IIRC, US troops found radioactive material in Afghanistan which indicated that AQ had been fooled by Arms dealers in the past. I think its safe to safe that even Russian or Ukranian arms dealers are smart enough to not give nukes to radical Islamic terrorists. Especially now. Unfortuntely, that might not have been the case in '98. But the fact that AQ hasn't made a nuclear attack yet makes me hesitate. And this isn't the first time AQ has been said to have nukes either.

Unreliable, definitely. It does seem unlikely that if al Quaeda had acquired a nuke, they would have sat on it for 6 years. But then again, the nuclear security in the former Soviet states does leak like a cheap sieve...

well...crap

(Do I need a disclaimer that Arab news sources may be somewhat ... ahem ... unreliable?)

No.
I don't buy it. They would have used them if they had them. The good thing about this that the American public won't like this at all.

Does anyone remember a story about a small bomb that was left on a train? It's hovering around the edges of my memory. Anyone know what I'm talking about? It was in a suitcase, I think, and nobody noticed it for weeks.

I'll try to be more vague next time :-)

al Qaeda, which the United States blames for the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Ah, Reuters.

"Al Qaeda would use the weapons only inside the United States or if the group faced a “crushing blow” which threatened its existence, such as the use of nuclear or chemical weapons against its fighters, the paper quoted its sources as saying."

Well, I guess being kicked out of Afghanistan and having hundreds of its members killed doesn't count as a crushing blow. If they had a suitcase nuke, they would have used it in the States after the start of the Afghan or the Iraqi campaigns. If they could not get one into the States, they still could have and would have detonated one outside Bagram Airbase.

What a pathetic bunch of delusional braggarts!

wonderful..just great..i'll bet it's probably true the way russia denies it..oh well better crack down some more on the homeland..forget PC

#6   davey

Yup. Just like "Israel claims" the barrier is to keep out Palibombers.

#5 zulubaby

Are you possibly thinking about the time that a college student left a fake bomb package on a couple of planes?

zb

Was this it?

Al Qaeda would use the weapons only inside the United States or if the group faced a “crushing blow” which threatened its existence, such as the use of nuclear or chemical weapons against its fighters, the paper quoted its sources as saying.

Yeah, that's it. Because AQ is all about peace, and having a deterent force.

In other words, since the US almost certainly won't use such weapons on them, AQ will never have cause to use the weapons they don't have. Cave-dwelling delusionals cheered by surface-dwelling delusionals. Not that they aren't dangerous, but thankfully their credibility is slipping.

OT:
Today's Chicago Tribune website (registration required) includes a long article on the extremist takeover of the city's "Bridgeview" mosque.

[Link: www.chicagotribune.com...]

In the following segment, it is reported that a Saudi financed jihadi invited Osama bin Laden's mentor - Sheik Abdullah Azzam - to the mosque for terror fundraising:

"After studying Islam at a Saudi Arabian university, he came to Chicago to teach Arabic to African-American Muslims. In 1985, at age 28, Sheik Jamal became prayer leader in Bridgeview. Part of his salary would be paid by the government of Saudi Arabia--a stipend that totaled about $2,000 a month by 2004, according to Saudi Embassy officials in Washington."

"Many at the mosque were already familiar with his views. As a guest speaker several years earlier, he had given a memorable sermon in which he criticized the mosque women for not dressing modestly."

"As prayer leader, he preached that America was a land of disbelievers, where families were not valued, according to mosque-goers. He told worshipers that they should not celebrate Valentine's Day and Thanksgiving because those were not Islamic holidays. He told teenage boys and girls not to mingle."

"Over time, Sheik Jamal developed a national reputation and easily attracted prominent Muslim activists to Bridgeview."

"Abdullah Azzam, Osama bin Laden's spiritual mentor, visited the mosque in the mid-1980s as part of a national tour to recruit supporters for the U.S.-backed Afghan war against the Soviet Union. At least three Bridgeview men signed up."

"Sheik Jamal also raised money with skill, collecting as much as $1 million in a year from worshipers. Most of the money was passed along to Muslim charities, which then sent it overseas, according to the mosque's annual reports..."

