Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat - Thread Twenty-Nine

[nwctwx]

Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat

Thread Twenty-Nine (Index)

Yahoo News : Yahoo Images : News Hotlinks

The Threat Matrix

The title refers to a daily report given to the president of the United States detailing the most serious terrorist threats against the country. To tackle those threats, the government has formed a top-notch task force to infiltrate the terror cells and cut off the danger.

"Every morning, the president receives a list of the top ten terrorist threats - this list is known as the threat matrix."

We here at FR are trying to be in conjunction with the daily reports around the world that involve threats. We try to provide a storehouse of information that takes hours of research.

YOU be the judge and get informed!

Was Bomber's "New York" Shirt A Message?
Full Story

It's hardly a unique fashion statement for a mass transit rider: a Yankees-style cap, and a "New York" sweat shirt.

But the New York Police Department is teaming with British authorities to determine whether those items were worn by suspects in the London terror cases to send a "purposeful message" to the city, according to an NYPD officials.

David Cohen, the NYPD's deputy commissioner of intelligence, raised the concern earlier this week at a security briefing for business leaders at police headquarters in Lower Manhattan.

Related:
New assessments warn of Qaeda suicide attacks in U.S.
Still Not Ready in The ER | Cell Phone Number: ICE
Where bin Laden is, why he's still alive

"I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat."

TM Terrorism Handbook	Link to Thread Twenty-Eight "Code Red Implications: Code Red - Stay Home and Await Word." From Tm'er and Freeper ~MamaDearest~	Arabic Links and Resources
TM 'Be on the Lookout'		ExSoldier's Invaluable Tips
Threat Matrix Book List		Godzilla's Summaries
Tracking the Chatter with TM		TM Code of Conduct

Threat Matrix HTML designed by: Ian Livingston

[Cindy]

The Friday night question is, "Inquiring minds would like to know -- is Zarqawi dead?"

Answers and updates appreciated.

===
===

http://www.wtop.com/index.php?nid=105&sid=558420
"U.S. Hits Suspected Terror Base in Iraq"
Updated: Friday, Aug. 26, 2005 - 3:02 PM

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP)

[Cindy]

Yes.

[Oorang]

Explosion shatters window at Beaverton (Oregon) pizza place
01:35 PM PDT on Friday, August 26, 2005

BEAVERTON – An explosion in a strip mall parking lot in Beaverton Friday morning shattered a window at a nearby pizza place, authorities said.

Deputies were called about 10 a.m. to the scene outside the Bethany Village business complex located at 4744 NW Bethany Blvd.

The explosion blew out a window at Godfather's Pizza, according to deputy Cleo Howell with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. The explosive device was detonated in a landscaped area in the parking lot and was about 60 feet from the building. At least two pieces of metal were found at the scene.

There was no other property damage and no one was injured, Howell said.

Authorities asked that anyone with information about the incident or other suspicious activity in the Bethany Village area call the sheriff’s office at (503) 846-2524.

http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_082605_news_beaverton_explosion_.b086057f.html

This link says it was a possible pipe bomb:
http://www.koin.com/news.asp?ID=4193

[nw_arizona_granny]

Le sheriff’ warns on globalisation of terrorism
>By Martin Arnold in Paris
>Published: August 25 2005 21:53 | Last updated: August 25 2005 21:53
>>

After hunting down Islamic terrorists for 20 years, often at great personal risk, Jean-Louis Bruguière is better placed than
most people to predict al-Qaeda's next move.

France's best known anti-terrorist judge says he was “unfortunately not very surprised” by the July 7 bombings in London.
“Since the Madrid attacks [in March 2004] there has been a strong upsurge in the threat to Europe,” says the 62-year-old,
nicknamed “le sheriff” for his old habit of carrying a handgun in public.

He says there were signs the UK was likely to be the next target well before July 7. “In my opinion the most interesting
attack for analysis is the one in Istanbul [in November 2003]. It is incontestable that the real target was British, with the
consulate and HSBC [bank] being hit. It was a direct warning.”

The state visit by President George W. Bush to the UK on the same day as the bombs in Turkey also had great symbolic
value, he says. “It is the first time that al-Qaeda interfered with the political agenda of states.”

“The symbolism is a fundamental element that we neglect in the overall problem.” For the terrorists, he says “the issue is not
just about the number of victims, it is also the value of the event in a media, political and geopolitical context”.

