Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat - August 2006

[nwctwx]

Syria Tells Troops to Be Ready for Battle
(Full Story)

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has placed his military on full alert, citing "regional challenges", and vowed to continue supporting the "Palestinian and Lebanese resistance more than ever".

In a speech to mark the Syrian Army national day, Mr Assad said the volatile situation across the Middle East required "vigilance, preparation and readiness" and ordered all units of the armed forces to be on alert.

The comments were interpreted by Israel as a morale booster to the Syrian armed forces and not a call to battle. Israeli intelligence chiefs have assessed that Syria is not in the mood for an open war and is instead content to resupply Hezbollah guerillas in Lebanon.

	Iranian Cleric Asks Muslims to Send Weapons to Hezbollah
	Blair Says Syria, Iran Risk Confrontation
	Iran and Syria Beat the Drums of War

Thread Thirty-Nine

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[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=waziristan
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=swaziristan
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=southwaziristan

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http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/uploads/766hajiomar3.jpg

http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2370097

"South Waziristan's Veteran Jihadi Leader: A Profile of Haji Omar"
By Sohail Abdul Nasir
(August 8, 2006)

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The recent insurgency in some portions of Pakistan's tribal belt has produced a chain of new leaders who govern their respective areas. A common trait of these new leaders is that they receive inspiration from the Afghan Taliban and openly call themselves the "local Taliban." The local Taliban has been associated with the Afghan Taliban and have also vowed to expel foreign troops from Afghanistan through waging jihad. Some of the new local Taliban leaders, such as Faqir Mohammad, are still actively carrying out their activities, but most of them, such as local Taliban leader Haji Omar, are keeping a low profile as a result of government reconciliation efforts (Terrorism Monitor, February 9).

Haji Omar is a veteran jihadi fighter who fought against the Red Army on the Kabul and Bagram fronts during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. He sustained serious injuries on numerous occasions, but despite these injuries he continued to fight against the Soviets until they withdrew from Afghanistan. His jihadi career is spread over three periods: against Soviet forces, on behalf of the Afghan Taliban against U.S. troops before the fall of Kabul and his current jihadi activities in the tribal areas of Pakistan. Omar is tall, well-built, with a long, thick, black beard. He wears a turban in traditional tribal style. He is approximately 55 years old, and was born in the village of Kalushah, which is situated some 10 kilometers from Wana, the headquarters of South Waziristan agency (BBC, April 20).

After the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan, he moved back to his hometown because war among the different jihadi groups disheartened him. At the end of the 1980s, he moved to the Gulf city of Dubai. When the Taliban established control over most of Afghanistan, he returned and became one of the close associates of Taliban chief Mullah Omar and assisted him in day-to-day routine governing matters. He remained there until the fall of the Taliban in 2001. In Waziristan, he began to organize the local Taliban groups. He has excellent communication skills; while Pashto is his native tongue, he is proficient in Arabic due to frequent socialization with Arabs in Afghanistan and also speaks broken Urdu (BBC, April 20).

Haji Omar's two brothers, Haji Sharif and Noor Islam, have been on the government's most wanted list (The News, February 11, 2005). As a result of the Shakai Agreement on April 24, they were given amnesty along with the late Nek Mohammad, but later this amnesty was revoked. Omar was appointed acting leader of the local Taliban group in South Waziristan when Nek Mohammad was killed in a missile attack (The News, June 21, 2004). Haji Omar belongs to the Yargulkhel sub-tribe of the Wazir tribe. This background helped him become the acting chief of the local Taliban in South Waziristan since Nek Mohammad was also a Wazir.

Omar is a staunch opponent of the United States, India and other countries that, according to him, occupy Muslim lands."

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...


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

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http://mensnewsdaily.com/2006/08/09/chinese-continue-their-military-build-up

"Chinese Continue Their Military Build Up"
August 09, 2006
Vox Populi, Jim Kouri
by Jim Kouri, CPP

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/2006/08/012621print.html

August 10, 2006

"Jihadists take control of key town in central Somalia"

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Beledweyne falls. Somali Jihad Update from AFP: "Islamists take control of key central Somali town"

MOGADISHU (AFP) - Islamic militia has seized control of a strategic township near the Ethiopian border from Somalia's transitional government, further expanding their territory.

There were no reported casualties in the clash, which saw only a brief exchange of fire around 7:00 am (0400 GMT) Wednesday.

Islamic militia commander Yusuf Makaraan said his fighters took control of Beledweyne, the capital of Hiraan region 300 kilometres (190 miles) north of Mogadishu, after the Ethiopia-backed, government-appointed governor Yusuf Ahmed Hagar allegedly fled to Ethiopia.

"We have full control of Beledweyne," Makarran told AFP by telephone."

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http://jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2370096
Terrorism Focus
"Hardline Islamist Militia Group Shabbab Emerges in Somalia"
By Sunguta West
August 8, 2006

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http://jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2370083
Terrorism Monitor
"Somalia's ICU and its Roots in al-Ittihad al-Islami"
By Sunguta West

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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1659022/posts?page=1929#1929

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

[Cindy]

Note: The following post is a quote:
---

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1681019/posts


Mother and son killed in rocket barrage near Karmiel-90 Katyushas fired Thursday morning.
Jerusalem Post ^ | 8-10-06

Posted on 08/10/2006 4:33:18 AM PDT by SJackson

Mother and son killed in rocket barrage near Karmiel
Another man seriously wounded as rocket scores direct hit on house in Dir el-Asad; at least 90 Katyushas fired Thursday morning.

The barrage of Katyushas continued Thursday morning with reports of at least 90 rockets landing in cities and towns throughout northern Israel.

