10/22/08

Today the AP and Washington Post both report that Al-Qaeda-linked websites are celebrating the U.S. financial crisis and looking to the U.S. elections as a way to promote four more years of policies that work to Al-Qaeda’s advantage. Richard Clark, William Bratton and other experts have warned that we should expect Al-Qaeda to try to involve itself in this election. In 2004 Al Qaeda bombed a train in Madrid days before the Spanish election and Osama Bin Laden released a video just before the U.S. election that pledged more attacks. Presently, our intelligence services tell us that Al Qaeda has been able to reconstitute in its safe haven along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and the GAO even warned in April that “al Qaeda is now using the Pakistani safe haven to put the last element necessary to launch another attack against America into place.” It is past time that the United States shift its focus back on those who attacked us on 9-11.

Washington Post: Al-Qaeda rejoices over financial crisis and George Bush’s failed policies. The Washington Post reports today that “Al-Qaeda is watching the U.S. stock market's downward slide with something akin to jubilation, with its leaders hailing the financial crisis as a vindication of its strategy of crippling America’s economy through endless, costly foreign wars against Islamist insurgents.” Al-Qaeda affiliated websites took credit for luring the Bush administration into a trap that “exhausted its [America’s] resources and bankrupted its economy.” This web posting is the most recent claim by al Qaeda and Taliban-related groups trumpeting the global financial crisis and predicting further decline for the U.S. and the West. [Washington Post, 10/22/08]

Al-Qaeda-linked site expresses support for John McCain’s presidential bid; cites McCain as most likely to continue Bush policies. The Associated Press reports that “Al-Qaida supporters suggested in a Web site message this week they would welcome a pre-election terror attack on the U.S. as a way to usher in a McCain presidency. The message, posted Monday on the password-protected al-Hesbah Web site, said if al-Qaida wants to exhaust the United States militarily and economically, ‘impetuous’ Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain is the better choice because he is more likely to continue the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. ‘This requires presence of an impetuous American leader such as McCain, who pledged to continue the war till the last American soldier,’ the message said. ‘Then, al-Qaida will have to support McCain in the coming elections so that he continues the failing march of his predecessor, Bush.’” The Washington Post added that “And at least some of its supporters think Sen. John McCain is the presidential candidate best suited to continue that trend. ‘Al-Qaeda will have to support McCain in the coming election,’ said a commentary posted Monday on the extremist Web site al-Hesbah, which is closely linked to the terrorist group. It said the Arizona Republican would continue the ‘failing march of his predecessor,’ President Bush.” As Adam Raisman, a senior analyst for the Site Intelligence Group, says “The idea in the jihadist forums is that McCain would be a faithful ‘son of Bush’ -- someone they see as a jingoist and a war hawk... They think that, to succeed in a war of attrition, they need a leader in Washington like McCain.” [AP, 10/22/08. Washington Post, 10/22/08]

Experts express concern that al-Qaeda will attempt to influence November Elections through terrorism. Counter-terrorism and law-enforcement experts agree that al-Qaeda may attempt to influence the Presidential elections through propaganda or attacks. According to William Bratton and R.P. Eddy, “Al Qaeda has a history of trying to influence elections, most notably with the 2004 train attacks in Madrid,” and also with a “videotaped statement, released just days before the elections” between President Bush and John Kerry. Al-Qaeda may already be trying to influence this year’s race. Counter-Terrorism expert Richard Clarke stated that the recent bombings in Islamabad, Pakistan and Sana, Yemen could be the “opening round of a pre-election campaign” according to counter-terrorism expert Richard Clarke. Clarke went on to analyze al-Qaeda’s reasoning behind these actions, explaining that “it could just be to use the election to magnify the media coverage of their terrorist activities, make al Qaeda look even more capable than it is, and remind everyone they are still around. Such a media-amplified attack might help them with recruitment and fundraising. Even more likely is the possibility that al Qaeda would hope the attack would benefit John McCain. Opinion polls, which, as noted above, al Qaeda reads closely, suggest that an attack would help McCain.” [NY Daily News - William Bratton and R.P. Eddy, 10/22/08. Newsweek - Richard Clarke, 10/02/08],

Quick Hits

European and Asian stocks drop as fears of a global recession sparked a sell-off. A scandal at the IMF may impede its efforts to help struggling countries in the financial crisis.

The Iraqi cabinet announced that it would “demand” changes to the draft security agreement, while U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates stated that “There is great reluctance to engage further in the drafting process.”

A U.S.-led coalition airstrike mistakenly targeted an Afghan army checkpoint, killing 9 Afghan soldiers.

An Afghan-led operation in southern Afghanistan killed 35 Taliban militants.

The Pentagon official in charge of the Guantanamo Bay military commissions dismissed charges against five detainees.

South Korea believes that North Korea is operating “normally” under Kim Jong-il, despite rumors of his ill health.

India launched a mission to the moon focused on mapping the lunar surface and laying groundwork for future Indian space missions.

Several hundred protestors in Thailand blocked Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat during visit to a government office, throwing shoes and water bottles.

The head of NATO’s anti-piracy patrol off of Somalia said that piracy is “hard to defeat” and that rules of engagement are still being negotiated.

Iran, Qatar and Russia agreed to form an OPEC-style organization for natural gas-exporting countries