Threat Matrix: February 2008

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[nwctwx]

Is the U.S. Failing in Afghanistan?

It was malice in wonderland at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday as Bush Administration envoys insisted things are getting better in Afghanistan, while angry lawmakers from both parties cited facts and figures showing just the opposite. Even the senior Republican on the panel, Senator Richard Lugar, found the Administration's claims wanting. "I'm not sure that we have a plan for Afghanistan," he said.

Long seen as the "forgotten war" eclipsed by Iraq in U.S. priorities, Afghanistan is in the Washington spotlight this week with the release of three independent reports concluding that without a change in U.S. policy there, the erstwhile sanctuary of Osama bin Laden would remain a failed state. Read More

	Why the Taliban Feel Confident
	Top US Officer Lauds al-Qaida Death
	US Air Strike Signals al-Qaida Onslaught

Threat Matrix:
February 2008

January 2007

Threat Matrix Index

Theat Matrix Handbook

Theat Matrix 'BOLO'

Invaluable Tips

Preparedness

[nwctwx]

A Look at the Predator Drone

(United States Government)

WHAT IS THE PREDATOR?

The Predator is an unmanned aerial vehicle operated by a mobile ground control station. It is equipped with cameras, sensors and radar that can capture video and still images. It also has a targeting system and can carry two laser-guided Hellfire missiles.

It is about 27 feet long, weighs more than 1,100 pounds and can fly at up to 25,000 feet, remaining aloft for up to 40 hours. The prime contractor is General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. Read More

Pakistani Americans Dispel Fears over Bhutto Backlash

Threat Matrix: Since November 3, 2003
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"No matter where you live in the world, this is a message that bears repeating: Your assistance is needed to prevent terrorist acts." From TM'er and Freeper ~appalachian_dweller~
Submit Information Online: FBI Tips & Public Leads
CDC ::::: CIA ::::: DHS ::::: DOJ ::::: DOD ::::: FBI ::::: NSA
Government Web Sites			Homeland Security Weekly		Nuclear Threat Initiative
	Most Wanted Terrorists		Terror-Alert.com		NCI: Nuclear Terrorism
	FBI: Seeking Information		Global Crisis Watch		IR and Security Network
	Are you Ready?: Ready.Gov		SOFIR		World Policy Institute
	CDC: Preparedness/Response		Little Green Footballs	Threat Matrix Related
	Defense Dept. War on Terror		Terror Base UK		Terrorism Knowledge Base
	U.S. Immigration & Customs		The Blotter		Terror Information Bank
	DOJ: Combating Terrorism		Middle East Live Daily Thread		South Asia Terrorism Portal
	US-Cert: Current Activity	Think Tanks			Terrorist Scorecard
News & Information			The Terrorism Research Center		Iraq Pipeline Watch
	IPN - Fire & Police Paging		The Jamestown Foundation		National Security Archive
	MEMRI | MEMRI TV		The Brookings Institution		Islamic Dictionary
	The Counterterrorism Blog		Council on Foreign Relations		IACSP Terrorism/Antiterrorism
	Jihad Watch		SITE Institute	Maps
	GlobalTerrorAlert.com		CSIS		Terrorist Network in U.S. Map
	LauraMansfield.com		RAND Corporation		Recent Disasters: Worldwide
	Internet Haganah		International Crisis Group		Nuclear Weapon Effects Calc.
	Topix.net: Terrorism News		The Heritage Foundation		Nuclear Terrorism: Blast Maps
	Faith Freedom International		Foreign Policy Institute		FEMA Nuclear Fallout Map
	TrackingTerrorism.com		Center for Defense Information		U.S. Nuclear Targets Map
	DEBKAfile		The Cato Institute		Global Incident Map
	TerroristWarning.com		Hudson Institute	Pay Sites
	HomelandSecurityUS.net		Homeland Security Institute		Strategic Forecasting
New Links in Italics

"America Supports You" spotlights what Americans are doing in support of the military all across the land, encourages others to thank the troops and allows all to tell their stories by giving voice and visibility to their efforts.

