Taliban Terrorist Targets Washington
Should Baitullah Mehsud's threats to attack our nation's capital be taken seriously? (Watch an interview with Annie Jacobsen here.)
Baitullah Mehsud is confident about the success of his targeted assassinations. Before the 35-year-old Taliban commander in Pakistan sends out a death squad to murder an individual, rumor has it he sends the intended target a needle and thread to sew his own burial shroud. Those targeted under his command allegedly include a former head of state (Benizir Bhutto), pro-government tribal leaders, and Pakistani police, army, air force, and intelligence agency officials.
Cloistered, elusive and, until recently, unknown to most of the world, Mehsud’s photograph on the Rewards for Justice website is just a black silhouette. Up until this week, Mehsud didn’t give interviews or allow his picture to be taken. But on Monday, Mehsud switched tactics and telephoned the BBC, the Associated Press, and a local radio station called Dewa and vowed to attack Washington D.C. In doing so, the ambitious terror leader went as public as it gets.
“Soon we will launch an attack in Washington that will amaze everyone in the world,” Mehsud told an Associated Press reporter over the telephone. He didn’t offer details but later told Dewa that the White House was his target.
Mehsud is angry that the U.S. is having equal if not greater success with its targeted assassinations — in his own backyard. In the tribal region of northern Pakistan where he lives, Mehsud is the reigning warlord — or at least he is supposed to be. According to Stratfor, a private intelligence forecasting company, “by some accounts, Mehsud [has] amassed an armed following numbering as high as 20,000 or even 30,000, and has dozens if not hundreds of trained suicide bombers at his disposal.”
His deadly power became evident on Monday, when a suicide squad attacked the police academy in Lahore, killing at least 12 people including seven policemen. After an eight hour standoff, Pakistani commandos stormed the compound. Mehsud’s terror operatives then blew themselves up. Of the attack, Mehsud told the BBC: “We wholeheartedly take responsibility for this attack and will carry out more such attacks in future.” He called it “revenge for the [U.S.] drone attacks in Pakistan.”
The Predator drone has taken out dozens of al-Qaeda and Taliban operatives in Pakistan’s tribal areas. At least two Predator strikes targeted a safe house in Mehsud’s hometown of Makeen, where he was believed to be hiding out in the third week of March (see Bill Roggio’s reporting in the Long War Journal).
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Annie Jacobsen writes about aviation and intelligence. She blogs at TheAviationNation.com and is working on a new book for Little Brown and Company.
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31 Comments
1. Meryl:Oh, goodness. I’m sure if the man planning the attack would just contact barry and let him know what he wants, barry could get nancy to pass some legislation toot-sweet to give it to him. There’s no need to be so threatening.
I wouldn’t think.
Apr 2, 2009 - 12:07 am 2. Jordan:Terrorists they are indeed but so are the American terrorists who have targetted the middle east with their big guns looking to rape the lands of its resources.
It goes both ways. Do not pretend to be on the side of justice because you arent.
Apr 2, 2009 - 4:32 am 3. Buckeye:BHO should just invite him in for some dialogue and a cocktail. Then explain that I’m on your side buddy. It just takes a little time to destroy the Constitution and turn us all into Marxists and Muslims. That should work.
Apr 2, 2009 - 4:36 am 4. Pops in Vienna:I’m certain that if Mehsud, would just sit down and talk with Obama that we could resolve our differences. We’ll be happy to give up Israel to improve our relations with the Islamic world. In fact, if needed, we’ll support their desires to restore Spain, the Balkans, Hungary, the Ukraine and Moldova to the caliphate. Anything for peace.
Apr 2, 2009 - 4:56 am 5. Dr. Shalit:Ms. Jacobsen -
Your question has an easy answer – YES – at that level of technology. The other question is whether they could get through security. The answer to that is Probably Not. The last question is what would the current Administration do about it after the fact, answer – Unknown.
-S-
Apr 2, 2009 - 5:01 am 6. Craig:Where are all the MODERATE Taliban? Hillary? Damn it…where are all those moderates. We’re waiting…tap tap tap…hurry up.
Apr 2, 2009 - 5:30 am 7. Carl:Ms. Jacobsen writes from within the vantage point of an indifferent skeptic leaving the conclusion (whatever it happens to be) up to her readers.
As anyone with an ounce of common sense should expect, the responses so far are not seriously concerned about Mehsud’s threat.
This is probably how civilized people would have responded to any wild-eyed predictions on September 10th, 2001.
Apr 2, 2009 - 5:51 am 8. COL.SEBASTIAN MORAN:#2 JORDAN
Apr 2, 2009 - 6:47 am 9. Oldguy:Just what kind of a sick fu** are you anyway ? If you are so anti-American, go join your a$$hole brothers and live in a cave…I’m sure your Koran will keep you warm.
In short, we don’t need your kind in this country !
S.M.
Remember the movie where an old lady expressed glee that aliens had blown up Washington D.C?
Apr 2, 2009 - 7:11 am 10. MarkD:Heavens no, don’t do anything to prevent this mans attack on D.C.. It will save Americans the trouble.
