Threat Matrix: December 2006

Previous thread ^

[Cindy]

Yep, I agree.

[Cindy]

"...Republicans should have done this when they had control."

I agree.

[Cindy]

Yes, she's a dear heart and a wise woman.

[Cindy]

Hmmm..."English brothers..."

THANKS tmp)2.

Let me check on that to see if there is more info:


http://news.google.com/nwshp?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&tab=wn&q=%22English%20brothers%22

[Cindy]

RECAP:

UPI.com: Washington - "REPORTS SAY PAK BORDER IS TERROR SANCTUARY" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Reports from the Afghan-Pakistan border say al-Qaida and other groups are using a sanctuary there to plot suicide attacks against targets worldwide.") (December 19, 2006) (Read More...)

SAHARASAMAY.com: "'QAEDA TRAINING JEHADIS FROM WEST'" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The team includes nine British citizens, two Norwegian Muslims and an Australian. The report was published quoting Taliban's Chief Qaeda liaison for Ghazni province in Afghanistan, Omar Farooqi. The report claimed that some Taliban commanders told it of seeing the "English brothers" in person during the training. Farooqi said he spent roughly five weeks last year helping indoctrinate and train A-class foreign recruits near Afghanistan border in tribal Waziristan.") (December 18, 2006, 17:12 IST) (Read More...)

BBC NEWS: "AFGHANISTAN 'HOLDS PAKISTANI SPY'" (Last updated December 19, 2006, 16:49 GMT) (Read More...)

SAAG.org - Paper no. 2066: "TERRORISM INDICATORS FROM PAKISTAN - INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM MONITOR--PAPER NO. 165" by B. Raman (December 18, 2006) (Read More...)

JIHAD WATCH.org (AP): "AFGHANISTAN BLAMES PAKISTAN FOR TALEBAN ATTACKS" (December 13, 2006) (Read More...)

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?hl=en&client=news&q=%22English+brothers%22&ie=ISO-8859-1&scoring=d

[Minutemen]

Bump
for later read

[Oorang]

Ahhh, the plot thickens. Thanks tmp02.

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1757846/posts

http://www.americanthinker.com/2006/12/new_york_times_passes_sensitiv.html
December 23, 2006
"New York Times Passes Sensitive Information to Terrorists - Again"
By Patrick Poole

[Oorang]

I thought I remembered reading about this a few days ago:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1747324/posts?page=858#858

Very interesting that they are now connecting Adam Gadahn to this group. Hmmm.

[Cindy]

RECAP:

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

===
===

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1756003/posts

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42355000/jpg/_42355189_fighters.jpg

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6192939.stm
Last Updated: Tuesday, 19 December 2006, 16:49 GMT

"Afghanistan 'holds Pakistani spy'"


ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Afghanistan says it has arrested a Pakistani intelligence agent who acted as a key link with al-Qaeda leaders.

Presidential spokesman Karim Rahimi said the agent had been detained in eastern Kunar province carrying documents which proved his guilt.

The news came a day after intelligence officials said an Afghan general had been arrested for spying for Pakistan.

Afghanistan has long blamed Pakistan for cross-border attacks by the Taleban. Islamabad denies the charges.

'Bin Laden escort'

Mr Karimi named the man arrested as Sayed Akbar, who he said worked for Pakistan's controversial Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency.


A Pakistani national currently working as an officer for the ISI was arrested with convincing documents
Karim Rahimi,
Afghan presidential spokesman

Profile: Pakistan's spy service

"Some evidence and documents have been seized with him proving his destructive activities in Afghanistan," Mr Karimi told a news conference in the capital, Kabul.

Sayed Akbar comes from the Chitral region of northern Pakistan bordering the Afghan province of Nuristan, the spokesman said."

[Oorang]

Highly radioactive material stolen in India
Saturday, December 23, 2006

Police in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand are hunting for a container packed with highly radioactive material stolen from a research facility, officials say.

"It carries uranium and radiation could have an adverse effect in an area of 1.5 kilometres," Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Khoda warned. Mr Khoda said the "uranium-filled analyser" went missing earlier this month after being moved to a site near the densely-populated town of Rajrappa from a from a federal atomic facility near Mumbai. Officials have not said to what degree the uranium was enriched. Police said they were tipped off about the theft on December 4.

Excerpted

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200612/s1817908.htm

The following is, obviously, a plea for money but there is interesting information in the "article":

The defense fund for Paul will be called the "The Paul L. Williams Defense Fund", to help Dr. Williams fight the lawsuit McMaster University has brought against him for investigating Islamic terrorists at McMaster

[Oorang]

Islamists urge Muslims to join jihad on Ethiopia
24/12/2006

Mogadishu: Somali Islamists urged foreign Muslim fighters yesterday to join their 'holy war' against Ethiopia as Islamist forces and pro-Somali government troops fired artillery and rockets across a frontline for a fifth day.

