Threat Matrix: January 2008

Previous Thread ^

[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

Threat Matrix:
January 2008

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[Cindy]

UPDATE:

http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp764.htm

January 17, 2008
HP-764

“OFAC Lifts Designation of Six Colombian Companies
Companies Seized and Forfeited by Colombian Government”

[Cindy]

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48719

“Al Qaeda Remains Coalition’s, Iraqi’s Biggest Target”

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2008

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16580&Itemid=128

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080120-04
January 20, 2008

Coalition Forces resume air assault on al-Qaeda targets

Multi-National Division – Center PAO
BAGHDAD – Coalition Forces resumed the aerial bombardment of an al-Qaeda in Iraq sanctuary in Arab Jabour Jan. 20.

The precision air strikes targeted suspected AQI safe havens as part of Operation Marne Thunderbolt, which is part of the country-wide Operation Phantom Phoenix.

The raid follows the Jan. 10 and Jan. 16 air strikes in the same region which hit a combined total of 64 targets with a total weight of more than 80,000 pounds of bombs.

Additional information will be released as story develops.

-30-

[Cindy]

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

#

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=3EB1006A-B76A-4877-A02E-FCBE68A1B749

“China’s Person of the Year”
By William R. Hawkins
The Washington Times | Monday, January 21, 2008

[Cindy]

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_929.html

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

This information is current as of today, Mon Jan 21 2008 03:12:05 GMT-0800 (PST).

ALGERIA

December 23, 2007

#

https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=78557

YOU ARE HERE: Home > Reports > Consular Affairs Bulletins > Report
Warden Message: Algiers Terrorist Attack Warning
CONSULAR AFFAIRS BULLETINS
Middle East / N. Africa - Algeria
20 Jan 2008

[Cindy]

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

#

Thanks to Clive for the ping to this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1956956/posts

“Zimbabwe bank issues $10million bill - but it won’t even buy you a hamburger in Harare”
daily mail ^ | 19th January 2008
Posted on 01/20/2008 10:16:08 PM PST by george76

[Cindy]

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

#

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080120/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/venezuela_chavez_banks;_ylt=AvL5T9bzxk_TO4et3Cekk3BvaA8F

“Chavez warns banks on farm lending”
By CHRISTOPHER TOOTHAKER, Associated Press Writer
Sun Jan 20, 3:49 AM ET

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez threatened on Saturday to take control of banks that fail to meet state-imposed loaning requirements designed to benefit Venezuela’s farmers.”

Chavez — a close ally of Cuban leader Fidel Castro — also announced that his government approved new legislation establishing a maximum interest rate of 15 percent on agriculture-related loans and extending payment deadlines for such credit from three to 20 years.

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Chavez has threatened banks before.”

[Cindy]

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1161.html

“Worldwide Caution”

January 17, 2008

[Godzilla]

placemark

[Cindy]

Off Topic, but fyi:

January 18, 2008

http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2008/January/08_crt_042.html

“Justice Department Settles Muslim Corrections Officer Religious Liberty Case”

WASHINGTON –

PRESS RELEASE SNIPPET: ““Today’s settlement underscores the Justice Department’s commitment to protecting the religious liberties guaranteed by federal law for all Americans,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Grace Chung Becker.

“Federal law prohibits workplace discrimination on the basis of religion, and requires reasonable accommodation of employees’ religious practices,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Michael J. Garcia. “We are pleased that DOCS has agreed to give fair consideration to its uniformed officers’ requests for such accommodations.””

[Cindy]

http://www.truthusa.com/IRAN.html
http://thememriblog.org/iran
http://memritv.org/subject/en/121.htm

###

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=39616&sectionid=351020101

#

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/019663.php

January 21, 2008

“Iran warns the Netherlands over Wilders film on Islam

SNIPPET: “More assault to freedom of speech — and a new Islamic Rage event on the horizon?

“Iran warns Hague over anti-Islam film,” from PressTV (thanks to all who sent this in):

An Iranian MP says the Netherlands will face widespread protests if it gives the green light to the screening of an anti-Islam movie.

Head of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi said that the Iranian nation would react to any insult to Islam.

The senior Iranian lawmaker added that Muslims will not tolerate any insult to Islam.”

