Posted on 07/11/2006 2:21:11 AM PDT by xzins
Analysis: Al-Qaeda Changes Focus of Their Attacks and Here's Why By Jim Kouri, CPP, 7/9/2006 1:57:17 PM New Yorkers and New Jerseyites awoke to the news that a terrorist plot to inflict death and devastation on them by bombing tunnels used by over a hundred thousand commuters each day was thwarted before the terrorists could not enter the United States and implement their diabolical suicide-bombing plan.
Eight suspects -- including an Al-Qaeda loyalist arrested in Lebanon and two others in custody elsewhere -- were planning their coordinated attacks as close to September 11 as possible. But special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation counterterrorism unit, working with their counterparts in several other countries, intervened.
"It was never a concern that this would actually be executed," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff during a press conference. "We were, as I say, all over this."
Initial reports said that the terrorists wanted to attack the Holland Tunnel, a major thoroughfare for cars entering and leaving Manhattan. But officials later said the group had specifically mentioned only the PATH train tunnels.
"This is a plot that involved martyrdom and explosives" and focused on the "tubes that connect [New] Jersey and lower Manhattan," said FBI Assistant Director Mark J. Mershon.
Federal agents and NYPD Intelligence Division detectives decided in recent weeks that the "plotting for this attack had matured to a point where it appeared that the individuals were about to move forward," Mershon said during a press conference on Friday.
"They were about to go to a phase where they would attempt to surveil targets, establish a regimen of attack and acquire the resources necessary to [launch] the attack."
A New York City law enforcement official told this writer that the suspects hoped to inflict damage on the US ECONOMY, first and foremost. And that fact was the key to understanding the terrorists' shift in the types of targets they seek for their maniacal suicide missions. The terrorists want to have a devastating impact upon this nation's economy.
This fact shows the terrorists have a keen understanding of the US political climate and the American people.
According to one NYPD intelligence officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the terrorists believe if they can hurt the American economy that more people -- with the help of many Democrats and some Republicans in collusion with the mainstream news media -- will turn against the Commander-in-Chief and his plan of taking the fight to the enemy.
New York cops love President Bush. They endorsed him and they support him. So perhaps that detective's analysis is a bit biased.
But I wholeheartedly agree with that detective. The terrorists know that the Democrat Party leadership -- either as willing accomplices or useful idiots -- will continue their daily assault on President George W. Bush and the war on terrorism. The terrorists know that their friends in the news media -- who provide them with useful intelligence by printing leaked classified information on counterterrorism programs -- will harp on the doom and gloom stories should a terrorist attack cause harm to the US economy.
Just look, for example, what happens when gas prices go up. The socialists in the Democrat Party assail corporations and make unsubstantiated accusations of "price gauging" that are repeated by their lapdogs at the New York Times, Washington Post, ABC, NBC, CNN and the rest of the usual suspects who control the daily flow of information which is shoved down the throats of busy, hardworking Americans. These Americans do not have the time to analyze every story being reported, and so deceptive reporting goes unquestioned by most citizens.
Then the Democrats and the news media connect the rise in the prices of gasoline to the Bush White House and soon Americans practically spit when they hear the name Bush.
The terrorists know that another 9/11-style attack will only serve to strengthen Americans' resolve to beat back the radical Muslim hordes. However, if the damage of a terrorist attack causes a downturn on Wall Street and prices of products to soar while unemployment increases, Americans will blame the president because they will be directed by the terrorist cohorts in the Democrat Party and the mainstream news media to do so.
And no matter what the Democrats and their flunkies say to the contrary, they are weak on national security. They will say and do anything to get elected, but once in office all they do is talk. Most are more concerned about the comfort and rights of the enemy than in victory. After all, Senator John Kerry let it slip out during one of his many speeches that he believes the war on terrorism is a crime problem to be solved by playing cops & robbers with the terrorists. And while the New York Times may disagree with my assessment, Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups know its right on.
Huh?
This article didn't spend enough time focusing on if any of the accused terrorists' civil rights were violated, their phones tapped, or their funding was looked at by the US government. Also, are their holding cells adequately air conditioned?
"A New York City law enforcement official told this writer that the suspects hoped to inflict damage on the US ECONOMY, first and foremost."
I'm a broken record on this and will continue to be one: Since 9-11, the #1 issue on voters' minds is stopping another Al Qaeda attack.
I don't care what push polls say, what Dems say, what those primarily interested in illegal immigration, abortion or gas prices say--9-11 and preventing another attack by transportation-hijacking AL Qaeda is the #1 issue this November.
I think that when it boils down to it, that you're right.
But, the public needs reminding of that. The media lulls them with the other stuff. If someone doesn't get a few ads up there showing that burning, crumbling WTC, then they tend to get lulled to sleep.
YOU couldn't be a terrorist....they don't have any pubs.
:>)
(ps: what if they targeted all the breweries?)
"could not" should say "could"
Agreed. The federal government needs to pull the plug on PBS and put that money into a C-SPAN-like "WOT Channel".
Or vice-versa.
LOL, seriously speaking though, during the cold dark days of the Cold War 1985 - 1987 when Soviet Military might was at its peak and we were frantically re arming to catch up. There was a real fear of Invasion, and I did attend a number of courses and training exercises set up on how to deal with a Soviet Occupation.
In reality any who took up arms would of been classed as Terrorists to the Soviets.
Islam (with Koran as final authority) is nasty and evil and opportunist. Islamist plots are nasty and evil, and opportunist. Trying to figure them out is a bit like trying to figure Satan out, it involves trying to make sense out of things that fundamentally don't make sense. The most hopeful sign is that most Mooses are pretty clueless about Western society, as they show in their blogs and editorials. They do less damage aiming at a society they can't see clearly.
Seeing what the Afghanis did to the Soviets, and what the Brits & US did to the Afghanis in about 2 weeks, I'd be tempted to bet that the Brits alone could have beaten the Soviets back then....knowing what we know now.
Yep. Al Qaeda is to the Democrats what the IRA was to Sinn Fein.
And last night's news was full of train stories: trains transporting chlorine all over the country, what a terrorist target! A train representative agreed and said they'd 'taken steps' to protect themselves. Why does the MSM think Islamofascists need to be reminded that US trains carry hazardous materials, which, if exploded in a city, would kill hundreds of thousands?
This "Hawaii Reporter" looks like my kind of newspaper!
PERSONAL OPINION: AQ has a history of showing interest in the US economy and how they can affect it.
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ON THE NET...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=wallstreet
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1178952/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1169496/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1169115/posts
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