Threat Matrix- Daily Terror Thread (4):

New York Post ^ | February 24, 2004 | By NILES LATHEM

[Revel]

February 24, 2004 -- WASHINGTON - The Pentagon has dispatched the elite commando force that hunted down Saddam Hussein to Afghanistan for a new operation aimed at getting Osama bin Laden, officials said yesterday. Military sources confirmed that members of the shadowy Task Force 121, the unit that conducted the high-tech search for Saddam and his henchmen, have recently begun operating in the remote mountainous region along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border where bin Laden and key al Qaeda and Taliban fugitives are believed to be hiding. The Task Force is made up of highly trained Delta and SEAL commandos, as well as CIA paramilitary operators. It operates outside normal military channels.

[JustPiper]

Also the President warned today NOT to come here, we will be well prepared and you WILL be turned back!!! Keep us updated Fair!

[FairOpinion]

On second thought, it's probably just some refugees, but the word "hijacked" just immediately makes me think of terrorists.

[crabbie]

Didn't the power outage here in NJ last Aug also have some origin in Niagara even though it was finally thought to have originated in Ohia?

[jerseygirl]

In the context of cyberterrorism, I wonder what this is all about? They are investigating in 8 states. Remember when the AQ's bragged that they were "among us" and held professional positions, some in sensitive infrastructure.


Federal agents searching local ITT facilities

Indianapolis, IN

Northwestside campus, the company's Carmel headquarters and campuses in seven other states targeted in probe of undetermined nature.


By Tom Spalding and Terry Horne
terry.horne@indystar.com
February 25, 2004

Marion County Sheriff deputies turned away students and staff at ITT Technical Institute today as federal postal inspectors searched the Northwestside campus, the company's Carmel headquarters and campuses in seven other states.

The search warrants were issued by a federal court in Houston and stemmed from a grand jury investigation by the Southern District of Texas, company officials said.

The U.S. Attorney for that district, Michael Shelby, issued a statement later this morning acknowledging only the presence of federal agents at ITT Educational Services Inc. headquarters and campuses in Indiana, Texas, Virginia, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada, California and Oregon.

Shelby had no other comment except to note that no charges had been filed.

An ITT spokeswoman, Nancy Brown, said the company did not know what the investigation was about.

Brown said the search warrant authorized federal agents to obtain records relating to placement, student retention, graduation, attendance and admissions. Also included were records relating to graduate salaries and the transferability of credits to other institutions.

In a prepared release about the searches, Brown quoted ITT Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Reene R. Champagne as saying the private educational firm was "fully cooperating with the agents" and that the company had not been informed of any specific allegations or charges at this time.

According to the company's Web site, ITT operates 75 ITT Technical Institutes in 29 states and serves nearly 33,000 students, providing them with college education in "career-focused, degree programs."

The for-profit company is traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

http://www.indystar.com/articles/4/123930-3104-092.html

[crabbie]

ohia = Ohio

[knak]

speaking of stairs, how many are in the statue of liberty?

[JustPiper]

Bush Rebuffs Aristide, Warns Haitians

Feb 25, 2:57 PM (ET)

By Steve Holland
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush on Wednesday rebuffed Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's appeal for immediate security assistance to head off a rebel advance and warned Haitians not to flee to the United States.

http://news.myway.com/top/article/id/79744|top|02-25-2004::15:07|reuters.html

[rickylc]

I am well acquainted with well water. It usually does smell like sulfur and is usually quite warm...in the summer...but not 120 degrees. I think he's exaggerating

Not necessarily so. Check out this thread on FR, well water increasing to over 120 degrees in california.

California heating up?

[crabbie]

Many, too many for me. But I believe that since 9/11, the inside of the Statue has remained closed so that visitors to the island can only walk around outside and not enter the building/museum at all.

[milkncookies]

Bookmark

[JustPiper]

U.S.: Only a Matter of Time Until UBL Is Nabbed

KABUL, Afghanistan — The U.S. military said Wednesday that a "renewed sense of urgency" is firing the search for Usama bin Laden (search), even as it dismissed reports that the fugitive Al Qaeda (search) leader had been located near the Afghan-Pakistan border.

The new impetus comes amid plans to provide security to the lawless regions outside the capital, Kabul, before national elections planned for June. President Hamid Karzai (search) also suggested an unprecedented move that could promote peace, saying he would consider talks with a former Taliban leader to promote reconciliation with less extreme elements of the former regime.

"The sands in their hour glass are running out," Lt. Col. Matthew Beevers, a spokesman for the U.S. military in Afghanistan, said of bin Laden and other fugitives. "We remain committed and reaffirm our effort to track these guys down and get 'em."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,112435,00.html

[knak]

Hilton Head hotels asked to report suspicious bookings

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. --

An organization of hotels and restaurants on this resort island is asking its members to report any suspicious bookings during the upcoming G-8 summit at Sea Island, Ga., to law enforcement.

The meeting between leaders of the eight major industrialized countries may be taking place more than 100 miles away this June, but that hasn't stopped the FBI from asking the Hilton Head Area Hospitality Association to talk to its members.

Protesters have tried to disrupt previous G-8 summits, causing extensive property damage.

In an e-mail to its members, the hospitality association asks local hotels, campgrounds, RV parks and other businesses to report bookings they deem suspicious.

The memo said there has been no indication protesters plan to stay in the area, but because accommodations close to the summit site will be full, officials expect protest groups to look farther out for places to stay.

Several local hotels said such notices are standard for big events.

"It's very typical anytime you have a major summit or conference in your area," said Jim Paleo, general manager of the Hilton Oceanfront Resort. "We're all very accustomed to it and it's a pretty appropriate thing to do."

[JustPiper]

Listening to scanner and a call from the North side of Chicago is saying they have info on a bomb threat to the Untied Center...will see if they follow up?

[jerseygirl]

I just saw this over at the Final Phase forum. Remember yesterday a poster calling himself Wing 17 said Norad was on the highest state of alert with all vacations cancelled, on beeper, etc?

Here is the update. Now this is really scary.

Re: 17wing
NORAD is at it's highest level of alert with all leave canceled
with everyone "on pager" Result of intel concerning Russian
movements after recent war game, and chatter coming out of the middle and far east. - 17Wing

17Wing, Is Norad still at it's highest level of alert?
GOD BLESS AMERICA

17WING

(2/25/04 10:24)
Reply Not on pager..

But still on alert 24/7. Buy the way, what we are worried about is BIO attack - the worst.

[JustPiper]

Nothing Special at United tonight -g-

Bulls vs. Detroit
Wednesday, February 25, 07:30 PM

[swarthyguy]

Brown said the search warrant authorized federal agents to obtain records relating to placement, student retention, graduation, attendance and admissions. Also included were records relating to graduate salaries and the transferability of credits to other institutions.

Ping. Combine with yesterday's news re: Spain, and CIThosting......

[JustPiper]

Is Norad still at it's highest level of alert?

Anything at NORAD Sarge?

[Cindy]

THE WEEKLY PIRACY REPORT
http://www.iccwbo.org/ccs/imb_piracy/weekly_piracy_report.asp

[JustPiper]

Cindy
Bump! So it was refugee's or pirates?

20 posted on 02/25/2004 4:35:15 PM CST by JustPiper

Look at the time we posted this simultaenously on two different threads? LOL!