Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat

Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat

Thread Twenty-Three (Index)

Google News : Google Images : News Hotlinks

The Threat Matrix

The title refers to a daily report given to the president of the United States detailing the most serious terrorist threats against the country. To tackle those threats, the government has formed a top-notch task force to infiltrate the terror cells and cut off the danger.

"Every morning, the president receives a list of the top ten terrorist threats - this list is known as the threat matrix."

We here at FR are trying to be in conjunction with the daily reports around the world that involve threats. We try to provide a storehouse of information that takes hours of research.

YOU be the judge and get informed!

LNG ship attack a potential disaster
Full Story

WASHINGTON - A terrorist attack on a tanker loaded with liquefied natural gas could cause massive damage a third of a mile away and could send a vapor cloud billowing more than 1.5 miles, government scientists say.

With the the nation clamoring for more natural gas, policy-makers are trying to figure out how to safely import large quantities of liquefied natural gas or LNG.

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

Threat Matrix "TM'er" Tips

Link to Thread Twenty-Two

"Code Red Implications:
Code Red - Stay Home and Await Word."
From Tm'er and Freeper ~MamaDearest~

Cindy's Links of Interest

TM Code of Conduct

ExSoldier's Invaluable Tips

TM's 'Be on the Lookout'

Godzilla's Summaries

Threat Matrix Book List

Arabic Image Links

To: Old Sarge; backhoe; All

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1322990/posts

"QUESTION AWAY"
New York Post ^ | 1/18/05 | HEATHER MAC DONALD

Posted on 01/18/2005 2:10:50 AM PST by kattracks

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "One detainee received half a million dollars worth of surgery to correct a childhood deformity. After the operation, interrogators approached him to ask if maybe now he'd be willing to cooperate. "Death to America!" was the only response."

3,021 posted on 01/18/2005 2:35:23 AM PST by Cindy

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1322994/posts

"Mosul, Iraq - Kidnappers of Catholic Archbishop Demand $200,000 Ransom"
AFP via Babelfish translation ^ | January 18, 2005

Posted on 01/18/2005 2:36:05 AM PST by HAL9000

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The kidnappers of Mgr Casmoussa asked for 200.000 dollars (Misna arranges)

The kidnappers of the syriaque catholic archbishop of Mossoul, Basile George Casmoussa, 66 years, claimed a ransom of 200.000 dollars, indicated Tuesday the agency of missionnaires Misna. "the group which removed Monday the Casmoussa bishop in Mossoul took this morning a ransom of 200.000 dollars", declared in Misna the archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho, head of the catholic Church chaldéenne of Mossoul.

Mgr Rahho specified that the kidnappers made speak Mgr Casmoussa on the telephone with the general vicar about his diocese.

According to Mgr Rahho, the kidnappers called Tuesday morning father Tetrus Mosei, vicar general of the diocese of Mossoul of rite syro-catholic to claim the ransom.

"the diocese is trying to collect the money necessary and could give it from here the end of the day to the kidnappers. We all wish the return of the archbishop among us ", added Mgr Rahho. According to the religious person in charge, this attack did not aim the Christians particularly."

3,022 posted on 01/18/2005 2:43:31 AM PST by Cindy

FOX NEWS.com
http://www.foxnews.com

BREAKING NEWS (No url yet, just a header on their web site):
"Church Official: Abducted Archbishop Freed in Iraq"

3,023 posted on 01/18/2005 2:48:19 AM PST by Cindy

To: backhoe; piasa; All

3,024 posted on 01/18/2005 2:55:01 AM PST by Cindy

They are very well versed in how to use our system against us. They use and abuse the student visa program, knowing that it is not being tracked. The liberal universities help, because with their uber PC culture they don't want to offend anyone. They utilize charities to raise money for their terrorist organizations....tax free, of course!

Sadly, this family of four will probably only be the beginning. Already, the press is remiss to make concrete statements regarding the motive behind these murders...in the first articles it was said that robbery was not a motive. In the newer articles they are pushing robbery as the main motive. Our PC culture will be our demise.

