Threat Matrix: July 2007

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[nwctwx]

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

[Cindy]

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/07/23/ap3941074.html
(AP)

“South Africa: Crime Scares Away Tourists”
By CLARE NULLIS 07.23.07, 11:23 AM ET

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

[Cindy]

OPINION: No.

#

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1871071/posts

“Suspected Terrorist Asks To Be Released (MN)”
WCCO.com ^ | 7/24/07 | Darcy Pohland

Posted on 07/24/2007 5:45:12 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “A suspected terrorist, arrested in Minneapolis and held in prison for nearly 3 and a half years without a trial, is asking to be released.

Mohammed Warsame is charged with federal crimes of violence and supplying support to Al Qaida.

Supporters in the Muslim community packed the federal courthouse in Minneapolis Tuesday to express their concern for Mohammed Warsame.

“The length of this detention, without his day in court, is causing a serious problem,” said Somali Justice Center Director Omar Jamal.

Warsame’s attorney said it’s the longest time in U.S. history someone has been incarcerated pretrial.

“He’s been incredibly resilient,” said Warsame’s attorney David Jacobs. “He still has faith in the judicial system and he still ... got fight left in him.””

[Rushmore Rocks]

I’ve been listening to the ever increasing “drumbeats” and I agree with you.

Thanks for your post.

[nwctwx]

TSA: Terrorists May Be Conducting “Dry Runs” In U.S.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHsDEiVU4t4

[nwctwx]

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.

Worth reposting from that article..

[Godzilla]

placemark

[callmejoe]

from the speech at your link . . .

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/07/print/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

(excerpt)

. . . Al Qaida is in Iraq — and they’re there for a reason. And surrendering the future of Iraq to al Qaida would be a disaster for our country. We know their intentions.

Hear the words of al Qaida’s top commander in Iraq when he issued an audio statement in which he said he will not rest until he has attacked our nation’s capital.

If we were to cede Iraq to men like this, we would leave them free to operate from a safe haven which they could use to launch new attacks on our country. And al Qaida would gain prestige amongst the extremists across the Muslim world as the terrorist network that faced down America and forced us into retreat.

If we were to allow this to happen, sectarian violence in Iraq could increase dramatically, raising the prospect of mass casualties. Fighting could engulf the entire region in chaos, and we would soon face a Middle East dominated by Islamic extremists who would pursue nuclear weapons, and use their control of oil for economic blackmail or to fund new attacks on our nation.

We’ve already seen how al Qaida used a failed state thousands of miles from our shores to bring death and destruction to the streets of our cities — and we must not allow them to do so again. So, however difficult the fight is in Iraq, we must win it. And we can win it. . .

[callmejoe]

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/sections/NEWS/pdfs/airport%20warning.pdf

20 July 2007

(U) Incidents at U.S. Airports May Suggest Possible Pre-Attack Probing

(U//FOUO) A surge in recent suspicious incidents at U.S. airports may indicate terrorists are conducting pre-attack security probes and “dry runs” similar to dress rehearsals. Past terrorist attacks and plots show that such testing generally indicates attacks will soon follow, according to a joint FBI and Homeland Security assessment.

(U//FOUO) Transportation security personnel and law enforcement officers nationwide have intercepted several items at airports resembling improvised explosive device (IED) components. These items include wires, switches, pipes or tubes, cell phone components, and dense clay-like substances. The unusual nature and increase in number of these improvised items raise concern, and TSA personnel should continue vigilance for groupings of ordinary items that look like IED components. Terrorists may repeat operational tests to desensitize, distract, or adapt plans for specific environments. Linking repetitious probing incidents or associated items possibly could alert authorities to future terrorist plots, tactics, and personalities.1 . . .

[callmejoe]

I would think they would need those three - - at the very least.

[Cindy]

...AND WE CAN WIN IT, yes we can.

[callmejoe]

ping to the text of the TSA warning (not sure it was posted on the other thread)

[nw_arizona_granny]

Thanks for ping.

[Velveeta]

In two of the four incidents, blocks of processed cheese were connected to wires and an electrical switch, or the cheese was taped to a bag holding a cell-phone charger.

Doh! You mean like a block of Velveeta?

[Velveeta]

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

Wow, that's quite a statement.

[Velveeta]

Who, what, where, when, why & how?
I’d say the report is lacking details.

[Velveeta]

Thanks.
Let’s hope we’re monitoring these non-descript cheese transporters.

[Cindy]

Cheesy smile...

[Cindy]

http://www.krem.com

SNIPPET - QUOTE:

http://www.krem.com/topstories/stories/krem2_072307_oilrefineryfire.a4c3c5b1.html

02:23 PM PDT on Tuesday, July 24, 2007
KREM.com / Spokane Fire Dept.
Click links below for more details

SLIDESHOW > Photos of multiple explosions, mushroom clouds in sky
SLIDESHOW > Photos by Spokane Fire Dept. behind fire line
SLIDESHOW > Rolling flames carried into the sky
SLIDESHOW > Enhanced photos show flames shooting under tankers
VIDEO > EXPLOSION: Caught on tape by KREM 2 cameras
VIDEO > Spokane Fire Dept. releases video from behind fire line
VIDEO > Avista cuts power to area around fire
VIDEO > Spokane Fire Chief describes how fuel fire started
VIDEO > Best of the fire video captured by KREM 2 NEWS cameras
VIDEO > Noon update from the scene

SPOKANE — UPDATE 2:21pm Tues: KREM 2 NEWS has learned that Spokane Fire Investigators believe the fire at Whitley Fuel in north Spokane could have been set intentionally. They believe the fire was incidiary.

[Cindy]

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

#

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1871178/posts

Java, Indonesia - Group of foreigners go missing (American, Japanese, and Italian)
Associated Press (excerpt) ^ | July 24, 2007

Posted on 07/24/2007 9:59:02 PM PDT by HAL9000

Excerpt -

Japan: Report: Group Of Foreigners, Including American, Japanese, Italian, Go Missing In Indonesia

TOKYO, JAPAN: The Japanese government declined to comment Wednesday (July 25th) on a report that a group of foreigners, including an American, Japanese and Italian, have gone missing in Indonesia, saying human lives may be at stake.

Japan’s Kyodo News agency reported Wednesday that a Japanese man and people from the United States, Singapore and Italy had gone missing on the island of Java. It cited unidentified government officials as saying they were investigating whether it was a possible abduction.

~ snip ~

(Excerpt) Read more at e.sinchew-i.com ...

[Cindy]

ADDING links and a thread to post no. 2048

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

#

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1871180/posts

Airports warned about terror dry runs
Associated Press ^

Posted on 07/24/2007 10:07:25 PM PDT by SoldierMedic

WASHINGTON — Airport security officers around the nation have been alerted by federal officials to look out for terrorists practicing to carry explosive components onto aircraft, based on four curious seizures at airports since last September.

The seizures at airports in San Diego, Milwaukee, Houston and Baltimore included “wires, switches, pipes or tubes, cell phone components and dense clay-like substances,” including block cheese, the bulletin said. “The unusual nature and increase in number of these improvised items raise concern.”

Security officers were urged to keep an eye out for “ordinary items that look like improvised explosive device components.”

(Excerpt) Read more at seattlepi.nwsource.com ...