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.

[JustPiper]

Bump for your finds!

[freeperfromnj]

AS TERROR THREAT EVOLVES, U.S. FORCES BEGIN FOCUSING ON WEST AND NORTH AFRICA

By Robert Burns
The Associated Press
3/16/04 4:16 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Opening a new front in the war on terrorism, the United States has begun training and equipping armies in parts of Africa that U.S. officials see as an inviting refuge for terrorists as well as a long-term source of oil.

Soldiers of the Army's 10th Special Forces Group are training troops in Mali and Mauritania, on the fringes of the Sahara Desert. And Marines are preparing for missions in Niger and Chad.

http://www.nj.com/newsflash/washington/index.ssf?/newsflash/get_story.ssf?/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?a0681_BC_WaronTerror-Africa&&news&tradecentercrash

[Mrs. Xtrmst]

Why did Iranian troops fire on us? Did they allege that we had crossed their border or was it just for target practice?

[GOPJ]

Countries should postpone elections when hit by terrorist.

If the Spanish election had been held up even for a few weeks, fear would have transformed to anger. Delays will discourage AQ.

Another thing about that mess in Spain that disturbs me, is how well the terrorist knew the nature of the Spanish people and how perfect their timing was.

[TexKat]

Honduras Says It's Pulling Iraq Troops

By FREDDY CUEVAS, Associated Press Writer

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - Honduras, following the lead of Spain, will withdraw its 370 troops from a Spanish-led humanitarian and peacekeeping brigade in Iraq by the end of June, Defense Secretary Federico Breve said Tuesday.

The decision marked an about-face from a day earlier when President Ricardo Maduro said the forces would stay.

Tuesday's announcement "coincides with the decision of the prime minister-elect of the Spanish government," Breve said.

Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the socialist candidate who won Spain's elections Sunday, has called the Iraq invasion an error, and said he would recall Spanish troops from Iraq by June 30 unless the United Nations assumes control of multinational military operations there.

As suspicion mounted that al-Qaida was behind Thursday's terror attacks in Madrid that killed 201 people and wounded 1,600, there was mounting criticism of outgoing Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar for being to closely allied to the United States and making Spain a terrorist target.

Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua all have sent soldiers to the Spanish-led Plus Ultra Brigade to do humanitarian and peacekeeping work.

Salvadoran Defense Secretary Gen. Juan Martinez said Tuesday that the country would keep its troops in Iraq no matter what.

"We have to follow through with what our government decided" contrary.

Honduras sent its first contingent of 370 soldiers to Iraq in August, and replaced it with a second group of the same size last month. The country had said from the beginning it would only commit its troops for a year.

El Salvador sent its first group of 360 soldiers to help the Ultra Plus Brigade last August. A replacement group of 380 soldiers arrived last month, and is scheduled to stay until August of this year.

Whether additional troops are sent after that may depend on the outcome of Sunday's presidential elections, disputed by Tony Saca, of the conservative ruling Nationalist Republican Alliance, and Schafik Handal, of the leftist Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front.

Current Salvadoran President Francisco Flores has stressed that the help it sent to Iraq is in thanks for the international community's backing of 1992 peace accords that ended El Salvador's 12-year civil war.

Nicaragua sent about 115 soldiers, mostly sappers and medical personnel, last September to join the brigade. Those troops have since returned, and the government announced last month that it could not afford to send a second contingent.

All three countries announced Monday that they were tightening security at major ports, airports and several embassies that might be vulnerable to attack.

[CJ Wolf]

we need to watch El Salvador on the 21st as well.

http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=2437748A-1BA9-4D58-BC5B2A07CB5313BD

Cuban President Fidel Castro has congratulated Spanish Prime Minister-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero on his election victory, and praised his pledge to pull Spanish soldiers out of Iraq. In a letter published Tuesday in Cuba's Communist Party daily, Granma, Mr. Castro says more than 1,000 young men from small, impoverished Latin American countries have been sent to Iraq as what he called "cannon fodder" under the command of Spain. Mr. Castro said the people of Latin America have the right to expect their immediate return.

Troops from Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Honduras have participated in the Spanish-led peacekeeping force in Iraq. Nicaragua pulled its troops out in February, and says it cannot afford to replace them.

[MamaDearest]

No, but Davey is one of my husbands hero's.

