BIG BEN SPARED BY GROUNDING OF JETS ON 9/11: REPORT

NYPost ^ | 6/11/02 | GERSH KUNTZMAN

[Interloper]

June 11, 2002 -- The terrorists who struck the World Trade Center and the Pentagon also reportedly targeted Big Ben on Sept. 11 - but England's most famous landmark was spared because flights out of London were grounded following the attacks in the United States.

[Lazamataz]

So Al Quada has declared war upon the world.

Let us declare relentless, nonstop, forever war against them.

Every day. In every way. Nonstop. Kill them, every last one. Day after day. With a new body every hour.

[Clemenza]

Big Ben was probably one in an series of European targets. The Brits are just blabbing about this to make the world think that they are still important.

I'm happy to have the Brits as an ally, but why can't they be more like the Turks (our best ally in the Middle East) and be more quiet about it. I thought Brits (at least Englishmen) were supposed to be quiet and reserved.

[freedomcrusader]

Meanwhile, German authorities are balking at aiding the prosecution of the alleged 20th hijacker, Zacarias Moussaoui, because he could face the death penalty if convicted of conspiring in the Sept. 11 attacks, The Washington Post reported.

Germany is refusing to hand over documents that allegedly show money transfers from al Qaeda to Moussaoui, the paper said. Similarly, France has said it will not provide the United States with information about Moussaoui, a French citizen, because of its opposition to the death penalty

Euroweenies.

[Henchster]

"I thought Brits (at least Englishmen) were supposed to be quiet and reserved."

They are. Read the article and header again. NYPost, and CBS news are the ones talking.

By the way, just another example of how the Bush administration's quick thinking of grounding ALL flights saved countless lives.

[finnman69]

Maybe this will shut up the labor party and the british tabloids for a bit. On second though, who am I kidding.

[kitkat]

I'm happy that they're talking it up! We need their support and don't want them to get the idea that it's only OUR war. Let the Brits be scared--that makes them more willing to fight the terrorists.

[kitkat]

***Let us declare relentless, nonstop, forever war against them.***

Laz, you're right, of course. Now that you mention it, it seems to me that some guy from Texas has been saying that since 9/11.

[OwenKellogg]

>>> The alleged would-be Big Ben attacker, Afroz Muhammed, was arrested in India ... <<<

An old thread about Afroz Muhammed: BOMBAY TERRORIST WAS STILL PLANNING PLANE ATTACKS FOR NOVEMBER

[aristeides]

Germany is refusing to hand over documents that allegedly show money transfers from al Qaeda to Moussaoui, the paper said. Similarly, France has said it will not provide the United States with information about Moussaoui, a French citizen, because of its opposition to the death penalty.

So France's new right-wing government is, if anything, even less cooperative in the war on terrorism than the socialists were. I wonder if the likely right-wing victory in Germany's election in September will make any difference.

[Cicero]

This is an important story, because it will shake up the Europeans as well as the Brits. They have all been thinking that if they played nicey-nice with the Arabs they would be left alone. But that is a dangerous illusion. There is no way to placate the Islamic fanatics; they must be disrupted and killed, and Islamic countries must understand that the people and governments who shelter these terrorists will pay a heavy price.

Germany is refusing to hand over documents that allegedly show money transfers from al Qaeda to Moussaoui, the paper said. Similarly, France has said it will not provide the United States with information about Moussaoui, a French citizen, because of its opposition to the death penalty

It has been obvious for some time that many so-called friends and allies of the United States are refusing to cooperate with investigations or with running down known terrorist networks. It is time for the Bush administration to start publicizing this refusal to cooperate, and put the heat on these quiche-eating cowards. If Europe wants a defense pact with the United States, it must be a two-way alliance. Otherwise, they can defend themselves.

In the long run this would be good for us too. We need a strong Europe, which means a Europe capable of defending itself at least against minor threats, instead of relying on a free ride from the United States while giving nothing in return.

This is not to say we should cast Europe off, but if they want to be our friends and allies they must realize that friendship goes two ways.

[BOBTHENAILER]

Let us declare relentless, nonstop, forever war against them.

My sentiments, exactly.

A never ending ruthless cascade of violence against them, their supporters and followers. Never stopping, pausing or slowing down, until we have cleansed the face of the earth of these worthless, evil scum.

[Wphile]

Meanwhile, German authorities are balking at aiding the prosecution of the alleged 20th hijacker, Zacarias Moussaoui, because he could face the death penalty if convicted.... France has said it will not provide the United States with information about Moussaoui, a French citizen, because of its opposition to the death penalty

This guy may be partially responsible for the deaths of 3,000 Americans and they are concerned about the possibility of the death penalty for one person? Thanks a lot France and Germany...NOT! Some allies.

[untenured]

By the way, just another example of how the Bush administration's quick thinking of grounding ALL flights saved countless lives.

I think you are right. I remember two stories shortly after 9/11. In one, when their flight at NY was prevented from leaving the gate, several young Arab men began chatting animatedly in Arabic before leaving the plane in a hurry. (I think the NY Post reported this.) In another, box cutters were found on a plane grounded in Toronto. When you add on to that a statements on tape from Bin Laden and others about plans to do damage "north, south, east and west," it's clear to me that the plans for 9/11 were much bigger than what actually happened. Whoever gave the orders to ground all air traffic that morning is a hero.

[Lazamataz]

This guy may be partially responsible for the deaths of 3,000 Americans and they are concerned about the possibility of the death penalty for one person? Thanks a lot France and Germany...NOT! Some allies.

The European Union and America will war someday in the future. I may not be alive to see it, but it will occur.

We might even be allied with Russia against Europe.

[Wphile]

So France's new right-wing government is, if anything, even less cooperative in the war on terrorism..

Sheesh...the elections were just held over this past weekend and it was only the first round. The "new" government isn't exactly in place yet. I hope to God that Stroibel defeats Schroeder in Germany. Way too many socialists and greenies in Germany's government.

[TomServo]

With a new body every hour.

I'd rather have this instead.

With a new body count every hour.

[cosine]

As a tribute to the private sector and distributed systems, note that the Wall Street Journal reported that American and United executives shut down their airlines by grounding all their flights as soon as they realized they'd lost contact with multiple flights on September 11. This happened before the FAA could figure out what was going on.

[Aria]

I think it was Dick Cheney.

[bloodmeridian]

Maybe we should throw France and Germany into the whole sordid lot as well.