The Long War Journal: colVmn revisited

Written by Bill Roggio on May 6, 2005 12:03 PM to The Long War Journal

Available online at: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2005/05/colvmn_revisite.php

Yesterday’s mini-bombing of the British Consulate in New York City serves as a reminder that a distinct terror threat still exists here at home. While the attack was juvenile – two toy hand grenades packed with black powered and a detonator – the timing coincided with the election in Britain. A group known as Jund al-Sham, which was formed by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in 1999, has claimed responsibility for the attack. While Jund al-Sham has claimed responsibility for other attacks that cannot be confirmed, such as the Texas oil refinery explosion in April, Zarqawi has been directed to attack US targets.

There is a fifth column that exists in this country, comprised of Islamists from al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah and other terror organizations. The Washington Times’ Jerry Seper reports on the staggering number of terror operatives and cells that have been uncovered since 9-11:

Criminal Division prosecutors and investigators, working with state and local authorities, have disrupted more than 150 terrorist cells and threats from Portland, Ore., to Lackawanna, N.Y., incapacitating more than 3,000 known operatives. They also have charged 375 persons in terrorism-related cases, 195 of whom already have pleaded guilty or been convicted, and removed from the country more than 500 people linked to September 11.

The targeted terrorists have included members of al Qaeda, Hezbollah and Hamas as part of an effort to prevent and prosecute those who commit or intend to commit terrorist acts against the United States.

The 500 persons deported linked to 9-11 are free to conduct terror activities outside this country, unless they have been detained by their home countries [unlikely]. The question remains as to what happened to the other 2,100 plus known operatives. Are they in custody, under surveillance or were they set free?

There is a concerted effort to penetrate out military, as this is a tactic specifically endorsed by al Qaeda. Karim Iraq deserted from the Army and was later captured with “a notebook with anti-American and anti-Semitic writings”. Hasan Akbar, who has been convicted of murdering his fellow soldiers in Kuwait just prior to the invasion of Iraq and also stabbed a Military Policeman during the trial, was indoctrinated in a Wahabbi mosque and hated this country:

In 1992, he wrote: “I made a promise that if I am not able to achieve success because of some Caucasians, I will kill as many of them as possible.”

In a 1996 entry, he wrote: “Destroying America is my greatest goal.”

In 1998, he joined the Army.

And in 2003, in the week before he went to Kuwait, he wrote: “As soon as I am in Iraq, I am going to try and kill as many of them as possible.”

New York City, a prime target of al Qaeda, has encountered some curious activities of late. Two suspects have been arrested for activities related to scouting bridges. Sami Ibrahim Isa Ardel Hadi obtained “a valid temporary I.D. to work on the George Washington Bridge” as a contractor even though he was on a terrorism watch list. Tariq Javid was arrested for photographing New York City bridges. This is the second time he was arrested for this offense. New York firefighters stumbled upon an interesting find while conducting an inspection of a supermarket in Brooklyn:

Firefighters found more than 200 vehicle airbags believed to be stolen in the back room of a Brooklyn supermarket, where newspaper clippings about Osama bin Laden and beheadings in Iraq covered the walls, authorities said.

The firefighters from Ladder Co. 123 conducting a routine inspection, discovered the air bags — which sell for about $750 to $1,000 each — at the Superior Food Market at 1503 St. John's Place in Crown Heights.

Firefighters notified cops, and the FBI-NYPD joint terrorist task force was called in to search the building. Authorities, however, did not believe they had stumbled onto a terrorist cell, even though the room contained some materials that could be used to fashion pipe bombs, sources said.

Audeh Hamdan of Brooklyn owns the three-story building, which has 11 outstanding code violations on file with the city, records show. Hamdan, 53, of Brooklyn, served jail time in the late 1970s and early 1980s for arson, reckless endangerment, weapons possession and conspiracy, according to the records.

Theoretically airbag inflators can be used as ignition devices for homemade bombs. Two hundred stolen airbags combined with Islamist propaganda, pipe bomb materials and Mr. Hamdan’s record should raise more than a few hairs on the back of the FBI’s neck.

Recent arrests and finds combined with the 3,000 known operatives and 150 cells that have been taken out of service show the threat to this country is real. Al Qaeda will not rest, and nor should we.