Al Qaeda got pwned.

Here's some Tuesday war porn for you. Al Qaeda gets pwned.



Hat Tip: Blackfive

Can we close the border now?

A disturbing story today, from Powerline:

Fort Huachuca, the nation's largest intelligence-training center, changed security measures in May after being warned that Islamist terrorists, with the aid of Mexican drug cartels, were planning an attack on the facility.

Fort officials changed security measures after sources warned that possibly 60 Afghan and Iraqi terrorists were to be smuggled into the U.S. through underground tunnels with high-powered weapons to attack the Arizona Army base, according to multiple confidential law enforcement documents obtained by The Washington Times.

According to the FBI advisory, each Middle Easterner paid Mexican drug lords $20,000 "or the equivalent in weapons" for the cartel's assistance in smuggling them and their weapons through tunnels along the border into the U.S. The weapons would be sent through tunnels that supposedly ended in Arizona and New Mexico, but the Islamist terrorists would be smuggled through Laredo, Texas, and reclaim the weapons later.

A number of the Afghans and Iraqis are already in a safe house in Texas, the FBI advisory said.

Can we close them now? This is just an example of what anyone with half a brain has been worried about. This is what can happen if we have a border with more holes in it than Swiss cheese. See, us conservatives are not just bigots and xenophobes. We actually like our country and want immigrants to come (provided they follow our laws). We do not want Al Qaeda to be able to pay off Mexican drug cartels and smuggle themselves in without a problem.

See, liberals? It's not just an immigration issue (although it is a factor). This is also a let's make it as tough as possible for Al Qaeda to enter the United States and wreak havoc and terror issue. So let's just stop all this politicizing B.S. over closing the border now and just do it, simply because it's the right thing to do -- it's what needs to be done.

However, I won't hold my breath.

U.S.S. Cole bombing mastermind set free

This is unbelievable:

Yemen has set free one of the al-Qaida masterminds of the USS Cole bombing in 2000 that killed 17 American sailors, a senior security official said Thursday.

Jamal al-Badawi, who is wanted by the FBI, was convicted in 2004 of plotting, preparing and helping carry out the USS Cole bombing and received a death sentence that was commuted to 15 years in prison.

He and 22 others, mostly al-Qaida fighters, escaped from prison in 2004. But al-Badawi was granted his freedom after turning himself in 15 days ago and pledging loyalty to Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The official said police were told by the government to "stop all previous orders concerning measures adopted against al-Badawi."

Witnesses told The Associated Press that al-Badawi was receiving well-wishers at his home in the al-Buraika district in Aden.

Why we didn't tell Yemen that we want him, and they better hand him over or they're gonna pay big time is beyond me.

After all, didn't President Bush say that anyone who gives aid and comfort to terrorists is an enemy of ours in the War on Terror? Or perhaps that was just an empty threat.

Regardless, the fact that this murderer and Al Qaeda terrorist is free again is troubling, to say the very least.

Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin

Video and transcript

Surprise, surprise -- bin Laden praises lefty voters!

My Pet Jawa has the transcript:

People of America: the world is following your news in regards to your invasion of Iraq, for people have recently come to know that, after several years of the tragedies of this war, the vast majority of you want it stopped. Thus, you elected the Democratic Party for this purpose, but the Democrats haven't made a move worth mentioning. On the contrary, they agree to spending of tens of billions to continue the killing and the war there, which has led to the vast majority of you being afflicted with disappointment...

In the Vietnam War, the leaders of the White House claimed at the time that it was necessary and crucial war, and during it, Rumsfeld and his aides murdered two million villagers. And when Kennedy took over the presidency and deviated from the general line of policy drawn uup for the White House and wanted to stop the unjust war, that angered the owners of the major corporations who were benefiting from its continuation.

And so Kennedy was killed, and al Qaeda wasn't present at that time, but rather, those corporations were the primary beneficiary from his killing...

This war was entirely unnecessary, as testified by your own reports. And among the most capable of those from your own side who speaks to you on this topic and on the manufacturin of public opinion is Noam Chomsky, who spoke sober words of advice prior to the war, but the leader of Texas doesn't like those who give advice....

