Threat Matrix: January 2008

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[nwctwx]

Still in Control

Pervez Musharraf was calm, confident and—despite a flurry of rumors—not about to announce his resignation. Instead, the Pakistani president's "concession" to his troubled nation was an announcement that he would allow Britain's Scotland Yard to help local law enforcement agencies with their investigation into last week's assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Speaking in a nationally televised address two hours after Pakistan's election commission announced the postponement of the ballot to Feb. 18, six weeks later than had been scheduled, Musharraf was notably deferential in his remarks about Bhutto, often invoking her "martyrdom" and extolling her liberal democratic credentials. "May she go to heaven," he said. "I stand for the same things she said." Read More

	Pakistan's Frayed Politics
	Musharraf's Dangerous Liaisons
	Pakistan after Bhutto

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January 2008

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[Cindy]

stepping back in time...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20FATC57Ai8

“Qaradawi on why he thinks Islam justifies suicide bombs”
(Added February 24, 2007)

[Cindy]

MEMRI.org - Search Term: “QARADAWI”

http://www.memri.org/bin/search.cgi?match=AND&keywords=qaradawi&realm=all&sort=newest

[Cindy]

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

Thanks to Clive for the ping to this post:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1960531/posts?page=14#14

and this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1960531/posts

“UK Tycoon ‘Arrested In Zimbabwe’”
BBC ^ | 1-27-2008
Posted on 01/27/2008 5:31:24 PM PST by blam

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16707&Itemid=21

Press Release A080128a
January 28, 2008

Anti-Coalition forces operative captured; criminal networks disrupted

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces captured a suspected anti-Coalition forces operative early Monday during operations in the Risalah area of Baghdad.

The targeted individual reportedly aided in Special Groups criminal element attacks on Coalition forces as a reconnaissance operative. The suspected criminal is assessed to be a specialist in intelligence-gathering, computers and forging documents. The wanted individual was also reported to be an associate of Special Groups criminal element leaders involved in attacks on Coalition forces.

Intelligence led ground forces to the target area where they captured the wanted individual without incident.

“We will continue to target any group with followers that commit hostile actions and oppose security and stability in Iraq,” said Cmdr. Edgar Buclatin, MNF-I spokesman. “Each time we capture one of these terrorists, it brings us one step closer to a secure future for Iraq.”

- 30 -

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16708&Itemid=21

Press Release A080128b
January 28, 2008

Coalition forces target al-Qaeda in central Iraq; 18 suspects detained

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces detained 18 suspected terrorists Sunday and today during operations to disrupt al-Qaeda networks operating in central Iraq.

During an operation east of Tikrit near the Hamrin Mountains Sunday, Coalition forces captured an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq associate who serves as an interrogator at a terrorist prison and training camp in the region. The suspected terrorist also reportedly facilitates the purchase of weapons and the movement of fighters in the area. The targeted individual’s brother was killed during a Coalition forces operation Sep. 30 for his involvement in leading a terrorist cell responsible for running illegal checkpoints, emplacing improvised explosive devices, and kidnapping Iraq citizens in the Hamrin mountain region. During the operation, the wanted individual identified himself to the ground force and was subsequently detained, along with 12 suspected terrorists.

In Baqubah early this morning, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be involved in an al-Qaeda in Iraq suicide IED network operating in the Diyala province. Reports indicate the suspected terrorist is associated with the al-Qaeda in Iraq leader killed Jan. 22 for his role in the same network. In addition to the wanted individual, the ground force detained three suspected terrorists on site.

Farther north near Mosul today, Coalition forces detained one suspected terrorist while targeting an alleged associate of an al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader formerly responsible for the networks in northern Iraq.

“The barbaric nature of al-Qaeda in Iraq continues to find new depths of depravity,” said Cmdr. Scott Rye, MNF-I spokesman. “We stand committed, along with the Iraqi Security Forces and the Iraqi population, to end their terror and create a safer country.”

- 30 -

[Cindy]

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

#

http://www.dawn.com

http://www.foxnews.com
http://www.cnn.com

#

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jZAgaFYAY7LLL8TaExTx6VfQL5oQ

“Pakistani militants take children hostage at school: officials”
11 minutes ago
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AFP)

[Godzilla]

placemark

[Cindy]

http://truthusa.com/a/index.php?topic=672.0
http://truthusa.com/a/index.php?topic=1296.0
http://www.truthusa.com/IRAN.html

#

blog:

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=28754_Ehud_Barak_on_Irans_Manhattan_Projec

“Ehud Barak on Iran’s Manhattan Project”
Mon, Jan 28, 2008 at 9:25:28 am PST

SNIPPET: “The Washington Post interviewed Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak over the weekend, and he said the Iranians are not only farther along in the development of nuclear weapons than many want to believe, they are also probably running a second secret uranium enrichment program: A Conversation With Ehud Barak.”

