Threat Matrix: September 2007

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[nwctwx]

The Birth of al Qaedastan

In the year 2016, the world may find itself gloomily marking September 6 as the tenth anniversary of the creation of the Islamic Emirate of Waziristan. The Emirate received de facto recognition when the Taliban used the name on the ceasefire agreement they signed with Pakistan on that day in 2006. If things go terribly wrong in the coming decade, they could come to rule a mountainous fragment of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The Emirate would be a nightmare state: Osama bin Laden as sultan, Ayman al Zawahiri as vizier, and Mullah Omar the spiritual leader. An economy built on smuggling and heroin. Primary export: terrorism. Welcome to ‘Al Qaedastan’.

Analysts say the rise of a terrorist state straddling the rugged area between Pakistan and Afghanistan is now viable. The reason is a number of troubling trends. One, the revival of a Taliban firmly in the control of Al Qaeda. Two, the seeming inability of either Kabul or Islamabad to defeat the new threat militarily. Three, and the most striking, the Taliban’s systematic supplanting of the traditional tribal leadership in the area. Full story...

	Lebanon: Tiny Country, Big Threats
	Islamist Web Site Explains 'How to Join Al Qaeda'
	The Ongoing Hunt for Osama bin Laden

Threat Matrix:
September 2007

August 2007

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Preparedness

[Cindy]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/09/20070912-4.html

September 12, 2007
“Presidential Message: Ramadan, 2007”

White House News
September 7, 2007

[Cindy]

Note: Includes audio link, too.

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/09/20070913-2.html

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 13, 2007

Address by the President to the Nation

Presidential Remarks
Audio

ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT TO THE NATION

Oval Office

9:01 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Good evening. In the life of all free nations, there come moments that decide the direction of a country and reveal the character of its people. We are now at such a moment.

In Iraq, an ally of the United States is fighting for its survival. Terrorists and extremists who are at war with us around the world are seeking to topple Iraq’s government, dominate the region, and attack us here at home. If Iraq’s young democracy can turn back these enemies, it will mean a more hopeful Middle East and a more secure America. This ally has placed its trust in the United States. And tonight, our moral and strategic imperatives are one: We must help Iraq defeat those who threaten its future and also threaten ours.

Eight months ago, we adopted a new strategy to meet that objective, including a surge in U.S. forces that reached full strength in June. This week, General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker testified before Congress about how that strategy is progressing. In their testimony, these men made clear that our challenge in Iraq is formidable. Yet they concluded that conditions in Iraq are improving, that we are seizing the initiative from the enemy, and that the troop surge is working.

The premise of our strategy is that securing the Iraqi population is the foundation for all other progress. For Iraqis to bridge sectarian divides, they need to feel safe in their homes and neighborhoods. For lasting reconciliation to take root, Iraqis must feel confident that they do not need sectarian gangs for security. The goal of the surge is to provide that security and to help prepare Iraqi forces to maintain it. As I will explain tonight, our success in meeting these objectives now allows us to begin bringing some of our troops home.

Since the surge was announced in January, it has moved through several phases. First was the flow of additional troops into Iraq, especially Baghdad and Anbar province. Once these forces were in place, our commanders launched a series of offensive operations to drive terrorists and militias out of their strongholds. And finally, in areas that have been cleared, we are surging diplomatic and civilian resources to ensure that military progress is quickly followed up with real improvements in daily life.

Anbar province is a good example of how our strategy is working. Last year, an intelligence report concluded that Anbar had been lost to al Qaeda. Some cited this report as evidence that we had failed in Iraq and should cut our losses and pull out. Instead, we kept the pressure on the terrorists. The local people were suffering under the Taliban-like rule of al Qaeda, and they were sick of it. So they asked us for help.

To take advantage of this opportunity, I sent an additional 4,000 Marines to Anbar as part of the surge. Together, local sheiks, Iraqi forces, and coalition troops drove the terrorists from the capital of Ramadi and other population centers. Today, a city where al Qaeda once planted its flag is beginning to return to normal. Anbar citizens who once feared beheading for talking to an American or Iraqi soldier now come forward to tell us where the terrorists are hiding. Young Sunnis who once joined the insurgency are now joining the army and police. And with the help of our provincial reconstruction teams, new jobs are being created and local governments are meeting again.

These developments do not often make the headlines, but they do make a difference. During my visit to Anbar on Labor Day, local Sunni leaders thanked me for America’s support. They pledged they would never allow al Qaeda to return. And they told me they now see a place for their people in a democratic Iraq. The Sunni governor of Anbar province put it this way: “Our tomorrow starts today.”