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48720

Coalition Forces Kill Four, Nab 37, Destroy Weapons in Iraq

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21, 2008 – Coalition and Iraqi forces killed four suspected terrorists, detained 37 others and destroyed weapons caches in Iraq the past five days, military officials said.

During operations in Iraq today:

— Coalition forces killed two suspected terrorists, detained three others and destroyed a weapons cache west of Muqdadiyah during a raid aimed at dismantling a terrorist network operating in the northeast Diyala River Valley region. Troops received credible intelligence indicating the site was an al Qaeda in Iraq meeting place, military officials said.

— Troops captured two brothers north of Tarmiyah wanted for their alleged ties to the al Qaeda in Iraq network operating north of Baghdad. The network reportedly is responsible for carrying out attacks against coalition forces, beheadings, sniper and improvised-explosive-device-attacks and foreign terrorist facilitation. In addition to the targeted suspects, ground forces detained four suspects.

— Coalition troops nabbed an individual in Tikrit suspected of transferring weapons on behalf a terrorist network in the area. The suspect is believed to be closely associated with the al Qaeda in Iraq leader and other terrorists in the region. Military officials said. ground forces also detained another suspect on site.

— Ground forces in Sharqat detained an associate of al Qaeda who reportedly was planning a large-scale attack against coalition and Iraqi forces, and local civilians in the Bayji area, military officials said. The wanted individual relocated to Sharqat from Bayji in an attempt to avoid capture by combined forces. Troops also nabbed three more suspected terrorists during the operation.

— Coalition forces detained two suspected terrorists north in Mosul, including a wanted individual allegedly involved in the local al Qaeda in Iraq network. The suspect reportedly served as an “assassination officer” for a former al Qaeda in Iraq leader who was killed during a Dec. 25 operation.

— Troops nabbed one suspected terrorist during an operation east of Samarra targeting al Qaeda in Iraq members associated with safe houses and meeting locations in the region, military officials said.

Elsewhere in Iraq today, Iraqi Special Operations Forces, with U.S. Special Forces advisers, killed an extremist brigade commander in the Aamel neighborhood of Baghdad.

When combined special operations forces entered the building where the extremist was located, a man darted into another room. After breaching the door, the assault force entered the room to detain him. The man attempted to grab a weapon and special operators killed the suspect, later identified as the wanted extremist commander, military officials said.

The commander allegedly controlled ten extremist groups operating within the Iraqi capital, and is responsible for attacks, murder, kidnappings and criminal activity against Iraqi security forces and civilians, military officials said. Credible intelligence indicates he and his group carried out the sectarian-based murders of several hundred Iraqis over the past year.

In Iraq yesterday, coalition air support hit more than 10 targets during a night air raid against suspected al Qaeda in Iraq safe havens in Arab Jabour.

The joint operation carried out by Air Force, Navy and Marine aircraft involved precision air strikes by F-18 fighter jets and B-1 bombers. Meanwhile, Air Force operators and soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division worked in coordination to prevent collateral damage, and to prevent use of any area for attacks on coalition forces, military officials said.

Yesterday’s raid follows the Jan. 16 and Jan. 10 air strikes in the same region which hit a combined total of 64 targets with a total weight of more than 80,000 pounds of bombs.

“The strikes that we conducted were focused on IEDs and caches that we have targeted, that will allow us to get our ground troops further into the zone,” Army Col. Terry Ferrell, 2nd BCT, 3rd Inf. Div. commander, said of yesterday’s air raid. “These targets, the IEDs specifically, are designed as part of the defensive belt to prevent our forces from entering into areas that we have not been before.”

The raid supported Operation Phantom Phoenix, the overarching operation that includes Operation Marne Thunderbolt, and is aimed at pursuing and defeating extremist elements throughout the country.
In central Iraq yesterday:

— Coalition air support killed one terrorist near Mahmudiyah during an operation targeting an alleged associate of the al Qaeda in Iraq network operating south of Baghdad. Ground forces detained two suspects during the raid.

— Coalition forces captured a suspected terrorist in Baghdad associated with the al Qaeda in Iraq network in Karkh. The suspect allegedly is an experienced improvised explosive device and car bomb facilitator, and is involved in terrorist activities across the Iraq, military officials said.

— Troops nabbed an alleged associate of a senior level al Qaeda in Iraq foreign terrorist facilitator in the Iraqi capital. The suspect is believed to have close ties to numerous terrorist leaders in Baghdad and foreign terrorists operating in and outside of Iraq, military officials said. In addition to the wanted individual, the ground force detained two suspected terrorists on site.

