'Miracle' if no holiday terror attack -

[Martin]

From ABCNEWS

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/..._braces_f.html

London Braces for Attack; 'Miracle' If There Isn't One

December 21, 2006 10:42 AM
Brian Ross and Richard Esposito Report:

British intelligence and law enforcement officials have passed on a grim assessment to their U.S. counterparts, "It will be a miracle if there isn't a terror attack over the holidays in London," a senior American law enforcement official tells ABCNews.com.

British police have been quietly carrying out a series of key arrests as they continue to track at least six active "plots" tied to what they call "al Qaeda of England."

Officials said they could not cite any specific date or target but said al Qaeda had planned previous operations during the Christmas holidays that had been disrupted.

"It is not a matter of if there will be an attack, but how bad the attack will be," an intelligence official told ABCNews.com.

Authorities say they are seeking at least 18 suspected suicide bombers.

"They hope they are one step ahead, but they seriously fear they may be one step behind," the senior American official said.

British law enforcement and intelligence officials say the ongoing plots have been in the planning stages for at least three years. The officials say the plots are all connected and track back to al Qaeda commanders in Pakistan who have been recruiting and training British citizens of Pakistan descent.

A report by "Newsweek" says that American al Qaeda figure Adam Gadahn has served as a translator of a 12-member team of Western recruits, the "English brothers," said to be preparing an attack that would be much bigger than last year's attack on the London subway system.

U.S. officials say the "Newsweek" report is, in many respects, parallel to intelligence reports they have been receiving.

British Home Minister John Reid recently told reporters that it was "highly likely" that terrorists would attempt an attack before the first of the year.

Even though this only mentions the London area. I feel like were all (u.s. and england) sitting ducks right now. And we'll eventually get it good again...sometime. No matter how much intelligence we gather, they will find a way.

The big question is...what happens after... attack Iran? It sounds stupid, I know.. But thats how this administration works... There would be a ton of anger and outrage from the public aswell. If I could predict the future, I'd say its gonna get alot worse before it gets better.

[Swiss Miss]

Originally Posted by Martin

From ABCNEWS

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/..._braces_f.html



Even though this only mentions the London area. I feel like were all (u.s. and england) sitting ducks right now. And we'll eventually get it good again...sometime. No matter how much intelligence we gather, they will find a way.

The big question is...what happens after... attack Iran? It sounds stupid, I know.. But thats how this administration works... There would be a ton of anger and outrage from the public aswell. If I could predict the future, I'd say its gonna get alot worse before it gets better.

Attacking Iran isn't an option for "what happens after" because it's happening NOW. We have troops deployed already and by time the news catches up with it, it's going to be way to late to pull out (not that Bush actually cares whether the American people want to be there or not). This is the reason we were in Iraq anyway. So yeah, definately this is going to get much worse before it gets better. Our economy is still doing very well... and that somewhat scares me.

[waltky]

Gee, that's not much of a comfort...

Agent: FBI 'Ill-Equipped' for Terror Threat
WASHINGTON, May 21, 2008 - FBI Whistleblower Says Agents Not Given Tools to 'Understand the Enemy'

The FBI is "ill-equipped" to handle the current terror threat, an agent embroiled in a whistleblower case with the bureau, claimed to a congressional committee today. "My greatest goal today is to be able to get the message across to Congress, to this distinguished committee, that the FBI's counterterrorism division is ill-equipped to handle the terrorist threat that we're facing," Bassem Youssef told the House Judiciary subcommittee. "We have agents who are highly dedicated within the counterterrorism division who want to do a very good job," he continued. "But they're unable to because they're not given the tools or the assets that they need to actually understand the enemy."

Youssef says the FBI counterterrorism program can't protect the United States from another catastrophic direct attack from Middle Eastern terrorists because the bureau lacks the necessary resources, especially experienced counterterrorism experts who understand native languages and cultures throughout the Middle East and Central Asia. Youssef said the FBI is "inexcusably understaffed" in its International Terrorism Operations Section (ITOS). According to Youssef's testimony, the FBI's staffing level, at its supervisory level, is only 62 percent of its mandated funded level.

FBI officials say most key counterterrorism work is done out in the field, away from headquarters. Youssef read e-mails sent to employees in the FBI Counterterrorism Division, which said, "Executive management is canvassing the division for volunteers to be permanently reassigned to ITOS 1. This is due to the fact that ITOS 1 is currently at 62 percent of its funded staffing level. It is critical to the CT [counterterrorism] mission that these positions be filled as soon as possible."

More ABC News: Agent: FBI 'Ill-Equipped' for Terror Threat

[waltky]

UNSC links WMD, terrorists...

Terrorists, WMD linked: UNSC resolution committee
19 Aug 2008, The UN Security Council resolution monitoring committee on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) has asked the international community to act with vigilance against non-State groups that have been using such weapons since their inception.

Costa Rica Ambassador Jorge Urbina told a Council meeting on Monday that the threat from non-State actors like terrorists remains significant and the international community must therefore act with vigilance to combat it.

Many UN member states have taken specific measures to implement the resolution, such as adopting new laws and enforcement programmes, creating assistance schemes and executing new policies, Urbina said.

He, however, added that some members need to step up their efforts, especially in trying to overcome potential or real links between weapons of mass destruction and non-State actors, such as terrorist groups and black marketers.

Source