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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[Cindy]

US-CERT.GOV
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“VISHING ATTACKS INCREASE”
1/17/08

[Cindy]

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

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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1957516/posts

“Co-Production Of Pak-China Thunder Jet JF-17 Begins In Pakistan”
RTI News ^ | 1/22/2008
Posted on 01/22/2008 4:20:05 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2008/s08010155.htm

ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net — E-mail: assistnews@aol.com

Monday, January 21, 2008

Christians in India Targeted with Attacks and Kidnapings

By Jeremy Reynalds
Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

INDIA (ANS) — Soon after experiencing persecution in Orissa, Christians in the neighboring state of Chhattisgarh are also being targeted.

According to a story written by Spero News, about 100 unknown attackers armed with sticks and gasoline bombs attacked a prayer meeting led by Pastor Mohan C. Thomas and Jose Kajur in Bothli village located in the Gurur area of the Durg district.

Spero News reported that the attackers rushed to the attack site in a truck, where about 2500 people from nearby villages were gathered last Wed. to attend an open air prayer meeting.

The Christians were targeted, Spero News reported, on the pretext that they were converting people by force. The attackers viciously beat worshipers, and burned the tent to ashes where they were gathered.

Spero News said the incident was broadcast on News Channel IBN 7.

Although the police were notified and a few people were arrested, Spero News reported due to a lack of “sufficient proof,” the suspects were later released on bail.

Two Christians Kidnaped in Madhya Pradesh

Spero News also reported that a group of Hindutva (www.foil.org/politics/hindutva/hindutva.html) extremists attacked a house church in Pathigawan village under Nayagadi police station in Madhya Pradesh at about 8 a.m. on Jan. 18.

The Hindu attackers used swords, sticks, knives and other weapons. Spero News said that two Christians were critically injured in the attack and are undergoing treatment in the hospital.

Spero News said that according to reports, eight men came on motorbikes with saffron flags and surrounded the house where worship was taking place. In addition, they viciously beat two believers before taking kidnaping them and taking them away on the bikes.

The whereabouts of the kidnaped victims is currently unknown. Spero News reported that police have been notified about the incident.

[Cindy]

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

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1957523/posts

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http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/world/2008/01/18/rising-anti-americanism-in-russia.html

“Rising Anti-Americanism in Russia”
By Alastair Gee
Posted January 18, 2008

MOSCOW—

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Putin has cultivated Russians’ resentments, making strident nationalism and bitter anti-westernism a regular part of his public addresses.”

[Godzilla]

placemark

[Cindy]

January 22, 2008

NOTE: The following text is a quote:

http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2008/January/08_nsd_046.html

Jose Padilla and Co-defendants Sentenced on Terrorism Charges

MIAMI – A federal Judge in the Southern District of Florida has sentenced Jose Padilla, Adham Amin Hassoun, and Kifah Wael Jayyousi on charges of conspiracy to murder, kidnap and maim individuals in a foreign country, conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, and providing material support to terrorists, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, Kenneth L. Wainstein, and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, R. Alexander Acosta, announced today.

U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke sentenced Padilla to a term of 208 months, Hassoun to a term of 188 months imprisonment, and Jayyousi to a term of 152 months imprisonment.

“I want to thank the many attorneys and staff, both prosecution and defense, as well as judicial officers, who worked diligently on this prosecution. Their efforts often go unrecognized, yet it is their work that helps ensure justice in our nation,” said U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta.

“I applaud the professionalism and perseverance of the many agents, investigators and prosecutors who worked so tirelessly to bring this case to a successful conclusion. Thanks to their efforts, the defendants’ North American support cell has been dismantled and can no longer send money and jihadist recruits to conflicts overseas,” said Kenneth L. Wainstein, Assistant Attorney General for National Security.

The defendants were charged in an 11-count superseding indictment returned on Nov. 17, 2005. The jury found the defendants guilty of being part of a North American support cell designed to send money, physical assets, and mujahideen recruits to overseas jihad conflicts. The cell operated from many cities in the United States and Canada, and supported and coordinated with other support networks and mujahideen groups waging violent jihad.

The jury found that Padilla traveled overseas to receive violent jihad training and to fight violent jihad, which would include acts of murder, kidnapping and maiming, from October 1993 to November 2001. On July 24, 2000, Padilla filled out a “Mujahideen Data Form” in preparation for violent jihad training in Afghanistan.

Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Department of Homeland Security.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Frazier, Russell Killinger and John Shipley of the Southern District of Florida, and Trial Attorney Stephanie Pell of the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

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08-046

[Cindy]

ADDING to post no. 866:

http://counterterrorismblog.org/2008/01/jose_padilla_news_summary.php

“Accused Al-Qaeda Jihadist Jose Padilla Sentenced”
By Jeffrey Imm
(January 22, 2008)

[Cindy]

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

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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1603333/posts?page=109#109

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blog:

http://www.westernresistance.com/blog/archives/003948.html

January 22, 2008

“’Terrorist 007’ And His Islamist Internet Adventures (2 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.”)

109 posted on 01/22/2008 4:11:59 PM PST by Cindy

[Cindy]

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

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blog:

http://www.westernresistance.com/blog/archives/003949.html

January 22, 2008
“Spain: Request For Longer Detention Of Islamist Suspects”

[Cindy]

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48721

“Coalition Completes Aerial Bomb Blitz of Al Qaeda Sanctuary”

By Tim Kilbride
Special to American Forces Press Service

BAGHDAD, Jan. 22, 2008

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48727

Coalition Forces in Iraq Capture 18 Terrorists

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2008 – Coalition forces today captured 18 suspected terrorists during anti-insurgent operations conducted across northern Iraq and the Baghdad area, military officials said.

One of the detainees was wanted on suspicion of gathering intelligence against coalition and Iraqi forces and providing financial support to Iranian-supported “special groups” members throughout Diyala province. The detainee also was reported to be an associate of several other senior-level criminal leaders involved in attacks on coalition forces.

Intelligence led ground forces to the target location, where they captured the wanted individual and detained one other suspected criminal without incident. Coalition forces also discovered large amounts of American, Iraqi and Iranian currency.

In a separate operation, a second wanted individual was captured in the Qasirin area. He also is a suspected special groups leader who specialized in the use of improvised explosive devices in attacks on coalition and Iraqi forces. He also allegedly is an associate of several other senior-level criminal leaders involved in attacks on coalition forces. One other suspected criminal was detained without incident.

The cease-fire pledge by Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on behalf of his militia has helped to increase stability, Navy Cmdr. Scott Rye, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman, said. “We welcome that stability, but we will continue to dismantle the criminal networks of those who choose not to honor the pledge,” he said.

Meanwhile, coalition forces detained 19 more suspected terrorists during other operations today and yesterday in central and northern Iraq.

Today, during multiple operations in Baqouba, east of Samarra, and in Mosul, coalition forces detained 11 suspected terrorists while targeting al Qaeda in Iraq associates involved in IED attacks and foreign-terrorist networks.

Also today, coalition forces detained three suspects in Baghdad during an operation that targeted a local kidnapping network.

North of Taji yesterday, coalition forces captured a suspected terrorist believed to be a key member of the al Qaeda in Iraq network in Baghdad. He allegedly is a direct subordinate of the network’s senior leader and previously served in Tarmiyah, north of Baghdad. The suspected terrorist allegedly was involved in attacks against coalition forces, as well as beheadings, sniper and IED attacks, and foreign-terrorist facilitation. An additional four suspected terrorists were detained during the operation.

“Iraqi and coalition forces continue our efforts to drive al Qaeda in Iraq members and other extremists from their hiding places and bring them to justice,” said Army Maj. Winfield Danielson, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman.

In Jan. 20 Iraq operations:

— Coalition forces liberated two Iraqi males with signs of torture from an al Qaeda prison south of Baqouba. U.S. 2nd Infantry Division soldiers were participating in Operation Raider Harvest, the Diyala province portion of Operation Phantom Phoenix, a countrywide offensive to rid Iraq of extremists. “We could hear voices inside the room,” said Army Spc. Christopher Nollenberg, one of the first U.S. troops to enter the building where the captives were being held. “They called out for help and told us they were prisoners.” The liberated prisoners, who’d been kidnapped on Jan. 9, were transported to a nearby base for medical treatment, meals and questioning.

— An evening air strike hit more than 30 suspected al Qaeda safe havens in Arab Jabour. Thirty-five bombs were dropped with a total weight of 19,000 pounds in support of the countrywide Operation Phantom Phoenix. The strikes were focused “on IEDs and caches that we have targeted, that will allow us to get our ground troops further into the zone,” said Army Col. Terry Ferrell, 2nd Brigade Combat Team commander.

