Threat Matrix: October 2008

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[nwctwx]

FBI Warns of Potential Terror Attacks

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security today issued an analytical "note" to U.S. law-enforcement officials cautioning that al-Qaida terrorists have in the past expressed interest in attacking public buildings using a dozen suicide bombers each carrying 20 kilograms of explosives.

Authors with the U.S. Office of Intelligence and Analysis added that they have "no credible or specific information that terrorists are planning operations against public buildings in the United States." The FBI and DHS analysts said they were releasing the note because "it is important for local authorities and building owners and operators to be aware of potential attack tactics."

According to the note obtained by NBC News, a "recently discovered audio recording of al-Qa‘ida training sessions conducted several years ago provides instruction to potential suicide terrorists on seizing a publicly accessible building and damaging or destroying it with explosive charges." Read More

	Is al-Qaida Winning the Battle?
	Al-Qaida Calls U.S Economic Crisis a Win
	Pakistan Insists no Deal Made with U.S. on Strikes

Threat Matrix:
October 2008

September 2008

Threat Matrix Index

Theat Matrix Handbook

Theat Matrix 'BOLO'

Invaluable Tips

Preparedness

[Cindy]

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

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Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=51676

Coalition Troops Kill Militants in Baghdad Raid

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2008 – Coalition forces in Iraq killed five militants early today after a small-arms attack in Baghdad’s New Baghdad security district, military officials reported.

Coalition troops were attacked about 1:20 a.m. with small-arms fire at a joint security station, officials said. The soldiers identified the attackers and returned fire. A total of five attackers were killed with no U.S. casualties, they said.

In another operation today, coalition forces killed three terrorism suspects during operations near Tikrit, about 100 miles north of Baghdad. Ground forces had surrounded a building in an effort to apprehend a man believed to facilitate suicide-vest and roadside bombings in the Tigris River Valley.

Soldiers called for the occupants to surrender, then were fired upon by a man running from the house. Acting in self defense, coalition forces engaged the man, killing him. Another man then began firing at the team. They returned fire and killed the man. Coalition forces killed a third man inside the building when he picked up a rifle from one of the dead terrorists and engaged the forces, officials said.

Two other suspects were detained. A third suspect was injured and was treated by coalition forces before being taken to a nearby base for additional care. One of the dead terrorists later was identified as the wanted man, they said.

Also today, coalition forces in Mosul killed a man wanted for terrorist acts committed as an al-Qaida in Iraq leader in the area, officials said. Upon arriving at the target location, coalition forces entered a building intelligence reports indicated was an al-Qaida in Iraq hideout. The wanted man engaged forces with a pistol as they entered the building. The troops returned fire, killing him.

In Baghdad today, coalition forces captured a wanted man known to be an al-Qaida in Iraq courier.

In weekend operations:

— Coalition forces captured a wanted man yesterday who intelligence reports suggest is connected to an al-Qaida in Iraq bombing network. The suspect is believed to have been planning attacks against troops in the region, officials said.

— In southern Baghdad’s Rashid district Oct. 25 and yesterday, coalition troops working with Iraqi security forces discovered an improvised explosive device and detained a member of an Iranian-backed terrorist group.

— Soldiers assigned to the 4th Infantry Division’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, contacted a coalition explosives ordnance disposal unit to pick up a 155 mm artillery round prepared to be used as a roadside bomb. The device had no initiator and was discovered in an abandoned house in West Rashid. The EOD unit safely recovered the IED.

— In a targeted raid early yesterday in the Aamel community, soldiers from the 1st Battalion’s Company A detained a suspected Iranian-backed terrorist group member wanted for weapons trafficking, murder, and roadside-bomb attacks.

— Iraqi and coalition soldiers seized weapons caches in the greater Baghdad area yesterday afternoon, based on citizens’ tips. The seized items included a 57mm rocket and improvised launching tube, 15 glass beakers, 5 pounds of ammonium perchlorate, 5 pounds of propellant and four five-gallon jugs of nitric acid.

— Iraqi police and soldiers and coalition forces seized a weapons cache Oct. 25 north of Baghdad. Soldiers with the 25th Infantry Division’s Company C, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, seized 10 rocket-propelled grenades. An explosive ordnance detachment team destroyed the weapons in a controlled detonation.

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

[Cindy]

RECAP AND UPDATED:

FOX NEWS.com: "U.S. OFFICIAL: SYRIAN STRIKE KILLED AL QAEDA TARGET" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "...Abu Ghadiyain...")(October 27, 2008) (Note: Photos included.)

