Threat Matrix: July 2007

Threat Matrix:
July 2007

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US Steps Up Security Following Attack in Britain

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff made appearances on several television talk shows.

He told ABC's This Week program there is no indication of a linkage between the events in Britain and any specific attacks on the United States. "We do not have, at this point, specific, credible intelligence that there is an attack, a particular attack, focused on this country," he said.

But at the same time, speaking on CNN's Late Edition program, Chertoff said U.S. authorities are concerned about the threat of terrorism, especially in the coming months. "We have had a number of al-Qaida leaders quite publicly talking about how they want to carry out their threats against the West. So, given that and given the history that we have had over past summers, with attacks in Britain, I think we were clearly focused on this as a possibility," he said. Full story...

	More United Kingdom Attacks Possible
	More US Air Marshals on Flights to Europe
	Officials: Car Bomb Plot Bears al Qaida's Trademark

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1871045/posts

Virginia man sentenced to 10 years in precedent-setting terror training-camp case
AP via Internation Herald Tribune ^ | July 24, 2007

Posted on 07/24/2007 4:52:32 PM PDT by Ooh-Ah

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia: In a precedent-setting case, a man was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison for lying to authorities about his participation in a terror training camp in Pakistan after prosecutors successfully argued that his lies obstructed a wide-ranging terrorism investigation.

Under normal sentencing guidelines, Sabri Benkahla, 32, would have received at most a three-year term for his convictions earlier this year on charges of lying to a grand jury, obstruction of justice and making a false statement.

But for the first time, prosecutors were able to obtain a stiffer sentence by arguing that Benkahla’s lies effectively promoted terrorism.

...

Benkahla’s case is one of about a dozen linked to what prosecutors called a “Virginia jihad network” of young U.S. Muslim men who played paintball as a means of training for holy war and who worshipped at the now-defunct Dar al-Arqam mosque in Falls Church. The group’s spiritual leader, Ali al-Timimi, is serving a life sentence for soliciting treason by urging followers after the Sept. 11 attacks to go to Afghanistan and take up arms alongside the Taliban.

...

Benkahla, a natural-born U.S. citizen who grew up in Fairfax County, Virginia, told the judge that “I’m shocked at what has happened and feel betrayed” by the rulings that led to such a stiff sentence. He said he had been studying overseas “because I wanted to help bridge the gap between the East and West.”

...

Jonathan Turley, a defense lawyer with expertise in national security law, said the government’s aggressive pursuit of Benkahla “shows that the Justice Department continues to circumvent jury decisions.”

“They have shown that they’re willing to manipulate the system at any cost” said Turley, who is representing al-Timimi on appeal. “It’s an abuse of the system.”

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

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

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1871052/posts

“Hunter: ‘Postage stamp’ Israel should not give up ‘one inch’ of territory”
World Tribune ^ | 7/24/07 | staff

Posted on 07/24/2007 5:01:38 PM PDT by pissant

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “WASHINGTON — A contender for the Republican presidential nomination has ruled out an Israeli withdrawal as part of any peace accord with the Arabs. Rep. Duncan Hunter, one of 10 Republicans vying for their party’s 2008 presidential nomination, said Israel must not withdraw from “one inch” of territory as part of an Arab peace accord. Hunter, the former chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, termed Israel a “postage stamp of a country” that could not afford to cede territory.”

NOTE: The following text is a quote:

http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp503.htm

July 24, 2007
HP-503

Twin Treasury Actions Take Aim at Hizballah’s Support Network

The U.S. Department of the Treasury today targeted Hizballah’s support network by designating the Iran-based Martyrs Foundation, including its U.S. branch, and the finance firm Al-Qard al-Hassan (AQAH) under Executive Order 13224. Two individuals were also designated today for the role they play in Hizballah’s support network.

“We will continue to target those who form the financial backbone of Hizballah, Hamas, PIJ and other terrorist groups that are attempting to destabilize Lebanon and target innocent civilians,” said Stuart Levey, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. “We will not allow organizations that support terrorism to raise money in the United States or to evade our measures and continue to operate simply by changing their names.”

