We're Targeting You at Home, Terror Tape Warns Americans

[tlcandie]

http://www.news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2320293

<snip>
An audiotape said to be from Osama bin Laden’s al Qaida deputy warned that the terror group would target Americans “in their homeland” and drive the military from US bases.


Pan-Arab satellite channel Al-Jazeera broadcast excerpts from a 10-minute tape it said was recorded by Ayman al-Zawahri, al Qaida’s number two. The channel’s editors said they received the tape through the post yesterday.

The speaker on the tape, whose voice resembled al-Zawahri’s, mentioned a visit to Iraq by US Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz in late October. The speaker did not mention last weekend’s capture of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

The speaker also denied that the resistance US troops were facing in Iraq came mainly from Saddam loyalists. He said the fighters were “holy warriors”.
<snip>


Reason for the recent Terra Alert? :shrug:

[prisonerseven]

1. Wait a minute

I thought al Qaida and Iraq had nothing in common. Are they now or were in the past working together? What is the deal?

[tlcandie]

2. This regime made sure they did....

one word... flypaper!

EDIT: But I don't think they say they are in Iraq? I think it said US bases on US soil? And noted the events in Iraq...not taking credit for them.

[w4rma]

5. Didn't used to, but now their interests have merged over Iraq. (n/t)

[Lorien]

6. Al Qaida and Saddam's regime

never worked together. Al Qaida would have set up shop in Iraq long ago if Saddam had let them (he wanted religous fanatics kept out of the country because they were a threat to his party). Al Qaida will try to push out the "infidels" from any country they see as Muslim. Remember, they attacked the WTC mainly because our troops had bases in Saudi Arabia (yet the Saudis are our "friends").

[demsrule4life]

17. About half right

Khomeni would also like to take out the Saudi govt for allowing us to have bases there.

[rumguy]

9. duh

flypaper theory...

[Timefortruth]

26. They weren't before the invasion.

Now there are Americans to attack so close to home that they are in Iraq. The law of unintended consequences.

[neuvocat]

3. Here's what I'm wondering:

if this were true, then wouldn't the U.S. in essence be helping the terrorists by broadcasting their scary messages?

[tlcandie]

4. Scotland newspaper ? Not American?

:hi:

[NJCher]

7. heard it on NPR tonight

It aggravated me. I found myself saying, "Don't these terrorists realize what they're doing when they attack Americans?" It only brings out the worst of this country and exacerbates every tendency of this country to go overboard when it comes to security.

I don't see how attacking ordinary Americans is going to accomplish anything. Americans are apolitical sheep. Nobody here is going to rise up and demand that their government change as the result of a terrorist attack. They'll just fall right into line and go buy more duct tape and plastic.

Certainly wouldn't be my strategy if I were a terrorist.


Cher

[ConcernedCanuk]

11. First of all you are NOT a terrarist - but put yourself in "their" shoes

. . for a minute ( I know, not a nice thot, but . . )

. . if a foreign country, enemy, etc. is in YOUR country, or what you perceive as YOUR territory, and you can't seem to get them out

. . attack them on THEIR turf ?

Anyone that ever saw the movie "Invasion USA" should realize that it would not take too much to terrorize the whole North American continent, and the Cowboy and his Gang of Thugs is basicly "inviting" them to "Come to Murikkka"

The invasion of Iraq was a BIG booboo, as the US has proven it can, and will invade whenever, wherever it wants, WITHOUT provocation.

Putting the terrorists in the mind set - "What have we got to lose? "

All thanks to Junior and the rest of the BFEE

Just a Humble Canuk's Observations

[Maeve]

16. It doesn't take much at all to terrorize people

A few random shots, a total of less than two dozen bullets, one death and a city freaks out. (Lovely Grove City, Ohio, current site of the Outerbelt Sniper) In reality, life isn't more dangerous here, but the perception is that we're in a shooting gallery.
Oh well...the fear makes driving on 270 easier for those of us who don't spook easily.

[JNelson6563]

19. Hope that madness ends soon for you Maeve

And you are so right. I have long thought about this. If the terrorists were to do some sort of blast in a smalllish city, say one in every state, some place where folks would never dream terrorists would hit, we'd all be scared shitless. As it is I live in a place of no strategic importance and feel very safe. If a car-bomb or something took place and a bunch of cities/towns like mine it would be a different story.

Julie

[DoYouEverWonder]

20. You'll be surprised how fast

we will get used to it. The British have been dealling with terrorism for decades. Though the IRA has been quiet lately, London has been bombed numerous times.

Even in Miami, I remember in the 80's at least a few bombings and such of Cuban resturants on Miami Beach.

The big difference between these events and the current threats are that with 24/7 Cable News, the media can terrorize the whole country with one isolated event. Things must be really falling apart for Bu$hCo because they are ramping up the fear again. Of coarse they waited until after the holiday shopping season. Didn't want to mess up Christmas sales.

[Mika]

30. In Miami there have been hundreds of bombings by anti Castro terrorists..

.. terrorists that both repukes and Dems laud.

The bombings continue. But, unfortunately, both Dems and repukes gain campaign contributions from those "exile" groups that are affiliated with terrorists.

Try speaking out for Cuba's right to sovereignty in Miami, and you'll feel the terror. I have.

