PHYSICAL - WATCH BOARD
- High concern over possible attack by al-Qaeda designed to follow within 60 days of 29 Oct. OBL video
- Osama bin Laden audio message recognizing Abu-Mus'ab al-Zarqawi as emir of Qaeda al-Jihad Organization in Land of Two Rivers
- Call for attacks on oil infrastructure in Iraq and Gulf region by Osama bin Laden
- Threat by Ansar al-Sunna to conduct attacks against Iraqis during run-up to elections
- Thai intel has reportedly warned about terrorist threats in Bangkok during the latter part of Dec. and early Jan.
- US Embassy on 15 Dec.: Credible information that terrorist groups are developing near-term plans for attacks against unspecified targets in Kuwait.
- UK FCO on 15 Dec.: "We believe that there is a heightened risk of attacks in the lead up to and during this Christmas/New Year period. These could occur at any time, anywhere in Indonesia and could be directed against locations frequented by foreigners."
- Australia and Japan issue warnings on 15 Dec. over threat to a foreign hotel in Indonesia, hotel identified as Hilton Hotel in Jakarta. The Australian DFAT said, "We have received credible new information suggesting terrorists are ready to carry out an attack shortly in Indonesia, possibly targeting a Hilton hotel. Other targets
cannot be ruled out."
- High threat of kidnappings in Iraq
- Ongoing threat of shooting/kidnapping attacks targeting Westerners in Saudi Arabia
http://www.intelcenter.com
Buoy transmitters to extend Coast Guard’s port security system
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Dozens of buoys bobbing off U.S. coastlines, transmitting signals to Coast Guard officials, will be the newest addition to an anti-terrorism system that monitors large vessels heading in and out of American ports.
The Coast Guard plans to test the buoy transmitters early in 2005, probably off Florida’s Gulf coast, said Jeff High, a director of the Guard’s Maritime Domain Awareness Program in Washington, D.C.
They will connect to a communications network that this year began receiving signals from all large tankers, barges and cruise vessels heading in and out of major U.S. ports. To legally enter a U.S. port, each vessel must be equipped with a machine that automatically radios information — its cargo, crew list, recent ports of call — to the Coast Guard.