Threat Matrix: November 2007

https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=76028

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“Warden Message: Bali Climate Conference”
CONSULAR AFFAIRS BULLETINS
East Asia / Pacific - Indonesia
21 Nov 2007

BULLETIN SNIPPET: “U.S. Embassy Jakarta issued the following Warden Message on November 20:

Indonesia will host the 2007 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP) in Nusa Dua, Bali, between December 3 and December 14, 2007.

The Government of Indonesia is implementing additional security precautions throughout Nusa Dua and the surrounding areas to ensure the safety and security of all the conference participants as well as other visitors to Bali at this time. During that period, hotel room availability in much of the area near Nusa Dua will be severely limited.

American citizens should be reminded of the continued security threat in Indonesia. Locations frequented by foreigners or sites readily identifiable as western have been targeted by terrorists in the past.

Demonstrations in connection with this high profile conference could begin at any time. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence. American citizens are therefore urged to avoid areas where demonstrations are being held and any large crowds, and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of demonstrations. American citizens should maintain a low profile and be vigilant about security at all times, but especially during the Conference.”

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/018906.php

November 24, 2007

Exiled Bangladeshi writer asked to leave western Indian city fearing attacks by Muslims

Feel the love.

Taslima Nasrin Update from The Associated Press (thanks to all who sent this in):

NEW DELHI: A controversial Bangladeshi author was sent to the Indian capital under armed escort Friday after authorities ordered her to leave western Rajasthan state fearing violence by Muslims who accused her of insulting Islam.
They should also stand up and say that this kind of violent intimidation will not be tolerated. But don’t hold your breath.

Taslima Nasrin, who fled Bangladesh in 1994 after Islamic extremists threatened to kill her, has lived in the eastern city of Calcutta for the last two years but left Thursday after members of the All India Minorities Forum led angry protests against her a day earlier and demanded her deportation from the city.
Idrees Ali, a forum leader, accused Nasrin of hurting the religious sentiments of Muslims through her writings.

Nasrin traveled from Calcutta to Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan, but the state government ordered her to leave because they feared she would attract more protests.

“She didn’t inform the government of Rajasthan before coming here and as she requires high security we asked her to leave,” Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria told reporters.

Posted by Robert at November 24, 2007 2:41 AM

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

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3474982,00.html

“Report: US will not force Israel’s hand in Annapolis”

SNIPPET: “The Washington Post reports that President Bush will not force Prime Minister Olmert to make difficult decisions during peace talks. Bush still skeptical as to Palestinians’ ability to make necessary moves for peace, says WP”

Yitzhak Benhorin
Published: 11.24.07, 10:34 / Israel News

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

blog:
http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/3769.htm

BLOG ENTRY - quote:

Iranian Paper: Mubarak – Treasonous Mediator; Conflict With Iran Could Become Regional Conflict

In an editorial, the Iranian daily Jomhouri-ye Eslami said that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s mediation between Israel and the Palestinians was “treasonous,” saying that with these actions, Mubarak was “trying to position himself in the place of his predecessor Anwar Sadat.”

Iranian Supreme National Security Council secretary Saeed Jalili warned that conflict with Iran could have a domino effect and turn into regional conflict.

Source: Jomhouri-ye Eslami, Iran, November 22, 2007

Posted at: 2007-11-23

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

blog:

http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/3764.htm

BLOG ENTRY - quote:

Syrian MP: After Consulting With Iran, We’ve Decided Not To Go To Annapolis

In an interview, Syrian MP Muhammad Habash told the Kul Al-Arab newspaper that following consultations with Iran’s leadership, Syria had decided not to attend the Annapolis conference.

He said that Syria could not risk its relations with its true allies for the sake of the “crumbs” that that U.S. was promising, particularly when the conference was not going to address the Golan Heights issue.

Habash also said that cancelling the Palestinian factions conference in Damascus was a message to the U.S. and the international community that Syria did not want to escalate matters – but that they were continuing their escalation against Syria.

Source: Kul Al-Arab, Nazareth, November 23, 2007

Posted at: 2007-11-23

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15432&Itemid=128

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20071124-01
November 24, 2007

Iraqi Security Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain four in overnight operations
Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO

BALAD – Iraqi Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained two known extremist company commanders and two additional suspects during operations Nov. 23 targeting criminal groups operating within Iraq.

Iraqi Special Operations Forces and U.S. Special Forces conducted a raid in northeast Baghdad specifically targeting two extremist company commanders. The individuals are reported to be responsible for numerous small arms fire attacks and multiple improvised explosive device attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces as well as the kidnapping and killing of numerous Iraqi citizens in the Beida area.

In a separate operation, Iraqi Police along with U.S. Special Forces conducted a raid to disrupt the command structure of a terrorist network operating in Samarra. Two suspects were detained during the operation.

There were no Iraqi or U.S. Forces injured during these operations.