The UK also faces a particular problem because of its large Pakistani population, he says. “The importance of the radical
Pakistan-based organisations linked to al-Qaeda and operating around the world, notably in Europe, is another remark you
can make.” He says the UK “is more affected by this problem than other states”.

Pakistani links to al-Qaeda in the UK are an example of the “globalisation of the terrorist threat”, a favourite theme of Mr
Bruguière. “Today we can visualise it as a system of concentric circles. First is the core of al-Qaeda, or what is left of it.”

Next is a second circle of “regional organisations, which are still structured for now”. An example is the Chechen
independence movement, which he says is “completely linked to al-Qaeda, in the strictest sense, and there is proof of that
now”. The third circle is comprised of a “loose and informal conglomeration of radical Islamic militants located in Europe”.

Mr Bruguière has been warning about the growing threat of Islamic terrorists since a series of bombs in Paris in the
mid-1980s.

Long before September 11, he was warning about the risk of terrorists using an aircraft as a bomb, after foiling the 1994
hijacking of an Air France jet by Algerian radicals planning to crash it into the Eiffel tower. People pay more attention to him
now. Few countries have invested their legal system with more authority to investigate and pre-empt terrorist attacks than
France. Mr Bruguière can get warrants to tap phones, search houses and lock people up for days with little more than an
intelligence tip-off.

He can hold suspects for 96 hours before they are charged or see a lawyer. “Association with criminals involved in a terrorist
enterprise” carries a 10-year prison sentence and encompasses everything from financing terrorists to holding a false
passport.

Since 1986 specialist anti-terrorist judges, led by Mr Bruguière, have worked alongside police and intelligence teams in a
special anti-terror unit. “By working more closely with the secret services the legal system is reinforced.” In contrast, the UK
suffers from not having a “centralised” approach to terrorism, making it difficult to know “who is the best interlocutor” he
says.

Mr Bruguière says France's “connected and pro-active policy of permanent struggle” reflects its history, and the recent
memory of attacks by the Algerian GIA terror group on the Paris metro in the 1990s. “Other European countries were not
concerned by that, which did not allow a global response at that time.”

He dismisses recent calls for the UK to adopt the French model. “The French model is not directly transferable to the UK
because of the differences in judicial structure and organisation.” However, he says France could be a source of ideas, such
as on how to get intelligence services working more closely with law enforcement.

Because the US and UK have common law systems, he says they are often forced to seek solutions “outside the law”, such
as the US use of Guantánamo Bay to imprison suspected terrorists.

Mr Bruguière no longer carries his Magnum. It has been replaced by six police bodyguards permanently assigned to him.

Yet the man who has arrested more than 500 suspects, including most famously Carlos “the Jackal”, is credited with foiling
dozens of terrorist plots in France.

“Every year France has disrupted terrorist threats, such as the attempt in 2000 to bomb the Christmas market in Strasbourg.
We have not suffered a terrorist attack since 1996.”

His warning that Asian financial centres are vulnerable to attack should not be taken lightly.
>

>
>






Find this article at:
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/af5845fa-158f-11da-8085-00000e2511c8,ft_acl=,s01=1.html

[nw_arizona_granny]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2005-08-23-forum-jihad_x.htm

"Jihad Today"

I have only a part of this article and am not able to open it at USA Today.

It says the Saudi's are building mosques in Africa, the area that al Qaeda is said to be moving to, that are not used, that they are only to stake a claim to the area.

[Cindy]

and a thread to go with that incident Vel.
===

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1471603/posts
"CA: Shootings Incite Angry Responses (LA on Edge)"
KABC 7 ^ | 8/26/05 | Dallas Raines
Posted on 08/26/2005 5:17:34 PM PDT by BurbankKarl

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1471543/posts

"Jesse Jackson to visit Venezuela, meet Chavez"
AFP on Yahoo ^ | 8/26/05 | AFP

Posted on 08/26/2005 3:30:18 PM PDT by NormsRevenge

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "CARACAS (AFP) - US civil rights activist Jesse Jackson will reportedly begin a three-day visit to Venezuela on Saturday, to meet President Hugo Chavez, politicians and community leaders.

Jackson and his delegation will meet Chavez, Venezuelan religious leaders and will attend a special session of Venezuela's National Assembly convened Sunday.

Jackson will also meet leaders of African-descended communities in Caracas, the ABN state news agency said."

[nw_arizona_granny]

Thank you for the LA riot thread link.

[nw_arizona_granny]

August 27, 2005

Bigger London bombs planned

The London Times

By Stewart Tendler and Michael Evans

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,22989-1752767,00.html

Investigators believe that the July 7 London suicide bombers may have
planned to construct much bigger devices.

