AFI Research Archives on MILNET

AFI Research

Espionage & Security, Strategy & Risk Analysis and Armed Forces Intelligence
Global Information & Research Services for the News Media, MNC and OSINT Managers

Contact afi@supanet.com Bookmark www.geocities.com/afi_research/AFIindex.html

To buy an expanded version of any of the stories below or to subscribe to the comprehensive range of press, publishing and business research services, analysis and scenario prediction available from AFI Research, please contact Richard M. Bennett
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please credit AFI Research if you use any part of this e-mail in any publication, website or broadcast

'America goes to War' Comprehensive coverage of the military buildup only at ORBAT.COM the USA's top orbat source.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Domestic Terror Arrests | Terrorist Arrests Outside North America

The List of Known Conspirators Grows

As facts begin to emerge about the planning and execution of the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center and the U.S. Pentagon, it is clear that terrorist activities in the U.S. could have been written like a Cold War Era spy novel -- where would-be sabotage and subversion cells taught by the Soviet Union's KGB sneak into the U.S. and wreak havoc. The sad truth is that in essence, this is exactly what happened, with the results we all must live with.

From sleepers, so called espionage "tradecraft", to covert funding operations, we see patterns emerging that are clearly a well funded, long term planning operation that was executed with a well timed punch at American psyche. And all reminescent of Tom Clancey, Ken Follet, or John LeCarre. Perahps John LeCarre's George Smiley would feel at home with these developments, but surely American leaders and citizens alike are shaking their head in wonder.

Amongst this tradecraft (ala LeCarre's "Moscow Rules") we have dead drops, money laundering and covert transfers and perhaps even "short" investments in the U.S. stock market made in the weeks prior to the attacks. Even more irritating and damning, we have wide open wire transfers of sums that are supposed to attract attention and didn't, at least one transfer of $100,000 to a terrorist with an expired student visa, learning to fly commercial airliners in Florida. George Smiley would be shaking his head in amazement.

And up to now, the basic chronology has been reported in pieces throughout the media, however, finally we are able to put faces and names with the planners and leaders. And today Attorney General Ashcroft has seen fit to call off the investigation to focus the FBI on prevention or new attacks -- clearly an excellent idea, however risky. One does wonder if the continued investigation might have also led to the remaining sleeper "in country" waiting to be awakened by the next set of Osama Bin Laden orders. But we all hope the new direction towards prevention will take those leads in hand now and use them to find existing cells and stop new cells from penetrating our swiss cheese borders.

And while much is still left up to speculation since the executioners of thousands of American innocents themselves are dead, we can piece together enough to make information to make this would-be novel that much more than just what used to be an entertaining novel.

The Planning

Years before the September 11th attack, reports the Washington Post, former Egyptian policeman Mohammed Atef began work with Osama Bin Laden and Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahari on a daring, and at that time, unheard of, missile attack on U.S. territory. The missiles, in this case, are fully fueled, high density commercial airliners -- 757 or 767 class -- which are considered pilotable air-fuel bombs of emmense destructive capacity.

Atef, working with operatives in Europe and the Balkans, plans for agents to infiltrate the U.S. on student or worker visas, knowing full well that once in the country, there is only a token effort by American immigration authorities to track down those with expired visas. He works with whomever he can to procure false identify papers and clothes that fit into the American culture, perhaps even training agents in rudimentary English.

Atef and Bin Laden and most likley Dr. Al-Zawahari directly or through relationships set up in his days as head of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, recruit Mohamed Atta. Atta is a now known to be a young fanatic student who turned away from his studies and friends in academic circles to become one of the main money conduits in the U.S. as well as the "in country" leader of at least one attack cell. They also recruit Marwan al-Shehhi and Hani Hanjour into similar cells -- members who may have had no contact or knowledge of the other's mission.

The sleeper agents in this terrorist cell are given false documentation, most likely obtained from Muslim extremists late of the Bosnian conflict, recruited for their hatred of the U.S. due to the U.S. led NATO bombings in that country.

The Training

Atta and others are trained and plan their attacks at a popular university in Germany, then infilitrate into the U.S. using their false identification.