Threat Matrix: Recommended Reading

February 2008

Leaderless Jihad
Marc Sageman

Being prepared is a good thing, no matter where one lives; no matter what alert level we are on.
From TM'er and Freeper ~Cindy~

Intelligence is the best weapon against terrorism.
National Commission on Terrorism: 1999

Ian Livingston

[nwctwx]

ping to February!

[Cindy]

Thank you nw.

I do appreciate it.

TGIF!

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=frwn
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=gwot
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=wot
http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/english/index.cfm?page=Captured

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http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/english/index.cfm?page=Wanted_Terrorist
http://www.rewardsforjustice.net

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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=globaljihad
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=jihad
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=internet

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http://www.jihadwatch.org
http://www.threatswatch.org

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http://www.memri.org/jihad.html
http://www.memriiwmp.org/
http://www.memritv.org
http://www.thememriblog.org/

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http://truthusa.com/a/index.php

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SEPTEMBER 11, 2001: Before, During and After
http://www.truthusa.com/911news.html
http://www.truthusa.com/911news2.html
http://www.truthusa.com/911news3.html
http://www.truthusa.com/911.html

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http://www.sofir.org
http://sfir-arabicsource.blogspot.com/
http://www.internet-haganah.com

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http://www.terrorism-info.org.il

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

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http://www.persecution.org
http://www.memri.org/antisemitism.html

[PGalt]

Thanks for the ping, Ian. Thanks to you, Cindy and all of the outstanding linkers/researcher/educators on these threads.

BTTT!

[good old days]

Thank you!

[PGalt]

Thanks for all of the information and linking about Iran on your blog. Did you just start that December 7, 2007?

[Domestic Church]

Applause!

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

An effective program I wish had been launched early on in Afghanistan, is a rational public works program, whose purpose is to hire every available person to rebuild their nation.

Afghanistan has such a small typical wage that vast numbers of people could have been hired to do this in parallel with military operations.

There are any number of nation-building objectives that would be met in the process, such as the creation of a national banking system, the creation of tens of thousands of small businesses with micro-loans, the repair of old infrastructure and the building of new.

And especially, to replace some of the tribalism with a sense of nationalism, uniting a very fractured country.

In many ways, such a public works program would be military activities by other means, in that it would accomplish many military goals in the process. This effectiveness of this has been demonstrated countless times in Iraq.

At the beginning, it would be a systematic process completely run by Americans, but teaching a new generation of management by younger Afghanis, not yet exposed to the endemic corruption, mismanagement, and sectarianism of their elders. Many would barely be high school age.

Much of their instruction would be anti-corruption indoctrination, plain and simple. To not just be rigidly honest themselves, and to insist on it in others, but to see it as a patriotic duty. To build an intolerant culture of honesty and efficiency.

It would be many years before such a generation is ready to lead, but at least one would be waiting in the wings, armed not just with a better way, but the understanding of why it is a better way.

[Rushmore Rocks]

Thank you, Ian. For some reason I think this may be an eventful month.

[SlowBoat407]

Thank you. Lurking but still here.

[null and void]

I be here!

[MamaDearest]

I be here!

I was wondering where you were!!!!!!!!

[MamaDearest]

A mere thank you seems insufficient - but thank you anyway Ian!!!!!!

[Cindy]

Yes, the original board began July 2007 and Iran in the global jihad section began December 7, 2007.

[Oorang]

Blog Posting:
Gertz - Al Qaeda:'Large Operation in America, God Willing'
Friday, February 01, 2008

FWIW:
An Al Qaida Internet site reported last week that terrorists are planning a major attack in the United States in the coming weeks. The Jan. 12 posting titled “A Large Operation in America, God Willing,” stated that the upcoming attack was imminent. Other participants chastised the writer for tipping Al Qaida’s hand.

Counterterrorism analysts said the threat could be real or Al Qaida deception designed to test U.S. security by announcing an planned attack and observing the level of increased security.

For those seeking more information, the author of the posting said they should be patient but assured forum members that “the lions have taken off and you will see [the proof] in the coming weeks.” “We ask God to guide the aim of the jihadists and to grant them success in the revenge campaign for Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi,” the message said.

