Upcoming Goals of Al-Qaida: Kidnapping Civilians and Attacking Embassies

January 20, 2003

A recently published address to members of Al-Quaida, the global terrorist organization, details the objectives of anticipated terror attacks. The statement was publicized on Maalim Al-Jihad, an Internet site that is identified with Osama Bin Laden's terrorist organization. The top priorities of the terrorists: kidnapping American and Israeli citizens and striking embassies and airports.

The following is a translation of the published statement (Author's name is not mentioned):

"Present Objectives"

The following are a few of the goals that we must realize:

Preparing a refuge (for Al-Qaida militants)

Intensifying communications with brothers [terrorists] in the areas where Jihad [holy war] is being conducted.

The immense importance of Philippians to the Jihad

Not abandoning brothers [militant activists] in Jihad in Indonesia and Turkistsan.

Maintaining an atmosphere of horror within the enemy camp by continuously threatening airports and Israeli and American travel agencies.

Attempting to kidnap one to two American or Israeli hostages. Specifically important is the capture of journalists or famous people for the purpose of applying pressure [ie, to the Americans and Israelis] and in order to shorten the detention of the prisoners [ie, the goal of the kidnappings is to trigger the release of prisoners].

Worldwide Attacks on embassies belonging to infidel states which spy on Moslems. The attacks will be executed in the following manner:

Packing cars with explosives that are triggered to detonateby remote control.

Suicide mission in which a number of "suicide attackers" will participate

Utilizing creativity in the production of explosives·the goal of our activities needs to be increasing the production in the factories of death and using any means conceivable [to aid the achievement of our goals]

The use of rockets specifically its worthwhile to note that portions of the embassies are located in places where missile attacks are viable.

The following is a photograph of the relevant section of the mission statement published to militants of the Al-Quaida terrorist organization:

http://www.idf.il/newsite/english/0119-3.stm