From WND, with thanks to Suzie:
WASHINGTON – Two Americans believe they have spotted Adnan el-Shukrijumah, the al-Qaida operative identified at "the next Mohamed Atta" at a location near Bakersfield, Calif., but have been unable to get the FBI or Homeland Security to investigate.An official report of the sighting of el-Shukrijumah or his "dead-ringer" was filed with an anti-terrorism unit in Kern County.
The local enforcement officers, including the county sheriff, reportedly neglected to conduct an investigation, despite the $5 million bounty on Shukrijumah's head.
Several federal officials, including U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., when notified of the incident, opted to turn a blind eye to the situation, even though they were aware that the suspect in question has been described as the most dangerous al-Qaida agent on American soil.
The eyewitnesses, a husband and wife who wish to remain anonymous for security reasons, say they encountered el-Shukrijumah and other potential al-Qaida operatives, including Aafia Siddiqui, in a small café near Lake Isabella Sept. 7, 2005. They described him as small (approximately 5'4"), thin (about 130 pounds), and clean-shaven with a prominent nose, dark eyes and black hair. They noted that he appeared nervous and spoke English to his Middle Eastern companions without an accent.
They were able to identify the individual as Adnan el-Shukrijumah from a mug-shot that appeared on the front pages of newspapers throughout the country when he became the subject of a BOLO (Be-on-the-lookout) report that was issued jointly by FBI Director Robert Mueller and former Attorney General John Ashcroft at a national press conference March 21, 2004.
The couple became more convinced that the figure in question was the elusive terrorist after reading "The Al Qaeda Connection" by Paul L. Williams, a WND contributor and former FBI consultant.
Several weeks later, they spotted the suspects near the same location and managed to jot down their license numbers.
In compliance with the BOLO report, they made their way to the office of Sheriff Mack Wimbish in Kern County, where they say they filed an official report and were told the anti-terrorism unit would contact them in the immediate future.
But nothing happened.
Read it all.
Sometimes the way one thinks the FBI operates dealing with this possible sighting may appear incongruent to the layman. Investigators usually prefer to operate within a stealth mode as much as possible, kicking up dust can sometimes be seen for miles. It would not surprise me at all if the sheriff was told by the FBI that we where never here. It appears that the report produced enough information for the feds to start an investigation. They may have had people stake out that cafe for weeks and almost new immediatley who the vehicle belonged to after a plate was given. It is always much easier to catch their man when he doesnt know that he is being watched.
Maybe the FBI should have advised those that reported this as to how they operate so as to not draw attention to the investigation.
Now that they have gone public with the sighting, let us hope that nothing has been compromised by it.
With an intelligence agency such as ours ...who needs enemies?
I would rather have J. Edgar Hoover in an evening gown and feathered boa running the FBI than what we have now.
"Maybe the FBI should have advised those that reported this as to how they operate so as to not draw attention to the investigation." from Mackie
That's exactly why I think they are bungling and not doing anything to smart for us laymen to figure out.
Assumptions and speculation galore.
II for one am unconvinced that after 9/11 and the $$billions spent on homeland security and the top priority to security and surveillence etc, the FBI would wilfully let got leads like this. If nothing it would ensure the local FBI chief a healthy promotion etc, so why would he/she not take it?
The more plausible reason, it seems to me is that these scumbag jihadisare already on the radar, their cellphones and web comm is being spied into (with or without a FISA or domestic court warrant, I couldn't care at this point) and the feds dont wanna move in prematurely and ruin their chances at snaring a larger part of the network.
Yet they couldn't cover an obvious "hole" and tell the couple who spotted these guys to "keep it quiet and out of the press?"
I no longer have any confidence in the FBI.
It appears that they could not track a three legged elephant through 18 inches of fresh snow.
Lets not be so hard on the FBI. They're just waiting until after this Islamofeces bombs us. Then they'll do their job. That way they can be justified in the mainstream media. Not being accused of being Islamophobes and profiling Muslims unjustly.
You know, good PR can go along way. Even if it costs more American lives and is a serious breach of National Security. The rights of our "non citizens" must be protected at all costs!! Potential terrorists or not, damn it!!! Current visas or expired visas!!!