-30-

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/24/AR2007112400553.html?hpid=moreheadlines

Train Derails in Baltimore Near Stadium

The Associated Press
Saturday, November 24, 2007; 9:53 AM

BALTIMORE — A freight train carrying potentially hazardous materials derailed Saturday near the center of this city, knocking at least 12 tanker cars off the tracks and overturning about five, the fire department said.

There were no reports of injuries and no sign of a spill or leakage, authorities said. A hazardous materials crew was called to determine whether there was any danger.

The fire department said the train was carrying potentially hazardous materials but did not detail what they were.

-snip-

FBI Hires Civilians To Help Find Local Terrorist Hot Spots
November 23, 2007

Authorities said the six people suspected of planning a terrorist attack on Fort Dix were captured because of a tip, but now the FBI is beefing up efforts to fight homegrown terrorism in the Philadelphia area without tips, too. Jorge Garcia, Assistant Special FBI agent in charge in Philadelphia, said his new taskforce is expected to find potential threats without called in clues.

The most interesting part?
Garcia's taskforce members are not FBI agents, but civilian analysts. "We have former engineers, former associate professors, former high school teachers and police officers," Garcia explained.

Analyst Bill Dietze, a former computer programmer, said part of his job includes analyzing the Delaware Valley's population, trends in violence and a number of foreigners moving in and around the region. "We're trying to be predictive in where the next trouble spots are going to be," Dietze said.

Dietze -- who studies several FBI investigations at the same time looking for connections -- passes his findings on to FBI officials to help answer specific questions like which infrastructures could be targets for terrorist attacks and other areas that could be problematic that the bureau or division hasn't already checked out. Ultimately, federal agents said they hope to ensure there will never be another 9-11.

http://www.nbc10.com/news/14676570/detail.html

Feds issue terror alert in Md. for Mideast talks
Fri., Nov. 23, 2007

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Federal authorities have advised local law enforcement agencies to be alert to possible terrorism threats because of the Middle East peace conference next week in Annapolis, Homeland Security and FBI officials said Friday.

Although intelligence reports indicate no credible threats by domestic extremist groups to the conference or Islamic or Jewish sites in the Annapolis area, “nonetheless, the Department of Homeland Security does not discount the threat of the lone wolf terrorist, including individuals radicalized by homegrown extremist groups or Internet content,” said a bulletin issued by the agency and the FBI.

The threat assessment bulletin highlights about a dozen groups, including the radical Islamic fundamentalist organization Hamas, and Hezbollah, the Lebanese umbrella organization of radical Islamic Shiite groups that is a bitter foe of Israel.

Homeland Security spokeswoman Laura Keehner said the bulletin was sent to law enforcement agencies “in an abundance of caution.” “It’s basically saying we’re mindful of those who wish to do us harm,” she said.

Excerpted

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21941902/

Food blockade in Swat areas
November 23, 2007 Friday Ziqa’ad 12, 1428

SWAT - In an attempt to increase pressure on militants, the authorities on Thursday imposed a food blockade in parts of Swat amid reports that a full-fledged ground assault is being planned by security forces. Officials in the district said they had imposed the blockade to stop food supplies to the militants, adding that checkpoints had been established in Kabal, Kanju and Sangotha in the north of the district to ensure that nothing was taken to the ‘battled zone’.

The blockade came into effect around midday on Thursday and would remain in force till the objectives were achieved, officials said. The militant camp appeared to have been worried by the blockade as their spokesman Sirajuddin threatened to unleash suicide bombers if the authorities did not lift it.

Excerpted

http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/23/top5.htm

Islamists protest US naval presence for cyclone relief
Sat, 24 Nov 2007

Dhaka, Nov 24 - Several hundred activists of the radical Islamic group Hizb ut Tahrir staged protests here before the arrival of two ships of the US Navy for distributing relief supplies among cyclone-affected people.

Two warships, USS Essex and USS Kearsarge -- each carrying 20 helicopters and 3,500 marines on board with emergency relief supplies, medical and emergency evacuation teams -- are scheduled to enter Bangladesh waters Saturday and Tuesday. The protesters Friday carried a banner reading 'Prevent American ships from entering the Bay of Bengal in the name of distributing relief' and chanted slogans 'Go back to America' and 'US has no place in Bangladesh'.

The outfit's leader Kazi Morshedul Haque told the rally that every Bangladeshi had come forward to help cyclone victims along with the army, navy and air force, 'so it is a shame on us, Muslims, that we are allowing the US on our land'. The protest was held amidst tight security at Baitul Muqarram, one of the country's largest mosques and a major Dhaka landmark where religious gatherings take place.

Excerpted

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/147173.html

Bombers Kill Up to 35 in Pakistan
Saturday, November 24, 2007

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Militants struck at the heart of Pakistan's security establishment Saturday, killing up to 35 people in suicide attacks on a checkpoint outside army headquarters and a bus carrying intelligence agency employees, officials said.

