Secret intel report: UK terror threat worst since 9/11
posted at 7:47 pm on February 24, 2007 by Allahpundit
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This will be on Drudge soon but there’s nothing much new here. MI5 described the extent of the problem back in November; the new report bumps the numbers up a bit, but once you’re talking about 200 separate cells, what’s a few more? Besides, they’ve been at red alert for weeks now. No one’s under any illusions about the situation.
Still, the British papers like to lead the Sunday editions with terror stuff, so it’s time for the periodic Saturday night freakout.
The number of British-based Islamic terrorists plotting suicide attacks against “soft” targets in this country is far greater than the Security Services had previously believed, the government paperwork discloses. It is thought the plotters could number more than 2,000…
MI5 believes that soft targets, such as the transport system and economic targets such as the City of London and Canary Wharf, are most at risk…
Entitled Extremist Threat Assessment, the document, which was drawn up this month, also discloses that Afghanistan, where more than 7,000 British troops will be based by the end of May, is expected to supersede Iraq as the location for terrorists planning Jihad against the West.
It says that al-Qaeda’s influence extends from North Africa, including Egypt, through to Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan, and into Somalia and Sudan. Al-Qaeda is “resilient and effective” in Iraq, its “operating environment and financial position” in Pakistan has improved and a new group had emerged in Yemen…
Dr Jonathan Eyal, the director of international security at the Royal United Services Institute, said that the al-Qaeda revival was down to the West’s inability to kill or capture Osama bin Laden and that wars in Afghanistan and Iraq made matters worse.
Exit question must-read of the day: Bill Roggio on the latest Musharraf “peace” initiative. You want to know why the problem’s so bad in Britain and getting worse? Because AQ has its own country now, where it’s free to train British Muslims who’ve come to Pakistan to “visit their relatives.” Go, go, go.
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Damn. I’m only a short plane trip from the UK. Damn.
Seixon on February 24, 2007 at 8:04 PM
So does this mean we can finally invade northwestern Pakistan, now that it’s not technically Pakistan anymore? I mean, it’ll be the Talban’s country now, and Pakistan knows full well we’re still a war with them.
Mark V. on February 24, 2007 at 8:05 PM
The UK will be the first Western nation to suffer from a jihad victory in Iraq. Such a victory will inspire the jihadis even more than their victory over the Russians in Afghanistan. The UK is especially vulnerable because of its historical ties to Pakistan, which was once part of British India. The second and third generation British Muslims are thoroughly radicalized and ready for jihad. They may follow us home from Iraq, but they’re already in the UK.
RedWinged Blackbird on February 24, 2007 at 8:35 PM
WAIT A MINUTE!!!!!!!!
Did that make it into the main stream press, and I just missed it?
Was that letter printed on the NY Times like our attempts to track terrorists through bank records?
Was it in an article of “Time” magazine?
Did Helen Thomas ask of it during a White House press breifing?
Was it the endless “talking points” of the Sunday shows, and the “Situation Room” on CNN?
Did Ms. “Blinky”, The “Pant Suit”, The “Smoker”, The “Swimmer”, Mr. “Leaky”, the “Breck Girl”, “Lurch”, Mr. “Stainer of Dresses”, or even Mr. “Don’t Fence me In” McCain, use this letter as a sign that US and Coalition forces were having a “victorious effect”, and AQ was actully in the “war on terror”?
Was it printed all over the world like the Muslim Cartoons?
Where was the Pro-American ralley?
Where was the Pro-American march?
Where was the Anit-AQ march/ralley?
Where was Cindy Shehan, stating that the death of her son, and all the other brave soldiers, was actually having an effect? In Venezuela with Hugo?
Where was “Hollywood” turning the letter into a mini-series, supporting our troops and their efforts?
Why was this letter not described as a “turning point for victory” in the war by Dan Rather?
Why did the letter not make a segment on “60 Minutes”?
Why was it not posted all over the world, possibly in an attempt to convince some young, state controlled Muslim, that Jihad, “homicide bombings, or taking up arms against the US military just might not be a good idea?
