Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat - Thread Thirty-Five

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1601166/posts?page=15#15

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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1601166/posts

"Israel May Be Next al-Qaida Battleground"
Breitbart.com ^ | 03/22/06 | STEVEN GUTKIN

Posted on 03/22/2006 12:43:43 PM PST by MikeA

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Signs are mounting that al-Qaida terrorists are setting their sights on Israel and the Palestinian territories as their next jihad battleground.

Israel has indicted two West Bank militants for al-Qaida membership, Egypt arrested operatives trying to cross into Israel and a Palestinian security official has acknowledged al-Qaida is "organizing cells and gathering supporters."

Al-Qaida's inroads are still preliminary, but officials fear a doomsday scenario if it takes root."

[all4one]

"The European response to the Jihadis has been an open scandal, the worst possible combination of bellicose rhetoric and craven behavior."

Thanks DC for pointing to this article...a must read!

[Domestic Church]

Debellicized hits the nail on the head! How can you expect a nation to even maintain a status quo when it is debellicized as it is an idiotic gentrified way of waving a white flag.

"Europe has also been functionally debellicized, a word coined by British military historian Micheal Howard meaning “a refusal to consider armed force as a means of settling disputes.” It’s not quite the same thing as pacifism, which is based on an idealistic view of human relations. Anti-bellicism is held more as an unthought conviction, the cliche that “war never solves anything” raised to a rule of behavior."

[Domestic Church]

UAE eyeing Knight-Ridder now!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1601214/posts

[Oorang]

Man tried to sell explosives components to Iran: US Customs
Tue. 21 Mar 2006

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - US authorities have charged a man with trying to illegally export sensors that could allegedly be used to make bombs to Iran in violation of a US trade embargo, officials said.

Los Angeles resident Mohammad Fazeli, 27, was arrested on March 16 and arraigned Monday in the West Coast city on charges of trying to ship more than 100 Honeywell sensors to Iran.

Excerpted

http://www.iranfocus.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=6366

Trial of suspected terrorists opens in Paris
PARIS, March 20, 2006

The trial of 27 people suspected of planning terrorist attacks in France opened Monday in a Paris court, following one of the country's biggest anti-terrorism investigations in recent years.

They are charged with associating with criminals connected to a terrorist organisation. Some of the suspects have given statements claiming that attacks were planned against French targets including the Eiffel Tower, police stations and a central Paris shopping centre.

Excerpted

http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=25&story_id=28602&name=Trial+of+suspected+terrorists+opens+in+Paris

The Global Jihad - The Yemeni Connection
An updated Perspective

Scores of al-Qaida members are currently on trial in Yemen on suspicion of planning and perpetrating terrorist attacks against Yemenis officials and Western targets both in Yemen and abroad. Unfortunately, the escape of 23 al-Qa'ida members from the maximum security prison in Sana at the beginning of February overshadows this important chapter in the war on terrorism.

This article is examines the Yemeni connection to worldwide Islamic terrorism, the involvement of Yemeni Muslim volunteers in the war in Iraq, and the measures taken by the Yemeni government to combat this terrorism. In addition, this article will track the recent developments in the trials of the Al-Qa'ida members.

Excerpted

http://www.ict.org.il/articles/articledet.cfm?articleid=559

[Oorang]

Austria: Muslim Soldiers Refuse to Salute Flag
Tue, 2006-03-21

Last week three Muslim conscripts of the Austrian army refused to salute the Austrian flag because this was incompatible with their faith. The Austrian paper Die Presse (18 March) reported that three soldiers of the Maria Theresia barracks, where most of the 1,000 Muslim soldiers serve, refused to salute the flag at a parade and instead turned their backs on it. The soldiers were not disciplined. However, an imam was summoned to issue a fatwa stating that Muslims are allowed to salute the Austrian flag.

Excerpted

http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/928

Germany: 100 Firms Involved In Illegal Arms Exports To Iran
Berlin, 22 March

As many as 100 dummy firms in Germany are involved in illegally exporting components for missiles and aircraft to Iran, according to security experts interviewed by German public broadcaster ARAD, quoted by the German Deutsche Welle radio station's website. Most of the exports were designed to refine and perfect Iran's missile programme - considered by many to be a key part of the country's ambitions to establish itself as a major nuclear and military power.

Excerpted

http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level_English.php?cat=Politics&loid=

[Cindy]

UPDATE and ON THE NET...

