Threat Matrix: December 2006

Fighting Jihad in Cyberspace
-Full Story-

The setting is familiar to anyone who watches the evening news. A large, executive-style desk, a laptop perched on top, a logo in the background and a screen showing shifting images to reinforce the newsreader's message. The only difference is the presenter, who is swathed in an Arab headdress and masked to hide his identity, and the subject of the broadcast, a call for an Islamic state for Iraq and a vow to use Iraq as a launching pad to crush the "Zionists" in Israel.

Welcome to the "Voice of the Caliphate", the latest offering from the Global Islamic Media Front, widely regarded as the mouthpiece of al-Qaeda and the worldwide jihadist movement.

Distributed over the internet, the mock news format is just one of many employed by al-Qaeda's highly sophisticated propaganda arm.

	Mystery Surrounds Zawahri’s Silence
	HizbAllah Offensive in Lebanon: Day One
	Significant Terrorist Incidents, 1961-2003: A Brief Chronology

Thread Forty-Three

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For the past three years it has been, more or less, an online educational tool for those interested in learning about islamist terrorism and other threats to the U.S..

Back when it first started it was much more of an open discussion between a lot of people who were worried about the next attack. We've always been operating in the "back ally" of FR, never having the opportunity to "farm" lots of people from the site. Over time, the numbers have dropped off, but those who still participate seem to be among the most interested/knowledgeable in the subject that you will find on FR.

Time and time again, as seems to be the case when you get a number of dedicated people together, we have been aware of things well before you see them become a topic of discussion in the general public. I am sure you have seen similar with your daily Middle East threads. We've been frequented by several experts, some of who are now quite well known.

I think at this point it has become an ongoing "journal" of what has happened, and what we may expect in the continuing global war on terrorism.

December 6, 2006

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2006/December/06_crm_813.html

Roy Belfast Jr. aka Chuckie Taylor Indicted
on Torture Charges

Justice Department Brings First-Ever Torture Charges

WASHINGTON – A federal Grand Jury in Miami charged Roy Belfast Jr. with various crimes related to the alleged 2002 torture of a person in Liberia, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta of the Southern District of Florida, Assistant Secretary Julie L. Myers for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Assistant Director Joseph Billy Jr. for the Counterterrorism Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced today.

Roy M. Belfast Jr., 29, aka Chuckie Taylor, aka Charles Taylor, Jr., aka Charles Taylor II, aka Charles McArther Emmanuel, was charged in an indictment returned today by a federal grand jury in Miami with one count of torture, one count of conspiracy to torture, and one count of using a firearm during the commission of a violent crime. The indictment charges Taylor, son of former Liberian President Charles Taylor, with participating in the torture of an individual on or about July 24, 2002, in and around Monrovia, Liberia. The defendant, who was born in the United States, is alleged to have been serving in his father’s government in Liberia at the time of the incident.

According to the indictment, on or about July 24, 2002, the victim was abducted from his home and transported to various locations, finally arriving at the residence of then-Liberian President Taylor. The defendant observed questioning of the victim at this location. The victim was then transported for continued interrogation to the residence of a co-conspirator, who was a member of the Liberian Special Security Service.

According to the indictment, while at this residence, the defendant and others tortured the victim. The torture included repeatedly burning the victim's flesh with a hot iron, burning various parts of his body with scalding water, including forcing the victim to hold scalding water in his hands at gunpoint, repeatedly electrically shocking the victim's genitalia and other body parts, and rubbing salt into the victim's wounds.

“This marks the first time the Justice Department has charged a defendant with the crime of torture,” said Assistant Attorney General Fisher. “Crimes such as these will not go unanswered.”

“The allegations in this case include acts of torture, such as burning flesh with a hot iron, burning flesh with scalding water, and applying electric shocks,” U.S. Attorney Acosta stated. “Such conduct is criminal and constitutes torture and must be prosecuted.”

“Today’s indictment against Charles "Chuckie" Taylor marks a key milestone in ICE’s longstanding efforts to bring human rights violators to justice,” said Assistant Secretary Myers. “This is a clear message that the United States will not be a safe haven for human rights violators.”