We need a U.S. Senator to introduce legislation that will protect the rights of terrorist "non" U.S. citizens that are Muslims. They must be made to feel free to try to enact their "religion of peace" on us without fearing the law enforcement community. They must be allowed to bomb our infrastructure, bomb a nuclear reactor, bomb our financial districts, or rail systems, hijack our airplanes and fly them into skyscrapers, and if need be, posion our water and food supply!!! The FBI is just accomedating the Muslim terrorist/terrorists until the Congress can work out the details of the potential legislation.
So lets lighten up on the FBI.
"Maybe the FBI should have advised those that reported this as to how they operate so as to not draw attention to the investigation.
Now that they have gone public with the sighting, let us hope that nothing has been compromised by it. "
After all, actually interviewing these potential eye-witnesses who reported their sighting in the first place is a VERY dumb idea.
Merciful heavens, they might even have additional information; and we certainly don't want that.
Anecdotally, immediately prior to 9/11 I visited Indonesia, and spent some time on Bali. I saw something there, which, at the time, seemed absurd and seemed more like a joke. But nevertheless, this is what I saw:
On the tip of Bali is a penninsula called Nusa Dua... It is a somewhat upscale area which is popular with Westerners, and I took a brief excursion there toward the end of my trip. While there, I came across a most peculiar sign, the significance of which utterly escaped me...
Believe it or not, right there in plain site in a non-touristy area (keep in mind, this was August of 2001) I saw a sign which featured an arrow pointing up a series of steps to a series of buildings and the sign said "Jihad Training" or "Jihadi Training"... I know this sounds very bizarre -- I think so too -- but there it was. And it was in English, no less... which makes it more bizarre, I think. This is the kind of thing which, after the fact, you don't know if you want to get involved with or mention because it just seems too strange... Any way, prior to 9/11, I was a little vague on the notion of "jihad" although I knew it had something to do with Islam and "Mujahadeen". (also terms which I was a little vague on at the time...) I didn't think much about it, or notice it as something that was possibly significant. In fact, I altogether forgot about it until sometime later.
So shortly after returning to the US 9/11 happened. I didn't remember the sign, or think about its significance until months after the attack -- only when I began to learn about the significance of Islam in the attack, and specifically the significance of "Jihad" in Islam and 9/11. Then I put 2 and 2 together, and thought I may have seen something significant. After a little hesitation, I called the FBI to relate my story, thinking this might be of some interest to them -- We were beginning our education on Al Qaida, and their plots. We were learning about the links with megaterrorism, the Saudis, Pakistan, transit points in Indonesia and the Philippines etc... So although my story was probably insignificant, it was, at least, worth mentioning. But I was shaken by what I encountered when I contacted the FBI. (and again, I accept that the story is somewhat bizarre -- who would ever think there would be a brazen sign out there in the open and in English no less saying "Jihadi Training" on the tiny Island of Bali in Indonesia? -- Nevertheless -- I saw it -- it happened)
I got through the preliminaries on the phone and finally got through to some kind of screener or possibly an agent. When I related my story again, clearly describing my trip to "Indonesia" and "Bali", the agent asked me "I don't know where that is... What part of the US is that?" I was dumbfounded -- she expressed absolutely no interest or curiosity-- it was clear that my efforts would lead nowhere, so I dropped it altogether. She never asked for the proper spelling of my name, my address -- I'm sure they can get that info from the phone call -- but nevertheless -- my story was met with complete blase indifference...
Of course later, in 2002 when the Bali attack happened, I thought about calling again -- but decided it was just not worth it, and at that point, I figured my story was stale, and possibly contrived after the fact -- and I also thought I would regret dealing with the FBI agency after my initial phone call, so I dropped the idea of going further or mentioning it to them again. It's a tiny, insignificant story, probably -- but WHO KNOWS... Did anyone else report it? Did any authorities take notice in Bali? Was this the area where they were planning the Bali attack? I'll never know -- and the FBI probably won't either -- nor will anyone else. It makes me sick to think about it.
This was my personal and only direct experience of trying to deal with the FBI. I was extremely unimpressed. Given their atrocious failures in the leadup to 9/11, the fact that nobody was called on the carpet after 9/11, and my personal short little interlude with their apparent indifference to investigation, I have no confidence in them. I know we're not being protected adequately by this agency.
Sorry! Above I meant to write "possibly seem contrived after the fact..." The sign was no contrivance!
