Threat Matrix: February 2008

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[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2008/s08020006.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

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Kenyans write to ANS about post-election violence in Kenya

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

KENYA (ANS) — Several e-mails have been received by ANS from people in and around the locations in Kenya where violence has erupted since the election results of the December 27 vote for President.

“This year started with some very shocking things. Kenya, a country which was peaceful for decades, has become a battlefield after the disputed presidential election results were announced,” says a missionary with Saving Grace World Missions.

Neighborhoods burned down by mobs. Photo: Saving Grace World Missions

“God has used this time of unrest and danger, to cause our family to seek His will with where he would have us. God is telling us as a family to go to the place where He calls us to go. Assuring us that, there is not any place on the face of the Earth, which is peaceful all the time. We are trusting in Him, and know He will protect us.”

The missionary says that during this time of unrest in Kenya he and his family have been going through the Book of Acts every evening and have seen how God often uses persecution to scatter believers and send them to areas that need the Gospel.

He says: “Phillip was able to start a ministry and many others, propagating the word of God through out Asia Minor as a result of the persecution that arose out of Jerusalem.”

The missionary continues: “God has strongly impressed on our hearts that He wants us, at this time, to move to Sudan as a family. My wife and daughter in our Devotion time have agreed. We are ready to go and serve God. We had been waiting for our home and the compound to be completed before we moved our family to Sudan. However, we feel like now is the time to go, even though our home is not ready. We will be staying in a small town in Sudan a few miles from the tribe we will be working with, until our compound is finished. We are planning to go as soon as the Lord provides us with the money to move and set up a home in Sudan. This will cost us about $4000.”

He said last weekend the situation in Eldoret took a turn for the worst.

‘Kenyan roadblocks.
Photo: AFP/Saving Grace World Missions

“In the town of Nakuru, a few kilometers south of our home in Eldoret, gangs of young men are seeking revenge for the tribal killings that took place two weeks ago. They are setting up roadblocks and killing people with machetes that do not belong to their tribe. A pregnant woman and her daughter were killed and a priest was beaten to death. Many houses were torched and 20 people were burned alive. The death toll this week has risen to 60. All roads in the area have been closed.”

The missionary explained that Koffi Annan, the former UN Secretary General, said this problem has deeper roots and the election corruption was the spark that ignited a fuel which was there a long time ago, such as land problems and the gap between the poor and the rich.

“My wife and I have decided not to allow our daughter to go to school any more. This was because there are rumors that our place will be the next target. All but three of the families in our area have relocated to Nairobi. This is a difficult time in our life. Please keep us in prayer as we finish all the details for our move back to Sudan.”

The missionary says that during their 10 years in exile they have acquired some furnishings and household belongings that they are not able to sell and would have to purchase all new belongings in Sudan.

“Our prayer is that we will be able to take our belongings with us. We will need to hire a lorry truck to take our things to Sudan. I have been able to contact about five lorry truck owners, most of who are from the Kikuyu tribe. They are afraid that if they travel beyond Eldoret they will be killed.
It is our prayer that by the February 14, we will be able to leave Eldoret on our way to Sudan.

“Our daughter’s education is also a concern. She has scored in the top of her class at her school in Kenya. The area in Sudan that we will be working in does not have a proper school. We are praying that the Lord provides a tutor or someone who might assist my wife in home-schooling our seven-yea-old daughter.”

A Kenyan citizen based in Nairobi writes to thank ANS for showing concern about the current situation in Kenya.

“As fellow Christians we are very much affected bywhat is happening, but we do believe God will touch the hearts of our fellow people to stop post election violence which has crippled most parameters of economy.”

He says: “At the moment calm has return slowly except for few pockets of unrest in few parts of the country, but our security forces have moved in swiftly to stop further violence.

“We do appreciate very much (the) diplomatic efforts by the mediation team led by former UN secretary General Mr Koffi Annan, Mr Benjamin Mkapa former Tanzanian president, and Graca Michel wife of former South African president who are current in country to bring together Mr Mwai Kibaki and Mr Raila Odinga leader of ODM to the negotiating table end this violence.”

The letter writer says that Kenya harbors the goodwill of international organizations and multinational companies considered by EU and US interests here. “That is why they had to move so fast to avert this kind of violence we are experiencing.”

“I can comment (that) since the beginning of the talks at least the country now is returning to it’s normal status — people are going on with their work peacefully and we expect the government to restore stability and security in few parts of the country.”