The entire world came out in uprecedented demonstrations to warn against waging the war and describe its true nature in eloquent terms like "no spilling red blood for black oil," yet he paid them no heed....

So in answer to the question about the causes of the Democrats' failure to stop the war, I say: they are the same reasons which led to the failure of former president Kennedy to stop the Vietnam war. Those with real power and influence are those with the most capital. And since the democratic system permits major corporations to back candidates, be they presidential or congressional, there shouldn't be any cause for astonishment -- and there isn't any -- in the Democrats' failure to stop the war. And you're the ones who have the saying which goes, "money talks." And I tell you: after the failure of your representatives in the Democratic Party to implement your desire to stop the war, you canstill carry anti-war placards and spread out in the streets of major cities, then go back to your homes, but that will be on no use and will lead to the prolonging of the war....

In fact, the life of all mankind is in danger because of the global warming resulting to a large degree from teh emissions of the factories and of teh major corporations, yet despite that the representative of these corporations in the White House insists on not observing the Kyoto accord, with the knowledge that the statics speaks of teh death and displacement of the millions of human beings because of that, especially in Africa. This greatest of plagues and most dangerous of threats to the lives of humans is taking place in an accelerating fashion as the world is being dominated by the democratic system, which confirms its massive failure to protect humans and their itnerests from the greed and avarice of the major corporations and their representatives....

The capitalist system seeks to turn the entire world into a fiefdom of the major corporations under the label of "globallization" in order to protect democracy....

And if you would like to get to know some of the reasons for your losing of your war against us, then read the book of Michael Scheuer in this regard.

Here's video, and it looks like the one we're waiting for, but I'll wait for 100% confirmation from the White House.

2007: Ben Laden réapparait en vidéo
Uploaded by lefigaro

He praises Noam Chomsky as "one of the most capable people on our side". He also denounced “neoconservatives like Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Richard Perle”. He praises Americans for voting Democrats into office, and then chides them for not withdrawing from Iraq fast enough.

Gee, Osama bin Laden, 9-11 mastermind and Al Qaeda head, is happy that Democrats are in office, and wants us to pull out of Iraq. I'm sure that Pioneer Pelosi and crew are celebrating right now, but for the rest of us Americans with our sanity still in tact, it should tell us exactly who it is we should and shouldn't be voting for. The entire thing, as both Allah and Rusty noted, reads like something found on DailyKos.

New bin Laden tape coming soon

Here it is:

Egypt (AP) - Terror mastermind Osama bin Laden plans a new video addressing the American people regarding the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, terror monitoring groups said Thursday.
SITE Intelligence Group said an Internet announcement of the plan included a photo of the al-Qaida leader from the upcoming video—his beard, which in previous messages had been streaked with gray, was entirely dark.

The Intelcenter, which also monitors Islamic Web sites, said the video is expected within the next 72 hours, before the sixth anniversary of the World Trade Center attack. The last bin Laden video was in October shortly before the U.S. presidential elections.

Allahpundit is reporting that Fox says to expect it within hours.

Rusty from My Pet Jawa has audio, but I don't think it's the bin Laden tape we're waiting for, just a little preview:

I’m listening to the audio now. Starts out with sirens, gunshots, and panicked people screaming. There is a voice over in Arabic. Very menacing. Not at all like the usual. There’s shouting and screaming, and gunshots. Very different than most of these types of audios which are usually calm sermons with nasheeds (music) in the background.

No bin Laden audio, but towards the end of the audio is a nasheed praising Osama bin Laden. Then gunshots. Then it ends. Scary.

Sounds threatening to me. And considering that I monitor a lot of this stuff, if I even think its scary, then I think that’s saying something. It may not be a direct specific threat about an impending attack, but it is a general threat. And it reminds us of exactly who it is we’re fighting.

I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for updates.

Padilla found guilty

The jury returned a verdict today in the case against Jose Padilla and his two co-defendants.

The charges:

Count 1 - Conspiracy to Murder, Kidnap, and Maim Persons in a Foreign Country as part of a conspiracy to advance violent jihad
Count 2 - Conspiracy to Provide Material Support for Terrorists
Count 3 - Material Support for Terrorists
Counts 4 and 5 are against Hassoun for unlawful possession of a weapon and making a false statement
Counts 6 through 10 are against Hassoun for multiple charges of perjury
Count 11 is against Hassoun for obstruction

Good to hear.