The changes in Anbar show all Iraqis what becomes possible when extremists are driven out. They show al Qaeda that it cannot count on popular support, even in a province its leaders once declared their home base. And they show the world that ordinary people in the Middle East want the same things for their children that we want for ours — a decent life and a peaceful future.

In Anbar, the enemy remains active and deadly. Earlier today, one of the brave tribal sheikhs who helped lead the revolt against al Qaeda was murdered. In response, a fellow Sunni leader declared: “We are determined to strike back and continue our work.” And as they do, they can count on the continued support of the United States.

Throughout Iraq, too many citizens are being killed by terrorists and death squads. And for most Iraqis, the quality of life is far from where it should be. Yet General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker report that the success in Anbar is beginning to be replicated in other parts of the country.

One year ago, much of Baghdad was under siege. Schools were closed, markets were shuttered, and sectarian violence was spiraling out of control. Today, most of Baghdad’s neighborhoods are being patrolled by coalition and Iraqi forces who live among the people they protect. Many schools and markets are reopening. Citizens are coming forward with vital intelligence. Sectarian killings are down. And ordinary life is beginning to return.

One year ago, much of Diyala province was a sanctuary for al Qaeda and other extremist groups, and its capital of Baqubah was emerging as an al Qaeda stronghold. Today, Baqubah is cleared. Diyala province is the site of a growing popular uprising against the extremists. And some local tribes are working alongside coalition and Iraqi forces to clear out the enemy and reclaim their communities.

One year ago, Shia extremists and Iranian-backed militants were gaining strength and targeting Sunnis for assassination. Today, these groups are being broken up, and many of their leaders are being captured or killed.

These gains are a tribute to our military, they are a tribute to the courage of the Iraqi security forces, and they are the tribute to an Iraqi government that has decided to take on the extremists.

Now the Iraqi government must bring the same determination to achieving reconciliation. This is an enormous undertaking after more than three decades of tyranny and division. The government has not met its own legislative benchmarks — and in my meetings with Iraqi leaders, I have made it clear that they must.

Yet Iraq’s national leaders are getting some things done. For example, they have passed a budget. They’re sharing oil revenues with the provinces. They’re allowing former Baathists to rejoin Iraq’s military or receive government pensions. Local reconciliation is taking place. The key now is to link this progress in the provinces to progress in Baghdad. As local politics change, so will national politics.

Our troops in Iraq are performing brilliantly. Along with Iraqi forces, they have captured or killed an average of more than 1,500 enemy fighters per month since January. Yet ultimately, the way forward depends on the ability of Iraqis to maintain security gains. According to General Petraeus and a panel chaired by retired General Jim Jones, the Iraqi army is becoming more capable — although there is still a great deal of work to be done to improve the national police. Iraqi forces are receiving increased cooperation from local populations. And this is improving their ability to hold areas that have been cleared.

Because of this success, General Petraeus believes we have now reached the point where we can maintain our security gains with fewer American forces. He has recommended that we not replace about 2,200 Marines scheduled to leave Anbar province later this month. In addition, he says it will soon be possible to bring home an Army combat brigade, for a total force reduction of 5,700 troops by Christmas. And he expects that by July, we will be able to reduce our troop levels in Iraq from 20 combat brigades to 15.

General Petraeus also recommends that in December we begin transitioning to the next phase of our strategy in Iraq. As terrorists are defeated, civil society takes root, and the Iraqis assume more control over their own security, our mission in Iraq will evolve. Over time, our troops will shift from leading operations, to partnering with Iraqi forces, and eventually to overwatching those forces. As this transition in our mission takes place, our troops will focus on a more limited set of tasks, including counterterrorism operations and training, equipping, and supporting Iraqi forces.

I have consulted with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, other members of my national security team, Iraqi officials, and leaders of both parties in Congress. I have benefited from their advice, and I have accepted General Petraeus’s recommendations. I have directed General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker to update their joint campaign plan for Iraq, so we can adjust our military and civilian resources accordingly. I have also directed them to deliver another report to Congress in March. At that time, they will provide a fresh assessment of the situation in Iraq and of the troop levels and resources we need to meet our national security objectives.

The principle guiding my decisions on troop levels in Iraq is “return on success.” The more successful we are, the more American troops can return home. And in all we do, I will ensure that our commanders on the ground have the troops and flexibility they need to defeat the enemy.

Americans want our country to be safe and our troops to begin coming home from Iraq. Yet those of us who believe success in Iraq is essential to our security, and those who believe we should begin bringing our troops home, have been at odds. Now, because of the measure of success we are seeing in Iraq, we can begin seeing troops come home. The way forward I have described tonight makes it possible, for the first time in years, for people who have been on opposite sides of this difficult debate to come together.

