The Caribbean terror network

Josh Meyer:

Even if terrorism suspect Russell Defreitas were no more than an angry man with vague notions of a spectacular attack, he was able to tap into a network of Islamic extremists in the Caribbean — potentially dangerous and right in the backyard of the United States, authorities said Saturday.

It was Defreitas' alleged ties to that network, based primarily in Trinidad and Guyana, that had the FBI and other federal authorities so concerned as they clandestinely monitored his activities over the last 18 months, law enforcement officials familiar with the ongoing investigation said.

The FBI also believes that at least several militants from this loosely configured extremist network were involved in the alleged plot to blow up buildings, fuel tanks and pipelines at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. They remain at large and are extremely dangerous, said a federal law enforcement official.

"That is what is most significant about this case. It demonstrates the evolving nature of the threat and how we need to be looking at areas of the world that have not been viewed by the general public as a terror threat," the official said. "It shows that the threat can come from anywhere. It is not just limited to the Middle East or South Asia."

At a news conference to announce the arrest of Defreitas and two other suspects, New York City Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly agreed. "This is an area in which we have growing concern, and that I think requires a lot more focus," he said.

Guyana is in South America, and Trinidad is nearby in the Caribbean.

...

... some of the men whom Defreitas linked up with were militants or associates of militants. At least two were alleged to be longtime associates of Trinidad-based radical group Jamaat al Muslimeen.

The FBI and CIA have closely monitored the group since at least 1990, when it tried to overthrow the government of Trinidad and Tobago and replace it with one based on Islamic law.

Defreitas and some of the other men charged in the alleged conspiracy were in Trinidad trying to meet Jamaat al Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr last month, perhaps to seek financing and approval, according to the federal law enforcement official. The official spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the ongoing investigation.

In recent years, JAM has allegedly engaged in kidnappings, slayings, drug and weapons trafficking, and other illegal activities that have ratcheted up the concerns of U.S. law enforcement and intelligence officials.

Authorities say they are monitoring JAM members who have moved to New York and established criminal ties to associates back home.

...

Suspected Al Qaeda operative Adnan el Shukrijumah reportedly has visited Trinidad at least once since 2001 and met with suspected militants. Shukrijumah, who is among the most wanted suspected Al Qaeda members, also has some peripheral connections to Jamaat al Muslimeen, federal authorities told The Times. Shukrijumah has been sighted in Guyana, where he has family and associates, FBI officials said.

A senior FBI official confirmed that agents make frequent trips to Trinidad to hunt for Shukrijumah, his associates and other militants.

On Saturday, authorities said they had not found Defreitas and his alleged group of plotters to have connections to Shukrijumah or Al Qaeda....

...

There is more detail on the plot and the meetings leading up to the arrest.

At least one of the left wing blogs that even acknowledged this plot yesterday (many were struck mute) was concerned that the revelations would lead conservative blogs to ridicule John Edwards' assertion that the war on terror was just a bumper sticker. It was a valid concern, because the revelation of this plot and the Fort Dix six plot show that there are people out there who want to use terrorist attacks to harm America and attempt to shape our policy.

What many Democrats are telling these terrorist is that their tactic works and it will effect policy in their administration. This, of course, will lead to more attacks and more attempts to shape policy through the murder of Americans. It is the stark choice of the coming election. Will we elect candidates who will let their policies be shaped by terrorist or will we elect candidates who will fight the terrorist no matter what. The fact is they will continue to attack us either way, but the set solution is to continue to resist them and put them on the defensive everywhere.