Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat

Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat

Thread Thirty-Two (Index)

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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!

What's become of bin Laden since he gave us all the slip?
Full Story

Some think he is dead, others that he is hiding because he is scared of being killed.

Whatever the reason for the strange disappearance of Osama bin Laden, not seen alive since his last mocking video statement a year ago, he is no longer the face of the global "jihad" against the West.

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi { TM 25,TM 27 }, the Jordanian responsible for some of the worst atrocities in Iraq, has become the hero of the hour on militant Islamist websites.

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

TM Terrorism Handbook

Link to Thread Thirty-One

"Code Red Implications:
Code Red - Stay Home and Await Word."
From Tm'er and Freeper ~MamaDearest~

Tracking the Chatter with TM

TM 'Be on the Lookout'

Survival Preparedness Info.

Threat Matrix Book List

ExSoldier's Invaluable Tips

Arabic Links and Resources

Godzilla's Summaries

Threat Matrix HTML designed by: Ian Livingston

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http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/News_Release.asp?NewsRelease=200511118.txt

NEWS RELEASE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894
November 26, 2005
Release Number: 05-11-118

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IRAQI, U.S. FORCES NAB TERRORISTS, STOP BOMB ATTACKS

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi Army and Task Force Baghdad Soldiers continued to pursue terrorists and deny them opportunities for attacks during operations in various districts of the capitol city Nov. 21-23.

During the course of more than 2,400 patrols, Iraqi and U.S. forces detained terror suspects, seized weapons caches and found improvised explosive devices before they could be detonated.

Military officials also had help from the local population as individuals came forward with information about terrorist activity.

On Nov. 21, a local resident told Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division about an IED which had been placed around a weapons cache in an area west of Baghdad. The informant also told Soldiers that three vehicles were currently at the location. U.S. forces cordoned off the area and began searching houses and questioning residents. Two terrorists were detained and processed into the Iraqi judicial system.

Another tipster reported an IED concealed in a pile of rubble along a road in east Baghdad Nov. 22. Soldiers from 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry secured the site and called in an explosive ordnance disposal team which disarmed the device consisting of two 57-millimeter rockets and a 130-millimeter round.

Public Order Brigade troops operating in Salman Pak south of Baghdad detained three terror suspects and confiscated a small weapons cache Nov. 23. The arrests also came as a result of information provided by a local resident.

Iraqi Army Soldiers working a checkpoint Nov. 22 detained three suspicious individuals in a vehicle who tried to do a quick U-turn after approaching the Soldiers. The individuals threw a compact disc out of a window and started to flee, but were quickly stopped by a squad of IA Soldiers. After being questioned, the three suspects admitted they were responsible for attacks against U.S. forces in Baghdad, Fallujah and Najaf. The CD contained documents and video footage of terrorist attacks.

In other operations, Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 70th Armored Regiment reported finding a large IED placed under an overpass in north Baghdad Nov. 22. The Soldiers secured the area and called in an EOD team to collect the explosive device.

After a convoy from 2/101st Abn. Div. struck an IED southwest of Baghdad Nov. 21, they noticed three suspicious individuals who appeared to be watching for the explosion. The three suspects exhibited signs of recently handling explosives and were detained for further questioning.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS RELEASE, CONTACT TASK FORCE BAGHDAD PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT DAVID.ABRAMS@ID3.ARMY.MIL.
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http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/News_Release.asp?NewsRelease=200511121.txt

NEWS RELEASE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894
November 26, 2005
Release Number: 05-11-121

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GATEKEEPER, COURIER, CONFIDANT OF AL-ZARQAWI DEAD, SAYS RELATIVE

BAGHDAD, Iraq – A close family member as well as Coalition sources claimed earlier this week that a gatekeeper and confidant of Abu Mu’sab al-Zarqawi, Bilal Mahmud Awad Shebah, aka Abu Ubaydah, who reportedly met weekly with the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, is dead.