— During coordinated operations near Samarra, coalition forces detained two suspected terrorists, including an alleged al Qaeda in Iraq member involved in terrorist media and propaganda operations. Reports indicate the suspect is tied to al Qaeda in Iraq leadership from Samarra to Mosul, including the suspect detained Dec. 27 for his role in media operations and foreign terrorist facilitation, military officials said.

North of Jalula, Jan. 17-19, coalition forces conducted an operation targeting associates of the al Qaeda in Iraq network pushed from the northeast Diyala River Valley into the Hamrin mountain area. Ground forces detained 11 suspected terrorists and found and destroyed weapons a cache on site.

“We’re on the offensive against al-Qaeda and the foreign terrorists they bring into Iraq,” said Navy Capt. Vic Beck, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. “We are committed to pursuing al-Qaeda in order to ensure security and stability for all of Iraq.”
(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq news releases.)

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1603333/posts

#

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1603333/posts?page=108#108

blog:

http://www.westernresistance.com/blog/archives/003947.html

January 21, 2008

“Islamism: ‘Terrorist 007’ And His Internet Adventures (1 of 3)”

(Note: “This article by Adrian Morgan (Giraldus Cambrensis of Western Resistance) appeared today in Family Security Matters and is reproduced with their permission.”)

108 posted on 01/21/2008 2:55:09 PM PST by Cindy

[Cindy]

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

http://www.truthusa.com/MoreThanCartoons.html

#

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080120.wcomment0121/BNStory/National/home

WEB-EXCLUSIVE COMMENT
“What a strange place Canada is”
EZRA LEVANT
Special to Globe and Mail Update
January 21, 2008 at 12:32 AM EST

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “A few days ago, I was interrogated for 90 minutes by Shirlene McGovern, an officer of the government of Alberta. I have been accused of hurting people’s feelings because, two years ago, I published the Danish cartoons of Mohammed in the Western Standard magazine.”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “This was not a high-school debating tournament where Human Rights Officer McGovern and I were equals, enjoying a shared interest in politics and publishing. I was there because I was compelled to be there by the government, and if I answered Officer McGovern’s political questions unsatisfactorily, the government could fine me thousands of dollars and order me to publicly apologize for holding the wrong views.

I told her that the complaint process itself was a punishment. Even if I was eventually acquitted, I would still lose — hundreds of hours, and tens of thousands of dollars in legal bills.”

[Cindy]

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

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1957297/posts

Zambia Hit By Nationwide Power Blackout
The Guardian (UK) ^ | 1-21-2008 | JOSEPH J. SCHATZ
Posted on 01/21/2008 3:14:28 PM PST by blam
Zambia Hit by Nationwide Power Blackout

Monday January 21, 2008 10:31 PM
By JOSEPH J. SCHATZ
Associated Press Writer

LUSAKA, Zambia (AP) - Zambia was plunged into darkness Monday night in what appeared to be the second nationwide power outage in three days.

The electricity network went down at about 7:30 p.m. and was restored about four hours later. There was no immediate explanation for the blackout.

On Saturday, Zambia was without electricity for about eight hours, leaving more than 300 miners temporarily trapped underground in the country’s Copperbelt province. It was not immediately known if any miners had been trapped underground Monday night.

The country’s power authority said there had been a ``high voltage’’ occurrence on the network, but was still investigating. It also was unclear if the second blackout was caused by the same problem or if the outages were connected to regional problems with electricity supply.

Neighboring Zimbabwe, where power and water outages occur daily, was also hit by a nationwide power outage over the weekend, and worsening power cuts in South Africa have caused economic losses and chaos across the country.

In Zambia, which relies on hydroelectricity, however, national blackouts are rare, though they sometimes occur in poorer areas of the capital.

Large parts of South Africa are suffering blackouts often lasting several hours. Utility company Eskom says demand is simply too high for it to keep up with.

Eskom said Sunday it had stopped supplying electricity to Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia because of the dire shortage at home. Normally about 95 percent is used locally and the rest sold abroad.

(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...

