What Has Been Found?

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The flood of information has started regarding potential terrorist targets in the U.S. with Newsweek's 8/16/04 edition and the article by Klaidman & Thomas, Newsweek (8/16), Al Qaeda's Pre-Election Plot. Apparently most of this information on potential sites is coming from a laptop computer belonging to Mohammed Neem Noor Khan, the operative under protection by Pakistan, and "outed" by a "senior intelligence official" at the White House. The Newsweek online article has an interactive map of nuclear, defense, infra-structure, and landmark targets. There does not seem to be information at this point about the currency of the threat.

I encourage you to access the interactive map of the Newsweek article. As you click through the potential targets, it is chilling, but also somewhat confusing. Click on the Newsweek map of potential nuclear targets. Now in another browser window click on the Nuclear Regulatory Agency's nuclear reactor locations. You will see something striking in your side-by-side comparison - the two maps are virtually identical. In other words, Khan's computer had every major reactor in the US as a "potential target," Or he had the NRC map on his computer.

The other four categories of targets are more difficult to translate. The defense targets seem to highlight major bases and weapons labs. The infra-structure map has few specific targets. Many of the dots are to industries (pharmaceutical, oil, and steel), but for some reason the targets specified in the alert are not listed (stock exchange, IMF, World Bank, etc). The landmark map seems to focus on sites where there would likely be a number of tourists or workers with the exception of Mt. Rushmore.

In and of itself, neither the Newsweek map nor the report, tell us anything new in terms of targets. There is no released information at this point to tell us the actual priorities or significance of the information we are looking at.

The article reinforces the Bush administration's concerns that there will be a terrorist attack sometime before the elections. The White House is not responding yet to the Newsweek report, but are expanding on the August 1st alert. the capitol, and five (unspecified) legislators are now on the list. (see also Bush team defends raising terror alert)

What is being reiterated by intelligence officials and by White House spokespeople is that the information they have is "detailed and chilling."

Given the maps in the Newsweek report, one has to ask if Khan's computer contained these "detailed plans," or if that information is coming from elsewhere.

The US press is largely playing up the number of suspects being swept up in the wake of information from Pakistan. However, little is being said about how the release of Khan's identity has undermined the uncovering of Al Qaeda networks and plans, and perhaps information that would give clues as to current primary targets - versus what appears to be research on possible targets. There is some acknowledgement though from CNN - U.S. leak 'harms al Qaeda sting'

With the heightened focus on what is being implied as a significant and imminent terrorist attack on US soil, we are seeing a large scale mobilization of "hardening" certain targets. Even given what appears to be massive mobilization in the U.S, other issues have not left the field. U.S. troops are engaged in active combat in Iraq. As Sadr vows to fight to 'last drop of blood', over 300 "militia" have been killed in attacks. And Rice is making ominous noises about Iran's nuclear program - >Rice: US To Crack Down On Iran's Nuclear Program .

So things are continuing to accelerate, but that has not increased the trust level of the electorate in the sanctity of the US elections as an International team plans to monitor presidential election.

We are definitely living in interesting times. I expect that things will get more chaotic rather than less so.

Posted by rowan at August 9, 2004 07:45 AM | TrackBack | Printable Version | [eMail this article!] |