Threat Matrix: August 2007

Disaster Looms in Pakistan

Decorum was abandoned as accusations ricocheted between the wood-panelled walls of Pakistan's national assembly on Monday night. "Murderers! Murderers of innocent people!" screamed an MP from a religious party, his yellow turban shaking as he wagged a finger towards the government benches.

Five female parliamentarians, their faces concealed behind black and white burkas, slapped the benches with open palms. Another mullah stood up and started shouting. The speaker strained to maintain order.

Others were less captivated by the debate on last month's siege of the Red Mosque, in which more than 100 people died. One man snoozed at his desk. Across the vast hall others started whispered conversations. And high above them Muhammad Ali Jinnah, a dapper man with a pinched, clean-shaven face, looked on impassively from his giant portrait on the wall. Full story...

	New Al Qaeda Web Ad Threatens 'Big Surprise'
	Mohamed Haneef Linked to Radicals in MI5 Probe
	Terrorists in Their Own Words

Threat Matrix:
August 2007

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Preparedness

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/08/20070830-4.html

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 30, 2007

National Preparedness Month, 2007
A Proclamation by the President of the United States

White House News

National Preparedness Month is an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of emergency preparedness and to encourage all Americans to better prepare their homes and communities for emergencies.

Protecting America’s homeland and citizens is the shared responsibility of the entire Nation. Individuals can prepare themselves and their families for emergencies by taking simple steps such as organizing an emergency supply kit, making a personal preparedness plan, becoming informed about different threats, and getting involved in preparing their community. These activities create a culture of preparedness and can help save lives.

My Administration continues to improve our Nation’s ability to prepare for emergencies. The Department of Homeland Security is working with other Federal, State, and local government organizations, as well as the private sector, to prevent, respond to, and recover from all types of emergencies. Together, Americans can significantly enhance the level of national preparedness to further safeguard our communities and secure our homeland.

This month is also an opportunity to pay tribute to America’s first responders who put themselves at risk for the safety of their fellow citizens. These brave police officers, firefighters, and emergency service personnel exemplify the compassion and commitment that help strengthen our country. We will be forever grateful for their service and sacrifice.

During National Preparedness Month, I encourage all Americans to get involved in their community’s preparedness efforts. Citizens may visit ready.gov and citizencorps.gov to learn more about emergency preparedness and ways to take action.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2007 as National Preparedness Month. I call upon the people of the United States to recognize the importance of preparing for potential emergencies and to observe this month by participating in appropriate events, activities, and preparedness programs.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Note; The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1889771/posts

Border agent fires into SUV after being hit twice
St Albans Messenger ^ | Friday, 31 August 2007

Posted on 09/01/2007 2:05:51 AM PDT by Straight Vermonter

SWANTON – A U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol Agent assigned to the Swanton Sector fired his weapon at an unknown driver who Thursday morning struck him with his vehicle near Alburgh Springs. Another agent, hurrying to aid his colleague, was involved in an auto accident.

The unidentified agent had stopped the vehicle, a gray SUV that had entered the country illegally from Canada, officials from the agency said.

As the agent approached the vehicle, the driver put the SUV in gear and hit the agent twice. The agent, who was uninjured, fired one round from his weapon into the driver’s compartment. The driver fled back into Canada with the vehicle.

It is unknown whether the driver of the SUV was injured during his assault on the agent, said authorities today.

A second border control agent responding to the call for assistance was injured when the patrol vehicle he was driving rolled over on an “unimproved” road. The agent was transported to Northwestern Medical Center, where he was treated for his injuries and released.

U.S. and Canadian law enforcement agencies were informed of the incident and are currently searching for the vehicle and its occupant. Those agencies include the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Vermont State Police.

Border Patrol operations officer Mark Henry this morning was asked whether he felt his office had sufficient resources to deal with current threat levels at and near the border.

“We have received a lot of resources,” he said. “Personnel, technology, infrastructure. And we are going to be receiving more.”

Anyone with any knowledge about Thursday’s incident is asked to call Henry at the Border Patrol Sector Headquarters in Swanton, (802) 247-2434.

http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/reports/hp543chart.pdf

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp543.htm

August 30, 2007
HP-543

Treasury Targets Colombian Drug Traffickers

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today designated four significant Colombian drug traffickers, Miguel Angel Mejia Munera, Victor Manuel Mejia Munera, Ramiro Vanoy Murillo and Francisco Javier Zuluaga Lindo as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers (SDNTs) pursuant to Executive Order 12978. OFAC also designated today several front companies and related individuals.

“The Mejia Munera brothers are violent fugitives from justice,” said OFAC Director Adam J. Szubin. “Today’s action furthers OFAC’s effort to destabilize and undermine the operations of these Colombian traffickers.”

