Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (111342)	8/14/2003 12:33:56 AM
From: Sig	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

<<<Al Qaeda scheduled large-scale mega-terror offensive in Persian Gulf and East Africa for this week, was confronted with major counter-terror crackdown by Saudi, Yemeni, Kenyan security. Plot included airliner hijackings, missile attacks and suicide bombings against Western and local targets.>>> Nadine, my girl, this is really serious stuff. The airlines must not be shut done again as the economic consequences are enormous. The Administration has done "the right thang", and fired up all securities agencies as best they could. Alerted other countries to what they are faced with, set some precedents as to what to do. All these thread conversations about where is Saddams pepper spray?- Throw the bums out, they are all lying, and calls for impeachment of GWB are merely talk. letting it all out, as Americans are permitted to do. If Al Qaeda succeeds, the full strengh of our Military may possibly be needed, not talking bombs, but the trained personnel and special forces and enough teeth and guts to conduct unilateral action if its required. With the speed , equipment and transportation to get on-site and hunt the enemy down. Sig .

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (111342)	8/14/2003 2:09:24 AM
From: KLP	Respond to of 281500

Warnings after Saudi 'air threat' Air travellers from the United States and Britain have been alerted to the possibility of attack if they go to Saudi Arabia. The alerts came after intelligence reports were relayed to Washington and London by the Saudis of a specific threat to British airlines flying in or out of Riyadh international airport. British Airways, one of the world's biggest airlines, suspended all flights to Saudi Arabia until further notice. Later, the US State Department renewed an existing warning to US citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the kingdom. Gun battles between the security forces and suspected Islamic militants in the kingdom have left several people dead over the past few days. If you choose to travel to, or remain in, Saudi Arabia you should take all necessary steps to protect your safety UK Foreign Office The Americans are particularly sensitive to threats in Saudi Arabia following the suicide car bombings in May on residential blocks housing Americans and other foreigners. In that same month, a shoulder-fired missile only just missed a US military transporter taking off from a military airbase in northern Saudi Arabia. The BBC's David Bamford, in Washington, says the latest reports contribute to a heightened sense of unease about flying in general, as Americans prepare for the second anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon. Airport surveillance BA's decision followed advice from the UK Department for Transport which warned of "credible intelligence of a serious threat to UK aviation interests in [Saudi Arabia]". Further large or small scale attacks against Western interests in Saudi Arabia remain likely UK Foreign Office The source of the scare lies in the Saudi capital Riyadh, where the authorities have been trying to break up Islamist terror cells, said BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner. "By watching Riyadh airport they've learned this week that al-Qaeda sympathisers also had the airport under surveillance," said our correspondent. BA usually operates four flights a week each to the Saudi cities of Riyadh and Jeddah. Other airlines, including Saudi Arabian Airlines which flies direct to Riyadh, and several other Middle Eastern airlines which have indirect routes, are still flying to Saudi. Jamal Khashokji, an adviser to the Saudi Ambassador in London, described BA's move as "absolutely unwarranted". "Unless there is intelligence reasons for the decision of BA, it remains unjustifiable. We hope to hear more details about this from the British," he told the BBC. 'All means necessary' Passengers at Heathrow, some of whom were on their way to Mecca, were dismayed to find out that their flights were cancelled - and many heard through the assembled media rather than the airline. I'm very upset. I think they could have said something beforehand Passenger Mohamed Rauf Khan The Foreign Office said it would alert the British community in Saudi Arabia to the announcement, via its warden network. It said it did not intend to change its current advice about travel to Saudi Arabia. This already advises against all but essential travel to the Middle East country. It states: "If you choose to travel to, or remain in, Saudi Arabia you should take all necessary steps to protect your safety and should make sure you have confidence in your security arrangements." Bomb attacks in Riyadh on 12 May this year killed more than 30 people, including two British nationals, and injured nearly 100. Passengers seeking information on BA flights to Saudi Arabia can ring the airline's main number on: 0870 8509850 . Story from BBC NEWS: news.bbc.co.uk Published: 2003/08/14 04:28:46 GMT © BBC MMIII