“This case is a demonstration of our tireless efforts to ensure that justice is served,” said Assistant Director Joseph Billy, Jr. of the FBI.

This defendant is currently in federal custody in connection with a criminal charge of passport fraud, to which he pleaded guilty on Sept. 15, 2006. His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 7, 2006. This defendant is being prosecuted under a statute that criminalizes torture and provides U.S. courts jurisdiction to hear cases involving acts of torture committed outside the United States if the offender is a U.S. national or is present in the United States, regardless of nationality.

The statutory maximum penalty for conviction on all offenses is life imprisonment.

An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty at trial beyond a reasonable doubt.

The joint investigation is being conducted by ICE and the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney John Cox of the Criminal Division, Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Rochlin of the Southern District of Florida, and Trial Attorney Brenda Sue Thornton of the National Security Division.

###

06-813

http://www.airportbusiness.com/article/article.jsp?siteSection=1&id=9214

Updated: December 8th, 2006 12:47 PM PDT
Home > Top News Headlines
"London Court Hearing Scheduled over Alleged Plot to Down U.S.-Bound Airliners"

David Stringer
The Associated Press

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Eleven men are charged with a count of conspiracy to murder and an offense of preparing acts of terrorism. They are: Umar Islam, 28; Waheed Zaman, 22; Ahmed Abdullah Ali, 25; Tanvir Hussain, 25; Arafat Khan, 25; Ibrahim Savant, 25; Assad Sarwar, 26; and Adam Khatib, 19; Nabeel Hussain, 22; Mohammed Gulzar, 25; and Mohammed Uddin, 35.

Mohammed Saddique, 24, and Donald Stewart Whyte, 21, are charged with a count of preparing terrorism. Whyte is also accused of three firearms offenses, including possession of an 8mm pistol.

Two other suspects - both previously released on court bail - face minor charges in connection with the plot, which caused major disruption to trans-Atlantic and European air travel.

Cossar Ali, 24, Abdullah Ali's wife, is charged with failing to disclose information about her husband. A 17-year-old man, who cannot be named as he is a minor, is charged with possessing material considered useful for the preparation of a terrorist act."

Note: The following post is a quote (includes hyptertext links in the original post):

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1751038/posts

PART OF ZVECAN - KOSOVO POLJE RAIL LINE BLOWN-UP
Tanjug ^ | December 9, 2006

Posted on 12/09/2006 12:45:09 PM PST by joan

9.12.2006 16:15 BELGRADE, (Tanjug) - The Kosovo-Metohija Coordination Center has announced that a part of the Zvecan - Kosovo Polje rail line, close to the village of Mijalic, Vucitrn municipality, was blown-up at about 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Click to Add Topic
KEYWORDS: RAILLINE; RAILROAD; TRAINTRACKS; Click to Add Keyword
[ Report Abuse | Bookmark ]
Railroad near Vucitrn explodes

Kosovska Mitrovica, Dec 9, 2006 – The Coordinating Centre for Kosovo-Metohija stated that yesterday at 5.30 pm unidentified persons blew up rail tracks on the railroad near the village of Mijalic, Vucitrn municipality, Kosovo-Metohija, just a few minutes before a train with Serbs from Poluzje and Plemetina were to pass that way.

The rail line from Zvecan to Kosovo Polje mostly transports Serbs from Kosovo-Metohija, according to the statement.

The passengers who went to Priluzje and Plementina got off the train after the explosion and continued to travel by bus.

Request to Ahtisaari to condemn mining of Zvecan-Kosovo Polje railroad

Belgrade, Dec 9, 2006 – Director of the Serbian government’s Office of Media Relations Srdjan Djuric asked today from UN Special Envoy Marti Ahtisaari to finally condemn Albanian separatists and their latest terrorist attack of blowing up the Zvecan-Kosovo Polje railroad.

Djuric told Tanjug that Ahtisaari’s persistent silence and avoiding to condemn Albanian terrorist attacks is incomprehensible.

Ahtisaari got his mandate from the UN to most severely condemn and sanction any violence, Djuric recalled noting that Ahtisaari’s mandate is nearing its end and that a new mediator will be appointed probably in mid-2007.

He stressed that the UN special envoy failed to even once condemn Albanian terrorism and that it is high time for him to do it now.

