View Full Version : Just wondering what would happen if?
What would happen to all these Middle Eastern Airlines if the under mentioned would take place? God forbid!!
Expatriates flee Bahrain as attack fear spreads
Web posted at: 7/20/2004 3:51:10
Source ::: The Times
MANAMA: Five weeks after he moved his family to Bahrain to escape the terrorist violence in Saudi Arabia, Desmond Montgomery is on the move again after threats by militants to make the Gulf island their next target.
The architect, 43, is disturbed by recent boasts on extremist websites that Al Qaeda supporters are in the final stages of plotting an attack there.
His company had considered relocating to Dubai, but that too has been mentioned by militant groups as another target in their expanding war.
There has been a debate, conducted in part on Islamist websites, as to whether Al Qaeda and its affiliates should concentrate their attacks against Westerners inside Iraq or spread them to other targets in the Gulf, including Bahrain and Dubai......
Bahrain is probably the best protected spot in the region (US head quarter), so I doubt that the island would be the first target for Al Qaida.
In my strategic reflection I see the danger nonetheless, but most probably it will start with the destabilisation of the house of the Saudis, and if they succeed, next will be the Emirates. And among the main targets of terrorists will be the big hotels and the big birds.
mach-hog
30th Jul 2004, 04:48
Dani,
Sorry old chap, I disagree slightly. Doha, Qatar is where the largest concentration of US force is now positioned. This is where the US Forces deployed to when they extracted themselves from various bases in Saudi Arabia in December '03. You may be correct on HQ location, however. Bahrain has always been a centre of ops for the US Navy...
The tensions which exist in KSA and which have fomented unrest do not exist in the UAE. Whist terrorsim is murderously unpredictable, and viciously strikes at "soft" targets, there is absolutely no evidence at this time of a possible incident. The mindset of citizens of UAE is not the same as their KSA counterparts. I think the forward and progressive Gulf nations will remain relatively peaceful. Bahrain had a few ugly incidents in the early and mid '90s, but that seems to have chilled. IMHO.
mach-hog
Thanks, Mach-Hog, for this rectification.
I admit that UAE inhabitants may be of a different kind, but that does not help in this instance. Al-Qaida and the sort showed clearly that they do not care about local policitical convictions as long as there are strategic goals to be achieved. It may be very important for terrorists to destroy the well-being of the UAE at a certain point. On the other hand I am pretty shure that the emirs have covered their back and pay their "insurance bill" to Al-Qaida, like to PLO/Fatah and Hamas. But the situation may look different in the next couple of years.
Dani
I'm not overly concerned and moving over there from Australia soon.
Terrorists don't care much for anything or any location. They could strike anywhere in the world. We have threats here in Australia but I couldn't imagine anyone relocating because of them, some quite serious of late. Actually any threat is serious I guess.
Anyway can't let these bastards rule our lives, future....
Panama Jack
30th Jul 2004, 15:32
Time for Desmond to head home-- hope he's not from jolly olde England where the IRA makes good on it's threats from time to time, and where Al Qaeda is making promises. . . . hold on-- aren't these idiots threatening pretty much all countries these days???
Even in Central America there are ocasional headlines in the news of Al Qaeda suspects lurking in the shadows (I think they feel comfortable with narco traffickers, ex-death squad members, gangs other noble like-feathered friends :yuk: ).
Perhaps a move to some idylic, forgotten island in the Caribbean is the answer. Montserrat, perhaps? Oh damn, they have an active volcano there. :ugh: