To the terrorists,the U.S. is New York

NY Daily News ^ | 5/27/04

[areafiftyone]

For all the cautious nonspecificity, the announcement still hits like a hammer: There is "credible evidence" from "multiple sources" that Al Qaeda intends to unleash mayhem in the U.S. in the "next few months." Not that this is a bolt out of the blue: It has been an article of faith that Al Qaeda means further harm. All the same, Attorney General John Ashcroft's warning was as sobering as things get. There's a big hit brewing. Here it comes. Soon.

Where? When? Who knows? Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly fast reported that they have no information that New York is on any immediate hit list. But Ashcroft spoke in general of "especially attractive targets," which include this summer's Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden, as well as the Democratic soiree in Boston, next month's G-8 summit in Georgia and this weekend's World War II memorial ceremony in Washington.

Those events will come and go, but New York will remain the globe's "especially attractive" target. To radical Islamic fundamentalists, New York is America itself. Indeed, here is where World War III began: Historians may someday regard Feb. 26, 1993, the date of the first World Trade Center attack, as the official beginning of this war. Unless it was the night 2-1/2 years earlier when radical Rabbi Meir Kahane was shot dead in midtown.

The enemy succeeded in bringing down the towers after all. And then he went after the Brooklyn Bridge, his plot to cut the suspension cables disrupted by too much police presence. And only blind luck prevented the murderous bombing of a busy Brooklyn subway station. We would be fools to think Al Qaeda has no further plans for New York. Consider the dire contents of an NYPD document prepared five months ago:

• "It is clear that Al Qaeda and other related terrorist groups are planning to utilize WMD devices to attack New York City."

• "Terrorists have been directed to acquire commercial driver's licenses and to obtain employment driving tanker trucks carrying hazardous materials."

• "Terrorists have been directed to use household utilities as a WMD by renting several strategically selected apartments within a residential building and then simultaneously igniting the gas lines..."

  Which, once again, raises the matter of all those federal homeland-security dollars we are losing to various states. Now that the feds have "credible evidence" from "multiple sources" that an attack is imminent, they should start reflecting that "especially attractive targets" do not include Cheyenne.

  Meanwhile, Ashcroft launches the War on Terror's version of "America's Most Wanted," impressing Americans into dutiful public service, asking all to be on vigilant lookout for seven identified plotters who might well be living right next door this very minute.

  Admittedly, the government's track record when it comes to naming names has been imperfect. Army Capt. James Yee of Guantanamo fast went from being an accused spy to being an accused adulterer. Oregon lawyer Brandon Mayfield was linked to the Madrid train bombings until it turned out that, whoops, he wasn't involved at all.

  Depending where you are on civil liberties, Ashcroft is summoning either snitches who'll turn in their neighbors or dedicated Americans like those who sat on rooftops night after night through World War II, scanning the skies. We'll go with the latter. These seven names, they're the intel of the moment. And if Joe Citizen is so alerted to spot someone resembling Aafia Siddiqui down at the deli and report her, we're good with that.

[jpl]

The Daily News is stating their own personal opinion as fact, as the so-called mainstream press so frequently does. It's true that Mayfield has been freed for now, however, this is yet a far cry from "he had nothing to do with it". There are still gag orders in place all around, a pending grand jury which may be weighing an indictment, and the ticklish little matter of exactly how his fingerprints ended up on a bag full of detonators in Spain.

[areafiftyone]

If we get hit again and he is as incompetant as I think he is - NYers will be out in the streets demanding his resignation. I know I will. But for now we are stuck with him until the next mayoral re-election. I just don't feel safe with this guy.

[kittymyrib]

Hollywood a targe? Let me think about that....

[kittymyrib]

Ooops! That's "target," of course.

[ken5050]

I was thinking perhaps the N Y Times building?

[js1138]

It's true that Mayfield has been freed for now, however, this is yet a far cry from "he had nothing to do with it".

That's the impression I get. So are the fingerprints still his, or was that a misidentification?

[bitt]

I would support a covert "switch" of the convention to another place that they could secure, like the rink in Long Island...

[theDentist]

From a Muslim perspective, I bet Hollywood is the definition of decadence.

[dufekin]

Wait a minute. Twenty-six months after WTC I (1993), a terrorist attack rocked Oklahoma City. From all of the media coverage of the trials, I have found some things very interesting.

(1) First, I have no doubt that the accused and convicted are guilty. But I doubt that they are the only guilty parties.

(2) There was a Philippine "mail-order bride" presumably of one of the killers involved. Apparently she, and perhaps one or the other or both bombers traveled and otherwise communicated back and forth to the Philippines. Ramzi Yousef (apparently tied to Iraq and guilty of WTC I) fled to the Philippines. Is there any connection? I don't know.

(3) Apparently there is an unnamed, unindicted co-conspirator frequently sighted with one, another, or both of the convicted conspirators. He is described by numerous witnesses as dark and black-haird--but never "black" or "African-American." This suggests either an American Indian, East Asian, Hispanic, or Arab. Based upon what I've seen and heard, might this person be a Muslim terrorist?

Just a few thoughts. Certainly raises the prospect of al-Qaida attacks outside New York.

[Gritty]

Is there some way we can take the administration on NYC AWAY from this jerkheimer (Bloomingidiot), BEFORE he finds himself in way over his head?

Pssst! He already is in way over his head...

NYPD no-show at immig bust

[jpl]

Hmmm, after further research it looks like it was a misidentification. I jumped the gun on that one big time, sorry.

[nutmeg]

ping!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.

[correctthought]

Why would they attack their propaganda arm?

[firebrand]

shut up

[txhurl]

Right??!?

I worry about Houston.

[mvpel]

The New York times, in the wake of the Northeast blackout, had a headline of "A Nation Blacked Out" when 8 out of 50 states were involved, affecting fewer than 25% of the population of the United States.

[sauropod]

Ping.

[arjay]

You beat me to it. I was going to post the very same thing. New York, DC and Hollywood seem to think they are the only people in the US that count.

[BILL_C]

Apparently there is an unnamed, unindicted co-conspirator frequently sighted with one, another, or both of the convicted conspirators



You need to read "The Third Terrorist" by Jayna Davis. It will remove ALL doubt about who the eight Iraqi soldiers were who blew up the OKC Federal Building with the assistance of two Americans.

It is obvious what happened in OKC. And the 9-11 commission isn't going to tell you.

[kjvail]

Th major events of the summer are going to be secured out the wazoo, an attack there is what is expected. If I were a terrorist I would plan and execute attacks at malls, sporting events and schools. As they do in Israel. You want to really thro the average American into panic and choas? People can avoid big major events, only political leaders will be at the conventions. In a representative system you don't have to kill the leaders, just their constituents.

I worry a little, here in Indianapolis the home of the largest sporting event in the world 3 days from now.