Threat Matrix: April 2008

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[nwctwx]

Afghanistan to Ask NATO for Bigger Army

Afghan officials will go to the NATO summit in Romania Thursday with a request: pay to increase our national Army by 40 percent. A bigger Army, Afghan officials argue, will allow the US and other coalition members to scale back in the coming years.

This appeal comes amid pleas from the US and Canada for other NATO members to commit more to the Afghanistan mission, which many analysts say has floundered over the past year for lack of resources and a coherent strategy. France is expected to contribute another 1,000 forces and Germany is likely to make a bigger commitment.

But American and Afghan government sources with knowledge of the expected Afghan proposal say that an increase from the current authorization of 86,000 Afghan Army soldiers to 120,000 is the only way to create an enduring defense against a resurgent Taliban and elusive Al Qaeda operatives. Read More

	France May Send More Troops to Afghanistan
	Special Operations Increase Possible for Iraq
	Al-Qaeda Grooming Militants Who 'Look Western': CIA Chief

Threat Matrix:
April 2008

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[Cindy]

Another article on the subject:

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/ltte
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/tamiltigers

#

http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080418/NATION/689898282/1001

“Canada seizes two outposts of Sri Lankan terrorist group”
By Jen Haberkorn
April 18, 2008

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Canadian federal police say they have uncovered two North American outposts of a Sri Lankan terrorist organization described by the FBI as one of the “most dangerous and deadly” extremist groups in the world.”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Canadian and U.S. authorities said the LTTE has established the outposts to help fund and equip its struggle against the Sri Lankan government.

The Washington Times last week quoted the FBI saying the organization also had set up operations in Maryland, New York and New Jersey.

Although the buildings and bank accounts in Montreal and Toronto were seized last week, the information was not made public until a court ordered it to be released. The RCMP said the properties and accounts were used by the World Tamil Movement, which it described as a cover organization for the LTTE.”

[Cindy]

stepping back in time...

http://www.fbi.gov/page2/jan08/tamil_tigers011008.html

“TAMING THE TAMIL TIGERS
From Here in the U.S.”
01/10/08

#

stepping back in time...

http://newyork.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel07/terroristsupport042507.htm

“LEADER OF U.S. ARM OF SRI LANKAN TERRORIST GROUP ARRESTED FOR PROVIDING MATERIAL SUPPORT TO TERRORISTS”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Arrest is the Latest in Ongoing Investigation of Terrorist Group’s Reliance On Individuals in the United States as a Major Source for Money, Arms, and Military Technology”

BROOKLYN, N.Y.

[Cindy]

Adding to post no. 854...

I need a perk-me-up moment so lets get another gleeful and joyous post here:

blog:

http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/192332.php

April 17, 2008
“Izzadeen Found Guilty on Terror Charges!”

[Cindy]

Fyi Only.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2003349/posts

QUOTE:

5.4 Earthquake Olney IL
USGS website ^ | USGS
Posted on April 18, 2008 2:58:25 AM PDT by Help!

19 miles SSE of Olney, Illinois (ID 851141) APR 18 2008 04:36:57 CDT 5.4

Woke up to the bed shaking in Columbia, MO

[Cindy]

Fyi Only.

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=712&sid=1388592
(AP)

“Ewww. Man finds more than 70 carcasses of dogs, cats”
April 17, 2008 - 6:42am

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “POINT OF ROCKS, Md. (AP) - Frederick County animal control officials say a man looking for mushrooms and a place to hunt in a wooded area near Point of Rocks found the bodies of dozens of dogs and a few cats.

The man found more than 70 animal carcasses about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday off Rock Hall Road near state Route 28.”

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/zimbabwe

#

blog:

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/17/lines-getting-drawn-in-zimbabwe/

“Lines getting drawn in Zimbabwe”
POSTED AT 11:57 AM ON APRIL 17, 2008 BY ED MORRISSEY

[Cindy]

Note: Photos Included.

http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2008/04/hezbollah_attac_2.php

“Hezbollah attack and kidnap Lebanese police officer”
Thursday, 17 April, 2008 @ 9:15 PM

SNIPPET: “Beirut, Lebanon - Members of Hezbollah attacked and kidnapped a police officer in south Beirut on Thursday, marking the second attack on Lebanese police by Hezbollah in as many days, security sources reported.”

