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August 14, 2006

NFTGJ: Cell Phones Behind the Fridge

 

 

Given the news of the three recently arrested after being caught with literally thousands of pre-paid phones, I ran across a visit to my blog today which piqued my interest.

The visitor from Algiers is the only one in months to view my January piece on the potential marriage of terrorism and pre-paid phones out of the scores of thousands of visitors who haven’t. While I make it my rule never to hunt witches, I thought it was nevertheless worth a mention.

Of course, I mention this only to segue into what truly is important here; it brings up again the matter of the pre-paid cell phones, which perhaps should deserve a bit deeper examination alongside a more saturating effort to acquire human intelligence on terrorist cells operating in this country. As the British example this week points out, it is foremost human intelligence rather than SIGINT (signal intelligence – or electronic surveillance) that led to the capture of the latest group of would-be terrorists.

The FBI announced this afternoon that it did not suspect any formal ties to terrorists connecting the three men in Michigan who were being held on suspicion of trying to blow up the Mackinac Bridge. The three men were found with: “about a 1,000 pre-paid cell phones in their van” (the second time arrests have been made of men who bought bulks of pre-paid phones. It has also been known for some time that among Al Qaeda’s expressed interest in pre-paid phones, drug cartels and criminal gangs have already been well-aware of their advantages, and more than acting upon that realization. So these and the various other dots in the news recently (e.g. the 17 Egyptian students who all disappeared as if in a hurry, then found) may be either random dots or ones needing connection. No doubt time in part will tell and, hopefully, the various scattered law enforcement and intelligence agencies have both the unity and resources (and most importantly support from politicians) to effectively work the other half of the equation to quickly make that determination.

What’s missing is why all of a sudden these events are popping in several places so close together, and in every place, deemed to be benign. While it’s certainly important not to make mountains out of mole hills or ascribe intentions upon those who carry none, such events all in line with the thwarted airline terrorist attack planned for August 16 and the attacks on Israel begun a few weeks ago could signal the possibility of some forward movement by the other side. As such, this might have been an attempt to probe DHS and other agencies or even to distract them. Or perhaps something less desirable. What is no doubt worrisome however are the countless thousands of illegally present foreign nationals from questionable regimes, the suspected scores of known terror cells that already do exist here, in Canada, and Central and South America – and have existed for some time, and the lack of any substantial change in the way we regulate customs and border enforcement. The plain truth is that there really isn’t any need for more terrorists to enter the country or to buy thousands of pre-paid cell phones at Wal-Mart. Those already here and operating most likely already have more than what they need (pray however nothing radiological, etc.) and are still working on reaching critical mass, whatever that may be. Others may simply be here to make assessments and connect information, something also which will eventually prove harmful.

As is true with cockroaches and other things hiding behind the fridge, the ones you see indicate nothing more than the ones you can’t see – usually exponential in number. If we are to assume that at least some of the rash of recent happenings were by such characters, then we must also assume they are becoming rather bold as their nests become full. Given the from time to time less than prima overall history of American counter-intelligence measures (for whatever reason), this may be a kindly wake up call to redouble our efforts in weeding out those who shouldn’t be here and removing from (and preventing from arriving on) the field of play domestically those who would do us harm.

 

Posted by Martin at August 14, 2006 05:26 PM

Comments

Posted by: Angel at August 17, 2006 05:44 PM