Abu Ubaydah was reportedly killed Oct. 14 when Coalition Forces raided several suspected terrorist hideouts in the Albu Ubayd neighborhood north of Ramadi. Although intelligence analysts assessed Abu Ubaydah was killed during the mid-October raids, they could not determine his death with certainty at that time.

In late November, Coalition Forces received information from knowledgeable sources and a close family member of Abu Ubaydah claiming independently that Zarqawi’s confidant and gatekeeper was killed as a result of the Oct. 14 raids.

Detained members of al-Qaeda claim Abu Ubaydah served as an “executive secretary” for Zarqawi; met with Zarqawi frequently; served as a messenger and gatekeeper for Zarqawi; screened all messages and requests for meetings with Zarqawi; was one of Zarqawi’s most trusted associates; provided Zarqawi with safe house locations; and used intimidation and death threats to gain the cooperation of the Iraqi people to support al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist activity.

During the course of the raids, several weapons caches, containing mortar rounds, small arms and ammunition, were found and destroyed. Mortar rounds were also emplaced along the road leading to the safe houses, serving as improvised explosive devices against incoming vehicle or foot traffic. The forces were engaged by small-arms fire upon their arrival to the suspected terrorist location and immediately returned fire. Combining the ground attack with the use of close-air support, the terrorists’ hideout locations were destroyed.

No Coalition forces were injured or killed during the raids.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE COMBINED PRESS INFORMATION CENTER at: cpicpressdesk@iraq.centcom.mil.
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http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/11/20051123-4.html

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 23, 2005

Executive Order: Blocking Property of Additional Persons Undermining Democratic Process or Institutions in Zimbabwe

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, and in order to take additional steps with respect to the continued actions and policies of certain persons who undermine Zimbabwe's democratic processes and with respect to the national emergency described and declared in Executive Order 13288 of March 6, 2003,

I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, hereby order:

Section 1. The Annex to Executive Order 13288 of March 6, 2003, is replaced and superseded in its entirety by the Annex to this order.

Sec. 2. Section 6 of Executive Order 13288 is renumbered as section 8. Sections 1 through 5 of Executive Order 13288 are replaced with new sections 1 through 7 as follows:

Section 1. (a) Except to the extent provided in section 203(b)(1), (3), and (4) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(1), (3), and (4)), and in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted prior to the effective date of this order, all property and interests in property of the following persons, that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of United States persons, including their overseas branches, are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in:
the persons listed in the Annex to this order; and
any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State:
to have engaged in actions or policies to undermine Zimbabwe's democratic processes or institutions;
to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, such actions or policies or any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order;
to be or have been an immediate family member of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; or
to be owned or controlled by, or acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order.
(b) I hereby determine that the making of donations of the type of articles specified in section 203(b)(2) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(2)) by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section would seriously impair my ability to deal with the national emergency declared in this order, and I hereby prohibit such donations as provided by paragraph (a) of this section.

(c) The prohibitions in paragraph (a) of this section include but are not limited to (i) the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order, and (ii) the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

Sec. 2. (a) Any transaction by a United States person or within the United States that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.

(b) Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.

Sec. 3. For the purposes of this order:

the term "person" means an individual or entity;
the term "entity" means a partnership, association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization; and
the term "United States person" means any United States citizen, permanent resident alien, entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States (including foreign branches), or any person in the United States.
Sec. 4. For those persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order who might have a constitutional presence in the United States, I find that, because of the ability to transfer funds or other assets instantaneously, prior notice to such persons of measures to be taken pursuant to this order would render these measures ineffectual. I therefore determine that, for these measures to be effective in addressing the national emergency declared in this order, there need be no prior notice of a listing or determination made pursuant to section 1(a) of this order.

Sec. 5. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to take such actions, including the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA, as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this order. The Secretary of the Treasury may redelegate any of these functions to other officers and agencies of the United States Government, consistent with applicable law. All agencies of the United States Government are hereby directed to take all appropriate measures within their authority to carry out the provisions of this order and, where appropriate, to advise the Secretary of the Treasury in a timely manner of the measures taken.