This vision for a reduced American presence also has the support of Iraqi leaders from all communities. At the same time, they understand that their success will require U.S. political, economic, and security engagement that extends beyond my presidency. These Iraqi leaders have asked for an enduring relationship with America. And we are ready to begin building that relationship — in a way that protects our interests in the region and requires many fewer American troops.

The success of a free Iraq is critical to the security of the United States. A free Iraq will deny al Qaeda a safe haven. A free Iraq will counter the destructive ambitions of Iran. A free Iraq will marginalize extremists, unleash the talent of its people, and be an anchor of stability in the region. A free Iraq will set an example for people across the Middle East. A free Iraq will be our partner in the fight against terror — and that will make us safer here at home.

Realizing this vision will be difficult, but it is achievable. Our military commanders believe we can succeed. Our diplomats believe we can succeed. And for the safety of future generations of Americans, we must succeed.

If we were to be driven out of Iraq, extremists of all strains would be emboldened. Al Qaeda could gain new recruits and new sanctuaries. Iran would benefit from the chaos and would be encouraged in its efforts to gain nuclear weapons and dominate the region. Extremists could control a key part of the global energy supply. Iraq could face a humanitarian nightmare. Democracy movements would be violently reversed. We would leave our children to face a far more dangerous world. And as we saw on September the 11th, 2001, those dangers can reach our cities and kill our people.

Whatever political party you belong to, whatever your position on Iraq, we should be able to agree that America has a vital interest in preventing chaos and providing hope in the Middle East. We should be able to agree that we must defeat al Qaeda, counter Iran, help the Afghan government, work for peace in the Holy Land, and strengthen our military so we can prevail in the struggle against terrorists and extremists.

So tonight I want to speak to members of the United States Congress: Let us come together on a policy of strength in the Middle East. I thank you for providing crucial funds and resources for our military. And I ask you to join me in supporting the recommendations General Petraeus has made and the troop levels he has asked for.

To the Iraqi people: You have voted for freedom, and now you are liberating your country from terrorists and death squads. You must demand that your leaders make the tough choices needed to achieve reconciliation. As you do, have confidence that America does not abandon our friends, and we will not abandon you.

To Iraq’s neighbors who seek peace: The violent extremists who target Iraq are also targeting you. The best way to secure your interests and protect your own people is to stand with the people of Iraq. That means using your economic and diplomatic leverage to strengthen the government in Baghdad. And it means the efforts by Iran and Syria to undermine that government must end.

To the international community: The success of a free Iraq matters to every civilized nation. We thank the 36 nations who have troops on the ground in Iraq and the many others who are helping that young democracy. We encourage all nations to help, by implementing the International Compact to revitalize Iraq’s economy, by participating in the Neighbors Conferences to boost cooperation and overcome differences in the region, and by supporting the new and expanded mission of the United Nations in Iraq.

To our military personnel, intelligence officers, diplomats, and civilians on the front lines in Iraq: You have done everything America has asked of you. And the progress I have reported tonight is in large part because of your courage and hard effort. You are serving far from home. Our nation is grateful for your sacrifices, and the sacrifices of your families.

Earlier this year, I received an email from the family of Army Specialist Brandon Stout of Michigan. Brandon volunteered for the National Guard and was killed while serving in Baghdad. His family has suffered greatly. Yet in their sorrow, they see larger purpose. His wife, Audrey, says that Brandon felt called to serve and knew what he was fighting for. And his parents, Tracy and Jeff, wrote me this: “We believe this is a war of good and evil and we must win even if it cost the life of our own son. Freedom is not free.”

This country is blessed to have Americans like Brandon Stout, who make extraordinary sacrifices to keep us safe from harm. They are doing so in a fight that is just, and right, and necessary. And now it falls to us to finish the work they have begun.

Some say the gains we are making in Iraq come too late. They are mistaken. It is never too late to deal a blow to al Qaeda. It is never too late to advance freedom. And it is never too late to support our troops in a fight they can win.

Good night, and God bless America.

END 9:18 P.M. EDT

[Cindy]

RECAP:

http://www.internet-haganah.com/harchives/006233.html
04 September 2007
“YouTube jihadi of the day: baitalmaqdes”

#

UPDATED:
www.youtube.com/user/baitalmaqdes

[Godzilla]

placemark

[Cindy]

UPDATING POST NO. 1283:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1890027/posts?page=1283#1283

#

Thanks to Kyla Star to the ping to this post and thank you to STARWISE for the info.

