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

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[Cindy]

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/09/africa/ME-GEN-Iraq-Raids.php
(AP)

“Iraqi police: Local al-Qaida in Iraq leader killed in raid north of Baghdad”
The Associated PressPublished: February 9, 2008

BAGHDAD

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “According to Iraqi police, al-Dori had been assigned to lead al-Qaida in Iraq operations in Samarra just one week ago.”

[Cindy]

http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_3011.html

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

This information is current as of today, Sat Feb 09 2008 02:20:19 GMT-0800 (PST).

SRI LANKA

February 08, 2008

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3504549,00.html

Breaking News

IDF attacks 4 Qassam launching pads in northern Gaza
Published: 02.09.08, 11:25 / Israel News

The IDF attacked four Qassam launching pads in the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday.

According to the army, the launching pads sustained damage. (Hanan Greenberg)

[Cindy]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7236241.stm

“Japan accuses Russia of incursion”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Japan has accused Russia of violating its airspace over the Pacific Izu islands and demanded an explanation.
A Russian Tupolev 95 bomber flew for about three minutes over the isle of Sofugan, 650km (400 miles) south of Tokyo, Japanese officials said.

Japan responded by scrambling 22 jets and lodging an official protest with the Russian embassy.”

[Cindy]

UPDATE:

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1342267

“Police Search for Stolen Tanker Truck”
February 8, 2008 - 11:08pm

GAINESVILLE, Va. (AP) -

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “One of the trucks was found later in Baltimore.

Police are still looking for the other one. It has Virginia tags, and the license plate number is TU-92271.”

[Jet Jaguar]

22 jets?!!! The JASDF took it very seriously.

[Cindy]

Yes.

[Cindy]

More details UPDATE:

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/019872.php
“February 9, 2008

“’Germany is at the centre of Al-Qaeda’s attention and in their line of fire’: interior ministry”

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16911&Itemid=21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080209-08
February 9, 2008

Operation Phantom Phoenix: Iraqi Army frees 2 kidnap victims, CF kills 3 AQI, detains 7

Multi-National Division – North PAO

TIKRIT, Iraq – The Iraqi Army found two kidnap victims and Coalition Forces killed three al-Qaeda in Iraq operatives and detained seven suspected AQI during Operation Blackhawk Thrasher near Qubah, approximately four miles northeast of Zaganiyah, Iraq, Feb. 7. This is part of the countrywide Operation Phantom Phoenix.

During the joint operation, which involved the Iraqi Army, Iraqi Police and Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, Coalition Forces detained seven suspected AQI during village clearing operations. One AQI was killed by an Air Weapons Team and two more were killed in a firefight with CF in palm groves directly west of Qubah.

One hour after the firefight, Iraqi Army Soldiers discovered the two kidnapped victims approximately 1 km away in the same palm grove. CF officials believe the kidnappers fled the area and left the victims when they heard CF helicopters, and then were killed in the process of fleeing.

The victims had been kidnapped three days prior in Zaganiyah, and said they were beaten and tortured by their captors. The liberated prisoners identified the enemy killed in action as the people who had kidnapped and tortured them.

“This is the first time we have done a big operation like this with the IP and IA together,” said Charlie Company, 2-23 Inf. 1st Sgt. William Linares. “They did an awesome job. They moved with a sense of urgency, and they knew what they were doing.”

“As a whole, we are making a huge impact in this area, especially working with IA and IP,” Linares continued. “Now we are getting so much more support from the local population. They are actually engaging the enemy themselves when they come in town. That was unheard of before. They see the IA and IP, and (the local citizens) get more confident. They used to be terrified of the insurgents.”

-30-

[Cindy]

Note: The following blog entry is a quote:

http://www.thememriblog.org/urdupashtu/blog_personal/en/5249.htm

Preparing a Three-Year-Old Daughter to Marry an Islamic Terrorist: ‘‘What Will You Cook for the Men in the Mountains?’’

The London-based Urdu newspaper Roznama Jang reports that the Islamic extremist who hatched a plan to abduct a Muslim soldier of the British Army was ‘‘training/preparing’’ his three-year-old daughter to marry a ‘‘mujahid’’. According to the report, this fact was revealed during a court hearing.

