Posted on 08/10/2006 1:49:25 PM PDT by John Lenin
ABC News: Three alleged ringleaders have been identified; two recently traveled to Pakistan and later received money wired to them from Pakistan, reportedly to purchase tickets for the suicide bombers. Sources identify the three, now in custody, as Rashid Rauf, Mohammed al-Ghandra, and Ahmed al Khan. Fox News at 3 pm ET:"British authorities are 'urgently' seeking the arrests of up to 10 more suspects in the terrorist plot uncovered early Thursday morning to blow up U.S.-bound flights with liquid explosives carried onto planes via carry-on luggage." Twenty-four main suspects are now in custody. Fox News again: "(A)n Islamic militant arrested near the Afghan-Pakistan border several weeks ago provided a lead that played a role in "unearthing the plot," that helped authorities arrest suspects in Britain." AP reports that the were targeting as many as 10 flights, and "plotters hoped to stage a dry run within two days," and "the actual attack would have followed within days."
Michelle Malkin's and Brendan Loy's blogs included links to many stories overnight on this plot. See Walid Phares' post on this plot with his early analysis and incisive questions, and Evan Kohlmann's post today on Al Qaeda's use of liquid explosives for airliners. Here is the statement by the Homeland Security Department on the raised threat level to Severe, or Red, for commercial flights originating in the UK bound for the United States, with the threat raised to Orange for all flights within or bound for the US. MSNBC: "U.S. intelligence has been working closely with the British on the investigation, which has been ongoing for months," and "These officials described a threat aimed at United, American and Continental Air Lines, and flights to the major summer tourist destinations of New York, Washington and California." Fox News: "A U.S. intelligence official said the plotters had hoped to target flights to major airports in New York, Washington and California." All commentary points to the similarity to the failed Al Qaeda Bojinka plot in 1995 to blow up airliners. Fox News again: "A senior U.S. counterterrorism official said authorities believe dozens of people — possibly as many as 50 — were involved in the plot."
Press conference with DHS Secretary Chertoff, Att. Gen. Gonzales, & FBI Director Mueller at 8 am ET: Well-planned and well-advanced plot with significant number of operatives - very concrete steps underway and suspects had accumulated capabilities to carry out plot - british authorities pursued this for some time but in last two weeks, focus on US targets appeared and plan appeared to have accelerated - "quite close" to execution phase - no indication of US plotters who would have intersected with UK plotters - would not give a number of airliners but "multiple" - shortly before arrests, suspects focused on UK-US routes - can't say whether 9/11 anniversary a factor or whether they would have waited that long - explosives designed into beverages and other liquids, electronics, and other common objects, with possibility of bringing benign components onboard and then assembling them - "quite sophisticated" - will not discuss suspects' nationalities now, but this group was "very skilled and very capable" - suggestive of Al Qaeda plot but not certain and reminiscent of 1995 plot (Bojinka) - arrests have significantly disrupted the threat but investigation ongoing in UK and here - no liquids or gels allowed in carry-on baggage.
NBC News' Lisa Myers reported that one or more suspects had traveled to Pakistan, where they received some training. MSNBC's Bob Windrem reported that two persons were arrested in Pakistan in connection with this plot, most of the suspects are of Pakistani origin (but all suspects are British nationals), and Pakistani intel services assisted UK agencies in the investigation (also reported in the London Times and confirmed by Pakistani authorities). He also reports multiple plotters would have boarded each aircraft with components combined inflight. The plotters looked for flights online in the past few weeks, leading UK investigators to move towards the arrests. ABC News: They "planned to conceal their liquid or gel explosives inside a modified sports beverage drink container and trigger the device with the flash from a disposable camera."
"US News & World Reports" reports that "At least some of the suspects had ties to those involved in the July 7, 2005, coordinated bombings on the London subways" and "Terrorists plotting to blow up American planes headed from the United Kingdom to the United States were planning to smuggle hydrogen peroxide based improvised liquid/slurry explosives in modified sports drinks bottles."
President Bush at 11:50 am ET: "We are safer than we were prior to 9/11," but we're obviously not completely safe because people still plot against us. "It's a mistake to believe there is no threat aginst the United States."
Walid Phares on MSNBC this morning: Biggest attack network in history of Al Qaeda - number of jihadists has grown from 1 shoe bomber to 7 in London attacks to at least 21, with base in UK. This would have required a support network of over 100, perhaps 150. AQ leaders have been threatening attacks in their statements for months, indicating their involvement in planning and execution.
Evan Kohlmann on MSNBC: AQ training camps near Pak-Afghan border used for 7/7 bombers. This plot "smacks of Al Qaeda through and through," due to the number of people involved and the sophistication of the explosives. Two kinds of Al Qaeda splinter groups: "wannabes" and actual affiliates (official or unofficial) - one of the latter announced alliance with Al Qaeda last week (see my post on the Egyptian Islamic Group, aka Gamaa Islamiya).
Magnus Ranstorp is quoted by MSNBC that this “could very well have been an attempt at ’the Big One.”’
Lorenzo Vidino reminded me of this story from London a few months ago: "Abu Hamza fanatics are urging fresh suicide attacks on passenger jets, using mini-bombs in pens and disposable cameras. The call is aired on an website run by supporters of the jailed hook-handed cleric. It recommends the use of a high-powered explosive dubbed Mother of Satan, which is of the same type used by the July 7 bombers.
This raises the question: are some of the terrorists nut cases who seek out radical Islam in order to get in on the action?
Islam is a cult, not a religion. It takes over every aspect of the follower's life, tells him everything he must do, and sets him apart to live in a special, enclosed world.
People who are attracted to cults - ranging from some of the bizarre medieval cults that the Church was always trying to stamp out to modern things such as Jim Jones' group or the nuts who died in California with quarters in their pockets to make phonecalls from outer space - are generally immature, often permanently unstable, people who feel that normal life offers them no possibilities. The cult, on the other hand, makes them feel special, it gives them an identity, and it controls every part of their lives, relieving them of the need to make any decisions.
The attraction of Islam to people not brought up in it is precisely that. Mohammed was the L. Ron Hubbard of his day, creating a syncretist cult that installed him, initially, as its head but then passed the power along to his descendants. It is a cult that sees itself as both a religious system and a political system, a closed special society, and one that has any right to do anything it wants to extend itself and punish people who are not cult members.
The great majority of people who are unfortunate enough to be born into societies dominated by the cult honestly don't know any better, and when the cult's leaders feel they are too weak to attack, the cult is fairly quiet and its rank and file members are not called upon to act. However, modern weaponry - cheap and available - combined with the vulnerability of modern society, particularly in transportation (although attacking ships and caravans has always been a favorite Muslim pasttime) - have given the leaders new hope and this is the reason they are stirring up their people now.
And the clueless losers who normally join cults look at this and see the answer to all their uncertainties and dysfunctionality.
An interesting reply, with some aspects I had not considered. The comparison with L.Ron Hubbard was especially good.
Probably just some bedwetting liberal on board.
LOL!!
Just as long as the person didn't have a simultaneous sphincter failure as well...... that is also a problem with liberals.......
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