Once "in country", they continue their training on flight simulators and enlist in commercial flying schools in Arizona and Florida where there are noticed as intense students if not all that skilled as pilots. One of the places confirmed is the Sawyer School of Aviation, an upscale flight instruction school that includes huge simulators where alleged conspirator Lotfi Raissi is seen training a number of Middle Eastern students, one of which was later identified as Hani Hanjour, the terrorist who is believed to have flown the commercial jet into the Pentagon on Sept 11.

Others comb out looking for different means of attacking U.S. citizens. Some look at crop dusters, asking questions on size and capability of the insecticide tanks as well as performance and flying characteristics of the small planes. Was this intended for bio or chemical warfare operations, or just a way to fuel a large crash explosion by filling up the aircraft's tanks with fuel? We'll never know. And while many scoff at the effectiveness of an airborne chemical or biological dispersion of agents, south Florida and the FBI have been stunned about revalations of a possible Anthrax attack in a tabloid newspaper affecting only two people so far.

Meanwhile others apply, using forged papers, for licenses to load and haul hazardous materials in an Hazardous Material transports. While the intent here is pretty obvious as well as frightening, FBI officials still have no direct evidence of actual shipments being made. It does prompt one to wonder if there is a hazardous material shipment out there somewhere, a tanker load in the hands of Atef's and Bin Laden's people, as of yet undiscovered in the investigation.

The Finances

Funding for the operation came through wire transfers, mostly small transfers under the limit that normally bears scrutiny. Quiet funding certainly fits the Cold War novel scenarios, agents sneaking around picking up small drops of cash over their sleeper period, and saving the cash up so they can fund the big operational order when the time comes. However some large transfers, as much as $100,000 at a time are also found in this real life drama.

The money man in Europe is reported by NBC news to be Mustafa Ahmed - a.ka. Shayk Saiid. He is reported to have wired large and small sums to sleepers in the U.S., with direct evidence showing funds moving into the Florida SunTrust Bank. Widely reported by nearly all television and newspaper media, terrorists who flew the aircraft into American targets had wired back what is suspected to be unused funds to Ahmed in the days prior to their fatal flights. Again, even the intrepid George Smiley would be grim over these revealations.

Bin Laden himself is thought to have provided much of the actual monies, using his own financial channels as well as those of Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahari long time right hand man in Bin Laden's Al-Qaida. Between the three men, Bin Laden, Atef, and Zawahari, the funding flowed to Europe and Ahmed, then to perhaps dozens of banks in the U.S. to help feed and support the sleepers as they studied in secret for the attack. Certainly while the terrorists were at their comfortable German university, the funds from Al-Qaida flowed for tuition, room and boarding.

With funds totalling a half a million dollars flowing directly into the U.S. and then being distributed into the hands of the network of small operational cells, it is easy to picture a careful build up of capability and skill leading to the attacks. Probably each other, the cells are instructed by their leaders to time their arrivals at key U.S. landmarks. The fact they were so successful in their use of airliners, also indicates that other attempts may have been funded as well, from tank trucks full of toxins to other smaller aircraft used as missiles.

In order to fit in, some of the cell members spend time in American bars, living it up and enjoying forbidden pleasures before they go to their maker. People interviewed who knew these terrorists said they seemed to be hard at work fitting in, and never suspected their evil intentions.

Casing the Operation and Rehearsals

In the last months before the attacks, Atta and Seuffi each board flights looking at the security conditions and probably are able to bring on their box knifes. They might even have worked their way close to the cockpit being hustled back to their seas by flight attendants. Most likely they check their timing and silently imagine the steps they will be taking on a future flight.

It is clear that the terrorists chose Boston's Logan airport for a reason. Perhaps it was the security arrangments, or the fact they had an informant or co-conspirator working in security or ground crew. But for whatever reason, the two flights that are used both depart from Logan, only minutes apart. One could easily postulate, in pure Tom Clancey fashion, the recruitment of an in place agent, a Muslim recruit who is convinced he is doing the right thing for the powerfully motivated, Bin Laden trained and sponsored killers.

