Target: Washington?

MSNBC ^ | 4th november 2005. | Mark Hohenball

[kronos77]

WEB EXCLUSIVE By Mark Hosenball Newsweek Updated: 6:07 p.m. ET Nov. 4, 2005 Nov. 4, 2005 - Investigators in the United States and Britain are urgently investigating information suggesting that a group of terrorism suspects recently arrested in the London area may have been plotting to blow up Washington landmarks using homemade bombs. Counterterrorism officials, who asked to remain anonymous because the investigation was continuing, said the suspects’ possible targets included the White House and the U.S. Capitol complex. Story continues below ↓ advertisement Investigators appear to be uncertain about how far the plotting against Washington targets had advanced before the arrests. While British officials call the investigation active and urgent, U.S. officials, while acknowledging they were aware of the possible threats against the White House and Capitol Hill, said they were not sure whether the targets were part of an imminent plot or was more bravado among Islamic militants. Officials in both countries are concerned, however, that the suspects could be part of a terror network stretching from the United States to Britain to Bosnia.

[RetiredArmy]

And you are surprise why? I have been ranting this for months. Bush needs to get his head out of his collective rear end and shut down the borders. Once these people blow up landmarks, malls, a super bowl, is just a tad too late.

[My Favorite Headache]

Borders will never close in the U.S., we are like a Dennys on I-95...ALWAYS OPEN.

[TomGuy]

Any connection to these?

Al-Qaida Ops Busted At Mexican Border? (A NC Congresswoman Said Yesterday That They Were

or

Congresswoman: Three Al Qaeda Caught in U.S. After Crossing Border with Mexico

[RegulatorCountry]

"While British officials call the investigation active and urgent, U.S. officials, while acknowledging they were aware of the possible threats against the White House and Capitol Hill, said they were not sure whether the targets were part of an imminent plot or was more bravado among Islamic militants."

There are a couple of big holes in the ground that would tend to argue against bravado.

[RetiredArmy]

Roger that. Just order plenty of body bags, because the day it happens, AGAIN, we are going to need them. Lots of them. However, most everyone here, and in the USA, believe all is well, we are safe, there was no need for the war in Iraq, the Arabs are our friends, they love us, it IS a religion of peace. Only when the body bag zips down and they place ONE OF YOURS in the bag, will these stupids start taking notice. Of course, then it will be Bush's fault, and in a way, I agree with that, because HE is responsible for shutting down the borders, and all he wants to do is legalize the illegals for votes and free handouts.

[hershey]

Coming soon, and when it does, will the admin. and MSM, describing the terrorists, use the 'M' word? Or will we be told it's skinheads and the VRWC? Or maybe that it never happened. The Capitol building or the WH blew up by accident...a natural gas leak?

[Fighter@heart]

GEE, I hope we don't hurt their feelings when we question them, as the "religion of pieces" is soooo mis-understood!
(My sarcasm key appears to be stuck!!!)

[reagan_fanatic]

Actually, this isn't much of a surprise since the jihadists have been plotting to blow up points of interest in DC for years.

My biggest concern is that 4 years after the largest and deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil that was essentially a declaration of war against the United States, too many of us have been lulled into a false sense of security since no further attacks have taken place since then. When our guard is down is when the islamists will strike again and I don't believe we're prepared for it.

[theFIRMbss]

>Bush needs to get his head out of his collective rear end and shut down the borders

This is simply not
going to happen. People
need to get their heads

out of their rear ends
and stop saying it. IT'S NOT
GOING TO HAPPEN!

[RetiredArmy]

Individual citizens such as you and I do not have the power to shut it down. Bush does. We can rant and raise all kinds of hell, but when it comes to the action to actually do something about it, it is up to Bush and Congress. They, HE, needs to do it and do it now. Not a week from next Thursday, but now. Otherwise, in the future, after the dust settles and the bodies are counted, the finger pointing starts. That is way too late. Do it now. The report that some Al Quida guys were caught at the border recently is evidence enough. I think they are smart enough to realize they have excellent chances of coming across our borders down south. They can read that 10-15 million illegals have made it in down there. Pretty good odds they will get many across. Some might, as these were, be caught, but the grand majority will get in.

[trebb]

While I agree the borders need to be locked down, I find it interesting that the bad guys don't seem to have been able to cash in on the gaping holes. There must be something going on that we don't know about. Expect the Dims and/or CIA to leak about the bad things being done to stop terrorists from the North and South in an effort to give the bad guys a leg up...

[RetiredArmy]

I believe, in my military mind, it is not a "human" numbers problem the bad guys have in the US right now. I believe it is accumulating the necessary arms and explosives to do it. This is not the middle east where you can simply drive an 18 wheeler from Iran or Syria into Iraq and pass out the arms. I think they are having to bring that stuff in little by little instead of in huge numbers like they can over there. That, thankfully, is in our favor. They cannot simply gather it up here as easily anymore either, after the Oklahoma City bombing, businesses have to report large sales of the items that can be used to produce a bomb making item. So, I think right now, it is having access to large numbers of arms, and explosives in lots of pounds. You can use other means of course, but I think they want the largest bang for their buck because it will be like 9-1-1 again, and they want to scare and terrorize as many as they can, and do all they can to bring the USA to a stand-still. Blowing up some major bridges, airports, malls, landmarks, etc. does that. Blowing up Elmo's corner 7-11 store will not.

[trebb]

I believe your assessment is accurate. I spent 24 years in the AF and now work in the military community that deals with planning and executing military missions. Some good courses available at the War College in Mongomery...

God Bless

[Leatherneck_MT]

Well if we lose Washington DC to a Terrorist Nuke, we can revert back to the articles of confederation and begin to protect our borders state by state.

If any City in this country gets nuked, I hope it's Washington. The idiots there have caused this problem.

[null and void]

Yeah. When half of our congress critters are zipped into their final sleeping bags, the remainder may notice that we are in a war.

*sigh*

[verity]

I submit that the moral and economic well being of this Country is in greater danger from its elected officials than from terrorists.

[Mugwump]

" North and South in an effort to give the bad guys a leg up..."

I've had similar thoughts for so long, I've begun to hoard Reynolds Wrap. The more I see about the way not only France, but governments worldwide are coddling the Muslims, I can only conclude that they're being encouraged somehow.

I'm wracking my brain trying to come up with a different conclusion but I'm having a hard time of it. Islam means submission -- is that the lesson, learning to "submit" to our so-called betters whether they're the religious, the governmental or the bureaucratic kind?

Where's my Kool-Aid...

[absolootezer0]

..there was no need for the war in Iraq..

i agree that there is no need for war in iraq. pushing a couple buttons and nuking them wouldn't be considered a war, would it?

[roses of sharon]

1. If flight 93 had hit the Congress the borders would be closed.

2. BTW, just HOW logistically and legislatively would closing the borders be done?

3. I am ignorant to the details of the debate on CLOSING the border, not a immigration debate, but actual closing, would it be temporary, permanent, would their have to be soldiers, natl guard, police, ect.?