Threat Matrix: January 2007

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[nwctwx]

Fighting Jihad: Strategic Thinking Needed
-Full Story-

The United States of America has some of the smartest leaders in government, military, and business in the world. Yet the American government has failed to collectively use this formidable brain-power 5+ years after the attack by Jihadists on the American homeland to develop a truly strategic plan to fight the global threat of Jihad and Islamist extremism. In one of the most complex wars in American history, rather than starting with holistic, big-picture thinking towards the challenges and prioritizing resources and actions accordingly, America has spent much of the past five years after 9/11 in reactive and bureaucratic churning.

	Zawahri Decries Moderate Arabs | Transcript: LauraMansfield.com
	There Is No Substitute For Knowing Your Enemy
	A Terror So Great We Forgot It At Once?

Thread Forty-Three

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[Rushmore Rocks]

Thank you, Cindy.

[Godzilla]

placemark

[freeperfromnj]

Gunmen Claim al-Qaida Ties, Bomb Resort

By MARK LAVIE

JERUSALEM Jan 23, 2007 (AP)— Masked gunmen claiming to be from al-Qaida stormed a Gaza beach resort Tuesday and blew up a reception hall in an attack aimed at intimidating a strongman allied with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a witness said....

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2816539

[Cindy]

Adding 1 link to post no. 1248:

http://www.new-arabia.org


---

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1761584/posts?page=1248#1248

Seems like old times...

---

Note: The following text (minus the graphic) is a quote:

http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/005886.html

21 January 2007
al-Qal3ah - Version 2.0
Not the same database, but otherwise the same site, now called...


...http://www.new-arabia.com/

Posted on 21 January 2007 @ 20:38

[Cindy]

You're welcome RR.

[Cindy]

Thank you freeperfromnj.
Updates appreciated.

[Cindy]

UPDATE:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3356097,00.html

Israeli court orders deported US imam released, lawyer says
Published: 01.23.07, 19:28

An Israeli military court has ordered the release of the deported former imam of Ohio's biggest mosque, but he will remain in custody for at least two more days, his lawyer said Tuesday.

A military judge ruled that there was not enough evidence to hold Fawaz Damra, who was arrested by Israeli authorities two-and-a-half-weeks ago after being deported by US authorities, according to his lawyer, Smadar Ben-Natan. However, she said, he will be held until Thursday pending a possible appeal by the prosecution. (AP)

[Cindy]

NOTE: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=2788

16 Insurgents Killed in Iraq, 18 Detained; Weapons Caches Found

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2007 – Coalition forces killed 16 terrorists and detained 18 others in Iraq this week, military officials said, and troops discovered multiple weapons caches.

In Iraq yesterday, soldiers from the 3rd Iraqi Army Division, with coalition advisors, detained three suspected members of an insurgent cell during operations in the village of Ibrat As Saghirah in northern Iraq. The insurgent cell with links to al Qaeda in Iraq is responsible for coordinating and carrying out mortar and small arms attacks against Iraqi civilians, military officials said.

In eastern Baghdad yesterday, U.S. Army soldiers with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, with elements from the Iraqi army, launched "Operation Wolf."

The mission, aimed at bringing more security to the area by reducing sectarian violence and clearing the area of insurgents, is part of an on-going U.S.-Iraqi effort to transition security to Iraqi security forces.

Also in Iraq yesterday:

-- Coalition forces working on intelligence reports engaged and killed nine armed terrorists, detained six others and discovered grenades, machine guns and pistols in Haditha.

-- Coalition forces killed six terrorists and detained two others during an operation in Baghdad.

-- Coalition forces shot and killed one terrorist, detained another and discovered bomb-making materials during a raid in Yusufiyah.

-- Paratroopers with the 25th Infantry Division and Iraqi security forces detained four suspects in Karbala with alleged ties to the Jan. 20 attack at the Karbala Provincial Joint Coordination Center.

Earlier this week east in eastern Baghdad, soldiers with 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, detained two suspected insurgents and seized roughly 7,000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition Jan. 21 during a neighborhood search.

Elsewhere in Iraq this week, Marines from 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 discovered 14 large weapons caches Jan. 21 during Operation Northern Venture in Anbar province.

“The discovery of such caches is extremely important as it provides the Iraqi civilians a better sense of security,” Lt. Col. Kenneth M. DeTreux, battalion commanding officer, said. “When we take these weapons away, we lessen the ability of the enemy to terrorize and intimidate civilians.”

The caches contained seven heavy machine guns, one small machine gun, six AK-47 assault rifles, one bolt-action rifle and two Iranian assault rifles. Marines also discovered 23 82 mm high explosive mortars, five 60 mm high explosive mortar rounds, one 120 mm high explosive mortar round, small- and heavy-arms ammunition and a large assortment of weapons related equipment.

“The caches that we found were a mix of all sorts of ordnance from mortars to heavy machine guns,” Maj. Sean M. Riordan, battalion executive officer, said. “There's no doubt that the rural areas in Iraq contain numerous weapons caches, and the things we took away from the insurgency help to chip away at their tactical capabilities.”

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=2790


100 Terrorists Killed, 50 Detained in Operation Turki Bowl

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2007 – U.S. and Iraqi forces killed 100 terrorists, detained 50, and dismantled a large terrorist group in January during Operation Turki Bowl, the senior U.S. Army officer in Iraq’s Diyala province said yesterday.

The operation, conducted from Jan. 4 to 13, occurred south of Balad Ruz in the Turki Village, Tuwilla and 30 Tamuz areas of the province. During the operation, U.S. Army and Iraqi soldiers isolated and defeated a terrorist group known as “The Council,” Col. David W. Sutherland, commander of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, told reporters via satellite connection from a news conference in Iraq.

“The group, made up of former Baath Regime members, al Qaeda and Sunni extremists, refused to participate in any political dialogue and preferred attacking innocent civilians in the Diyala province,” Sutherland said.

The council killed as many as 39 civilians in one kidnapping and mass murder in November, he added.

"The fear of the people and the weapons used by these individuals are used to attack the core of Iraqi values and beliefs,” Sutherland said. “They are interested in preventing individual human rights and freedoms that the people of this region want so much."

Leading up to the large-scale operation, coalition forces discovered a large weapons cache in November in the area, resulting in “major combat operations with several large organizations” of terrorists, Sutherland said.

“Upon defeating them, we intentionally moved back to our base of operations so that we could exploit the intelligence that we would … gather over the next several months,” he said.

While developing plans for Operation Turki Bowl, U.S. military leaders, with the 5th Iraqi Army Division, studied the enemy’s early warning systems, their actions, and “how they reacted to our initial contact with them,” Sutherland said.

Coalition forces conducted smaller-scale raids in the area prior to Operation Turki Bowl, to give civilians a perceived safe-haven and encourage their cooperation with troops, he said. Through tips and phone calls to coalition forces, civilians provided invaluable information about the enemy, Sutherland added.

“What we wanted to do was isolate (terrorists) from the population so they could not blend in,” Sutherland said. “It (was) a counterinsurgency operation, but the difference is we were able separate the terrorists from the people they were living off of.

“Since I’ve been here, we have not conducted an operation where we have been able to bring to bear against a group of this size that was willing to fight us out in the open,” Sutherland said.

In addition to defeating the council, troops found 25 weapons caches containing more than 1,150 Katusha rockets and 1,000 rocket-propelled grenades, 170 anti-tank missiles, anti-tank mines, small- and heavy-arms ammunition and sensitive terrorist documents.

Soldiers are now focused on interacting with the local populous and reinforcing the security and stability of the region, according to a Multinational Force Iraq news release. The Iraqi army will maintain a permanent presence, while coalition forces are focusing on reconstructing roads, essential services and other basic services to help the people of Turki, the release stated.

"This operation clearly was a significant tactical success for (coalition forces), (Iraq army), and most importantly, the citizens of Turki and surrounding areas," Sutherland said. "The long-term affects we hope to achieve are stability for economic growth, increased political action for all parties and self-reliance for the Iraqi government and security forces."

[Cindy]

Thanks to a special FReepmailer for pointing to this site:

http://www.f2a.org/


"A Preview of Janet's Guest January 23, 2007
MELANIE PHILLIPS & DON VAN CURLER
Londonistan: Islam in England"

Listen to Today's Program

http://f2a.org/radio/2007-01-23.ram

[Cindy]

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

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http://michellemalkin.com/archives/006739.htm
"Putting Sandy Berger to the test"
By Michelle Malkin · January 23, 2007 12:50 AM
"A lie detector test."

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http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,245658,00.html
"Lawmakers Want Polygraph of Berger Over Stolen 9/11 Documents"
Tuesday, January 23, 2007

[Cindy]

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

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Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1772492/posts


Arming Tehran
chicagotribune.com ^ | January 22, 2007

Posted on 01/23/2007 2:57:22 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe

More than a year ago, after Iran had flummoxed EU negotiators for months, the Russians rolled up their sleeves and stepped in. They seemed to be saying, we'll show you how to thwart Iran's nuclear ambitions via tough diplomacy. Russia made a reasonable offer to Iran. The Iranians snubbed it, embarrassing Russian President Vladimir Putin in the process.

Did the Russians retaliate by halting work on the nuclear reactor they have been building for Iran at Bushehr? Did they back strong sanctions against Iran in the UN Security Council? No and no. The Russians shrugged and kept building. Even worse, they helped defang the recent UN Security Council resolution against Iran. ...

