Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat

Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat

Thread Twenty-Three (Index)

Google News : Google Images : News Hotlinks

The Threat Matrix

The title refers to a daily report given to the president of the United States detailing the most serious terrorist threats against the country. To tackle those threats, the government has formed a top-notch task force to infiltrate the terror cells and cut off the danger.

"Every morning, the president receives a list of the top ten terrorist threats - this list is known as the threat matrix."

We here at FR are trying to be in conjunction with the daily reports around the world that involve threats. We try to provide a storehouse of information that takes hours of research.

YOU be the judge and get informed!

LNG ship attack a potential disaster
Full Story

WASHINGTON - A terrorist attack on a tanker loaded with liquefied natural gas could cause massive damage a third of a mile away and could send a vapor cloud billowing more than 1.5 miles, government scientists say.

With the the nation clamoring for more natural gas, policy-makers are trying to figure out how to safely import large quantities of liquefied natural gas or LNG.

"I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat."

Threat Matrix "TM'er" Tips

Link to Thread Twenty-Two

"Code Red Implications:
Code Red - Stay Home and Await Word."
From Tm'er and Freeper ~MamaDearest~

Cindy's Links of Interest

TM Code of Conduct

ExSoldier's Invaluable Tips

TM's 'Be on the Lookout'

Godzilla's Summaries

Threat Matrix Book List

Arabic Image Links

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=42127

"WEAPONS OF CHOICE
Resort encourages guests to pack heat
Offers training in shooting muggers, airline hijackers"

Posted: December 28, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "A new mountain resort in Colorado encourages its guests bring their guns and practice shooting make-believe attackers.

The Elk Mountain Resort, in the San Juan Mountains, about 40 miles from Telluride, offers firearm training and the chance to practice shooting various assailants, including muggers and airline hijackers, in a three-floor complex, the Associated Press reports."

421 posted on 12/28/2004 1:10:56 AM PST by Cindy

To: Old Sarge; JohnathanRGalt; yonif; fullwave; ganeshpuri89; backhoe; All

422 posted on 12/28/2004 1:58:55 AM PST by Cindy

OFF TOPIC...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1309311/posts

"Cynthia McKinney (D-Conspiracy)"
The Weekly Standard ^ | January 3 / January 10, 2005 | Matthew Continetti

Posted on 12/27/2004 6:57:06 PM PST by RWR8189

423 posted on 12/28/2004 2:05:19 AM PST by Cindy

OFF TOPIC...

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml05/05074.html

NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 22, 2004
Release # 05-074
Crosman Recall Hotline: (866) 583-7340
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

"CPSC, Crosman Corporation Announce Recall of Air Pistols"

PRESS RELEASE SNIPPET: "WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the manufacturer named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: Walther CP Sport, CP99, and Nighthawk CO2 Air Pistols"

424 posted on 12/28/2004 2:15:15 AM PST by Cindy

http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/11878162p-12765073c.html

"A bomb threat clears bus terminal"
"Passengers forced to wait outside for more than an hour as police do a search."

By Walter Yost -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Monday, December 27, 2004

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The long trip home from the holidays became even longer for approximately 100 Greyhound bus passengers who were evacuated from the downtown Sacramento terminal Sunday because of a bomb threat.

No bomb was found in a search of the terminal at Seventh and L streets, and passengers loaded down with luggage and Christmas gifts were allowed to catch their buses to San Francisco, Reno, Salt Lake City and points beyond."

425 posted on 12/28/2004 2:19:50 AM PST by Cindy

To: piasa; MamaDearest; All

Interesting, but I personally could not find a url for the alleged story this thread is based on....

===
===

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1309425/posts

426 posted on 12/28/2004 2:39:06 AM PST by Cindy

427 posted on 12/28/2004 3:06:13 AM PST by Cindy

To: liberallyconservative

I'm sorry, I don't know the answer to your question. Maybe someone else on this thread does.

428 posted on 12/28/2004 3:09:45 AM PST by Cindy

Prayers Ongoing...

ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO HELP THE EARTHQUAKE/TSUNAMI VICTIMS -- HERE ARE SOME LINKS:

http://www.ob.org
http://www.samaritanspurse.org
http://www.salvationarmy.com

429 posted on 12/28/2004 3:10:36 AM PST by Cindy

great job Thread Twenty-Three nwctwx.

Glad to see Houston is still with us.