1 posted on 12/09/2006 12:45:11 PM PST by joan

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1751042/posts

http://public.cq.com/public/20061211_homeland.html

CQ HOMELAND SECURITY – SpyTalk
Dec. 8, 2006 – 7:43 p.m.
"Democrats’ New Intelligence Chairman Needs a Crash Course on al Qaeda"
By Jeff Stein, CQ National Security Editor

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Reyes stumbled when I asked him a simple question about al Qaeda at the end of a 40-minute interview in his office last week. Members of the Intelligence Committee, mind you, are paid $165,200 a year to know more than basic facts about our foes in the Middle East."

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Al Qaeda’s Sunni roots account for its very existence. Osama bin Laden and his followers believe the Saudi Royal family besmirched the true faith through their corruption and alliance with the United States, particularly allowing U.S. troops on Saudi soil.

It’s been five years since these Muslim extremists flew hijacked airliners into the World Trade Center.

Is it too much to ask that our intelligence overseers know who they are?

Civil War

And Hezbollah? I asked him. What are they?

“Hezbollah. Uh, Hezbollah...”

He laughed again, shifting in his seat.

“Why do you ask me these questions at five o’clock? Can I answer in Spanish? Do you speak Spanish?”

“Pocito,” I said—a little.

“Pocito?! “ He laughed again.

“Go ahead,” I said, talk to me about Sunnis and Shia in Spanish.

Reyes: “Well, I, uh....”"

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Next: More on intelligence topics from my interview with Rep. Reyes."

Thanks to Fair Opinion for the ping to this post.
The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1751056/posts

Negotiate with Iran? (Iran-Al Qaeda link)
National Review ^ | Dec. 8, 2006 | Andrew C. McCarthy

Posted on 12/09/2006 1:29:15 PM PST by FairOpinion

The Iraq Study Group’s call for negotiations with Iran and Syria as “a way forward” has been widely derided. It is, abjectly, a return to September 10th thinking — to the days when terror masters like Yasser Arafat were feted as statesmen at White House galas, when terror organizations like al Qaeda operated with impunity from well-known safe havens, and when our government’s idea of countering atrocities was the filing of indictments against a handful of savages.

IRAN, HEZBOLLAH & AL QAEDA

Mohamed was ultimately charged with participation in al Qaeda’s war against the United States. When he pled guilty in 2000, among the startling revelations he made was the following:

I was aware of certain contacts between al Qaeda and al Jihad organization, on one side, and Iran and Hezbollah on the other side. I arranged security for a meeting in the Sudan between [Imad Mugniyah], Hezbollah’s chief, and Bin Laden. Hezbollah provided explosives training for al Qaeda and al Jihad. Iran supplied Egyptian Jihad with weapons. Iran also used Hezbollah to supply explosives that were disguised to look like rocks.

(Excerpt) Read more at article.nationalreview.com ...

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

---

http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=subjects&Area=jihad&ID=SP138306

Special Dispatch Series - No. 1383
December 7, 2006 No.1383

"Hamas Spokesman Praises Palestinian Grandmother Suicide Bomber, Calls for Suicide Attacks in Heart of Israel"

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "In its November 27, 2006 issue, the Hamas biweekly Al-Risala published an article by Hamas spokesman 'Abd Al-Latif Al-Qanu' praising Fatima Al-Najjar, the Palestinian grandmother who blew herself up on November 23, 2006 near Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip. In the article, Qanu' also praises resistance as a means of liberating Palestine "from the [Mediterranean] sea to the [Jordan] river" and calls for suicide attacks in the heart of Israel.

In another article in the same issue, Hamas MP Dr. Muhammad Al-Shihab asked what would happen if millions of believers carried out suicide attacks like Fatima Al-Najjar.

The following are excerpts from the two articles:"

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

===
===

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/014346.php

December 09, 2006

"Afghan jihadists gun down five, including two female teachers"

Because female teachers offend Allah. "Militants gundown five including two Afghan female teachers," from AFP, with thanks to Jeffrey Imm:

ASADABAD, Afghanistan (AFP) - Taliban militants barged into a house in a troubled eastern Afghan province and shot dead five members of the same family, including two female teachers, police said.

