Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat - Thread Nine

Yahoo News ^ | 5-30-04 | DONNA ABU-NASR AP

[cgk]

I guess I'm looking at the audio cassettes as dead drops more than warnings... because what you said: they don't normally give notice aside from a general call to jihad?

[jerseygirl]

Didn't a later report say that an employee put the device there to find out when his supervisor was going to show up at work? (Or was that the "cover story")

[Labyrinthos]

What else is near the City Hall if per chance City Hall is not the target?

There are several large hotels within a block or two of City Hall. The convention Center and a large rail station are also nearby.

[Mo1]

The tapes really concern me given the optical sensing device that someone found buried along the rail track in Phillie a few weeks ago

If I recall .. wasn't it reported that was a sensor an employee put in the track to notify (wake him up) when a train was approaching??

[cgk]

I wonder if those raids may have prompted them to try to speed up whatever attack they had planned?

---

Especially if anything important could have been discovered in the raids.

[jerseygirl]

At one of the hotels you mentioned, last January, 69 guests had to be transported to various emergency departments throughout the City.

[NothingMan]

Prediction: We lose a couple of cities in a terror attack, China will make it's move on Taiwan.

"They were ready to do that in 2001 but the terrorists failed the objective."

B-I-N-G-O

Ladies and gentlemen. We have a winner.

"Because China's leaders believe their military forces are not yet strong enough to compete directly with the American military, they are putting more emphasis on preventing U.S. intervention first. This includes development of what the Chinese call "assassin's mace" weapons, the Pentagon said.

The report said U.S. officials are not sure what "assassin's mace" is."

U.S.: China Rethinking Strategy on Taiwan

By ROBERT BURNS, AP

WASHINGTON (AP) - China is reassessing how it would counteract the U.S. military in a potential conflict over Taiwan, based on what it saw in the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the Pentagon says.

Chinese leaders have taken note of the speed with which American ground forces captured Baghdad in April 2003 and the prominent role that was played in Iraq by U.S. special operations commandos.

In its annual report to Congress on developments in the Chinese military, the Defense Department said China is rethinking the concept that American airpower alone is sufficient to prevail in a conflict - a concept it inferred from the 1999 air war over Kosovo, which involved no U.S. ground forces.

"The speed of coalition ground force advances and the role of special forces in (Iraq) have caused the People's Liberation Army theorists to rethink their assumptions about the value of long-range precision strikes, independent of ground forces, in any Taiwan conflict scenario," the report said.

The report is an annual assessment to Congress of Chinese military power and strategy and was posted on the Pentagon's main news Web site late Saturday night.

Other aspects of the Iraq war have reinforced the Chinese belief that the United States' long-range strategy is to dominate Asia by containing the growth of Chinese power, the report said. These include recent Pentagon decisions to base long-range bombers, cruise missiles and nuclear attack submarines to the Pacific island of Guam - moves related in part to the Iraq conflict.

"China's leaders appear to have concluded that the net effect of the U.S.-led campaign (against terrorism) has been further encirclement of China," specifically by placing U.S. military forces in Uzbekistan and other Central Asian nations, and strengthening relations with Pakistan and India, the report said.

The Chinese also believe, partly from its assessment of the Bush administration's declared war on terrorism, that the United States is increasingly likely to intervene in a conflict over Taiwan or other Chinese interests, according to the Pentagon analysis.

"Authoritative commentary and speeches by senior officials suggest that U.S. actions over the past decade ... have reinforced fears within the Chinese leadership that the United States would appeal to human rights and humanitarian concerns to intervene, either overtly or covertly," it said.

Because China's leaders believe their military forces are not yet strong enough to compete directly with the American military, they are putting more emphasis on preventing U.S. intervention first. This includes development of what the Chinese call "assassin's mace" weapons, the Pentagon said.

The report said U.S. officials are not sure what "assassin's mace" is.

"However," it said, "the concept appears to include a range of weapon systems and technologies related to information warfare, ballistic and anti-ship cruise missiles, advanced fighters and submarines, counter-space system and air defense."

While the concept of "assassin's mace" is not new in China, it has appeared more frequently in Chinese professional journals since 1999, particularly in the context of Taiwan, the U.S.-supported island that split from China after its communist takeover in 1949.