One rocket scored a direct hit on a home in the village of Dir el-Asad, near Karmiel, killing a young mother, 23, and her four-year-old son. The child was initially critically injured, but later died of his wounds.

With the death toll from rocket attacks increasing among Israeli-Arabs and Israeli-Jews alike, the panic which has gripped the north has unified it's residents with a deadly realization.

"The situation is very bad," says one Dir el-Asad resident who witnessed the attack. "with citizens continuing to be killed. We are all afraid, Jews and Arabs. Rockets don't differentiate between ethnicities."

Two more people were wounded, one seriously and one lightly, while 38 others were treated for shock in the village.

Rockets also struck Nahariya, Safed, the Golan Heights, and the Haifa Bay area.

Sirens were also heard in Ramot, Tiberias, Acre, Ma'alot, and Shefayim. No rocket hits have yet been reported.

At least 160 rockets rained down on northern Israel on Wednesday, with over 80 striking the region of Kiryat Shmona, causing no injuries but inflicting heavy damage. One person was wounded and several were suffering from shock after a rocket barrage hit Safed on Wednesday afternoon.

[Cindy]

(NOTE: Includes video.)

http://www.krem.com/news/local/stories/krem2_080806_amdevon.4e56243.html

"Border Patrol targets Terrorists, smugglers"
08:02 AM PDT on Tuesday, August 8, 2006
Devon Haskins, KREM.com
KREM 2 NEWS
KREM 2 NEWS speaks to Border Patrol agents
SPOKANE

[Right_Handed_Writer]

Where else would I turn but TM to get the info?

I will give you all a first hand account of TSA effectiveness later today after I fly home from Denver this afternoon. Already heard on local radio that at 5:45AM the security line wait was already 45 minutes and growing at DIA. After I shave etc. this morning the shaving cream, tootpaste, contact lens solution all will get tossed here at the hotel. Or I could take the dreaded step and check my carry on. But baggage claim will be a nightmare.

[Right_Handed_Writer]

Well that's just great, I get post #666

[Cindy]

Have a very safe trip.
I agree with you, dump those items and buy some more on the other end.

[Cindy]

Wry smile...I guess it's better than getting post no. 13?

[British chick]

Me thinks the other shoe was due to drop today....
Let's hope they foiled the whole plot.

[Cindy]

I wish it was over, but the investigation is ongoing.

Stay safe British Chick.

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:
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http://www.terrortracker.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=405&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0



"Major UK terror plot foiled"
Posted by: Neil on Thursday, August 10, 2006 - 07:44 AM

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "As reported exclusively on this website in June, British militants have been circulating a guide to constructing explosive devices that can evade airport screening devices.

One included instructions on concealing a bomb inside a disposable camera."

Neil Doyle

[jimbo123]

This plot was orginally scheduled for December 2003. It's in the TM archives and was known on the Jihadi boards at the time as "Jihad Falcon" by the infamous terror propagandist EOM (aka Adam Gadahn).

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1013726/posts?page=2584#2584

"U.S. raises terrorism threat level - Ridge: Possible attacks could rival 9/11"
CNN.Com / U.S. ^ | Sunday, December 21, 2003 Posted: 4:10 PM EST (2110 GMT) | CNN.Com

[Cindy]

That's interesting.
Thank you Jimbo123

[Cindy]

UPDATE...

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=100405&version=1&template_id=45&parent_id=25

AFP

"Seoul reaffirms N Korea behind 1987 jet bombing"
Published: Wednesday, 2 August, 2006, 12:45 PM Doha Time

[drymans wife]

DE SHA VOO

[jimbo123]

Looks like they delayed the plot almost 3 years so they could attack more planes and use more sophisticated explosives. All those in-flight probes done by "Syrian musicians" and "exchange students" were incorporated into the new plot.

[Cindy]

TODAY'S UPDATES AND RECAP:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1681050/posts?page=50#50


http://www.ynetnews.com
http://www.jpost.com
http://www.haaretz.com
http://off-topic.internet-haganah.com/
http://www.foxnews.com

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=israel
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=2006israelwar

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

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=iran
http://www.memri.org/iran.html
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=syria
http://www.memri.org/syria.html
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=lebanon
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=gaza

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=hezbollah
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=hizballah
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=hizbullah

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

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

[nwctwx]

To: nwctwx; All
The Man Who Is Planning the Next Attack on America
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/08/the_man_who_is_.html

564 posted on 08/09/2006 1:16:07 PM PDT by Velveeta
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 560 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

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Pakistan.. wonder if this is related at all to today.

[Godzilla]

Alert levels raised for US Airline industry especially flights originating from UK. Something is in the wind....and it's tied to the conflict in Israel. If Iran hit's Israel with a nuke on the 22nd, count on getting a massive strike here on home soil nearly simultaneously. What do you think?

These terrorists alledgedly had the all the materials they needed to pull this off. What really hasn't been revealed was the planned action date. While is it easy to assume it is AQ, there is the nagging voice in the back of my head saying ....Iran....Iran.... This is just too closely related in time to Israel/Hezbollah and the Mad One's Islamic apocalyptic rantings surrounding Aug 22.

On the flip side, AQ has been pushed from the lime-light by Iran and AQ losses in Iraq. They've been threatening for a while and they were due something big.

Big question is, are the arrested terrorists more affiliated with Sunni or Shia? If Sunni - then there is a strong probablity of affiliation with AQ. If Shia - then higher probability of association with Hezbollah and Iran.

If AQ, then I think we stopped it. Only Iran currently seems to have the resources and drive to have additional mayhem capabilities for Aug 22.