Apocalypse Now, or Alottanukes Soon

At a time when a tape handed over to the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera television station has received widespread expose for its purported comments by Osama bin Laden in praise of recent terror events around the world, another al-Qaeda message released to the same station has received little coverage.

Al-Jazeera was granted an interview with one Mohammed al-Usuquf, allegedly al-Qaeda's number three. Al-Usuquf is said to be a doctor in physics and to hold a masters degree in international economics. A copy of the interview was sent to the prestigious Arab-language daily Al Quds Al Arabi, edited in London, but it was not printed. Asia Times Online has obtained a copy of the interview, and reproduces excerpts here, with the caveat that the identity of the man has not yet been confirmed, nor has his membership within al-Qaeda.

Al-Usuquf says that al-Qaeda's Kuwaiti spokesman, Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, and bin Laden himself, suggested that he grant the interview. Bin Laden, he says, is "alive and healthy, along with his commanders Mohammed Atef, Khalid Shaik Mohammed and Mullah Omar".

Al-Usuquf starts by criticizing Washington's disrespect of the Kyoto Protocol on climatic change, the International Criminal Court and the Palestinian cause, as well as the "financial greed" engendering speculative gains over Third World countries. He also criticizes the manner in which America wastes wealth, like US$80 billion a year on gambling. "They [have] lost the notion of spirituality and only live in sin."

For this reason, America must be destroyed, and al-Usuquf insists that "aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines and spy satellites will be worthless in the next war".

Al-Qaeda, according to him, has 5,000 first rank operatives and around 20,000 all over the world. Of all the prisoners in the US, only "20 or 30" are al-Qaeda, and all of them "second-rank". Confirming Asia Times Online information, he swears that there are no first-rank prisoners in Guantanamo in Cuba. Al-Usuquf says, "We have more than 500 first-rank and 800 second-rank [operatives] inside the US." "First rank" are considered ones that have lived in the US for more than 10 years, most of them married with children. "They have an idea about the plans, and they are just waiting for a call." "Second-rank" operatives arrived in the past five years and "have no idea about the plans". They are all willing to die. Al-Usuquf insists that September 11 "was just the beginning. It was a way to call the world's attention to what's going to happen." He then details a plan to destroy the US by "attacking the heart of what they consider the most important thing in the world: money".

"The American economy is an economy of false appearances," says al-Usuquf. "There's no real economic weight. American GNP is something around $10 trillion, but only 1 percent comes from agriculture, and only 24 percent from industry. So 75 percent of its GNP comes from services, and most of it is financial speculation. For someone who understands economics, and apparently America's Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill does not, or cannot, the US as a whole behaves like an immense dot.com, and dollars are its stocks. The value of stocks from a given company is directly proportional to its profitability. When a company only provides services, but does not produce goods, the value of its stocks depends on its credibility. What I'm saying is if US credibility is affected, its stocks - the US dollar - will fall at tremendous speed, and the whole American economy will collapse."

Al-Usuquf is absolutely positive, "because, in a smaller scale, this is exactly what big financial conglomerates do with Third World countries to collect profits in one month that no Swiss bank would guarantee in four to five years". Al-Usuquf says that al-Qaeda could do the same by "provoking a deficit of $50 to 70 trillion, the equivalent to five to seven years of the GNP of the US". How? By "destroying America's seven largest cities and some other measures". The means? "Atomic bombs." Al-Usuquf's most startling revelation is that the bombs "won't be launched, they are already there". "Seven nuclear heads have already been positioned on American soil, before September 11, and they are ready to be detonated. Before September 11, American security was a fiasco, and even later, if we needed, we could position the bombs there. They arrived through seaports, as normal cargo. A nuclear head is not bigger than a fridge, so it can easily be camouflaged as one. Thousands of containers arrive at a seaport every day, and even with very efficient security, it's impossible to check and examine each one of them."

Al-Usuquf says that the bombs were bought on the black market: five from the former USSR and two from Pakistan. The five Russian heads "are from T-3 missiles, also known as RD-107, and their power is around 100 kilotons each, that is five times the Hiroshima bomb. The Pakistani ones are less powerful, something around 10 kilotons each." Each of the Russian bombs would have cost around $200 million. Al-Qaeda was able to raise the money "because we have many sponsors. Many countries sponsor us, and also some very rich people." And not all of these are Arab countries. "Some European countries as well are also interested in the fall of the US." As to the "rich people", they are "people who are also tired of seeing the US bleeding the rest of the world."