[Cindy]

Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3533414,00.html

Qassam rocket fired towards Negev; no injuries reported
Published: 04.18.08, 13:47 / Israel News

A Qassam rocket was fired towards Sdot Negev Regional Council and landed in Palestinian territory, according to sources.

No injuries or damage were reported. (Shmulik Hadad)

###

Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3533410,00.html

2 Qassam rockets land in Eshkol Regional Council; no injuries reported
Published: 04.18.08, 13:39 / Israel News

Two Qassam rockets were fired from southern Gaza on Friday, landing in open areas in the Eshkol Regional Council.

No injuries or damage were reported. (Shmulik Hadad)

[Cindy]

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

#

http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=countries&Area=iran&ID=SP189908

Special Dispatch Series - No. 1899
April 16, 2008 No. 1899

“Iranian Regime Instructs on Press How to Report on Nuclear Issue and Iraq”

[Cindy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlrTDcyZwQ0
“Footage of a Iranian Military Parade on National Army Day”
(Added April 17, 2008)

#

Note: Photos included.

http://www.thememriblog.org/iran/blog_personal/en/6904.htm
(”Sources: Tabnak, Mehr, IRNA, Iran, April 17, 2008”)

“National Army Day in Iran”

Snippet: “For more photos, see http://tabnak.ir/pages/?cid=9225 “

Posted at: 2008-04-17

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18537&Itemid=128

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080417-04
April 17, 2008

Iraqi Army finds weapons cache in vehicle (Haw al-Askery)

Multi-National Division – Center PAO

BAGHDAD – Iraqi Army soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 25th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division uncovered a weapons cache during a patrol in Haw al-Askery April 15.

A tip from a local resident led the Soldiers to the cache in the trunk of a car containing 24 60 mm anti-personnel improvised explosive devices, six rocketpropelled grenades and two AK-47 magazines.

-30-

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18563&Itemid=128

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080418-01
April 17, 2008

Informant leads MND-C Soldiers to weapons cache (Shubayshen)

Multi-National Division – Center PAO

BAGHDAD – A tip from an informant led Iraqi Army soldiers and Multi-National Division – Center Soldiers to a weapons cache in Shubayshen Village, south of Baghdad, April 16.

Soldiers from 25th Brigade, 6th IA Division and and 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AASLT) conducted a search through the area until they came upon the site described by the informant.

Finding the cache, the Soldiers spent several hours digging up the munitions, which consisted of approximately 600 tank rounds.

First Sgt. Roy Bruce, senior enlisted member of 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT), said positions established in the area with Operation Marne Piledriver emboldened the informant to come forward.

“The informant told us that al-Qaeda in Iraq emplaced this cache last year and that he finally felt safe enough due to IA presence to reveal the cache,” said 1st Lt. Bo Alf, 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT).

“The informant, his family and neighbors told us of the false promises of al-Qaeda and how they want to return to the fold of the Government of Iraq.”

Marne Piledriver is an ongoing Multi-National Division - Center operation focused on capacity-building projects throughout the area of operations of 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT).

During the operation, Iraqi Security Forces are taking the lead in targeting remaining insurgent pockets with the help of Coalition forces.

[Cindy]

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

#

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/china/index?tab=articles

#

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2008/s08040105.htm

Thursday, April 17, 2008

46 Christians Arrested in Kashi, Xinjiang; 2 Detained for 15 Days

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
XINGIANG PROVINCE, CHINA (ANS) — Chinese Government officials have launched a strategic campaign against House Church Members in Xinjiang Autonomous Region, entitled “Anti-illegal Christian Activities Campaign.”

China Aid Association says that in a specific incident, on Sunday April 13, 2008, 46 Christians were arrested in Shache County, Kashi City, Xinjiang.

46 House Church Christians were holding Bible class and worship in the home of Mr. Ding Zhichun, when Public Security Officials intruded into Ding’s home and arrested all of them. 44 Christians were released after the trial day, following a 50 Yuan deposit to the PSB by family members.

The Christians were mandated to confess their illegal Sunday worship activities and study the Government’s handbook on Religious Policy. They were also required to return and recite the policy to officials within one week. The other two were sentenced to detention. The two Christians sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention are: Mr. Ding Zhichun (40 years old) and Ms. Ma Wenxiu (42 years old). Both are being held in Shache County detention center, Kashi City.

CAA says the recent campaign in Xianjiang is similar to the ongoing campaign the Government has established in Tibet, where Buddhist Monks are being forced to swear their allegiance to the Government’s established Religious Policy and denounce the Dalai Lama.

