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>whew we all feel so much better now. > > >>One former intelligence field officer says, and two >>other CIA officials confirm, that the alleged plot by >>Muslim extremists to bomb the Holland Tunnel in New >>York City was nothing more than chatter by >>unaffiliated individuals with no financing or training >>in an open forum already monitored extensively by the >>United States Government. >> >>“The so-called New York tunnel plot was a result of >>discussions held on an open Jihadi web site,” said >>Philip Giraldi, a former CIA officer and contributor >>to American Conservative magazine, in a late Friday >>afternoon conversation. Although Giraldi acknowledges >>that the persons involved – “three of whom have >>already been arrested in Lebanon and elsewhere - are >>indeed extremists," their online chatter is >>considerably overblown by allegations of an actual >>plot. >> >>“They are not professionally trained terrorists, >>however, and had no resources with which to carry out >>the operation they discussed," Giraldi added. "Despite >>press reports that they had asked Abu Musab Zarqawi >>for assistance, there is no information to confirm >>that. It is known that the members discussed the >>possibility of approaching Zarqawi but none of them >>knew him or had any access to him.” >> >>Some see this latest “ploy” as a direct challenge to a >>New York Times report earlier this week of the >>disbandment of Alec Station, the CIA unit responsible >>for tracking Osama bin Laden since before the >>September 11, 2001 attacks. Moreover, the article >>contends that officials say the unit was “disbanded >>late last year and its analysts reassigned within the >>C.I.A. Counterterrorist Center.” >> >>Some members of Congress have said that they were not >>informed of the unit’s closure and expressed concern. >> >>In response to reports that the unit was disbanded, >>Senator John Kerry (D-MA), who ran against President >>Bush in the 2004 election, responded earlier this week >>with a demand for the immediate reinstatement of the >>unit. >> >>“I fully support efforts to adapt our response to the >>evolving nature of the threat," wrote Kerry in a >>letter to John Negroponte, Director of National >>Intelligence Office of the Director of National, "but >>this is not a compelling rationale for curtailing >>efforts to bring this mass murderer to justice." >> >>The alleged bomb plot, sources suggest, may have been >>to alleviate Bush administration concerns that the >>Alec Station story would make them appear to be "weak >>on terror." It is not clear this early on, however, >>how much of a real and immediate threat the bomb plot >>may have been. >> >>Director of Homeland Security Michael Chertof seemed >>unconcerned earlier today, when the news first broke. >>Chertoff said at a press conference Friday, "It was >>never a concern that this would actually be executed… >>We were, as I say, all over this." >> >>“In sum, the plot, if that is what we would call it, >>was not well conceived, and there was no possibility >>of flooding Wall Street," Giraldi added. "There was no >>connection to a cell in the US. Finally, professional >>terrorists generally do not discuss targeting on open >>channels. As it was being monitored from the beginning >>of the open discussion, there was little chance >>anything concrete would have developed." >> >> >> >> >>>The suicidal plot to attack Hudson River tunnels, >kill >>>thousands and flood lower Manhattan was the "real >>>deal," but was busted up with the arrest of three >>>terrorists, the city's top FBI agent said yesterday. >>> >>>The attacks were scheduled to take place this October >>>or November and the eight-man terror cell was led by >a >>>Lebanese economics professor who had pledged loyalty >>>to Osama Bin Laden, officials said. >>> >>>Mark Mershon, the assistant director in charge of the >>>FBI in New York and top city officials confirmed what >>>the Daily News exclusively reported yesterday. >>> >>>"We're here today to discuss what we believe is the >>>real deal," said Mershon, who was flanked by Mayor >>>Bloomberg, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly and Port >>>Authority Police Superintendent Samuel Plumeri. >>> >>>"For most of the year we have been focusing on a >group >>>of Al Qaeda followers who have targeted the Hudson >>>River tubes that connect New Jersey to lower >>>Manhattan," Mershon said. >>> >>>"This is a plot that involved martyrdom and >>>explosives," Mershon said. >>> >>>Three suspects have been busted - including >>>selfproclaimed mastermind Assem Hammoud, authorities >>>said. Hammoud is in a Lebanese jail. Another suspect >>>was in custody in England, and a third was picked up >>>in Canada, sources said. Canadian media reported a >>>Montreal man was questioned but later released >because >>>there wasn't enough evidence to hold him. >>> >>>Five other suspects remained at-large, but Kelly said >>>their whereabouts "are known and they are being >>>observed." >>> >>>The plot, as The News first reported, was to blow up >>>underwater tunnels, break the walls, flood the >tunnel, >>>and possibly drown the subway system and lower >>>Manhattan. >>> >>>Mershon said the focus of the group was "specifically >>>only the PATH tunnels" and not the Holland Tunnel, as >>>The News reported. But several high-level sources >said >>>the plotters had eyed other tunnels in lower >>>Manhattan, including the Holland Tunnel, before >>>settling on the PATH trains. >>> >>>They decided that "martyrs" could ride the PATH >trains >>>with backpacks full of explosives in an effort to >>>duplicate the July 7, 2005, London bus and subway >>>attacks, sources said. >>> >>>The plotters hadn't yet decided how many suicide >>>bombers were needed. >>> >>>"There was never a set number \[of bombers\]," said a >>>senior law enforcement official in Washington. "Their >>>debate was over how many it would take to damage the >>>tunnel." >>> >>>The would-be bombers had decided it would be easier >>>for them to get on the PATH trains than to get a >truck >>>bomb into one of the car tunnels. Plus there was the >>>added advantage that the PATH tubes connected to the >>>rebuilt World Trade Center hub, sources said. >>> >>>The officials said the plot was hatched in Internet >>>chat rooms - under watchful FBI eyes. It was busted >up >>>with help from six foreign governments, officials >>>said. "This is a success story," said Rep. Pete King >>>(R-N.Y.), chairman of the House Homeland Security >>>Committee. "The FBI did its job." >>> >>>Mershon made it clear that tunnels were never in >>>danger, but the group posed a serious threat. >>> >>>"They were about to go to a phase where they would >>>attempt to surveil targets, establish a regimen of >>>attack and acquire the resources necessary to >>>effectuate the attacks," Mershon said. "And at that >>>point I think it's entirely appropriate to take it >>>down." >>> >>>Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said >last >>>year's London attack proved the need to "swoop in" >and >>>disrupt plots at the idea phase. >>> >>>"The distance between planning and actual operational >>>activity is a very short distance," Chertoff said. >>> >>>It's not the first time New York's tunnels have been >>>targeted by terrorists. A new book "The One Percent >>>Doctrine" by journalist Ron Suskind claims Al Qaeda >>>planned to spray cyanide gas in the subways, but >>>canceled those plans. >>> >>>In May a man was convicted of plotting to blow up a >>>bustling subway station. >>> >>>In 1993, the FBI rounded up more than a dozen men who >>>allegedly conspired to blow up five New York City >>>landmarks including the Lincoln and Holland tunnels. >>> >>>http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/433443p-365166 >c >>. >>>html
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