Dhimmi Watch:
Read this link as an application for work at the LA Times:

[Link: www.denverpost.com...]

zb

Or maybe this?

There is no way, the savages have the bomb yet, they would have accidently blown it off in a Gaza kitchen a long time ago.

#13 Camel Prophet

That would have been perfect in the German police search mosques thread.

The suggestion that AQ would use the purported suitcase bombs only in retaliation for the use of nukes by the US suggests that it is all BS, as it is clear that the US would not use nukes in the war on terrorism in the first place.

On the other hand, I read Libya's eagerness to be clean of nukes as a desire not to be held responsible for something that might happen further down the road. I hope it is not a matter of Quadaffi knowing something that we don't.

I just don't think a "suitcase bomb" is feasable. Plus, where would the jihadis store such a device when they are on the run in Afghanistan. However, I am concerned about a crate carrying God knows what in a sea port.

If al Qaeda had suitcase nukes in 1998 (ie, long before 2001), wouldn't they have tried to get them onboard the flights targeted to be hijacked on 9/11? After all, Osama claims he didn't think the jets would actually bring down the towers, just do some damage. But a suitcase nuke detonated as the plane hit the towers, or the Pentagon?...whoa! If they'd had them, they would've at least tried it, IMHO.

Catbert, Jaffar, no it wasn't that. It was a case with a small (I think, nuclear) bomb in it and was left on a train. I'm not sure that it was in the US even. I have such a vague recollection of it. It was a story on Prime Time or one of those programs and was either last year or the year before. I think it even crossed borders before anyone noticed it and it may have even been planted there to test security. I'm sorry, I know I'm being vague and I don't want to derail the thread, it's just bugging me. I'll call my friend and ask him if he knows what I'm talking about.

OT:

One young jihadi rather enjoyed his extended vacation at Gitmo...

There are nuclear components all over the Middle East. This is why I find the media's harping on WMD's in Iraq so misleading. If you have a madman running a country he will try to obtain weapons from wherever he can get them. He will work with other madmen to come up with a plan. He will execute his plan.
I definitely feel safer now that Saddam has been removed. And the fact that terrorists are being picked up every week and plans to develop WMD's are being exposed definitely helps us all.
Only the enemies of America refuse to support this effort.

A fine sunny Sunday to be drinking wine, eating cheese and reading LGF...

The timing of this stupidity is to generate hysteria, which the press is kindly giving it. Let's change the subject.

I think our next attack agasinst terrorism should be Switzerland.

Banks there have enjoyed too much freedom to protect criminals. Why should Switzerland (or any nation for that matter) have the right to harbor the assets of murderers, thieves, terrorists, despots, corporate raiders?

I mean, it is a little country, it wouldnt take much. They dont even have a real army. Except the guys that guard the Pope, maybe.

Free ski lift tickets for everyone!

/silliness off

I recall revelations from Russia a few years back that the Soviets built a number of portable fission devices and pre-positioned them on the North American continent for the war that never came. Caveats include that the source was not considered completely reliable, other Russian military and political personnel denied the claim, and no such device has ever been found.

That said, there's an interesting article at the California National Guard web site that mentions an American "suitcase bomb"

Loose Nukes?

Here's a quote from the article: ...the closest equivalent to such a device that US has ever deployed was a man-carried version called the Mk-54 SADM (Small Atomic Demolition Munition)... It was a cylinder 40 cm by 60 cm, and weighed 68 kg (the actual warhead portion weighed only 27 kg). Although the Mk-54 SADM has itself been called a "suitcase bomb" it is more like a "steamer trunk" bomb, especially considering its weight.

At approximately 150lbs, that's not something you'd tuck under your arm and then wander around a city carrying.

Besides, as contributors above have noted, if Al Qaeda were waiting for a "crushing defeat" before using a weapon, they're a couple of years behind schedule.

#24, Julia. There are more machine guns per capita in Switzerland than in the 82nd Airbourn Div. I suggest that we make a deal with them. They give up all the Lindt chockolate and give us lifetime sking rights and we don't invade. The Gnomes have to open their books or the deal is off.