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1895907/posts?page=747#747

Get this, the brother is a DIVE Instructor! Check the link that Starwise provided.

>>News I just posted said the car was registered to his brother, Shane LaBeet ... might be this guy in Key West.

God help him, if he was an accomplice to this .. he’s invited a whole ‘nother world of trouble. I imagine they’re being pretty creative in their questioning.

http://www.subtropic.com/staff/shane.html

747 posted on 09/13/2007 8:11:03 PM PDT by KylaStarr

###
###

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1896231/posts?page=13#13

Note: The following post is a quote:

Thanks to Oorang for the ping to this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1896231/posts

Miami Cop Killer Shawn Labeet “Has Ties To” Maimi Islamic Community.
Miami sources | MB26

Posted on 09/13/2007 7:56:47 PM PDT by MindBender26

Old Miami-Dade Metro cop sources confirmed to me tonight that accused cop killer Shawn labeet has “ties to” Miami Islamic community. The depth of the connection is not known at this time.

He said it is under VERY active investigation. It is somehow linked to his brother Ishmael Labeet who killed 8 Americans “because they were White” in US Virgin Islands years ago, then fled to Cuba.

Expect more on this.

[KylaStarr]

marker o/

[Cindy]

http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=countries&Area=egypt&ID=SP171307

Special Dispatch Series - No. 1713
September 13, 2007 No.1713

“Egyptian Playwright Ali Salem Speaks Out Against ‘Culture of Death’”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “The following are excerpts from an interview with Egyptian playwright Ali Salem, which aired on Abu Dhabi TV on August 16, 2007.

To view this clip, visit: http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/1554.htm

To view the MEMRITV webpage on Egyptian playwright Ali Salem, visit: http://www.memritv.org/subject/en/152.htm “

[celtic-cat]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20760201/

Suspect in Miami shootings dies in gunbattle
Man accused of shooting officers during traffic stop

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez said Labeet was found shortly before midnight Thursday in a Pembroke Pines apartment complex about 30 miles north of the initial shooting scene.

“There was an exchange of gunfire and the subject was shot and killed,” Alvarez said.

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1890027/posts?page=1168#1168

#

UPDATE:

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18814754&BRD=1013&PAG=461&dept_id=387707&rfi=6

“Fire ruled accidental”
By: Scott Hunter 09/13/2007

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “The fire that destroyed the Grand Coulee Dam School District’s bus garage last Saturday was not arson, investigators determined Wednesday.

Coulee Dam Police Chief Pat Collins said they found evidence of a shorted wire in a bus sander system that sparked the blaze that took out six school buses and a driver edcuation car.

With two other arson fires in the school district in the last few months, authorities had been concerned the bus garage fire might not have been accidental.

But local fire, police, sheriff and insurance company investigators determined the hot sander wire to be the cause.”

[Cindy]

Well now, that is very good news celtic-cat.

Thanks for the update.

[Cindy]

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

#

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1896292/posts

Pakistan seeks French missiles,radars for JF-17 fighter
Associated Press ^ | Sept 13 ,2007

Posted on 09/13/2007 10:42:07 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki

Pakistan seeks missiles, radar from France: Report

PARIS, Sept 13 (AP) - Pakistan is seeking to buy missiles and radar from France for a fighter plane that it is developing jointly with China, Jane’s Defense Weekly said Pakistan is talking to France about getting air-to-air missiles from the MBDA company and radars from Thales for its JF-17 fighter, it said.

Those missiles and similar radars also equip Taiwan’s French-built Mirage fighters, defences that could be compromised if Pakistan transfers the technology to China, according to Jane’s. Asked Thursday about the report, Defence Minister Herve Morin replied: “To my knowledge, there is no arms embargo for Pakistan.” He noted that France has a system of controls on arms exports and referred further questions to the prime minister’s office.

Without confirming that talks with Pakistan are under way, Defence Ministry spokesman Laurent Teisseire said: “We have no reason not to cooperate with Pakistan on its leading projects.” He dismissed concerns of any possible technology leak to China, citing arms control measures that would be part of any such sale.(Posted @ 20:25 PST)

[Bobibutu]

“big gang war going on in Richmond...I posted an article last night about it”

Despite the uptick in violence, Richmond’s homicide total is well below what it was last year. Nineteen people have been killed in the city in 2007; last year at this time the total was 28.

Nothing we locals are too excited about. Even with the sniper bit ... Ah it’s Richmond ... what’s new?

[GorillaMa]

A new twist on the “suicide bomber”: the “suicide shooter”...

