Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat - Thread Eight

CNN ^ | 5-17-04 | Various

[JustPiper]

Picture credit: TheCabal

Picture Credit:Calpernia

I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat"

LINK TO THREAD SEVEN

BREAKING NEWS

Iraqi governing council leader among those killed by Baghdad car bomb, Iraqi officials say. Details soon.

Breaking News Alert BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) U.S. military colonel says four Iraqis killed, two U.S. soldiers injured, in car bomb at entrance to coalition headquarters in Baghdad.

[Calpernia]

Judge rejects Motorola bid to keep radio jamming testimony secret

By Steven Elbow
February 27, 2004

LATE NEWS UPDATE: U.S. Distict John Shabazz rejected Motorola's request to keep trial testimony secret.

Corporate employees and a defendant who allegedly jammed Madison police and fire emergency radio communications will testify in secret if Motorola Corp. gets its way.

The communications giant filed a motion in federal court Wednesday to close portions of testimony in the case of Rajib Mitra, 25, who allegedly threw a wrench into police and fire communications on Halloween night and other occasions last year.

In its court papers, prepared by Madison firm La Follette Godfrey & Kahn, Motorola invokes fears of terrorism to make its argument.

"Simply put, access to the confidential information sought by the United States in this action will enable would-be copycats, hackers and even terrorists to access and disable the communications systems used by more than 8,000 first responder systems worldwide, including the city of Madison Police Department," Motorola argues.

"The potential misuses of the information that Motorola witnesses will testify to is limited only by the imagination of potential copycats who seek to harm first responders and the public at large."


The radio interference incidents included the city's chaotic Halloween celebration, when police say Mitra piggy-backed pornographic audio onto police transmissions from his apartment at 10 N. Orchard St. near campus.

Mitra's attorney, Christopher Van Wagner, said he expected to argue today before U.S. District Judge John C. Shabaz that Motorola's motion would be a violation of Mitra's constitutional rights.

"We will be appearing before Judge Shabaz and strenuously objecting to the closure of any aspect of this trial as a violation of my client's Sixth Amendment right to a public trial," Van Wagner said today.

Court documents say Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim O'Shea has no objection to closing the testimony to the public.

Jury selection in Mitra's trial is scheduled to begin Monday.

Mitra was indicted last November on two counts of committing computer crimes. If convicted, he would face a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

Motorola contends that testimony by Mitra and two employees the government plans to call as witnesses will disclose sensitive information that could be used by others to "endanger public safety and risk the lives of law enforcement officers."

The company, which designed the city's emergency radio system, also expressed concerns that testimony by Mitra and Motorola employees would disclose proprietary trade secrets.

The company says it wants to protect technology used in its trunking radio system, which, rather than transmitting signals from radio to radio, channels communications through a central controller.

More than 8,000 of the radio systems, versions of the company's Smartnet systems, are in operation worldwide, with over half being operated by emergency agencies such as police, fire, rescue and ambulance services, according to documents filed in federal court.

"While Motorola has developed proprietary systems to ensure the security and confidentiality of radio systems, such as the Smartlink II at issue, these systems unfortunately are not completely impervious to disruption or monitoring by determined 'hackers,' " Motorola systems engineer Bruce Dykstra, one of the witnesses the government plans to call, wrote in a court brief.

He wrote that if others learn how Mitra managed to disrupt the system, "it is clear that large-scale chaos could quickly ensue, given the widespread use of such systems by first responders."

He added that disclosure of technical information about the system in court would place the company "at a distinct competitive disadvantage."


E-mail: selbow@madison.com

[freeperfromnj]

You are a ray of sunshine today. Thanks for the heads up. Can't leave target area for another year when my youngest finishes high school -- Then I'm headed to Texas (if I could convince my husband).

[jerseygirl]

Please forgive me- I did not mean to be so negative. I just really think it would be best to leave if one could, but most of us cannot. I'm in CT near numerous major targets including NYC- taking care of my mom and dad ( 80's).

Most of us can't leave. I just feel that maybe some- can- and if I observe anything that might give someone the chance to depart- perhaps it would be of some value.

To be more optimistic- I have no doubt that we have weapons and means of protection far beyond anything any of us can imagine...

