US Intelligence: Al Qaeda Planned Israel Attack With Hijacked Saudi F-15's

World Tribune and Geostrategy Direct.com ^ | Week of September 16, 2003 | Bill Gertz

[meg70]

Al Qaeda planned to hijack a Saudi F-15E fighter jet and crash it into a major office tower in Israel, the Israeli chief of staff said yesterday.

Israel officals said US Intelligence agencies relayed this information based on their interrogation of Al Qaeda suspects during the past 18 months.

They said Al Qaeda was trying to recruit a Saudi Air Force pilot to fly his F-15 from Tabuk air base and carry out a suicide attack in Israel about 200 kilometers away.

The Al Qaeda plot has been cited by Israel in its arguements to the United States for the immediate removal of Saudia Arabia's F-15E fleet from the King Faisal Air Base in Tabuk. About 50 F-15E's were flown to Tabuk in March 2003 and Riyad has refused to return them to their bases in Eastern adn Central Saudi Arabia.

On Tuesday, Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Moshe Ya'alon became the first Isralei public figure to cite the F-15E's at Tabuk.

[jpl]

Man, these scumbags are really trying to bring about World War III, aren't they?

[Poohbah]

If they ever pulled off such a hijacking, I wonder what the chances are that the IAF would be able to shoot it down before it hit the building? The IAF doesn't have much territory to defend, and I'd imagine they're always on a hyper state of alert.

If they had recruited a Saudi pilot...the odds of success were good.

Not having much territory to defend means not having much time to stop an incursion.

And if the IAF is the best air force in the Middle East, the RSAF is a VERY close second.

[pepsionice]

The IAF probably has 6 aircraft always on standby. I bet that probably wouldn't matter though...it'd be easy to fly under the radar and hit any building. My choice...would be the biggest religious target possible in Israel. That would accomplish everything Ossama needs to happen. Israel would hit back against the biggest Islam target possible...and then most of the middle Eastern countries would all get involved. The US would likely be able to hold Iraq, Egypt and Jordan back...but everyone else would go for Israel.

This brings up all kinds of scenarios. Would make a great Tom Clancy novel.

[putupon]

Al Qaeda Planned Israel Attack With Hijacked Saudi F-15's

Hijacked?

Can you learn how to fly an F-15 in a Florida flight school?

[Sender]

Yes, what a triple bonanza this would have been; to cause a spectacular attack in Israel, which would invite swift and terrible Israeli retribution, that's two down, then finally causing the Saudis further isolation and condemnation by the West.

[JETDRVR]

Put it this way, for 10G $ you can get any type rating you want in South Florida.

[ASA Vet]

Osama's goal is to implicate the Saudis

Dead guys don't have goals.

[steveegg]

It's 15 of 19, but the point is well noted.

As for the "hijacking", I rather doubt that would be the correct term. "Ordering" would be closer, but since the House of Saud wouldn't want it traced back to them (as if that would have made a difference with the Israelis), ....

[Mr. Mojo]

And if the IAF is the best air force in the Middle East, the RSAF is a VERY close second.

You're kidding, right? The IAF would make very short work of the RSAF, a fact with which both parties are all too aware.

[steveegg]

Can you topple one brother and his nephew without toppling the innocent grandson and his mother?

That's what Al Qaida and their sponsors in the House of Saud are hoping.

Can we stop the flow of terrorist money without accidentally handing the whole country over to the nuts who sponsor all the world's terrorism? Ideas?

Mass assassinations are about all I can offer.

[sheik yerbouty]

"Thou hast said it.."

[meg70]

Good analysis.

[Poohbah]

You're kidding, right? The IAF would make very short work of the RSAF, a fact with which both parties are all too aware.

I've actually been on exercises with RSAF aircrews; they are very, very good.

[Sender]

Mass assassinations are about all I can offer

Yes but not everyone in Massachusetts is a liberal :)

[dgoad]

My how things have changed. Back in the early 80's the IAF used to run touch & go's at Tabuk.

[ASA Vet]

not everyone in Massachusetts is a liberal

True, I met both of them that aren't.

[Mark17]

Wonder if Israel might be thinking of removing them unilaterally ?

I think they did exactly that once already, like around 1967 or so.

[af_vet_rr]

The Saudis are not, have never been, nor never will be friends. Friggin troglodytes.

You didn't get the memo from the government?

I'll quote it : "The Saudis are our friends and allies in the war on terrorism. The fact that over a dozen of their citizens killed thousands of ours, more than any Iraqis or Afghanistanis ever killed, does not change this. They love America. They do not preach hate for Americans, Judaism, and Christianity in their schools, and their money does not find its way into the hands of terrorists"

/sarcasm off

[steveegg]

Let's review what each country has. The IAF/AF has, at last count, 61 F-15A/B/C/D aircraft, 25 F-15I (an Israeli version of the F-15E), 232 F-16s, 70 F-4s (50 upgraded to F-4 2000 status) and 6 Phalcon AEW aircraft. The Saudis have 62 F-15C/Ds, 72 F-15Ss (a "detuned" version of the F-15E), roughly 90 Tornado IDSs (the attack version; an unknown number of these are recon craft), 24 Tornado ADFs (air-defense version), roughly 70 F-5s and 5 E-3As. While IDF/AF's training is vastly superior to the RSAFs', if the Saudis ever got serious about training, they would be a VERY close second.

[steveegg]

Yes but not everyone in Massachusetts is a liberal :)

LOL