Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat

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.

"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

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1472354/posts

"FBI raids Maryland residence of Nigerian VP(related to Dem Rep. Will Jefferson's investigation)"
AP Wire ^

Posted on 08/28/2005 10:54:09 AM PDT by William Creel

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The FBI has raided the Maryland residence of Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar as part of a probe into whether a U.S. congressman made or approved payments to officials in West Africa, a U.S. newspaper reported.

A State Department spokeswoman confirmed the search had taken place, but would not make any further comment.

"All inquiries regarding the search of the United States' residence of Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar should be directed to the Department of Justice," she said.

The Justice Department declined to comment.

The raid, which took place on August 3 but has only just come to light, was in connection with an investigation into William Jefferson, a democratic congressman from New Orleans, the city's Times-Picayune newspaper said Saturday.

The Nigerian vice president was not available for comment on Sunday, but a Nigerian presidential spokeswoman said:

"The presidency has been notified of the incident and is using diplomatic channels to find out the reason and the findings surrounding the incident."

A source familiar with the investigation said subpoenas showed federal agents were looking for records indicating whether Jefferson paid, offered to pay or authorized payments to Nigerian or Ghanaian government officials, The Times-Picayune said.

Agents were seeking documents related to Jefferson's dealings with Abubakar and the vice president of Ghana, Aliu Mahama. Jefferson returned from a five-day visit to Ghana in mid-July, about three weeks before the FBI raided his homes, according to the newspaper.

The subpoenas focused in part on a telecommunications deal Jefferson was trying to engineer in Nigeria over the past year, according to documents and those familiar with details of the investigation."

Note: The following post is an exact quote:
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1472504/posts

Three North African terrorists killed in Mosul
MNF-Iraq ^ | August 28, 2005 | MNF-Iraq Release A050828c

Posted on 08/28/2005 5:21:30 PM PDT by mdittmar

BAGHDAD , Iraq – Three North African terrorists were killed during security operations in northern Mosul August 27th. Tips from concerned citizens and recently acquired intelligence led Multi-National forces to the safe house where they found and killed the foreign terrorists.

· Abu Mujahir, Tunisian, was a facilitator of foreign fighters and foreign suicide bombers in the Mosul area. He is also alleged to have received and dispersed money from Abu Khallad to finance fighters under his control. Abu Khallad's death at the hands of Coalition forces was officially reported on August 27th.

· Abu Dur , Algerian, was subordinate to Abu Muhajir and helped him to direct foreign fighters as well as numerous bombing attacks in the Mosul area.

· Abu Uthman , Algerian, another subordinate of Abu Muhajir and a foreign fighter facilitator.

“The killing of these foreign terrorists and capture and killing of more than 100 other foreign fighters during the last six months in the Mosul area continues to demonstrate the coalition's success in disrupting of the Al-Qaida in Iraq (AQIZ) terrorist network and those who support them,” said Col. Billy J. Buckner, Multi-national Corps spokesman.

The safe house where the incident occurred was used to hide foreign fighters from local Iraqis. As Coalition forces approached the house, they were fired on by the terrorists. Coalition forces immediately returned fire and killed all three individuals.

Other Highlights:

· During the week of Aug 20 through 26 in operations throughout Iraq , Multi-national forces captured four bomb makers, killed or captured six foreign fighters, found and cleared 115 improvised explosive devices and detained more than 500 Anti-Iraqi Forces.

· On Thursday, Multi-national forces killed Abu Khallad, a major facilitator of foreign fighters and suicide bombers in northern Iraq .

· Terrorist Abu Zubair, also know as Mohammed Salah Sultan, was killed Aug 12 by Iraqi Security Forces in an ambush in Mosul .

To provide information on terrorists and former regime members call the nationwide tips hotline at 130 (within Baghdad ) and 01-130 (outside of Baghdad ).

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1472509/posts

"Hamas training recruits for new women's military wing at secret site in Gaza"
IMRA ^ | 8-28-05

Posted on 08/28/2005 5:33:54 PM PDT by SJackson

"Hamas training recruits for new women's military wing at secret site in Gaza Geostrategy-Direct, www.geostrategy-direct.com, August 30, 2005"

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "GAZA CITY - Hamas has established a military wing for women insurgents.

Hamas said dozens of women have been recruited for insurgency attacks. The recruitment was conducted in the Gaza Strip and would soon move to the West Bank.

Hamas sources said the women recruits have already undergone training in weapons and rocket use as well as in handling of explosives. They said training took place at a secret location in the Gaza Strip.

The women, both married and single, would be absorbed into Hamas's Izzedin Kassam military wing, the sources said. The women would soon carry out such attacks as planting improvised explosive devices, infiltrating Israeli communities and firing mortars and rockets.

"Our husbands know that we are members of Izzedin Kassam," a Hamas woman recruit was quoted as saying. "As for those who are not married, their brothers and fathers know about their activities. The husbands and brothers of most of the women are also members of the armed wing of Hamas."

The Hamas women's wing was announced as Israel prepared to complete the eviction of Israeli residents from the Gaza Strip. On Aug. 22, Israeli military and police were preparing to evacuate the Jewish community of Netsarim in the central Gaza Strip."

