Threat Matrix: October 2006

ON THE NET...

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

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

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

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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1721118/posts

"Retired CCPD Sergeant carjacked in Nuevo Laredo [Mexico]"
KRISTV.com ^ | Oct 16, 2006 | Bart Bedsole

Posted on 10/17/2006 2:38:32 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "CORPUS CHRISTI - A former Corpus Christi police officer has strong words of caution for anyone planning a holiday trip to Mexico. Retired Corpus Christi police Sergeant O.V. Morales and his wife were the victims of a violent carjacking last week in Nuevo Laredo.

The federal government continues to warn travelers about the dangers along the border and the warning is for good reason. Morales is constantly helping others to protect themselves. Now, he's doing that by sharing a story from across the border.

The black belt was driving to a wedding in Monterrey last Wednesday night. When he and his wife came face to face with gunmen on the street.

"There were three individuals who blocked the front of my car, and one of them came out with a gun from the front. The other two came in from the driver's side and passenger's side, pointed a gun at my head, and at my wife's head, and told us to get out or they were going to kill us," Sgt. Morales said.

The violence is Nuevo Laredo remains at an epidemic level. Local police are powerless and federal police are often outmatched."

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Note: The following text is a quote:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3028.html

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
This information is current as of today, Tue Oct 17 2006 14:44:07 GMT-0700.

Mexico

September 15, 2006

This Public Announcement alerts U.S. citizens to the rising level of brutal violence in areas of Mexico. This violence has occurred throughout Mexico, but has been particularly persistent in the city of Nuevo Laredo within the state of Tamaulipas. This Public Announcement expires on March 15, 2007.

U.S. citizens residing and traveling in Mexico should exercise extreme caution when in unfamiliar areas and be aware of their surroundings at all times. Public sources suggest that narcotics-related violence has claimed 1,500 lives in Mexico this year. In recent months there have been execution-style murders of Mexican and U.S. citizens in Tamaulipas (particularly Nuevo Laredo), Michoacan, Baja California, Guerrero, and other states.

U.S. citizens have also been victims of random shootings on major highways outside of Mexico City, Nuevo Laredo, Tijuana, and other areas throughout Mexico. In recent years, dozens of U.S. citizens have been kidnapped in Nuevo Laredo, with more than two dozen cases still unresolved; recent incidents indicate a possible resurgence of kidnappings for ransom. Mexican police and other government figures have been murdered in Guerrero, Nuevo Leon, the Federal District, Tamaulipas, and other states. Drug cartel members have been known to follow and harass U.S. citizens traveling in their vehicles, particularly in border areas including Nuevo Laredo and Matamoros.

Though there is no evidence that U.S. citizens are targeted, criminals look for every opportunity to take advantage of unwary travelers. U.S. citizens who believe they are being followed should notify officials as soon as possible. U.S. citizens should make every attempt to travel on main roads during daylight hours, particularly the toll (“cuota”) roads, which are generally more secure. It is preferable for U.S. citizens to stay in well-known tourist destinations and tourist areas of the cities with more adequate security, and provide an itinerary to a friend or family member not traveling with them. U.S. citizens should refrain from displaying expensive-looking jewelry, large amounts of money, or other valuable items.

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov where the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, Travel Warnings, and Public Announcements can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States, or, for callers from Mexico, a regular toll line at 001-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). American citizens traveling or residing overseas are encouraged to register with the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate on the State Department's travel registration website at https://travelregistration.state.gov.

For any emergencies involving American citizens in Mexico, please contact the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The U.S. Embassy is located in Mexico City at Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, telephone from the United States: 011-52-55-5080-2000; telephone within Mexico City: 5080-2000; telephone long distance within Mexico 01-55-5080-2000. You may also contact the Embassy by e-mail at: ccs@usembassy.net.mx. The Embassy's Internet address is http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/.

Consulates:

Ciudad Juarez: Avenida Lopez Mateos 924-N, telephone (52)(656) 611-3000.
Guadalajara: Progreso 175, telephone (52)(333) 268-2100.
Monterrey: Avenida Constitucion 411 Poniente, telephone (52)(818) 345-2120.
Tijuana: Tapachula 96, telephone (52)(664) 622-7400.
Hermosillo: Avenida Monterrey 141, telephone (52)(662) 289-3500.
Matamoros: Avenida Primera 2002, telephone (52)(868) 812-4402.
Merida: Paseo Montejo 453, telephone (52)(999) 925-5011.
Nogales: Calle San Jose, Nogales, Sonora, telephone (52)(631) 313-4820.
Nuevo Laredo: Calle Allende 3330, Col. Jardin, telephone (52)(867) 714-0512.

You're very welcome.

It sure is an eye-opener.

THANKS Velveeta.

