Al Qaeda Calls for World-Wide Campaign of Espionage, Sabotage
Assassinations Could Follow
March 20, 2003
By Toby Westerman
Copyright 2003 International News Analysis Today
www.inatoday.com
Al Qaeda is calling for a worldwide campaign of espionage and sabotage against "unbelievers" to "save the unity of Muslims." The terror network is rallying all Muslim "brothers," especially those working at U.S. bases in the Gulf states, according to the German news daily, Die Welt.
The attempt to organize mass spying and sabotage against the U.S. and its allies - including specific instructions on how to carry out the campaign -- is appearing on several Internet sites in the Arab world, Die Welt reports.
Al Qaeda's call to the "brothers" is in retaliation for the U.S.-led attack against the regime of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. The emotional appeal for "unity" following America's decision to attack Saddam gives evidence of a strong link between Baghdad and the terror network.
In addition to spying on traditional military targets, Muslim spies, or "scouts" are to carefully watch high-ranking officers -- including supreme commander Tommy Franks -- and carefully note their habits. The officers' places of recreation and travel routes are of special interest to Al Qaeda, according to the Islamic Internet messages Die Welt cites.
Observers note that Al Qaeda's keen interest in the movements of top U.S. and allied commanders raises the specter of assassination, a possibility made especially vivid by the recent murder of the Balkan reformer and Serb Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.
Central Intelligence Agency resident operatives and their agents in Gulf states are also of interest. All those connected with the CIA "must be tracked down," declares the Al Qaeda message.
Muslims working in allied bases in the Gulf are urged to provide a "long and detailed" list of information helpful to professional saboteurs, including the disposition of land, sea, and air forces. The "scouts" are to report all naval activity, the location of ships and where they dock, and pinpoint all operations centers.
Muslims employed at allied military bases outside of the Gulf region are instructed to "locate command posts" and munitions areas, gather information on "how and where" aircraft and helicopters are fueled, note which units are stationed at the installation, and locate the position of Patriot missile batteries.
The message from Al Qaeda appeals for a "readiness for holy war," which takes precedence over "loyalty to a particular nation" or "unbelieving employer."
"All brothers who work at support bases and all workers in the oil fields, which bring profits to the U.S.A. must rise up," declares the message on the Al Qaeda Internet sites.
Workers in the Gulf region's oil fields are to provide to "Jihad activists" information regarding oil and gas pipeline layouts, and the location of guards. The "scouts" are to observe which oil tankers belong to "unbelievers," especially American companies, and record their course and destination.
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