[Cindy]

Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3497105,00.html

2 Qassams land in Israel, no injuries

Published: 01.21.08, 21:58 / Israel News

Palestinians launched two Qassam rockets from northern Gaza towards Israel late Monday evening. One of the rockets landed near an Israeli community north of Gaza and the second landed in an open area in the Sedot Negev Regional Council.

No injuries were reported and no damage was caused. (Shmulik Hadad)

#

UPDATE:

Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3497141,00.html

Palestinians say IDF fires missile at Qassam launching cell

Published: 01.22.08, 00:01 / Israel News

Palestinian sources in Gaza reported an IDF airstrike against a cell of Qassam rocket launchers near the Jabaliya refugee camp in the northern Strip.

According to the report the cell belongs to Hamas’ military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. No injuries have been reported thus far. (Ali Waked)

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UPDATE:

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1200572510696&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Jan 21, 2008 23:41
“Kassam rocket lands south of Ashkelon; none wounded”
By JPOST.COM STAFF

[Cindy]

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

#

Thanks to Rushmore Rocks for the ping to this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1957313/posts

#

http://www.hstoday.us/home/Main_Kimery_Report.cfm

http://www.hstoday.us/Kimery_Report/20080118_Super_Bowl_Threat_Assessment_Points_Out_Vulnerabilities_of_High_profile_Events.cfm

“THE KIMERY REPORT
Thefts of Official Credentials, Uniforms Could Facilitate Super Bowl Attack
Threat Assessment Points Out Vulnerabilities of High-profile Events”

WASHINGTON, DC, JANUARY 21, 2008

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1957377/posts

#

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1200572511053&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Jan 22, 2008 0:56 | Updated Jan 22, 2008 1:39
“Iranian sabotage delayed Indian launch of Israeli satellite”
By YAAKOV KATZ

[Oorang]

UPDATE on previously posted news:

Bomb-making factory found in Brooklyn apartment of Columbia professor
Monday, January 21st 2008

Police stumbled upon a bomb-making factory Sunday in the home of a Columbia professor who specializes in the spread of infectious disease - and are investigating whether he and his roommate have terror ties.

Cops evacuated the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood around the Remsen St. home of Michael Clatts, a medical anthropologist, after finding seven pipe bombs fitted with fuses in his flat, police sources said.

Excerpted

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2008/01/21/2008-01-21_bombmaking_factory_found_in_brooklyn_apa-3.html

[Oorang]

Kosovo terror group issues fresh threats
21 January 2008

PRIŠTINA -- Members of the ANA, an armed ethnic Albanian group in Kosovo the UN has branded terrorist, have spoken again. Members of the Albanian National Army (ANA) say they are "currently focused on the northern parts of Kosovo," where Serbs are a majority and where they will allegedly, following a unilateral proclamation of independence of the province, "attempt to bring in security forces," Tanjug news agency has quoted BIRN, an online publication.

"Several armed groups of Kosovo Albanians, with unclear sources of financing, are active in Kosovo and the international security forces are carefully monitoring them for the time being," BIRN editor Krenar Gashi wrote. A man in his thirties identified as Arberi, who claims to be the leader of ANA, explained, "while sipping tea in downtown Priština," that they are "not fighting for pan-Albanian unification, but to protect the territorial integrity of Kosovo if it is threatened."

The group claims to have a "plan of action prepared in the event of an escalation of tensions in Kosovo." ANA leaders claim this can happen "only in the event of a partition of Kosovo, with Serbs getting the northern part of the province, or if there is no proclamation of independence in the more imminent future."

Excerpted

http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=01&dd=21&nav_id=47122

Al-Qaeda's "black widow": France to be punished
2008-01-21

PARIS -- Fatiha Mejjati, the "black widow" of Al-Qaeda warned recently that France would be the "target" of terrorism attacks and would be "punished soon," French daily Le Parisien reported on Monday. Mejjati is the widow of Karim Mejjati, a French-Moroccan killed in April 2005 in Saudi Arabia. Karim had been suspected of masterminding the terrorism attack on March 11, 2004 in the Spanish capital Madrid that left 195 people dead.

In an exclusive interview with the daily, Mejjati, who now lives in the Moroccan city of Casablanca, said France would be "punished" for "its fidelity to the United States." "France will no longer be set apart nor be protected", she said, adding French foreign policy is currently aligned with that of the United States and France's political independence in the period of former President Jacques Chirac no longer exists.

Excerpted

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/21/content_7466910.htm