The Roznama Jang reported: as per the recorded conversation revealed to the court, the 37-year-old Parvaiz Khan called his 3-year-old daughter once and asked, ‘‘What will you cook for men in the mountains?’’ According to the report, Parvaiz Khan told his friend Zahoor Iqbal that ‘‘she would marry among the mujahideen.’’

Source: Roznama Jang, London, February 7, 2008

Posted at: 2008-02-08

[drymans wife]

The Search for Adnan El Shukrijumah
Terrorism Dr. Paul Williams, PhD
February 6, 2008

FBI Director Robert Mueller and former Attorney General John Ashcroft have called Adnan el-Shukrijumah “the next Mohammed Atta,” who represents “a clear and imminent danger to all Americans.”

Shukrijumah’s face has appeared on the front pages of newspapers and every televised news outlet throughout the United States and Canada.

Sure would be nice if his head would turn up on platter
too.

[drymans wife]

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1304790,00.html?&lid=NEWS_TAB_MAJOR_FIRE_IN_CAMDEN_MARKET&lpos=TAB_CONTENT

Major’ Fire In Camden Market

Updated:21:10, Saturday February 09, 2008

London’s firefighters are tonight tackling a “major” fire at the city’s famous Camden Market.
20 fire vehicles and 100 firefighters are attempting to tackle the blaze on Chalk Farm Road, which is believed to have started at around 7.20 pm on the north side of the market.

So far no casualties or injuries have been reported but it is not clear if anybody was trapped in the market stalls and shops when the fire broke out.

Sky News reporter Sara Merchant described an “extremely dramatic scene” with reports a range of market stalls and ‘stables’ are alight.

Witnesses have told Sky News that the fire has also spread to surrounding shops in the residential area of Chalk Farm Road.

Police have established a large cordon and moved surrounding crowds back to the nearby Camden tube station.

snip...

[Cindy]

http://www.defenselink.mil/Blog_files/Blog%20assets/AQIcommander_diary_translation.pdf
(Unclassified translation)
http://www.defenselink.mil/Blog_files/Blog%20assets/AQIcommander_diary_original.pdf
(Original document)

#

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48914

Al Qaeda Leader’s Diary Reveals Organization’s Decline

By Seaman William Selby, USN
Special to American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2008 – U.S. troops found a diary belonging to an al Qaeda in Iraq leader that has Coalition forces believing the terrorist organization is “on its heels,” a senior military official in Baghdad said this morning.

Soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team on Nov. 3, 2007, captured a diary belonging to Abu Tariq, an al Qaeda emir in control of five battalions within two sectors, U.S. Air Force Col. Donald J. Bacon, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman, told online journalists and “bloggers” during a conference call.

The soldiers found the diary during a patrol conducted about 15 kilometers south of Balad. Bacon said the 16-page diary contains records about man power, operations, weapons, and finances, and it shows that al Qaeda is hurting badly in the belts of Baghdad.

“There were 600 al-Qaeda members in this sector, now there (are) 20 or less,” said Bacon.

In the diary, Tariq describes each battalion’s number decline and goes on to describe the 4th battalion as “scoundrels, sectarians and nonbelievers.” Tariq attributes his terrorist organization’s decline in large part to groups of concerned local citizens, who are also known as the Sons of Iraq.

Many high-ranking al Qaeda members, including Osama Bin Laden, have spoken out about the negative impact that the concerned local citizens groups have had on their organization. As a result, the concerned local citizens are being attacked more frequently by the terrorists, Bacon said.

Nevertheless, Bacon said the numbers of concerned local citizens are growing, which indicates that they are less afraid of al-Qaeda.

“Right now there (are) approximately 77,500 CLC’s with 135 different initiatives, and more and more are being hired,” Bacon said.

Bacon said he believes the diary is also in part a will of sorts, in case anything was to happen to Tariq.

“He wanted to keep a clear record,” Bacon said.

Bacon said he believes the diary is indicative of some other areas in Iraq but not all of Iraq. He cautioned that al Qaeda is still a dangerous enemy.

“We still believe they are our number one threat,” said Bacon.

“There is a 90 percent decline of violence in Anbar but we are still fighting them in Diala,” he added. “They still have the capacity and the will but we have the momentum.”