We finally got to see the Alamo this year and whoa what a surprise to find that it sits right next door to a Dillards Department Store. We found the many Missions in the San Antonio area to be of just as much interest historically. I can hardly wait to see the new Alamo movie.

[Calpernia]

Laura Mansfield, from homelandsecurityus.com will be on KTSA TALK RADIO at 7:00pm to be interviewed by Carl Wiglesworth.

[Revel]

Rememember that letter you like so much that you thought other news sources should pick it up. Well it looks like you got your wish. It really is a great letter.

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=37599

[Revel]

Well since it is in Alaska and the radio station does not appear to have "Listen" link on there web site then it looks like I am going to miss that. I would have really liked to hear it.

TO All. This is the same laddy who wrote that awsome letter I just linked to in my post above.

[MamaDearest]

Also Cindy, on Bourque news earlier today it related that there has been a major Equifax security breach in Canada, whereby a hacker has obtained numerous credit reports and consumer files. Identity theft potential with all the consumer's financial information at hand. As far as I know it only affects Canadian citizens. The article did not relate whether US Equifax Credit Bureau information was at risk.

[Calpernia]

Alaska? I thought it was in Texas?

[MamaDearest]

"The peoples and governments of Cuba and Iran can bring America to its knees."

You are correct, this is an angle that represents potential real danger to us.

[Revel]

BREAKING?


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1099087/posts

IRAN ERUPTS? [Kathryn Jean Lopez]

Secondhand, from an Iranian:

I am listening to KRSI (Radio Sedaye Iran) right now. There are many Iranians calling (from Tehran, and Gorgan, etc.).

All reports indicate that almost every neighborhood in Tehran is on fire. People are throwing home-made bombs, Molotov cocktails, etc. into the homes of mullahs, and burning pictures of Khamenei in complete defiance of his recent edict to mourn during the month of Muharram.

Background: Khamenei delivered a declaration (not really a fatwa, although some say it was) to Iranians to honor the month of Muharram, which started about two weeks ago, and to mourn and not have any parties of merriment. Well, the problem is that the Iranian New Year (Nowrouz), March 20th (totally non-religious and cultural event -- although Zoroastrian in origin) falls in the middle of this, and Iranians were enraged about this edict.

Tomorrow is the last Wednesday of the Iranian calendar year (called Chahar Shanbeh soori), and traditionally Iranians burn small bonfires and jump over them and celebrate the ending of the old year and welcome the new.

As a measure of defiance of Khamenei's Islamic Rule, and in celebration of ancient (non-Islamic) Persian customs, Iranians have taken to the streets in complete defiance of Khamenei's edict, saying that they will 'burn the mullahs out of their homes'. They are celebrating Chahar Shanbeh Soori. There are huge bonfires, bomb-throwing, merriment and the welcoming of the last days of the mullahcracy. In their own way Iranians are making a huge statement.

You can listen to the news yourself (in Farsi of course) everyone is very happy and celebrating defying the mullahs and burning of Khamenei's picture and trying to burn all mullah's houses. There are people calling from all over Tehran, from Gorgan, and northern provinces... It is amazing!

Posted at 04:12 PM

[Revel]

http://www.ktsa.com/

[jerseygirl]

Re "A major catastrophe in London", You know, the more I read, the more I become convinced that they are not referring to a train scenario as in Madrid; they are referring to unprecedented attacks most probably using WMD. Same with our cities- especially New York and Washington. Some time back, the powers that be started leaking info about "dirty bombs", then, that suggestion was replaced by nuclear detonations and bio attacks.

[jerseygirl]

I agree. I don't think Kerry is in it for the long haul.

[Calpernia]

Are you confused by their banner advertisement for Alaskan Cruiselines? ^-^

[Revel]

This is from the FR thread I linked to above have to do with Iran. Can you listen and translate what they are saying.

To: WarrenC
Here's the webpage linking to the live radio broadcast on the station mentioned in post. Unfortunately, these people seem to speak an entirely different language. But I'm thinking maybe there will be periodic English translations. Click in the little speaker symbols in the middle of the page, one for low-speed and one for hi-speed connections.

http://www.krsi.net/us-en/livewebcast.asp
23 posted on 03/16/2004 5:11:41 PM EST by BCrago66

[MamaDearest]

And anyone keeping up with this thread understands the significance of THAT close proximity.

Starting to feel like the wagons are surrounded.......