3,025 posted on 01/18/2005 3:28:18 AM PST by all4one (My thoughts and prayers are with our soldiers.....and their families)

IMO there are people out there being used to check what can and cannot get through TSA. In this article...once again....they don't give the name of the person involved. What adult would be carrying such an item? Maybe a salesperson for the company, but like you said, the item named does not match it's description. And think of any number of hazardous liquids that could be placed in such a container and brought onto an airplane.

3,026 posted on 01/18/2005 3:33:18 AM PST by all4one (My thoughts and prayers are with our soldiers.....and their families)

To: MamaDearest; Oorang; freeperfromnj; jerseygirl; Cindy; All

Muslim-Christian Tensions Erupt at Emotional Funeral for Slain New Jersey Family (1/18/05)

By Wayne Parry Associated Press Writer Published: Jan 18, 2005

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) - Authorities insist a theory that a Muslim angry over Internet postings was responsible for the slaying of an Egyptian Christian family is just one of several under investigation.

But the theory - embraced as fact by some - has touched off a new round of anti-Muslim sentiment in a city still stinging from a post-Sept. 11 backlash.

Grief and rage erupted Monday at the funeral for the slain family members, who were found bound and fatally stabbed in their home early Friday. Mourners fought in the street, with many blaming Muslims for the deaths.

As the coffins were carried through the streets to St. George & St. Shenouda Coptic Orthodox Church, one protester's sign, above a photograph of the smiling Armanious family read: "American Family Beheaded on American Soil. Welcome Bin Laden." Others declared: "Terrorists Reached Our Home" and "Bush: Crush Sleeper Cells."

Church official Amil Sarofiem begged for order. "Get out! We don't need any talk about Sept. 11 or Muslims!" he yelled to a man who was shouting anti-Muslim slogans.

Investigators are looking into the possibility that Hossam Armanious, 47, his 37-year-old wife, Amal Garas, and their daughters, Sylvia, 15, and Monica, 8, were slain by someone angered over postings that Armanious, a Coptic Christian, wrote in an Internet chat room. The Coptic Orthodox Church is one of the oldest communities in Christendom, believed to have been founded in the first century A.D. by the apostle Mark.

Authorities say the killings could have occurred during a robbery since no cash or valuables were found in the home. Prosecutor Guy Gregory said the father's wallet was found empty.

The Armanious family had been active in the church since immigrating to the United States in 1997 from Egypt, where Copts generally live in peace with Muslims.

The 2,000 mourners included about two dozen Muslims who took off their shoes as a sign of respect and placed them near the entrance to the church, just as they do in their mosques.

"We feel this is something that was very far away from our community," Ahmed Sheded, president of the Islamic Center of Jersey City, said after the service. "A real Muslim can't do that."

Link to Article

3,027 posted on 01/18/2005 3:48:15 AM PST by all4one (My thoughts and prayers are with our soldiers.....and their families)

re: "don't want to 'hunt' them"

Why not?? The WO say's the season's open, and there's no bag limit!! Happy days!! Light'm up!

Why not? Because I am just a little gal with no back-up. How can "I" go out hunting these people? I think I would do better by keeping informed and reporting what I know. There is no way that 'just me' could ever go out hunting them.

Plus, I live way north, and 'they' are in the southern part of the state from me. :)

3,028 posted on 01/18/2005 5:42:19 AM PST by SheLion (God bless our military members and keep them safe.)

SheLion - I am just lurking but wanted to make a correction. I don't know who wrote this originally... "Oh, you forgot Memphis. With its Islamic Center in the eastern part of the city and the noticeable, gold-domed mosque smack-dab in Downtown near the Mississippi River and the Pyramid"

Oh I don't know. That is just what one poster told me at one time:

To: SheLion

Oh, you forgot Memphis. With its Islamic Center in the eastern part of the city and the noticeable, gold-domed mosque smack-dab in Downtown near the Mississippi River and the Pyramid. Also, you forgot the bowtied Nation of Islam (Farrakhan) evangelists that stand on the side of Elvis Presley Boulevard and hand out fruit and Nation of Islam newsletters to willing passersby. They have another location for passing out their propaganda in Memphis too. I think it's on Winchester Road.