Last week, Russian defense minister Sergei Ivanov confirmed that Moscow had sold air defense missiles to Iran. Yes, that's right. Russia is selling weapons to Iran.

It's selling weapons to a state that is a leading sponsor of terrorism, whose president has vowed to wipe Israel off the map. It is selling these weapons even though the UN has been warning and cajoling and threatening Iran to stop its nuclear program for years.

How did Ivanov justify the sale? Simple. It was all part of a contract signed in December 2005. Translation: Business is business, and to hell with the rest of the world.

The Russians insisted that the sale doesn't violate any international agreements. And that the missiles are short-range and purely defensive. But let's see. What might Iran be defending? Its illegal uranium-enrichment sites? Other nuclear facilities where it is likely to be developing the expertise to build a bomb? And whose forces would be the likely targets of those missiles? ...

Iran poses a grave nuclear threat. Russia seems intent on giving it cover.

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

[Cindy]

http://www.satp.org
http://www.saag.org

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

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

===
===

Thanks to a Special Emailer for pointing to this article:


http://www.saag.org/papers22/paper2107.html

Paper no. 2107

23.01.2007

"ANTI-SATELLITE CAPABILITY - A CHINESE EYE VIEW - CHINA MONITOR - PAPER NO. 11 "

By B. Raman

[Cindy]

UPDATE...

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=mercury&ie=UTF-8&scoring=d

Mercury spill suspect has been arrested.
More details soon.

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://losangeles.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel07/la011907usa.htm

ONTARIO MAN AGREES TO PLEAD GUILTY FOR REPORTING NON-EXISTENT TERRORIST ATTACK IN LOS ANGELES

An Ontario man has agreed to plead guilty to providing false information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation by reporting that he had overheard conversations in which a man threatened to “knock [Los Angeles] off the earth” in a terrorist attack.

In a plea agreement filed today, Dennis Leon Kolupski, 54, admitted that he called the FBI three weeks before the 2005 anniversary of the September 11 attacks and stated that he overheard a disturbing cell phone conversation. According to Kolupski’s report, he overheard a co-worker reference the bombings in Madrid and London and state:

“9/11 is nothing like what will happen on 9/12,”
“they were going to plant things around the city and that nobody will be able to tell where things are happening,”
“that we would be so distracted about a lot of little stuff, that we would miss the big stuff, that this will knock L.A. off the earth,” and
“people are already positioning themsleves, which 9/11 is like a candle on a birthday cake.”
In a subsequent interview, Kolupski admitted that he did not hear the threats to Los Angeles, that the conversation he overheard was in a language other than English, and that he intended his report to bring scrutiny to the co-worker.

Kolupski is scheduled to make his first court appearance on February 26. Assuming that he enters the guilty plea, Kolupski faces a maximum possible penalty of five years in federal prison.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

[Cindy]

RECAP:

(Note: Video included)

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/01/18/mercury.spill/

"L.A. terror task force probes mercury spill"
POSTED: 1527 GMT (2327 HKT), January 22, 2007

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===

UPDATE

(Note: Fox News reported the name of the suspect, but I don't have a url for a press releas yet. So here's an update for now.)

UPDATE:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/01/23/state/n154415S52.DTL&type=politics


"Man questioned in LA subway mercury spill"
Tuesday, January 23, 2007


(01-23) 15:44 PST Los Angeles (AP) --

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The FBI on Tuesday arrested a man they believe spilled toxic mercury on a subway platform.

The man was being questioned but it did not appear he was involved in any terrorist activity, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said.

He was arrested and held for a parole violation unrelated to last month's spill, Eimiller said.

She declined to reveal other details.

"We're not going to have anything more until we sort this thing out," she said."

[Oorang]

Authorities say they don't believe it was terrorism. So, why would he do such a thing and who was they guy talking to him in the security video?

Arrest made in subway mercury spill
2:34 PM PST, January 23, 2007

The FBI and Los Angeles County sheriff's officials today detained a man they believe spilled 6 ounces of mercury on a subway platform last month, officials said.

The man was identified as Armando Bustamante Miranda, 27. He was being held on an unrelated parole violation.

Authorities and federal counterterrorism officials have been searching for the man since Dec. 22, wanting to know why he dumped the mercury at the Pershing Square platform and then called authorities to tell him. Several passengers touched the substance, though no one was reported hurt.

Excerpted

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mercury24jan24,0,5877558.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[Cindy]

Thank you Oorang.

Good questions, Oorang.

[Oorang]

You're welcome and thanks to you. We both must have had FoxNews on in the background :-)

[Cindy]

Smiling...yep.