And Iraq's Saddam Hussein, says Al-Usuquf, is not one of these people, "but just a collaborator, represented by Abdul Tawab Hawaish, his vice prime minister and responsible for Iraq's arms program".

Al-Usuquf says that the bombs cannot be detected by US authorities. "Even if they are old, they were modernized and are very well hidden. Even if they were located, they have autodetonation mechanisms in case something or someone gets close. Even an electromagnetic pulse is not capable of deactivating them." The bombs allegedly cannot be detected because "they are enveloped in thick layers of lead". They could be detonated "by various methods - cellphone call, radio frequency, seismic shock or by their regressive clock".

Al-Usuquf details the whole plan. "First, one head would be detonated, which would cause the deaths of 800,000 to 1 million people and a chaos never seen before. During this chaos, two or three planes, which are now disassembled inside barns near empty roads in the US countryside, would take off in suicide missions to pulverize another two or three big American cities with chemicals. Once the disease was identified, all seaports and airports would be quarantined. Land borders would also be closed. No plane, boat or car would enter or leave the US. This would be total chaos." The first target would be the city "that would offer the best conditions, for example bright sky and winds of eight or more miles an hour blowing towards the center of the country, so radioactive dust can contaminate the largest possible area".

This attack would not knock out the US, recognizes al-Usuquf, "But the process would be initiated. As with the World Trade Center, it would be just a question of time for the whole economic structure to be turned to dust. If the objectives are reached with one bomb and diseases, probably we will save the lives of other people, but it's risky, and probably six more bombs will be detonated, one a week, and more attacks with chemical weapons will be launched." According to estimates made by al-Usuquf "and Ayman al-Zawahiri", al-Qaeda's number 2, about 15 million people would die, victims of the bombs and the radiation. Among those contaminated by diseases, "25 percent will die, a figure around more than 5 million, plus many others due to the chaos and disorder".

Al-Usuquf does not fear an American military response. "Even if five or 10 cities are chosen at random to be destroyed, it will still be a small price to pay. The problem is that the economic despair will be so great that even if it saves [money] by not using weapons, American liquidity will be near zero, and the US will make more money selling a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier to Turkey or Italy for $5 billion, because they will urgently need to recapitalize. But it will be too late. Moreover, what will remain of an American soldier's morale to fight knowing that his whole family died and his country ceased to exist? To fight for what?"

The world economy would not collapse, says al-Usuquf, although "in the beginning, it will be very difficult. But without the US the world will soon rise in a more just and fraternal manner. Nothing can stop the plan."

And whatever America does, "it's too late". When will the attack begin? "I can't tell."

Number one ... if they really had several nukes already here ... they would have used them.

Concur, partly because nukes really are a "use 'em or lose 'em" prospect.

Let us assume, for the purposes of argument, that the nukes are real. If the nukes are the crude types used by Pakistan, the initiators are most likely polonium--and polonium initiators last about a week. After that they decay so badly that they generate a fizzle.

If the nukes are XUSSR, then they're a wee bit more modern, and use deuterium-tritium initiators. These last somewhat longer, but still need replacing after a few months, because the tritium decays to ³He₂. This isotope of helium has an enormous appetite for neutrons; even very small amounts will cause a fizzle. We had (and, presumably, so did the Russians) many thermonuclear tests fizzle because of helium contamination in the 1950s.

BTW, tritium is VERY tightly controlled, because it costs about $50,000 an ounce on the open market. (The tritium in your watch dial or compass is a very tiny fraction of an ounce.)

In other words, once you have a nuke, unless you have adequate facilities for maintaining the nuke, you either use it, or it decays into uselessness in very short order.

Why do a 911 airplane attack when you have a nuc?

A few years back, I heard that the Iraqis got suckered by some Russian Mafiya types offering to sell them nuclear warheads, and that Saddam's folks got ripped off for 10-20 megabucks.

Do ya think maybe Osama fell for the pitch? :o)

For this reason, America must be destroyed, and al-Usuquf insists that "aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines and spy satellites will be worthless in the next war".