After shaving off at least his entire beard, if not more body hair, Labeet dons a bullet-proof vest, and deliberately provokes a traffic engagement to gather the police officers so he can kill them collectively with his AK-47. Perhaps he was hoping for more than four officers to show up, and perhaps he expected his martyrdom mission to end there, and not 12 hours later, but it did end because he continued to shoot and engage until his martyrdom was complete.

This is just the beginning of a new wave of jihad on US soil that will try to paralyze our country with fear and drain the resources of our society. We will quickly be seeing more of this in multiple locations.

[Cindy]

OPINION: I agree GorillaMa that the jihadis have shown interest in snipers over the years. It’s a cheap and effective method for terrorism. They last as long as possible until they are killed or captured.

Jihad is evil.

[GorillaMa]

Cesium 137 and Americium missing in Minnesota:

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1421408.html

[Cindy]

Thank you GorillaMa for the heads up and link.

See photo here:
http://media.startribune.com/smedia/2007/09/13/21/252-4295739.standalone.prod_affiliate.2.jpg

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1421408.html

“Steal this sensor? Better not touch it”
Associated Press
Last update: September 13, 2007 – 9:46 PM

“It’s radioactive.”

[Cindy]

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200709/NAT20070913a.html

“Harman: ‘Need to Do More to Stop Al Qaeda’”
By Monisha Bansal
CNSNews.com Staff Writer
September 13, 2007

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “(CNSNews.com) - The former top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee said al Qaeda is a real and growing threat to the United States.

“This is a very dangerous world. It’s an era of terror, and fixing this problem will not be easy,” said Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) at a briefing held by the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

“We can see in regions there is now al Qaeda ... there will surely be an umbrella group in Europe and possibly [a group] here,” she said, noting that “car bombings and suicide bombings are likely to be in our future.”

“Over the last six years and one day, al Qaeda has changed considerably,” Harman added. “Instead of a top-down organization, there is a loose horizontal affiliation among many groups, and they are everywhere.”

[Cindy]

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=6655E421-F77E-4ECC-82FC-A8EAB2B39449

“Dennis of Damascus and Tehran Tom”
By Kenneth R. Timmerman
FrontPageMagazine.com | Friday, September 14, 2007

[Cindy]

Small Update:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,296476,00.html

FBI: Man Arrested in Wisconsin on Drug Warrant, Not Terrorism
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
(AP)

FREDERIC, Wis. —
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “But the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Milwaukee office issued a statement Tuesday night that the man had only a warrant from the Drug Enforcement Administration.

“He’s wanted on a drug warrant, but he is not wanted by the FBI and he has no nexus to terrorism,” the statement said. “He is not on a terrorist watch list either.””

#

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&q=Hassan+Mohamed+Abdiaziz&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tab=wn&scoring=n

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13996&Itemid=128

Sept. 14, 2007
Release A070914a

Coalition forces target foreign terrorist facilitators; 5 killed, 21 detained

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed five terrorists and detained 21 suspected terrorists during operations Friday in central and northern Iraq targeting senior leaders of al-Qaeda in Iraq and a foreign terrorist network.

Near Yusufiyah, Coalition forces targeted the network that facilitates the movement of foreign terrorists in the southern belts around Baghdad. Surveillance elements observed four armed men maneuvering from the target building into position against the assault force. Responding to the hostile threat, Coalition forces engaged the armed men and called in close air support to assist them. Two armed terrorists were killed by ground fire and two were killed by aircraft fire. The ground forces detained five suspected terrorists for their alleged ties to that foreign terrorist network.

Two coordinated operations in the Jabouri Peninsula east of Balad targeted foreign terrorists and associates of al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders. Coalition forces captured two brothers who allegedly operate a safe house for foreign terrorists planning and conducting attacks in the area. The brothers are also believed to be responsible for attacks on Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces. Four additional suspected terrorists were detained in the operations.

Operations in Mosul and Kirkuk targeted senior leaders of al-Qaeda in Iraq and their networks in northern Iraq. Coalition forces captured a suspected administrative leader for al-Qaeda in Iraq’s Mosul network and detained nine other suspected terrorists.

Based on information from an operation Sep. 8, Coalition forces conducted a raid northwest of Tarmiyah and killed an armed terrorist who attempted to engage the assault force.

“Terrorists are unwelcome in Iraq,” said Maj. Winfield Danielson, MNF-I spokesman. “We will continue to attack al-Qaeda in Iraq’s networks to stem the flow of foreign terrorists who attack innocent Iraqis.”

-30-