Posted on 11/29/2002 7:38:49 PM PST by blam
Mossad takes over in Kenya
By Tim Butcher
(Filed: 30/11/2002)
Hundreds of Israeli troops and Mossad secret service agents poured into Kenya yesterday, effectively taking control of the investigation into the suspected al-Qa'eda bomb and missile attacks in the resort city of Mombasa.
Israeli forensic experts at the site
More than 300 heavily-armed soldiers, medical personnel and airmen flew in on five special flights, as Ariel Sharon, Israel's prime minister, promised to "hunt down" those responsible.
Three Israelis, including two children, and nine Kenyans, died in the attack.
Mossad agents took control of all aspects of the investigation. They secured the scene of the suicide bombing at the Paradise Mombasa Hotel and missile debris from the attempt to shoot down an Israeli charter flight carrying 271 people.
Some personnel organised the evacuation of the Israeli wounded and holidaymakers seeking a swift return home.
The deployment underlined Israel's sudden entry into the war on terrorism declared by President George W Bush after September 11.
The Israelis are seeking high-grade intelligence information, allowing planners in Israel to establish who was responsible for the attacks and to organise retribution.
Al-Qa'eda's first suspected attack against an Israeli target was widely interpreted as a bid to depict its leader, Osama bin Laden, as the chief representative of the Arab cause.
Kenyan politicians condemned the attacks yesterday. But one prominent Islamic leader, Abubakar Awadh, an official of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims, said: "If this was done to Israelis alone, it would be a worthy cause." Mombasa is a Muslim majority city with centuries-old links to the Arab world.
Police said 12 people had been arrested following the attacks, 11 of them foreigners. Six Pakistanis, four Somalis, a Spaniard and a US national were questioned.
But there were doubts whether all 12 were linked to terrorism.
The American and the Spaniard, one described as Arab in appearance, were arrested after hotel staff reported them for "acting suspiciously". Security sources later said they had no involvement with the case.
At least one suspect had been picked up simply because he was walking at night without identity papers.
National Police Commissioner Philomen Abongo said: "At this early stage of the investigation no firm conclusions have been made, but we must wait for the work of the experts from Israel."
A missile launcher and two scorched missile cartridges abandoned by the terrorists near the airport were left lying around for more than 24 hours. The Israelis later picked them up from waste ground where they were found.
Mystery surrounds the take-off direction of the charter plane, Arkia airlines flight IZ582, which did not take off in the standard off-shore direction of Mombasa airport commercial flights. Instead it headed inland, allowing the terrorists an easy shot with the shoulder-launch weapon.
The scene of the bombing at the hotel was also left unsecured until the arrival of Israeli experts yesterday.
By mid-morning the plastic scene-of-crime police tape strung across the entrance to the hotel was standard Israeli issue, with Hebrew script.
Prior to their arrival, journalists and bystanders were able to wander through the ruins, potentially contaminating important evidence.
Police recovered the number plate of the four-wheel-drive vehicle used by three suicide bombers to smash into the hotel reception area.
Pilots don't make this decision. Someone at the airport has some serious explaining to do.
Pilots don't make this decision. Someone at the airport has some serious explaining to do.
You mean like maybe the air traffic controller, Mr. Mohammed?
When threatened with being turned over to the Mossad, he immediately began singing like a songbird.
Yup. They do have a reputation. The assassination squads that were 'loosed' on the Munich Olympic terrorists have been re-approved, I believe.
Seems to me, folks whose job descriptions involve saying stuff like this should simply be shot dead just like you would a snake.
This is both easier and cheaper, and raises less lefty comments among soccer moms, than an outright war.
It's long overdue!!
Are you still living in a 9/10/01 world?
Do you really think we took back the Senate without them?
Many people are worthy of your derision but, IMHO, Soccer Mom's are not your enemy.They never were.And they will never wear a Burkha.Nor will they tolerate their daughters to be subjected to vile veil.
Sharon must order this man to be decapitated, immediately.
You'll notice that all of a sudden there was a blurb in the papers about the US considering using the Predator against Hezboallah?
And that it was a leak?
These things don't happen by accident.
The AQ high command has just become a high priority target for the Mossad. Look at the political upside: suppose Ayman Al-Zawahiri shows up dead one day with an Israeli death card stapled to his tongue. That would send a message to the Pallies and the rest of the Arabs: "f%#k with us, pay the price...".
While the Israelis seem to be ready to get to work on the AQ leadership, we seem to be ready to take down the Big Dog, Saddam.
As I've suspected for some time, we're working hand in glove with the Israelis on this whole operation.
Be Seeing You,
Chris
I'm glad the Mossad in there and getting ready to play kickbutt.
The Bible calls it "the fear of you and the dread of you." It is a gift from G~d and is a good thing. [Gen 9:2; Deut 11:25]
We do. During the past year, we have routinely used both the Israeli Mossad and Egyptian counterparts to interrogate terrorist suspects in an efficient manner. Both are very effective, and both have been long bought and paid for with U.S. foreign aid. The psychological impact of having a Jew or a fellow Muslim interrogate is a primary factor in determining whether Israel or Egypt gets to do the honors. As an added benefit, no liability attaches to the U.S. government or its officials under international law for acts of the agents of another sovereign power. In other words, the U.N. and the World Court can't pin any frivolous "war crimes" charges on the U.S., but undoubtedly would do so if the FBI or CIA conducted similar interrogations.
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