Beijing considers Taiwan to be Chinese territory and has threatened to take it by force.

In Beijing on Sunday, officials said President Bush had reassured Chinese officials that Washington will stick to its "one-China policy" toward Taiwan. That long-standing policy says the American government recognizes Beijing as the only legitimate Chinese government, although the United States also has pledged to provide enough defensive equipment to Taiwan to assure its security.

Bush's comments to Chinese President Hu Jintao, released by China's Foreign Ministry, appeared to be an attempt to soothe Beijing's anger over Washington's decision to permit Taiwanese Vice President Annette Lu to stop in two U.S. cities before and after a Latin America tour.

The Pentagon for several years has expressed concern at China's military modernization, especially its emphasis on deploying additional shorter-range ballistic missiles that can strike Taiwan.

The new study said that since the Pentagon's report to Congress a year ago, China's imports of armaments have increase by 7 percent in value. These include a $1 billion deal for 24 Russian Su-30 0fighter aircraft and $500 million for Russian SA-20 surface-to-air missile systems.

On the Net:

Defense Department: http://www.defenselink.mil/advisories



05/31/04 10:08 EDT

[milkncookies]

And perhaps N. Korea also invades S. Korea?

[StillProud2BeFree]

They definitely give warnings. Al Battar for months has been talking about kidnappings and assassinations. The recent events are following the blueprints pretty darned accurately.

This issue of Battar has details of an assassination plan against a Saudi royal family member that they claim is set for June 4. I'm sure they've changed some information so as to not give away their exact plans, but the level of detail is frightening.

OK back to work. Got a whole list of bugs to fix this afternoon!

[Velveeta]

Sounds like they're talking about a puzzle..

I just had a thought, while looking for "things related to Philly".

The horse "Smarty Jones" is in Philly today. Going to the Belmont Stakes this weekend for the big race.

120,000 expected in attendance.

It's the "Triple Crown"

Weren't there references to the "3 Princes".....

as in 3 crowns...

as in Triple Crown?

[StillProud2BeFree]

Hey, that's a good thought. I hadn't considered that!

[milkncookies]

Welcome back. : > )

[Labyrinthos]

Does it look like an airplane or a broken arrow?

What is the significance of the "broken arrow?" I know that it has been discussed of late, but I was obviously not paying attention.

[cgk]

A dead drop as far as I understand is something left behind, placed intentionally, for someone to pick up later. They may never have met before, they may know each other, but can't be seen together, or just don't want to be. terrorist #1 is told to leave a cellphone in the library behind the Civil War book written by "Smith." Terrorist 2, receives the message about where to pick up the cell phone, and passes it on to terrorist 3 or picks it up himself. They never have to be together, no surveillance problems. Mission complete.

---

I do know that the sensors found on the rails in Philly are officially "not terrorism." It seems (the official story says...) that a nighttime worker placed the motion sensors to alert him when a supervisor was coming. I guess he was goofing off a bit.

[oceanview]

I'll be at the Belmont on Saturday. Gulp....

[nwctwx]

Thought so. I am just beginning to be able to decipher some of their writings, can't wait to be able to help out. :)

[Letitring]

My word! That sounds like they expect to turn the world upside down. Or something.

What does it mean?

Hugs to you and thanks for all you do.

[cgk]

Philly again:

Now that you mention 19, I see it everywhere.

---

Passengers evacuated from plane after threat

Associated Press

A telephone call prompted Philadelphia International Airport officials to evacuate 19 passengers from an American Airlines flight preparing to leave for Boston this morning.

American Airlines Flight 4543 was preparing to depart from Gate A2 about 6:30 a.m., airport spokesman Mark Pesce said.

Shortly after 6 a.m., officials received a phone call about "an item" on the plane, Pesce said.

He said the passengers were taken off the plane and rescreened. The plane was towed to a remote area of the airport where it was searched. Nothing was found, he said.

Pesce said he couldn't comment on the possible nature of the item or possible origin of the call.

[nwctwx]

Interesting, thanks for the link.

[JellyJam]

do you or anyone else have those collage pictures handy? maybe we should re-post them and try our hand at the puzzle again.

welcome back, BTW!