Threat Matrix: September 2007

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:
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UPDATE:

USF Terror Suspect Had Two Passports, Different Names
9/16/07
By Annie Jacobsen in category The Al-Qaeda Threat

The St. Petersburg Times offers new details on University of South Florida terror suspects Ahmed Mohamed and Youssef Megahed (Egyptian transliteration: "Mujahid").

In addition to providing details about the explosives, ammunition, fuses, gasoline, bomb making instructions and martyr-referencing video that the pair were carrying when they were pulled over by police for speeding, the Times provides alarming details about Megahed's travel documents. These details include:

~Megahed had two different passports at his house: one with his photograph and name and a second passport with his photograph and a different name.
~On July 29th, one week before being arrested, Megahed and his brother went to Sears and had additional passport-sized photographs taken of themselves.
~Megahed was denied naturalization in March of 2006 because he'd not spent the requisite calendar days in the United States. During a five-year period, from 1998-2003, Megahed spent 1,600 of those days in Egypt (out of a total of 1,825 days).
~Authorities cited Megahed's travels to Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and Canada to support their argument that he's a flight risk.

http://www.theaviationnation.com/2007/09/16/usf-terror-suspect-had-two-passports-different-names/

Jihad Muslims charged in Serbia
Friday, September 14, 2007

BELGRADE, Serbia-Serbia's state prosecutors on Friday filed criminal charges against 15 Muslim men from a tense southern region for terrorist activity.

Most of the indicted men were arrested in raids earlier this year in the Sandzak region bordering Kosovo where large caches of ammunition and bomb-making material were also discovered, the prosecution office said. The prosecutors believe the weapons were intended for terrorist actions by Muslim extremists against targets in the region.

The men were arrested in March and April and police accused them of being Islamic radicals and adherents of the Wahhabi interpretation of Islam, which is followed by Osama bin Laden and many al-Qaida members. Police said at the time that they discovered a mountain cave that served as a terrorist training ground packed with plastic explosives, masks and machine guns.

Western intelligence reports leaked recently have suggested that Sandzak, as well as Muslim-dominated regions in neighboring Bosnia and Kosovo, could be an ideal recruitment spot for the so-called "white al-Qaida", Muslims with Western features who could easily blend into European or U.S. cities and execute terrorist attacks. Several incidents have taken place recently in Sandzak within the Muslim community, but no terrorist attacks have been reported.

http://www.serbianna.com/news/2007/02591.shtml

Top Tamil militant was in Oslo
Sept. 17, 2007

India’s Central Bureau of Intelligence says most wanted Tamil rebel Kumaran Padmanadan, 53, was seen in Norway. A confidential dossier of India’s premier investigating agency said Padamanadan, who India wants in connection with the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, was in Oslo for nearly a year between 2003 and 2004.

The dossier said the monitoring agency, set up to investigate Gandhi's killing, visited Colombo recently and presented a letter to the Sri Lankan administration. According to a top CBI official, the panel provided bank details of Padamanadan to 19 countries. The agency had on Dec. 17, 2003, received inputs that Padamanadan was undergoing medical treatment in a hospital in Oslo, The Asian Age newspaper said Monday.

The CBI official said the agency immediately sent a request to the Norwegian government urging them to arrest and deport him to India. Norwegian authorities did not take any action, according to dossier.

http://www.upi.com/International_Security/Emerging_Threats/Briefing/2007/09/17/cbi_top_tamil_militant_was_in_oslo/9237/

http://www.memritv.org/subject/en/97.htm

video.google.com/videosearch?q=al+tanzem&num=10&so=1&start=0

www.youtube.com/results?search_type=search_videos&search_query=al%20tanzem&search_sort=video_date_uploaded&search_category=0&search=Search&v=&uploaded=

www.youtube.com/results?search_type=search_videos&search_query=as%20sahab&search_sort=video_date_uploaded&search_category=0&search=Search&v=&uploaded=

video.google.com/videosearch?q=al+sahab&num=10&so=1&start=0

ia341242.us.archive.org/2/items/119-asbab2/abc.wmv

ia341207.us.archive.org/1/items/119-asbab1/abc.rm

www.swahl.com/en/up/en1/58832194ad.jpg

Third 9/11 Jihadist Video Calls For Attacks on West By Jeffrey Imm Media reports state that a third 9/11 Jihadist video, reportedly by Al Qaeda, has been released via Islamist web sites today, calling for Jihadist terror acts on the West to be a daily occurrence and calling for "acts of mass extermination". AKI and AFP have thus far provided the primary reporting on this new Al Qaeda video. AKI reports that the new 26 minute video is entitled "The attacks in New York and Washington - reasons and motives". AFP reports that the video "features a montage of images of the burning World Trade Center towers and scenes from Islamist training camps."

AFP reports that a voiceover on the video states: "We must take Islamist terrorism to Western countries so that it becomes a normal part of life like natural disasters" and "[i]n that way, we will have acts of mass extermination in which people will feel that their affluence also brings death... and we will have created a balance of deterrence between us and them".

AKI reports that the new video begins with a message from Abu Yahya al-Libi, the leader of al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. On the new video, Al-Libi is reported to praise the role of Al Qaeda in defending the principles of Islam

AKI reports that the new video includes a montage of audio and video footage of previous messages Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri on the rationale behind the 9/11 attacks. AFP reports that the video also includes a clip by Mustafa Abu Al-Yazid, also known as Sheikh Said, the group's commander in Afghanistan.

AKI reports that: "[a] voice on the video also gives an account of the war in Chechnya, blames the West for having committed a mass extermination and calls for revenge for this action. Also included is footage of interviews carried out by the Arab satellite TV network, Al Jazeera, with university professors, Arab commentators and editor of the London-based al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper. The entire video describes various events that occured before the 9/11 attacks, in particular the conflict in Chechnya, and tries to explain the reasons behind the terror attacks."

