Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat - Thread Thirty-Six

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

http://www.memri.org/saudiarabia.html

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http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2369968
Terrorism Monitor
April 20, 2006

"The Presence of Saudi Nationals in the Iraqi Insurgency"
By Christopher Boucek

This article is based upon extensive research with knowledgeable sources that dealt with the author only on the strict condition of anonymity and non-attribution.

It is widely recognized that Saudi nationals are currently participating in the Iraqi insurgency and have been involved in operations that have targeted the U.S.-led coalition force, aspects of the nascent Iraqi security forces, and segments of Iraq's majority Shiite population. The presence of Saudis in Iraq is deeply troubling not just for the future viability of Iraq, but also for the future security of Saudi Arabia and the smaller Persian Gulf monarchies.

Iraq today is the primary jihadi venue. For the first time in recent history, the jihadi movement is centered in the Arab heartland, engaged in what many in the movement interpret as a struggle for a pivotal Arab country. Moreover, Iraq is a target-rich country for those inclined to stage attacks against the U.S.-led coalition military presence. Attackers in Iraq stand a better chance of escaping to fight again due to the severely poor security situation; they also need not fear the ubiquitous security services that exist elsewhere in the Arab and Muslim world. Iraq is also emblematic of a larger jihadi project, the successes of which many in the movement seek to export back to their home countries. Iraq, therefore, is unlike Afghanistan, which as a non-Arab country never quite carried the urgency and fervor of those presently active in Iraq.

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The Saudi government is extremely concerned by the presence of jihadi Saudi nationals in Iraq. It is feared that the return of Saudi jihadis to Saudi Arabia will revitalize what has become a waning domestic insurgency. These fighters not only have learned new techniques, but may also alter the insurgent landscape in Saudi Arabia by introducing techniques, methods, and operations that heretofore have not existed in the Kingdom.

To their credit, Saudi authorities have taken significant measures to combat this trend."

[Cindy]

RECAP...

http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/005576.html


20 April 2006

"A netblock to watch"

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "EuroAccess of the Netherlands has over the years provided IP addresses and network access for a number of unsavory websites of the jihadist/terrorist variety. At one point they also vowed to not reveal the name of their Saudi customer who was in turn either hosting or had customers who were hosting the problematic sites. Well, so much for all that:"

ARTICLE SNIPPET #2: "The trace still leads to Amsterdam."

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1618740/posts

"Japan: 107 Alerts on Chinese Spy Planes (vs. 13 last year)"
AP ^ | 04/20/06 | HIROKO TABUCHI

Posted on 04/20/2006 10:05:05 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster

Japan: 107 Alerts on Chinese Spy Planes
By HIROKO TABUCHI, Associated Press Writer

Thu Apr 20, 3:14 PM ET

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Japan has scrambled fighter jets 107 times this year to intercept suspected Chinese spy planes, a top general said Thursday, amid growing concern in Tokyo over China's arms buildup.

The 107 alerts in the first three months of 2006 — the most in at least a decade — were a dramatic increase from the previous year, when fighters scrambled only 13 times against Chinese planes, said Gen. Hajime Massaki.

"Chinese activities in areas around Japanese territory have reached unprecedented levels," the chairman of the Joint Staff Committee told reporters.

"We believe these planes to be engaging in information-gathering activity, and behind the trend is the rapid modernization of China's military," the general said.

The bulk of the incidents took place over the East China Sea, where the two countries are feuding over gas deposits and an island chain, the military said.

Beijing rejected Tokyo's allegations."

[MamaDearest]

Looks like a play has now insulted Islamists

Snip: THE MMA has submitted an adjournment motion in the National Assembly Secretariat against a PTV play, Mujahid, aired on March 23. The motion was signed by over 12 MMA MNAs, including Dr Farid Paracha. According a press release, the motion said that the play was highly poisonous and misleading to malign Islam and Jihad. "The PTV has seriously hurt the feeling of thousands of families of Kashmiri and Afghan martyrs besides insulting the spirits of martyrs.

Bomb found on French railway line

Snip: A bomb with a timing system was discovered on a major French railway line yesterday, sparking an investigation by anti-terrorist police, law enforcement officials said. The device was found beside the Paris-Nantes line used by high-speed trains near the western village of Saint-Sylvain-d’Anjou by a railway worker making a regular inspection of the track.

The plastic tube containing nitrate fuel and wired to a timer with a battery appeared home-made, the state prosecutor’s office said, adding that the bomb could have been placed there any time in the past 10 days. Authorities said they had received no claim of responsibility or demand from the person or group that placed the bomb.

If it had gone off, “it could have damaged the track and caused a derailment,” an official in the prosecutor’s office said. The device consisted of a polyvinylchloride (PVC) tube containing a nitrate-fuel mixture, a timer and a battery.

[Cindy]

OFF TOPIC and ON THE NET...

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=20184_Islam_in_Orbit

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=20184_Islam_in_Orbit#comments

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - How do Muslim astronauts pray in space? Malaysia’s National Space Agency is holding a conference to consider such questions as the country prepares to send its first citizen into orbit.

