Threat Matrix: June 2007

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[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46553

Two Terrorists Killed, 20 Suspects Detained in Iraq

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 26, 2007 – Coalition forces killed two terrorists and detained two suspects during operations today targeting al Qaeda in Iraq leaders and their bombing network.

Coalition forces raided four buildings in different areas. Forces killed one and detained one in an operation southwest of Baghdad targeting a senior terrorist leader known to supply vehicles and other components for car bombs.

In Mosul, coalition forces targeted an al Qaeda in Iraq military commander responsible for improvised explosive device emplacements there. During the raid, the suspect was killed.

Forces raided two buildings east of Bayji searching for associates of a known al Qaeda leader. One suspect was detained there.

In other recent operations in Iraq:

— Soldiers with the 2nd Infantry Division’s 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team detained six insurgents during Operation Council Grove II yesterday in an eastern section of the Iraqi capital. The 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, based out of Fort Riley, Kan., conducted raids in the Kamaliyah neighborhood.

— Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers northwest of Taji captured three suspected insurgents believed to be responsible for several IED attacks. Soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team conducted an air assault operation into a rural area northwest of Taji, capturing the three suspected insurgents and recovering small arms weapons.

— Iraqi army forces detained two suspected al Qaeda cell leaders during an operation June 24 south of Baghdad.
The two detainees are suspected of involvement in IED attacks on Iraqi and coalition forces, death squad activities against local civilians, housing foreign fighters and transporting weapons. They confiscated weapons and a large amount of currency at the scene.

— Soldiers participating in Operation Crazyhorse Thunder detained seven suspects for allegedly planting IEDs along Route Tampa, the highway leading into Baghdad, June 23. Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division’s 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, targeted a cell based in the Abu Shiekan and Abu Hillan villages believed to be responsible for setting IEDs several times a week along the highway.

(Compiled from Multinational Force and Multinational Corps Iraq releases.)

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46548

NATO Forces Winning Battle Against Taliban in Afghanistan

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 26, 2007 – Though the number of insurgent attacks in Afghanistan has increased as officials predicted it would with better weather, coalition forces are winning the battle against al Qaeda and the Taliban in NATO’s Regional Command East, a U.S. official in Afghanistan said today. (Video)

“The enemy continues to use all means available to him to attack our forces and disrupt the lives of Afghan civilians,” said Army Brig. Gen. Joseph Votel, deputy commander for operations at Combined Joint Task Force 82.

Speaking via teleconference from Bagram Air Base, Votel said the enemy is using improvised explosive devices, rockets, mortars and direct action against NATO’s International Security Assistance Force and Afghan security forces.

“The insurgents use intimidation tactics to frighten the population into abandoning their support for their government and disrupt development and governance activities,” he said. “In many places, we see this insurgent tactic failing as Afghan citizens reject these efforts and, in some cases, literally fight back against the insurgents.

NATO officials expected the Taliban to launch a spring offensive, and planned to blunt that move, the general said.

“Our operations since the spring have had a significant effect on the Taliban insurgency here,” Votel said. “We continue to be focused on neutralizing insurgents and creating a security environment that will allow development and extension of the legitimate government of Afghanistan.”

Coalition and Afghan forces have killed or captured dozens of Taliban commanders and sub-commanders, leaving cells without experienced leadership or direction, he said. The forces also are controlling many areas of the region previously held by the Taliban. The security the forces provide has allowed the Afghan government and aid organizations to build roads, schools and district centers.

U.S. and Afghan forces are working closely with Pakistani forces. Votel said the coordination allows better cooperation and communication among all partners and “has successfully allowed us to interdict insurgent infiltration back and forth through the border area.”

Afghan forces are stepping in to the lead, he said. The Afghan National Army’s 203rd Corps planned and executed Operation Maiwand, an operation in Ghazni province that began June 1. “Here Afghan forces are taking the lead in clearing areas of insurgent presence, working with district and provincial leadership and providing the foundation for sustained security,” Votel said.

The security that the NATO and Afghan national security forces bring to eastern Afghanistan allows continuing relief supplies and nation-building efforts to take place.
“Over the last two months, we’ve provided seed corn to farmers and commenced building an agricultural research station to improve the ability of Afghan farmers to produce food products,” he said. “We’ve repaired four schools and built 10 other ones. We completed eight other educational projects, ranging from self-help workshops to school … equipment and supplies, in an effort to help improve the future of Afghan children.”

The security has allowed the Afghan government and aid workers to build micro-hydroelectric power plants and irrigation projects.

Most critical in the rugged terrain of Afghanistan is the more than 8,000 kilometers of roads that the task force and allies have built in the region.