To express your concern please contact:
Chinese Embassy in Washington DC
Address: 2201 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Washington D.C. 20007
Tel: (202) 338-6688, (202)5889760
Fax: (202) 588-9760

** 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.

** You may republish this story with proper attribution.

[Cindy]

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

“Worldwide Caution”
January 17, 2008

SNIPPET: “This Worldwide Caution updates information on the continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence against Americans and interests throughout the world. American citizens are reminded to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness.”

[Godzilla]

placemark

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1876505/posts

#

QUOTE:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1876505/posts?page=336#336

ADDING links to post no. 321:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1876505/posts?page=321#321

###

Thanks to STARWISE for the ping to this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2003526/posts

“Translations Of Mohamed, Megahed Dialogue Released (Goose Creek case)”
TBO.COM ^ | 4-18-08 | Elaine Silvestrini
Posted on April 18, 2008 9:20:18 AM PDT by STARWISE

###

April 16, 2008

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://tampa.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/2008/terrorism041608.htm

MOHAMED AND MEGAHED CHARGED IN SUPERSEDING INDICTMENT
Mohamed Accused of Providing Material Support to Terrorism

FLORIDA - United States Attorney Robert E. O’Neill today announced the filing of a seven count superseding indictment against AHMED ABDELLATIF SHERIF MOHAMED and YOUSSEF SAMIR MEGAHED. MOHAMED is charged in all seven counts of the superseding indictment. MEGAHED is charged in counts three and four of the superseding indictment(see chart below). A federal grand jury in Tampa returned that indictment on April 15, 2008. Both defendants reside in Tampa.

According to the indictment, the defendants were discovered near Goose Creek, South Carolina on August 4, 2007 in possession of explosive materials and a destructive device. The FBI later discovered an instructional video recording which defendant MOHAMED had distributed to the Internet on the making and use of a remote controlled detonation and ignition system.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Joint Terrorism Task Force in Tampa, Florida and Charleston, South carolina. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert T. Monk and Jay L. Hoffer.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.

Count Charge Maximum Term of Imprisonment

1 Proving material support to terrorism,
Title 18, United States Code, Section 2339A 15 years

2 Distributing information which teaches and demonstrates the making or use of explosives,
Title 18, United states Code, Section 842(p)(2)(A) 20 years

3 Transporting explosive materials in interstate commerce without the requisite federal license
Title 18, United States Code, Section 842(a)(3)(A) 10 years

4 Possession of a destructive device without the proper registration
Title 26, United States Code, Section 5861(d) 10 years

5 & 6 Illegal possession of a firearm by a non-immigrant alien, Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(5)(B) 10 years for each count

7 Carrying a destructive device during and in relation to a crime of violence,
Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A) Life

336 posted on April 18, 2008 1:06:25 PM PDT by Cindy

[Cindy]

UPDATE On The Jewish Federation Shooting trial:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1674001/posts

QUOTE:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1674001/posts?page=1165#1165

Note: Photos included.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/359453_jewishfed18.html

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/dayart/20080417/450haq18_20745_videowaechter.jpg

“Jurors see last seconds of shooting victim’s life
Waechter rushed down Jewish Federation stairs”

By TRACY JOHNSON
P-I REPORTER

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Jurors saw the last seconds of the life of the woman who didn’t survive the Jewish Federation shooting, watching her on choppy video footage Thursday as she ran from her office, one hand pressed to her wounded chest.

· Photos from security cameras, trial

Pamela Waechter came into view for just a moment, then disappeared as she hurried down a stairway. Naveed Haq followed. He reached an arm over the railing — a moment in which police say he shot the 58-year-old woman in the head.

Surveillance cameras captured pieces of the chaos when Haq, 32, shot six women in the Belltown office building on July 28, 2006, allowing jurors in his trial to see snippets of what happened for themselves.

The video showed Haq, a balding man with a black bag, enter from Third Avenue. He pointed a gun at a teenage girl and followed her inside. He raised the gun again at the reception desk and headed back toward the offices.

Within two minutes, he emerged, chasing Waechter to the stairwell.

He disappeared again, and a wounded Cheryl Stumbo ran down the stairs to the street.

Christina Rexroad staggered from a back exit and sank to the sidewalk, where people scrambled to help the critically wounded woman.

Haq walked outside with his hands in the air and lay face down.