— Multinational Division Baghdad troops uncovered a terrorist weapons cache during a combat patrol in Baghdad’s West Rashid district. Soldiers seized 76 mortar rounds of various sizes, four rocket-propelled grenades, four bottles of homemade explosive, nine fuses, two hand grenades, and an unknown number of blasting caps.

— U.S. soldiers operating in and around Baghdad found two sniper rifles, an M-4 carbine with a scope, an AK-47 assault rifle, 20 to 30 magazines and a case containing about 400 million dinars in Iraqi currency.

During Jan. 19 operations, Iraqi police arrested two suspected extremists in Baghdad’s West Rashid district. Iraqi police briefly engaged three men with small-arms fire. One suspected extremist fled in a vehicle, while two others were detained. Officials believe the men are connected to an indirect-fire attack on the International Zone. The alleged extremists were taken to a coalition base for further questioning.

Also Jan. 19 near Taji, Iraqi and U.S. commandos detained two members of a terrorist cell specializing in suicide-bombing attacks. The suspects are believed to be responsible for coordinating and providing supplies for several attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces.

During Jan. 18 operations:

— An Iraqi special weapons and tactics team, advised by U.S. special operations forces, detained three members of an al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist cell during an operation in Rutbah. The suspected terrorists are believed responsible for coordinating attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces, as well as kidnapping and murdering Iraqi citizens. The suspects also are believed to be involved in providing weapons and funding for terrorist attacks, officials said.

— Iraqi and coalition forces destroyed two empty structures used by terrorists in Diyala province. One of the buildings was believed to be a terrorist safe house, and the other was a small storage facility. They were destroyed after it was discovered that the structures had been rigged with explosives.

— U.S. soldiers attached to Task Force Dragon found two enemy weapons caches during Operation Phantom Phoenix-related operations in the Baghdad area. One cache contained two blasting caps, six rocket-propelled-grenade motors, two 120 mm artillery shells, and 51 linked 7.62 mm machine gun rounds. Another discovered cache contained an M-1 Garand rifle with a missing bolt, a machine gun, a rocket-propelled-grenade launcher, and 200 .30-06 caliber rounds. Two men found at the site were arrested. Under Iraqi law, families are allowed to keep one AK-47 rifle and one full 30-round magazine in their homes for protection.

Meanwhile, U.S. soldiers acted on citizens’ tips to confiscate two weapons caches during Jan. 17-18 raids near Jisr Diyala, south of Baghdad. The two caches contained 75 120 mm mortar rounds, one bag of mortar propellant and a bag of mortar fuses.

“This is definitely a step in the right direction,” said Army 1st Lt. Daniel Bell, with 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team. “We have good people in the area that are very proactive in finding things that they know need to be cleared out of their communities. They are not just doing it for themselves. They are doing it for the betterment of their country.”

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

[Cindy]

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48730

“Al Qaeda Can Run, But Can’t Hide in Northern Iraq, General Says”

By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2008

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48724

Coalition Troops in Afghanistan Capture 7 Insurgents

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2008 – Coalition forces detained seven suspected insurgents during anti-Taliban operations yesterday in Afghanistan’s Zabul province, military officials said.

Coalition forces had searched several compounds in the Qalat district, targeting insurgents with ties to Taliban and foreign-fighter networks. Coalition forces found and detained seven individuals, including one self-confessed Taliban operative. Two weapons were confiscated.

“Coalition forces remain focused on degrading extremist networks in order to help promote peace and stability in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,” said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force 82 spokesman.

In Jan. 20 Afghanistan operations:

— Afghan national police, accompanied by coalition advisors, discovered and destroyed an unexploded anti-personnel mine located near an elementary school in Chamkani village in Paktya province. Engineers said the device was an old Soviet-era anti-personnel mine, buried about 2 feet below the surface.

— Afghan soldiers accompanied by coalition advisors stopped two potential insurgent attacks in Helmand province. Near the village of Tambah, in Narh-e Saraj district, a suspected insurgent was seen placing an improvised explosive device on a frequently traveled roadway. Afghan soldiers called in coalition aircraft to destroy the bomb.

— Just north of Tambah in the same district, Afghan soldiers called in another coalition air strike to eliminate an insurgent observation post. Tambah is known for insurgent activity. Afghan and coalition forces found several 105 mm and 82 mm shell casings, bomb-making materials, and a cache of drugs. “Hiding weapons and drugs in civilian areas is a continuing tactic used by insurgents placing innocent civilians in danger,” Belcher said.