When worse comes to worse, those will be terrorist havens and helpers too if they aren't already.

45 posted on 08/29/2004 10:47:21 AM EDT by MarcoPolo

[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1202132/posts

3,029 posted on 01/18/2005 5:45:38 AM PST by SheLion (God bless our military members and keep them safe.)

Those rumors were also published a few months back

Was that a Seymour Hersch report as well?

3,030 posted on 01/18/2005 7:23:36 AM PST by Velveeta

Good morning folks. Nothing unusual to report in Reston, VA this morning - at least that I've noticed.

REMINDER: Keep your gas tanks at least 1/2 full.

ad

3,031 posted on 01/18/2005 7:38:46 AM PST by appalachian_dweller (Threat Level: Elevated - Basic list of survival gear @ my FR Homepage)

To: appalachian_dweller; Cindy; tmp02; Velveeta; freeperfromnj; Oorang; jerseygirl; Godzilla; ...

PLANES:

Virgin plane makes emergency landing (1/18/05)

Expatica, Netherlands - 7 minutes ago

BRUSSELS – A Virgin plane bound for Nice was forced to make an emergency landing back at Brussels with just one engine, it was reported on Tuesday. ...

Small plane makes emergency landing in Nashville

WATE.com, TN - 17 hours ago

The Cessna 152, a two-seater, landed near woods around noon southeast of downtown Nashville about a mile from Hickory Hollow Mall. ...

Plane Makes Emergency Landing in Street (OH - 1/17/05)

WJXX, FL - 12 hours ago

CINCINNATI, OH -- A new meaning to the phrase "share the road." A small emperimental plane made an emergency landing on a road in Cincinnati Monday afternoon. ...

Link to Google Search

New York-Bound Plane Returns To Dayton Following Altercation (1/17/05)

WHIOtv.com, Ohio - 18 hours ago

DAYTON, Ohio -- A plane leaving Dayton and bound for New York was forced to turn around because of an unruly passenger. Dayton police ...

Link to Search>

TRAINS:

Tracks set to reopen after derailment in North Dakota

Seattle Post Intelligencer, WA - 1 hour ago

The train was en route from Chicago to Seattle when the derailment occurred shortly after 9 pm Sunday more than 75 miles west of Minot, railroad spokesman Gus ...

Train derailment disrupts service in southern Vermont

WCAX, VT - 23 hours ago

A nine-car derailment damaged track severely enough that freight and passenger traffic in southern Vermont has been halted until repairs can be made. ...

Train Derailment Near Bristow In Creek County (OK - 1/17/05)

KOTV, OK - 16 hours ago

Investigators say a broken track caused a train to derail between Bristow and Depew Sunday night. Six cars near the center of the ...

Derailment Causes Commotion Near University (TN - 1/16/05)

WREG, TN - Jan 16, 2005

... A spokesperson for Norfolk Southern says they are still investigating what caused the derailment. They hope to have the intersection reopened sometime Sunday.

Minor methanol spill reported in train derailment (TX - 1/16/05)

Houston Chronicle, TX - Jan 15, 2005

A 26-car train derailment in rural Waller County early today caused a minor, non-threatening spill of methanol. No one was injured ...

Link to Derailment Search

AUTOMOBILES:

Breaking News: Jefferson County Sheriff’s Car Stolen (TX - 1/18/05)

KBTV4.tv, TX - 32 minutes ago

Hometown News has learned Hardin County Sheriff’s Deputies have pulled over a stolen Sheriff’s car. We have learned a juvenile ...

Link to Article

TERRORISM TRIALS:

Briton on 'Terror Missile' Charges Struck by Mystery Illness (UK - 1/18/05)

By Victoria Ward, PA, in New York

A British businessman charged with attempting to sell shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles to terrorists in the United States has been struck by a mystery illness which could severely delay his trial. Helmant Lakhani, 69, from Hendon, north London, was taken to hospital in New Jersey four days ago and is still undergoing tests.