"Chertoff: Web could be terror training camp"

FACT: The internet serves the global jihad in a variety of ways including terrorist training.

Interesting, isn't it?

ON THE NET...

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

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

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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1721117/posts

"Iranian Alert - October 16, 2006 - North Korea tested Missile Systems for Iran"
Regime Change Iran ^ | 10.16.2006 | DoctorZin

Posted on 10/17/2006 2:37:02 PM PDT by DoctorZIn

Note: The following text is a quote:
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http://www.defenselink.mil/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=1631

U.S. Troops Help Iraqi Forces Quell Sectarian Violence

American Forces Press Service

TIKRIT, Iraq, Oct. 17, 2006 – U.S. soldiers are helping Iraqi security forces here to quell a surge in sectarian violence, military officials reported today.
Throughout the past 96 hours, officials here said, more than 60 Iraqis were killed as a result of sectarian violence in Balad, just north of Baghdad.

In the past 48 hours, officials said, the city has been hit with five indirect-fire attacks, killing six civilians and wounding 10.

“We continue to conduct our normal patrols in the city and provide support for Iraqi security forces as they lead operations in stopping the sectarian violence in Balad,” said Army Lt. Col. Jeffery Martindale, commander of 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. “We are also providing counter-fire support against terrorists conducting indirect-fire attacks against innocent civilians in Balad.”

The violence began Oct. 13, when 19 Shiia Muslims were kidnapped and killed Dulyiyah, east of Balad. The following day, more than 38 Sunni Muslims were killed, apparently in retaliation.

As the sectarian violence escalated, officials said, the Salah ad Din provincial government established a 48-hour vehicular curfew beginning at 5 p.m. Oct. 14. Iraqi security forces enforced the curfew by maintaining a presence throughout the city and establishing checkpoints to halt insurgents and militias from entering the city.

Coalition forces helped with the ISF operations at the request of the Iraqi civic and military leaders, and detained two Iraqi police officers allegedly involved in the killing of 19 the Shiia Muslims from Duluiyah, Martindale said.

“By coordinating all of our efforts, we have seen a marked decrease in violence in the past 24 hours,” Martindale added.

(From a Multinational Corps Iraq news release.)

Note: The following post is a quote:
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http://www.defenselink.mil/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=1632

Coalition Forces Defeat Complex Attack in Ramadi

American Forces Press Service

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq, Oct. 17, 2006 – Coalition forces defeated a complex insurgent small-arms-fire attack in Ramadi, Iraq, yesterday, killing three insurgents, military officials reported today.
There were no reports of civilian or coalition casualties.

Insurgents attacked three different coalition locations from several buildings at the same time with small-arms fire, officials said. In response, coalition forces established the origin of the gunfire and returned fire with small-arms and machine-gun fire.

When the enemy’s fire did not cease, coalition forces used increasing levels of force, including tank main-gun rounds followed by an air-delivered missile.

(From a Multinational Corps Iraq news release.)

Note: The following text is a quote:
--

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=1639

Iraqis Capture Murder Cell Leader, Coalition Troops Find Weapons

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2006 – Special Iraqi army forces, working with coalition advisors, captured the alleged leader of a murder and kidnapping cell in an early-morning raid yesterday in eastern Baghdad, military officials reported.
The cell leader is suspected of directing the kidnapping, torture, and murder of Sunni and Shiia Muslim citizens in Baghdad and has connections to illegal armed groups there, officials said.

He also is believed to be connected to attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces. No civilian or military casualties were reported, officials said, and the raid resulted in minimal property damage.

The operation was conducted as part of Operation Together Forward with the goal of capturing criminals inciting sectarian violence, denying them sanctuary, and providing for a safe and secure Iraq, officials said.

Meanwhile, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers seized two weapons caches and detained seven suspected terrorists in and around Baghdad Oct. 15 and yesterday.

Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, seized a weapons cache in Yusufiyah, south of Baghdad. The cache consisted of a 155 mm artillery round, a 105 mm round, six 60 mm artillery rounds, a 120 mm artillery round and two 82 mm rounds.

In a separate incident, soldiers from 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, detained seven suspected terrorists and seized a weapons cache while conducting random searches Oct. 15 in Huriyah.

The cache contained a PKC assault rifle, an RPK machine gun, 11 AK-47 assault rifles, a G3 rifle, a handgun, two Browning high-powered rifles, a shotgun, six 57 mm air-to-ground rockets rigged as homemade bombs, more than 5,000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, 42 rounds of 9 mm ammunition, 38 rounds of Smith and Wesson .38-caliber ammunition and various bomb-making materials.

The suspects were held for further questioning. An explosive ordnance disposal team destroyed the munitions.

