Al Qaeda 'Manifesto' Warns of More Attacks

Reuters / ABC ^

[RCW2001]

Nov. 17

— LONDON (Reuters) - A leading journalist from television channel al-Jazeera said he received a document from al Qaeda starkly spelling out its strategy, including attacks on American civilians, but a top U.S. official on Sunday dismissed it as "nothing new."

Yosri Fouda said he was sent the paper last week and was convinced of its authenticity, according to a telephone interview he gave to CNN.

The CNN interviewer said the manifesto threatened new attacks on New York and Washington and asked Fouda if it mentioned killing U.S. civilians. "They do mention civilians," he said.

In the United States, the director of homeland security, Tom Ridge, said American officials were "familiar with that piece of information," adding "We don't add any special credence to it."

"The threats contained in that piece are the same threats we have been hearing now for the past year," Ridge told the "Fox News Sunday" program.

"...There are no new threats, there are the same old conditions. It's just part of the continuing threat environment that we assess. It's really nothing new."

The Arabic-language channel Jazeera, which has in the past broadcast television footage and audio tapes by al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and his aides, said it was not aware of the paper.

Britain's Sunday Times newspaper also reported that the document talked of further terror attacks.

MIDEAST HIGHLIGHTED

"We have the right to attack our attackers, to destroy villages and cities of whoever destroyed our villages and cities, to destroy the economy of those who have robbed our wealth and to kill civilians of the country which has killed ours," the document said, according to the paper.

Fouda told CNN it highlighted the Israeli/Palestinian stand-off, Kashmir and Iraq. The removal of American forces from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf is also mentioned but appears to have moved down al Qaeda's priority list.

"I'm absolutely sure that it came from al Qaeda. From whom, exactly inside of al Qaeda I'm not absolutely sure," Fouda said.

"They talk about a lot of things and they end the document with an exhortation to the American people to join Islam and to abandon the policies of the American administration."

But a senior Jazeera editor told Reuters by telephone the report had not aired on his channel. "We don't know where it came from."

The Qatar-based channel recently broadcast an audio tape believed to be of bin Laden praising recent terror attacks.

It hailed the Bali bombings and the Chechen hostage-taking in a Moscow theater, among others, and warned U.S. allies against siding with Washington, specifically mentioning Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Australia.

[Tuco-bad]

The CNN interviewer said the manifesto threatened new attacks on New York and Washington

The terrorists are probably entering the U.S. on tourists, student or work visas.

When will we learn?

[prisoner6]

YAWN...Another threat by Arab/Islam big-nosed braggards. Sing along if you know the song...

"I got 5 million, Tahiti condos."
"Me, I got 5 >billion< Tahiti condos."
"Ha, I got 5 >ZILLION< Tahiti condos."

"I got 5 ladies in my living room."
"5 ladies in my living room."

Tahiti Condo - Michael "Hey,hey! I'm NOT a Monkee!" Nesmith. Good song making fun of the apparent Arab characteristic of trying to outdo or otherwise bluff each other.

prisoner6

[jd777]

When Condi and Ridge say "Non Specific", I'm reminded of the warnings pre- 9/11. Like: " They are going to fly planes into the World Trade Center."