Threat Matrix: May 2008

U.S. Wary Of Small Boat Terrorism

As boating season approaches, the Bush administration wants to enlist America's 80 million recreational boaters to help reduce the chances that a small boat could deliver a nuclear or radiological bomb somewhere along the 95,000 miles of U.S. coastline and inland waterways.

According to an April 23 intelligence assessment obtained by The Associated Press, "The use of a small boat as a weapon is likely to remain al Qaeda's weapon of choice in the maritime environment, given its ease in arming and deploying, low cost, and record of success."

While the United States has so far been spared this type of strike in its own waters, terrorists have used small boats to attack in other countries. Read More

	U.S. Confirms Somali Missile Strike
	Fight Al Qaeda's Plan, Not its Ideas
	FACTBOX: Major al Qaeda Leaders Killed or Captured

Threat Matrix:
May 2008

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Osama bin Laden's 'right-hand man' Abu Qatada wins bail fight (U.K.)
May 9, 2008

An extremist Muslim cleric regarded as Osama bin Laden’s “spiritual ambassador in Europe” must be released on bail, a judge ruled yesterday.

Abu Qatada, 48, who won his legal fight against deportation to Jordan last month, will be freed from prison under strict bail conditions, amounting to 22-hour house arrest, despite being deemed a threat to national security. The cleric applied to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) for bail on the ground that it was inhumane to detain him indefinitely if there was no prospect of his being deported.

The order by Mr Justice Mitting to release him is the latest in a series of judicial decisions that undermine the Government’s stance on terrorism. In the past year, the courts have in effect rewritten sections of terrorism legislation and ruled that financial sanctions on terrorist suspects were absurd and unlawful.

Excerpted

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article3896879.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=2015164

ADDING 1 link to your post no. 301, Oorang.

stepping back in time...

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/018378.php

October 6, 2007

“”I am astonished by President Bush when he claims there is nothing in the Koran that justifies jihad violence in the name of Islam””

SNIPPET: “It’s an old quote, but worth revisiting. All right, which one of you “Islamophobes” said it?”

SNIPPET: “Very well. If none of you mugs are going to fess up, who did say this? What’s that? It was Abu Qatada, a Muslim cleric linked to Al-Qaeda? How astonishing! Who would have thought that Al-Qaeda had been infiltrated by Islamophobes!”

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19214&Itemid=21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080509-02
May 9, 2008

Criminals killed after rocket attack against Iraqi citizens (Baghdad)

Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD – A Multi-National Division – Baghdad air weapons team killed two criminals and wounded four, all of whom were involved in launching a rocket attack on Sadr City citizens. The criminals were hiding in a building in the Sadr City district of Baghdad at approximately 2 p.m. May 8 after launching the rocket.

The criminals launched the indiscriminant rocket attack at approximately 1:30 p.m. that killed two Iraqi citizens, injured eight more and damaged a house in central Baghdad.

An unmanned aerial vehicle, conducting a surveillance mission in the area of the point of origin, observed the criminals moving rocket rails from the rocket site to an alley near a building.

It then maintained positive identification as the criminals entered a building, where six criminals were observed on the rooftop.

An AWT was dispatched to the area and engaged the criminals.

The AWT fired three Hellfire missiles into the building, one at the first floor, one at the second floor and one at a shack on the roof, and killed and wounded the criminals.

Bomb damage was limited to the multi-story building involved in the attack.

“These criminals are responsible for the murder of innocent Iraqi civilians, who died as a result of their heinous, indiscriminate attack,” said Col. Allen Batschelet, MND-B and 4th Infantry Division chief of staff.

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Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19210&Itemid=21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080508-15
May 8, 2008

Iraqi Army soldiers, policemen seize IEDs in East Mansour

Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD – Alert Iraqi Army soldiers and Iraqi Policemen prevented potential improvised explosive device attacks in the East Mansour district of Baghdad when they stopped a vehicle that was being used by criminal forces to transport IEDs in the area at approximately 1 p.m. May 7.

Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 54th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, along with Jamia Iraqi Policemen, conducted a traffic stop after noticing a suspicious individual driving down a road.