Here's a tip. If anyone wants to make a bet on the winner of the next war, take the team that has the worthless aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines and spy satellites.

These chest beaters are a hoot. Let's assume, arguendo, that one of these terror groups managed to detonate a nuke in a western city. It would inaugurate the Third World War, for sure. China, Russia, Western Europe, Australia, most of Central and South America, India, Canada and the USA would align in a completely mobilized campaign that would essentially destroy Islamic regimes worldwide and occupy whole nations for generations.

Clearly in such a circumstance the wartime economy would shift the allocation of resources and imperatives. Does any serious person believe that contingency planning and response scenarios have not considered such an event? Does any serious person believe that the civilized west would be defeated by radical Islam?

It is inevitable that a rogue nation or terror group will deploy a WMD of some kind on an unsuspecting population. The thing to be feared after such an event is not that the west would be defeated by Islamic fundamentalists, but that the hysterical, revenge-driven environment would invariably lead to the emergence of an ultra-powerful central government (or leader) who would be given carte blanche to do whatever. How you put that kind of an animal back in its cage after the elimination of the external threat is very troubling.

A good link on the Signs of Qimayah.

Also, Dajjal offered the following on another thread:

There are several laundry lists of the Signs of Qiyamah compiled by various people from the Hadith. Here is one of them.
______________________
Signs before the day of Judgement
1. People will neglect their prayers.
2. People will follow their own views.
3. Their desires will supercede the commands of Allah
4. They will sell the religion for worldly benefits.
5. The rulers will be tyrants, ministers will be transgressors and trustees will be embezzlers.
6. Evil will become virtue and Virtue will become evil in the eyes of people.
7. embezzlers will be trusted, and the trustworthy will be thought untrustworthy; and liars will be vouchsafed, and the truthful ones vill be considered liars.
8. Women will be rulers and concubines will be consulted; (this ma mean the government of women or domination of women over their husband - so much so that the husbands will not, or can not, ask them to remain within the limits of shariah, leaving them to go where ever the want in whatever cloths they like.
9. Children will sit on the mimber. (this may mean unworthy people will take to mimber.)
10. Lying will be considered clever; Zakaat will be (disliked) as fines.
11. Man will be tyrant to parents and generous to friends; and at that time comets will appear.
12. women will become partners in her husbands trade.
13. Rain will be very Hot.
14. Virtuous people will remain sorrowful. Poor will be dishonoured.
15. Rulers will be harsh tyrants.
16. Ummah will be dyed the the goods of east and west.
17. Males will satisfy their lust with males and females will satisfy their lust with females.
18. Minor boys will be mounted upon as women.
19. Males will liken them selves to women and females will look like males.
20. Females will ride saddles (vehicles) There will be the curse of Allah upon the Women of the Ummah.
21. Mosques will be decorated as synagogues and cathedrals; Quran will be beautified, and minarets will be high.
22. The lines of people standing in prayers will increase but their heart will hate each other and their talks will differ from each other.
23. Men will use golden ornaments, and wear silk, and will use cheetah's skin.
24. dealing in interest will appear every where, people will deal with backbiting and bribe.
25. religion will be suppressed and world (worldly affair) raised.
26. Divorce will be on the increase, and hudud (Islamic punishment) will not be administered.
27. At that time the musical instruments and women singers will appear (practiced openly).
28. At that time the rulers will be the worst of the Ummah.
29. Rich of the Ummah will go to hajj (pilgrimage) for recreation, middle class will go for trade and the poor will go to show off.
30. People will learn Quran for reasons other than Allah.
31. Religion will be studied for reasons other than Allah.
32. Honours will be defiled, sins will be openly comited, Evil people will have authority upon the good people.
33. Lies will be prevelent, and disputes will appear.
34. Poverty will be widespread and people will be proud of their cloths.
35. There will be rains at the wrong times.
36. People will kine chess, gambling apparatus, musical instruments; and will dislike enjoining good and forbidding evil so much that the true believer will be respected less then the slave girl.
