Posted by Lew Weinstein on April 12, 2011
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This entry was posted on April 12, 2011 at 7:15 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. Tagged: *** 2001 anthrax attacks, *** Amerithrax, *** Dr. Bruce Ivins, *** FBI anthrax investigation, Anwar Awlaki, Ayman Zawahiri. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
DXer said
Dr. Zawahiri’s brother, Mohammed, has noted that Morsi has now released 25 EIJ and Islamic Group detainees.
Shawqy Islambouli, who I have noted reportedly was in the cell with KSM, was not excluded because his trial is pending.
Who does Mohammed think is responsible for the anthrax mailings? Dr. Ayman moved forward with the planning at the time Mohammed was rendered. His family was very concerned over the lack of news and fear that he was being mistreated.
Morsy’s pardon decree ‘includes 25 Jamaa al-Islamiya, Islamic Jihad leaders’
Al-Masry Al-Youm
Sat, 21/07/2012
http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/morsy-s-pardon-decree-includes-25-jamaa-al-islamiya-islamic-jihad-leaders
“Morsy should meet his promise to support the oppressed by not only releasing military detainees but by honoring them at the highest level, because they were the real victims of the former regime, and the first to stand against Mubarak and his aides, Zawahiri said.”
DXer said
Here is the report by Judge Webster’s Commission regarding the Awlaki- Hassan lead.
http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/sections/news/WilliamWebsterUnclassifiedReport.pdf
DXer said
Here are the emails between Nidal Hasan and Anwar Awlaki released by the FBI in connection with the intelligence analysis failure leading up to the Ft. Hood shooting. Hasan’s spelling errors intact are left uncorrected.
01, email from Nidal Hasan to Anwar Awlaki, 12/17/2009
Assalum Alaikum Wa Rhahmutallahi Wa Barakatu,
There are many soldiers in the us armed forces that have converted to Islam while in the service. There are also many Muslims who join the armed forces for a myriad of different reasons.
Some appear to have internal conflicts and have even killed or tried to kill other us soldiers in the name of Islam i.e. Hasan Akbar, etc. Others feel that there is no conflict. Previous Fatwas seem vague and not very definitive.
Can you make some general comments about Muslims in the u.s. military. Would you consider someone like Hasan Akbar or other soldiers that have committed such acts with the goal of helping Muslims/Islam (Lets just assume this for now) fighting Jihad and if they did die would you consider them shaheeds.
I realize that these are difficult questions but you seem to be one of the only ones that has lived in the u.s. has a good understadning of the the Qur’an and Sunna and is not afraid of being direct.
Jazaka’Allah Khair.
02, email from Nidal Hasan to Anwar Awlaki, 1/7/2009
Assalum Alaikum Wa-RhamatuAllahi Wa-Barakatu,
Imam, It seems as though Iran is the only government that is not afraid to openly voice its discontent in a straight forward and firm way. I am curious about your opinion in regards to Israeli catalzing unitiy [sic] among all Muslims regardless of specific religious difference. Additionally, is it better for Muslims to say I am just Muslim and not Sunni or shia which seems to divide us.
Jazak-Allah Khair.
03, email from Nidal Hasan to Anwar Awlaki, 1/16/2009
Asalaum Alaikum, Please comment if my flow of logic is correct. JazakAllah Khair,
Is it Permissible to Fire Unguided Rockets into Israel
There is no question that firing unguided rockets into Israel has the potential of indiscriminately killing civilians. The real question is why Hamas would do such a thing. Can one envision a scenario where it would be acceptable to so. Well, what if Israel was and continues to indiscriminately kill and hurt civilians and commit other atrocities in the Gaza territory to serve their expansionary ambitions. One can then begin to at least understand why the Palestinians would do such a thing. In fact it is probably one of the only things they can do to in an attempt to avenge themselves and repulse the enemy.
Realistically it’s akin to a mosquito attacking a man i.e. it’s uncomfortable and annoying but not a real threat. One may consider the firing of missiles’ into Israel a transgression in the eye of Allah (SWT) because of its indiscriminate nature. However, it one recalls the verse about the permissibility of transgressing albeit a different scenario I believe it still applies. Verse 2:194 states “The sacred month is for the sacred month, and for the prohibited things, there is the Law of Equality (Qisas). Then whoever transgresses the prohibition against you, you transgress likewise against him. And fear Allah (SWT), and know that Allah (SWT) is with Al-Muttaqun. Other verses that seem to apply include the following.
1. And those who when an oppressive wrong is inflicted on them (are not cowed but)help and defend themselves. (42:39)
2. The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto (in degree): but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation his reward is due from Allah: for (Allah) loveth not those who do wrong. (42:40).
3. But indeed if any do help and defend themselves after a wrong (done) to them against such there is no cause of blame (42:41).
4. The blame is only against those who oppress men with wrongdoing and insolently transgress beyond bounds through the land defying right and justice: for such there will be a Penalty grievous. (42:42)
04, email from Nidal Hasan to Anwar Awlaki
Assalum Alaikum Sheikh Awlaki,
I know your busy but please comment if the logic of this piece is accurate, am a novice at this and would like reassurance.
May Allah (SWT) reward you.
Hamas is a democratically elected Islamic organization that is trying to establish the law of God in their land. That is why they, as well as other Islamic countries are hated by the West. The Muslims should know that Hamas and other sprouting Islamic states will make mistakes and is not going to be perfect in the implementation of Shariah. The west will be sure to point these deficiencies out. However, the believers have mercy on the believers and are firm against the non-believers. Not the other way around. How is it that Israel and the U.S. can get away with so much in the way of the mischief that they create on the earth but if any Islamic group makes an error, they are ripped apart by the enemies of Islam, some of which call themselves Muslim, with that said, Hamas should be given the benefit of the doubt if any doubt exists in regards to their strategy of rocket firings in an attempt to repel the enemy. To the rest of the Muslim world the believers ask, how is it that while the weak and the oppressed men, women and children in Gaza are pleading: “Our Lord, rescue us from the people of this tyrannous country, and appoint for us a protector from you, and appoint to us, a helper from you, that no one comes to help. Where are the Muslims? So unlike those Islamic states that seem to be choked up when an oppressive wrong is inflicted on the Muslims, Hamas helps and defends its own Muslim people. The Palestinians have sanction to fight because they have been wronged and have been driven from their homes unjustly just because they are endeavoring to be a God abiding state and won”t submit to the enemy. And although they have full right to implement the concept of an “”eye for an eye”" or “injury for injury” and punish the Israelis with the like of that wherewith they are being punished, in reality Hamas seems to be more similar to mosquitoes bothering a camper on a hot summer day. More of a nuisance than an actual threat as measured by the number of causalities and damage those rockets have produced. Even if the Palestinians did forgive and forget the atrocities of the unjust killings of innocent men, women, and children, Israel would continue its transgressing oppression. Hamas and other Islamic countries believe death is better then oppression and do not to fear the blame of the blamers. The blame is only against those Zionists who oppress men with wrong-doing and insolently transgress beyond bounds through the land defying truth and justice and will be held accountable. Hamas, after mutual consultation among their fellow Muslims, seeks to make ready against the Israelis what ever force and war mounts they can muster, so that they may strike terror into the hearts of their enemies and the enemy of God. Even if all that amounts to is annoying rockets that render no real damage. Their goal is to be left alone, which can only be done by ridding themselves of Israeli aggression, blockades, and oppression. Again, the Palestinians could forgive the Zionist regimen but that wouldn’t stop the oppression and is thus a mute point. On top of that, the Western world makes clear that it does not want Islamic rule to prevail. Again- they make that quite clear; not only in their own lands but in the lands of the Muslims as witnessed by their mighty plotting around the world. So in the case of Israelis reckless aggression that costs the lives of innocent women, children, and men, the law of retribution applies. It’s a matter of survival. If a country used a nuclear weapons on a country with the intent of destroying it, it would reciprocate in a similar manner hoping it would survive. Hamas and the Muslims hate to hurt the innocent but they have no choice if their going to have a chance to survive, flourish, and deter the Zionist enemy. The recompense for an evil is an evil. So, to claim that these rocket attacks go against the spirit of Islam is false. The blame is only against those who oppress men wrongly and insolently transgress beyond bounds through the land defying truth and justice. When the enemies of Allah (SWT) tried to use the Islamic teachings against prophet Muhammad (SAWS) he uprooted those palms trees and defeated them. Even if Hamas and other budding Islamic nations do not make sound decisions at times one would expect Allah (SWT) to forgive them based on their intentions to please him by establishing and defending a country that envisions obedience to Allah (SWT). A good example of this is when an expedition to attack the Meccan caravan during a holy month was made by mistake, Allah (SWT) revealed that is was a grave sin but he not only forgave them but rewarded them further stating that disbelieving in him (SWT) was an even greater sin as a warning to the non believers. Again, Hamas and other Islamic nations use different strategies to defend their land. As they mature through this difficult process they need support from the believers and expect Muslims to suspend their critical judgment and make prayers to Allah (SWT) to help them.
05, email from Nidal Hasan to Anwar Awlaki, 02/16/2009
Please have alternative to donate to your web site. For example, checks/money orders may be sent to This can assure privacy for some who are concerned.
Jazaka-Allah-Khair
06, email from Nidal Hasan to Anwar Awlaki, 02/16/2009
Assalum Alaikum Wa-RhamatuAllahi Wa-Barakatu,
Please have alternative methods to donate to your web site. For example, checks/money orders may be sent to This can assure privacy for some who are concerned and maximize the amount given.
Jazaka-Allah-Khair
07, email from Nidal Hasan to Anwar Awlaki, 02/16/2009
Assalum Alaikum Wa-RhamatuAllahi Wa-Barakatahu Imam,
InshAllah, A $5,000.00 scholarship prize is being awarded for the best essay/piece entitled “Why is Anwar Al Awlaki a great activist and leader”. We would be honored if you would award the prize. If you have any questions, concerns, or potential modifications, please e-mail me.
Advertisement will be posted in the Muslim link, in the March 2009 issue.
Jazakallah Khair, ViR Nidal PS-We met briefly a very long time ago when you were the Imam at Dar al Hijra. I doubt if you remember me. In any case I have since graduated medical school and finished residency training.
08, email from Awlaki to Hasan, 02/19/2009
Assalamu alaykum Br Nidal,
I pray this message reaches you at the best state of emaan and health. Jazakum Allahu khairan for thinking good of me. I don’t travel so I wont be able to physically award the prize and I am too “embarrassed” for a lack of the better word to award it anyway.
May Allah assist you in your efforts.
Assalamu alaykum
Your Brother
Anwar Awlaki
09, email from Hasan to Awlaki, 02/19/2009
Al-Hamdu-leelah,
It’s nice to hear your voice even if its email.
Unfortunately, when I sent the e-mail to you everyone was giving me the green light with tenative reassurances. Everything was in the process to launch the essay contest in time for the upcoming issue of the Muslim link. Now, obstacles have been placed by
Muslims in the communtity that are petrified by potential repercussions. Allah willing everything will work out in such a way that pleases Allah (SWT). You have a very huge following but even among those there seems to be a large majority that are paralyzed by fear of losing some aspect of dunya. They would prefer to keep their admiration for you in their hearts. In any case, my personal experiences have taught me that if you align yourself to close to Allah (SWT) you will likely not have many friends but pleny of hardships. Even the Prophets use to say when is the help of Allah (SWT) coming. _May Allah (SWT) elevate those that please him and render useless the efforts of those that displease him; and ensure that we both are those that please him ameen.
PS: If you need any assistance, Allah willing I will be able to help. I believe my biggest strength is my financial situation. Of course, and this goes without saying, that everything should be legal and in accordance with the u.s. Law and Allah (SWT) kno.ws best and is the best disposer of affairs and ultimately decides between truth and falsehood. InshaAllah, Allah (SWT) forgies us for our short coming, forbids are body from touching the Hell- Fire, allows plenty of shade on the day of reckoning, and hastens our entrance into Jannah where we will see each other (in Jannah) sipping on non-intoxicating wine in reclined thrones and in absolute and unending happiness. PS: Ilm looking for a wife that is willing to strive with me to please Allah (SWT). I will strongly consider a recommendation coming from you.
Jazaka-Allah-Khair, Sincerely, Nidal Hasan SoA(SWT), MD, MPH
10, email from Awlaki to Hasan, 02/22/2009
Assalamu alaykum Br Nidal,
Believe it or not I kind of felt that the contest would end up running into red tape. People in that part of the world are becoming very timid and it doesn’t look it’s getting any better.
Thanks for the offer for help. Well it is needed but I just don’t know how to do it. There are poor people, orphans, widows, dawa projects, and the list goes on. So if you have any ideas on how to get help across and in accordance to law in a climate that is strict to start with please let me know.
Tell more about yourself. I will keep an eye for a sister.
Assalamu alaykum
Anwar
11, email from Hasan to Awlaki, 02/22/2009
I will keep trying. If Allah (SWT) wants somethig to occur no one can stop it. My job is to put the effort and have patience. Your various works force the controversial issues to surface and be addressed. If there is going to be a resolution between Islam and the West the difficult issues have to be brought up? I think this is important. It may take many generations before people realize the gift that Allah (SWT) has given them through your work. But, I see the value now and don’t have to wait for your death.
In regards to pleasing Allah (SWT) I, with his mercy, am already involved in giving to the poor, orphans, widows and dawa projects. They are usually connected with the Muslim Community Center in Silver Spring MD but I do alot of work by myself because of the rigid criteria they have for giving to the poor and needy. Whether its time or money I truly believe Allah (SWT)? gives it all back and more. My goal is Jannat Firdaus and I praise and thank Allah (SWT) for giving be the ability to strive, to see the truth, to beg for his forgiveness, and ask for his guidance. If people truly understood the peace they could have by really believing that Allah (SWT) is in control and that he is just testing to see who is the best amongs us, it would be alot easier to see through Shaitans promises of poverty and destruction.? I want to be with those who are the best. Imam, if you have any specific projects that you feel are important to get on their feet let me know. I will read up on them and Inshallah I will please Allah (SWT). In regards to a sister for marriage. My name is Nidal Hasan. If you google “CSTS and Nidal Hasan” you will see a picture of me. I currently reside in Silver Sping MD; 301-547-XXXX. I was born and raised in the U.S .. Both, of my parents are from Palestine but have both passed away (yaAllaharhamhum). I joined the U.S. military at age 17 as an infantryman. I subsequently received a BS in Biocehmistry, Degree in medicine with residency training in psychiatry, and am just finishing up my fellowship training in Disaster and Preventive Psychiatry. During my workig career I have been a bus boy, a dishwasher, a cook, a cashier, a lab technician, a researcher, and entrepreneur. Allah (SWT) lifted the veil from my eyes about 8-9 years ago and I have been striving for Jannat Firdaus ever since. I hope, Inshallah, my endeavor will be realized. If you know someone that you feel that will be compatible and complement my endeavors to please Allah (SWT) please let me know.
Assalum Alaykum,
Nidal
12, email from Hasan to Awlaki, 02/28/2009
Attachment: “Public Opinion in the Islamic World on Terrorism, al Qaeda, and U.S. Policies”
Assalum Alaikum Wa-Rhamatu-Allahi Wa-Barakatu,
This well done survey sponsored by the U.S. goverment through the University of Maryland shows that most Muslims feel that US is trying to undermine Islam. It substantiates an earlier study it did as well as other studies by other organizations. I think you will find it interesting. V/R Nidal
13, email from Hasan to Awlaki, 02/28/2009
FYI:? He is well known in the Greater Washington Area and serves the U.S. military as Imam for the Bethesda medical center. ?A true vision of what the government views as a good role model for all Muslims.
http://your4 state.com!content/fulltext/?cid=53341
14, email from Hasan to Awlaki, 03/03/2009
Assalum Alaikum Wa-Rhamatu-Allahi Wa-Barakatu Anwar,
Please tell me the full amount that you would need to secure the domain fee, etc for the time period specified. I have already sent a previous request asking that different payment methods be used so that the full amount goes to your website and no one gets a cut. If you don’t have an alternative and don’t intend to get one please let me know and I can send it through PayPal.
Jazakallah Khair,
Nidal
15, email from Hasan to Awlaki, 03/07/2009
I know your busy. Please keep me?in your rolodex in case you find me useful and?feel free to call me collect. I ask Allah (SWT) to honor those that please him in this life and the next and to render the efforts useless of those who strive against the most Gracious. InshAllah we will see each other later. PS: I really enjoyed the story about the?brave person?who stated “I dont fear any man” but Prophet Muhamad (SAW) said you will tremble when you see this man and when he saw the man he indeed trembled.
JazakAllah Khair, Nidal Hasan, MD,
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Bethesda Maryland
20814 (301) 547-XXXX
16, email from Hasan to Awlaki, 05/25/2009
Brother Anwar don’t fear the blame of the blamers!
When I read this verse (below) I think of you. Most of us have truned back for fear or the for zina of this life. We have thus suspended our critical Judgment for a small price.
Allah (SWT) makes it clear that most wont believe and of those that do; the ones who struggle for his cause are greater in his sight then those who sit back and pray.
O you who believe! Whoever from among you turns back from his religion (Islaam) , Allah will bring a people ([like Anwar Al Awalaki] whom He will love and they will love Him; humble towards the believers, stern towards the disbelievers, fighting in the Way of [Allaah], and never fear of the blame of the blamers. That is the Grace of [Allaah] which He bestows on whom He wills. And [Allaah] is AllSufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower.
Your Brother Nidal
17, email from Hasan to Awlaki, 05/31/2009
Assalum Alaikum Wa-RhamatuAllahi Wa-Barakatuhu brother Anwar;
InshAllah Khair,
I heard a speaker defending suicide bombings as permissible and have been using his logic in debates to see how effective it really is.
He contends that suicide is permissible in certain cases. He defines suicide as one who purposely takes his own life but insists that the important issue is your intention.
For example, he reported a recent incident were an American Soldier jumped on a grenade that was thrown at a group of soldiers. In doing so he saved 7 soldiers but killed himself. He consciously made a decision to kill himself but his intention was to save his comrades and indeed he was successful].. So, he says this proves that suicide is permissible in this example because he is a hero. Then he compares this to a soldier who sneaks into an enemy camp during dinner and detonates his suicide vest to prevent an attack that is know to be planned the following day. The suicide bombers intention is to kill numerous soldliers to prevent the attack to save his fellow people the following day. He is successfull. His intention was to save his people/fellow soldiers and the stategy was to sacrifice his life.
The logic seems to make sense to me because in the first example he proves that suicide is permissible i.e. most would consider him a hero. I don’t want to make this to long but the issue of “collateral damage” where a decision is made to allow the killing of innocents for a valuable target. If the Qur’an it states to fight your enemies as they fight you but don’t transgress. So, I would assume that suicide bomber whose aim is to kill enemy soldiers or their helpers but also kill innocents in the process is acceptable. Furthermore, if enemy soldiers are using other tactics that are unethical/unconscionable than those same tactics may be used.
JazakAllah Khair, P.S. We miss hearing from you!
18, email from Hasan to Awlaki, 06/16/2009
Assalum Alaikum Wa-RhamatuAllahi Wa-Barakatuhu,
I listened to a lecture that made a parallel between Iblis and the People of the book and was wondering if it was consistent with what the Quran teaches. He basically stated that Allah (SWT) speaks the truth and should always be obeyed. He told the story of how Allah (SWT) told Adam (AS) to take Shaitan as an enemy and toldy him to stay away from the tree. Shaitan told Adam that he was his well wisher and the only reason the tree was denied him because it would make him an angel or live forever. So Adam listened to Shaitan and neglected the heedings of his lord. He goes on to say that Allah (SWT) warns us not to take the people of the book as protecting friends (aulia) and the lecturer stated that if we ignore Allah (SWT) like Adam we will have no exuse if we end up in hell fire because of the advice given by the people of the book. He explains that some of the people of the book are sincere in their advice but are ignorant and if you listen to sincere ignorant advice over Allah (SWT) you fall at your own peril. V/R Nidal
DXer said
Source: Intelwire.
Breaking news, primary source research, and critical analysis concerning terrorism, homegrown extremism, and national security
http://news.intelwire.com/2012/07/the-following-e-mails-between-maj.html
DXer said
Of course it didn’t help to have the daughter of the lead prosecutor, Daniel Seikaly, then representing “anthrax weapons suspect” Ali Timimi pro bono.
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2011/05/22/who-does-former-prosecutor-daniel-seikaly-and-his-daughter-ali-al-timimis-former-defense-counsel-think-is-responsible-for-the-anthrax-mailings-of-fall-2001/
Some documentary evidence relating to Ali Al-Timimi, who was coordinating with fellow Falls Church imam Anwar Awlaki
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2010/02/27/attorney-jonathan-turley-regarding-his-client-al-timini-is-this-the-kind-of-connection-it-is-critical-for-the-house-committee-to-investigate/
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/aaa_aulaqi-new-2-turley-re-al-timini.jpg
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/anthraxandalqaeda_discoveryhall.jpg
Some documentary evidence related to the subtilis expert calling the number associated with WTC 1993 bombing mastermind Ramzi Youssef (KSM’s nephew). Calls stopped minute Blind Sheik was arrested. He lived in the Princeton area in 2001.
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2011/04/30/laurie-mylroie-in-a-2001-book-described-a-waly-samar-who-was-a-microbiologist-connected-to-the-wtc-1993-participants-based-on-phone-records-was-he-the-subtilis-expert-allegedly-connected-to-al/
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2011/05/22/former-amerithrax-investigator-bradley-garrett-who-took-the-lead-on-the-hatfill-searches-rode-on-the-plane-with-ksms-nephew-wtc-bomber-ramzi-yousef-upon-his-rendering-to-the-us-how-did-agen/
Some documentary evidence produced to date by the FBI about the former Zawahiri associate supplied virulent Ames by Bruce Ivins –
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2010/03/13/dxer-reports-that-ivins-hosted-one-egyptian-visitor-in-the-b3-who-was-the-lifelong-friend-of-a-former-egyptian-islamic-jihad-member-a-schoolmate-recruited-by-ayman-zawahiri/http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/from-dxer-documents-related-to-university-of-michigan/
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/aaa_um-researcher.jpg
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2010/05/25/newly-released-ivins-emails-show-that-no-record-was-kept-of-transfers-to-former-zawahiri-associate-because-it-was-done-at-usamriid/
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2010/05/07/the-lifelong-friends-of-dr-tarek-hamouda-supplied-virulent-ames-by-bruce-ivins-actively-denounce-their-former-medical-school-associate-ayman-zawahiri-as-a-fanatic-one-serving-as-president-of-ca/
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2009/06/28/tracking-dr-ivins’-rmr-1029-anthrax-more-questions-for-um-and-lsu-researchers/
DXer said
Overview:
NYT editorial, showing no confidence in the FBI’s unraveling case investigation to assure that the culprits are not still at large
Posted by Lew Weinstein on October 18, 2011
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2011/10/18/the-nyt-calls-for-an-independent-review-of-the-fbis-anthrax-investigation-lmw-it-is-long-past-time-to-hold-director-mueller-accountable-for-the-fbis-investigative-failures-and-for-the-fbi/
NY Post editorial: a group of eminent scientists have found that the FBI’s Amerithrax conclusions may be shockingly wrong … (the FBI) clearly can’t be trusted to judge cases that reflect badly on its own conduct
Posted by Lew Weinstein on October 24, 2011
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/ny-post-editorial-a-group-of-eminent-scientists-have-found-that-the-fbi%E2%80%99s-amerithrax-conclusions-may-be-shockingly-wrong-the-fbi-clearly-can%E2%80%99t-be-trusted-to-judge-cases-that-r/
Washington Post editorial (10/21/11) calls for independent review of FBI investigation of Dr. Bruce Ivins in 2001 anthrax attacks
Posted by Lew Weinstein on October 22, 2011
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2011/10/22/washington-post-editorial-102111-calls-for-independent-review-of-fbi-investigation-of-dr-bruce-ivins-in-2001-anthrax-attacks-lmw-it-is-long-past-time-to-hold-fbi-director-mueller-accountab/
ProPublica & Frontline … the FBI disputes our report … here’s what we reported vs what FBI Assistant Director for Public Affairs Michael P. Kortan wrote
Posted by Lew Weinstein on October 29, 2011
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2011/10/29/propublica-frontline-the-fbi-disputes-our-report-what-we-reported-vs-what-fbi-assistant-director-for-public-affairs-michael-p-kortan-wrote/
DXer said
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/opinion/display_editorial.htm?StoryID=117013
Flawed science
Originally published February 21, 2011
The FBI’s weak case against Bruce Ivins, the lone suspect in the Amerithrax attacks, was dealt an embarrassing blow with Tuesday’s release of a report by the National Research Council.
The 170-page document, a review the FBI itself requested, stated that the case for Ivins’ culpability in the deadly anthrax mailings of 2001 was based largely on flawed science, and that the strength of that evidence was overstated by the FBI.
According to the report, over the course of its investigation, the FBI devoted 600,000 hours to the case and assigned 17 special agents to a task force along with 10 U.S. postal inspectors. The investigation spanned six continents and involved more than 10,000 witness interviews, 80 searches, 26,000 e-mail reviews, and analyses of 4 million megabytes of computer memory. It resulted in 5,750 grand jury subpoenas issued.
Twenty-nine government, university and commercial laboratories assisted in conducting the scientific analyses that were a central aspect of the investigation.
Despite all that, the council’s reports states: “It is not possible to reach a definitive conclusion about the origins of the B. anthracis in the mailings based on the available scientific evidence alone.”
In other words, despite what the FBI and Justice Department claimed, no one really knows where the anthrax came from that was used in the fatal mailings.
The council could not determine how skilled the manufacturer needed to be to produce the spores, which could have taken anywhere from two days to months to prepare. Also overturned was a conclusion by the Justice Department that the anthrax came from a flask created and maintained solely by Ivins.
From a purely scientific standpoint, there is no smoking gun to tie Ivins to the anthrax mailings.
The FBI, in our opinion, built their case on largely circumstantial evidence — that Ivins had to be the one because he fit the psychological profile.
With the science that underpinned that finding now in doubt, the FBI’s case is in tatters. We will probably never conclusively know if Ivins was guilty. And that the FBI used shoddy evidence to push him as the suspect, pre-emptively wrapping up the case after Ivins’ suicide in 2008, does not fulfill due process and is an injustice.
Even worse, if Ivins was not the anthrax mailer, the real killer, or killers, is still on the loose.
DXer said
Below are some graphics that I sent to GAO and that I am hoping are within the scope of the GAO’s review. They were uploaded by an organization whose representative was at a conference in DC moderated by Lew.
http://www.usasurvival.org/docs/getman_conference.pdf
Judge Webster’s review of the Awlaki / Hassan matter has been provided the FBI Director Mueller. Judge Webster is a former FBI Director. A Senator or two is pressing that it be made public. I believe it may be made public after any necessary redactions are made.
But with the Dr. Hassan’s trial coming up in August 2012, I wonder if the DOJ has considered withholding it until after the trial. Perhaps they will reason that it will unnecessarily potentially prejudice that proceeding. I don’t know. The presiding judge was subject to an unsuccessful motion to recuse on the grounds of alleged bias. Defense counsel therefore might complain about prejudicial publicity.
Perhaps the report will have various of the emails between Awlaki and Dr. Hassan. In defense of the Task Force reviewing them, Awlaki was a prolific guy to be sure. He would alternate between 60 email accounts. I once wrote him to ask his opinion on the anthrax mailings but he didn’t respond. My email may have been when he was in prison in Yemen and (he reported) being questioned by the FBI. I don’t recall. When released, he said he felt he no longer felt safe to travel because the FBI had been questioning him on sensitive matters. (Hint: I presume that they questioned him about anthrax). But I can certainly appreciate the interpretation of exchanges as research. Dr. Hassan was a psychiatrist advising soldiers and he felt that soldiers should be able to avoid service if the soldier objected for religious reasons.
Separately, in August there is a GAO report coming out on the anthrax detection system that is expected to cost $5.7 billion — with the cost due to shorten the lab reporting time.
Given the possible alternative means that could be used in an attack, these are difficult assessments to make. Moneys spent on one public health project always has alternative uses to which it could be put — often uses that more surely would lead to saved lives. We have to make sure that lobbying by private interests does not distort or unduly influence the best decision-making. Indeed, former anthrax lab director Yazid Sufaat in public interviews has said he favors a pathogen that kills more quickly and reliably than anthrax.
Moreover, with such skyhigh costs involved the cost of photocopying such basic forensic reports as the examination of photocopy toner etc. should not weigh against their production. As a general matter, when such big numbers are involved, it seems that Congress might take some of that money and instead fund our overstretched FOIA offices and enable the staff to keep up on giving intent to the Government in the Sunshine Act. The benefits of that Act in avoiding conflicts of interest and the influence of money seem to cut across all areas.
When one reads the logs of requests submitted to the FBI and DIA and other agencies, one can appreciates the staggering scope. (see Cryptome to download the most recent logs) Whatever disappointment a particular requestor has over disposition of his or her request, it needs to be put in the context of the FOIA office handling such a wide range of requests. The FBI is currently reviewing a request for Jdey and can expect to be sued by top notch nonprofit talent if production is not forthcoming. FBI FOIA supervisor David Hardy likely has one of the most challenging jobs in government.
The White House refused to produce the memo on Awlaki’s targeting on the grounds of his privacy — he apparently had the right of privacy but not the right to live. It seems that there might have been some other more suitable exemption from the disclosure requirement.
DXer said
http://www.gao.gov/products/T-NSIAD-00-50
COMBATING TERRORISM
Observations on the Threat of Chemical and Biological Terrorism
T-NSIAD-00-50, Oct 20, 1999
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO discussed its observations on the threat of chemical and biological terrorism, focusing on the: (1) ease or difficulty for a terrorist to create mass casualties (defined as at least 1,000 deaths or illnesses) by making and using chemical or biological agents without the assistance of a state-sponsored program; and (2) need to use intelligence estimates and risk assessments to better guide and prioritize appropriate countermeasures and programs.
GAO noted that: (1) according to the experts GAO consulted, in most cases terrorists would have to overcome significant technical and operational challenges to successfully make and release chemical or biological agents of sufficient quality and quantity to kill or injure large numbers of people without substantial assistance from a state sponsor; (2) with the exception of toxic industrial chemicals such as chlorine, specialized knowledge is required in the manufacturing process and in improvising an effective delivery device for most chemical and nearly all biological agents that could be used in terrorist attacks; (3) moreover, some of the required components of chemical agents and highly infective strains of biological agents are difficult to obtain; (4) finally, terrorists may have to overcome other obstacles for a successful attack, such as unfavorable environmental conditions and personal safety risks; (5) the President’s fiscal year (FY) 2000 budget proposes $10 billion for counterterrorism programs–an increase of more than $3 billion over the requested funding of $6.7 billion for FY 1999; (6) to assess whether the government is spending appropriate levels on counterterrorism and spending these funds on the most appropriate programs, policymakers need the best estimates of the specific threats the U.S. faces; (7) the intelligence community has recently produced estimates of the foreign-origin terrorist threat involving chemical and biological weapons; (8) however, the intelligence community has not produced comparable estimates of the domestic threat; and (9) in GAO’s report, it recommended that the Federal Bureau of Investigation prepare these estimates and use them in a national-level risk assessment that can be used to identify and prioritize the most effective programs to combat terrorism.
DXer said
GAO, USAMRIID reports that it has discarded all copies of Page 10 of the annual history report which is the page that had the chronology of highlights at USAMRIID in the latter half of Sep 01 and first half of Oct 01. That’s spoliation of records. It’s one thing not to do any vetting of visiting foreign nationals working alongside Bruce Ivins in the B3 with virulent Ames. It’s quite another to destroy all copies of a key page in the official annual report.
DXer said
Here is a thread from FluTrackers at MedPedia titled:
“ProMED: 2001 US Anthrax attacks back into unsolved category ”
It seems to be a collection of items from ProMED, an influential publication on infectious diseases that, I vaguely recall, has 48,000 subscribers around the world.
http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?p=453830
When I hear comments secondhand by scientists that they are not familiar with the investigative aspects — such as by the illustrious FBI genetics expert Paul Keim — I think at this point they should make it a point to be. The entire genetics inquiry was given an undue importance — for example, the same people had access to Ames both with and without the 4 morphs. That point was only obscured by the mischaracterization by US Attorney Taylor who made it seem that the samples with 4 morphs were not also in Building 1412.
DXer said
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/investigative/entries/2012/07/13/cornyn_demands_release_of_fort.html
Cornyn demands release of Fort Hood shooting report
By Jeremy Schwartz | Friday, July 13, 2012, 10:57 AM
Sen. John Cornyn today demanded the public release of an independent report into the FBI’s actions before and after the Nov. 5, 2009 shooting at Fort Hood.
The report was scheduled to be delivered to FBI Director Robert Mueller today, but it’s not clear when an declassified version will be publicly released. The report was prepared by former FBI director William Webster and is expected to include 18 recommendations for the agency.
In a letter to Mueller, Cornyn called the report a “matter of tremendous public importance.”
“The key findings and recommendations of this report must be made public, so we can glean any and all lessons from this incident,” Cornyn wrote. “The American people and specifically the Fort Hood community in Texas have the right to know.”
Last year, U.S. Senators Joe Lieberman and Susan Collins released a report blasting federal officials for ignoring warning signals from accused shooter Maj. Nidal Hasan, including numerous emails between the Army psychiatrist and Al Qaeda-linked cleric Anwar al-Awlaki. Hasan faces the death penalty on 13 charges of attempted premeditated murder in a court-martial scheduled to begin next month at Fort Hood.
Ali M. Haider said
DIY biology, by LAURA H. KAHN, 18 JUNE 2012, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. http://www.thebulletin.org/web-edition/columnists/laura-h-kahn/diy-biology
“Welcome to the new millennium of do-it-yourself (DIY) biology. Advances in technology in the twenty-first century have enabled anybody, with the desire and the disposable income, to build rather sophisticated laboratories in their own homes. Entire communities have even materialized to promote these efforts — like the thousands of amateur biologists who contribute to DIYbio.org, a website “dedicated to making biology an accessible pursuit for citizen scientists, amateur biologists and biological engineers.”
DXer said
American cleric used more than 60 email accounts to reach followers, including Hasan
By Catherine Herridge, with additional reporting by Pamela Browne, Gregory Johnson and Cyd Upson
Published June 15, 2012
FoxNews.com
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/06/14/al-awlaki-used-dozens-email-accounts-to-reach-followers-including-hasan/#ixzz1y6HSD1bw
Comment: KSM long ago mastered exchanging messages without sending an email. Messages are just left in the draft folder and then deleted. It’s not like setting up numerous accounts involves a major effort or unusual sophistication. The accounts are free and take about a minute to set up. Then if you use numerous different computers at public libraries, you can appreciate the challenge the FBI faces in having confidence in their understanding of things.
The former FBI agent is giving some perspective here — numerous of Awlaki’s emails (perhaps all of them) gave cause for concern.
The bigger failure of analysis is on the part of Mr. G. Greenwald and others who do not realize that Awlaki was already hardcore in 2001. My source is his roommate at Haj, an attorney named Hal from San Francisco who I have interviewed. It is a serious mistake to not realize that Awlaki was always an operative. For Mr. Greenwald to rely on Awlaki’s public pronouncements is naive. Anwar was not turned bad by the US missteps in invading Iraq etc. He was just “outed.”
Ali M. Haider said
To judge from the company Awlaki was keeping, there can be little question that he was no moderate turned bad by U.S. policy.
“Siddiqui recalled that al-Awlaki would often mention in conversations that he spent a summer during his college years training with the Afghan mujahedin, Muslim fighters who battled the Soviet Union’s occupation in Afghanistan.” [http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-08-25-1A_Awlaki25_CV_N.htm]
Well, not exactly … by the time Awlaki was in college, Soviets had long pulled out, as had moderate Arab fighters (and there had been some). Awlaki was participating in the Afghan civil war, and the only Afghan party that would tolerate Arabs was Sayyaf’s. It’s members were notorious for their hatred of the U.S., especially after the Gulf War. They also committed unspeakable horrors, especially against the Shia of Afghanistan and Pakistan. They were hard-core, even by Wahhabi standards. They were also Ramzi Yousef’s, KSM’s, Zawahiri’s, and OBL’s people. Given the small size of the foreign contingent at this stage in the fighting, Awlaki may well have met all four men. [Bin Laden spent six (?) months in Afghanistan after leaving Saudi and before going to Sudan.]
So, what Awlaki was doing in Afghanistan was killing Muslims, in a Saudi bid to expand their influence and check Iranian ambitions. And by the time the decade was done 400,000 Afghan civilians lay dead, while countless others had been tortured, raped, and mutilated.
Is there any further detail you can share as to what Hal said?
DXer said
There is a list of those attended the tour that was available to the FB. But if in 2002, the FBI was so confused about Awlaki that they perhaps did not obtain it in order to make inquiries about Anwar (who he met etc.) There is a book about the local organization that arranged the trip — in the same building as a local northern Virginia charity raided. Anwar spoke alongside Ali- Al-Timimi in July and August 2001 in Canada and then the UK. In pursuing Amerithrax leads, the FBI should have thoroughly explored those July and August 2001 conferences. For example, Bilal Philips, Ali’s mentor and a conference partiicpant, has explained in an interview that he recruited people from the military to jihad.
DXer said
Adnan El-Shukrijumah’s father in turn had been Bilal Philips mentor. He had been the Blind Sheik’s translator, as I recall, and I think had testified as a character witness for one of the defendants in the sedition trial in the mid-1990s involving the blind sheik.
Ali M. Haider said
> recruited people from the military to jihad
Philips participated in the official KSA recruiting efforts during the Gulf War.
Rick Francona has some information about the program in his book, Ally to Adversary, and some disturbing anecdotes.
Also informative are John Berger’s interview with Philips (at Intelwire) and his discussion of the program in his book.
Bilal Philips was also with Hampton-El in the Philippines in mid-1993, working with OBL’s brother-in-law, the late Muhammad Jamal Khalifa, the same which was allegedly supporting the work of KSM and Ramzi Yousef in 1994/95, as they were planning to kill Pope John-Paul II and President Clinton, and then execute the Bojinka planes attack.
The Philippine National Police detained Philips, or perhaps questioned, or maybe wouldn’t allow him entry, at one point. I don’t recall the details, though. I’m sure I read that, though, in an east Asian human rights publication.
Abu Omar al-Hamawi/al-Hamwi, Khalifa’s partner in the Philippines, bought a false passport and went to Australia, where he claimed refugee status, and lives to the present day.
DXer said
“BACKCOVER: In this very readable personal documentary, Lt. Col. Rick Francona, USAF (Ret.), chronicles critical events based on his unique personal experiences and unusual close-in vantage point…. During the Iran-Iraq War, he walked the streets of Baghdad and toured battlefields while involved in a highly sensitive and successful effort to further American interests in the Gulf region. During that period, the author’s unique expertise and access enabled him to provide U.S. officials with valuable insights into Iraqi military research and development efforts, efforts which were key to Baghdad’s development and use of a variety of weapons systems, including ballistic missiles with the potential to carry chemical and biological warheads. — From the foreword by Leonard H. Perroots, Director, Defense Intelligence Agency, 1987-1989″
You want disturbing anecdotes? The Hughes helicopters once sold Iraq were equipped with mechanism for quick release of pesticide — and also TOW-missiles, a US-controlled item that could only be obtained from Hughes or the Pentagon. Arms dealer Sarkis Soghanalian was indicted. He says, however, that Ollie North’s black notebooks would show that the operation was approved. Sarkis had met Prince Bandar to discuss the financing of additional helicopters at a Beni Hana’s restaurant. The US was afraid Iraq would be run over by the Iranian infantry. Tariq Aziz then got up at the podium and announced that the next 100 helicopters — ostensibly to the Ministry of Agriculture — were for for agricultural spraydrying missions. Between the bribes paid in arms deals (to Generals and to corporate officials) and the revolving door of government officials, the first question any member of the public should ask is:
Why are American troops over there [fill in the blank] fighting and dying?
What war profiteer is the one most responsible for the mess?
Follow the money.
Here, the former Zawahiri associate supplied virulent Ames by Bruce Ivins then was financed by a DC venture firm called Perseus to the tune of millions of dollars.
The head of the DC venture firm then became the #3 at the Department of State — in charge of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
DXer said
Of course, if it turned out these helicopters were equipped with spraydrying equipment, we wouldn’t believe a foreign minister who said they were for cropdusting missions.
Russian ship with helicopters for Syrian regime sets sail again
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/saudiarabia/9398597/Russian-ship-with-helicopters-for-Syrian-regime-sets-sail-again.html
Syria has begun moving its chemical weapons stockpile out of storage, U.S. warns
• Syria has undeclared arsenals of sarin nerve agent, mustard gas, cyanide
• U.S. officials fear Assad may want to use weapons against rebels or civilians
• Others believe he is trying to safeguard stockpile from his opponents
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2173148/Syria-begun-moving-chemical-weapons-stockpile-storage-U-S-warns.html#ixzz20dKBBEIA
Back in the mid-1980s, ATCC gave the University of Baghdad five strains of anthrax. ATCC then was the co-sponsor of Ali Al-Timimi’s program and gave him unfettered access to the largest microbiological repository in the world.
DXer said
In the US, the ATCC bacteriology collection scientist, Dr. Bannan, allowed Dr. Al-TImimi unfettered access. When he came to head the Amerithrax science investigation, suddenly everyone is quick to believe, for example, that there is a secret code based on a double-lined “T” in NEXT (that was argued to implicate Dr. Ivins) without even pausing to check to see that it was in fact double-lined. Then the NAS was sent on a wild goose chase checking the work on science that was not nearly as probative as other issues. So much of advocacy is how the issues are framed.
Everyone’s good faith can be assumed. But conflicts of interest must scrupulously be avoided and when upon hindsight they appear, there needs to be even greater efforts at transparency.
For example, as for the code that Special Agent Steele discerned, the DOJ and FBI needs to provide the underlying forensic examination of the handwriting that identified (scientifically) which letters were in fact double-lined. (It is not subject to guess work; upon magnification 400X it becomes very clear which are double-lined and which are not).
Ali M. Haider said
The sale of the helicopters took place in 1982, and had to be approved by Congress, as it was, though four Republicans worked hard against the sale. I gather the reasoning in favor was to feel out Iraq, to see if diplomatic relations could be established. As for the TOW missiles, Soghenalian was prosecuted for breaking U.S. export law.
There’s a whole lot of blame to go around for arming Iraq. Russia bears the majority, followed by France, Germany, Brazil, Egypt, and the UK. The list of major purchases up to 1990, lists some 200+ items. Of them, the US was responsible for three: the helicopters in 82, and surveillance and avionics in 1989. And of course, the Russians, French, and Germans rearmed Iraq after the first Gulf war. I’ve been working through the invoices for the last 18 months.
CIA seems to have had some back-channel deals going on in the 1980s, in exchange for intel on Russia and Iran and for Russian weapons. But CIA had been declaws by the Church Committee, and I doubt they’d so much as look at Iraq without a presidential finding.
I don’t know whether the helicopters were sold with the intention of their being use for chemical munitions. I’d be inclined to think not, though. Chemical weapons had not been introduced into the theater yet, and while Pentagon was plenty happy to lie when it came to allies like Pakistan and its nukes, hard to see the upside in the case of Iraq, which was doing well in the field at this point and was a client of the Soviets. But who knows. Everyone lies.
As for the use of chemical weapons, that’s the way of war in the region, as far back as Nasser, who used them against both Yemen and Saudi. And honestly, do you fault Afghan veterans for thinking them a normal part of making war? They’d been on the receiving end of such weapons for over a decade, at the hands of the Russians, who used them systematically and against civilians, from very near the beginning of the conflict. Russians seem to have continued to use them in Pankisi and Chechnya, if you trust the guys fighting there.
DXer said
Ali, I always learn from your posts. My bias and cynicism on the subject relates to intent. Often, the governing intent is not the intent of governments but the war profiteers who are paying large bribes to government and corporate officials. If Sarkis followed his customary practice, he was paying large bribes in connection to the 1982 sale you mention. At one of the later court proceedings in Miami, my job once was to hold the elevator door as Sarkis slowly made his way to the elevator with his entourage. I had lunch that day with the AUSA prosecuting him and was unimpressed with the zealousness of the prosecution. I had zero confidence the USG was in a position to ferret out government and corporate wrongdoing. I was similarly unimpressed by the unquestioning approach of the DIA. And so when I see Ali Al-Timimi (who was coordinating with Awlaki) sharing a suite with Ken Alibek, one of the leading DARPA-funded Ames anthrax researchers, and no one talking about it, I am unimpressed by the FBI’s investigation and unsupported conclusion that Dr. Ivins was responsible. Money and self-interest talks. Common sense and moral principle walks.
DXer said
Imam’s Path From Condemning Terror to Preaching Jihad
By SCOTT SHANE and SOUAD MEKHENNET
Published: May 8, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/09/world/09awlaki.html?pagewanted=all
Excerpt:
“In fact, the F.B.I. had first taken an interest in Mr. Awlaki in 1999, concerned about brushes with militants that to this day remain difficult to interpret. In 1998 and 1999, he was a vice president of a small Islamic charity that an F.B.I. agent later testified was “a front organization to funnel money to terrorists.” He had been visited by Ziyad Khaleel, a Qaeda operative who purchased a battery for Osama bin Laden’s satellite phone, as well as by an associate of Omar Abdel Rahman, the so-called Blind Sheik, who was serving a life sentence for plotting to blow up New York landmarks.
A Mysterious Goodbye
One day in August 2001, Mr. Awlaki knocked at the door of Mr. Higgie, his neighbor, to say goodbye. He had moved the previous year to Virginia, becoming imam at the far bigger Dar al-Hijrah mosque, and he had returned to pick up a few things he had left behind.
As Mr. Higgie tells it, he told the imam to stop by if he was ever in the area — and got a strange response. “He said, ‘I don’t think you’ll be seeing me. I won’t be coming back to San Diego again. Later on you’ll find out why,’” Mr. Higgie said.
The next month, when Al Qaeda attacked New York and Washington, Mr. Higgie remembered the exchange and was shaken, convinced that his friendly neighbor had some advance warning of the Sept. 11 attacks.
In fact, the F.B.I. had first taken an interest in Mr. Awlaki in 1999, concerned about brushes with militants that to this day remain difficult to interpret. In 1998 and 1999, he was a vice president of a small Islamic charity that an F.B.I. agent later testified was “a front organization to funnel money to terrorists.” He had been visited by Ziyad Khaleel, a Qaeda operative who purchased a battery for Osama bin Laden’s satellite phone, as well as by an associate of Omar Abdel Rahman, the so-called Blind Sheik, who was serving a life sentence for plotting to blow up New York landmarks.
Still more disturbing was Mr. Awlaki’s links to two future Sept. 11 hijackers, Khalid al-Midhar and Nawaq Alhazmi. They prayed at his San Diego mosque and were seen in long conferences with the cleric. Mr. Alhazmi would follow the imam to his new mosque in Virginia, and 9/11 investigators would call Mr. Awlaki Mr. Alhazmi’s “spiritual adviser.”
The F.B.I., whose agents interviewed Mr. Awlaki four times in the days after the Sept. 11 attacks, concluded that his contacts with the hijackers and other radicals were random, the inevitable consequence of living in the small world of Islam in America. But records of the 9/11 commission at the National Archives make clear that not all investigators agreed.
One detective, whose name has been redacted, told the commission he believed Mr. Awlaki “was at the center of the 9/11 story.” An F.B.I. agent, also unidentified, said that “if anyone had knowledge of the plot, it would have been” the cleric, since “someone had to be in the U.S. and keep the hijackers spiritually focused.
The 9/11 commission staff members themselves had sharp arguments about him. “Do I think he played a role in helping the hijackers here, knowing they were up to something?” said one staff member, who would speak only on condition of anonymity. “Yes. Do I think he was sent here for that purpose? I have no evidence for it.”
The separate Congressional Joint Inquiry into the attacks suspected that Mr. Awlaki might have been part of a support network for the hijackers, said Eleanor Hill, its director. “There’s no smoking gun. But we thought somebody ought to investigate him,” Ms. Hill said.
Alarmed about Mr. Awlaki’s possible Sept. 11 connections, a State Department investigator, Raymond Fournier, found a circuitous way to charge Mr. Awlaki with passport fraud, based on his false claim after entering the United States in 1990 that he had been born in Yemen.
A warrant was issued, but prosecutors in Colorado rescinded it, concluding that no criminal case could be made. Mr. Awlaki returned from a trip abroad in October 2002 — an act some colleagues say was evidence for his innocence of any 9/11 role — for what would prove to be his last stay in the United States.
During that trip, he visited Ali al-Timimi, a Virginia cleric later convicted for encouraging Muslims to join the fight against American troops in Afghanistan. Mr. Awlaki “attempted to get al-Timimi to discuss issues related to the recruitment of young Muslims,” according to a motion filed in his criminal case. Mr. Timimi wondered if Mr. Awlaki might be trying to entrap him at the F.B.I.’s instigation, his friends say.
But if Mr. Awlaki was cooperating with the government, it would have astonished his associates.”
This timeline in the article above and item below is missing his trip to Saudi Arabia for hajj and his trips in July and August 2001 to Toronto and London. I will have to locate and link sources but my understanding is that he and Ali, in addition to being fellow Falls Church imams, were speaking alongside the same podium in July and August 2001 — to include a conference in Toronto. He was speaking on the “end of times” and signs of the coming of the day of judgment.
Jaballah’s rearrest in August 2001, who was in regularly contact with Zawahiri by satellite phone, would have been keenly felt. Jaballah was also in regular touch with his brother-in-law, Shehata, who was in charge of Special Operations for the Egyptian Islamic Jihad.
Maybe Judge Webster’s report, after being reviewed by the relevant agencies over the next few weeks, will shed additional light on the timeline once it is released.
http://awlaki.sethhettena.com/
Summer-Fall 2000: Travels abroad to “various countries.” (SD Union-Tribune 10/1/01)
January 2001: Moves to Virginia. Employed at Dar Al-Hijra Islamic Center in Falls Church, Va., largest mosque in the country.
January 2001: Enrolls in George Washington University’s Graduate School of Education and Human Development, pursing a Ph.D in human resource development.
Unknown: Meets Nidal Hasan, future Fort Hood shooter.
Early 2001: Named Muslim chaplain at GWU.
April 2001: Al-Hazmi and Hani Hanjour arrive in Falls Church and attend Dar Al-Hijra mosque. Awlaki denies having contact with the men in Virginia. (9/11 Commission report)
July 20, 2001: Delivers sermon at Friday Jummah Prayer in U.S. Capitol.
Before Sept. 11, 2001: Awlaki returns briefly to San Diego (9/11 Commission MFR) “Reportedly acted suspiciously by declining help with boxes he was transporting in a rental car (driven only 37 miles) and by refusing to provide any local address to the rental agent.” (9/11 Commission MFR FBI Agent #59)
August 2001: According to NY Times, Awlaki tells neighbor Lincoln Higgie, “I don’t think you’ll be seeing me. I won’t be coming back to San Diego again. Later on you’ll find out why.”
Sept. 17, 2001: In comments published on IslamOnline, Alawki suggested that Israelis may have been responsible for the 9/11 attacks and that the FBI “went into the roster of the airplanes and whoever has a Muslim or Arab name became the hijacker by default.”
September 2001: German authorities find Awlaki’s phone number in the Hamburg home of Ramzi Binalshibh, a Yemeni who was a leading figure in the 9/11 plot.
Sept. 15-19, 2001: Interviewed four times by FBI. Awlaki says he did not recognize Hazmi’s name but identifies his picture. Admitted meeting with Hazmi several times, he claimed not to remember any specifics of what they discussed. Describes Hazmi as a soft-spoken Saudi student who used to appear at the mosque with a companion but who did not have a large circle of friends. Does not identify Almihdhar.
September-November 2001: Interviewed numerous times by reporters, including National Geographic, Ray Suarez and The Washington Post.
After Sept. 11: Attends Muslim outreach luncheon at the Secretary of the Army’s Office of General Counsel, according to documents obtained by Fox News.
2001-2002: Awlaki observed allegedly taking Washington-area prostitutes into Virginia. Authorities contemplate charging him under the Mann Act, reserved for nabbing pimps who transport prostitutes across state lines.
DXer said
http://www.gsnmagazine.com/node/26340?c=federal_agencies_legislative
FBI appoints terror investigation veteran to weapons of mass destruction directorate
Mon, 2012-05-14 08:57 AM
John Perren
The FBI appointed one of the men who marshaled the agency’s on-scene investigation in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon as assistant director of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate.
FBI director Robert Mueller appointed John Perren as assistant director of the directorate on May 11
***
In July 2005, Perren was promoted to chief of the Weapons of Mass Destruction/Domestic Terrorism Operations Section in the Counterterrorism Division. The section provided national program management and support to detect, deter, and defeat acts of domestic terrorism, as well as the actual or threatened use of weapons of mass destruction. On July 26, 2006, the Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate was created to ensure the proper policies, protocols, and resources were established and deployed to minimize and mitigate the effects of a weapons of mass destruction incident and to expedite the FBI’s ability to execute its statutory intelligence, investigative, and crisis response obligations. Perren served as chief of the Countermeasures and Preparedness Section, it said.
In January 2008, Perren became the special agent in charge of WFO’s Counterterrorism Division.
Ali M. Haider said
Do you know of any modern discussions of the events referenced here:
Operation Desert Fox: Saddam Plot To Spray Us With Anthrax.
The People (London, England)
Dec 20, 1998
SADDAM Hussein has hatched an evil plot to unleash his doomsday weapon anthrax on London in revenge for the air strikes against Iraq.
Intelligence chiefs have uncovered plans to smuggle in deadly germ warfare spores hidden in duty-free perfume and booze bottles.
If unleashed, thousands of people could be killed by the deadly spores.
But last night the vile despot was warned that any such germ warfare terrorist action would be met with a nuclear attack on Baghdad.
Vast numbers of innocent civilians would die in agony if even a small amount of anthrax was sprayed in a railway station or shopping centre.
Last night security was massively stepped up at major ports to counter Saddam’s feared terror plot. Police have also stepped up patrols at other vulnerable sites such as reservoirs, power stations and transport links. And emergency planners have ordered Government scientists to speed up work on a new range of vaccines to safeguard the public.
A senior defence source told the Sunday People: “Our intelligence services have had specific hard information for some time about a possible anthrax terrorist attack by Saddam against both Britain and the United States.
“It first arose early this year when tensions began to rise between Saddam and the West over his block on the UN weapons inspection teams. Our agents inside Iraq have confirmed that Saddam ordered the plot to be ready if the allies relaunched military attacks on Iraq.
“Obviously, this has now happened and so we are on the highest level of alert.
“But the Allies have made it very clear to Saddam that if he unleashes anthrax or other germ weapons in our cities, we will retaliate in the strongest possible way.
“The gravest option would be nuclear weapons on Baghdad.
“The possibility of a revenge attack on the streets of Britain should not be underplayed. This is a real and potentially catastrophic scenario.
“Saddam was forced to watch helplessly as the RAF and the US Air Force knocked out his military machine.
“That is why we have made it clear that we would have no qualms about taking real, decisive action against Baghdad should this happen.” Anthrax kills within minutes. Victims drown as their lungs fill with body fluid and they suffer massive internal bleeding.
Spies working behind enemy lines have learned that a consignment of lethal chemicals and nerve gas may already be heading for Britain.
Saddam’s top henchmen have spent months plotting the easiest routes and fixing secret storage areas for enough anthrax to wipe out almost the entire population of the UK.
The chemical cocktails are so powerful that a single teaspoonful is enough to wipe out 100 million people.
Undercover agents believe Saddam will try to smuggle it in hidden in duty-free perfume sprays, cigarette lighters, cosmetics and bottles of spirits.
They could easily be planted by a secret network of Arab fanatics living in Britain. Anti-terrorist experts fear he could release the germs using timer devices to hit different locations.
The plot was first revealed by MI6 last March when an all-ports warning approved by Premier Tony Blair was issued.
Anti-terror cops are working flat out watching Saddam’s network of hardline sympathisers across the country. Cells of “sleepers” are operating under the guise of students, engineers or even dissidents.
They could be activated in an instant.
Scientists at the top secret Porton Down lab have briefed Ministers, police and the emergency services.
The Wiltshire base, home to the Chemical and Biological Defence Agency, has been working around the clock to counter the danger.
Some analysts there believe Saddam has already smuggled stocks of chemical and biological compounds on to our soil.
Porton Down director Paul Taylor said: “The threat is real. We are working extremely long hours. Activity has been considerably stepped up.”
Saddam has a horrifying array of weapons at his disposal. He has acknowledged producing 2,265 gallons of anthrax – enough to wipe out billions.
His scientists have developed Agent 15 and VX gas which attack the central nervous system. He also has stocks of Ricin, used in the umbrella tip which killed the Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov in London in 1978.
And he has 200 tons of Sarin – which the Aum cult released in the 1995 attack on the Tokyo underground, killing 12.
NNNN
DXer said
Not that I recall offhand though it was raised in 2001 and 2002. Certainly nothing that corroborates any smuggling plot.
Later stories discussed an attempt to obtain Ames from Porton Down, I think. And discussed Dr. Germ’s attendance at University in the UK.
And the authorized biography of MI5 discussed items taken from Rauf Ahmad’s luggage after attending a Porton Down sponsored conference with the USAMRIID scientists.
But the lab visited by Rauf Ahmad from Dr. Zawahiri after which he wrote Ayman and said “I have successfully achieved the targets…” has not even been identified.
For the FBI to close Amerithrax without even identifying that lab is absurd.
DXer said
This Former CIA Officer Reveals Everything You Want To Know About Being An American Spy
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/hank-crumpton-reveals-his-life-as-a-cia-spy-on-60-minutes-2012-5#ixzz1urfqSL7V
http://www.businessinsider.com/hank-crumpton-reveals-his-life-as-a-cia-spy-on-60-minutes-2012-5
Harmlessly named the National Resources Division, it recruits foreigners to spy for the CIA and collects foreign intelligence from inside the U.S. — something most Americans don’t realize is happening.
“You probably don’t know this, but the division has covert CIA offices across the United States,” reveals the interview.
“I would hazard to guess there are more foreign intelligence officers inside the U.S. working against U.S. interests now than even at the height of the Cold War,” said Crumpton.
American Clandestine CIA officers, as they’re called, take care of “technical operations” against a number of those enemy spies inside the country.
“Every day there was not only an operational judgment, there was a moral judgment. Is this the right thing to do?”
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/hank-crumpton-reveals-his-life-as-a-cia-spy-on-60-minutes-2012-5#ixzz1urfgOfi4
DXer said
The United States government — to include the CIA — withheld a briefing to the NAS committee until long after their report was due and then withheld most documents. (The CIA constituted a substantial portion of the Amerithrax Task Force even though that is rarely mentioned). On the other hand, the CIA (Mr. Crumpton and a team of analysts) briefed a wealthy businessman just because he asked.
The GAO should not tolerate the further withholding of information from it.
Hank Crumpton writes in his book released today about one briefing given on bioweapons to a businessman:
“The mega-wealthy CEO was worried about biological weapons (BW). Bioscience was not his industry, but he had broad interests and as a responsible citizen, he wanted to learn more. He wanted to know how he could contribute… I organized a team of experts from the CIA and flew to meet him in his palatial home. We briefed. … I told him about AQ’s biological warfare experiments at Darunta Farms in Afghanistan. The CEO asked other questions. We briefed some more, and soon this … evolved into a discussion.”
“Through his intensive questioning, I realized how lax the U.S. government was regarding biological weapons — not just the lack of intelligence, but also the absence of any policy that would drive intelligence requirements. our talk [took] most of the day.”
“The Homeland BW defense was immature, and our intelligence collection against the BW threat was, if anything, even weaker. Our policy was almost nonexistent. Our collective ignorance, underscored during the meeting with our CEO partner, irritated me. These BW intelligence gaps looked more and more like black holes, expanding all the time. (pp. 297-298)
The taxpayers pay the bills. Over a decade later, they are owed the same briefing that Hank gave the rich guy (notwithstanding the rich guy’s inordinately low tax rate).
DXer said
In Mr. Crumpton’s book, the section “Nanotechnology” directly follows his section on “Biological Weapons” and “University President.”
By way of background on my introduction to nanotechnology, I met the wonderful fellow who did all the graphics represented by the thumbnails above over a campfire. The men to my left were talking sports and cuban cigars.
Then this fellow across the fire started talking out of the blue about an article about nanobio he had read in Scientific American. It was an odd segue to say the least — but time was short with Ivins just having killed himself and this fellow just moving to town after the suicide. My wife was in Ireland on holiday and so I had nothing better to do.
The next time I met him I asked him out of the blue if he was undercover. Sent by the nearest CIA NR perhaps.
He didn’t answer that question or ask why I asked. Instead, he just asked if I knew Meryl Nass and if I had ever heard of Pegasus.
I might have said, “You mean my good friend Meryl who has seen Jason Bannan in his swim trunks?” (It turns out the fellow had borrowed some books from Meryl and she wanted them back).
But I had to research Pegasus. Searching the phrases Pegasus and nanobio I quickly saw that nanobio was also a company name. .. one connected to a venture capital firm called Pegasus.
Pegasus funded — to the tune of millions of dollars — the company called NanoBio co-founded by a former Zawahiri associate. This was after millions in funding by DARPA of research involving virulent Ames supplied by — drum roll, please — Bruce Ivins.
The head of Pegasus then became #3 at Department of State. That’s right. Senior to Ambassador Crumpton.
I called a childhood friend of the founder of NanoBio — the childhood friend sometimes goes by the name “Tawfiq” and he consults with intelligence agencies — and he explained that he had been recruited by the Egyptian Islamic Jihad while in Cairo Medical School.
Amerithrax represents the greatest failure in intelligence analysis in the history of the United States.
Hank Crumpton, you are either going to be part of the solution or part of the problem. If I am any measure of you as a man — you are going to be part of the solution.
But either way, secretaries rule the world and I know them all. And I don’t network to associates of the bad guys like the CIA does — I just call them directly like the founder of the CIA said was the quickest way to learn something.
DXer said
DXer said
Hank Crumpton has a book coming out tomorrow. By way of background, here are his views on Al Qaeda and anthrax.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1508052/Only-a-matter-of-time-before-terrorists-use-weapons-of-mass-destruction.html
‘Only a matter of time before terrorists use weapons of mass destruction’
By Con Coughlin
12:01AM GMT 17 Jan 2006
Biological weapons pose a far more serious long-term terrorist threat to the West than nuclear weapons, according to Washington’s leading counter-terrorism expert.
And Henry “Hank” Crumpton, the newly-appointed head of counter-terrorism at the US State Department, believes that it is simply a matter of time before international terrorist groups such as al-Qa’eda acquire weapons of mass destruction and use them in attacks.
In an exclusive interview with The Daily Telegraph, Mr Crumpton, who previously spent 20 years working for the Central Intelligence Agency, warned yesterday that the “war on terror” was likely to last for decades.
“This threat has changed the way we will fight wars in the future,” he said.
“We are talking about micro targets such as al-Qa’eda which, when combined with WMD, have a macro impact. I rate the probability of terror groups using WMD [to attack Western targets] as very high. It is simply a question of time.
“And it is not just the nuclear threat that bothers me. I think, if anything, the biological threat is going to grow.
“As catastrophic as a nuclear attack would be, it would be self-contained. But if you look at a worst-case scenario for a biological attack, it would be difficult to determine whether or not it was a terrorist attack, and it would be far more difficult to contain.”
After the September 11 attacks on the United States in 2001, Mr Crumpton, who was then a senior CIA officer, played a leading role in the campaign to overthrow the Taliban and destroy al-Qa’eda’s operational infrastructure in Afghanistan, which relied heavily on covert operations.
After the war, allied forces found that al-Qa’eda had been working on anthrax programmes that it intended to use on western targets.
“They had hired a very experienced biologist to work on this. They were very serious about it and there is no reason to believe they have given up on their interest.”
Here is a CBS news story today about the book due out tomorrow.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57433105/hank-crumpton-life-as-a-spy/?pageNum=4&tag=contentMain;contentBody
Hank Crumpton is one of the most seasoned and accomplished CIA officers of his generation. That’s why after his success directing the agency’s Afghanistan campaign, the CIA chose him to become chief of its National Resources Division–one of the smallest–but most sensitive–secret operations of the Clandestine Service. You probably don’t know this, but the division has covert CIA offices across the United States.
Hank Crumpton: A particular U.S. company can provide cover for a CIA officer who’s deployed overseas. A U.S. executive who’s traveled abroad can come back and agree to a debriefing from the CIA. A foreign institution may have a relationship with an American institution. And that might be a pathway for the CIA to acquire foreign intelligence.
Lara Logan: Doesn’t that go against the public perception of what the CIA is tasked with doing? I mean, under your charter, most people think of the CIA’s responsibilities as lying outside of America’s borders.
Hank Crumpton: Yes, I agree. I think many Americans view it that way. The CIA’s responsibility in the U.S., though, is very specific. While inside the U.S., the mission is exclusively and totally focused on the collection of foreign intelligence.
Lara Logan: So you can recruit foreign agents on U.S. soil?
Hank Crumpton: Yes.
Clandestine CIA officers also run so-called “technical operations” against enemy spies in the U.S.
Hank Crumpton: You can eavesdrop. You can bug. You can intercept their communications.
Lara Logan: But you can’t do that to Americans?
Hank Crumpton: Absolutely not. Again, the focus of National Resources Division is the collection of foreign intelligence that happens to be inside the U.S.
Lara Logan: What about counterintelligence?
Hank Crumpton: It’s a critical issue. If you look at the threat that is imposed upon our nation every day, some of the major nation states, China in particular, very sophisticated intelligence operations. Very aggressive operations against the U.S. I would hazard to guess there are more foreign intelligence officers inside the U.S. working against U.S. interests now than even at the height of the Cold War.
Hank Crumpton has written a book about his life as a spy because he thinks the role of intelligence is misunderstood and the CIA has often been misused by presidents and policy-makers of both parties. He wants to set the record straight.
And his book, “The Art of Intelligence” will be published tomorrow. In it, he tells how he learned about insurgency first-hand from African rebels. He learned about blood feuds from Afghan tribal leaders and he learned that al Qaeda terrorists and enemy agents from North Korea all seem to share a particular weakness.
Hank Crumpton: I never met a North Korean that did not like pornography.
ara Logan: Is there a lot that goes on in the world of espionage as a C.I.A. officer that surprised you?
Hank Crumpton: Every day was something different. Every day there was not only an operational judgment, there was a moral judgment. Is this the right thing to do?
Lara Logan: For example, supplying porn to North Korean diplomats?
Hank Crumpton: Right. Right. Supplying porn to a North Korean official to entice them to spy for America, along with money or whatever else it might take. Well, for me the answer was yes, I was willing to do that.
He hasn’t been a covert operator since 2005. That’s when he became the coordinator for counter-terrorism at the State Department with the rank of “ambassador.” But we noticed Hank Crumpton still has the tics, the habits and reflexes of a man who’s always aware of his situation — eyes sweeping the area and looking over his shoulder.
Lara Logan: What makes a good spy?
Hank Crumpton: I think that you have to have an intense intellectual curiosity. I think also it requires a willingness to deal with ambivalent situations. A certain degree of creativity, physical courage.
Lara Logan: Are you a good spy?
Hank Crumpton: Yes. I was a good spy.
Lara Logan: Are you still a good spy?
Hank Crumpton: No. I retired. And that was more than seven, eight years ago now.
Lara Logan: They say you never really retire from the C.I.A.
Hank Crumpton: Oh, I’ve retired, all right.
DXer said
Hank Crumpton writes in Politico today
Can the FBI understand intelligence?
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0512/76261_Page3.html
The FBI is still measuring success, according to one well-informed confidant, based on arrests and criminal convictions — not the value of intelligence collected and disseminated to its customers.
