Jun 02 2007

Terror Plot Thwarted At JFK

Published by at 11:48 am under All General Discussions,Bin Laden/GWOT

Two aspects of the breaking news about a terror plot being thwarted at JFK. First is the recognition we need all eyes and ears on the terrorists. Second, legal immigrants again are at the heart of the plot – NOT undocumented workers

Four people have been charged. One is in custody in New York. Three suspects are thought to be overseas.

Sources said a cargo worker at JFK allegedly began to plot attacking the US last July or August. The cargo worker sought help in carrying out a plan and went to an FBI informant, who gathered information about the plot.

The cargo worker is a U.S. citizen with roots in Guyana. Sources said he be a former government official in Guyana.

Thankfully our law enforcement resources were being diverted to round up nannies and waiters and cooks and painters and taxicab drivers who, while have not committed any serious crimes, are still here illegally. These attacks are going to increase as we stifle al Qaeda’s hopes in Iraq. As I reported al Qaeda is diverting new recruits away from Iraq (probably because it is now a lost cause). And what does the far right propose? Yep leaving us with our poor security situation longer while they ignore everything but their obsessions with workers here who are undocumented, but otherwise non-criminals.

The threat is from people getting here legally so they can operate without much suspicion. Illegal entry, as with 9-11, attracts too much unneeded attention. We have dodged a bullet again. We have probably used the NSA surveillance program to monitor the calls to the overseas partners in this attack. We probably started without a FISA warrant but graduated to one just as Bush said the program would work. And all of this is being missed by the far right which is off complaining about being insulted because they do not have Bush in their corner on one issue. And their solution? Walk away and let more liberals get elected so they can tear down the NSA program and make the illegals citizens immediately. There’s a winning plan. H/T reader DaleInAtlanta (sorry Dale, I did not take from this what you probably expected)

Update: I cannot emphasize too much how important the NSA Surveillance program is in detecting plots of this type. Here are some more details regarding the plot which show it was primarily being planned overseas to avoid detection:

A third law enforcement official said the suspects include a Guyanese man who used to work at the airport and was arrested in New York City on Friday night. Two other suspects were apprehended in Trinidad.

Investigators were seeking a fourth suspect in Trinidad.

The official said the plotters had conducted surveillance on giant jet fuel tanks at JFK and the pipeline. They had taken surveillance video of the targets and took it to Trinidad to review the tape, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the arrests were not yet announced.

The official said investigators first found out about the plot in January 2006. After that, an informant infiltrated the group.

The NSA Surveillance program had to have played a major role in this action. Taking video of neighborhoods, etc is not sufficient cause for surveillance. The fact the plot was being planned overseas and involved one person here in the US most likely meant the NSA picked up on the purpose of the videos, etc. Once detected the FBI investigated until sufficient evidence was developed – independent of any NSA information – to get full up FISA warrants in place. I am speculating, but the example is valid. And why we need to make sure the ACLU and other liberal outfits do not dismantle the now fully legal program.

10 responses so far

10 Responses to “Terror Plot Thwarted At JFK”

  1. DaleinAtlanta says:

    AJ: b&w is so difficult to tell “intent”!

    That was a flippant comment of mine, to just seque in the above!

    That’s all….

    It has nothing to do with border security; unless of course, it turns out the the plotters were here illegally; but way to early to tell that!

  2. For Enforcement says:

    undocumented workers? another name for illegal aliens.

    The threat is from people getting here legally so they can operate without much suspicion

    and to fix that, all of them that get here illegally, let’s give them legal status immediately so they can also operate without much suspicion.

    Wouldn’t want to discriminate.

  3. thecentercannothold says:

    http://www.antiwar.com/scheuer/?articleid=11052

    AJ should note the above more accurate expert analysis of why
    “These attacks are going to increase as we stifle al Qaeda’s hopes in Iraq.”

    So he won’t be surprised.

  4. retire05 says:

    “trienta uno de diciembre, dos cero cero seis”

    Soon to be the most commonly used phrase in America.

  5. retire05 says:

    Undocumented workers?
    Crikey, AJ, can you not even bring yourself to call them what they are? ILLEGAL ALIENS.

  6. DaleinAtlanta says:

    Read Captn’s latest post at Captain’s Quarters, I made the Adnan Shurijumah call first!

    Also, another reason why Trinidad factors in, you read it here first, and I remember when it happened: Muslims attempt Coup D’etat in Trinidad

  7. lurker9876 says:

    Ya think that the democrats want the NSA Terrorist surveillance program dismantled to allow another 9/11 attack to happen under Bush so that the American Public would blame Bush for another 9/11 attack?

  8. Jacqui says:

    Something significant…maybe… was said as an aside on FOXNEWS a few minutes ago. The daughter of Russell Defreitas told the producer of “The Big Story” that her father was on the way to Trinidad and then was going to Venezuela and Iran for an Islamic Conference when he was arrested. She also believes that this is a made up charge and he would never do anything like this…

    I just am curious about the Trinidad to Venezuela to Iran trip and if all four co-conspirators were meeting in Trinidad and going together….

  9. thecentercannothold says:

    John Murtha rightly opined today on Stefanapolous that US occupation of Iraq is fueling such anger and consequent plots on a worldwide basis.

  10. 4 charged with terror plot at JFK airport – CNN.com…

    After Gadahn (left) announced a new attack on US (read also The Counterterrorism Blog here and here): 
    NEW YORK (CNN) — Four men have been charged with conspiring to blow up jet fuel supply tanks and pipelines at John F. Kennedy In…