AKI reports that the video ends with a speech by Abdullah Azzam. Abdullah Azzam, who died in 1989, was an inspiration to Osama Bin Laden and countless other Jihadists. AKI reports that the new video does not the logo of al-Sahab, Al Qaeda's communications arm, but carries the new logo of "al-Tanzim". AFP reports: "A third release had been trailed by Al-Qaeda's media arm, As-Sahab. In the event the new video was issued in the name of Al-Tanzem, prompting suggestions the network has launched a new media arm." This posting will be updated as new information is released. Sources: September 17, 2007 -- AKI: Terrorism: Al-Qaeda releases third 9/11 video September 17, 2007 -- AFP: Qaeda urges Islamic terror in West in third 9/11 video September 17, 2007 -- Agenzia Giornalistica Italia -- Terror: Third Al Qaeda's video, attacks must be normal April 16, 2002 - Slate: Abdullah Azzam - The godfather of jihad September 17, 2007 01:00 PM Link TrackBack (0) Print http://counterterrorismblog.org/ __________________

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/glenn.beck/

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=search_videos&search_query=%22Glenn%20Beck%22&search_sort=video_date_uploaded&search_category=0&search=Search&v=&uploaded=

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=search_videos&search_query=%22Perfect%20Day%22&search_sort=video_date_uploaded&search_category=0&search=Search&v=&uploaded=

Thanks to STARWISE for the ping to this post - QUOTE:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1897859/posts?page=30#30

Also .. don’t forget the terrorists’ “Perfect Day” plan, possibly targeting our schools and children .. Glenn Beck recently ran the series.
VIDEO #1 OF GLENN’S “PERFECT DAY” SERIES - THIS IS A MUST SEE!

School Bus Thefts Raise Security Concerns (17 are missing in Houston)

Glenn Beck’s CNN show site — WITH ALL 5 “PERFECT DAY” VIDEO SEGMENTS

Glenn Beck’s radio show site

30 posted on 09/17/2007 10:16:35 AM PDT by STARWISE (They (Dims) think of this WOT as Bush’s war, not America’s war-RichardMiniter, respected OBL author)

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=47471

Coalition Forces Kill Three Insurgents, Capture Key Leader, 11 Other Suspects

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2007 – Three insurgents were killed and 16 others, including a key “special groups” leader, were captured in separate operations in Iraq today.

In a separate set of coordinated operations in Baghdad, coalition forces killed one insurgent and captured an Iraqi terrorist with links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Forces along with 11 other suspected terrorists.

The operations targeted a senior special groups leader directly linked to several other high-ranking terrorists operating in and around Baghdad. Coalition forces detained six individuals at the first target area without incident and followed on with operations at two other sites where they captured the other individuals.

Those in custody are believed to be involved in smuggling and storing weapons from Iran used to attack Iraqi civilians and the coalition forces. The group also is linked to the production and distribution of deadly explosively formed penetrators and the supporting of foreign terrorist operations.

During the operations, the driver of a vehicle that approached the security perimeter of the ground force was assessed to have been killed by coalition fire that destroyed the vehicle.

“The capture of key special groups leaders will allow us to further disrupt the activities of those who attempt to undermine the security and stability of Iraq,” said Army Maj. Winfield Danielson, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman.

In addition, Iraqi special operations forces with U.S. Special Forces advisors killed two insurgents during an operation targeting an extremist company commander in Diwaniyah. As Iraqi and U.S. forces arrived at the target location, one insurgent who brandished a weapon and rushed the team was killed. A second assault team observed another insurgent jumping from roof to roof; when the man moved to retrieve a weapon, he was shot and killed.

Meanwhile, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers and Iraqi army troops captured four suspected terrorists in the first day of Operation Dragon Talon II.

The operation kicked off in the southern part of the Iraqi capital in the early-morning hours with targeted raids against terrorist suspects. Troops from the 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 3rd Iraqi Army Division, the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment “Dragoons” and 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team “Dragons,” 1st Infantry Division, worked together to conduct clearing operations and make the arrests.

“We’ve seen positive results in the early going of Dragon Talon II,” said Army Col. Ricky D. Gibbs, commander of 4th Interim Brigade Combat Team. “We’re working closely with the Dragoon soldiers and our (Iraqi security forces) counterparts to prevent the extremist actors from imposing their will in Rashid by getting leaders, organizers and financiers off the streets and into custody.”

The two units will maintain their cooperation as Dragon Talon II continues in the Rashid district.

Also today, Company D, 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment responded to an explosion in Washah in which two Iraqi citizens were killed and four others wounded. The investigation was handed over to local Iraqi police.

In operations during the weekend:

— U.S. soldiers operating in East Rashid were attacked by terrorists while on an evening patrol yesterday. In the ensuing fight, one insurgent was killed by small-arms fire.

— Troops from 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment “Warriors” yesterday captured a cache consisting of five pounds of C-4, several large bags homemade explosives and blasting caps while conducting operations in the Doura region. Three individuals were detained for questioning during the operation.

— An Iraqi army patrol’s vigilance thwarted a suicide bomber in Mosul yesterday, causing him to prematurely detonate his suicide vest. The soldiers from 2nd Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division, noticed the individual suspiciously approaching their position. They began shouting at the suspect and fired warning shots. The suicide bomber immediately detonated his vest. There were no injuries to civilians or Iraqi forces.

— Iraqi national police officer recovered a weapons cache in the Rusafa district of eastern Baghdad on Sept. 15. The officers found a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and nine 120 mm mortars. The weapons were turned over to the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s Special Troops Battalion for their explosive ordnance detachment soldiers to destroy.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

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