When I served as U.S. coordinator for counterterrorism, from 2005-2007, I was a voracious consumer of intelligence. Yet I never saw an FBI intelligence report that helped inform U.S. counterterrorism policy. Has there been any improvement?
The sharp contrasts between the FBI and the CIA have hampered their full cooperation. Here are 10 key differences, as noted in my new book, “The Art of Intelligence.” We need to consider which — particularly those relevant to FBI intelligence effectiveness – are still true?
First, the FBI valued oral communications as much as or more than written. The FBI’s special-agent culture emphasized investigations and arrests over writing and analysis. They harbored a reluctance to write anything that could be deemed discoverable by any future defense counsel. They maintained investigative flexibility and less risk if their findings were not written — or at least not formally drafted into a data system. They were not selected or trained to write.
This is also tied to rank and status: Clerks and analysts write, not agents. Agents saw writing as a petty chore, best left to others.
In contrast, most CIA operations officers had to write copiously and quickly. To have the president or other senior policymakers benefit from clandestine written reports—that was the Holy Grail. CIA officers prized clear, high-impact written content.
The second major difference between the FBI and CIA was their information systems. The FBI did not have one — at least one that functioned. An FBI analyst could not understand a field office’s investigation without going to that office and working with its agents for days or even weeks. With minimal reporting, there was no other choice.
CIA stations, in contrast, write reports on just about everything — because without written reports, there was no intelligence for analysts and other customers to assess. The CIA required high-speed information systems with massive data management, and upgraded systems constantly.
The third difference was size. The FBI was enormous compared with the CIA. The FBI personnel deployed to investigate the East Africa bombings, for example, outnumbered all CIA operations officers on the entire African continent. The FBI’s New York field office had more agents than the CIA had operations officers around the world. The FBI routinely dispatched at least two agents for almost any task. CIA officers usually operated alone—certainly in the development, recruitment and handling of sources.
A fourth difference was the importance of sources. While both the FBI and CIA placed a premium on a good source, the FBI did not actively pursue them beyond the context of an investigation. They would follow leads and seek a cooperative witness or a snitch, often compelled to cooperate or face legal consequences.
FBI agents seldom discussed sources. When they did, it was often in derogatory fashion. But they discussed suspects endlessly. That was their pursuit. And for the FBI, sometimes sources and suspects were one and the same.
CIA officers, on the other hand, routinely compared notes and lessons learned about developing, recruiting and handling sources—though couched so that specifics were not revealed. Ops officers’ missions and their sense of accomplishment, even their professional identity, depended on the success of sources and the intelligence they produced. FBI agents wanted evidence and testimony from witnesses that led to convictions and press conferences.
A fifth difference was money. The FBI had severe limitations on how much agents could spend and how they could spend it. The process to authorize the payment of an informant or just to travel was laborious.
As a CIA officer, however, I routinely carried several thousand dollars in cash — to entertain prospective recruitment targets, compensate sources, buy equipment or bribe foreign officials to get things done. I usually had to replenish my well-used revolving fund every month.
When I told FBI agents this, they seemed doubtful that such behavior was even legal. I often had to explain that the CIA did not break U.S. laws — just foreign laws.
Sixth, the FBI harbored a sense that because they worked under the Justice Department, they had more legal authority than the CIA. Some, after a few drinks, expressed moral objections to the CIA’s covert actions. I would argue that covert action, directed by the president and approved by congressional oversight committees, is legal. But somehow the notion of breaking foreign laws seemed less than ideal to some of my FBI partners.
Seventh, the FBI loved the press and worked hard to curry favor with it. For the CIA’s Clandestine Service, the media was taboo. Most of us had experienced occasions when media leaks undermined operations. Sometimes, our sources died because of this coverage. On top of that, we felt that the media seemed intent on portraying the CIA in a negative light. A CIA operations officer avoided the press like the plague.
For the FBI, it was the opposite. Positive press could help fight crime and boost prestige and resources. Every FBI field office worked the media.
Eighth, the FBI collected evidence for its own use, to prosecute a criminal. The CIA primarily collected intelligence for others, whether a policymaker, war fighter or diplomat. The FBI, therefore, lacked a culture of customer service beyond the Justice Department. Without a customer for intelligence, the CIA had no mission.
Ninth, the FBI’s field offices, especially New York, acted as their own centers of authority, even holding evidence, because of their link to the local prosecutor. A city district attorney and civic political actors had great influence over an investigation.
The CIA station instead had to report intelligence to Langley, because the incentive came from there and beyond — particularly the White House.
Tenth, the FBI worked Congress. Every FBI field office had representatives dedicated to supporting congressional delegates. The FBI also had the authority to investigate members of Congress for illegal activity. So the bureau had both carrots and sticks.
But the CIA, particularly the Clandestine Service, had minimal leverage with Congress. Most CIA officers engaged Congress only when required to testify.
No wonder the FBI has been so strong politically, and the CIA so weak.
A member of the 9/11 Commission confided to me last year that the panel had given the FBI “a pass…and that was a mistake. They do not understand intelligence.”
Has there been any progress since?
Amb. Henry A. Crumpton served as the coordinator for counterterrorism at the State Department, August 2005 to February 2007. He was an operations officer in the Central Intelligence Agency’s Clandestine Service from 1981 to 2005. He is now chairman and chief executive officer of Crumpton Group. His book, “The Art of Intelligence” will be published Monday.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0512/76261_Page3.html#ixzz1uo57yjIH
DXer said
He writes in his book out today:
“The paradox remains. How does a former CIA officer maintain the cultural code of the quiet professional and at the same time seek to inform the public, to advance understanding and thereby support for the intelligence mission? I seek to strike the right balance between a retired spy’s honorable discretion and an active citizen’s public responsibility.”
DXer said
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/al-qaeda-clerics-call-grave-attack-bio-weapons/story?id=16268233#.T6Kjf2CwOm0
RANDY KREIDER and BRIAN ROSS (@brianross)
May 3, 2012
One of al Qaeda’s most prominent radical clerics may have been killed in a drone strike last year, but his words appear to have lived on in a new issue of al Qaeda’s English-language magazine in which he calls for biological attacks against the U.S.
“The use of chemical and biological weapons against population centers is allowed and is strongly recommended,” U.S.-born Anwar al-Awlaki is quoted as saying in one of two new issues of the Inspire magazine.
DXer said
Holder’s Speech on Targeted Killing, March 2012
Speaker: Eric H. Holder Jr.
Published March 5, 2012
http://www.cfr.org/terrorism-and-the-law/holders-speech-targeted-killing-march-2012/p27562
DXer said
story about Ryder truck -terror threat –
“Brokaw’s aide tests positive: “Suspicious letters to NBC, N.Y. Times sent from St. Petersburg, authorities say.”
St. Petersburg Times ^ | October 13, 2001 | DAVID BALLINGRUD, MIKE BRASSFIELD and WES ALLISON
EXCERPTED:
A broadening national bioterrorism investigation turned toward St. Petersburg late Friday after NBC officials disclosed that a New York employee has contracted anthrax.
A woman who opens the mail for news anchor Tom Brokaw was diagnosed with a skin form of anthrax several days after she opened a letter that contained white powder and was postmarked from St. Petersburg.
The New York Times on Friday received a letter with a white powder and the St. Petersburg Times received one earlier in the week. All three letters were postmarked in St. Petersburg.
Federal law enforcement officials said late Friday that all three letters postmarked St. Petersburg tested negatively for anthrax.
• An assistant to NBC anchorman Tom Brokaw contracted the skin-based form of anthrax after opening a “threatening” letter to her boss.
Officials quickly said there was no known link to either the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks or the more serious inhaled form of anthrax that killed a supermarket tabloid editor in Florida last week. The 38-year-old NBC employee was being treated with antibiotics and is expected to recover. The letter was postmarked in St. Petersburg on Sept. 20 and opened Sept. 25, authorities said.
St. Petersburg Times columnist Howard Troxler opened his letter at his desk Tuesday. As he did so, a white powdery substance, resembling sugar or salt, spilled out.
Troxler stopped opening the letter. Authorities were called to the newspaper’s offices in downtown St. Petersburg. Police put the envelope in an airtight container and drove it to a state health lab in Tampa for analysis. Firefighters covered Troxler’s desk with a plastic sheet and yellow emergency-scene tape reading “caution.”
Health officials found no signs of anthrax or bacteria in the powder. The envelope and a letter inside also tested negative.
The letter had no return address and was postmarked St. Petersburg. It bears a code 337, then a space, then 1.
Anything that is mailed in Seminole, Largo, Bay Pines, Gulfport, Pinellas Park or any St. Petersburg neighborhood goes through the main post office on First Avenue N and is stamped with a 337.
The cryptic letter misspelled Troxler’s name and had little punctuation. It said:
“Howard Toxler … 1st case of disease now blow away this dust so you see how the real thing flys. OKLAHOMA-RYDER TRUCK! Skyway bridge-18 wheels.”
DXer said
In search of the next big attack, long after 9/11
By CAL WOODWARD – Associated Press | AP – 5 hrs ago
http://news.yahoo.com/search-next-big-attack-long-9-11-192006292.html
Just when the U.S. was dealing with the 9/11 aftermath, attacks using anthrax spores, sent through the mail in 2001, killed five people and sickened 17. Bioterrorism was the new scare. Nearly $67 billion would be spent on biosecurity over the decade, according to a study by Ingelsby’s center.
Since the anthrax letters stopped — the FBI suspects the attacker was a federal scientist who committed suicide in 2008 — there have been no biological or chemical terrorist attacks in the U.S.
Experts aren’t sure why. It could be luck, or better security. It could be that terrorists find this sort of attack too tough to pull off.
It remains debatable what terrorists are capable of doing with bioweapons, Smithson says. “Scaring the bejesus out of us? Oh, yes. Killing in modest numbers? Yes indeed.” But mass death? She says that is still unknown.
—AP Science Writer Seth Borenstein
DXer said
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/09/opinion/bergen-lebovich-us-terrorism-cases/
Microbiologist Bruce Ivins, an FBI investigation concluded, sent waves of panic throughout the country and killed five people when he sent letters filled with anthrax to politicians and journalists during fall 2001. Ivins committed suicide in 2008. (Some reports have cast doubt on Ivins’ responsibility for the attacks, but the FBI remains firm in its conclusion that Ivins was responsible, based on the scientific and other evidence.)
DXer said
Terrorist WMD Strike Remains a Threat 10 Years After 9/11, Experts Say
Friday, Sept. 9, 2011
By Martin Matishak
Global Security Newswire
“If the FBI is right, the only difference between having enough anthrax to put in a few envelopes and having enough anthrax to attack a city is the difference between one guy working a few hours in a laboratory and a team of six or eight graduate students working around the clock for several months,” Larsen said.
He said the WMD Center, led by Talent and fellow former commission head and Senator Bob Graham (D-Fla.), would issue a new report card on Oct. 13 that looks exclusively at the nation’s “bioresponse” capabilities.
http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20110909_9306.php
DXer said
The still-mysterious anthrax attacks
By philebersole
http://philebersole.wordpress.com/2011/09/09/the-still-mysterious-anthrax-attacks/
DXer said
10 years later, 9/11 still shrouded in mystery
September 07, 2011|BY WILL BUNCH, bunchw@phillynews.com 215-854-2957
(Page 3 of 4)The initial belief was that the attacks were linked to 9/11 either through al Qaeda or Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, but forensics showed that the biological weapon came from American stockpiles. One U.S. researcher was publicly named, then exonerated. In 2008, the government announced that its newer prime suspect – a scientist at Maryland’s Fort Detrick named Bruce Ivins – had committed suicide and that the case was considered closed.
But is it? Remarkably, a disputed U.S. Justice Department filing just this July claimed that Ivins didn’t have access to the equipment needed to execute the attacks, causing some members of Congress to call for a new probe.
DXer said
The Man Who Runs Al Qaeda, September 9, 2011
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/09/the-man-who-runs-al-qaeda/244816/
DXer said
If one wanted to pinpoint the moment in time of the failure in analysis, look back to October 2001. It had just been determined that the strain was “Ames.” And Shakir had just been captured in Jordan. The head of the Field Office Van Harp would not meet with investigators for months and instead of intelligence analysts the FBI turned to profilers in the basement of Quantico. Jordan was not granting access to the FBI to Shakir. Documents in Shakir’s possession later showed contact information for Ramzi Yousef’s roommate, Musab Yasin at 34 Kensington Ave in Jersey City, who was brother and roommate of WTC 1993 bomber Abdul Yasin. Phone records publicly available at Barnes and Noble (published in a book out then) show that a subtilis expert, Walied Samarrai, was in frequent contact with Ramzi Yousef’s apartment leading up to very moment of the Blind Sheik’s arrest. Then in short order a subtilis contaminant was discovered in the mailed anthrax. Now…did the FBI ever connect the dots? I see no evidence of it whatsoever. What I see is a Field Office head who would not meet with investigators (according to Mr. Willman’s book) for the first 6 months and I see an FBI that tolerated not being granted access to Shakir in Jordan. (And he reportedly then was released). To the same effect, the FBI did not obtain access to Yazid Sufaat until November 2002! (He had been captured in December 2001).
PR Newswire
October 28, 2001, Sunday
Newsweek: Periscope Exclusive:;
Investigators Believe Domestic Extremists Behind Anthrax, Not International Terrorists; CIA Intercepts Indicate Bin Laden Has Given ‘Green Light’ to Launch New Terror Operations;
Jordan Detains Bin Laden Soldier; FBI Makes Progress on Money Trail
SECTION: DOMESTIC NEWS
LENGTH: 526 words
DATELINE: NEW YORK, Oct. 28
Increasingly U.S. investigators are convinced that domestic extremists — not organized international terrorists — are behind the growing crop of anthrax cases, Newsweek reports in the November 5 issue. And some U.S. officials are worried that anthrax attacks have overextended the FBI, as hundreds of agents chase down false leads and arrest perpetrators of anthrax hoaxes.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20011027/HSSA006 )
Washington Bureau Chief Daniel Klaidman also reports that law enforcement officials are convinced that Osama bin Laden is preparing a second wave of terror attacks in the near future. Last week, Newsweek has learned, the CIA received numerous reports, from “walk-ins,” and electronic intercepts that bin Laden has given a “green light” to Al Qaeda cells operating in Western Europe and the U.S. to launch terrorist operations. “They were told: ‘you don’t have to wait for coded messages from Kabul,’” one intelligence official tells Newsweek in the current issue (on newsstands Monday, Oct. 29).
One top FBI official insists the bureau is quietly making “huge progress” and that a global dragnet is yielding important breaks and promising new leads to follow. And most importantly, says a top FBI official, a few Al Qaeda operatives who have been swept up since the attacks are beginning to cooperate. In recent days, the Jordanian General Intelligence Directorate detained a suspected bin Laden soldier, identified only as “Shakir.” The suspect, according to a U.S. intelligence official, is believed to have ties to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, last year’s attack on the U.S.S. Cole and a key terrorist summit in Malaysia in January, 2000, which was attended by two of the hijackers. Jordanian intelligence won’t give the FBI access to Shakir, but they have vowed to share whatever they learn with U.S. investigators.
Officials are also making progress on the money trail, Newsweek reports. Investigators learned that numerous flight training videos were purchased with a Visa card belonging to Marwan Al-Shehhi, a hijacker on United Flight 175. The videos were sent to an address in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates used by a man named Isam Mansour. In July and August of this year, $19,500 was wired from his account in Dubai to Al-Shehhi’s account in Florida, according to a senior FBI source. U.S. investigators believe the United Arab Emirates may have been the financial hub of the September 11 plot. The suspected paymaster of the operation, a Saudi bin Laden operative named Mustafa Ahmed, was based in Dubai and, according to FBI documents, received $18,260 in Western Union and wire transfers from three of the hijackers in the waking hours preceding the September 11 attacks.
(Read Newsweek’s news releases at
http://www.Newsweek.MSNBC.com. Click “Pressroom.”)
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CONTACT: Rosanna Maietta of Newsweek, +1-212-445-4849
URL: http://www.prnewswire.com
WESTERN UNION CO (58%); WESTERN UNION CO (58%);
PERSON: OSAMA BIN LADEN (95%); OSAMA BIN LADEN (95%);
ORGANIZATION: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (94%); FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (94%); AL-QAEDA (84%);
COUNTRY: UNITED STATES (95%); UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (94%); MALAYSIA (79%); AFGHANISTAN (79%); SAUDI ARABIA (79%); EUROPE (76%); WESTERN EUROPE (71%);
STATE: NEW YORK, USA (92%); DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (90%); FLORIDA, USA (79%); DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, USA (79%);
CITY: DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (90%);
COMPANY: WESTERN UNION CO (58%); WESTERN UNION CO (58%); Newsweek FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (94%); FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (94%); AL-QAEDA (84%);
TICKER: WU (NYSE) (58%);
INDUSTRY: NAICS522320 FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS PROCESSING, RESERVE & CLEARINGHOUSE ACTIVITIES (58%); Publishing; Information Services
GEOGRAPHIC: UNITED STATES (95%); UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (94%); MALAYSIA (79%); AFGHANISTAN (79%); SAUDI ARABIA (79%); EUROPE (76%); WESTERN EUROPE (71%); NEW YORK, USA (92%); DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (90%); FLORIDA, USA (79%); DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, USA (79%); DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (90%); New York, District of Columbia
SUBJECT: bc-NY-Nwswk-Anthrax; Federal and State Legislation; Federal Executive Branch; Agency News TERRORISM (95%); ANTHRAX (91%); INVESTIGATIONS (90%); SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE FORCES (90%); PRESS RELEASES (90%); LAW ENFORCEMENT (90%); AL-QAEDA (90%); TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS (90%); HIJACKING (89%); INTELLIGENCE SERVICES (89%); CHEMICAL & BIOLOGICAL TERRORISM (78%); SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACK (78%); US STATE GOVERNMENT (77%); LEGISLATION (75%); BOMBS & EXPLOSIVES (73%); WIRE TRANSFERS (66%);
LOAD-DATE: October 29, 2001
DXer said
Harry Samit’s unpublished book helps pinpoint the key failure in analysis that led up to 9/11. The FBI analyst in DC should have realized that a connection to Khattab sufficed for the purpose of obtaining the warrant under FISA. All it takes is a good faith failure to grasp a few critical facts.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/09/04/the-terrible-missed-chance.html
“Samit and his colleagues felt they had to be aggressive—especially after the FBI legal attaché in Paris reported back on Aug. 22 that French spy agencies had evidence showing Moussaoui was a recruiter for Ibn Omar al-Khattab, a Muslim extremist and Chechen guerrilla leader long allied with Osama bin Laden. (A companion of Moussaoui’s, picked up at the time of his arrest, told the FBI that Moussaoui followed a “prophet”—Khattab.) But Maltbie, known to colleagues as hypercautious and exceedingly low-key, said he saw no evidence that Moussaoui was connected to a foreign government or well-known terrorist group that would meet the definition of a “foreign power” under U.S. intelligence laws—the standard required to trigger a warrant.
Desperate to prove the needed link, Samit reached a CIA counterterrorism expert who said he had no doubt that the Chechens and Al Qaeda worked together. “Khattab was a close buddy with bin Laden from their earlier fighting days,” the CIA official wrote.”
And the FBI’s top brass had seen the link, too. In an April 2001 memo prep-ared for Freeh, then–assistant director Dale Watson warned about “significant and urgent” intelligence to suggest “serious operational planning” for terrorism attacks by “Sunni extremists with links to Ibn al Khattab, an extremist leader in Chechnya, and to Usama Bin Laden.” The memo’s headline: “Bin Laden/Ibn Khattab Threat Reporting.”
David Frasca, Maltbie’s direct superior, says that he was startled that he had never seen the Freeh memo, since it suggested just the sorts of links Maltbie was denying existed to the Minneapolis field office.
“[Maltbie] and I didn’t know anything about this memo,” says Frasca, now retired, in his first on-the-record interview with any news organization about the Moussaoui case. He also says the memo was never mentioned to him in the internal investigations that followed 9/11. “I find that very curious.” He defends Maltbie, who has been singled out for criticism in the investigations: “Mike is a very hardworking, conscientious guy.”
Copies of the Freeh memo were directed to eight senior officials at the FBI, including Michael Rolince, who oversaw the work of Frasca and Maltbie, among many others at HQ. Rolince said he had no recollection of ever seeing the document. (He also tells Newsweek he never saw another memo, directed to his staff by the FBI’s Phoenix office, calling attention to the unusual number of young Arab men tied to Muslim extremist groups who—like Moussaoui—were seeking pilot training. The Phoenix memo recommended a nationwide investigation of flight schools.) “In the Moussaoui case, everything dies at Rolince’s desk,” said Edward MacMahon, the D.C. lawyer who represented Moussaoui at trial.
DXer said
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389×2469923
“Why were these 12 tortured out of the nearly 100 prisoners the CIA acknowledges it has held in secret custody around the world? What characteristics or experiences do those who received the worst torture have in common? Answer: An al-Qaeda meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, January 5-8, 2000, and how the CIA dealt with it.”
Comment: What is the evidence that Shakir was ever released? Was he waterboarded? Did he die in captivity? Did the connection to the subtilis expert and WTC 1993 bombers have to be buried with him? Is that why Amerithrax was never solved?
DXer said
ln a footnote, the 911 Commission in passing notes that Shakir was in police custody in Qatar in September See CIA briefing by CTC specialists (June 22,2004); See also Walter Pincus and Dan Eggen,”Al Qaeda Link to Iraq May Be Confusion over Names,” Washington Post ,June 22,2004,p.A13.\ Although I don’t have a cite handy, I believe he may have been arrested on or about September 17, 2001.
From Qatar he was deported to Iraq — but he never made iit… having been offered the hospitality of the Jordanians. And so the contact information in his possession at the time of the arrest for a resident of the WTC 1993 bombers’ apartment, in an ideal world, was available to the CIA and FBI by September 2001 … and that in turn would have — should have — immediately revealed the connection to the subtilis expert in frequent contact with the apartment where Ramzi Yousef, KSM’s nephew resided. The frequent calls extended through February 1993 and stopped the moment in early March 1993 of the Blind Sheik’s arrest. As I mentioned, the phone records were contained in a book published by Laurie Mylroie in September 2001. (I appreciate that hindsight is 20/20 and in the rush of events the connections might not have been made).
But what is the evidence that Shakir was ever released? If he was released, why would that have occurred given the CIA and FBI by then understood the importance of the planning session at Yazid Sufaat’s condo? If he was not released, where is he? Is there a reward offered for his arrest? What does Amnesty International say about his current status?
DXer said
Stephen Hayes has explained:
“Six days after September 11, Shakir was captured in Doha, Qatar. He had in his possession contact information for several senior al Qaeda terrorists: Zahid Sheikh Mohammed, brother of September 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed; Musab Yasin, brother of Abdul Rahman Yasin, the Iraqi who helped mix the chemicals for the first World Trade Center attack and was given safe haven upon his return to Baghdad; and Mamdouh Mahmud Salim, otherwise known as Abu Hajer al Iraqi, described by one top al Qaeda detainee as Osama bin Laden’s “best friend.”
Despite all of this, Shakir was released. On October 21, 2001, he boarded a plane for Baghdad, via Amman, Jordan. He never made the connection. Shakir was detained by Jordanian intelligence. Immediately following his capture, according to U.S. officials familiar with the intelligence on Shakir, the Iraqi government began exerting pressure on the Jordanians to release him. Some U.S. intelligence officials–primarily at the CIA–believed that Iraq’s demand for Shakir’s release was pro forma, no different from the requests governments regularly make on behalf of citizens detained by foreign governments. But others, pointing to the flurry of phone calls and personal appeals from the Iraqi government to the Jordanians, disagreed.
…
CIA officials who interviewed Shakir in Jordan reported that he was generally uncooperative. But even in refusing to talk, he provided some important information: The interrogators concluded that his evasive answers reflected counterinterrogation techniques so sophisticated that he had probably learned them from a government intelligence service. Shakir’s Iraqi nationality, his contacts with the Iraqi embassy in Malaysia, the keen interest of Baghdad in his case, and now the appearance of his name on the rolls of Fedayeen officers–all this makes the Iraqi intelligence service the most likely source of his training.
The Jordanians, convinced that Shakir worked for Iraqi intelligence, went to the CIA with a bold proposal: Let’s flip him. That is, the Jordanians would allow Shakir to return to Iraq on condition that he agree to report back on the activities of Iraqi intelligence. And, in one of the most egregious mistakes by U.S. intelligence after September 11, the CIA agreed to Shakir’s release. He posted a modest bail and returned to Iraq.
He hasn’t been heard from since.”
Oopsie.
DXer said
Shakir allegedly had contact info on him also of Bin Laden’s friend, Mamdouh Mahmud Salim. Salim, an electrical engineer from Sudan who was educated in Iraq, allegedly ran al Qaeda’s financial affairs when the group’s leader, Osama bin Laden, was based in Sudan in the early 1990s. Al-Hawsawi, who had the anthrax spraydrying documents on his laptop (KSM says it was Al-Hawsawi’s laptop) helped with finanical affairs at the Sudan farm.
While on trial in 2001 for the 1998 embassy bombings, he stabbed a prison guard in eye and was removed from the 1998 embassy bombing trial, He eventually given 32 years in prison for the stabbing instead. [CNN, 5/4/2004]
The anthrax letters were sent to Senator Leahy and Daschle — just as had been threatened (see Feb. 2001 PDB) — the day after the denial of bail for the head of Bin Laden’s farm in Sudan, who was #2 in Vanguards of Conquest.
http://edition.cnn.com/2004/LAW/05/03/attacks.prison.stabbing/index.html
DXer said
In this secret memo about a 2007 between State Security Investigative Service (SSIS) head Hassan Abdul Rahman and visiting FBI Deputy Director John Pistole, Mr. Pistole discusses “virtual radicalization” and notes that the FBI prefers to monitor online conversations of extremists, so that the full scope of their activities can be uncovered, rather than disrupting the communications immediately.” The FBI recently arrested a Woodbridge fellow who took instructions from the son of the head of LeT, as I recall, in editing and uploading a video promoting jihad.
ID
07CAIRO3348
SUBJECT
FBI DEPUTY DIRECTOR MEETS WITH HEAD OF STATE
DATE
2007-11-28 00:00:00
CLASSIFICATION
SECRET
ORIGIN
Embassy Cairo
TEXT
S E C R E T CAIRO 003348
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2027
TAGS: PREL, PTER, KJUS, ECPS, IZ, EG
SUBJECT: FBI DEPUTY DIRECTOR MEETS WITH HEAD OF STATE
SECURITY
REF: A. CAIRO 1638
B. CAIRO 3247
Classified By: Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: In a wide-ranging November 4 meeting, State Security Investigative Service (SSIS) head Hassan Abdul Rahman and visiting FBI Deputy Director John Pistole discussed increased fingerprint sharing, the GOE’s views on the Muslim Brotherhood, Egyptian concerns about terrorist returnees from Iraq, and the recent decision by the leadership of the EGYPTIAN ISLAMIC JIHAD to embrace a new non-violent ideology. A discussion of the phenomenon of “virtual radicalization” was prompted by the Ambassador’s comments about the concurrent visit to Egypt of Ambassador David Gross, U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy, and his focus on freedom of expression vis-a-vis the internet, and how the U.S. is striking a balance between freedom of expression and the protection of citizens from terrorists and criminals. End summary.
2. (C) Repeatedly during the meeting, Abdul Rahman emphasized the “excellent and strong” cooperation between SSIS and the FBI, through Embassy Cairo’s Legatt office, highlighting the “great benefit” that SSIS derives from training opportunities at the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA. When Deputy Director Pistole raised the possibility of increasing information sharing of fingerprints – with the GOE to be granted access to the USG’s fingerprint databases, in return for the GOE sharing fingerprints of extremists that it has on file – Abdel Rahman was largely unresponsive. Later in the meeting, he offered that, “if you have the fingerprints or DNA samples of anyone who conducted an attack against any American anywhere, please pass it to us, and we can check our databases for information on the individuals.”
3. (C) Abdul Rahman spoke at length about the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood (MB), terming the group “terrorists, not political oppositionists.” During a lengthy heartfelt monologue, Abdul Rahman asserted that, “you just do not understand the MB like we do. It is an extremist group, from which all Islamic extremists have sprung, and even now, despite having changed tactics and not engaging in actual violent operations, it is still providing financial support to Hamas.” Abdul Rahman opined that the MB’s “weight in the Egyptian street” is actually negligible, noting that, “the strength of the MB is much less than implied by their success in the 2005 parliamentary elections.” He did not provide any further information to bolster this assertion.
4. (S) When queried by Pistole regarding the large percentage of Egyptians among the senior ranks of Al Qaida (AQ), Abdul Rahman agreed that an inordinate amount of AQ cadres are Egyptian, noting that, “they are keen to undertake operations to destabilize the Egyptian government.” He said that the GOE monitors the activities of Egyptian extremists in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Gaza, and Libya, and that relevant information on these extremists is regularly passed to the U.S. through FBI and intelligence channels. Abdul Rahman flagged his concern about dealing with the “aftermath of Iraq,” noting, “Iraq is an enormous terrorist training camp. We are very concerned about what will happen when those terrorists who are Egyptian return from Iraq …. We had a major problem in the past with mujahideen returnees from Afghanistan, and are concerned about a similar phenomenon post-Iraq.”
5. (C) Abdel Rahman noted that the recent decision by the leadership of the EGYPTIAN ISLAMIC JIHAD to embrace a non-violent ideology (see ref A and septel), is a “great blow to AQ …. which will have them in a state of panic.” He noted also the 2001 “conceptual revisions” of another infamous Egyptian extremist organization, the Islamic Group (IG, or “Gamaat Islamiyya” in Arabic), in which the IG renounced its violent modus operandi. Abdul Rahman said that the Egyptian government has launched an IG website featuring the group’s “corrected” ideology, and featuring “famed extremists” demonstrating that they now condemn violence, “which is a blow to AQ, because these condemnations are coming from people with credibility when it comes to violence.” He asserted that, “we have recently witnessed an increased number of visitors to the website,” and averred that one-quarter of the site’s visitors are based in the U.S.
6. (C) The Ambassador raised the concurrent visit to Egypt of Ambassador David Gross, U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy, noting that he was in Egypt to discuss not only technical issues related to information technology, but also freedom of expression vis-a-vis the internet, and how the U.S. is striking a balance between freedom of expression and the protection of citizens from terrorists and criminals (see ref B for further details on Ambassador Gross’ visit). Abdul Rahman welcomed the Ambassador’s offer to provide an Arabic-language version of Gross’s public statements while in Egypt. He noted that “the internet is a very dangerous apparatus, and we need to understand how to address it in an effective way.” Commenting that “many of the members of the two extremist cells we arrested recently were mainly dealing with each other on the internet,” Abdul Rahman said, “we are concerned by extremist websites, but we would never infringe on freedom of expression.” Referencing the challenges posed by the internet, he said, “a young Egyptian can become radicalized without even leaving his home – he just surfs various jihadi websites.” He therefore engages in no actual activities in the proverbial street until he actually undertakes a terrorist operation, and “this makes it very difficult for any security agency to monitor.” Pistole agreed that the phenomenon of “virtual radicalization” is challenging, and noted that in the U.S., the FBI prefers to monitor the continuing online conversations of extremists, so that the full scope of their activities can be uncovered, rather than disrupting the communications immediately. RICCIARDONE
DXer said
Fox News Reporting – Secrets Of 9/11 (40 min.)
Shakir took the men from the airport to Sufaat’s condo.
Sufaat was the head of the anthrax effort.
When Shakir was captured in 2001, he reportedly had contact info for Musab Yasin (who resided his brother, a WTC 1993 bomber for whom there is a $5 million reward).
Who does Musab Yasin and subtilis expert Walied Samarrai think is responsible for the Fall 2001 anthrax mailings?
The mailed anthrax contained a subtilis contaminant of unknown origin.
DXer said
While DOJ says it does not know what would have been Bruce Ivins’ motivation for using anthrax against US targets, the Egyptian Islamic Jihad specifically announced its motivation — to retaliate for the rendering and mistreatment of senior EIJ leaders. The anthrax was sent within hours of the denial of bail of Vanguards of Conquest #2, just as had been threatened in January. See the still classified PDB in early February 2001 describing the CIA briefing. The anthrax was sent to the man that permitted appropriations to Egyptian security services upon the vetting for human rights abuses. EIJ objected to those US appropriations. The London-based Attorney Sibai or Cairo-based Montasser Al-Zayat would be a good interview on this subject.
Feb 01st / leaked 2011-01-31 21:09 · 2009-02-18 10:44:00 from Embassy Tripoli · #09TRIPOLI156 · SECRET OO · Original Source
CAIRO REQUEST FOR LEAHY HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING – 99546 THRU
Jan 28th / leaked 2011-01-28 00:12 · 2010-02-16 15:28:00 from Embassy Cairo · #10CAIRO304 · UNCLASSIFIED OO · Original Source
EGYPT LEAHY VETTING RESPONSE
Jan 28th / leaked 2011-01-28 00:12 · 2009-06-22 21:12:00 from Secretary of State · #09STATE64609 · UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY OO · Original Source
EGYPT LEAHY VETTING RESPONSE
Jan 28th / leaked 2011-01-28 00:12 · 2009-07-02 14:26:00 from Secretary of State · #09STATE68807 · UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY OO · Original Source
EGYPT LEAHY VETTING RESPONSE – 382 AND 99204 THRU
Jan 28th / leaked 2011-01-28 00:12 · 2009-10-13 19:11:00 from Secretary of State · #09STATE106226 · UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY RR · Original Source
EGYPT LEAHY VETTING REPSONSE
Jan 28th / leaked 2011-01-28 00:12 · 2009-11-04 19:11:00 from Secretary of State · #09STATE113897 · UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY OO · Original Source
EGYPT LEAHY VETTING RESPONSE – 99329 THRU 99341
Jan 28th / leaked 2011-01-28 00:12 · 2009-11-30 20:02:00 from Secretary of State · #09STATE122615 · UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY RR · Original Source
EGYPT LEAHY HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING RESPONSE – 99299
Jan 28th / leaked 2011-01-28 00:12 · 2009-11-25 02:28:00 from Secretary of State · #09STATE121356 · UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY RR · Original Source
CAIRO REQUEST FOR LEAHY HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING – 99533 THRU
Jan 28th / leaked 2011-01-28 00:12 · 2010-02-08 06:46:00 from Embassy Cairo · #10CAIRO250 · UNCLASSIFIED OO · Original Source
CAIRO REQUEST FOR LEAHY HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING – 99423 THRU
Jan 28th / leaked 2011-01-28 00:12 · 2010-01-20 16:34:00 from Embassy Cairo · #10CAIRO108 · UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY OO · Original Source
CAIRO REQUEST FOR LEAHY HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING – 99423 THRU
Jan 28th / leaked 2011-01-28 00:12 · 2010-01-20 16:34:00 from Embassy Cairo · #10CAIRO108 · UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY OO · Original Source
EGYPT LEAHY VETTING RESPONSE – 99267 THRU 99294
Jan 28th / leaked 2011-01-28 00:12 · 2009-11-06 14:28:00 from Secretary of State · #09STATE114630 · UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY RR · Original Source
EGYPT NAMES PROBABLE COEPSU PARTICIPANTS FOR
Jan 28th / leaked 2011-01-28 00:12 · 2008-09-16 15:24:00 from Embassy Cairo · #08CAIRO2043 · UNCLASSIFIED OO · Original Source
REQUEST FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING APPROVAL FOR GOE
Jan 28th / leaked 2011-01-28 00:12 · 2009-01-09 12:04:00 from Embassy Cairo · #09CAIRO37 · UNCLASSIFIED PP · Original Source
EGYPT LEAHY VETTING RESPONSE
Jan 28th / leaked 2011-01-28 00:12 · 2009-08-19 12:04:00 from Secretary of State · #09STATE86227 · UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY OO · Original Source
EGYPT LEAHY VETTING RESPONSE – 99209 THRU 99249 -
Jan 28th / leaked 2011-01-28 00:12 · 2009-10-21 13:58:00 from Secretary of State · #09STATE108736 · UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY RR · Original Source
EGYPT LEAHY VETTING RESPONSE
Jan 28th / leaked 2011-01-28 00:12 · 2009-11-03 16:10:00 from Secretary of State · #09STATE113298 · UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY OO · Original Source
EGYPT LEAHY VETTING RESPONSE – 99295 THRU 99298
Jan 28th / leaked 2011-01-28 00:12 · 2009-11-03 20:28:00 from Secretary of State · #09STATE113517 · UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY RR · Original Source
EGYPT LEAHY VETTING RESPONSE
Jan 28th / leaked 2011-01-28 00:12 · 2009-11-05 14:21:00 from Secretary of State · #09STATE114151 · UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY OO · Original Source
EGYPT LEAHY VETTING RESPONSE 99342 THRU 99365 AND
Jan 28th / leaked 2011-01-28 00:12 · 2009-12-23 20:58:00 from Secretary of State · #09STATE130735 · UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY RR · Original Source
EGYPT LEAHY VETTING RESPONSE 99366 THRU 99397
DXer said
US in June 2002 deported Nabil Ahmed Farag Soliman from the United States to Egypt.
At the time, Montasser Al-Zayat explained that after Sadat’s assassination, Nabil Soliman had been convicted of being a member of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad group.
Did he have friends in the United States who had also been — or were currently — members of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad?
Sunday, 16 June, 2002, 15:44 GMT 16:44 UK
US hands over Egyptian militant
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2048407.stm
He then wrote the Secretary of State concerning his experience in prison.
Background:
CABLE:
SUBJECT
LETTER TO SECRETARY FROM PRISONER NABIL SOLIMAN
DATE
2005-03-17 13:50:00
CLASSIFICATION
CONFIDENTIAL
ORIGIN
Embassy Cairo
TEXT
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002089
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2015
TAGS: PHUM, PTER, KJUS, EG
SUBJECT: LETTER TO SECRETARY FROM PRISONER NABIL SOLIMAN
REF: A. 04 CAIRO 9247
B. 03 CAIRO 2300
C. 02 CAIRO 6152
Classified by Charge Gordon Gray for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) The Embassy received on March 1, 2005 a letter
addressed to the Secretary from Nabil Soliman, who was
returned by the United States to Egypt in June 2002. Soliman
was convicted by an Egyptian State Security Court in November
2002 of membership in EGYPTIAN ISLAMIC JIHAD. Soliman
received a five year sentence, which he has been serving in
Cairo’s Torah prison. In keeping with the monitoring
agreement completed as part of the negotiations for his
return, Emboffs have regularly visited Soliman in prison,
most recently on December 19, 2004 (ref A).
2. (C) Soliman’s letter, dated February 15, 2005, is
reminiscent of his March 2003 letter to Secretary Powell (ref
B). In both letters, Soliman, who was first detained in the
U.S. for immigration violations in 1997, argues that his
removal from the United States was in violation of a U.S.
court judgment ordering his release (which he alleges was
suppressed by the Immigration and Naturalization Service).
In his February 2005 letter, he repeated allegations he made
in his March 2003 letter, and in his first meeting with
Emboffs in June 2002 (ref C), that he was mistreated
immediately following his return to Egypt.
3. (C) However, in all six Embassy visits to Soliman
subsequent to our June 2002 meeting, Soliman has asserted
that he is being humanely treated, assertions consistent with
his appearance and demeanor. Nonetheless, in Soliman’s most
recent letter, he complains that prisoners with easy access
to money (which he does not have) enjoy benefits which he
does not, and adds that his complaints to prison officials on
this point have led to threats that he would be transferred
to a prison with much harsher conditions. Soliman adds that
his imprisonment has led to loss of contact with his children
(believed to be in the custody of his estranged wife,
possibly in the U.S.). He closes with an appeal to the
Secretary to intervene with the GOE for him to be released
for good behavior upon the completion of half his sentence.
(Comment: Soliman’s request that he be released upon
completion of half his sentence would, if granted, be a
departure from standard practice. Prisoners in Egypt are
often considered for (but not guaranteed) release for good
behavior upon completion of three quarters – not one half –
of their sentence. End comment.)
4. (C) The text of the letter (edited to correct minor
spelling errors) is repeated below. Embassy is pouching the
original to NEA/ELA.
Begin text
The Honorable Dr. Condolezza Rice,
Secretary of State
c/o The Embassy of the United States
Cairo, Egypt
February 15, 2005
Dear Dr. Rice:
My greeting to you and congratulations for your new position
with my best wishes. I had requested from the U.S. Embassy
to see you if you come to Egypt. The U.S. Embassy has asked
what is my complaint. However, I understand well that the
Secretary of State will have no time to meet an individual to
discuss a small case. So, I am writing to you this letter
hoping that you might give me a few minutes from your
valuable time to read it.
The U.S. Embassy agents are very venerable and concerned
people, but they not have much to do for my case. Then I am
raising this issue to you. This issue in fact is that my
constitutional rights have been violated by both governments
the American and the Egyptian. I believe that you will be
concerned about this issue, simply because you are very
sincere not to undermine the democratic ideals and principals
in the United States in which they were founded. Also, I
believe that you are very serious to change the Middle East
from dictatorship and corruption to democracy and liberty.
I will explain to you briefly why my constitutional rights
have been violated by both countries as following:
First, in the United States:
1. I had been detained for five years in the United States
by the immigration and naturalization service (INS) from July
1, 1997 to June 11, 2002. I was not charged with any crime
and in fact I was not even under investigation in the United
States. I have been ordered to remove from the U.S. to a
third country as a final decision. I had a valid travel
documents which would allow me to travel to several different
countries but the INS intentionally did not allow me to leave
the U.S. to continue my detention. Regardless of the fact
that my fifth amendment right have been violated by depriving
my liberty.
2. In fact the INS has intentionally suppressed two letters
granting me supervised release from the detention pending my
removal. The first decision was signed and date on November
27, 2001, granting my release as of that date. The second
decision was signed and dated on February 25, 2002, granting
my release as of that date. The two decisions in those
custody reviews were intentionally suppressed from me and my
lawyer for more than six months in an apparent scheme to keep
me in detention until they could devise a plan to extradite
me to Egypt, despite its lack of authority to do so and
regardless of the fact that my due process rights have been
violated.
3. On June 12, 2002, my extradition to Egypt has been taken
place despite the fact that there is no extradition treaty
exists between the United States and Egypt. The INS
repeatedly has stated throughout the record in my case that
its actions towards me are based on its concern for
maintaining a good relationship with Egypt and that Egypt
wants me returned to Egypt to face charges. Regardless of
the fact that the United States had never ever extradited a
person without extradition treaty in its history. I have
been handcuffed, shackled my feet and taken into private
airplane, there was a guard waiting for me with an injection
to make me sleep by the drug. Then I have been handover to
the Egyptian General Intelligence upon my arrival in Cairo
airport.
The U.S. Ambassador Mr. David Welch said that “Soliman’s
removal coming after successful bilateral discussion, is
another example of the close U.S. friends and allies to
eradicate this scourge.” (See U.S. Embassy, Public Affairs,
Cairo, July 5, 2002). Moreover, the INS have no legal right
to extradite me to Egypt without extradition treaty, not even
have legal right to remove me to Egypt as a normal
immigration removal, because before I granted the deferral of
removal to any third country, I have been ordered to remove
from the U.S. as a final order under section 241 (b)(1) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act. According to this
section, my removal was to the last country I visited before
entering the United States which is in my case was Morocco
not Egypt.
Second, in Egypt:
1. Upon my arrival in Egypt I had been tortured by electric
shook and beaten by stick at the General Intelligence,
despite the diplomatic assurances that I will not be
tortured. Also, when I was transferred to the investigation
state security for question not even related to my case, they
left me over there handcuffed and blindfolded wearing them
all time for days.
2. I was tried in state security emergency court for
mistaken identity case. There was no evidence against me,
there was no witness against me and the prosecutor had
nothing to say about my charges. On the other hand I had
submitted official documents clearing my name and
fingerprint. (See Al Ahram newspaper, January 31, 2003). I
was sentenced to five years and there is no appeal for the
emergency court.
3. In the small level at the jail management who can make my
life miserable. The jail is convenient only for who have
money which I do not have. There is no complaint to avoid
severe harm or framing by new case. I have been threatened
several times to be transferred to Abu-Zabal jail which is
not good even for animals. The cell over there has no
bathroom but only a big bucket to use as a bathroom. There
are no medical services, or visitation for family and lawyer.
On one time I was told to pack my staff to be transferred to
Abu-Zabal jail because I had complained that I am not
receiving my food but they changed their mind after I get
their message.
As a result of all the above my family has been broken and I
lost my five children, (two of them are American citizens).
I do not know where is their location for almost five years,
other than they are in the United States, despite my right of
(children whereabouts) as a parent’s right of children who
are American citizens. Also, I have been damaged
psychologically, emotionally and economically, which have
been inflicted upon my health causing me a high blood
pressure.
So, I am appealing to you to do your best to get my legal
right of releasing me at half time sentence which apply to
me, as I am a good behaviour.
Also, I appealing to you to get my legal right of (child
whereabouts) as I am a parent for children who are American
citizens, and help me out to live with my children wherever
they are.
I appreciate in advance your effort, help and valuable time.
Respectfully submitted,
/Signed/
Nabil A. Soliman
Cairo, Egypt
DXer said
After 2 Years in Deportation Fight, a Hunger Strike
By NINA SIEGAL
Published: January 31, 2000
For the last 35 days, Nabil Ahmed Farag Soliman, an inmate at a federal detention center in Batavia, N.Y., has refused to eat and has rebuffed medical help in an attempt to end his two and a half years of captivity, one way or another.
Mr. Soliman, who is awaiting possible deportation to Egypt at the Buffalo Federal Detention Center, has been in the custody of the Immigration and Naturalization Service since July 1, 1997, charged with violating immigration laws.
In October, a federal immigration judge prohibited the I.N.S. from deporting him to Egypt, saying he could face torture if returned to his home country. A month later, the immigration service appealed.
Mr. Soliman and his advocates say he has joined the ranks of hundreds of indefinite detainees, people the immigration service will neither deport nor release. Some say his case, which began as a problem of immigration status, has turned into an international debate over his identity.
What sets him apart, however, is his determination to win his freedom. ”It’s not that unusual for people to decide they don’t want to eat for some period of time, like a few days or maybe even a week,” said Amy Otten, a spokeswoman for the Eastern Region of the immigration service. ”But this one is a lot longer than most.”
Federal authorities, acting on information from Egypt, say they believe Mr. Soliman, 39, may be a terrorist sought in Egypt in connection with the assassination of President Anwar el-Sadat in 1981.
Mr. Soliman says he is no terrorist, just a truck driver with a wife and five children in Jersey City. He says he believes the authorities have confused him with another man, Nabil Ahmed Farag Rezk, with whom his only connection is nine consonants and six vowels.
There are many gray areas in Mr. Soliman’s case, and the I.N.S. and the Department of Justice say they cannot comment on the details of his detention. Ambassador Soheir Zaki, the consul general of Egypt in New York, said Mr. Soliman was wanted in Egypt in connection with President Sadat’s assassination, but she said she did not know whether Egypt had pursued his extradition. …
The roots of Mr. Soliman’s dispute with immigration officials go back 19 years and thousands of miles, to 1981 in Cairo. In a series of telephone interviews from the detention center, where he is being monitored in a special medical cell, Mr. Soliman said he was an importer and exporter in Egypt. …
Shortly after the assassination of President Sadat, the Egyptian military went to Mr. Soliman’s home, he said, looking for a suspected conspirator in the assassination plot. Mr. Soliman said he believes they were looking for Mr. Rezk, whose criminal record, later provided to immigration officials by the Egyptian government, indicates that he is a fugitive. (Mr. Soliman provided 1989 documents to a reporter that show he had no criminal record in Egypt.)
At the time of the military’s visit, Mr. Soliman said, he was in Yemen. But learning of the search, he decided not to return to Cairo. He said that in the context of brutal Egyptian crackdowns on extremists after the assassination, he feared for his life.
”Under emergency law, they would have tortured me and kept me in jail, and I could not prove I was innocent,” he said. ”They keep people in jail for a long time for no reason.”
From Yemen, Mr. Soliman moved to Saudi Arabia, and then in 1988 to the United States. In 1991, he divorced his Egyptian wife, married an American citizen and moved to Jersey City, he said. But he separated from his American wife, and in 1997 divorced her and remarried his first wife, who had moved from Egypt to Teaneck, N.J.
In June 1997, he received a warrant for his arrest and was ordered to appear in immigration court in Newark. ”I went to the hearing,” Mr. Soliman said. ”I didn’t know they would end up holding me for two and a half years.”
Because Mr. Soliman had divorced his American wife, he said, his petition for continued citizenship was rejected, and, according to court documents, a federal judge ordered the immigration service to deport him in October 1997.
Mr. Soliman applied for political asylum, but his request was rejected. Last October, however, a different immigration judge barred the I.N.S. from deporting Mr. Soliman to Egypt, saying he could face torture.
The immigration service has appealed the decision, Ms. Otten said, but she declined to comment further. Richard L. Kenney, a spokesman for the Executive Office of Immigration Review for the Department of Justice, which will rule on the immigration service’s appeal, said the agency cannot discuss pending cases.
Richard L. Reinert is director of public relations for Vive, a refugee service center in Buffalo that has tried to help Mr. Soliman. He said he thought Mr. Soliman might be innocent. ”The way I read it, they have the wrong man,” he said. ”He’s a devout man, and he’s dedicated to getting his freedom.”
The immigration service is monitoring Mr. Soliman’s health, which he said has declined rapidly. He said he had fainted several times and was unable to walk. On Wednesday, the immigration service ordered that he be force-fed, but he agreed instead to begin drinking water and receiving fluids intravenously, in exchange for help with his case.
Ms. Otten said his health had stabilized, but did not comment on any agreement with Mr. Soliman.
Mr. Soliman vows to continue his hunger strike until he is free, or dead. ”I will never stop until I’m released,” he said. ”I’m not accepting being in prison for no crime. It’s not against law. It’s against persecution.”
DXer said
Here is another secret document about Al-Sibai, the London-based EIJ shura member who a few years back published the Al Qaeda’s spymaster treatise that included a discussion of Amerithrax.
These secret documents just show how clueless the USG is — this SECRET/NO FORN cable indicates that the USG had not even seen the record of his 1999 trial proceedings.
It was during those trial proceedings when key defendants explained Dr. Ayman’s plan to use anthrax.
Those records should have been obtained in 1999 — and certainly should have been obtained in late 2001, after the anthrax mailings.
219070
ID
09STATE80204
SUBJECT
DEPARTMENT REQUESTS FURTHER EVIDENCE ABOUT HANI
DATE
2009-07-31 21:42:00
CLASSIFICATION
SECRET//NOFORN
ORIGIN
Secretary of State
TEXT
S E C R E T STATE 080204
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2019
TAGS: EFIN, PREL, PTER, KTFN, UNSC, EG, UK
SUBJECT: DEPARTMENT REQUESTS FURTHER EVIDENCE ABOUT HANI
AL-SABAI
REF: CAIRO 1428
Classified By: NEA AA/S Jeffrey Feltman, E.O. 12958 Reasons 1.4 b & d
1. (S/NF) SUMMARY: The Department appreciates Embassy
Cairo’s engagement with the Government of Egypt (GOE) on the
UK’s proposed de-listing of Hani al-Sabai from the UN 1267
Consolidated List (reftel). In response to the Embassy’s
request for feedback on the Egyptian information, the
interagency would appreciate any additional evidence Egypt
can present to substantiate allegations of al-Sabai’s
continued support for terrorism. The U.S. government (USG)
particularly welcomes any information indicating that
al-Sabai has continued to support or act for or on behalf of
Al Qaeda or other terrorist groups since his designation in
2005. END SUMMARY.
Action Request
————–
2. (SBU) Embassy should approach the GOE at the appropriate
level with the following objectives:
– Provide feedback on the two documents submitted by the GOE
(reftel).
– Request recent evidence to substantiate allegations of
al-Sabai’s continued and/or recent support for terrorism.
Suggested Points
—————-
3. (S/REL EGYPT) The United States appreciates the
information provided by the GOE on al-Sabai and requests
additional details. We also suggest that Egypt share any
pertinent information with other interested countries. In
particular, any recent evidence Egypt can provide to
substantiate the following statements from the documents it
provided would be very helpful.
– El-Sabai is currently a leader of EGYPTIAN ISLAMIC JIHAD
(EIJ), associate of Ayman al-Zawahiri, and recruiter for
al-Qaeda (AQ).
– El Sabai is currently, or has recently been involved in
recruiting for membership in AQ and/or EIJ, as well as
assisting in the planning, financing and mounting of their
activities.
– El-Sabai since his designation has provided substantial
help to Osama Bin Laden or other members of AQ and/or EIJ.
– El Sabai continues to pose a serious threat to the
international community given his membership in variant
terrorist organizations seeking to threaten international
peace and security, and advocating the use of terrorism to
achieve their illegitimate objectives.
4. (S/REL EGYPT) The USG also remains interested in seeing
the Egyptian court records for al-Sabai. If the GOE prefers
that the USG not share these court records with the
Committee, we would honor that request.
DXer said
This SECRET/NO FORN cable identifies an EIJ shura member in London. If you work for the government, please avert your eyes.
By way of background, Al-Najjar, the EIJ shura member who along with its military commander announced that Dr. Ayman was going to develop anthrax for use against US targets in retaliation for the rendering of senior EIJ leaders, was in contact with London-based EIJ shura member Al-Sibai in March 1998. Shortly thereafter, Al-Najjar himself was rendered. As I recall, Al-Najjar was in Yemen and had been cooperating with Egyptian security service.
SUBJECT
EGYPT RESPONDS TO REQUEST FOR FURTHER EVIDENCE
DATE
2009-08-06 14:20:00
CLASSIFICATION
SECRET//NOFORN
ORIGIN
Embassy Cairo
TEXT
S E C R E T CAIRO 001521
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2029
TAGS: KTFN, EFIN, PREL, PTER, UNSC, EG, UK
SUBJECT: EGYPT RESPONDS TO REQUEST FOR FURTHER EVIDENCE
ABOUT HANI AL-SABAI
REF: A. SECSTATE 80204
B. CAIRO 1428
C. CAIRO 1363
Classified By: Economic-Political Minister-Counselor
Donald A. Blome for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (S/NF) In an August 2 meeting, Egyptian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs Deputy Assistant Minister and Coordinator for
Counter-Terrorism Ashraf Mohsen responded to the requests for
more information contained in reftel A by providing forty
pages of documents, in Arabic, which he said are the records
from Hani al-Sabai’s 1999 military court trial. (Documents
passed via e-mail to NEA/ELA.) Mohsen said this is the first
time the GoE has provided military court records to another
government, evidencing how strongly it believes that al-Sabai
should not be removed from the UNSCR 1267 Committee list.
Mohsen delivered the documents with the understanding that
the U.S. will not share them with other countries. Mohsen
said the GoE does not object to the U.S. using the
information contained in the records in discussions with
other U.N. 1267 committee members.
2. (S/NF) Mohsen added that information responsive to the
reftel A points also can be found on the Al Maqrezi Center
for Historic Studies website (www.almaqreeze.com). According
to Mohsen, the website contains examples of incitement and
recruitment, as well as support for Osama Bib Laden, attacks
on U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, and Hamas military
activities.
3. (S/NF) Mohsen told us he also recently spoke with a
military prosecutor involved in al-Sabai’s trial. Reading
from notes, Mohsen said the prosecutor told him that al-Sabai
was the fifth ranking member of EGYPTIAN ISLAMIC JIHAD (EIJ).
Mohsen said al-Sabai is a member of the EIJ Shura Council,
which Mohsen claimed still exists but is inactive because
most members are “dead or in jail.” According to Mohsen,
al-Sabai is or was Deputy Director of the EIJ Mass Media
Committee which formerly published the “Mujahideen Report.”
Mohsen said EIJ member Ahmed Ibrahim al-Sayed al-Naggar
(Mohsen provided no further information about al-Naggar
except that he is “probably” currently in an Egyptian prison)
testified during the military trial that al-Sabai called him
in March 1998 and asked him to join Osama Bin Laden’s “global
front.”
DXer said
Egyptian Security scoffed at the British idea that hardcore EIJ shura member Sibai could be “turned” by using delisting as an inducement.
Question: Given Al-Sibai was so closely connected to various players announcing that Dr. Ayman was going to use anthrax, and given that he published the EIJ’s spymaster’s treastise discussing the Amerithrax investigation, what is his status? Was he de-listed? Is he cooperating against Dr. Ayman? Who does Al-Sibai think is responsible for the anthrax mailings? I emailed him some years ago but never heard back.
09CAIRO1428
SUBJECT
EGYPT PROVIDES INFORMATION IN OPPOSITION TO
DATE
2009-07-26 12:32:00
CLASSIFICATION
SECRET//NOFORN
ORIGIN
Embassy Cairo
TEXT
S E C R E T CAIRO 001428
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, IO/PSC CROWE
TREASURY FOR CARLTON GREEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2029
TAGS: EFIN, PREL, PTER, KTFN, UNSC, EG, UK
SUBJECT: EGYPT PROVIDES INFORMATION IN OPPOSITION TO
DE-LISTING OF HANI AL-SABAI
REF: A. CAIRO 1363
B. STATE 69814
Classified By: Economic-Political Minister-Counselor
Donald A. Blome for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (S/NF) Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy
Assistant Minister and Co-ordinator for Counterterrorism
Ashraf Mohsen, in a July 19 meeting, restated Egypt’s
opposition to the proposed removal of Egyptian citizen Hani
al-Sabai from the UNSCR 1267 consolidated list (refs A and
B). Mohsen also thanked the United Sates for giving the GoE
the opportunity to respond to the proposed de-listing.
2. (S/NF) Mohsen said that al-Sabai, currently living in
the United Kingdom, is a leader of Egyptian Islamic Jihad
(EIJ), associate of Ayman al-Zawahiri, and recruiter for
al-Qaeda. According to Mohsen, in April 1999, after al-Sabai
“escaped” from Egypt, an Egyptian military tribunal convicted
him in absentia of terrorism-related offenses, including
robbing jewelry stores owned by members of Egypt’s Coptic
Christian minority to finance EIJ activities. Mohsen said he
had requested the military tribunal’s case records, but it
would be “at least a month” before he received a response.
3. (S/NF) Mohsen attributes what he described as a
U.K.-driven effort to de-list al-Sabai to the British
Government responding to legal pressure from al-Sabai.
Mohsen also said that British intelligence officials may be
trying to “turn” al-Sabai and are using the de-listing effort
as an inducement. Mohsen scoffed at the idea that the
British would be able to recruit al-Sabai, claiming the GoE
had tried to do so and failed.
4. (S/NF) Mohsen provided two documents with information on
al-Sabai, a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in
English, and an Arabic language document, which Mohsen said
Egypt’s intelligence “services” prepared. The text of the
MFA document and the English translation of the “services”
document follow.
5. (S/NF) Text of document provided by the MFA:
With reference to your correspondence dated July 15th 2009,
and your request for concrete and actionable information
regarding our plea for the continual listing of Hani El Sebai
on the Consolidated list of the Security Council Committee
established pursuant to Resolution 1267 (1999) concerning
Al-Qaida and the Taliban and Associated Individuals and
Entities;
In this regard, I wish to reiterate that El Sebai
(QI.A.198.05 Code on Consolidated list) is a paramount
leadership figure in Al Qaeda and Islamic Jihad. He is
involved in recruiting for membership in these organizations,
as well as assisting in the planning, financing and mounting
of their activities.
The attached information has been communicated to us by the
relevant security agencies as the grounds upon which Egypt
continues to support the listing of Hani El Sebai on the
List, primary among which are the following:
-He is one of the leading cadres in the Islamic Jihad
Terrorist Organization led by Ayman Mohamed Rabie Al
Zawahery; who became an active member of Al Qaeda in early
1990s, and has provided substantial help to Osama Bin Laden
ever since;
- Hani El Sebai continues to be a fugitive from justice and,
still, poses a serious threat to the international community
given his membership in variant terrorist organizations
seeking to threaten international peace and security, and
advocating the use of terrorism to achieve their illegitimate
objectives;
- He is also notorious for propagating radical extremist
thought among Egyptian youth prior to his escape from Egypt,
in addition to inciting them to depart to Afghanistan with a
view to taking part in the ‘Global Jihadist War’;
- He was convicted by the Military Court on April 18th 1999
on the grounds of being a member of an illegitimate
organization aiming to use terrorism for the achievement of
its goals through targeted killing of security personnel and
other public figures (case 8/998);
- He is currently heading “Al Maqrezei Centre for Historic
Studies” in London, which contributes to the incitement and
radicalization of youth and the dissemination of radical and
extremist ideas via its website on the internet
(www.almaqreeze.com).
In view of the above, the government of the Arab Republic of
Egypt proposed that the name of Hani El Sebai remains on the
consolidated list pursuant to our strategy of fighting all
terrorist organizations posing serious threat to our
government as well as international peace and security.
The names on the UN Consolidated list, including that of Hani
El Sebai, remain fugitives from justice and continue to pose
a threat by virtue of their membership in several terrorist
organizations, primary among which is Al Qaeda.
Accordingly, and since they continue to assist in the
organization, planning and financing of terrorist activities,
and the use of violence for the achievement of illegitimate
political ends, we have ample room to believe that they are
adamant to pursing their illegitimate objectives; posing a
serious threat to global peace and security.
On these grounds, the Government of the Arab Republic of
Egypt has requested that the name of Hani El Sebai remains on
the Consolidated List of the Security Council Committee
established pursuant to Resolution 1267 (1999) concerning
Al-Qaeda and the Taliban and Associated Individuals and
Entities.
Sincerely,
Dr. Ashraf Mohsen
Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister
Coordinator for Counter Terrorism
6. (S/NF) English language translation of the “services”
document provided by the MFA:
Personal Info
First name: Hany
Second name: El Sayyid
Third name: El SIBAI
Fourth name: Yousif
DOB: March 1st, 1961
Place of birth: Qalyoubia
———–
Additional Information: He is one of Islamic Jihad cadre, led
by the terrorist Ayman Mohamed Rabei, Al Zawahry (whose name
is on the consolidated list under decision no. 1267/99) and
is a confirmed member of the Jihad from the early 1990s. His
involvement and assistance to the terrorist Usama Bin Laden
is also confirmed.
The named person is still outside the country and his threat
to the international community is in his association with
terrorist organizations whose main aim is to destroy and
damage unity, social peace and security on the international
level by using terrorism to achieve its goals.
There were several reports that he traveled to other
countries using forged documents to obtain military training.
He joined groups responsible for terrorist operations using
force, violence, intimidation and threats, and also destroyed
public properties to disrupt the authorities, functions.
The named person promoted extremist ideas among youth before
he escaped from the country. He encouraged youth to travel
to Afghanistan to participate in the Afghan Jihad. He has
been accused of terrorist activities in the country since
1981, and the country has also taken some precautionary
measures against him to limit his terrorist activities.
He received a life sentence in criminal case number 8/98
issued by a military court on April 14, 1999 for belonging to
an illegal group that aimed to disrupt the constitution, uses
terrorism as a means to achieve its goals, assassinate public
and security figures, commit murder and acquiring weapons.
He was detained in September 1998 in London for being a
suspect for planning and implementing terrorist operations
targeting the US embassy in Albania. He was released in July
1999.
Currently, he runs Al Maqreze Center for historical studies
in London that is active on the internet (www.almaqreze.com).
This website promotes extremist ideas and supports terrorist
operations committed by Al Qaeda. Through his website, he
also contacts terrorists worldwide.
It is clear that since he resides outside his country and
does not integrate naturally into the community, he has bad
intentions and has ongoing criminal activities through
terrorist groups in other countries. This further threatens
the stability of the international community.
He is enlisted on the Interpol list under number 2004-10/1449
A (red notice attached).
7. (S/NF) Post would appreciate Department feed-back on the
information provided by the GoE. As discussed in ref B, we
advised the GoE that the proposed de-listing of al-Sabai
would be placed on hold until August 4 to give it the
opportunity to present information in opposition to the
de-listing.
DXer said
Terror warning: Al-Qaida looks to load explosives on small planes
Feds cite no specific plot in bulletin issued ahead of 9/11 anniversary
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44387746/ns/politics/#.TmLh-2CwOm0
In 2002, U.S. officials said they uncovered an al-Qaida plot to fly a small plane into a U.S. warship in the Persian Gulf. And in 2003, U.S. officials uncovered an al-Qaida plot to crash an explosives-laden small aircraft into the American consulate in Karachi, Pakistan.
Comment:
Langley can be expected to be a possible target based on previous planning years earlier, in the 1990s.
But I’m thinking Dr. Ayman Zawahiri is going to be killed in a matter of days.
I think he never got respect for his strategic thinking. It was always Dr. Ayman — not Bin Laden.
I hope history at least drops the notion of him being prickly. What is this? Dancing With Stars? A popularity contest? He’ll be remembered as a deep strategic thinker.
DXer said
FBI on Heightened Alert for 9/11 Anniversary
Tuesday, 30 Aug 2011 07:57 PM
By Ronald Kessler
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/911-anniversary-fbi-alert/2011/08/30/id/409218
Excerpt:
“A radiological attack is not so remote, because it’s relatively easy to get radiological materials and have some sort of radiological improvised explosive device. Although the damage would be far less than from a nuclear detonation, the threat is still there today.”
In fact, Dr. Vahid Majidi, chief of the FBI’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate, says the probability that the U.S. will be hit with a WMD attack at some point is 100 percent. Such an attack could be launched by foreign terrorists, lone wolves who are terrorists, or even by criminal elements, Majidi says. As Mueller suggests, it would most likely employ chemical, biological, or radiological weapons rather than a nuclear device.
…
“A singular lone wolf individual can do things in the dark of the night with access to a laboratory with low quantities of material and could hurt a few people but create a devastating effect on the American psyche,” Majidi says.
To hunt down terrorists, the FBI devised what Art Cummings, who headed counterterrorism and counterintelligence until last year, calls trip wires that might tip off the bureau to terrorist activity. For example, the FBI urges chemical supply companies to develop profiles that pinpoint large or suspicious purchases of chemicals that can be used to make explosives.
…
“We set these trip wires, and when people come across them, we have abilities to report that, wait a minute, someone is buying dual-use technology or the precursors to make nerve gas or industrial strength peroxide,” Cummings told me for the book. “Someone does that, boom! We have an alert, either a HUMINT [intelligence from a human] alert from an individual or a technical alert.”
To be a terrorist, “You need communications strategy, you need to be able to raise money, you need to be able to move money, you need an organizational structure that allows for that to happen, and you need communications that go back to the mother ship,” Cummings says.
So the FBI looks at people caught by Customs with cash in excess of $10,000, he says.
…
Then, he says, “You get the personal transaction reports from the bank and find he is depositing or withdrawing funds just under the $10,000 reporting requirement. You find he is a guy who is Palestinian, goes to a mosque that is dominated by Hamas supporters and Palestinians, and is wiring money on a regular basis to the occupied territories. Right there, I’ve just built a picture of a Hamas fundraiser.”
In the same way, the FBI has asked beauty shops and beauty supply stores to contact an FBI office to report purchases of chemicals like hydrogen peroxide in high concentrations.
“They are asked, if they have any suspicion of any kind whatsoever about people buying large quantities of such chemicals in industrial strength, to make a phone call to the FBI,” Cummings says. “Our guidelines are such that we’re not going to violate anybody’s civil liberties simply because they bought a certain amount of hydrogen peroxide.”
As lone wolves become an increasing threat, trip wires have become especially important. Lone wolves have no ties to existing terrorist organizations or networks.
With lone wolves, “You don’t have financial networks that if you look really, really closely you see a thousand dollars going to an operator somewhere,” Cummings notes.
