Terrorists Working Feverishly to Attack U.S.; Something Is Afoot

In light of the fact that more than one set of Middle Eastern men has recently been stopped after they allegedly purchased multiple cell phones that could be used to detonate bombs (over 1000 phones in one case), and in light of the large scale trans-Atlantic airline bombing plot recently disrupted, an attack or series of attacks on the United States may be imminent. 

With events at fever pitch in the Middle East as Israel responds to Hezbollah's attacks from Lebanon, with Iran perhaps newly armed or soon to be armed with a nuclear weapons and the missiles needed to deliver them, with Iran's president perhaps focused on August 22nd as an apocalyptic date, and with the fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attack approaching rapidly, there is a possibility that Iran, Al Qaeda, or other terrorist groups will attempt to bring matters to a head with one or more direct attacks on American citizens. 

It is clear that the planned trans-Atlantic airline bombings were intended to accomplish just that result.  While it is comforting to think that the disruption of the trans-Atlantic plot has ended the threat for now, the recent purchases of multiple cell phones tells me that a different approach is being taken this time.  More than one attack is being planned -- perhaps by the identical terrorist group, or perhaps by multiple groups or cells operating separately.

What concerns me is that there seems to be less attention to meticulous operational planning on the part of the terrorists than there was prior to September 11th.  A "dry run" of the trans-Atlantic terror plot was reportedly to precede the actual attacks by only a few days.  If more plots are attempted with less advance planning, less lead time will be required for a plot to be carried out.  More deadly plots will be attempted; more will be disrupted; but a few will likely succeed by virtue of sheer numbers. 

If more than one one plot targeting Americans is in the works, what should our response be?  For all of us, alertness and vigilance are key.  The purchase of multiple cell phones in Caro, Michigan was observed and reported by a Wal-Mart employee.  Were it not for that vigilance, we likely would be reading a news report of several successful bombings, rather than a report that three Middle Eastern men were arrested with over a thousand cell phones in their possession.  (According to reports, one man was driving while the other two were in the back opening the phone packages with box cutters throwing the phones in one box, batteries in another and the packaging and phone charger in another container.)

In addition to vigilance, we need to allow our normalcy to be tempered with reasonable discretion.  The terrorists will not "have won" if you decide not to board a flight or enter a crowded stadium when something seems amiss.  The terrorists will have won, at least for the day, if they succeed in killing you.  Don't let them.

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Update 8/11/06:  For additional details on the cell phone arrests, check out the excerpts at Michelle Malkin

Update 8/14/06:  An additional case of suspicious cell phone purchases in Tucson, Arizona has been reported.  More here.

Comments

[Jon]

You brought up the exact reason for the President's reasoning for the War on Terror in the first place, which I may add was attacked viciously by the left as scare tactics. He was trying to make the people of the US and the world for that matter much more vigilant about our surroundings and pay greater attention to things that look out of place.

I would much rather have these terror plots uncovered in the early stage rather than such an advance stage like this latest one appeared to be. I say are government in concert with other governments are doing a good job of tracking down these plots and foiling them before they hit our soil or kill innocent Americans, again.

[Thomas Esmond Knox]

I trust that the NSA (and others) is well and truly on the case.

[MajorDad1984]

I'm impressed and proud of the numerous forces that brought down the cells planning on bombing the UK-US flights allegedly planned for next Wednesday. It just goes to show you that you need to keep a very close eye on those folks that have made all the noise about trying to impact our way of life. We can no longer take the "politically correct" approach to tracking down these teams and putting them out of business.

On the other hand...we MUST make a statement that resonates throughout the Muslim world that "WE" aren't going to take it anymore. We are no longer going to conduct ourselves diplomatically when it comes to dealing with the issue of terror and the indiscriminate murder of innocents.

My eating a ham sandwich, wiping my butt with my right hand, and believing in a God whose name is not Allah does not impact their ability to worship as freely as they want. If they want to return to the 7th century, more power to them. However, their continued attempts to change the face of "the West" is going to stop right here...right now.

Those followers that choose to immigrate will continue to be free to worship as they will, but don't expect to be welcomed with open arms and have "us" bend over backwards to accomodate some of your unique "needs." Our women are our equals, our children will all be educated, not just the boys. Most of us worship on a much less frequent basis than you. Get used to it.

We are much freer in our beliefs about the "display" of the human body...if you don't like it, stay right where you are. You will no longer have it both ways...if you want to enjoy some of the freedoms you don't have in your current country, go for it. On the other hand, don't expect us to change the way we've been living for years. We'll welcome what you bring to our table, but don't expect us to be all fired up over what you might have to say about what's being served.

As for the recent changes in air travel...all Muslims are not terrorists, but all terrorists seem to be Muslims. Imagine that!?!?! Is that profiling? No, I call it simply playing the odds. Here's a little advice that the mullahs and imams might want to consider...either you start preaching tolerance of Western beliefs and speaking out against the murders of innocent men, women and children OR we'll start cracking down hard on your mosques. IF you long for the Sharia way of life, I can draw you a strip map on how to find those nations that still embrace that backwards lifestyle. We're not interested in it...

Well, enough for this rant. I appreciate your bandwidth and storage to document them for me.

See you on the high ground.

MajorDad1984