Posted on 11/21/2003 6:08:45 PM PST by TexKat
The heightened threat of suicide bombings was last night forcing UK embassies around the world to re-evaluate their defences against what an al-Qaida statement described as its "cars of death".
The explicit warning of fresh "martyrdom operations" was published as police in Istanbul detained seven suspects in connection with the devastating blasts at the British consulate and the HSBC bank.
All are understood to be Turkish passport holders.
Two of them, tentatively identified by the Turkish media as Azad Ekinci and Feridun Ugurlu, were close friends of Mesut Cabuk and Gokhan Elaltuntas, the men who carried out the suicide bombings of two synagogues in Istanbul last Saturday.
Ekinci, who fought in Chechnya and Bosnia, and Ugurlu, who trained in camps in Pakistan, reportedly hired the cars used in the synagogue attacks.
All four came from Bingol, in south-eastern Turkey and had connections to an Islamist paramilitary group renowned for killing liberal opponents.
The size of the car bombs assembled by the men could force an extensive rethink about the perimeter security of embassies and consulates.
The device which levelled two buildings in the Istanbul consulate is understood to have contained at least 225kg (500lb) of explosives.
Because of constricted road space near the consulate, a protective concrete block had been placed inside the main gates. Lessons about where barriers should be placed in future will now be studied by the security officers in every mission around the world.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We have instructed all departments, particularly those in the region, to review security practices".
It would be impossible for Britain to carry out its diplomatic, consular and visas responsibilities if security was the only consideration, she added. "Balancing the operational requirements against risks is very difficult."
In Jakarta, for example, the British ambassador, Richard Gozney, said that his mission was "trying to guard most of all against car bomb or parcel bomb attacks". The security at the consulate general was being "further tightened".
A Whitehall source warned that because al-Qaida had struck British interests abroad rather than at home did not imply that Britain was safe from attack.
The intelligence services and Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist branch have consistently advised that an al-Qaida atrocity in the UK is a matter of when, not if. "We share that sentiment", said the source. "We can do our very best, but it is difficult. We must be prepared for it."
The foreign secretary, Jack Straw, who inspected the ruined HSBC building yesterday and met the widow and elder daughter of Roger Short, the murdered British consul general, said the bombings were evidence of a "global threat" to the civilised world. "We who represent the civilised world are facing a global threat, and we have to deal with it in a global way."
One leading Turkish commentator last night said he believed al-Qaida had targeted Istanbul because it was the ultimate "symbolic city" that bridged the east and west, Islam and Christendom.
"The attacks send a message to the Islamic world that those countries which reform and acquire democratic values, like Turkey, will be a target of Islamic radicalism," Hussein Bagdi, a security expert at the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, said.
A group close to the heart of al-Qaida yesterday claimed to have deliberately assassinated Mr Short. The Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades posted a statement on its website saying it had targeted him because he was the "mastermind of the British policy in Iraq, Turkey, Syria and Iran because of his extensive experience in... combating Islam".
In what amounted to a highly unusual apology to Muslim victims, the statement - outlining Operation Islamic Iron Hammer, a sarcastic reference to the US military clampdown on guerrillas in Iraq - said: "We admit that the cars of death that targeted the British bank were put in an inappropriate place, which caused some casualties among innocents." But it promised further "cars of death".
The Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack on the UN offices in Iraq in August.
The jihadists sidetracked the Dems' SUV-of-death campaign.
Only laughing at these boastful nuts because they aren't close enough to smack upside the head.
In honor of being up as late as Kat two nights in a row....a refresher on the homeland security color codes:
Everyone has heard of the Homeland Security Advisory System by now and its rainbow of colors, but most are confused of exactly what it means to them about how they should act and live when it is at its different levels of alert. That's why I've decided to create this guide make things clearer to the people.
First, here is what the alert levels mean in general:
*Green (Low): All evil had been destroyed. The world is now a peaceful utopia.
*Blue (Guarded): There's still the occasional pickpocket, so show a little caution.
*Yellow (Elevated): Terror lurks in the shadows; be wary.
*Orange (High): The terrorists are out there and they are coming for YOU!
*Red (Severe): The world is exploding around you. The only law is your own gun.
To be more specific, here is how you should you act in different situations based on the alert levels.