Excerpted

http://ibloga.blogspot.com/2008/02/gertz-al-qaedalarge-operation-in.html

[Cindy]

Thanks Oorang for the fyi.

[Oorang]

30kg explosives found in beer barrel (Spain)
Thursday, January 31, 2008

A metallic beer barrel containing 30kg of the explosive material ammonal (ammonium nitrate) was found this morning on a path in the Andra Mari district of Getxo (Vizcaya).

At this stage it is believed that the explosives were due to be picked up by ETA activists, and it is possible that the barrel itself - which was fitted with a detonator cord that was not connected to a detonator - was designed to have provided the casing for a bomb.

A local man, who first spotted the device last night, contacted the Local Police this morning. The device was rendered safe by regional police bomb squad experts - who arrived at the scene at 12.30pm - and has now been removed for forensic analysis.

http://www.thinkspain.com/news-spain/14421/30kg-explosives-found-in-beer-barrel

Bomb Threat Evacuates Part Of Danville (California)
February 1, 2008

Part of Danville was evacuated on Friday afternoon because of a report of a bomb like device, authorities said. The Contra Costa County Sheriffs Office was responded to an initial report of a "gun incident" near Diablo Road and El Cerro, according to the sheriff's office.

Someone called authorities about a gun in the 800 block of Diablo Road around 12:30 p.m., according to Sheriff Spokesman Jimmy Lee. He said police came across bomb making materials and called the Walnut Creek Bomb Squad to the scene.

The surrounding area including some local schools were evacuated, according to Lee. Lee said he does not believe anyone has been arrested in the case. Chopper 11 was over the scene and showed police barricades shutting down Diablo Road. Traffic moved slowly by the scene where a fire truck, police cars and a mechanical robot examined the area.

http://www.nbc11.com/newsarchive/15199404/detail.html

[Oorang]

You’re welcome Cindy.

[Cindy]

Thanks Oorang for the fyi.

#

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1963639/posts

Largest Terrorist Forum: Situation in Iraq is Very Difficult, Weapons are Few, Men Are Fewer
February/2/2008 | jveritas
Posted on 02/01/2008 8:33:51 PM PST by jveritas

In a very surprising thread posted tonight on Ekhlaas terrorist forum, the largest terrorist forum on the internet, the author of the thread was calling for urgent help to the terrorists in Iraq. He said that the last bastion controlled by the terrorists in Baghdad has fell in the hands of the US and Iraqi forces. He described the situation in Iraq as very dangerous and very difficult. He said that weapons are few but men are even fewer.

This thread on Ekhlaas terrorist forum is a very surprising admission of defeat and confirms without any doubt that they are running out of terrorists males in particular the foreign non Iraqi terrorists who used to conduct massive suicide terrorist attacks. Today we saw the terrorists using two mentally retarded women to unwillingly conduct terrorist attacks in Baghdad market by detonating them from a distance. Just six months ago the terrorists were saying that they must never use women in “Jihad”, in the last few weeks we have seen more suicide terrorist attacks conducted by women and now we are seeing them using mentally handicapped women to do their evil deeds.

In December 2007, I posted a thread on Free Republic about a speech by Al Qaeda spokesman in Iraq admitting that no more than two hundreds foreign terrorists were left in Iraq Al Qaeda Confession: Only 200 Foreign Terrorists are left in Iraq . His statement caused a lot of angst among the terrorists forum, but it now appears that surprisingly his admission was truthful.

We are winning this war against Al Qaeda in Iraq and we are winning it big. The terrorists have been utterly defeated and driven out of Anbar, Baghdad, and Diyala. Their remaining and defeated forces fled to Northern Iraq, and to the City of Mosul in particular where the Iraqi and US troops are going to conduct an eminent decisive attack against them.

God bless our brave troops.

PS: Ekhlaas terrorist forum is a password protected so even if I give the link to the thread you will not be able to access it until your register and wait for activation of your account. The Ekhlaas terrorist forum is hosted by an Internet Service Provider called Hivelcoity.net/NOC4 Hosts located in Tampa Florida