The War on Terror

[Sparrowhawk]

Having written several articles on terrorism, in the early 1980’s about world terrorism, as well as domestic terrorism I know we are far from out of the woods in this battle that coming to our shorelines.

This story bellowed appeared a few days ago, in the Associated Press but many newspapers didn’t publish it as it appears below. Being alert and informed can make a difference that is why I started this tread. A place we can exchange ideas, share news stories of interest and be informed and perhaps if we need to, take action to make a difference.

One thing I know is that this war is only going to be won by us, by the American citizen that is alert, informed and willing to get involved. Here is where we need to be truly united, and all-inclusive. Reporting what we see as suspicious activity, and things that warrant better security.

Twice I have called the FBI to inform them of Middle East individuals acting suspicious and both times they were rounded up and remain in custody. But a great many of American citizens still do not know what is going on, or what to look for.

Perhaps it’s going to be up to us that have military training, those that have served in the military, in law-enforcement or public service that can make the difference.

The war is coming home, these terrorists are bend on destroying America, especially from within and causing havoc here will be easy for them. With our freedoms and liberty it will be easy for them to purchase and use bombs and weapons against our citizens here.

What can we do? What are our options? Being informed is our biggest ally against terrorism, but often I have found even our law-enforcement officers are not informed as to what to look for, nor do they understand how terrorist operate.

Maybe we need to start up our own Anti-Terrorist Alert Network? The Internet is a powerful tool and since some of us have the time, experience or training, we may be able to help our security forces here at home. It’s also surprising what you can learn from Sharing that information here, if nothing else it maybe a way of keeping informed for our own security and family safety?

Semper Fi

Cook

[Sparrowhawk]

Lebanon Captures Top al-Qaida Operative
By HUSSEIN DAKROUB
The Associated Press

Sept. 22, 2004
BEIRUT, Lebanon - Lebanon announced the arrest of the country's top al-Qaida operative and said Wednesday that he and another Lebanese suspect plotted suicide attacks on Western embassies and recruited insurgents to fight in Iraq.

Senior security officials said the two, who were arrested Friday with eight accomplices, also planned to assassinate Western diplomats and attack Lebanese security and judicial targets.

At least one of the suspects allegedly had contact with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Jordanian militant whose Tawhid and Jihad group beheaded two American hostages in Iraq this week.

Lebanese officials said the arrests were testimony to its cooperation in the U.S.-led war on terrorism. They thanked Syria _ the key power broker in Lebanon _ and Italy for their cooperation in breaking up the alleged plot.

Interior Minister Elias Murr identified the two key suspects as Ahmed Salim Mikati and Ismail Mohammed al-Khatib. He said the accomplices included Lebanese and Palestinians.

Prosecutor-General Adnan Addoum told reporters al-Khatib was "the head of al-Qaida organization in Lebanon."

Al-Khatib, Murr said, "is an al-Qaida operative ... his role was to recruit fundamentalist youth to carry out operations against coalition forces in Iraq." The group, the minister said, is "the first network linked to al-Qaida organization to be smashed in Lebanon."

The prosecutor-general alleged Mikati was trying to establish al-Qaida cells in Lebanon and had contacts with al-Zarqawi with the aim of recruiting fighters to go to Iraq. One recruit was a Lebanese who was killed in Iraq on Sept. 17, officials said.

The two leaders and their accomplices planned simultaneous bombings of the Italian and Ukrainian embassies in Beirut. Both countries are part of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq.

The suspects allegedly plotted a suicide bomb attack on the Italian Embassy, the officials said. They said explosives had been seized.

An Interior Ministry statement said the suspects planned to pack a car with 660 pounds of TNT and blow up the Italian Embassy in the Lebanese capital, an area often packed with tourists and sidewalk cafes.

The officials said the suspects also planned to assassinate employees in Western embassies in Lebanon and wanted to attack Lebanese security and judicial targets.

Addoum described Mikati as "one of the most dangerous people wanted in Lebanon" and said he was also behind crimes in Lebanon.

The prosecutor referred to the attack on a McDonald's restaurant in Beirut in April 2003, as well as attacks on U.S. and British interests last year. Mikati has been condemned to death in absentia by a Lebanese military court.

In 2002-03, a series of bombs exploded in Tripoli and Beirut outside American franchises, such as McDonald's and KFC. The attacks, which wounded five people, were seen as a response to Washington's policies on Israel and Iraq. Several people have been convicted in the attacks.

Addoum said he also had "unconfirmed information" that Mikati may have had a role in the slaying last year of an American missionary nurse who was shot at a clinic in the southern city of Sidon.

Mikati was known to be hiding in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh on the outskirts of Sidon. The camp is notorious for its lawlessness and as a refuge for fugitives and Islamic extremists. Lebanese authorities have no presence in the camps and officials did not say how they arrested al-Khatib.

Addoum said Mikati belonged to a group that clashed with the Lebanese army in the northern region of Dinniyah in 1999. More than 40 people, including 11 soldiers, were killed.

Last year, Lebanese police arrested members of a terrorist network that planned attacks on the U.S. Embassy and other Western targets in Lebanon, as well as the assassination of the U.S. ambassador in Beirut.

Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

[TracGunny]

These two links will take you to more links that will (well, should, at least) tell you everything your marvelous Government has to say on being prepared:

America responds to Terrorism:
http://www.firstgov.gov/Topics/Usgresponse.shtml

Protect yourself:
http://www.firstgov.gov/Topics/Usgresponse/Protect_Yourself.shtml