Threat Matrix: August 2007

www.youtube.com/watch?v=73iZU5kb1f8

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13576&Itemid=21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070824-02
August 24, 2007

Terrorist responsible for shooting down coalition helicopter detained
Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO

FALLUJAH – Iraqi Security Forces, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, conducted a raid in Kubaysah Aug. 22, detaining an al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist believed to be responsible for shooting down a Coalition Forces helicopter in 2004.

Iraqi Police raided a residence in the vicinity of Kubaysah, located west of Hit, detaining their primary suspect and a second person of interest without incident. An assault rifle as well as numerous identification cards and passports were seized during the operation.

The detained individual is a known al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist and allegedly associated with improvised explosive device and sniper attacks against Coalition Forces and Iraqi Security Forces in Hit and Kubaysah.

No Iraqi or U.S. Forces were injured during the operation.

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Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13577&Itemid=21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070824-03
August 24, 2007

Iraqi Army, U.S. Special Forces detain three, destroy weapons cache
Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO

TAJI – Iraqi Army soldiers, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, detained three suspected terrorists in the village of Bulayj and destroyed a weapons cache near Mandali Aug. 22.

During the cordon and search operation in Bulayj, soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Iraqi Army Division, raided two structures local Iraqis identified as al Qaeda in Iraq safe houses. Three males were detained, one of which was identified as a terrorist cell leader responsible for attacking the Iraqi Army in April, killing six people.

In a second operation in the village of Khalaf al Hassun, soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division uncovered a weapons cache during an intelligence driven raid to disrupt an al Qaeda in Iraq improvised explosive device making cell.

The weapons cache of high explosives, copper wire, pressure wire, blasting caps and electrical wire used for making improvised explosive devices was destroyed in place.

A truck and motorcycle from the cache house, along with two AK-47 assault rifles, four cases of AK-47 ammunition, and three cases of machine-gun ammunition were confiscated by the Iraqi Army.

No Iraqi or U.S. Forces were injured during these operations.

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

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

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http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070824/FOREIGN/108240053/1003

“78 U.S. residents evacuated from Gaza”
By Brian Blackwell
August 24, 2007

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Seventy-eight American citizens and permanent residents were evacuated yesterday from the Gaza Strip, ending more than two months of unsuccessful attempts to leave the region, according to the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations.”

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http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_922.html

Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520

This information is current as of today, Fri Aug 24 2007 03:42:16 GMT-0700.

ISRAEL, THE WEST BANK AND GAZA

July 13, 2007

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

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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1885843/posts

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6961584.stm

Last Updated: Friday, 24 August 2007, 06:25 GMT 07:25 UK

“Eta blamed for Spanish car bomb”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “A car bomb has exploded in the city of Durango in Spain’s Basque country, lightly wounding two policemen.

No-one has admitted carrying out the attack, but officials have blamed the Basque separatist group Eta which called off a ceasefire in June.

The bomb exploded in a car parked outside a police barracks in Durango, about 40km (25 miles) south of Bilbao, at 0330 (0130 GMT).

A second car bomb exploded in nearby Amorebieta about one hour later.

Police said the second car was used by the bombers to flee the scene of the first bombing.

There were no injuries or damage reported from the second bomb but the Durango explosion caused considerable damage to the police barracks.

Two policemen were injured by flying glass.”

QUOTE:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1884089/posts?page=190#190

UPDATE:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003851026_dige24m.html

Friday, August 24, 2007 - Page updated at 02:09 AM

Local Digest

“FBI gets 200 tips over ferry photo”
Seattle

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “While the men have not been identified, Special Agent Larry Carr said Thursday that the bureau is hopeful “that we’ll be able to have this matter resolved soon.” Carr declined to say more.”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “FBI analysts concluded the same men were seen on between four and six different ferries.”

190 posted on 08/24/2007 4:06:11 AM PDT by Cindy

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

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Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1885847/posts

Abu bomber nabbed on Metro-bound ship (Abu Sayyaf suspect busted on a ferry)
Manila Standard Today ^ | Friday, August 24, 2007 | Joyce Pangco Pañares

Posted on 08/24/2007 4:03:25 AM PDT by happinesswithoutpeace

TAGBILARAN CITY—Police on Wednesday arrested a suspected Abu Sayyaf bomber on a ferry in Cebu on his way to Metro Manila with “enough explosives to kill hundreds of people,” an official said yesterday.

Police arrested the man a day before President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo arrived in Bohol Thursday for the first Local Peace and Security Assembly. National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales described him as a Muslim in his early 20s.

“I cannot divulge the name yet because the investigation is still ongoing,” Gonzales said.

“We suspect that he is a member of the Abu Sayyaf and he was on his way from Zamboanga to Manila to meet probably some people there to prepare for an attack.”

Gonzales made his statement even as the head of Metro Manila’s military force deployed more than 2,000 soldiers—including sea marshals—to fight terrorists planning attacks in the metropolis, where both the police and military are on red alert.

“We have deployed about 100 sea marshals [to ride ferry boats],” Maj. Gen. Ben Mohammed Dolorfino said in Manila.