430 posted on 12/28/2004 3:34:11 AM PST by bored at work (Barack Obama . . . Iraq Osama . . . ?)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1309455/posts

"Sri Lanka said refusing IDF aid team"
haaretz ^ | 28 dec 04 | Yoav Stern and Amos Harel

Posted on 12/28/2004 3:28:39 AM PST by white trash redneck

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "A 150-member Israeli aid delegation canceled its mission to Sri Lanka on Tuesday, after the country - one of the hardest hit in the Asian tsunami disaster - refused to accept the Israeli team, Israel Defense Forces officials said.

However, Israel is sending supplies at Sri Lanka's request, including 10,000 blankets contributed by the IDF, tents, nylon sheeting and water containers. The IDF Home Front Command is organizing aid preparations.

The Israeli humanitarian organization Latet ("To give") is sending a separate aid package Tuesday. It is filling a jumbo jet with 18 tons of supplies worth $50,000, at Sri Lanka's request. The group is considering sending additional aid shortly."

431 posted on 12/28/2004 3:40:55 AM PST by Cindy

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,142692,00.html

Indonesia -

"Quake Death Toll Nears 40,000"

Tuesday, December 28, 2004

432 posted on 12/28/2004 3:44:20 AM PST by Cindy

Attendant charged with sabotaging jet safety equipment

A flight attendant has been charged with sabotaging emergency equipment on 14 Northwest Airlines commuter flights - including at least five from Milwaukee's Mitchell International Airport.

The sabotage delayed or canceled Northwest Airlink flights and even forced one New York-bound flight to turn back to Milwaukee in midair on Wednesday. No one was injured in the incidents.

FBI agents arrested Steven R. Hirtzinger, 23, of Chaska, Minn., Wednesday night after two incidents on flights from Mitchell. He appeared in federal court in Minneapolis on Thursday. The case moves to Milwaukee on Tuesday.

Hirtzinger is accused of tampering with oxygen tanks, breathing masks, fire extinguishers and other equipment on Northwest Airlink regional jets operated by Pinnacle Airlines of Memphis, Tenn. He has been suspended and banned from airports.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1309299/posts

433 posted on 12/28/2004 3:53:18 AM PST by windchime (Won't it be great watching President Bush spend political capital?)

434 posted on 12/28/2004 4:03:20 AM PST by bored at work (Barack Obama . . . Iraq Osama . . . ?)

I had been "googling" about Jason Korsower and never heard anything other than the FBI was going to investigate. Initial autopsy reports (found here: http://www.bnaibrith.ca/tribune/jt-041214-21.html) said the medical examiner was likely going to rule out homicide, although they tested for a number of toxins. The medical examiner said he was leaning towards a heart-related problem, although his mother said there was no heart attack, no aneurism.

I found it odd that the FBI was asking questions. I doubt they would have become involved if there weren't some initial scepticism about this being a natural death. Or it may have been precautionary considering he was a very healthy 29-year-old working for an organization that has received death threats.

435 posted on 12/28/2004 6:26:31 AM PST by liberallyconservative (A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both. - Eisenhower)

To: 7mmMag@LeftCoast

I was never aware of ACSA ever having ANY credibility. Reading tea leaves, astrological charts and chanting along with Ramtha seem to fit very neatly into their little package of "Intelligence".

I have tried to approach these groups with at least a semi-open mind, and see if they may be tapped into some source of info. The 'fruits' of their work quickly became apparent but I still monitor them to get a feel for whats happening in their minds eye. However with their latest escapade, they have become just another weird internet site.

436 posted on 12/28/2004 7:58:53 AM PST by Godzilla (Jesus - The REASON for the SEASON)

437 posted on 12/28/2004 8:02:24 AM PST by Godzilla (Jesus - The REASON for the SEASON)

Ex-official tells of Homeland Security failures
By Mimi Hall, USA TODAY
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-12-27-homeland-usat_x.htm

WASHINGTON — The government agency responsible for protecting the nation against terrorist attack is a dysfunctional, poorly managed bureaucracy that has failed to plug serious holes in the nation's safety net, the Department of Homeland Security's former internal watchdog warns.