“We don’t see it, because there isn’t someone sending that lone wolf a thousand dollars. This is very difficult, so we rely heavily on trip wires and HUMINT. These are the eyes and ears on the street. And we rely heavily on the lone wolves’ breaking out of that complete and absolute isolation. Human nature being what it is, they do. We’ve caught several recently who were pretty isolated, but they still wanted to talk and share their ideology with people.”
Trip wires led to the arrest of Aldawsari and thwarted the possible attack on former President Bush’s home and other sites.
The FBI received a report from Carolina Biological Supply on February 1, 2011 that Aldawsari had tried to buy large quantities of concentrated phenol, which can be used to make a deadly explosive. The order was sent to a freight company, which called police in Lubbock, Texas, where Aldawsari lived, and the police also notified the FBI.
In two covert entries of his Lubbock apartment, FBI agents assigned to Tactical Operations teams found a hazmat suit, chemicals for making explosives, and bomb-making paraphernalia. In his journal, the team found this entry: “And now, after mastering the English language, learning how to build explosives and continuous planning to target the infidel Americans, it is time for Jihad.”
The subject line of one email message Aldawsari allegedly sent to himself said “Tyrant’s House” and included Bush’s Dallas address. Other emails listed “nice targets,” including reservoir dams, nuclear power plants, and hydroelectric plants. In addition, he emailed himself ways to construct an explosive device and convert a cellular phone to detonate an explosive device. The suspect posted jihadist sentiments on an extremist blog he created and made it clear he had been inspired by Osama bin Laden.
…
Mueller adds: “The biggest threat comes from individuals who have had some association with the United States, understand the United States, can move either individually or with others relatively freely into the United States and within the United States.”
DXer said
National Geographic Documentary: Inside The FBI Counterterrorism Unit
In the aftermath of 9/11, an elite team of FBI counter-terror agents uncovers two disturbing terror threats. The first involves a group of young men in Northern Virginia and their spiritual leader, Ali Al-Timimi, who is accused of directing his men to overseas training camps to kill American soldiers in Afghanistan. The second plot involves yet another Al-Timimi pupil, who is charged with planning the next 9/11. FBI Suburban Surveillance takes viewers deep inside the complex human drama at the heart of America¹s war on terror.
http://www.zingmit.com/2011/08/documentary-inside-fbi-counterterrorism.html
DXer said
Indiana U. Experts Available to Discuss Issues Surrounding the Sept. 11, 2001 Attacks
Released: 8/25/2011 3:40 PM EDT
http://www.newswise.com/articles/indiana-u-experts-available-to-discuss-issues-surrounding-the-sept-11-2001-attacks
Ten years after 9/11, American national security policy confronts crises of ends and means that require changes in how the U.S. secures its homeland and overseas interests — and it’s not clear that government is up to the task, says David P. Fidler, the James Louis Calamaras Professor of Law at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law and a fellow at the Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research. “After 9/11 and the anthrax emergency that followed, the U.S. deepened and broadened its national security objectives at home and abroad and increased the ‘blood and treasure’ allocated to achieve these objectives,” Fidler said. “The U.S. launched multiple wars, reorganized homeland security and intelligence capabilities, moved to protect against WMD (weapons of mass destruction), revolutionized nation-building strategies through counterinsurgency doctrine and transformed relationships between civilian, military and intelligence roles in securing the country and its foreign interests. “These expanded ends and means of U.S. national security are increasingly controversial and unsustainable,” he said. “The effectiveness of policies that have been pursued since 9/11 remains hotly debated, suggesting discontent with the objectives, their implementation, or both. With the U.S. moving into fiscal contraction, expansionist ends and ‘spend now, pay whenever’ means are not feasible.”
DXer said
San Diego Preps Postal Workers to Deliver Anthrax Antibiotics
Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011
http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20110825_9801.php
DXer said
American intelligence collection capabilities are “stunning”
http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/24/american-intelligence-capabilities-are-stunning/
John Miller: I would say based on my personal experience when I was in al Qaeda camps as a reporter, Zawahiri was running the show. And what I mean by that was he was calling the shots. He was the person moving behind the scenes making things happen.
And bin Laden was produced, if you will, as the messenger. And I’m not sure that wasn’t pretty close to the business model. And I think – I think that matters.
But when you look at him now as the head of al Qaeda – I have yet to see a debriefing of a suspect in a significant terrorism plot, who said, “I was inspired by the videotapes of Ayman al-Zawahari.” That is telling.
On the other hand, you have people who have transcended this model. If you want to look at the idea that the messenger is actually more important than the message, Zawahiri doesn’t matter when you have an Anwar al-Awlaki, charismatic, compelling and able to form his own messages in perfect unaccented English with a western vent.
And if you look at many of the most serious plots over the last two years, the majority of them targeting U.S. soil were inspired by Anwar al-Awlaki. That matters.
Comment: Yes, so long as the name on the handwritten B3 log isn’t spelled wrong. Or the FBI doesn’t get the key 16 pages 4 years after the fact.
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Scientists man bioterror front lines post-9/11
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iWizJP6bhC_l6RQf_CmpWiBG4myA?docId=809424ff57ef4a6da874f255cea019b4
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In the videotaped interview below, former top security person for Bush, Richard Clarke, explains that the CIA was trying really hard in 2000 and 2001 to recruit someone in Al Qaeda.
Clarke explains that sometimes the CIA recruits someone and then realizes that they were played — that the individual is a double agent. Then it is all CYA.
He suggests he was not told because they wanted to recruit them — and telling him would spoil that.
Personally, I prefer explanations based on incompetence given that they are so often easy to substantiate and given that it is so human to make mistakes (as we all know from our own experience).
Mr. Clarke should not have given this interview without first speaking directly to Tenet and Cofer Black about his claim — so that they might explain and seek to convince him he was mistaken.
In the particulars, I am interested in what he means about how 50 people knew about the pair being in Los Angeles. The key question is what priority or emphasis the information was given — that is, what importance was given the planning meeting in Kuala Lumpur. There’s “knowing” and there’s formally be in the loop but not paying attention (and assuming that the ball was picked up by the FBI).
By way of analogy to Amerithrax, I called Ali Al-Timimi’s lovely wife, and she was gracious. She was sure we would be talking at some point, but that without consent of counsel, she could not speak to the issues.
Specifically, I wanted to ask her why Ali had a security clearance for his work for the Navy while at SRA in 1999.
Now if the head of DIA threat assessment Bailey WASN’T aware that he was sharing a suite with a hardliner who was promoting the views of Bin Laden’s sheiks, then isn’t that a huge problem?
Ken Alibek told me in 2003 that he was aware that Ali was a hardliner (and that Ali dressed the part). Googling would have revealed talking alongside the blind sheik’s son, for example (who was recruiting scientists to Al Qaeda’s WMD effort).
Similarly, I emailed Tarek, the former Zawahiri associate supplied virulent Ames by Bruce Ivins, to ask who he knew in Dr. Ayman’s circle. (Egyptian supporters of Salafists-Jihadis tend to be very educated and speak quite directly and so I thought he might respond and detail who he knew and who he didn’t).
I also called the fellow arrested as a material witness the day and minute Ali Al-Timimi’s townhouse was raided to ask if he weaponized the anthrax (he had expertise with a spraydryer and mixing with silica). He thanked me for my concern but said he couldn’t talk because too much was going on. His mentor worked on an Army device called MICROBIAL VAC that concentrated anthrax by a factor of 10 through repeated centrifuging. The inventor, Bruce Bradley, explained to me that it could be used to weaponize anthrax but only on a small scale.
But Rule 101 is always contact the person so that you might get the best information and be set straight on any wrong inferences or facts.
And so there simply is no excuse for Mr. Clarke not to have first broached his theory with Mr. Tenet and Mr. Black. Or for that matter, the 50 people he says provably knew about the pair being in LA.
The greater priority is to figure out why Ali Al-Timimi was allowed to share the suite with the leading DARPA-funded Ames anthrax researchers who patented the process to concentrate anthrax using silicates in the growth medium.
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Like the CIA, the FBI understandably wants to flip a bad guy so that he’ll serve as an informant.
Where’s the outrage over FBI bungling?
By Kevin Cullen
Globe Columnist / August 21, 2011
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/08/21/wheres_the_outrage_over_fbi_bungling/
“Let’s not be Pollyannish. To catch criminals, law enforcement agents very often have to use other criminals. But the Bulger saga supposedly set the bar at a certain level.
By any objective measure, the FBI ignored its own advice, and no one else in federal government challenged it, or seems in much of a rush to do so now.
So, again, where’s the outrage?”
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Ali Mohammed, who did the recon for the 1998 embassy bombings, was an FBI informant. Peter Lance wrote a book titled XXX explaining that debacle.
Is Amerithrax just Ali Mohammed redux?
http://articles.boston.com/2011-08-18/news/29901550_1_informant-fbi-state-police
Alleged capo’s ties to FBI called lengthy
Codefendants seek more information
August 18, 2011|By Milton J. Valencia, Globe Staff
***
The use of informants by law enforcement agencies has been allowed as a necessary tool in law enforcement, but the FBI has set up strict guidelines. Among them, a handler is supposed to notify supervisors whenever an informant engages in violent crime, and that informant could be turned over to appropriate authorities for prosecution.
Those guidelines were spurred by congressional hearings in 2003 and the 1998 federal court hearings in Boston that exposed the FBI’s mishandling of informant James “Whitey’’ Bulger, who allegedly committed crimes including murder while keeping his relationship with the federal agency.
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The Myth of Anwar al-Awlaki
One of America’s most-wanted Islamist radicals was once a humble, mainstream preacher who became enraged by the war on terror. At least, that’s the story some people are selling.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/08/10/the_myth_of_anwar_al_awlaki
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Yemen: Barack Obama warned that al-Qaeda planning ricin attack
Counter-terrorism officials are said to have warned President Barack Obama that an al-Qaeda affiliate in Yemen is trying to produce the deadly nerve agent ricin for use in bomb attacks on the US.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/yemen/8699400/Yemen-Barack-Obama-warned-that-al-Qaeda-planning-ricin-attack.html
Qaeda Trying to Harness Toxin for Bombs, U.S. Officials Fear
By ERIC SCHMITT and THOM SHANKER
Published: August 12, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/13/world/middleeast/13terror.html
“Al Qaeda’s arm in Yemen has openly discussed deploying ricin and other deadly poisons against the United States. “Brothers with less experience in the fields of microbiology or chemistry, as long as they possess basic scientific knowledge, would be able to develop other poisons such as ricin or cyanide,” the organization posted to its online English-language journal, Inspire, last fall, in an article titled “Tips for Our Brothers in the United States of America.”
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http://bigpeace.com/ipt/2011/02/20/documents-show-jihadists-seek-weapons-of-mass-destruction/
The article is part of a section of the magazine called “Open Source Jihad,” which gives readers ideas on ways to carry out terrorist attacks.
According to Ibrahim, a skilled microbiologist could produce the deadly botulin toxin, which could result in “hundreds if not thousands of casualties.” Such an attack could require years of planning, but would be “worth the wait.”
“Brothers with less experience in the fields of microbiology or chemistry, as long as they possess basic scientific knowledge, would be able to develop other poisons such as Ricin or Cyanide,” he writes, adding that the subject of using weapons of mass destruction against the United States will be discussed in upcoming issues of Inspire.
After the magazine was published, the FBI’s “WMD Operations Unit 1″ sent this memorandum to state and local law enforcement officials warning them about the article.
Obtaining weapons of mass destruction is a long-standing al-Qaida goal. In a forthcoming research report, former CIA officer Rolf Mowatt-Larson outlines al-Qaida’s history of pursuing WMD and its religious arguments supporting nuclear terrorism. Mowatt-Larson, currently a senior fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School, writes that Jamal al-Fadl, who defected from al-Qaida in 1996 and became a source for the FBI and CIA, testified that the organization tried to acquire uranium in the early and mid-1990s while based in Sudan.
In 2002, the CIA made public information on gruesome experiments testing cyanide, sarin and other toxins on animals. The following year, Jemaah Islamiya’s chief Hambali was captured. He provided interrogators with confirmation of his own role in al-Qaida’s anthrax efforts. In 2008, Zawahiri published a fatwa justifying the use of WMD.
“The bottom line…is clear: al Qaeda and its network have been determined to acquire WMD,” Mowatt-Larson writes. “Organizing a coherent strategy to prevent this nightmare from occurring begins with a clear recognition that WMD terrorism is a real and imminent threat.”
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What government computers was this Al Qaeda member protecting?
US defends NY charges in ‘mini’ al-Qaida cell case
Published August 12, 2011
Associated Press
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/08/12/us-defends-ny-charges-in-mini-al-qaida-cell-case/#ixzz1UtWwbQWK
NEW YORK – A native New Yorker accused of conspiring to join al-Qaida and start a “mini” al-Qaida cell eagerly spoke to the FBI and shouldn’t have his statements suppressed, prosecutors said in papers submitted Friday to a judge who has been asked to toss out the charges.
Prosecutors in Manhattan defended conspiracy charges they brought last year against Wesam El-Hanafi. An indictment accuses the Brooklyn-born El-Hanafi of pledging loyalty to al-Qaida and helping teach the terror group how to evade detection on the Internet after he went to Yemen in February 2008. The defense has argued statements were coerced and search warrants were overbroad.
El-Hanafi was arrested in Virginia on April 30, 2010, after he was brought to the United States from Dubai, where he was being paid $170,000 annually to work in a government job safeguarding computer systems.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/08/12/us-defends-ny-charges-in-mini-al-qaida-cell-case/#ixzz1UtWd7uTf
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/08/12/us-defends-ny-charges-in-mini-al-qaida-cell-case/
Background/2010 indictment
http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-05-01/news/27063186_1_face-charges-casio-yemen
The fellow indicted with him was a senior manager at Price-Waterhouse from 2003-2008.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/30/wesam-el-hanafi-sabirhan_n_558908.html
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CDC
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol7no6/jernigan.htm
Research
Bioterrorism-Related Inhalational Anthrax: The First 10 Cases Reported in the United States
John A. Jernigan,* David S. Stephens,*† David A. Ashford,* Carlos Omenaca,‡ Martin S. Topiel,§ Mark Galbraith,¶ Michael Tapper,# Tamara L. Fisk,*† Sherif Zaki,* Tanja Popovic,* Richard F. Meyer,* Conrad P. Quinn,* Scott A. Harper,* Scott K. Fridkin,*James J. Sejvar,* Colin W. Shepard,* Michelle McConnell,* Jeannette Guarner,* Wun-Ju Shieh,* Jean M. Malecki,** Julie L. Gerberding,* James M. Hughes,* Bradley A. Perkins,* and members of the Anthrax Bioterrorism Investigation Team(1)
*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; †Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; ‡Cedars Medical Center, Miami, Florida, USA; §Virtua Health, Mount Holly, New Jersey, USA; ¶Winchester Medical Center, Winchester, Virginia, USA; #Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City, New York, USA; and **Palm Beach County Department of Public Health, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA
From October 4 to November 2, 2001, the first 10 confirmed cases of inhalational anthrax caused by intentional release of Bacillus anthraciswere identified in the United States. Epidemiologic investigation indicated that the outbreak, in the District of Columbia, Florida, New Jersey, and New York, resulted from intentional delivery of B. anthracis spores through mailed letters or packages. We describe the clinical presentation and course of these cases of bioterrorism-related inhalational anthrax. The median age of patients was 56 years (range 43 to 73 years), 70% were male, and except for one, all were known or believed to have processed, handled, or received letters containing B. anthracis spores. The median incubation period from the time of exposure to onset of symptoms, when known (n=6), was 4 days (range 4 to 6 days). Symptoms at initial presentation included fever or chills (n=10), sweats (n=7), fatigue or malaise (n=10), minimal or nonproductive cough (n=9), dyspnea (n=8), and nausea or vomiting (n=9). The median white blood cell count was 9.8 X 103 /mm3 (range 7.5 to 13.3), often with increased neutrophils and band forms. Nine patients had elevated serum transaminase levels, and six were hypoxic. All 10 patients had abnormal chest X-rays; abnormalities included infiltrates (n=7), pleural effusion (n=8), and mediastinal widening (seven patients). Computed tomography of the chest was performed on eight patients, and mediastinal lymphadenopathy was present in seven. With multidrug antibiotic regimens and supportive care, survival of patients (60%) was markedly higher (85%) (1,3). In 1979, in Sverdlovsk, former Soviet Union, an apparent aerosol release of B. anthracis spores from a military facility resulted in the largest outbreak of inhalational anthrax in the 20th century (3).
Before October 2001, the last case of inhalational anthrax in the United States had occurred in 1976 (1,4). I
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Health department confirms case of anthrax in patient
By Christopher Snowbeck
Updated: 08/09/2011 03:26:28 PM CDT
The Minnesota Department of Health said today it is investigating an apparent case of inhalational anthrax in an individual who is believed to have acquired the infection from the natural environment.
The individual was hospitalized in Minnesota after traveling through western states including North Dakota, Wyoming and South Dakota, according to a health department news release. A Minnesota laboratory analysis confirmed the anthrax diagnosis.
Because anthrax can be used as a bioterrorism agent, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the matter along with the health department, state officials said. But there was no evidence suggesting the illness can be linked to a criminal or terrorist act, and the FBI is no longer actively investigating the incident. Officials say there is not increased risk to the general public.
“All evidence points to this case of anthrax being caused by exposure to naturally occurring anthrax in the environment,” said Ruth Lynfield, the Minnesota State Epidemiologist, in a news release.
Cases of anthrax in hooved animals occur yearly in parts of the country including the Midwest and West as far south as Texas and up to the Canadian border, according to the health department.
“Anthrax is not spread from person to person, and it is extremely rare for humans to become sickened with anthrax, especially through inhalation,” Lynfield said.
In rare cases, individuals can become sickened by anthrax if they handle infected animal carcasses or ingest contaminated soil or meat from infected animals. People also can become infected by handling contaminated wool or hides, the health department said. In years past, anthrax was known as “wool sorter’s disease.”
Because the cases are so rare, health department officials say they are not discouraging people from traveling to areas where anthrax can be found naturally in the environment.
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Minn. investigating anthrax case
Published 04:40 p.m., Tuesday, August 9, 2011
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Department of Health is investigating an apparent case of someone being sickened by inhaling anthrax. Officials believe the infection was acquired from the natural environment, not from foul play.
The department announced Tuesday that the individual has been hospitalized in Minnesota after traveling through several western states, including North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota.
Laboratory tests confirmed the infection was anthrax. State Epidemiologist Ruth Lynfield says the patient was exposed to soil and animal remains, which can contain the anthrax bacteria.
The FBI investigated because anthrax can be used in terrorism, but found no evidence of a criminal or terrorism act. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now working with state health officials.
Lynfield says it’s extremely rare for humans to become sickened with anthrax.
Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Minn-investigating-anthrax-case-1795449.php#ixzz1UZESVXHZ
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Minnesota investigates rare anthrax case
Article by: MAURA LERNER , Star Tribune Updated: August 9, 2011 – 3:59 PM
FBI joined in inquiry, but no evidence of terrorism, officials say
The Minnesota Department of Health is investigating an “extremely rare” case of inhaled anthrax, but officials say there is no threat to the public.
The patient was likely exposed to the infectious agent from natural sources, and there is no evidence of a link to terrorism, according to a Health Department statement released Tuesday.
Nevertheless, the Federal Bureau of Investigation joined in the investigation because anthrax can be used as a bioterrorism agent.
The case most likely occurred when the individual was exposed to soil or animal remains infected with anthrax, a bacterial spore that can cause potentially fatal illness.
The patient, who was not identified, was hospitalized in Minnesota after traveling in several western states, where anthrax spores occur in the environment.
“We’re not giving details about the case simply because it is not a risk to the public, and we’re concerned about patient privacy,” said Dr. Ruth Lynfield, the Minnesota state epidemiologist.
She said the patient is being treated, but would not say anything about his or her medical condition.
Lynfield said such cases are “extremely rare,” although in the past it was known as “woolsorter’s disease” because people could breathe in spores from infected animals. Anthrax can infect cattle and other animals, and can live in soil for years.
Lynfield noted that anthrax is not spread from person to person, and as a result, there is no risk to the public.
The patient, who is not from Minnesota, was hospitalized somewhere in the state in after developing fever and pneumonia. When the hospital conducted routine specimen tests, they discovered an unusual growth and sent it to the Health Department for further testing.
Lynfield said her office confirmed it was anthrax, and contacted the FBI as “standard protocol.”
Government officials have treated anthrax exposure as a possible act of terrorism since the deadly spate of anthrax-tainted letters that followed the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.
In this case, though, investigators found “no evidence suggesting it was a criminal or terrorist act,” the Health Department said, and the FBI “is no longer actively investigating the incident.”
The Health Department, however, is continuing to investigate. “We may learn more,” Lynfield said, “and as we learn more information, we will share it.”
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Minnesota officials confirm case of inhalational anthrax
Lisa Schnirring * Staff Writer
Aug 9, 2011 (CIDRAP News) – A man hospitalized in Minnesota has contracted inhalational anthrax after traveling in western states, officials from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced today.
In a release, the MDH said that the agency and its partners at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating the infection, which apparently stemmed from environmental exposure.
The man is hospitalized in Minnesota after traveling to North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota. Lab officials in Minnesota confirmed the illness.
Ruth Lynfield, MD, Minnesota state epidemiologist, said evidence suggests the patient was exposed from a natural source. The man had been exposed to soil and animal remains. She added that anthrax disease in hoofed animals occurs annually in certain parts of the country, including the Midwest and West. Animal infections can occur as far south as Texas and as far north as the Canadian border.
Because anthrax is considered a bioterrorism agent, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted an initial investigation with the MDH, but it found no links to criminal or terrorist activity, the MDH said. The FBI is no longer actively investigating the case.
The rare infection in a human doesn’t pose a risk to the public, Lynfield said. “Anthrax is not spread from person to person, and it is extremely rare for humans to become sickened with anthrax, especially through inhalation,” she said in the statement. Human infections occasionally occur from handling contaminated animal hides or meat or from ingesting soil or meat tainted with the anthrax spores.
Officials said they aren’t issuing any travel advisories, because infections are rare and Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, is naturally found in the environment.
One of the last human anthrax infections in the United States occurred in late 2009 when a New Hampshire woman got sick with the gastrointestinal form of the disease after she participated in an event that involved the use of animal-hide drums.
An anthrax bioterror attack on the east coast in the fall of 2001 led to 22 illnesses and 5 deaths.
DXer said
As we approach the 10th year anniversary of 9/11 and issuance of the GAO report, we can look back to this piece I published on Newsmax in 2007 and consider in light of the Spring 2007 grand jury.
Anthrax Mystery: Evidence Points to al-Qaida
Thursday, June 7, 2007
The anthrax attacks in the fall of 2001 have faded from the media spotlight. The FBI appears to have pursued all possible leads, and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales told the Senate Judiciary Committee in January that FBI Director Mueller was committed to seeing it to “some kind of conclusion in the relatively near future.”
But an analysis of the anthrax mailings suggests that U.S.-based supporters of one of Osama bin Laden’s closest advisers, Ayman al-Zawahiri, were responsible.
Al-Zawahiri was head of al-Qaida’s biochemical program. He called it Zabadi or “curdled milk.” The Central Intelligence Agency has known of al-Zawahiri’s plans to use anthrax since July 1998, when the CIA seized a disc from the Egyptian Islamic Jihad military commander during his arrest by the CIA in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The CIA refused to give the FBI the laptop that al-Zawahiri used. The FBI’s bin Laden expert, John O’Neill, head of the FBI’s New York office, tried to get around this by sending an agent to Azerbaijan to get copies of the computer files from the Azerbaijan government, who also had the files.
The FBI finally got the files after O’Neill persuaded President Clinton to personally appeal to the president of Azerbaijan. O’Neill, who was head of the World Trade Center security, died in the 9/11 attacks. He died with the knowledge that al-Zawahiri planned to attack U.S. targets with anthrax — and that al-Zawahiri does not make idle threats.
At the time, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) set up a program at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California to combat the bin Laden anthrax threat.
The CIA also snatched a talkative member of the EIJ shura or policy-making council. His confession runs 140 pages. He confirmed al-Zawahiri’s intent to use anthrax against U.S. targets in connection with the detention of militant Islamists. Yet another friend of al-Zawahiri, this one a Cairo lawyer who was the blind sheik’s attorney in March 1999, said that bin Laden and al-Zawahiri were likely to resort to the biological and chemical agents they possessed given the extradition pressure senior al-Qaida leaders faced.
Al-Zawahiri and his associates were seeking to recreate Muhammad’s taking of Mecca through violent attacks on Egyptian leaders. By the late 1990s, al-Zawahiri had determined that the Egyptian Islamic Jihad should focus on its struggle against the United States and hold off on further attacks against the Egyptian regime.
Means
E-mails in the Spring of 1999 from al-Zawahiri to Egyptian Mohammed Atef, al-Qaida’s military commander, and former Cairo police sergeant, indicate that al-Zawahiri was a close student of the the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) anthrax program. He believed that the Quran instructed that a jihadist should use the weapons used by the crusader. “What we know is that he’s always said it was a religious obligation to have the same weapons as their enemies,” former CIA bin Laden unit counter-terrorism chief Michael Scheuer said.
In March 2003, handwritten notes and files on a laptop seized upon the capture of Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, al-Qaida’s No. 3 man, included a feasible anthrax production plan using a spray dryer and addressed the recruitment of necessary expertise.
KSM told his interrogators that Zacarias Moussaoui was not going to be part of 9/11 but was to be part of a “second wave.” Khalid explained that Moussaoui’s inquiries about crop-dusters may have been related to the anthrax work being done by U.S.-trained biochemist and al-Qaida operative, Yazid Sufaat.
Microbiologist Abdul Qadoos Khan was charged along with his son, Ahmed, for harboring the fugitives. As of March 28, 2003, he was in a hospital for a cardiac problem and had been granted “pre-arrest bail.”
In early June 2003, a CIA report publicly concluded that the reason for Atta’s and Moussaoui’s inquiries into crop-dusters was for the contemplated use in dispersing biological agents such as anthrax. It had long been known that bin Laden was interested in using crop-dusters to disperse biological agents (since the testimony of millennium bomber Ahmed Ressam).
An early September 2003 Newsweek article included a rumor by a Taliban source that at a meeting in April 2003 bin Laden was planning an “unbelievable” biological attack, the plans for which had suffered a setback upon the arrest of Khalid.
Anthrax lab coordinator Hambali was arrested in August 2003 in the quiet city of Ayuttullah, in Thailand. He was sent to Jordan. In Autumn 2003, extremely virulent anthrax was found at a house in Kandahar — after regional operative Hambali was harshly interrogated.
Al-Qaida had the extremely virulent anthrax before 9/11. Sufaat’s two principal assistants were also captured in 2003 and are in custody. They had been assisting Sufaat prior to 9/11. The FBI dropped the continuous conspicuous surveillance of Dr. Steve Hatfill in early Fall 2003, after extremely virulent anthrax that they knew could be readily weaponized was found at the house in Kandahar. Prior to that, the “Hatfill theory” had been an alternative hypothesis pursued by one of the squads within Amerithrax.
In January 2007, Muhammad Hanif, a spokesman for the Taliban, spoke quietly to the camera. Taliban leader Mullah Omar, he said, was living in Quetta under the protection of the Pakistan ISI. In a press conference, the governor of the province on the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan reported that they had found packets of powdered anthrax in his home upon his arrest.
As reported by Afghan Islamic Press news agency and translated by BBC Worldwide Monitoring, the governor said: “A biological substance, anthrax, was also seized from those arrested. They planned to send the substance in envelopes addressed to government officials . . .” The governor’s claim has not yet been confirmed.
In March 2007, Khalid confessed before a military tribunal that “I was directly in charge, after the death of Sheikh Abu Hafs [Atef] of managing and following up on the cell for the production of biological weapons, such as anthrax and others, and following up on dirty-bomb operations on American soil.”
A key question is how al-Zawahiri acquired the anthrax strain — the “Ames strain” first isolated by the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab in 1980. The U.S. Army recipe from the 1950s was not used, and obtaining the unprocessed Ames strain of anthrax does not warrant the weight given it by some press accounts. Although coveted as the “gold standard” in vaccine research, the “Ames strain” is known to have been at about a score of labs and over the years an estimated 1,000 people may have had access.
Opportunity
After a bombing raid at an al-Qaida camp in Afghanistan U.S. forces found over 100 typed and handwritten pages of documents that shed light on al-Qaida’s early anthrax planning.
It was not clear whether or not they had yet acquired virulent anthrax or weaponized it, but it was clear that the planning was well along. When Cheney was briefed on the documents in late 2001, he immediately called a meeting of the FBI and CIA. “I’ll be very blunt,” the vice president started. “There is no priority of this government more important than finding out if there is a link between what’s happened here and what we’ve found over there with al-Qaida.”
A June 1999 memo from Ayman to military commander Atef said that “said the program should seek cover and talent in educational institutions, which it said were ‘more beneficial to us and allow easy access to specialists, which will greatly benefit us in the first stage, God willing.’”
Thus, in determining whether al-Qaida was responsible for the anthrax mailings in 2001, the FBI and CIA knew, based on the growing documentary evidence available by December, that al-Qaida operatives were likely associated with non-governmental organizations and working under the cover of universities. From early on, the CIA and FBI knew that charity is as charity does.
Among the supporters of these militant Islamists were people who blended into society and were available to act when another part of the network requested it. Two letters — one typed and an earlier handwritten one — written by a microbiologist named Rauf Ahmad detail his efforts to obtain a pathogenic strain of anthrax. The Defense Intelligence Agency, in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Act, gave me a copy of a typed memo reporting on a lab visit, which included tour of a BioLevel 3 facility.
The progress report to al-Zawahiri began ominously: “I successfully achieved the targets.” The memo mentioned the pending paperwork relating to export of the pathogens. A handwritten letter was reporting on a different, earlier visit, where the anthrax had been nonpathogenic.
There are handwritten notes about the plan to use non-governmental-organizations (NGOs), technical institutes, and medical labs as cover for aspects of the work, and training requirements for the various personnel at the lab in Afghanistan.
Ahmad attended conferences on anthrax and dangerous pathogens such as one in September 2000 at the University of Plymouth cosponsored by DERA, the UK Defense Evaluation, and Research Agency.
A handwritten letter from 1999 is written on the letterhead of the oldest microbiology society in Great Britain. The 1999 Ahmad documents seized in Afghanistan by U.S. forces describe Ahmad’s visit to the special confidential room at the BL-3 facility where thousands of pathogenic cultures were kept; his consultation with other scientists on some of technical problems associated with weaponizing anthrax; the bioreactor and laminar flows to be used in al-Qaida’s anthrax lab; a conference on dangerous pathogens cosponsored by the U.K.’s Porton Down and Society for Applied Microbiology he attended, and the need for vaccination and containment.
Ahmad had arranged to take a lengthy post-doc leave from his employer and was grousing that what the employer would be paying during that 12-month period was inadequate. Yazid Sufaat, who told his wife he was working for a Taliban medical brigade, got the job instead of Ahmad.
In late February 2003, authorities searched the townhouse of Ali al-Timimi, a graduate student and employee in bioinformatics at George Mason University who shared a department fax with famed Russian bioweapons expert Ken Alibek and former USAMRIID head and anthrax researcher Charles Bailey.
Al-Timimi was a celebrated speaker and religious scholar associated with the Islamic Assembly of North America (IANA), an Ann Arbor, Mich.-based charity. The Washington Post later summarized: “The agents reached an alarming conclusion: ‘al-Timimi is an Islamist supporter of bin Laden’ who was leading a group ‘training for jihad,’ the agent wrote in the affidavit.
The FBI even came to speculate that al-Timimi, a doctoral candidate pursuing cancer gene research, might have been involved in the anthrax attacks.”
In October 2002, al-Timimi drafted a letter from dissident Saudi Sheik al-Hawali threatening disastrous consequences if the U.S. invaded Iraq and had it hand-delivered to all members of Congress. Al-Hawali was one of two dissident Saudi sheiks who inspired bin Laden and remained in contact with him.
Al-Timimi was thought of by colleagues as a “numbers guy” rather than having hands-on drying expertise, and was not known to have worked on any biodefense projects. There is every reason to think the FBI concluded that al-Timimi was neither the processor nor the mailer, given that the government never charged him with the anthrax crimes. And the FBI would know: The FBI knows what he had for dinner on Sept. 16, 2001, just two days before the first mailing.
Brian Williams reports that investigators have told NBC that the water used to make the spores came from the northeastern United States based on an analysis of isotope ratios. That finding likely has served to focus the FBI’s investigation.
Modus Operandi
Just because al-Qaida likes its truck bombs and the like to be effective does not mean they do not see the value in a deadly missive. As Brian Jenkins once said, “terrorism is theater.” A sender purporting to be Islamist sent cyanide in both early 2002 and early 2003 in New Zealand and ingredients of nerve gas in Belgium in 2003. There’s even a chapter titled “Poisonous Letter” in the al-Qaida manual.
Princeton Islamist scholar Bernard Lewis has explained that while Islamists may disagree about whether killing innocents is sanctioned by the laws of jihad, extremists like al-Zawahiri agree that notice must be given before biochemical weapons are used. “The Prophet’s guidance,” says Michael Scheuer, an al-Qaida analyst retired from the CIA who once headed its bin Laden unit, “was always, ‘Before you attack someone, warn them very clearly.’”
The tactic of lethal letters was not merely the modus operandi of the militant Islamists inspired by al-Zawahiri, it was their signature. The Islamists sent letter bombs in late December 1996 from Alexandria, Egypt to newspaper offices in New York City and Washington, D.C. and people in symbolic positions. Musical Christmas cards apparently postmarked in Alexandria, Egypt on Dec. 21, 1996 (which is Laylat al-Qadr, literally the “Night of Decree”) contained improvised explosive devices.
The letters were sent in connection with the earlier bombing of the World Trade Center and the imprisonment of the blind sheik Abdel Rahman. The former leader of the Egyptian Al-Gamaa al-Islamiya (“Islamic Group”), Abdel-Rahman was also a spiritual leader of al-Qaida. The FBI suspected the letter bombs were sent in connection with the treatment of the Egyptian Islamists imprisoned for the earlier attack on the WTC and a related plot.
The purpose of the letter bombs — which resulted in minimal casualties — apparently was to send a message. There was no claim of responsibility. There was no explanation. Once one had been received, the next 10, mailed on two separate dates, were easily collected. Sound familiar?
Two bombs were also sent to Leavenworth, where a key World Trade Center 1993 defendant was imprisoned, addressed to “Parole Officer.” (The position does not exist.) The FBI suspected the Vanguards of Conquest, a mysterious group led by Egyptian Islamic Jihad head al-Zawahiri. The group can be thought of as either the military wing of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad or perhaps just EIJ.
The anthrax that infected the first victim, Bob Stevens, was contained in a letter to AMI, the publisher of tabloids — in a goofy love letter to Jennifer Lopez enclosing a Star of David and proposing marriage. A report, by the Center for Disease Control, of interviews with AMI employees (as well as detailed interviews by author Leonard Cole) supports the conclusion that there were not one, but two, such mailings containing anthrax. (The letters were to different AMI publications — one to the National Enquirer and another to The Sun.)
The “Federal Eagle” stamp used in the anthrax mailings was a blue-green. It was widely published among the militant Islamists that martyrs go to paradise “in the hearts of green birds.” In the very interview in which they admitted 9/11 and described the codes used for the four plane targets, the masterminds admitted to the Jenny code, the code for representing the date 9/11, and used the symbolism of the “Green Birds.”
Osama bin Laden later invoked the symbolism in his video “The 19 Martyrs.” A FAQ on the Azzam Publications Web site explained that “In the Hearts of Green Birds” refers to what is inside.
The mailer’s use of “Greendale School” as the return address for the letters to the senators is also revealing. A May 2001 letter that al-Zawahiri sent to Egyptian Islamic Jihad members abroad establish that he used “school” as a code word for the Egyptian militant Islamists.
Green symbolizes Islam and was the Prophet Muhammad’s color. By Greendale School, the anthrax perp likely was being cute, just as Yazid Sufaat was being cute in naming his lab Green Laboratory Medicine. “Dale” means “river valley.” Greendale likely refers to green river valley — i.e., Cairo’s Egyptian Islamic Jihad or the Islamic Group.
The mailer probably is announcing that the anthrax is from either Egyptian Islamic Jihad, Egyptian Islamic Group or Jihad-al Qaida, which is actually the full name of the group after the merger of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad and al-Qaida. At the Darunta complex where jihadis trained, recruits would wear green uniforms, except for Friday when they were washed. In a Hadith the messenger of Allah explains that the souls of the martyrs are in the hearts of green birds that fly wherever they please in the Paradise.
The “4th grade” in the return address “4th Grade, Greendale School,” is American slang for “sergeant” — the rank of the head of al-Qaida’s military commander Mohammed Atef, who along with al-Zawahiri had overseen Project Zabadi, al-Qaida’s biochemical program.
The business-size sheet of stationery containing the anthrax to the National Enquirer was decorated with pink and blue clouds around the edges. In admitting that he had taken over supervising the development of anthrax for use against the U.S. upon Atef’s death (in November 2001), Khalid Sheikh Mohammed separately noted that “I was the Media Operations Director for Al-Sahab or ‘The Clouds,’ under Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahiri.”
Motive
As to the reason Sens. Daschle and Leahy would have been targeted — they are commonly simplistically viewed as “liberals.” Al-Zawahiri likely targeted Sens. Daschle and Leahy to receive anthrax letters, in addition to various media outlets, because of the appropriations made pursuant to the “Leahy Law” to military and security forces. That money has prevented the militant Islamists from achieving their goals.
Al-Qaida members and sympathizers feel that the FBI’s involvement in countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Indonesia, and the Philippines undermines their prospects of establishing a worldwide Caliphate. The fall 2001 letter from al-Qaida spokesman al-Kuwaiti, directed to the American public — but which was not released until 2006 — claimed that the green light had been given for a U.S. bio attack (1) from people who were U.S. based, (2) above suspicion, and (3) with access to U.S. government and intelligence information.
He explained: “There is no animosity between us. You involved yourselves in this battle. The war is between us and the Jews. You interfered in our countries and influenced our governments to strike against the Moslems.”
Sen. Leahy was chairman of both the Judiciary Committee overseeing the FBI and Appropriations Subcommittee in charge of foreign aid to these countries. In late September 2001, it was announced that the president was seeking a blanket waiver that would lift all restrictions on aid to military and security units in connection with pursuing the militant Islamists.
This extradition and imprisonment of al-Qaida leaders, along with U.S. support for Israel and the Mubarak government in Egypt, remains foremost in the mind of al- Zawahiri. At the height of the development of his biological weapons program, his brother was extradited pursuant to a death sentence in the “Albanian returnees” case.
It’s hard to keep up with the stories about billion dollar appropriations, debt forgiveness, and loan guarantees to countries like Egypt and Israel and now even Pakistan. Those appropriations pale in comparison to the many tens of billions in appropriations relating to the invasion of Iraq.
In late January 2001, the immigration minister in Canada and the justice minister received an anthrax threat in the form of anthrax hoax letters. The letters were sent upon the announcement of bail hearing for a detained Egyptian Islamic Jihad leader who had managed bin Laden’s farm in Sudan. Canada announced on Jan. 18, 2001, that an Egyptian Islamic Jihad Shura member, Mahmoud Mahjoub, would have a Jan. 30 bail hearing.
Soon after, someone sent an anthrax threat letter to the minister of Citizenship and Immigration. Minister Caplan had signed the security certificate authorizing Mahjoub’s detention.
After arriving in Canada in 1996, Mahjoub continued to be in contact with high level militants, including his former supervisor, al-Duri, an Iraqi reputed to be bin Laden’s chief procurer of weapons of mass destruction.
In February 2001, the CIA briefed the president in a Presidential Daily Bulletin (“PDB”) on “Bin Laden’s Interest in Biological and Radiological Weapons” in a still-classified briefing memorandum. Like the PDB on bin Laden’s threat to use planes to free the blind sheik, the February 2001 PDB likely would illustrate the wisdom that most intelligence is open source.
The FBI’s Investigation
In connection with defending a civil rights claim by former USAMRIID scientist Steve Hatfill, the FBI described the anthrax probe as “unprecedented in the FBI’s 95-year history.” Agents had spent 231,000 hours up to that date.
The head of the investigation said that the investigation was “active and ongoing” and said agents’ time was divided between checking into individuals who might be connected to the attacks and a scientific effort to determine how the spores themselves were made using “cutting-edge forensic techniques and analysis.”
The court papers did not indicate that Hatfill was still among those being investigated. Hatfill was labeled a “person of interest” in the probe in August 2002 by Attorney General John Ashcroft in responding to press inquiries for the reason for searches and surveillance that Hatfill had reported.
By late 2003, all conspicuous surveillance had ended, according to two unnamed federal law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. The head of the investigation cautioned that Hatfill’s lawsuit could force the FBI to divulge its “interest in specific individuals,” who could flee the country, destroy evidence, intimidate witnesses, or concoct alibis.
In a statement issued June 16, 2004, the 9/11 Commission staff concluded that “al-Qaida had an ambitious biological weapons program and was making advances in its ability to produce anthrax prior to Sept. 11. According to Director of Central Intelligence George Tenet, al-Qaida’s ability to conduct an anthrax attack is one of the most immediate threats the United States is likely to face.”
Authorities had received information, for example, from at least one detainee at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, that there was an anthrax storage facility in the Kabul area. Amerithrax Agents checked the Kabul area in May 2004 but came up empty. Then in November 2004, on further information, agents had spent several weeks unsuccessfully searching an area in the Kandahar mountains, several hundred miles outside of Kabul. In 2005, an internal report was prepared summarizing the status of the investigation.
On March 31, 2005, the Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction, in its “Report to the President of the United States,” concluded “al-Qaida’s biological program was further along, particularly with regard to Agent X [anthrax], than pre-War intelligence indicated.
The program was extensive, well-organized, and operated for two years before Sept. 11, but intelligence insights into the program were limited. The program involved several sites around Afghanistan. Two of these sites contained commercial equipment and were operated by individuals with special training.”
MSNBC, relying on an unnamed FBI spokesperson, reported that the FBI has narrowed the pool of labs known to have had the US Army anthrax strain known as the “Ames strain” that was a match from 16 to four but could not rule out that it was obtained overseas. Thus, not only was it likely that an al-Qaida perpetrator was associated with an NGO and university, but there had to have been access to a virulent anthrax strain that was only in a score or so of known labs, most of which were affiliated in some way with the U.S. government.
In a court filing dated May 20, 2005, an attorney for the United States Department of Justice wrote: “The investigation into the anthrax attacks is one of the largest and most complex investigations in law enforcement history. To bring those responsible to justice, the investigation remains intensely active.”
In a press conference in October 2005, Director Mueller said that the FBI was pursuing all domestic and international leads. He said, “Remember Oklahoma City. Remember 9/11.” He declined to say if they had a suspect. That year, FBI agents visited Asia, Africa and Afghanistan in the course of the Amerithrax investigation.
In his recent book, former CIA Director George Tenet noted: “The most startling revelation from this intelligence success story was that the anthrax program had been developed in parallel to 9/11 planning.”
The FBI’s profile includes a U.S.-based supporter of the militant Islamists. Attorney General Ashcroft once explained that an “either-or” approach is not useful. The media has tended to overlook the fact that when the FBI uses the word “domestic” the word includes a U.S.-based, highly-educated supporter of the militant Islamists.
Whatever your political persuasion, and whatever disagreements about individual issues relating to due process and civil liberties, the FBI and CIA deserve our support on this issue. The country, after all, is facing this threat together.
First, the nature of such an investigation is that we lack sufficient information to second-guess (or even know) what the FBI agents and Postal Inspectors on the Amerithrax Task Force are doing. Media reports are a poor approximation of reality because of the lack of good sources. Indeed, there has been compartmentalization and divergent views even within the Task Force. After the leaks regarding Hatfill, Mueller instituted “stovepiping” even within the Task Force so as to minimize the risk of further leaks.
Second, hindsight is 20/20.
Third, now that the leaks relating to Hatfill seem to have long since been plugged, it is not likely we could do better in striking the appropriate balance between due process and national security.
Based only on the “open source” material readily available through databases such as “Google News” and the CIA’s Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS), it appears that the solution to the Amerithrax case lies at the intersection of Ayman Avenue and Rahman Road. If the FBI does not succeed in its investigation, we might be looking at a different crossroads altogether.
Ross Getman is a New York-based lawyer who maintains a Web site devoted to the 2001 anthrax attacks.
DXer said
I explained the FBI’s interest in Ali Al-Timimi as an “anthrax weapons suspect” years ago. That criminal prosecution has now dropped, to my eye, from PACER.
Is Ali Al-Timimi cooperating against Anwar? Where is the court docket?
http://www.globalpolitician.com/print.asp?id=3278
Hardball Tactics In An Era Of Threats
By Ross E. Getman, Esq.
a. Amerithrax: The Other “Person of Interest”
A colleague of famed Russian bio-weaponeer Ken Alibek and former head of The United States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases (“USAMRIID”) Charles Bailey, has been convicted of sedition and sentenced to life in prison plus 70 years. He worked in a program co-sponsored by the American Type Culture Collection (“ATCC”) and had access to ATCC facilities, as well as facilities of the DARPA-funded Center for Biodefense at George Mason University then run by Dr. Alibek and Dr. Bailey. The bionformatics grad student once had a high security clearance for mathematical support work for the Navy.
The Washington Post, in an article “Hardball Tactics in an Era of Threats,” dated September 3, 2006 summarized events relating to George Mason University microbiology graduate student Ali Al-Timimi. Al-Timimi had rock star status in Salafist circles and lectured in July 2001 (in Toronto) and August 2001 (in London) on the coming “end of times” and signs of the coming day of judgment. He spoke alongside officials of a charity, Islamic Assembly of North America (”IANA”) promoting the views of Bin Laden’s sheiks. Another speaker was Ali’s mentor, Bilal Philips, an undicted WTC 1993 conspirator. Bilal Philips worked in the early 1990s to recruit US servicemen according to testimony in that trial and interviews in which Dr. Philips explained the Saudi-funded program.
The Washington Post explained last Fall:
‘In late 2002, the FBI’s Washington field office received two similar tips from local Muslims: Timimi was running ‘an Islamic group known as the Dar al-Arqam’ that had ‘conducted military-style training,’ FBI special agent John Wyman would later write in an affidavit.
Wyman and another agent, Wade Ammerman, pounced on the tips. Searching the Internet, they found a speech by Timimi celebrating the crash of the space shuttle Columbia in 2003, according to the affidavit. The agents also found that Timimi was in contact with Sheikh Safar al-Hawali, a Saudi whose anti-Western speeches in the early 1990s had helped inspire bin Laden.
The agents reached an alarming conclusion: ‘Timimi is an Islamist supporter of Bin Laden’ who was leading a group ‘training for jihad,’ the agent wrote in the affidavit. The FBI even came to speculate that Timimi, a doctoral candidate pursuing cancer gene research, might have been involved in the anthrax attacks.
On a frigid day in February 2003, the FBI searched Timimi’s brick townhouse on Meadow Field Court, a cul-de-sac near Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax. Among the items they were seeking, according to court testimony: material on weapons of mass destruction.”
The FBI first contacted Timimi shortly after 9/11. He met with FBI agents 7 or 8 times in the months leading up to his arrest. Al-Timimi is a US citizen born in Washington DC His house was searched, his passport taken and his telephone monitored. Ali Al Timimi defended his PhD thesis in computational biology shortly after his indictment for recruiting young men to fight the US.
Some of his communications in 2002 with dissident Saudi sheik Sheik Safar al-Hawali, one of the two fundamentalist sheikhs who were friends and mentors of Bin Laden, were intercepted. The two radical sheiks had been imprisoned from 1994-1999. Al-Hawali’s detention was expressly the subject of Al Qaeda’s claim of responsibility for Bin Laden’s 1996 Declaration of War against the United States and the 1998 embassy bombings.
Upon his indictment, in September 2004, al-Timimi explained he had been offered a plea bargain of 14 years, but he declined. He quoted Sayyid Qutb. He said he remembered “reading his books and loving his teaching” as a child, and that Qutb’s teaching was prevented from signing something that was false by “the finger that bears witness.” He noted that he and his lawyers asked that authorities hold off the indictment until he had received his PhD, but said that unfortunately they did not wait.
The indictment against the paintball defendants alleged that at an Alexandria, Virginia residence, in the presence of a representative of BIF, the defendants watched videos depicting Mujahadeen engaged in Jihad and discussed a training camp in Bosnia. His defense lawyer says that the FBI searched the townhouse of “to connect him to the 9/11 attacks or to schemes to unleash a biological or nuclear attack.” Famed head of the former Russian bioweaponeering program Ken Alibek told me that he would occasionally see him in the hallways at George Mason, where they both were in the microbiology department, and was vaguely aware that he was an islamic hardliner. When what his defense counsel claims was an FBI attempt to link him to a planned biological attack failed, defense counsel says that investigators focused on his connections to the men who attended his lectures at the local Falls Church, Va. In the end, he was indicted just for inciting them to go to Afghanistan to defend the Taliban against the United States. During deliberations, he reportedly was very calm, reading Genome Technology and other scientific journals. He was convicted and sentenced to life
imprisonment plus 70 years.
At the same time the FBI was searching the townhouse of PhD candidate Ali Timimi, searches and arrests moved forward elsewhere. In Moscow, Idaho, FBI agents interviewed Nabil Albaloushi. (They apparently searched his apartment at the same time they searched the apartment of IANA webmaster Sami al-Hussayen, who they had woken from bed at 4:00 a.m.) Albaloushi was a PhD candidate expert in drying foodstuffs. His thesis in 2003 was 350 pages filled with charts of drying coefficients.
Interceptions showed a very close link between IANA’s Sami al-Hussayen and Sheikh al-Hawali, to include the setting up of web sites, the providing of vehicles for extended communication, and telephone contact with intermediaries of Sheikh al-Hawali. Al-Hussayen had al-Hawali’s phone number upon the search of his belongings upon his arrest. Former Washington State University animal geneticist and nutrition researcher Ismail Diab, who had moved to Syracuse to work for an IANA-spin-off, also was charged in Syracuse and released as a material witness to a financial investigation of the IANA affiliate “Help The Needy.” After the government failed to ask Dr. Diab any questions for nearly 3 months, the magistrate bail restrictions and removed the electronic monitoring and curfew requirements.
In Moscow, Idaho, the activities by IANA webmaster Sami al-Hussayen that drew scrutiny involved these same two radical sheiks. U.S. officials say the two sheiks influenced al Qaeda’s belief that Muslims should wage holy war against the U.S. until it ceases to support Israel and withdraws from the Middle East. Sami Hussayen, who was acquitted, made numerous calls and wrote many e-mails to the two clerics, sometimes giving advice to them about running Arabic-language Web sites on which they espoused their anti-Western views.
At his sentencing, Dr. Al-Timimi spoke in clear and measured tones:
“I will not admit guilt nor seek the Court’s mercy. I do this not out of any disrespect to the Court. I do this simply because I am innocent. My claim of innocence is not because of any inherent misunderstanding on my part as to the nature of the crimes for which I was convicted nor is it because my Muslim belief recognizes sharia rather than secular law. It is merely because I am innocent. … We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. I declare the government’s recitation poor as it stripped those words of their meaning. *** Imprisonment of any term, as this Court well knows, is a crisis for the incarcerated and his or her loved ones. I am no exception to that. But the real crisis brought on my imprisonment, I sincerely believe is America’s. For if my conviction is to stand, it would mean that two hundred and thirty years of America’s tradition of protecting the individual from the tyrannies and whims of the sovereign will have come to an end. And that which is exploited today to persecute a single member of a minority will most assuredly come back to haunt the majority tomorrow.”
KSM invoked George Washington in his statement to a military tribunal in March 2007. That was far less compelling because he was admitting to many serious crimes. The evidence presented at trial, however, was offered only to show that Dr. Al-Timimi was guilty of nothing other than exhorting some young men to go abroad and defend their faith. It seems that, under the government’s case, his only crime was to put his religion before his nation-state. He was sentenced to life in prison plus 70 years. As one Washington Post reporter said of such cases, the government seems to be engaged in shadow boxing.
As Al-Timimi explained in his eloquent statement upon sentencing, he was convicted out of fear.
The former head of the DARPA Biological Countermeasures Program, Dr. Stephen S. Morse, who oversaw the funding of programs such as at the GMU Center for Biodefense, in an interview airing on Charlie Rose on October 10, 2001, explained that there was no need for the public to fear. He noted that maybe the mailer had a personal reason — no reason to assume the Florida death related to terrorism or a large group. Dr. Morse urged that we put it into perspective and inform the public so as to remove the mystery. He explained we should not allow ourselves to feel fear . As reiterated in other interviews that week, he said mailed anthrax was not a great danger. As those words aired, more letters were en route from that mailbox at 10 Nassau St. in Princeton. The anthrax mailer asked a pointed question in the letter containing a much more highly refined product — product that aerosolized much more readily.
The new batch of letters asked: “Are you afraid?”
The answer was clearly yes.
In a November 30, 2004 letter of appeal circulated in sympathetic circles in the US and the UK, Bilal Philips encouraged Muslims to assist Al-Timimi “financially, morally or politically.” The letter urged that “whatever the charges against him [Al-Timimi] may be, from an Islamic perspective they are false and contrived in order to silence the Da’wah to correct Islam.” Dr. Timimi has a substantial pending appeal relating to warrantless wiretapping and the First Amendment. Dr. Timimi’s attorney likely is understandably annoyed that they keep moving Al-Timimi between prisons. George Washington University Professor Turley, his counsel on appeal, explained that last year they were playing a game of “Where’s Waldo?”, preventing him from consulting with his client.
b. The Education of Ali Al-Timimi
Milton Viorst, who knew Ali as a teenager, wrote a fascinating and sympathetic portrait in “The Education of Ali Al-Timimi” that appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, June 2006. In Saudi Arabia, Al-Timimi had been mentored by a Saudi-trained Canadian imam Bilal Philips. Philips was Al-Timimi’s Islamic Studies teacher at Manaret Riyadh High School in the early 1980s. Al-Timimi adopted Philips’ view that “The clash of civilizations is a reality,” and “Western culture led by the United States is an enemy of Islam.” Between 1991 and 1993, Philips relocated to the Mindinao, Philippines, where he taught at an islamic school. In 1993, according to an interview he gave in a London-based Arabic-language magazine interview, Philips ran a program to convert US soldiers to Islam stationed in Saudi Arabia during the first Persian Gulf War. Philips was made a proselytization official by the Saudi Air Force. Philips followed up in the US, with telephone calls and visits intended to recruit the veterans as potential members of Bin Laden’s network. He enlisted assistance from others based in the U.S. and members of Islamic centers all over the US. These conversion specialists financed pilgrimages for US veterans and would later send Muslim clerics in the United States to their homes. Bilal Philips encouraged some converts from this program to fight in Bosnia in the 1990s. He enlisted WTC plotter Clement Rodney Hampton-El to help him with the program. Hampton-El was associated with the Al-Kifah center in Brooklyn. Hampton-El in trial testimony described a meeting at the Saudi embassy in 1992 at which Philips gave him a list of US Army personnel to approach. Bilal Philips was named along with Osama bin Laden and Bin Laden brother-in-law Khalifa as unindicted co-conspirators in the Day of Terror trial that sent the “blind sheik” to prison.
Bilal Philips was a good friend of Adnan El-Shukrijumah’s father. Philips wrote in his guestbook on the family website his son created about learning Arabic: “He was one of my first teachers in Arabic and
is a dear friend, though geography and world politics has separated us.
Tell him that, as always, I love him for the sake of Allaah. Was salaam, Bilal.” Adnan’s family website also contained a picture of another “unindicted co-conspirator” of the ’93 bombing, Siraj Wahhaj, who would speak as the same Falls Church mosque as Al-Timimi. After completing his religious education in Saudi Arabia in Medina, Ali Al Timimi had returned to the United States and received a second bachelor’s degree — this time in computer science at the University of Maryland, while also studying software programming at George Washington University. Timimi spoke at IANA conferences in 1993 and 1994. A senior al Qaeda recruiter, Abdelrahman Dosari, also spoke at three IANA conferences in the early 1990s. In December 1993, Al-Dorsari (a.k.a. Shaykh Abu Abdel Aziz “Barbaros”) spoke on ‘Jihad & Revival” and exhorted young men to fight for their faith as Al-Timimi would later be accused of doing privately with young men in Virginia.
At the first annual IANA conference in 1993, other speakers included Bilal Philips, a fellow named Mohammed Abdul-Rahman from Afghanistan, Mohammad Qutb from Cairo, and Gamal Sultan from Cairo.
There was a Mohammad Abdul-Rahman who was the blind sheiik’s son. The blind sheik would soon be sentenced for terrorism relating to WTC 1993 and the “Day of Terror” plot directed at NYC landmarks. (In 2000, Mohammed Abdel Rahman, a/k/a “Asadallah,” who is a son of Abdel Rahman, was sitting alongside Bin Laden and Zawahiri and was videotaped encouraging others to “avenge your Sheikh” and “go to the spilling of blood.)
And there was a Mohammad Qutb who was Syed Qutb’s brother who taught Bin Laden at university in Saudi Arabia, having emigrated to Saudi Arabia in the 1980s. Qutb, as al-Hawali’s teacher, also strongly influenced al-Hawali. Al-Hawali would be sent to prison in 1994. In the 1970s, bin Laden was taught by Sayyid Qutb’s brother, Dr. Mohammad Qutb, and a Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood member, Dr. Abdullah Azzam, who later would found Al Qaeda. Azzam’s ideas of non-compromise, violent means, and organizing and fighting on a global scale were central to Al Qaeda methods. (A sentencing memo in the US District Court here in Syracuse mentions a videotaped interview made by IANA Vice Chairman Rafil Dhafir of Azzam in Afghanistan in the early 1980s but the local ACLU head assures me there was no enhancement in sentencing for terrorism.)
And there was a Gamal Sultan, the former EIJ member who would seek to start a political party in 1999 with EIJ founder Kamal Habib that sought to chart a nonviolent course (given the practical reality that the movement had been so infiltrated by the security forces), but that the blind sheik declined to endorse. (In 2000, on a trip to Pittsburgh, Gamal Sultan and his colleages thought Pittsburgh reminded them of Kandahar given its rolling hills.)
In 1995 Ali Al Timimi headed an Islamic Assembly of North America (”IANA”) delegation to China together with IANA President Bassem Khafagi and Syracuse oncologist and IANA Vice Chairman Rhafil Dhafir. The IANA condemned the UN women’s rights conference as “an attack on Islam.” They urged Imams worldwide to tell Muslims about “the hidden agenda of this UN Conference, and how to foil the libertine and Westernization movements in the Islamic world.”
Salafist commentator Umar Lee has explained that during this period “the most dynamic part of the salafi movement in the DC-area were the students Sheikh Ali al-Timimi. In the DC area, who in the 1990’s co-founded a very small with a small office in DC for an organization called the Society for the Adherence to the Sunnah. In 1994, cooperation with Al-Timimi’s Society for the Adherence to the Sunnah, Washington, D.C., IANA held its first annual summer camp in English in early July, close to Baltimore, MD. The theme of the camp is, “Living the Shahadah in America.”
The month before they searched Ali’s townhouse, they questioned Mr. Lee. Police arrested Mr. Lee, an American-born Muslim in St. Louis, in mid-February 2003 on an unrelated charge and questioned him about whether he was planning any attacks against the U.S. government. Bret Darren Lee, whose Muslim name is Umar ben-Livan (and for simplicity he shortens it to “Umar Lee”, said Monday that he was stunned by the questions asked by the FBI agents: “I just looked at them. I didn’t think they’d asked me anything worth responding to.” Mr. Lee said he was sleeping in his apartment about 5 a.m. Sunday when he was woken by loud knocking on his door. But rather than a Muslim neighbor waking him for prayers, it was several police officers with weapons drawn. They put Lee up against a wall and asked whether he had any weapons in the apartment. The National Rifle Association sticker affixed to the apartment’s front door was a cheap version of an alarm system. While he was down at the station house, the FBI agents spent a half-hour questioning his wife about whether he was a terrorist and his thoughts about the Taliban Author Milton Viorst, the father of a boy who knew Al-Timimi as young teen, wrote: “Dozens of his talks are available on the Internet in text and in audio format. They contain little about Arab concerns with the Arab-Israeli wars, the rivalries between the Arab states, the problems faced by Muslims living in the West, or even the war in Iraq. Rather, they reveal a man who reflects deeply on the Islamic vision of Judgment day, prophecy, the nature of the divine, and fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) — subjects with which he grappled in Medina and in his private reading.” Al Timimi’s lectures (in English after Arabic opening) include “The Negative Portrayal Of Islam In the Media,” “Signs Before the Day of Judgment,” “Advice to the UK Salafis” and “Crusade Complex: Western Perceptions of Islam.” In one of his taped talks available online, al-Timimi warned Muslims not to become too friendly with non-Muslim “disbelievers” or even work for them if other jobs were available. “A Muslim should never allow the disbeliever to have the upper hand.” He was echoing the sentiments expressed in a lecture available on the internet by the IANA Chairman Rafil Dhafir, who said if a non-muslim mows your lawn, by all means, mow his lawn. But don’t be a friend to a non-muslim.
Al-Timimi’s increasing computer skills got him a job at SRA International where Ali worked as a “bioinformatics software architect” providing information technology to the government. Some of his jobs required that Ali obtain a high-level security clearance. One job resulted in a letter of recommendation from the White House. He then enrolled in a PhD program in computational biology at George Mason University.
By 2000, Ali Al-Timimi was already taking advanced courses at Mason in computational sciences. Timimi once explained his research: “I am currently a research scientist at the Center for Biomedical Genomics and Informatics, George Mason University. I am involved in the analysis of the microarray data generated by the CTRF Cancer Genomics Project. Likewise, I am developing new computational approaches and technologies in support of this project.” The webpage for Timimi’s program at the time explained: “Faculty members and graduate students in the Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology participate in numerous collaborative efforts including but not limited to the following Laboratories and Research Centers: Center for Biomedical Genomics and Informatics (GMU) , Laboratory for Microbial and Environmental Biocomplexity (GMU) and Center for Biodefense (GMU). Beginning the Spring of 2002, GMU hired Ali to develop a computer program that coordinated the research at several universities, letting him go only after he came under suspicion by the FBI. In Spring 2002, according to salary information obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, GMU hired him for $70,000 a year. In 2002, the employment was through the School of Computational Sciences and in 2003, it was through Life Sciences Grants & Contracts.
The School of Computational Sciences at George Mason is a joint venture between the American Type Culture Collection (”ATCC”) and George Mason.
The joint venture is an effort to maximize research efforts by combining the academic and applied approaches to research. The School’s first activity was to teach an ATCC course in DNA techniques adapted for George Mason students. The ATCC is an internationally renown non-profit organization that houses the world’s largest and most diverse archive of biological materials. The Prince William Campus shares half of Discovery Hall with ATCC. ATCC moved to its current state-of-the-art laboratory at Discovery Hall (Prince Willam II) in 1998. ATCC’s 106,000-square-foot facility has nearly 35,000 square feet of laboratory space with a specialized air handling system and Biosafety Level 2 and 3 containment stations. The ATCC bioinformatics (BIF) program carries out research in various areas of biological information management relevant to its mission. BIF scientists interact with laboratory scientists in microbiology, cell biology, and molecular biology at ATCC and other laboratories throughout the world. ATCC has strong collaborations with a large number of academic institutions, including computational sciences at George Mason University. Through these partnerships, the George Mason Prince William Campus offers George Mason microbiology students an opportunity for students to be involved in current research and gain access to facilities and employment opportunities at ATCC and other partner companies.
While I’ve not yet found any reference directly confirming Timimi’s room number, the person who inherited his old telephone number (3-4294) is Victor Morozov in the Center for Biodefense, who upon joining the faculty and inheriting the phone number was in Rm. 154A, very near Dr. Bailey in Rm 156B. It has been suggested that it instead was Rm. 154B, in the middle of the office suite. GMU Information Services helpfully looked up the listings from 2001 directory. As of October 2001 (when the directory is published according to GMU Information Services), judging from the directory, Al-Timimi was still just a graduate student. Former USAMRIID head and Ames strain anthrax researcher Charles Bailey, in Rm 156B, was given a Gateway desktop computer in mid-March 2001 (upon his arrival) — serial number 0227315480. Like the one Dr. Alibek apparently would get the next year in 156D. One way to think of proximity analysis — a form of true crime analysis — is the number of feet or inches between 154B and 156B/156D. Another way is to think of it is in terms of the number of feet or inches to the hard drives.
c. “The Straight Path”: Connecting the Dots
Al-Timimi was on an advisory board member of Assirat al-Mustaqueem (”The Straight Path”), an international Arabic language magazine that published out of Pittsburgh. Assirat, produced in Pittsburgh beginning in 1991, was the creation of a group of North American muslims, many of whom were senior members of IANA. Its Advisory Committee included Bassem Khafagi and Ali Al-Timimi. Two staff members who wrote for Assirat then joined IANA’s staff when it folded in 2000. They had been members of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad and were activists in the movement. One of the former EIJ members, Gamal Sultan, was the editor of the quarterly IANA magazine in 2002. Mr. Sultan’s brother Mahmoud wrote for Assirat also. The most prominent writer was the founder of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, Kamal Habib. He led the Egyptian Islamic Jihad at the time of Anwar Sadat’s assassination when young doctor Zawahiri’s cell merged with a few other cells to form the EIJ. Two writers for Assirat in Pittsburgh had once shared a Portland, Oregon address with Al Qaeda member Wadih El-Hage who served a Bin Laden’s “personal secretary.”
Kamal Habib had been a founding member of Egyptian Islamic Jihad and had spent 10 years in jail for the assassination of Anwar Sadat. In the late 1970s, the cell run by the young doctor Zawahiri joined with three other groups to become Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ) under Habib’s leadership. After a visit in 2000, Gamal Sultan said Pittsburgh was known as the “American Kandahar,” given its rolling hills. Besides forming the Islah (”’Reform) party wth Gamal Sultan, Mr. Kamal Habib contributed to Al Manar al Jadeed, IANA’s quarterly journal. The pair sought the blind sheik’s endorsement of their political party venture in March 1999. They were not seeking the official participation of organizations like the Egyptian Islamic Jihad or the Egyptian Islamic Group, they were hoping the groups would not oppose it. The pair wanted members of the movement to be free to join in peaceful partisan activity. They were not deterred when the blind sheik responded that the project was pointless, at the same he withdrew his support for the cease-fire initiative that had been backed by the imprisoned leaders of the Egyptian Islamic Group.
In early April 2001, Nawaf Alhazmi and Hani Hanjour rented an apartment in Falls Church, Virginia, for about a month, with the assistance of a man they met at the mosque. Nawaf Al-Hazmi had been at the January 2000 meeting at Yazid Sufaat’s Malaysian condominium in January 2000. Hijackers Nawaf and Hani Hanjour, a fellow pilot who was his friend from Saudi Arabia, attended sermons at the Dar al Hijrah mosque in Falls Church, where Al-Timimi was located until he established the nearby center. The FBI reports that at an imam who had recently also moved from San Diego had closed door meetings with hijackers Nawaf Alhazmi and Khalid Almihdhar in 2000 while all three of them were living in San Diego. Police later found the phone number of the Falls Church mosque when they searched the apartment of 9/11 planner Ramzi bin al-Shibh in Germany. In his 2007 book, Center of the Storm, George Tenet noted that Ramzi bin al-Shibh had a CBRN role.