In 2004, the District Court for the District of Columbia indicted twin brothers Miguel Angel Mejia Munera and Victor Manuel Mejia Munera (”Los Mellizos”) on narcotics trafficking charges. The Mejia Munera brothers have been involved in narcotics trafficking since the early 1990s when they guarded ships transporting cocaine loads from the western coast of Colombia to Mexico. Over time, Los Mellizos rose through the ranks to lead their own narcotics trafficking organization. Recent reports indicate that Los Mellizos may be funding their own illegal armed groups to facilitate their narcotics trafficking activities. Both are fugitives from justice and the United States is offering up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest of Miguel Angel Mejia Munera.

In 1999, the Southern District of Florida indicted Ramiro Vanoy (”Cuco Vanoy”) and Zuluaga Lindo (”Gordo Lindo”) on narcotics trafficking charges. Ramiro Vanoy Murillo and Francisco Javier Zuluaga Lindo are currently in a Colombian prison awaiting extradition to the United States.

OFAC also designated several front companies and individuals including a Mejia Munera holding company, Compania Comercializadora de Bienes Raices Ltda. in Cali and a sporting company, Sociedad Superdeportes Ltda. in Bogotá owned by Zuluaga Lindo. Two key Zuluaga Lindo front individuals, Daniel Alberto Mora Ricardo and Mary Luz Nova Carvajal were also named by OFAC along with their company, ABS Health Club S.A.

This designation is part of the ongoing interagency effort by the Departments of the Treasury, Justice, State and Homeland Security and others to implement Executive Order 12978 of October 21, 1995, which applies economic sanctions against Colombia’s drug cartels. Today’s designation action freezes any assets the designees may have subject to U.S. jurisdiction, and prohibits all financial and commercial transactions by any U.S. person with the designated companies and individuals.

The assets of a total of 1,530 businesses and individuals in Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Spain, Vanuatu, Venezuela, the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, and the United States have been blocked pursuant to E.O. 12978. The 600 businesses that have been named as SDNTs include agricultural, aviation, consulting, construction, distribution, financial, hotel, investment, manufacturing, maritime, mining, offshore, pharmaceutical, real estate, retail, service, sporting, telecommunication, and textile companies. The SDNT list includes 26 drug kingpins from the Cali, Medellin, North Valle, and North Coast narcotics trafficking organizations in Colombia, including those named today.

Please find attached a chart of the individuals and entities designated today.

-30-

Note: The following text is a quote:

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

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

This information is current as of today, Sat Sep 01 2007 04:26:23 GMT-0700.

Haiti

August 31, 2007

This Travel Warning is being issued to remind American citizens of ongoing security concerns in Haiti, including frequent kidnappings of Americans for ransom. Travelers are strongly advised to thoroughly consider the risks before travel to Haiti, and to take adequate precautions to ensure their safety if traveling to Haiti. This Travel Warning reinstates and updates the Travel Warning issued January 10, 2007.

U.S. citizens traveling to and residing in Haiti are reminded that there is a chronic danger of violent crime, especially kidnappings. Most kidnappings are criminal in nature, and the kidnappers make no distinctions of nationality, race, gender or age; all are vulnerable. As of the date of this travel warning, there have been 12 Americans kidnapped in 2007, most in Port au Prince. Past kidnappings have been marked by deaths, physical and sexual assault, and shooting of Americans. The lack of civil protections in Haiti, as well as the limited capability of local law enforcement to resolve kidnapping cases, further compounds the element of danger surrounding this trend.

U.S. citizens are also reminded of the potential for spontaneous protests and public demonstrations that can occur at any time, day or night, and may result in violence. American citizens are advised to take commonsense precautions and avoid any event where crowds may congregate. Visitors and residents must remain vigilant due to the absence of an effective police force in much of Haiti, the potential for looting, the presence of intermittent roadblocks set by armed gangs or by the police, and the possibility of random violent crime, including carjacking and assault.

Travel is hazardous within Port-au-Prince. Some areas are off-limits to embassy staff, including downtown Port-au-Prince, after dark. U.S. Embassy personnel are under an embassy-imposed curfew and must remain in their homes or in U.S. government facilities during the curfew. The embassy limits travel by its staff to areas outside of Port-au-Prince and therefore the ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens outside of Port-au-Prince is constrained. The UN stabilization force (MINUSTAH) remains fully deployed and is assisting the government of Haiti in providing security.

Due to the current security situation in Haiti, the Department of State reminds U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Haiti to remain vigilant with regard to their personal security; they are strongly advised to register either online at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ or with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince. The Consular Section can be reached at (509) 223-7011, fax number (509) 223-9665, or e-mail address acspap@state.gov . Travelers should also consult the Department of State’s latest Consular Information Sheet for Haiti and Worldwide Caution Public Announcement at http://travel.state.gov . American citizens may also obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States or Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from overseas. In Haiti, citizens can call 509/222-0200, ext. 2000.

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1158.html

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
This information is current as of today, Sat Sep 01 2007 04:28:40 GMT-0700.

