Knowing that this web of terrorists is hard to put into words, I figured a diagram would work best. The name in Red in the center is our suspect named by ABC news in the Sky Bombing plot. Now maybe it is a little easier to see how he fits in.
This is not meant to be a complete and comprehensive diagram about the web of terror involving Paki's, al Qaeda, Taliban, Iraqi Intel, and Paki Intel.
Every link is supported by research or well vetted media reports.
Notes (kind of random):
Although I put JUI, HUM, and HUJI as equals in the diagram (simplest way on short notice), the HUM and HUJI are actually under the JUI as is LeJ (some times).
The ISI provided explosives training to LeJ which some say Matiur (sky bombing) was involved in.
The Iraqi Intelligence Service (IIS) notebook featured the Maulana Fazlur Rahman mediating between the IIS and Taliban, they made security, intelligence, and diplomatic agreements.
When the Maulana was negotiating with the Saddam regime in 1999, it was two weeks after the Musharref coup. Previously, the Maulana was the foreign minister and very tied into the IIS. It is believed he contracted Omar to form a group of students to protect Paki shipments through Afghanistan, the origins of the Taliban, at the beheast of the Paki intelligence service (ISI)
He is also a major leader in the Paki government as the Secretary General of a powerful political party, the MMA.
When you understand the Maulana's position and importance, you understand that when he negotiated with Saddam, he was speaking for Mullah Omar (the Taliban), Pakistani Jihadists (strongly tied to al Qaeda and the Taliban) and probably unofficially for the Paki intel service. He is a very important guy. He keeps his hands clean as a diplomat.
Another guy, Fazlur Rahman Khalil was a leader under the Maulana and a signer of the UBL 1998 fatwa. He is another cross over, affiliated with the Paki jihadists and al Qaeda. He recruits for al Qaeda in the Paki madrassas, themselves a product of Saudi support from UBL and others.
So now we have this new guy involved with the Sky Bombing plot according to ABC news. It makes sense. He is another cross over between Paki Jihad groups and al Qaeda.
Libya and Iraq where vying for a part in this ready made volunteer army. How succesful they were is a matter of contention. While the secular vs. Jihadist argument is complete nonsense, there is still no proof linking Iraq to 9/11.
Which leaves a very big blank in our knowledge.
Yousef and Khalid Shiek Mohammed are both of Paki descent. Dr Mylroie makes a very convincing argument that they were IIS agents themselves. I think that is very possible, but would certainly like more evidence before being 100% sure. There is also such a well documented history of Paki intel supporting Paki, Afghan and Wahhabi Jiadists, it is quite likely they were somehow involved with KSM and RY as well. KSM and the 9/11 paymaster (paid the terrorists) were caught in the home of members of the Maulana's organization.
So bets are open, was KSM working for Iraqi intel, Paki intel, al Qaeda, the Taliban, Paki jihad organizations, or most likely a combination of some or maybe all as there are many crossover members?
The prevailing theory on Ramzi Yousef is that the 93 WTC bombing was a stand alone operation done by "Islamic terrorists". A solid link to one of these groups was not identified, to my knowledge. I think that is a little bit ridiculous that with all these seperate elements, that we think RY was not working for at least some of them. There are some who suspect that links were made and ignored because such a disclosure would require a response. If the culprit was of Paki origin, for instance, then the response would be against a nuclear armed country making it a most unappealing discovery.
If it was Iraq it would probably have required a full scale invasion in the mid ninties. Much easier to just say "Islamic terrorists" and leave it at that.
Bottom line, we once again have an apparent massive plot involving paki s supported by al Qaeda. This time however, the paki intel seems to be actively opposing them instead of helping, probably a response to the "You are either with us or against us" statement by GWB.
Thus the term "Global war on Terror"
Posted by: Mark Eichenlaub | Friday, August 11, 2006 at 09:07 PM