A nationwide competition in the majority-Muslim country has narrowed the field to four astronaut candidates, three of whom are Muslims. Two will eventually be trained and sent into space by Russia, and Malaysia’s space agency — or Angkasa — said it had been scratching its head over how Muslim rituals could be carried out properly.

Performing ablutions for Muslim prayers with water rationing in space and preparing food according to Islamic standards will be among issues discussed, said Angkasa’s director-general, Mazlan Othman. ..."

[Cindy]

More details...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1618756/posts

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http://news.ft.com/cms/s/2088c1f6-d0d3-11da-b160-0000779e2340.html

"Al-Qaeda Pakistan chief 'shot dead'"
By Farhan Bokhari
Published: April 21 2006 03:00 | Last updated: April 21 2006 03:00

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, named the dead man as Abu Marwan al-Suri, the head of al-Qaeda's operations in Pakistan's Waziristan tribal region. Mr Suri had previously been reported killed along with a handful of al-Qaeda operatives in the air strike in January.

The man was killed in Khar, the main town in the Bajaur tribal region where the Pakistani army has deployed in recent days to help an offensive by US and Afghan troops against militants on the other side of the border. At least seven Pakistani military troops were killed and more than 20 injured yesterday when militants ambushed a convoy near Miranshah, a border town in north Waziristan, a remote north-western tribal region.Farhan Bokhari, Islamabad"

[JustPiper]

What did they go home in a few hours like all the other 1000?

[MamaDearest]

Mexican activists call for nothing gringo

Snip: "That means no Dunkin' Donuts, no McDonald's, Burger King, Starbucks, Sears, Krispy Kreme or Wal-Mart," the message said. Promoted by some of the same groups that organized massive immigrant marches across the United States, the protest -- also dubbed "A Day Without Immigrants" -- comes as Congress debates immigration bills proposing everything from toughened border security to the legalization of all 11 million undocumented migrants in America.

Mexican unions, political and community groups, newspaper columnists and even some Mexican government offices have joined the call for a parallel boycott of U.S. businesses in Mexico. For some it's a way to express anti-U.S. sentiment, while others see it as part of a cross-border, Mexican-power lobby.

Illegal organizers rethinking May 1 boycott

Snip: Coordinator of the National Alliance for Human Rights Armando Navarro said: "Our credibility as a community is on the line. We've shown our power politically, but if we can't show it economically we are going to lose it." Some of the boycott organizers, include MEChA, LULAC and Mexica Movement, which all advocate “reconquista” or the “reconquest” of the United States for Mexico or the, previously, mythical land of Aztlan.

Pickup crashes near border with about 25 illegal aliens

Snip: A pick-up truck over-crowded with at least 25 suspected illegal immigrants, crashed just north of the Mexico-Arizona border just before midnight Wednesday night. The Santa Cruz County sheriff's office says it happened near Highway 82. The truck was speeding, when it lost control and rolled over.

Four people died. 21 others were taken to area hospitals via 7 helicopters and 13 ambulances, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff. Eight of the most severely injured victims were taken to University Medical Center's trauma unit in Tucson. Six are in critical condition; two are in serious condition. On average, UMC says it treats about 80 foreign nationals per month. That comes at a cost of about $12 million per year.....

New Mexico auto fatality

Snip: Three people were hospitalized after two seperate car accidents in Las Cruces Thursday. One person, 43-year-old Manuel Rodriguez, was killed in the first accident.New Mexico State Police said it happened when a train slammed into Rodriguez's car at a railroad crossing. Sheriff's deputies said his 3-year-old daughter is in critical condition at Thomason Hospital.

Border patrol agents bust illegal aliens

Snip: The day starts with a trip to Encinal, Northwest of Laredo where agents have just rounded up 16 immigrants trying to get away in a pick-up truck.

Deputies chase truck filled with illegal alients

Snip: On Wednesday afternoon, traveling up to 100 miles per hour, the driver of a truck filled with human cargo tried to flee Sheriff's deputies by crossing the median on I-8 near Gila Bend and heading into oncoming traffic. Avoiding a collision, the truck veered off the roadway and the smuggler and 17 illegalimmigrants from Mexico tried to run away from deputies but were caught.

Tee shirts fuel debate on illegal immigrants

Snip: As the immigration debate takes to America's streets, it's also taking to American bodies, legal and illegal.At every march there are T-shirts for all points of view. "We Are America" and "Hecho en Mexico" (Made in Mexico), "Illegal Immigrant" and "Border Patrol," "Illegal Alien Invaders" and "America Not Amexico."

[Cindy]

I don't know.

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

http://www.internet-haganah.com/jihadi/hamas.html

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=hamas

http://www.memri.org/bin/search/search.cgi?nocpp=1&p%3Ats_udav=0&sort-method=3&Match=0&Terms=Hamas&Realm=All

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http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=49832

"YMCA warned to vacate Hamas town
After 6 years of operation, Christian organization being booted by terror group"
Posted: April 21, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern

By Aaron Klein
© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com


ARTICLE SNIPPET: "JERUSALEM -- The leadership of a West Bank Palestinian city now controlled by Hamas has warned a local Young Men's Christian Association to close its offices and leave town or face likely Muslim violence, WorldNetDaily has learned.