LONG WAR JOURNAL.org - blog: "SYRIAN STRIKE AIMED AT AL QAEDA'S COORDINATOR IN SYRIA" by Bill Roggio (October 27, 2008, 12:12 am)

YNET NEWS.com: "REPORT: SYRIA SENDS DELEGATES TO N.KOREA ON PENDING ARMS DEALS" (Published October 27, 2008, 10:47)

[Cindy]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/27/judge-rules-enemy-combatants/

“Judge rules on ‘enemy combatants’”
Tom Ramstack
Monday, October 27, 2008

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “A federal judge on Monday issued a ruling that limits the number of terrorism suspects being detained at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, who can face trial as enemy combatants.

U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon ruled that the term “enemy combatant” applies only to detainees who are accused of “supporting Taliban or al Qaeda forces” in battle against the U.S.”

[Godzilla]

This is only the tip of the iceberg. We sent people on the ground to get things too. The results of that might bring more surgical strikes.

Second - the fact that we are now reaching into Syria indicates that we have the ‘downstream’ areas pretty well cleaned up and are in the endgame phase in shutting down the insurgency enough to pass off to the Iraqi’s IMHO.

[Cindy]

Smiling at you...

It does have that “clean up on aisle five” feeling.

[Cindy]

http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/fugitives/sandiego/arellano-felix_hotline.htm
http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/images_major_operations.html
http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/pressrel/pr102708_indictment.pdf

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Note: Photo included.

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/pressrel/pr102708.html

Gun Battle Ends With Arrest Of Eduardo Arellano-Felix
DEA Intelligence leads Mexican Authorities to kingpin whose capture commanded $5 million reward

Eduardo Arellano-Felix after he was taken into custody.
OCT 27 — (Washington, D.C.) – Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Administrator Michele M. Leonhart and Facundo Rosas, Under Secretary for Intelligence and Strategy, Mexican Federal Police, announced today one of the most significant arrests ever in the ongoing battle against global drug trafficking. On Saturday, Oct. 25, Eduardo Arellano-Felix, a Consolidated Priority Organization Target or CPOT, was apprehended after a drawn out gun battle with a Mexican Special Tactical Team in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.

Intelligence gathered by DEA and San Diego Field Division identified Arellano-Felix’s hideout in the Otay Mesa area of Tijuana; and once Mexican authorities announced their presence at the location later in the day, one of the most sought after drug traffickers in the world started shooting.

After several shots were fired, Mexican authorities were able to gain access to the residence and Arellano-Felix was apprehended without further incident. No one was injured in the gun battle, and a 12-year-old female, who has been identified as the fugitive’s daughter, was safely evacuated from the scene.

After his brother Francisco Javier’s arrest in August, 2006, Eduardo took over the day-to-day control of the drug cartel which has been responsible for smuggling several tons of marijuana and cocaine into the United States each year. Eduardo Arellano-Felix was the last original member of the organization who was not in custody or deceased.

“The arrest of Eduardo Arellano-Felix closes the book on this once powerful and brutally violent criminal band of brothers,” said DEA Acting Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. “DEA and our courageous partners in Mexico relentlessly pursued the kingpins of this cartel, and Eduardo is the last of five to be captured. He will now face justice for the misery and destruction he caused in both the United States and Mexico.”

The U.S. State Department had been offering a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Arellano-Felix.

[Cindy]

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/27/government-foils-skinhead-plot-assassinate-obama/

“Government Foils Skinhead Plot to Assassinate Obama”
(October 27, 2008)

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/diamonds
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/illicitdrugs

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/hezbollah
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/hizballah
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/hizbullah

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

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http://www.pacweb.org/e/images/stories/documents/ar_diamonds_2008_eng.pdf

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BLOG:

http://counterterrorismblog.org/2008/10/whats_up_with_venezuelas_diamo.php

“What’s Up With Venezuela’s Diamonds?”
By Douglas Farah

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “The latest report from Partnership Africa Canada, a leading group in combating the use of blood diamonds and monitoring the Kimberley Process (KP), documents how the relatively small but still lucrative trade in Venezuelan diamonds has gone rogue.

The KP was designed to monitor the path of diamond from mining to sale, to insure that only licit diamonds make it to the world market.

The report, which reviews the compliance of many nations, blasts Venezuela particularly harshly. Given the documented support of Chávez and senior members of his intelligence apparatus for both the FARC in Colombia and Hezbollah (and the close ties to Iran), the disappearance of 200,000 carats of diamonds of years is a risk.”

(October 27, 2008)

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http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-cocainering22-2008oct22,0,384200.story

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BLOG:

http://counterterrorismblog.org/2008/10/the_hezbollahlatin_america_tie.php

“The Hezbollah-Latin America Ties Become More Clear”
By Douglas Farah
(October 24, 2008)

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “The profits from the sales of drugs went to finance Hezbollah,” said Gladys Sanchez, lead investigator for the special prosecutor’s office in Bogota, in an interview. “This is an example of how narco-trafficking is a theme of interest to all criminal organizations, the FARC, the paramilitaries and terrorists.”