Yusuf Wells, who was a fundraiser for the Benevolence International Foundation, visited Northern Virginia over the April 14-15, 2001 weekend. The previous month he had been at Iowa State University on a similar visit. On April 15, 2001, he was brought to a paintball game. In the second season, they had become more secretive and an inquiry by an FBI Special Agent was made in 2000 of one of the members about the games. Part of BIF fundraiser Wells’ job involved writing reports about his fund raising trips. In his April 15, 2001 report he writes:
“I was taken on a trip to the woods where a group of twenty brothers get together to play Paintball. It is a very secret and elite group and as I understand it, it is an honor to be invited to come. The brothers are fully geared up in camouflage fatigues, facemasks, and state of the art paintball weaponry. They call it ‘training’ and are very serious about it. I knew at least 4 or 5 of them were ex US military, the rest varied.
Most all of them young men between the ages of 17-35. I was asked by the amir of the group to give a talk after Thuhr prayer. I spoke about seeing the conditions of Muslims overseas while with BIF, and how the fire of Islam is still very much alive in the hearts of the people even in the midst of extreme oppression. I also stressed the idea of being balanced. That we should not just be jihadis and perfect our fighting skills, but we should also work to perfect our character and strengthen our knowledge of Islam. I also said that Muslims are not just book reading cowards either, and that they should be commended for forming such a group.
Many were confused as to why I had been ‘trusted’ to join the group so quickly, but were comforted after my brief talk. Some offered to help me get presentations on their respective localities.”
According to what Umar Lee tells me, Al-Timimi was not friends with the Virginia defendants — at least he did not regularly associate with them outside his classes they attended. But they were awed by Timimi, a man who could both translate 7th-century Koranic Arabic, talk about astrobiology with friends, or joke about the Redskins. The prosecutor argued that the paintball defendants “couldn’t figure out how to tie their shoelaces without asking al-Timimi.” The group looked up to Al-Timimi and sought his advice on all sorts of questions — to include whether it was permissible to pray in a moving car and whether one could cut short his prayers due to an approaching scorpion.
After 9/11, although a dinner that night was cancelled in light of the events of the day, Al-Timimi sought “to organize a plan in case of anti-Muslim backlash and to get the brothers together.” The group got together on September 16. Al-Timimi when he came in told the group to turn of their phones, unplug the answering machine, and pull down the curtains. Al-Timimi told the group that Mullah Omar had called upon Muslims to defend Afghanistan. Al-Timimi read parts of the al-Uqla fatwa to the group gave the fatwa to Khan with the instructions to burn it after he has read it. Al Timimi said the duty to engage in jihad is “fard ayn” — an individual duty of all Muslims. Over a lunch, Al-Timimi with two of the group, Al-Timimi told them not to carry anything suspicious and if they were stopped on the way to Pakistan to ask for their mother and cry like a baby. He told them to carry a magazine. The next day the pair left for Pakistan. The group from the September 16 meeting met again in early October, and a number left for Pakistan immediately after that meeting.
One man, Kwon, who had just become a U.S. citizen in August 2001, went to the mountain training camps of Lashkar-e-Taiba. The U.S. placed on its terrorist list in December 2001. Kwon practiced with a semi-automatic weapons and learned to fire a grenade launcher, but he was not able to join the Taliban. The border between Afghanistan and Pakistan closed as U.S. forces took control of Afghanistan shortly before Kwon completed his training. His trainers suggested that he instead go back to the United States and gather information for the holy warriors. Kwon told jurors at al-Timimi’s trial how he first heard Al-Timimi speak in 1997 at an Islamic Assembly of North America conference in Chicago and then found that he lectured locally near his home in Northern Virginia. “Russian Hell” — a jihad video that featured bloody clips of a Chechen Muslim rebel leader executing a Russian prisoner of war — was a favorite among the videos that the group exchanged and discussed. “They (the videos) motivated us. It was like they gave us inspiration,” Kwon told the jurors.
Kwon recalled driving Al-Timimi home from the mosque Sept. 11, 2001 after the terrorist attacks. He said Al-Timimi and another scholar argued, with Al-Timimi characterizing the attacks as a punishment of America from God, while his fellow scholar decried the attacks. “He told me to gather some brothers, to have a contingency plan in case there were mass hostilities toward Muslims in America.” Kwon said Al-Timimi told the group that the effort to spread Islam in the United States was over and that the only other options open to them were to repent, leave the U.S. and join the mujahadeen — the holy warriors preparing to defend Afghanistan against the coming U.S. invasion. Four days later, Kwon was on the plane to Pakistan. “I made the decision to go, but (Al-Timimi) was a big part of my decision to go.”
In 2001, Al-Timimi kept the personal papers of IANA President Khafagi at his home for safekeeping. His taped audio lecturers were among the most popular at the charity Islamic Assembly of North America in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He knew its President, Khafagi, both through work with CAIR and IANA. Al Timimi was close to his former teacher Safar al Hawali, the dissident Saudi sheik who once close to Osama bin Laden and whose writings hail what he calls the inevitable downfall of the West. Al Hawali has played a public role in mediating between Saudi militants
and the government. Al-Timimi sought to represent and explain the views of radical sheik Al-Hawali in a letter he sent to members of Congress. The same nondescript office building at 360 S. Washington St. in Falls Church where Timimi used to lecture at Dar al Arqam housed the Muslim World League.
The Hawali October 6, 2002 letter drafted by Al-Timimi was hand delivered to every member of the US Congress just before their vote authorizing the use of force against Iraq, warning of the disastrous consequences that would follow an invasion of Iraq. Dr. Timimi’s defense committee explained on their website:
“Because Dr. Al-Timimi felt that he did not have enough stature to send a letter in his name on behalf of Muslims, he contacted Dr. Al-Hawali among others to send the letter. Dr. Al-Hawali agreed and sent a revised version which Dr. Al-Timimi then edited and had hand delivered to every member of Congress.”
In addition to the lucidly written October 6, 2002 letter, Hawali had sent a lengthy October 15, 2001 “Open Letter” to President Bush in which he had rejoiced in the 9/11 attacks. One Al-Hawali lecture sought to be introduced in the prosecution of the IANA webmaster, applauded the killing of Jews and called for more killing, praised suicide bombings, and said of Israel that it’s time to “fight and expel this hated country that consists of those unclean, defiled, the cursed.”
Bin Laden had referred to Sheik al-Hawali in his 1996 declaration of war on America. Prior to the 1998 embassy bombings, Ayman’s London cell sent letters to three different media outlets in Europe claiming responsibility for the bombings and referring to Hawali’s imprisonment.
In two of the letters, the conditions laid out as to how the violence would stop were (1) release of Sheik Hawali (who along with another had been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia in 1994) and (2) the release of blind sheik Abdel Rahman (who had been imprisoned in connection with WTC 1993). Hawali was released in 1999 after he agreed to stop advocating against the Saudi regime and agreed to limit himself to urging the destruction of the United States and Israel.
The authorities had an interest in a lecture by dissident Saudi Sheik al-Hawali upon a search on February 26, 2003 of an IANA-connected scientist, a radiological engineer, in Syracuse, New York. A federal magistrate, however, found that we had not reached the point where such reading material would be a reason for denial of bail.
Al-Timimi sent out a February 1, 2003 email in Arabic containing an article that said:
“There is no doubt Muslims were overjoyed because of the adversity that befell their greatest enemy. The Columbia crash made me feel, and God is the only One to know, that this is a strong signal that Western Supremacy (especially that of America) that began 500 years ago is coming to a quick end, God willing, as occurred to the shuttle.”
As Ali later explained to NBC, “To have a space shuttle crash in Palestine, Texas, with a Texas president and an Israeli astronaut, somebody might say there’s a divine hand behind it.”
(cont.)
DXer said
d. GMU Center for Biodefense: Discovery Hall
Ali Al-Timimi worked at George Mason University’s Discovery Hall throughout 2000 and 2002 period. The Mason Gazette in “Mason to Pursue Advanced Biodefense Research” on November 17, 2000 had announced:”The School of Computational Sciences (SCS) and Advanced Biosystems, Inc., a subsidiary of Hadron, Inc., of Alexandria, are pursuing a collaborative program at the Prince William Campus to enhance research and educational objectives in biodefense research. The article noted that the program was funded primarily by a grant awarded to Advanced Biosystems from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
Instead of starting a center from scratch, GMU chose to join forces with Dr. Alibek and Dr. Bailey’s existing research firm, Hadron Advanced Biosystems Inc., which was already working under contract for the federal government, having received funding from DARPA. Dr. Alibek told the Washington Post that he and Bailey had spent their careers studying an issue that only recently grabbed the country’s attention, after the anthrax mailings the previous fall. Dr. Bailey and Alibek met in 1991, when a delegation of Soviet scientists visited the USAMRIID at Ft. Detrick. Dr. Bailey explained that the purpose of the tour was to show the Soviets that the US was not developing offensive biological weapons. Bailey said he tried to engage Alibek in conversation but Alibek remained aloof. Alibek, for his part, explains that he was suspicious of this American smiling so broadly at him. A year later, Alibek would defect to the US and reveal an illegal biological program in the Soviet Union of a staggering scope. Alibek says that one reason he defected was that he realized that the Soviet intelligence was wrong — that the US research was in fact only defensive.
Former USAMRIID head and Ames researcher Bailey coinvented, with Ken Alibek, the process to treat cell culture with hydrophobic silicon dioxide so as to permit greater concentration upon drying. He was in Room 156B of GMU’s Discovery Hall. at the Center for Biodefense. The patent application was filed March 14, 2001. Rm 154A was Victor Morozov’s room number when he first assumed Timimi’s phone number in 2004 (and before he moved to the newly constructed Bull Run Hall). Morozov was the co-inventor with Dr. Bailey of the related cell culture process under which the silica was removed from the spore surface — but with the silicon still detectable by an EDX by reason of having been absorbed by the exosporium.
One ATCC former employee felt so strongly about lax security there the scientist called me out of the blue and said that the public was overlooking the patent repository as a possible source of the Ames strain. ATCC does not deny they had virulent Ames in their patent repository pre 9/11 (as distinguished from their online catalog). The spokesperson emailed me: “As a matter of policy, ATCC does not disclose information on the contents of its patent depository…”
George Mason University, Department Listings, accessed August 17, 2003, shows that the National Center For Biodefense and Center for Biomedical Genomics had the same mail stop (MS 4ES). The most famed bioweaponeer in the world — the former head of the Russian bioweapons program (to include anthrax) — was not far from this sheik urging violent jihad in an apocalyptic struggle between religions. Dr. Alibek’s office was Rm. 156D in Prince William 2. The groups both shared the same department fax of 993-4288. Dr. Alibek advises me he had seen him several times in the corridors of GMU and was told that he was a religious muslim hard-liner but knew nothing of his activities. At one point, Timimi’s mail drop was MSN 4D7 Charles Bailey at 3-4271 was the former head of USAMRIID and joined the Center in April 2001. He continued to do research with Ames after 9/11.
Dr. Alibek reports that shortly after the mailings, he wrote Director Mueller and offered his services but was advised that they already had assembled a large group.
Ali Al Timimi had the same telephone number that Dr. Victor Morozov, of the Center for Biodefense would later have when he joined the faculty and occupied the newly constructed Bull Run Building, which opened in late 2004 (Rm. #362). If only to show the sophisticated cutting edge work they do at the Center, Dr. Morozov focuses on the development of new bioassay methods for express analysis, high-throughput screening and proteomics. He has recently developed a new electrospray-based technology for mass fabrication of protein microarrays. Dr. Morozov is currently supervising a DOE -funded research project directed at the development of ultra-sensitive express methods for detection of pathogens in which slow diffusion of analytes is replaced by their active transport controlled and powered by external forces (electric, magnetic, gravitational or hydrodynamic). His homepage explains that: “A variety of projects are available for students to participate in 1. Develop methods for active capturing of viruses and cells. 2. AFM imaging of macromolecules, viruses and cells. 3. Develop active immunoassay. 4. Analyze forces operating in the active assay of biomolecules and viral particles. 5. Develop immobilization techniques for antibodies and other biospecific molecules. 6. Study crystallization dynamics and morphology of organic and inorganic crystals in the presence of protein impurities. 7. Develop software to analyze motion of beads. 8. Develop software to analyze patterns in drying droplets. 9. Develop an electrostatic collector for airborne particles.”
Al-Timimi obtained a doctorate from George Mason University in 2004 in the field of computational biology — a field related to cancer research involving genome sequencing. He successfully defended his thesis 5 weeks after his indictment. Curt Jamison, Timimi’s thesis advisor, coauthor and loyal friend, was in Prince William II (Discovery Hall) Rm. 181A. The staff of Advanced Biosystems was in Rm. 160, 162, 177, 254E and several others. Computational sciences offices were intermixed among the Hadron personnel on the first floor of Prince William II to include 159, 161, 166A, 167, 181 B and 181C. Rm. 156B was Charles Bailey, former commander of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, who was head of the Center for Biodefense. Defense contractor Hadron had announced the appointment Dr. Charles Bailey as Vice-President of Advanced Biosystems in early April 2001. Over 13 years, Dr. Bailey had served as a Research Scientist, Deputy Commander for Research, Deputy Commander and Commander at the U.S. Army Medical Research Instiute. As a USAMRIID scientist, he designed and supervised the construction of BL-3 containment facilities. His hands-on experience with a wide variety of pathogens is chronicled in 70 published articles. During his 4 years with the Defense Intelligence Agency, he published numerous articles assessing foreign capabilities regarding biological weapons.” When I asked Dr. Bailey to confirm Al-Timimi’s room number relative to his own, his only response was to refer me to University counsel. Counsel then never responded to my inquiry regarding their respective room numbers. Dr. Jamison never responded to an emailed query either. GMU understandably is very nervous about losing the $25 million grant for a new BL-3 regional facility to be located very near our country’s capital.
In Fall 2001, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (”AFIP”) had detected silicon dioxide (silica) in the attack anthrax — with a characteristic big spike for the silicon. The reason for the silicon dioxide/silica claimed to have been detected by AFIP has never been explained (and it’s been nearly a half decade). No silica was observable on the SEMS images that Dr. Alibek and Dr. Matthew Meselson saw. The Daschle product was “pure spores.” But wasn’t silicon dioxide used as part of a microdroplet cell culture process used prior to drying to permit greater concentration? As explained in a later related patent, the silica could be removed from the surface of the spore through repeated centrifugaton or an air chamber.
Dr. Alibek and the former head of USAMRIID, Ames anthrax research Charles Bailey, had filed a patent application in mid-March 2001 involving a microdroplet cell culture technique that used silicon dioxide in a method for concentrating growth of cells. The patent was granted and the application first publicly disclosed in the Spring of 2002. Weren’t the SEMS images and AFIP EDX finding both consistent with use of this process in growing the culture? It’s been suggested informally to me that perhaps the silicon analytical peak was more likely due to silanol from hydrolysis of a silane, used in siliconizing glassware. But didn’t the AFIP in fact also detect oxygen in ratios characteristic of silicon dioxide? Wasn’t the scientist, now deceased, who performed the EDX highly experienced and expert in detecting silica? Hasn’t the AFIP always stood by its report. In its report, AFIP explained: “AFIP experts utilized an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (an instrument used to detect the presence of otherwise-unseen chemicals through characteristic wavelengths of X-ray light) to confirm the previously unidentifiable substance as silica?”
The nuance that was lost — or just never publicly explained for very sound reasons — was that silica was used in the cell culture process and then removed from the spores through a process such as centrifugation.
Dr. Morozov is co-inventor along with Dr. Bailey for a patent “Cell Culture” that explains how the silicon dioxide can be removed from the surface. Perhaps it is precisely this AFIP finding of silicon dioxide (without silica on the SEMS) that is why the FBI came to suspect Al-Timimi in 2003 (rightly or wrongly, we don’t know). The FBI would have kept these scientific findings secret to protect the integrity of the confidential criminal/national security investigation. There was still a processor and mailer to catch — still a case to prove. Above all, they needed to protect the due process rights of Al-Timimi while he defended himself on other charges.
e. Ali and The Islamic Ruling On The Peace Process
Establishing a center for Islamic education, al-Timimi contacted Egyptian-born Salafi Abd al-Rahman Abd al-Khaliq and translated his works into English. A London charity, JIMAS, at whose conferences Ali would speak, published the translation of the al-Khaliq’s book. He would give talks such as “Our Need for a Fiqh Suitable to Our Time and Place” at the 1997 conference in London or his “Cure for the Cancer of Globalization” or “The Position of Palestine in Allah’s Revelation” at the JIMAS conference in London August 24-27. (Fiqh relates to the principles of islamic jurisprudence governing warfare). The UK Islamic charity published the book calling on Muslims worldwide to “overthrow” peace treaties between Arab states and Israel.
Sheikh Abdur Rahman Abdul Khaliq’s book published by JIMAS, The Islamic Ruling on The Peace Process, that “the Jews are the enemies of the Islamic ummah (nation).” The US government’s National Commission for investigating the 9/11 attacks listed the book as one of a number of texts “espousing violence and hatred towards the west and reinforcing the victimization of Muslims as the hands of the infidels.” “The Jews have been the enemies of the Islamic ummah since the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be on him, began his call to Allah; and their hostility to this ummah will continue till the Day of Resurrection,” the National Commission’s website quoted from the book. “War or Jihad is an obligatory duty which remains in force till the Day of Resurrection. According to another version of the book made available by a separate jihadist website (currently offline), Muslims are completely prohibited from making peace with non-Muslims “except when the kafir (infidel) is humbled and surrenders.”
Any peace made by Muslim countries with Israel contravenes the Quran and must be reversed, the book argues. “Their (the Jews) hostility to the Muslims continues, so much so that stones and trees call out to the Muslims saying: ‘O Muslim, here is a Jew behind you, so fight him,’” a chapter in the book declared, based on an Islamic hadith (reported saying of Islam’s prophet, Muhammad). The author commands Muslims to “firmly believe in the invalidity” of peace agreements with Israel, and calls on them “to work towards overthrowing these treaties.”
The letters to the news organizations were mailed — coincidentally or not — on September 17 or September 18, either the day the Camp David Accord was signed in 1978 or the next day when it was approved by the Israeli knesset. Abdel-Rahman, the blind sheik, in the early 1980s, said: “We reject Camp David and we regret the normalization of relations with Israel. We also reject all the commitments that were made by the traitor Sadat, who deviated from Islam.” He continued: “As long as the Camp David Agreement stands, this conflict between us and the government will continue.” The letters to the Senators were mailed on the date Sadat was assassinated, October 6, for entering the peace treaty with Israel. Al-Timimi had hand-delivered the letter from Bin Laden’s sheik to every member of Congress on October 6, 2002, the first anniversary of the mailing to Senator Leahy and Senator Daschle.
After 9/11, a sweet young muslim Egyptian woman came to live with my family. She was the daughter of a senior Egyptian official who worked at the UN. Given that peace seems a good thing, as we walked along a local duck pond, we discussed how Sadat seemed a hero of historic proportion. Now I don’t know enough about foreign relations or history to be confident whether that is right or not. But in profiling Amerithrax, and having watched the tv detective Columbo for many years, I know when a motive seems to fit a person of interest and when the facts seem to point to the motive.
When pundits point to the targeting of Senator Leahy as pointing away from militant islamists as responsible for mailing, it may be that they were just unaware that he had the single most important role in appropriations to Egypt and Israel as head of the relevant Senate subcommittee overseeing the appropriations.
The government’s indictment alleged that after the space shuttle disaster in February, Timimi said the United States “was the greatest enemy of Muslims.”
(cont.)
DXer said
f. The 2006 Arrest Of Falls Church Imam And Fellow Salafist Lecturer Awlaqi
Falls Church imam Awlaqi (Aulaqi), who met with hijacker Nawaf, reportedly was picked up in Yemen by Yemen security forces at the request of the CIA last summer. British and US intelligence had him and others under surveillance. Al-Timimi would speak alongside fellow Falls Church imam Awlaqi (Aulaqi) at conferences such as the August 2001 London JIMAS and the August 2002 London JIMAS conference. They would speak on subjects such as signs before the day of judgment and the like — dozens of their lectures are available online.
Aulaqi was hired in early 2001 in attempt by the mosque’s leaders, who were criticized as being too conservative, to increase its appeal to younger worshipers. Born in New Mexico and raised in Yemen, he had the total package. He was young, personable, fluent in English, eloquent and knowledgeable about Middle East politics. Hani Hanjour and Nawaf Al Hazmi, worshiped at Aulaqi’s mosque for several weeks in spring 2001. The 9/11 commission noted that the two men apparently showed up because Nawaf Hazmi had developed a close relationship with Aulaqi in San Diego. Aulaqi told the FBI that he did not recall what Nawaf and he had discussed in San Diego and denied having contact with him in Falls Church.
In March 2002, Awlaqi had suddenly left the US and went to Yemen, thus avoiding the inquiry the 9/11 Commission thought so important. (Eventually Aulaqi would be banned from entering both the UK and US because of his speeches on jihad, martyrdom and the like). In 2001, Awlaqi came to Falls Church from San Diego shortly before Nawaf did.
What is Aulaqi, detained in 2006, telling questioners, if anything, about his fellow Falls Church imam and fellow Salafist conference lecturer Ali Al-Timimi?
g. The Ability of Intelligence To Prevent Domestic Bioterrorism
Last year, FBI microbiologist Dr. Doug Beecher commented in a publication that it undermines biodefense preparations to underestimate the danger of simple spore preparations. He provided me a copy when I wrote him as the designated corresponding author and then I distributed it to reporters. The paper had been reviewed by Professor Meselson at Harvard. Dr. Beecher is right that there is no reason to view it as akin to “militarization” or requiring state sponsorship. The two sentences by Beecher actually did not address the issue at all. They just go to illustrate and confirm Dr. Alibek’s point that a sophisticated product can result from a relatively simple method. Here, the government even allowed the method to be commercialized and be published in the public domain for use in a broad range of possible commercial applications. Perhaps the United States biodefense establishment should not let officials commercialize and disclose such dual use technology, whether the patent is assigned to a DARPA-funded program or not — and whether deemed “biofriendly” or not. (The patent, which is not classified, has been assigned to George Mason University).
Everyone is basically right in substantial part—Richard Ebright, Milton Leitenberg, Gary Matsumoto, Stuart Jacobson, France Boyle, Matthew Meselson, Richard Spertzel, “Dick Destiny,” Cliff Kincaid, Barbara Hatch Rosenberg, Ed Lake, Richard Smith and many others who have long held strong and divergent opinions of what had been published in the media or what they knew. But it turns out that they apparently have just been seeing the elephant in the living room from a different angle. Actually, they’ve just been in a position to see the elephant’s rump from outside the living room door.
In a June 2005 interview in a Swiss (German language) weekly news magazine, Neue Zurcher Zeitung, Ken Alibek addresses the anthrax mailings:
A. “…What if I told you Swiss scientists are paid by Al Qaeda? You could believe it or not. It has become somewhat fashionable to disparage Russian scientists. Americans, Iraqis, or whoever could just as well be involved with Al Qaeda. Why doesn’t anyone speculate about that?”
Q. “But could one of your students build a biological weapon in the garage?”
A. “Let me reply philosophically: Two hundred years ago, it was unthinkable to believe that people would be using mobile telephones, wasn’t it? Everything changes. Our knowledge grows, and technology develops incredibly quickly. These days even high-school kids can breed recombinant microbial strains. I am not saying that a student is in a position to build a biological weapon all by himself. But the knowledge needed to do it is certainly there.”
No one who responded to my inquiries ever knew Al-Timimi to ever have been involved in any biodefense project. For example, former Russian bioweaponeer Sergei Popov did not know of any such work by Al-Timimi, and Anna Popova had only seen him in the hall on a very rare occasion. Dr. Alibek thought of him as a “numbers guy” rather than a hands-on type. Given that the FBI knows what Al-Timimi had for dinner on September 16, 2001, it is very likely that the past years have involved a continued search for the mailer and/or processor. His attorney emphasizes that while they searched for materials related to a planned biological attack when they searched his townhouse in late February 2003, they came up empty.
Peter Leitner at GMU is supervising a 2007 PhD thesis being finalized by a graduate student that explores biosecurity issues at GMU. Other students took a “red cell” approach that have corroborated the findings of the thesis. The thesis points to a pretty big iceberg indeed. Personally, I think the suppression of information relates partly because DARPA doesn’t want to take the hit for allowing a hardline Salafist, who had a high level security clearance relating to bioinformatics work for the Navy, access to a DARPA funded Center for Biodefense and the ATCC facilities.
The key to Amerithrax forensically perhaps was to know that encapsulation was done. That’s typically associated with drug delivery — preventing the good stuff from being destroyed by enzymes before being delivered to the intended organ. An expert in cutting edge work in such functionalized polymers was the guy who arranged for the 7/7 London bombmakers flat. His name is Magdy al-Nashar. The flat relatedly was used to ship stuff to Zawahiri’s chief aide, al-Hadi. Al-Nashar, according to his brother, had been held briefly in connection with Luxor. The biochemist’s lawyer, Mamdouh Ismail, was arrested in March 2007 and alleged to be Ayman’s chief conduit to jihadists in Egypt, Iraq and Yemen. A court in July ordered his release on bail pending trial.
Before they trot out al-Hadi’s confession at Guantanamo — al-Hadi once was Ayman’s chief aide — let me offer up some background on the Leeds [UK] / Falls Church. VA connection. In Northern Virginia, Al-Timimi’s personal assistant, Ali Asad Chandia, also served as the chauffer of London terorrist operative Mohammed Ajmal Khan who visited Falls Church more than once. The USG charged Chandia with arranging for the purchase of an electronic autopilot system and video equipment for use on model airplanes in connection with requests made by Mohammed Ajmal Khan to purchase the equipment.
Mohammed Ajmal Khan was a teaching assistant in Leeds. Chandia met Khan, a senior official and procurement officer for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET), at an office of that organization in Pakistan in late-2001. Khan traveled to the United States in 2002 and 2003 to acquire equipment for LET, and Chandia assisted him in these efforts both times. Khan is serving a nine-year sentence in the UK on terrorism charges. (The U.S. will seek his extradition at the conclusion of that sentence.)
Al-Timimi would tend to speak at annual conferences held in London. Marvin Miller, a lawyer for Chandia, says documents produced at trial evidenced he was under electronic surveillance. Ajmal Khan’s communications across the Atlantic were intercepted by the US National Security Agency and while in the US he was under surveillance pursuant to FISA.
Mohammed Ajmal Khan also was linked during a terrorist trial to Timimi’s acquaintance, Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, a 24-year-old who grew up in Falls Church and was found guilty of terrorist offences in Virginia. There thus was a strong Falls Church [USA]-Leeds [UK] connection. The question for years now has been: did the fellow working near Ken Alibek and the former USAMRIID head [Ali Timimi], who had a high security clearance for his mathematics support work for the Navy in bioinformatics, know the Leeds biochemist who was expert in functionalized polymers, an assistant professor at Leeds, who provided the 7/7 bombers with the keys to the flat, a flat used to store things shipped to Zawahiri’s chief aide? Ali spoke at London JIMAS conferences, to include the one in August 2001. This London biochemist had studied in North Carolina in 2000.
This biochemist al-Nashar who provided the keys to the bombmaking flat was represented by an attorney who has been arrested in late March, Mamdouh Ismail. Egyptian authorities allege that Ismail has served as Ayman Zawahiri’s chief conduit to jihadists in Egypt, Yemen, and Iraq. Mamdouh Ismail, joined by his former law partner Montasser al-Zayat, had tried to start an islamist party at the same time as IANA writers Kamal Habib and Gamal Sultan in 1999. Between Mamdouh Ismail’s arrest, al-Hadi’s capture — and even the 2006 arrest of former Falls Church Imam Aulaqi — the solution to Amerithrax may indeed be close at hand.
It turns out that Islambouli, the brother of Sadat’s assassin, may be the final key that unlocks the Amerithrax mystery. Islambouli was part of a cell with KSM. KSM took over from the Al Qaeda military head Atef as head of the anthrax weaponization operation. The same Al Qaeda spymaster, Egyptian al-Hakaymah, who wrote about Amerithrax and served as Ayman’s intermediary in contacts with Mamdouh Ismail, announced Islambouli was leading those Egyptian Islamic Group members who have joined Al Qaeda to seek the release of their leader blind sheik abdel-Rahman. Who did Islambouli visit when he came to the US to plan the next attack, as described in the December 4, 1998 Presidential Daily Brief to President Clinton that warned of a planned attack involving airplanes and other means. The 9/11 Commission Report contains a copy of the declassified December 1998 PDB which discusses Islambouli. Everyone focuses on the PDB in the summer of 2001 directed to President Bush while forgetting that there was a PDB with the same substance from December 1998 to President Clinton.
We need to learn from history or we are doomed to repeat it.
DXer said
f. The 2006 Arrest Of Falls Church Imam And Fellow Salafist Lecturer Awlaqi
Falls Church imam Awlaqi (Aulaqi), who met with hijacker Nawaf, reportedly was picked up in Yemen by Yemen security forces at the request of the CIA last summer. British and US intelligence had him and others under surveillance. Al-Timimi would speak alongside fellow Falls Church imam Awlaqi (Aulaqi) at conferences such as the August 2001 London JIMAS and the August 2002 London JIMAS conference. They would speak on subjects such as signs before the day of judgment and the like — dozens of their lectures are available online.
Aulaqi was hired in early 2001 in attempt by the mosque’s leaders, who were criticized as being too conservative, to increase its appeal to younger worshipers. Born in New Mexico and raised in Yemen, he had the total package. He was young, personable, fluent in English, eloquent and knowledgeable about Middle East politics. Hani Hanjour and Nawaf Al Hazmi, worshiped at Aulaqi’s mosque for several weeks in spring 2001. The 9/11 commission noted that the two men apparently showed up because Nawaf Hazmi had developed a close relationship with Aulaqi in San Diego. Aulaqi told the FBI that he did not recall what Nawaf and he had discussed in San Diego and denied having contact with him in Falls Church.
In March 2002, Awlaqi had suddenly left the US and went to Yemen, thus avoiding the inquiry the 9/11 Commission thought so important. (Eventually Aulaqi would be banned from entering both the UK and US because of his speeches on jihad, martyrdom and the like). In 2001, Awlaqi came to Falls Church from San Diego shortly before Nawaf did.
What is Aulaqi, detained in 2006, telling questioners, if anything, about his fellow Falls Church imam and fellow Salafist conference lecturer Ali Al-Timimi?
DXer said
g. The Ability of Intelligence To Prevent Domestic Bioterrorism
Last year, FBI microbiologist Dr. Doug Beecher commented in a publication that it undermines biodefense preparations to underestimate the danger of simple spore preparations. He provided me a copy when I wrote him as the designated corresponding author and then I distributed it to reporters. The paper had been reviewed by Professor Meselson at Harvard. Dr. Beecher is right that there is no reason to view it as akin to “militarization” or requiring state sponsorship. The two sentences by Beecher actually did not address the issue at all. They just go to illustrate and confirm Dr. Alibek’s point that a sophisticated product can result from a relatively simple method. Here, the government even allowed the method to be commercialized and be published in the public domain for use in a broad range of possible commercial applications. Perhaps the United States biodefense establishment should not let officials commercialize and disclose such dual use technology, whether the patent is assigned to a DARPA-funded program or not — and whether deemed “biofriendly” or not. (The patent, which is not classified, has been assigned to George Mason University).
Everyone is basically right in substantial part—Richard Ebright, Milton Leitenberg, Gary Matsumoto, Stuart Jacobson, France Boyle, Matthew Meselson, Richard Spertzel, “Dick Destiny,” Cliff Kincaid, Barbara Hatch Rosenberg, Ed Lake, Richard Smith and many others who have long held strong and divergent opinions of what had been published in the media or what they knew. But it turns out that they apparently have just been seeing the elephant in the living room from a different angle. Actually, they’ve just been in a position to see the elephant’s rump from outside the living room door.
In a June 2005 interview in a Swiss (German language) weekly news magazine, Neue Zurcher Zeitung, Ken Alibek addresses the anthrax mailings:
A. “…What if I told you Swiss scientists are paid by Al Qaeda? You could believe it or not. It has become somewhat fashionable to disparage Russian scientists. Americans, Iraqis, or whoever could just as well be involved with Al Qaeda. Why doesn’t anyone speculate about that?”
Q. “But could one of your students build a biological weapon in the garage?”
A. “Let me reply philosophically: Two hundred years ago, it was unthinkable to believe that people would be using mobile telephones, wasn’t it? Everything changes. Our knowledge grows, and technology develops incredibly quickly. These days even high-school kids can breed recombinant microbial strains. I am not saying that a student is in a position to build a biological weapon all by himself. But the knowledge needed to do it is certainly there.”
No one who responded to my inquiries ever knew Al-Timimi to ever have been involved in any biodefense project. For example, former Russian bioweaponeer Sergei Popov did not know of any such work by Al-Timimi, and Anna Popova had only seen him in the hall on a very rare occasion. Dr. Alibek thought of him as a “numbers guy” rather than a hands-on type. Given that the FBI knows what Al-Timimi had for dinner on September 16, 2001, it is very likely that the past years have involved a continued search for the mailer and/or processor. His attorney emphasizes that while they searched for materials related to a planned biological attack when they searched his townhouse in late February 2003, they came up empty.
Peter Leitner at GMU is supervising a 2007 PhD thesis being finalized by a graduate student that explores biosecurity issues at GMU. Other students took a “red cell” approach that have corroborated the findings of the thesis. The thesis points to a pretty big iceberg indeed. Personally, I think the suppression of information relates partly because DARPA doesn’t want to take the hit for allowing a hardline Salafist, who had a high level security clearance relating to bioinformatics work for the Navy, access to a DARPA funded Center for Biodefense and the ATCC facilities.
The key to Amerithrax forensically perhaps was to know that encapsulation was done. That’s typically associated with drug delivery — preventing the good stuff from being destroyed by enzymes before being delivered to the intended organ. An expert in cutting edge work in such functionalized polymers was the guy who arranged for the 7/7 London bombmakers flat. His name is Magdy al-Nashar. The flat relatedly was used to ship stuff to Zawahiri’s chief aide, al-Hadi. Al-Nashar, according to his brother, had been held briefly in connection with Luxor. The biochemist’s lawyer, Mamdouh Ismail, was arrested in March 2007 and alleged to be Ayman’s chief conduit to jihadists in Egypt, Iraq and Yemen. A court in July ordered his release on bail pending trial.
Before they trot out al-Hadi’s confession at Guantanamo — al-Hadi once was Ayman’s chief aide — let me offer up some background on the Leeds [UK] / Falls Church. VA connection. In Northern Virginia, Al-Timimi’s personal assistant, Ali Asad Chandia, also served as the chauffer of London terorrist operative Mohammed Ajmal Khan who visited Falls Church more than once. The USG charged Chandia with arranging for the purchase of an electronic autopilot system and video equipment for use on model airplanes in connection with requests made by Mohammed Ajmal Khan to purchase the equipment.
Mohammed Ajmal Khan was a teaching assistant in Leeds. Chandia met Khan, a senior official and procurement officer for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET), at an office of that organization in Pakistan in late-2001. Khan traveled to the United States in 2002 and 2003 to acquire equipment for LET, and Chandia assisted him in these efforts both times. Khan is serving a nine-year sentence in the UK on terrorism charges. (The U.S. will seek his extradition at the conclusion of that sentence.)
Al-Timimi would tend to speak at annual conferences held in London. Marvin Miller, a lawyer for Chandia, says documents produced at trial evidenced he was under electronic surveillance. Ajmal Khan’s communications across the Atlantic were intercepted by the US National Security Agency and while in the US he was under surveillance pursuant to FISA.
Mohammed Ajmal Khan also was linked during a terrorist trial to Timimi’s acquaintance, Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, a 24-year-old who grew up in Falls Church and was found guilty of terrorist offences in Virginia. There thus was a strong Falls Church [USA]-Leeds [UK] connection. The question for years now has been: did the fellow working near Ken Alibek and the former USAMRIID head [Ali Timimi], who had a high security clearance for his mathematics support work for the Navy in bioinformatics, know the Leeds biochemist who was expert in functionalized polymers, an assistant professor at Leeds, who provided the 7/7 bombers with the keys to the flat, a flat used to store things shipped to Zawahiri’s chief aide? Ali spoke at London JIMAS conferences, to include the one in August 2001. This London biochemist had studied in North Carolina in 2000.
This biochemist al-Nashar who provided the keys to the bombmaking flat was represented by an attorney who has been arrested in late March, Mamdouh Ismail. Egyptian authorities allege that Ismail has served as Ayman Zawahiri’s chief conduit to jihadists in Egypt, Yemen, and Iraq. Mamdouh Ismail, joined by his former law partner Montasser al-Zayat, had tried to start an islamist party at the same time as IANA writers Kamal Habib and Gamal Sultan in 1999. Between Mamdouh Ismail’s arrest, al-Hadi’s capture — and even the 2006 arrest of former Falls Church Imam Aulaqi — the solution to Amerithrax may indeed be close at hand.
It turns out that Islambouli, the brother of Sadat’s assassin, may be the final key that unlocks the Amerithrax mystery. Islambouli was part of a cell with KSM. KSM took over from the Al Qaeda military head Atef as head of the anthrax weaponization operation. The same Al Qaeda spymaster, Egyptian al-Hakaymah, who wrote about Amerithrax and served as Ayman’s intermediary in contacts with Mamdouh Ismail, announced Islambouli was leading those Egyptian Islamic Group members who have joined Al Qaeda to seek the release of their leader blind sheik abdel-Rahman. Who did Islambouli visit when he came to the US to plan the next attack, as described in the December 4, 1998 Presidential Daily Brief to President Clinton that warned of a planned attack involving airplanes and other means. The 9/11 Commission Report contains a copy of the declassified December 1998 PDB which discusses Islambouli. Everyone focuses on the PDB in the summer of 2001 directed to President Bush while forgetting that there was a PDB with the same substance from December 1998 to President Clinton.
We need to learn from history or we are doomed to repeat it.
DXer said
Some sort of software problem is preventing me from posting the last subsection.
Let’s hope that Dr. Ayman doesn’t write the last chapter on the 10th anniversary of 9/11.
DXer said
g. The Ability of Intelligence To Prevent Domestic Bioterrorism
Everyone is basically right in substantial part—Richard Ebright, Milton Leitenberg, Gary Matsumoto, Stuart Jacobson, France Boyle, Matthew Meselson, Richard Spertzel, “Dick Destiny,” Cliff Kincaid, Barbara Hatch Rosenberg, Ed Lake, Richard Smith and many others who have long held strong and divergent opinions of what had been published in the media or what they knew. But it turns out that they apparently have just been seeing the elephant in the living room from a different angle. Actually, they’ve just been in a position to see the elephant’s rump from outside the living room door.
In a June 2005 interview in a Swiss (German language) weekly news magazine, Neue Zurcher Zeitung, Ken Alibek addresses the anthrax mailings:
A. “…What if I told you Swiss scientists are paid by Al Qaeda? You could believe it or not. It has become somewhat fashionable to disparage Russian scientists. Americans, Iraqis, or whoever could just as well be involved with Al Qaeda. Why doesn’t anyone speculate about that?”
Q. “But could one of your students build a biological weapon in the garage?”
A. “Let me reply philosophically: Two hundred years ago, it was unthinkable to believe that people would be using mobile telephones, wasn’t it? Everything changes. Our knowledge grows, and technology develops incredibly quickly. These days even high-school kids can breed recombinant microbial strains. I am not saying that a student is in a position to build a biological weapon all by himself. But the knowledge needed to do it is certainly there.”
No one who responded to my inquiries ever knew Al-Timimi to ever have been involved in any biodefense project. For example, former Russian bioweaponeer Sergei Popov did not know of any such work by Al-Timimi, and Anna Popova had only seen him in the hall on a very rare occasion. Dr. Alibek thought of him as a “numbers guy” rather than a hands-on type. Given that the FBI knows what Al-Timimi had for dinner on September 16, 2001, it is very likely that the past years have involved a continued search for the mailer and/or processor. His attorney emphasizes that while they searched for materials related to a planned biological attack when they searched his townhouse in late February 2003, they came up empty.
Peter Leitner at GMU is supervising a 2007 PhD thesis being finalized by a graduate student that explores biosecurity issues at GMU. Other students took a “red cell” approach that have corroborated the findings of the thesis. The thesis points to a pretty big iceberg indeed. Personally, I think the suppression of information relates partly because DARPA doesn’t want to take the hit for allowing a hardline Salafist, who had a high level security clearance relating to bioinformatics work for the Navy, access to a DARPA funded Center for Biodefense and the ATCC facilities.
The key to Amerithrax forensically perhaps was to know that encapsulation was done. That’s typically associated with drug delivery — preventing the good stuff from being destroyed by enzymes before being delivered to the intended organ. An expert in cutting edge work in such functionalized polymers was the guy who arranged for the 7/7 London bombmakers flat. His name is Magdy al-Nashar. The flat relatedly was used to ship stuff to Zawahiri’s chief aide, al-Hadi. Al-Nashar, according to his brother, had been held briefly in connection with Luxor. The biochemist’s lawyer, Mamdouh Ismail, was arrested in March 2007 and alleged to be Ayman’s chief conduit to jihadists in Egypt, Iraq and Yemen. A court in July ordered his release on bail pending trial.
Before they trot out al-Hadi’s confession at Guantanamo — al-Hadi once was Ayman’s chief aide — let me offer up some background on the Leeds [UK] / Falls Church. VA connection. In Northern Virginia, Al-Timimi’s personal assistant, Ali Asad Chandia, also served as the chauffer of London terorrist operative Mohammed Ajmal Khan who visited Falls Church more than once. The USG charged Chandia with arranging for the purchase of an electronic autopilot system and video equipment for use on model airplanes in connection with requests made by Mohammed Ajmal Khan to purchase the equipment.
Mohammed Ajmal Khan was a teaching assistant in Leeds. Chandia met Khan, a senior official and procurement officer for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET), at an office of that organization in Pakistan in late-2001. Khan traveled to the United States in 2002 and 2003 to acquire equipment for LET, and Chandia assisted him in these efforts both times. Khan is serving a nine-year sentence in the UK on terrorism charges. (The U.S. will seek his extradition at the conclusion of that sentence.)
Al-Timimi would tend to speak at annual conferences held in London. Marvin Miller, a lawyer for Chandia, says documents produced at trial evidenced he was under electronic surveillance. Ajmal Khan’s communications across the Atlantic were intercepted by the US National Security Agency and while in the US he was under surveillance pursuant to FISA.
Mohammed Ajmal Khan also was linked during a terrorist trial to Timimi’s acquaintance, Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, a 24-year-old who grew up in Falls Church and was found guilty of terrorist offences in Virginia. There thus was a strong Falls Church [USA]-Leeds [UK] connection. The question for years now has been: did the fellow working near Ken Alibek and the former USAMRIID head [Ali Timimi], who had a high security clearance for his mathematics support work for the Navy in bioinformatics, know the Leeds biochemist who was expert in functionalized polymers, an assistant professor at Leeds, who provided the 7/7 bombers with the keys to the flat, a flat used to store things shipped to Zawahiri’s chief aide? Ali spoke at London JIMAS conferences, to include the one in August 2001. This London biochemist had studied in North Carolina in 2000.
This biochemist al-Nashar who provided the keys to the bombmaking flat was represented by an attorney who has been arrested in late March, Mamdouh Ismail. Egyptian authorities allege that Ismail has served as Ayman Zawahiri’s chief conduit to jihadists in Egypt, Yemen, and Iraq. Mamdouh Ismail, joined by his former law partner Montasser al-Zayat, had tried to start an islamist party at the same time as IANA writers Kamal Habib and Gamal Sultan in 1999. Between Mamdouh Ismail’s arrest, al-Hadi’s capture — and even the 2006 arrest of former Falls Church Imam Aulaqi — the solution to Amerithrax may indeed be close at hand.
It turns out that Islambouli, the brother of Sadat’s assassin, may be the final key that unlocks the Amerithrax mystery. Islambouli was part of a cell with KSM. KSM took over from the Al Qaeda military head Atef as head of the anthrax weaponization operation. The same Al Qaeda spymaster, Egyptian al-Hakaymah, who wrote about Amerithrax and served as Ayman’s intermediary in contacts with Mamdouh Ismail, announced Islambouli was leading those Egyptian Islamic Group members who have joined Al Qaeda to seek the release of their leader blind sheik abdel-Rahman. Who did Islambouli visit when he came to the US to plan the next attack, as described in the December 4, 1998 Presidential Daily Brief to President Clinton that warned of a planned attack involving airplanes and other means. The 9/11 Commission Report contains a copy of the declassified December 1998 PDB which discusses Islambouli. Everyone focuses on the PDB in the summer of 2001 directed to President Bush while forgetting that there was a PDB with the same substance from December 1998 to President Clinton.
We need to learn from history or we are doomed to repeat it.
DXer said
g. The Ability of Intelligence To Prevent Domestic Bioterrorism
We need to learn from history or we are doomed to repeat it.
Everyone is basically right in substantial part—Richard Ebright, Milton Leitenberg, Gary Matsumoto, Stuart Jacobson, France Boyle, Matthew Meselson, Richard Spertzel, “Dick Destiny,” Cliff Kincaid, Barbara Hatch Rosenberg, Ed Lake, Richard Smith and many others who have long held strong and divergent opinions of what had been published in the media or what they knew. But it turns out that they apparently have just been seeing the elephant in the living room from a different angle. Actually, they’ve just been in a position to see the elephant’s rump from outside the living room door.
In a June 2005 interview in a Swiss (German language) weekly news magazine, Neue Zurcher Zeitung, Ken Alibek addresses the anthrax mailings:
A. “…What if I told you Swiss scientists are paid by Al Qaeda? You could believe it or not. It has become somewhat fashionable to disparage Russian scientists. Americans, Iraqis, or whoever could just as well be involved with Al Qaeda. Why doesn’t anyone speculate about that?”
Q. “But could one of your students build a biological weapon in the garage?”
A. “Let me reply philosophically: Two hundred years ago, it was unthinkable to believe that people would be using mobile telephones, wasn’t it? Everything changes. Our knowledge grows, and technology develops incredibly quickly. These days even high-school kids can breed recombinant microbial strains. I am not saying that a student is in a position to build a biological weapon all by himself. But the knowledge needed to do it is certainly there.”
No one who responded to my inquiries ever knew Al-Timimi to ever have been involved in any biodefense project. For example, former Russian bioweaponeer Sergei Popov did not know of any such work by Al-Timimi, and Anna Popova had only seen him in the hall on a very rare occasion. Dr. Alibek thought of him as a “numbers guy” rather than a hands-on type. Given that the FBI knows what Al-Timimi had for dinner on September 16, 2001, it is very likely that the past years have involved a continued search for the mailer and/or processor. His attorney emphasizes that while they searched for materials related to a planned biological attack when they searched his townhouse in late February 2003, they came up empty.
Peter Leitner at GMU is supervising a 2007 PhD thesis being finalized by a graduate student that explores biosecurity issues at GMU. Other students took a “red cell” approach that have corroborated the findings of the thesis. The thesis points to a pretty big iceberg indeed. Personally, I think the suppression of information relates partly because DARPA doesn’t want to take the hit for allowing a hardline Salafist, who had a high level security clearance relating to bioinformatics work for the Navy, access to a DARPA funded Center for Biodefense and the ATCC facilities.
The key to Amerithrax forensically perhaps was to know that encapsulation was done. That’s typically associated with drug delivery — preventing the good stuff from being destroyed by enzymes before being delivered to the intended organ. An expert in cutting edge work in such functionalized polymers was the guy who arranged for the 7/7 London bombmakers flat. His name is Magdy al-Nashar. The flat relatedly was used to ship stuff to Zawahiri’s chief aide, al-Hadi. Al-Nashar, according to his brother, had been held briefly in connection with Luxor. The biochemist’s lawyer, Mamdouh Ismail, was arrested in March 2007 and alleged to be Ayman’s chief conduit to jihadists in Egypt, Iraq and Yemen. A court in July ordered his release on bail pending trial.
Before they trot out al-Hadi’s confession at Guantanamo — al-Hadi once was Ayman’s chief aide — let me offer up some background on the Leeds [UK] / Falls Church. VA connection. In Northern Virginia, Al-Timimi’s personal assistant, Ali Asad Chandia, also served as the chauffer of London terorrist operative Mohammed Ajmal Khan who visited Falls Church more than once. The USG charged Chandia with arranging for the purchase of an electronic autopilot system and video equipment for use on model airplanes in connection with requests made by Mohammed Ajmal Khan to purchase the equipment.
Mohammed Ajmal Khan was a teaching assistant in Leeds. Chandia met Khan, a senior official and procurement officer for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET), at an office of that organization in Pakistan in late-2001. Khan traveled to the United States in 2002 and 2003 to acquire equipment for LET, and Chandia assisted him in these efforts both times. Khan is serving a nine-year sentence in the UK on terrorism charges. (The U.S. will seek his extradition at the conclusion of that sentence.)
Al-Timimi would tend to speak at annual conferences held in London. Marvin Miller, a lawyer for Chandia, says documents produced at trial evidenced he was under electronic surveillance. Ajmal Khan’s communications across the Atlantic were intercepted by the US National Security Agency and while in the US he was under surveillance pursuant to FISA.
Mohammed Ajmal Khan also was linked during a terrorist trial to Timimi’s acquaintance, Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, a 24-year-old who grew up in Falls Church and was found guilty of terrorist offences in Virginia. There thus was a strong Falls Church [USA]-Leeds [UK] connection. The question for years now has been: did the fellow working near Ken Alibek and the former USAMRIID head [Ali Timimi], who had a high security clearance for his mathematics support work for the Navy in bioinformatics, know the Leeds biochemist who was expert in functionalized polymers, an assistant professor at Leeds, who provided the 7/7 bombers with the keys to the flat, a flat used to store things shipped to Zawahiri’s chief aide? Ali spoke at London JIMAS conferences, to include the one in August 2001. This London biochemist had studied in North Carolina in 2000.
This biochemist al-Nashar who provided the keys to the bombmaking flat was represented by an attorney who has been arrested in late March, Mamdouh Ismail. Egyptian authorities allege that Ismail has served as Ayman Zawahiri’s chief conduit to jihadists in Egypt, Yemen, and Iraq. Mamdouh Ismail, joined by his former law partner Montasser al-Zayat, had tried to start an islamist party at the same time as IANA writers Kamal Habib and Gamal Sultan in 1999. …
It turns out that Islambouli, the brother of Sadat’s assassin, may be the final key that unlocks the Amerithrax mystery. Islambouli was part of a cell with KSM. KSM took over from the Al Qaeda military head Atef as head of the anthrax weaponization operation. The same Al Qaeda spymaster, Egyptian al-Hakaymah, who wrote about Amerithrax and served as Ayman’s intermediary in contacts with Mamdouh Ismail, announced Islambouli was leading those Egyptian Islamic Group members who have joined Al Qaeda to seek the release of their leader blind sheik abdel-Rahman. Who did Islambouli visit when he came to the US to plan the next attack, as described in the December 4, 1998 Presidential Daily Brief to President Clinton that warned of a planned attack involving airplanes and other means. The 9/11 Commission Report contains a copy of the declassified December 1998 PDB which discusses Islambouli. Everyone focuses on the PDB in the summer of 2001 directed to President Bush while forgetting that there was a PDB with the same substance from December 1998 to President Clinton.
DXer said
I explained the FBI’s interest in Ali Al-Timimi as an “anthrax weapons suspect” years ago. That criminal prosecution has now dropped, to my eye, from PACER.
Is Ali Al-Timimi cooperating against Anwar? Where is the court docket?
http://www.globalpolitician.com/print.asp?id=3278
Hardball Tactics In An Era Of Threats
By Ross E. Getman, Esq.
a. Amerithrax: The Other “Person of Interest”
A colleague of famed Russian bio-weaponeer Ken Alibek and former head of The United States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases (“USAMRIID”) Charles Bailey, has been convicted of sedition and sentenced to life in prison plus 70 years. He worked in a program co-sponsored by the American Type Culture Collection (“ATCC”) and had access to ATCC facilities, as well as facilities of the DARPA-funded Center for Biodefense at George Mason University then run by Dr. Alibek and Dr. Bailey. The bionformatics grad student once had a high security clearance for mathematical support work for the Navy.
The Washington Post, in an article “Hardball Tactics in an Era of Threats,” dated September 3, 2006 summarized events relating to George Mason University microbiology graduate student Ali Al-Timimi. Al-Timimi had rock star status in Salafist circles and lectured in July 2001 (in Toronto) and August 2001 (in London) on the coming “end of times” and signs of the coming day of judgment. He spoke alongside officials of a charity, Islamic Assembly of North America (”IANA”) promoting the views of Bin Laden’s sheiks. Another speaker was Ali’s mentor, Bilal Philips, an undicted WTC 1993 conspirator. Bilal Philips worked in the early 1990s to recruit US servicemen according to testimony in that trial and interviews in which Dr. Philips explained the Saudi-funded program.
The Washington Post explained last Fall:
‘In late 2002, the FBI’s Washington field office received two similar tips from local Muslims: Timimi was running ‘an Islamic group known as the Dar al-Arqam’ that had ‘conducted military-style training,’ FBI special agent John Wyman would later write in an affidavit.
Wyman and another agent, Wade Ammerman, pounced on the tips. Searching the Internet, they found a speech by Timimi celebrating the crash of the space shuttle Columbia in 2003, according to the affidavit. The agents also found that Timimi was in contact with Sheikh Safar al-Hawali, a Saudi whose anti-Western speeches in the early 1990s had helped inspire bin Laden.
The agents reached an alarming conclusion: ‘Timimi is an Islamist supporter of Bin Laden’ who was leading a group ‘training for jihad,’ the agent wrote in the affidavit. The FBI even came to speculate that Timimi, a doctoral candidate pursuing cancer gene research, might have been involved in the anthrax attacks.
On a frigid day in February 2003, the FBI searched Timimi’s brick townhouse on Meadow Field Court, a cul-de-sac near Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax. Among the items they were seeking, according to court testimony: material on weapons of mass destruction.”
The FBI first contacted Timimi shortly after 9/11. He met with FBI agents 7 or 8 times in the months leading up to his arrest. Al-Timimi is a US citizen born in Washington DC His house was searched, his passport taken and his telephone monitored. Ali Al Timimi defended his PhD thesis in computational biology shortly after his indictment for recruiting young men to fight the US.
Some of his communications in 2002 with dissident Saudi sheik Sheik Safar al-Hawali, one of the two fundamentalist sheikhs who were friends and mentors of Bin Laden, were intercepted. The two radical sheiks had been imprisoned from 1994-1999. Al-Hawali’s detention was expressly the subject of Al Qaeda’s claim of responsibility for Bin Laden’s 1996 Declaration of War against the United States and the 1998 embassy bombings.
Upon his indictment, in September 2004, al-Timimi explained he had been offered a plea bargain of 14 years, but he declined. He quoted Sayyid Qutb. He said he remembered “reading his books and loving his teaching” as a child, and that Qutb’s teaching was prevented from signing something that was false by “the finger that bears witness.” He noted that he and his lawyers asked that authorities hold off the indictment until he had received his PhD, but said that unfortunately they did not wait.
The indictment against the paintball defendants alleged that at an Alexandria, Virginia residence, in the presence of a representative of BIF, the defendants watched videos depicting Mujahadeen engaged in Jihad and discussed a training camp in Bosnia. His defense lawyer says that the FBI searched the townhouse of “to connect him to the 9/11 attacks or to schemes to unleash a biological or nuclear attack.” Famed head of the former Russian bioweaponeering program Ken Alibek told me that he would occasionally see him in the hallways at George Mason, where they both were in the microbiology department, and was vaguely aware that he was an islamic hardliner. When what his defense counsel claims was an FBI attempt to link him to a planned biological attack failed, defense counsel says that investigators focused on his connections to the men who attended his lectures at the local Falls Church, Va. In the end, he was indicted just for inciting them to go to Afghanistan to defend the Taliban against the United States. During deliberations, he reportedly was very calm, reading Genome Technology and other scientific journals. He was convicted and sentenced to life
imprisonment plus 70 years.
At the same time the FBI was searching the townhouse of PhD candidate Ali Timimi, searches and arrests moved forward elsewhere. In Moscow, Idaho, FBI agents interviewed Nabil Albaloushi. (They apparently searched his apartment at the same time they searched the apartment of IANA webmaster Sami al-Hussayen, who they had woken from bed at 4:00 a.m.) Albaloushi was a PhD candidate expert in drying foodstuffs. His thesis in 2003 was 350 pages filled with charts of drying coefficients.
Interceptions showed a very close link between IANA’s Sami al-Hussayen and Sheikh al-Hawali, to include the setting up of web sites, the providing of vehicles for extended communication, and telephone contact with intermediaries of Sheikh al-Hawali. Al-Hussayen had al-Hawali’s phone number upon the search of his belongings upon his arrest. Former Washington State University animal geneticist and nutrition researcher Ismail Diab, who had moved to Syracuse to work for an IANA-spin-off, also was charged in Syracuse and released as a material witness to a financial investigation of the IANA affiliate “Help The Needy.” After the government failed to ask Dr. Diab any questions for nearly 3 months, the magistrate bail restrictions and removed the electronic monitoring and curfew requirements.
In Moscow, Idaho, the activities by IANA webmaster Sami al-Hussayen that drew scrutiny involved these same two radical sheiks. U.S. officials say the two sheiks influenced al Qaeda’s belief that Muslims should wage holy war against the U.S. until it ceases to support Israel and withdraws from the Middle East. Sami Hussayen, who was acquitted, made numerous calls and wrote many e-mails to the two clerics, sometimes giving advice to them about running Arabic-language Web sites on which they espoused their anti-Western views.
At his sentencing, Dr. Al-Timimi spoke in clear and measured tones:
“I will not admit guilt nor seek the Court’s mercy. I do this not out of any disrespect to the Court. I do this simply because I am innocent. My claim of innocence is not because of any inherent misunderstanding on my part as to the nature of the crimes for which I was convicted nor is it because my Muslim belief recognizes sharia rather than secular law. It is merely because I am innocent. … We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. I declare the government’s recitation poor as it stripped those words of their meaning. *** Imprisonment of any term, as this Court well knows, is a crisis for the incarcerated and his or her loved ones. I am no exception to that. But the real crisis brought on my imprisonment, I sincerely believe is America’s. For if my conviction is to stand, it would mean that two hundred and thirty years of America’s tradition of protecting the individual from the tyrannies and whims of the sovereign will have come to an end. And that which is exploited today to persecute a single member of a minority will most assuredly come back to haunt the majority tomorrow.”
KSM invoked George Washington in his statement to a military tribunal in March 2007. That was far less compelling because he was admitting to many serious crimes. The evidence presented at trial, however, was offered only to show that Dr. Al-Timimi was guilty of nothing other than exhorting some young men to go abroad and defend their faith. It seems that, under the government’s case, his only crime was to put his religion before his nation-state. He was sentenced to life in prison plus 70 years. As one Washington Post reporter said of such cases, the government seems to be engaged in shadow boxing.
As Al-Timimi explained in his eloquent statement upon sentencing, he was convicted out of fear.
The former head of the DARPA Biological Countermeasures Program, Dr. Stephen S. Morse, who oversaw the funding of programs such as at the GMU Center for Biodefense, in an interview airing on Charlie Rose on October 10, 2001, explained that there was no need for the public to fear. He noted that maybe the mailer had a personal reason — no reason to assume the Florida death related to terrorism or a large group. Dr. Morse urged that we put it into perspective and inform the public so as to remove the mystery. He explained we should not allow ourselves to feel fear . As reiterated in other interviews that week, he said mailed anthrax was not a great danger. As those words aired, more letters were en route from that mailbox at 10 Nassau St. in Princeton. The anthrax mailer asked a pointed question in the letter containing a much more highly refined product — product that aerosolized much more readily.
The new batch of letters asked: “Are you afraid?”
The answer was clearly yes.
In a November 30, 2004 letter of appeal circulated in sympathetic circles in the US and the UK, Bilal Philips encouraged Muslims to assist Al-Timimi “financially, morally or politically.” The letter urged that “whatever the charges against him [Al-Timimi] may be, from an Islamic perspective they are false and contrived in order to silence the Da’wah to correct Islam.” Dr. Timimi has a substantial pending appeal relating to warrantless wiretapping and the First Amendment. Dr. Timimi’s attorney likely is understandably annoyed that they keep moving Al-Timimi between prisons. George Washington University Professor Turley, his counsel on appeal, explained that last year they were playing a game of “Where’s Waldo?”, preventing him from consulting with his client.
b. The Education of Ali Al-Timimi
Milton Viorst, who knew Ali as a teenager, wrote a fascinating and sympathetic portrait in “The Education of Ali Al-Timimi” that appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, June 2006. In Saudi Arabia, Al-Timimi had been mentored by a Saudi-trained Canadian imam Bilal Philips. Philips was Al-Timimi’s Islamic Studies teacher at Manaret Riyadh High School in the early 1980s. Al-Timimi adopted Philips’ view that “The clash of civilizations is a reality,” and “Western culture led by the United States is an enemy of Islam.” Between 1991 and 1993, Philips relocated to the Mindinao, Philippines, where he taught at an islamic school. In 1993, according to an interview he gave in a London-based Arabic-language magazine interview, Philips ran a program to convert US soldiers to Islam stationed in Saudi Arabia during the first Persian Gulf War. Philips was made a proselytization official by the Saudi Air Force. Philips followed up in the US, with telephone calls and visits intended to recruit the veterans as potential members of Bin Laden’s network. He enlisted assistance from others based in the U.S. and members of Islamic centers all over the US. These conversion specialists financed pilgrimages for US veterans and would later send Muslim clerics in the United States to their homes. Bilal Philips encouraged some converts from this program to fight in Bosnia in the 1990s. He enlisted WTC plotter Clement Rodney Hampton-El to help him with the program. Hampton-El was associated with the Al-Kifah center in Brooklyn. Hampton-El in trial testimony described a meeting at the Saudi embassy in 1992 at which Philips gave him a list of US Army personnel to approach. Bilal Philips was named along with Osama bin Laden and Bin Laden brother-in-law Khalifa as unindicted co-conspirators in the Day of Terror trial that sent the “blind sheik” to prison.
Bilal Philips was a good friend of Adnan El-Shukrijumah’s father. Philips wrote in his guestbook on the family website his son created about learning Arabic: “He was one of my first teachers in Arabic and is a dear friend, though geography and world politics has separated us.
Tell him that, as always, I love him for the sake of Allaah. Was salaam, Bilal.” Adnan’s family website also contained a picture of another “unindicted co-conspirator” of the ’93 bombing, Siraj Wahhaj, who would speak as the same Falls Church mosque as Al-Timimi. After completing his religious education in Saudi Arabia in Medina, Ali Al Timimi had returned to the United States and received a second bachelor’s degree — this time in computer science at the University of Maryland, while also studying software programming at George Washington University. Timimi spoke at IANA conferences in 1993 and 1994. A senior al Qaeda recruiter, Abdelrahman Dosari, also spoke at three IANA conferences in the early 1990s. In December 1993, Al-Dorsari (a.k.a. Shaykh Abu Abdel Aziz “Barbaros”) spoke on ‘Jihad & Revival” and exhorted young men to fight for their faith as Al-Timimi would later be accused of doing privately with young men in Virginia.
At the first annual IANA conference in 1993, other speakers included Bilal Philips, a fellow named Mohammed Abdul-Rahman from Afghanistan, Mohammad Qutb from Cairo, and Gamal Sultan from Cairo.
There was a Mohammad Abdul-Rahman who was the blind sheiik’s son. The blind sheik would soon be sentenced for terrorism relating to WTC 1993 and the “Day of Terror” plot directed at NYC landmarks. (In 2000, Mohammed Abdel Rahman, a/k/a “Asadallah,” who is a son of Abdel Rahman, was sitting alongside Bin Laden and Zawahiri and was videotaped encouraging others to “avenge your Sheikh” and “go to the spilling of blood.)
And there was a Mohammad Qutb who was Syed Qutb’s brother who taught Bin Laden at university in Saudi Arabia, having emigrated to Saudi Arabia in the 1980s. Qutb, as al-Hawali’s teacher, also strongly influenced al-Hawali. Al-Hawali would be sent to prison in 1994. In the 1970s, bin Laden was taught by Sayyid Qutb’s brother, Dr. Mohammad Qutb, and a Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood member, Dr. Abdullah Azzam, who later would found Al Qaeda. Azzam’s ideas of non-compromise, violent means, and organizing and fighting on a global scale were central to Al Qaeda methods. (A sentencing memo in the US District Court here in Syracuse mentions a videotaped interview made by IANA Vice Chairman Rafil Dhafir of Azzam in Afghanistan in the early 1980s but the local ACLU head assures me there was no enhancement in sentencing for terrorism.)
And there was a Gamal Sultan, the former EIJ member who would seek to start a political party in 1999 with EIJ founder Kamal Habib that sought to chart a nonviolent course (given the practical reality that the movement had been so infiltrated by the security forces), but that the blind sheik declined to endorse. (In 2000, on a trip to Pittsburgh, Gamal Sultan and his colleages thought Pittsburgh reminded them of Kandahar given its rolling hills.)
In 1995 Ali Al Timimi headed an Islamic Assembly of North America (”IANA”) delegation to China together with IANA President Bassem Khafagi and Syracuse oncologist and IANA Vice Chairman Rhafil Dhafir. The IANA condemned the UN women’s rights conference as “an attack on Islam.” They urged Imams worldwide to tell Muslims about “the hidden agenda of this UN Conference, and how to foil the libertine and Westernization movements in the Islamic world.”
Salafist commentator Umar Lee has explained that during this period “the most dynamic part of the salafi movement in the DC-area were the students Sheikh Ali al-Timimi. In the DC area, who in the 1990’s co-founded a very small with a small office in DC for an organization called the Society for the Adherence to the Sunnah. In 1994, cooperation with Al-Timimi’s Society for the Adherence to the Sunnah, Washington, D.C., IANA held its first annual summer camp in English in early July, close to Baltimore, MD. The theme of the camp is, “Living the Shahadah in America.”
The month before they searched Ali’s townhouse, they questioned Mr. Lee. Police arrested Mr. Lee, an American-born Muslim in St. Louis, in mid-February 2003 on an unrelated charge and questioned him about whether he was planning any attacks against the U.S. government. Bret Darren Lee, whose Muslim name is Umar ben-Livan (and for simplicity he shortens it to “Umar Lee”, said Monday that he was stunned by the questions asked by the FBI agents: “I just looked at them. I didn’t think they’d asked me anything worth responding to.” Mr. Lee said he was sleeping in his apartment about 5 a.m. Sunday when he was woken by loud knocking on his door. But rather than a Muslim neighbor waking him for prayers, it was several police officers with weapons drawn. They put Lee up against a wall and asked whether he had any weapons in the apartment. The National Rifle Association sticker affixed to the apartment’s front door was a cheap version of an alarm system. While he was down at the station house, the FBI agents spent a half-hour questioning his wife about whether he was a terrorist and his thoughts about the Taliban Author Milton Viorst, the father of a boy who knew Al-Timimi as young teen, wrote: “Dozens of his talks are available on the Internet in text and in audio format. They contain little about Arab concerns with the Arab-Israeli wars, the rivalries between the Arab states, the problems faced by Muslims living in the West, or even the war in Iraq. Rather, they reveal a man who reflects deeply on the Islamic vision of Judgment day, prophecy, the nature of the divine, and fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) — subjects with which he grappled in Medina and in his private reading.” Al Timimi’s lectures (in English after Arabic opening) include “The Negative Portrayal Of Islam In the Media,” “Signs Before the Day of Judgment,” “Advice to the UK Salafis” and “Crusade Complex: Western Perceptions of Islam.” In one of his taped talks available online, al-Timimi warned Muslims not to become too friendly with non-Muslim “disbelievers” or even work for them if other jobs were available. “A Muslim should never allow the disbeliever to have the upper hand.” He was echoing the sentiments expressed in a lecture available on the internet by the IANA Chairman Rafil Dhafir, who said if a non-muslim mows your lawn, by all means, mow his lawn. But don’t be a friend to a non-muslim.