In Washington, D.C. another cell member boards a flight out of Dulles International to check out that route, perhaps looking at the White House or the U.S. Capitol building as his targets.

All the rehearsals go well and our sleepers are ready for the go order.

In the weeks prior to to the attacks the orders some. The terrorists send back their remaining money, that which wasn't used in their purchases of food, clothing, flight lessons, or other necessities. The begin to make their final movements to their takeoff locations and those supporting them, prepare to leave as soon as their parts are done. From airport employees to perhaps a few "bankrollers" get their affairs in order so that on the day of the attacks, only the terrorist cells are in place. Or perhaps a few deep undercover supporters remain, to help fuel up, so to speak, the next wave of terror that is certain to follow for maximum psychological effect.

The Conspirators - A Growing List

If you are the FBI you generate a list of the Ten Most Wanted. In our case, we have some terrorist names and faces that we know won't be found -- their remains are in the rubble of the World Trade Center and that special pie segment of the U.S. Pengagon. We need to undertand our Top Ten list though, it is the crux of the matter. Because from the money trail to the people involved in the actual execution, back to the people behind the attacks, we find out where we, as a nation need to strike back -- those countries that are harboring our Top Ten. As this report was being prepared, the FBI did indeed generate a new Most Wanted list, with those in our list marked for the reader's convenience.