WorldNetDaily.com: "PALESTINIANS CHARGED WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AL-QAIDA Indictments stokes fears jihad group infiltrated Israel, poised to attack"  by Aaron Klein (March 21, 2006)

A Discussion on FREEREPUBLIC.com regarding an AP article via BREITBART.com: "ISRAEL MAY BE NEXT AL-AQAIDA BATTLEGROUND" by Steven Gutkin (March 22, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (ZAMAN.com): "IRAN AIDS ISLAMIC JIHAD TO ATTACK ISRAEL" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said Iran provided the organization with $1.8 million in aid last month to conduct attacks on Israel. The minister told the daily, Yediot Ahronot that this was the biggest donation in recent times made by Iran to Islamic Jihad.") (March 21, 2006)

MEMRI.org: "IRAN"

"internet-haganah.com/jihadi/pij.html"

[Oorang]

The Algerian amnesty of terrorists
March 22, 2006

The Algerian amnesty of terrorists is a recipe for disaster Among the terrorists recently freed by Algeria (part of the general amnesty), two in particular were vital for French authorities. For that reason diplomatic tension is palpable between Paris and Algiers.

Indeed, the two individuals, Mohamed Benyamina and Akil Chraibi, were part of two major cells recently dismantled in France. The first one was part of the Bourrada cell (which I wrote on here) which had planned terror attacks against the Paris-Orly airport, the Paris subway and the DST (French equivalent to the FBI) headquarters. The second one is a student in Montpellier, France, who was arrested in Algeria while providing the GSPC with explosive devices. French authorities are also concerned about the possibility of some potential dangerous individuals entering French territory.

Finally yesterday the GSPC called all the amnestied militants to join the ranks of the terrorist group. Algerian authorities might not have to wait long to regret their ill-advised decision.

http://counterterror.typepad.com/the_counterterrorism_blog/2006/03/the_algerian_am.html

Anti-terrorism officials meet in Colombia to discuss hemispheric security
Mar. 22, 2006
BOGOTA, Colombia

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe kicked off a meeting Wednesday with anti-terrorism officials from 34 countries in the Western Hemisphere, calling terrorism an "affliction" that conspires against democracy and economic development.

Sponsored by the Organization of American States, the sixth regular session of the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism will focus on promoting security at tourist destinations and illegal arms trafficking in the hemisphere

Excerpted

http://www.tkb.org/NewsStory.jsp?storyID=112329

[Oorang]

Thank you for that post Cindy.

[nwctwx]

Two Theories of Ijtihad

As tensions between the Muslim and Western worlds continue to grow, there is one largely overlooked area of activity that may play a role in building bridges: ijtihad. While ijtihad can be a tool for understanding Islamic principles in a way that fits the needs and challenges of individuals and societies, there is no universal agreement on its proper role.

The Islamic tradition has two conceptions of ijtihad. One is a very narrow, legalistic notion of it as a process of juristic reasoning employed to determine the permissibility of an action when primary sources, namely the Qur'an and Sunnah (Tradition of the Prophet), are silent and earlier scholars of shari'a (Islamic law) had not ruled on the matter. For those who hold this view of ijtihad, who can perform ijtihad is often more important than the need for ijtihad.

In reality, this view is designed to stifle independent thought among Muslims and to confine the right to understand and explain Islam to Muslim jurists. It is also opposed to reasoning, because it essentially says that reason shall be employed only when the texts are silent and no medieval scholar has addressed the issue under scrutiny. Reason, according to this viewpoint, is the last resort for understanding the will of God. For those who hold this view, opening the doors of ijtihad would make no difference, since their very conception of it is impoverished and limited.

http://www.brookings.edu/views/op-ed/fellows/khan20060321.htm

p.s. - source code:
<meta name="created_by" content="ilivingston">

;-)

[Oorang]

Indonesian militant with close al-Qaida links now leads Jemaah Islamiyah
Mar. 22, 2006
JAKARTA, Indonesia

A young Indonesian militant with close links to al-Qaida is now in charge of the Southeast Asian terror group Jemaah Islamiyah, which remains dangerous despite more than 270 arrests since 2000, a top counterterrorism official said Wednesday.

Abu Dujana's rise to power within Jemaah Islamiyah is an indication the group's organizational structure remains intact, and highlights the challenges that remain for police fighting terrorism in the world's most populous Muslim nation.

Dujana, who learned bomb-making skills in Afghanistan alongside Hambali, an alleged regional terror chief now in U.S. custody, is a "talented leader. He has good relations with al-Qaida and is trusted", said Col. Petrus Reinhard Golose of Indonesia's counterterrorism task force.

Excerpted

http://www.tkb.org/NewsStory.jsp?storyID=112301

Homeland Security focuses on South America's tri-border area
Mar. 22, 2006
SAO PAULO, Brazil

Agents of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will soon start arriving in Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay to help local authorities combat money laundering and other financial crimes such as "terrorism financing," the U.S. Embassy said on Wednesday.