Bacon noted, however, that “overall levels of violence in Iraq are down, and we are seeing positive trends.”

(U.S. Navy Seaman William Selby works for the New Media branch of American Forces Information Service.)

[Cindy]

ADDING 1 link to post no. 433:

http://www.defenselink.mil/dodcmsshare/BloggerAssets/2008-02/02090811141520080209_ColBacon_audio.mp3

[Cindy]

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

#

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48916

“Gates Discusses Missile Issues With Russian Official”

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

MUNICH, Germany, Feb. 9, 2008

[Cindy]

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/019879.php

#

http://www.mmdnewswire.com/muslim-student-2917.html

“Muslim Student Threatens Former Terrorist’s Life at Air Force Academy Even”
February 08, 2008

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Former terrorists Walid Shoebat, Kamal Saleem and Zak Anani addressed cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, during their annual political forum. They shared their experiences as terrorists and helped cadets understand the Islamic fundamentalist mind set.

During the event a Jordanian college student, identified as Omar Khalifa of Metro International, approached Kamal Saleem and spoke to him in Arabic, “you are an enemy of Islam and you must die.” The incident was reported to Military Police, who investigated Khalifa’s threat.

“The men receive threats of this nature all of time and we take each one very seriously,” said Keith Davies, Executive Director of the Shoebat Foundation. “That is why each of the men live in seclusion.””

[Cindy]

Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3504695,00.html

Gaza: Armed men shooting in air in celebration of Sderot attack
Published: 02.09.08, 22:24 / Israel News

Gunmen from the Al-Quds Brigades, Islamic Jihad’s armed wing, are shooting in the air in the Gaza Strip and broadcasting messages through mosque loudspeakers.

They are celebrating the Qassam rocket attack on Sderot that caused the grave injury of two brothers aged eight and 19. (Ali Waked)

[Cindy]

Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3504719,00.html

Palestinians report of second IDF strike in south Gaza
Published: 02.10.08, 00:08 / Israel News

Palestinian sources reported of a second IDF missile strike in south Gaza. A short while ago a Hamas member was killed and three others were wounded during a a missile strike near Rafah, also in the southern Strip. (Ali Waked)

[Cindy]

http://www.longwarjournal.org/cgi-bin/mt-search.cgi?tag=Pakistan&blog_id=7

#

blog:

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/02/suicide_attack_in_pa.php

“Suicide attack in Pakistan’s northwest kills 25”
By BILL ROGGIOFebruary 9, 2008 1:17 PM

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “A suicide bomber has struck again in the settled district of Pakistan’s Northwest Frontier Province. The latest attack occurred in the settled district of Charsadda at an election rally held by the Awami National Party, a Pahstun political party. Twenty-five Pakistani civilians have been reported killed and more than 35 have been wounded in the attack.

The suicide attack comes just days after the military halted operations in South Waziristan and the Taliban declared a cease-fire in the tribal regions and the settled district of Swat. It is unclear if the Taliban declared a cease-fire throughout the rest of the Northwest Frontier Province. The new Pakistani interior minister ordered the formation of a peace jirga, or committee, to negotiate with the Taliban. Siraj Haqqani, a Taliban leader wanted by the US military in Afghanistan, was among those involved in the talks.

This is the third major suicide bombing in Charsadda since April 2007.”

[Cindy]

More Details UPDATE:

Note: The folllowing blog entry is a quote:

http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/5238.htm

Iraqi Defense Ministry Warns: Al-Qaeda Kidnapping Children

An Iraqi Defense Ministry spokesman warned this week, on February 6, of increasing kidnappings of children by Al-Qaeda.

The spokesman noted that a raid of an Al-Qaeda base by Iraqi security forces in the Diyala region turned up films and documents showing the use of children for terrorist purposes.

He said that Iraqi forces had arrested a number of kidnappers, and that their interrogations had led to the uncovering of an Al-Qaeda network in Kirkuk involved in these kidnappings.

He presented the use of children and women for terror operations as “the beginning of the end of Al-Qaeda in Iraq,” because it showed that its ranks were thinning.

Source: Al-Mada, Iraq, February 6, 2008

Posted at: 2008-02-08