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Arabia
Al-Qaeda in Yemen threatened US 4 days before terror attempt
2009-12-28
An Al-Qaeda operative in Yemen threatened the United States and said "we are carrying a bomb" in a video posted online four days before the botched Christmas Day attempt to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight.
There were videos posted online before Whatsisname Zazi and his Afghan friends were arrested in September, too, as I recall. Al Qaeda has been looking ambitious but ineffective lately, at least as regards attacks in the U.S.: grandiose plans but poor follow through. Were I jihadi-bound, I'd choose another organization...unless I wanted to spend a large piece of my life in an American prison.
The video does not contain any clear evidence that the speaker was anticipating Friday's attempt, but it has attracted scrutiny because of reports that the bombing plot may have originated in Yemen.

The 23-year-old Nigerian man accused in the attack claimed he received training and instructions from al-Qaida operatives there, U.S. law enforcement officials said, and a key American lawmaker has said there are "strong suggestions" of a Yemen connection.

In a Dec. 21 video, the al-Qaeda operative delivered a eulogy for militants killed in a Yemeni airstrike on a militant training camp four days earlier. The speaker said he had no agenda against Yemeni soldiers, but warned them against cooperating with Americans.

"We are carrying a bomb to hit the enemies of God," the speaker says.

"O soldiers, you should learn that we do not want to fight you, nor do we have an issue with you. We only have an issue with America and its agents, and beware of standing in the ranks of America," he says. "You should not defend these regimes. The soldiers and even Obama cannot put out the light of Islam."

The video was posted on extremist Web sites affiliated with al-Qaeda. The Web sites identified the speaker as Mohammed al-Kalwi, an al-Qaeda activist reportedly killed in another airstrike on Thursday.
See? There is an afterlife!
The video showed the bearded militant, wearing a a headdress and green military-style jacket over a long Arab robe, addressing a group of armed followers as he stood atop a car. The followers repeatedly interrupted the fiery address with calls of "God is great."

IntelCenter, a Virginia-based group that monitors extremist activity, said in a report that it was not certain the speaker knew about the airliner plot ahead of time. It said planning for the botched attack likely took place long ago, but it would be plausible for a member with knowledge of the plot to foreshadow an operation.
Posted by:Fred

#2  Pragmatically, methinks that OSAMA = AL QAEDA, + Radic Islam in general are aware that the USA may try to cutoff or separate Africa's Islamists from those of the Middle East + Persian Gulf, via control of the Arabian Peninsula.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2009-12-28 01:34  

#1  See also PAKISTANI DEFENCE FORUM > ASIA TIMES ONLINE: AL QAEDA SETS SIGHTS ON PAKISTAN, AND BEYOND. Sources tell Asia Times that AQ has reestablished itself in SOMALIA + YEMEN, desires to disrupt major trade routes around the HORN OF AFRICA, + ultimately to control any and all MUSLIM RESISTANCE MOVEMENTS IN THE REGION.

And AL QAEDA IN LEBANON + TRANSJORDAN > goes to a certain old Saying about how its the "QUIET
ONE(S)" that have to be watched???
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2009-12-28 01:31  

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