The brazen early morning attacks in Rawalpindi coincided with the announcement that Nawaz Sharif, a former prime minister overthrown in 1999 by the country's current military leader Gen. Pervez Musharraf, would return from exile Sunday. Sharif, one of Musharraf's most strident political foes, may contest parliamentary elections scheduled for January. "Nawaz Sharif and other members of his family are coming back to (the eastern Pakistani city of) Lahore on Sunday," said Sadique al-Farooq, a senior leader of Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-N party.

Excerpted

http://www.cumberlink.com/articles/2007/11/24/ap/international/d8t42k080.txt

Study Jihadists, take advantage of DOD foreign culture, language programs, Guardmembers urged
11/20/2007

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Understanding the Jihadist challenge to the West is crucial for National Guard members who defend the homeland and wage the warfight abroad. So says Dr. John Finney, the international security affairs advisor to LTG H Steven Blum, the chief of the National Guard Bureau. Finney encouraged Citizen-Soldiers and –Airmen to study Islamic history, cultures, societies and languages.

Guardmembers must clearly distinguish between radical, violent Jihadists and the vast majority of Muslims, Finney said, citing an observation by Bernard Lewis, eminent Princeton University historian of the Islamic world:
“Most Muslims are not fundamentalists,” Lewis wrote in his 2004 book “The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror,” and “most fundamentalists are not terrorists but most present-day terrorists are Muslims and proudly identify themselves as such.”

George Tenet, former CIA director, wrote in his 2007 book “Life at the Center of the Storm: My Life at the CIA” that the terrorist threat will confront Americans for the foreseeable future. “The campaign against terrorism will consume the next generation … the way the Cold War dominated the lives of their parents and grandparents,” Tenet wrote.

Excerpted

http://www.ngb.army.mil/news/archives/2007/11/112007-jihadists.aspx

Thanks Oorang for that Fed Warning post.
ADDING links.

ON THE INTERNET...

www.ek-ls.org
www.ek-ls.org/forum/
al-ekhlaas.org/forum/showthread.php?t=99206

ON THE INTERNET...

http://www.memri.org/jihad.html

http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=subjects&Area=jihad&ID=SP177207

Special Dispatch Series - No. 1772
November 21, 2007 No.1772

“The ‘Lone Wolf’ Theory and John Allen Muhammad”

SNIPPET: “The Islamist website www.ek-ls.org, hosted by NOC4Hosts Inc., Tampa, FL, USA, published, on November 19, 2007, a proposal by regular forum participant “Jihadi Salafi” on Al-Qaeda’s possible use of a “lone wolf” operative in the U.S. and/or the West. [1]

Following are excerpts from the item:

“What Frightens [the FBI] and Deprives Them of Sleep at Night and Peace During the Day is... the Lone Wolves of Al-Qaeda”

“Everyone knows about members of dormant cells who roam the foreign land under various guises... However, it isn’t this that worries the Federal [Bureau of] Investigations... What frightens them and deprives them of sleep at night and peace during the day is... the lone wolves of Al-Qaeda.

“Everyone knows that a person who is perfectly trained, skilled, and experienced can easily move around on his own, being under less of a danger than [if he were working] as part of a cell... Indeed, a mistake of one of the cell members can destroy the entire cell... [while a lone wolf] need never worry about treason or infiltration...”

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ON THE INTERNET...

ON THE INTERNET:

http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/3698.htm
http://memriiwmp.org/content/en/blog_personal.htm?id=322
http://www.alhesbah.net/v
(Posted November 15, 2007)

http://www.internet-haganah.com/harchives/006249.html

20 October 2007
“al-Hesbah adds a few new domain names”

Posted on 20 October 2007 @ 09:41

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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1927698/posts

FreeRepublic.com - Discussion Forum (JPOST.com): “HIGH ALERT TO PREVENT TERROR ATTACK AHEAD OF ANNAPOLIS”
(Updated November 19, 2007, 0:52)

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ON THE INTERNET...

memriiwmp.org/content/en/blog_personal.htm?id=322

www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/3698.htm

You're welcome Cindy and thank you.

________________________________________

More anti-terrorism detectives (Belgium)
23 November 2007

BRUSSELS - The federal public prosecutor, Johan Delmulle, has made an urgent call for more detectives to investigate terrorism leads and allegations. Of the 103 investigators that were promised, only about 30 have actually been hired. The shortage of personnel and means is discouraging for the people working in the field, warns Johan Delmulle, the highest ranking public prosecutor in Belgium.

The investigators have to prioritise because of the shortage of personnel and means. However, investigation into terrorist networks and allegations is an area "we should make no concessions on," says the federal public prosecutor. "We cannot afford to not investigate certain leads and information." More importantly, according to Mr. Delmulle, key information on terrorist groups is sometimes simply not investigated.

Terrorists are using increasingly more sophisticated technology, which makes it more difficult to track them down, according to Mr. Delmulle. The anti-terrorism experts therefore also need more technical support. Terrorist networks are making more use of internet for example. To combat terrorism the same methods and weapons must be used by the federal police, says the federal public prosecutor.

http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?subchannel_id=24&story_id=46281

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