As of Oct. 15, Iraqi security forces and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers had cleared more than 95,000 buildings, 80 mosques and 65 muhallas, detained more than 214 terrorist suspects, seized more than 1,700 weapons, registered more than 750 weapons and found more than 41 weapons caches in support of Operation Together Forward. The combined forces had also removed more than 210,810 cubic meters of trash from the streets of Baghdad.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=1650

"President Signs 2007 Defense Authorization Act"

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2006

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ON THE NET...

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/10/20061017-1.html

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/10/20061017-9.html

REPORT SNIPPET - QUOTE:

http://www.icc-ccs.org/prc/piracyreport.php

Weekly Piracy Report
10-16 October 2006

The following is a summary of the daily reports broadcast by the IMB's Piracy Reporting Centre to ships in Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean Regions on the SafetyNET service of Inmarsat-C from 10 to 16 October 2006.

ALERT

Chittagong anchorage, Bangladesh
Thirty six incidents have been reported since 28.01.2006. Pirates are targeting ships preparing to anchor. Ships are advised to take extra precautions.

The IMB Report on Piracy and Armed Attacks on Ships from January to June 2006 is now published. Please see the end of this page to order.

Suspicious crafts

None reported during the week.
Recently reported incidents

14.10.2006 at 0400 LT in posn: 01:15.3S - 116:47.7E, Balikpapan inner anchorage, Indonesia.
Four robbers in a small merchandised unlit dinghy approached a bulk carrier during cargo operations. One robber boarded and gained access to forecastle while the other three were in process of boarding. Alert watchman raised alarm and crew mustered. Robbers escaped empty handed. No response from port control.

12.10.2006 at 0050 LT in position 06:42.7S - 039:28.3E, 10nm east of Dar Es Salaam pilot station, Tanzania.
Three robbers armed with long knives attempted to board a general cargo ship drifting using a hook attached to a rope. Alert crew raised alarm. Robbers jumped into water empty handed and escaped with three accomplices waiting in a boat. Port control informed and they advised master to move further away.

10.10.2006 at 0234 LT in posn: 22:17.4N - 091:44.1E, Chittagong anchorage 'a', Bangladesh.
Four robbers boarded a bulk carrier. One robber armed with knife attempted to enter accommodation. Alert crew closed all entrance doors and raised alarm. Robbers jumped into a waiting boat and escaped.

10.10.2006 at 0234 LT at Chittagong anchorage ‘á', Bangladesh.
Four robbers boarded a bulk carrier. One robber armed with knife attempted to enter accommodation. Alert crew closed all entrance doors and raised alarm. Robbers jumped into a waiting boat and escaped.

09.10.2006 at 0405lt at Tarahan anchorage, Indonesia.
Three armed pirates boarded a bulk carrier at poop deck. Alert duty watchman raised and robbers escaped empty handed.

09.10.2006 at 0324 LT at Chittagong anchorage, Bangladesh.
Duty watchmen sighted four robbers cutting mooring ropes. When he tried to stop them robbers assaulted the watchman. Duty officer raised alarm. Robbers jumped overboard with ropes and escaped in their boat.

07.10.2006 at 0140 LT in posn:: 06:45.1S - 039:19.9E, Dar Es Salaam anchorage area no. 2, Tanzania.
Five robbers armed with knives boarded a container ship. They held a crew member and tied his hands and feet and robbed ship's and personal property. Master reported to port police but robbers escaped before the police boarded.

ON THE NET...

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

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

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Note: The following statement is a quote:

http://www.agi.it/english/news.pl?doc=200610171202-1077-RT1-CRO-0-NF11&page=0&id=agionline-eng.oggitalia>&page=0&id=agionline-eng.oggitalia

Wednesday October 18, 2006 h.01.06

Today in Italy
Special service by AGI on behalf of the Italian Prime Minister's office

ACCIDENT IN THE UNDERGROUND: VELTRONI, THEY WERE NEW TRAINS
(AGI) - Rome, Oct. 17 - The two trains involved in the accident in the underground station of Piazza Vittorio were new trains which had been recently purchased for line 'A'. According to the mayor of Rome Walter Veltroni who went to the place of the accident with the prefect Serra, the trains 'were functioning absolutely well. One train crashed into the train in front of it, it is not clear yet how the accident happened. We asked Met.Ro to provide us with all the necessary explanations in order to understand how it could happen.' -
171202 OTT 06

Note: The following post is a quote:
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1721208/posts

It's war already, says spy
Herald Sun Sunday ^ | 18 October 2006 | Mark Dunn

Posted on 10/17/2006 5:37:26 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher

WESTERN countries are fighting World War III and it would last a generation, former head of Israel's Mossad spy network, Efraim Halevy, said in Melbourne yesterday.

Mr Halevy, who ran Israel's intelligence agency between 1998 and 2002, said a major terror attack was possible in Australia.

