February 28, 2005 Bulletin

Intercepted message renews threats against US

Recent intelligence indicates that Osama bin Laden has been encouraging Abu Musab al-Zarqawi to focus his attention on terrorist attacks within the United States. An intercepted communication may point to a significantly more important role for Zarqawi in al Qaeda and a much longer reach than was previously thought. US officials are uncertain, however, saying Zarqawi has all he can do to avoid arrest by American or Iraqi forces. Any capability that he may have to reach beyond the borders of Iraq is, as yet, unknown. That this communication may be either another piece of disinformation for which the group is well known, or an indication of changing focus, is also a topic of discussion in intelligence circles. Although the correspondence lacks specificity, it is being taken very seriously.

Zarqawi, who entered Iraq with the blessings of Saddam Hussein prior to the US invasion in 2003, was named by bin Laden as al Qaeda's representative in Iraq and is believed to be behind the many of the bombings, beheadings, and attacks in Iraq over the last two years.

While Iraqi officials claim to be close to capturing Zarqawi, (they recently arrested his driver and a key associate), more information is needed to test whether this latest intelligence is merely propoganda to support a Zarqawi close to capture (meant to be intercepted) or a real threat against an increasingly complacent America.

go to Bulletin Archives

return to top — print view

Home | Services | Methodologies | About Terrorism | GGi in the Press | About GGi | Our Values | The GGi Team | Links | Contact GGi