Militant Islamist Website Urges Attacks On Alaska Pipeline - ADN

[hatrack]

A recent posting on a Web site purportedly affiliated with al-Qaida urges attacks against the trans-Alaska oil pipeline and Valdez tanker dock, calling on jihadists to either shower the pipe with bullets or hide and detonate explosives along its length. The unknown author encourages small cells of four or five mujahedeen, or Muslim guerrillas, living in the United States or in Canada or Mexico to mount the attacks.

The 10-page posting includes numerous links to Web sites providing maps and other basic information about the pipeline. Attacking oil and gas targets in the United States and other countries is key to bringing down the economy of the "American devils," the author writes, saying the message was posted in response to calls from Osama bin Laden and his top al-Qaida deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri.

The Arabic posting was discovered and translated in late December by the SITE Institute, a Washington, D.C., nonprofit organization that tracks international terrorists.

The "presentation of targets" essentially was a posting to a password-restricted Web forum known to be affiliated with al-Qaida, and there's no way to identify the author or know whether it could inspire an actual attack, said SITE director Rita Katz.

EDIT

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/7371588p-7283808c.html

[Erika]

1. The pipeline is unprotected and very vulnerable

I was shocked when visiting Valdez to see the open pipeline running unprotected mile after mile. I took pictures of family standing next to it and actually touching it. The bay is full of huge oil tankers at all times.

Valdez and the Sound are breathtaking beautiful.

[bbinacan]

2. I think the pipeline is above

ground b/c of perma frost and frozen tundra. It is my understanding that the surface pipes have to be heated to keep the oil flowing efficiently. One oddity is that the caribou population have been thriving in this environment. Go figure.

[Erika]

3. Yes, the Pipeline is above ground mile after mile

There might be some parts underneath the ground but not around the Sound. The pipeline would not endanger the Caribou at all. That's all it is, just a sealed pipeline.

I have not seen the drilling sites. Valdez is a Port where the oil is delivered to the tankers.

[Oerdin]

9. They like the heat.

The pipeline acts as a wind break and the heated oil (heated to to keep the oil flowing) sees to attract large numbers of caribou.

[htuttle]

4. A few/five years ago, a drunk shot it with his hunting rifle....

...and shut it down for a week or two. It's very vulnerable.

[bbinacan]

7. So what do we do about it? n/t

[Dead_Parrot]

5. Why bother?

Damn thing will slide into the melting permafrost in few months. Not worth the cost of the plane ticket...

[pinto]

6. Just a head's up, fwiw, SITE is a one person project, may have good info,

but, as well, maybe shouldn't be taken as an "authoritative" source without some other sources.

http://www.freeanwar.net/July2003/facnews261003.htm

http://www.nationalreview.com/interrogatory/interrogatory062603.asp

http://www.siteinstitute.org/

[hatrack]

8. Yeah, as the article notes, "purportedly" linked to AQ

Grain of salt always advisable - and besides, why would terrorists need a specific website to urge them to bomb the pipeline? It's kind of common knowledge that it's 800 miles long and runs through lots of empty territory. :eyes: