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?

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[Cindy]

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

---

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1776484/posts

"'Adulterers' are stoned to death [Pakistan]"
The Daily Telegraph (UK) ^ | January 31, 2007 | By Isambard Wilkinson in Islamabad

Posted on 01/30/2007 6:29:29 PM PST by aculeus

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1776483/posts


"How FSB/GRU supposedly "rogue" operations carry out killings (a disturbing Russian article) - part 4"
Novaya Gazeta ^ | 01/11/2007 | Igor Korolkov

Posted on 01/30/2007 6:24:18 PM PST by JadeEmperor

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

[Oorang]

Fire, bomb threat reported at Goody’s (Ohio)
January 30, 2007

Cleveland Fire Department responded to a fire investigation at Goody’s on Paul Huff Parkway Monday evening. During the course of the investigation, the store received a bomb threat according to Lt. Donnie Sullivan, fire and arson investigator for CFD.

Fire officials responded to the store after someone apparently set fire to a clothing rack. Sullivan discovered a small fire had also been set in a restroom. As investigators were searching the area for four people who may have been involved, Sullivan said a bomb threat was received by officials. The store was immediately evacuated at that point, according to Sullivan’s report.

Cleveland Police Department’s officer Mike Harris and his canine partner were dispatched to the store to search for an explosive device. Sullivan said no indications of explosives were present. Damage to the clothing and structure were estimated at $3,000. Anyone having information regarding the alleged arson and bomb threat is asked to contact the Cleveland Fire Department Arson Hotline at 559-3325.

http://www.clevelandbanner.com/NF/omf/daily_banner/news_story.html?rkey=0064248+cr=gdn

Railroad officials think vandals caused derailment
January 30, 2007

YANTLEY, Ala. — A freight train parked at the Concord Road crossing on the Meridian and Bigbee’s line in Yantley unexpectedly began to move in the predawn hours Sunday, rolling more than a mile and a half down the tracks where it collided with another set of parked rail cars across County Road 1 near the intersection of Watermelon Drive.

An M&B spokesman in Meridian told the Sun on Monday that because the brakes were properly set on the train, the company suspects foul play. An investigation involving the Federal Railroad Administration and other agencies was ongoing Monday afternoon. The incident occurred sometime between 3 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. Sunday.

The two-engine train was pulling about 97 cars, according to Bill Gibson, Director of Choctaw County’s Emergency Management Agency. Several boxcars loaded with new kitchen appliances sustained heavy damage, Gibson said. An M&B spokesman said a total of six cars derailed. “It was a mess, but we are thankful that there were no injuries and no hazardous materials were involved,” Gibson said.

Excerpted

http://www.meridianstar.com/local/local_story_030001902.html

Spain arrests suspects for explosives

MADRID, Jan. 30 2007 -- Three suspects were arrested Tuesday for allegedly attempting to sell explosives in Spain's North African enclave Ceuta, EFE news agency reported. Authorities took custody of two soldiers and a third unidentified man, who allegedly were holding 2 pounds of explosives.

According to EFE, there have been recent reports that Islamic extremists have been trying to infiltrate the military in Ceuta and Melilla, where there are large Muslim populations. Officials said Tuesday that they have received no indication that those arrested were linked to any terror organization.

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20070130-074054-8359r

[Oorang]

U.S. offers $50,000 bounty on Philippine bomb suspect
Wednesday, January 31, 2007

MANILA — The United States is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the capture of a Muslim rebel suspected of carrying out a series of bomb attacks in the southern Philippines, the U.S. Embassy announced Tuesday.

The U.S. Embassy, in a statement, identified the suspected bomber as Abdul Basit Usman whom it tagged as "a notorious terrorist responsible for a series of bomb attacks in Mindanao in recent months."

http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/397693

Doctor going on trial for treating al-Qaida members
1/30/07

NEW YORK (AP) - A doctor accused of pledging to treat al-Qaida members can be prosecuted because medical care counts as material support to terrorists under federal law, a judge said Tuesday.

Dr. Rafiq Abdus Sabir, an Ivy League-educated doctor, had argued it was unconstitutional to prosecute a doctor for providing medical services. He was arrested in May 2005 at his home in Boca Raton, Fla., accused in a plot to assist terrorist organizations along with a New York jazz musician, a Brooklyn bookstore owner and a former Washington, D.C., cabdriver. Sabir has pleaded not guilty and remained jailed since his arrest.

He was charged with conspiring to provide material support or resources to a terrorist organization from October 2003 through May 2005 by providing and trying to provide medical support to wounded terrorists, knowing that al-Qaida engages in terrorist activity.

Excerpted

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/War_Terror/2007/01/30/3482937-ap.html

[Oorang]

U.S. nuke plants can't defend against major terror strikes
January 29, 2007

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission concluded Monday that it is impractical for nuclear power plant operators to try to stop terrorists from crashing an airliner into a reactor.

Plant operators instead should focus on limiting radioactive release from any such airborne attack, the agency said in a revised defence plan for America's nuclear plants. The agency approved the new defence plan, most of which is secret, by a 5-0 vote at a brief hearing in which it was not discussed in any detail.

The new plan spells out what the operators of U.S. commercial nuclear power plants must be capable of defending against. It assumes that a terrorist attack force would be relatively small - and that its weapons would be limited.

Critics of the NRC have said the revisions, which have been in the works for more than a year, do not fully take into account the threats to nuclear reactors in light of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. "Rather than requiring measures to prevent a plane crash from damaging vulnerable parts of a nuclear plant ... the government is relying on post-crash measures and evacuation plans," said Michele Boyd of Public Citizen's Energy Program, a nuclear industry watchdog group.

Excerpted

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/War_Terror/2007/01/29/3474511-ap.html

[Oorang]

Passport scandal laid to rest as last charges dropped
January 30, 2007

The passport scandal: it was big news back in 2002 when it was shown that hundreds, perhaps over a thousand Belize passports had been illegally sold on the global market by unscrupulous private sector agents in collusion with even more unscrupulous public officers and politicians.

And while former immigration minister Max Samuels lost his seat in Cabinet and Immigration Department Director Paulino Castellanos was sent into retirement, no one has been successfully prosecuted, as immigration "consultant" Gabby Affif was acquitted after a much delayed trial and Hassan El-Sayed has absconded to Lebanon.

Today the sordid affair was officially laid to rest as the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped all charges against the last defendant, Ursula Hill. Hill, who worked as a secretary for Affif, turned state's evidence in the Affif trial but her testimony allegedly did not agree with earlier statements against Affif and El-Sayed at their preliminary inquiry.

An obviously embarrassed former D.P.P. Kirk Anderson charged Hill with a raft of crimes related both to the original phoney passport applications as well as her later dubious testimony. Anderson's successor, Lutchman Sooknandan, apparently does not share that opinion and Hill is now free of all charges.

http://new.channel5belize.com/

[Oorang]

You can't kill women, town tells immigrants
January 31, 2007

Immigrants who want to live in the small Canadian town of Herouxville, Quebec, must not stone women to death in public, burn them alive or throw acid on them, according to an extraordinary set of rules released by the local council.

The declaration, published on the town's website, has deepened tensions in the predominantly French-speaking province over how tolerant Quebecers should be toward the customs and traditions of immigrants.

"We wish to inform these new arrivals that the way of life which they abandoned when they left their countries of origin cannot be recreated here," said the declaration, which makes clear women are allowed to drive, vote, dance, write cheques, dress how they want, work and own property.

"Therefore we consider it completely outside these norms to ... kill women by stoning them in public, burning them alive, burning them with acid, circumcising them etc."

Herouxville, which has 1300 inhabitants, is about 160km northeast of Montreal. Andre Drouin, the councilor who devised the declaration, told the National Post newspaper the town was not racist. "We invite people from all nationalities, all languages, all sexual orientations, whatever, to come live with us, but we want them to know ahead of time how we live," he said.

The declaration is part of a wider debate over "reasonable accommodation", or how far Quebecers should be prepared to change their customs so as not to offend immigrants. The Herouxville regulations say girls and boys can exercise together and people should only be allowed to cover their faces at Halloween.

Salam Elmenyawi, president of the Muslim Council of Montreal, said the declaration had "set the clock back for decades" as far as race relations were concerned. "I was shocked and insulted to see these kinds of false stereotypes and ignorance about Islam and our religion ... in a public document written by people in authority who discriminate openly," he said.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21147174-401,00.html

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1761584/posts?page=1823#1823

Small update (vague suspects' description) on the GOODY'S incident:

http://www.wrcbtv.com/news/index.cfm?sid=5856

"Fire Set at Cleveland Store"


ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Eyewitnesses say two men and two women came in around 7:30pm and looked at some clothes then set fire to a rack of clothing. They then tried to set fire to a bathroom. While this was happening, someone called in a bomb threat but a device was not found.