In other recent Afghanistan operations:

— Afghan and coalition forces detained five suspected insurgents during anti-Taliban operations in the Qalat district in Zabul province Jan. 18. One of the detainees identified himself as a Zabul-area Taliban commander.

— Afghan citizens provided information leading to the Jan. 16 recovery of a suspected insurgent weapons cache in Nangarhar province, near the border with Pakistan. The cache, found in Zawa village in the Khogyani district, contained 93 recoilless-rifle rounds.

(Compiled from Combined Joint Task Force 82 news releases.)

[Oorang]

Musharraf: Pakistan isn't hunting Osama

More intel needed on Pakistan terrorists

[Cindy]

http://memriiwmp.org/content/en/report.htm?report=2519

“Islamist Debate: Are Muslim U.K. Visa Holders and Muslim U.K. Citizens Permitted to Carry Out Attacks in Great Britain?”
No. 1821 - January 23, 2008 -

SNIPPET: “Recent discussions in the online Islamist forums regarding the benefits of attacking France have sparked a religious debate among Islamist forum members.(1) At the core of the debate is the Islamic concept of “assurance of protection” (aman), which is referred to in the discussion below as “the covenant of security.” In this case, the covenant of security pertains to the aman granted to a Muslim by a non-Muslim, whereby if a Muslim enters a non-Muslim country, or even an enemy country, with an assurance of protection from that country (e.g. as a merchant or a tourist) he must not violate this covenant by harming the country in any way.(2)

The following are excerpts from the forum discussions on the subject:”

[Cindy]

Note: The following blog entry brief is a quote:

http://www.thememriblog.org/urdupashtu/blog_personal/en/4776.htm

London Emerges As Biggest Center Of Islamic Finance In West

London, U.K.: According to a report prepared for International Financial Services London, London has emerged as the biggest center of Islamic finance in the Western world. Internationally, the Islamic financial services racked up US$531 billion during the decade ending in 2006.

In addition, the London trading market is four times bigger than that of Western Europe; after it are Switzerland, Luxembourg and France.

Source: Roznama Jang, London, January 22, 2008

Posted at: 2008-01-22

[Cindy]

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

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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1957922/posts

http://timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article3234607.ece

From The Times
January 23, 2008
“RAF alert as Russia stages huge naval exercise in Bay of Biscay”

Tony Halpin in Moscow

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “RAF fighters scrambled to track Russian long-range bombers joining a naval task force yesterday as Moscow practised strike tactics off the coast of France and Spain and test-launched nuclear-capable missiles.

The fleet of Russian warships, supported by fighter jets and the bombers, engaged in Russia’s biggest naval exercises since the end of the Cold War.

The war games close to two Nato member states were the most forceful reminder to date of President Putin’s determination to flex Russia’s military muscles as relations with the West have deteriorated. The navy boasted that they were Russia’s largest Atlantic exercises since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.”

[Cindy]

http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2373915

“Al-Qaeda’s Islamic State of Iraq Turns to YouTube”
By Abdul Hameed Bakier
(January 22, 2008)

[Domestic Church]

It’s not just dengue they have to differentiate:

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content-nw/full/358/3/261/T3

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1957978/posts?page=7#7

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Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1957978/posts

Venezuelan troops crack down on border smuggling [National guard seizes 750 tons of food!]

whotv.com/Associated Press ^ | January 22, 2008
Posted on 01/22/2008 6:44:42 PM PST by grundle
Venezuelan troops crack down on border smuggling

Associated Press - January 22, 2008 8:43 PM ET

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Venezuelan troops are cracking down on the smuggling of food and gasoline along the border with Colombia.

An official says the National Guard has seized about 750 tons of food and 9,000 gallons of fuel since tightening security this weekend.

The National Guard has reassigned 1,200 troops to anti-smuggling work along the border. Most of them were already in the region carrying out other duties.

The Venezuelan and Colombian governments are in the middle of a bitter feud. Venezuela is also dealing with shortages of food staples such as milk, rice and meat and the highest inflation in Latin America.

This weekend, Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez ordered the military to keep people from smuggling scarce items like milk across the border. He’s also threatened to seize farms and milk plants that sell their milk abroad rather than domestically.