US Troops Take Possibility of al Q`aida Attack on Guantanamo Seriously

[kskiska]

Firing heavy machine-guns and mortars, U.S. soldiers practiced repulsing a commando attack Saturday at the maximum-security prison for terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay.

While the possibility of terrorists trying to break out prisoners seems remote, it's crucial for the soldiers to be prepared, said Capt. Gregg Langevin, a 33-year-old from the Massachusetts Army National Guard.

"There have been reports that the al-Qaida are out there actively trying to buy small crafts," Langevin said, suggesting a stealthy approach from the coast.

(snip)

"No one can get in here -- bottom line," Sgt. Johnny Saldana, a 30-year-old from Boston, said after firing hundreds of rounds from a .50-caliber machine gun.

Guantanamo is about 110 miles from Haiti, 150 miles from Jamaica and 230 miles from the U.S. coast around Miami.

The scenario of a hijacked airliner flying toward the base also was addressed, with some gunners shooting at puffs of smoke set off in the sky.

more…
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/01/31/international1427EST0600.DTL

[pacifictiger]

1. that will be an excuse

to ramp up military activity in Cuba

[saigon68]

8. al Q`aida may Attack Lion's Club Bean Feed on Monday

Washington (AP) Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge stated today that we have to be ever vigilant.

Ridge cited a report of al Q'aida commandos slogging their over the Blue Ridge Mountains of Tennessee. The target, revealed by unnamed sources as being the annual Ground Hog's Day bean feed in downtown Des Moines IA.

This year the city was urged by Ridge to place additional security forces on duty to repel a possible attack. The elite 101st Airborne Division may be flown in to provide security for the participants.

Expect the same security screening, as you would at the airport explained the Des Moines police chief Chuck Doolittle.

[IndianaGreen]

9. Where is this attack going to come from?

This is a cover story for a potential US invasion of Cuba. Where is Bush going to get his troops for this? Perhaps they think that US troops will be welcomed in Havana with flowers and dancing in the streets.

[arcane1]

11. they might scam us into getting Venezuela involved as well..

they've had their cross-hairs on Chavez for quite some time. Nothing like a threatened switch to the Euro to have yourself deemed a "terrorist supporter"

in fact I'd even put money down that this alleged plot will be claimed to be based in VZ

:grr:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. I don't think this will happen

Guantanimo is an embarrassment for the US and a recruiting tool for terrorist organizations, who point to the treatment of the prisoners there and persecution of Muslim military attached there as an example of the anti-Islamic bias of the US.

[arcane1]

3. aren't we supposed to be "safer" now?

I'm confused, we are all safer now that Saddam is gone. Bush said it, it MUST be true! :silly:

[Dantes]

4. STUPID!!!!

These people obviously don't understand terrorists. Terrorists don't launch offensives against military troops in a military fashion. They blow up weak, lightly guarded targets.

[TheUnknownPoster]

5. Oh yeah, they gotta be ready

You know, in case a giant attack fleet from the Qaeda navy sailed out of their ports in Venezuela and shelled the base with WMD before their aircraft carriers launched fighter planes to drop paratroopers with gas masks down to overwhelm our poor boys!

That's all they would need to take over strategic control of the Caribbean, disrupting U.S. trade in the region and threating the southern U.S. coast with a massive, unstoppable invasion!

And then Osama's allies the Martians will come down and...

[IndianaGreen]

10. There you go! Al-Qaeda's Plan Nine from Outer Space!

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. We'll I guess they could rig those donkey carts

into some sort of boat and if you had enough donkey carts, you could make a fleet of boats. Now getting this fleet from a cave in Afghanistan to the water and then to Cuba might be a bit of a problem, but you never know? Praise allah and 70 virgins and anything is possible?

[daleo]

7. They would probably use canoes

Paddle in under cover of darkness, and shoot flaming arrows at the base.

[0007]

12. LOL!!

Hilarious

[mike1963]

13. trying to buy 'small crafts'? Hell, there's an Aircraft Carrier on Ebay

or was a few days ago, dunno if anybody bought it.
:evilgrin: