Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat - Thread 5

CNN ^ | March 12, 2004

[thecabal]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- This week's deadly train bombings in Spain will not lead to a rise in the U.S. color-coded terror threat alert system, a Department of Homeland Security spokesman said Friday.

"Based on the current intelligence, we have no specific indicators that terrorist groups are considering such an attack in the U.S. in the near term," said department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse.

[TexKat]

Two U.S. Soldiers Killed in Saddam's Home Town

Sat Mar 13, 2004 10:19 AM ET

By Luke Baker

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A roadside bomb killed two U.S. soldiers newly arrived in Iraq and seriously wounded several others as they were patrolling Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit on Saturday.

An explosion in Baghdad, meanwhile, killed an Iraqi shopkeeper related to a member of the country's U.S.-appointed Governing Council.

The Tikrit blast raised to 385 the number of U.S. soldiers killed in action since the war to overthrow Saddam was launched almost a year ago, as guerrillas continue to take their toll of occupation forces even though Saddam's rule is long gone.

Those killed were from the 1st Infantry Division and had only recently arrived in the country to replace the 4th Infantry Division, leaving Iraq after nearly a year's service.

Two other U.S. soldiers died in a similar attack west of Baghdad on Thursday.

In Baghdad, a suspected parcel bomb blew up inside a shop in a busy commercial district, killing the owner of the clothing and accessories store and injuring at least three others, local police and witnesses said.

The storekeeper was a brother-in-law of Ibrahim al-Jaafari, a Shi'ite Muslim member of the Governing Council, and aides to Jaafari said they believed the attack was politically motivated.

"It is in essence a political assassination, they targeted him with a bomb," said one aide, Adnan al-Assadi.

The deaths came four days after two U.S. civilians working for the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority were killed by Iraqi police in a development that suggests insurgents may have infiltrated the U.S.-trained police force.

The Americans, on secondment from the Department of Defense, were killed along with their Iraqi translator as they traveled south of Baghdad -- the first time since the war began that U.S. civilians working for the administration had been killed.

A senior coalition official said the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation had assigned a team to investigate the killings of the two, named as Fern Holland, 33, a lawyer, and Robert Zangas, 44, a press officer.

IRAQI POLICE INFILTRATED?

The U.S. military said six people had been detained in connection with the incident and said it believed most of them were legitimate members of the Iraqi police force.

U.S. forces have been hiring and training Iraqis for the police for several months in the hope they will eventually be able to take over responsibility for security.

There are now about 70,000 police on duty countrywide, most of them new recruits, but many of them once members of Saddam's security forces.

Amid evidence that hundreds of foreigners have crossed Iraq's long and porous borders to join the fight against the U.S.-led occupation, U.S. officials in Iraq said on Saturday they would unveil tougher border security measures.

Foreigners are believed to have been behind several recent devastating bombings, including attacks in Baghdad and Kerbala earlier this month that killed 181 people.

The plans will include a reduction in the number of official entry points along the nearly 900-mile Iranian border to three from 10. (Additional reporting by Fiona O'Brien and Ghaith Abdul-Ahad)

[appalachian_dweller]

Anytime! You're not ignorant. Nobody knows it all. It's a great help to know where to go to get the info you need. That's why I treasure FR and freepers. It's a great community. Better than family (at least mine anyway).

Glad to help.

[Letitring]

True that!

As an "attempting to recover, Airhead," I appreciate and need, all the help I can get. :)

[all4one]

More Islamic Militant problems.....

U.S. Giving Military Support to Chad in Fight with Militants
World Digest Saturday, March 13, 2004 - Page updated at 12:00 A.M.

WASHINGTON — U.S. military cargo planes have been delivering food, blankets and other supplies to forces in Chad as they have fought Islamic militants there, and American surveillance aircraft have helped track the militants, officials said yesterday.

The Chadian army battled Islamic militants near a remote village on the country's western border with Niger this week, killing 43 members of a group suspected of links with al-Qaida, the Chadian government said. Three soldiers were also killed, the government said.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher identified the militants as the Salafist Group for Call and Combat, an Algerian Islamic group the department has branded a terror organization. Boucher said no U.S. forces participated in the conflict.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2001878171_wdig13.html

[Quix]

Thanks for the ping.

Is the net slow this morning elsewhere (other than NW New Mexico)?

What do others make of the squirrelly Spanish ascribing of responsibility for the train attack? It seems to me to be clearly Al Qaeda. Why all the noise about ETA?

[knak]

wow, a new thread again! Glad I found it. I've been under the weather. Maybe I can get caught up soon!

[Letitring]

I've read until my eyes have crossed. LOL. Taking a break, back later.

[appalachian_dweller]

Seems to me that AQ and ETA have joined forces. Can't provide supporting documentation for my theory. Just a hunch.

[appalachian_dweller]

Seems okay here in Northern Va.

[all4one]

Well there is the oil well blow-out in Carlsbad, NM...and the power-outage and Microsoft MSN problems...they could all be causing the slow down in your area...

Power Outage Leaves 20,000 In Dark
Lights Out For Much Of Midtown Area
POSTED: 7:16 pm MST March 12, 2004
UPDATED: 7:27 pm MST March 12, 2004

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- A power outage in Albuquerque left at least 20,000 customers without electricity.
Action 7 News was first to report the power outage at about 10:30 a.m. Friday.

Crews had electricity restored to most of the affected customers about an hour later.

PNM traced the source of the problem to a substation near Interstate 25 and Montgomery

http://www.thenewmexicochannel.com/news/2919826/detail.html

Outage Hits Hotmail, MSN Messenger

'Internal issue' hampers logons for more than six hours Friday, Microsoft confirms.
Joris Evers, IDG News Service
Friday, March 12, 2004

Internal technical problems at Microsoft closed down access for many MSN Messenger and Hotmail users, as well as some MSN Internet Access customers, for about eight hours Friday.

Microsoft started receiving reports or problems with its instant messaging, Web based e-mail and dial-up Internet services at about 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time Friday, a company spokesperson says. The issue was identified at around 3 p.m. and solved an hour and a half later, she adds.
"The outage was pretty significant in terms of the number of customers it affected, but by now the services should be up and running for everybody," the Microsoft spokesperson confirmed late on Friday afternoon.

Details Withheld

Microsoft is not releasing details of the cause of the outage......

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,115196,00.asp

[TexKat]

livius, what do you think 4515sb means? This is an excerpt from the letter from the Al Queda group that took responsibilty for the Madrid bombings.

and we tell Abu Ali Al Harith Squad , the HQ decided the yemenwill be the 3rd swamp of the american Devil,and for the apostate triator Govt which come next after Musharref ....so all cells must get ready..work start at (4515sb)......and don't forget perfectin and don't forget Abu Ali Al Harithi and the divinly scholar which was handed over to egypt by yemen shiek Abdel Kader Abdel Aziz (Alsayed Imam El Shareef) who was captured 3 monthes after 11 sept attacks.

[rickylc]

The way I'm taking it, from articles I've read this morning, the Spanish Gov't is worried about ascribing credit to AQ because it might cause a backlash before the elections. However, if they keep up the line that it was ETA, it will help the chances of the Azanar's party.

The elections must be a close race?

[rickylc]

You might want to look at the translation posted on Al Jazeera. Cindy posted the link in her last news summary. It's the easiest to read english version I've seen so far.

However, I should ask those who can read Arabic, is the Al Jazeera trans correct? Any disinformation in there?

[Donna Lee Nardo]

"...Rather than with a heart filled with hatred wanting nothing but death for all."

Yup, that is the sad part. There is only one way this all will end and it cannot be peaceful or rational.

[rickylc]

aw heck, I'll just post it here

Translatuion of letter claiming responsibility for Spain attacks from Al Jazeera:


In the Name of God

In its last statement (al-Qaida statement in relation to Baghdad and Karbala bombings) dated 11 Muharam 1425 Hijri calendar, corresponding to 2 March 2004, Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades promised that it was preparing more attacks.

Here the brigade is keeping its word. The death squad (of the Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades) succeeded in penetrating the crusader European depths to strike one of the pillars of the crusader alliance - Spain - with a painful blow. These bomb attacks were part of settling old scores with the crusader Spain for its war against Islam.

Where is America to protect you today, Aznar. Who is going to protect you, Britain, Italy, Japan and other hirelings from us?

When we hit Italian troops in Nasirya (Iraq) and sent you and other hirelings a warning to withdraw from the alliance against Islam, you did not comprehend our warning – now we have made it clear - we hope that it will be understood this time.