The two males were wear dark clothing and toboggans but no description is available on the females. If you have any information, call Cleveland Police at 559-3325 or call Crime Stoppers at 698-3333."

[Cindy]

Ping to post no. 1823:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1761584/posts?page=1823#1823


http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20070130-074054-8359r

[Cindy]

Adding 2 links to your post no. 1824:

http://www.gmanews.tv/webpics/070130_usman.jpg

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/28666/US-offers-50000-for-arrest-of-Mindanao-bomber

"US gov't offers $50,000 for Mindanao bomber
AMITA LEGASPI, GMANews.TV"
01/30/2007 | 04:29 PM

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "According to the statement, Abdul Basit Usman is a known terrorist with links to the Jema'ah Islamiyah and believed responsible for bombings in Mindanao in October 2006 that killed eight innocent civilians and left 30 others wounded.

Philippine and foreign officials have described the JI as the regional arm of the al-Qaeda terror network.

Usman is also implicated in a recent series of bomb attacks in Mindanao that killed seven and wounded 37 others.

"It is time to bring this despicable terrorist to justice," the statement read.

Anyone with information on Abdul Basit Usman, or any other terrorist, is encouraged to contact the Anti- Terrorist Task Force by calling 117, (02) 528-9832, (02) 928-5778, or contact the US Embassy in Manila at (02) 526-9832/9833/9834 or send a text message to 0918-948-6412.

It assured the identity of any individuals providing information will remain strictly confidential. - GMANews.TV"

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1761584/posts?page=1631#1631

http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/wesamaldelaemaindictment.pdf
http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/motion_dna.pdf
http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/order_dna.pdf

===
===

January 29, 2007

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2007/January/07_nsd_051.html

Dutch Citizen Arraigned in Washington, D.C., on Charges of
Terrorism Conspiracy Against Americans in Iraq

WASHINGTON—An Iraqi-born Dutch citizen who was extradited from the Netherlands on Saturday made his initial appearance today in federal court in Washington, D.C., to face charges for allegedly participating in a conspiracy to attack Americans based in Iraq, announced Kenneth L. Wainstein, Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division, Jeffrey A. Taylor, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, and Joseph Persichini Jr., Assistant Director in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Washington Field Office.

This case represents the first U.S. criminal prosecution arising from terrorist activities taking place in Iraq.

Wesam Al Delaema, a/k/a Wesam Khalaf Chayed Delaeme, was indicted by a grand jury in the District of Columbia in September 2005 and charged with six counts: conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens abroad; conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction (explosives); conspiracy to maliciously damage or destroy U.S. government property by means of an explosive; possession of a destructive device (explosives) during a crime of violence; conspiracy to possess a destructive device (explosives) during a crime of violence; and teaching or demonstrating the making or use of an explosive with the intent to further a crime of violence.

The indictment alleges that Delaema traveled from the Netherlands to Iraq in October 2003 and, together with a group of co-conspirators calling themselves the “Mujahideen from Fallujah,” declared his intentions to kill Americans in Iraq using explosives. The indictment further alleges that Delaema and his co-conspirators hid explosives in a road in the area of Fallujah, Iraq.

Delaema, 33, was born in Fallujah, Iraq. He was arrested by Dutch law enforcement authorities on May 2, 2005, and he initially faced similar charges in that country. Following his arrest, Dutch law enforcement and prosecution authorities worked cooperatively with the FBI in its investigation of Delaema’s alleged terrorist activities.

In September 2005, the United States filed a formal request with the Netherlands seeking Delaema’s extradition. The extradition request was subsequently granted by a Dutch court and then by the Dutch Ministry of Justice. In December 2006, the extradition request was sustained on appeal in the Netherlands. This past weekend, Delaema was flown to the United States, arrested, and taken into custody by the FBI.

Today in court, Delaema was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

“After a lengthy extradition process, this defendant will now face justice for his efforts in orchestrating and launching roadside bomb attacks against our men and women serving in Iraq. We in the ranks of federal prosecutors are honored to play a role in protecting our military colleagues against such deadly and cowardly attacks,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth L. Wainstein.

