom
03:24 trailing wife
01:51 Asedwich
00:25 Super Hose
00:22 CrazyFool
00:21 Lucky
00:12 Lucky
00:06 Lucky
23:43 GreatestJeneration
23:40 .com
23:36 True German Ally
23:34 Halfass Pete
23:32 .com
23:29 GK
23:26 Anonymoose
23:25 Fred
23:08 GreatestJeneration
23:06 Steve White
23:06 ed
23:00 Darth VAda
22:55 Yank
22:54 .Abu Billy
22:51 True German Ally
22:47 .Abu Billy