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| Europe |
| Osama bin Laden 'behind plot to attack European cities' |
| 2010-10-01 |
| Several months ago, bin Laden sent a directive to al-Qaeda affiliates and partners that he wanted a Mumbai-style attack on at least three European countries – the United Kingdom, Germany and France – the US National Public Radio said, citing intelligence officials. Gunmen had planned to fire on crowds at busy European tourist sites and take over hotels in a plot that would mark a new style of attack for al-Qaeda, although details of the plans remain unclear for now. The United States may also have been in bin Laden's sights. "We know that Osama bin Laden issued the directive," an unnamed official familiar with intelligence surrounding the plot said. "And if he issued the directive, we just don't believe that the US wouldn't be on his shortlist of strategic targets. It has to be." The public radio station said initial intelligence came from Ahmad Siddiqui, a German national currently held at the US-run Bagram Air Base in Kabul, Afghanistan. Siddiqui is said to have known Mohamed Atta, one of the alleged hijackers in the September 11, 2001 attacks, and to have worshipped at the same mosque in Germany. The plot is thought to have been inspired by al-Qaeda's fugitive leadership in Pakistan's lawless tribal regions, where a recent surge of US drone attacks sought to eliminate the plotters – and did kill some of them. Intelligence officials said some of the operatives who had been due to participate in the shootings were already in Europe. Some officials worried that members of the commando-style teams could be travelling to the West using European passports, thus complicating any effort to find and stop them. In 2008, 10 heavily armed gunmen killed 166 people in Mumbai and wounded more than 300 in three luxury hotels, a railway station and restaurants in the Indian city. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #10 we, the uninformed and unenlightened, Surely semi-informed and lightened, Old Patriot? ;-) For the rest, you raise good points. Thank you for sharing your thoughtful analysis. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2010-10-01 22:15 |
| #9 Three things come to mind: One, the 9/11 attack was at least one, and probably as much as three, years in the making. We know how successful it was, and how the entire world has more or less responded to it. Two, the Mumbai attack was also highly successful, took fewer resources and shorter training time, and is still giving India nightmares. Such an attack in certain parts of Europe would have the potential for casualty figures equal to those from 9/11, and almost impossible to defend against. Three, the jihadis are getting their clocks cleaned on a regular basis, both in Afghanistan and in Pakistan. Bin Laden would gladly take some of the pressure off, and a successful SERIES of attacks in Europe may be sufficient to do it. I personally think the references to Siddiqui are disingenuous, and the majority of the actionable intelligence is coming from other sources - a significant increase in money transfers, more communications, more movement of key trainers and facilitators, etc. I do know that a lot of folks are getting extremely antsy in a lot of places over what they see as a very serious plot. Only time will answer all the questions we, the uninformed and unenlightened, may have. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2010-10-01 19:27 |
| #8 The bad guys will soon be preparing to go-to-ground in their Pak border sancuaries for the winter months, or enroll in the local 'Chu Hoi' USD village reintegrate program. Continuing ISAF pressure in Afghanistan is causing this transition to occur a bit earlier than usual. The Preds are flying in Pak as part of an effort to hit them while off-balance and migrating. I'd call it a solid, effective plan. The reintegration effort... well, not so much. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-10-01 11:54 |
| #7 Your theory sounds a little far fetched, johnUK. But then, the fact that you let any of these bastards into your country in the first place is pretty bizarre. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2010-10-01 11:46 |
| #6 The plot is thought to have been inspired by al-Qaeda's fugitive leadership in Pakistan's lawless tribal regions, where a recent surge of US drone attacks sought to eliminate the plotters -- and did kill some of them. The narrative here seems too linear. The insinuation (particularly from MSM) seems to be that the recent zaps in N. Wazoo were intended to disrupt potentially eminent attacks in Western Europe. The account seems to imply that Siddiqui squealed and the plot is unfolding. But he’s been jugged for, at least, a couple months. Which means any actionable intel Siddiqui coughed has either already been exploited or has gone stale. There may very well be a nexus. But, given the timing of recent events, it’s more likely the threat was exaggerated to give cover for cross border strikes. And given the current reaction from the Paki’s – they ain’t buying it either. |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2010-10-01 11:40 |
| #5 Gee, haven't they caught OBL yet? After all, I recall so many know-it-all Donks accusing W of holding back on capturing him until it would gain him maximum political leverage. I suppose if that's how you think, then you will project it on your "enemy". |
| Posted by: gorb 2010-10-01 10:11 |
| #4 The love of money and the power residing therein has throughout history, trumped simple politics and the will of free nations. The late Armand Hammer quickly comes to mind. Whilst his world visionary, bourgeois successors have quickly come to the fore, how he must be the missing modern day exploitations of cheap labor, middle eastern oil, nuclear power, blood diamonds, precious minerals, and other intrigues. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-10-01 09:41 |
| #3 Sorry meant to correct a spelling error before I posted were I meant to write "legit". Anyway as I said before on the Pope article that the jihadist circles operate out of London through British intelligence since the Bosnian war to fight our proxy wars abroad. Somebody asked I think it was “Dave” if that was true then why did British police arrest Abu Qatada, Abu Hamza, Babar Ahmad, etc. It is very simple so they can’t be extradited to the US. |
| Posted by: johnUK 2010-10-01 09:23 |
| #2 LOL! I'm sure he did. Funny how these terrorist plots just happen to be off shoots of groups involved in fighting in Eurasia like the last two terror plots. How legate will this terrorist plot turn out to be despite the fact that the NGOÂ’s and banks involved in supporting all the major terrorist attacks since the African embassy bombings are still operating today. |
| Posted by: johnUK 2010-10-01 09:04 |
| #1 Not too bad for a DEAD GUY. |
| Posted by: Mizzou Mafia 2010-10-01 07:40 |