We, in Abu Hafs al-Masri, did not feel sad for the death of the so-called civilians. Is it lawful for them to kill our children, women, the elderly and men in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, and Kashmir and unlawful for us to kill them back.
(The statement then refers to Quranic verses saying that Muslims should retaliate with equal force if attacked).

Stop targeting us, release our prisoners and leave our land and we will stop attacking you. The people of the US allied countries have to put pressure on their governments to immediately end their alliance with the US in the war against terror (Islam). If you persist we will also continue … We want to tell you the Death Smoke Squad will reach you soon, and then you will see your dead in their thousands – God willing … This is a warning …

In a separate attack, Jund al-Quds (Soldiers of Jerusalem) targeted a Jewish Masonic lodge in Istanbul. Three top Masons were killed in the operation, and if it was not for technical failure all the masons would have been killed. Thanks to God anyway.

We would like to tell Bilal bin Rabah Squad the leadership has agreed on the proposal and when the representative arrives, work will start.

We also would like to tell Abu Ali al-Harithi Squad the leadership has decided that Yemen would be the third quagmire for the idol of the time, America, and to teach the government which comes second only to (Pakistani president) Musharraf, in treason and infidelity, a lesson.

Therefore, all cells are to be on alert. Action will start at (time and code given) – Do not forget to debilitate, do not forget Abu Ali al-Harithi and do not forget the Muslim scholar who was extradited to Egypt by Yemen, Shaikh Abd al-Qadir Abd al-Aziz (Sayyed Imam Sharif). He was imprisoned three months after the September 11 attacks.

We want to inform those who kill Muslim Sunni scholars (Ulamaa) in Iraq to come to a halt otherwise …

We would like to announce to all Muslims in the world that 90% of the preparations of operation "Wind of Black Death" designed to be performed in America has finished and will be performed soon, God willing (at the Mujahidin's convenience). Believers will celebrate the victory of God.

Warning to the nation:- Avoid being close to the civil and military installations of America and its allies.

God is great, God is great – Islam is drawing closer by the might of the mightyand by humbling the mean.

Signed by "Abu Hafs al-Masri/al-Qaida" and dated 11 March 2004.

[livius]

The Catalan Socialists entered into an "agreement" with ETA a couple of weeks ago not to strike in Catalonia, presumably in exchange for their not criticizing or attempting to fight against ETA. They were widely criticized by Socialists from other parts of Spain, but still, the Socialist party now has a pro-ETA pro-terrorist reputation, and if it is proven that this is an ETA attack, nobody is going to vote for them.

On the other hand, the left (including the Socialists) are claiming that, if this is AQ, the attack would not have happened without Spain's support for the US in Iraq and in the fight against Islamic terrorism. They have been opposed to Spain's participation on our side since the very beginning, and of course, have the support of the media and such well-known foreign policy experts as Spanish movie actors (just like the Dems and the media world here in the US).

So if it is proven that AQ did this alone, the coward votes (that is, those of most Spaniards) will go to the Socialists.

Right now, in fact, I am listening to a report on Spanish radio about a demonstration against the PP in Madrid, led by leftists and "cultural figures" who oppose Spain's support for us. They are screaming "No a la Guerra," meaning the war in Iraq, and saying that this support was the reason for the attack.

Personally, I think ETA and AQ were working together.

[TexKat]

Thanks all4one. I had posted about the operation in Chad on Thread #4 on 3/11/04 after hearing about it on Lou Dobbs.

Secret War

Well, the fight against radical Islamist terrorists, of course, is global. CNN has learned that the U.S. military is now involved in a secret war against radical Islamist terrorists in North Africa, U.S. forces this week providing communications, intelligence and reconnaissance to troops from Chad. The Chad government today said its soldiers killed 43 radical Islamists in a battle near the border with Niger.

CNN senior correspondent Jamie McIntyre has the report -- Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN MILITARY AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Lou, as you said, the Chad government made an announcement that they killed those 43 radical Islamic militants in that two days of fighting along the border with Niger.

But what the Chad government didn't say, but sources tell my colleague, CNN's Barbara Starr, is that Chad's Army had help from a small group of U.S. military forces. Sources say the help was limited to intelligence, communications and reconnaissance and that the U.S. troops were not directly involved in the combat. But that help included overflights from P-3 Orion jet, a Navy surveillance plane, that was able to provide critical intelligence that gave Chad's military a significant edge.