The People Behind the Terror


Name	Basic Function	Details	Whereabouts
Osama Bin Laden *	Al-Qaida Leader, planner, funding	Reputed to be worth billions, Bin Laden says he speaks on behave of the poor Muslims in the world who are oppressed by western capitalism, and spends his monies on any activity that will disrupt the people and economy of weasten countires	Thought to remain in hiding in the mountain caves of Afghanistan. Probably joined now by high ranking members of the Taliban Regime of Afghanistan.
Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahari *	Al-Qaida/Egyptian Isamlic Jihad Financial and tactical Planner, financial conduit	Former leader of the Egyptian Isalamc Jihad, has been a long time leader in the terrorist world expelled from Egypt and susceptible to arrest in her allies Saudia Arabia and Jordon, he has long time financial channels for moving funds to elements of terrorist groups worldwide. It is thought he might have been responsible for planning and moving funds for the attacks on U.S. embassasies in Africa.	Thought to remain in hiding with Bin Laden in the mountains of Afghanistan.
Mamdouh Mahmud Salim	Al-Qaida Financial Director	Implicated in the plot to blow up U.S. Embassay bombings in 1998. In 1994, he was one of the men attempting to purchase enriched uranium on the black market (according to testimony in the Embassy Bombing trial of two others in New York).	Being held in New York, pending trial for the Embassy bombings. Said to have cheered from his jail cell when he learned of the WTC bombings
Mohammed Atef *	Al-Qaida/Egyptian Isamlic Jihad Tactical Planner, operational commander	Former egyptian policeman who joined the Islamic Jihad thus establishing a long time relationship with A-Zawarahi, now providing exectuion orders to members of the cells planted perhaps worldwide	Unknown, however there is a good possibility he to returned to be trapped with Bin Laden in the mountains of Afghanistan.
Mohamed Atta	Al-Qaida/Egyptian Isamlic Jihad Sleeper Agent, cell leader	Former Egyptian student most likely recruited by Atef or Al-Zawahari. Received and distributed funds from Europe through the Florida SunTrust Bank	Died abort aircraft crashed into World Trade Center tower two.
Marwan Al-Shehhi	Al-Qaida/Egyptian Isamlic Jihad Agent	Student pilot, enrolls in commercial flying school, learning to fly 757 or 767 aircraft.	Died aboard aircraft that crashed into tower one of WTC.
Hani Hanjour	Al-Qaida/Egyptian Isamlic Jihad Agent	Student pilot, enrolls in commercial flying school, learning to fly 757 or 767 aircraft.	Died aboard aircraft that crashed into the Pentagon
Ziad Samir Jarrah	Al-Qaida/Egyptian Isamlic Jihad Agen	Student pilot, enrolls in commercial flying school, learning to fly 757 or 767 aircraft.	Killed in the crash of a hijacked aircraft on 9/11/01.
*Mustafa Ahmed (a.k.a. Shayk Saiid)**	Al-Qaida European Moneyman	Wired several money transactions to members of the cells including Mohamed Atta, including a $100,000 wire transfer to the Florida SunTrust Bank. Several major U.S. television news programs reported in the second week since the attacks and later confirmed by U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, that several of the terrorists wired back unused monies to Ahmed in the weeks prior to the attacks with sumes up to $20,000	At Large probably in Europe
Abu al Maid	Organization's provisioner - fake passports, international driver's licenses and other identification papers.	Described by Interior Ministor of Bosnia Muhamed Besic as a "senior military aide" to Bin Laden.	Unknown, probably undercover in Western Europe or the Balkans.
Lotfi Raissi	Flight Trainer	Algerian born flight instructor at the Sawyer School of Aviation, a flight school with flight simulators in Phoenix, Arizona. Simulator managers say Raissi was using the simulator and training students as early as 1998.	In custody in the U.K.
Bensayah Belkacem	Bosnian Muslim - Fake Identity Merchant, go between - fake passports, international driver's licenses and other identification papers.	May not be a direct link to Al-Qaida, but Abu al Maid discussed the procurement of foreign passports with Belkacem - good prototype for those who sold Al-Qaida terrorists their false identities	In custody in Zenica, Sarejevo, Bosnia Herzgovana, charges levied not related to Sept 11., however, that may change if al Maid is captured.
Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman	Al-Qaida Egyptian Isamlic Jihad Financial conduit, motivation, leadership of team in field	Blind Egyptian cleric who encouraged, supplied and financed (probably as a conduit) original WTC attack in 1993. His imprisonment in U.S., like other terrorist prisoners worldwide, incites terrorist ire and continues to have an effect on terrorist activities in the U.S. Many believe he is now a living matryr, and that as a dead matryr he would be less dangerous and less effective.	Life sentence in solitary confinement in U.S. prison or his role in 1993 attack on World Trade Center.
Bilal Bin Marwan **	Senior Lt. to Bin Laden	-	At Large
Sa'd Al-Sharif **	Al-Qaida financial network	-	At Large
Amin Al-Haq **	Al-Qaida security coordinator	-	At Large
Mamoun Darkazanli **	Agent	-	At Large
Abdel Karim Hussein Mohamed al-Nasser *	Agent	One of two agents who purchased the truck used in the U.S. Embassay bombings in 1998	At Large
Abdul Rahman Yasin *	Agent	Wanted for his alleged participation in the bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993.	At Large
Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah *	Agent	Indicted for the bombings of the U.S. embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya.	At Large
Ahmed Khfaklan Ghailani *	Al-Qaida operative	One of two agents who purchased the truck used in the U.S. Embassay bombings in 1998	At Large
Ahmad Ibrahim Al-Mughassil *	Agent	Indicted in the bombing of the Khobar Towers, in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia.	At Large
Ahmed Mohammed Hamed Ali *	Agent	Wanted for the August 7, 1998, bombings of the United States Embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya	At Large
Ali Atwa *	Agent	Wanted for June 1985 hijacking of U.S. Airliner which resulted in the death of passsenger.	At Large
Ali Saed Bin Ali El-Hoorie *	Agent	Indicted in the bombing of the Khobar Towers, in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia.	At Large
Anas Al-Libi *	Agent	Wanted for the August 7, 1998, bombings of the United States Embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya	At Large
Fahid Mohammed Ally Msalam *	Agent	Wanted for the August 7, 1998, bombings of the United States Embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya AND for killing two U.S. nationals	At Large
Fazul Abdullah Mohammed *	Agent	Wanted for the August 7, 1998, bombings of the United States Embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya	At Large
Hasan Izz-Al-Din *	Agent	Wanted for June 1985 hijacking of U.S. Airliner which resulted in the death of passsenger.	At Large
Ibrahim Salih Mohammed al-Yacoub *	Al-Qaida operative	Indicted in the bombing of the Khobar Towers, in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia.	At Large
Imad Fayez Mugniyah *	Agent	Wanted for June 1985 hijacking of U.S. Airliner which resulted in the death of passsenger plus assualt and murder of one passenger.	At Large
Khalid Shaikh Mohammed *	Agent	Wanted for his alleged participation in Manila, the Philippines as part of a plot to bomb commercial American airliners. Iindicted in January of 1996.	At Large
Muhsin Musa Matwalli Atwah *	Agent	Wanted for the August 7, 1998, bombings of the United States Embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya	At Large
Mustafa Mohamed Fadhil *	Al-Qaida operative	Wanted for the August 7, 1998, bombings of the United States Embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya	At Large
Saif Al-’Adil *	Al-Qaida Trainer	Trainer for extremists in Somalia who eventually attacked U.S. Troops there	At Large
Said Bahaji	Al-Qaida operative	Connected to Mohamed Atta in Hamburg, Germany	At Large
Ramzi Binalshibh *	Al-Qaida operative	Connected to Mohamed Atta in Hamburg, Germany	In Custody
Zakariya Essabar *	Al-Qaida operative	Joined Mohamed Atta in Florida, Known to have been with Atta in Hamburg, Germany	At Large