He concludes: “We us Christians we pray for peace and stability – let’s move forward to build our beloved country which has been experiencing peace for last 45 years. Our neighboring countries played a major role to also oversee (that) our country returns to calm for business to prevail and economy to improve. God bless Kenya and let peace and stability return.”

Yet another missionary says that last Monday morning, he started noticing all kinds of people running by his house.

“I locked the doors and soon heard a big commotion a couple of gates down. They were looting a Kikuyu’s house. In a short time, I saw many people running through our neighbor’s compound. They were jumping over their back wall (without permission) and running to join the looting. The neighbor estimated 200 people passed through their place. Some looters had machetes. It was sad to see women and children also involved in the looting. The police would come. Sometimes they’d shoot tear gas, sometimes bullets. “The people would run away, and then when the police would leave, they’d come back. This cat and mouse game went on for about 5 hours. One person was killed. They hauled him up the street in front of our house in what looked like a bed sheet. Talk about a couple of stressful days! Wednesday I felt weak, tired, and achy but thankfully much better now.

The missionary went on to say: “Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty quiet, then yesterday (Thursday), we got a call from a neighbor and his fiancé (a Kikuyu helper of ours who has left town because of threats against him) saying that some people were trying to loot his things. She asked if we could come over and get them. We rented a hand pulled cart with a couple of guys and headed over to his house. We loaded up his stuff and were headed back to our house when one said, ‘These people want to start to riot.’ I was pushing the cart from behind. It seemed only moments, but when I looked around the cart, It looked like total chaos, people running everywhere.

“We made quick U-turn get out of there and look for an alternate route. Turning down a small dirt road, it seemed like we were at least temporarily safe. In a few minutes though, we came upon a group of men unloading a small truck of items that I guessed had been looted. They started yelling at us while I smiled, waved and greeted them in English. We kept going and I found out later they wanted money for us to pass. One of them had suggested they beat us. I also learned after we got home that another group and been talking about jumping us and taking the things. I’ve got to tell you I was really grateful to be home safely!”

The missionary said that an ex-glue dealer they have ministered to got back from her visit home for Christmas to find her clothes and shoes she was selling had been looted. She’s started a small restaurant (one table which is outside, behind some metal containers in the bus stage area).

“I’ve got to give her credit for continuing to try something else and not going back to selling glue.”

He concluded by saying: “Well, we don’t know what will happen here in Kenya, but it is good to know that whatever happens, we are safe in Jesus. Last night before dinner, we read 2 Corinthians, chapter 5. Verse 1 says, ‘Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built with human hands.’ Thanks so much for your faithful prayers!”

** Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent of ANS, is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station. Michael’s involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department — Michael Ireland Media Missionary (MIMM) — of ACT International at: Artists in Christian Testimony (ACT) International. His weblog appears at: Michael Ireland Media Missionary.

** You may republish this story with proper attribution.

[Cindy]

PERSECTUTION.ORG
http://www.persecution.org

[PGalt]

Thanks for the ping, Oorang. Thanks for posting President Bush’s speech, Cindy (#42). Thanks to all contributors/researchers. Every post read to 102. Placemark BUMP!

[Cindy]

Thank you P Galt.

A blessed Sunday to you.

[PGalt]

Thanks for the ping. What a great evening that must have been. Thanks for the information from Brigitte.

[appalachian_dweller]

It’s funny what not having a TV will do for your mindset.....

I believe the SuperBowl is today, isn’t it? That’s always a target.

Keep watching the ACTIONS of the LEOs folks. What they SAY v. what the DO. Actions speak louder than words.

Again, stay safe folks. Be aware of your surroundings at ALL times. If in a mall or other large building, know where the exits are (exits being plural in case some are blocked).

Those with CCWs should, as always, be extra vigilant.

[Oorang]

Thanks for the info SlowBoat.

[Velveeta]

Thanks for the update.

[Velveeta]

Al Qaeda said to focus on WMDs

A key operative and chemical engineer who was reported to have been slain is alive and leading the effort, officials say.

WASHINGTON — After a U.S. airstrike leveled a small compound in Pakistan’s lawless tribal regions in January 2006, President Pervez Musharraf and his intelligence officials announced that several senior Al Qaeda operatives had been killed, and that the top prize was an elusive Egyptian who was believed to be a chemical weapons expert.

But current and former U.S. intelligence officials now believe that the Egyptian, Abu Khabab Masri, is alive and well — and in charge of resurrecting Al Qaeda’s program to develop or obtain weapons of mass destruction.