After stopping the vehicle, the alert soldiers and policemen discovered the deadly weapons in the vehicle. The forces fired at the man and wounded him.

Inside the vehicle, the forces seized three tanks of oxygen that were set up as IEDs.

An Explosive Ordnance Detachment arrived on the scene and detonated the device.

“The Iraqi Security Forces continue to demonstrate their professionalism every day as the combat the terrorist forces,” said Col. Allen Batschelet, chief of staff, Multi-National Division – Baghdad and the 4th Infantry Division. “Their attention to detail prevented what could have been a deadly attack on the innocent people of Iraq.”

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Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19212&Itemid=21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080508-14
May 8, 2008

SOIs repel AQI attacks and identify cache (Diyala)

Multi-National Division – North PAO

TIKRIT, Iraq – The Sons of Iraq repelled two attacks in northern Iraq over the last two weeks.

In Diyala, SOI members defended the village of Khawalis from an al-Qaeda in Iraq attack.

According to reports, the SOIs took sniper and mortar fire, but repelled the attack killing 12 AQI members.

In Salah ad Din, SOIs led Coalition force soldiers to a large weapons cache, consisting of 800 pounds of homemade explosives and other improvised explosive making material. The SOIs were ambushed during the operation and successfully repelled the attack.

“The Sons of Iraq are true patriots of this country, and are very effective and are key to the long-term security of Iraq,” said Maj. Peggy Kageleiry, spokeswoman for the Multi-National Division – North.

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Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19218&Itemid=21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080509-06
May 9, 2008

MND_C Soldiers find large rocket, mortar cache (Shubayshen)

3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT), PAO

Multi-National Division – Center PAO

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Center Soldiers recovered nearly 200 weapons rounds near Shubayshen, about 30 kilometers southwest of Baghdad, May 7.

Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), acted on a tip that there was a weapons cache in the area.

The cache contained 82 57 mm rockets, 95 82 mm mortars and 23 120 mm rounds, all of which could have been used as improvised explosive devices.

The munitions will be disposed by explosive ordnance disposal personnel at a later date.

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Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19219&Itemid=21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080508-08
May 8, 2008

ISF, MND-B find several weapons caches across Baghdad
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD – Iraq Security Forces and Multi-National Division – Baghdad soldiers destroyed several weapons caches across Baghdad May 8.

At approximately 6 a.m., soldiers with Company C, 4th Battalion, 64th Armored Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, discovered a weapons cache containing eight 120 mm mortar rounds in West Rashid.

At approximately 8 a.m., Iraqi Army soldiers found three weapons caches during a combat patrol in Sadr City. The weapons caches contained five 155 mm artillery rounds, four 120 mm mortar rounds and assorted ammunition and equipment.

At approximately 11:30 a.m., MND-B soldiers patrolling the Mansour district of Baghdad discovered an improvised explosive device made up of a paint can filled with ammonium nitrate, wrapped in detonation cord.

Additionally, a 40 pound bag of ammonium nitrate and a 60 pound bag of an unknown chemical were found at the site.

At approximately 2:30 p.m., Iraqi Army soldiers discovered a weapons cache northwest of Baghdad containing three 30 pound bags of home-made explosive and four rocket-propelled grenade initiators.

At approximately 4:45 p.m., MND-B soldiers discovered a weapons cache west of Baghdad containing a 155 mm artillery round, 130 mm mortar round, two rocket propelled grenade warheads, a rifle grenade and other assorted ammunition.

“The Iraqi Security Forces are visibly out on the streets securing and protecting the people of Baghdad,” said Lt. Col. Steve Stover, spokesman, MND-B and 4th Infantry Division. “They sacrifice daily and are conducting independent operations.”

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http://www.truthusa.com/IRAN.html
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/iran
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/hezbollah
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/hizballah
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/hizbullah
http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/site/html/search.asp?isSearch=yes&isT8=yes&searchText=T104&pid=167&sid=13&preview=
http://www.memritv.org/subject/en/89.htm

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1209627043886&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

May 9, 2008 7:10 | Updated May 9, 2008 7:15
“Assad rejects Israel’s demand that Syria disconnect from Iran”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Syrian President Bashar Assad told the Italian magazine L’Espresso that Israel’s demand that Syria cut its ties with Iran and with Hizbullah was “irrelevant” to reviving peace talks, dormant since they fell through under the leadership of several recent prime ministers.”