From Yahoo News:

“A verdict was reached Thursday in the trial of Jose Padilla and two co-defendants charged with supporting al-Qaida and other violent Islamic extremist groups overseas. The jury verdict was scheduled to be read at 2 p.m. EDT before U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke in Miami’s downtown federal courthouse, according to an announcement from her chambers. The jury of seven men and five women deliberated for about a day and a half following a three-month trial. Padilla, Adham Amin Hassoun and Kifah Wael Jayyousi face possible life in prison if convicted of all three charges in the case.”

I'm exceedingly happy he was found guilty, but life in prison? He was tried in Miami. We still use the death penalty here in Florida, and once upon a time in the United States, we executed treasonous bastards like Padilla. Not so in the softer, fluffier America, huh?

Michelle Malkin has the timeline leading up to the scumbag's involvement with Al Qaeda and designation as an "enemy combatant" by President Bush, as well as his Al Qaeda "application form" (I never knew Al Qaeda bothered with a paper trail, but skip on over to Michelle's blog to see it for yourself):

May 1988: Padilla turns 18, released from juvenile detention in Chicago on probation until age 21.

October 1991: Padilla arrested in South Florida on gun and traffic charges. He serves 10 months in prison.

Early 1993: Padilla, while employed at Taco Bell in Davie, FL, inquires about converting to Islam.

1994: Padilla begins using the name Ibrahim.

1998: Padilla leaves U.S. to study Arabic abroad.

1999: Padilla travels to Afghanistan.

2001: Padilla meets with Abu Zubaydah. Padilla and an unnamed associate receive explosives training in Pakistan.

Early 2002: Padilla meets with Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and is ordered to return to the U.S. for reasons still unclear.

May 2002: Padilla arrested on a material witness warrant related to September 11, at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

June 2002:Padilla designated “enemy combatant” by the president and moved to military custody in South Carolina.

And of course, HuffPo isn't disappointing. They're positively howling over this "outrage".

Didn't you see the movie "Judgement at Nuremburg"
Judge Ernst Janning, played by Burt Reynolds, gave Jews their day in court and convicted them of being Jews. Padilla has been convicted of being a member of a Muslim sect.

It is the saddest story, these times have ever seen.

They're hangin' men and women for the wearing of the green.

Apparently you have missed the most significant aspect of this situation: The man suffered incomprehensible torture, for years, at the hands of the American military. He was tortured to the degree of having irreversible brain damage -- which has been proved. He confessed at the hands of his TORTURERS. Perhaps the smile you see on his face is the same smile that would register on the face of a mentally retarded individual. His brain is fried.

Idiots like you, and the people who voted for Bush and his fascist fanatical party, who tortued and convicted this man shame this country.

And on HuffPo...

The Day of Rage begins.

He was convicted B/4 he even went to trial.

That "evidence" is enough to put someone away for life? A document with his fingerprints on it? Give me a break!
All I can say is the next time you're handed a document be sure you are wearing gloves.

Typical rightwing spin....Defend truth and honor and be labeled a traitor.

When due process is carried out by fascists, it's no longer due process, it's fascism.
This trial looks awfully similar to what was going on under Hitler's regime. Anyone who dared to say something against him was a "terrorist." Anyone who dared to question the courts was immediately transferred to a Lager. Time have changed, fascism has evolved, Lagers would be too expensive today, destroying the lives of dissidents by just spying on them and then charging them with phoney BS is a lot easier...

And so on and so forth. There's even a comment about how "songs will be sung" about Padilla, because he's a martyr or some crap (someone gag me).

Moonbats crack me up. They complain non-stop about Gitmo and how we are convicting terrorists without sending them to trial, and letting them be judged by a jury of their peers. We then do that, and a wanna-be terrorist asshole is convicted, and they're still upset.

Just not happy until we let Al-Qaeda do as they please, eh? Don't question their patriotism though, not even when they're standing with terrorists and Al-Qaeda wanna-bes, rather than Americans.