Ms. Sanchez is exactly right.”

[fanfan]

Thanks for the ping Cindy.

[Cindy]

You’re very welcome fanfan.

[Cindy]

ADDING to post no. 607:

Note: Complaint added here.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/1027081obama1.html

“Skinheads In Obama Assassination Plot
Feds: ‘White Power’ duo planned ‘killing spree’ of African Americans”
(October 27, 2008)

[Cindy]

http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/hc2007/index.html

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http://www.fbi.gov/page2/oct08/hatecrime_102708.html

“HATE CRIME STATISTICS 2007
Inside a National Scourge”
10/27/08

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0810/081024houston.htm

October 24, 2008

3 sentenced for possessing, selling counterfeit identification documents

HOUSTON - Three Mexican nationals illegally in the United States were sentenced on Friday for possessing and selling counterfeit identification documents. U.S. Attorney Don DeGabrielle made the announcement; the case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Hector Calva Gomez, 37, Julio Martinez-Narvaez, 33, and Rodrigo Ramos-Rios, 24, were sentenced to prison terms Oct. 24 by U.S. District Judge Gray H. Miller on various counts of conviction. Martinez-Narvaez and Ramos-Rios each pleaded guilty to conspiracy, fraud in connection with the possession with intent to transfer five or more false identification documents, and fraud in connection with unlawfully transferring false identification documents. Martinez also pleaded guilty to unlawfully re-entering the U.S. after being previously deported in 2002 and 2005 following his felony conviction. Gomez pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge, and to fraud in connection with transferring five or more false identification documents.

At these sentencing hearings, U.S. District Judge Gray H. Miller sentenced Gomez to 18 months in federal prison. Martinez-Narvaez was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison. Ramos-Rios was sentenced to 24 months in prison. Judge Miller also ordered all three to serve a three-year term of supervised release after they complete their prison terms; no fines were imposed. There’s no parole in the federal prison system. Since all three are illegally in the United States, they are also subject to deportation after they’re released from prison.

The investigation leading to the charges and convictions of these defendants involved the controlled purchase of identification documents by a cooperating witness while under surveillance by investigating agents. On May 18, 2007, Gomez sold two counterfeit Texas Identification cards and two Social Security cards to a cooperating witness for $400. This transaction and the meeting between Gomez, Martinez and Ramos before the documents were delivered was observed by investigating agents.

On June 15, 2007, Gomez sold two counterfeit Texas Drivers’ Licenses, two counterfeit Permanent Resident Cards, and two counterfeit Social Security Cards for $700 to the cooperating witness bearing the names and photographs provided by the witness. Before the transaction, the witness provided Gomez with photographs of two individuals and false identifying information. After this meeting, agents saw Gomez meet with Martinez at a nearby discount shoe store. Then Martinez was followed to a Houston apartment in a complex located on Crestdale Drive. About 30 minutes later, Martinez and Ramos left the complex together and drove to a doughnut shop where they met with Gomez. Surveillance agents saw Ramos hand documents to Gomez. Martinez and Ramos left and returned to the apartment complex. Gomez left the meeting and delivered the counterfeit documents to the cooperating witness. The documents bore the photograph and false identification provided by the cooperating witness.

On Aug. 28, 2007, Gomez was arrested possessing on his person or located inside his vehicle the following false identity documents: 13 Texas Drivers’ Licenses, five Texas Identification cards, 21 Social Security cards, four Resident Alien cards, and 16 Permanent Resident cards. The following were also found in Gomez’s vehicle: two digital Fuji film XD flash drives, one Olympus digital camera, and one Polaroid camera. Ramos and Martinez were arrested the following day. Ramos possessed a counterfeit Social Security card and a counterfeit Permanent Resident card. Martinez was arrested in the vicinity of a Crestdale Drive apartment complex. That same day, Aug. 29, 2007, FBI agents executed a search warrant at the Crestdale apartment leased by Martinez using an alias. In the apartment, agents found the following equipment and supplies: a desktop computer, two laptop computers, two digital storage devices (flash drives), 11 counterfeit identity documents, one printer/scanner, one laminator, one paper cutter, imaging software and numerous boxes of laminating paper, photography paper and cardstock. Several shredded counterfeit documents were found in the trash inside the apartment in addition to Ramos’ personal belongings and photographs.

The indictment resulted from an investigation conducted by: U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Harris County Sheriff’s Department and the Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel C. Rodriguez, Southern District of Texas, prosecuted this case.