Link to Article

3,032 posted on 01/18/2005 8:45:01 AM PST by all4one (My thoughts and prayers are with our soldiers.....and their families)

I was just teasing...

sub6

3,033 posted on 01/18/2005 9:08:53 AM PST by subsea06 (A simple guy living in a complicated world)

Thanks for taking a look, penguino! I just know I ran into a bunch of French, and that's worse than all Greek to me!

3,034 posted on 01/18/2005 9:28:42 AM PST by Hegemony Cricket (Ich bin ein Pittsburgher - GO STEELERS!)

To: Old Sarge; JohnathanRGalt; fullwave; LayoutGuru2; ganeshpuri89; backhoe; All

3,035 posted on 01/18/2005 9:39:39 AM PST by Cindy

To: tmp02; Oorang; drymans wife; MamaDearest; nwctwx; Domestic Church; Rushmore Rocks; Labyrinthos; ...

Terrorism Summary 01/18/05

We are entering the Inauguration window, therefore I wanted to get this summary out before hand. While intense security surrounds D.C., we must not take our eyes off other potential targets. I expect attacks to increase in Iraq as their election goes forward. However, I also believe the pundits will be surprised by Iraqi turnout on election day.

Let me know if you want on or off the Ping list.

01/18/04 Current National Homeland Defense threat level is YELLOW

1. Attack threat windows - America
01/18/04 Primary Window: January 18-21, 2005 - Presidential inauguration

01/18/04 Secondary windows:
Feb. 6 Super Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla.
11/23/04 This post is being maintained for a historical track - Godzilla
ACSA has predicted a nuclear attack within the next 3 months. This window ends approximately 02/23/05

2. Attack Indicators
01/18/05 There are currently no significant or otherwise indicators available. Speculation has been reported on some jihadi chat rooms with dates set, but those dates have passed with out incident.

3. Current Terrorist Operations

Al-Qa'ida / OBL
01/15/05 Terrorist organizations resembling al-Qaida, but more decentralized and increasingly sophisticated, are likely to employ biological agents such as anthrax and smallpox against the United States and other perceived enemies over the next 15 years, according to a sweeping intelligence report released yesterday. ....snip......
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/bal-te.cia14jan14,0,3160971.story?coll=ny-leadnationalnews-headlines

Britain
01/15/05 Senior officers at Scotland Yard say the threat is so significant they have set up intelligence teams at one popular venue. They believe West End theatres and cinemas could also be targeted by al Qaeda. Chief Superintendent Bill Tillbrook and Superintendent Chris Bradford, who head the crime and vice unit, admitted there was "grave concern of a terrorist atrocity". Mr Bradford said:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/londonnews/articles/15942687?source=Evening%20Standard

Iran
01/18/05 Godzilla – Overall impression is that they are continuing to push forward as quickly as possible to create a nuke. However, I think recent reports of aerial surveillance and on the ground special ops folks targeting their nuclear program has caused them to become a little paranoid. I expect Bush to increase the pressure on Iran after the Iraqi elections are successfully completed.

Afghanistan
01/18/05 There have been news reports of some Taliban fighters seeking amnesty and desiring to return to a ‘normal’ life. This would reinforce the observations that there may be a split between OBL/AQ and the taliban, particularly in light of the successful elections and relative peace within the country.

Iraq
Monitoring – (Jan 25 – Feb 1, 2005). High threat of a major mass causality attack to disrupt the upcoming elections. 01/18/05 The archbishop of Mosul has been freed 24 hours after being kidnapped at gunpoint in Iraq, according to press reports. Archbishop Basile Georges Casmoussa, leader of the northern city's 35,000 Syrian Catholics, was captured outside his church on Monday in one of the most daring assaults on Iraq's Christian community since the America-led invasion took place nearly two years ago. The Vatican said a ransom of $200,000 had been demanded just minutes before his release, but the 66-year-old official was set free without any payment being made. No official word is available regarding who kidnapped the church leader.
http://www.cnsnews.com//ThisHour.asp#Kidnapped%20Archbishop%20Freed%20in%20Iraq