No way. Within months of obtaining a nuke, Al Queda will use it to blow up an American city.

Since all American cities are standing, it means Al Queda has no nukes - unless they got their hands on nukes very recently.

#26 machine guns?

That's all?

Silly Swiss, havent they heard of missiles? Air force?

I think they might look like their famous Swiss cheese.

But, no, we would be very dipolomatic, send our negotiators (Dallas Cheerleaders & Chippendales) and presents (North Carolina Pit-Cooked Barbecue, New England Lobster, Louisiana Jambalaya, Alaskan Smoked Salmon, Texas Filet Mignons, California Wines, fruits from Hawaii, Florida, Georgia, pecans from Kentucky) and tickets to New Orleans, St. Simons Island, & Mendocino.

If they still were resistant, then we'd drop in on them.

Nukes are not nearly as easy to deploy as bomb belts.

#28, Julia. If you ever get to Interlaken, and go up the valley a bit you might just get a chance to see planes fly out of a mountain. The missles are hidden in far better "caves" than the Japanese had in Mt Surabachi. If the cheer leaders and food were sent my way, I woulld consider taking out Switzerland, for no further fee other than looting rights and a lifetime ski pass.

#28 Julia the Horrible

Nobody in his right mind wants t to invade Switzerland.

In his 1984 book, La Place de la Concorde Suisse, acclaimed New Yorker author John McPhee quoted a Swiss officer as saying: "Switzerland doesn't have an army, Switzerland is an army."

The Swiss Army

#21 zulubaby

I think I recall that news story - it wasn't a bomb that was on a train, rather it was some uranium being carried (IIRC) by a reporter on a train out of Eastern Europe and down into Turkey, then eventually to NYC in a shipping container.

The stuff wasn't highly enriched U, but it was a radioactive source. It was successfully shipped into the US in a big shipping container carrying a bunch of household goods - furniture, etc, purchased at a Turkish bazaar.

Is this what you're recalling?

-Vic

I don't know why anyone would be surprised at the proliferation of Nuke information and materials in the ME from Pakistan.

When it was announced that Pak had Nukes..Pakistanis and others named it "The Islamic Bomb"... THEMSELVES.

People tend to mean what they say...and say what they mean.

I thought we learned that with Hitler.

While we are at it..Ive heard THIS and versions of this over and over again...from Islamists: I dont care how many of US die...so what if it is a Million...WE have a Billion people...People say what they mean...

Mark (#32)

Yes, that sounds closer to what I'm thinking of!

The stuff wasn't highly enriched U, but it was a radioactive source. It was successfully shipped into the US in a big shipping container carrying a bunch of household goods - furniture, etc, purchased at a Turkish bazaar.

I don't remember that part but it could be. I think it was planted by reporters to see if it would get past borders undetected, which it did. It was in a container and the container was in a small black case which was left on a shelf in one of the trains cabins (or whatever they're called).

OT

Got Another One

Anyhow, we've got these radioactive suitcases with blinking lights and a big red button inside, okay? So you better not mess with us or we'll send a shaheed over with one of these and tell him to go collect his virgins, K?

Oh wait - we already did that & nothin happened. Yeah, that's why now our guys are blowing up subway stations in Moscow.
So like I said, don't mess with us. K?

Smoke and Mirrors!

After Al-Qaeda promising us the 'big one' several times this past year-and-a-half, most recently February 2nd, they'd have used it if they had it!

They promised to send us something "as big as 9-11 or bigger" by February 2nd. They were even specific about the date and Feb. 2nd coincided with the last day of Eid this year.

What did we get? Nada!

This is just so much horse pucky to make themselves sound big and scaaarrry. But it's pure, unadulterated horse manure!

No need to worry about al Qaeda getting nuclear weapons from the former Soviet Union.
I'd worry about them getting nukes from the Iran that may be harboring top al Qaeda leaders and is working feverishly on a bomb, or about al Qaeda getting a bomb from their friends in the Pakistani intelligence services. I do suspect the Islamic Bomb isn't man portable, and may have to be smuggled in a large vehicle or shipping container.