The Martyrs Foundation

The Martyrs Foundation is an Iranian parastatal organization that channels financial support from Iran to several terrorist organizations in the Levant, including Hizballah, Hamas, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). To this end, the Martyrs Foundation established branches in Lebanon staffed by leaders and members of these same terrorist groups. Martyrs Foundation branches in Lebanon has also provided financial support to the families of killed or imprisoned Hizballah and PIJ members, including suicide bombers in the Palestinian territories.

In addition to fundraising responsibilities, senior Martyrs Foundation officials were directly involved in Hizballah operations against Israel during the July-August 2006 conflict. In addition, a Lebanon-based leader of the Martyrs Foundation has directed and financed terrorist cells in the Gaza Strip that worked with Hizballah and PIJ.

Today’s designation includes the Goodwill Charitable Organization (GCO), a fundraising office established by the Martyrs Foundation in Dearborn, Michigan. GCO is a Hizballah front organization that reports directly to the leadership of the Martyrs Foundation in Lebanon. Hizballah recruited GCO leaders and has maintained close contact with GCO representatives in the United States.

GCO has provided financial support to Hizballah directly and through the Martyrs Foundation in Lebanon. Hizballah’s leaders in Lebanon have instructed Hizballah members in the United States to send their contributions to GCO and to contact the GCO for the purpose of contributing to the Martyrs Foundation. Since its founding, GCO has sent a significant amount of money to the Martyrs Foundation in Lebanon.

Al-Qard al-Hassan

Hizballah has used AQAH as a cover to manage its financial activity. AQAH is run by Husayn al-Shami, a senior Hizballah leader who has served as a member of Hizballah’s Shura Council and as head of several Hizballah-controlled organizations.

Following the September 7, 2006 designation of al-Shami, along with Bayt al-Mal and Yousser Company for Finance and Investment, AQAH assumed a more prominent role in Hizballah’s financial infrastructure. As of February 2007, bank accounts of Bayt al-Mal and Yousser Company were changed and re-registered in the name of senior employees of AQAH.

Further, after the majority of Bayt al-Mal’s offices were destroyed during the summer 2006 conflict, Hizballah transferred a portion of its financial activity to AQAH, giving Hizballah access to the international banking system.

Individuals

Treasury’s action today also targets Qasem Aliq, a Hizballah official who was previously the director for the Martyrs Foundation branch in Lebanon. In addition to overseeing Martyrs Foundation’s operation, Aliq worked closely with senior Hizballah officials. Aliq currently serves as the director of Jihad al-Bina, a Lebanon-based construction company formed and operated by Hizballah and previously designated by the Treasury.

Also designated today was Ahmad al-Shami, who has worked for the Martyrs Foundation in Lebanon and has been in frequent contact with GCO. Money raised by GCO was sent to al-Shami in Lebanon to be distributed to the Martyrs Foundation. Hizballah leadership placed Ahmad al-Shami in his position at the Martyrs Foundation in Lebanon.

Today’s action is being taken pursuant to Executive Order 13224, which is aimed at financially isolating terrorists and their support networks. Designations under E.O. 13224 freeze any assets the designees may have under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibit transactions by U.S. persons with the designees.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/07/20070724-3.html
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 24, 2007

“President Bush Discusses War on Terror in South Carolina”

Charleston Air Force Base
Charleston, South Carolina

Fact Sheet: Al Qaeda in Iraq
In Focus: National Security

11:50 A.M. EDT

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46825

“Bush: Defeating al Qaeda in Iraq Key to Defeating al Qaeda Worldwide”

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 24, 2007

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46827

“Bush Urges Time, Resources for Troops in Iraq”

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 24, 2007

NOTE: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46822

Suspected Terrorists Detained in Iraq, al Qaeda Cell Leader Killed

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 24, 2007 – Iraqi and coalition forces detained numerous suspected terrorists and killed an al Qaeda in Iraq cell leader in operations over the last three days, military officials reported.