Al-Timimi’s increasing computer skills got him a job at SRA International where Ali worked as a “bioinformatics software architect” providing information technology to the government. Some of his jobs required that Ali obtain a high-level security clearance. One job resulted in a letter of recommendation from the White House. He then enrolled in a PhD program in computational biology at George Mason University.
By 2000, Ali Al-Timimi was already taking advanced courses at Mason in computational sciences. Timimi once explained his research: “I am currently a research scientist at the Center for Biomedical Genomics and Informatics, George Mason University. I am involved in the analysis of the microarray data generated by the CTRF Cancer Genomics Project. Likewise, I am developing new computational approaches and technologies in support of this project.” The webpage for Timimi’s program at the time explained: “Faculty members and graduate students in the Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology participate in numerous collaborative efforts including but not limited to the following Laboratories and Research Centers: Center for Biomedical Genomics and Informatics (GMU) , Laboratory for Microbial and Environmental Biocomplexity (GMU) and Center for Biodefense (GMU). Beginning the Spring of 2002, GMU hired Ali to develop a computer program that coordinated the research at several universities, letting him go only after he came under suspicion by the FBI. In Spring 2002, according to salary information obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, GMU hired him for $70,000 a year. In 2002, the employment was through the School of Computational Sciences and in 2003, it was through Life Sciences Grants & Contracts.
The School of Computational Sciences at George Mason is a joint venture between the American Type Culture Collection (”ATCC”) and George Mason.
The joint venture is an effort to maximize research efforts by combining the academic and applied approaches to research. The School’s first activity was to teach an ATCC course in DNA techniques adapted for George Mason students. The ATCC is an internationally renown non-profit organization that houses the world’s largest and most diverse archive of biological materials. The Prince William Campus shares half of Discovery Hall with ATCC. ATCC moved to its current state-of-the-art laboratory at Discovery Hall (Prince Willam II) in 1998. ATCC’s 106,000-square-foot facility has nearly 35,000 square feet of laboratory space with a specialized air handling system and Biosafety Level 2 and 3 containment stations. The ATCC bioinformatics (BIF) program carries out research in various areas of biological information management relevant to its mission. BIF scientists interact with laboratory scientists in microbiology, cell biology, and molecular biology at ATCC and other laboratories throughout the world. ATCC has strong collaborations with a large number of academic institutions, including computational sciences at George Mason University. Through these partnerships, the George Mason Prince William Campus offers George Mason microbiology students an opportunity for students to be involved in current research and gain access to facilities and employment opportunities at ATCC and other partner companies.
While I’ve not yet found any reference directly confirming Timimi’s room number, the person who inherited his old telephone number (3-4294) is Victor Morozov in the Center for Biodefense, who upon joining the faculty and inheriting the phone number was in Rm. 154A, very near Dr. Bailey in Rm 156B. It has been suggested that it instead was Rm. 154B, in the middle of the office suite. GMU Information Services helpfully looked up the listings from 2001 directory. As of October 2001 (when the directory is published according to GMU Information Services), judging from the directory, Al-Timimi was still just a graduate student. Former USAMRIID head and Ames strain anthrax researcher Charles Bailey, in Rm 156B, was given a Gateway desktop computer in mid-March 2001 (upon his arrival) — serial number 0227315480. Like the one Dr. Alibek apparently would get the next year in 156D. One way to think of proximity analysis — a form of true crime analysis — is the number of feet or inches between 154B and 156B/156D. Another way is to think of it is in terms of the number of feet or inches to the hard drives.
c. “The Straight Path”: Connecting the Dots
Al-Timimi was on an advisory board member of Assirat al-Mustaqueem (”The Straight Path”), an international Arabic language magazine that published out of Pittsburgh. Assirat, produced in Pittsburgh beginning in 1991, was the creation of a group of North American muslims, many of whom were senior members of IANA. Its Advisory Committee included Bassem Khafagi and Ali Al-Timimi. Two staff members who wrote for Assirat then joined IANA’s staff when it folded in 2000. They had been members of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad and were activists in the movement. One of the former EIJ members, Gamal Sultan, was the editor of the quarterly IANA magazine in 2002. Mr. Sultan’s brother Mahmoud wrote for Assirat also. The most prominent writer was the founder of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, Kamal Habib. He led the Egyptian Islamic Jihad at the time of Anwar Sadat’s assassination when young doctor Zawahiri’s cell merged with a few other cells to form the EIJ. Two writers for Assirat in Pittsburgh had once shared a Portland, Oregon address with Al Qaeda member Wadih El-Hage who served a Bin Laden’s “personal secretary.”
Kamal Habib had been a founding member of Egyptian Islamic Jihad and had spent 10 years in jail for the assassination of Anwar Sadat. In the late 1970s, the cell run by the young doctor Zawahiri joined with three other groups to become Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ) under Habib’s leadership. After a visit in 2000, Gamal Sultan said Pittsburgh was known as the “American Kandahar,” given its rolling hills. Besides forming the Islah (”’Reform) party wth Gamal Sultan, Mr. Kamal Habib contributed to Al Manar al Jadeed, IANA’s quarterly journal. The pair sought the blind sheik’s endorsement of their political party venture in March 1999. They were not seeking the official participation of organizations like the Egyptian Islamic Jihad or the Egyptian Islamic Group, they were hoping the groups would not oppose it. The pair wanted members of the movement to be free to join in peaceful partisan activity. They were not deterred when the blind sheik responded that the project was pointless, at the same he withdrew his support for the cease-fire initiative that had been backed by the imprisoned leaders of the Egyptian Islamic Group.
In early April 2001, Nawaf Alhazmi and Hani Hanjour rented an apartment in Falls Church, Virginia, for about a month, with the assistance of a man they met at the mosque. Nawaf Al-Hazmi had been at the January 2000 meeting at Yazid Sufaat’s Malaysian condominium in January 2000. Hijackers Nawaf and Hani Hanjour, a fellow pilot who was his friend from Saudi Arabia, attended sermons at the Dar al Hijrah mosque in Falls Church, where Al-Timimi was located until he established the nearby center. The FBI reports that at an imam who had recently also moved from San Diego had closed door meetings with hijackers Nawaf Alhazmi and Khalid Almihdhar in 2000 while all three of them were living in San Diego. Police later found the phone number of the Falls Church mosque when they searched the apartment of 9/11 planner Ramzi bin al-Shibh in Germany. In his 2007 book, Center of the Storm, George Tenet noted that Ramzi bin al-Shibh had a CBRN role.
Yusuf Wells, who was a fundraiser for the Benevolence International Foundation, visited Northern Virginia over the April 14-15, 2001 weekend. The previous month he had been at Iowa State University on a similar visit. On April 15, 2001, he was brought to a paintball game. In the second season, they had become more secretive and an inquiry by an FBI Special Agent was made in 2000 of one of the members about the games. Part of BIF fundraiser Wells’ job involved writing reports about his fund raising trips. In his April 15, 2001 report he writes:
“I was taken on a trip to the woods where a group of twenty brothers get together to play Paintball. It is a very secret and elite group and as I understand it, it is an honor to be invited to come. The brothers are fully geared up in camouflage fatigues, facemasks, and state of the art paintball weaponry. They call it ‘training’ and are very serious about it. I knew at least 4 or 5 of them were ex US military, the rest varied.
Most all of them young men between the ages of 17-35. I was asked by the amir of the group to give a talk after Thuhr prayer. I spoke about seeing the conditions of Muslims overseas while with BIF, and how the fire of Islam is still very much alive in the hearts of the people even in the midst of extreme oppression. I also stressed the idea of being balanced. That we should not just be jihadis and perfect our fighting skills, but we should also work to perfect our character and strengthen our knowledge of Islam. I also said that Muslims are not just book reading cowards either, and that they should be commended for forming such a group.
Many were confused as to why I had been ‘trusted’ to join the group so quickly, but were comforted after my brief talk. Some offered to help me get presentations on their respective localities.”
According to what Umar Lee tells me, Al-Timimi was not friends with the Virginia defendants — at least he did not regularly associate with them outside his classes they attended. But they were awed by Timimi, a man who could both translate 7th-century Koranic Arabic, talk about astrobiology with friends, or joke about the Redskins. The prosecutor argued that the paintball defendants “couldn’t figure out how to tie their shoelaces without asking al-Timimi.” The group looked up to Al-Timimi and sought his advice on all sorts of questions — to include whether it was permissible to pray in a moving car and whether one could cut short his prayers due to an approaching scorpion.
After 9/11, although a dinner that night was cancelled in light of the events of the day, Al-Timimi sought “to organize a plan in case of anti-Muslim backlash and to get the brothers together.” The group got together on September 16. Al-Timimi when he came in told the group to turn of their phones, unplug the answering machine, and pull down the curtains. Al-Timimi told the group that Mullah Omar had called upon Muslims to defend Afghanistan. Al-Timimi read parts of the al-Uqla fatwa to the group gave the fatwa to Khan with the instructions to burn it after he has read it. Al Timimi said the duty to engage in jihad is “fard ayn” — an individual duty of all Muslims. Over a lunch, Al-Timimi with two of the group, Al-Timimi told them not to carry anything suspicious and if they were stopped on the way to Pakistan to ask for their mother and cry like a baby. He told them to carry a magazine. The next day the pair left for Pakistan. The group from the September 16 meeting met again in early October, and a number left for Pakistan immediately after that meeting.
One man, Kwon, who had just become a U.S. citizen in August 2001, went to the mountain training camps of Lashkar-e-Taiba. The U.S. placed on its terrorist list in December 2001. Kwon practiced with a semi-automatic weapons and learned to fire a grenade launcher, but he was not able to join the Taliban. The border between Afghanistan and Pakistan closed as U.S. forces took control of Afghanistan shortly before Kwon completed his training. His trainers suggested that he instead go back to the United States and gather information for the holy warriors. Kwon told jurors at al-Timimi’s trial how he first heard Al-Timimi speak in 1997 at an Islamic Assembly of North America conference in Chicago and then found that he lectured locally near his home in Northern Virginia. “Russian Hell” — a jihad video that featured bloody clips of a Chechen Muslim rebel leader executing a Russian prisoner of war — was a favorite among the videos that the group exchanged and discussed. “They (the videos) motivated us. It was like they gave us inspiration,” Kwon told the jurors.
Kwon recalled driving Al-Timimi home from the mosque Sept. 11, 2001 after the terrorist attacks. He said Al-Timimi and another scholar argued, with Al-Timimi characterizing the attacks as a punishment of America from God, while his fellow scholar decried the attacks. “He told me to gather some brothers, to have a contingency plan in case there were mass hostilities toward Muslims in America.” Kwon said Al-Timimi told the group that the effort to spread Islam in the United States was over and that the only other options open to them were to repent, leave the U.S. and join the mujahadeen — the holy warriors preparing to defend Afghanistan against the coming U.S. invasion. Four days later, Kwon was on the plane to Pakistan. “I made the decision to go, but (Al-Timimi) was a big part of my decision to go.”
In 2001, Al-Timimi kept the personal papers of IANA President Khafagi at his home for safekeeping. His taped audio lecturers were among the most popular at the charity Islamic Assembly of North America in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He knew its President, Khafagi, both through work with CAIR and IANA. Al Timimi was close to his former teacher Safar al Hawali, the dissident Saudi sheik who once close to Osama bin Laden and whose writings hail what he calls the inevitable downfall of the West. Al Hawali has played a public role in mediating between Saudi militants
and the government. Al-Timimi sought to represent and explain the views of radical sheik Al-Hawali in a letter he sent to members of Congress. The same nondescript office building at 360 S. Washington St. in Falls Church where Timimi used to lecture at Dar al Arqam housed the Muslim World League.
The Hawali October 6, 2002 letter drafted by Al-Timimi was hand delivered to every member of the US Congress just before their vote authorizing the use of force against Iraq, warning of the disastrous consequences that would follow an invasion of Iraq. Dr. Timimi’s defense committee explained on their website:
“Because Dr. Al-Timimi felt that he did not have enough stature to send a letter in his name on behalf of Muslims, he contacted Dr. Al-Hawali among others to send the letter. Dr. Al-Hawali agreed and sent a revised version which Dr. Al-Timimi then edited and had hand delivered to every member of Congress.”
In addition to the lucidly written October 6, 2002 letter, Hawali had sent a lengthy October 15, 2001 “Open Letter” to President Bush in which he had rejoiced in the 9/11 attacks. One Al-Hawali lecture sought to be introduced in the prosecution of the IANA webmaster, applauded the killing of Jews and called for more killing, praised suicide bombings, and said of Israel that it’s time to “fight and expel this hated country that consists of those unclean, defiled, the cursed.”
Bin Laden had referred to Sheik al-Hawali in his 1996 declaration of war on America. Prior to the 1998 embassy bombings, Ayman’s London cell sent letters to three different media outlets in Europe claiming responsibility for the bombings and referring to Hawali’s imprisonment.
In two of the letters, the conditions laid out as to how the violence would stop were (1) release of Sheik Hawali (who along with another had been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia in 1994) and (2) the release of blind sheik Abdel Rahman (who had been imprisoned in connection with WTC 1993). Hawali was released in 1999 after he agreed to stop advocating against the Saudi regime and agreed to limit himself to urging the destruction of the United States and Israel.
The authorities had an interest in a lecture by dissident Saudi Sheik al-Hawali upon a search on February 26, 2003 of an IANA-connected scientist, a radiological engineer, in Syracuse, New York. A federal magistrate, however, found that we had not reached the point where such reading material would be a reason for denial of bail.
Al-Timimi sent out a February 1, 2003 email in Arabic containing an article that said:
“There is no doubt Muslims were overjoyed because of the adversity that befell their greatest enemy. The Columbia crash made me feel, and God is the only One to know, that this is a strong signal that Western Supremacy (especially that of America) that began 500 years ago is coming to a quick end, God willing, as occurred to the shuttle.”
As Ali later explained to NBC, “To have a space shuttle crash in Palestine, Texas, with a Texas president and an Israeli astronaut, somebody might say there’s a divine hand behind it.”
d. GMU Center for Biodefense: Discovery Hall
Ali Al-Timimi worked at George Mason University’s Discovery Hall throughout 2000 and 2002 period. The Mason Gazette in “Mason to Pursue Advanced Biodefense Research” on November 17, 2000 had announced:”The School of Computational Sciences (SCS) and Advanced Biosystems, Inc., a subsidiary of Hadron, Inc., of Alexandria, are pursuing a collaborative program at the Prince William Campus to enhance research and educational objectives in biodefense research. The article noted that the program was funded primarily by a grant awarded to Advanced Biosystems from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
Instead of starting a center from scratch, GMU chose to join forces with Dr. Alibek and Dr. Bailey’s existing research firm, Hadron Advanced Biosystems Inc., which was already working under contract for the federal government, having received funding from DARPA. Dr. Alibek told the Washington Post that he and Bailey had spent their careers studying an issue that only recently grabbed the country’s attention, after the anthrax mailings the previous fall. Dr. Bailey and Alibek met in 1991, when a delegation of Soviet scientists visited the USAMRIID at Ft. Detrick. Dr. Bailey explained that the purpose of the tour was to show the Soviets that the US was not developing offensive biological weapons. Bailey said he tried to engage Alibek in conversation but Alibek remained aloof. Alibek, for his part, explains that he was suspicious of this American smiling so broadly at him. A year later, Alibek would defect to the US and reveal an illegal biological program in the Soviet Union of a staggering scope. Alibek says that one reason he defected was that he realized that the Soviet intelligence was wrong — that the US research was in fact only defensive.
Former USAMRIID head and Ames researcher Bailey coinvented, with Ken Alibek, the process to treat cell culture with hydrophobic silicon dioxide so as to permit greater concentration upon drying. He was in Room 156B of GMU’s Discovery Hall. at the Center for Biodefense. The patent application was filed March 14, 2001. Rm 154A was Victor Morozov’s room number when he first assumed Timimi’s phone number in 2004 (and before he moved to the newly constructed Bull Run Hall). Morozov was the co-inventor with Dr. Bailey of the related cell culture process under which the silica was removed from the spore surface — but with the silicon still detectable by an EDX by reason of having been absorbed by the exosporium.
One ATCC former employee felt so strongly about lax security there the scientist called me out of the blue and said that the public was overlooking the patent repository as a possible source of the Ames strain. ATCC does not deny they had virulent Ames in their patent repository pre 9/11 (as distinguished from their online catalog). The spokesperson emailed me: “As a matter of policy, ATCC does not disclose information on the contents of its patent depository…”
George Mason University, Department Listings, accessed August 17, 2003, shows that the National Center For Biodefense and Center for Biomedical Genomics had the same mail stop (MS 4ES). The most famed bioweaponeer in the world — the former head of the Russian bioweapons program (to include anthrax) — was not far from this sheik urging violent jihad in an apocalyptic struggle between religions. Dr. Alibek’s office was Rm. 156D in Prince William 2. The groups both shared the same department fax of 993-4288. Dr. Alibek advises me he had seen him several times in the corridors of GMU and was told that he was a religious muslim hard-liner but knew nothing of his activities. At one point, Timimi’s mail drop was MSN 4D7 Charles Bailey at 3-4271 was the former head of USAMRIID and joined the Center in April 2001. He continued to do research with Ames after 9/11.
Dr. Alibek reports that shortly after the mailings, he wrote Director Mueller and offered his services but was advised that they already had assembled a large group.
Ali Al Timimi had the same telephone number that Dr. Victor Morozov, of the Center for Biodefense would later have when he joined the faculty and occupied the newly constructed Bull Run Building, which opened in late 2004 (Rm. #362). If only to show the sophisticated cutting edge work they do at the Center, Dr. Morozov focuses on the development of new bioassay methods for express analysis, high-throughput screening and proteomics. He has recently developed a new electrospray-based technology for mass fabrication of protein microarrays. Dr. Morozov is currently supervising a DOE -funded research project directed at the development of ultra-sensitive express methods for detection of pathogens in which slow diffusion of analytes is replaced by their active transport controlled and powered by external forces (electric, magnetic, gravitational or hydrodynamic). His homepage explains that: “A variety of projects are available for students to participate in 1. Develop methods for active capturing of viruses and cells. 2. AFM imaging of macromolecules, viruses and cells. 3. Develop active immunoassay. 4. Analyze forces operating in the active assay of biomolecules and viral particles. 5. Develop immobilization techniques for antibodies and other biospecific molecules. 6. Study crystallization dynamics and morphology of organic and inorganic crystals in the presence of protein impurities. 7. Develop software to analyze motion of beads. 8. Develop software to analyze patterns in drying droplets. 9. Develop an electrostatic collector for airborne particles.”
Al-Timimi obtained a doctorate from George Mason University in 2004 in the field of computational biology — a field related to cancer research involving genome sequencing. He successfully defended his thesis 5 weeks after his indictment. Curt Jamison, Timimi’s thesis advisor, coauthor and loyal friend, was in Prince William II (Discovery Hall) Rm. 181A. The staff of Advanced Biosystems was in Rm. 160, 162, 177, 254E and several others. Computational sciences offices were intermixed among the Hadron personnel on the first floor of Prince William II to include 159, 161, 166A, 167, 181 B and 181C. Rm. 156B was Charles Bailey, former commander of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, who was head of the Center for Biodefense. Defense contractor Hadron had announced the appointment Dr. Charles Bailey as Vice-President of Advanced Biosystems in early April 2001. Over 13 years, Dr. Bailey had served as a Research Scientist, Deputy Commander for Research, Deputy Commander and Commander at the U.S. Army Medical Research Instiute. As a USAMRIID scientist, he designed and supervised the construction of BL-3 containment facilities. His hands-on experience with a wide variety of pathogens is chronicled in 70 published articles. During his 4 years with the Defense Intelligence Agency, he published numerous articles assessing foreign capabilities regarding biological weapons.” When I asked Dr. Bailey to confirm Al-Timimi’s room number relative to his own, his only response was to refer me to University counsel. Counsel then never responded to my inquiry regarding their respective room numbers. Dr. Jamison never responded to an emailed query either. GMU understandably is very nervous about losing the $25 million grant for a new BL-3 regional facility to be located very near our country’s capital.
In Fall 2001, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (”AFIP”) had detected silicon dioxide (silica) in the attack anthrax — with a characteristic big spike for the silicon. The reason for the silicon dioxide/silica claimed to have been detected by AFIP has never been explained (and it’s been nearly a half decade). No silica was observable on the SEMS images that Dr. Alibek and Dr. Matthew Meselson saw. The Daschle product was “pure spores.” But wasn’t silicon dioxide used as part of a microdroplet cell culture process used prior to drying to permit greater concentration? As explained in a later related patent, the silica could be removed from the surface of the spore through repeated centrifugaton or an air chamber.
Dr. Alibek and the former head of USAMRIID, Ames anthrax research Charles Bailey, had filed a patent application in mid-March 2001 involving a microdroplet cell culture technique that used silicon dioxide in a method for concentrating growth of cells. The patent was granted and the application first publicly disclosed in the Spring of 2002. Weren’t the SEMS images and AFIP EDX finding both consistent with use of this process in growing the culture? It’s been suggested informally to me that perhaps the silicon analytical peak was more likely due to silanol from hydrolysis of a silane, used in siliconizing glassware. But didn’t the AFIP in fact also detect oxygen in ratios characteristic of silicon dioxide? Wasn’t the scientist, now deceased, who performed the EDX highly experienced and expert in detecting silica? Hasn’t the AFIP always stood by its report. In its report, AFIP explained: “AFIP experts utilized an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (an instrument used to detect the presence of otherwise-unseen chemicals through characteristic wavelengths of X-ray light) to confirm the previously unidentifiable substance as silica?”
The nuance that was lost — or just never publicly explained for very sound reasons — was that silica was used in the cell culture process and then removed from the spores through a process such as centrifugation.
Dr. Morozov is co-inventor along with Dr. Bailey for a patent “Cell Culture” that explains how the silicon dioxide can be removed from the surface. Perhaps it is precisely this AFIP finding of silicon dioxide (without silica on the SEMS) that is why the FBI came to suspect Al-Timimi in 2003 (rightly or wrongly, we don’t know). The FBI would have kept these scientific findings secret to protect the integrity of the confidential criminal/national security investigation. There was still a processor and mailer to catch — still a case to prove. Above all, they needed to protect the due process rights of Al-Timimi while he defended himself on other charges.
e. Ali and The Islamic Ruling On The Peace Process
Establishing a center for Islamic education, al-Timimi contacted Egyptian-born Salafi Abd al-Rahman Abd al-Khaliq and translated his works into English. A London charity, JIMAS, at whose conferences Ali would speak, published the translation of the al-Khaliq’s book. He would give talks such as “Our Need for a Fiqh Suitable to Our Time and Place” at the 1997 conference in London or his “Cure for the Cancer of Globalization” or “The Position of Palestine in Allah’s Revelation” at the JIMAS conference in London August 24-27. (Fiqh relates to the principles of islamic jurisprudence governing warfare). The UK Islamic charity published the book calling on Muslims worldwide to “overthrow” peace treaties between Arab states and Israel.
Sheikh Abdur Rahman Abdul Khaliq’s book published by JIMAS, The Islamic Ruling on The Peace Process, that “the Jews are the enemies of the Islamic ummah (nation).” The US government’s National Commission for investigating the 9/11 attacks listed the book as one of a number of texts “espousing violence and hatred towards the west and reinforcing the victimization of Muslims as the hands of the infidels.” “The Jews have been the enemies of the Islamic ummah since the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be on him, began his call to Allah; and their hostility to this ummah will continue till the Day of Resurrection,” the National Commission’s website quoted from the book. “War or Jihad is an obligatory duty which remains in force till the Day of Resurrection. According to another version of the book made available by a separate jihadist website (currently offline), Muslims are completely prohibited from making peace with non-Muslims “except when the kafir (infidel) is humbled and surrenders.”
Any peace made by Muslim countries with Israel contravenes the Quran and must be reversed, the book argues. “Their (the Jews) hostility to the Muslims continues, so much so that stones and trees call out to the Muslims saying: ‘O Muslim, here is a Jew behind you, so fight him,’” a chapter in the book declared, based on an Islamic hadith (reported saying of Islam’s prophet, Muhammad). The author commands Muslims to “firmly believe in the invalidity” of peace agreements with Israel, and calls on them “to work towards overthrowing these treaties.”
The letters to the news organizations were mailed — coincidentally or not — on September 17 or September 18, either the day the Camp David Accord was signed in 1978 or the next day when it was approved by the Israeli knesset. Abdel-Rahman, the blind sheik, in the early 1980s, said: “We reject Camp David and we regret the normalization of relations with Israel. We also reject all the commitments that were made by the traitor Sadat, who deviated from Islam.” He continued: “As long as the Camp David Agreement stands, this conflict between us and the government will continue.” The letters to the Senators were mailed on the date Sadat was assassinated, October 6, for entering the peace treaty with Israel. Al-Timimi had hand-delivered the letter from Bin Laden’s sheik to every member of Congress on October 6, 2002, the first anniversary of the mailing to Senator Leahy and Senator Daschle.
After 9/11, a sweet young muslim Egyptian woman came to live with my family. She was the daughter of a senior Egyptian official who worked at the UN. Given that peace seems a good thing, as we walked along a local duck pond, we discussed how Sadat seemed a hero of historic proportion. Now I don’t know enough about foreign relations or history to be confident whether that is right or not. But in profiling Amerithrax, and having watched the tv detective Columbo for many years, I know when a motive seems to fit a person of interest and when the facts seem to point to the motive.
When pundits point to the targeting of Senator Leahy as pointing away from militant islamists as responsible for mailing, it may be that they were just unaware that he had the single most important role in appropriations to Egypt and Israel as head of the relevant Senate subcommittee overseeing the appropriations.
The government’s indictment alleged that after the space shuttle disaster in February, Timimi said the United States “was the greatest enemy of Muslims.”
f. The 2006 Arrest Of Falls Church Imam And Fellow Salafist Lecturer Awlaqi
Falls Church imam Awlaqi (Aulaqi), who met with hijacker Nawaf, reportedly was picked up in Yemen by Yemen security forces at the request of the CIA last summer. British and US intelligence had him and others under surveillance. Al-Timimi would speak alongside fellow Falls Church imam Awlaqi (Aulaqi) at conferences such as the August 2001 London JIMAS and the August 2002 London JIMAS conference. They would speak on subjects such as signs before the day of judgment and the like — dozens of their lectures are available online.
Aulaqi was hired in early 2001 in attempt by the mosque’s leaders, who were criticized as being too conservative, to increase its appeal to younger worshipers. Born in New Mexico and raised in Yemen, he had the total package. He was young, personable, fluent in English, eloquent and knowledgeable about Middle East politics. Hani Hanjour and Nawaf Al Hazmi, worshiped at Aulaqi’s mosque for several weeks in spring 2001. The 9/11 commission noted that the two men apparently showed up because Nawaf Hazmi had developed a close relationship with Aulaqi in San Diego. Aulaqi told the FBI that he did not recall what Nawaf and he had discussed in San Diego and denied having contact with him in Falls Church.
In March 2002, Awlaqi had suddenly left the US and went to Yemen, thus avoiding the inquiry the 9/11 Commission thought so important. (Eventually Aulaqi would be banned from entering both the UK and US because of his speeches on jihad, martyrdom and the like). In 2001, Awlaqi came to Falls Church from San Diego shortly before Nawaf did.
What is Aulaqi, detained in 2006, telling questioners, if anything, about his fellow Falls Church imam and fellow Salafist conference lecturer Ali Al-Timimi?
g. The Ability of Intelligence To Prevent Domestic Bioterrorism
Last year, FBI microbiologist Dr. Doug Beecher commented in a publication that it undermines biodefense preparations to underestimate the danger of simple spore preparations. He provided me a copy when I wrote him as the designated corresponding author and then I distributed it to reporters. The paper had been reviewed by Professor Meselson at Harvard. Dr. Beecher is right that there is no reason to view it as akin to “militarization” or requiring state sponsorship. The two sentences by Beecher actually did not address the issue at all. They just go to illustrate and confirm Dr. Alibek’s point that a sophisticated product can result from a relatively simple method. Here, the government even allowed the method to be commercialized and be published in the public domain for use in a broad range of possible commercial applications. Perhaps the United States biodefense establishment should not let officials commercialize and disclose such dual use technology, whether the patent is assigned to a DARPA-funded program or not — and whether deemed “biofriendly” or not. (The patent, which is not classified, has been assigned to George Mason University).
Everyone is basically right in substantial part—Richard Ebright, Milton Leitenberg, Gary Matsumoto, Stuart Jacobson, France Boyle, Matthew Meselson, Richard Spertzel, “Dick Destiny,” Cliff Kincaid, Barbara Hatch Rosenberg, Ed Lake, Richard Smith and many others who have long held strong and divergent opinions of what had been published in the media or what they knew. But it turns out that they apparently have just been seeing the elephant in the living room from a different angle. Actually, they’ve just been in a position to see the elephant’s rump from outside the living room door.
In a June 2005 interview in a Swiss (German language) weekly news magazine, Neue Zurcher Zeitung, Ken Alibek addresses the anthrax mailings:
A. “…What if I told you Swiss scientists are paid by Al Qaeda? You could believe it or not. It has become somewhat fashionable to disparage Russian scientists. Americans, Iraqis, or whoever could just as well be involved with Al Qaeda. Why doesn’t anyone speculate about that?”
Q. “But could one of your students build a biological weapon in the garage?”
A. “Let me reply philosophically: Two hundred years ago, it was unthinkable to believe that people would be using mobile telephones, wasn’t it? Everything changes. Our knowledge grows, and technology develops incredibly quickly. These days even high-school kids can breed recombinant microbial strains. I am not saying that a student is in a position to build a biological weapon all by himself. But the knowledge needed to do it is certainly there.”
No one who responded to my inquiries ever knew Al-Timimi to ever have been involved in any biodefense project. For example, former Russian bioweaponeer Sergei Popov did not know of any such work by Al-Timimi, and Anna Popova had only seen him in the hall on a very rare occasion. Dr. Alibek thought of him as a “numbers guy” rather than a hands-on type. Given that the FBI knows what Al-Timimi had for dinner on September 16, 2001, it is very likely that the past years have involved a continued search for the mailer and/or processor. His attorney emphasizes that while they searched for materials related to a planned biological attack when they searched his townhouse in late February 2003, they came up empty.
Peter Leitner at GMU is supervising a 2007 PhD thesis being finalized by a graduate student that explores biosecurity issues at GMU. Other students took a “red cell” approach that have corroborated the findings of the thesis. The thesis points to a pretty big iceberg indeed. Personally, I think the suppression of information relates partly because DARPA doesn’t want to take the hit for allowing a hardline Salafist, who had a high level security clearance relating to bioinformatics work for the Navy, access to a DARPA funded Center for Biodefense and the ATCC facilities.
The key to Amerithrax forensically perhaps was to know that encapsulation was done. That’s typically associated with drug delivery — preventing the good stuff from being destroyed by enzymes before being delivered to the intended organ. An expert in cutting edge work in such functionalized polymers was the guy who arranged for the 7/7 London bombmakers flat. His name is Magdy al-Nashar. The flat relatedly was used to ship stuff to Zawahiri’s chief aide, al-Hadi. Al-Nashar, according to his brother, had been held briefly in connection with Luxor. The biochemist’s lawyer, Mamdouh Ismail, was arrested in March 2007 and alleged to be Ayman’s chief conduit to jihadists in Egypt, Iraq and Yemen. A court in July ordered his release on bail pending trial.
Before they trot out al-Hadi’s confession at Guantanamo — al-Hadi once was Ayman’s chief aide — let me offer up some background on the Leeds [UK] / Falls Church. VA connection. In Northern Virginia, Al-Timimi’s personal assistant, Ali Asad Chandia, also served as the chauffer of London terorrist operative Mohammed Ajmal Khan who visited Falls Church more than once. The USG charged Chandia with arranging for the purchase of an electronic autopilot system and video equipment for use on model airplanes in connection with requests made by Mohammed Ajmal Khan to purchase the equipment.
Mohammed Ajmal Khan was a teaching assistant in Leeds. Chandia met Khan, a senior official and procurement officer for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET), at an office of that organization in Pakistan in late-2001. Khan traveled to the United States in 2002 and 2003 to acquire equipment for LET, and Chandia assisted him in these efforts both times. Khan is serving a nine-year sentence in the UK on terrorism charges. (The U.S. will seek his extradition at the conclusion of that sentence.)
Al-Timimi would tend to speak at annual conferences held in London. Marvin Miller, a lawyer for Chandia, says documents produced at trial evidenced he was under electronic surveillance. Ajmal Khan’s communications across the Atlantic were intercepted by the US National Security Agency and while in the US he was under surveillance pursuant to FISA.
Mohammed Ajmal Khan also was linked during a terrorist trial to Timimi’s acquaintance, Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, a 24-year-old who grew up in Falls Church and was found guilty of terrorist offences in Virginia. There thus was a strong Falls Church [USA]-Leeds [UK] connection. The question for years now has been: did the fellow working near Ken Alibek and the former USAMRIID head [Ali Timimi], who had a high security clearance for his mathematics support work for the Navy in bioinformatics, know the Leeds biochemist who was expert in functionalized polymers, an assistant professor at Leeds, who provided the 7/7 bombers with the keys to the flat, a flat used to store things shipped to Zawahiri’s chief aide? Ali spoke at London JIMAS conferences, to include the one in August 2001. This London biochemist had studied in North Carolina in 2000.
This biochemist al-Nashar who provided the keys to the bombmaking flat was represented by an attorney who has been arrested in late March, Mamdouh Ismail. Egyptian authorities allege that Ismail has served as Ayman Zawahiri’s chief conduit to jihadists in Egypt, Yemen, and Iraq. Mamdouh Ismail, joined by his former law partner Montasser al-Zayat, had tried to start an islamist party at the same time as IANA writers Kamal Habib and Gamal Sultan in 1999. Between Mamdouh Ismail’s arrest, al-Hadi’s capture — and even the 2006 arrest of former Falls Church Imam Aulaqi — the solution to Amerithrax may indeed be close at hand.
It turns out that Islambouli, the brother of Sadat’s assassin, may be the final key that unlocks the Amerithrax mystery. Islambouli was part of a cell with KSM. KSM took over from the Al Qaeda military head Atef as head of the anthrax weaponization operation. The same Al Qaeda spymaster, Egyptian al-Hakaymah, who wrote about Amerithrax and served as Ayman’s intermediary in contacts with Mamdouh Ismail, announced Islambouli was leading those Egyptian Islamic Group members who have joined Al Qaeda to seek the release of their leader blind sheik abdel-Rahman. Who did Islambouli visit when he came to the US to plan the next attack, as described in the December 4, 1998 Presidential Daily Brief to President Clinton that warned of a planned attack involving airplanes and other means. The 9/11 Commission Report contains a copy of the declassified December 1998 PDB which discusses Islambouli. Everyone focuses on the PDB in the summer of 2001 directed to President Bush while forgetting that there was a PDB with the same substance from December 1998 to President Clinton.
We need to learn from history or we are doomed to repeat it.
DXer said
In 2003, I began my website:
“June 13, 2003 rev.
In early June 2003, a CIA report concluded that the reason for Atta’s and Zacarias Moussaoui’s inquiries into cropdusters was in fact for the contemplated use in dispersing biological agents such as anthrax. Many people have argued that a US-based Al Qaeda operative is behind the anthrax mailings and that its purpose was to serve as a threat and warning.(1) Handwritten notes and files on a laptop seized upon the capture of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed (“KSM”), Al Qaeda’s #3, included a feasible anthrax production plan using a spray dryer and addressed the recruitment of necessary expertise.(2) What your morning paper did not tell you, however, was that the CIA seized a similar disc from Ayman Zawahiri’s right-hand, Mabruk, 5 years ago.(3) While other detainees have said Zacarias Moussaoui was going to fly a 5th plane into the White House, Mohammed, known as KSM, reportedly has said that Moussaoui was not going to be part of 9/11 but was to be part of a “second wave.”(4) In a July 31, 2001 email, Moussaoui wrote a flight school in Minnesota inquiring about a 6 month crop duster course. KSM has explained that his inquiries about crop dusters may have been related to the anthrax work being done by US-trained biochemist and Al Qaeda operative, Malaysian Yazid Sufaat.(5)
I did, however, recently learn that Jdey was retained at the same time as Moussaoui and he had biology textbooks.
Ed has no idea how Jdey could have been excluded given that the FBI does not know where he was.
Jdey was part of the 9/11 planes operation and knew anthrax planners KSM and Hambali — he pulled back for some reason (and it was not due to cold feet).
How was the FBI able to exclude Abderraouf Yousef Jdey as the mailer if the FBI doesn’t know where he was and, according to former top CIA analyst Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, Jdey was released before the mailings? Did Jdey know Al-Timimi? Did Jdey know Slahi?
Posted by Lew Weinstein on April 27, 2011
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2011/04/27/how-was-the-fbi-able-to-exclude-abderraouf-yousef-jdey-as-the-mailer-if-the-fbi-doesnt-know-where-he-was-and-according-to-former-top-cia-analyst-rolf-mowatt-larssen-jdey-was-released-before-the/
DXer said
Greg Gordon, who had major Amerithrax articles on subtilis and Silicon Signature, once described Moussaoui’s testimony:
http://www.startribune.com/nation/11611111.html
Moussaoui: ‘No regret, no remorse’
• Article by: Greg Gordon , Star Tribune
• Updated: April 13, 2006 – 9:17 PM
• ALEXANDRIA, VA. – In testimony that almost seemed designed to seal his fate, Al-Qaida operative Zacarias Moussaoui told a jury on Thursday that he has “no regret, no remorse” for concealing the Sept. 11 attacks.
In a matter-of-fact tone, he said he is willing to kill Americans “any time, anywhere.” A prosecutor asked Moussaoui why he smiled during anguished testimony from a widow and military officers over the deaths on Sept. 11 of soldiers at the Pentagon.
“Make my day,” he shot back.
Testifying for a second time in the trial to decide whether he should be executed, Moussaoui dealt new blows to a defense team devastated by his earlier admission that he was training, when arrested, to fly a plane into the White House on Sept. 11.
Yet in a bizarre twist, Moussaoui also said he is certain that a dream he had that President Bush will release him from prison will come true.
***
“No regret, no remorse,” Moussaoui said. “I just wish it had happened the 12th, the 13th, the 14th, the 15th, the 16th, the 17th. I can go on and on … There’s no remorse for justice.”
***
He said he wanted a two-pronged defense: to try to persuade jurors, as occurred in the case of the 1998 African embassy bombings, that execution would allow terrorists to die as martyrs.
And he said keeping him alive would give the U.S. government a “bargaining chip.”
Comment:
Stupid question: Is Moussaoui allowed to give interviews? If so, what does he say about the reason for his cropduster inquiries?
DXer said
On or about September 18, 2001, Falls Church shaikh Ali Al-Timimi, who shared a suite with the leading DARPA-funded Ames researchers, doing research with virulent Ames at Southern Research Institute in Frederick, MD, spoke with Bin Laden’s sheik Al-Hawali about helping with Moussaoui’s defense.
On the first anniversary of the anthrax mailings, Shaikh Al-Timimi arranged to hand-deliver a letter from Bin Laden’s sheik Al-Hawali (that Ali had drafted) warning of the consequences if Iraq was invaded.
DXer said
In July 2011, recently retired head of the NCTC Michael Leiter explained that both Ayman Zawahiri and Al-Timimi’s fellow Falls Church imam Anwar Awlaki “get” the value of small-scale operations.
Well, this should have been understood in 2001 and 2002 also.
In November 2002, I published on cryptome.org:
http://cryptome.org/alqaeda-anthrax.htm
“Third, the Egyptian islamists sent letter bombs a few years ago to newspaper offices in New York City and Washington, D.C. in connection with the earlier bombing of the World Trade Center. The letter bombs were sent in connection with the treatment of the Egyptian islamists imprisoned for the earlier attack on the WTC. The apparent purpose of the letter bombs –which resulted in minimal casualty — was to send a message. (There is an outstanding $2 million reward)”
***
“Modus Operandi: Egyptian Islamists’ earlier WTC letter bombs
This was not the first time the Egyptian islamists sent letter bombs to newspaper offices in connection with an attack on the World Trade Center. A dozen letter bombs were sent to newspaper offices in New York City and Washington, D.C. in December 1996/January 1997. The letter bombs were sent from Alexandria, Egypt, to the London, New York, and Washington, D.C. offices of the newspaper Al Hayat.(64) The paper, owned by a member of the Saudi royal family, is the leading international Arabic-language newspaper.(65)
Two people were injured when one bomb went off in London. Bombs were also sent to the prison officials at the Kansas prison where the WTC plotters were being jailed. (66) The blind sheik the previous year had given an interview complaining of mistreatment by prison officials and asking that he be avenged. The key WTC bomber imprisoned at Leavensworth had also complained of mistreatment and the conditions.(67)
One commentator has noted:
“It has been stated that the tactics of enclosing warnings in the letters shows the attacker did not intend to commit murder. This is nonsense. The death of Robert Stevens was public knowledge before the Senate letters were mailed. The attacker knew full well that he was placing large numbers of people in deadly peril and acknowledged this in the text of the Senate letters. As Brian Jenkins [Deputy Director of Kroll Associates] has famously noted, ‘terrorists want a lot of people watching, not a lot of people dead.’ The letter tactics were chosen to maximize the scope of terrorism, not to limit or avoid casualties.”(68)
Sending poisonous letter bombs is part of Al Qaeda’s modus operandi in that the Al Qaeda operations manual, the most recent version on CD-ROM, had a chapter on “Poisonous Letter.” (69) As with the insertion of biologicals into food, the key is mass panic, not mass casualty.
Al Qaeda is concerned with handling its efforts in such a way as to develop and maintain the Arab hatred of the US and Israel — and that requires a delicate balance and choice of suitable targets. Zawahiri divines from his religious texts that it is moral to kill American civilians on the grounds that they stood silent as taxpayers while US-bought weapons were used on Palestinians. The al Qaeda shura (policy-making council), however, may deem that Al Qaeda needs to choose the methods of attack carefully so that they are both are effective and calculated to gain the support of others. (Gassing the Kurds ultimately was a public relations debacle for Saddam once the world stopped looking the other way). Just recently Zawahiri was invited to participate by telephone or internet in a conference of islamists in Cairo. The seeds he has planted are bearing fruit. (70) Where there are democratic processes, islamists have made substantial recent gains, to include in Pakistan, Morocco, Bahrain and Turkey.
When Zawahiri’s Islamic Jihad or related egyptian islamist group (led by the blind sheik) sent letter bombs to newspaper offices in Washington, D.C. and NYC in 1997 — to include the “Parole Officer” and other prison officials where a key WTC bomber was imprisoned — it apparently was because Al Hayat didn’t support the radical islamist cause and because the WTC prisoners had complained of mistreatment. Why would the Islamic Jihad target AMI, the publisher of the National Enquirer? Just a dispute with a landlady over a security deposit? (The wife of the AMI owner was the landlady for some of the hijackers). (71) Was there an early first letter to AMI so that the hijackers would be in a position to receive feedback on the effectiveness of the weaponized anthrax? Or had Bat Boy given Bin Laden the finger prior to 9/11? What coverage did those publications give the blind sheik and the WTC bombers? The FBI is investigating and went back to AMI.(72)”
DXer said
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0DE3DE1731F932A15757C0A9639C8B63
In handwritten filings, Mr. Moussaoui said he wanted ”anthrax for Jew sympathisers only…”
DXer said
Consider how far off (or right on target if you credit an Ivins theory) the former CIA fellow Vince Cannistraro was in advising the FBI about the website they set up profiling a bipolar nut with a dysfunctional sex life. (It was a sting that they used to collect IPs). (The new team taking over in the last years perhaps didn’t realize that it was all a head-fake honey trap). The media largely had taken the theory to heart.
Having once been called by the blind sheik as an expert witness, Vince should have immediately understood the Fall 2001 anthrax mailings for what they were — not relating to Iraq, but to Dr. Ayman. And for him to be on the Saudi payroll now should have disqualified him from advising Amerithrax in any role.
When the CIA isn’t up to the job for whatever reason, it’s up to DIA to get the job done. As one DIA General said of an Ivins Theory, “I don’t fuckin’ think so!”
DXer said
In 2002, the “anthraxhunt.com” website was an “FBI sting” that sought to provoke a reaction from the perpetrator. Did it work?
Posted by Lew Weinstein on April 16, 2011
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2011/04/16/in-2002-the-anthraxhunt-com-website-was-an-fbi-sting-that-sought-to-provoke-a-reaction-from-the-perpetrator-did-it-work/
It was set up by someone who thinks he can read the color of people’s auras, along with former CIA honcho Vince Cannistraro, and another unidentified Maryland colleague..
See also
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2011/04/14/dr-ivins-committed-suicide-only-after-the-fbi-swabbed-him-for-dna-to-test-the-semen-on-the-panties/
DXer said
Off-topic – -
We Lost Our Gold
If anyone wants to put me and my pirate crew up in New York City at the end of the month, you can have bounty if we find it.
http://www.reelseo.com/web-series-incentives/
We have very specific leads and locations that we want to check.
As always, I cannot say enough about the talent of these puppeteers — for any age.
The webseries needs to air on national TV — it would be a huge success.
DXer said
For each Egyptian security official who mistreated a prisoner, there was the issue — in the minds of the Vanguards of Conquest — of US appropriations that trained him under the “Leahy Law” and the associated “Leahy Vetting Response.” (see such State Department cables from Cairo below)
But given that media never reported that Dr. Ayman Zawahiri’s colleagues had announced that anthrax would be used against US targets, the public discussion about the targeting was incredibly uninformed and superficial. Focus in a FoxNews/ Drudge /MSNBC polarized world was on the fact that they were liberals. Pornographers became prolific commenters.
Instead of informed intelligence analysis, we get true crime analysis fueled by political worldview and Ed’s ad hominem schtick.
We get talking head “profilers” and psychiatrists addressing the issue — and postal inspectors put in charge of a national security investigation.
We had the head of the Washington Field Office having his first meeting on the subject with Task Force members many months into the investigation.
Even now we have Mr. Greenwald discussing Anwar Awlaki as if Anwar’s public persona in 2001 was a true reflection of what he privately thought. His roommate at Hajj in Spring 2001 — Hal, a lawyer from San Francisco — tells me that privately Anwar was entirely different — and was a supporter of the Salafist-Jihadi cause.
And as we approach the 10 year anniversity of 9/11, if the US is attacked again and it involves anthrax, we’ll know who to blame — pretty much everyone.
DE RUEHC #4630 3101433
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061428Z NOV 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0000
UNCLAS STATE 114630
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS:
EG MASS PHUM PM PREL SNAR
SUBJECT: EGYPT LEAHY VETTING RESPONSE – 99267 THRU 99294
REF: CAIRO 2094
¶
1. (SBU) In response to reftel Leahy vetting request, the
Department has reviewed its files and finds it possesses no
credible information of gross violations of human rights at
this time by the Egyptian officials listed below. Please
note that if at any time the Embassy becomes aware of
information regarding incidents which could be deemed to be
credible information of a gross violation of human rights by
these individuals, the Embassy should so inform the
Department.
¶
2. (SBU) The following Egyptian officials have been selected
to participate, or are considered alternates, for
several U.S.-sponsored training courses.
________
VZCZCXYZ0004
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHC #1356 3290233
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 250228Z NOV 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0000
UNCLAS STATE 121356
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS:
MASS PHUM PREL SNAR EG PM
SUBJECT: EGYPT LEAHY HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING RESPONSE – 99299
THRU 99328
REF: CAIRO 2167
¶
1. (SBU) In response to reftel Leahy vetting request, the
Department has reviewed its files and finds it possesses no
credible information of gross violations of human rights at
this time by the Egyptian officials listed below. Please
note that if at any time the Embassy becomes aware of
information regarding incidents which could be deemed to be
credible information of a gross violation of human rights by
these individuals, the Embassy should so inform the
Department.
¶
2. (SBU) The following Egyptian officials have been selected
to participate, or are considered alternates, for
several U.S.-sponsored training courses.
EGYPT LEAHY VETTING RESPONSE – 99295 THRU 99298 2009-11-03 2011-04-06 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Secretary of State 09STATE114630 EGYPT LEAHY VETTING RESPONSE – 99267 THRU 99294 2009-11-06 2011-04-06 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Secretary of State 09STATE121356 EGYPT LEAHY HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING RESPONSE – 99299 2009-11-25 2011-04-06 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Secretary of State 09STATE122615 EGYPT LEAHY VETTING RESPONSE – 99329 THRU 99341 2009-11-30 2011-04-06 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Secretary of State 09STATE130735 EGYPT LEAHY VETTING RESPONSE 99342 THRU 99365 AND 2009-12-23 2011-04-06 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Secretary of State 10STATE2586 EGYPT LEAHY VETTING RESPONSE 99366 THRU 99397 2010-01-11 2011-04-06 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Secretary of State 10STATE3573 EGYPT LEAHY VETTING RESPONSE – 99398 THRU 99422 2010-01-13 2011-04-06 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Secretary of State 10STATE9410 EGYPT LEAHY VETTING RESPONSE – 99423 THRU 99487 2010-01-29 2011-04-06 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Secretary of State
DXer said
The blind sheik’s lawyer, Montasser Al Zayat, announced that Dr. Ayman Zawahiri would use anthrax against US targets to retaliate against the rendering and imprisonment of senior Movement leaders, to include the blind sheik. His announcement was corroborated by EIJ leaders Al-Najjar and Mabruk, both EIJ shura members. Mabruk was EIJ’s military commander and had shared a cell with Dr. Ayman in the recent past. For the mainstream media to have pretty much totally missed the 1998 announcement — or at least gone back to it after the Fall 2001 anthrax mailings — is startling. If journalist Salah had been contacted, he could have provided source documents from the trial, his interviews, translations etc.
Here is a State Department cable from 1991 describing the blind sheik’s influence and touching on the importance of taking the words of attorney Montasser Al-Zayat words, as an insider, to heart.
http://wikileaks.org/cable/1991/07/91CAIRO12383.html
R 111516Z JUL 91
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3751
INFO ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY PARIS
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 06 CAIRO 12383
PARIS FOR ROSENBLATT, LONDON FOR MILLIKAN
DEPT ALSO FOR INR/B
E.O. 12356:DECL: OADR
TAGS: PINR KISL PINS KPRP EG
SUBJECT: THE GREAT SHAYKHS: THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD AND
THE RADICAL FRINGE
¶1. CONFIDENTIAL – ENTIRE TEXT.
——————————————
OMAR ABDURRAHMAN: GODFATHER OF THE FRINGE
——————————————
¶16. FOR OVER A DECADE, DR. OMAR ABDURRAHMAN HAS SERVED AS THE SPIRITUAL AND, PERHAPS OCCASIONALLY, THE OPERATIONAL LEADER OF “AL-GAMA’A AL-ISLAMIYYA,” A RELATIVELY COHESIVE GROUPING ON THE ISLAMIC FRINGE UNITED BY THE PRINCIPLE THAT FORCE SHOULD BE USED TO USHER IN THE ISLAMIC STATE. RAISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN OLD ISLAMIC TRADITION THAT BLIND BOYS BE TRAINED TO RECITE THE QURAN TO ASSURE THEM A LIVELIHOOD, OMAR ABDURRAHMAN HAS BEEN IN AN ALMOST STRICTLY ISLAMIC MILIEU ALL HIS LIFE. IN 1965, HE GRADUATED FROM AL-AZHAR, WHERE HE APPARENTLY IMBIBED DEEPLY OF THE THOUGHT OF MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD RADICAL SAYYED QUTB, WHO NASSER EXECUTED THE SAME YEAR ON CHARGES OF ATTEMPTING TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT.
¶17. WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY PURSUING HIGHER DEGREES FROM AL-AZHAR, ABDURRAHMAN TAUGHT AT AL-AZHAR INSTITUTE IN ASSIUT. HIS RESIDENCE IN THE CITY ROUGHLY CORRESPONDED TO SADAT’S DRIVE TO BOLSTER ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISTS ON EGYPT’S CAMPUSES TO WEAKEN THE NASSERISTS. WHETHER OR NOT LOCAL AUTHORITIES WITTINGLY USED ABDURRAHMAN, HE TURNED OUT TO BE ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL INSTRUMENTS OF THE ISLAMIZATION POLICY, PROVIDING GUIDANCE TO MANY OF THE YOUNG MEN WHO HELPED TRANSFORM THE FORMER COPTIC BASTION OF ASSIUT INTO AN ACKNOWLEDGED CENTER OF RADICAL ISLAM. THE MOST FAMOUS “FATWA” (RELIGIOUS JUDGMENT) RENDERED BY ABDURRAHMAN WAS TO THE ASSASSINS OF PRESIDENT SADAT: I.E., IT IS ISLAMICALLY PROPER TO ASSASSINATE AN INFIDEL OR APOSTATE RULER. THIS FATWA EARNED ABDURRAHMAN THE DISTINCTION OF BEING THE PRINCIPAL DEFENDANT IN THE SO-CALLED JIHAD TRIALS CONNECTED WITH THE CONSPIRACY TO MURDER SADAT. ABDURRAHMAN WAS ACQUITTED IN 1984, HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE EVIDENCE WAS UNCLEAR ON WHETHER HE HAD DECLARED THAT SADAT OR, MORE THEORETICALLY, ANY INFIDEL OR APOSTATE RULER COULD BE KILLED.
¶18. FOLLOWING HIS ACQUITTAL, ABDURRAHMAN LIVED FOR A WHILE IN SAUDI ARABIA, BUT RETURNED IN EARLY 1986 TO THE PROVINCE OF AL-FAYYOUM. SINCE THEN “AL-GAMA’A AL-ISLAMIYYA” (IG), THE GROUP OF WHICH HE IS THE SPIRITUAL LEADER, HAS INSPIRED DOZENS OF INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT, COPTS, LESS ZEALOUS MUSLIMS, AND IN AT LEAST ONE INSTANCE WESTERNERS. LESS CLEAR IS HIS DEGREE OF OPERATIONAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE GROUP’S ACTIONS. IN AL-FAYYOUM IN APRIL 1989, IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT, DESPITE A SUBSEQUENT ACQUITTAL ON EVIDENTIARY GROUNDS, ABDURRAHMAN DIRECTLY URGED HIS CONGREGATION TO GET OUT AND BATTLE THE SECURITY FORCES IN THE STREETS. WE HAVE ALSO HEARD THAT THE SPRING 1990 BOUT OF SECTARIAN VIOLENCE WAS A STRATEGY CONCOCTED BY ABDURRAHMAN. AT THE SAME TIME, ONE SCHOOL OF OBSERVERS OF THE RADICAL FRINGE BELIEVES THAT OTHER LEADERS IN THE IG — TALAAT FUAD QASSEM, RECENTLY RECAPTURED AL-MAHGOUB ASSASSIN SAFWAT ABDEL GHANI, OR PERHAPS ABBOUD AL-ZUMOR — DEVELOP PLANS WHICH DR. OMAR MAY BLESS BEFORE OR AFTER THE ACT. WE HAVE NOT SEEN ABDURRAHMAN DISASSOCIATE HIMSELF FROM ANY INCIDENT OF SELF-STYLED ISLAMIC VIOLENCE.
¶19. UNTIL RECENTLY, ABDURRAHMAN HAS BEEN IN SELF-IMPOSED EXILE IN THE GREATER NEW YORK AREA. HE IS NOW BELIEVED TO BE IN JEDDAH. HIS ABSENCE APPEARS TO HAVE CHANGED HIM AND, LESS CLEARLY, CHANGED THE DYNAMIC AT WORK IN THE IG. SOME HAVE IT THAT ABDURRAHMAN HAS GONE FROM CONSIDERING HIMSELF THE SYMBOL OF ISLAMIC RESISTANCE IN EGYPT TO FANCYING HIMSELF ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE WORLD ISLAMIC MOVEMENT. AS SUCH, ABDURRAHMAN, WHILE STILL EXCORIATING THE MUBARAK REGIME, HAS EXPANDED HIS RADICAL MESSAGE TO DECLARE THAT ALL ARAB AND ISLAMIC REGIMES ARE ROTTEN AND MUST BE OVERTHROWN BY FORCE. DURING HIS ABSENCE, HOWEVER, HIS GRIP ON THE IG SEEMS TO HAVE LOOSENED PERHAPS BECAUSE OTHER FIGURES HAVE SOUGHT TO EXPAND THEIR REPUTATIONS AND POWER.
¶20. THERE ARE RUMORS THAT ABDURRAHMAN IS COMING HOME. IF HE DOES RETURN, THE SAME GOVERNMENT WHICH LET HIM LEAVE EGYPT EVEN WHEN STATE SECURITY CHARGES WERE OUTSTANDING AGAINST HIM WILL HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER TO DETAIN HIM. IF HE RETURNS AND IS NOT DETAINED, HE WILL STICK TO HIS MOSQUE IN AL-FAYYOUM, RENDER ADVICE TO HIS ACOLYTES, VIOLENCE WILL BE DONE IN HIS GROUP’S NAME, AND THE AUTHORITIES WILL WATCH CAREFULLY AND SOMETIMES ARREST THE PERPETRATORS. WHETHER AS SPIRITUAL OR OPERATIONAL LEADER, HOWEVER, THIS 53-YEAR-OLD DIABETIC WILL REMAIN A MAJOR THORN IN THE SIDE OF THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT UNTIL ECLIPSED BY ANOTHER RADICAL OR BY POOR HEALTH.
—————————————-
ABBOUD AL-ZUMOR: LEADING FROM HIS CELL?
—————————————-
¶21. THE PLOT TO KILL SADAT AND INCITE INSURRECTION IN ASSIUT IN THE WAKE OF THE ASSASSINATION MOST LIKELY OWES ITS SUCCESS TO THE PLANNING AND ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS OF ABBOUD AL-ZUMOR, A YOUNG MAJOR IN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE. IN 1979 OR 1980, ABBOUD AND HIS COUSIN TAREQ BECAME ASSOCIATES — PERHAPS FOLLOWERS — OF ABD AL-SALAAM FARAG, WHO TERMED HIS RADICAL SPLINTER GROUP “AL-JIHAD” (AFTER AN EARLIER ALEXANDRIA-BASED ORGANIZATION OF THE SAME NAME, HEADED BY ONE ALI IBRAHIM SALAMA; WHEN THE ALEX-BASED GROUP WAS SMASHED BY THE SECURITY AUTHORITIES, FARAG MOVED TO CAIRO AND STARTED HIS GROUP). EVEN THOUGH HE REPORTEDLY DISAGREED WITH THE TIMING OF THE EVENT, ABBOUD USED HIS RECRUITING AND ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS — WORKING ON THE FAMILIAR EGYPTIAN BASIS OF KINSHIP TIES AND PERSONAL FRIENDSHIP — TO DEVELOP THE STRATEGY CULMINATING IN SADAT’S MURDER. THE NUMER-TWO DEFENDANT IN THE SADAT TRIALS, ABBOUD WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT AT HARD LABOR IN 1984.
¶22. PARTICULARLY OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS THAT AL-ZUMOR IS PLANNING AND/OR DIRECTING ACTS OF ISLAMIC VIOLENCE FROM HIS CELL AT CAIRO’S AL-TORAH PRISON. ON TWO OCCASIONS, HIS WIFE HAS BEEN CAUGHT SMUGGLING RADICAL LITERATURE TO HIM WHICH AUTHORITIES BELIEVE WAS FOR HIS CLEARANCE BEFORE DISTRIBUTION. RADICAL ISLAMIC ATTORNEY MONTASSER AL-ZAYYAT ALSO REPORTEDLY ACTS AS MESSENGER BETWEEN AL-ZUMOR AND HIS ADMIRERS ON THE OUTSIDE. MOREOVER, IN EARLY 1991 A SEARCH OF AL-ZUMOR’S CELL REVEALED A LOOSE PAVING STONE UNDER WHICH HIS JAILERS FOUND HANDWRITTEN NOTES WHICH APPARENTLY WERE TO BE TRANSFORMED INTO AN ANTI-REGIME PAMPHLET ON THE OUTSIDE. THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST TWO HAGIOGRAPHIES OF HIM BASED ON LENGTHY INTERVIEWS IN PRISON. RECENTLY, WE HAVE NOTICED THAT AL-ZUMOR, SOMETIMES PURPORTING TO SPEAK FOR THE “JIHAD” AND SOMETIMES FOR “AL-GAMA’A AL-ISLAMIYYA,” HAS SENT CONDOLENCE MESSAGES AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ISLAMIC FIGURES AND SUPPORTERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. THE DEGREE TO WHICH AL-ZUMOR ACTUALLY IS SEEKING TO DIRECT RADICAL ACTIVITIES FROM PRISON IS DIFFICULT TO ASSESS. WHAT IS CLEAR IS THAT HE IS TRYING TO RAISE HIS PROFILE.
¶23. SOME OBSERVERS RELATE THE UPTICK IN AL-ZUMOR’S PUBLICITY TO ABDURRAHMAN’S ABSENCE. ONE SCHOOL OF THOUGHT HAS IT THAT AL-ZUMOR IS ABDURRAHMAN’S DISCIPLE, AND THAT IN THE SHAYKH’S ABSENCE ABBOUD IS TRYING TO HOLD THE IG TOGETHER. AN ALTERNATIVE ARGUMENT IS THAT THE TWO ARE AT LOGGERHEADS, OR AT LEAST ARE SOMETIMES RIVALS. THE LATTER IS GROUNDED IN THE EVENTS OF THE SADAT TRIALS. THE TWO COOPERATED SMOOTHLY DURING THE TIME LEADING UP TO THE KILLING, BUT AT THE TRIAL GAVE CONFLICTING TESTIMONY ABOUT THE DETAILS OF ABDURRAHMAN’S “FATWA.” AL-ZUMOR, SO GOES THE STORY, TOLD HIS FELLOW CONVICTS THAT THE GREAT DR. OMAR CHICKENED OUT, THAT HE STOOD UP FOR ISLAMIC PRINCIPLE ONLY WHEN IT WAS CONVENIENT.
¶24. DESPITE HIS INCARCERATION, ABBOUD AL-ZUMOR HAS SEVERAL ADVANTAGES OVER ABDURRAHMAN. SHOULD CIRCUMSTANCES DEVELOP SUCH THAT THE TWO BECAME REAL RIVALS, AL-ZUMOR SHOULD HAVE THE UPPER HAND. HE IS YOUNG (FORTY-TWO) AND ROBUST. ABDURRAHMAN IS SO CORPULENT AND UNHEALTHY THAT FRIENDS AND ENEMIES ALIKE AT ONE POINT FEARED HE WOULD DIE IN PRISON. AL-ZUMOR’S MILITARY BACKGROUND IMBUED HIM WITH STRONG ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS AND PERSONAL DISCIPLINE. WHILE ABDURRAHMAN IS THE VOICE OF BLIND, VIOLENT ISLAMIC RAGE, AL-ZUMOR IS PATIENT AND METHODICAL, BUT EQUALLY DEDICATED TO AN ISLAMIC STATE. A FREED ABBOUD AL-ZUMOR WOULD POSE A SERIOUS CHALLENGE TO ABDURRAHMAN’S STATUS AS LEADER OF THE ISLAMIC RADICAL FRINGE.
¶25. COMMENT: WHILE THE ISLAMIC LEADERS IDENTIFIED ABOVE JOCKEY FOR POSITION, THEY ARE UNLIKELY TO POSE A SERIOUS THREAT TO THE GOVERNMENT. IF THEY BEGIN TO COOPERATE EFFECTIVELY, OR ONE OF THEM SUCCESSFULLY HARNESSES PUBLIC DISCONTENT, THE GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE TO CRACK DOWN.
EGAN
DXer said
While the United States has promoted democracy in Egypt, Dr. Ayman opposes it.
Dr. Ayman’s friend, Kamal Habib, the founder of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad and one of the two lead writers for the Ann Arbor-based Islamic Assembly of North America, favors democracy.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CAIRO 003001
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC STAFF FOR WATERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2017
TAGS:
PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM KMPI EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT: UPDATED DEMOCRACY STRATEGY
REF: STATE 130991
Classified by DCM Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
——-
Summary
——
¶1. (C) Our fundamental reform
goal in Egypt remains democratic transformation, including the expansion of political freedom and democratic pluralism, respect for human rights, and a stable, democratic and legitimate transition to the post-Mubarak era. While our programs in the areas of judicial reform and decentralization are well-conceived and have had some notable successes, we propose to expand our support for civil society, especially through offshore programming. During the spring of 2007, Embassy Cairo, coordinating closely with Washington colleagues via shared draft papers and secure DVC discussions, drafted the following document which currently serves as the basis for our democracy promotion efforts in Egypt. End summary.
***
¶
7. (C) President Mubarak is deeply skeptical of the U.S. role in democracy promotion.
DXer said
P 310904Z MAY 01
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1478
INFO ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CAIRO 003303
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2005
TAGS:
KISL PGOV PTER EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT’S MUSLIM BROTHERS – PART I: HISTORY AND
STRUCTURE
REF: A. 2000 CAIRO 2785
¶
B. 2000 CAIRO 3178
CLASSIFIED BY A/DCM RICHARD LEBARON FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND
(D).
——-
SUMMARY
——-
¶
1. (C) THIS IS THE FIRST IN A TWO PART MESSAGE DISCUSSING
EGYPT’S MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD. PART 1 OUTLINES ITS HISTORY AND
STRUCTURE, PART 2 OF THE MESSAGE WILL DISCUSS THE BASES FOR
THE MB’S POPULARITY AS A POLITICAL FORCE IN EGYPT TODAY.
EGYPT’S (ILLEGAL) MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD, FOUNDED IN 1928, IS A
PART OF THE COUNTRY’S HISTORY AND ITS PRESENT POLITICAL LIFE.
THE ORGANIZATION’S HISTORY IS CHECKERED WITH ATTEMPTS TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS VIOLENT ATTEMPTS TO
OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT. THE MB IS THE ORGANIZATION FROM
WHICH THE VIOLENT ELEMENTS, THE GAMA’A ISLAMIYYA, THE
EGYPTIAN ISLAMIC JIHAD AND THE VANGUARDS OF CONQUEST
SPLINTERED.
Comment: I have long urged my sense that the mailings are the work of VANGUARDS OF CONQUEST.
DXer said
The “Leahy Law”, I have urged, was central to the targeting in October 2001.
VZCZCXYZ0005
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHC #4609 1732134
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 222112Z JUN 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY CAIRO IMMEDIATE 1940
UNCLAS STATE 064609
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
CAIRO FOR RSO RTHYEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MASS PHUM PREL SNAR EG PM
SUBJECT: EGYPT LEAHY VETTING RESPONSE
REF: A. CAIRO 1063
¶B. CAIRO 1124
¶C. CAIRO 1123
¶1. (SBU) In response to reftel Leahy vetting request, the
Department has reviewed its files and finds it possesses
no credible information of gross violations of human
rights at this time by the Egyptian officials listed
below. Please note that if at any time the Embassy
becomes aware of information regarding incidents which
could be deemed to be credible information of a gross
violation of human rights by these individuals, the
Embassy should so inform the Department.
¶2. (SBU) The following Egyptian officials have been
selected to participate, or are considered alternates, for
several
U.S.-sponsored training courses.
DXer said
The bail of Mohamed Mahjoub, suggested to be #2 in Vanguards of Conquest was denied on October 5, 2001.
But for all those postal inspectors, scientists, and talking heads who had never even heard of Vanguards of Conquest, the significance of the denial of bail would be overlooked.