How should I store my firearms?
*Green: Throw them in the fire. There is no more need for weapons.
*Blue: Wrap them in some rags and store them in the attic somewhere in case you need them one day.
*Yellow: Keep both your guns and ammo readily accessible.
*Orange: Load your gun and carry it on you at all times, even around the house.
*Red: The gun should be in your hand, pointed in front of you with your finger resting on the trigger.
I see a stranger outside.
*Green: Maybe he could give your kids a ride to school.
*Blue: He might be lost; ask him what he's doing here.
*Yellow: Stay in your house and avoid him. Strangers bad.
*Orange: Run outside and pistol-whip him while questioning his involvement with terrorism.
*Red: Kill him; no questions asked.
I hear a noise at night.
*Green: That's just the house settling; go back to sleep.
*Blue: Probably nothing, but you better check it out.
*Yellow: Grab your gun and call 911.
*Orange: No time for police; run through your house shooting anything that moves.
*Red: Initiate the house's auto-destruct sequence; leap out window.
You see a hippy.
*Green: Punch him.
*Blue: Kick him.
*Yellow: Punch him then kick him.
*Orange: Punch him then kick him and then stomp on him.
*Red: Strangle him.
You receive a strange envelope in the mail with no return address.
*Green: Rip it open; who knows what fun lies inside!
*Blue: Open it carefully just in case.
*Yellow: Don't touch it and call the police.
*Orange: Can't wait for the authorities; toss it out the window and then unload a gun into it.
*Red: For the love of God, immediately flee from the envelope. Hunt down and kill the mailman.
You see some movement in a nearby tree.
*Green: It's probably a squirrel. Hello squirrel.
*Blue: Better check out what it is to be on the safe side.
*Yellow: Might be the escaped monkey from the zoo. Better contact the authorities.
*Orange: It's a ninja! Fire indiscriminately into the treetops.
*Red: Set fire to the tree and all trees around it. No safe haven for ninjas!
You see a strange van parked nearby.
*Green: It must be an ice cream truck. Let's get ice cream.
*Blue: Check to make sure it's legally parked.
*Yellow: Better call the FBI to check this one out.
*Orange: Politely knock on the van door. Kill everyone inside.
*Red: Shoot the van with a rocket propelled grenade. Kill anyone who protests; they're terrorists too.
You realize the person you are talking to is a Communist.
*Green: Kill him.
*Blue: Kill him.
*Yellow: Kill him.
*Orange: Kill him.
*Red: Kill him and burn his body.
You see a stray dog.
*Green: Go pet the cute little puppy.
*Blue: Better check if he has a dog tag so you can get him back to his owner.
*Yellow: Call animal control.
*Orange: It's some sort of terrorist trick. Shoot the dog with a sniper rifle.
*Red: Destroy the dog with a thermite charge and then kill all witnesses.
I hope that cleared things up on the alert levels. Remember, terrorism can only be stopped by your vigilance and your actions.Posted by Frank J. at May 22, 2003 06:04 AM | TrackBack
Category: Know Thy Enemy
~~~~~~~
Sweet dreams ~*
Warrior pets - trained by infidels. Superstitious jihadists, beware! (~:
Bump!
Cause and effect?
-PJ
"...but they drove with pride... in a Yugo."
Welcome to Indiana,. the Hoosier state:
Where North Vernon is down south,
South Bend is up north,
and French Lick doesn't live up to its advance billing in the slightest....
-archy-/-
My tag line says it all. Only change it to future tense if it happens again on our soil.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE - Public Announcement: "WORLDWIDE CAUTION" (PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT SNIPPET: "The U.S. Government remains deeply concerned about the security of U.S. citizens overseas. U.S. citizens are cautioned to maintain a high level of vigilance, to remain alert and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness. We are seeing increasing indications that Al-Qaida is preparing to strike U.S. interests abroad. Looking at the last few months, Al-Qaida and its associated organizations have struck in the Middle East in Riyadh, in North Africa in Casablanca, and in East Asia in Indonesia. We therefore assess that other geographic locations could be venues for the next round of attacks. We expect Al-Qaida will strive for new attacks that will be more devastating than the September 11 attack, possibly involving nonconventional weapons such as chemical or biological agents. We also cannot rule out the potential for Al-Qaida to attempt a second catastrophic attack within the U.S. Terrorist actions may include, but are not limited to, suicide operations, hijackings, bombings or kidnappings. These may also involve commercial aircraft and maritime interests, and threats to include conventional weapons, such as explosive devices. Terrorists do not distinguish between official and civilian targets. These may include facilities where American citizens and other foreigners congregate or visit, including residential areas, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, hotels, outdoor recreation events or resorts and beaches. U.S. citizens should remain in a heightened state of personal security awareness when attendance at such locations is unavoidable.") (September 26, 2003) (Read More...)