“The spillover [of the conflict in Mindanao to Metro Manila] is always possible as shown by the bombing incidents in the national capital region in the past,” he said.

Gonzalez denied that the man arrested in Cebu had intended to launch his attack here in Bohol, where the President spent the night to deliver her closing remarks for the assembly today.

“He was carrying enough explosives to kill hundreds of people especially if placed in a mall—enough to do maximum damage,” Gonzales said.

The man’s arrest came days after the President urged the public to be vigilant against retaliatory attacks from people sympathizing with the Abu Sayyaf bandits, who continue to suffer heavy casualties in Basilan and Sulu.

The President first went to Basilan before proceeding to Bohol to praise the soldiers who have been fighting the Abu Sayyaf since last month, and who have killed 81 of the bandits while suffering 57 dead.

She also presided a command conference at the military’s Western Command in Zamboanga, where she ordered a review aimed at increasing the soldiers’ monthly combat pay and joined the soldiers in a “boodle fight” at the First Marine Brigade headquarters.

Armed Forces Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. thanked Mrs. Arroyo for her support of the soldiers.

“I speak for everyone here when I say that your unwavering support comes as a great motivator. We will repay it with our fortified resolve to carry out our duties,” Esperon said.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1161.html

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
This information is current as of today, Fri Aug 24 2007 04:18:43 GMT-0700.

Worldwide Caution

April 10, 2007

PERSECUTION.ORG
http://www.persecution.org

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/017887.php
(ASIAN TRIBUNE)

August 24, 2007
“Jihadists ‘on rampage’ in eastern Sri Lanka kill two”

http://www.nefafoundation.org/miscellaneous/nefahlf0807.pdf

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http://counterterrorismblog.org/2007/08/new_nefa_foundation_report_the.php

“New NEFA Foundation Report: The Ikhwan in North America: A Short History”
By Douglas Farah
(August 23, 2007)

Note: The following text is a quote:

https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=72582

you are here: Home > Reports > Consular Affairs Bulletins > Report
Warden Message: Mauritania Kidnapping Threat
Consular Affairs Bulletins
Sub-Saharan Africa - Mauritania
22 Aug 2007

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Related Reports
10 Apr 2007
Worldwide Caution Public Announcement
19 Mar 2007
Mauritania Election Security
27 Feb 2007
Mauritania 2007 Crime & Safety Report
U.S. Embassy Nouakchott issued the following Warden Message on August 22:

The U.S. Embassy has received reports of planned activities such as kidnapping by Al-Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). American citizens are, therefore, urged to heighten their awareness and use caution. American citizens should take increased security precautions when in their homes or cars and watch for any suspicious or unusual activity.

American citizens are also urged to register with the U.S. Embassy. They can do so in person or at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ .

The U.S. Embassy can be reached at:
Telephone: (222) 525-2660 (business hours)
(222) 525-3288 (after hours)
Address: 288, rue 42-100 (rue Abdallaye)
Nouakchott, Mauritania
Located between the Spanish Embassy and the Presidency
Website: http://nouakchott.state.gov

2 firefighters hurt at WTC tower where fire killed 2 others

NEW YORK - While the fire department was still mourning two members killed in a blaze at a condemned ground zero skyscraper, two more firefighters were hurt by a heavy piece of construction equipment that plummeted off the same plagued building......snip

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny—deutschebank-acci0824aug24,0,2068526.story

placemark

Man Captured After Running Onto OIA Ramp

A man who jumped a perimeter security fence at Orlando International Airport and ran onto a ramp was arrested on Friday morning.

It all began when the unidentified man jumped the fence along Cargo Road. He ran onto the ramp near Southwest Airlines, and officials said a baggage handler noticed him and stopped him.

The man was detained and taken to a police holding area. The Transportation Security Administration and FBI are investigating the incident.
http://www.wesh.com/news/13965212/detail.html

“Syria sees weakness in Israel’s current leadership, especially the way they bungled the conflict in Lebanon last year.”

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/896603.html

Last update - 10:04 23/08/2007
Leaving the home front out of range
By Giora Rom

(excerpted)

One of the less agreeable legacies of the Second Lebanon War is what appears to be acceptance by the public - and worse than that, by the leadership - of considering civilian locales legitimate targets in a war. The idea is relatively simple and in the past was even considered part of legitimate warfare. It boils down to implementing two strategies at the disposal of the side doing the fighting. The first, direct strategy sees the other side’s fighting forces or, in other words, its ability to fight, as the target for the military effort. The second, indirect strategy views the civilian home front and, by implication, its desire to fight and its support for the fighters at the front, as the target. . .

The challenge facing Israel in case of a war is how to confine it to a military dimension and prevent it from spreading into an uncompromising and total war in which the civilians of both countries become unnecessary victims. The Israeli strategy in a war against Syria must be one whereby the outcome of the war will be determined in the smallest possible number of days. The determination, for the purposes of this article, will be when Syria is prepared to accept a cease-fire on terms that suit Israel. Presumably, it will be in Israel’s interest not to be dragged into a war that develops slowly. It will be in Israel’s interest to employ all the force at its disposal in order to bring the war to a swift, clear and decisive end in the shortest possible time.