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http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/syria
http://www.memri.org/syria.html

http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=countries&Area=syria&ID=SP192108

Special Dispatch Series - No. 1921
May 7, 2008 No. 1921

“Syrian President Assad: Syria’s Contacts with Israel Are Aimed at Establishing Common Ground for Negotiations”

SNIPPET: “In a comprehensive April 27, 2008 interview, SyrianPresident Bashar Al-Assad told the editor-in-chief of the Qatari daily Al-Watan,Ahmad Ali,that Turkey was mediating contacts between Syria and Israel, and that efforts were being made to establish common ground for future negotiations between the two countries.

Also in the interview, Assad denied that the Syrian facility bombed by Israel on September 6, 2007 was part of a Syrian nuclear program, and added that the notion of Syria using nuclear weapons against Israel was unreasonable.

With regard to Syrian-Iranian relations, Assad said that his country was providing political support to Iran, but that the two countries had no mutual defense agreement under which Syria would provide military assistance were Iran to be attacked.

Assad also referred to the rift in the Arab world over the March 2008 Arab League summit in Damascus, and announced that he would tour the Arab countries in the near future.

The following are excerpts from the interview.”

More than just sad...how many more people will die from starvation and disease?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2013469/posts

“Burma Denies Aid From USA”
The Bangkok Post ^ | 9 May 2008 | Bangkok Post
Posted on May 8, 2008 10:54:51 PM PDT by rontorr

“Burma denies US access Relief supplies from UN starting to get through”
AP AND BANGKOK POST

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “RANGOON - Relief supplies from the United Nations began arriving in Burma yesterday, but US military planes loaded with aid were still denied access by the country’s isolationist regime five days after a devastating cyclone.

The military junta also continued to stall on visas for UN teams seeking entry to ensure the aid is delivered to the victims, amid fears that a lack of safe food and drinking water could push the death toll above 100,000.

Two planes carrying high-energy biscuits, medicine and other supplies arrived in Rangoon, and two others were to follow, UN officials said.

The planes had waited for the last two days while the world body negotiated with the military regime to allow the material into Burma.

US ambassador to Thailand Eric John told reporters that US and Thai authorities earlier believed they had permission from Burma to land US military C-130s. But officials in Burma later made it clear this was not the case.

Mr John said it was not clear if they had reversed an earlier decision or if there was a misunderstanding.

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej offered to negotiate on Washington’s behalf to persuade the junta to accept aid from the US, despite the junta’s deep hostility and long-standing suspicion of Washington.

Burma’s generals, traditionally paranoid about foreign influence, issued an appeal for international assistance after cyclone Nargis struck on Saturday.

They have since dragged their feet on issuing visas to relief workers even as survivors face hunger, disease and flooding.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband asked Burma’s junta to ‘’lift all restrictions on the distribution of aid’’.

The UN also called on the government to let aid and aid workers in.

‘’It is imperative at this point that they do open up and allow a major international relief effort to get under way,’’ said Richard Horsey, who coordinates UN humanitarian aid out of dhBangkok.

Asean meanwhile, appealed to the international community to send aid through Thailand.

‘’Please keep the help coming, keep the contributions coming, and if you have to, go to Thailand, park there and wait for redistribution from there,’’ said Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan.

Burma’s state media said cyclone Nargis killed at least 22,980 people and left 42,119 missing, mostly in the hardest-hit Irrawaddy delta.

Shari Villarosa, who heads the US embassy in Rangoon, said the number of dead could eventually exceed 100,000 because safe food and water were scarce and unsanitary conditions widespread.

UN officials estimate as many as one million people have been left homeless.

Entire villages in the delta were still submerged, and bloated corpses could be seen stuck in mangroves.”