East Africa

August 31, 2007

This Public Announcement is being re-issued to remind Americans of the continuing potential for terrorist actions against U.S. citizens in East Africa, particularly along the East African coast, to alert Americans to continuing sporadic violence in Somalia, and to note a number of incidents of maritime piracy near the horn of Africa and the southern Red Sea. This supersedes the Public Announcement of January 4, 2007, and expires on February 29, 2008.

A number of Al-Qaida operatives and other extremists are believed to be operating in and around East Africa. As a result of the recent conflict and continuing tension in Somalia, some of these individuals have sought to relocate elsewhere in the region, and others may seek to do so. Americans considering travel to the region and those already there should review their plans carefully, remain vigilant with regard to their personal security, and exercise caution. Terrorist actions may include suicide operations, bombings, kidnappings or targeting maritime vessels. Terrorists do not distinguish between official and civilian targets. Increased security at official U.S. facilities has led terrorists to seek softer targets such as hotels, beach resorts, prominent public places, and landmarks. In particular, terrorists may target civil aviation and seaports. Americans in remote areas or border regions where military or police authority is limited or non-existent could also become targets.

Americans considering seaborne travel near the Horn of Africa or in the southern Red Sea should exercise extreme caution, as there have been several incidents of armed attacks, robberies, and kidnappings for ransom at sea by pirates during the past several years. Merchant vessels continue to be hijacked in Somali territorial waters, while others have been hijacked as far as 200 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia in international waters.

The U.S. Government maritime authorities advise mariners to avoid the port of Mogadishu, and to remain at least 200 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia. In addition, when transiting around the Horn of Africa or in the Red Sea, it is strongly recommended that vessels travel in convoys, and maintain good communications contact at all times.

Americans living or traveling in East Africa are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov . Americans without internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.

U.S. citizens planning to travel to East Africa should consult the Department of State’s country-specific Public Announcements, Travel Warnings, Consular Information Sheets, the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement and other information, available at http://travel.state.gov . Up-to-date information on security conditions can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 in the U.S. and Canada, or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.

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

Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3444417,00.html

Report: Russia to deploy more new ballistic missiles

Published: 09.01.07, 12:47 / Israel News

Russia will carry out a second deployment of new intercontinental ballistic missiles inDecember as part of President Vladimir Putin’s program to modernize nuclear defenses, local media reported on Saturday.

The deployments come at a time of strained relations between Russia and NATO over US plans for a missile defense shield in eastern Europe. Moscow argues this would threaten its defenses while Washington insists it is designed only to defend against attack by what it sees as ‘rogue nations’ such as Iran. (Reuters)

ADDING to post no. 2094:

Thanks to a special freepmailer for pointing to this link:

blog:

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=26878_Lebanese_Man_Arrested_with_Bombs_in_Ontario&only

“Lebanese Man Arrested with Bombs in Ontario”
Sat, Sep 1, 2007 at 8:05:49 am PST

and this article:

http://www.thestar.com/article/252031

“Bombs detonated at Spit”

“VIDEO: Toronto police destroy three bombs”

Aug 31, 2007 04:46 PM
San Grewal, Simona Siad and Tracy Huffman
Staff Reporter

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Warr said the suspect is a landed immigrant from Lebanon with a Canadian passport, but police do not believe the crimes were motivated by religion or politics.

“There is absolutely no pattern as far as any religion, ideology or nationality,” Warr said.

Although he would not explain in detail, the officer said he believes specific locations were targeted.

“We know there were targets. They weren’t just random targets. There was a reason why he delivered the parcels to certain addresses.”

The police would not say if any other individuals or groups are being investigated.

One letter recipient sustained minor injuries. The other noticed an odour and called police.

A letter bomb was also sent to a Guelph residence earlier this month.

Police are advising residents of southern Ontario not open any unexpected packages or letters.

Adel Arnaout, 37, faces three counts of attempted murder, three counts of intend to cause an explosion, one count of criminal harassment, and one count of possession of an explosive material. Arnaout was known to police but they would not say if he has any previous record.

A worried and tired looking Arnaout made a brief appearance in the prisoner’s dock at Scarborough court this morning.

Handcuffed and wearing an orange jumpsuit, Arnaout was ordered not to communicate with eight people, including his alleged victims and Crown witnesses.

He remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court again on Sept. 5.”

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/pictures/20070901PalChildAbuse.jpg

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/ss/events/wl/080601mideast/im:/070831/481/37e851db8abd4576b68ee37b2999d210
PHOTO CAPTION - quote: AP - Fri Aug 31, 1:58 PM ET
A Palestinian girl holds a weapon next to militants from Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, a militia linked to the ruling Fatah movement, during a rally in the Old City of the West Bank city of Nablus, Friday, Aug. 31, 2007. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

blog:

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=26881_Palestinian_Child_Abuse&only

“Palestinian Child Abuse”
Sat, Sep 1, 2007 at 10:48:24 am PST

SNIPPET: “At least the Associated Press isn’t trying to tell us it’s a ‘toy gun’ this time.”

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