37. Reciters (of quran) and worshipers will blame each other. Those will be the people who will be called unclean and filthy in the kingdom of heaven.
38. Rich will not be afraid (of any thing) except the poor so much that the poor will go continue begging for two fridays without recieving anything.
39. At that time will talk 'Ruwaibidhah' (Such people will talk about public affairs, who had not talked about such matters before. Than in a short time chaos will appear upon the earth and every nation will think that chaos was only in their land. (but it will cover the whole world.)
40. People will remain in this condition for as long as Allah wishes. Earth will throw out pieces of its heart - gold, silver and other minerals the size of pillars, but neither gold nor silver will be of any benefit to anyone.
41. Kufr (disbelievers) and Munafikat (hypocrites) will be prevelent before the coming of the day of judgement.
42. People will become Kafir (dis-believers) because of poverty and need.
... .... ....
Here is another list.
______________________
Signs of the Last Hour
(from Ashraatus-Saa'ah of Yoosuf ibn Abdillaah ibn Yoosuf al-Waabil)
[English Translation by Daawood ibn Ronald Burbank]
A. The Minor Signs.
1.The Prophethood of Muhammad (sas)
2.The death of the Prophet (sas)
3. The conquering of Bait ul-Maqdis
4.The Plague of Amwaas (in Palestine)
5.The increase in wealth so that sadaqah is not needed
6.Trials and civil strife:
(i) The appearance of troubles in the east
(ii) The killing of Uthmaan (ra)
(iii) The battle of al-Jamaal
(iv) The battle of Siffeen
(v) The appearance of the Khawaarij
(vi) The happening of al-Harrah
(vii) The appearance of the saying that the Quran is created
(viii) The following of the ways of the previous nations
7.The appearance of claimants to Prophethood
8.Widespread safety
9.The appearance of fire in the Hijaz
10.Fighting the Turks
11.Fighting the non-Arabs
12.Dissappearance of trustworthiness
13.Dissappearance of knowledge and appearance of ignorance
14.Increase in the number of police and helpers of the oppressors
15.Spread of fornication
16.Spread of usury
17.Spread of musical instruments and their being thought to be allowed
18.Drinking of intoxicants and its being allowed
19.Adorning the mosques and rivalling therein
20.Building tall buildings
21.The slave girls giving birth to her mistress
22.Increase in killing
23.Time passing quickly
24.Coming together of markets
25.Appearance of Shirk in this Ummah
26.Appearance of wickedness, cutting off of relations and ill treatment of neighbours
27.Dying of grey hairs with black dye
28.Increase of extreme miserliness
29.Increase in trade
30.Many earthquakes
31.Appearance of sinking into the earth, transformation into animals and false-accusations
32.The passing away of the pious
33.The raising of the despicable people to positions of importance
34.That greeting is given only to those the person knows
35.That knowledge is sought from other than the scholars in truth
36.Appearance of women in clothes which do not cover them
37.The truthfulness of the dreams of the Believers
38.Spread and increase in writing
39.Laxity with regard to the Sunnah
40.Increase in size of the new moons
41.Increase in falsehood and having no concern to check reports
42.Increase in false testimony and witholding true witness
43.Large number of women and small number of men
44.Sudden death being common
45.Hatred amongst peoples hearts
46.The return of the land of the Arabs to being pastures and rivers
47.Increase in rain but decrease in produce
48.The revealing of a mountain of gold by the Euphrates river
49.The talking of wild animals and inanimate objects to people
50.Wishing for death because of the severity of trials
51.Increase in the number of 'Romans' and their fighting the muslims
52.Victory over Constantinople
53.The appearance of al-Qahtaanee
54.Fighting the Jews
55.The expelling by al-Madeenah of its wicked people, then its desolation at the end of time
56.The sending of a pleasant wind to take away the souls of the Believers
57.The attacking of the Sacred House and dismantling of the Ka'bah

B. The Major Signs
a.The Mahdi
b.The Anti-Christ [Maseeh ud-Dajjal]
c.The descent of 'Isaa = Jesus (as)
d.Yajooj and Maajooj
e.The three great sinkings of the earth
f.The appearance of smoke in the sky
g.The rising of the sun in the west
h.The beast of the earth [Daabbat ul-Ard]
i.The fire which brings the people together
... .... ....
It wasn't in either of those lists, but another societal Sign of Qiyamah is that women will rip the infants from their wombs.
The Hadith also go on in detail about natural disasters Mohammed predicted, as well as various battles.

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