"Our country is open to Muslims worldwide. Let them fight in Somalia and wage jihad, and God willing, attack Addis Ababa," defence chief Yousuf Mohammad Siad 'Inda'ade' said in the Islamists' first threat to take the fight to Ethiopia's capital.

Excerpted

http://www.gulfnews.com/region/Somalia/10091810.html

Lawyer takes on Saudi Sharia police
Sat, 23 Dec 2006

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 23 A Saudi human rights lawyer says the morals police oppress people in the name of religion and act as if the law does not apply to them.

Abdul-Rahman al-Lahem, 35, will take on the Sharia police, charged with enforcing Islamic laws, in court next week. He accuses them of kidnapping a woman and her daughter as they left someone's home on the outskirts of Riyadh, The Washington Post reported Saturday.

Excerpted

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/15593.html

9.11" terror suspect files appeal in Germany
2006-12-23

BERLIN, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Mounir al-Motassadeq, who was to be convicted for involvement in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, has filed an appeal to Germany's highest court against his upcoming sentencing hearing, court officials said on Friday.

The lawyer for Motassadeq, who is in a remand jail in the northern city of Hamburg, sent the appeal to the German Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe, according to a report by the German news agency DPA.

Last month, a court in Hamburg convicted Motassadeq of being a member of a terrorist cell and added a conviction of being an accessory to murder and a hearing has been scheduled for next month to consider increasing Motassadeq's current seven-year jail sentence.

Excerpted

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-12/23/content_5522340.htm

[Oorang]

Royal Intrigue, Unpaid Bills Preceded Saudi Ambassador's Exit
Policy Dispute Regarding Iran Loomed Large
Saturday, December 23, 2006

For more than a year, Saudi Arabia's ambassador journeyed to college campuses, chambers of commerce, town halls and world affairs councils across the United States in an ambitious campaign to improve his country's image.

But Prince Turki al-Faisal's goodwill tour, instead, produced millions of dollars in unpaid bills -- and a tale of murky intrigue in the enigmatic desert kingdom.

The debts by one of the world's wealthiest countries -- owed to the very lobbyists, advisers and event organizers hired to promote the kingdom -- have left a trail that weaves together bitter princely rivalries, diplomatic subterfuge and a policy clash over one of the thorniest issues of the day: what to do about Iran.

The Saudi Embassy would not comment on the kingdom's payments, personnel or internal policymaking.

But the woes within the royal family reflect a tug of war over how to handle foreign policy. Eighteen months ago, Prince Bandar bin Sultan ended a legendary 22-year career as the face of Saudi Arabia in the United States. Word at the time was that he was bored, preferring his palatial Aspen, Colo., lodge to Washington. As it turns out, however, Bandar has secretly visited Washington almost monthly over the past year -- and is at least as pivotal today in influencing U.S. policy as he was in his years as ambassador

Excerpted

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/22/AR2006122201474.html?nav=rss_world

[Cindy]

Thank you Oorang.
Updates appreciated on the stolen radioactive material.

[Oorang]

NYT reporter beaten up in Quetta
Dec.23.2006

WASHINGTON: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said in a statement on Saturday that New York Times correspondent Carlotta Gall had been beaten up in Quetta where she had gone on a reporting assignment. Her photographer was detained before being released. CPJ called for a full investigation.

While Ms Gall is said to have been roughed up in her hotel room, her photographer Akhtar Soomro was kept in detention. The alleged incident took place on December 19. Ms Gall, who recently filed a report about incursions of Taliban and other extremist elements from Pakistan into Afghanistan, told the CPJ that men claiming to be from the special branch of police detained Soomro, a Pakistani national, in his hotel and seized his computer and camera.

Four men later broke into the journalist’s room in another hotel, hit her and took away some of her belongings. Ms Gall said she had bruises on her arms, temple and cheekbone, a swelling on her left eye and a sprained knee.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006/12/23/story_23-12-2006_pg1_3

Albania Seizes Assets of Alleged Bin Laden Associate

TIRANA - The Albanian government said Friday that it has seized assets of a man who allegedly worked with Osama bin Laden to provide support to terror networks in Albania.

The Finance Ministry said it ordered authorities to block four apartments, a house, four bars and shops, and more than 2 hectares (about 5 acres) of land belonging to Yasin al-Qadi, a Saudi businessman whom the United States accused of being a terrorist in October 2001

http://www.albaniannews.com/main.asp

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=2515


Iraqi, Coalition Forces Capture 48 Suspected Terrorists in Two Days

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2006 – During the past two days, coalition and Iraqi forces detained 48 suspected terrorists and disabled three vehicles used to transport explosives, Multinational Corps Iraq officials reported today.
Targeting an al Qaeda terror cell, special Iraqi security forces with coalition advisors captured seven suspected terrorists today during a raid in the Ghazaliya area of Baghdad.