~snip~

For now, the intelligence officials believe, that effort is largely focused on developing and using cyanide, chlorine and other poisons that are unlikely to cause the kind of mass-casualty attack that is usually associated with weapons of mass destruction.

Intelligence officials say they base their current assessments on anecdotal evidence gleaned from electronic intercepts, information provided by informants and captured Al Qaeda members and the tracking of money flows and militant websites. One international counter-terrorism official said there were indications that some operatives had received immunizations to protect themselves against biological agents.

~snip~
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-khabab3feb03,0,5365070.story

[Velveeta]

~snippet

And, the most important question is why didn’t Al-Qaeda - since its establishment and until this moment - carry out one single operation against Israel?

This is the mystery of mysteries and whoever answers this question will have our undying gratitude.
http://aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=2&id=11661

[Cindy]

Regarding Al Qaeda and Israel ON THE INTERNET:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Al+Qaida+%2B+Israel&btnG=Google+Search

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Al+Qaeda+%2B+Israel&btnG=Google+Search

#

Looking at the news:

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&q=Al+Qaeda+%2B+Israel&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wn

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&q=Al+Qaida+%2B+Israel&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wn

#

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

[Oorang]

Well that's interesting, thanks Velveeta.

_______________________

Israelis told to prepare 'rocket rooms' for war
Feb 2 2008

Retired senior officers told Israelis on Saturday to prepare "rocket rooms" as protection against a rain of missiles expected to be fired at the Jewish state in any future conflict. Speaking on radio as part of a military propaganda offensive, retired general Udi Shani said: "The next war will see a massive use of ballistic weapons against the whole of Israeli territory."

Shani was tasked recently with drawing up a report on the way the military authorities operated during Israel's 2006 summer war against Hezbollah in Lebanon. During that conflict thousands of rockets hit Israel, but were limited to the north of the country from where hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated.

Excerpted

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080202132053.iohfg5ob&show_article=1

[Godzilla]

placemark

[MamaDearest]

It begins......................

Crash caused I-5 closure

Medford, Oregon - "A tractor-trailer hauling lumber crashed into barriers around a road construction site at the south Medford interchange on Interstate 5, spilling its load and closing the southbound lanes of the freeway for about five hours early Friday."

"The truck's driver, Jose F. Tapia Martinez, of Tecate, Mexico, was uninjured in the crash. However, he was cited on a charge of careless driving, Byrd said."

[Cindy]

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

#

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1964319/posts

#
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/510132-internet-problems-continue-with-fourth-cable-break?ln=en

Last updated: Sunday, 03 February 2008 19:24 UAE time
SITE SEARCH:
TECHNOLOGY / NEWS /

“Internet problems continue with fourth cable break”
by Dylan Bowman and AFP on Sunday, 03 February 2008

PROBLEMS CONTINUE: A fourth undersea telecoms cable has been damaged between Qatar and the UAE. (Getty Images)

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Internet services in Qatar have been seriously disrupted because of damage to an undersea telecoms cable linking the Gulf state to the UAE, the fourth such incident in less than a week.

Qatar Telecom (Qtel) said on Sunday the cable was damaged between the Qatari island of Haloul and the UAE island of Das on Friday.”

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1964320/posts

“US navy electro-cannon test successful”
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/01/us_navy_railgun_test_video_success/ ^
Posted on 02/03/2008 12:12:36 PM PST by traumer

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48851

Coalition, Iraqi Forces Kill 1, Detain 16 Suspected Terrorists

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2008 – Coalition and Iraqi forces killed one suspected terrorist, detained 16 others and seized weapons caches in Iraq over the past three days, military officials said.

Coalition forces captured a suspected criminal special groups finance facilitator and detained two other suspects yesterday during operations to disrupt criminal networks in the Baghdad area, military officials reported.

The targeted financier was reportedly in charge of payroll for criminal special sroups in Wasit province and oversaw all special groups operations in Suwayrah, Numaniyah, Azisiyah and Kut. He allegedly financed criminals and their attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces. Reports indicated he was an associate of several senior-level criminal leaders involved in attacks on coalition forces, officials said.

“Iraqi and coalition forces will continue to target these rogue elements, disrupt their networks and bring them to justice,” Navy Cmdr. Scott Rye, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman, said.