As these news are coming out periodically, I see them more as an attempt to threaten than something else.

I happen to think that if AQ had several devices it would explode at least one of them to show something for their threats.

Hi, Zulubaby.
C'est seulement moi, Monsieur Kietzle.

As you can see, I'm back online. Problem is my harddrive had to be wiped in the repair process. As a result, my Outlook Express address book is gone.
Would you please give PDM a nudge & pass the word I need him to re-initiate contact.
Ditto for you, if you care to.

Ed Moran (#38)

Or perhaps Gaddafi had a half-price sale before he transformed himself into an angel.

On a different note:

The editor of Moroccan newspaper Al Usbue will face trial after Libya lodged a complaint against the weekly for "defaming the dignity" of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, a source said on Friday.

I think Israel should start lodging complaints against the media.

Nuclear trafficking links 7 countries

The rapidly expanding probe into a Pakistani-led nuclear trafficking network extended to at least seven nations at the weekend as investigators said they had traced businesses from Africa, Asia and Europe to the smuggling ring controlled by Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan.

Days after Dr Khan confessed to selling his country's nuclear secrets, Western diplomats and intelligence officials said they were just beginning to understand the scale of the network that supplied nuclear technology and parts to Libya, Iran, North Korea and possibly others.

"Dr Khan was not working alone. Dr Khan was part of a process," said Mohamed ElBaradei, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN agency conducting the probe along with US and other Western intelligence agencies. "There were items that were manufactured in other countries. There were items that were assembled in a different country."

***

In the case of Libya, representatives of leader Muammar Gaddafi contacted the Pakistanis, who relayed the requests to middlemen. The middlemen, in turn, found suppliers to produce the necessary components. Finished parts were then shipped to a firm in Dubai, which arranged for delivery to Libya.

The interception of a significant shipment of components in Italy in September led to Colonel Gaddafi's decision to eliminate his nonconventional weapons programs, US officials contend.

Companies or individuals in at least seven countries - including Pakistan, Malaysia, South Africa, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and Germany - were involved, officials said. A company in another European country was also involved, two diplomats said.

Hi Zaide :-)

Of coure I'll let PDM know and I'll send you an e-mail too. I'm happy to see you're back online, I've missed you.

Al-Hayat magazine is a Syrian tool - sounds to me like Assad the younger (a.k.a. turtle) is trying to deflect attention away from himself by pointing to a greater threat.

While its doubtful that Q have a nuke, the war should nevertheless be fought as intensely and seriously as if they had one.

A conversation between Samuel Huntingdon and Giddens

Huntingdon:

The extent to which communal violence in today's world involves Muslims is striking: The Economist identified 32 major conflicts going on in the world in the year 2000, and if you look at those 32 conflicts more than two-thirds involve Muslims fighting other Muslims or Muslims fighting non-Muslims.

...I would add that a strategy which allows for preemptive war against urgent, immediate and serious threats is absolutely essential for the US and other Western powers in this period. Our enemies-primarily the militant Islam, but also other groups-cannot be deterred, that much is obvious, so it is essential-if they are preparing an attack against us-that we attack first.

[Link: www.digitalnpq.org...]

24 Julia

Switzerland is the most heavily armed nation in Europe. And being the Swiss, a mountain people, they are highly unlikely to be pushovers.

But the real question is when the US is going to stop kowtowing to the Saudis. Forget about the axis of evil. There is a nexus of evil and the US considers it an ally.

37 Elizabeth

They promised to send us something "as big as 9-11 or bigger" by February 2nd. They were even specific about the date and Feb. 2nd coincided with the last day of Eid this year.

I wouldnt be too sanguine about the timing of the delivery of a nuke. The Arab world has a completely different concept of time. The Islamists are not in a hurry.

The reference to Soviet "suitcase" nukes is an error in translation.

IIRC, some years back a former Soviet official was discussing Soviet nuclear weapons and mentioned man-portable weapons. When we asked "how big," he and his translator huddled, then the translator said "luggage sized." When we pressed for a clarification, he said "suitcase." Later on, after reviewing the transcript (and after checking their Russian - English dictionary), the two Russians offered a correction, and said "footlocker" would better describe the piece of luggage they had in mind. But the press already picked up on the "suitcase nuke" phrase, and the rest is history.