Sec. 6. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to determine, subsequent to the issuance of this order, that circumstances no longer warrant the inclusion of a person in the Annex to this order and that the property and interests in property of that person are therefore no longer blocked pursuant to section 1(a) of this order.

Sec. 7. This order is not intended to create, nor does it create, any right, benefit, or privilege, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities, or entities, its officers or employees, or any other person."

Sec. 3. This order is not intended to create, nor does it create, any right, benefit, or privilege, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities, or entities, its officers or employees, or any other person.

Sec. 4. This order shall take effect at 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time, November 23, 2005.

Sec. 5. This order shall be transmitted to the Congress and published in the Federal Register.

GEORGE W. BUSH

THE WHITE HOUSE,
November 22, 2005.

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http://www.whitehouse.gov/news

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 23, 2005

Statement on Blocking Property of Additional Persons Undermining Democratic Processes in Zimbabwe

In March 2003, the United States applied targeted economic sanctions against a list of 77 persons hindering democratic reform in Zimbabwe. On November 22, 2005, the President signed an Executive Order that allows the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to go beyond previous authority and block the property of additional persons undermining democratic processes or institutions in Zimbabwe, their immediate family members, and any persons assisting them. The President also designated and blocked the assets of 128 persons and 33 entities. There is still time for the Government of Zimbabwe to avoid a further expansion of the sanctions list should it begin serious efforts to restore democratic norms and the rule of law.

This action is not aimed at the people of Zimbabwe, but rather at those most responsible for their plight. The failed political and economic policies of the Robert Mugabe regime have succeeded in devastating Zimbabwe. The United States has repeatedly called upon the Government of Zimbabwe to abandon its harassment of civil society, the press, and the political opposition; to restore the rule of law; to negotiate in good faith to resolve the impasse created by the flawed 2002 elections; and to hold free and fair parliamentary elections in 2005. Such efforts have yielded insufficient results. The parliamentary elections in March 2005 were neither free nor fair. Recent demolitions of housing and informal markets have displaced 700,000 people at a time when Zimbabwe is already in the grip of a humanitarian crisis.

The United States calls on all political actors in Zimbabwe to embrace democratic reforms, to engage in meaningful dialogue to resolve the current impasse, and to once again place the country on a path toward development and prosperity.

# # #

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http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/11/20051126.html

President's Radio Address

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This week, we gather with our loved ones to give thanks for the many blessings in our lives. Each family has its own traditions, yet we are united as a nation in setting aside a day of gratitude. We are thankful for our family and friends, who fill our lives with joy and love. We are thankful for the abundance of this prosperous land. We are thankful for the freedom that makes possible the enjoyment of all these gifts. And we acknowledge with humility that all these blessings and life itself come from Almighty God.

On Thanksgiving and throughout the year, we are grateful to the men and women of our Armed Forces for securing the peace in these dangerous times. Many members of our Armed Forces are observing this holiday in places far from home. They are serving with courage and skill in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere to defend our freedom and extend the blessings of freedom to others. In the past year, these brave Americans have continued to fight terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them here at home. And they have helped the people of Iraq and Afghanistan hold historic and successful elections. They are America's finest, and we thank them today and every day for their service and sacrifice.

This week we also extend our gratitude to our military families, who are making great sacrifices to advance freedom's cause. Many of our servicemen and women have endured long deployments and separations from home. Many of those they leave behind must deal with the burden of raising families while praying for the safe return of their loved ones. All Americans honor and appreciate the commitment and sacrifice of our military families.

We think especially this week of those military families who are mourning the loss of loved ones. Every person who dies in the line of duty commands the eternal gratitude of the American people. The military families who mourn the fallen can know that America will not forget their sacrifice, and they can know that we will honor that sacrifice by completing the noble mission for which their loved ones gave their lives.

The Thanksgiving holiday reminds us that, "to whom much is given, from him much will be required." As we count our blessings, we are mindful of the need to share our blessings and gifts with others, and America is moved to compassionate action. This compassionate spirit was seen again this year, when Americans rallied to help their neighbors in need after the destruction caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. We pray for continued strength as we rebuild these communities and return hope to our fellow citizens.

