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NousDefionsDoc · 02-28-2005, 17:53

Updated 2/28/2005 6:02 PM

New intelligence indicate al-Qaeda planning terror operations outside Iraq

WASHINGTON (AP) - New intelligence indicates that Osama bin Laden is enlisting Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, his top operative in Iraq, to plan potential attacks on the United States, U.S. officials said Monday.

Al-Zarqawi has been involved in attacks in the Middle East but has not been known to have set his sights on U.S. soil.

The Homeland Security Department issued a classified bulletin to officials over the weekend about the intelligence, which spokesman Brian Roehrkasse described as "credible but not specific." The intelligence was obtained over the past several weeks, officials said.

The U.S. has no immediate plans to raise its national alert level, Roehrkasse said. However, the intelligence "reiterates the desire by al-Qaeda and its associates to target the homeland," he said.

Bin Laden was in contact with al-Zarqawi within the past two months in an effort to enlist him in attacks, a U.S. official said on the condition of anonymity. U.S. analysts believe this shows the al-Qaeda leadership needs to reach out to al-Zarqawi to get him involved in considering such activities outside Iraq, the official said.

Al-Zarqawi is blamed for scores of attacks in Iraq and pledged allegiance to bin Laden and the al-Qaeda network last year. Yet he has had differences with bin Laden and his efforts are considered somewhat distinct from central al-Qaeda operations.

Another administration official with access to the Homeland Security Department's bulletin said the intelligence indicates that al-Qaeda has continued to encourage al-Zarqawi, who was born in Jordan, to get involved in terrorist actions against Americans outside of Iraq, including in the United States.

"The intelligence continues to be analyzed by the intelligence community and all appropriate information will be passed on to homeland security partners," Roehrkasse said. "The department has no plans at this time to raise the threat level based on this nonspecific information."

02-28-2005, 17:53	#1
NousDefionsDoc Quiet Professional Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: LA Posts: 1,653	The Boogeyman Cometh Updated 2/28/2005 6:02 PM New intelligence indicate al-Qaeda planning terror operations outside Iraq WASHINGTON (AP) - New intelligence indicates that Osama bin Laden is enlisting Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, his top operative in Iraq, to plan potential attacks on the United States, U.S. officials said Monday. Al-Zarqawi has been involved in attacks in the Middle East but has not been known to have set his sights on U.S. soil. The Homeland Security Department issued a classified bulletin to officials over the weekend about the intelligence, which spokesman Brian Roehrkasse described as "credible but not specific." The intelligence was obtained over the past several weeks, officials said. The U.S. has no immediate plans to raise its national alert level, Roehrkasse said. However, the intelligence "reiterates the desire by al-Qaeda and its associates to target the homeland," he said. Bin Laden was in contact with al-Zarqawi within the past two months in an effort to enlist him in attacks, a U.S. official said on the condition of anonymity. U.S. analysts believe this shows the al-Qaeda leadership needs to reach out to al-Zarqawi to get him involved in considering such activities outside Iraq, the official said. Al-Zarqawi is blamed for scores of attacks in Iraq and pledged allegiance to bin Laden and the al-Qaeda network last year. Yet he has had differences with bin Laden and his efforts are considered somewhat distinct from central al-Qaeda operations. Another administration official with access to the Homeland Security Department's bulletin said the intelligence indicates that al-Qaeda has continued to encourage al-Zarqawi, who was born in Jordan, to get involved in terrorist actions against Americans outside of Iraq, including in the United States. "The intelligence continues to be analyzed by the intelligence community and all appropriate information will be passed on to homeland security partners," Roehrkasse said. "The department has no plans at this time to raise the threat level based on this nonspecific information." __________________ Somewhere a True Believer is training to kill you. He is training with minimal food or water, in austere conditions, training day and night. The only thing clean on him is his weapon and he made his web gear. He doesn't worry about what workout to do - his ruck weighs what it weighs, his runs end when the enemy stops chasing him. This True Believer is not concerned about 'how hard it is;' he knows either he wins or dies. He doesn't go home at 17:00, he is home. He knows only The Cause. Still want to quit?
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