By Mike Nartker
Global Security Newswire

WASHINGTON — Even though there is, as of yet, no indication that al-Qaeda was responsible for the massive blackout that struck the Northern United States last week, the group may still benefit by claiming involvement, experts told Global Security Newswire this week (see GSN, Aug. 15).

Soon after the blackout, which affected sections of New York, Michigan and Ohio, as well as parts of Canada, U.S. officials said there were no signs that terrorism was responsible.  Earlier this week, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge reiterated that there was no indication that a terrorist attack was behind the blackout, adding that the incident is still under investigation.

Last week, however, a statement purporting to be from al-Qaeda taking credit for the blackout appeared on the online newsgroup Global Islamic Media, which has been known to publish statements from the group in the past, according to reports.  The statement claims that cells known as the Abu Hafs al-Misri Brigades attacked two electrical facilities in the Eastern United States under the orders of terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden.  While the statement refused to provide details as to how the attacks were conducted, citing a need for secrecy in the event that similar attacks were to be conducted in the future, it did say that the entire operation cost $7,000.

While U.S. officials may deny terrorist involvement in the blackout, al-Qaeda may reap several benefits by taking credit if the statement is genuine, according to experts.  Jeffrey Bale, senior research associate at the Monterey Institute of International Studies’ Center for Nonproliferation Studies, labeled the purported al-Qaeda statement as an example of psychological warfare aimed at threatening Westerners and bolstering the group’s supporters.

By taking credit for the blackout, al-Qaeda may also be attempting to send a message to its cells to consider similar attacks, said Charles Pena, director of Defense Policy Studies at the CATO Institute.  The statement might have been issued to cause U.S. officials to focus more on defending infrastructure targets, turning their attention away from more probable targets, Pena said, adding that al-Qaeda typically carried out attacks that resulted in mass casualties.

In addition, al-Qaeda might have taken false credit for the blackout in an attempt to see how the United States might react, Pena said, adding that the group is known for its adaptability.

“Everything we do, everything we say, they learn from,” Pena said.  “They’re taking notes,” he added.

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