An undetermined number of agents from Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, or ICE, are due to arrive in Brazil within 60 days, and in neighboring Argentina and Paraguay a few weeks later.

Working with local law enforcement and customs officials, they will set up "trade transparency units" to investigate and prosecute money laundering, alternative remittance systems, terrorist financing, contraband smuggling, tax evasion and other crimes" the agency said in a statement.

Excerpted

http://www.tkb.org/NewsStory.jsp?storyID=112302

[Cindy]

You're welcome Oorang.

[Cindy]

You're welcome Oorang.

[Cindy]

Interesting.
Thanks DC.

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:
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http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/03/20060322-3.html

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 22, 2006

"President Discusses War on Terror, Progress in Iraq in West Virginia"
Capitol Music Hall
Wheeling, West Virginia


In Focus: Renewal in Iraq
In Focus: National Security

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/english/wanted_captured/index.cfm?page=abderraouf

"Wanted

Abderraouf Ben Habib Jdey
(aka) Faruq al- Tunisi
Up to $5 Million Reward"

===
===

ON THE NET...

http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/english/wanted_captured/index.cfm?page=faker

"Wanted

Faker Ben Abdelaziz Boussora
Abu Yusif al- Tunisi
Up to $5 Million Reward"

[Oorang]

Interesting article, thanks for posting. But...this is the best part:
source code: meta name="created_by" content="ilivingston"

[Cindy]

http://counterterror.typepad.com/the_counterterrorism_blog/2006/03/the_algerian_am.html

March 22, 2006

"The Algerian amnesty of terrorists is a recipe for disaster"

[nwctwx]

Lots of interesting opinions there... it's hard to agree with everyone all the time.

Yesterday I went to a 2 hour discussion on the new National Security Strategy... the guys doing the talking have incredible bios, and work just down the hall. ;-)

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http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=1634301&C=america

New U.S. Strategy Steps Back From Preemption

By WILLIAM MATTHEWS

Ivo Daalder says he’s happy with President George W. Bush’s new U.S. national security strategy.

“It’s a good document. I like it,” said Daalder, who served on President Bill Clinton’s National Security Council.

The new strategy, released by the White House in mid March, represents a step backward, and that’s good, Daalder contends.

“It’s very pre-Bush. It’s Clinton redux,” he said at the Brookings Institution, whence he retreated after serving Clinton for two years.The new strategy means “the Bush revolution is over,” Daalder declared March 21.

The revolution began in 2002, when Bush issued his first national security strategy and announced the U.S. policy of preemptive use of military force.

The new strategy doesn’t renounce preemptive military strikes, but downplays them. And in contrast to the 2002 document, it stresses cooperating with allies and friends.

There’s more emphasis on building democracies around the world and less on simply replacing disliked regimes.

“It sounds familiar to someone who worked for a Democratic administration,” Daalder said.

Not all of Daalder’s Brookings colleagues are so reassured.

The strategy reiterates Bush’s earlier commitment to spreading democracy, and it “plunges ahead” with little acknowledgement of the difficulties encountered in efforts to spread democracy, said Martin Indyk, U.S. ambassador to Israel during Clinton’s presidency.

The new strategy “argues for taking the long view” that democracy will take root and conditions will improve over the next 50 years, Indyk said. But “in the long term, we’ll all be dead, starting with a lot of people in the Middle East,” he said.

In a departure from policies followed by Presidents Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, Bush’s strategy and policies have abandoned the goal of maintaining stability in the Middle East, Indyk said.

Even on democratization, the Bush administration is getting it wrong, Indyk said. “Democratization has morphed into an almost mindless pursuit of elections.”

The problem is that in some cases, like Palestine, terrorists win the elections. The very forces the United States seeks to defeat through democracy are using democracy to come to power, he said.

A former Bush aide, Richard Falkenrath, said that making the promotion of democracy “the centerpiece” of the national security strategy creates “tension” in instances where the United States must turn for assistance to nondemocratic nations.

In the war on terrorism, for example, the United States depends on help from Jordan and Saudi Arabia, both monarchies. To promote democracy there would be to destabilize the governments of needed allies, he said. Falkenrath is a former deputy assistant to Bush.

[LucyT]

Schools urged to prepare for bird flu
How will students be taught if classes are shut down during pandemic?

WASHINGTON (AP) School officials are being told to add bird flu to their emergency planning lists.

Federal health and education leaders say schools should develop contingency plans now for dealing with a potential outbreak. Those plans could include school closures and the use of school buildings as temporary hospitals and immunization sites.http://msnbc.msn.com/id/11958162/