“We work with the Afghan Engineer District of the Corps of Engineers here to help build those roads, identify them and get them in place,” Votel said. The roads allow the government to push supplies and aid into areas inaccessible before. The roads also allow the residents to get goods out of the region

[Cindy]

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/017121.php
(YNET NEWS.com)

June 26, 2007
“Ahmadinejad scolds Egypt & Jordan, warns the West”

[appalachian_dweller]

Howdy folks!

Thought I drop in and say hi....Hi!

Petsitting again in Shawnee Land this week so I have ‘puter and internet access. Clyde and myself are doing fine.

Things quiet and normal in my neck of the woods, but as usual I stay prepared for the unexpected. Keep 4-7 day supply of human and dog food in the truck along with normal gear (first aid kit, tools, 2 changes of cloths, tarps, rope, soap, ammo, etc).

As we didn’t see the 9/11/01 attacks coming, we won’t see the next attacks so be prepared as best you can.

Stay safe folks. Take care of you and yours. I’ll be lurking all week.

AD

[Rushmore Rocks]

Welcome home, AD. Good to hear from you. Give Clyde a big hug.

[appalachian_dweller]

Thanks RR! Clyde has received your hug and has a big smile on his face as usual.

Been hearing LOTS of gunfire after dark around here, both pistol and rifle. Spooked me at first (glad I have my .45 with me), but I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s the locals shooting at the coyotes. I hear them at night. Heck, Clyde won’t go out after dark. Guess he’s smarter than me.

[Cindy]

Good evening AD.
Hope all is well with you and you’re enjoying the summer.

[Cindy]

http://www.memritv.org
http://www.memri.org/jihad.html

###

http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=subjects&Area=jihad&ID=SP163507

Special Dispatch Series - No. 1635
June 27, 2007 No.1635

“Senior Al-Qaeda Sheikh: ‘May Allah Send Someone Who Will Kill Them Even More [Savagely]… Tear Their Hearts Out… Cut Their Heads Off, Tear Them Limb From Limb, and Shed Their Blood in Rivers’”

[Cindy]

http://www.memritv.org
http://www.memri.org/jihad.html
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=iran
http://www.truthusa.com/IRAN.html

###

http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=subjects&Area=jihad&ID=SP163607

Special Dispatch Series - No. 1636
June 27, 2007 No.1636

“Ahmad Khatami From the Iranian Assembly of Experts in a Tehran Friday Sermon: Fatwa Against Rushdie Must Be Carried Out, Fatah Staged a Coup d’Etat Against Hamas”

SNIPPET: “The following are excerpts from a Friday sermon by Ahmad Khatami of the Iranian Assembly of Experts, which aired on Channel 1, Iranian TV on June 22, 2007.

TO VIEW THIS CLIP: http://www.memritv.org/search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=1493 “

[Cindy]

http://michellemalkin.com/2007/06/26/the-msms-war-on-gun-owners/

blog:

“The MSM’s war on gun owners”
By Michelle Malkin • June 26, 2007 09:32 PM

[Cindy]

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

#

blog:

http://hotair.com/archives/2007/06/26/dog-bites-man-hamas-member-moonlighting-as-bbc-reporter/

“Dog bites man: Hamas member working for the BBC”
posted at 9:11 pm on June 26, 2007 by Allahpundit

[Cindy]

http://www.truthusa.com/MoreThanCartoons.html

#

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewForeignBureaus.asp?Page=/ForeignBureaus/archive/200706/FOR20070626a.html

“Decline in Free Speech in Britain Blamed on PC Policies”
By Evan Moore
CNSNews.com Correspondent
June 26, 2007

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “McNamara noted that “after the fall out from the Mohammed cartoons scandal, politicians called for a legislative reaction to curtail the freedoms of the press. This was entirely the wrong reaction.””

[Cindy]

Thanks to a Special freepmailer for pointing to this article:

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MWNjM2M1YjYzNzIyNjM3NDkwY2YxMjNhN2U0ZDI0NWU

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June 26, 2007 7:45 AM

“Borderline Insanity
Will the Senate allow the U.N. to control U.S. immigration law?”
By Jim Boulet Jr.

###

http://www.un.org
“Welcome to the UN. It’s your world.”

[Cindy]

Thanks to FARS for the ping to this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1856862/posts

“Serious Unrest in Iran”
AntiMullah ^ | June 26th, 2007 | Iran Sources via Alan Peters

Posted on 06/26/2007 7:34:56 PM PDT by FARS

[Velveeta]

Thank you all for the pings.
I can’t keep up with the thread these days.
Sure feels like somethin’s a coming.

I still think all roads lead back to Bojinka.
Even the “scuba” ties in to Bojinka, if you recall:

bojinka scuba
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=bojinka+scuba

[Cindy]

Yep.
THANKS Velveeta.

[Cindy]

Note: The following press release is a SNIPPET is a quote. Click on the link below to read the entire text. Thank you.