Certainly, the detail would be lost on the head of the FBI’s Washington Field Office who would not meet with Task Force members for many months.
http://cablesearch.org/cable/view.php?id=08OTTAWA360&hl=Vanguards+of+Conquest
MAHMOUD JABALLAH
– Egyptian-born Mahmoud Jaballah, aged 41, was first detained on a
security certificate in 1999, but the Federal Court threw the case
out by ruling that CSIS relied too heavily on dubious information
from Egyptian security agents. He was detained on a second
certificate in August 2001, which the Federal Court subsequently
upheld. Canada alleges that Jabarah is a full-fledged member OF Al
Jihad, acting as a communications conduit for terrorist cells
involved in the bombings OF U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in
¶1998. It further claims that he had contacts with bin Laden top
aide Ayman al-Zawahri, including by phone. Jaballah has admitted
contacts with individuals wanted by international law enforcement,
including Hassan Farhat, Mustafa Krer, Kassem Daher, Mohamed
Mahjoub, Thirwat Salah Shehata, Adel Al-Bari, and Ibrahim Eidarous.
Jaballah won conditional release in April 2007 in Toronto;
MOHAMED MAHJOUB
– Egyptian-born Mohamed Mahjoub, aged 44, came to Canada in 1995
and was detained in June 2000. CSIS contends that he was a
high-ranking member OF the “VANGUARDS OF the CONQUEST,” a radical
wing OF the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, and participated in
decision-making on the VANGUARDS’ terrorist operations. An Egyptian
court convicted Mahjoub in absentia for his involvement with the
VANGUARDS and sentenced him to a fifteen-year prison term. Mahjoub
admits meeting Osama bin Laden and working in a senior capacity at
bin Laden’s agricultural firm in Sudan in the early 1990s. On
arrival in Canada in 1995, he stayed with the late Ahmed Said Khadr
for three weeks. Mahjoub won conditional release in April 2007 in
Toronto and is fighting removal on the grounds that he faces torture
or death if returned to Egypt.
DXer said
Jaballah’s brother-in-law was Thirwat Salah Shehata, in charge of Special Operations. With his brother-in-law’s help, Jaballah would keep in touch with Mabruk, the EIJ military commander who announced Dr. Ayman’s intent to use anthrax against US targets to retaliate for the rendering and mistreatment of senior EIJ leaders.
DXer said
Note that the RMR 1029 inventory most often relied upon in discussing Amerithrax is incomplete.
USAMRIID should produce all documents relating to the “aerosolization” studies indicated on this expanded inventory.
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/1421.jpg
Transfers/withdrawals made at USAMRIID were not typically recorded.
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2010/05/25/newly-released-ivins-emails-show-that-no-record-was-kept-of-transfers-to-former-zawahiri-associate-because-it-was-done-at-usamriid/
Why was the aerosolization study on October 4, 2011 called off? News of Mr. Stevens’ passing?
Documentary sources include the cited #1456 1/11/2006 and #795
DXer said
ASF 2011: Counterterrorism: Past, Present, and Future with Michael Leiter
Like President Obama, he is a former President of Harvard Law Review where he graduated magna cum laude. He is a former Navy fighter pilot. He recently stepped down as the head of National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). (Immediately prior to joining NCTC, Mr. Leiter had served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). )
He spoke at the Aspen Security Forum. Here is the video. At about 36:00 he describes the importance of the 2008 death of Abu Khabab al-Masri.
At about 102:00, a questioner raises the issue of the internal debate within AQ between “spectaculars” vs. smaller scale attacks. Mr. Leiter says Anwar “gets” the advantages of small scale attacks.
DXer said
August 2, 2011 8:31 AM
Ronald Kessler on “The Early Show.” (CBS)
(CBS News) The 10th anniversary of 9/11 is next month. And one big reason there hasn’t been another major attack on the U.S. since then is a series of preventive measures taken by the FBI, according to New York Times best-selling author Ronald Kessler, who reveals some of them in his latest book, “The Secrets of the FBI.”
Kessler spoke with FBI director Robert [Mueller] who, “Early Show” co-anchor Chris Wragge noted, doesn’t give many interviews. He spoke with Kessler on the record.
On “The Early Show,” Kessler said Mullen attributes the lack of any major attack since 9/11 to a major shift in direction at the bureau.
“(They’ve changed into a) prevention agency, rather than one that emphasizes prosecution and putting people in jail,” Kessler said. “Of course, the CIA also has been very important. What he says, even though al Qaeda has been degraded, what keeps him up at night is still the possibility of a WMD (weapon of mass destruction) attack or attack on airplanes, because it really doesn’t take a whole lot to pull off one of these attacks.”
Kessler learned about a group known as Tactical Operations, or TacOps. Kessler explained the group is top-secret and staffed with seven teams comprised of 10 agents each.
“(They are), essentially, court-sanctioned burglars, as they describe themselves,” Kessler said. “They break into homes, offices, even embassies, to plant bugging devices and snoop into computers. Could be terrorists, could be Mafia figures, and all secret, of course. They will check out the premises for weeks. They’ll find out if there are any dogs. If there are, they’ll have a veterinarian prescribe the right amount of tranquilizer based on a photograph; they’ll shoot the dog with a dart gun with a tranquilizer and put him out. And then at the end, they’ll wake him up. They will actually create false fronts to homes or offices, and then, behind those false fronts, in the middle of the night, they will pick the locks.”
Wragge said, “That’s how they were able to bring down John Gotti, too, using some of those false fronts, correct?”
Kessler said, “In that case, they installed electrical outlets that actually were bugging devices. The FBI actually showed me a real bug. It’s the size of a postage stamp, and when this particular agent, who’s executive assistant director of the FBI and used to be on TacOps … was beginning to tell me some of these secrets, I actually thought to myself, ‘Am I going to be arrested? Or is he going to be arrested?’ Actually, the … public affairs person sitting in, interjected and said, ‘Is this something that we can be telling him?’ So, really, unprecedented that these secrets would come out.”
Comment: Richard Clarke explained that most intelligence is open source. Asking a direct question (respectfully) is the best way to do that — in addition to large amounts of reading.
Journalists are best positioned to get respectful questions answered.
So I would trade one journalist making the relevant phone and email inquiries for all the FBI TacOps groups combined.
DXer said
Interview of Ronald Kessler today -
http://www.npr.org/2011/08/02/138916011/home-visits-and-other-secrets-of-the-fbi
DXer said
In Mr. Kessler’s book, FBI official Cummings summarized:
“How do I get to the answer, how do I get to what’s really happening? There are so many different ways to do it, but the best way by far is sitting across the table from someone.”
DXer said
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j4kzby3QSG_1y_x_c_LL5h-e58fg?docId=fe5d69be5856445da6bc1b200488226d
Former officials: Al-Qaida still likely to use WMD
By KIMBERLY DOZIER, AP Intelligence Writer – 3 days ago
ASPEN, Colorado (AP) — A chemical or biological attack by al-Qaida and its offshoots remains a threat, despite the killing of terror leader Osama bin Laden, top former U.S. counterterrorist officials said Thursday.
Mike Leiter, the just-retired director of the National Counterterrorism Center, made the comments to an audience at the Aspen Security Forum.
“We still have pockets of al-Qaida around the world who see this as a key way to fight us,” especially the offshoot in Yemen,” he said. “The potential threat from al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula is very real.”
Leiter said the new breed of terrorists understands that killing a few Americans can cause as much fear as the massive plots bin Laden backed.
“The most likely … are simple forms of chemical or biological weapons” rather than a nuclear attack, Leiter said, using the poison ricin as an example of something that’s easily made.
“Is it going to kill many people? No. Is it going to scare people? Yes,” he said.
“Bin Laden was really prioritizing the big attack,” Leiter added. “Some of them may have fantasies about pulling off another 9/11,” but his affiliates realize they can affect U.S. strategy and society with smaller scale attacks.
“Anwar al-Awlaki gets that,” Leiter said, naming the U.S.-born radical cleric of the Yemeni branch. And so do other offshoots, like the Pakistani Taliban, which sent a bomber to try to blow up a car in the middle of Times Square a year ago, he said.
With bin Laden gone, Leiter and former CIA Deputy Director John McLaughlin both predicted new leader Ayman al-Zawahiri launch similar smaller scale campaign.
DXer said
Zawahiri is a clever, sneaky strategist. He literally wrote the book on spying and infiltration (and Lew has posted excerpts)
http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/michael_smerconish/20110724_The_Pulse__How_CIA_dropped.html
The Pulse: How CIA dropped
The case of the doctor-turned-suicide bomber.
By Michael Smerconish
Inquirer Columnist
Muslim extremists. American heroes. Betrayed confidences. Barren landscapes. It’s the stuff of a summer thriller, but sadly, Joby Warrick’s spellbinding book The Triple Agent: The al-Qaeda Mole Who Infiltrated the CIA is a work of nonfiction. And in the end, nine individuals – including seven CIA operatives – were killed.
***
“It had happened quite suddenly, as Balawi related the events,” Warrick wrote. “One day he learned that Zawahiri’s health was slipping, and soon afterward the bearded, bespectacled terrorist leader was standing in front of him. Zawahiri, himself a doctor, was suffering from a range of complications related to diabetes, and he needed advice and medicine.”
Soon Balawi was providing further proof of his value as a spy by offering detailed summaries of Zawahiri’s medical history and physical condition to U.S. intelligence officials. Even more tantalizing was his revelation that he would have a follow-up visit with al-Qaeda’s second in command a few weeks later.
But U.S. officials still knew very little about Balawi, who managed to infiltrate al-Qaeda’s innermost circle inside of a year. Indeed, a veteran CIA officer and former Army Ranger named Darren LaBonte would repeatedly caution his colleagues to “go slow on this case.”
Nonetheless, preparations for the meeting with Balawi at Khost continued – including a formal reception and a surprise birthday cake. An intelligence asset such as Balawi must feel welcomed, some Jordanian and U.S. officials reasoned.
DXer said
Science writer Laurie Garrett explains in I HEARD THE SIRENS SCREAM (July 18, 2011) that on DAY ELEVEN:
“[Hauer] reminds the gathered scientists that a biological attack might not need to be massive, or spark large numbers of deaths, in order to have its desired effect: Increase public terror. “Even one case of anthrax in New York City would have a massive psychological effect.”
DXer said
Laurie Garrett in her new book I HEARD THE SIRENS SCREAM (July 18, 2011, Kindle) writes:
DAY TEN
***
“Layton has no basis for determining when, exactly, she can call off the high level of bioterrorism vigilance. Over at the Office of Emergency Management, Jerry Hauer insists that the taxing surveillance must continue. But Layton isn’t privy to the grounds for his concern. Hauer and his boss, Mayor Giuliani, are receiving guidance from Washington warning that al-Qaeda has biological weapons intended for deployment in New York City. But neither the City leaders no Layton are privy to the specific intelligence prompting this alarming information.
The CIA knew as along ago as 1996 that Osama bin Laden’s followers were actively searching for biological weapons and that by early 2001 a top al-Qaeda operative named Rauf Ahmad had established an anthrax laboratory in Afghanistan, through there is vigorous debate over just how sophisticated the lab was. The anthrax program was developed in parallel to 9/11 planning and as best as the CIA can determine had been wrapped up in the summer of 2001. Ahmad and other other al-Qaeda operatives suspected of being involved in the program are still be believed to be large.
Like so much of America’s intelligence information, this knowledge is not shared beyond CIA boundaries.”
DXer said
The same FBI that is keeping you safe on this threat had as their operating framework in Amerithrax that the same person necessarily grew, processed and mailed the anthrax.
FBI Quantico in Amerithrax — who allowed a profiler to guide the investigation — proved itself not well-suited to address an insider threat in which cell security was used.
New Terror Report Warns of Insider Threat to Utilities
July 20, 2011
By BRIAN ROSS (@brianross) , RHONDA SCHWARTZ and MEGAN CHUCHMACH
July 20, 2011
Sabotage by an insider at a major utility facility, including a chemical or oil refinery, could provide al Qaeda with its best opportunity for the kind of massive Sept. 11 anniversary attack Osama bin Laden was planning, according to U.S. officials.
A new intelligence report from the Department of Homeland Security issued Tuesday, titled Insider Threat to Utilities, warns “violent extremists have, in fact, obtained insider positions,” and that “outsiders have attempted to solicit utility-sector employees” for damaging physical and cyber attacks.
“Based on the reliable reporting of previous incidents, we have high confidence in our judgment that insiders and their actions pose a significant threat to the infrastructure and information systems of U.S. facilities,” the bulletin reads in part. “Past events and reporting also provide high confidence in our judgment that insider information on sites, infrastructure, networks, and personnel is valuable to our adversaries and may increase the impact of any attack on the utilities infrastructure.”
In the materials recovered after the Navy SEAL operation that killed Osama bin Laden in May, officials found evidence bin Laden sought to repeat the carnage of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on or around its ten year anniversary.
“The only way you can actually kill the large scale number of Americans that [bin Laden] literally was calculating was through the use of this critical infrastructure,” Chad Sweet, former DHS chief of staff and co-founder of the Chertoff Group, told ABC News.
After gaining access to such sites, causing mayhem could be relatively easy, according to former White House counter-terrorism advisor and ABC News consultant Richard Clarke.
“There are a lot of very sensitive facilities where someone can get a job on the inside, get access to a control room, flip a switch, which causes an electric power grid to short circuit, causes a pipeline to explode,” Clarke said.
The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement there was no specific threat.
“DHS routinely shares information with its state and local partners on a wide-range of potential threats, and as part of this responsibility, DHS issued an intelligence note to its federal, state, local, tribal and private sector partners on July 19 regarding potential threats to private sector utilities. While DHS has no specific, credible intelligence of an imminent threat posed to the private sector utilities, several recent incidents highlight the on-going threat to infrastructure in the utility sectors from insiders and outsiders seeking facility-specific information that might be exploited in an attack,” DHS press secretary Matt Chandler said. “We will continue to work closely with our state and local partners, including our partners in the utility sector, to take steps to best protect from potential threats – including protecting our nation’s infrastructure. This includes sharing information as well as best practices.”
‘I am Taking This Plant Hostage
U.S. officials were stunned last year in Yemen with the arrest of an alleged American recruit to al Qaeda, Sharif Mobley, of New Jersey, who had been employed as five different U.S. nuclear power plants in and around Pennsylvania after successfully passing federal background checks.
“If someone is determined, and has the right access, they could do damage that would affect thousands of lives,” Sweet said.
Al Qaeda has already put out the word in its online magazine, Inspire, for “brothers of ours who have specialized expertise and those who work in sensitive locations that would offer them unique opportunities to wreak havoc on the enemies of Allah.”
As evidence of American infrastructure vulnerabilities, the report specifically cites the attempted insider sabotage this April at a water treatment plant in Arizona.
Officials said then a disgruntled night shift worker took over the control room and tried to create a giant methane gas explosion.
“I am taking the plant hostage,” the worker said in a recorded 911 call.
There was no tie to al Qaeda and his plot failed, but the incident was a reminder of how easily one insider could create potentially deadly mayhem.
“Facilities in the United States don’t have to be attacked by terrorists with airplanes or bombs outside the facility,” Clarke said.
DXer said
NPR:
The Al-Qaida ‘Triple Agent’ Who Infiltrated The CIA
http://www.npr.org/2011/07/19/138158669/the-al-qaida-triple-agent-who-infiltrated-the-cia
“This was something that had never happened in the history of the CIA,” says Warrick. “There’s been hundreds of agents of all kinds — some have been liars and frauds, many disappointments — but no one had ever tried to infiltrate the CIA to blow himself up and kill a bunch of officers. And for that reason, no one really saw this coming. No one thought that he might try to do this.”
Comment: It was negligent to allow him access and to hold the meeting there.
The fact that “[n]o one thought that he might try to do this” is an admission of the negligence, not a defense to it.
Same with theft of virulent anthrax from a US lab.
Indeed, Dr. Ayman thought it was required by the koran to use the weapon of his enemy. (That is clever from a PR point-of-view and Al Qaeda thinks of PR as a very big part of its campaign.)
DXer said
In its Motion for Summary Judgment, the United States Department of Justice argues:
“Even if government negligence allowed someone to intercept government-produced anthrax, in order to execute the attack that killed Mr. Stevens, someone had to take anthrax bacteria and cultivate it, concentrate it, dry it, and convert it into an extremely fine powder before mailing. Id. ¶20. Without each crucial step, the anthrax never could have been placed into letters, never could have been sent through the mail, and never could have been inhaled by an eventual victim such as Mr. Stevens. Id.”
DXer said
September 10, 2001 “Risk Assessment of Anthrax Threat Letters”
After the January 2001 anthrax threat, a Canadian research team undertook to assess the risk. The report titled “Risk Assessment of Anthrax Threat Letters” issued September 2001. The Canadian study found considerable exposure to those in the room resulted when such a letter was opened. Bacillus globigii spores (in dry powder form) were donated by the US Department of Defense (Dugway Proving Ground, Utah). Stock concentration powder was -1 x 10 11 cfu/gm. The anthrax sent to the Senators had a smaller particle size –tending toward a uniform 1 micron, subject to clumping that easily broke apart. Bacillus globigii (BG) spores are routinely used as a simulant for Bacillus anthracis (anthrax) spores. “The letter was prepared by putting BG spores in the center of a sheet of paper, folding it over into thirds, placing the folded sheet into the envelope and sealing using the adhesive present on the envelope. The envelope was then shaken to mimic the handling and tumbling that would occur during its passage through the postal system.” The aerosol, produced by opening the BG spore containing envelope, was not confined to the area of the desk but spread throughout the chamber. Values were almost as high at the opposite end of the chamber, shortly after opening the envelopes. 99% of the particles collected were in the 2.5 to 10 µm size range. The report explained: “In addition, the aerosol would quickly spread throughout the room so that other workers, depending on their exact locations and the directional air flow within the office, would likely inhale lethal doses. Envelopes with the open corners not specifically sealed could also pose a threat to individuals in the mail handling system.”
More than 80% of the B anthracis particles collected on stationary monitors were within an alveolar respirable size range of 0.95 to 3.5 µm. Thus, the simulant performed very well. Those who continue to argue that the Daschle product was so advanced beyond what the US could do are mistaken. The CIA and CSIS apparently feared that the Vanguards of Conquest would use the good stuff.
The CIA knew EIJ intended to use anthrax — from the proclamations of Jaballah’s friend, the captured military commander Mabruk and Jaballah’s brother-in-law’s former law partner al-Zayat. Authorities knew Al Qaeda was getting technical assistance from scientists — and that many of the senior Egyptian leaders had advanced or technical degrees. The specifications provided by Dugway perhaps involved treated fumed silica and a spraydryer (with a last critical step reserved to be done at Dugway) may have been based on what Al Qaeda might send with a little help from their friends.
Canadian officials explained they e-mailed the study to the CDC soon after reports of the discovery of anthrax at the American Media Inc. headquarters in Florida. The e-mail, however, was never opened, reports the lead CDC anthrax investigator, who regrets that he never read the email. “It is certainly relevant data, but I don’t think it would have altered the decisions that we made.” At one point, about 2,000 CDC employees were working on the anthrax matter. This Canadian report was perhaps the single most important scientific data point for the CDC to take into account. It certainly was one of the most important reports for the FBI to take into
account.
Bail was denied by decision on October 5, 2001. Then highly potent anthrax was sent the next day just as had been promised. But Ayman apparently had returned to the target of his greatest interest — rather than a Canadian immigration minister, he and Shehata and their colleagues targeted the minister who oversaw the Department of Justice and appropriations to Egypt and Israel, and who gave his name (”the Leahy Law”) to the law that permits continuing appropriations to Egypt in the face of allegations of torture. Zawahiri never makes a threat he doesn’t intend to try to keep.
Bill Patrick, who often worked with George Mason University students in northern Virginia, had written a report in 1999 for a consultant SAIC at the request of Dr. Steve Hatfill. As one bioterrorism expert commented about the report: “Anytime you pick something up like this, and it seems to layout the whole story for you months or years before the fact, your immediate response is to step back and say ‘whoa, something may be going on here. “Our attacker may very well have used this report as something of a — if not a template, then certainly as a rule of thumb.”
The Canadian experiments in 2001 showed that if anthrax spores were finely powdered, a letter could release thousands of lethal doses of the bacteria within minutes of being opened. Furthermore, large amounts of material leaked out of sealed envelopes even before they were opened. By then, more than two dozen federal government employees knew of the Canadian studies, which showed that a real anthrax threat letter was a far more dangerous weapon than anyone had believed. Within days, a dozen more people were informed of the now highly relevant experimental findings.
DXer said
Al Qaeda’s 2001 Threat To Use Mailed Anthrax In Connection With Jailed Vanguards Of Conquest No. 2 Leader And Former Bin Laden Sudan Farm Manager Mohammad Mahjoub
On January 23, 2001, a Canadian court held that the Court did not have jurisdiction to decide the constitutional and Charter issues raised by detainee Mahjoub, thought to be #2 of the Vanguards of Conquest, and dismissed that part of the motion. A letter was received January 30, 2001 at the Citizenship and Immigration Office threatening to use anthrax. It was sent to Immigration Minister Elinor Caplan who had co-signed the detention certificate. Mahjoub had been sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison in 1999 by Egyptian authorities for his involvement in Egyptian Islamic Jihad. Now, he was being detained without charges under an order co-signed by Immigration Minister Caplan and threatened with deportation. The postmark has never been publicly identified. Separately, hoax letters were also sent to American businesses and a Walmart in Saanich, British Columbia. Mahjoub had been in regular contact with a man named Marzouk, who had trained the 1998 embassy bombers and was captured in Baku, Azerbaijan in August 1998.
Suspecting Mahjoub of being a shura member of the Vanguards of Conquest and Egyptian Islamic Jihad, the Canadian intelligence officials alleged Mahjoub had significant contacts with persons associated with international Islamic terrorism including Osama Bin Laden, Ahmad Khadr, Essam Marzouk, Vanguards founder Ahmed Agiza, and Osama Bin Laden’s principal procurement agent for weapons of mass destruction Mubarak Al Duri.
When the letter was received in January 2001, the letter was sent by Department of National Defence jet to the Canadian Science Center for Human and Animal Health in Winnipeg for examination. Authorities also sent the filters from the Jean Edmonds building’s ventilation system. Authorities said they were treating it as a possible terrorist act against the department and noted that it “was the first time a government department has been targeted in this way.” The Ottawa alert came after one of the employees working in the Minister’s office opened a plain white envelope at 11:15 a.m. The employee discovered powder and a piece of paper in the envelope. Police refused to reveal from where it had been mailed. One source said the letter was unsigned and “mostly gibberish.” Indeed, the Fall 2001 letters might be described as mostly gibberish, and certainly the “JLo letter” — talking about Jennifer Lopez’ planned wedding — was. An internal government memo distributed to staff said “an initial analysis of the envelope revealed some traces of bacteria.”
DXer said
Open September 1999 Letter From a London Radical Sheik Calling For Holy Biowar And Bin Laden’s Response
In early September 1999, the London Sunday Times reported that London Sheik Omar Bakri Muhammad, a friend of Abu Hamza, the mullah with metal claws for hands, in an open letter read out in mosques across Britain and published on the internet, called on Osama Bin Laden to use biological weapons against America and its allies. Sheik Omar Bakri posted his open letter to Bin Laden on his own website and read in mosques in Sheffield, Bradford, Leicester and London. When US officials complained, the letter was taken off the internet. “Using any biological weapons in self-defence is, in Islam, permissible, and I believe that we are currently operating under a defensive jihad. Obviously, we regret what could happen to innocent people, but there are always people who are war casualties or, if you like, victims of war.” He recommends that biological weapons be used against the “occupiers” of holy lands.
Youssef Bodansky, the director of the Congressional United States Task Force on Terrorism, said: “Bakri knows that his letter will be acted upon and that is why he has written it.” He told the Sunday Times Bin Laden had taken encouragement from Bakri’s message and had issued a reply that was read out in mosques in Pakistan and Britain.
DXer said
http://online.wsj.com/article/AP3feb8dec3be041408e8402c282690e1e.html
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A career criminal locked up in a maximum-security prison in New York sent hoax anthrax letters in 2007 to five federal courthouses in Virginia, New York and Washington, D.C., authorities said Thursday.
Roberto Cepeda, 46, pleaded not guilty Thursday to mailing letters from Auburn prison near Syracuse that contained harmless substances and scribbled warnings such as “Die from ANTHRAX” or “This is ANTHRAX for you.”
A letter opened April 20, 2007, at the U.S. District Court clerk’s office in Charlottesville, Va., made a reference to Virginia Tech, where a student had recently massacred 33 people, “but that’s really about all it said,” prosecutor Greg West said.
Two other letters arrived in Virginia the same day at the courthouses in Harrisonburg and Alexandria, West said. Earlier letters were received in Syracuse on April 6 and Washington on April 9.
If convicted, Cepeda could be sentenced to five years in federal prison and fined up to $250,000.
While incoming mail is inspected at New York prisons, “there’s no routine screening of outgoing inmate mail,” a New York Department of Corrections spokeswoman said.
Cepeda was disciplined by prison authorities for harassment, correspondence and impersonation violations. Last August, he was ordered confined to his cell for 23 hours a day for three years.
Cepeda drew a sentence of three years to six years in prison in 2006 for ID theft, forgery and burglary in New York City. He has spent much of the last 27 years in and out of state prison, starting with a 1984 conviction for attempted robbery.
Shortly after the letters were mailed, Cepeda was moved to another prison at Cape Vincent on Lake Ontario’s eastern shore. That December, he was charged with attempting to place a false bomb at the prison. A conviction added 18 months to three years to his sentence.
Note: A false bomb too? On top of the rest? Now here’s a case of compulsive behavior for Dr. Saathoff.
Additional details:
“Cepeda is scheduled for a parole hearing in August and his maximum release date is July 2014.
Cepeda is currently in custody at the Upstate Correctional Facility in Franklin County.
DOCCS officials said Cepeda was punished with 36 months of disciplinary confinement and 36 months loss of privileges after prison officials found Cepeda guilty of mailing the hoax letters.
Cepeda also lost 36 months of good time, which delayed his earliest release date.
Prison officials found Cepeda guilty of violating prison rules and regulations in regards to mailing correspondence, impersonation, threats and harassment, DOCCS said.”
Read more: http://auburnpub.com/news/local/article_9b2edcfe-ae88-11e0-892c-001cc4c002e0.html#ixzz1SAwYJCXL
What is Mr. Cepeda’s motive here? Was he convicted by the DC, Virginia and New York courthouses in connection with earlier crimes? The mailing of power seems a very pointless crime. He was punished with disciplinary confinement after the investigation but apparently this indictment serves to give him more time. What was the forensic evidence against him?
One of the defendants in the case involving Ali Al-Timimi’s case was an imam at Auburn and so it is a serendipitous coincidence. In February 2005, the Auburn imam was convicted of conspiracy and was sentenced to two years probation.
http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=2350
#119: 02-26-03 INDICTMENTS ALLEGE ILLEGAL FINANCIAL TRANSFERS TO …
Feb 26, 2003 – … employed as an Imam at Auburn Correctional Facility … If convicted, Dhafir and Zagha face up to 265 years in prison and fines of …”Help the Needy” and “Help the Needy Endowment, Inc.” each face maximum …
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:wTrsCWVwhYoJ:www.justice.gov/criminal/pr/2003/02/2003_3488_INDICTMENTS_ALLEGE_I.htm+IANA+correctional+Auburn+%22Help+The+Needy%22&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&source=www.google.com
I greatly admire the key non-lawyer advocate for the defendants. I also greatly admire another supporter that the former IANA Vice-Chairman Dr. Dhafir used to call — in wiretapped conversations according to the Wash Po — down the block from me. They are ACLU types who persevered even when the ACLU begged off.
http://www.dhafirtrial.net/2007/11/24/denial-of-due-process-to-muslims-disgraces-us-all/
The prosecutor in this hoax case is Greg West. Prosecutor Greg West prosecuted the IANA-spin-off here. 100 agents came here the day and minute that Ali Al-Timimi’s residence was searched and simultaneously questioned 150 people. It was part of the codenamed OPERATION IMMINENT HORIZON.
Certainly, Mr. Cepeda should be presumed innocent and is entitled to a vigorous defense. It is such a stupid crime — mailing powder but especially mailing from a prison — that there very likely is overwhelming forensic evidence (such as saliva used to seal the envelope, fingerprints etc.).
Ed Lake typically calls the FBI and tells them that I mailed such letters when he reads about them in the newspaper (e.g., Goldman Sachs). (I had recently caused him to be dropped from an email group involving three others). Given my connections to these various courts, even dating to 1984 when I worked at the courthouse at the appellate court — and given my camping on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario last weekend — I’m glad our Sherlock didn’t involve himself.
If he had known I was camping at Selkirk Shores, near the now- Lake Ontario prisoner, he might have told the FBI i was planning to break Mr. Cepeda out and then they might have sent an agent with a bloodhound at 2:30 a.m. to see if I was really in the tent.
Ed, I thought it was a bear which is the only reason I jumped in the car and took off.
DXer said
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304521304576446213098582284.html?mod=WSJ_hp_MIDDLTopStories
“Bin Laden Plotted New Atta
In the days following the bin Laden raid, officials said the materials seized from the compound showed enthusiasm for carrying out attacks on dates of symbolic significance, prompting U.S. officials to worry about July 4 and Sept. 11. But officials didn’t disclose at that time that there had been specific planning for another attack on Sept. 11 this year.”
See generally
from DXer … Dr. Bruce Ivins had group therapy sessions scheduled on both September 17, 2001 and on October 8, 2001, the same dates the FBI says he was mailing the anthrax letters
Posted by Lew Weinstein on March 9, 2010
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2010/03/09/from-dxer-dr-bruce-ivins-had-group-therapy-sessions-scheduled-on-both-september-17-2001-and-on-october-8-2001-the-same-dates-the-fbi-says-he-was-mailing-the-anthrax-letters/
Agent Lawrence Alexande and his colleagues, in coming up with his sorority theory, apparently did not dwell on the significance of the mailing dates: Camp David Accord and Sadat’s Assassination
By way of background, the FBI Counterterrorism Division sent out a warning to law enforcement in August 2001 that Al Qaeda or related groups might attack on an anniversary.
NLETS MESSAGE (ALL REGIONS)
8/1/01
A MESSAGE FROM FBI COUNTERTERRORISM DIVISION, WASHINGTON, D.C
**
CONCLUSION: RECIPIENTS ARE BEING NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME BECAUSE THE U.S. INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY CONSIDERS ANNIVERSARY DATES AS A KEY THREAT INDICATOR. ALTHOUGH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY PERSONNEL ARE CAUTIONED NOT TO EXCLUSIVELY RELY ON SUCH DATES TO ‘PREDICT’ ACTS OF TERRORISM, ANNIVERSARY DATES CERTAINLY WARRANT INCREASED ATTENTION IN ROUTINE SECURITY PLANNING.
RECIPIENTS WHO RECEIVE OR DEVELOP ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER SHOULD CONTACT THEIR LOCAL FBI OFFICE OR FBI HEADQUARTERS IMMEDIATELY.
Anthrax was sent on the date of the Camp David Accord and the related Sadat assassination (Armed Forces Day).
Expert Michael Scheuer, formerly with the CIA, in the past has said that Al Qaeda does not plan attacks around important dates, so far as the CIA could glean at the time. But take Ayman at his word when he says he at least plans some of his messages around anniversaries, as he and Islambouli did by sending Zawahiri-issued messages in 2004 on the third anniversary of 9/11 and then in 2005 on the third anniversary of the transfer of prisoners to Guantanamo. He said: “These days we are marking three years since the transportation of the first group of Muslim prisoners was sent to the Guantanamo prison.”
The Vanguards of Conquest did the same thing in the late 1990s. Just as Zawahiri’s thinking on weaponizing anthrax was gaining traction in emails to Atef in the Spring of 1999, the Vanguards invoked an anniversary relating to the signing of the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty and issued a statement marking its 20th anniversary. The group said at the time it was reiterating its enmity toward the US and Israel to mark the 20th anniversary of the signing of the treaty in March 1979. Signed on March 26, 1979, the Egypt-Israel peace treaty was a direct result of the Camp David Peace Accords, signed in September 1978.
The first round of letters was sent to ABC, CBS, NBC, the New York Post, and the publisher of the National Enquirer and Sun. Letters were sent to Senators Daschle and Leahy in a second batch, using a much more highly refined product. The mailing dates were of special importance to the man that the CIA in its December 4, 1998 PDB told President Clinton was planning the attack the US using aircraft and other means — Mohammed Islambouli, the brother of Sadat’s assassin. The letters to the news organizations were mailed — coincidentally or not — on September 17 (after 5 p.m.) or September 18 (before 8 a.m.), either the day the Camp David Accord was signed in 1978 or the next day when it was approved by the Israeli knesset. Abdel-Rahman, the blind sheik, in the early 1980s, said: “We reject Camp David and we regret the normalization of relations with Israel. We also reject all the commitments that were made by the traitor Sadat, who deviated from Islam.” He continued: “As long as the Camp David Agreement stands, this conflict between us and the government will continue.”
At the time of the anthrax mailings, Sadat’s assassination and the Camp David Accord still dominated Zawahiri’s thinking. In Knights Under the Banner of the Prophet, Al-Zawahiri argued in the Fall of 2001 that the Camp David Accord sought to turn Sinai into a disarmed area to serve as a buffer zone between Egypt and Israel. He cites the peace treaty between the two countries, particularly issues related to the armament of the Egyptian Army inside Sinai. He claims that Egypt has restored Sinai formally but it remains in the hands of Israel militarily. Al-Zawahiri cites many examples about the US flagrant support for Israel, including the US pressure on Egypt to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty at a time when Israel publicly declares that it will not sign the treaty because of its special circumstances.
Despite this, Zawahiri says, the United States sympathizes with Israel and overlooks its actions. This means that the United States has deliberately left the nuclear weapons in the hands of Israel to threaten its Arab neighbors. Al-Zawahiri argues in his book that the western states have considered Israel’s presence in the region a basic guarantee for serving the Western interests.
The Wall Street Journal explained in August 2002: “Oct. 8 last year was Columbus Day, a public holiday on which mail wasn’t collected from letter boxes. That may mean the letters could have been posted as early as the Saturday before.” Taking into account the fact that there was no mail postmarked with a Trenton postmark on Columbus Day, October 8, the letter to Senator Tom Daschle postmarked October 9 may actually have been mailed October 6. (The FBI, of course, may know the date it was mailed based on information that has not been disclosed.) (Some press reports, however, suggest that they are considering that the mailing may have been at anytime during the October 6-October 9 period). October 6 was the day Anwar Sadat was assassinated for his role in the Camp David Accord. President Sadat was assassinated on the national holiday called “Armed Forces Day.” He was killed during an annual holiday parade which marks the day, October 6, 1973, that Egypt made a critical successful surprise attack on Israel during the 1973 war.
“Death to Pharaoh!” the young Army officer shouted. He and his confederates jumped off the truck shot into the reviewing stand where Sadat had been watching the annual parade. “I killed the Pharaoh, and I do not fear death.” Sadat’s detention of Muhammad Shawqi al-Islambouli had spurred his brother, Khalid, to seize an opportunity presented on short notice to assassinate Anwar Sadat.
Kamal Habib, founder of Egyptian Islamic Jihad and writer for the IANA quarterly magazine, who spent 10 years in prison in connection with the assassination, told academic Fawaz Gerges: “It was not a well-coordinated operation, and it succeeded by a miracle.”
TIME magazine today has a piece claiming Kamal Habib gave up politics after a decade in prison.
“I’ve heard reports that Habib is not the hard-liner he was in the 1970s, when he co-founded the radical Egyptian Islamic Jihad, or the 1980s, when he was jailed in connection with the assassination of President Anwar Sadat. He gave up politics after a decade in prison, but in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, he has reinvented himself as a leader of a more moderate party.”
Read more: http://globalspin.blogs.time.com/2011/07/14/from-the-magazine-the-rise-of-moderate-islam/#ixzz1S9kmZUp7
But that’s mistaken. In 1999, he co-founded a political party and sought the blind sheik’s approval. (He and another were the principal writers for an Ann Arbor charity IANA,; at another US- based publication were supervised by Ali Al-Timimi on the board.)
A street was named after Khalid Islambouli in Iran, with Iran having been upset at Egypt for granting the Shah safe haven. After leaving Egypt in the mid-1980s, Muhammad Islambouli operated in Pakistan recruiting Egyptian fighters for the war in Afghanistan, and headed a branch of Bin Laden’s Maktab al-Khidmat (‘Bureau of Services’) in Peshawar. Muhammad Islambouli was the subject of the December 4, 1998 Presidential Daily Brief titled “Bin Ladin Preparing to Hijack US Aircraft and Other Attacks” explaining that Bin Laden planned an attack on the US involving airplanes and that the motivation was to free the blind sheik Abdel-Rahman and a dissident Saudi sheik.
In his Fall 2001 Knights Under the Banner of the Prophet, Zawahiri explained that the US support for Israel (at Egypt’s expense) was well-illustrated by the historic 33-day airlift to Israel after this October 6 attack. He argues that the US support for Israel made the difference between success or failure for Egypt. Al-Zawahiri describes how the United States shipped weapons, ammunition, and tanks to Israel for 33 days, with the goal being to compensate Israel for its war losses and to swiftly upgrade the combat capabilities.
He explained in his Fall 2001 book: “The animosity to Israel and America in the hearts of islamists is indivisible. It is an animosity that has provided the ‘al-Qa’dia’ and the epic of jihad in Afghanistan with a continuous flow of ‘Arab Afghans.’” Regarding the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty, Zawahiri adds: “Whoever examines the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty will realize that it was intended to be a permanent treaty from which Egypt could not break loose. It was concluded in an attempt to establish on the ground, by force and coercion, a situation whereby it would be difficult to change by any government hostile to Israel that comes after Al-Sadat.” The militants were especially angry that Sadat had not fully implemented shariah law.
Complicating consideration of the issue, on October 5, 2001, the shura member of EIJ and former head of Bin Laden’s farm in the Sudan, Mahjoub, had his bail denied. Mahmoud Mahjoub was second in command of the Vanguards of Conquest. A letter containing nonpathogenic bacteria had been sent in late January 2001 threatening use of mailed anthrax to the immigration minister signing his security certificate. Mahjoub was bin Laden’s farm manager in Sudan. Al-Hawsawi, KSM’s assistant with the anthrax spraydrying documents on his laptop, kept the books.
The CIA and FBI analysts should have pored over translations of the journal Al-Manar Jadeed published by the Ann Arbor-based Islamic Assembly of North America from 1998 – 2002 by writers based in Cairo. It mainly concerned Egyptian politics and planned the strategy based on all that had gone on before. There was a change in tone between the first piece by Gamal Sultan and the second installment. The first (before his letter to Abdel-Rahman) urged a pluralistic tolerant approach to differing views while the second issue (after his letter to Abdel-Rahman) contained his piece that seems to have resorted to the familiar intransigent neo-Salafist view. Instead, their focus came to center on some semen-stained panties and the rage he expressed after they falsely told him that a colleague, Dr. Heine, had accused him of the mailings.
In a September 2006 video, in a message on yet another 5-year anniversary of 9/11, Zawahiri explained: “Among the most prominent of these conspirators are the rulers of Egypt, the Arabian Peninsula and Jordan and the traitors in Iraq who shade themselves with the cross of America, the Great Satan…[For these regimes] the slogan ‘death to America, death to Israel’ has gone to be replaced by ‘rule from America and peace with Israel.’” On numerous occasions, Zawahiri has been paying express attention to anniversary dates.
DXer said
Secrecy is just a way that government employees hide their mistakes.
DXer said
Here are “Materials submitted to the US Government Accountability Office to determine if there is any credible evidence of a connection between a foreign entity and the attacks on the United States in 2001 involving anthrax.”
Dated April 7, 2011. You click on the lower right to view all 120 pages full-screen.
http://www.blurb.com/books/2302695
DXer said
Here is a 44 minute panel discussion on how decontamination will work if Dr. Ayman attacks with anthrax. Former Senator Bob Graham is one of the panelists.
Senator Graham is 74. In looking back at his accomplished life, he needs to ask himself: Is what he is doing enough on an issue so imporant? He occupied a central role in Congressional oversight. Does confirming Dr. Zawahiri’s announced intentions add much? … relative to accomplishing what might have been accomplished as head of the Select Senate Committee on Intelligence.
Will book signings ever prove an adequate substitute for Congressional oversight that should have taken hold 10 years ago?
DXer said
Lab notebook 4000 has been produced. At one point, the lab notebook discusses Dr. Ivins research in early May 1998 to increase the lethal factor — he posited that increasing the iron or other metal would have that effect. LF is the primary virulence factor of Bacillus anthracis. Dr. Ivins was doing this research the week he was visited by the former Zawahiri associate who was a non-citizen, unbeknownst to Dr. Ivins until his arrival at USAMRIID to work in the B3.
It is my lay understanding that one wants to increase the lethal factor so as to make a better vaccine. For example, that was the same reason proffered by Patricia Fellows for inserting duplicates of the x101 and x102 plasmids. As Pamala Coker of LSU explained to the NYT, it could both serve to make a more effective vaccine and make a more effective bioweapon.
Keeping in mind I have no scientific training, I understand from Dr. Weber’s powerpoints below before the NAS that the silica follows the metal oxides.
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2009/09/30/weber-powerpoint/
The iron makes it more deadly — it increases the LF or lethal factor. Dr. Weber explains one hypothetical mechanism to achieve high Fe (and Si) in spores in his last powerpoint.
Dr. Weber hypothesizes about the mechanism –
Heterogeneous inoculum placed in sporulation media, growth to exhaustion of media, sporulation starts in one variant, growth continues in other and related Fe chelation?, Fe kept in solution by chelation; spores released; Fe-R adsorbs to spores? —> SiO2 absorbs to Fe after Fe-R degradation.
Dr. Weber’s powerpoints at September 25, 2009 NAS presentation on Fe-Si relationship
If David Willman thinks he can understand the “totality of evidence” without making basic relevant inquiries, he is mistaken. David never even bothered to call the subtilis expert 20 miles from the Princeton mailbox who was in phone contact the month before the bombing with the apartment where KSM’s relative Ramzi Yousef, the WTC 1993 bomber, had been staying.
Nor has he interviewed the former Zawahiri associate who worked in the B3 alongside Bruce, Pat and Mara with virulent Ames from May 6-9, 1998.
from DXer … the lifelong friends of Dr. Tarek Hamouda, supplied virulent Ames by Bruce Ivins, actively denounce their former medical school associate Ayman Zawahiri as a fanatic – one serving as President of CAIR-St. Louis and the other as author of INSIDE JIHAD.
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2010/05/07/the-lifelong-friends-of-dr-tarek-hamouda-supplied-virulent-ames-by-bruce-ivins-actively-denounce-their-former-medical-school-associate-ayman-zawahiri-as-a-fanatic-one-serving-as-president-of-ca/
See generally
“DXer reports that Dr. Bruce Ivins hosted one Egyptian visitor in the B3 who was the lifelong friend of a former Egyptian Islamic Jihad member, a schoolmate, recruited by Ayman Zawahiri”
“IVINS advised when ______________ showed up at USAMRIID, USAMRIID personnel realized ________ was not a U.S. citizen. IVINS advised, during the May 1999 [sic] time period, a meail request for approval was all that was required for “green card holders” to visit USAMRIID.”
“IVINS advised _________ worked with the Ames strain of Bacillus anthracis (Ba) in the “BL-3 laboratory” for three or four days in May 1998.”
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2010/03/13/dxer-reports-that-ivins-hosted-one-egyptian-visitor-in-the-b3-who-was-the-lifelong-friend-of-a-former-egyptian-islamic-jihad-member-a-schoolmate-recruited-by-ayman-zawahiri/
“Enclosed fax are recorded correspondence on visit with University of Michigan scientists, 6-9 May 1998.
There was a thank you letter sent May 10, 1998.
from DXer … documents related to interactions between Dr. Bruce Ivins and University of Michigan researchers
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/from-dxer-documents-related-to-university-of-michigan/
Newly released Ivins emails show that no record was kept of transfers to former Zawahiri associate because it was done at USAMRIID.
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2010/05/25/newly-released-ivins-emails-show-that-no-record-was-kept-of-transfers-to-former-zawahiri-associate-because-it-was-done-at-usamriid/
There is a large amount of Ames made by Patricia and Mara that is missing. There is no contemporaneous documentation showing that the Ames would not have the 4 morphs — i.e., what was used as the starter.
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2011/01/31/where-is-the-missing-anthrax-made-by-dr-ivins-lab-assistants/
tracking Dr. Ivins’ RMR-1029 anthrax; Dr. James Baker says none at the University of Michigan
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2009/06/27/tracking-dr-ivins’-rmr-1029-anthrax-dr-james-baker-says-none-at-the-university-of-michigan/
The Amerithrax scientists created a straw man by defining “weaponization” as “floatability.” But the lead scientist was quite candid in explaining that there would be things that they would not be disclosing for national security reasons. I don’t blame them. It’s not their job to explain how to increase the lethal factor of anthrax.
I reluctantly first began talking about iron making the anthrax more lethal a few years ago and have pointed to expert authority with experience making dried aerosol for the military.
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2009/09/30/weber-powerpoint/
DXer said
This is what award-winning journalism looks like.
Triple Agent, by Joby Warrick
http://www.newsweek.com/2011/06/19/the-triple-agent.html
When the CIA thought it had a line on Ayman al-Zawahiri—al Qaeda’s new chief—almost any risk seemed worth it. But in the world of terrorism, no one’s loyalty is ever certain.
DXer said
How a suicide bomber infiltrated the CIA
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/checkpoint-washington/post/how-a-suicide-bomber-infiltrated-the-cia/2011/06/20/AGgVe5cH_blog.html
DXer said
David Ignatius is running a promotion to advance a spy novel. How might the next installment advance the story about the undercover CIA officers who have taken up residence in Quetta? Does he take them to the home of a JI officer and retired microbiologist? Does he take them to the hospital bed of microbiologist Abdul Qadoos Khan who tells of his regrets and describes how fanatical Dr. Ayman is? To a local military installation where at the barracks they meet with Dr. Khan’s relative in the Army? Does he take them to the microbiology building at the local technical institute where Rauf Ahmad describes of how the ISI had secretly enlisted him? Or is Aafia’s mentor at the Karachi Institute of Technology the key source. Does the man in the dark introduce the CIA undercover to someone at a cafe who knew Dr. Ayman growing up in Maadi and was a member of one of the first student cells that included Kamal Habib?
Does he introduce him to an old acquaintance of Dr. Ayman who reasons that it would be best to collect the $25 million before someone else does? Or to someone who studied under his Dad at Ayn Shams whose brother was the chief prosecutor? Does he take them to a grain factory run by the charity founded by the father of Pakistan’s atomic bomb? Does he take them to meet Yazid Sufaat who fled to Quetta upon being released from prison? To the father and son from Quetta who had been jailed and brutally interrogated by ISI and now want revenge? Maybe he should take them to a religious school where they meet with an elderly scholar who trains Dr. Ayman’s young children with his new wives. Does the man at the door receive a text message from his CAIR informant in the United States?
“As they speak, a drone passes silently by overhead awaiting coordinates.”
But whatever option you choose, remember: we only have 59 minutes.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/conversations/summer-spy-serial/?hpid=z5
“Let me in, sir,” said the Pakistani. “I can take you to Ayman Zawahiri.”
Alex looked over the man’s shoulder to see whether he was being followed.
“I am alone,” said the Pakistani. “Let me in, now.”
Alex pulled the man inside. Sarah lowered her pistol under her shawl.
“Sit down,” Alex said, motioning to the couch. “What are you talking about?”
“I know where Zawahiri is,” said the man. “I will show you the place where he is hiding. It is three miles south of here, near the University of Baluchistan. But I have two demands.”
“Go on,” said Alex. “What are they?”
“I want the reward money. The $25 million that you were going to pay for bin Laden, I want all of it.”
“What else?”
“I want your promise to relocate me and my family to America.”
Alex shrugged and took out his passport.
“Why are you asking us? We’re Jordanians.”
“That is a lie,” said the Pakistani. “You are American intelligence officers. The Inter-Services Intelligence has been watching you for weeks.”
“You work for the ISI?” asked Sarah.
The Pakistani nodded.
“Yes, madam, indeed I do, and you are running out of time. My offer expires in one hour. After that, I cannot promise that Zawahiri will still be there. You have to decide, now. Will you pay me the reward and relocate my family?”
“But it’s the middle of the night in Washington,” said Sarah. “We can’t get authorization that quickly.”
“Then you will lose your chance to get the most dangerous man in the world.” He looked at his watch. “Do not delay. Yes or no. We have only 59 minutes.”
Congratulations to Colin Flaherty of Wilmington, Delaware! He is the winning author of Chapter 2. His version of what happens to deep cover CIA officers Alex Kassem and Sarah Mancini earned the most reader recommendations and David Ignatius’s praise. David called Flaherty’s entry his “strong favorite.” In his judging notes, he wrote that it “manages to advance the story, and twist it in a new and interesting direction, very deftly.” Read Flaherty’s chapter here.
DXer said
[Flaherty's entry had the fellow saying that Dr. Ayman visited his sister and brought sweets to his nieces and nephews and would be leaving within the hour. The man said that if they didn't act, he would have to do it himself. Of those I've read so far, among the entries for the next installment, in the current contest, I like this one:
Alex glanced sharply at the Pakistani. Sarah gently clicked the safety off of her automatic. They both knew Heba al-Zawahiri was a physician in Egypt, not some ISI agent's wife in Quetta. The walk-in had told them a lie, meaning he was either a double agent - or bait for a trap. No time to determine which.
What to do with the Pakistani was now pro forma. After a Jordanian suicide bomber massacred seven CIA officers at FOB Chapman two years earlier, walk-ins got expelled at the first hint of deception. And this guy reeked of it. Sarah stood to escort the Pakistani to the door.
"You will be heroes in your agency. But you must come with me now, and I must have my protections," the Pakistani insisted. Perspiration appeared on his forehead. "Please?"
Alex shrugged. "Go ahead. Do it yourself." He pulled out a cell phone, pointed the back of it at the Pakistani's face and clicked off two quick pictures. "Want to give us a name for the caption?" he asked.
The Pakistani paled, eyes growing wide. "I am Mr. Gul," he stammered, proffering the most common surname in Pakistan. "But that is not important! Time is fleeting," he pleaded.
Alex wasn't listening anymore. He was planning their escape. Gul knew something only Langley and the Chief of Station in Islamabad were privy to: their blue-card identities. Where was the leak?
Gul also wanted the deep cover CIA officers to be at a certain place at a certain time, the main ingredient of both kidnappings and executions. Alex and Sarah didn't want to walk into either one.
As Sarah marshaled Mr. Gul toward the door, Alex opened it and glanced outside. The street was empty. "Thanks for stopping by," he said. "If you kill Zawahiri, send us the bill." He shoved the man out and slammed the door mid-protest.
Sarah exhaled deeply. "We've got to go. Now."
"I'm with you," Alex agreed. "They know who we are and where we are, and they obviously have plans for us in…" he checked his watch. "Fifty-one minutes."
DXer said
Here’s an excerpt from another possible winner:
asheroth’s “Gambit”
He had one card to play. Although their conversation had been in English, he’d discerned a trace of an accent in the man, and it wasn’t Pakistani. He was almost certain that it was Egyptian, which stood to reason if his wife was Zawahiri’s sister. And although his demeanor suggested an officer, he wasn’t ISI.
“Effendi,” Alex began, intentionally using an Egyptian honorific to gauge their guest’s reaction. He was trying to remember his training, to think several steps ahead. The man’s dilating pupils told him all he needed to know.
“It would appear that our lives are an open book. Let’s assume for a moment that we have the means to effect this interception in such a short time. You must realize that the only option would be a drone strike.”
The man started to interrupt, but this time Alex raised his hand.
“So I’m trying to figure out how this is going to unfold with your family intact… or maybe, you’re just eyeing the twenty-five mil. You come clean with me, right here and now. I don’t think you’re ISI – I think you’re SSI – or what’s left of them after Mubarak. Or maybe you’re a goddamn al Qaeda mole.”
In the corner of his eye he saw Sarah’s hand slowly rise under her shawl.
“You tell me your story – if it clicks I’ll make the call. You have three minutes.”
DXer said
Or maybe this one by Wynne Wood:
Motivation.
Sarah knew something that Alex didn’t.
As she moved forward, she gave the signal using the device sewn into her shawl that would tell Langley that Dr. Ayman had been located. The Navy Seals would be on their way from the secret military base that was an open secret among locals.
Alex would follow her lead. He would forgive Langley for compartmentalizing information even when his life was on the line.
The world knew only of Dr. Ayman’s twin sister Omneya and his sister Heba, both highly respected professors at Cairo Medical. The dad had taught pharmacology at Ayn Shams. Heba taught antimicrobials in the microbiology department. Heba’s grief and rage had spiked again this year when her brother the two dozen men came to take her brother Mohammed away just three days after his release with thousands of others.
It had been the rendition of Dr. Ayman’s brother in the Spring of 1999 that had hardened “The Teacher’s” resolve to develop anthrax as a weapon against US targets.
But it was only the outpouring of Heba’s grief at night — as she sobbed into the pillow like her mom and she had done for a year in 1999 — that the IC learned that there was a third sister. The sister, Aisha, had gone to Pakistan in the 1980s with Dr. Ayman to work with the Saudi Red Crescent. Family and friends and medical school colleagues had kept the secret well. The ties that bound Sarah to her Yale classmates were nowhere near as close. The United States had years of oppression under the Mubarak regime to thank for that.
Langley recently had learned of the sister’s whereabouts while running an operation against a student of Heba who had been supplied virulent Ames anthrax by Bruce Ivins in the States. It had been a frustrating 10 years since Woolsey’s and Tenet’s missteps. They had blown and misunderstood the lead relating to the subtilis expert who called KSM’s relative Ramzi Yousef at 34 Kensington Ave #4 leading up to WTC 1993. KSM and Dr. Ayman had taken a call reporting on the 1993 bombing at the Saudi Red Crescent offices in Islamabad.
A satellite kept surveillance of this man’s home in a Quetta suburb. But analysts had not held out much hope that Dr. Ayman would remain in touch after 911. Analysts never dreamed that Dr. Ayman would be so reckless to visit her at her home. Annually no less!
Sarah said, “I hope you don’t try to renegotiate the deal like the fellow who brought us to KSM did. We had to throw in an extra $2 million for relocation expenses to the UK. Why are you helping us?”
The man at the doorway said, “Because in Khartoum, he ordered my son beheaded — his own nephew — for having been pressured into being a spy by Egyptian security. I loved my son.”
DXer said
My money on this Wash Po contest is D.L. Wilson from Maryland, author of Sirocco, a new thriller — if he happens to join the fun.
An excerpt from Sirocco:
“Deborah stared directly at him “It’s gonna be difficult, isn’t it? Working together on R3.”
Brett returned her look. “Not really. You’re a top researcher. I’m a great attorney. We’ve got a job to do. A lot of lives could be at stake. That’s why Homeland Security got us on onboard.”
“And now Homeland Security’s put us in crisis mode.”
“You got that right,” Brett replied. “But in my opinion, the government doesn’t seem to have a hell of a lot for us to go on other than speculation and innuendo. And I can still read you well enough to know something’s bothering you about this whole R3 scenario.”
“Not something. A lot of somethings.”
“Bottom line, I think the government’s wasting the time of valuable researchers to cover their own asses if something does happen.” (p. 28)
DXer said
The FBI in December 2010 finally provided NAS some documents from Afghanistan showing successive, initial positive for the Ames strain of anthrax in Afghanistan. Some of those documents have been uploaded on the blog. What do documents show as to testing at Dr. Ayman’s home — as distinguished from Omar Hospital and the lab in Kandahar. At the start of the summer 2001, KSM had the men move the crates of equipment Sufaat, Batarfi and others had ordered. Sufaat and a colleague worked at Omar Hospital while the gathered equipment was en route to Kandahar. In this article today, what sourcing is Mr. Vallely relying upon? (and what strain did it test to be). In Dr. Ayman’s planning documents related to his correspondence with infiltrating scientist Rauf Ahmad, it was contemplated that the lab would be moved every 3 months and the old lab decontaminated.
The Independent on Sunday
June 19, 2011
First Edition
Wounded al-Qa’ida will lash out more; whose successor is a ruthless killer, the organisation is newly fired up by grievances
BYLINE: Paul Vallely
If you want to see why torture doesn’t work, you need look no further than Ayman al-Zawahiri who was regularly beaten in the jails of the US-backed regime in Egypt two decades ago. There, he claimed, he and his fellow prisoners were kicked, hit, hung over doors, whipped with cables, given electric shocks and had wild dogs loosed upon them. Zawahiri was a dedicated Islamist when he went into jail. By the time he came out he had been hardened into the fanatical and violent terrorist who has just succeeded Osama bin Laden
….
Using techniques which led Zawahiri to say to a fellow prisoner “the death penalty is more merciful than torture”, they beat out of him information about a comrade who was then also arrested. Zawahiri felt so humiliated by being made to “destroy his movement with his own hands” and “offer colleagues’ secrets to the enemy” that, guilt-ridden, he fled the country determined to avenge the betrayal that had been forced upon him. He moved to Saudi Arabia. There he met Bin Laden.
The differences between the two men offer clues on how global terrorism is may now develop. Both came from privileged backgrounds, but where the Bin Ladens were extremely wealthy from their $5bn construction business, allowing Osama bin Laden to bring vast sums of money to the al-Qa’ida cause, the Zawahiri family was known for a combination of medicine and religious scholarship.
Though Ayman al-Zawahiri grew up in a cosmopolitan part of Egypt he became deeply religious – so much so that the centre of his forehead bears a darkened callus formed by his many hours of prayerful prostration. … He did not stay in Saudi long, but travelled to the northern border regions of Pakistan to work in a Red Crescent hospital treating Afghan refugees, driven from their home by the a Soviet army of occupation.
But while the Russians were the enemy, the Egyptian doctor returned to Saudi bristling with the conviction that the Americans, who were arming the Afghan mujahideen, would prove the long-term foe because of their arrogant ideology and economic dominance. Democracy, he concluded, was a form of “polytheism”. by contrast, were much more direct. When the two men met, Bin Ladenthen 28, had lived a life of untrammelled wealth and pleasure, with a personal fortune of about £250m. But he had been radicalised by the suffering of Afghan Muslims and had raised hundreds of millions of dollars for the mujahideen resistance. He was concerned at the plight of the Palestinians and outraged that Saudi Arabia – home of Islam’s two holiest places – was being defiled by the presence of infidel troops in US bases.
The two men did not at first see eye to eye. Zawahiri’s Islamic Jihad movement in 1995 attacked the Egyptian embassy in Pakistan, a move that Bin Laden feared would jeopardise the supply route into Afghanistan. Two years later, Zawahiri organised a mass attack on one of ancient Egypt’s most high-profile sites at Luxor, in which 58 tourists were machine-gunned and hacked to death. Such was the international outrage most Islamists tried to disown it.
But by 1998, the two men had formed a loose alliance under the “World Islamic Front Against Jews and Crusaders” umbrella, issuing a fatwa, written by Zawahiri, that ordered all Muslims to kill all Americans and their allies, civilian and military. Bin Laden had the money, but lacked the unifying theological vision. Zawahiri had that, along with a team of doctors, engineers and soldiers who were experienced covert revolutionaries. He brought to Bin Laden using:the notion that secular, pro-Western Arab governments were as much the enemy as the Soviets, Americans or Israelis. In 2001, the two men’s organisations merged into a single entity, Qaeda al-Jihad.
Zawahiri was the organisational brain. He is believed to have been behind the 1993 assault on US troops in Somalia; the 1995 assassination attempt on Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak; the 1998 bombings of the American embassies in East Africa; the 2000 attack on a US naval ship in Aden harbour; and the 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington in 2001.
He pioneered the use of suicide bombers, a strategy that necessitated circumventing powerful Islamic prohibitions on suicide and the murder of innocents. He came up with the idea of bombers making videotapes on the eve of their “martyrdom”. It was he who began testing biological and chemical weapons; samples of anthrax were found in his house in Afghanistan.
***
DXer said
Who does Aafia Siddiqui think is responsible for the anthrax mailings? She reported that she had spent a half year in Karachi at the technical institute there studying germ weapons. Two of the panel members, including the head, who relied upon Dr. Ivins’ counselor, said that Aafia was faking psychiatric symptoms and was fit to stand trial. Aafia, who is highly intelligent, would be a fascinating interview.
The New York Times
July 6, 2009 Monday
Late Edition – Final
Court to Hear New Reports on Pakistani Scientist’s Fitness for Trial
BYLINE: By BENJAMIN WEISER
To government psychiatrists, Aafia Siddiqui has been faking symptoms of mental illness, hoping to avoid a criminal trial on charges of trying to kill American soldiers and F.B.I. agents in Afghanistan.
But to a psychologist retained by Ms. Siddiqui’s lawyers, she suffers from a genuine mental disorder, and is incompetent to stand trial.
These clashing descriptions are contained in newly filed psychological evaluations in the case of Ms. Siddiqui, 37, a Pakistani neuroscientist who was brought to Manhattan last summer for prosecution.
After a court-ordered evaluation found that she was unfit for trial as a result of a mental disease, a judge ordered her sent to the Federal Medical Center Carswell in Fort Worth for further evaluation.
On Monday, the judge, Richard M. Berman of Federal District Court in Manhattan, will take up the competency issue, hearing testimony from experts who have evaluated her.
The judge may also hear varying conclusions about her whereabouts between 2003 and 2008, a period when her supporters have said she was abducted by foreign authorities and tortured. Prosecutors have emphatically denied those claims.
In one newly filed report, a government psychologist cited evidence that she was living and working in Pakistan and traveled to Afghanistan during that period. While her accounts were incomplete, the report said, ”her statements and other facts gathered seem to corroborate that she was not held captive.” A psychologist retained by the defense, meanwhile, wrote that there were ”conflicting reports” on her whereabouts, but ”fairly convincing evidence” that she ”suddenly disappeared,” and some evidence that she was held captive.
Ms. Siddiqui was taken into custody last July in Ghazni, Afghanistan, after she was found loitering outside the provincial governor’s compound with suspicious items in her handbag, the authorities have said. The items included handwritten notes that referred to a ”mass casualty attack,” and listed various landmarks like the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty, an indictment says.
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The defense’s psychologist, L. Thomas Kucharski, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, concluded that Ms. Siddiqui was suffering from a delusional disorder and depression. He cited various statements, like one in which she said she had been injected with a substance designed to make her break the Ramadan fast, as examples of ”her delusional thought process.”
There was ”very strong evidence” that she was not malingering, he wrote.
But a government expert, Dr. Gregory B. Saathoff, a psychiatry professor at the University of Virginia, said because of Ms. Siddiqui’s desire to return to Pakistan and her interest in avoiding prosecution, she ”has had a strong motivation to appear incompetent.”
”She has most likely fabricated reported psychiatric symptoms,” he wrote.
Another prosecution expert, Dr. Sally C. Johnson, a psychiatry professor at the University of North Carolina, wrote that although Ms. Siddiqui appeared frail and timid, ”her potential for aggression towards herself or others might be underestimated,” and she ”could perceive herself as martyr for a cause.” Dr. Johnson recommended that ”adequate precautions be taken to protect her and other individuals throughout the resolution of her legal proceedings.”
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Indiana county simulates areosolized anthrax attack
by Ted Purlain on June 17, 2011
The drill, which took place at the local Crawfordsville High School, simulated a scenario in which someone stole the county sanitarian’s aerosol truck and used the equipment to spray anthrax at various locations in the area, according to ThePaper24-7.com.
http://bioprepwatch.com/news/249740-indiana-county-simulates-areosolized-anthrax-attack
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Bruce Ivins supplied a Cairo Medical graduate, whose friends were personally recruited by Dr. Ayman, virulent Ames.
Dr. Ivins was directed to do so even though the researcher was not a US citizen. Bruce did not know the researcher was a non-citizen until after the visiting scientist arrived at USAMRIID for the visit in Spring 1998. See generally INSIDE JIHAD, by “Tawfiq” Hamid about Dr. Ayman’s recruitment at Cairo Medical.
Dr. Tarek Hamouda was funded by DARPA.
The researchers who shared a suite with Ali Al-Timimi also were funded by DARPA.
Those researchers co-invented the microencapsulation patent used to concentrate anthrax with silicon dioxide. Ali Al-Timimi was coordinating with fellow Falls Church imam, Anwar Awlaki.
The FBI’s anthrax expert, John Ezzell, spoke at DARPA about his dried aerosol project at USAMRIID. Over the course of 5 years of trial and error, according to author DW, he experimented with making a dried powder. The FBI never disclosed this — not to the public and apparently not to the NAS.
Instead, we were told in August 2008 leaks and in a supposed “independent” report (actually authored by the longtime Quantico partner who advised on the aggressive approach against Dr. Ivins) that Dr. Ivins was involved in a poison plot in 2000. Suddenly all his paranoia about people thinking mean things about him became a self-fulfilling prophecy. He now was an evil poisoner rather than a prankster who had stolen some books from a sorority.
Yet, the source of this information was his psychotherapist claiming that who explains that she was hearing voices, seeing visions, talking to rocks and plants, and defending herself against psychic attacks by nasty Taliban spirit entities, astral travelling, remote viewing, reading thoughts etc. This was all discoverable by the FBI Quantico and DOJ experts by a simple google long prior to recommending to FBI Director Mueller that the case should be closed.
But no one will judge anyone by their missteps. We all just want the right answer. That requires a Congressional Commission or a reopened Amerithrax investigation.
Amerithrax is the greatest failure in United States history counterintelligence history. David Willman is now acting as its well-meaning spokesman. DW has neither addressed the documents showing why Dr. Ivins was in the lab on the nights nor the fact that his main witness says she was protected from a psychiatric diagnosis from her husband — but that she had an active life as a medium, exorcist, remote viewer, telepath and astral traveler. Dr. Ivins first counselor says she got physically sick in 2001 from her astral travel work in Afghanistan and at Ground Zero. Neither she / her representative with whom I am in email contact have provided any corroborating documents in support of her claims.
Agent Lawerence Alexander was not provided the 16 pages of the research by the former Zawahiri associate alongside Bruce Ivins and Patricia Fellows in the B3 until well after he had started googling about sororities and developed the early forms of his “Ivins Theory.” His theory, though speculative and complex, can be presumed to be in good faith. But at the end of the day he needs to factor in what he now knows about the reliability of the first counselor as a witness. Agent Lawrence Alexander and Postal Inspector Dellefera have to themselves urge the Director that Amerithrax be reopened.
The small company of the former Zawahiri associate received millions from the venture fund headed by the man who then was put in charge of Pakistan and Afghanistan (the powerful #3 at Department of State).
That combined with the fact that Ali Al-Timimi had once been the assistant by the former White Chief of Staff (in another life at the Department of Transportation) may have made the correct solution of Amerithrax politically awkward.
Alternatively, there may have just been a series of unfortunate missteps — trading bloodhounds for a psychic.
It has only been due to the efforts of numerous scientists and others (like most recently MHJ) that we can press for a sound understanding of Amerithrax.
Our United States Department of Justice closed its case based on someone who was having visions, hearing voices and a series of mistaken claims and premises outlined at an August 8, 2008 conference.
While the US Congress is focused on sexting by a Congressman — our major media has not yet interviewed Tarek Hamouda, the former Zawahiri associate, to ask how well he knew Dr. Ayman Zawahiri and his sister, the microbiology professor.
No one has interviewed the subtilis expert who lived 20 miles from the Princeton mailbox who was in regular phone contact with the WTC 1993 plotters to ask how well he knew Ramzi Yousef, KSM’s nephew.
Dr. Hamouda, the former Zawahiri associate, thanked Patricia Fellows for providing technical assistance.