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.ice.gov/pi/news/newsreleases/articles/080508richmond.htm

ICE arrests 33 illegal aliens on grounds of new U.S. Federal Courthouse

RICHMOND, Va. - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents yesterday arrested 33 foreign national who were working illegally at a construction site located in downtown Richmond.

The illegal workers were employed by a contractor building the new U.S. Federal Courthouse. ICE initiated this investigation after receiving information that illegal aliens might be employed at the site. Subsequent investigation revealed that some of the workers may have secured their employment by using false identification documents. Two of those arrested were charged criminally, one with possession of a fraudulent document, one with reentry after deportation. The individuals are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty. All have been placed in removal proceedings.

All of the individuals taken into ICE custody, including 29 males and 4 females are nationals of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Peru.

During fiscal year 2007, ICE arrested 863 individuals on criminal charges in worksite investigations, and administratively apprehended another 4,077 illegal workers on immigration violations.

Since ICE was created in March 2003, the agency has dramatically enhanced its efforts to combat illegal aliens unlawfully working in the United States. ICE’s comprehensive strategy for effective worksite enforcement is aimed at promoting national security, protecting critical infrastructure, including airports and ensuring fair labor standards.

To help employers ensure that they are building a legal workforce through voluntary partnerships with the government, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced a new initiative called the ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers or IMAGE. IMAGE is designed to build cooperative relationships between government and businesses, to strengthen hiring practices, and to reduce unlawfully employing illegal aliens. The initiative also seeks to accomplish greater industry compliance and corporate due diligence through enhance federal training and education of employers. ICE strongly encourages employers to review IMAGE program materials available at www.ICE.gov

UPDATE:

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.ice.gov/pi/news/newsreleases/articles/080509washington2.htm

May 9, 2008

Colombian paramilitary leader extradited to the U.S. to face drug charges

WASHINGTON - Carlos Mario Jimenez-Naranjo, a.k.a. Macaco, was extradited today from Colombia to the United States to face drug trafficking charges in the District of Columbia and the Southern District of Florida. Jimenez-Naranjo made his initial appearance today in the District of Columbia before Judge Alan Kay.

Jimenez-Naranjo was indicted in the District of Columbia for conspiracy to manufacture and distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, with intent to import cocaine into the United States, and with engaging in drug trafficking with the intent to provide something of pecuniary value to a terrorist organization (narco-terrorism).

The indictment also includes a forfeiture allegation. Jimenez-Naranjo can face a minimum prison sentence of 20 years and a maximum of life imprisonment. Pursuant to the extradition request, however, the United States has provided assurances to the government of Colombia that it will not seek a life sentence, but instead will ask for a prison term. ICE, DEA, and the FBI under the purview of the National Dangerous Drug Section of the Department of Justice worked together on this case.

Jimenez-Naranjo is also charged in the Southern District of Florida in a 20-count indictment with conspiracy to import cocaine, money laundering offenses and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine on board a vessel subject to United States jurisdiction as a result of an ICE-led investigation with the same participating agencies.

Before his arrest, Jimenez-Naranjo was allegedly one of the top leaders of the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC), a Colombian right-wing paramilitary and drug-trafficking organization. The AUC is a U.S. Department of State-designated foreign terrorist organization.

According to the indictment, Jimenez-Naranjo led the Bloque Central Bolivar, a group within the AUC, commanding an estimated 7,000 armed combatants. Jimenez-Naranjo controlled large areas where cocaine was produced, and his organization was responsible for exporting thousands of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia to Central America, Mexico and the United States. In August 2007, Jimenez-Naranjo was served with a provisional arrest warrant based on the indictment in the District of Columbia.