#

http://sandiego.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel07/sd062507a.pdf

For Immediate Release

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY - June 25, 2007

United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt announced that today Jessie Munoz, Mary Lou Vega, Angela Esparza and Edna Davila entered guilty pleas in federal court in San Diego, before United States District Judge Dana M. Sabraw, to participating in a racketeer influenced corrupt organization (RICO) conspiracy involving the Mexican Mafia, aka “La Eme,” a prison/street gang. A fifth defendant, Robert Romero, entered his guilty plea to the RICO conspiracy charges on Wednesday, June 20, 2007.

In their guilty pleas, each of the defendants admitted that the Mexican Mafia racketeering organization is involved in a wide range of criminal activities, including: murder; attempted murder; conspiracy to import
and distribute controlled substances; conspiracy to interfere with commerce through threats of violence; conspiracy to launder drug proceeds; and robbery. The defendants also acknowledged the manner in which the Mexican Mafia is able to exert control over illegal activities both within the prison system and on the streets of Southern California through its connection to various Hispanic street gangs in San Diego.

In their pleas, the defendants admitted to participating in various racketeering acts which were done in furtherance of the Mexican Mafia criminal enterprise. Jessie Munoz agreed that he participated in fourteen
of the racketeering acts alleged in the Indictment, including the murder of Alvaro Hernandez, the distribution of methamphetamine, the “taxation” of drug dealers and the laundering of drug proceeds. Robert Romero,
Mary Lou Vega, Angela Esparza and Edna Davila each admitted participating in various drug-related racketeering acts alleged in the Indictment.

The RICO conspiracy charge to which the defendants pled guilty stemmed from a long-term investigation conducted by the multi-agency San Diego Violent Crimes Task Force-Gang Group and North County Regional Gang Task Force, which targeted the criminal activities of Hispanic street gangs with ties to the Mexican Mafia, or “La Eme.”

Sentencing for Robert Romero is set for September 7, 2007. Sentencing for Jessie Munoz, Mary Lou Vega, Angela Esparza, and Edna Davila is set for September 14, 2007, at 9:00 a.m., before United States District Judge Dana M. Sabraw.

DEFENDANTS Case Number: 06cr1243-DMS
Jessie Munoz Age: 46
Robert Romero Age: 29
Edna Davila Age: 46
Mary Lou Vega Age: 32
Angela Esparza Age: 36
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Title 18, United States Code, Section 1962(d) - Conspiracy to Conduct Enterprise Affairs

Through a Pattern of Racketeering Activity
Maximum penalties: life in prison; $4,000,000 fine; 5 years of supervised release

[Cindy]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070627/FOREIGN/106270072/1001

“Gaza Christians in peril after takeover by Hamas”
By Joshua Mitnick
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
June 27, 2007

Tel Aviv

[Cindy]

Blog:

http://www.westernresistance.com/blog/archives/003793.html

June 22, 2007

“Mutilation And Killing For Muslim “Honor”: Part One (of 3)”

(Note: “This article by Adrian Morgan (Giraldus Cambrensis of Western Resistance) appeared earlier today in Family Security Matters and is reproduced with their permission.”)

http://www.westernresistance.com/blog/archives/003795.html

June 25, 2007

“Mutilation And Killing For Muslim “Honor” - Part 2 of 3”

(Note: “This article by Adrian Morgan (Giraldus Cambrensis of Western Resistance) appeared earlier today in Family Security Matters and is reproduced with their permission.”)

http://www.westernresistance.com/blog/archives/003796.html

June 26, 2007

“Mutilation And Killing For Muslim “Honor” - Part 3 of 3”

(Note: “This article by Adrian Morgan (Giraldus Cambrensis of Western Resistance) appeared earlier today in Family Security Matters and is reproduced with their permission.”)

[Cindy]

http://www.danielpipes.org/article/4656

“Salman Rushdie and British Backbone”

by Daniel Pipes
New York Sun
June 26, 2007

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “I welcome the knighting because, for all his political mistakes, Rushdie is indeed a fine novelist. I wish I could agree with Dhume that this recognition of him suggests “the pendulum has begun to swing” in Britain against appeasing radical Islam.

But I cannot. Instead, I draw two conclusions: First, Rushdie should plan around the fact of Khomeini’s edict being permanent, to expire only when he does. Second, the British government should take seriously the official Pakistani threat of suicide terrorism, which amounts to a declaration of war and an operational endorsement. So far, it has not done that.

Other than an ambassadorial statement of “deep concern,” Whitehall insists that the minister’s threat will not harm a “very good relationship” with Pakistan. It has even indicated that Ijaz ul-Haq is welcome in Britain if on a private visit. (Are suicide bombers also welcome, so long as they are not guests of the government?) Until the Pakistani authorities retract and apologize for Ijaz ul-Haq’s outrageous statement, London must not conduct business-as-usual with Islamabad.

Now that would constitute “British backbone.””