The move highlighted long-standing fears Hamas would use its win in last January's Palestinian parliamentary elections to impose an anti-Christian, anti-Jewish hard-line Islamist regime in the West Bank and Gaza.

"The face of the new Hamas government is coming to the forefront now that they finally took over and have a lot more confidence. They want to create a territory free of Christians and Jews," said a Christian leader associated with the YMCA in Qalqiliya, a West Bank town under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority.

Yesterday, major Muslim organizations in Qalqiliya in conjunction with local mosques, the city's Mufti and municipal leaders, sent a letter to the interior minister of the Hamas-led PA accusing the YMCA of missionary activities and demanding the Palestinian government immediately shut down the Christian offices.

The YMCA has operated in Qalqiliya since 2000."

[Cindy]

TRAVEL.STATE.GOV - TRAVEL WARNING: NIGERIA
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_928.html

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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1618760/posts


"Car Bomb at Nigerian Military Base Kills 2"
The Associated Press ^ | 4-21-06 | Onyema Godwin

Posted on 04/20/2006 11:22:10 PM PDT by M. Espinola

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria - Militants battling for a bigger cut of Nigeria's oil revenue exploded a car bomb inside a military base, ending weeks of relative calm with a blast that killed at least two people and sent a fireball into the night sky.

The Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta claimed responsibility for the blast late Wednesday at a barracks in the southern oil center of Port Harcourt.

The group's attacks on oil installations in Nigeria, Africa's leading oil exporter, had already helped drive up world oil prices. This country is the fifth-biggest source of U.S. oil imports.

But the movement had not carried out any major attacks since February and never before used a car bomb. Its previous military targets were small military boats."

[Domestic Church]

Abu Marwan al-Suri was yet another explosives expert. In honor of his demise...100 jihadi potties on the wall, 100 jihadi potties, take one down and blast him around, 99 jihadi potties on the wall...

[Domestic Church]

"So that you learn to respect."

How soon until this starts here?

[Cindy]

DC, has anyone told you that you are a natural poet?

[Cindy]

Time will tell.

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1618779/posts

"The Terrorist Round-up for April 21, 2006 (Gitmo detainee list released)"
4/21/06

Posted on 04/21/2006 1:42:55 AM PDT by Straight Vermonter

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

http://www.internet-haganah.com/jihadi/hamas.html

http://www.internet-haganah.com/jihadi

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Note: The following post is a quote:
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1618781/posts


Hamas Names a Militant to Security Post
New York Times ^ | 4/21/06 | GREG MYRE

Posted on 04/21/2006 1:54:36 AM PDT by ricks_place

JERUSALEM, April 20 — The new Palestinian interior minister from Hamas named a well-known militant to a senior security position on Thursday and announced the creation of a force to be made up of militants.

The moves, which were denounced by Israel and the United States, are likely to increase friction between the Hamas-led Palestinian government and the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, chairman of the rival Fatah organization. The two sides are still maneuvering to determine who will have ultimate control over the various Palestinian security agencies, and Thursday's actions further complicated the picture.


The Palestinian interior minister, Siad Siam, a Hamas leader, said the militant Jamal Abu Samhadana would be a senior supervisor in the ministry, which oversees several Palestinian security branches, including the police.


Mr. Samhadana was a lieutenant colonel in the Palestinian security forces before the latest Palestinian uprising began in 2000. But he left his post and has been best known in recent years as the leader of the Popular Resistance Committees, made up of militants from various factions, including Hamas.


The Popular Resistance Committees have claimed responsibility for many of the recent rocket attacks from the Gaza Srip into southern Israel. The group is also believed to be linked to the 2003 bombing in northern Gaza that killed three American security officers as they were escorting American diplomats to meetings in Gaza. The Palestinian Authority has not charged or tried anyone for the bombing, and the United States has criticized the Palestinians for their handling of the case.


Israel regards the Popular Resistance Committees as one of the most active groups in attacking Israel, and Israeli forces have previously tried to kill Mr. Samhadana.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...

[Cindy]

Note: The "Cartoon Jihad" links have been updated here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1614199/posts?page=25#25

[Cindy]

Mumbling out loud and wondering if Al-Zawahiri has exited this world.
Oh well, time tells all.

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http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/172321.php
April 17, 2006

"Frustrated Zawahiri Risks Detection to Send Email."

MSNBC :CAIRO

[Cindy]

http://www.afa.net/clp/ReleaseDetail.asp?id=123
Center for Law and Policy
Press Release
"Ninth Circuit strikes again: Christian message on student t-shirt impermissible"
(April 20, 2006)

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http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewForeignBureaus.asp?Page=/ForeignBureaus/archive/200604/INT20060421a.html

"Islamic States Press for Limits on Free Expression"
By Patrick Goodenough
CNSNews.com International Editor
(April 21, 2006)