After examining all the possible reasons why the bombers left
bomb-making components in the boot of a car at Luton railway station,
investigators consider it likely that the four terrorists had intended to build
devices with at least 20lb of home-made explosives.

The suggestion that the explosives, nails and other components found in
the red Fiat had been left there for a follow-on terrorist team has
been discounted. One posssibility is that their rucksacks were too small
for bigger devices.

The theory emerged as three Iraqis were questioned by detectives
yesterday after being arrested taking photographs near to the venue for a
European Union foreign ministers' meeting next week, near Newport, Gwent.
The men were held under the Terrorism Act 2000.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Date: Fri 26 Aug 2005 From: ProMED-mail Source: Associated Press via Globe and Mail, Toronto, 26 Aug 2005 [edited] ------------------------------------------------------------- Bird flu spreads to new species ----------------------------------- Bird flu has killed 3 rare civets born in captivity at a national park in Viet Nam, marking the 1st time the virus has been reported in the species, officials said on Friday [26 Aug 2005]. ------------------------------------------------------------- The Owston civets died in late June 2005 at the Cuc Phuong National Park, about 120 km south of Hanoi. Samples sent to a lab in Hong Kong came back positive for the H5N1 virus, said Scott Roberton, technical adviser for the civet conservation program at the park. -------------------------------------------------------------- He said other animals at the park have been tested -- including chickens, rats and other birds -- but none have tested positive for the virus. -------------------------------------------------------------- "It's another good example of how dangerous this thing is," Mr. Roberton said. "No animals are ill, no people are ill. We're still trying to figure out where the source was. The civets were not fed any type of poultry, and 20 other civets of the same species in adjacent cages did not become sick", he said. "The World Health Organization and Viet Nam health officials are expected to test staff and animal keepers to determine [whether] anyone caring for the civets has been infected with bird flu," he said. ------------------------------------------------------------- Anton Rychener, head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Organization for Animal Health in Hanoi, confirmed the results. ------------------------------------------------------------- Cat-like civets are captured in the wild and served as a delicacy at restaurants in Viet Nam and China. ------------------------------------------------------------- Scientists suspect that SARS, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which killed nearly 800 people worldwide in 2003, was passed to humans from civet cats and other mongoose-like animals sold in live food markets in southern China. ------------------------------------------------------------- Peter Horby, an epidemiologist for the WHO in Hanoi, said the development would not make people more susceptible to bird flu, because humans have less contact with civets than [with] poultry. "The interesting thing is that it's a new species," he said. "It continues to surprise." _____________________________________________________________ Bird flu had previously been found in other mammals, such as cats and tigers. _____________________________________________________________ The virus has killed 61 people region-wide, with the bulk of those deaths in Viet Nam. Health experts have repeatedly warned that the world is due for an influenza pandemic that could kill millions and cripple economies. They fear the bird flu virus will mutate and become easily transmitted from person to person. So far, most human cases have been traced back to contact with poultry. _____________________________________________________________ Owston civets are globally threatened and found in southern China, Viet Nam and Laos. [Similar items have been sent by Christian Griot, A-Lan Banks, Mary Marshall and Joe Dudley, who are cordially acknowledged]. -- ProMED-mail --------------------------------------------------------------- [Owston's Banded Palm Civet (_ Chrotogale owstoni_) belongs to the family _Viverridae_, subfamily _Hemigalinae_, genus _Chrotogale_. The genotyping of the causal agent recorded in the civets, and its comparison to previous isolates of H5N1 strains from mammals, are expected with interest. --------------------------------------------------------------- Studies of H5N1 infection of pigs (mammals of particular significance in relation to the epidemiology of avian influenza in respect to human health) using viruses isolated in Viet Nam and Thailand have recently been published (Young Ki Choi, Tien Dzung Nguyen et al. Journal of Virology, August 2005, p. 10821-10825 Vol. 79, No. 16). We are grateful to Christian Griot for bringing this paper to our attention. - Mod.AS] ------------------------------------------------------------- [This is an interesting report; but perhaps not so surprising. Other members of the order Carnivora are know to be susceptible to avian influenza viruses. ------------------------------------------------------------- Family Felidae - both domestic cats (H7N7) and zoo tigers and leopards (H5N1) have suffered infection and the H5N1 virus was transmitted among zoo tigers. _____________________________________________________________ Family Mustelidae - the ferrets, badgers, skunks, etc. Ferrets are highly susceptible to influenza viruses. The first human influenza virus was isolated by Wilson Smith and Stuart-Harris by inoculation of patient material into ferrets in the 1930's. Ferrets are still the animals of choice for production of diagnostic antisera (e.g. see the WHO statement "Evolution of H5N1 Avian Influenza Viruses in Asia" by The World Health Organization Global Influenza Program Surveillance Network at ). - Mod.CP]