— ICE —

http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=ia&ID=IA43508

Inquiry and Analysis Series - No. 435
May 8, 2008 No. 435

“Islamist Forums Teach Mujahideen How to Manufacture and Use Explosives, Weapons, and Poisons”
By: D. Nagy

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “In recent years jihadist organizations have been using the Internet for purposes of indoctrination, propaganda, recruitment, and maintaining morale among the mujahideen. In addition, Internet forums provide venues not only for sharing views, but for exchanging information that serves the operative needs of the mujahideen, such as guidance in guerilla warfare techniques, and information on manufacturing and using explosives, weapons, and poisons.”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “The following message, posted on Al-Firdaws by a member calling himself Al-Battar, shows the importance forum members attribute to the content on the Al-’Udda Wal-I’dad sections: “...Looking through several threads on this forum and on others, I discovered that the young [members] write about various topics without knowing anything [about them]... [So] it is your sacred duty to convey [information about] them to our brothers the mujahideen...

“[The Koran says:] ‘And prepare against them what force you can and horses harnessed for battle, to strike terror into [the hearts of] the enemies of Allah and your enemies and others besides them, whom you do not know (but) Allah knows them [Koran 8:60].’”

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http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2374151
TERRORISM FOCUS

“Jihadi Website Advises Recruits on How to Join al-Qaeda”
By Abdul Hameed Bakier

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “In their attempts to gather more recruits to the cause, jihadi websites are constantly posting enticing messages about the merits of the holy war against Crusaders and Zionists. A posting that appeared in a pro-jihadi forum entitled “How to become a member of al-Qaeda” lays out the requirements needed to join the terrorist group while encouraging Islamists to join the jihad. Another posting warned about the misconceptions that paralyze jihad efforts (al-ekhlaas.net, March-April).

A forum participant nicknamed Wali al-Haq posted the requirements for joining al-Qaeda. Al-Haq argues that the accusations of terrorism commonly applied to any Muslim—whether affiliated with a jihadi group or not—who prays for the victory of Islam and the mujahideen is proof of the jihadis’ success in terrifying the Jews and Crusaders: “Al-Qaeda today is not only an organization seeking to fight the Jews and Crusaders; rather it’s an ideology and a mission calling on all Muslims to uphold God’s religion and rescue the weak monotheists.” Al-Haq, who has over 3,600 contributions to jihadi forums, mostly in the field of jihadi propaganda, then proceeds to explain what a Muslim should do to join al-Qaeda.

Firstly, any Islamist desiring to join al-Qaeda must understand and adhere to the identity, ideology and objectives of the organization that was founded to continue the path of the prophets and the virtuous ancestors and to raise and defend Islam through jihad.”
(May 6, 2008)

Posting for archival purposes only.

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2013488/posts

Al Qeada in Iraq leader not captured - U.S. military
Reuters ^ | May 09, 2008 | Reuters
Posted on May 9, 2008 2:23:02 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper

BAGHDAD, May 9 (Reuters) - A man seized by Iraqi forces in the northern city of Mosul is not Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, a senior U.S. military official said on Friday.

“He has not been detained,” the official told Reuters, without giving further details.

(Excerpt) Read more at alertnet.org ...

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19220&Itemid=21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080509-07
May 9, 2008

MND-B Soldiers kill 6 criminals
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad soldiers killed six criminals, who attacked Coalition forces with rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire, during multiple engagements in the Sadr City district of Baghdad May 8.

At approximately 1:30 p.m., soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, were attacked by criminals with RPGs and small-arms fire. Soldiers returned fire and killed one criminal.

At approximately 2 p.m., soldiers from 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., identified one special group criminal on a rooftop with a weapon. Soldiers engaged the criminal and killed him.

At approximately 4:30 p.m., soldiers from 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, attached to 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., and 1138th Engineers Battalion, were attacked with RPGs and small-arms fire while they were emplacing barriers to provide security for the residents of Sadr City. Soldiers fired one tank round and machine gun fire, killing three criminals.

Soldiers from 1138th Eng. Battalion were later struck by an improvised explosive device while conducting a route clearing mission at approximately 5 p.m. Soldiers were then attacked with RPGs and returned fire, killing one criminal. No soldiers were injured in the IED attack.

“Special Group criminals continue to disrupt the security of local Iraqi communities,” said Lt. Col. Steve Stover, spokesman, MND-B and 4th Infantry Division. “These barriers will improve security, life will get better for Sadr City residents, and together, with the Iraqi Security Forces, we will bring the criminals to justice.”

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