She is the one who spun Dr. Ivins as having no reason to be in the lab in early October. See her 302. For 2 1/2 years, the DOJ did not mention that Dr. Ivins was helping with the animal studies on not only the 5 nights in September that the DOJ was speculating that he was making a dried powder. And even to this day they never have disclosed that the same animal work continued in October. This withholding of documents is outrageous . It is critical that the GAO probe who is responsible for the withholding of documents and force the disclosure of all documents relating to Amerithrax not exempt from FOIA.
While David Willman and the investigators fault Director Mueller for his fixation on Dr. Hatfill, they also fault him for a “leave no stone unturned” approach. Given that the Ivins Theory was always misdirected and had no sound basis, it was the FBI Director Mueller and Agent Michael Mason’s “leave no stone unturned” approach which was the sound one.
Fortunately the person who can set things right is still “the decider.”
The price of missteps when Dr. Ayman Zawahiri wants to kill you is grave indeed. Never underestimate such an enemy. He is not known for his kindnesses or mercy.
Al-Qaeda Names Egypt-Born Ayman Al-Zawahiri to Replace Bin Laden as Leader
By Chris Dolmetsch and Mariam Fam – Jun 16, 2011 4:27 AM ET
•
Their father, Rabie, was a pharmacology professor whose family included well-known religious scholars and medical professionals, and his maternal grandfather was the president of the Cairo University and the Egyptian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Yemen, according to Lawrence Wright, author of “The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11” (2006).
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A major influence on Zawahiri was Sayyid Qutb (pronounced “KOO-tub”) a militant Egyptian intellectual educated in the U.S. who was executed by Nasser in 1966, the same year Zawahiri and his friends started their cell. Zawahiri’s great uncle, Mahfouz Azzam, served as Qutb’s defense lawyer. [Note: As I best recall the story, Attorney Mahfouz gave Zawahiri Qutb's koran, passed on from hisi hospital bedside. ]
…
Zawahiri, whose aliases include “The Doctor” and “The Teacher,” and a twin sister were born on June 19, 1951, in Giza, Egypt, the eldest children of a couple from prominent Egyptian families.
Underground Life
Their father, Rabie, was a pharmacology professor whose family included well-known religious scholars and medical professionals, and his maternal grandfather was the president of the Cairo University and the Egyptian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Yemen, according to Lawrence Wright, author of “The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11” (2006).
From a young age, Zawahiri disliked Egypt’s secular government, which he considered apostate. He and a handful of friends started a jihadist cell while he was still in high school. Their aim was to overthrow Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser, whom they considered too Western, and set up a theocracy, Gerges said.
While he led an underground life of which his parents were unaware, Zawahiri enrolled in medical school at Cairo University, where he became a top student specializing in surgery, graduating in 1974, Wright wrote.
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http://news.myjoyonline.com/international/201106/67634.asp
“His political activities did not, however, stop him from studying medicine at Cairo University’s medical school, from which he graduated in 1974 and obtained a masters degree in surgery four years later.
His father Mohammed, who died in 1995, was a pharmacology professor at the same school.” [Cairo Medical]
When did Mohammed stop teaching? Did the scientist supplied virulent Ames by Bruce Ivins take coursework from both Dr. Ayman’s father and sister(s)?
I wrote Heba, the microbiology professor (she works in antimicrobials), years ago to ask but never got a response. Similarly, years ago, when I wrote, I got no response from Dr. Hamouda. It was only his lifelong friend who described his own recruitment by Dr. Ayman when Ayman would visit the school to recruit on Fridays. It was Dr. Baker who described the details of Bruce Ivins’ supply of virulent Ames, confirming what all the documents provided by the FBI established in February 2010.
The name of the man who announced he was developing anthrax for use of anthrax as a weapon against US targets — who was planning to use charities and universities as cover for his project — does not even appear in the index of David Willman’s book!
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In December 2009, President Obama signed an executive order stating: “The U.S. Postal Service has the capacity for rapid residential delivery of medical countermeasures for self-administration across all communities in the United States.” The executive order gave the USPS and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 180 days to create a national dispensing model for U.S. cities to respond to a large-scale anthrax attack.
The initiative, known as the “postal plan” is part of the CDC’s Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI) to enhance preparedness in the large urban areas by enploying a set of strategies for the rapid delivery of preventive medication to people living in large cities following a biological attack. was accepted as a viable delivery method following an anthrax attack, because postal workers would be doing their everyday job, but with a different material.
The plan was tested in Minneapolis/St. Paul and afterwards hailed as an extraordinary collaboration between the USPS, Health and Human Services, the Minnesota Department of Health, which is the regional planning lead. Law enforcement agencies also participated due to a security requirement for the volunteer carriers.
Continue reading on Examiner.com The postman always rings Homeland Security? – Chicago Homeland Security | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/homeland-security-in-chicago/the-postman-always-rings-homeland-security#ixzz1PRlTxxMx
Comment: A lot of effort is spent in the field and yet people don’t take the most simple, direct steps needed to understand that there was no “there there” to an Ivins Theory. The danger posted lies in the failure of intelligence analysis. As an example, Yazid Sufaat was captured in December 2001 but the FBI did not interview him until November 2002.
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Excerpt:
The 2001 Attack Anthrax: Key Questions, Potential Answers
June 11, 2011
Martin E. Hugh-Jones, et al.
Next steps
The NAS Report, in the words of the Washington Post, “is not satisfying – nor is it conclusive.”# Many scientists who contributed to the investigation have expressed reservations about the FBI’s conclusions.# Senator Patrick Leahy, a target of the anthrax letters and Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, says he has “extreme doubts” about the case; “I’ve expressed those concerns to the FBI, and this report adds to those concerns.”# Senator Chuck Grassley, the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, says the NAS report “shows that the science is not necessarily a slam dunk. There are no more excuses for avoiding an independent review and assessment of how the FBI handled its investigation in the anthrax case.” # Legislation# to establish a Congressional commission for that purpose has been reintroduced by Rep. Rush Holt,# a scientist and Princeton professor who represents the area in New Jersey where the attack letters were mailed.
The National Academy of Sciences was the right body to examine the scientific issues in the anthrax case, and the scientific issues were the right target. Once the method of preparation of the attack anthrax is understood, the question of who made it will be rapidly resolved. But the NAS committee was held back by its dependence on the FBI for information and sponsorship. To quote the Washington Post again, the committee “should not be blamed for nitpicking over the test results; that is essentially what it was tasked to do by the FBI, which commissioned its report.”# The committee had no access to classified information,# and they met with a number of impediments in trying to interpret the data they were given.# Answers to questions posed to the FBI for clarification, they wrote, “were sometimes minimal or terse, or were deflected as … beyond the purview of the committee despite the committee’s explanation that the questions were of a scientific nature.”# Clearly, the committee’s purview should have been broader.
Critical scientific questions must be answered before the anthrax case can be laid to rest. That will require scientific expertise and political neutrality, ideally with full access to all that the FBI knows, and with the resources to commission additional work if the existing scientific information is inadequate. Indeed, further scientific investigation may be the only way to bring the facts of the case to light.
Source:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10ONTNGMiPAcQ0Z3jo4S1Y7eI2IdNtf6-8xe1bq__tNI/edit?hl=en_US&authkey=CNSH1YML&pli=1
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I have emailed the DOJ attorney confirming that DOJ is not prioritizing the requests.
Attorney Kovakas,
Am I right that my FOIA for all FOIAs was not expedited? Amerithrax is subject to articles daily, and now a new book. Meanwhile, Zawahiri is promising to attack.
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2011/04/12/ayman-zawahiri-anwar-awlaki-anthrax-and-amerithrax-the-infiltration-of-us-biodefense/
Does DOJ notify of a decision not to expedite or does the requestor just infer by a delay in responding?
Given that the FOIA for all FOIAs was a simple computer database search taking a couple minutes, I assume it was not expedited. I had suggested the Al Qaeda anthrax threat poses a matter of life and death and thus a request relating to the subject warranted priority.
Am I right that these requests are not being treated as priority? For example,__________ had asked for the September 17, 2001 to show it conflicted with the DOJ’s timeline under its Ivins Theory. USAMRC FOIA, which responds on a priority basis, concluded that AUSA Rachel Lieber was mistaken that it was written by Dr. Ivins on his work computer — and the implication is that it was written on his home computer and may provide an alibi that defeats the FBI’s “Ivins Theory.”
Sincerely,
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13 minutes of the recent Zawahiri video (by As Sahab). Al-Hawsawi, who worked for As Sahab, had the anthrax spraydrying directions on his laptop. In contrast, no instructions for producing a dried aerosol were found on Dr. Ivins’ computers.
While Dr. Ayman expressed a specific intent to use anthrax against US targets to retaliate for the rendering of senior EIJ letters, Dr. Ivins never articulated such an intent. In the tape recording Lawrence Alexander and Rachel Lieber rely upon, Dr. Ivins specifically denied having any idea on how to make a dried aerosol weapon. And Ivins did not know that the FBI’s anthrax expert had been working on such a project (in testing a mass spec detector) for DARPA.
Dr. Zawahiri’s infiltrator, Rauf Ahmad, was attending conferences with Dr. Ivins and the FBI’s anthrax expert. He says he learned some tricks about weaponizing anthrax and made some internet connections. Who was his contact that was teaching him tricks about processing anthrax? We’ve seen Dr. Ivins’ emails, right? It wasn’t Dr. Ivins.
Thought question: Yazid Sufaat was arrested in December 2001. The FBI did not interview him until November 2002. Why did not the FBI not interview him immediately?
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http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/06/09/zawahiri_speaks
Zawahiri ends with an ominous promise of another large attack on the U.S. on the level of 9/11.
Comment:
I propose that after Zawahiri attacks, everyone at the Department of Justice who did not support immediate production of the non-sealed documents in the Stevens litigation be fired on the grounds that each government employee, within his realm of influence, needs to be able to prioritize and make the right decisions.
The same goes for
failure to produce the September 17, 2001 email,
the FOIA of FOIAs relating to Amerithrax,
the family 302s,
the article provided by Ivins to the FBI about addition of silica to spores,
and the Lab Notebook 4010 pages,
and all Lab Notebook pages and other documents from the August 2001-October 2001 period.
The risk of attack was specifically noted in the various requests as a reason to act in a timely and expeditious manner on the request. Yet, it took months, for example, even to assign the request for production of the 9/17 email (which contributes to a timeline) a number. We can look back at the FBI’s failure to interview anthrax lab tech Sufaat, arrested in December 2001, until November 2002, and scratch our heads. But in looking forward, such delays are avoidable and should not be countenanced.
CYA and the pitching by a few agents and prosecutors of their narrative through proxies cannot be allowed to control these issues.
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10 years ago there was a plan to poison the embassy in Rome using cyanide. The plan was to access the localized supply of the water. Embassies in many countries face a real challenge. In dining rooms, even without those looking to use poison, there was a danger of eating lettuce, for example, because the water used to wash it might not be good.
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The greatest progress that the human race has made lies in learning how to make correct inferences. -Nietzsche (from Human, All-Too Human)
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Other plans included procuring large quantities of poison, presumably to be mixed with food supplies for NATO troops that pass through Pakistani territory.
The plan called for abducting the drivers of NATO supply trucks and then mixing the poison with food supplies.
Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/ilyas-kashmiri-wanted-to-create-laskhar-e-osama-110566?cp
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Plot to poison British troops foiled
June 9, 2011 at 12:09 PM
LONDON, June 9 (UPI) — Pakistani spies uncovered a plot by al-Qaida followers to poison British troops in retaliation for the killing of Osama bin Laden, British officials said.
Al-Qaida followers planned to ambush supply trucks carrying material to British and U.S. bases in Helmand, Afghanistan, to taint food and water with poison, The Daily Mirror reported Thursday.
Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/06/09/Plot-to-poison-British-troops-foiled/UPI-96361307635764/#ixzz1Op6vhmgt
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Al Qaeda Deputy Surfaces: New Terror Leader?
Ayman al-Zawahiri, al Qaeda deputy, released his first video message, June 8, 2011, to his followers since Osama bin Laden’s death, vowing to avenge the martyrdom of his leader. (ABC News)
By BRIAN ROSS
June 8, 2011
Appearing to assume the role as the new leader of al Qaeda, the former number two Ayman al-Zawahiri vowed to avenge the death of Osama bin Laden “blood for blood” in another day like 9/11, in a video posted on the internet Wednesday morning.
The 28-minute video is the first statement from the 59-year-old al-Zawahiri, an Egyptian doctor, to acknowledge the death of bin Laden, killed in a U.S. Navy SEAL raid into Pakistan last month. Looking aged, and at times angry, al-Zawahiri used a chopping motion with his hands and urged his followers to remember the 9/11 attacks against America, saying the attack “destroyed the symbol of American economy in New York and the symbol of American military might in the Pentagon.”
Al-Zawahiri did not specifically mention whether he was now the leader of the terror group’s global jihad, but his tone and words suggested he had the legitimacy to succeed bin Laden.
***
Al-Zawahiri, founder of the Egyptian extremist group Egyptian Islamic Jihad, also helped found al Qaeda with bin Laden. He sports the largest bounty offered for information on any terrorist by the U.S. government — $25 million — and is wanted for his role in the 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, which claimed 224 lives.
Comment: AUSA Rachel Lieber and Agent Lawrence Alexander and his colleagues should have learned more about Dr. Ayman before having so grossly underestimated his ability to achieve his goals in 2001 relating to his anthrax program using a parallel compartmentalized cell structure, such as was outlined on Ali Mohammed’s computer in the document titled “Cocktail.”
It’s now too late to do reopen the investigation or have a Congressional probe until after the next attack. Too many people became fixated on Dr. Ivins (e.g., Lawrence Alexander, Ed Montooth, etc.) just as other investigators did Dr. Hatfill before that. Mueller and Comey fixated on Hatfill (as described by David Willman based on interviews with investigators) — based on the bloodhounds alerting to Dr. Hatfill and Dr. Patricia Fellows. (That was akin to the psychic report of the mass grave in Texas yesterday). The reliance reflects a profound failure in the Amerithrax investigation. They will laud Director Mueller for transforming the FBI into a counterintelligence agency at today’s hearing — but Dr. Ayman is preparing Exhibit A to the contrary. And when the history is written, it only takes one Pearl Harbor.
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A Terrorist Threat Unveiled
Bestselling author D.L. Wilson’s newest thriller delivers a gripping tale of bioterrorism by a secret organization vowing to destroy the U.S.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRLog (Press Release) – Jun 01, 2011 – Is the covert menace of bioterrorism destined to infiltrate the U.S.?
Sirocco, a secret organization within the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, threatens to unleash a bioweapon at the heart of the United States unless Congress funds a new Palestinian government and convinces Israel to cede strategic occupied land.
Brett Reynolds, an attorney representing the pharmaceutical lobby, is summoned to Washington for an urgent meeting by Homeland Security to investigate the threat.
With a bioterror looming that could devastate the U.S., Reynolds learns of his brother’s death in a bizarre murder/suicide. He discovers connections between his brother and Sirocco’s terrorist plot. An investigation leads him on a harrowing chase that ends in a deadly confrontation with Sirocco and a chilling climax in the Oval Office.
About the author: D.L. Wilson’s international travel as a business executive spawned a fascination with world cultures, exotic locales, diverse religious beliefs, and foreign governments. He found the perfect outlet for his interests in the captivating world of fiction. Clive Cussler called Wilson’s Unholy Grail “a tale rich with intrigue that grips the imagination. A must read.” Wilson’s latest thriller, Sirocco, is based upon his travels in the Middle East, Europe, and many days researching fascinating sites and characters in Washington, D.C. and New York City. Learn more athttp://www.dlwilsonbooks.com.
What they’re saying about Sirocco:
“SIROCCO is a masterful blend of dark and light, and all the grays in between. The setting, dialogue, and details cast an ideal backdrop for the tension and intensity of this action-packed tale. D.L. Wilson is a wry, appealing voice in the thriller world. This one is well worth a look.”
~ Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The Emperor’s Tomb
“SIROCCO is both a razor-edged thriller and a tour de force drawing lines from the Middle East to the very heart of American politics and security. Bioterrorism, extremism, and national gamesmanship turns this taut story into a true potboiler of suspense.”
~ James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of Altar of Eden
Title: Sirocco
Author: David L. Wilson
Genre: Thriller
ISBN: 978-1-936680-00-9
Publication Date: April 2011
Pages: 356
Price: $14.95
Publisher: Mont Clair Press
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For a review copy,
http://bookblogs.ning.com/group/amevirtualauthortours/forum/topics/available-for-review-sirocco?xg_source=activity
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New al-Qaida video urges attacks on ‘influential public figures’
Herald Sun – 22 hours ago
Gadahn, who speaks in English on the 100-minute video …
You would think that those same “influential public figures” would want a more considered analysis of the threat — better informed by the documentary evidence.
No reporter has requested any hard copies from Dr. Ivins’ files from September and October 2001 — even though the chief of bacteriology confirms that scientists regularly kept hard copies in addition to emails and lab notebooks (being withheld).
Hopefully, GAO will work with the wonderful USAMRC FOIA person to collect all documents that might help reconstruct the timeline for the August, September and October 2001 period.
Contrary to the pundits who just associate Al Qaeda with a “big bang,” a key modus operandi of the Vanguards of Conquest was targeted assassination and it was widely known known that Zawahiri was seeking to weaponize anthrax for use against US targets. The Egyptian Islamic Jihad group specializes in armed attacks against high-level Egyptian government officials, including Cabinet ministers. The group had a “hit list” that included tens of Egyptians to be killed by the group, including journalists. In May 1987, a Major General was shot outside his home in Cairo. Several EIJ members and two Islamist Group members were arrested in connection with the attack. In November 1990, six members of EIJ were arrested in connection with the murders of People’s Assembly Speaker and five security men on October 12, 1990. The EIJ’s military wing, the Vanguards of Conquest, launched a violent campaign in March 1992. Of 223 killed in the first year or two, 67 were policemen, 76 were Islamic militants, 36 were civilian Christian Copts, and three were foreign tourists.
Prosecutors and policemen would be targeted to avenge torture. By April 1995, 700 had been killed. Al-Jihad has had a role in most foreign terrorist attacks against the United States and its allies over the past 20 years. The group is most well known for its first, the 1981 assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat.
In August 1993, the same year as the bombing of the World Trade Center, al-Jihad attempted to assassinate Egyptian Interior Minister by firing on his motorcade and detonating a homemade bomb. The group also made an attempt that year against Prime Minister with an explosion which occurred about 500 yards from his home as his motorcade passed. A 15-year-old girl standing at a nearby bus stop was killed. EIJ issued a statement claiming the action was to avenge the recent death sentences. In 1992, Islamic Jihad activists murdered an author, Faraj Fodah, who had openly supported Israeli-Egyptian peace. The secular columnist in his last article had suggested that the militants were motivated by sexual frustration more than politics.
In March 1994 Egypt’s higher military Court passed death sentences in absentia that included Tharwat Salah Shehata, Yasser al-Sirri, and ‘Isam Muhammad ‘Abd-al-Rahman for the assassination attempt on Prime Minister Sedki on November 25, 1993. In 1994 al-Jihad militants were linked to two unsuccessful attempts to bomb the Israeli and U.S. embassies in Manila. In June 1995, the Vanguards of Conquest claimed responsibility for a failed assassination attempt to kill Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
In 1993-1994, hundreds of Cairo-area Vanguards of Conquest members were rounded up and prosecuted while Dr. Hamouda finished up his PhD in microbiology at Cairo Medical in the microbiology department where Heba Zawahiri taught. I asked him which of the defendants he knew but he did not respond.
In November 1995, an EIJ suicide car bombing of the Egyptian Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan killed 17 and injured 59. An Egyptian with Canadian citizenship, Ahmad Saeed Kadr (Khadr), was charged in connection with the bombing. Kadr worked as the regional director of Human Concern International, a Canadian relief agency in Peshawar, and was alleged to have moved money through the aid agency from Afghanistan to Pakistan to pay for the operation. In December 1995, the Vanguards of Conquest sent a communiqué warning Pakistan to stop extraditing militants to Egypt, or “it will pay a heavy price.” That month, Egyptian Security forces arrested 56 terrorists after being tipped off by an EIJ informer. The group was accused of planning to assassinate President Hosni Mubarak on 1995 using 550 pounds of explosives to blow up the President’s motorcade.
In November 1997 after the killing in Luxor, Egypt, of 58 tourists by Al Gamaa Al Islamiyaa, the Vanguards of Conquest warned that orders had “already been given for attacks on Americans and Zionists not only in Egypt but elsewhere.” In February 1998 Al Jihad was one of the founding signatories involved in the creation of the World Islamist Front for the Jihad against Jews and the Crusaders (World Islamist Front). The Front subsequently issued a fatwa calling for the killing of Americans worldwide and the expulsion of Americans from the holy land and Jews from Jerusalem. Egyptian Islamist sources declared that the release of the statement marked Al Zawahiri’s and Al Jihad’s return to the field of active terrorist groups.
In June 1998 Egyptian security authorities arrest seventeen members on charges of forming an Al Jihad cell in east Cairo. Resulting confessions revealed that Al Jihad was planning to assassinate a number of public figures and security officers. That month, Jihad members al-Najjar (head of Al Jihad in Albania), and Majed Mustapha were arrested in Albania, reportedly with the aid of the Central Intelligence Agency, and extradited to Egypt in late June 1998. An August 1998 Statement issued by the Information Office of the Jihad Group in Egypt vowed revenge on the United States for the extradition of three Al Jihad members from Albania to Egypt.
In September 1998, a number of senior EIJ and IG leaders in London were arrested, including the EIJ cell members who had faxed the claim of responsibility for the embassy bombings. In April 1999, after verdicts in the “Returnees from Albania,” the Vanguards of Conquest and Al Jihad issue separate threats of retaliation. Of the 107 accused, 87 defendants were found guilty, including Canadian Mahmoud Mahjoub. The day of the bombing, shortly after the explosions, EIJ military commander Mabruk called Canadian VOC member Jaballah and told him to call the London cell members and tell them he could be reached at Shehata’s residence. Shehata was Jaballah’s brother-in-law. The London cell members then issued a claim of responsibility for the blasts. That year, the group also planned an unsuccessful attack on the U.S. Embassy in Albania.
Throughout these years, an estimated 70 Egyptian militants were rendered by the US to Cairo prior to 9/11 and the anthrax mailings. The fact that targeted assassination was the modus operandi of the US-based islamists — and that the motivation was retaliation for the detention of senior leaders and to create leverage aimed at their release — was established by the first of a series of terrorist attacks in the US — the assassination of radical rabbi Meir Kahane by Egyptian Nosair. Nosair emigrated from Egypt in 1981. In his address book, Nosair had written the names of some Jewish officials, to include two judges who recently had extradited an Arab terrorist. Nosair’s job had been to protect the blind sheikh in the US. He was a friend of Ali Mohammed who stayed with him when he came to New York. The commentators who argued that Al Qaeda just goes for the “big bang” were overlooking the modus operandi of the Vanguards and what was known about Ayman’s biological program through “open source” materials.
In his March 2007 confession to a military tribunal, KSM admitted to having been involved in a plot to assassinate a number of former American presidents (including Jimmy Carter), Pope John Paul II and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. In December 2007, Benazir Bhutto was assassinated.
To suggest that Zawahiri and his colleagues do not use targeted assassination as their modus operandi — indeed, to not appreciate that it is the EIJ’s key modus operandi — always totally missed the mark.
You would think that those same “influential public figures” would want a more considered analysis of the threat — better informed by the documentary evidence… informed by the documentary evidence being withheld. Congressman Holt should ask GAO to probe the DOJ’s withholding of documents.
DXer said
http://www.stltoday.com/news/national/article_8878def2-71d6-5fa0-8605-ce006b7d5962.html
Cleric possible bin Laden successor
By STEWART M. POWELL • Houston Chronicle | Posted: Saturday, June 4, 2011 12:00 am | No Comments Posted
WASHINGTON • There is evidence that Anwar al-Awlaki, the American-born Muslim cleric in Yemen who has been linked to the Fort Hood, Texas, massacre and other plots in the U.S., is angling to succeed Osama bin Laden by inspiring more terrorist attacks against the U.S., Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said on Friday.
McCaul, a former federal prosecutor, said he has reached that conclusion from testimony by senior government officials before his House Homeland Security Committee oversight panel.
State Department counterterrorism official Shari Villarosa said al-Awlaki’s branch of al-Qaida “continues to demonstrate its growing ambitions and strong desire to carry out attacks outside the region.” The organization is the first al-Qaida affiliate “to make attacks against the United States homeland a central goal,” Villarosa said.
Jacquie Williams-Bridgers, a senior investigator with the Government Accountability Office, said the Yemen-based organization has vowed “revenge” against the United States since the assassination of bin Laden.
Steve Coll, another witness, said al-Awlaki has quickly become “a significant voice in English-medium discourse for al-Qaida.” Coll is head of the New America Foundation and author of “Ghost wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and bin Laden, from the Soviet invasion to September 10, 2001.”
Bruce Hoffman, a terrorism expert at Georgetown University, said the al-Qaida affiliate may have been responsible for recruiting, training and deploying between seven and 20 potential terrorists drawn from Europe or the U.S.
DXer said
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/may/31/pakistani-who-exposed-al-qaeda-cell-found-slain/
A Pakistani journalist who wrote last week about the suspected infiltration of Pakistan’s navy by al Qaeda terrorists was found dead Tuesday, two days after he went missing in Islamabad.
Syed Saleem Shahzads body was found almost 100 miles north of the Pakistani capital.His face had been battered, and he had a gunshot wound in his stomach, according to sources.
Mr. Shahzad was Pakistan bureau chief of Hong Kong-based Asia Times Online and author of “Inside al Qaeda and the Taliban: Beyond Bin Laden and 9/11.”
***
Mr. Hasan said Mr. Shahzad had earlier told Human Rights Watch he was afraid the ISI would kill him.
“The other day he visited our office and informed us that ISI had threatened him. He told us that if anything happened to him, we should inform the media about the situation and threats,” Mr. Hasan said.
Comment: It seems that to honor his memory is to read “Inside al Qaeda and the Taliban: Beyond Bin Laden and 9/11.” Also the lucid “Inside Jihad” by Dr. “Tawfiq” Hamid.
Infiltration has always been Dr. Ayman’s principal modus operandi.
DXer said
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistans-spy-agencies-are-suspected-of-ties-to-reporters-death/2011/05/31/AGhrMhFH_story.html
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Last week, a prominent Pakistani investigative reporter published an article alleging that al-Qaeda had infiltrated the Pakistan navy and carried out the recent attack on a naval air base. On Tuesday, the journalist’s body — his face severely beaten — was found 100 miles from his home in this capital city, two days after he disappeared.
Syed Saleem Shahzad’s killing was payback, other journalists and human rights activists said they believed — not from militants, but from Pakistan’s fearsome spy agencies. Shahzad had written before about their dealings with Islamist insurgents, and intelligence officers had warned him.
“I am forwarding this email to you for your record only if in case something happens to me or my family in future,” Shahzad, 40, wrote last October to the Pakistan representative of Human Rights Watch, sharing details of a meeting he had just had with officers from Inter-Services Intelligence, or ISI. Shahzad suggested that they had threatened him, an experience that Pakistani journalists, activists and politicians say is not uncommon.
But those threats rarely end in killing, and Shahzad’s death immediately sparked fresh criticism of Pakistan’s intelligence apparatus. The “agencies,” as they are known here, last month faced unusual public condemnation for their apparent failure to locate Osama bin Laden in a garrison city, as well as allegations that they had harbored him.
On Tuesday, the focus was on activities Pakistan’s spies are better known for domestically: punishing those who cross the powerful military, the main locus of power in a nation with a weak civilian government.
An ISI official denied that the agency was involved in Shahzad’s death. “Show us the proof. Otherwise, it’s totally absurd,” the official said.
Shahzad’s killing also renewed attention on the alleged crossover between militants and Pakistan’s security forces, some of which he outlined in his recent article for the Hong Kong-based Asia Times Online, for which he was the Pakistan bureau chief. According to Shahzad’s reporting, last week’s attack on a Karachi naval base was a response to the Pakistani navy’s detection of al-Qaeda cells within its ranks, and it followed failed discussions between the navy and al-Qaeda about the release of naval officers arrested on suspicions of links to the terrorist group.
On Monday, Pakistani media reported that a former navy commando had been detained for questioning in the attack.
U.S. intelligence analysts are skeptical that al-Qaeda has penetrated Pakistan’s armed forces. “There’s not likely to be an organized al-Qaeda cell within the Pakistan navy,” a U.S. official said.
But U.S. officials said that there is a long-standing concern over the presence of Islamic militants — what one official referred to as “onesies and twosies” — among Pakistan’s military branches. Pakistan’s leaders privately share this concern, U.S. officials said.
On the radar
The author of a new book on al-Qaeda and the Taliban, Shahzad was considered well connected to both the military establishment and militant groups. He persisted though the ISI had warned him several times about articles they “deemed detrimental to Pakistan’s national interests or image,” according to the Asia Times Online.
Comment: Hopefully, Pakistan will be able to solve the crime as they eventually did the Pearl kidnapping and murder.
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DXer said
Report: al Qaeda infiltrated Pakistani navy
By Philip Ewing Tuesday, May 31st, 2011 2:13 pm
Posted in International
Via Galrahn comes a disturbing report that adds a new dimension to the oft-discussed ties between the Pakistani military and al Qaeda. Short version: The al Qaeda fighters who attacked that Pakistani naval base earlier this month did so after the navy refused to release Pakistani sailors suspected of ties with the terror group, reported Syed Saleem Shahzad of the Asia Times. In fact, Pakistani navy commanders may even have been explicitly warned about the attack, which claimed at least 10 lives and destroyed two P-3 Orion patrol planes.
Wrote Shahzad:
The May 2 killing in Pakistan of Osama bin Laden spurred al-Qaeda groups into developing a consensus for the attack in Karachi, in part as revenge for the death of their leader and also to deal a blow to Pakistan’s surveillance capacity against the Indian navy. The deeper underlying motive, though, was a reaction to massive internal crackdowns on al-Qaeda affiliates within the navy …
Several weeks ago, naval intelligence traced an al-Qaeda cell operating inside several navy bases in Karachi, the country’s largest city and key port. “Islamic sentiments are common in the armed forces,” a senior navy official told Asia Times Online … “We never felt threatened by that. All armed forces around the world, whether American, British or Indian, take some inspiration from religion to motivate their cadre against the enemy…”
“Nonetheless, we observed an uneasy grouping on different naval bases in Karachi. While nobody can obstruct armed forces personnel for rendering religious rituals or studying Islam, the grouping [we observed] was against the discipline of the armed forces. That was the beginning of an intelligence operation in the navy to check for unscrupulous activities.”
The official explained the grouping was against the leadership of the armed forces and opposed to its nexus with the United States against Islamic militancy. When some messages were intercepted hinting at attacks on visiting American officials, intelligence had good reason to take action and after careful evaluation at least 10 people — mostly from the lower cadre — were arrested in a series of operations. “That was the beginning of huge trouble,” the official said.
Read more: http://www.dodbuzz.com/2011/05/31/report-al-qaeda-infiltrated-pakistani-navy/#ixzz1NzVzGAr2
DoDBuzz.com
DXer said
Newspaper: Pakistan’s Military Concerned About Infiltration
VOA News May 28, 2011
A major U.S. newspaper says top Pakistani military officials are increasingly concerned their ranks have been infiltrated by Islamists who are aiding militants in a campaign against the state.
The Washington Post reported late Friday those concerns have grown “especially acute” since U.S. commandos killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in a secret raid earlier this month in Pakistan.
The newspaper says the top Pakistani military commander, General Ashfaq Kayani, was “shaken” by the discovery of bin Laden near a prestigious military academy.
On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made an unannounced visit to Islamabad where she met with Pakistan’s president, prime minister and other top officials.
She said the U.S. has “absolutely” no reason to believe that anyone in the highest level of Pakistan’s government knew were bin Laden was. However, Clinton said Pakistani leaders were forthcoming in saying “somebody, somewhere ” was providing support to bin Laden and that Pakistan was conducting a probe.
The Washington Post reports the Pakistani military’s infiltration concerns were also fueled by an attack this week on a Karachi naval base by heavily armed insurgents. The newspaper says the attack is “widely believed to have required inside help.”
Comment: These issues are much more serious than people may want to think given Pakistan’s nuclear status.
DXer said
David Willman writes in Mirage Man:
“Mueller chose as the leader of the anthrax investigation Van A. Harp…”
“[One of two top supervisors] Agent Roth later recalled under oath, “I’m not sure we met with Van [Harp] in the first 90 days of the case.” (p. 147)
DXer said
David Willman in Mirage Man wrote:
“On August 23, 2001, the Central Intelligence Agency had alerted bureau headquarters to be on the lookout for two of those hijackers, Khalid al Mihdhar and Nawar al Hazmi, who the spy agency said were linked to bin Laden. Officials at FBI Headquarters had failed to rely their names to agents in the San Diego area, where the men had lived temporarily.
“They had their full names, they had all the information, but they didn’t disseminate ____ to the field,” recalled Steven Butler, who at the time was an FBI agent in San Diego. …
As September 11 demonstrated, there were ample grounds to doubt the bureau’s skills … in gathering, analyzing, and acting upon intelligence about potential threats.” (p. 145)
Comment:
9/11 was Exhibit A.
Amerithrax is Exhibit B.
DXer said
Did Lawrence Alexander, apparent architect of an Ivins Theory, have any experience in intelligence analysis at all?
DXer said
Bruce Ivins in Mirage Man writes: “Email from Bruce Ivins to Mara Linscott, September 26, 2001. Ivins’s statement “I just heard tonight that the Bin Laden terrorist for sure have anthrax and sarin gas” were buttressed by one media account. On that same date, the CBS Evening News reported that U.S. intelligence analysts ” reedited bin Laden with a rudimentary capability to produce both sarin gas and anthrax.” See “New Hints of Emerging US Military Plan for the War on Terrorism in Afghanistan,” CBS Evening News, September 26, 2001. (p. 378 n. 10)
DXer said
Pakistan’s top military officials are worried about militant collaborators in their ranks. May 17, 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/pakistani-military-worried-about-collaborators-in-its-ranks-officials-say/2011/05/27/AGgN1oCH_story.html?hpid=z1
Comment:
This has always been Dr. Ayman’s modus operandi. His mentor Qamari was in the Army. Dr. Ayman has always thought that recruiting from the government of the targeted regime is the easiest way to overturn or destroy it.
The failure of intelligence that Amerithrax represents is breathtaking.
DXer said
This document seized in Afghanistan pointed to infiltration of US biodefense. To what was the author referring?
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/aaa_kuwaiti_revised_horiz.jpg
DXer said
David Willman explains that it’s time for the confusion to give way to the facts.
And so let’s compare later today what David wrote in his book with the uploaded documents on the corresponding point — and ask that as an experienced investigative journalist, he addresses the facts (rather than merely the speculative “Ivins Theory”).
The web permits what some have called scientific journalism — it permits documents to be uploaded.
Dave Willman is encouraged to upload documents supporting his view that Dr. Ivins is guilty. (Or to link the documents already uploaded on particular points that he relies on in support).
For example, let’s start with the September 17, 2001 email from Bruce Ivins to Mara Linscott so as to establish the time it was sent. It bears on the timeline during the narrow window of mailing from 9/17 5 p.m. to 9/18 8 a.m.
He should upload a copy and if he doesn’t yet have it, he should get it from his contacts in the government.
Or the lab notes showing why Dr. Ivins was in the lab on the nights in question (that were withheld by the government until last week). Only some have been produced and now are uploaded. He should obtain the others still being withheld and upload them.
I share his enthusiasm as an experienced investigative reporter for focusing on the documentary evidence. Later today I will upload dozens of documents indicating that Dave is mistaken and encourage him to address the facts reflected by the uploaded and linked documents.
DXer said
I bought my copy at retail in the New York City area.
DXer said
David Willman writes in Mirage Man: “The specific nighttime hours that Bruce Ivins spent in his hot suite at USAMRIID were described in investigative documents compiled by the FBI. (p. 376, n. 4)
DXer said
Did they test for subtilis at the Kandahar Lab? Did they test for subtilis at Omar hospital? Did Sufaat have experience with subtilis? Did Aafia?
I don’t see any article about subtilis among the writings taken from Ayman Zawahiri’s reading (among those produced).
Selected Document References:
Darlow, HM, and Pride, NB. (1969). Serological diagnosis of anthrax. Lancet
ii(7617):430.
Doi, H, et al. (1996). Hepatitis C virus (HCV) subtype prevalence in Chiang Mai,
Thailand, and identification of novel subtypes of HCV major type 6. J. Clin. Microbiol.
34(3):569-574.
Green, DM, and Jamieson, WM. (1958). Anthrax and bone-meal fertilizer. Lancet ii:153-
154.
Hobbs, G, Roberts, TA, and Walker, PD. (1965). Some observations on OS variants of
Clostridium botulinum type E. J. Appl. Bacteriol. 28(1):147-152.
Mangold, T, and Goldberg, J. (1999). Plague Wars: The Terrifying Reality of Biological
Warfare. MacMillan, Great Britain.
Morris, EJ. (1955). A selective medium for Bacillus anthracis. J. Gen. Microbiol.
13:456-460.
Pearce, TW, and Powell, EO. (1951). A selective medium for Bacillus anthracis. J. Gen.
Microbiol. 5:387-390
Roberts, TA. (1965). Sporulation of Clostridium botulinum type E in different culture
media. J. Appl. Bacteriol 28(1):142-146.
Roberts, TA, and Ingram, M. (1965). The resistance of spores of Clostridium botulinum
type E to heat and radiation. J. Appl. Bacteriol. 28:125.
Semple, AB, and Hobday, TL. (1959). Control of anthrax: Suggestions based on survey
of imported hides. Lancet ii (3 October): 507-508
Stanley, JL, and Smith H (1961). Purification of factor I and recognition of a third factor
of the anthrax toxin. J. Gen. Microbiol. 26:49-66.
Thorne, CB, and Belton, FC. (1957). An agar-diffusion method for titrating Bacillus
anthracis immunizing antigen and its application to a study of antigen production. J. Gen.
Microbiol. 17:505-516.
Wang, CH, et al. (1996). Immune response to hepatitis A virus capsid proteins after
infection. J. Clin. Microbiol. 34(3):707-713.
Selected Supplementary References from Handwritten Notes Recovered on Site:
Ajl, SJ, Kadis, S, and Montie, TC. (1970) Microbial Toxins. Academic Press, New York.
Anderson, RM, and May, RM. (1991). Infectious Diseases of Humans: Dynamics and
Control. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Batty, I and Walker, PD. (1965). Colonial morphology and fluorescent labelled antibody
staining in the identification of species of the genus Clostridium. J. Appl. Bacteriol.
28:112.
Brachman, PS, Plotkin, SA, Bumford, FH, and Atchison, MM. (1960). An epidemic of
inhalation anthrax: The first in the twentieth century. II. Epidemiology. Am. J. Hyg. 72:6-
23.
Clarke, R. (1968). We All Fall Down: The Prospects of Biological and Chemical
Warfare. Penguin Books, London.
Hodgkiss, W, and Ordal, ZJ. (1966). The morphology of the spore of some strains of
Clostridium botulinum type E. J. Bacteriol. 91:2031-2036.
Keppie, J, Cocking, EC, Witt, K, and Smith, H. (1960). The chemical basis of the
virulence of Pasteurella pestis. III. An immunogenic product obtained from Past. pestis
that protects both guinea pigs and mice. Br. J. Exp. Pathol. 41:577-585.
Knisley, RF. (1966). Selective medium for Bacillus anthracis. J. Gen. Microbiol. 13:456.
Knisely, RF, Swaney, LM, and Friedlander, H. (1964). Selective media for the isolation
of Pasteurella pestis. J. Bacteriol. 88:491-496.
Miller, JK. Human anthrax in New York state. N.Z. Med. J. 61:2046-2053.
Murphy, S, Hay, A, and Rose, S. (1986). No Fire, No Thunder: The Threat of Chemical
and Biological Weapons. Pluto Press, London.
Proceedings of the Conference on Airborne Infection. (1961). Bacteriol. Rev. 25:173-
382.
Riemann, H. (1969). Botulism Types A, B, and F in Foodborne Infections and
Intoxications. Edited by H Rieman. Academic Press, New York.
Roberts, B. (1993). Biological Weapons: Weapons of the Future. Significant Issues
Series XV(1). Center for Strategic and International Studies. Washington, DC.
Rothschild, JH. (1964). Tomorrow’s Weapons. McGraw-Hill, New York.
Smith, H (1988). The development of studies on the determinants of bacterial
pathogenicity. J. Comp. Pathol. 98:253-73.
Walgate, R. (1990). Miracle of Menace? Biotechnology and the Third World. The Panas
Institute, London.
William, P, and Wallace, D. (1989). Unit 731: The Japanese Army’s Secret of Secrets.
Hodder and Stoughton, London.
World Health Organization (1970) Expert Committee on Plague, 4th Report. World
Health Org. Tech. Rep. Ser. (no. 447).
DXer said
So Saif Adel says London should be attacked first and a new tape talks (again) about “winds of change.”
DXer said
Before London is attacked, shouldn’t MI5, Les Baillie or Peter Turnbull disclose to the public the lab that Rauf Ahmad visited in which, he told Ayman Zawahiri, the targets were achieved?
DXer said
I published this summary analysis about 10 years ago — in September 2002. A similar analysis was published on Cryptome and is still there in the archives. Notice the reference to Ayman Zawahiri’s use of Red Crescent as his cover. Was it Ayman Zawahiri and KSM in the Saudi Red Crescent office when WTC plotter Abdul Yasin billed a call to the Red Crescent from the dorm room of subtilis expert Walied Samarrai? (There is a $2 million for Abdul Yasin’s capture.) (Subtilis is an anthrax surrogate and subtilis contaminated the first anthrax mailing; thus Dr. Samarrai would have been an expert to interview). Didn’t Dr. Samarrai call the number associated with KSM’s nephew, Ramzi Yousef, on Kensington Avenue, #4 throughout February 1993 leading up to the arrests in early March 1993. (see phone records). (See also the January 1993 accident report in which Ramzi Yousef, KSM’s nephew, lists it as his number). And didn’t Dr. Samarrai live in Piscataway, 3 miles from the mailbox where the anthrax was mailed?
Does Amerithrax represent the greatest intelligence failure in the history of the United States? I’ve written Dr. Samarrai (once years ago and then more recently) but haven’t heard back. I think Amerithrax needed experienced CIA intelligence analysts taking the lead — not profilers and postal inspectors. This country is and has been at war and faces an existential threat, notably from a threatened mass attack with anthrax. This is not a time to have discussion guided by the claimed confidence of investigators who can’t point to any evidence of the what, how or why of the crime but merely can restate that they are confident that they did not drive an innocent man to his death. There needs to be a Congressional probe BEFORE the next attack, not after. The good faith of the prosecutors and investigators can be credited. But this is no time for inside-the-beltway CYA to dominate. And this is no time for books that read like a prosecutor’s brief. David Willman should have sought under FOIA the contemporaneous documents that showed what Dr. Ivins was doing in the lab on the dates that the DOJ speculated that Dr. Ivins was making a dried powder. And not merely been fed a story and obtained a book contract in 2008.
AYMAN ZAWAHIRI’S AND AL QAEDA’S (EGYPTIAN ISLAMIC JIHAD’S)
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ANTHRAX MAILINGS
(September 1, 2002 rev.)
1. Many commentators have noted that the publicly known evidence in the Amerithrax investigation points to Al Qaeda.
National Journal, June 1, 2002
http://www.reason.com/rauch/060102.shtml
2. The FBI, for its part, reports that it is vigorously testing many alternative hypotheses. According to one apparently well-sourced news report, Hatfill is not the leading hypothesis. Newsday, by Laurie Garrett, July 23, 2002.
http://www.anthraxinvestigation.com/misc2.html – newsday1
3. In its on the record comments, the FBI has said that they do not know whether the perp is American or Foreign. NYT, June 22, 2002.
4. “Suspicions of foreign ties remain a matter of serious debate in Washington, not only in intelligence circles but in the White House and Congress. Representative Mike Pence, an Indiana Republican whose office was contaminated by traces of anthrax last fall, wrote a letter to Mr. Ashcroft on June 11 saying he was troubled by the F.B.I.’s “apparent lack of progress” and focus on domestic suspects to the exclusion of foreign sources.
In an interview, Mr. Pence said he learned from an F.B.I. briefing last week that investigators were having trouble scrutinizing possible foreign links because some countries were not cooperating. “They’re leaving no stone unturned on the domestic front,” he said. “But there are some stones they can’t flip overseas.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/23/national/23ANTH.html
5. The well-connected “Germs” author NYT journalist Judith Miller has said:
“I know for fact that the FBI is exploring every possible alternative from a domestic source, a single individual, to a militant group, even overseas threats, different countries, different scientists. Nothing has been ruled out.” Judith Miller, Fox News interview, dated
July 2, 2002.
6. By way of some relevant background, Bin Laden purchased anthrax a few years ago. San Francisco Chronicle, October 21, 2001. It was purchased from a company in North Korea. See Yousef Bodansky,”Bin Laden: The Man Who Declared War On America”, at 326. It was purchased through the Moro Front, an Indonesian radical group associated with Bin Laden. Dr. Ayman Zawahiri had a list of 100 targets in the US and Israel to use it against. Thus, the fact that Bin Laden had obtained and intended to use anhrax against US targets has been known for several years.
San Francisco Chronicle, October 21, 2001.
http://www.anthraxinvestigation.com/misc1.html – mir-1025
http://www.fas.org/irp/news/1999/03/990306-cairo.htm
Osama bought a batch for 10G
http://www.anthraxinvestigation.com/misc1.html – nyp-1024
BIN LADEN BOUGHT ANTHRAX, E-COLI AND SALMONELLA, AIDE TELLS COURT
http://www.anthraxinvestigation.com/misc1.html – mir-1025
http://www.medserv.no/article.php?sid=1022
(SF Chronicle article)
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/commentary/2001/nov/29/512686426.html
(describing Bodansky’s account)
7. In 1999, for example, the Federation of American Scientists (“FAS”) detailed the facts relating to Bin Laden’s purchase of anthrax in 1997 (relying on the translation of confessions and court testimony of Egyptian Islamic Jihad members) -
8. The FAS report explained that the pro-Bin Laden Jihad elements, according to the 1999 confessions, obtained anthrax and other pathogens — at the same time, they diversified the targets and did not limit them to the blowing up of installations. For example, this change included the targeting of individuals (e.g., kidnapping such as we saw recently on the CNN tapes). They launched joint action with other groups and organizations, both local groups and others operating outside their countries. They sought to reduce the ideological and jurisprudential differences between the various groups that were active in armed action. One radical islamist, Khalid, who had both US and Egyptian citizenship, trained in San Francisco to use a hang glider that was intended to be used in a prison break of jailed Islamic Jihad leaders. The organization’s leaders have not abandoned their ideas and are still working to establish a highly organized and well financed and planned armed group to achieve their objectives of seizing power in Egypt. The group has maintained this objective since the coup planned by Jihad in 1981 and despite the Egyptian Government’s success in cracking down on and eliminating the organization.
http://www.fas.org/irp/news/1999/03/990306-cairo.htm
9. (Upon the merger in 1998, the most senior planners in Al Qaeda relating to tactics and biological weapons were Egyptian Islamic Jihad, to include Ayman Zawahiri, Mohammed Atef, and Abu Khabab. Zawahiri is the real “brains” behind Al Qaeda, not Bin Laden.)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2001/1031/p6c1-wosc.html
10. Thus, while the question of the source of the anthrax in the Amerithrax mailings is problematic and addressed more fully below, Al Qaeda acquisition of anthrax for the purpose of using it as a weapon against the US has been known for a long time.
11. A recently released islamist has said that Zawahiri has been working to acquire and develop biological weapons since the early 1990s, and solicited the support of Russian and middle eastern scientists.
Cairo daily Al-Ahram, on page 28 of its issue dated
20 July 2002
See also generally:
“Al Qaeda Tried for Bio Weapons in Afghanistan”,
http://www.anthraxinvestigation.com/misc1.htm – rtr20717
12. Al Qaeda’s experimentation with its chemical weapons
is now featured on the nightly television news picturing a dog being put to death. Disturbing scenes of death show capability with chemical gas. August 19, 2002 Posted: 3:46 PM EDT (1946 GMT)
http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/08/19/terror.tape.chemical/
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/19/international/asia/19CHEM.html?ex=1030764387&ei=1&en=166122fb0a0e06fa
But that sort of testing has been known for a long time — even being reported by the National Enquirer on October 9, 2001.
13. There have been even more dramatic reports concerning an Al Qaeda facility in northern Iraq where there was testing of a chemical and biological weapons (such as ricin) on barnyard animals and a human. (It apparently is protected by a radical Kurdish group in an area not controlled by Saddam Hussein).
http://www.msnbc.com/news/796540.asp
http://www.foxnews.com/story/029336082100.html
14. ABCNEWS reported that there is evidence the terrorists tested ricin in water, as a powder and as an aerosol. They used it to kill donkeys and chickens, and at one point, the terrorists allegedly exposed a man to the toxin in an Iraqi market. They then followed him home and watched him die several days later.
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/DailyNews/iraq_mission_aborted020819.html
15. According to Stephen Younger, director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Al-Qaida’s interest in biological weapons has been focused mainly on anthrax — not ricin. Dow Jones newswires, July 18, 2002.
http://www.nando.net/special_reports/terrorism/retaliation/story/469984p-3757685c.html
See also US: Al Qaeda Tried for Bio Weapons in Afghanistan
http://www.anthraxinvestigation.com/misc1.html – rtr20717
16. Indeed, Dr. Ayman Zawahiri’s home in Kabul tested positive for anthrax.
http://www.nti.org/d_newswire/issues/newswires/2001_12_10.html #11
Zawahiri is the brains behind 9/11 (middle management aside).
http://www.pittsburglive.com/x/tribune-review/columnists/hiel/s_3028.html
It’s not ever been reported that the test was a false positive or that the anthrax was determined to be naturally occurring.
17. Formerly the head of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, Zawahiri assumed the #2 position after Bin Laden upon a merger of some of EIJ into Al Qaeda a few years ago. According to a fellow islamist leader, since the early 1990s, he’s made 15 efforts in developing his
biological and chemicals efforts program, to include hiring Russian and “Middle Eastern” experts.
Cairo daily Al-Ahram, on page 28 of its issue dated
20 July 2002
18. The Al Qaeda operations manual, the most recent version on CD-ROM, had a chapter on “Poisonous Letter.” As with the insertion of biologicals into food, the key was mass panic, not mass casualty.
http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/central/11/14/chemical.bio/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/audio_video/programmes/panorama/transcripts_28_10_01.txt
(remarks of Vice President Cheny on training and manuals relating to these kinds of substances)
19. For example, the Islamic Jihad or other islamist perp sent a dozen letter bombs to newspaper offices in New York City and Washington, D.C. in December 1996/January 1997.
The letter bombs were sent in 1997 from Alexandria, Egypt, to the London, New York and Washington offices of the newspaper Al Hayat. The paper, owned by Saudis, is the
leading international Arabic-language newspaper. Two people were injured when one bomb went off in London. bombs were also sent to the prison officials at the Kansas prison where the WTC bombers were being held in prison. The blind sheik the previous year had given an interview complaining of mistreatment by prison officials and asking that he be avenged.
See, e.g.,
http://www.spongobongo.com/her9936.htm
other authorities to follow in the next revision.
20. Al Qaeda is concerned with handling the PR in such a way as to develop and maintain the Arab hatred of the US, Israel etc. and that requires a delicate balance. Zawahiri divines from his religious texts that it is moral to kill American civilians on the grounds that
they stood silent as taxpayers while US-bought weapons were used on Palestinians. The al Qaeda shura (policy-making council), however, likely deems that Al Qaeda needs to choose the methods of attack carefully so as to gain the support of others. (Gassing the Kurds
ultimately was a PR debacle for Saddam once the world stopped looking the other way).
21. Al Qaeda hired scientists to work in their program. See details at Bodansky, page 326. They tried to hire scientists who were “clean” of terrorist connections. U.S. operatives in Afghanistan have discovered evidence indicating that one or more Russian scientists
were helping al-Qaeda develop anthrax. (Newsweek.)
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=533651240
“Evidence Indicates Al Qaeda Had Russian Help Developing Anthrax; Al-Zawahiri Believed Involved in Bin Laden’s Biological Weapons Program”
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgibin/micro_stories.pl?ACCT=617800&TICK=NEWS&STORY=/www/story/1209-2001/0001630088&EDATE=Dec+9,+2001
http://news.bbc.co.uk?hi/english/static/audio_video/programmes/panorama/transcripts/transcript_28_10_01.txt
(MANGOLD: The CIA calculates there are some 11,000 former Soviet biological warfare scientists still looking for work.”)
21. US News had a report of a reporter’s encounter with a Filipino carrying papers from Dr. Zawahiri (allowing free lodging) and bragging about his ability to manipulate anthrax.
Bravado–and blood–in Taliban territory, U.S. News & World Report, dated November 12, 2001
http://www.anthraxinvestigation.com/misc1.html – usn-1112
22. Now, a Malaysian, US-trained microbiologist, Yazid Sufaat, with links to Al Qaeda and the hijackers has been arrested in Malaysia. He was arrested after returning from Afghanistan and Pakistan. This is where they really need to “connect the dots.” Sufaat wired $35,000 to
Zacarias Moussaoui and met with two of the other hijackers. The US is negotiating for his extradition from Malaysia but Malaysia reportedly does not want to let him go. A biochemist, Sufaat graduated from Sacramento in 1987. He met with two of the hijackers who came to be based in New Jersey, including pilot Nawaf (Nawaq), who
lived in Ft. Lee with pilot Hani. Now it is being reported that he also appears to have met with pilot Ramzi.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/attack/2002/01/29/usat-malaysia.htm
http://www.atimes.com/se-asia/DB06Ae01.html
http://www.ummahnews.com/viewarticle.php?sid=2664
http://www.ummahnews.com/viewarticle.php?sid=3277
23. Yazid Sufaat owned a clinical pathology lab called Green Laboratory Medicine. that reportedly bought two tons of urea — used in fertilizer bombs — that has not been located.
24. 5 lab sites in Afghanistan tested positive for anthrax. See March 26 reports. Gen. Tommy Franks and Rumsfeld press conference. At one lab, a dryer, autoclave and centrifuge was found. Labs tested positive for ricin too.
http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/central/03/25/ret.afghanistan.anthrax/index.html
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/3/25/172348.shtml
25. Even before 9/11 satellite pictures confirmed what was known about the lab equipment for weaponizing biologicals. The same satellites showed it being moved shortly after 9/11.
26. If former Russian bioweaponeer Ken Alibek could make the product — and it was exceedingly pure — then there is little reason some other former Russian scientist could not have done the same. Russia is known to have Ames and Alibek says the product here was well within
the capability of a Russian anthrax bioweaponeers, though he does not think it was either an American or Russian product.
Alibek testimony: http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/intlrel/hfa76481.000/hfa76481_0f.htm
27. Leahy is head of the Senate appropriations panel in charge of aid to Egypt and Israel, which is the main beef of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad (and now al Qaeda). (That aid constitutes 20% of all foreign aid, and so it’s no small motivation). Daschle is head of the legislative body that approves those appropriations.
28. To understand why Leahy — a human rights advocate and liberal democrat — was targeted as a symbol, you need to know the background of the “Leahy Law” and the secret “rendering” of Egyptian Islamic Jihad (Al Qaeda) operatives to countries like Egypt, Jordan
and Algeria where they are allegedly tortured.
29. Dr. Ayman Zawahiri, head of Al Qaeda biological program — and whose former islamist confidantes say succeeded in a decades long quest to obtain and weaponize anthrax for use against US targets — has ferociously condemned the torture of Egyptian Islamic Jihad members
that he claims has continued to occur notwithstanding the 1998 “Leahy Law” (which permits continued appropriations to military and security units who conduct torture in the event of “extraordinary circumstances”).
30. “Egypt’s intelligence service has a reputation for being among the most formidable and ruthless in the Middle East, and several of those arrested in other countries have been sent to Egypt for interrogation or trial.
According to evidence gathered for a 1999 trial in Egypt of more than 100 defendants from the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, the intelligence agents regularly used torture to obtain confessions from suspected terrorists.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/world/2001/war_on_terror/investigation_on_terror/places_5.st
31. There is a video clip dealing with the rise of militant Islam in Egypt. And it features Ayman al-Zawahiri, the young medical student who helped establish the radical Egyptian Islamic Jihad in the 1970s; he is now one of Osama bin Laden’s top aides and on the FBI’s most wanted terrorist list for the September 11th attacks.
32. This video excerpt shows al-Zawahiri in the early 1980s ferociously condemning torture and other human rights violations by the Egyptian government – from the jail cell he is sharing with dozens of other Egyptian militants.”
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/terrorism/etc/video.html
33. In 1999, “Mr. Zayat, the lawyer, said the defendants were “certainly” tortured by Egyptian intelligence agents before they confessed to being Jihad members and gave up the names of their contacts. …
There have also been reports that the police in Albania used torture to extract confessions from suspects arrested there.
Descriptions of Mr. bin Laden’s role also came from one defendant, Ahmed Salama Mabrouk, who spoke to reporters in the courtroom. In a boastful interview warning the United States of the network’s power,
Mr. Mabrouk said Mr. bin Laden had purchased chemical and biological weapons in Eastern Europe.”
34. The Leahy Law requires the termination of appropriations to military or security unit who are guilty of human rights violations (such as torture of prisoners).
“Leahy Law”
http://www.ciponline.org/facts/leahy.htm
35. After 9/11, our national security interests have been
deemed to override such concern for human rights. (We just recently made noises about an Egyptian-American academic who has been imprisoned, but Al Qaeda/Egyptian Islamic Jihad operatives have not merited our concern).
9/11: “US Bypasses Law in Fight Against Terrorism, Washington Post,
dated March 12, 2002,
http://www.globalpolicy.org/wtc/analysis/2002/0312usa.htm
Fighting An Unholy War, dated August 18, 2002
http://www.washtimes.com/world/20020818-80280508.htm
36. Dr. Ayman Zawahiri’s associates and even his brother have been spirited off by jet planes to destinations where interrogations might be more fruitful.
37. Why doesn’t the “Leahy Law” prohibit the appropriations to the military and security units guilty of torture? Didn’t Denzel Washington’s speech in the movie “Siege” give you goosebumps (where Bruce Willis, as the General, murdered the subject being interrogated) (go rent it, Denzel has a great speech at the end about how our values are tested at our most critical hour)
LA Times article, dated August 27, 2002 concerning human rights abuses in Pakistan involving security unit assisting the FBI
.
http://www.iht.com/articles/68837.html
38. This US-government financed torture served as the symbolic justification for Ayman Zawahiri targetting Leahy and Daschle after 9/11 with the anthrax.
The radical islamists had used similar symbolic targets in in 1997 sending letter bombs to newspaper offices (Al Hayat) in New York City and Washington D.C. and the federal prison holding a key WTC (1993) bomb conspirator.
Why waste time reading Bill Gertz’ book about intelligence failures (and faulty analysis) when it is the PRESENT intelligence failure that demands attention.
39. Under the Leahy Law, a waiver may be granted under extraordinary conditions — and if 9/11 does not constitute “extraordinary circumstances”, it’s not clear what would. Thus, the law is not being violated (so long as waivers are granted as necessary) — though our
human rights principles certainly are being put to a severe test.
40. By way of example, one associate of Zawahiri was secretly grabbed in Indonesia or Malaysia and turned over to Egypt. A Yemeni microbiologist was seized in Pakistan in October and turned over to Jordan. And at the time Ayman Zawahiri was getting his biological weapons program in full swing, his brother Mohamed was secretly
rendered to Egyptian security forces. Egyptian security forces deny they have him. Dr. Zawahiri doesn’t credit their denial.
41. Zawahiri himself reportedly was tortured while imprisoned after the assassination of Anwar Sadat.
Saga of Dr. Zawahri Sheds Light On the Roots of al Qaeda Terror (reprinting of Wall Street Journal article)
http://www.insteadof.com/TerrorAttack/p69.htm
42. These appropriations to these same military and security units have prevented Al Qaeda/Egyptian Islamic Jihad/Zawahiri from achieving their aims. The people who suggest that Al Qaeda / Egyptian Islamic Jihad/
Zawahiri would have had no motivation to send weaponized anthrax to Senators Daschle and Leahy — because they are liberal — are mistaken. The main goal of Dr. Zawahiri, who is a religious extremist and murderous fanatic, is to topple President Mubarak. He views the US Aid as the chief obstacle. He’s indifferent to our labels of
conservative and liberal. This US Aid to the security forces is his chief complaint against the United States and has been Al Qaeda’s main focus since 1998.
http://www.fas.org/irp/news/1999/03/990306-cairo.htm
He also has a score to settle.
43. Note that in their search of AMI (National Enquirer), the FBI also should check what those papers have said about the earlier WTC perps and the blind sheik. As discussed above, the Egyptian Islamic Jihad or other islamist sent letter bombs to newspapers in DC and New York (and London), as well as several to officials at the prison where the key WTC perps were being held. The blind sheik had complained bitterly that he was being mistreated by prison officials (though he was in a different prison) and asked that he be avenged. He did this in an interview in the centrist paper Al Hayat, which is owned by a Saudi prince (integrally part of the Saudi government OBL wants to oust). Experts concluded that Islamic Jihad or other islamist perp did not claim responsibility in order to maximize the confusion and terror. The letters weren’t intended to inflict mass casualty — they were meant as a threat. Given that they involved a thin piece of semtex with an electronic trigger (as part of a christmas card), they were pretty scary resulting in a $2 million reward offer (and maybe $5 million under the rewards for justice program).
“Five Years Ago today,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 3, 2002.
“Al Hayat target of islamic fundamentalists”, Newsday (New York, NY).
“Man in Trade Center Plot Complains of Treatment,” The New York Times
March 27, 1997.
“Eighth Letter Bomb Is Found in U.S., and F.B.I. Takes Inquiry to Egypt.” The New York Times, dated January 4, 1997.
44. Paul De Armond in “Insider Diversion: profiling the anthrax attacks” (June 2002 rev.) at http://www.public good.us/says:
“It has been stated that the tactics of enclosing warnings in the letters shows the attacker did not intend to commit murder. This is nonsense. The death of Robert Stevens was public knowledge before the Senate letters were mailed. The attacker knew full well that he was placing large numbers of people in deadly peril and acknowledged this in the text of the Senate letters. As Brian Jenkins has famously noted, “terrorists want a lot of people watching, not a lot of people dead.” The letter tactics were chosen to maximize the scope of terrorism, not to limit or avoid casualties.”
45. The Kabul office of Pakistani scientist Sultan Bashiru-din Mehmood (see GSN, Nov. 28) also contained documents indicating an interest in anthrax (Newsweek, Dec. 9).
46. US-hating (Taliban) Mullahs oversaw the anthrax vaccine laboratory, much to the consternation of the scientist in charge of the lab. Source: New York Post, dated Nov. 19, 2001; St. Louis Observe & Dispatch; The Mirror (U.K). Half of the lab staff went missing several months before 9/11.
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=maurice_clayton&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&scoring=d&selm=maurice_clayton-552E91.10254623072002@news
47. Zawahiri travelled widely in his attempts to obtain and weaponize anthrax and other terroristic missions — he travelled to Malaysia, Iraq, Russia and United States.
48. For example, Zawahiri travelled to the US in 1991, 1995 and possibly 1998 under an alias. He went to California, New York and DC (and apparently Texas at one point). He sometimes was accompanied by a California obstetrician (a former classmate who denies knowing who
Zawahiri was) and a former US Army sergeant, Ali Mohamed.
http://classic.sacbee.com/news/special/attacks/1025_01.html
“Sergeant Served U.S. Army and bin Laden, Showing Failings in FBI’s Terror Policing”
http://www.anthraxinvestigation.com/misc1.html – wsj-1126
49. An Arab newspaper, Al Hayat, is reporting that Zawahiri also came in 1998 apparently (the report concerned an alleged meeting with the LAX shooter). I don’t know if the report is true. Zawahiri had been
in Russia (See WSJ, July 2, 2002.) And in 1998 he went to Baghdad. Before Russia he had been to Malaysia and China.
50. Ali Mohamed, the former US Army sergeant, pled guilty to the 1998 embassy bombings and is in a Manhattan jail. Before working for the US Army, Mohamed was with the Egyptian Army.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_982000/982069.stm
51. Mohamed also was secretly in the Egyptian Islamic Jihad. (He was in Cairo in 1980; during that period Zawahiri travelled between Afghanistan and Cairo
recruiting.)
http://www.s-t.com/daily/11-01/11-14-01/a01wn017.htm
52. On his travels in the US, Zawahiri purported to represent the Red Crescent (he first went to Afghanistan in their employ in 1979).
53. In 1992, Zawahiri went to Baghdad.
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/3/18/74151.shtml
http://www.iraqfoundation.org/news/2002/cmar/19_extremist.html
54. In 1998, Zawahiri went to Baghdad. Recent Christian Science Monitor article
http://www.cfr.org/public/resource.cgi?pub!4244
http://209.50.252.70/p_en/news/archives/00000203.htm
55. Spertzel, the former UN inspector in Iraq, says that the product here was well within Iraq’s capability. And others agree that Iraq would likely have Ames — having first sought it in 1988 (and security being so lax at so many laboratories that had it).
Spertzel states:
“Iraq certainly knows how to produce 100 percent pure spores. That is a technique that they developed … which is capable of giving them the kind of concentrations that we are seeing in the Daschle letter.”
http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/intlrel/hfa76481.000/hfa76481_0f.htm
56. Given that we know where Saddam lives, and he is a survivalist first and foremost, certainly he would want to maintain deniability in the event he had assisted in the anthrax mailing. That is, the strain associated with the US Army would be used, rather than strain (Vollum)
or chemical additive (bentonite) associated with Iraq.
52. In 1998 or so, Zawahiri created some computer 51cuments describing his project code-named “Curdled Milk.” One aspect apparently involved a pesticide/nerve agent that used a chemical to increase absorption (which was tested on rabbits and dogs). The insecticide / nerve agent is named in a feature in the Sunday Times.
Something chloride.
See also
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=578&e=1&cid=578&u=/nm/20020820/ts_nm/iraq_usa_chemicals_dc_1
(describing experiments on barnyard animals and one human)
57. Zawahiri was assisted by Medhat Morsin Omar (alias Abu Khabab). An Egyptian chemical engineer, he ran the camp named Abu Khabab. His whereabouts apparently are still unknown. He was in charge of Al Qaeda’s program of Weapons of Mass Destruction.
http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/central/11/14/chemical.bio/
58. Al Qaeda is most well-known for the testing of cyanide gas or other poison on dogs. Before the videotapes obtained by CNN, the testing had been observed by satellite, which observed the carcasses.
http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/08/18/terror.tape.main/
59. Ft. Detrick sent its Ames strain to places like Porton Down in Great Britain and Suffield in Canada. We can reasonably assume, though, that Ft. Detrick did not send it directly to any company in North Korea. Presently, there is no information in the public record
as to the strain that Bin Laden purchased in 1997. Informed analysis would require that at least that much be determined.
60. The genetic analysis of Dr. Keim, from Northern Arizona, had promised to remove all doubt potentially as to the source of the anthrax. Now hopes may be fading according to recent press reports. Timothy D. Read, whose work at the Institute for Genetic Research in
Rockville, Md. provided the FBI with its first genetic roadmap for anthrax, said it’s disappointing that the differences identified by his team did not pinpoint the source. AP, dated June 19, 2002
61. The research is reported in “Science” which can be viewed by nonsubscribers through a link at the TIGR website. The analysis is directed to showing the similarity between various samples of Ames.