Three synchronized raids west of Taji today targeted al Qaeda operatives associated with senior terrorist leaders and criminal activity. Coalition forces captured one individual suspected of attacking coalition forces and detained 15 others for their alleged links to hijackings and weapons facilitation.

Also today, during a raid northwest of Balad, coalition forces captured a foreign terrorist suspected of involvement in a suicide car-bomb attack in Samarra and detained three other suspected terrorists for their alleged ties to the foreign terrorist.

“We’re continuing to hunt down those who terrorize the people of Iraq,” said Army Maj. Marc Young, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. “Criminals and foreign terrorists have no place in the future of this country.”

In operations yesterday, Iraqi security forces killed a senior member of an al Qaeda cell and detained seven suspected insurgents in a series of early-morning raids at a terrorist training camp.

With coalition forces present as advisors, Iraqi security forces cleared a series of buildings located on an abandoned Iraqi army base in the Hamrah region, northeast of Karmah. Iraqi security forces were engaged by an enemy shooter at one of their objectives. An assault team moved to positively identify and kill the shooter, a senior al Qaeda cell member. Various rifles, pictures and identification cards also were seized during the operation.

The abandoned base reportedly was being used as a training facility and safe house for active insurgents and foreign fighters. Several insurgent groups from Fallujah and other western Iraqi cities are suspected to have used the facility for small-arms training and other activities, U.S. officials said.

In other news, Iraqi soldiers, with U.S. Special Forces as advisors, detained seven suspected al Qaeda terrorists in Bulayj on July 22. One of the alleged operatives is suspected of being a key weapons supplier, arming foreign fighters and other operatives who conduct terrorist attacks for al Qaeda in Iraq. In addition to the captured terrorists, 77 AK-47 assault rifles were confiscated during the operation.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

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

Note: the following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46824

Crocker: Iran’s Actions, Not Words, Critical for Iraqi Security

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 24, 2007 – The success of today’s talks between the United States, Iraq and Iran will be measured not by words, but through changing conditions on the ground in Iraq, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan C. Crocker said in Baghdad today. (Video)

Iraqi Foreign Affairs Minister Hoshyar Zebari hosted the meeting, which included U.S. and Iranian officials, to discuss security in Iraq. The talks were the second for the group, which last met May 28 in the first direct talks between the United States and Iran in 27 years.

Speaking with Baghdad reporters following the second round of talks, Crocker expressed frustration that Iran continues to focus on process rather than results. “This discussion has to be measured in results, not in principles or promises,” he said. “And thus far, the results on the ground are not encouraging.”

Despite Iran’s stated policy of promoting a peaceful and stable Iraq, Crocker said, its actions aren’t measuring up. In fact, evidence shows there’s been “an escalation, not a de-escalation” in Iran’s involvement in Iraq since the last trilateral meeting.

“As we made very clear in today’s talks, over the roughly two months since our last meeting, we have actually seen militia-related activity that can be attributed to Iranian support go up and not down,” he said. “And you all have seen in (Multinational Force Iraq) briefings the detail we have on that, the evidence that supports it.”

Crocker said the U.S. delegation reiterated its concern that Iran is arming and training violent militia elements. He noted that statements by detainees and Iraqi munitions captured in Iraq also point directly to Tehran.

“There is no question in our minds that this support is going on,” he said. “It is not something we need to prove in a court of law.”

While it’s important that the United States and Iran agree in principle to support a democratic, stable Iraq, Crocker said, these principles amount to little if they’re not acted on. “The test and the challenge is applying those principles on the ground,” he said.

The three delegations agreed that al Qaeda poses a threat to all three countries and discussed forming a security subcommittee to address it, Crocker said.

He said he made it clear that today’s meeting would focus only on Iraqi security. “This is not a forum to address other issues in the Iranian-U.S. relationship,” he said.

U.S. Commander Sees Growing Terror Threat

WASHINGTON, July 24, 2007
——————————————————————————————(AP) The U.S. military commander in charge of defending the U.S. homeland said Tuesday that he believes there are al Qaeda cells in the United States or people working to create them.