[Calpernia]

>>>My son called from Gettysburg area- the GWEN tower had returned back to normal (white strobe light) >>>Last night (5/19), the light was back to flashing red. ---------------------------------------------------------- I do know they have tests scheduled in Alaska because of all the jamming and hacking incidents. Maybe GWEN is running tests too. See Below: NOTICE OF PROPOSAL to Conduct Global Positioning System Noise Jamming During Exercise Northern Edge 2004 Aeronautical Study 04-AAL-011NR During the next planned Northern Edge Exercise the US Air Force will be jamming the GPS signal to provide necessary military training to their pilots conducting Air Operations in Restricted Area 2205 about 25 miles east of Fairbanks VORTAC. The jamming is to take place from June 4, 2004 through June 11, 2004 at the times posted on the attached chart depicting the area. Note: SUAIS including VHF transmitter/receiver, radar, recording, and telephone capability will be operational during the GPS jamming. Any pilot requiring the GPS system for emergency use during this period can have the jamming stopped by requesting through FAI AFSS, Anchorage Center, or SUAIS frequency. Also, Air Force will ensure that the proper NOTAMS are issued prior to their operation. If you have any questions please contact Joe Rollins, AAL-533, (joe.rollins@faa.gov), 907-271-5865. The purpose of this notice is to invite interested persons to submit, in writing, any comments they may have regarding the overall aeronautical aspects of the proposal presented in this notice. Comments, which provide the factual basis supporting the views and suggestions presented, are the most helpful. Your review of this proposal will be appreciated. Concurrence may be indicated by an email, fax, or letter. If you desire to object to the proposal, please state your objection in a separate letter. Persons wishing to comment should submit correspondence to: Federal Aviation Administration Manager, Operations Branch, AAL-530 Aeronautical Study 04-AAL-11 NR 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14 Anchorage, Alaska 99513-7587 or email: joe.rollins@faa.gov Comments received on or by April 30, 2004 will be considered before final action is taken on the proposal. The proposal may be changed in light of comments received. This notice may be reproduced and recirculated by any interested person. Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list (electronic or hardcopy) for future Notices should submit a request to the Federal Aviation Administration at the address (or via email) listed above. Anthony M. Wylie Manager, Operations Branch, AAL-530 Issued in Anchorage, Alaska on March 15, 2004 ne2004.jpg A case of GPS jamming by a computer-test failure "Peter B. Ladkin" Mon, 27 Apr 1998 13:58:11 +0200 A colleague has pointed out to me that a confirmed case of significant GPS jamming is related at http://www.fcw.com/pubs/fcw/1998/0413/fcw-frontgps-4-13-1998.html

[WestCoastGal]

"Other information- there are some 40 stolen semis. The truckers are being told to watch for sabotage- if they are carrying hazardous materials- to try to signal to another truck driver to pull ahead of them if they sense danger. The plan calls for a truck hauling something innocuous like veggies to pull in front, protecting the hazmat truck.

If no other truck is available, the driver is to ram the car attempting the sabotage- even if the drivers are females with children."

Can you give us the background information for this? Is this inside info, anywhere to confirm?

All4one.....ping to Philadelphia story on 911 failure.

[Calpernia]

Yuck. Sorry for the unformatted post.

[jerseygirl]

Hmmmmm.

That is comforting.

(I was wondering if we (US) had concern for AQ ability to jam GPS--with or without Russian assistance- so we also wanted the GWEN system activated as a backup.)

[jerseygirl]

My son is in CDL school and they read the memo from DHS. I will try to get him to send me a copy.

"Truckline.com" has updates about the stolen tankers, but you have to have a code to access the private information. No doubt a freeper has the code! :)

[Yaelle]

Sorry if this is already talked about here but just in case it isn't (and I don't have time to read the thread) -- Al Qaeda navy thread. It's pretty interesting.

Imagine if these rogue ships could take over by force an innocent ship at sea and come into our ports to blow them up.

[jerseygirl]

What do you think was in the "cooler" (it was blue and white)- in front of the Philly hi rise? That took place last Friday around 5-6 PM- center city.

I thought it odd. About an hour later my aged brain cells recalled that information on HomelandsecurityUS.com about jihadies packing coolers with explosives, leaving the area and detonating the "cooler" via cell phone.

Several weeks ago- Broad and Oregon stop in Philly subway was evacuated due to "fumes" (said to be cleaning material spill.)