“We will continue to be vigilant in our efforts to bring to justice anyone who plots terrorist attacks against our citizens at home or abroad. We look forward to working cooperatively with the Dutch authorities in prosecuting this defendant under our criminal laws,” said U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Taylor.

“Today’s announcement of the extradition of Wesam Khalaf Chayed Delaeme to the United States sends a clear message of the FBI’s unwavering dedication to our mission to detect, deter, and bring to justice any individual who conspires to commit terrorist acts against any U.S. citizen either in this country or on foreign soil. Together with the invaluable assistance of the Dutch National Police Agency and the Dutch Government, we were able to accomplish that mission,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Joseph Persichini Jr.

The investigation into this matter was conducted by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, with assistance from the Dutch National Police Agency and the National Office of the Public Prosecutor in the Netherlands. The Office of International Affairs in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice coordinated the extradition efforts on behalf of the United States.

The prosecutors handling the case are Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregg Maisel and Matthew Cohen of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and Trial Attorneys Gregg Sofer, Jerome Teresinski, and Marla Tusk of the Counterterrorism Section of the National Security Division at the Department of Justice.

If convicted of the charges in the criminal indictment, Delaema faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant violated a criminal law. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Indictment Motion Order

###

[Cindy]

"...charges dropped."

Hmmmmmmm...

THANKS for that update Oorang.

[Cindy]

http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=49326&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs

Thanks to M Espinola for the ping to this post (and also to the link above)...

QUOTE (minus the photo-graphic):

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1774498/posts?page=60#60

To: Cindy
"One should be concerned regarding Ahmadinejad and his frame-of-mind regarding his mahdi. He takes this quite seriously."
You are absolutely correct.

Recently Ahmadinejad made a very alarming speech in which he stated '10,000 jihadists would (some how)march and seize Jerusalem', then the Mahdi would appear, team up with Jesus (wild stuff) and take Media as well as Mecca away from the Saudi infidels. Damascus would also be deeply involved in his Shi'ite plan to trigger global Islamic war ....etc, etc, however the most eye opening portion of his bombastic ranting was the declared time-frame the Iranian Mahdi-mad tyrant claims these 12th Imam provoking shall be begin, on or about the first week of April, which happens to include Passover, Good Friday and Easter - how lovely!

Is it just more insane talk? The real question should be, can the West afford to wait and see or launch massive air strikes against every nuclear weapons site, take out all Iranian naval threats to oil supertankers coupled with removing the entire jihadist terrorist exporting régime before the Tehran dictatorship catapults the Mideast into total war and panics the financial and energy markets?

Another extremely dangerous factor Washington must take very seriously is Moscow ongoing role in arming Iran to counter eventual Allied air raids on key targets.

In addition to Tehran's jihadist thugs being equipped with the latest Russian strategic collection of deadly weaponry, Assad's pro-Iranian Alawite ruling clan is also being being prepared to fight a hot war against Israel by Putin's offensive missile sales to Damascus.

Washington remains basically mute on actively countering the excessively deleterious anti-American proxy polices of Putin & his hardcore neo-Soviets controlling the Kremlin.

If we do not take decisive action against Iran regarding the obvious terrorist threats to our boys in Iraq, along with Tehran's quest for the 'Mahdi's cult's nuclear weapons edge' we might as well be reenacting the foolish & deadly appeasement polices of pre-Blitz London with today's 'Islamo-Nazi' oil barons bankrolling world wide Jihad.

Mr Dishrag is nine cents short of a dime!


Bush: Iran, Syria fomenting "chaos" in Lebanon

60 posted on 01/30/2007 2:32:09 PM PST by M. Espinola (Freedom is never free)

[Cindy]

Thanks to Fair Opinion for the ping to this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1776539/posts

"Officials: White House Holding Back Report Detailing Iran's Meddling in Iraq (specifics!)"
FoxNews ^ | Jan. 30, 2007 | FoxNews

Posted on 01/30/2007 7:52:42 PM PST by FairOpinion

===
===

and to these posts:

QUOTE:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1776539/posts?page=26#26

And more:

Iranian Expert Says that Iran Has Infiltrated the Iraqi Government and Its National Assembly

Alireza Jafarzadeh Says Iran Has Been Sending Roadside Bombs, Weapons and Agents to Iraq to Kill Americans

http://www.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=101356


Alireza Jafarzadeh, an expert on Iran and the man responsible for breaking the news in August 2002 about Iran's nuclear weapons program, says he has detailed information showing that "agents on Tehran's payroll involved in violence and death squads hold prominent positions in the Iraqi government and National Assembly." Jafarzadeh's recently published book THE IRAN THREAT: President Ahmadinejad and the Coming Nuclear Crisis (Palgrave Macmillan) exposes just how much of Iraq is under Iran's thumb.

