Foiled Al Qaeda Attackers Caught Red-Handed with WMDs

NewsMax.com ^ | 4/17/04 | News Max

[musical_airman]

Saturday, Apr. 17, 2004 11:23 AM EDT Foiled Al Qaeda Attackers Caught Red-Handed with WMDs

Two members of an al Qaeda cell connected to top terror master Abu Musab al-Zarqawi have been caught in Jordan with chemical weapons and poisonous gas for a planned attack that Jordanian officials say would have killed up to 20,000 people.

The officials told the London-based newspaper al-Hayat on Friday that the al Qaeda plotters planned to launch a WMD attack against a Jordanian Military Intelligence installation, the US embassy in Amman and a government building in the country.

According to the Israeli newspaper Maariv, the al Qaeda terrorists managed to smuggle three cars packed with explosives into Amman. Jordanian security forces found a chemical charge in one vehicle.

"The bomb, had it been detonated, could have affected people in a one kilometer radius and cause the deaths of up to 20,000 people," Jordanian officials told Maariv

According to United Press International, the al Qaeda car was intercepted just 75 miles from the Syrian border and "carried explosives, a chemical bomb and poisonous gas."

The discovery of the al Qaeda WMD plot is sure to renew speculation that some of Saddam Hussein's missing weapons of mass destruction were hidden in Syria before the U.S. attacked in March 2003, and have now found their way into al Qaeda's hands.

As of Saturday morning, the White House had not commented on the al Qaeda WMD plot and its possible ties to Iraq.

[Camel Joe]

Border with Syria is very busy at the moment, may have been a change of plans that brought attempt to Jordan.

[musical_airman]

Thanks, I missed that one. I was freeping and practicing trumpet at the same time.....so much for focus....

[Happy2BMe]

"The discovery of the al Qaeda WMD plot is sure to renew speculation that some of Saddam Hussein's missing weapons of mass destruction were hidden in Syria before the U.S. attacked in March 2003, and have now found their way into al Qaeda's hands."

Hamas is bound to have access to some of these jewels bound for Israel also . .

[wretchard]

Something about this doesn't make sense. If they had the capability to do this, why Jordan and not Iraq?

Two possible reasons.

First, the AQ always tests out a weapon or method of attack in theater or in a third world locale before using it against the West.

Second, recall how French officials were recently in a panic over intelligence discoveries regarding the chemical capability of the AQ.

[SpyGuy]

If they had the capability to do this, why Jordan and not Iraq? I'm not buying it.

Contrary to the overblown Al-Jazeera/CNN/ABC/CBS/MSNBC/NYT propaganda of "rampant chaos" in Iraq, the US military is firmly in control of that country. There is 24/7 surveillance, and better border control than what we have between America and Mexico. It's highly improbable that any vehicle can move in or out of Iraq without detection and interception.

[PISANO]

I wonder if there is anyway to determine if those WMD found in Al Qaedas possession were in fact from Saddams arsenel?

[musical_airman]

More good points- I hadn't thought of those.

[musical_airman]

It's possible that they are marked in some way
OR
we could beat the living crap out of the terrorists they caught to find out where they got them
OR
We could just go after Syria next.....

[LoudRepublicangirl]

Has Jordan been helping us more than we know?

King Abdullah has had to lead a delicate balance between governing his arab population and being an ally to the United States. So far he has done well but I'm sure that there will be attempts to disengage him from any alliance with the United States. His father had to walk the same tightrope.

[TommyDale]

I said this yesterday -- the activity near the Syrian border speaks volumes. Something is getting ready to happen there, and I suspect they have found WMDs in Syria and/or Lebanon. The U.S. Marines are probably waiting for an opportunity for a "hot pursuit" to give us a chance to get into those other countries.

If you go back a couple of months or so, Secretary Rumsfeld spoke of something to this effect. We need a reason to cross the borders, and it appears we are preparing for such a scenario.

[musical_airman]

Thanks for the info, I thought that Jordan was semi-friendly with us. Wasn't his father educated in the US?

[rocksblues]

Seems that GWB was correct in naming Syria as part or the Evil-Axis!

[musical_airman]

It would seem so....perhaps they will be next...or they could just give up like Libya....that would be so much easier on them....

[ovrtaxt]

In a sign that Jordan may not totally escape the bloody convulsions now ripping through Iraq, Abdullah revealed that the arrest of two suspected terrorists two weeks ago had exposed plans to mount one of the most deadly terrorist attacks ever in the Arab world.

Two weeks ago? And it's only now coming out? Bush didn't say A WORD about this at the press conference. Cool. They're up to something, PR-wise, I hope.

[what's up]

I believe Abdullah said they were from Syria.

[LoudRepublicangirl]

He and his father attended military schools in Great Britain. Abdullah has visited the United states(He was even on an episode of Star Trek-the Next Generation) Abdullah's mother is British. I think that is partly why he is a moderate Arab leader. He is very much like his father only I think he is even more moderate than dear old dad.

[musical_airman]

It's amazing what some western devil influence will do, I suppose....

[Eternal_Bear]

this means war against syria. Let us not kid around this time. Please!

[Alas Babylon!]

And Al Qeada is often stupid, but sometimes brilliant. Think about it from there perspective. They beleive that we are the Great Satan, and our allies are Little Satans and puppets. In their eyes, the masses are with them, especially in Muslim countries. So why waste efforts (unless you're striking a blow against the Great or one of the Big Satans). Go after those US allies that are doing the precarious balance between their governments support for us and their populace's desire to either not be harmed, bothered, are peace-nics, or Muslims who hate us. Jordan, as you pointed out, has to walk that tightrope.

[LoudRepublicangirl]

It's amazing what some western devil influence will do, I suppose....

Once you've had that Big Mac there's no stopping it....