[bored at work]

g'nite bkmk

[nw_arizona_granny]

Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2005 From: ProMED-mail Source: CBC5.com [edited] ------------------------------------------------------------- Health officials in San Mateo County say that while the cause of a salmonella outbreak in the county in Jul 2005 remains under investigation, almonds have been ruled out as the source. The outbreak, which was traced back to La Tapatia restaurant in South San Francisco, affected 22 people including 1 restaurant employee, according to San Mateo County Health Services spokeswoman Beverly Thames. ------------------------------------------------------------- In a communicable disease report issued to the Board of Supervisors, county health officials initially leaned toward almonds as the cause, saying specimens from the restaurant patrons matched a strain of salmonella found in raw almonds. ------------------------------------------------------------- However, Thames said on Wed, 24 Aug 2005, that it appears the salmonella originated elsewhere. Testing to determine the source of the bacteria is ongoing, she said. ------------------------------------------------------------- Thames said that an environmental health specialist and public health nurse visited the restaurant and recommended ways it can prevent future transmission of harmful bacteria. "The public doesn't need to be concerned," she said. ------------------------------------------------------------- All of the people who contracted salmonella at the South San Francisco restaurant have since recovered, Thames said. ----------------------------------------------------------------- -- ProMED-mail [More epidemiology is now needed to confirm the source of the salmonellosis. It is possible that the employee was involved. - Mod.LL]

[Domestic Church]

80 million doses of smallpox sounds like they expect this avian flu.

[Domestic Church]

Let's see...Russia takes control of Venezuela's oil industry and then they play pattycake with China in some wargames and now they open sesame the oilfields to China....meanwhile we are paying over inflated prices at the pump that don't reflect the global oil market according to Bloomberg or whatever his name is....who's the mad hatter today?

[nw_arizona_granny]