There are plenty of corrupt congress critters we could do without, but this is a little extreme even for me. I prefer to see them sitting next to Randy Cunningham. Credit Report Schumer, Cold Cash Jefferson, Abscam Murtha, Manslaughter Kennedy, all should pay for their crimes by way of the legal system.
If Mehsud could do it, he would have. It’s an empty threat.
Apr 2, 2009 - 7:20 am 11. Chilloutyo:Out of the five planes used on 9/11 why did the heroes have to be on the one intended for congress?
Apr 2, 2009 - 7:32 am 12. Middleman:Something tells me the Taliban isn’t as saavy as Al Qaeda. One of these troglodytes at an airport trying to board a plane to DC would probably be reminiscent of one of those Capitol One commericals with the Barbarians going through airport security.
Apr 2, 2009 - 7:47 am 13. Scott E:Then again you do have a few resident aliens here in the US who send their kids to those nuthouses/madrassas in Pakistan.
If an attack at the White House were thwarted by Homeland Security do you think there would be any credit given to the previous administration for its creation?
Apr 2, 2009 - 8:25 am 14. Mary Madigan:Something tells me the Taliban isn’t as saavy as Al Qaeda.
The Taliban, Pakistani intelligence, Saudi Arabia and al Qaeda have all been working together for years. The Taliban is as savvy as Al Qaeda.
Yes, this is something to be concerned about. Baitullah Mehsud has been working with Saudi Al Qaeda and with Saudi-sponsored Chechen “rebels”. These Wahhabist tend to use the standard Saudi tactic of targeting civilians.
The red vs. blue tribalists who seem to be cheering for Obama or congress’s demise should not get their hopes up. Scumbags like Mehsud are more likely to target schoolchildren, random passersby on the street and emergency workers.
Of course, there are some red vs. blue tribalists who would see any attack against America as a score for their side, but those sorts of troglodytes are not worth anyone’s consideration.
Although our Predator drone attacks are impressive, the only people who are capable of dismantling Mehsud’s minions are the people who trained and financially support them, Saudi Arabia and Pakistani intelligence. If we have managed to convince them that they need to destroy their former Taliban allies, then Mehsud will be toast.
If we haven’t, then we need to target more Taliban and more Taliban supporters.
Apr 2, 2009 - 8:30 am 15. TOhio:Mehsud is confident because he knows that as soon as his comrades at Gitmo are released, they’ll go straight to D.C. – free as a bird and able to kill thousands of people.
If they’re successful in attacking D.C. (which I hope they aren’t), it might make some Democrats wake up. But, I highly doubt it.
The Democrats will blame it on Bush.
Apr 2, 2009 - 9:11 am 16. Pat J:“One more important question remains. Can Mehsud’s deadly assassins — committing low-technology attacks using handguns, grenades, and suicide vests — really reach Washington, D.C.?”
Apr 2, 2009 - 9:48 am 17. RagRipper:———————
That’s the big question, isn’t it? I would say no. It’s typical chest-thumping we’re should be used to hearing from that side of the world. Better to expect a more coordinated attack on our troops in Afghanistan or their supply routes through Pakistan and the Kyber Pass.
Laughs loud at the 3rd world neanderthal making threats while hiding in a pile of tribal rocks. When America decides it’s time for Mehsud to go, he will go.
For now, he and other threats that are more specific to the Paki government will be saved for last. First and foremost we will continue to target and kill al Qaida operatives, who are the greatest threats to America.
The Paki government will get what they want from us, but only after we get what we want, first.
Patience……the day will soon come when Mehsud’s putrid guts are splattered all over his neighbors caves and his mouth flaps no more.
For now, his life and that of some other anti-government Taliban leaders in Pakistan are our trump card that allow the drone attacks to continue, amid mere soft “pseudo cries of foul” from the Paki government.
Apr 2, 2009 - 9:56 am 18. dadling:Terroist’s wouldn’t target the White House…they would attack civilians anywhere in D.C and other cities…ie: the Mumbai assassins….don’t be fooled, there are plenty of “Home grown” terrorist’s waiting for a call from someone, to attack people…there are huge muslim populations in Michigan and other states..not to mention the “illegals” who we don’t even know about, that have crossed our unguarded borders..do you think they are all happy Americans? No, many of these young men are ready to become “martyr’s” and would love to kill as many American civilians as possible…I’m praying it doesn not happen…but, I’m buying more ammo too…..!!!!
Apr 2, 2009 - 10:53 am 19. fred:To be free…be vigilant !!!
#18 daddling has it right.
Mehsud will most likely get his targets: soft targets. If scores of innocent civilians are killed, especially kids, it will probably be his last big act on the world stage. Our military will find him and send him to hell, where he belongs.
Personally, I could care less if he targets the White House or Congress. But that kind of attack is very unlikely to succeed.
Apr 2, 2009 - 11:23 am 20. NahnCee:I must say that if the terrorists strike again, I certainly would not be too sad if they were able to take out Obama, Pelosi, Reid, and all the rest of the accumulated Democrats there. I would miss the White House, but we can rebuild that just as soon as we get done nuking Pakistan.