Jafarzadeh, a leading authority on Iran, its political position, its government, and policies, indicated that these efforts by Iran to place its agents in the Iraqi government form a part of Tehran's larger plan to export its revolution, and that Tehran will do almost anything to destabilize Iraq. He also indicated that Iran is fueling the Iraqis with bombs and weapons that are killing American soldiers, which is why the U.S. is having such a difficult time "winning" this war.



26 posted on 01/30/2007 8:47:03 PM PST by FairOpinion (Tell Congress: Work for Victory in Iraq. Stop Hillary. Go to: http://www.TheVanguard.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]
To: Cindy; Oorang
ping to the thread and to post 26.


"Jafarzadeh, a leading authority on Iran, its political position, its government, and policies, indicated that these efforts by Iran to place its agents in the Iraqi government form a part of Tehran's larger plan to export its revolution, and that Tehran will do almost anything to destabilize Iraq."


27 posted on 01/30/2007 8:48:27 PM PST by FairOpinion (Tell Congress: Work for Victory in Iraq. Stop Hillary. Go to: http://www.TheVanguard.org)

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1776609/posts

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6315989.stm

Last Updated: Wednesday, 31 January 2007, 07:47 GMT

"Eight arrested after terror raids"

"Home Secretary John Reid has been kept informed of developments"

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Eight people have been arrested under the Terrorism Act after early morning raids in Birmingham.
A number of houses in the city, some thought to be in the Alum Rock area, have been secured and sealed off.

The "nationwide operation" was led by the Midlands counter terrorism unit with support from the Met Police and West Midlands Police.

The eight are suspected of "the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism".

The Home Office said Home Secretary John Reid had been fully briefed.

"This operation is a reminder of the real and serious nature of the terrorist threat we face," a spokeswoman said.

In a statement, West Midlands Police asked for the "continued support and co-operation of the public".

"Our message to people living in the West Midlands is to remain vigilant," the statement added.

The raided houses are now being searched by officers."

[Cindy]

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/015043.php
(AP)

January 30, 2007
"US Judge ok's case against accused jihad-funding bank"

[Cindy]

A new resource link:

TERRORISM AWARENESS PROJECT
http://www.terrorismawareness.org/

[Cindy]

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The blast took place near the city's railway station..."


Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3359173,00.html

Man injured in Netanya explosion suspected as senior crime figure

Published: 01.31.07, 09:09

The man injured in a car explosion in Netanya is known to the police and is suspected as senior crime figure in the city.

The blast took place near the city's railway station, and the man was seriously injured. (Raanan Ben-Zur)

[Cindy]

UPDATE...

http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2007/01/31/ap/us/d8n00st80.txt

"Gas Station Explosion Kills 4 in W.Va"
By SHAYA TAYEFE MOHAJER Wednesday, January 31, 2007

GHENT, W.Va. -


ARTICLE SNIPPET: "State Fire Marshal Sterling Lewis said an above-ground tank capable of holding 500 pounds of propane was being worked on at the time of the blast. The gas apparently drifted into the business and exploded.

"It is our initial thought that the fumes entered into the building and had to have an ignition point," Lewis said.

The propane tank and the store's underground gasoline tanks did not explode, he said."

[Cindy]

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=26697

"My Year Inside Radical Islam"
Interview By Jamie Glazov
FrontPageMagazine.com | January 31, 2007

===
===

BOOK:

http://www.amazon.com/My-Year-Inside-Radical-Islam/dp/1585425516/sr=1-1/qid=1170173786/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-2210204-0045502?ie=UTF8&s=books

"My Year Inside Radical Islam: A Memoir (Hardcover)"
by Daveed Gartenstein-Ross