01/13/05 Osama bin Laden has vowed to turn Iraq into the front line of his war against the United States, but Iraqi insurgents seem worried that he's out to hijack their rebellion. ..snip.....
"We have concrete information that a sharp division is now broiling between" Iraqis waging a nationalist war and foreign Arabs spurred by militant Islam, said Mouwafak al-Rubaie, the Iraqi government's national security adviser. "They are more divided than ever." ..snip.....
"Al-Zarqawi and his group fled Fallujah and let the Iraqis face the attack alone," al-Rubaie said in a telephone interview. Some Iraqis may have drawn parallels between the debacle in Fallujah and what happened to Afghanistan after it became bin Laden's headquarters.

Godzilla – this is further evidence of a schism between native Iraqi’s and out of country jihadi’s. This is a good thing and may cause the further erosion of any support for Al-Zarqawi.

01/13/05 Two aides to Iraq's top Shi'ite leader Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani have been killed in separate attacks apparently aimed at inflaming sectarian conflict among Iraqis already divided on whether Jan. 30 polls should go ahead.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/20050113/wl_nm/iraq_dc

Godzilla – This is a continuation of an attempt to foment strife and civil war between the Sunni and Shiite populations in Iraq. Generally the coalition has received more support for democratic changes from the majority Shiite population than the largely baathist – Sunni minority that once held power in Iraq.

Indonesia
Monitoring - AQ attack watch through 02/15/05
Australia and Japan issue warnings on 15 Dec. over threat to a foreign hotel in Indonesia, hotel identified as Hilton Hotel in Jakarta.
Godzilla - The Moslem Indonesian government is struggling to mend fences with the west to aid the tsunami victims while trying to keep the cap on more militant faction within the government and region.

01/15/05 Westerners are under fresh threats of terrorist attacks in Indonesia according to the British Foreign Office, wire services report. The warning follows bomb threats against the British and Thai embassies in Jakarta on Thursday.
The British Foreign Office said in a statement released Thursday that it continued to receive reports that terrorists in Indonesia were planning attacks on Westerners. "Attacks could occur at any time, anywhere in Indonesia and are likely to be directed against locations frequented by foreigners," the statement said. The British Embassy in Jakarta had "suspended services" while the security situation was being assessed.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/01/13/jakarta.warnings/index.html

01/14/05 Indonesia wants a lasting truce with separatists in tsunami-ravaged Aceh province, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said on Friday, as both sides expressed a willingness for talks to end the 28-year rebellion. ..snip…..
The rebel prime minister-in-exile Malik Mahmud said in a statement from Stockholm on Wednesday his Free Aceh Movement, better known by its initials GAM, repeated their ceasefire offer to help efforts to rebuild the region.
"Under the present situation, this is a good chance for both sides to sit down and try to discuss a settlement to the political situation," he said.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/JAK287697.htm

Kuwait
Monitoring - AQ attack watch through 03/15/05
US Embassy on 15 Dec.: Credible information that terrorist groups are developing near-term plans for attacks against unspecified targets in Kuwait. Very active recently

01/17/05 Kuwait beefed up security on Sunday after police busted a Saudi-style suspected Islamist militant cell in a three-hour shootout at Umm al-Haiman that left a Saudi gunman dead and two policemen wounded. Umm al-Haiman is located near Kuwait's largest oil refinery. Excerpted
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2005/January/middleeast_January424.xml&section=middleeast

Israel
01/18/05 More rocket attacks have struck Israeli settlements as well as smaller, suicide attacks on military checkpoints. The Israeli government is attempting to keep restrained to allow the new Palestinian government to get control on terrorists.

Thailand
Monitoring - AQ attack watch #1 through 01/31/05
Thai intel has reportedly warned about terrorist threats in Bangkok during the latter part of Dec. and early Jan.