— ICE —

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0810/081024boston.htm

October 24, 2008

Two Guatemalan nationals charged with alien with alien smuggling

BOSTON, MA - Two men from Guatemala were arrested on October 22, 2008 in Miami, Florida on criminal complaints filed in Massachusetts. Both men are charged with conspiracy to commit alien smuggling.

United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan and Bruce M. Foucart, special agent in charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office of investigations in Boston, announced today that Mario Rene Santandrea-Giron, age 58, of Guatemala and Jonas David Santandrea-Juarez, age 37, were each charged in a one count criminal complaint with conspiring to encourage or induce aliens to come to, enter, or reside in the United States, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such coming to, entry into, or residence in the United States is or will be a violation of the law.

The supporting affidavit alleges that Santandrea-Giron was identified as an alien smuggler from Guatemala. It is alleged that a number of telephone contacts between Santandrea-Giron and a cooperating witness, another putative alien smuggler, led to a series of personal meetings in El Salvador with the cooperating witness. According to the affidavit, Santandrea-Giron and Santandrea-Juarez identified individuals from Guatemala and sent their passports to Boston so that arrangements could be made to smuggle them, by flying the aliens on commercial airline flights from San Salvador to the United States.

It is alleged that Santandrea-Giron and Santandrea-Juarez also attended separate meetings with the cooperating witness in El Salvador. The Guatemalan nationals to be smuggled were also, at times, present for or during these meetings.

According to the affidavit, at several of these meetings, the payment of fees related to smuggling were discussed and smuggling fees negotiated. It is alleged that shortly after these meetings, the Guatemalan nationals, whose passports had previously been provided by Santandrea-Giron or Santandrea-Juarez, flew from El Salvador to the United States. It is alleged that Santandrea-Giron and Santandrea-Juarez, at certain meetings, handed additional passports of Guatemalan nationals to the cooperating witness as potential individuals to be smuggled in the future.

Santandrea-Giron and Santandrea-Juarez were arrested in Miami, Florida on October 22, 2008 after flying from El Salvador with two Guatemalan nationals who were purportedly being smuggled into the United States. Both men have appeared in federal court in Miami before Judge Barry L. Garber. Further proceedings are scheduled at the federal court in Miami on October 28, 2008.

If convicted on these charges, Santandrea-Giron and Santandrea-Juarez face a minimum of three years imprisonment with a maximum of up to ten years imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $ 250,000 fine. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, office of investigations in Boston with the assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs, office of investigations in Miami, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia, ICE attaches in El Salvador and Guatemala and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Brennan of Sullivan’s Major Crimes Unit.

The details contained in the criminal complaint are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

[Cindy]

Thanks to KCVL and myself for the updates on the University of Central Arkansas shooting incident:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2116206/posts

[Unrepentant VN Vet]

..and just how many FReepers do you suppose will be given THAT label over the next few years if The O gets elected?

Thought Crimes, here we come.

[Cindy]

Simply put and generally speaking, I won’t be on TM if Obama and Biden are elected.

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/globaljihad
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/antisemitism
http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/site/html/search.asp?isSearch=yes&isT8=yes&searchText=T99&pid=119&sid=15&preview=
http://www.memri.org/antisemitism.html
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/iran
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http://www.truthusa.com/IRAN.html

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http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=countries&Area=iran&ID=SP209508

Special Dispatch Series - No. 2095
October 27, 2008 No. 2095

“Iranian News Channel IRINN Reports on Newly Published Iranian Book On ‘The Great Distortion Of The Historical Event Called The Holocaust, Using The Art Of Satire’”

SNIPPET: “On September 26, 2008, the Iranian news channel IRINN reported on the publication, in Iran, of a 100-page book of cartoons on the Holocaust, which it billed as “tak[ing] a critical look at the great distortion of the historical event called the Holocaust, using the art of satire.” The report included comments by an Iranian university chancellor, the book’s cartoonist, and an Iranian cultural expert.

The news story also explained that the book “is an effort to expose the need to research the event of the Holocaust.”

The following is the transcript of the report.

To view the clip, visit http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/1879.htm .”

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/mall
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/malls

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The STUCK ON STUPID and IDIOT ALERT award winner today goes to this student who experienced a real-time learning curve:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3613935,00.html

“Boy dressed up as terrorist stirs panic in Ashdod”

SNIPPET: “Hooded 15-year-old stormed by police officers near mall; says dressed as suicide bomber to research residents’ reactions”

Shmulik Hadad
Published: 10.27.08, 19:57 / Israel News

[Cindy]

BLOG:

http://www.thebulletproofblog.com/2008/10/shoppers-advised-about-deadly-mall.html

Sunday, October 26, 2008
“Shoppers advised about deadly mall attacks”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “In a joint effort between U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security and Mall retail associations, mall employees and shoppers are being advised on how to protect themselves against assailants armed with guns.”