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.

[Calpernia]

FreeRepublic Network

[Barnacle]

The Freerepublic Network is face to face relationships.

We meet, plan freeps and have social gathers.

Indeed. This is one of the best ways of all if it is geographically feasible.

[Calpernia]

We are activism at it's Finest!

[Rushmore Rocks]

I fear you may have misunderstood my post as well.

For starters, I am not depressed. I lead a very active life away from this keyboard. I travel alot, read alot, attend Republican Women meetings, church groups, teach part-time,
care for my elderly parents, entertain frequently, and am entertained frequently. I am still crazy in love with my husband of 42 years....I am a good friend to my friends...a super mom, and an even better grandmother.

But, this is still the only place I'm able to really learn what I need to know and share my thoughts about these things. Different friends have different interests and fill different needs. My FReeper FRiends' eyes do not glaze over whenever "Threat Matrix" is discussed.

I really am O.K.

[little jeremiah]

placemark.

[TexKat]

or something new has entered the system.

I know that there is a looooooooooooooot that I am not aware of. But this is the first for me. Like you I wonder if something new has entered the system. With all the construction that is going on here in Texas and elsewhere one would think there would be more out in the media.

[Barnacle]

I really am O.K.

Obviously you are. My thoughts were directed toward those who may not have as many close personal relationships as you.

I heard your frustration with political pagans and understand it. I think back to the sad news about TrappedInLiberalHell and lament.

Though you are doing fine, not everyone is. I just felt compelled to remind our fellow FReepers to maintain and develop new personal relationships with fellow Conservatives.

[freeperfromnj]

HOMELAND SECURITY ISSUES TRANSIT ALERT

By Leslie Miller

The Associated Press
3/12/2004, 12:11 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) — Homeland Security officials issued a bulletin advising state officials, police and transit and rail agencies to be vigilant in light of the bombings in Spain.

They were asked late Thursday night to consider additional surveillance and to look out for unattended bags and backpacks, Homeland Security spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said.

http://www.nj.com/newsflash/washington/index.ssf?/base/politics-2/1079110141152380.xml

[swarthyguy]

>>You can't believe the number of people I've spoken to today who have no idea what happened in Spain

Nothing new. If it didn't happen in America or kill Americans, Americans have long been notorious for not caring.

Remember that old headline - Colombian Airliner Crashes - One American Dead.

Some thought things changed after the attacks. Doesn't look like it.

[StillProud2BeFree]

I wouldn't have translated it identically (no two translators ever will) but it conveys the meaning effectively.

Basically it says they are continuing to follow Bin Laden's instructions, are on the way to Manhattan, and will break America and end it's outrageous wickedness.

[Letitring]

WOW. That's important. Seems they analyze things thoroughly. If we could catch them during their planning operations, so many lives could be saved.

[Letitring]

2B, what about that infected arm post? What are your thoughts about that thing?

[Rushmore Rocks]

Love your term, "Politcal Pagans". Very apt. May I borrow it?

[Calpernia]

Your point is not without truth; however, I would hold the media a little more responsible than the average citizen. If the average citizen was more informed, they would be able to make judgements and thoughts based on reality.

[swarthyguy]

The spin is on realstrong in the Spain bombings, isn't it?

Ignore the numerous AQ threats, ignore bombings all over the world, ignore the MO and masscarnage that goes against ETA's prior bombings.

Even if a joint ETA-AQ op, the carnage, timing and target shows AQ, IMO.

Spain has cracked down HARD on jihadis and supported the US. They were targets in Iraq, too.

But, the media is spinning hard and already starting to focus back on the important stuff(!).

[swarthyguy]

Raises the question, why is the world's most powerful well funded media apparatus so woefully incompetent and hiding behind the "its what the people want" when they abdicate their mission to inform?

The media reflect the citizenry, perhaps.

Look at the posts of many people here; talking about jihadis and the hate and the bombings makes one a skunk at a garden party.

People don't want to know.

Certainly a vicious "cycle of ignorance".

[freeperfromnj]

FYI

NJ TRAVELERS, RAILROADS WARY AFTER SPAIN TRAIN ATTACKS

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Bomb-sniffing dogs patrolled rail station concourses and trains in New Jersey, and police stepped up patrols in and around commuter stops Friday in the aftermath of the deadly train bombings in Spain that killed nearly 200 people a day earlier.

http://www.nj.com/newsflash/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-7/1079110753156340.xml

[Letitring]

Amen. I don't know how many times I've told people certain things, only to have them say, "I didn't hear that on the news." Groan.

[all4one]

The following article is about water filled plastic bottles that were being placed along subway tunnels in Philadelphia in August 2003. I had remembered this incident and found this in local news archive. I don't remember that there was ever any resolution.

Mysterious Bottles Reappear

(Philadelphia-AP) August 28, 2003 — More of those mysterious water bottles were found in SEPTA's Broad Street Subway tunnels in Philadelphia this week.

Thirty water-filled plastic bottles were found in the tunnels overnight Monday. And now SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney says another 32 were found the following night.
The investigation by both SEPTA's transit police and the city police and F-B-I continues, but as it progresses, Maloney says, officials are coming more and more to believe it's a hoax or prank -- not criminal activity.

Authorities can't explain yet why the bottles of water have been left in the tunnels. Most have been found on emergency lights or near emergency exits.

[swarthyguy]

Or my favorite, how do you know if its true if you read it on the net.

As if paper enhances credibility.

And, as in the case of so many incidents, Im thinking Hudson divers, it'ss only the local media that covers it, or the Honolulu divers and harbor closing, or the case of the plane this Xmas with plastic "putty" and wires found on the plane.

All dismissed as alarmist and paranoia.

Statistically speaking, out of all these false alarms, some were for real.

We'll probably never know which ones.