Monitoring - AQ attack watch #2 through 12/31/05
Terrorists are plotting attacks next year at tourist resorts across Thailand, according to documents found in the house of a fugitive leader of the country's Islamic insurgency, a senior security official said. The documents show that in 2005, the militants plan to attack "soft targets" such as the tropical beach resorts of Pattaya and Phuket, which draw tourist from around the world.
http://www.trackingterrorism.com/Default.asp?dismode=article&artid=1305
This area was among the hardest hit as a result of the tsunami of Dec 26, 2004. Must watch carefully. Godzilla

01/18/05 A bomb believed planted by Muslim insurgents exploded at a noodle shop in southern Thailand Sunday, killing one person and injuring 59 others, officials said. The blast occurred in the central district of Yala, provincial capital of Yala province. Thailand's three southernmost provinces have been plagued for the past year by violence the authorities blame on a revived Muslim separatist movement.
http://www.trackingterrorism.com/Default.asp?dismode=article&artid=1445&comm=1

Russia
01/17/05 Russian special services possess information indicating that Chechen terrorist leaders Aslan Maskhadov and Shamil Basayev are planning large-scale terrorist acts, reported sources in the Regional Operative Headquarters of the counter-terrorist operation in the Northern Caucasus (ROH) on Monday.
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=5315617&startrow=1&date=2005-01-17&do_alert=0

Yemen
01/05/05 Monitoring - AQ attack watch through 03/01/05
Britain closed its embassy in Yemen on Dec 30, 2004 because of "there is specific information that terrorists are in the final stages of planning attacks against British targets and other Western interests in Yemen," and warned that terrorists were in the end stage of planning assaults against British targets in the country. ..snip..

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=721&e=6&u=/ap/20050105/ap_on_re_mi_ea/britain_yemen

01/18/05 No further information available.

Saudi Arabia
Monitoring - AQ attack watch through 02/28/05
Call for attacks on oil infrastructure in Iraq and Gulf region by Osama bin Laden

01/18/05 Nothing significant available. Pakistan
01/18/05 Internal dealings with local warlords over government detainees.

Phillipines
01/13/05 As many as five terror groups from Indonesia are operating in the Philippines, participating in terrorist plots and establishing links with local extremists, an American expert on terrorism said Thursday.
Excerpted
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/01/13/news/manila.html

Poland
01/13/05 The Polish military will be allowed to shoot down hijacked aircraft as a last resort, according to a decree adopted by the government. The decision will have to be made by the country's defence minister or the air force commander after attempts to land rogue planes have failed.

United States
01/14/05 Hossam Armanious, his wife Amal Garas and their daughters, Monica (8) and Sylvia (15) were found murdered in their New Jersey home. The reason this family was so brutally murdered appears to be that they were outspoken critics of Islam. The family was bound and tortured, before their throats were slit in accord with the instructions for executing nonbelievers, as detailed in the Koran: (47:4) "Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers, smite at their necks; At length, when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly [on them]."

Godzilla – Protect your personal information when you enter jihadi related links and chat rooms.

01/14/05 The federal government is receiving reports of "suspicious activity" around buildings where presidential inaugural events and a parade are scheduled to occur Jan. 20 in Washington, FOX News learned Friday. But there is no indication that any of these activities are linked to terrorist activity. Plus, many of the buildings and streets in question consistently receive numerous suspicious activity reports due to their high visibility in the Washington area. (condensed)
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,144427,00.html

4. Attack method.
11/23/04 No real change in the preferred method of choice of AQ which are bombs - the bigger the better. With the exception of 9/11, car/truck bombs have been widely used. However, aircraft are also still in the mix. There are special concerns regarding the use by terrorists of the following types of vehicles:

1. Uhaul type cargo trucks.
2. Gasoline / Propane supply / tanker trucks.
3. Emergency vehicles (ambulances, police cars, fire trucks)

Current alerts out for at least two stolen fuel/tanker trucks, a stolen crop duster and about a hundred propane tanks. It is uncertain if the thefts are linked to terrorism at this time, however they could be adapted for use in a terrorist attack.