Like the link above (#25) notes, these things are also heavy.

Folks, this kind of tripe doesn't surprise me. I would not totally dismiss it however. The Arab media is notoriously WRONG but, this is highly in the realm of possibility. Keep in mind they have all the time in the world as their religion does not necessarily see the "end of the world" as most Christian religions do.

The fact that these things are portable and that Russian nuclear security is "like a cheap sieve" lends credence to this. They could also be planning (plotting and acting) to get GW out of the White House and then with the lily livered "hero" Kerry in place they would be virtually free to do as they please.

We need to strongly back our current President and keep our safety the most important thing going. After all, what good is a job if you aren't alive (or able) to do it?

Liberals will dismiss this as poppycock wheras true conservatives will check it out and get the real truth. I don't believe Arab "journalists" but, I think there may be a kernel of truth to it.

$300 million belonging to Saddam located

US sources believe they have located $ 300 million belonging to former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in Swiss and Syrian bank accounts, reports Ynet Sunday night.

However, lacking sufficient evidence, the funds cannot be appropriated, and most of them have already been emptied and shifted to anti-coalition activities funding.

US authorities believe that Saddam had at his disposal funds ammounting to $40 billion, most of which has disappeared.

Swiss authorities have not been cooperating with the US in providing information, and elements in the US administration fear that pressuring the Syrian government will be counter-productive.

So let's play nice with the thugs in Syria because we wouldn't want to upset them and of course we shouldn't pressure them or hold them accountable for anything! Heaven forfend!

Great post on terror and nukes.
Must read stuff.

Right. But what's left to blow up after all of that carnage on New Year's eve?

Remember just two words when judging the veracity of a Pan Arab Newspaper.

JENIN MASSACRE

where lie the corpses of thousands and zillions of innocents having fallen to the sword of the evil Zionist Entity.

T'is to laugh.

I understood that these weapons had tritium as a major component, which has a half-life of about 12 years. If there are such devices floating about, they may already be duds.

Al Qaeda would use the weapons only inside the United States or if the group faced a “crushing blow” which threatened its existence, such as the use of nuclear or chemical weapons against its fighters, the paper quoted its sources as saying.

The purpose of the article is obvious. They want to create panic among stratigically challenged westerners (a huge and influencial group) against destroying Al Qaeda. It will definiately work on the fringe (like the assholes on KPFA who occasionally called Osama a hero of the oppressed masses). A cry will go up "We can't can't destroy Al Qaeda, they might hurt us! Can't we negociate"

And if this election is any sign, whatever the tin foil idiots are saying will migrate into the Democratic party...

When this happens I'm gonna be sick! I wonder if I can move to Japan...

#53 Tbrosz

If there are such devices floating about, they may already be duds.

Not duds, just a lower yield.

Gotta dig out Sum of All fears but the tritium doesn't matter since the fisson part would make quite a bang. The main thing would be how healthly the electronics were.
Anyway I think I found the audio for the transaction mentioned in the report see

#54 Joshua Scholar - no need to move - we'll kill and clear the world of these two-bit mf's long before they ever get their hands on, or figure out how to use, nuc's.
BTW- if their predictions for Feb 2 and New York City had come true, do you think the LLL and the Democratic Party would have avenged us?

...holy hell.

OT: Police Having Difficulty in Charging Brigitte's Associates

authorities are unsatisfied with his account of why he inquired about purchasing large quantities of chemicals that could be used to make explosives...Authorities are also unsatisfied with the reasons the man has given for setting up false company names to inquire about the chemicals.

#57 realwest

You misunderstood me. I wasn't horrified by the threat of A Q getting nukes, I was horrified by the prospect of listening to Dennis Kusenich(sp) or John Kerry making speeches about how we're too hostile toward Al Qaeda and for the sake of national security we have to learn to accept terrorism

BTW what predictions for Feb 2?