[Calpernia]

>>>>I was wondering if we (US) had concern for AQ ability to jam GPS--with or without Russian assistance- so we also wanted the GWEN system activated as a backup I have articles that say yes. I get conflicting commentary from people with the tech background though. Some say yes. Some say no. Notes below: Comments received on or by April 30, 2004 will be considered before final action is taken on the proposal. The proposal may be changed in light of comments received. This notice may be reproduced and recirculated by any interested person. Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list (electronic or hardcopy) for future Notices should submit a request to the Federal Aviation Administration at the address (or via email) listed above. Anthony M. Wylie Manager, Operations Branch, AAL-530 Issued in Anchorage, Alaska on March 15, 2004 ne2004.jpg A case of GPS jamming by a computer-test failure "Peter B. Ladkin" Mon, 27 Apr 1998 13:58:11 +0200 A colleague has pointed out to me that a confirmed case of significant GPS jamming is related at http://www.fcw.com/pubs/fcw/1998/0413/fcw-frontgps-4-13-1998.html A 30 Dec 1997 Continental trans-Atlantic flight lost all GPS signals as it descended south from Albany NY to Newark NJ for landing. Continental originally believed that the flight had been subject to intentional military jamming exercises. The FAA declared an `interference zone' of 300km, although they believed the jamming was localised around the Albany VOR navigation radio beacon. It turns out that the US Air Force Research Lab Information Directorate has a facility in Newport, NY, that tests antenna emission patterns. On 30 Dec 1997, they started a test of a GPS antenna with a 5-watt signal, stepping through frequencies. The tests are computer- controlled, and it wasn't noticed that at the end of the testing period the transmitter had not turned itself off. The lab discovered the problem through reading message traffic reporting a GPS outage in mid-January. The jamming period ran from 30 Dec to 12 Jan 1998. Peter Ladkin ladkin@rvs.uni-bielefeld.de http://www.rvs.uni-bielefeld.de [Typo fixed in archive copy. PGN] http://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Risks/19.71.html ----------------------------------------------------------- http://helicop.chat.ru/rus02.htm On THE CREATION OF GROUND JAMMING STATION WITH THE AMERICAN GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM Of GPS NAVSTAR The American global positioning system NAVSTAR is widely used by NATO alliance countries. It possesses high accuracy, it is simple in the use and primeyaetsya in the aviation of all designations. The pilots to it of privykli and unconditionally they entrust. Besides the military and civil aviation GPS it is used for determining the coordinates of the sea and ground-based mobile objects, for example, of tanks. There are small movable receiving indicators for the infantry, by the size not more than binoculars. Are developed receiving indicators GPS by size wrist watch. Is developed the guidance system of cruise missiles and another weapon on signals NAVSTAR. Therefore Americans send 0 0N throughout the world the spies, who remove the geodetic coordinates of potential targets precisely in system NAVSTAR. Recently in Russia such spies were caught in the regions of the arrangement of atomic production near g.Krasnoyarska and in the Rostovskaya province. The receiving indicators of system are sold 0 0N throughout the world. For example, in Moscow them they sell in the representation of firm Trimble Navigation. The satellite GPS uses not only THE USA. It is accessible for any user. But here for using the military (more precise) channel it is necessary to possess the corresponding equipment and to know the code acting in this time, which THE USA can report to their military partners. In order to choke signals GPS, to know the secret military code not necessarily. Comparatively weak signals of the satellite system NAVSTAR can easily be muffled, emitting interferences from the Earth. American GPS operates at a frequency of 1575.42 megahertz (is possible the use one additional frequency in the military channel) and are used the phase-keyed (serrated) signals. In the article L.A.Ovcharenko and V.N.Poddubnogo the "noise immunity of the reception of the phase-keyed signals against the background of the most unfavorable interferences", printed in the release of the scientific journal "radio engineering" No 7-8 in 1992, dedicated to the problems of radio countermeasure, is shown that "most unfavorable" interference for GPS is the unmodulated carrier frequency (NG), detuned by relatively carrier approximately on 5 MHz. Specifically, this signal should be emitted in the ground jamming station. The range of jamming station is determined by radio horizon, but it is possible to considerably increase it, if we use effects of refraction, diffraction and distant tropospheric propagation, for which the transmitters must be powerful, and antenna - directed in the horizontal and vertical planes. It should be noted that the jamming station itself appears greatly grow prettier by purpose for the homing on the radio emission weapon. Therefore they should not be located them hereabout from the objects, whose defeat is undesirable. It is expedient to construct these stations for the work without the service personnel. From that fact that these jamming stations can be destroyed first of all, them it is expedient to construct as simpler as possible and cheaper, to what the absence of the need for the stabilization of their carrier frequency contributes. Therefore the application of simple self-excited oscillators with the nourishment without the rectifier is permissible. For the exception of use by enemy troops of the signals of the American satellite GPS NAVSTAR in the assigned region it is necessary to place in this region (in the distance from the guarded objects!) a large quantity of simple and cheap stations, switch oned remotely, in proportion to destruction by the enemy of those switch oned is earlier. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Read Valentin Kashinov comments at the end as well. According to his commnets, Iraq was jamming our GPS. This CNN article he references was written in 1999. Original message: http://cnn.com/US/9902/19/PM-Pentagon-satellite.ap/ Comments by Kashinovfollows: CNN: WASHINGTON (AP)--Civilianand military ships and planes couldfeeltheeffectofa Pentagon plan to disrupt its satellite navigation over North Carolina next week. The Defense Department will holdteststo prepare for potentiallossoftheGlobal Positioning System--amilitary-runnetwork which provideslongitudinalandlatitudinal coordinates for ships and planeswith appropriate receivers. The tests and accompanyingdisruptions could affect thecivilianshipsandaircraft that use the 24-hour network to help guide them. The Federal Aviation Administration and the Coast Guard issuednoticesFriday,cautioning pilots and ship operators against relying on GPS signals during certainfour-hourperiodsfrom Monday through Saturday next week. However, a spokesman for the U.S.Atlantic Command,which is running thetest,toldThe Washington Post heexpected"onlyminimal impact" on civilian users. Affected areas will vary greatlyaccording toaltitude.Forships,itwillinvolvea circular region withinaradiusof40miles centeredabout120mileseast of Wilmington, N.C. For planescruisingat40,000 feet,the affected area expands to a radius of350miles andreachesas far south as Vero Beach,Fla., and as far north as Sea Isle, N.J. Officials said therewerenoreportsof civiliansafetyproblems during previous tests held over North Carolina and Nevada. During the tests,military crewswillbe evaluatedon their ability to identify that GPS systems are not workingandonfindingother means of navigation. Dear colleagues: I am sending out my translation and its English CNN original on the tests scheduled in the US for the next week. Those are tests of the equipment designed to detect facts of jamming of GPS navigational signals. It confirms successful usage of such jamming signals against the American space-based navigational system GPS by the Iraqi. Earlier I passed instructions on the principles employed in such jamming stations to the Embassies of Iraq, Yugoslavia and others. Thanks to those jamming stations the winged rockets "Tomahawks" lose orientation and self-liquidate or hit the wrong targets. "Valorous" NATO pilots have no guts to fly in those zones where habitual for them and until recently reliable GPS no longer works. It is clear from the information received that Americans developed detectors of the fact of jamming and, possibly, heads for the class "air-ground" rockets for closing on the GPS jamming stations. To conduct life tests they, of cause,have to put such a jamming station into action that would create exactly such strike zone against GPS as was outlined in the information below. US must have testing grounds for pilots fearing to fly without GPS. Valentin V. Kashinov, corr.-member of International Slavic Academy, doctor of technical sciences. P.O. Box 570, 199397, Saint-Petersburg, Russia. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://helicop.chat.ru/eng/eng02.htm http://helicop.chat.ru/eng/eng0.htm ON CREATION OF A GROUND JAMMING STATION AGAINST AMERICAN SATELLITE NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM GPS NAVSTAR. American navigational satellite system NAVSTARis widelyusedby NATO coun tries.This system has high precision,simple to use and is used inthe aviationof all types.Pilots are used to it and tengt it.Aside from being used bymilitaryand civil aviation,GPSisusedforfinding coordinates of navalandgroundmobileobjects liketanks,forexample.Thereare small-size portable receivers-displays for infantry no larger than binoculars in size.Receivers of the size of a wristwatch are being developed. There is an already developed system for targeting wingedrocketsandotherweaponsystems using received from NAVSTARsignals.Forthatreason Americanssendspiesallover the world taking geodesic coordinates of potentialtargets specificallyforNAVSTARsystem.Recently such American spies were caught in engsia in theareas ofatomic production site near Krasnoyarsk and in Rostov district. Receiving systems are sold all over the world. For example,inMoscowtheyarebeing sold by the outlet of Trimble Navigation Company. Satellite GPS is used not only by the USA.Itis accessibletoeveryuser.Butin order to use military (more precise) channeltheusershould haveadequateequipmentand know the code valid for the duration ofthegiventime.Thatcode could be passed to military partners. For suppression of GPS signals,itisnot necessary toknowthatsecretemilitarycode. Relativelyweeksignalsof the satellite system NAVSTAR are easy to jambybeamingthejamming signals from the ground. American GPS works at frequency of 1575.42 MHz (it can use another frequency in amilitarychannel) and is using phase modulated (complex) signals. In theissuesNo.8-9ofascientificmagazine "Telecommunications and Radio Engineering" ("Radiotechnique" -inengsian)in 1992 was published an article by L.A.Ovcharenko and V.N.Poddubniy titled "Stabilityofreceptionof phasemanipulated signals on a background of most unfavorable jammingsignals".Thatarticlewas dedicatedto problems of radio defense.It shows that "the most unfavorable" jamming signal for GPS is anon-modulatedcarrierfrequencyofthe approximately 5 MHz spread spectrum.Thissignal should betransmittedfromagroundjamming station. The effectiveradiusofajammingstationis determinedbytheradiohorizon.Itcould be significantly increasedusingeffects of refraction, diffractionandlongdistance tropospheric spreading of radiowaves.Forthat transmitters should be powerful and their antennas directed in horizontal and vertical planes. It should benotedthatajammingstationby itselfisaverygood target for signal homing missiles. Therefore, they should not be located in proximity to the objects notdesirablefor becomingatarget.Preferably,thosestations should be designedtoworkwithoutservice personnel.Keepinmindthat those jamming stations could be annihilated before other targets and therefore they should be designed as cheep and simple as possible.Lack of need in stabilization of its carrier frequency contributes to thecost reduction. Therefore, usage of simple generators with self-excitement (simplestoscillator)withouta rectifier ispossible.Toprecludeusageof American satellite GPS NAVSTAR bytroopsofthe adversaryitisnecessarytoscatterinthe protected locality (in remotefromthedefended objectsareas)largenumber of simple and cheep stations.Theyshouldbeactivatedbyremote control in measuretootherstationsbeing destroyed. Valentin V. Kashinov, corr.-member of International Slavic Academy, doctor of technical sciences. P.O. Box 570, 199397, Saint-Petersburg, Russia.