Air Force Gen. Victor “Gene” Renuart said that while the terrorism threat within the nation’s boundaries has increased in the past year, officials have strengthened intelligence sharing, particularly in an effort to shore up weaknesses in security at U.S. ports.

“I believe there are cells in the United States, or at least people who aspire to create cells in the United States,” Renuart said in an interview with The Associated Press. “To assume that there are not those cells is naïve, and so we have to take that threat seriously.”

He added, “Am I concerned that this will happen this summer, I have to be concerned that it could happen any day.”

Other U.S. officials last week said they did not know of al Qaeda cells in the United States.

Renuart, who took over the job as the head of U.S. Northern Command four months ago, said that to counter the growing threat, the military also needs to create two more brigade-size units to be available to respond to nuclear, chemical and biological incidents at home — because currently there is only one. A brigade is about 3,500 troops.

Renuart’s comments came in the wake of a national intelligence report released last week that concluded al Qaeda is using its growing strength in the Middle East to plot attacks on U.S. soil.

Port security has long been identified as a key weak point, including the need to scan cargo containers coming into the country by ship.

Renuart said officials are expanding their use of sensors and other technologies that allow them to track ships, including their location, their speed and other commercial information. While he would not provide details, he said there has already been “real payback” in terms of identifying vessels of concern and either checking or boarding them well before they got into U.S. waters.

“Because the national intelligence estimate talks about the vulnerability of ports, and because of the importance that we place on the movement of a variety of goods through those ports, finding ways to improve that is a really important element of our day to day work,” Renuart said.

At the same time, he said it will be a year or two before he is able to pull together the military units he needs to better be able to respond to a chemical, biological or nuclear disaster in the U.S.

The units, he said, will be made up of active duty, reserves and National Guard troops. And while portions of the brigades will be located in different states, they will be expected to train together and be able to respond quickly to a disaster.

Overall, Renuart said that as the terror threat increases, the nation’s ability to detect problems has also improved.

The intelligence report, he said, is a “summary of drumbeats, and the drumbeats are getting more prevalent out there. You cannot afford to ignore that.” But he said, a few years ago, the nation was not as able to hear and interpret those drumbeats.

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46821

Afghan Army, Coalition Forces Repel Taliban Ambushes

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 24, 2007 – Afghan and coalition forces killed numerous Taliban fighters in defeating ambushes yesterday and today.

An unknown number of insurgents ambushed a group of Afghan National Army and police troops advised by coalition forces on a combat patrol near the village of Sarizkay in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province this morning.

The Afghan army-led patrol was about to pass through the village when Taliban fighters attempted the ambush, U.S. officials said. The combined forces repelled the attack with small-arms fire, and coalition aircraft dropped four bombs and made several strafing runs on the insurgent positions. Several insurgents are believed to have been killed during the skirmish, officials said.

Intelligence suggests that Taliban forces are likely attempting to reassert their presence in northern Kandahar after their recent defeats from Afghan and coalition operations in the area during the past several weeks, U.S. officials said.

In other news from Afghanistan, Afghan national security forces advised by coalition forces successfully defeated a Taliban ambush in Helmand province yesterday.

Taliban insurgents engaged an Afghan-led patrol four kilometers northeast of the village of Gorazon. The insurgents attacked from three separate compounds near Gorazon with 107 mm rockets, heavy machine guns, mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms.

The Afghan and coalition forces immediately returned fire and called in close-air support to destroy the enemy fighters’ compounds.

Coalition aircraft dropped three bombs, each on a separate compound, during this encounter. The Afghan-led patrol killed more than three dozen insurgent fighters with small-arms and mortar fire and precision air strikes.

“(Afghan) and coalition forces are defeating the insurgents in an area of Afghanistan that is considered a Taliban safe haven,” said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force 82 spokesman. “The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the coalition will not cede any area of this country to the insurgents. We will continue to find and destroy the enemy until they realize that there is no safe haven to be found in this country.”

(Compiled from Combined Joint Task Force 82 news releases.)

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