01/17/05 As Washington gears up for the first Inaugural of the post-9/11 era, one potential security threat has emerged as a particular focus of concern: vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, or VBIEDS, possibly disguised as limousines. The fears were prompted in part, say U.S. intelligence sources, by a 39-page document seized from al-Qaeda last year, titled "Rough Presentation for Gas Limo Project." It lays out a scenario for using limousines to deliver bombs equipped with cylinders of a flammable gas. Though the Inauguration is not specifically mentioned, parts of the document began circulating among senior U.S. intelligence authorities on Jan. 5. In response, barriers have been set up to block any vehicle bent on destruction. ....snip....
Al-Qaeda used similar devices in the truck bomb that blew up the U.S. embassy in Dar es Salaam in 1998 and in a 2002 attack on a Tunisian synagogue. Shortly after the document surfaced last summer, the Department of Homeland Security began contacting limousine firms to warn of the danger. With hundreds of limos expected to jam the capital this week, authorities are on the alert.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1018032,00.html

5. Personnel
01/18/05 Nothing significant.

6. Significant meetings canceled:
01/18/04 No new cancellations.

7. Security has been heightened in specific cities
01/18/04 NYC is at a locally declared ORANGE where it had been since. 9/11/01.

01/18/05 Security for the President Inauguration will be at unprecidented levels. No announcement of the increase in terror level for D.C. yet, but suspect that they will do a local within the next few days.

GENERAL: Ongoing work to upgrade security at sea ports and airports.

8. Military operations.
01/14/05 Citing security concerns, the U.S. Navy is diverting some massive supply ships carrying critical war materiel away from the Suez Canal, sending them instead on the long, solitary trek around Africa's Cape of Good Hope en route to the Persian Gulf. At least 12 huge, unarmed ships of the Navy's Military Sealift Command have been sent on the Cape route rather than through the Suez Canal, adding thousands of miles to the trip, the Navy confirmed. ....snip.....
http://www.newhousenews.com/archive/wood011305.html

9. Dept of Homeland Scty. / State Department
01/15/05 PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
This information is current as of today, Sat Jan 15 07:18:44 2005.
Tajikistan
January 14, 2005
This Public Announcement is being issued to update security information on potential terrorist actions against Americans in Tajikistan and add concerns due to narcotics trafficking through Tajikistan. This Public Announcement supersedes the Public Announcement dated July 19, 2004, and expires on August 12, 2005. Elements of terrorist groups allied with al-Qa'ida, including the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and other groups, remain active in Tajikistan and still pose risks to travelers. The U.S. Government is aware of increased activity of terrorist groups in Central Asia, and recent information suggests that foreign fighters may seek to target Americans in Tajikistan. New tactics, to include the use of suicide bombers, have been employed by terrorists in neighboring Uzbekistan. In the past, the IMU has been responsible for hostage-takings and border skirmishes near the Uzbek-Tajik-Kyrgyz border areas. ....snip......
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1160.html

01/14/05 Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520
This information is current as of today, Fri Jan 14 11:57:08 2005.
INDONESIA
January 13, 2005
This Travel Warning advises American Citizens to avoid tsunami-damaged areas of Indonesia, provides information for humanitarian workers considering travel to Indonesia, updates information on the security situation, and reminds travelers of the ongoing terrorist threat for Indonesia. The Department of State continues to recommend that Americans defer all non-essential travel to Indonesia. This warning supersedes the December 17, 2004, Travel Warning and the December 27, 2004 Public Announcement for Indonesia.

..snip..

The Department reminds Americans that the terrorist threat in Indonesia continues. Reports indicate that terrorists are planning attacks against a wide variety of targets. These attacks could occur at any time and could be directed against any location, including those frequented by foreigners and identifiably American or other western facilities or businesses in Indonesia. The potential remains for violence and terrorist actions against U.S. citizens and interests throughout the country. The Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist group has cells in several Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia, and connections with al-Qaeda. A terrorist bombing outside the Australian Embassy in Jakarta on September 9, 2004, killed eleven and injured more than 180 people. An August 2003 terrorist bombing at a major international hotel in Jakarta injured several American citizens, and seven Americans died in a terrorist attack in Denspasar, Bali in October 2002. The U.S. government continues to receive information that JI and other extremist groups might be planning additional attacks against U.S. and other Western interests in Indonesia.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_918.html

10. Suspicious Domestic Incidents Not Currently Linked to Specific Terrorism Attempts
01/18/05 Godzilla – The government reports lasing of aircraft has continued, however news sources have discontinued reporting them. So far it appears that the lasers used are relatively low powered, lessening the risk to pilots.