Coalition forces killed one terrorist and detained 13 suspected terrorists yesterday and Feb. 1 during operations to disrupt al Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq, military officials said.

West of Mahmudiyah yesterday, coalition forces captured an alleged al Qaeda in Iraq member believed to be associated with procuring weapons from outside Iraq. Another suspected terrorist was detained in addition to the wanted individual, officials reported.

Elsewhere, during an operation in Beiji, coalition forces captured an alleged terrorist media cell member involved in the city’s al Qaeda in Iraq network. Reports indicated the suspect was involved in producing propaganda materials to include items featuring the former al Qaeda in Iraq senior leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

An additional seven suspects were detained during an operation north of Tarmiyah in which coalition forces targeted the al Qaeda in Iraq senior leader in the city, officials said.

Yesterday’s operations follow Feb. 1 raids in which coalition forces were led to a location outside Samarra where forces targeted al Qaeda in Iraq associates believed to be connected to several known terrorist meeting locations in the area. Officials said ground forces detained one suspected terrorist and destroyed a vehicle in the target area that allegedly was being used for terrorist activity.

Information gained from the operation led coalition forces to another location outside Samarra where al Qaeda in Iraq associates were believed to be operating. Ground forces called in air support to engage an underground bunker believed to be occupied by terrorists.

When the aircraft engaged, ground forces observed considerable secondary explosions from the location, indicating numerous explosive materials and weapons were stored inside, officials said. One terrorist was killed, and two suspected terrorists were detained.

North of Baghdad, Iraqi soldiers from 11th Iraqi Army Division seized a large weapons cache that included a 60 mm mortar tube, 28 60 mm mortars, 103 81 mm mortars, 29 120 mm mortars, seven rounds of C4 explosives, an improved explosive device, 100 mortar fuses, and 30 12.7 mm rounds.

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

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48852

Coalition Forces Degrade Enemy Operations in Afghanistan

American Forces Press Service

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Feb. 3, 2008 – Several armed insurgents were killed Jan. 31 in Oruzgan province during a coalition operation to degrade weapons-facilitation networks in the area.

Coalition forces searched compounds in the Deh Rahwood district targeting a Taliban insurgent believed to be involved with supplying arms to militants who conducted several attacks on coalition forces. The individual also is reported to be associated with foreign fighter-facilitation cells in the area.

While conducting a search of compounds, coalition forces were engaged by several armed insurgents. Coalition forces returned fire, killing the insurgents.

After securing the area, coalition forces recovered numerous small arms and rocket-propelled grenades and launchers, as well as an improvised explosive device. Allwere destroyed on site to prevent their use by extremist forces.

“Coalition forces are focused on disrupting every facet of insurgent operations,” Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force 82 spokesman, said.

(From a Combined Joint Task Force 82 news release.)

[Oorang]

Well that didn't take long. Thanks MamaD.

...he was cited on a charge of careless driving...

I wonder what the penalties are for that charge.

[Oorang]

2 Britons are charged with distributing materials that encouraged acts of terrorism
February 3, 2008

LONDON: Two people have been charged in Britain with distributing a publication that encourages acts of terrorism, police said Sunday.

Amjad Mahmood, 29, and Shella Roma, 27, both of Manchester, northern England, were arrested on Thursday and released on bail. They will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Feb. 12.

Mahmood and Roma were charged under Britain's Terrorism Act with distributing or circulating a terrorist publication that directly or indirectly encourages acts of terrorism. Further details of the allegations against them were not immediately available.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/03/europe/EU-GEN-Britain-Terrorism.php

Security firm: Al-Qaeda group's encryption software stronger
"Mujahideen Secrets 2" software gets security boost
Feb.4.2008

Al-Qaeda support group Al-Ekhlaas has improved the encryption software it now provides to its online members, according to one security researcher who examined the software, known as "Mujahideen Secrets 2."

Mujahideen Secrets 2 has added the ability to encrypt chat communications, which the first version lacked, says Paul Henry, vice president of technology evangelism at Secure Computing. Henry says he got the software through a contact in the intelligence community. The home-grown Mujahideen Secrets 2 encryption software, based on open source RSA code, can encrypt binary files so they can be posted on ASCII-text-based bulletin boards and Web sites.

"They have improved the operation of the graphical user interface and it will now encrypt chat communications," says Henry, who adds that the Arabic translation suggests the software is encouraged for use by Al-Ekhlaas members to evade US government efforts at surveillance.

Excerpted

http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1656338674;fp;16;fpid;1