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7
THE ATTACK LOOMS
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7.1 FIRST ARRIVALS IN CALIFORNIA
In chapter 5 we described the Southeast Asia travels of Nawaf al Hazmi, Khalid
al Mihdhar, and others in January 2000 on the first part of the "planes opera-
tion." In that chapter we also described how Mihdhar was spotted in Kuala
Lumpur early in January 2000, along with associates who were not identified,
and then was lost to sight when the group passed through Bangkok. On Jan-
uary 15, Hazmi and Mihdhar arrived in Los Angeles. They spent about two
weeks there before moving on to San Diego.
1
Two Weeks in Los Angeles
Why Hazmi and Mihdhar came to California, we do not know for certain.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM), the organizer of the planes operation,
explains that California was a convenient point of entry from Asia and had the
added benefit of being far away from the intended target area.
2
Hazmi and Mihdhar were ill-prepared for a mission in the United States.
Their only qualifications for this plot were their devotion to Usama Bin Ladin,
their veteran service, and their ability to get valid U.S. visas. Neither had spent
any substantial time in the West, and neither spoke much, if any, English.
3
It would therefore be plausible that they or KSM would have tried to iden-
tify, in advance, a friendly contact for them in the United States. In detention,
KSM denies that al Qaeda had any agents in Southern California.We do not
credit this denial.
4
We believe it is unlikely that Hazmi and Mihdhar--neither
of whom, in contrast to the Hamburg group, had any prior exposure to life in
the West--would have come to the United States without arranging to receive
assistance from one or more individuals informed in advance of their arrival.
5
KSM says that though he told others involved in the conspiracy to stay away
from mosques and to avoid establishing personal contacts, he made an excep-
tion in this case and instructed Hazmi and Mihdhar to pose as newly arrived
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