Note: The following post is an exact quote:
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http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Aug2005/20050828_2552.html

Five Terror Suspects Captured; Iraqi Soldiers Discover Weapons Cache

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28, 2005 – Iraqi army soldiers and coalition forces planned a targeted raid in search of insurgents in Balad, Iraq, Aug. 27, according to a multinational forces report.
Soldiers with 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division, and elements of Task Force 5-7 concluded Operation War Paint Dakota, which led to the capture of five suspected insurgents. All five detainees were transported to a nearby forward operating base for questioning.

No injuries or damages were reported.

Elsewhere, Iraqi army soldiers assigned to the K-1 airfield in Kirkuk discovered a cache three kilometers northwest of Forward Operating Base Warrior Aug. 27.

The soldiers found 19 120 mm artillery rockets, four Katusha rockets and one mortar tube. The munitions were transported to K-1 airfield.

In other Iraq news, multinational forces from Task Force Freedom detained 18 suspected terrorists and seized a weapons cache in Mosul Aug. 27 and today.

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, detained one individual during a raid in central Mosul. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, detained four individuals suspected of terrorist activity in separate operations in southern Mosul Aug. 27.

Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment detained an individual suspected of terrorist activity during a cordon-and-search operation in eastern Mosul. Soldiers from 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, detained an individual suspected of terrorist activity in northern Mosul today.

Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery detained nine individuals suspected of terrorist activity during operations in Mulhallabiyah Aug. 27. Soldiers from 2-8 FA also discovered a weapons cache consisting of rocket-propelled-grenade-launchers, 20 rocket-propelled grenades, six improvised-explosive-device detonators, mortar systems, an anti-tank mine, 20 hand grenades with 100 fuses, and ammunition.

Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, detained two individuals suspected of terrorist activity and seized a weapon cache south of Baranah today. The suspects are in custody, and soldiers confiscated the weapons for future destruction.

In other combat operations, Iraqi army soldiers and coalition forces conducted a targeted raid against an insurgent assassination cell suspected of planning attacks on government officials in KhalisAug. 26.

Soldiers with the 1st Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division, and elements of Task Force 2-69 quickly cleared their two objectives. Soldiers detained 11 suspected insurgents and transported them to a secure facility for questioning. In Hit Iraqi army soldiers and coalition forces conducting a dismounted patrol responded to the scene of an improvised-explosive-device detonation and searched the area, capturing two wounded insurgents Aug. 26.

Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Iraqi Intervention Force, and U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines, searched the immediate area of the explosion and found two injured insurgents suspected of being the triggermen. The suspects were in possession of three AK-47 automatic rifles and one 12-volt battery. Both suspects tested positive for gunpowder residue.

The suspects were transported to a nearby aid station and later transferred to a hospital for treatment.

Elsewhere, Iraqi army soldiers on security patrols in Mosul and Hit located and cleared improvised explosive devices Aug. 26.

Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Iraqi Intervention Force and elements of 3/25 U.S. Marines found an IED in an alley near a roadway in Hit. The IED consisted of a 155 mm projectile and a motorcycle battery enclosed in a white bag, leaning up against a wall. Wires were visible extending from the bag out into the alley. Soldiers secured the area until an explosive ordnance disposal team arrived to destroy the device.

In Mosul, soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division discovered an IED and cordoned the area. EOD reduced the 122 mm round without incident. In other developments, multinational forces raided a suspected terrorist hideout in Ramadi Aug. 23 and captured a pair of known terrorists.

Captured were Durayd Jassar Khalifah Hamud, also known as Abu Jabbar, a known terrorist leader and weapons dealer; and Ali Husayn Muhammad Jasim, also known as Khalid Nazal or Abu Umar, a known IED cell leader.

Multiple intelligence sources led multinational forces to Abu Jabbar's and Khalid Nazal's Ramadi location. Multinational forces raided the location and detained them without incident.

In the air war over Iraq, coalition aircraft flew 52 close-air-support and armed-reconnaissance sorties Aug. 27 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities.

U.S. Air Force F-16s flew a pre-planned air strike in the vicinity of Baquba, expending two GBU-38s against an improvised explosive device staging site used by anti-Iraqi forces.

Other U.S. Air Force F-16s and a Predator and British Royal Air Force GR-4s provided close air support to coalition troops in the vicinities of Maqdadiyah and Qaim.

Ten U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Northwest, Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq, Multinational Force Iraq, and U.S. Central Command Air Forces Forward news releases.)

Related Sites:
Multinational Force Iraq
Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq
U.S. Central Command

Energy Security Issue - Hurricane Katrina and Port Fourchon

Port Fourchon Main Web Site:
http://www.portfourchonla.com/home.asp

November 3, 2004
Louisiana asks federal government to help build a better bridge to
threatened oil port

By CAIN BURDEAU
Associated Press
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20041102-0204-louisianaportfears.html

If you think oil is expensive now, just imagine if Hurricane Ivan had
swung west and come ashore at Port Fourchon, a bustling oil and gas port
at the southernmost point of Louisiana. That's the message the
community is broadcasting as it tries to get the federal government to build a
new bridge and elevated highway to ensure access to this isolated spot.

