Bedwetting UN Paints Grim Portrait of Evil al-Qaida Threat

http://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/UN_Qaida_Report/2007/11/29/53223.html

U.N. Paints Grim Portrait of al-Qaida Threat

Thursday, November 29, 2007

UNITED NATIONS -- Al-Qaida remains determined to mount major attacks and has

extended its base of support and become more adept at communicating its

message and operational plans, a U.N. report said Tuesday.

At the same time, Taliban rebels fighting to regain control of Afghanistan

have increased their influence not only in Afghanistan but in northwestern

Pakistan and have money from the drug trade to hire foot soldiers and buy

sophisticated weapons, the report said.

The report by terrorism experts working for the Security Council committee

monitoring U.N. sanctions against the Taliban and al-Qaida painted a grim

picture of the ''persistent and real'' threat from both groups whose

relationship ''appears close.''

Since its last report a year ago, the committee said ''there may have been

fewer major operations than al-Qaida leaders would have liked, but the

arrest or death of suspected al-Qaida-related terrorists in more than 40

countries around the world ... suggests a high volume of terrorist

planning.''

''The frequent and widespread warnings by world leaders and

counter-terrorist professionals that more attacks could occur at any time,

acknowledge al-Qaida's spread, its patience and its determination,'' the

report said.

It cited an increase in al-Qaida propaganda through the Internet including

Osama bin Laden's first video broadcast in nearly three years in September

addressed to the American people, which was followed by two other

broadcasts. One urged supporters to follow the example of the Sept. 11, 2001

hijackers and the other appealed to Pakistanis to overthrow President Gen.

Pervez Musharraf.

''These messages, and the ambition they show, reflect the strength al-Qaida

draws from activists in disjointed cells who desire to be part of something

bigger,'' the report said.

Al-Qaida's No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahiri, in numerous videos over the past year,

also continues to try to capitalize on the tens of thousands of people

around the world who sign up to password-protected Web sites and chat rooms,

it said.

''Through these videos, al-Zawahiri hopes to inspire attacks and to bring as

much operational activity under central direction,'' it said.

According to information provided to the experts by member states, the

report said al-Qaida has established training centers in Pakistan, operating

out of houses and small compounds, and has networks that channel people into

the centers.

''The evidence from arrests of people who have received such training

confirms that al-Qaida is as determined as ever to carry out ambitious,

large-scale operations wherever it may,'' the report said.

''Al-Qaida has continued to show its determination to mount major attacks;

it has extended its base of support; its leaders have consolidated their

ability to communicate their message and their operational plans,'' the

report said.

The experts warned that while the world may have become ''numbed'' to

attacks where many die, ''any duplication of the level of violence seen in

al-Qaida-related operations in Iraq, or the downing of aircraft, or the

explosion of a 'dirty bomb' in an urban center, which remains an al-Qaida

ambition, will cause widespread economic, social and political disruption.''

Elaborating on the close relationship between al-Qaida and the Taliban, the

report said both groups have a common need to establish secure bases in

Afghanistan, ''especially as the authorities in Pakistan increase the

pressure on the other side of the border.''

The U.N. estimates there are about 3,000 active Taliban fighters, and up to

7,000 occasional fighters who receive ''at least passive support from many

others'' and cross easily into Pakistan, the report said.

''The threat to President (Hamid) Karzai's authority and to the stability of

Afghanistan is as real as ever,'' it said.

While security forces have prevented attacks and killed or captured

significant leaders, the report said U.N. financial, travel and arms

embargoes have had only a limited impact in curbing the activities of both

groups because the list of individuals and groups subject to sanctions is

incomplete and many of the 192 U.N. member states haven't fully implemented

the measures.

In areas where cooperation between countries is required, the report said

senior counter-terrorist officials are disappointed with progress,

especially in response to terrorist use of the Internet.