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.

[freeperfromnj]

FROM SALEM TO PAKISTAN, AN ATOMIC SMUGGLER'S PLOT

By Farah Stockman and
Victoria Burnett, Globe Staff and Globe Correspondent, 3/14/2004

SALEM -- It looked like any other package when a mail truck carried it away from the four-story office park at 35 Congress St., along with packages from other businesses near Pickering Wharf, like the Palmer's Cove Yacht Club and the Harbor Sweets candy store.

But the contents of this particular parcel, mailed in September 2003, were so alarming that US special agents secretly tracked its journey from Salem to an office in Secaucus, N.J., on to a warehouse in South Africa, then to an air cargo shed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and to its final destination: a military supplier in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Inside the box were 66 high-speed electrical switches called triggered spark gaps, each the shape of a spool of thread and the size of a soda can. In small numbers, they are used in hospitals to break up kidney stones. In large numbers, they can detonate a nuclear weapon.

Read entire article:

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/03/14/from_salem_to_pakistan_an_atomic_smugglers_plot/

[Letitring]

THe Spainards have made an emotional decision. I hope they live in order to regret it. It's very frightening to realize how well the terrorist know their prey!

[freeperfromnj]

FYI

[liberallyconservative]

Stepped away for a few minutes to get a quick fix of March Madness. Who got zotted and why? (And we're normally such a cordial little group over here ... :)

[freeperfromnj]

It's very frightening to realize how well the terrorist know their prey!

Now that their first Euro attack achieved their goals, which of our other allies is next?

[knak]

Can someone tell me what language this is?

[freeperfromnj]

Looks like German. Chilling pictures!

[knak]

I think it's just some kind of biology site but just curious as to the language.

[Imperialist]

Your welcome.

It sounds like the PP party in Spain lost the election to the socialist party. This is going to embilden AQ significantly. The Spanish have just caved in to terrorism big time!

[Letitring]

All bets are off, imho. This will empower the terrorist beyond belief. The implications of what the Spainards have done is astounding!

I'd say France, but that's a push over. We can depend on an attack on US.

[freeperfromnj]

It's got a little bit of everything in it, falcons, dolphins, bugs - heck there's even a flamingo

[liberallyconservative]

Do any of our other allies have upcoming elections?

Let's go down the list that was mentioned:

Italy - the tape says they were specifically targeted in the attacks at Nasiryah
Spain - bombings in Madrid
Moscow - fire after Putin's "re-election"?
Tokyo - already running scared (stock market-wise) just for being mentioned
London
Don't recall the specifics about Germany and France
The U.S.

[Letitring]

Yes and NOW news media can have folks on saying how bad this is, yada yada yada. Why didn't they have air time yesterday? Grrrrrrr.

This just makes me ill.

[knak]

Even a giraffe! I tried german to english in babelfish, didn't work. Maybe polish? Dutch?

[freeperfromnj]

Do any languages other than German use the umlaute symbol?

[liberallyconservative]

Have you tried Dutch?

[freeperfromnj]

Good recap. My guess is London and then us and it probably won't be with bombs on a train. They'll probably deviate their method knowing we've kicked up security on commuter trains.

[knak]

haven't found a translation place with dutch on it yet

[Letitring]

Some of it sounds like they are talking about Turkey?

[freeperfromnj]

When I look at the picture with the flamingo I think of the Florida Keys. What do you think is up with the dolphins? We definitely have to try and get this one translated.