Anyways, if I had my way, this guy would be having his final meal tonight before he gets hanged tomorrow rather than having the pleasure of growing old in jail on my dime.

But I'm a heartless conservative bigot, so what do I know, right?

BREAKING NEWS: Al Qaeda wants to kill us!!

Right now, you could knock me over with a feather, I'm so shocked.

It's been all over the news that Al Qaeda is gathering strength and still wants to attack the United States:

Al-Qaida is stepping up its efforts to sneak terror operatives into the United States and has acquired most of the capabilities it needs to strike here, according to a new U.S. intelligence assessment, The Associated Press has learned.

The draft National Intelligence Estimate is expected to paint an ever-more-worrisome portrait of al-Qaida’s ability to use its base along the Pakistan-Afghan border to launch and inspire attacks, even as Bush administration officials say the U.S. is safer nearly six years into the war on terror.

The document also discusses increasing concern about individuals already inside the United States who are adopting an extremist brand of Islam.

Government officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the report has not been finalized, described it as an expansive look at potential threats within the United States and said it required the cooperation of a number of national security agencies, including the CIA, FBI, Homeland Security Department and National Counterterrorism Center.

At a news conference Thursday, President Bush acknowledged al-Qaida’s continuing threat to the United States and used the new report as evidence his administration’s policies are on the right course.

“The same folks that are bombing innocent people in Iraq were the ones who attacked us in America on Sept. 11,” he said. “That’s why what happens in Iraq matters to security here at home.”

I think this is the most shocking news of the YEAR. Extremist Muslims are prepared to join up with Al Qaeda?! And Al Qaeda still wants to kill us?!

Well, thank you Captain Obvious!

Michelle Malkin already pointed out in May that 1 in 4 younger US Muslims would support suicide bombings as acceptable, and 3 in 10 of all US Muslims have favorable views or no opinion of Al Qaeda.

A little behind on the times, huh?

What did the MSM think that Al Qaeda was going to do? Stop trying? Of COURSE they are going to be trying to establish cells and operatives inside the United States. And what did the MSM think that Al Qaeda was going to do with its' varied bases? Hold slumber parties, watch Michael Moore crockumentaries, and hold pageants to choose their 72 virgins?

Basically, the MSM is trying to incite fear into the American public, and simultaneously smear President Bush for not withdrawing from Iraq right now -- to concentrate on terrorism elsewhere, of course.

John Hawkins at Right Wing News has a post about how the AP is being deliberately misleading:

Here's the relevant part of the article, which is based on the interpretation of a report, by anonymous sources, that the AP hasn't seen, and that we are therefore unable to peruse ourselves,

"Al Qaeda is "considerably operationally stronger than a year ago" and has "regrouped to an extent not seen since 2001," the counterterrorism official said, paraphrasing the report's conclusions. "They are showing greater and greater ability to plan attacks in Europe and the United States."

The group also has created "the most robust training program since 2001, with an interest in using European operatives," the official quoted the report as saying."

Those quotes, which have obviously been cherrypicked and paraphrased by someone looking to embarrass the Bush administration, say that Al-Qaeda is stronger than they were a year ago and have, "regrouped to an extent not seen since 2001."

Although it's impossible to say how accurate that interpretation of the report actually is since it's based on the paraphrased words of an anonymous source, it expressly DOES NOT say Al-Qaeda is as strong as they were in the summer of 2001. Technically, these statements could be true...

"Al Qaeda is "considerably operationally stronger than a year ago" and has "regrouped to an extent not seen since 2001"

.....if Al-Qaeda was at 30% or 40% of their summer of 2001 strength. So therefore, the headline is deliberately misleading and designed to give people a false impression about this report which is, quite frankly, so thinly sourced that the AP shouldn't have published it in the first place given the controversial conclusion that it draws with its headline.

Frankly, I'm surprised the MSM is even taking the position that there are Muslims that want to kill us. Usually, they rant on about how Islam is a "religion of peace", America is an oppressor, and our foreign policy brought this all upon us, and if we'd only be more understanding and tolerant, Al Qaeda would just leave us alone.

But, if instilling fear into Americans can get the approval rate for the war in Iraq to drop a little lower, the MSM will jump all over it.