According to many reports, Ames was widely distributed to universities throughout the world. But even under the most conservative estimate (such as made by Dr. Hatch
Rosenberg), the strain was sent to 15-20 labs. The “Science” article does not address the testing done with
respect to isolates from the vast majority of labs where Ames was known to be. 15 labs remained to be tested.
(Note that the date of the lab isolate presumed by some to be Ft. Detrick is not given and so no inferences can be drawn even from what was reported.
See also
http://edwardjayepstein.com/2002question/anthraxattacks.htm
62. One expert explains:
“Knowing that this strain was originally isolated in the U.S. has absolutely nothing to do with where the weapon may have been prepared because, as I tried to make the point, these strains move around. A post doc in somebody’s laboratory could have taken this strain to another lab and it could have been taken overseas and it could have ended up absolutely anywhere. Tiny quantities of anthrax that you couldn’t see, that you couldn’t detect in an inventory can be used to propagate as much as you want. So that’s just not, in fact, very helpful.” Dr. C.J. Peters, August 30, 2002 on PBS’ “Searching for Clues”
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/textonly/focus1.html
63. Working on the assumption that the anthrax purchased from the North Korea company was not Ames — but was perhaps Vollum 1B or some other strain — then the question relevant to an Al Qaeda theory is
what access to the US Army strain might have been accomplished by someone with 1) a multi millionaire (Bin Laden) backing his play, and 2) a lot of Muslims who believe in his Islamist cause (toppling the
Egyptian and Saudi regimes).
64. The possible sources include Russia,Iraq, the US Army, or a facility that obtained Ames from the US Army or other researcher who had it.
65. The technique to weaponize the anthrax was not the one used by the US Army.
The Washington Post, April 09, 2002, Tuesday, Final Edition
66. With Hanssen, the senior FBI agent, we saw what could be accomplished with some money.
67. Although the FBI profile has been widely criticized in recent editorials in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, New York Post, Washington Post, The Economist, The Weekly Standard, and other newspapers and magazines, it is more flexible than its critics imagine.
Commentary of Robert Bartley in WSJ critical of profile
http://www.anthraxinvestigation.com/wsj.html – wsj20603
Al Qaeda is still a bioterrorism threat.
http://www.anthraxinvestigation.com/wsj.html – wsj-0326
So What’s the FBI Doing About Anthrax Attacks?
http://www.anthraxinvestigation.com/misc1.html – newsmax1
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/8/13/183200.shtml
http://edwardjayepstein.com/archived/anthrax.htm
68. Its description of a loner with a grudge permits a variety of motivations, including sympathy with the Islamist cause. See the FBI’s Amerithrax webpage for the profile. And it is worth noting that the FBI even uses the word “domestic” to refer to Americans sympathetic with an extremist islamic cause. See October 28, 2001,
Washington Post. As Attorney General Aschroft has said, an “either-or matrix” is not useful. (Translation: sometimes reality is more complicated than a general profile can usefully capture).
http://old.smh.com.au/news/0110/20/review/review12.html
In any event, FBI profiler Fitzgerald can be forgiven his flawed profile in early October because much of this information about Al Qaeda’s efforts in regard to anthrax is newly obtained information. The FBI’s stock profile concerning anthrax was a lone,
unstable individual — basically they just reached into the filing cabinet. (Source: 1998 proceeding)
See NYPost, April 29, 2002 for the important Weekly Standard article.
69. They don’t come more expert than Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center with respect to domestic homegroup extremist groups (ala McVeigh, the late William Pierce etc.) He has never departed from his view noted last October — that such a group was not responsible.
http://www.anthraxinvestigation.com/misc2.html – atlanta1
70. Even assuming the hijacker Ahmed did in fact have cutaneous anthrax, which appears to have been the case, no anthrax has been found where the 19 hijackers visited in the US — but the FBI is closely following developments in Afghanistan relating to Al Qaeda.
Source: USA Today interactive chat with agent-in-charge Van Harp. Obviously, it doesn’t behoove the FBI to blame the hijackers because there was some perp very much alive on 9/18 and 10/9 who mailed the letters. (The July 22 TIME magazine article explains that the FBI tested the crash sites where the planes came down and found no traces
of anthrax).
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/8/15/172539.shtml
71. Atta and Zacarias’s reported repeated inquiries about cropdusters may have related to anthrax. The modifications Atta described are very similar to what Barbara Rosenberg described would be necessary in September 2001.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,35031,00.html
Face to face with Atta
http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/DailyNews/WNT_ross-bryant_transcript1.html
72. Ahmad Rosan, an Al Qaeda terrorist caught in the United States revealed that Bin Laden was personally interested in using low flying aircraft to dispense biological agents.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/audio_video/programmes/panorama/transcripts/transcript_28_10_01.txt
73. Indeed, some investigators on the team prosecuting Zacarias Moussouai think he wasn’t expected to take part in the 9/11 plan as such, but was expected instead to use a cropduster. (Though French intelligence thinks there was a plan to hijack an international airliner.}
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/07/18/attack/main515576.shtml
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20020806/4335854s.htm
74. It’s also unknown what role Atta’s roommate, pilot Ramzi, would have played if he had succeeded on one of his four attempts to get into the country.
75. OTOH, perhaps the cropdusters related to the nerve agent. Others reasonably suggest it related to use as a flying fuel bomb. Others dispute that there were ever
such inquiries. Whatever the reason for the inquiries — assuming for the sake of argument they occurred — perhaps they ran out of pilots — between Zacarias M’s arrest and Ramzi’s inability to get into the
country (Ramzi was Atta’s former roommate in Germany). Anthrax likely can be delivered using the nozzle set-up that some USDA official says Atta imagined (as explained by Secretary Cohen some years ago).
Indeed, Secretary Cohen’s remarks were found in the Kabul home with papers relating to the distribution of aerial delivery of anthrax.
76. According to some reports, Atta met in Prague with an Iraqi agent and obtained the anthrax from Iraq then. The report first connecting such an alleged meeting with anthrax was in the German newspaper Bild. Then in the Times of London. But Bild sources it to Israeli intelligence, a biased source. Some Czech officials (with a recent notable exception) still seem to say the meetings happened — or at least that there’s no reason for them to retract earlier statements. The reported transfer of a vial of anthrax, however, is totally unproven (regardless whether the story traces back to Israeli intelligence or instead traces back to Egyptian
intelligence).
77. In contrast to what most of the senior Czech officials have said, the Prague Post recently quoted the director general of the Czech foreign intelligence service UZSI (Office of Foreign Relations and Information), Frantisek Bublan, denying the much-touted meeting
between Mohamed Atta, one of the 9/11 hijackers, and an Iraqi agent.
78. But never let it be said the White House has been consistent on the issue either:
White House says Sept. 11 skyjacker had met Iraqi agent By Bob Drogin, Paul Richter and Doyle McManus
Los Angeles Times, dated August 2, 2002
Until the Czechs produce a photo, we’re left with a mush of conflicting and inconclusive reports:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/134505405_iraq02.html
http://computerbytesman.com/911/praguefaq.htm
Suspected hijacker may have transported anthrax,
October 25, 2001
http://computerbytesman.com/911/praguefaq.htm
http://www.anthraxinvestigation.com/misc1.html – afp-1025
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/8/16/160324.shtml
79. The bottom-line, though, is that Al Qaeda did not need Iraq to commit this crime and it’s more prudent to limit the conclusion to Al Qaeda’s involvement absent additional evidence, particularly when going to war is at issue.
http://old.smh.com.au/news/0110/20/review/review12.html
(expert Bodansky pointing out that Al Qaeda doesn’t need Iraq) 0000
see
http:// / http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=13859
All The Facts About Iraq
By Phyllis Bennis, AlterNet
August 15, 2002
80. Mr. Pearl, a former Assistant Secretary of Defense, says there is “powerful evidence” showing Iraq is giving biological and chemical weapons to Al Qaeda — but other than a passing mention of a defector’s report of 30 facilities, we’re not made privy to any evidence.
Pearle warns: ‘Powerful’ evidence of Iraq-Al Qaida WMD ties WORLD TRIBUNE.COM, July 15, 2002
81. There are some very detailed reports by defectors concerning Al Qaeda’s coordination with Saddam on biological and chemical weapons beginning in 1998, but those reports all depend on the reliability of
those defectors.
82. And of course the presence of facilities doesn’t tell you much. Implied threats that biological weapons will be used in defense are to be expected given that we’ve said we were going to attack them (based on our worst fears). Can’t we all just get along?
83. One of the hijackers, Ahmed, went to the ER with what now appears to have been cutaneous anthrax, according to the doctor who treated him and other experts. He had just arrived in the country. His exposure perhaps related to a camp he had been in Afghanistan. He said he got the blackened gash-like lesion when he bumped his leg on a
suitcase two months earlier. Two months earlier he had been in camp (according a videotape he later made (his last Will and Testament). And it’s known that at least 5 camps tested positive for anthrax. There are some spiders that on very rare occasions bite and cause such a blackened eschar (and no doubt some other diseases) that lead to similar sores. Personally, though, I credit it was cutaneous anthrax considering all the circumstances. It’s a matter of probabilities.
84. O’Toole and Inglesby, who head the Hopkins Center for Civilian Biodefense Strategies, concluded that Tsonas’s diagnosis that Ahmed had cutaneous anthrax was “the most probable and coherent interpretation of the data available.” Where is the conflicting
expert medical opinion? There is none. The FBI merely says no anthrax was found where the hijackers were. And you wouldn’t expect the cutaneous anthrax to relate to spores in the US because he had just arrived the day before. Thus, the uncontradicted expert medical
testimony is that one of the hijackers had cutaneous anthrax. The Washington Post, dated March 29, 2002, Friday, Pg. A03
85. In an interview, Dr. O’Toole said that after consulting with additional medical experts on the Alhaznawi case, she was “more persuaded than ever” that the diagnosis of cutaneous anthrax was correct. The New York Times Company, dated March 23, 2002.
86. As the result of this expert testiomny, “[n]ow, “nobody is dismissing” the theory that the hijackers were involved, a senior intelligence official told The New York Times following revelations that one of the hijackers, Ahmed Alhaznawi, had consulted an
emergency room doctor in June about an ugly wound on his leg.” Agence France Presse, dated March 23, 2002.
For a good statement of the theory, see
“Does Al Qaeda Have Anthrax? Better Assume So”
National Journal, June 1, 2002
http://www.reason.com/rauch/060102.shtml
87. The fellow in charge of the investigation, Agent Van Harp, has said in a USA Today interactive chat and elsewhere that the speculation about foot-dragging has no basis. As explained in a WSJ, dated March 26, based on information provided by the FBI, the reason
for the delay has related to the many scientific, safety and security issues implicated. He emphatically denied the suggestion by Dr. Hatch Rosenberg that it was a CIA experiment gone awry. See Dr. Rosenberg’s interview with the BBC. He said the view is uninformed and misinformed. He said all the names of the folks submitted by Dr.
Hatch Rosenberg and her colleagues had been investigated and didn’t pan out. The recent hoopla has not resulted in anything that leads one to a different conclusion. Given the flak Agent Van Harp is now taking over the Ruby Ridge probe, it’s clear that he’s not going to allow a situation to develop again where it can be said he conducted
an incomplete investigation. And let’s not forget the role of the Senate Staffers in all of this (that Dr. R met with). (Thus, the recent show for the press inconnection with the investigation of Hatfill).
88. Text of Hatfill’s first Statement:
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20020811_850.html
89. Commentary critical of the Rosenberg conjecture and associated press about Hatfill:
Robert Bartley, The Hatfill Case: Essential Background, WSJ
http://www.anthraxinvestigation.com/wsj.html – wsj20819
US News 8/26/02
Circle of suspicion: Is the ‘evidence’ against an undeclared anthrax suspect just coincidences and a colorful past?
http://www.sacbee.com/content/opinion/story/3988444p-5014046c.html
http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/rbartley/?id=110002154
http://www.washtimes.com/commentary/20020819-3440682.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28897-2002Aug16.html
http://www.anthraxinvestigation.com/USNews.html – us020826
http://geocities.com/nstix/strangeloveiii.html
http://insightmag.com/main.cfm?include=detail&storyid=258774
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/8/18/94733.shtml
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/001/470lfsdb.asp
http://www.fredoneverything.net/Hatfill.html
http://ToogoodReports.com/column/general/stix/20020818-fss.htm
http://www.sunspot.net/bal-op.charen19aug19.story
90. Most of all, Rosenberg’s speculation that the FBI has determined that an American made the mailing or has excluded a foreign connection
is simply mistaken.
91. Current status of investigation:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101020729-322623,00.html
http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/ny-usanth24x2796578jul23.story?coll=ny-news-print
92. If I had to bet as between the Tell and Rosenberg views, I think the smart money is on Tell. Certainly, far more is at stake if he is right.
93. One unresolved question relates to how the anthrax was transmitted to AMI in Florida. Phil Brennan, a conservative commentator who knew the two victims there, is confident that the letter transmitting the anthrax was sent before 9/11. It consisted he says of a goofy love letter to Jennifer Lopez, and included an open
soap packet and a cheap Star of David charm. He says Stevens held it up to his face and then put it down on the keyboard (where traces of anthrax were found). Personally, I think he very well may be right, which would clinch Al Qaeda’s responsibility. Note that the publisher’s wife was the real estate broker who rented to two of the
hijackers. Small world, eh?
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/8/14/165224.shtml
FBI IGNORED LETTER IN ANTHRAX PROBE
http://english.pravda.ru/main/2002/08/15/34656_.html
94. The FBI is investigating the coverage by the AMI tabloids — to include the National Enquirer, Sun and Globe — to see if there was anything about their coverage — that would have contributed to the motivation behind the mailing of the anthrax.
http://www.gopbi.com/partners/pbpost/epaper/editions/today/news_d3d6cafab4ed918a1000.html
By way of some historical background, when Zawahiri’s Egyptian Islamic Jihad or related egyptian islamist group sent letter bombs to newspaper offices in Washington, D.C. and NYC in 1997 — to include the Parole Officer and other prison officials where a key WTC bomber was imprisoned — it was because Al Hayat didn’t support the radical islamist cause and because the WTC prisoners had complained of mistreatment). And so why did the Islamic Jihad target AMI? Just a dispute with a landlady over a security deposit? Are they just representative of American press? Or had Bat Boy given Bin Laden the finger prior to 9/18?
Although tabloid coverage of Bin Laden doesn’t involve Elvis or Bigfoot yet it has been characteristically outrageous. In the Oct. 2 edition of the Globe, for example, the cover featured a photo of Bin Laden with the headline, “Wanted! Dead or Alive,” with “or Alive”
scratched out.
Inside, the tabloid claimed that Bin Laden “suffers from a medical condition that left him with underdeveloped sex organs, and his hatred of the United States began when an American girl laughed at his problem.”
The Globe’s Oct. 9 issue wasn’t much kinder. Under the headline “Bin Laden the Butcher Exposed,” it branded him an opium addict and said he flouts the Koran by condoning gang rape and boozing among his men. The newest issue reports on “Bin Laden’s Sick Diary of Torture.”
In similar fashion, the wacky Weekly World News plastered its Oct. 9 cover with Bin Laden’s head as viewed through rifle crosshairs. “Need We Say More?” asked the headline.
Inside, columnist Ed Anger penned a “Dear Osama” letter (purportedly sent to Bin Laden via the Afghanistan consulate in New York), challenging him to a one-on-one duel.
“Let’s settle this thing once and for all, just me and you. … If
you’re too yellow to come out of your hole, dung breath, we can handle
that, too. American warplanes will hit you like 20,000 bats out of hell.
… It’ll make Armageddon look like a Sunday School picnic, you
cave-dwelling, knuckle-dragging lunatic. I’ll be waiting to hear from
you.”
By comparison, the National Enquirer, the Weekly World News’ sister publication, seems almost tame with such headlines as “I Dated a Terrorist” and “Now You Can Wipe the Smile Off Bin Laden’s Face,” an article about toilet paper emblazoned with Bin Laden’s mug.
The Oct. 9 Enquirer also carried a personal message from Pecker endorsing President Bush’s statement that “the enemy of America is not our many Muslim friends.”
American Media’s other publications have focused mostly on Nostradamus predictions (“America Will Win by Spring!”) and how Sept. 11 has affected celebrities.
“Regis’ son escapes Pentagon inferno” screamed a headline in the National Examiner. “First Lady’s Secret Pact With Oprah … to help president in war against terrorist cowards,” offered the Star.
Also in the Star was an “exclusive report” in which Rudy Boesch, the 73-year-old ex-Navy SEAL who competed on CBS’ “Survivor,” was chomping at the bit to tangle with Bin Laden.
“Scum like that don’t deserve to live,” he reportedly said. “Give me a couple of minutes with him, and we won’t need no invasion.”
Then again, Survivor Rudy might be too late. The Oct. 16 edition of the Weekly World News reports that Bat Boy, a half-human, half-bat who is a tabloid staple, escaped from a Chicago hospital to help combat terrorism.
Whether Bat Boy can help restore American Media’s sales figures remains unclear. Pre-anthrax, the tabloids had a combined weekly circulation of 4.6 million on newsstands and 300,000 from subscribers (two of whom were among the Sept. 11 hijackers, according to the Miami Herald).
Anyone care to report on the coverage between 9/11 and 9/18 and save the FBI some time? More significantly, what coverage did they give the blind sheik and the WTC bombers?
The folks in Trenton who were arrested on the Amtrak train, who had boxcutters, no ID, multiple passport photos, a large sum of money, conflicting accounts of what they were doing, etc., had an apartment with 1995 cover stories about biological weapons and numerous editorials posted on their wall.
http://www.gopbi.com/partners/pbpost/epaper/editions/today/news_d3d6cafab4ed918a1000.html
They are still being detained. Although from India, they were devout muslims who were married to Pakistani women and there families were originally from Pakistan.
95. The key expert evidence on this thus far relates to the New England Journal of Medicine where Stevens’ doctor concludes that the letter, mailed pre-9/11, but opened 9/19 and resulting in symptoms appear 9/30, evidenced an incubation period consistent with inhalational
anthrax. (And he refers to the 1979 accidental release in Russia). Dr. Henry Niman, who has posted on the internet, on the other hand, he has looked at what
he views as “very clean data” and concludes that the incubation period is inconsistent with the short time periods involved with the other instances of inhalational anthrax. The jury will have to remain out unless and until there is more information on the letter that
transmitted the anthrax to AMI. The FBI now has gone back to AMI.
96. One potential lead reported in the press concerns $100,000 piece of equipment bought by someone from Pakistan who had been involved in a check kiting scheme.
Let me commend the Tell article to you again, and people with some spare time should consider whether there is a connection between Ayman Zawahiri and biochemist Yazid Sufaat and/or Yaziid Sufaat and the Syed Athar Abbas discussed in Tell’s article. Also the question
whether there is one Syed Athar Abbas in the US or two.
Guilty Plea in Fraud Case But Feds fear Pakistani’s purpose for buying food mixer, Parascandola, NEWSDAY, dated July 15, 2002
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/001/470lfsdb.asp
97. I don’t know of any expert testimony to contradict the statement by the highest relevant expert at the DOD that the equipment used to make powdered milk could be used to make the anthrax. Air Force Journal, May 2002.
98. The reported “confirmed cases” in Karachi, Pakistan also bear investigation. I don’t know of any expert or press report taking the position that the letters at the main branch of Jang, Habib International and Dell Computer were confirmed to be false positives.
dawn.com (reporting on November 12, 2001 news conference)
99. In the anthrax mailings, Zawahiri appears to have accomplished the attack on the US “structure” he intended. With the planes, he struck the US trade dominance (World Trade Center) and its military might (Pentagon). If you credit Zubaydah, he was intending to strike the White House with the plane that went down in Pennsylvania.
100. With the anthrax he appears to have rounded out the field that he imagines provides support to Israel — the legislative branch and media. In addition to the Senate majority leader, anthrax was mailed to the position symbolic of the 50 billion in aid that has been given
to Israel since 1947 (and the equally substantial aid that has been keeping Mubarak in power in Egypt and the islamists out of power).
101. Indeed, Vice President Cheney and his staff knew to take a Cipro on 9/11, a full week before the first anthrax letter was mailed. The White House knew Al Qaeda had anthrax and that Zawahiri was on record
intending to use against US targets.
http://www.judicialwatch.org/1967.shtml
102. The recent spokesperson talking about how Al Qaeda had a right to kill 4 million and had the right to use biological weapons needs to be factored into the bureaucratic reckoning here. The potential
downside of not discovering the perpetrator is far greater if that turns out to be the motivation.
Federal advisers say U.S. unprepared for biological attack By LAURA MECKLER, Associated Press – (Published August 27, 2002)
http://www.sacbee.com/24hour/nation/v-print/story/514341p-4084202c.html
DXer said
http://www.hstoday.us/briefings/today-s-news-analysis/single-article/runge-stresses-threat-of-anthrax-attack/884d7a733196efe8671368ac9c823ca5.html
Chief medical officer calls for greater awareness
By: Mickey McCarter
07/23/2008
Al Qaeda continues to plot terror attacks that would include biological agents, and the terror group has focused specifically on the use of anthrax as a weapon, the chief medical officer at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told a congressional panel during a field hearing in Rhode Island Tuesday.
“Given the challenges we face in assessing current terrorist capabilities and identifying plots, it is unlikely that we will receive actionable or specific warning of an imminent biological attack. Furthermore, many of these deadly biological agents, including anthrax, are readily available in nature, relatively easy to procure, culture, and weaponize,” Jeffrey Runge, assistant secretary of Homeland Security for Health Affairs, told the House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology.
Runge, who reminded congressmen he would step down from his post in early August, said many legitimate research programs around the globe use anthrax, making it difficult for the United States to gain intelligence on where terror threats using the biological agent may emerge.
Al Qaeda was known to have at least one biological weapons facility for the production of anthrax itself in Afghanistan, but US armed forces eventually destroyed it, according to sources. In 2002, Al Qaeda announced it intended to kill up to 10 million Americans using weapons of mass destruction, such as biological agents.
“A coordinated attack on multiple targets would come much closer in magnitude to our enemy’s goal. Because of this, we see the threat of an aerosolized anthrax attack as our number one bioterrorism concern, and it is that threat which we vigorously plan, invest and intend to defeat,” Runge stated.
A biological attack also would be extremely difficult to detect initially, the chief medical officer remarked, noting it could be days before US authorities recognize the full extent of an attack and ensuing infections.
To boost the chances of detecting an attack, DHS has been advocating for the inclusion of health capabilities in state and local information fusion centers. DHS also continues to refine the technology in its BioWatch program, which uses pathogen detectors to warn of the presence of airborne contaminants in urban areas. The DHS Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate is working on the next generation of the detectors, Runge said.
Meanwhile, DHS is setting up the National Biosurveillance Integration Center to serve as a clearinghouse of data on biological threats from other federal agencies and various organizations around the nation.
DXer said
Bin Laden raid intel yields leads on al Qaeda No. 2 al Zawahiri
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503543_162-20060554-503543.html
DXer said
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/opinion/columnists/110503/zawahiri-osama-bin-laden-al-qaeda
Zawahiri: portrait of bin Laden’s likely successor
Analysis: What is known so far about Zawahiri is nothing short of bone-chilling.
Charles M. Sennott
May 4, 2011 06:23
And what is known so far about Zawahiri is nothing short of bone-chilling. He is a cold, efficient operator who does not have bin Laden’s ability to inspire. He is described as arrogant and egotistical and does not have the perceived piety that many supporters see in bin Laden.
But the clear goal he has been actively pursuing is to carry out an attack on America using a Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) or, as a so-called “dirty bomb” is often referred to, a Weapon of Mass Effect (WME).
Based on interviews with a half dozen counterterrorism officials and experts with deep knowledge of Zawahiri, a portrait emerges of a leader who has for at least three years been quietly and effectively building the groundwork — theological and scientific — for Al Qaeda to complete an attack using WMD.
In 2008, Zawahiri wrote a book which presented his own theological grounding for the deployment of a nuclear weapon in America, and Al Qaeda’s sense of the religious justification for killing as many people as possible.
The book is a glimpse inside the religious fervor of a leader who is in many ways more ambitious than bin Laden was in trying to produce a “spectacular” terrorist event that will exceed the death and destruction caused on Sept. 11.
Rolf Mowatt-Larssen was the former head of the CIA’s WMD and terrorism efforts. He has focused on Zawahiri and specifically Zawahiri’s intention to lead Al Qaeda to explode a crude nuclear device often referred to as a “dirty bomb.”
“He is more operational than Osama bin Laden and the belief is that he would be personally directing the action in attempting to deliver WMD or the next spectacular,” said Mowatt-Larrsen, who is now a Senior Fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.
Michael Scheur, who headed the CIA’s bin Laden unit from 1996 to 1999 and is the author of a new book on bin Laden, says that Zawahiri has some flaws which will increasingly become apparent and which could serve to create divisions in Al Qaeda.
“He’s not a man I think who can lead the organization over the longterm. He’s a very avuncular fellow, very sharp-edged, very much an Egyptian who lets other people know that the Egyptians are an ancient culture and that kind of thing. So he’s kind of an abrasive man,” said Scheuer.
That’s a perception that is shared by those who know Zawahiri personally, such as Montasser el-Zayat, an Egyptian lawyer.
El-Zayat’s former clients include Zawahiri and a long list of other Egyptian Islamic militants who were routinely rounded up and tortured in the 1980s and 1990s under the now-toppled regime of Hosni Mubarak.
El-Zayat wrote a short book that is not widely published, entitled “Amyan al-Zawahiri as I Knew Him.” In the book, he is deeply critical of Zawahiri and plays up his ruthless and stubborn side.
In a recent conversation in Egypt, el-Zayat said of Zawahiri: “He is arrogant. He always thinks he’s right … And in the end that is his weakness.”
In the 1980s and 1990s, Zawahiri was focused locally on the regime of Mubarak and on orchestrating plans to carry out terrorist attacks that would cripple the tourism industry in Egypt — essentially, he was focused on doing anything possible to take down the Egyptian government.
But around 1993, Zawahiri began to join forces with bin Laden in Sudan at a time when bin Laden was encouraging local Islamic militants to come together to direct their ire, not against the tryany of U.S.-backed regimes, but against America itself.
Bin Laden re-defined the struggle for old-school Islamic militants like Zawahiri and recast it as a “jihad,” or “holy war,” against America. Zawahiri has been an eager advocate of the ideology ever since.
But he has also sought to take the mission to a more apocalyptic level than bin Laden by carrying out an attack with WMD. That right now is the greatest fear of the national security team working to secure his capture.
As one senior national security official put it, “There’s an hour glass running and we need to use the new information we have to track him down.”
DXer said
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2011/0505/Ayman-al-Zawahiri-How-will-he-shape-Al-Qaeda/%28page%29/2
Zawahiri – pedantic, irascible, and given to fueling obscure ideological conflicts within jihadi ranks – is seen as a poor substitute.
Bin Laden’s public speech was measured, friendly, and he managed to wrap himself in a saintly aura that many Muslims responded to. Zawahiri generally comes off as an angry, droning crank, and so gets little traction among any but the already converted.
***
Wherever Zawahiri has gone he’s fed squabbling within the ranks. He fought with Abdullah Azzam, a hugely influential anti-Soviet fighter and theologian in the late 1980s over how “expansive” the global jihad should be.
Mr. Azzam believed it should be narrowly focused on lands where infidels were directly oppressing Muslims (in his view). Zawahiri wanted to not only fight the US, but all Muslim governments that cooperated with the US.
Zawahiri also urged the adoption of “takfir,” a practice by which Muslims one doesn’t agree with are declared to be apostates, and thus fair targets for the jihad. Militants like Azzam, who was assassinated in unclear circumstances in Peshawar in 1989, saw this is not only religiously unjustifiable but tactically stupid, a recipe for endless atomization and division.
More recently Zawahiri has locked horns with Sayyed Imam al-Sharif, his predecessor as head of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad who is serving a life sentence in Egypt.
In 2008, Mr. Sharif wrote that Zawahiri “is only good at fleeing, inciting, collecting donations, and talking to the media.” Zawahiri shot back online that Sharif, as a prisoner, was a stooge of US and Egyptian intelligence.
The whole exchange fed online debate in militant forums about Al Qaeda’s practice of targeting civilians, including large numbers of Muslim civilians, in countries like Iraq, that was on the whole unfavorable to Zawahiri.
DXer said
http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2011/04/from_the_gitmo_files_al_qaeda.php
From the new Gitmo files: Al Qaeda and anthrax
By Thomas JoscelynApril 25, 2011 12:25 AM
Abdu Ali Sharqawi. Image from the JTF-GTMO Detainee Assessment.
Wikileaks has begun releasing hundreds of documents on Guantanamo detainees. Major news organizations such as The New York Times and NPR have begun reporting on them. The documents are assessments of individual detainees written by analysts working for JTF-GTMO. A careful reading of the assessments released thus far demonstrates how difficult the intelligence game can be, especially when working with human sources who have significant incentives to avoid being truthful.
Analysts sometimes get tidbits that they can’t confirm, too. On that note, I would point to this passage from an assessment written for top al Qaeda facilitator Abdu Ali Sharqawi (footnotes and detainee reference numbers omitted, emphasis added):
According to Ayman Saeed Abdullah Batarfi…[Sharqawi] was one of two main al-Qaida facilitators in Pakistan, the other being Omar al-Hadrami. Al-Hadrami was in charge of operations in Lahore, while detainee ran operations in Karachi. (Analyst Note: Al-Hadrami was in charge of facilitation operations in Lahore, PK. Al-Hadrami also had knowledge of the individuals suspected of being responsible for the 2001 anthrax attacks in the United States, and al-Hadrami provided information about the attacks to [Sharqawi].)
I’ve heard from US intelligence officials previously that they have received information from al Qaeda detainees concerning the 2001 anthrax attacks. But they have stressed that they cannot confirm the information — it is fragmentary and they are missing some important pieces.
Moreover, the FBI is convinced that Dr. Bruce Ivins executed the attacks alone. The Bureau came to this conclusion after the most expensive and labor-intensive investigation in its history.
I’m not about to argue that al Qaeda was really responsible. So with that rather large grain of salt, let’s examine the passage above, detailing the al Qaeda roles played by each personality mentioned.
First, as mentioned, the passage comes from a JTF-GTMO assessment of Abdu Ali Sharqawi. Also known as “Riyadh the Facilitator,” Sharqawi sat at the crossroads of al Qaeda’s operations, including the 9/11 attacks, because he was tasked with moving money and recruits around the world. Sharqawi was loyal to Osama bin Laden for years, and al Qaeda’s CEO trusted him to take care of sensitive tasks, including recruiting bin Laden’s bodyguards.
According to this memo, it appears that Sharqawi relayed a secondhand report from another al Qaeda operative, Omar al Hadrami, who was a major al Qaeda operative in Lahore. It was al Hadrami who “had knowledge of the individuals suspected of being responsible for the 2001 anthrax attacks in the United States” and “provided information about the attacks to” Sharqawi.
In the first line of the passage excerpted above, former Gitmo detainee Ayman Saeed Abdullah Batarfi is mentioned as identifying al Hadrami and Sharqawi as the “two main al-Qaida facilitators” in Pakistan. Interestingly, Batarfi has his own ties to al Qaeda’s anthrax program. [See LWJ report, Yemeni detainee at Gitmo to be freed.]
Batarfi conceded during his hearings at Gitmo that he purchased $5,000 worth of medical equipment (including blood testing devices) for a “Malaysian microbiologist.” That individual is Yazid Sufaat, who was in charge of al Qaeda’s pre-9/11 anthrax program. [See LWJ report, Al Qaeda's anthrax scientist.]
So where does this leave us? We can’t say — this is all entirely speculative. But someone thought it was worthwhile to include a summary of Sharqawi’s statements with respect to the anthrax attacks in his July 2008 assessment.
Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2011/04/from_the_gitmo_files_al_qaeda.php#ixzz1KWmomLxk
DXer said
As I recall, James interviewed Batarfi at Gitmo.
http://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2010/11/23/seminar-update-james-van-de-velde-consultant-on-terrorism-has-been-added-to-the-panel-of-the-anthrax-mailings-investigation-seminar-on-monday-november-29-at-100-pm/
DXer said
I have uploaded but kept unlisted his YouTube video here.
I have known and liked James for many years and we went out to dinner in Georgetown in November with Lew and his wife and others.
DXer said
See also
Bin Laden interviewer to speak at UVa
By Daily Progress Staff Reports
Published: March 30, 2011
A national intelligence official and former broadcast journalist who interviewed Osama bin Laden in 1998 will discuss insider threat topics during a speech Sunday.
John Miller, the deputy director of national intelligence for analytic transformation and technology in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, will discuss anthrax, WikiLeaks and more during the 4 p.m. talk in the Dome Room at the University of Virginia Rotunda.
The event, which is called “We Have Met the Enemy and He is Us: New Perspectives on Insider Threat,” is free and open to the public.
DXer said
http://www.virginia.edu/uvatoday/newsRelease.php?id=14633
U.Va. Talk Will Focus on ‘Insider Threats’ to Insider Threat.” The talk is sponsored by the U.Va.-based Critical Incident Analysis Group.
Miller’s talk will address the Expert Behavioral Analysis Panel’s recent report on the mailed anthrax attacks that occurred in the wake of the 9/11 attacks in 2001. The Critical Incident Analysis Group’s executive director, Gregory Saathoff, a U.Va. associate professor of psychiatry and neurobehavioral sciences, served as that panel’s chairman. The group’s co-chair, Christopher Holstege, a U.Va. associate professor of emergency medicine, also served on the nine-member panel.
DXer said
FBI Assistant Director, John Miller in defending the FBI’s conclusions in August 2008 said:
“I don’t think it’s helpful to respond to piecemeal judgments by individuals who are not informed about the case or the evidence,”FBI Assistant Director John Miller said yesterday.
Comment: I’ve read the 3500 pages produced by the FBI and the 9600 pages produced by the NAS. Has former FBI Assistant Director John Miller?
Does he know whose initials are on the April 2002 submission? (No). (Or does he just know the assertions in the Amerithrax Investigative Summary unsupported by any cite to the record).
Does he know the time of the September 17, 2001 email from Bruce Ivins to Mara Linscott? (No)
Has he seen the lab notebook pages on September 28, 29, 30, October 1 and October 2? (No).
How can anyone consider themselves informed on the facts of the case if they haven’t seen the contemporaneous notes made by Dr. Ivins on the dates the investigators speculate he was powderizing anthrax?
Does John Miller know who was working alone in Building 1412 on the dry aerosol work?
He should inform himself on those matters and encourage the FBI to comply with FOIA.
Then everyone will be more likely to be on the same page.
Dr. Saathoof similarly has not seen the lab notebook pages September 28, 29, 30, October 1 and October 2. He and Ronald Schouten should have withheld a professional opinion on the subject until they were given those contemporaneous notes and the other material documents that the FBI has not yet produced yet.
Old Atlantic said
Sounds like the same pre 9/11 thinking rules at the FBI when it comes to the anthrax attacks.
DXer said
Mark F. Giuliano explains the FBI’s use of fusion cells.
The Post 9/11 FBI:
The Bureau’s Response to Evolving Threats
Mark F. Giuliano, Assistant Director, FBI Counterterrorism Division
April 14, 2011
Statement for the Record
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Stein Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence
***
Current CT Threat
I’d like to take a few minutes to talk about the current state of the terrorism threat, the FBI’s responsibility
in neutralizing this threat, and the critical efforts we are undertaking with the Intelligence Community and
law enforcement partners. I hope this will leave you with a better understanding of the FBI’s role in
countering terrorism, its commitment to disrupting individual and group plots, and its efforts to better
collect and analyze intelligence to help us better understand and mitigate the terrorism threat.
First, let me characterize the current threat environment as we see it and the challenges we face in
understanding and getting in front of the threat. I do not think this nation has ever faced a more fluid, more
dynamic, or more complex terrorism threat. We are seeing an increase in the sources of terrorism, a wider
array of terrorism targets, a greater cooperation among terrorist groups, and an evolution in terrorist tactics
and communication methodology. The long-term planning undertaken by senior core al-Qa’ida leaders
which led to the 9/11 attacks is much more difficult for them to attain in today’s environment. It is replaced
with somewhat less sophisticated, quick-hitting strikes that can be just as lethal but which take less funding,
fewer operatives, less training, and less timing to execute.
I would like to discuss four dynamic terrorism threats. These by no means are the only threats we face, but
these are the threats I will be focusing on today. First, al-Qa’ida and its various affiliates; second,
homegrown violent extremists; third, domestic terrorism; and finally I will touch briefly on the changing
world climate.
Al-Qa’ida
Core al-Qa’ida continues to present a high threat to our national security as they have both the intent and
capability to attack the homeland. They remain committed to attacking the United States in high-profile
attacks, but the disruption efforts of the U.S. government, in particular the work done by our DOD and
CIA personnel, have taken their toll. This has created an environment which makes training, moving funds,
and communicating very difficult. While experiencing challenges in its ability to directly conduct terrorist
attacks, core AQ is sharing financial resources, training, tactics, operational expertise, recruits, and
operatives with other like-minded groups.
While core AQ remains a serious threat, I believe the most serious threat to the homeland today emanates
from members of AQAP. AQAP leaders such as Anwar Aulaqi and Samir Khan have published articles on
the internet detailing their intent to strike the United States. Several key AQAP figures were born or
educated in the United States and understand our culture, our limitations, our security protocols, and our
vulnerabilities. They use this understanding to develop and refine new tactics and techniques to defeat our
security measures and attack us. AQAP also understands and expertly exploits social media to share their
knowledge with others of similar mindsets. They realize the importance and value of reaching Englishspeaking
audiences and are using the group’s marketing skills to inspire individuals to attack within the
homeland. In many cases they are attempting to provide them with the knowledge to do so, without having
to travel or train abroad.
The two most recent AQAP attacks demonstrate the complexity and diversity of the threat. AQAP claimed
credit for both the December 2009 attempted bombing of Northwest Flight 253 and the October 2010
attempted bombings of air cargo flights bound for the United States from Yemen. In each instance, AQAP
was able to recruit a small group of individuals committed to attacking the United States and whose
backgrounds were less likely to trigger security scrutiny. Additionally, AQAP claimed a significant victory
for each attack due to both the fear they created and the economic impact expended by the United States
and others to screen passengers and packages compared to the small expenditure on their part.
Homegrown Violent Extremism
The homegrown violent extremist threat is one of the serious terrorism threats we face inside the homeland
outside of al-Qa’ida and its affiliates. Homegrown violent extremism is very difficult to define. It is a rapidly
evolving threat with characteristics that are constantly changing due to external experiences and
motivational factors. We have seen the HVE threat manifest itself in several forms.
First, we have seen individuals inside the United States become radicalized and motivated to conduct
attacks against the homeland. These individuals can be as diverse as U.S.-born citizens, naturalized U.S.
citizens, foreign students, green card holders, or illegal immigrants, but the commonality is their desire to
strike inside the United States. Let me give you a few examples.
• In September 2009, a 20-year-old Jordanian student named Hosam Maher Smadi was arrested
and charged with attempting to place a vehicle bomb outside of a 60-story building in downtown
Dallas.
• In November 2009, U.S. Army Major and U.S. citizen Nidal Hasan walked into the Deployment
Center at Fort Hood, Texas, where he shot and killed 13 DOD employees and wounded 32
others.
• In October 2010, a Pakistani American named Farooque Ahmed was arrested by the FBI for
allegedly plotting to bomb a subway station in the Washington, D.C., Metro system. This week,
Ahmed pled guilty to material support to terrorism charges and was sentenced to 23 years
imprisonment.
• In November 2010, a 19-year-old Somali student named Mohamed Osman Mohamud was
arrested for allegedly attempting to detonate what he believed was a car bomb during a Christmas
tree-lighting ceremony in Portland, Oregon.
• In December 2010, a 21-year-old American of Nicaraguan descent named Antonio Martinez was
arrested for allegedly plotting to bomb a military recruiting center in Catonsville, Maryland.
• In February 2011, a 20-year-old Saudi student named Khalid Aldawsari was arrested for allegedly
building a bomb to be used in terrorist attacks against several targets, including the Texas home
of former President George W. Bush.
Second, we have seen U.S. citizens become radicalized in the United States and travel or attempt to travel
overseas to obtain training and return to the United States or to join and fight with groups overseas.
• In 2009, Najibullah Zazi and associates traveled to Pakistan and receive training from AQ before
returning to the United States and plotting to use a weapon of mass destruction in a plot to blow
up commuter trains.
• In late 2009, a group of five young American men originally from Northern Virginia traveled to
Pakistan, where they were detained and sentenced to 10 years in prison in Pakistan on terrorismrelated
charges.
• In May 2010, Faizal Shahzad attempted to bomb Times Square in New York City. Shahzad
traveled to Pakistan and received training from Tehrik-e-Taliban in Pakistan (TTP) before
returning to the U.S. to conduct a terrorist attack.
• In July 2010, Virginia native Zachary Chesser was arrested by the FBI while attempting to travel
to Somalia, where he intended to join the terrorist organization al-Shabaab as a foreign fighter.
• Since 2006, more than 12 U.S. citizens have been killed in Somalia while fighting with al-
Shabaab.
Lastly, we have seen U.S. citizens become radicalized and use the internet to further their radicalization,
contribute to the radicalization of others, or provide services to facilitate internet radicalization. Whereas
the internet was previously used to spread propaganda, it is now used in recruiting, radicalizing, training,
and inciting terrorism. Thousands of extremist websites promote violence to a worldwide audience
predisposed to the extremist message, and more of these websites and U.S. citizens are involved in internet
radicalization.
• Key AQAP figures and U.S. citizens Anwar Aulaqi and Samir Khan have an unlimited reach to
those around the world and help oversee AQAP’s production of Inspire magazine.
• Pennsylvania-based Emerson Begholly was a self-radicalized internet extremist who provided
translation services for extremist web forums.
• We have seen internet radicalization in individuals as young as 14 years old.
What makes these HVE subjects most dangerous is they demonstrated the willingness to take overt,
operational steps as well as the ability to procure the materials necessary to carry out their terrorist actions.
Finally, and most importantly, they demonstrated the resolve to act.
Domestic Terrorism
While much of the media attention is focused on international terrorism, the FBI continues to maintain a
robust effort against domestic terrorism.
The domestic terrorism movement continues to remain active, and several recent domestic terrorism
incidents demonstrate the scope of the threat.
• In March 2010, nine members of the Michigan-based Hutaree Militia were indicted for their
alleged involvement in a plot to kill law enforcement officers.
• In January 2011, a pipe bomb was discovered at a Martin Luther King Day parade in Spokane,
Washington, and a subject has been arrested by the FBI’s JTTF.
• In February 2011, three subjects were arrested on weapons and firearms charges in relation to
alleged domestic terrorist activity in Fairbanks, Alaska.
We have all seen the devastation wrought by individuals intent on attacking their own communities for
political ends. It has been nearly 16 years since the Oklahoma City bombing—in fact, next Tuesday marks
the anniversary of that attack—but there are many of us in this room who remember the details of that
horrific day, and its lasting impact.
Changing World Climate
The fast-changing worldwide political climate also presents a new and challenging CT threat. As events
unfold around the world, we must determine if these events translate into a potential threat to the
homeland and, if so, how this threat will manifest itself.
The governments of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen have drastically changed in the last 6 months, and
these changes have impacted our approach to combating terrorism with our overseas partners.
Many of these governments were long-term dictatorial regimes with established counterterrorism track
records. They are now led by transitional or interim governments, military regimes, or democratic alliances
with no established record on counterterrorism efforts. Al-Qa’ida thrives in such conditions and countries
of weak governance and political instability—countries in which governments may be sympathetic to their
campaign of violence.
FBI Response to the Threat
Now that I’ve laid out the current terrorism threat environment, let me take a few minutes to talk about
how the FBI is responding to this broad and diverse terrorism threat. We are taking an evolutionary
approach in three key areas: improved intelligence strategy, interagency partnerships and information
sharing, and better use of limited resources.
We have undergone a fundamental change to our business model and are currently undergoing a paradigm
shift in the way we collect and use intelligence.
We have transformed and continue to transform from a reactive “investigative led” model to a proactive
“intelligence led” one where intelligence drives our investigative strategies, enhances our understanding of
terrorism threats, and increases our ability to address and mitigate these threats. Within the
Counterterrorism Division, we have implemented a “Fusion Cell” concept wherein we take a target-centric
approach to the threat by combining FBI and Intelligence Community tactical analysis, strategic analysis,
and operational capabilities to identify and mitigate the priority threats. We use the intelligence generated
from these Fusion Cells to strategically select targets posing the greatest threat.
Through these Fusion Cells, we have increased our ability to develop a holistic understanding of the threat
from all angles by increasing human source development and penetration, enhancing our awareness of the
domain in which these terrorists operate, and better positioning ourselves to know and understand the gaps
in our knowledge of the CT threat.
We are strategically allocating our limited resources to target the greatest threat with a high impact
approach. By doing so, we are balancing the fine line between disrupting a single subject and continuing to
collect against the subject to gain a greater understanding of the threat and potential network.
In addition to changing our fundamental business approach, we are also enhancing our interagency,
public/private industry, and law enforcement partnerships.
Through our Joint Terrorism Task Force partnerships, we are able to exponentially multiply the resources
combating the global CT threat. There are more than 100 JTTFs across the country. Each one enhances
interagency cooperation, coordination, and communication while expanding our intelligence base. We are
providing personnel, equipment, and training to state and local fusion centers who serve as a focal point for
federal, state, and local information sharing. We have developed a cadre of skilled analysts, which now
make up Field Intelligence Groups housed in all 56 FBI Field Offices.
More than 60 Legal Attache offices around the world have helped the FBI strengthen relationships with
our international partners while expanding our global outreach in combating the terrorism threat. In the
ever-changing global environment I spoke of earlier, these relationships built by our Legal Attache offices
have been instrumental in our CT efforts abroad.
We collaborate and share subject matter and analytic expertise with foreign partners to identify global
extremist networks. Upon request, we provide technical and forensic expertise to foreign governments to aid
in their crime scene investigations.
The partnerships we have developed with business, private industry, and the general public have paid great
dividends for us. We spend a great deal of time and effort to educate these partners on the indicators of
terrorist activity, and the tips generated from these partners have already paid huge dividends, as was seen in
the Texas case of Aldawsari, where a tip from a chemical company helped accelerate the disruption.
We have developed the eGuardian system to better communicate with state and local law enforcement.
This system is a two-way system on reporting and sharing threat information. E-Guardian makes the FBI’s
terrorist threat and suspicious activity reporting readily available to state, local, and tribal partners while
pushing out threat reporting added by local law enforcement partners to a nationwide audience.
We have increased our collaboration with NCTC, CIA, NSA, and DHS to better share intelligence and
related information. In addition, we have worked with DHS to shorten the time period for approval and
dissemination of Joint Intelligence Bulletins and are working on ways to make them more useful to our state
and local law enforcement partners.
Another key element in our effort to combat the terrorism threat is the better use of resources. Since 9/11,
the FBI has significantly increased the resources targeting the terrorism threat.
We have doubled the number of Agents and tripled the number of Intelligence Analysts working the
counterterrorism threat.
We have tripled the number of JTTFs nationwide and experienced a 500% increase in the number of FBI,
federal, state, and local resources assigned to JTTFs.
Despite the exponential increase in these resources in the decade since 9/11, we still must make the best use
of limited resources. Our strategic targeting approach enables us to use our limited resources against the
greatest CT threat.
We leverage the resources and abilities of our state and local partners. In every disruption I noted earlier, it
was the combination of local, state, and federal officers/agents and resources that make up the JTTFs that
led to the disruptions and arrests. I cannot stress enough the benefit of this daily collaboration around the
country. If we can neutralize a domestic CT threat by applying state or local criminal charges, we do it. We
utilize unique skill sets and language abilities possessed by our JTTF Task Force Officers to combat the
greater CT threat.
We also leverage the resources of our Intelligence Community partners. We share our intelligence with our
Department of Defense partners to help neutralize overseas threats and similarly use our Intelligence
Community partners to increase the collection and exploitation against overseas CT threats.
Conclusion
As you can see, the CT threat is a complex and evolving threat, so we must be equally flexible in our
approach if we are to be successful in countering it.
Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to come down here today. It’s been my honor and privilege
to speak to you today. I’ll be glad to take any questions you have.
DXer said
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-03-165
Combating Terrorism: Interagency Framework and Agency Programs to Address the Overseas Threat
GAO-03-165 May 23, 2003
Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 274 pages) Accessible Text
Summary
Coordination of federal programs to combat terrorism overseas became even more critical as a result of the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. In response to these attacks, the federal government has taken unprecedented political, diplomatic, legal, law enforcement, financial, military, and intelligence actions to combat terrorism abroad. Among these actions is the publication of a series of new national strategies to combat terrorism. Congress asked that we develop baseline information identifying and describing federal programs and activities to combat terrorism overseas. This report describes the interagency framework and policies for planning and coordinating federal efforts to counter international terrorism. It identifies the relationships between and among the new national strategies to combat terrorism. It also describes the federal programs and activities governmentwide to detect and prevent terrorism, disrupt and destroy terrorist organizations, and respond to terrorist incidents overseas. Finally, it provides detailed matrices of selected departments’ programs and activities to combat terrorism overseas. We briefed Congress previously on the preliminary results of our work and issued an interim report on Combating Terrorism: Department of State Programs to Combat Terrorism Abroad. This report contains the final results of our review.
Combating terrorism overseas falls under an interagency framework of plans, agency roles, and interagency coordination mechanisms. In general, the National Security Council manages this interagency framework. The President, National Security Council, and federal agencies have published a series of related directives and new national strategies to guide federal efforts. To implement the directives and strategies, various federal agencies are assigned key roles and responsibilities based on their core missions. Given the number of agencies involved, there are also a number of interagency mechanisms to coordinate across agencies in both Washington, D.C., and overseas. Within this framework, efforts to combat terrorism overseas can generally be divided into programs and activities to (1) detect and prevent terrorism, (2) disrupt and destroy terrorist organizations, and (3) respond to terrorist incidents.
DXer said
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-02-208T
Homeland Security: A Risk Management Approach Can Guide Preparedness Efforts
GAO-02-208T October 31, 2001
Full Report (PDF, 17 pages)
Summary
Because of the terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11 and the subsequent appearance of letters containing anthrax, terrorism rose to the top of the national agenda. The Attorney General has indicated that the country needs to be prepared for still more terrorist incidents. The Department of Justice is working with state and local governments to complete risk management tools for the domestic preparedness program. However, the FBI told GAO that these will be limited to threat assessments only and will not include other aspects of risk management that GAO advocates. Despite these inconclusive results, the federal government can benefit from risk management. Risk management is a systematic and analytic process to consider the likelihood that a threat will endanger an asset and to identify actions that reduce the risk and mitigate the consequences of an attack. An effective risk management approach includes a threat assessment, a vulnerability assessment, and a criticality assessment. Such an approach could help the nation prepare against threats it faces and help better target finite resources to areas of highest priority.
DXer said
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-09-883
Combating Terrorism: U.S. Agencies Report Progress Countering Terrorism and Its Financing in Saudi Arabia, but Continued Focus on Counter Terrorism Financing Efforts Needed
GAO-09-883 September 24, 2009
Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 62 pages) Accessible Text E-supplements Recommendations (HTML)
Summary
An Arabic version of this product is available at http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-190. The U.S. government considers the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia a vital partner in combating terrorism. The strong diplomatic relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia, founded more than 70 years ago, was strained by the Al Qaeda attacks of September 11, 2001, that were carried out in large part by Saudi nationals and killed thousands of U.S. citizens. GAO was asked to report on (1) the U.S. government strategy to collaborate with and assist the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to counter terrorism and terrorism financing, and (2) U.S. government agencies’ assessment of and the Saudi government’s views on progress toward the goals of this strategy. GAO analyzed relevant U.S. and Saudi strategy, planning, and evaluation documents related to efforts since 2005, and discussed these efforts with subject matter experts and U.S. and Saudi officials in Washington, D.C., and Riyadh and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. GAO submitted a copy of this report to intelligence agencies, the National Security Council, and the Departments of Defense, Energy, Homeland Security, Justice, State, and Treasury for their review and comment.
The U.S. government strategy to collaborate with Saudi Arabia on counterterrorism utilizes existing diplomatic and security-related efforts to create an active antiterrorism coalition by enhancing the Saudi government’s ability to combat terrorists and prevent financial support to extremists. These objectives are contained in Department of State’s (State) Mission Strategic Plans (MSP) for Saudi Arabia for fiscal years 2006 through 2009, and also reflected in a January 2008 report from State to the Congress on its strategy for Saudi Arabia. The MSPs include performance targets to measure progress on efforts to combat terrorism and its financing, such as providing security training to the Saudi government, strengthening Saudi financial institutions, and implementation of relevant Saudi regulations. U.S. and Saudi officials report progress on countering terrorism and its financing within Saudi Arabia, but noted challenges, particularly in preventing alleged funding for terrorism and violent extremism outside of Saudi Arabia. In April 2009, State assessed progress related to its goal of building an active U.S.-Saudi antiterrorist coalition as “on target.” U.S. and Saudi officials report progress in enhancing the Saudi government’s ability to combat terrorists, and note the Saudi government’s efforts have disrupted Al Qaeda’s terrorist network within Saudi Arabia. However, these officials noted Saudi Arabia’s neighbor, Yemen, is emerging as a base from which Al Qaeda terrorists can launch attacks against U.S. and Saudi interests. U.S. and Saudi officials also report progress on efforts to prevent financial support to extremists, citing, for example, the Saudi government’s regulations on sending charitable contributions overseas, and the arrest and prosecution of individuals providing support for terrorism. However, U.S. officials remain concerned about the ability of Saudi individuals and charitable organizations to support terrorism outside of Saudi Arabia, and noted limited Saudi enforcement capacity and terrorists’ use of cash couriers as challenges. Despite these concerns, some performance targets related to countering terrorism financing were removed from State’s current MSP. According to State officials, these changes were made either because a specific target was no longer considered feasible or because progress was made toward the target.
DXer said
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-07-113
Chemical and Biological Defense: Updated Intelligence, Clear Guidance, and Consistent Priorities Needed to Guide Investments in Collective Protection
GAO-07-113 January 19, 2007
Summary
For the military to operate in environments contaminated by chemical and biological warfare agents, the Department of Defense (DOD) has developed collective protection equipment to provide a protected environment for group activities. GAO previously reported persistent problems in providing collective protection for U.S. forces in high threat areas overseas. In this report, GAO examined (1) current intelligence assessments of chemical and biological threats, (2) the extent to which DOD has provided collective protection at critical overseas facilities and major expeditionary warfighting assets, and (3) DOD’s framework for managing installation protection policies and prioritizing critical installations for funding. In conducting this review, GAO developed criteria to identify critical sites in the absence of a DOD priority listing of such sites in overseas high threat areas–areas at high risk of terrorist or missile attack.
The intelligence community is struggling with the changing security environment and communicating the uncertainties in the quality of chemical and biological threat information. Generally, the two key chemical and biological threats facing DOD forces are from hostile nations using missiles, or terrorist groups (e.g., Al Qaeda) using devices to release chemical or biological agents. DOD expects these threats to grow. The intelligence community has recognized the need to communicate more candidly about the uncertainties in intelligence regarding the type and amount of agents, the number of missiles likely armed with chemical and biological warheads, and the method of dissemination. Communicating these uncertainties helps in understanding the actual threat posed by our adversaries and in making risk management decisions on investments. ***
DXer said
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-03-414
Potential Terrorist Attacks: Additional Actions Needed to Better Prepare Critical Financial Market Participants
GAO-03-414 February 12, 2003
Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 119 pages) Accessible Text Recommendations (HTML)
Summary
September 11 exposed the vulnerability of U.S. financial markets to wide-scale disasters. Because the markets are vital to the nation’s economy, GAO assessed (1) the effects of the attacks on market participants’ facilities and telecommunications and how prepared participants were for attacks at that time, (2) physical and information security and business continuity plans market participants had in place after the attacks, and (3) regulatory efforts to improve preparedness and oversight of market participants’ risk reduction efforts.
The September 11 attacks severely disrupted U.S. financial markets, resulting in the longest closure of the stock markets since the 1930s and severe settlement difficulties in the government securities market. While exchange and clearing organization facilities were largely undamaged, critical broker-dealers and bank participants had facilities and telecommunications connections damaged or destroyed. These firms and infrastructure providers made heroic and sometimes ad hoc and innovative efforts to restore operations. However, the attacks revealed that many of these organizations’ business continuity plans (BCP) had not been designed to address wide-scale events. GAO reviewed 15 organizations that perform trading or clearing and found that since the attacks, these organizations had improved their physical and information security measures and BCPs to reduce the risk of disruption from future attacks. However, many of the organizations still had limitations in their preparedness that increased their risk of being disrupted. For example, 9 organizations had not developed BCP procedures to ensure that staff capable of conducting their critical operations would be available if an attack incapacitated personnel at their primary sites. Ten were also at greater risk for being disrupted by wide-scale events because 4 organizations had no backup facilities and 6 had facilities located between 2 to 10 miles from their primary sites. The financial regulators have begun to jointly develop recovery goals and business continuity practices for organizations important for clearing; however, regulators have not developed strategies and practices for exchanges, key broker-dealers, and banks to ensure that trading can resume promptly in future disasters. Individually, SEC has reviewed exchange and clearing organization risk reduction efforts, but had not generally reviewed broker-dealers’ efforts. The bank regulators that oversee the major banks had guidance on information security and business continuity and reported examining banks’ risk reduction measures annually.
DXer said
http://www.gao.gov/products/NSIAD-00-138
Biological Weapons: Effort to Reduce Former Soviet Threat Offers Benefits, Poses New Risks
NSIAD-00-138 April 28, 2000
Full Report (PDF, 46 pages)
Summary
The former Soviet Union’s biological weapons institutes continue to threaten U.S. national security because they have key assets that are both dangerous and vulnerable to misuse. These assets include as many as 15,000 underpaid scientists and researchers, specialized facilities and equipment (albeit often in a deteriorated condition), and large collections of dangerous biological pathogens. These assets could harm the United States if hostile countries or terrorist groups were to hire the scientists to conduct weapons work. Also of concern is the potential sale of dangerous pathogens to terrorist groups or countries of proliferation concern. The U.S. strategy for addressing the threat of proliferation at the source has been to fund collaborative research efforts with the institutes to (1) reduce their incentives to work with hostile states and groups and (2) increase their openness to the West. Although the executive branch initially began this strategy with a modest level of funding, it is now seeking a tenfold increase in funding in response to mounting efforts by Iran and other countries to acquire biological weapons. GAO found that expanding the program entails risks to the United States, including sustaining Russia’s existing biological weapons infrastructure, maintaining or advancing Russian scientists’ skills to develop offensive biological weapons, and the potential misuse of U.S. assistance to fund offensive research.
GAO noted that: (1) the former Soviet Union’s biological weapons institutes continue to threaten U.S. national security because they have key assets that are both dangerous and vulnerable to misuse, according to Department of State and Defense officials; (2) these assets include as many as 15,000 underpaid scientists and researchers, specialized facilities and equipment, and large collections of dangerous biological pathogens; (3) these assets could harm the United States if hostile countries or groups were to hire the institutes or biological weapons scientists to conduct weapons-related work; (4) also of concern is the potential sale of dangerous pathogens to terrorist groups or countries of proliferation concern; (5) State and Defense officials told GAO that since 1997, Iran and other countries have intensified their efforts to acquire biological weapons expertise and materials from former Soviet biological weapons institutes; (6) much of the former Soviet biological weapons program’s infrastructure, such as buildings and equipment, still exists primarily in Russia; (7) the U.S. strategy for addressing these proliferation threats at the source has been to fund collaborative research activities with the institutes to: (a) reduce their incentives to work with hostile states and groups; and (b) increase their openness to the West; (8) for fiscal years (FY) 1994 through 1999, the United States allocated about $20 million to fund collaborative research projects to help redirect former biological weapons scientists to peaceful research activities; (9) for FY 2000 through FY 2004, the executive branch plans to spend about $220 million to expand its efforts to engage former Soviet biological weapons institutes; (10) about half of these funds will be used to continue efforts to redirect scientists toward peaceful civilian research; (11) key risks to expanding the program include sustaining Russia’s existing biological weapons infrastructure, maintaining or advancing Russian scientists’ skills to develop offensive biological weapons, and the potential misuse of U.S. assistance to fund offensive research; and (12) to mitigate risks associated with research on dangerous pathogens, the United States plans to use U.S. experts residing in Russia–if Russia permits–at the institutes to monitor the projects.
DXer said
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-01-915
Bioterrorism: Federal Research and Preparedness Activities
GAO-01-915 September 28, 2001
Full Report (PDF, 102 pages)
Summary
Federal research and preparedness activities related to bioterrorism center on detection; the development of vaccines, antibiotics, and antivirals; and the development of performance standards for emergency response equipment. Preparedness activities include (1) increasing federal, state, and local response capabilities; (2) developing response teams; (3) increasing the availability of medical treatments; (4) participating in and sponsoring exercises; (5) aiding victims; and (6) providing support at special events, such as presidential inaugurations and Olympic games. To coordinate their activities to combat terrorism, federal departments and agencies are developing interagency response plans, participating in various interagency work groups, and entering into formal agreements with other agencies to share resources and capabilities. However, coordination of federal terrorism research, preparedness, and response programs is fragmented, raising concerns about the ability of states and localities to respond to a bioterrorist attack. These concerns include insufficient state and local planning and a lack of hospital participation in training on terrorism and emergency response planning.
DXer said
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-05-852
International Affairs: Information on U.S. Agencies’ Efforts to Address Islamic Extremism
GAO-05-852 September 16, 2005
Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 32 pages) Accessible Text
Summary
U.S. government and other experts have reported that Islamic extremism is on the rise and that the spread of Islamic extremism is the pre-eminent threat facing the United States. In addition, various sources alleged that Saudi Arabia is one source that has supported and funded the spread of Islamic extremism globally. GAO was asked to determine (1) what efforts U.S. government agencies are implementing to identify, monitor, and counter support and funding for the global propagation of Islamic extremism, particularly support and funding originating in Saudi Arabia; (2) what U.S. agencies and other entities have reported regarding support and funding for the global propagation of Islamic extremism, particularly any provided by Saudi sources (private entities, individuals, and the Saudi government), as well as sources in other countries; and (3) what efforts the Saudi government has taken to address Islamic extremism. GAO submitted this report to the intelligence agencies, the Departments of Defense (DOD), State, and the Treasury, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for their review and comment. The agencies had no formal comments, and their technical comments were incorporated, as appropriate.
The intelligence agencies, DOD, State, and USAID are implementing various efforts to identify, monitor, and counter the support and funding of the global propagation of Islamic extremism. The intelligence agencies and DOD are carrying out identification and monitoring efforts, primarily in counterintelligence and force protection. State and USAID are carrying out efforts to counter the global propagation of Islamic extremism, with State’s efforts focused primarily on traditional diplomacy, counterterrorism, and public diplomacy and USAID’s efforts focused on development programs to diminish underlying conditions of extremism. We are preparing a classified report, to be subsequently released, with a more complete description of U.S. efforts to address the global spread of Islamic extremism. A number of sources have reported that Saudi private entities and individuals, as well as sources from other countries, are allegedly financing or supporting Islamic extremism. For example, in July 2005, a Treasury official testified before Congress that Saudi Arabia-based and -funded organizations remain a key source for the promotion of ideologies used by terrorists and violent extremists around the world to justify their agenda. However, according to the 9/11 Commission Report, the Commission found no persuasive evidence that the Saudi government knowingly supported al Qaeda. The agencies also told GAO that Islamic extremism is being propagated by sources in countries other than Saudi Arabia, such as Iran, Kuwait, and Syria. The agencies are still examining Saudi Arabia’s relationship, and that of other sources in other countries, to Islamic extremism. The Saudi government has announced and, in some cases, undertaken some reform efforts to address Islamic extremism. For example, the government is undertaking educational and religious reforms, including revising textbooks and conducting a 3-year enlightenment program, to purge extremism and intolerance from religious education. However, U.S. agencies do not know the extent of the Saudi government’s efforts to limit the activities of Saudi sources that have allegedly propagated Islamic extremism outside of Saudi Arabia.
DXer said
Al Qaeda Deputy Surfaces in Rare Online Video
Osama Bin Laden Deputy and Egyptian Native Ayman al-Zawahiri Praises Mubarak’s Fall, Calls on Arab Armies to Intervene in Libya
By MATTHEW COLE and LEE FERRAN
April 14, 2011
In a new, rare video message from al Qaeda’s number two terrorist commander, Ayman al-Zawahiri calls on Arab armies to intervene in Libya to help eject dictator Moammar Gadhafi before “Western aid… turns into invasions.”
The hour-plus long video posted online is the first since Egypt’s successful revolution and features the Osama bin Laden deputy in a white robe with the barrel of an assault rifle visible at his side. In addition to discussing the bloody fighting in Libya, al-Zawahiri, an Egyptian native, celebrates the overthrow of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and says that the continuation of the North African nation depends on the destruction of Israel and the establishment of Islamic law.
Comment:
Dr. Ayman or Shaikh Anwar:
Could you please formally, briefly address the anthrax mailings and note your view regarding the correctness of the investigators’ conclusion?
Anwar, is that what the FBI was questioning you about in prison in Yemen? Has Shaikh Al-Timimi been coerced into cooperating against you?
I realize (as I recall) in October 2001 OBL snickered when asked and denied responsibility. And I realize your spymaster addressed Amerithrax at length in his treatise on spying, Aldrich Ames etc.
But, Dr. Ayman, you also denied the 1998 embassy bombings, 911 etc until it was beyond reasonable dispute.
Similarly, when the Taliban said it didn’t know anything about anthrax, it did not square with the evidence that emerged.
At the end of the day, truthtellers are the lions. IMO liars are cowardly and not worthy to cloak themselves in the proud legacy of Mohammed.
Now I realize that you both think deception at wartime is authorized by the koran.
But it would be interesting to have your input and then for the world to judge whether you are truth-tellers or pretenders.
DXer said
Here is the audio of Dr. Ayman addressing himself to Aafia Siddiqui
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/5844188/ayman_zawahiri_to_afia_siddiqui/
DXer said
The new Zawahiri video this weekend features a section of the latest video message by US-Yemeni cleric Anwar al-Awlaki (“To make it known and clear to mankind and not to hide it”).
DXer said
April 14, 2011
MEMRI Special Dispatch No.3766
In Fifth Installment of Message to People of Egypt, Al-Qaeda Deputy Leader Al-Zawahiri Urges Egyptians, Libyans Not To Trust U.S. Efforts In Region, Promises Mujahideen Will Continue To Strike U.S. Until It Leaves Muslim Lands.
DXer said
This key leader involved in Sadat’s assassination had been a member of Egyptian Intelligence. “But he went rogue over objections to Sadat’s peace treaty with Israel.”
[upon recently being released from prison after 30 years]
Cheering crowds of thousands hoisted Zomor on their shoulders. In his family’s hometown near Cairo, which is also called Zomor, a banner still hangs across the main street, congratulating the released convict and calling him “General.”
“Of course he’s a hero,” said a Zomor resident named Mohamed Ali Ethman. “He fought against oppression and took action.” “He was against Sadat and Sadat signing the Camp David agreement [with Israel],” said Ahmed Zomor, a distant cousin. “He was against Sadat going to Israel. So he’s a hero.”
http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/04/14/egypt.sadat.killer/
How many postal inspectors or psychiatrists or medical school professors know much of anything about Egyptian politics?
And if those postal inspectors and psychiatrists are wrong in their assertion that those are Bruce’s initials (and that he walked the April 2002 samples down), is the country totally screwed because no one saw that it was unacceptable to close the case given the uncertainties of “what, where, and how”?
Michael Hayes from the University of Michigan once told “You don’t want to know.”
But isn’t it important as a country that we do know?