Al Qaeda claims to have bought nuclear weapons

CTV.CA ^ | March 21, 2004 | Associated Press

[garjog]

Osama bin Laden's terror network claims to have bought ready-made nuclear weapons on a Central Asian black market, the biographer of al Qaeda's No. 2 leader was quoted telling an Australian television station. In an interview scheduled to be televised Monday, Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir said Ayman al-Zawahri claimed "smart briefcase bombs" are available on the black market.

It was not clear when the interview between Mir and al-Zawahri took place. U.S. intelligence agencies have long believed al Qaeda attempted to acquire a nuclear device on the black market. SNIP

Al-Zawahri's boast would not in itself prove the al Qaeda has actually succeeded in acquiring nuclear weapons.

[garjog]

I did a search (1:22 PM pacific) for this title and don't see it posted. One Comment: After one of our cities is nuked, it won't be appropriate to place blame since we will be recovering from a massive disaster. Guess we have to be pre-emptive and place blame now on those in power at home and world wide who refused to take the war on terror seriously -- as well as Spain, France, Dean, McDermott, all anti-Americans and appeasniks in general.

[leadpenny]

I did a search (1:22 PM pacific) for this title and don't see it posted

It's kinda two posts below yours on the BN sidebar.

But, what the heck, the more the merrier. :)

[DallasMike]

Sounds like bad news. Maybe the French were right after all. We should just give up and negotiate a peace treaty with Al Qaeda. Fighting them will just make them angrier.

[Dutch Boy]

No worries. The dems have repeatedly told us that this war on terror is way overblown.

[freeangel]

'Can't help but think kahn had something to do with this. Thank you, Pakistan.

[angkor]

It's in Breaking News under the title "al-Qaida No. 2: We Have Briefcase Nukes"

[Poundstone]

I think this is baloney. If AQ had a suitcase nuke, they'd have used it by now.

[attiladhun2]

I agree. However, I think we should be prepared for any eventuality. If it ever does happen (a successful terrorist nuke detonation), I think Muslims in this country would find themselves in a very precarious position.

[PokeyJoe]

They would h ave to use it within 90 days (or less) because the nuclear triggers (aka flux capacitor) will detioriate to the point where they MIGHT not work, and within 120 days, when they WILL NOT work.

[thoughtomator]

If it ever did happen, we would commit worldwide nuclear genocide against Muslims. It's more likely to happen in Moscow IMO than over here, in which case the Russians will do it and we will watch without objection.

[Nik Naym]

(aka flux capacitor)

Yer pullin' my leg, right?

Nik

[Wolfhound777]

Nothing to worry about. Kerry's vision of terrorism as a law enforcement function will keep us safe. Who knows, the demonRat is probably negotiating with Al Qaeda now securing promises that they will end the jihad if the US cedes to all their demands, like his new buddy in Spain did. Remember the demonRat motto: "Better red, than dead" or in this case "Better mooselimb, than deadlimb" The only way to defeat Al Qaeda is to systematically eradicate every single one of them on the planet, not matter where they are or how long it takes. Eventually, we will accomplish this.

[Daniel Ramsey]

I totally agree.

[Boundless]

> They would have to use it within 90 days (or less) ...

If they actually have one (doubtful), this is probable.
They have the further problem of delivery.

If they have a Bomb, they don't have a bomb. They might be
able to extract the fissionables for a dirty conventional
bomb.

They could also have a fake nuke, sold by crooked Russians
who wanted the money, but not the fallout, so to speak.

But it's more likely the case that Al-Q has none of the
above. We've heard this threat before, in the context of
a claim that they'd only use it as a last resort in self-
defense (hah).

They've been doing a lot of sabre rattling lately, and it's
because, no thanks to Kerry, Al-Q is hurting and doesn't
know how to stop the pros bearing down on them (nor do they
understand why allah doesn't step in to save them).

[crz]

There aint no such thing as a "suitcase Nuke Bomb" per se. Now a dirty bomb is another matter.

What I worry about more is these geeks getting to N Korea and grabbing one of their bombs hopping a plane in China with one aboard and flying it here expolding it over one of our cities.

[Ranger]

If they had them, I have no doubt that they would have used them by now.

[Meredith]

It's hard to conceive of this juxtposed against the terrorists who use donkeys to function as suicide bombers!

[longtermmemmory]

Please explain that. If true that means all the soviet stuff is just nuclear waste at this point.

[AmericaUnited]

Al-Zawahri's bluffing. He knows darn well that under a John Kerry Law Enforcement Terrorism Policy, al Qaeda would get a ticket with a big fine if they used nuclear weapons on us.

[AmericaUnited]

They could also have a fake nuke, sold by crooked Russians who wanted the money, but not the fallout, so to speak.

Ditto that. Some slick Russian Mafia guys sold those ignorant donkey riders fake suitcase bombs. Probably lots of flashing leds... :)