#

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/25/AR2008012502766.html
OPINIONS:

“A Conversation With Ehud Barak”

By Lally Weymouth
Saturday, January 26, 2008; Page A17

SNIPPET: “Newsweek-The Post’s Lally Weymouth interviewed Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak in Davos, Switzerland, this week. Excerpts:

Q. You were critical of the latest National Intelligence Estimate on Iran.

A. Our interpretation is that clearly the Iranians are aiming at nuclear capability. It’s probably true that . . . they may have slowed down the weapons group in 2003, because it was the height of American militarism. . . . We think that they are quite advanced, much beyond the level of the Manhattan Project. We suspect they are probably already working on warheads for ground-to-ground missiles . . . [and] that probably they have another clandestine enrichment operation beyond the one in Natanz.”

[Cindy]

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

#

http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=countries&Area=iran&ID=SP182808

Special Dispatch Series - No. 1828
January 27, 2008 No. 1828

“Kayhan Editor Close To Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei: ‘America and Its European Supporters Must Know... That the Price of Supporting [Israel] Will Cost Them the Property and Lives of Their Citizens... If the Heads of Some Islamic States Prevent the Muslim Peoples from Attacking the Zionists... They Can Be Toppled’”

SNIPPET: “In a January 26 op-ed in the Iranian daily Kayhan, the paper’s editor, Hossein Shariatmadari, who is close to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, called on Muslims to unite in a retaliatory attack on American, European, and Israeli “sensitive centers” because of “the war crimes that these countries are committing in the Gaza Strip” and because of their support for Israel.

In his op-ed, Shar’iatmadari stressed that American and European civilians must be harmed in these attacks, so as to make the U.S. and the European countries change their policy towards Israel. He further called for harming Israelis worldwide, and explained that Islamic regimes that prevent an Islamic attack on Israel must be toppled, because

they are defending the enemy.

Following are excerpts from Sharatmadari’s op-ed, which was titled “The Defenders of the Enemy”:”

[Cindy]

ON THE INTERNET:

www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=ahmet2461

www.filistinetkinlik.com/
www.filistinetkinlik.com/hamas.tv

[Cindy]

Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3499953,00.html

Head of Bethlehem Islamic Jihad arrested
Published: 01.29.08, 00:00 / Israel News

The wanted Palestinian arrested earlier Monday evening in a joint IDF, Shin Bet and Border Police operation in Bethlehem is Mohammad Abda, head of the Islamic Jihad in the West Bank city. Security officials said Abda commanded cells within the group and has been involved in the planning and financing of terror attacks against Israeli citizens and military forces.

Abda was arrested after troops laid siege to his house for hours. During the operation a 17-year-old Palestinian youth who threw a Molotov cocktail at the soldiers was killed. (Efrat Weiss)

[Cindy]

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=596&sid=1334443
(AP)

“Man With Suspicious Package Arrested Outside White House”
January 28, 2008 - 6:58pm

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “WASHINGTON - The Secret Service says a man who made verbal threats against President George W. Bush and had a suspicious package was arrested outside the north fence of the White House.

The Secret Service says 28-year-old Aleksandar Aleksov, of Guttenberg, New Jersey, was taken into custody just before 2 p.m. on Pennsylvania Avenue. He is charged with making threats against the president. Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan says the threats were was overheard by Secret Service officers.”

[Oorang]

U.S. diplomat dies in Pakistan; suicide suspected
Mon Jan 28, 2008

ISLAMABAD - Pakistani authorities found the body of a U.S. diplomat with a bullet wound in his head at his home in Islamabad on Monday and were investigating a suspected case of suicide, police and the Interior Minister said.

The U.S. embassy named the dead man as 37-year-old Keith Ryan, an immigration and customs enforcement attache from the Department of Homeland Security. "There will be a full investigation; however, there does not appear to have been any foul play," the embassy said in a brief statement. The embassy said Ryan had "passed away" on Monday morning, and his family had been informed.

Kaleem Imam, a Senior Superintendent of police in Islamabad, said the diplomat had been in Pakistan for a year and had been due to return to the United States on Monday, having finished his assignment. "But, he did not come out of the home and was found dead in the bathroom. There is a bullet wound in his head," Imam said. Ryan's body was found in his residence on a leafy avenue close to the diplomatic enclave in the Pakistani capital. "We expect it is suicide, but we are investigating," Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz told Reuters.

The United States does not let diplomats posted to Pakistan take their families, because of the security threat posed by Islamist militants.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080128/pl_nm/pakistan_usa_diplomat_dc_3;_ylt=Ampjp_KzcSvfmxALVID6YSL9xg8F

Pakistani children hostage-taking ends
Jan. 28, 2008

ISLAMABAD -- Several children held hostage Monday by armed men in a remote Pakistani school were rescued hours later without being harmed, reports said. Tribal elders in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province took custody of the four or five hostage-takers after securing the release of some 30 children and teachers held captive in a primary school in Bannu district, CNN reported, quoting officials.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, who is touring Europe, had been informed about the incident. The BBC reported the hostage-takers had entered the school after escaping from a police confrontation over the abduction of a district health official. The hostage-takers were initially believed to be Islamic militants but were later described as common criminals, although the area has seen growing pro-Taliban activity in recent months.