Now, the U.S. has not openly acknowledged the role of U.S. military forces in Chad. And the number of troops there said to be about 100. But officials tell CNN it's all part of a low-profile campaign to battle in a number of African countries against a group called the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat. That's, we're told, a hard-line Algerian Islamic group that recently pledged allegiance to al Qaeda.

Now, sources say that the Islamic militants were chased into Chad by Niger's military and then surrounded by forces from Chad's military, and again with help from the U.S. military, they were able to, they say, kill 43 of those people. Now, the Pentagon says publicly only that U.S. forces are in a number of African countries assisting in training, but doesn't acknowledge exactly what was going on here in Chad.

But, privately, Pentagon officials say this is all part of the quiet effort to battle Islamic militants wherever they are -- Lou.

DOBBS: And they are operating apparently in something like 30 countries around the world, and active engagements in which U.S. troops are involved. That was the last report that I had seen. Can you add anything to that, Jamie?

MCINTYRE: Well, no, I think that's about right. There are various levels in various countries.

And what the U.S. is finding is that if it can provide some really high-tech assistance and sometimes just advice and strategy to the local governments in these countries, such as in Chad, they can be pretty effective in battling these groups on their own.

DOBBS: Jamie, thank you very much -- Jamie McIntyre, our senior Pentagon correspondent. More now on that secret war against radical Islamists, globally and particularly in North Africa. I'm joined now by General David Grange. It's good to have you with us.

The level of troops, U.S. troops, in Chad fighting, were you aware of their presence and their role there before?

RETIRED BRIG. GEN. DAVID GRANGE, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Lou, I was aware of U.S. forces in many countries around the world, to include what Jamie McIntyre just stated in regions of Africa.

And it's a very prudent thing to do. We have the expertise. We have the military that is some of the best counterguerrilla, counterterrorist forces in the world, that provides advice to some of these other fledgling countries of military capabilities that are a lesser degree of prowess, and it nips it in the bud early. It gets rid of these bad guys early, up front.

DOBBS: The attacks, Chad reporting 43 radical Islamists killed in this exchange. Does the size of that engagement surprise you?

GRANGE: It does not. And I would venture to say there's probably other small groups throughout this sub-Sahara region in Africa operating.

But the ties to al Qaeda, this is an example of something to get early, so you don't have situations happen like in Madrid as an example, before they get a great foothold and can expand their operations.

DOBBS: These counterterrorist, counterinsurgent operations, how long have they been going on to your knowledge in North Africa, through the region?

GRANGE: Well, as long as I can remember. And they should be going on. And I think it's again very prudent that these preemptive actions, which may just be providing advice or some technical assistance for intelligence gathering, makes all the difference in the world to these type of militaries that are trying to take care of these problems in their countries.

DOBBS: General David Grange, thank you.

GRANGE: My pleasure.

[appalachian_dweller]

>> However, if they keep up the line that it was ETA, it will help the chances of the Azanar's party. <<

And so, politicians of other countries also put their own personal power before the safety of the citizens. I do exclude GWB in this statement.

One other note, if ketchup boy kerry wins the WH, we will be attacked again on US soil. The guys a moron and a traitor who doesn't have the sense God gave a rock. I don't trust him.

[rickylc]

Great analysis, Thanks!!!

I hope the Spanish people see through the manipulation and don't cower to terrorists.

[livius]

4515sb

I don't know, unless it's an Arabic date. It doesn't mean anything in terms of Spanish history, so far as I know.

The AQ communique mentioned three attacks - the "train of death" (Madrid), a "black smoke"(?) and finally, a "winds of death."

The "black smoke" is next, then. The only thing that "black smoke" brought to mind was the Vatican. This is because after the Pope dies, during the election process, the ballots are burned after the voting and a chemical is applied to make the smoke black if no pope is chosen. When one is chosen, the ballots are burned without the chemical and the smoke is white. So I was wondering if it could possibly indicate an attack on the Vatican or on Rome, since Italy was one of our allies.

Or, again, possibly an attack on Gibraltar at the end of April, which would be an attack on Britain and also have the effect of blocking access to the Mediterranean (and which AQ has attempted on earlier occasions).