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| Britain |
| Territorial army infiltrated by al-Qaeda |
| 2004-10-17 |
| THE Territorial Army has been infiltrated by Al-Qaeda suspects, giving the Islamic terrorist group potential access to military bases, explosives and fuel dumps. Five Al-Qaeda suspects are believed to have trained as part-time soldiers with the TA. At least one is now in custody. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed that other terror suspects have attempted to join the TA, but says they were rejected after undergoing security checks. The connection with Britain's Al-Qaeda network was uncovered in a series of wide-ranging investigations by MI5 and Scotland Yard's Special Branch. It is believed the terrorist suspects may have been taking advantage of military training as well as gaining access to bases and weapons. Patrick Mercer, the Tory homeland security spokesman and a former army officer, said Al-Qaeda terrorists could use TA passes to penetrate security at key MoD establishments such as the permanent joint headquarters at Northwood in Greater London. "This could have very serious security implications. Clearly in the war against terror you need to know who your friends are. The last thing we want is the enemy masquerading as our own people," Mercer said. The TA has about 41,000 members and comprises a substantial portion of the 102,000-strong British Army and has 329 centres throughout the country. Most recruits have access to small arms and undergo infantry training. Security experts say while such access may be limited, terrorists could get greater benefit from targeting selected units such the Intelligence Corps, the Royal Engineers and logistics units. The TA's Royal Engineers would give them access to explosives. The Royal Logistics Corps would provide access to military fuel dumps and a fleet of tankers. Many army tanker drivers now on duty in Iraq are TA soldiers.More than 7,000 have been called up to serve in Iraq — the largest deployment in its 97-year history. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #1 It has already been stated elsewhere, the more we wait the more dangerous it becomes for all Western homelands. Hence we need to seriously consider making public, explicit threats, such as: - Moslems in the West being warned that should any horrific attack take place on the part of local Islamofascists all local Moslems will be put in detention camps -- and deported if they are 1st-gen immigrants. - Unfriendly Moslem countries must be warned that any attack that can be traced back to their own people will be met with a nuke, Tell them which city goes first, e.g. Mecca, Cairo, Damascus, Tehran, etc. We can not tolerate a permanent sword of Damocles, without announcing that we will make all further attacks extremely painful to the Moslems. Either they join in fighting the Islamofascists that thrive in their midst, or they become the enemy. Time is running out. So far we have not seen the Moslems joining in the fight against Islamofascism, except for the courageous Iraqis in their new police and army forces. Much much more is needed. I want to see Moslems demonstrating in the mall, shouting in the street, speaking out everywhere. Not constantly complaining about "discrimination" but joining us in the war! If they can. If they will. I want them to denounce the monsters in their communities. We know such are there. |
| Posted by: Kalle (kafir forever) 2004-10-17 9:12:01 PM |