WHAT, NO REICHSTAG FIRE?:

Al-Qaeda plotting attacks to impact US polls: Pakistan intelligence (AFP, 8/10/04)

Al-Qaeda operatives captured in Pakistan were plotting terrorist attacks aimed at influencing the US presidential elections in November, a senior Pakistani intelligence official told AFP.

The terrorist network was looking to pull off major attacks in the United States, Britain or Pakistan in the run-up to the polls but its capacity has been crippled by recent arrests in Pakistan, said the official.

"The network was looking to strike a major blow ahead of the elections. Al-Qaeda was looking to strike in the United States or its chief allies Great Britain and Pakistan," said the official, asking to remain anonymous.

"The period before the US presidential elections was very critical," said the official, who has played a key role in a crackdown against Al-Qaeda in Pakistan over the past month which has netted over 20 suspected operatives.

The alleged head of a British-based Al-Qaeda cell, Abu Eisa Al Hindi, who was arrested last week after a tip-off from Pakistan, was probably involved in the plots against the United States, said the official.

Won't this make the facist takeover more difficult to justify?

Posted by Orrin Judd at August 10, 2004 1:15 PM