A former government official says little has been done to safeguard forms of mass transit.
By Wendy Maeda, Boston Globe via AP

Clark Kent Ervin, who served as the department's inspector general until earlier this month, said in an interview last week that airport security isn't tight enough and that little has been done to safeguard other forms of mass transit. Ervin said ports remain vulnerable to terrorists trying to smuggle weapons into the country. He added that immigration and customs investigators are hampered in their efforts to track down illegal immigrants because they often lack gas money for their cars.

"There are still all these security gaps in the country that have yet to be closed," Ervin said. Meanwhile, he added, Homeland Security officials have wasted millions of dollars because of "chaotic and disorganized" accounting practices, lavish spending on social occasions and employee bonuses and a failure to require competitive bidding for some projects.

Asked what's wrong with the department, he said, "It's difficult to figure out where to start."

Ervin lost his job this month in mysterious fashion. Appointed by President Bush in December 2003 when Congress was out of session, Ervin was never confirmed by the Senate. Nor was he renominated by the White House this month when his "recess appointment" — which lasted until the congressional session ended — expired Dec. 8.

A key senator won't say why. Elissa Davidson, spokeswoman for the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, wouldn't comment on why Chairman Susan Collins, R-Maine, never held confirmation hearings for Ervin. "The decision not to renominate Clark Kent Ervin was purely a White House decision," she said.

Asked whether Ervin might be renominated, White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters Dec. 17, "I don't get into speculating about who might be nominated." He noted that Ervin's term had expired and said, "We appreciate the job he has done."

Government watchdog groups complained when Ervin had to go. "Homeland Security Superman Canned," read the headline on a press release from the non-profit Project on Government Oversight. (Ervin got his name from his older brother, who urged their parents to name him after the superhero's cover, mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent.)

Danielle Brian, the group's director, said Ervin was a standout among inspectors general, who operate inside every government department to investigate waste, fraud and mismanagement. Brian called Ervin an "aggressive overseer" of the new department and said it was crucial to have someone like him in the job because "Congress is absolutely asleep at the wheel when it comes to oversight."

In response to Ervin's criticism, Homeland Security Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said, "The department acknowledges the efforts and good intentions of the former inspector general to put forth recommendations to improve the nation's security."

While in office, Ervin made some scathing findings. He reported that:

• Undercover investigators were able to sneak explosives and weapons past security screeners at 15 airports during tests in 2003.

• Federal air marshals, hired to provide a last line of defense against terrorists on airlines, slept on the job, tested positive for alcohol or drugs while on duty, lost their weapons and falsified information in 2002.

• Department leaders should have taken a more aggressive role in efforts to combine the government's myriad terrorist watch lists since the department was created in 2003.

• The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) gave executive bonuses of $16,477 to 88 of its 116 senior managers in 2003, an amount one-third higher than the bonuses given to executives at any other federal agency.

• The TSA spent nearly $500,000 on an awards banquet for employees in November 2003. The cost included $1,500 for three cheese displays and $3.75 for each soft drink.

The department complained that many of Ervin's reports were based on outdated information. After the report on air marshals, border and transportation chief Asa Hutchinson said the problems had long since been fixed.

Ervin, a Harvard-trained lawyer who worked for Bush when he was governor of Texas and for Bush's father in the White House before that, couldn't explain why he didn't get the nod to continue his work. It "will be an enduring mystery to me," he said.

Ervin added that he plans to work as a Homeland Security consultant next year and write a book while keeping tabs on what happens at the department, which will have a major turnover in senior management.

For the person Bush selects to replace outgoing Secretary Tom Ridge, "the biggest challenge will be getting his or her arms around a huge, dysfunctional bureaucracy," Ervin said.

On that subject, he had a final word of advice for Bush: "There hasn't been the management expertise and experience needed to integrate and effectively organize a huge bureaucratic challenge. Ideally, you need someone who's got corporate experience."

**A Happy and Healthy New Year to all of you guys out there**

438 posted on 12/28/2004 8:35:38 AM PST by Mossad1967

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/breaking_news/10514257.htm?1c

Explosion levels office building in suburb of St. Paul.. ongoing.. one person pulled from rubble, others still possibly trapped.

439 posted on 12/28/2004 9:23:37 AM PST by KylaStarr (Woe be the country who assists or knowingly fails to halt an Al Qaeda attack on America)

To: Mossad1967; All

Two story building explodes and completly destroyed in Ramsey, minnesota, developing per FNC.

440 posted on 12/28/2004 9:25:21 AM PST by eastforker (Ask me about a free satellite TV system!)

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