Interpol Alert: 23 Terrorists Escape Yemeni Prison

Interpol has just issued an Orange Alert for 23 alleged Al Qaeda operatives, including the alleged mastermind behind the 2002 bombing of our U.S.S. Cole. According to initial reports, the prisoners escaped from their Yemeni prison by tunneling 140 meters underground to a mosque, where they disappeared from view.

The alert went out to all 184 member states from Interpol, indicating the extreme danger this threat presents, in having these individuals loose. "A government official told Reuters in the capital Sanaa: "The Interior Ministry sent an official letter to Interpol with the names of the fugitives, their photographs and fingerprints. It asked them to circulate the list worldwide, fearing they might escape Yemen."

Although the investigation into how this escape could have occurred under the eyes of Yemeni authorities is just beginning, already rumors are implicating outside help in the escape. If these rumors bear out, then some rather nasty implications begin to surface. Since Yemen has been at least, a publicly declared ally in the War On Terror, this is a diplomatic disaster. It also brings into question loyalties to the fight against radical Islam.

"Interpol's Secretary-General Ronald Noble asked Yemen to provide the required information immediately, saying the escape could not be considered an internal problem.

"Unless Interpol Red Notices are issued urgently for these fugitives and unless the world community commits itself to tracking them down, they will be able to travel internationally, to elude detection and to engage in future terrorist activity," Noble said. Yemen has yet to fully comply with Noble's request.

The greatest concern to all of us is of course the increasing probability, that this is the beginning of something big occurring against Western interests, most particularly in the U.S. Coupled with the two videotapes issued by Usama Bin Laden, and the good Doctor Zawahiri, an ugly picture is developing. If that weren't enough, we have rioting over the stupidity of the Danish press, and Iran looming large over all with their threats of nuclear weapons.

Taken as a whole it is one ugly scenario. With that in mind, and knowing that our intelligence agencies are in overdrive, anyone who may have something that might help bring these fugitives to justice, or possessing information about anything threatening our security should come forward. It is not your job, nor mine to judge what may or not be important. If you suspect something is wrong, act on it. We don't exist in a vacuum, nor are we invulnerable. America needs all the eyes and ears it can get to help cool down one highly volatile situation. Interpol advises that loose, these individuals possess the capacity to move internationally. Once photos are released, take a long hard look and please-pay attention.