With 75 percent of the Gulf of Mexico's deep water oil and gas drilling
supplied by Port Fourchon and 1.7 million barrels of oil a day coursing
through pipelines under it, it is a queen bee when it comes to the
nation's energy supply.

And port officials say a hurricane like Ivan would have knocked out
this petroleum hub for a good long while.

"If Ivan had been 100 miles west, my guestimate is that oil would cost
$75 a barrel," Ted Falgout, the port's executive director, told
congressional staffers on a recent visit. "What that would have done to the
country â€“ I'll let you do the math."

August 27, 2005

Hurricane Katrina aimed at Gulf oil and gas fields

By Rex Nutting
Last Updated: 8/27/2005 4:15:25 PM

http://www.investors.com/breakingnews.asp?journalid=31225303&brk=1

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Hurricane Katrina strengthened Saturday and
set a course directly for major oil and gas production fields in the
Gulf of Mexico and New Orleans.

The National Hurricane Center now expects the year's fourth hurricane
to make a second landfall near the major oil and gas hub at Port
Fourchon, La., sometime early Monday, and then continue inland to New Orleans,
which could be devastated by a direct hit by a major storm.

The average elevation of New Orleans is 6 feet below sea level.

Katrina could strengthen to a Category 4 or possibly a Category 5 storm
before making landfall, said NHC forecaster Jack Beven.

Only three Category 5 Atlantic storms have reached the U.S. mainland in
the past 150 years. Category 4 storms have winds of more than 130 miles
an hour, while Category 5 storms have winds of more than 155 miles an
hour.

Gulf oil producers were evacuating oil rigs and platforms. Onshore oil
service facilities were preparing to evacuate.

"Right now they are predicting the storm in the worst-case scenario for
us," said Ted Falgout, director of Port Fourchon, according to Dow
Jones Newswires. "It's not going to be a pretty sight if it goes as
projected."

With the storm still in the middle of the Gulf, its final course was
still uncertain, with landfall possible anywhere from western Louisiana
to Panama City, Fla. See where it could hit.

A hurricane watch was in effect for the southeast coast of Louisiana,
including New Orleans and Lake Ponchartrain. A hurricane watch means
hurricane conditions should be expected within 36 hours.

Residents of coastal areas were advised by officials to calmly
evacuate. Some low-lying areas instituted mandatory evacuations.

"We know that we're going to take the brunt of it," said Louisiana Gov.
Kathleen Blanco.

About one-sixth of the U.S. oil supply comes through the Port Fourchon
facilities. The port accounts for about 13% of U.S. oil imports. About
27% of U.S. domestic production comes through the port's pipelines.

Even a minor disruption in production could send gasoline and natural
gas prices sharply higher. See Dave Callaway's earlier column.

The region currently produces 1.5 million barrels of oil per day and 10
billion cubic feet of natural gas per day, according to the U.S.
Minerals and Management Service.

The gulf produces about a fifth of U.S. natural gas and about a quarter
of its crude petroleum.

In 2004, Hurricane Ivan disrupted about 10% of Gulf oil and gas
production for about four months. Thirty-one oil platforms were seriously
damaged as Ivan hit the Alabama coast.

Katrina is currently categorized as a Category 3 hurricane, the
government hurricane forecasters said it could grow to a Category 4 storm,
with maximum sustained winds of more than 130 miles an hour.

"It is not out of the question that Katrina could reach Category 5
status at some point before landfall," the NHC said.

As of 2 p.m. Saturday, the storm was about 390 miles southeast of the
mouth of the Mississippi River and about 230 miles west of Key West,
Fla. The storm was moving west with winds of 115 miles an hour.

Earlier, Katrina had been expected to make its second landfall further
east in the Florida Panhandle.

Based in part on that earlier forecast, which would have spared most
Gulf oil production, crude oil futures at the New York Mercantile
Exchange fell by $1.36 on Friday to close at $66.13 a barrel.

The deepwater Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, 18 miles offshore, closed
its offshore operations Saturday and said it would close onshore
operations Sunday. The port is the only U.S. facility that handles
supertankers.

Royal Dutch Shell plc (RDSARDSA) said Saturday it would shut its
offshore operations, cutting production by 420,000 barrels of oil and 1.345
billion cubic feet of gas a day.

Other major oil producers -- including Exxon Mobil (XOM), Kerr-McGee
Corp., (KMG), Chevron Corp. (CVX), Murphy Oil Corp. (MUR), Apache Corp.
(APA), Devon Energy Corp. (DVN) and Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (APC) --
announced plans to shut production and evacuate operations in the Gulf.

Florida Power & Light said Saturday it had restored power to about
635,000 customers of the 1.45 million who lost power. Power is expected to
be restored by Tuesday to most of the more than a half a million
customers in Miami-Dade County and 300,000 in Broward County still without
electricity, the company (FPL) said.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency has predicted the 2005
hurricane season will be above average in intensity, with nine to 11
hurricanes probable. In a typical year, there are six hurricanes in the
Atlantic. The hurricane season runs from June through November.

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