Looking for the "Mastermind" of Doc plot

Guardian:

The plot to mount car bomb attacks in Britain was hatched outside the UK, with the doctors allegedly involved linked to a ringleader or mastermind abroad, counter-terrorism officials believe. One theory is that the alleged plot was orchestrated by one or two jihadists who infiltrated the NHS and indoctrinated others.

...

Intelligence sources last night declined to say where the "guiding hand" or mastermind behind the plot was based. It is likely, given the dates on which some of the suspects entered Britain, that the plot was hatched a year ago, or even earlier.

Though MI5 insists none of the suspects arrested in connection with the plot were under surveillance, the mobile phones detectives recovered from the would-be car bombs contained details that matched material on the security service database. Counter-terrorism officials say data from the phones and email traffic was checked on the database used by MI5, MI6 and GCHQ, the government's eavesdropping centre. Connections were found linking that information and communications abroad, which enabled the police and security services to speed up their investigations in Britain.

"This linkage allowed the police to move quickly," said a source. The foreign intercepts included talk of jihad, an official added. Counter-terrorism officials say the links between members of the British-based cell were via the foreign intercepts. It is believed, for example, that Mohamed Haneef, the doctor arrested at Brisbane airport, had long conversations with one of the suspects arrested in Britain.

Security and intelligence sources said yesterday that no link had yet been made between the failed bomb attacks and al-Qaida. However, they say al-Qaida's tactics are more flexible than they were at the time of the 9/11 attacks and that their sympathisers are increasingly left to decide for themselves the means of attack.

Anti-terrorist officials suggested yesterday that the use of car bombs was a response to warnings to farmers and suppliers fertiliser - the favoured ingredient of previous terror plots - to report suspicious demands for large quantities of the product. The bombers turned to the more easily obtainable fuel and propane gas. The fact that the attacks were bungled suggests the perpetrators did not have the same expertise as British bombers, many of whom were trained in Pakistan.

...

Note again how an al Qaeda in Iraq connection is now avoided by the liberal Guardian. I think they are still trying to avoid damage to their Iraq as Jihad U. theme that Brit papers have pushed so heavily. With these guys being smart docs but not so smart terrorist that theme, which was basically just part of their anti Iraq war spin, just does not fly. Check the post below for more on this subject.

This Independent story is still pushing the Iraq connection. It however refers to both the men in the Glasgow car bomb as Iraqi doctors while other media say the driver was from Lebanon. Still it is an interesting dynamic of whether they will blame Iraq for the botched attack or say it had no connection becasue it was such an inept attempt.