The killings happened in Narang district, Kunar province, late Friday, said local police officer Abdul Saboor Allahyar.

"Sadly, two female teachers, a school worker, and a housewife and a young boy, all members of one family were killed," Allahyar told AFP on Saturday.

Two other family members, a boy and a young woman, were wounded in the attack, police said.

"It was the work of the Taliban," said Allahyar.

The attack followed several warnings by rebels to the family to stop working, he said.

"The family had told us earlier that they were threatened by Taliban and other bad guys that they should stop working as teachers," he said.

"Bad guys." I recently learned from an FBI official that officialdom recommends this juvenile locution over "enemy." We don't have any enemies, you see. There are just a few bad guys out there.

Posted by Robert at December 9, 2006 08:39 AM

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

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

http://news.google.com/nwshp?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&tab=wn&q=%22CD+BOMB%22&scoring=d

http://osint.internet-haganah.com/archives/000647.htm
(AP via Yahoo)

Note: the following text is a quote:

December 09, 2006

"10 al-Qaida militants detained in Turkey"
ANKARA, Turkey

===
===

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6164789.stm

Last Updated: Saturday, 9 December 2006, 14:32 GMT

"Turkey seizes 'al-Qaeda members'"

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Police seized bomb-making equipment but found no evidence that the men were planning an attack against the Pope.

The police had been watching the suspects for a year and made the arrests after tracking e-mail exchanges on the purchase of bomb-making materials, the Anatolian news agency said.

During the simultaneous raids in three cities police seized what they called a CD bomb which would explode if inserted into a computer.

Maps of an oil refinery near the western city of Izmir were also found."

ON THE NET...

http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2370227
TERRORISM FOCUS
"Jihadi Forum Outlines Use of Poisons for Terrorist Attacks"
By Abdul Hameed Bakier

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Jihadi attempts to procure lethal and destructive weapons are endless. It is especially disturbing when they attempt to experiment with and acquire chemical and biological weapons. One recent post on a jihadi website outlined a user's attempts at mixing chemical components to create deadly substances for terrorist purposes. The post, titled "The War of Poisons," was authored by a user with the pseudonym "Wajeh al-Qamar," who explained how to use different poisons against Americans in order to push them out of the Arabian Peninsula (http://alsayf.com , July 30)."

---

http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Wajeh+al-Qamar%22&hl=en&lr=&filter=0

===
===

ON THE NET...

http://alsayf.com
http://alsayf.com/forum/

===
===

http://www.jihadwatch.org/cgi-bin/mt-search.cgi?IncludeBlogs=1&search=poison

http://www.jihadwatch.org/cgi-bin/mt-search.cgi?IncludeBlogs=1&search=poisons

===
===

A RANDOM SAMPLER - ON THE NET - Stepping back in time...

http://www.janes.com/security/international_security/news/jcbw/jcbw060830_1_n.shtml
JANES.com: "PROLIFERATION: THE CASE OF RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPES TO IRAN" (August 30, 2006)

===
===

http://www.internet-haganah.com/harchives/005714.html
INTERNET-HAGANAH.com: "WHILE NERO FIDDLES..." (August 26, 2006)

===
===

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htiw/articles/20060721.aspx
STRATEGY PAGE.com: "THE TERRORISM'S HOW-TO BOOKS"
(July 21, 2006)

===
===

http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/005637.html

19 June 2006

"A BEANIE FOR ABU?"

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Abu is a Palestinian with an unhealthy interest in chemical and biological poisons. Abu wants to fly."

===
===

http://www.internet-haganah.com/harchives/004951.html
INTERNET-HAGANAH.com: "AFGHANISTAN, AL QAIDA AND THE INTERNET" (September 13, 2005)

===
===

http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/004670.html

04 August 2005
"WARNING ON CYANIDE THEFT (UK)"

===
===

http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/003526.html

25 January 2005
"MAWSUAT.COM: A LIFETIME SUPPLY OF JIHADIST PROMOTIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL"

===
===

http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/001494.html
04 February 2004
"UNMENTIONABLE SITE OF THE DAY"

---

http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/001486.html

03 February 2004
"RICIN"

"The Mujahedeen Poisons Handbook"

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