The catch is that the more successful the implementation of this systemic idea, with Syria finding itself being defeated, the more the regime will begin to feel the earth shaking under its feet. This means that domestic pressure in Syria to include the Israeli home front in the total war picture will increase. . .

One possibility is to make the outcome “indecisive.” If a decisive outcome consists of creating a real threat to the regime, which will bring in its wake a legitimization for a Samson-like Syrian strategy, it is necessary to examine whether one can control the degree of the outcome’s decisiveness, without leaving any doubt as to who has won, and how.

A second possibility is creating a mini-balance of deterrence, in which each side will have to concede, from the outset, some of the elements constituting its might: The Syrians will refrain entirely from attacking civilian targets and Israel will hold back on its ability for precise and destructive hits on targets that are the apple of the regime’s eye. This would resemble a kind of conditional insurance policy for the presidential palace, the general staff building in Damascus, the parliament, the electricity grid, the central bank, the Ba’ath party offices and the rest of the regime’s cornerstones. The continued existence of these edifices will be ensured - with the advance knowledge of Syria. That is, as long as the Israeli home front is not attacked.

This formula raises a number of questions: Do we really know which targets would cause the Syrian leadership to relinquish its ability to attack the home front if it were threatened? We have often tended to apply our own values and ways of thinking to the Arabs. It could be that today, too, we do not know the regime’s political weak points for certain.

Who is going to publish the list of targets to be destroyed if Syria attacks the Israeli home front?

One possibility is to compile such a list by means of strategic research organizations, which will continue to develop the idea and leave it up to official Israel whether and when to implement this policy. If this approach is adopted, it is necessary to be aware that a situation of “too early” or “too late” could arise. Furthermore, in this scenario, the nature of the outbreak of war poses additional complications. Who initiated the war? To what degree was the other side surprised? Identifying the precise point in time at which the mechanism of the balance of mutual deterrence will kick in could turn out to be very difficult.

How will we know that the equation has been accepted by the other side? It is hard to imagine a situation in which red telephones connect the chiefs of staff of both countries, who will agree on rules of engagement before an outbreak of hostilities. This would require the preparation of a number of attack plans and defense scenarios, until the bilateral model of behavior emerges. In addition, even today there are channels of communication between Israel and Syria by means of third parties. They could prove to be the tool for the start of a secret bilateral dialogue on the issue. . .

The best case scenario would be to create a lack of legitimacy for attacking a civilian home front. The first step would have to be a prolonged effort in international forums, focusing on the unacceptable nature of an attack on civilian locales. In the current situation, and with the desire that a possible future war will not hurt civilians on either side, it is necessary to look for additional tools for containing hostilities. The idea of a mutual balance of deterrence has military importance, and is also crucial for the relations between Israel and Syria - especially since at present it is a matter of “a game against ourselves.”

The author is a major general (res.) in the Israel Defense Forces and served as the military attache in Washington and as deputy commander of the air force.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22303951-15084,00.html

Tehran troops cross into Iraq
August 25, 2007

BAGHDAD: Iranian soldiers crossed into Iraq yesterday and attacked several small villages in the northeastern Kurdish region, local officials said.

US military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Garver couldn’t confirm the attacks, but five Kurdish officials said troops had infiltrated Iraqi territory and fired on villages.

The Iranians regularly exchange fire with Kurdish rebels across the border, but Iraqi Kurdish officials are worried that Iran’s willingness to cross the border raises the possibility of a confrontation that would draw in Iraqi and US forces.

The Mayor of Choman, a village 400km north of Baghdad, said Iranian troops crossed the border in 10 places and travelled about 5km into the mountainous Iraqi region, bombing rural villages.

The police chief of Benjawin, a village about 320km north of Baghdad, said the attacks killed some residents.

A Kurdish militia spokesman claimed the raid was in retaliation for the recent killing by Kurds of an Iranian intelligence official.

MCT

Yes and prayers for the firemen and their families.

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1886094/posts

HP Presbyterian mission team ambushed, robbed in Kenya
Dallas Morning News ^ | August 22, 2007 | EMILY TSAO

Posted on 08/24/2007 12:29:55 PM PDT by PAR35

A goodwill trip became a near-death experience for 10 Highland Park Presbyterian Church members ambushed and robbed in a Kenyan jungle this month.

Some of the members, who visited a small village northeast of Nairobi, were beaten by four men armed with rifles and a machete as they threatened: “We will kill somebody tonight.”

-snip-

Church members hoped to work with engineers on an irrigation project that would save villagers an eight-mile trek each way for water. They also brought items such as Bibles and school and medical supplies for the villagers.

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

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

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http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2007/s07080206.htm

Friday, August 24, 2007

“Chinese Government launches nationwide campaign against uncontrolled religious activities
Massive arrests occur in Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Xinjiang, Jiangsu, Henan, Shandong, and Anhui”

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “MIDLAND, TEXAS (ANS) — The Chinese central government has launched a nationwide targeted campaign to clamp down the so-called “illegal religious activities” since mid-July 2007.”