Threat Matrix- Daily Terror Thread (4):

New York Post ^ | February 24, 2004 | By NILES LATHEM

[Revel]

February 24, 2004 -- WASHINGTON - The Pentagon has dispatched the elite commando force that hunted down Saddam Hussein to Afghanistan for a new operation aimed at getting Osama bin Laden, officials said yesterday. Military sources confirmed that members of the shadowy Task Force 121, the unit that conducted the high-tech search for Saddam and his henchmen, have recently begun operating in the remote mountainous region along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border where bin Laden and key al Qaeda and Taliban fugitives are believed to be hiding. The Task Force is made up of highly trained Delta and SEAL commandos, as well as CIA paramilitary operators. It operates outside normal military channels.

[WestCoastGal]

Is there a new letter floating around from Al Qaeda?? Greta's lead in says something is up again and Mansoor is on tonight.

[Quix]

Wasn't necessarily replying to you.

Sorry.

Glad my version was narrower than you intended.

Sometimes I (A) read too much into too little

or

(B) am too quick on the draw because of recent or current attacks of seemingly a similar ilk.

Did not mean to offend. Sorry.

[Velveeta]

I don't know, I was wondering that myself.

[judicial meanz]

Good point Cal!

[Velveeta]

Post #4136 for a version of the letter that was translated by the folks at itshappening.com.

[GirlShortstop]

I am so glad it isnt just me that feels that way.
... Islamic legalistic psychobabble discourse and readings...used to justify murder, mayhem, and terrorism. It has a very evil tone to it, and it permeates.

You are *so* very right about the evil, and how it permeates.  Anyone with eyes to see truth is in your company.  But! we can take heart, be not afraid -- I get that very clear and crucial message in the better books I read, among other places.  ;-)
FReegards!

[judicial meanz]

Its busy tonight. AL Qaeda issued a letter claiming responsibility, and various Al Qaeda accounts say the preparations to attack America are 90 percent complete.

[knak]

< a href="http://www.snpx.com/cgi-bin/news9.cgi?target=www.newsnow.co.uk/cgi/NGoto/52981729?5295">Homeland Officials Watching Spain Events

Homeland Security officials on Thursday were keeping close watch on developments related to the terrorist attacks that killed or wounded thousands of train riders in Spain.

The attacks have not prompted the United States to raise its terror alert, which is now at yellow, an elevated level. Homeland Security spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said that based on the current assessment of intelligence "we do not have similar corresponding threats directed to the U.S."

That could change as the investigation continues, he said.

Amtrak spokesman Dan Stessel said the railroad is continuing to review information received from the FBI and the Transportation Security Administration.

He said there's no credible threat against Amtrak or other railroads.

Nevertheless, the passenger railroad is taking extra precautions.

Amtrak increased patrols of its police force and canine units, Stessel said. Electronic surveillance of bridges and tunnels was intensified, he said. And the company reinforced its message to Amtrak employees to report suspicious activities to police.

"That gives you another 20,000 sets of eyes," Stessel said.

Acting TSA chief David Stone said the agency has been working with public transit systems to close security gaps.

"TSA is very much involved in all risk mitigation plans with trains, metropolitan transit systems and ports," Stone said on Thursday.

Bruce Hoffman, a terrorism expert at the Rand Corp., said it's much harder to secure transit systems than airports because it isn't possible to closely scrutinize every person in such large crowds.

"If terrorists want to kill a lot of people, public transportation is always the preferred target, because you get a lot of people in the same place at the same time," he said.

Though airplanes continue to be an attractive target for terrorists, he said, the U.S. government's tightening of airport security may have made public transit more vulnerable.

"You harden one target and you shift the threat to another," Hoffman said.

Further, he said, the success of the attacks on trains in Madrid may inspire other terrorists to imitate them.

If the TSA gets wind of a threat, the agency's communication system allows it to communicate quickly with transit agencies, railroads, bus companies and cruise lines, Hatfield said. The agency has given $115 million in security grants to transit systems in the past year, he said.

James Carafano, a homeland security expert with the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, said al-Qaida has shown an interest in bridges and tunnels. Major subway systems are now closely monitoring tunnels, he said.

"The major subway systems are better prepared than they were several years ago, and that's encouraging," Carafano said.

The Federal Transit Administration has sent technical teams to transit systems to assess their vulnerability and given them grants for training their employees.

In Washington, metro subway platforms were cleared of fixtures that officials thought could be hiding places for bombs. Officials removed trash cans, newspaper recycling bins and newspaper sales boxes.

Mailboxes disappeared from downtown Washington streets as the city tightened its guard against terrorism.

Last month, Homeland Security officials met with a Russian delegation for a debriefing on the February explosion on the Moscow metro that killed 41, Hatfield said.

"You can bet we're going to be talking to our allies in Spain and try to boil down lessons learned as the investigation into this horrible attack take place," he said.

[Mrs. Xtrmst]

I had the impression that bubonic plague could be treated with antibiotics or vaccine after-the-fact. Is this not the case? Can't remember where I thought I heard that.

[judicial meanz]

I'm not sure to be honest.

I had my requisite overseas shots that included the plague series, but I dont remember anything else.

Maybe the medical types can help out?

[Revel]

I really think that everyone confused Daleel with EOM. This is the first time I remember Daleel saying he would not be back. In fact I have never seen him post anything this ceartin in his mind before.

[judicial meanz]

Absolutely!

[rickylc]

I just checked mapquest and the two events are qwuite far apart. Hollywood, Fl is down by Ft. Lauderdale, the dolphin die off is up in the panhandle.

[WestCoastGal]

On Greta, Bill Gertz saying there is nothing to stop trains being blown up here, there is a long tunnel somewhere near DC. Freight train could be exploded in there creating a disaster. Problem is not just in major cities but further west.

No secret there is no security on trains. Why aren't we doing anything? It's DHS job, they are aware of it, but a difficult job. Not enough people. They have sent out alerts to mass transit systems before. Someone named Mohammad ?? said plan to fire bomb between Capitol Hill and downtown in tunnel. They AQ have been planning underground bombings. US cautions they exaggerate.

Anybody could walk up to a slow moving freight train and plant a device. Cannot watch the entire rail system.

[WestCoastGal]

Thanks, going to look that up now. I'm so far behind, darn it having to work all day!!

[Revel]

I believe that was a she. I am not positive who it was anymore though.

[Revel]

I believe it was the same person who talked about the middle eastern cable men without uniforms comming into there gard through a closed gate and almost getting attacked by her dogs.

[rickylc]

"Various AQ accounts?"

I thought it was just the letter claiming responsibility for Spain that said Operation Winds of Black Death was 90% ready.

Where else has this appeared?

[TexKat]

Velveeta Dan Abram's transcript is not up yet. When it is I will post the info.

[WestCoastGal]

Mansoor Ijaz........Spain, yes more to come. This attack represents a fairly dangerous mutation in the war on terror. Three bombings in past 2-3 weeks have resonating emergent pattern. Local groups with superstructure financing or explosives and other state provided weapons. Taking place at or on specific dates, like the day before the constitution (Iraq) signing and before election in Spain.

He thinks very dangerous new strain of terror.

The external assistance from State actors, AQ and cells around the world is the most dangerous. State financing putting materials in hands of global operators. Which state? In old days 5-6 but now only IRAN.

If OBL captured, what then? NO, does not stop them, invigorates them to take advantage of what they have already planned. The terrorists are master planners and have capacity to carry them out....todays attack more dangerous than 9-11. To be able to hit on demand on a certain date to stop elections etc.