The universal call to love a neighbor also extends beyond our shores, moving us to help people in other lands. Our nation has begun to help the millions of people in Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan who are suffering after last month's devastating earthquake in South Asia. I urge you to visit the website of the South Asia Earthquake Relief Fund at SouthAsiaEarthquakeRelief.org to find out how you can help. And to help others in need in your hometown, across America, and around the world, please visit the USA Freedom Corps website at USAFreedomCorps.gov.

This week of Thanksgiving, we ask that God continue to bless our families and our nation. Laura and I wish you all a happy and safe Thanksgiving weekend.

Thank you for listening.

END

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1529289/posts

Two Congressmen injured after vehicle flips in Iraq
AP ^ | November 27, 2005

Posted on 11/27/2005 7:54:28 AM PST by johnmecainrino

Two Congressmen injured after vehicle flips in Iraq

A military vehicle carrying U.S. politicians overturned on the way to
the Baghdad airport on Saturday and injured two members of
Congress, said U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall.

Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pennsylvania, was airlifted to a military hospital
in Germany for an MRI on his neck, Marshall told the Macon
Telegraph. Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Missouri, was sent to a Baghdad
hospital, he said.

Marshall, a Georgia Democrat, said he was not hurt.

The congressional delegation was riding in a box-like vehicle that
troops called the "ice cream truck" that streaked through the middle of
the road to deter oncoming motorists, Marshall said.

But shortly after dark, an oncoming truck refused to yield.

"Then all of a sudden brakes get slammed on. Then we hit something
and go off the side of the road and tip over," Marshall said.

Marshall said as the vehicle toppled over, he held onto Skelton, who
has limited use of his arms due to a bout with childhood polio.

"Everybody sort of fell over to the side. There's no cushion to it. It's all
solid metal with bolts sticking out," Marshall told the newspaper. "I
feel like a fool. I didn't put my seat belt on."

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1529333/posts

Kept in a dungeon ready to be sold as slaves.
Telegraph ^ | 27 November 2005 | David Harrison in Skopje

Posted on 11/27/2005 9:26:00 AM PST by Lorianne

Hidden below a shelf in the corridor of a run-down motel, a
sharp-eyed police officer spots what appears to be a trap-door.

When he and his colleagues go down the concrete steps, shining their
torches into the dark, damp cellar, they are scarcely able to believe
what they encounter.

A police video shows girls emerging from a dank cellar Cowering
against a crumbling wall are eight terrified young women. Strewn on
the bare floor are stained mattresses, a pile of discarded clothes and
a few empty boxes. There is no heating, no light.

The women, aged 18 to 24, are from across eastern Europe, lured
from Romania, Moldova, Ukraine and Bulgaria, with promises of good
jobs as waitresses, au pairs and dancers.

Instead, they have been forced into modern-day slavery in western
Macedonia, locked in the dirty cellar and only summoned upstairs by
their masters to perform sexual services for customers who are
usually drunk and often violent.

When they were found, the victims, some of whom had been "broken
in" as prostitutes in other countries on the way to Macedonia, barely
knew where they were. They had no idea what the future held but
knew that it was beyond their control.

In reality, they were likely to be sold on and moved to Western
countries, including Britain, where their ordeal would go on - only with
customers paying higher prices to their pimps.

But this shocking discovery is not an isolated case: at least two other
groups of women trafficked from eastern Europe were found in cellars
- and another in a filthy attic - during recent late-night raids by police
near the towns of Tetovo, Gostivar and Struga, in western Macedonia,
close to the Albanian border.

The area is populated mostly by ethnic Albanians and, along with
Kosovo and Albania, forms Europe's biggest human-trafficking centre.

The Mafia-like gangs who run the trafficking network have links to
violent criminals, almost 1,000 miles away in Britain, who have
muscled, threatened and shot their way to near-total domination of
London's prostitution rings, according to Scotland Yard.

Continued at the link above......

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