Of all the cities to be attacked in the United States, DC strikes me as being the best target right now, since it’s full of useless, greedy corrupt people who don’t actually work for a living and bring absolutely nothing to the party for the rest of us.
Re: poor little Jordan’s pathetic post — don’t you suppose it’s not an American but either French or Arab? The English is just too precise to be one of us.
Apr 2, 2009 - 11:41 am 21. wancow:NahnCee, seen this? Homegrown Jihad?
Apr 2, 2009 - 1:20 pm 22. zanne:I don’t believe the threat. I think it was cooked up by Club Obama. He loves to talk about “distractions” and he loves to create distractions.
Apr 2, 2009 - 2:01 pm 23. tanstaafl:Soon we will launch an attack in Washington that will amaze everyone in the world,” Mehsud told an Associated Press reporter over the telephone. He didn’t offer details but later told Dewa that the White House was his target.
That would be one helluva “man-caused disaster” in the newly adopted euphemistic verbiage of the Obama administration’s Homeland Security gal, Janet Napolitano.
I suppose Mehsud’s chickensh!t attack on the police academy in Pakistan qualifies as yet another in a seemingly endless stream of Islamist man-caused disasters.
People who can’t come up with language better than MCD or OCO (Overseas Contingency Operation, to replace War on Terror) deserve to be subject to a little man caused disaster themselves.
Apr 2, 2009 - 2:36 pm 24. Will:Should there be such a question? We had better keep our heads out of the sand.
Apr 2, 2009 - 5:11 pm 25. Pat J:#18 is right. These cowards would attack innocents before they even try to go against Washington. And keep in mind Mehsud’s may also be speaking metaphorically.
Apr 2, 2009 - 6:13 pm 26. Pops in Vienna:#18 Pat J: You’re right….they will go after innocents and seeing how there are no innocents in Washington, it’s probably the safest place on earth.
Apr 3, 2009 - 8:55 am 27. Rick:It’s amazing how this country has disintegrated over the past 12yrs., After reading through these comments I am ashamed of being American. I may not have liked GWB but I would never speak about him the way you folk talk about our current president.
You all should be ashamed of yourselves! If you truly loved your country as much as you say we’d all work together and come up with real solutions, but that’s not as fun or easy as bashing the president now is it?
This ‘threat’ isn’t even a real threat, our intelligence has been monitoring this guy for quite sometime and knows he does not have the means to pull such an attack, but it sure sounds y’all would like that to happen.
Apr 3, 2009 - 2:33 pm 28. Scott E:I’m with you Rick. Whacko factor has increased here lately at PJ media.
Apr 3, 2009 - 7:02 pm 29. Meryl:9.Oldguy…know what? You’re right.
28 Scott….the whacko factor isn’t the issue. What you dismiss as whacko is just tightly focused understanding, expressed with anger and sarcasm.
Go ahead and tell yourself that it’s just whacko factor….but bambi’s goin’ down. And it’s our considered intention NOT to go down with him and to NOT let him destroy the United States of America. As another poster on another thread commented, at least we can be grateful that he’s not a smart Marxist. Might limit the damage he does.
Apr 5, 2009 - 6:15 pm 30. Michael Lonie:#27
There were plenty of mainstream liberals fantasizing about Bush being killed, not just a few blog commenters mouthing off.
As for me I do not want to see any harm to any Americans from terrorists, even stupid twits who pretend we are not at war with the jihadists. Despite the fact that Obama’s policies are mostly stupid and aimed at ruining the USA, on those occasions when I pray one of the things I pray for is that no violence happen to him.
On the other hand I agree with Rush Limbaugh that I want Obama to fail at most of what he tries, because what he wants to do, if carried to fruition, will harm the country and damage our liberty, freedom, and constitutional rights. Not to fail at waging war, if he does do that, but to fail at bringing soicalism to America. Socialism causes poverty and unfreedom, and the more of it you have the less prosperity and freedom you have. So I want Obama’s attempt to make America socilist to fail miserably, so miserably and embarrassingly that no twit ever again tries to do it.
Apr 5, 2009 - 8:40 pm 31. Chileno:The US is ripe for a new terrorist attack (though perhaps not from this Taliban Bozo). Our nation’s current state of transition has us at the point where our military, our government, and our economy are at their weakest. By next year, the troops from Iraq will start coming home (strengthening our military capabilities), our government will have a firmer, more experienced grasp on power, and our economy will have begun to recover. Terrorists have had 8 years to plot their next US attack, and now is the optimal time to strike.
As posted above, the terrorists would likely attack soft targets, with an emphasis on maximizing casualties and news coverage. Imagine the economic and psychologic impact of 10 malls across the US suffering simultaneous Mumbai-like attacks.
And I wouldn’t put all my faith in the intelligence community preventing an attack. The US intelligence community was unable to warn us of 9/11, provided data that “conclusively” proved Saddam Hussein still had WMDs, and is still unable to provide the whereabouts of Bin Laden. There hasn’t been another attack on US soil since 9/11, but this may have more to do with deterrence than intelligence. And deterrence is factor that has shifted dramatically now that we have a rookie from Chicago in the White House.
Apr 5, 2009 - 10:00 pm