[Muddleoftheroad]

31. Try speaking out for freedom IN Cuba

You'll feel the terror there.

[tlcandie]

24. Isn't that what the US just did ... attack them on THEIR turf?

Instead of suicide bombers they did shock and awe :shrug:

[0007]

25. If a foreign enemy were in this country we'd fight 'em,

just like the way they're doing it in Iraq. Would even bring the pukes and the dems together, LOL!!

[neuvocat]

8. Associated Press

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20031220/ap_on_re_mi_ea/al_qaida_tape&cid=540&ncid=716

[soothsayer]

10. this tape looks so different than the previous tapes---is it phony?

that guy looks like an american to me

am i overly suspicious?

[0007]

12. Here we go again!

Republician press conference and Terrorist warnings are hot and heavy these days.

[preciousdove]

13. The Lights are out in Fargo, do you suppose...?

----- Original Message -----
From: IN-FORUM
Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2003 2:35 AM
Subject: Breaking News from IN-FORUM


Power outage ends Forum press runs early

The Forum - 12/20/2003


A power outage that darkened parts of downtown Fargo late Friday night affected today's editions of The Forum.

Today's newspaper will contain all but late-breaking news in the A section, but will have limited sports coverage. The power outage occurred about 11:25 p.m., just as the majority of the sports section was being sent to press for the second of three editions.

As of 2 a.m., power had not been restored. Readers across the region are scheduled to receive The Forum's first, or state edition, which was expected to continue rolling on the press as soon as power returned to the building.

The sports department will plan to print some of Friday's late local sports stories and scores in its Sunday edition.

The power outage also will delay the update of in-forum and online subscribers.

[BiggJawn]

28. "Limited Sports Coverage"? Uh-Oh....

Don't know about Fargo, but these Hoosiers here in Indiana WOULD take to the streets with torches if they couldn't read about their High School sports in the paper....

They take their HS B-Ball more seriously than I do bike racing...

[Snazzy]

14. Actual MSNBC pop headline yesterday:

Breaking News: No Imminent Terrorist Attack in New York

:wtf:

Yeah, I had the sound off. But hard to come up with something more stupid on the pop headline thing--although I'm sure they have.

[0rganism]

15. They should damn well start at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Go right for the heart of the beast. They might actually get some worldwide acclaim for pulling that stunt off.

[demsrule4life]

18. They tried but some normal everyday Americans with

some balls made sure it didn't happen.

[TheBlob]

23. That's not true.

The CAPITOL, NOT the White House was their target.
(The Bush fans love to think otherwise though)

Report: Capitol Was Sept. 11 Attackers Fourth Goal
http://www.intellnet.org/news/2003/10/26/21034-1.html

[KansDem]

21. Targeting MY HOME??? Sure. Go Ahead. Put WMDs in my garage...

Out there, NO ONE will ever find them. But now that I think about it, I wonder if that's where Saddam put his...?

Hmmmm. I might organize an expedition through my garage and take a look this weekend...

[sistersofmercy]

22. The connection people aren't making here is when they release a tape

there is a terrorist attack somewhere. Before the war in Iraq and when bush* was boasting about the supposed success in Afghanistan, al-Qaeda released a tape and boom there was the Bali incident, the last tape released then we had the incidents in Turkey. They are releasing tapes then carrying out some sort of attack. I know many here scoffed at these tapes but check the releases and compare with incidents that occur shortly thereafter.

[54anickel]

27. You have a point, but I would need to research this further.

The old saying, even a broken clock is correct twice a day.

How many tape releases coincide with an attack, versus how many coincide with some other event that would benefit from the scare.

Case in point from yesterday's announcement. We all know this admin wants the dollar to drop in value, yet it was on its way back up to the previous days high and possibly beyond. http://quotes.ino.com/chart/?s=NYBOT_DXY0&v=i

The dollar dropped after the news came out.

I do not think we should dismiss any of these threats, but we do need to examine if they are beneficial in some capacity to this admin.

Let's face it, Shrub has declared a war on an unknown, unidentifiable enemy - terror. Our lives can never be returned to pre 9/11. We have lived with the possibility of being a victim of a car crash, plane crash, mugging, murder, drive-by shooting, etc. You have to sort of weigh out what are the chances, be a bit more cautious and attentive and roll with the punches. If you let this type of stuff rule your life you are no better of than the folks who won't get out of bed to start the day until calling Miss Cleo for a reading.

[BiggJawn]

29. OK, so bring some oil-cured olives when you come, OK, Osama?

I'm out.

[davsand]

32. Live life as usual-extract your revenge by carrying on!

They can play the game of "scare hell outta the average folks" but if you stop to think about it, shrub gains nothing from any more attacks. They are charged with our safety--and as a result anything that actually happens is gonna get them smacked around as failures.

With that in mind, the only thing announcements like this accomplish is to place us all in a headspace where we need "defending" by our brave (p)Resident and the gub-ment.

If you are sincere in your desire to screw shrub and all his little games then go out and live it up... Go party in Times Square, or the French Quarter, or Rush Street--anyplace known for being a rowdy crowded place. If you stay home and cower shrub wins.

I think maybe the fear is misplaced for a lot of us.

Laura

[54anickel]

33. Well said!