But he said the public didn't appear to realise the seriousness of the threat.

"The threats today are aimed at destroying the whole way of life in democratic societies . . . of turning back the wheel more than 1000 years," Mr Halevy said.

The security adviser to former prime minister Ariel Sharon and now head of strategic studies at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said Islamic militancy was squarely aimed at establishing an international caliphate.

"The goals here are global. The goals here are absolute," Mr Halevy said.

"This is a modern-type third world war . . . (but) it's very difficult to convince the public there is a war at all."

Mr Halevy said the three major threats the world faced were weapons of mass destruction, Islamic terrorism and risk of rocketing oil and energy prices, and said all those threats emanated from the Middle East.

"If the world is threatened by the Middle East there is no option but for the world to come to the Middle East," he said.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...

sitting drill rig hopelessly behind bookmark

http://www.casperstartribune.net/ap/headlines/d8kqn52o0.txt

Prosecutors Want to Question Shoe Bomber
By DENISE LAVOIE Tuesday, October 17, 2006

BOSTON - Federal investigators told a judge Tuesday that they want to question would-be shoe bomber Richard Reid because it was likely that he has "important information" about terrorist activities.

But prosecutors said in U.S. District Court they don't believe Reid is entitled to a public defender now that his criminal case is over.

Reid, a British citizen and self-described follower of Osama bin Laden, pleaded guilty in 2002 to trying to blow up a trans-Atlantic flight with explosives hidden in his shoes. He is now serving a life sentence at a maximum-security federal prison in Florence, Colo.

In April, a judge extended a 2003 order allowing Reid to continue to be represented by federal public defenders. At the time, Reid was expected to be called as a witness in the trial of al-Qaida conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui. Reid was never called as a witness.

U.S. District Judge William Young said he would keep in place the orders continuing Reid's representation by public defenders, noting that under those orders, the government can only contact Reid after giving notice to his lawyers and having them present for any interviews with him.

Assistant U.S. Attorney James Farmer said investigators want to talk to Reid without an attorney present to develop a "personal rapport," which would be difficult to do with an attorney or any third party in the room.

Farmer said federal agents believe Reid _ even though he has been in prison for nearly five years _ could have information on terrorism plots that could still be carried out. He said al-Qaida plots are known to "have long gestation periods."

Judith Mizner, one of Reid's public defenders, said Reid has repeatedly made it clear he will not talk to investigators without an attorney present. She expressed skepticism about prosecutors' claim that they only want to talk to Reid and do not plan to interrogate him for the purposes of charging him with additional crimes.

Young urged both prosecutors and Reid's lawyers to consider bringing the case to a federal judge in Colorado, where Reid is serving his life sentence...more...

Ignacio Tacas, a 35-year-old farmer from the village, told the Associated Press news agency, “They killed them with machetes, stones, axes - and for those who did not die in agony in this way, they even put them into a vat of boiling water.”

Where is the outrage? Where is the media? Christians slaughtered and not a word, except on TM. Thanks Cindy for posting this.

I don't know where the outrage is.

The T.O.M. (tired old media -per backhoe) does not care to cover the hard news. Persecuting Christians and Jews just doesn't seem to interest them unless they have name recognition like Daniel Pearl.

You're welcome Cindy!

Jihadis and Democrats

Snip: ...the suspects’ attorneys also argue that such charitable giving, to support the jihad and mujahideen, is rightfully tax-exempt under U.S. constitutional protection of religious freedom. Moreover, they compare their support of Islam’s “holy war” to the Jewish National Fund (JNF) appeals for tax-deductible “donations to finance the purchase of bulletproof vests, helmets and firetrucks in connection with the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict.”

Taliban issues report detailing operations in Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

Detailed listing of attacks of mujahideen.

Islamic population bomb - shown in graphs

Muslim architecture student quizzed over Canary Wharf photo project

Snip: A Muslim architect student was hauled before police, strip-searched and questioned for hours on suspicion of terrorism - for taking pictures of Canary Wharf. Kamran Tariq was wandering amongst other tourists who were snapping the dock-lands hoping to gain inspiration for an art project when he was arrested by a troop of nine officers.

Muslim outrage grows in London

Snip: In Britain there is only one Islamist, caliphate-seeking political party and it is MPACUK - a group whose open and private forums are full of kufr (disbeliever)-hating comments and Islamist rants, not to mention anti semitic comments snatched, seemingly, off Adolf Eichmann.

More worryingly, its private, password-protected discussion forums are the scene now of more sinister exchanges.

Just today I typed MPACUK into a Google Image search and several photographs of planes at British airports appeared, taxying within RPG distance of hangars and terminals.

Found on the web:

http://www.laughingterrorist.com/

Clickable Link (missing from above post): Islamic Population Bomb - shown in graphs