His calm surrender came 16 minutes after he arrived.”

###
###

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004357397_haq18m.html

Friday, April 18, 2008 - Page updated at 12:00 AM

“Woman died in Seattle shootings and lived to testify about it”
By Natalie Singer
Seattle Times staff reporter
PREV 1 of 2 NEXT

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Rexroad testified that she was finishing up her work just after 4 p.m. when she heard “popping” noises. Rexroad went down the hallway and saw Haq, who had forced his way into the locked building about two minutes earlier.

“He turned and looked at me. He had a gun in his hand. He shot me,” she said, her voice quivering. “I remember feeling stinging, and then feeling nothing.”

She slipped into a nearby conference room and tried to close the door behind her, she testified. “He was trying to get in. He shot me again — it went across the back of my knee and knocked me down.”

Somehow, she stumbled into another hallway, down the back steps and through an exit. All along, she was yelling for someone to help her. But other co-workers had either already fled the building or had also been shot.

Though it seemed like ages to Rexroad and other victims who testified this week, Haq was only inside the federation offices for 13 minutes, according to recorded video frames taken from the organization’s security cameras and played for the jury Thursday afternoon. Within the first three minutes, Haq had shot six women, killing one.

On the street after her escape, Rexroad continued to lose blood. She would eventually lose her entire volume of blood at the scene and go into cardiac arrest, she told jurors.

Where Rexroad’s memory fades, Johnson’s picks up.

Johnson spotted her as he rushed from the nearby Starbucks, he testified.

As other officers continued ahead, he cut open Rexroad’s pants and saw the place where a bullet entered her abdomen and exited her groin, severing her femoral artery.

“She had lost a massive amount of blood,” he recalled. “She was cold, she was hot ... She turned white on me. I thought she had passed.””

1,165 posted on April 18, 2008 2:13:34 PM PDT by Cindy

[Cindy]

UPDATE:

http://www.swnewsherald.com/news_frontpage/2008/04/041808c_sxu.php

April 18, 2008 Southwest News-Herald - City

“St. Xavier Reopens After Written Threat”
By CHUCK SALVATORE

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “But on Tuesday, an e-mail said law enforcement officials had determined that the threat was no longer viable, and that graduate classes would resume on Wednesday, April 16, and undergraduate classes on Thursday, April 17.”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “According to reports, police have a “person of interest” as to who might have written these messages on the wall. Officials would not elaborate.”

###

http://www.southtownstar.com/news/901789,041808threats.article

“Threat found at Rich South; school remains open”
April 18, 2008 Recommend
By Kristen Schorsch, Frank Main and Annie Sweeney, Sun-Times News Group

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Rich South High School on Thursday became the latest school to be threatened with violence.

Administrators at the Richton Park school told students they had discovered racial remarks and a threat on a bathroom wall at the school, students and parents said. They said the message said something bad would happen at the school today.”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Security will be heightened at school today, Hunigan said, declining to provide more details.”

[Cindy]

Well it’s Friday and I’ve been lax on posting “entertainment” news, so let’s catch up now and watch a video.

http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/192351.php

#

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBLgf_RXZZo&eurl=http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/192351.php

“Omar Bin Laden on Belgian Public Television, April 17, 2008”

Video Description - Quote:

Added: April 18, 2008 (Less info)

Omar Bin Laden on Belgian Public Television, April 17th, 2008

“Maybe they made a copy of my father and they say he says this and he says that”

Category: News & Politics
Tags: omar bin laden osama 9/11 copy news

###
###

and let’s see what else is in the news...

http://www.theasiannews.co.uk/news/s/1045532_bin_ladens_son_will_take_fight_to_live_in_the_uk_to_european_courts

“Bin Laden’s son will take fight to live in the UK to European Courts”
16/ 4/2008

###

http://www.b92.net/eng/news/world-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=04&dd=16&nav_id=49457

“Bin Laden son hopes for British visa”
16 April 2008 | 11:04 | Source: UPI

LONDON —

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Omar bin Laden says he left Afghanistan in 2000 and has not seen his father since. He is one of 19 children Osama bin Laden has fathered with four wives.”

[Cindy]

Thanks to Clive for the ping to this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2003701/posts

“[1] Bishop stops Zim armament [2] Zim arms ship flees Durban”
News24 (SA) ^ | 2008-04-18
Posted on April 18, 2008 2:55:24 PM PDT by Clive