Like I say, the greatest battle Americans will have to fight in winning the war on terror is the fight against ignorance, stupidity, and sheer blindness on their own soil. We also, come to think of it, will need to fight against public apathy and government inefficiency and red tape while we are at it. A tall order--and possibly only a short amount of time remaining to fill it.
jsla...
I've been to Bali twice myself in 96 and 99...
The lack of security and laxadasical attitudes of the people in charge led to the Bali bombings twice not to mention that Bali is 95% Hindu and the prime party place for Aussies and Euros alike. I myself would never go back there or anywhere in Indonesia for that matter. I get on the Balitravel forum every so often and it's always "Bali is safer than ever" attitude....I beg to differ as the security is so lax over there to date....As I'm finding out in our own USA. The 2ND Amendment is my strongest belief at the moment. Get that ammo.
A Memo to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Idiots?):
Thanks for nothing you imbeciles. Now do something to protect your homeland and people. That is, if you care!
Oh, yes. Enjoy your paid vacations and other benefits!
Sincerely,
Pythagoras
ps-In my books, FBI now stands for FEDERAL BUREAU OF IDIOTS!!!!!
jsla and siciliano:
In 1999 when I visited the Togian islands of Indonesia near Sulawesi, there was thunder-like noise to be heard off in the distance, night after night. I had been informed it was fish-bombing of coral reefs which is a common practice among Southeast Asians thus I didn't question what I had been told (it seemed reasonable enough). However, I later found out the noise was NOT fish dynamiting. It was coming from an al-Qaeda terrorist training camp staging bombing raids on a cluster of coral islets off the Sulawesi town of Poso!
Anyone considering a trip to Indonesia shold be advised that the Indonesian Armed Forces and Police have been infiltrated by al-Qaeda.
In addition, illicit (and massive) timber-harvesting operations occurring in virtually all Indonesian tropical forests are believed to be run by the mosques of Indonesia which are believed to be selling the timber on the black market across Asia and elsewhere and funneling the proceeds directly to international Islamic terrorism networks. BEWARE!!!
Pythagoras...
That's why before the tsunami hit Banda Aceh at the tip of Sumatra and all over Java they wouldn't even allow aid teams to go to certain areas because of Al Queda types in the jungles and you hit the nail on the head with illegal timber being harvested all over decimating the envoirnment funding their terrorist activities.
I believe the wave hit the perfect area and cleared out the scum.
To all above -- I too will never return -- I am in despair over the caged Hindus on those tiny Island redoubts of Bali and Lombok. Can you imagine being surrounded by those blood thirsty Muslim scum? Chilling.
Now, in retrospect, I understand the sensation I had many times in Indonesia -- blissfully (foolishly) unaware of how dangerous it truly was and is... I couldn't quite make sense of certain hate filled looks I got as I traveled here and there. I was horribly unaware even of the Islamic nature of most of Indonesia at the time, if you can believe it.
I met many charming and kind people, though. But knowing what I now know about the forces at play, I would NEVER consider going back EVER. I also have a better context for the endless desire I met among Balinese to take my address and phone numbers down -- they seemed so affable -- I hired many artisans to work on various projects for me during my stay and paid them very well according to local standards -- I thought I was just thought of as a big sugar daddy -- but in the subsequent years, I still recieve letters and phone calls from various Balinese who are in need of financial assistance -- and also, I believe, who are keeping the channels open in case they need to escape their jail if things get rough.
One of the frightening stories I learned about while there was the widescale massacre of Chinese merchants several years before I came -- It seems that ethnic Chinese were the predominant entrepreneurial class in various parts of Indonesia, and numbered in the tens or hundreds of thousands.... But there was some kind of massive revolt among the Muslims, from what I could gather, in the 1990s wherein they were slaughtered in the THOUSANDS by rampagins Muslims... I never remembered hearing about it -- and, come to think about it, should look more into the story online... Anyone know about this/these incidents. Apparently there are few ethnic Chinese still present in these areas, the Muslims having successfully conducted their "ethnic cleansing" Islamic rituals as per the Koran... There there, my Good Muslims of Indonesia...!
all i can say is "wow" - thanks for the interesting first hand accounts above. chilling stuff.
The 2ND Amendment is my strongest belief at the moment. Get that ammo.
Posted by: Siciliano
______________
And plenty of arms.
The Texican.
Freedom, the only choice.