The cell is responsible for kidnappings, roadside bomb attacks and killings in the Mansour district. The suspects allegedly belong to a group which openly claims responsibility for killing Iraqi civilians and police. They also are suspected of harboring foreign fighters and facilitating attacks against coalition forces.

During the operation, Iraqi forces disabled three vehicles suspected of being used by the group to move explosives, officials said.

In other news from Iraq, 1st Iraqi Army Division forces with coalition advisors yesterday detained 27 suspected insurgents during simultaneous operations at multiple locations west of Fallujah. Officials say they believe the insurgent network is responsible for roadside bomb and small-arms attacks in the area. Officials also allege the suspects are involved in weapons trafficking and other criminal activity supporting their terrorist activities against Iraqi and coalition forces.

Elsewhere yesterday, 5th Iraqi Army Division forces with coalition advisors detained 13 suspects during operations near Muqdadiyah. Officials say they believe the suspects are responsible for kidnapping, murder and other sectarian attacks against Iraqi civilians.

Meanwhile, near Ramadi, 7th Iraqi Army Division forces with coalition advisors captured a suspect who allegedly belongs to an insurgent cell responsible for attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces in that area. One other person was detained for further questioning, officials reported.

Minimal damage was caused to the objectives and surrounding areas, and there were no reports of civilian casualties. There were no Iraqi or coalition forces casualties.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

[Oorang]

More information on the above post.

Albania seizes assets of alleged bin Laden associate
23 December 2006

TIRANA -- Albania has seized assets of an alleged Osama bin Laden aide working to support terror networks in Albania. The Finance Ministry said it ordered authorities to block four apartments, a house, four bars and shops, and more than 2 hectares of land belonging to Yasin al-Qadi. Al-Qadi, is a Saudi businessman whom the United States accused of being a terrorist in October 2001 and who is on a U.N. sanctions list requiring all U.N. members to impose a travel ban on him and block his assets, according to Official Gazette.

Al-Qadi, who left Albania years ago, used six different names for the seized assets, all of which were in the Tirana area. Finance Ministry spokeswoman Eva Simoni could not give an exact figure of the value of the assets, saying the authorities were still in the initial stage of administering the property. Albania has blocked bank accounts, investments and other assets of some other Arab citizens living and working in Albania and Islamic civic organizations accused by the United Nations of funding terrorist activities.

The U.S. Treasury says al-Qadi is believed to be associated with Abdul Latif Saleh, who holds Jordanian and Albanian citizenship and who also was placed on a U.N. sanctions list. The U.S. has alleged that bin Laden provided funds to Saleh to encourage the creation of extremist groups in Albania, where Saleh is believed to be closely associated with groups linked to the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, a terror group connected to al-Qaida.

Excerpted

http://www.b92.net/eng/news/globe-article.php?yyyy=2006&mm=12&dd=23&nav_category=123&nav_id=38800

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=2516


Coalition Forces Kill Senior Taliban Leader

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2006 – A coalition air strike Dec. 19 in Afghanistan’s Helmand province killed a senior member of the Taliban’s inner circle, military officials reported today.

Credible intelligence led coalition forces to Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Osmani’s location near the border with Pakistan, officials said. His vehicle, traveling in a deserted area, was destroyed by the air strike, instantly killing him and two unidentified associates.

"Osmani was in the top ring of the Taliban leadership and he was also a close associate of Osama bin Laden and Gulbuddin Hekmatyr," said Army Col. Tom Collins, a coalition spokesman. "His death is a major achievement in the fight against extremists and their terrorist networks."

Osmani was the Taliban’s chief of military operations in the provinces of Uruzgan, Nimroz, Kandahar, Farah, Herat and Helmand. He played a central role in facilitating terrorist operations involving Taliban, al Qaeda and the Haqqani network, including roadside bomb and suicide attacks, kidnappings, numerous atrocities against innocent civilians, and direct attacks on coalition, NATO and Afghan forces, Collins said.

In other news from Afghanistan, Afghan security forces with coalition forces captured five suspected terrorists today during an operation in Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, east of the Afghan capital of Kabul.

Credible information led to the capture of the primary suspect, a known roadside bomb facilitator with ties to al Qaeda and other militant groups operating against the Afghan government and international forces, officials said.

There were no reported injuries to civilians, Afghan or coalition forces.

[WestCoastGal]

Merry Christmas all.........