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| Terror Networks |
| Reason Behind All Those Flight Cancellations |
| 2004-01-04 |
| Well, this is cute (if true), via Instapundit THE 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 didn’t 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 Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper. The informant said Islamic fanatics planned to hijack flights operated by British Airways, Air France and Mexico’s national carrier, AeroMexico. That ’splains 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 – 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 won’t 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. I’d believe that. As a result, investigators will screen all pilots flying into the US. Good idea; let’s start with the Muslims countries, and France. Revelations of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden’s latest audacious plot came after a court in Milan, Italy, heard of London’s 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 organisation’s 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, doesn’t it? Can’t 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-Qaida’s new recruits are mostly North Africans but a number are middle-class Europeans, including some "highly cultured foreigners" or non-Arabs. You’re entitled to your opinion, bubby, but "highly cultured" and "suicide bomber" don’t go together in the normal world. |
| Posted by:Barbara Skolaut bskolaut@hotmail.com |
| #6 It makes sense, Steve. Had the shoe bomber tried his thing in the restroom nobody would have noticed in time. As for the rest... We have to take off our shoes already before boarding a plane! |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2004-1-4 11:33:37 PM |
| #5 Another source said they would be hiding the bombs in a more intimate place, but we won’t go there... Sure we will. One of the supposed hijackers was going to hide 8 to 12 ounces of plastic explosive in her vagina. When the plane was over DC she was going to use the restroom, pull it out and detonate it, bringing the plane down. Though why she would use the restroom is beyond me -- too embarrassed to let anyone she her bottom, but not so embarrassed as to blow the plane? |
| Posted by: Steve White 2004-1-4 10:25:52 PM |
#4 via InstapunditThanks, Fred! |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-1-4 9:26:42 PM |
| #3 No, "highly cultured" in that context means they have the Koran memorized. Being able to read might mean they get exposed to corrupting ideas, like slavery being bad or women being completely human. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2004-1-4 8:37:06 PM |
| #2 "highly cultured" could mean they can read. |
| Posted by: Stephen 2004-1-4 6:43:09 PM |
| #1 Nuts. Forgot to credit Prof. Reynolds with the pointer. Again. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-1-4 4:27:52 PM |