* = Indicates the person has been added to the FBI's Most Wanted List, posted on the FBI web site. NBC News, Reuters, and Associated News Wire stories were also used in preparation of this report.

** = Added to the FBIs Most Wanted Terrorist List on 10/9/01 (total of 22 on list at that time)

*** = Indicates the person was added to the Justice Department's financial "hit list" -- those peoples whose financial transactions, properties and accounts are being frozen (U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and the Department of Justice, 10/12/01

Sources = U.S. Department of Justice and Associated Press Newswire.

__________________________________________________________________________

AFI, a commercial organization, has a well deserved reputation for confronting major issues with both impartiality and total independence from Government and Corporate influence and with its US partners make up the AFI-Milnet-Orbat Intelligence network, offering one of the leading international sources of expert information on the worlds conflicts, armed forces, intelligence, security services and related subjects.....contact us today to find out how we can help keep you better informed than your competition Sheikh Ahmed Salim Swedan * Al-Qaida operative Wanted for the August 7, 1998,
bombings of the United States Embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya At Large

* = Indicates the person has been added to the FBI's Most Wanted List, posted on the FBI web site. NBC News, Reuters, and Associated News Wire stories were also used in preparation of this report.

** = Added to the FBIs Most Wanted Terrorist List on 10/9/01 (total of 22 on list at that time)

Sources = U.S. Department of Justice and Associated Press Newswire.

__________________________________________________________________________

Media Information

Senior Associate
Richard M Bennett (UK)

Associates
Dr Robert Zeidner (USA-Consultant), Michael Crawford (Milnet-USA), Ravi Rikhye (Orbat-USA),
Dr James Hawker (Australia-Consultant) and Ms Kate Bennett (UK)

International Network - US Partners
www.milnet.com/afi/
www.orbat.com (Armed Forces Intelligence)

Top Links
www.defense-i.com (Armed Forces Intelligence) www.freelancedirectory.org (Bennett)
www.kimsoft.com/kim-spy.htm (AFI Research) www.questico.co.uk/INSIGHT

This is the HTML version of the AFI Research international regular news feed. For those wishing to receive a text-only version contact afi@supanet.com

AFI is one of the best open sources of intelligence on the world's espionage and security services, international terrorism, armed forces, weapons and conflicts, that's why our releases are now one of the most widely used intelligence and conflict analysis news feeds.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

AFI are pleased to announce a new review of some of the most important armies in world, 'FIGHTING FORCES', to be published on the 28th September by Barrons Educational Publishers of New York and written by Richard M. Bennett.

ISBN 0-7641-5343-9, priced at $29.95 with a 10% discount for orders placed on www.barronseduc.com in September.or call US Toll-free 1-800-645-3476, International Tel: 631-434-3311 and Fax: 631-434-3217

AFI Research, The Ground Floor, 27 The Avenue, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 2BZ, UK tel/fax: +44(0)1626 33 50 40