[Calpernia]

Ok. I can't do graphs and freep at the same time. Will try again later.

[Oorang]

Thanks for posting that Selene. I searched the local (Portland) news websites earlier yesterday and did not find any current info on Mayfield. There has been no current reports on the local televised news that I have seen. You would think, with 4 Portland tv channels there would be something on the evening news...maybe.

[milkncookies]

The "belly of the Eagle".

[Donna Lee Nardo]

You are good!

[Oorang]

Good connection Cal. I'm not computer savvy enough to know if one could have to do with the other. If you find out, let us know. It does seem odd that Delta's computers went down last week (I think) although they never said it was LAN cable related and now this. It does not seem that these are common occurrences.

[WestCoastGal]

That cooler seems to fit in with the empty suitcases, empty?water jugs in subway, cellphones and soda cans at airports with wires hanging out etc. Diversions, timing runs?

Based on the description of the vehicle they sent out, it appears they thought either explosives or bio. (containment)

Why aren't the news people all over these stories? What happened to all the investigative reporters?......they're so busy trying to bash Bush about the prisoner abuse story or rehashing the 9-11 events. They can't see the forest for the trees. The terrorists are right in front of their noses but they don't see them. Hiding in plain sight, playing games with us until.........when will that be?........sooner than we think. (I wish we didn't have to face this but we do)

[Indie]

RE: Civil Aviation

Fortunately, there are [navigational aids] VORTACs, VORs, NDBs and ILSs [and other non-precision approach types] that have been around for years that will work perfectly fine if someone decides to take out the GPS system.

[Indie]

Why aren't the news people all over these stories?

It would involve an admission [by all including the President] that we are at war with a religion cult, and that all of its followers wish only ill will to the US. Which is of course true, but will never be admitted due to PC apologists and sensitivity/tolerance/amoral types.

So we will continue with a totally reactionary strategy rather than a proactive one and end up getting whacked again, maybe for the last time.

[milkncookies]

"We are on our own". Sorry to be redundant.