CANADA.com - VANCOUVER: "KEY DEFENCE EVIDENCE RULED INADMISSABLE" by Salim Jiwa, The Province (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The judge also barred the introduction of evidence showing that the FBI drew the attention of Bellevue police to an Islamic group known as Al Fuqra as possible suspects. And the jury will not hear that an informant, a few days after the murders, said a Muslim cleric had ordered the killings. The informant said the cleric and Rafay had a falling out over how the Muslim Holy book the Koran should be translated. The judge said he will allow evidence that an informant told RCMP someone had put up a $20,000 contract for the murders of a Vancouver-area East Indian family that had recently moved to the Seattle area. The informant made the claim two days before the murders.") (November 21, 2003) (Read More...)
MEMRI.org - MIDDLE EAST MEDIA RESEARCH INSTITUTE Special Dispatch Series No. 613: "SAUDI DAILY NEWSPAPER MOCKS PRESIDENT BUSH -- "MAY GET KILLED FOR THE HECK OF IT"" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: Endnotes: (1)The articles appeared online titled as "Learn from History - Why Bush's Life is in Danger," and "Contest," respectively. The "printer friendly" versions carried the additional heading, "Satire." (2)Saudi Gazette, November 19, 2003; http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/sgazette/Data/2003/11/19/art_48165.xml (3)Saudi Gazette, November 19, 2003; http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/sgazette/Data/2003/11/19/art_48164.xml) (November 20, 2003) (Read More...)
KIRO TV.com - News: "Team 7 Investigation Finds Terrorist Threats Across Border Chris Halsne KIRO 7 Eyewitness News Investigative Reporter" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: SEATTLE -- Terrorists are using Canada as a launching pad to illegally enter America. An exclusive KIRO Team 7 Investigation uncovers not only are terrorist recruitments going on in British Columbia, but holes in border security between there and Western Washington are an open gate, letting terrorists walk right in. KIRO Team 7 Investigative Reporter Chris Halsne exposes the threat from Vancouver. This city wants to be known as our friendly neighbor to the north and host for the 2010 Winter Games. However, a KIRO Team 7 Investigation discovered it's also home to 55 known terrorist organizations, some of which would do anything to kill Americans.") (November 17, 2003) (Read More...)
EL-UNIVERSAL.com.mx - THE HERALD (Mexico Edition): "REPORT RAISES SECURITY FEARS" by Juan Arvizu/El Universal (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Migrant smuggling through Mexico into the United States has become a major national security risk, according to a report from the Interior Ministry. The report says migrant trafficking organizations are diversifying into other areas of crime, which broadens their international connections and creates a national security risk. "Connections between people trafficking and other crimes, relating to terrorism as well as trafficking of minors, organ smuggling, money laundering and forging documents," is creating a major national security risk, the report says.) (November 16, 2003) (Read More...)
POLITICAL PULPIT.com: "MY COUNTRYMEN, MY ENEMY" -Column by Vincent Fiore (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Recently, a Western Washington University student by the name of Paul Douglas Revak pleaded guilty to the charge of trying to obtain explosives. {See: http://signonsandiego.com/news/education/20031112-0648-student-threats.html} Revak, a self-proclaimed anarchist, apparently grew distressed over the Bush administrations handling of Iraq. Frustrated, Revak decided to enact his own policy initiative. Declaring war against the government, Revak plotted to bomb the U.S. Coast Guard station in Bellingham, and allegedly discussed with students the possibility of bombing other military installations such as the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station and the Washington Air National Guard. Shockingly, the arrest of a possible terrorist in our midst received little to no attention from the media as a whole.") (November 17, 2003) (Read More...)
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