Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat - Thread 6

Voice of America ^ | 01 Apr 2004 | Nick Simeone

[thecabal]

Link to Thread 5

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US Promises to Punish Those Responsible for Gruesome Iraq Attacks

The top U.S. official in Iraq says Wednesday's gruesome attacks on four American civilians whose burned bodies were put on display in the town of Fallujah will not go unpunished.

"It's going to be deliberate, it will be precise and it will be overwhelming," U.S. General Mark Kimmitt said, speaking to reporters in Baghdad. He warned insurgents in the town of Fallujah to be prepared for U.S. forces to strike back following Wednesday's killing of four American contractors by a frenzied mob that dragged their charred bodies through the streets.

Televised footage of the act has provoked outrage from Americans in the United States and led U.S. administrator in Baghdad Paul Bremer to issue a warning.

"Their deaths will not go unpunished," he promised.

The White House blamed the attacks on supporters of Saddam Hussein. The remains of the four were to be turned over to the U.S. military.

A day after the attack, three American soldiers were injured in another attack near Fallujah, this time when their Humvee struck a roadside bomb.

[Velveeta]

~~~shudder~~~

[JustPiper]

Al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf revives as Islamic Movement, plots bold attacks

Tuesday, April 20, 2004 • Twin Falls, Idaho

MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- Decimated by two years of U.S.-backed assaults, the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf is reviving itself as the "Islamic Movement," returning to fundamentalist roots and plotting urban bombings to lure recruits and foreign funding, security officials say.

The Muslim extremist group, with a 13-year history of kidnappings-for-ransom and beheadings, appears to be trying to shed its image as a band of criminals and focus more on bold attacks facilitated by radical Islamic converts, authorities told The Associated Press.

The boastful group forced its way back into the headlines by claiming it planted a bomb aboard a ferry gutted by a Feb. 27 fire after a loud blast, killing 100 people. Investigators have not determined the cause of the fire.

Abu Sayyaf is now trying to attract recruits and funding from foreign Muslim organizations like the Southeast Asian terror group Jemaah Islamiyah, security officials told AP.

"It's like a last hurrah. They want to say they're still around and that they're not irrelevant," Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita told AP

Full Article

[JustPiper]

Thanks for the FYI calisto and welcome to TM!

[JustPiper]

Tuesday, April 20, 2004

Our Opinion: Terrorism preparedness is still lacking

Tucson Citizen

Strip away the partisan bickering, set aside the political posturing and an unsettling picture emerges about this nation's ability to prevent terrorist attacks
The independent commission investigating the 9/11 attacks has heard sobering testimony and reports from its staff that indicate the United States has made little progress in filling intelligence gaps.

Take, for example, the commission's staff reports on the nation's two leading agencies in the terrorism fight:

http://www.snpx.com/cgi-bin/news9.cgi?target=www.newsnow.co.uk/cgi/NGoto/56485852?-3813

[Myrddin]

Islam is clear: Muslims living in lands that are occupied have the right to attack their invaders...

They don't bother to mention that they think the own the whole world, thus every place on earth is occupied by invaders. Every living creature that doesn't profess Islam is defined as an invader. Militant Islam believes they are justified in pursuing jihad anywhere and everywhere.

[JustPiper]

http://www.app.com

[Revel]

So they are saying that part of there strategy is to scare tourist's. No doubt this is part of there dreams to hurt America economicaly. Thanks for posting.

[MamaDearest]

Music to my ears...."has been foiled".

Question is: for how long?

[appalachian_dweller]

Thanks JP. Article said there was a burglar alarm that went off just before the fire. Not good.

[Revel]

I don't think Russia shut down web access.

http://www.ru/eng/index.html

[jerseygirl]

And birds.

[MamaDearest]

You have an extremely valid point JP. All of these "incidents" we know are happening - yet there is no documentation of them or warnings given to people in the localities involved.

I agree with you, we should be entitled to know when our lives are endangered so we can make alternate plans. If future attacks occur and yet another "commission" (groan) is created to determine responsibility for what went wrong and the question is raised why the population was not forewarned, it will totally degrade any remaining respectability as to the capabilities of the alphabet agencies to function as part of our Homeland Security protection.

[MamaDearest]

I am catching up on posts, but you've got my attention - please repost SP. Thanks!

[jerseygirl]

"The sparrow is in the cage"

I wonder if that means that the weapon is in the US and ready to be used.

[jerseygirl]

"'End of America' will be soon, al-Qaida convert warns"

time for openly threatening a preemptive strike? (I.e.- you hit London; goodbye Iran; you hit the NYC- goodbye Syria)

[MamaDearest]

With her entouarge of 40 people....35 for makeup.

[jerseygirl]

That certainly fits with the recent threat to hit Canadian transportation systems.

[JustPiper]

CNN:
Iraqi leaders set up tribunal to try Saddam Hussein and other Baathist regime members, Iraqi Governing Council says.

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) Suharto party names retired Gen. Wiranto, indicted by U.N. for rights abuses in East Timor, as presidential candidate.

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) Honduran president says his country will pull its troops out of Iraq as soon as possible

Report: Surge in hate Web sites targeting young
04/20/04 01:30 PM, EDT
Online games that allow children to "shoot" illegal immigrants, Jews and blacks are among the thousands of extremist Web sites described in a report by an international human rights organization.
FULL STORY
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/internet/04/20/online.hate.ap/index.html

An electronic intruder alarm first alerted police to a problem at the Route 9 building, and responding Patrolman Thomas Laffan found the fire. Authorities could not say if an intruder might have caused the fire or if the fire set off the alarm.
http://www.app.com/app/story/0,21625,947937,00.html

Missing tanker truck gives law enforcement reason to scramble
http://www.app.com/app/breaking_news/948233.html

Published in the Asbury Park Press
PENNSAUKEN (AP) -- A gasoline tanker truck has been missing from a Pennsauken parking lot for more than a week, sending local officials and the FBI scrambling.
{{How close are these two to one another?}}

Saudi security forces defuse 5th truck bomb
04/20/04 01:08 PM, EDT
(CNN) -- Security forces in Saudi Arabia defused two truck bombs outside of Riyadh, a security source said on Tuesday, bringing the number of car bombs seized in the kingdom in the past week to five.
FULL STORY
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/04/20/saudi.terrorism/index.html


Normandy: Arrive early for D-Day anniversary
04/20/04 11:32 AM, EDT
The old Norman town of Pont L'Eveque is far from the beaches, but that's the point. If you're doing D-Day, go early. Then beat a strategic retreat to a memorable Calvados-spiked dinner.
FULL STORY
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TRAVEL/DESTINATIONS/04/20/dday.anniversary.ap/index.html

Hostages face Abu Sayyaf captors
04/20/04
Maria Fe Rosadeno huddled with the other hostages in a small hut, as their Muslim extremist guards led her American fiance away into the jungle, his hands bound behind his back.
FULL STORY
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/04/20/philippines.hostages.ap/index.html


Jordanian King Puts Off Meeting Bush Over Israel
By STEVEN R. WEISMAN
Jordanian officials said the visit was impossible in light of the president's support for Israel's West Bank territorial claims
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/20/politics/20DIPL.html?th

[jerseygirl]

Re: June 23-

Remember that alleged "snippet" of information being reported by a military jet, overheard by a ham radio operator? The conversation in which the pilots suddenly realized that they were not on a secure frequency and cut the call off almost immediately?

This is so bizarre- but I think June 23 was the date that some object being tracked was supposed to "impact".

Probably just a hoax and a coincidence on the dates.

[MamaDearest]

Prayers will continue from me for your mom and you. Thank you for the update and keep the faith!