The BBC report quoted Musharraf as saying in London: "It was incidental that they entered the school to hide themselves. But in the process to hide they took those students hostage." A GEO TV report said in the confrontation with police the kidnapped health official was released and that five of the armed men were arrested. Another armed man was reportedly killed in the encounter, while the rest apparently stormed the school.

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2008/01/28/pakistani_children_hostage-taking_ends/2859/

[Cindy]

May God bless Mr. Ryan’s family.

Thank you for the school update, Oorang.

[Oorang]

You're welcome Cindy.

______________________________

Madrid train bomb suspect arrested in Morocco at Spain's request
Jan 28, 2008

A man suspected of involvement in the 2004 Madrid train bombings has been arrested in Rabat on official charges presented by the National Court judge, Juan del Olmo last month accusing him of playing a part in planting the bombs.

Abdelilah Hriz was arrested on Sunday, and according to news on Monday from Javier Zaragoza, Chief Prosecutor at the National Court, Morocco has agreed to try him at Spain’s request. There is no extradition treaty between Spain and Morocco and it is the first instance that Rabat has agreed to try a Moroccan citizen for crimes committed in another country.

Judge del Olmo named Hriz as a prime suspect in the train bombings in February last year on the basis of DNA evidence found at the flat in Leganés where seven of the suspected bombers blew themselves up after the terrorist attacks, and also at a property in Chinchón which was used by the terrorists. Hriz was recently released from custody following an appeal against his sentence for other terrorist activities.

The judge charges Abdelilah Hriz with 191 murders, 1,811 counts of attempted murder, four of terrorism destruction, together with trafficking, possession and supply of explosives.

http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_14825.shtml

[Cindy]

Good.

[Cindy]

ADDING to your link 1133 Oorang.

Thanks to RDTF for the thread ping.

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1961168/posts

US diplomat found dead
The News ^ | Tuesday, January 29, 2008, Muharam 19, 1429 A.H. | Shakeel Anjum & Mariana Baabar
Posted on 01/28/2008 7:27:55 PM PST by gandalftb

ISLAMABAD: A diplomat of the American Embassy was found dead in his house on Monday, police said.

Keith Ryan, 36 belonged to Homeland Security of the US Embassy and was to return home on Monday morning.

The victim had bullet wound in the upper back portion of his neck, his death was caused by excessive bleeding. The police, recovered the body of the diplomat and a 9 mm gun from the bathroom.

The police had earlier declared it suicide. The pathologists at the PIMS hospital confirmed that Ryan sustained bullet injury on the rear upper neck. The medico-legal experts, however, said he was murdered.

“There is only an entry wound on the rear upper portion of his neck but no exit wound, “ the sources revealed, adding that the bullet could not be found even in X-Ray report. “There is no visible blackening of the entry wound, indicating that the shot was fired from the distance of more than four feet”, the sources claimed.

Keith was scheduled to leave for the USA by Qatar Airways flight QA-398 at 8.45 AM on Monday after completion of his tenure and his colleague, Mr. David Dean, an employee of the USA Embassy, came to his house at about 6.00am to give him a ride to Islamabad Airport but he found no body at his house. As he opened the door of the bathroom, Keith was lying dead in the bathtub while a gun was lying three feet away from the tub. He was wearing knickers.

Keith’s wife and three children are on a pleasure trip to England these days.

Spokesman Sean McCormack identified the diplomat as Keith Ryan, an attache from the Department of Homeland Security. Investigations were continuing, he said, “but we have no indication at this point that it involves foul play.”

(Excerpt) Read more at thenews.jang.com.pk ...

[Cindy]

stepping back in time...

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1859767/posts

Dead US diplomat in Cyprus ‘stabbed himself’
Breitbart ^ | July 2, 2007 | Not Stated
Posted on 07/02/2007 12:33:39 PM PDT by Islander7

The US embassy’s defence attache in Cyprus was found dead on Monday on a hilltop in a remote part of the Mediterranean island after apparently stabbing himself in the neck, officials said. Thomas Mooney “died as a result of haemorrhaging after the infliction of an injury to the neck,” an official involved in the post-mortem told AFP on condition of anonymity.

“The injury was compatible with self-infliction. There was no evidence of foul play whatsover,” the official said, adding that the wound was caused by a sharp instrument and that the body was in a state of decomposition.

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

[Cindy]

Thanks to RDTF for this RECAP:

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1948488/posts

Group claims US diplomat’s murder in Sudan
Radio Netherlands ^ | January 04 2008
Posted on 01/04/2008 3:34:41 PM PST by knighthawk

Khartoum (4 January) - A hitherto unknown Sudanese Islamist group has claimed responsibility for the murder of an United States diplomat and his driver. They were shot dead in Khartoum on New Year’s Day.

The group, Ansar al-Tawhid, made the claim on the internet, saying the men were killed because the Americans were trying to establish Christianity in Sudan. The chauffeur was said to have bartered away his religion.

[RDTF]

I can tell you that 3 young men, that are diplomats, dying in a few months is really unprecedented and I’m not buying any of it on face value.