2] USA Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2005 From: ProMED-mail Source: USA's CDC, Division of Vector-borne Infectious Diseases, West Nile Virus, 23 Aug 2005 [edited] _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ 2005 West Nile Virus Activity in the United States (Reported to CDC as of 23Aug 2005)* ------------------------------------------- As of 23 Aug 2005 avian, animal or mosquito WNV infections have been reported to CDC ArboNET from the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. --------------------------------------------------------------- Human cases have been reported in: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and Utah. [Human counts are given below] _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Maps detailing county-level human, mosquito, veterinary, avian and sentinel data are published each week on the collaborative USGS/CDC West Nile virus web site: _____________________________________________________________ State / Neuroinvasion* / West Nile fever** / Other*** / Total**** / Deaths _____________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------- Alabama / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 Arizona / 7 / 9 / 3 / 19 / 0 Arkansas / 0 / 5 / 0 / 5 / 0 California / 79 / 135 / 20 / 234 / 6 Colorado / 2 / 19 / 0 / 21 / 0 Florida / 3 / 4 / 1 / 8 / 0 Georgia / 0 / 1 / 1 / 2 / 0 Illinois / 19 / 9 / 0 / 28 / 0 Indiana / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 Kansas / 1 / 2 / 0 / 3 / 0 Louisiana / 40 / 12 / 0 / 52 / 4 Minnesota / 3 / 8 / 0 / 11 / 0 Mississippi / 5 / 4 / 0 / 9 / 1 Missouri / 1 / 0 / 1 / 2 / 1 Nebraska / 4 / 5 / 0 / 9 / 0 Nevada / 2 / 1 / 0 / 3 / 0 New Mexico / 4 / 2 / 0 / 6 / 0 North Carolina / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 North Dakota / 2 / 14 / 0 / 16 / 0 Ohio / 6 / 0 / 0 / 6 / 0 Oklahoma / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 Pennsylvania / 2 / 1 / 0 / 3 / 0 South Dakota / 7 / 36 / 0 / 43 / 0 Texas / 13 / 0 / 0 / 13 / 0 Utah / 1 / 3 / 0 / 4 / 0 Totals / 205 / 270 / 26 / 501 / 12 - ------------------- _____________________________________________________________ * Cases with neurologic manifestations (such as WN meningitis, WN encephalitis, WN myelitis) ** Cases with no evidence of neuroinvasion *** Illnesses for which insufficient clinical information was provided **** Total number of human cases of WNV illness reported to ArboNET by state and local health departments. -------------------------------------------------------------- Neuroinvasive Disease refers to severe disease cases, particularly West Nile meningitis and West Nile encephalitis. Click here for further explanations of neuroinvasive West Nile virus disease and West Nile fever. ------------------------------------------------------------- West Nile fever refers to typically less severe cases that show no evidence of neuroinvasion. West Nile fever is not currently on the list of nationally notifiable diseases, and therefore it is optional whether or not state health departments report these cases to CDC. Click here for further explanations of neuroinvasive West Nile virus disease and West Nile fever. _____________________________________________________________ Other Clinical includes persons with clinical manifestations other than WN fever, WN encephalitis or WN meningitis, such as acute flaccid paralysis. Unspecified cases are those for which sufficient clinical information was not provided. ------------------------------------------------------------- Total Human Cases Reported to CDC - These numbers reflect both mild and severe human disease cases occurring from 1 Jan 2005 through 23 Aug 2005 that have been reported to ArboNet by state and local health departments. ArboNet is the national, electronic surveillance system established by CDC to assist states in tracking West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne viruses. Information regarding 2005 virus/disease activity is posted when such cases are reported to CDC. -------------------------------------------------------------- Of the 501 cases, 205 (41 percent) were reported as West Nile meningitis or encephalitis (neuroinvasive disease), 270 (54 percent) were reported as West Nile fever (milder disease), and 26 (5 percent) were clinically unspecified at this time. Please refer to state health department web sites for further details regarding state case totals. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Note: The high proportion of neuroinvasive disease cases among reported cases of West Nile virus disease reflects surveillance reporting bias. Serious cases are more likely to be reported than mild cases. Also, the surveillance system is not designed to detect asymptomatic infections. Data from population-based surveys indicate that among all people who become infected with West Nile virus (including people with asymptomatic infections) less than 1 percent will develop severe neuroinvasive disease. See: Mostashari F, Bunning ML, Kitsutani PT, et al. Epidemic West Nile Encephalitis, New York, 1999: Results of a household-based seroepidemiological survey. Lancet 2001;358:261-264. --------------------------------------------------------------- -- ProMED-mail [Elsevier reference: Granwehr B, Lillibridge K, Higgs S, Mason P, Aronson J, Campbell G, Barrett A. West Nile virus, where are we now? Lancet Inf Dis 2004; 4:547-556] _____________________________________________________________ [To date, 25 states (exactly 50 percent) have been affected by WNV. - Mod.RY]

[Cindy]

You're welcome.

[nw_arizona_granny]

LOL......

Now I am only a bookmark......

Make tonight a special one, one fit for the memory bank of time.

Good night.

[Cindy]

UPDATE...

Note: The following post is an exact quote:
===

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1471657/posts


Death penalty sought against man accused in Glendale (commuter train) crash
kcal9 ^ | Friday August 26, 2005

Posted on 08/26/2005 7:03:43 PM PDT by dennisw

LOS ANGELES (AP) Prosecutors have decided to seek the death penalty against the man accused of causing a collision of two commuter trains that killed 11 people and injured nearly 200.

Juan Manuel Alvarez, 26, allegedly parked his Jeep on tracks in suburban Glendale on Jan. 26, then abandoned the vehicle as a Metrolink train approached. The train crashed into the Jeep and derailed, slamming into an oncoming train.

Glendale police have said that while it initially appeared Alvarez was trying to commit suicide, the discovery of other evidence, including gasoline doused on the sport utility vehicle, showed he was trying to cause the crash.

Alvarez has pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of murder and one count of arson.

Eleven members of the Los Angeles County district attorney's capital case committee agreed this week to use a rarely used ``train wrecking'' statute as one of the special circumstance allegations against Alvarez, spokeswoman Jane Robison said Friday.

She declined to discuss what led the committee to seek the death penalty.

``We don't comment on any proceedings at the committee meetings,'' she said.

Alvarez's defense attorney, Eric Chase, did not immediately return a telephone message requesting comments.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Michael Graham, the talk show host that CAIR caused to be fired is filling in at:

KFI Radio (california)

I do not know if you can listen on line, maybe.

He came on a few minutes ago and should be on till 10 pm.

[BurbankKarl]

haha....he is still going on 20 minutes later...!