……… wait, there’s something else…………
WAIT ANOTHER MINUTE!!!!!!!!!!!
Isn’t the United States “the bad guy” in all of this, and it’s the war in Iraq, our war of “agression”, that is causing all of the terrorism all over the world?
What about all the Anti-War protests against the United States?
Where are the protests against AQ?
I have seen Pro-AQ rallies, especially in Britan,the United States, and all over Europe, the Middle East, the Phillipines…….. killing the leaders would have what effect?
You mean AQ is actually in many different countries, still recruiting young jihadists to fight anywhere there is an infidel, and not just in Iraq?
Where are all the news reports?
Where are all the above listed politicians?
Where is “Hollywood”………….
Oh, that’s right, the Oscars are on Sunday, (ALGORE will be winning one), Anna Nichole will be buried in the Bahammas, Brittney is in re-hab, a new season of American Idol is on, Hillary is running for President, Geffen is backing Obama,……….
Time for one of my “Buckets”……..
PinkyBigglesworth on February 24, 2007 at 8:53 PM
Look at the flip side of this, now the AQ has a safe place to hang out again. A place to gather, plan and train… are you thinking what I’m thinking?
Zorro on February 24, 2007 at 8:56 PM
Yeppers,but I’ll call your Bajaur and raise you a Mecca during hajj;or U.S. could offer discount packages to hajj,populate Bajaur to the eyeballs and finish the war on terror.Good idea Zorro..heh
spazzmomma on February 24, 2007 at 9:26 PM
Absolutely thinking what you’re thinking. There’s an upside to reports of these thugs gathering in one place again. Tactical nuke – meet Mr. Jihadi …
warriorlawyer on February 24, 2007 at 9:30 PM
spazzmomma on February 24, 2007 at 9:26 PM
warriorlawyer on February 24, 2007 at 9:30 PM
It sure beats having to hunt down every last one… and of the “British relatives” visiting Pakistan, I’m sure we could turn one or two or ten of them to act in their “best interest”.
Zorro on February 24, 2007 at 9:38 PM
Unfortunately, Britain’s terror problem is of its own making. Unable to find a successful way to integrate immigrants into British society, muslims are left to stew in their anti-western delusions. I have to hand it to the Brits for cracking down on radicals, though. In recent months they’ve made good progress, but the liberals in power are hampering their efforts – as they are in this country too. As for bin Laden, how many times do we have to hear he’s insignificant – oh wait, he’s not? Apparently, there is no clear consensus on this in the popular media although experts generally claim he has been marginalized and is no longer a major player. Although he may inspire terrorism, he would whether he were dead or alive, so who cares?
thedecider on February 24, 2007 at 10:17 PM
I guess we made our point…….. no more “blather” on the subject…. agian…….
I guess not, but no one cares………
PinkyBigglesworth on February 25, 2007 at 2:22 AM
Chirp……… chrip……… chrip……
PinkyBigglesworth on February 25, 2007 at 2:56 AM
How many train bombings do you think it will take before our well-mannered and politically correct British cousins turn tiger? Perhaps a dozen burning trains, some truck bombs in Picadilly Circus, a couple school massacres, and a dead royal will do the trick.
Tantor on February 25, 2007 at 3:47 PM
Post-colonial guilt, here is thy sting.
Cringing, whinge-ing and binging.
While London burns.
Enoch Powell (in his “rivers of blood speech” -around 1968-) was wrong on his target of fear (-”the coloreds“-) but right on the calamitous results of allowing Britain to be over-run by an alien group: the end of England (under -the then-unrecognized problem of resurgent Islam, and the creeping- and now exploding- Islam-itization of the U.K.).
Will England become Spain II?
profitsbeard on February 25, 2007 at 5:05 PM
Boy that was some secret. :)
johnnyU on February 25, 2007 at 6:46 PM
muslims are left to stew in their anti-western delusions.
What delusions? They think the British authorities are too pussified and politically correct to crack down on them. They are right. They think if they hit Britain hard and repeatedly, it will do a Spain and pull out of the Middle East. They are right.
Lehuster on February 26, 2007 at 8:09 AM
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