01/18/04 LEOs are still looking for stole tankers, propane tanks and a crop duster that could potentially be used for terrorist attacks - Godzilla

3,036 posted on 01/18/2005 9:42:24 AM PST by Godzilla (A cubicle is just a padded cell without a door.)

To: subsea06; Cindy; Godzilla; Velveeta; tmp02; All

Passport Forgery Gang Behind Bars (Bankok & UK)

By Melvyn Howe, PA

A gang of international passport forgers was behind bars today after being arrested by anti-terrorist officers.

They were caught red-handed with hundreds of top quality counterfeits made in Bangkok and smuggled into Britain in a holidaymaker’s luggage.

The haul, worth thousands of pounds on the black market, had been bound for a state-of-the-art “forger’s factory” hidden behind the facade of a nondescript three-bedroom terraced house in north London.

Link to Article

Terrorists storm passport office in Srinagar (India)

SRINAGAR: Terrorists on Saturday attacked regional passport office located in high security zone at Gojibagh near Bakshi stadium in Srinagar....

Link to Article

Man Held in Case of Border Smuggling (Canada/Michigan - 1/18/05)

He's indicted on charges of helping 18 illegal immigrants cross into the U.S.

DETROIT -- Federal agents have arrested another person they say was attempting to smuggle illegal immigrants through a train tunnel linking Canada and Michigan.

A federal grand jury in Detroit last week indicted Wissam Abudayyeh, a Palestinian and a legal resident of Canada, on charges he helped 17 Chinese and an Albanian cross into the United States.

According to the U.S. government, the illegal immigrants boarded Norfolk Southern Engine 9863 in Windsor about 4:25 a.m. Jan. 5; U.S. agents discovered them during an inspection after the train reached Detroit....

Link to Full Article

Iran gives Cuba 20 million in euro credit (1/18/05)

Aljazeera.com, UK - 8 hours ago

Iran's ambassador to Cuba said on Monday that his country decided to boost its ties with the Cuba, 90 miles from Florida, by extending some 20 million in euro ...

LATIN AMERICA: Cuba and Venezuela strengthen solidarity (1/18/05)

Green Left Weekly, Australia - 10 hours ago ... The Cuba-Venezuela agreement is the first attempt to make the principles of ALBA, which challenge US domination of the continent, a reality. ...

Cuba, Uruguay to restore diplomatic relations (1/18/05)

Viet Nam News Agency, Vietnam - 13 hours ago Havana (VNA) - Sources from Uruguay said that the country will restore its diplomatic relations with Cuba as of Mar. 1 when its ...

Link to Cuba Search

3,037 posted on 01/18/2005 9:44:11 AM PST by all4one (My thoughts and prayers are with our soldiers.....and their families)

Thanks for keeping us informed penguino. ribaat.org seems to be a happy bunch.

3,038 posted on 01/18/2005 10:44:36 AM PST by Oorang (Decafalon: The grueling event of getting through the day consuming things that are good for you)

Well that's interesting and good news.

3,039 posted on 01/18/2005 10:46:14 AM PST by Oorang (Decafalon: The grueling event of getting through the day consuming things that are good for you)

A lot of the security will not be seen.

Well I should hope so. I'm so tired of some folks screaming/whining that there should be no secrets whether it's military action or otherwise. Yes there should be some secrets. There is such a thing as "on a need to know basis".

3,040 posted on 01/18/2005 10:49:37 AM PST by Oorang (Decafalon: The grueling event of getting through the day consuming things that are good for you)

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