I remember a vague, "get out of LA (and other places?)" threat

...
Anyway if there was a large attack the demos would probably fall in line. But as far as I can tell, the current generation of LLLs is determined avoid the mistake of their predicissors who lionized Stalin and were then embarrassed. They already know what Saddam was doing and choose to ignore it - so the current generation will NEVER stop defending monsters and will never become embarrassed. See, lesson learned.

Story is nonsense. Remember, during the Cold War much attention was paid by DOD and CIA to the possibility that the Soviets had developed, and were deploying, suitcase nukes. Concern was abated when everyone realized the Soviets had no capability whatsoever to manufacture suitcases.

#60 Joshua Scholar - and a horrifying prospect that is (although I'm not sure why you'd draw a distiction between Kucinich and Kerry).
The Feb 2 predictions were that Al Qaeda was going to use a nuclear devise or a "dirty bomb" to "take-out" New York City. As a resident of said city, I laid awake ALL night on February 1 just to see if it was true. I just lost a good night's sleep.

63 realwest

I'm not sure why you'd draw a distiction between Kucinich and Kerry

Because there's a good chance (aproaching 50% in my opinion) that our next president will be John Kerry. Now you can lose sleep.

OT: Pakistan, India Will Not Sign NPT

Pakistan FM: Pakistan will continue to play its role for nuclear non-proliferation

OT: Ottawa Targeted in Effort to Stop Peace Talks in 1999 (2/8/04)
OT: Bahraini Boat Hijacked by Machine Gun Welding Men, Indian Crew Thrown Overboard

#64 Joshua Scholar - what have I ever said that would make you deliver such a nasty post??!!
Relax - Kerry has NO chance at all. He's just a taller, better coifed Dukakis. Trust me.
I sure as hell won't lose any sleep over him.
You shouldn't, either.

real west:

I live in San Francisco. I had a short argument with amy mother and my grandmother about Kerry last night. Like most northern californians, they'd sacrifice their first born to see Kerry win (that would be me, by the way).

So from here it looks different. If Bush wins again, half of Berkeley and San Fransisco will sign up for A' Qaeda in protest, with another 10% going to Hamas and Islamic Jihad just to show that they're not prejudiced against Jew hating. There's a sticker on a mailbox near my house that show's Ariel Sharon surrounded by fire, eating a dead baby (good photoshop work too). I forget the slogan. Right next to it is a sign on a store window saying that this is a "hate free zone" where we don't discriminate against Muslims - put up by an LLL not a Muslim you understand. No mention of Jews or Republicans on the sign, unfortunately.

#67 Joshua Scholar - I sympathize. Hit my name for the link to my (just beggining) blog to see just what I think of the people at Berkeley.

If they have them, its troubling. If they don't, they will try to get them. I am also concerned about biologicals. With the "true believers", there is no rationality (as Westerners view it). They want to plunge us into the abyss, with no thought of the consequences.

Some info on technical feasability of suitcase nukes at this site.

On the bright side, developing such a weapon would require more engineering and computation than Al Qaeda could come up with.

On the down side, its probably well within US/Russian reach, which means they probably do exist. And if they exist, they can be stolen or sold.

Could it be that Putin is responsible for Lebed's death?

After the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, a former Russian National Security Adviser, Alexander Lebed, said that up to 100 portable suitcase-sized bombs were unaccounted for. Moscow has denied such weapons existed.

Lebed was a formidable candidate against Putin for the Russian presidency. He may have known too much. And now, another of Putin's electoral competitors has mysteriously vanished: Police hunt for missing Putin rival .

Anyway, there was a report on Israel's Channel 2 last night that Al Qaeda is trying to recruit Saudi Air Force pilots: al-Qaida tried to recruit Arab fighter pilots. Put this together with Al Qaeda's nukes and you have a terrible scenario-in-the-making for Israel and US and coalition forces in Iraq. Remember too that Saudia has moved F-15S's to its northern airbase, Tabuk, only 150 km from Eilat: U.S. approves basing of Saudi jets near Israel. "Israel did not object" - yeah, sure - probably after lots of arm-twisting. Rummy must be going senile.