Threat Matrix: November 2006

[nwctwx]

The Price of Victory
-Full Story-

The "bombshell" revelation from last April's National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), which was leaked to the New York Times in September, was that the war in Iraq had resulted in more terrorism, not less. As reported by United Press International's Claude Salhani, "Did we really need 16 intelligence agencies to tell us that? Ten minutes of watching the newscast of your choice, from Al-Jazeera to Fox News, would be enough to convince most observers." But the key question is why the war has provoked the global Jihad.

One answer has to be the influence in the Arab world of the America-
hating network Al-Jazeera. The AIM DVD on "Terror Television" shows film footage of captured terrorists saying they came to Iraq to kill Americans because of the words and images on Al-Jazeera.

	Al-Qaeda Doctrine for International Political Warfare
	- 2006 Midterms: Another bin Laden Victory?
	Three Years Ago: Threat Matrix Begins

Thread Forty-Two

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[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=hezbollah
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=hizballah
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=hizbullah

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=Lebanon

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http://counterterrorismblog.org/2006/11/hezbollahs_offensive_in_lebano.php

"Hezbollah's offensive in Lebanon has begun"
By Walid Phares

[Cindy]

NOTE: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=2102

Coalition Marks Fifth Anniversary of Taliban’s Fall in Afghanistan

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2006 – Celebration filled the streets of Kabul, Afghanistan, five years ago today as members of the Northern Alliance rolled into the city, driving the Taliban and their al Qaeda allies into hiding places in the south.
Newsreels showed Afghans reveling in the fall of the regime that had oppressed them since 1996. Afghan men shaved their beards, women abandoned their head-to-toe burqas, children flew kites, and people played music on the radio -- all activities forbidden under Taliban rule.

U.S. aircraft had bombed Taliban training camps and command-and-control sites since the opening days of Operation Enduring Freedom just a month earlier, and the bombing continued as Taliban operatives fled to the inhospitable Afghanistan-Pakistan border, then-Pentagon spokeswoman Victoria Clarke reported.

Some 80 U.S. aircraft targeted Taliban and terrorist cave and tunnel complexes on Nov. 13, 2001, and three C-17 Globemaster III cargo airplanes dropped 39,000 humanitarian daily ration packs, bringing the total delivered that week to 1.5 million.

U.S. special operations forces also played a key role in the Northern Alliance successes, then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard B. Myers reported during a Nov. 13, 2001, Pentagon press conference.

Myers noted that Special Forces soldiers helped coordinate the Northern Alliance’s tactical victory at Mazar-e Sharif four days earlier and coordinated air attacks that helped neutralize Taliban capabilities.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld welcomed the successes in Afghanistan and acknowledged that they left the Taliban and al Qaeda forces with few choices. “If they reorganize in the south, we will go get them,” he said. “If they go to ground, …we will root them out. If they decide to flee, I doubt they will find peace wherever they select.”

Five years later, coalition forces, and NATO International Security Assistance Force and Afghan troops continue to “relentlessly pursue” Taliban extremists, al Qaeda operatives and other terrorists, Air Force Lt. Col. Todd Vician, a Pentagon spokesman, said.

The Taliban is taking advantage of the fact that the Afghanistan government’s institutions are still relatively weak, which has enabled them to expand their strength and influence in some areas, he said.

Taliban members usually operate in pockets of 50 to 70 fighters and, in rare occasions, swell to 200 fighters in one location -- an increase from 2005, Vician noted. “The enemy is focused on winning the battle of perception, attacking civilians to spread fear among local populations,” Vician said. “His goal is to win the battle of perception and force us to lose our will.”

During his Sept. 11, 2006, address marking the fifth anniversary of the terror attacks on the United States, President Bush reaffirmed his promise that the United States will continue to seek terrorists out. “No matter how long it takes, America will find you, and we will bring you to justice,” he said.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan continues to advance beyond its days of Taliban rule, with progress on a variety of fronts. Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his democratically elected government are providing what Bush calls a model of democracy in the Middle East.

The 35,000-member Afghan National Army is growing in both numbers and capability and helping ensure that terrorists never again take sanctuary within the country’s borders. NATO’s Internal Security Assistance Force took the lead for security and stability operations throughout the country Oct. 5 to support that effort.
At the same time, an extensive reconstruction effort continues throughout Afghanistan. Turkey opened the 25th of 34 provincial reconstruction teams planned for Afghanistan last week. The new PRT, in Wardak province, will work with Afghan authorities to promote health care, education, police training and agricultural alternatives to local farmers, officials said.
During ceremonies in October marking the ISAF’s expanded responsibilities in Afghanistan, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Karl W. Eikenberry, commander of Combined Forces Command Afghanistan, emphasized the ongoing U.S. commitment to Afghanistan.

“Our missions and forces on the ground remain unchanged,” he said. “In short, the United States has been here since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom, and we will not leave Afghanistan until the job is done.”

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=2104

Soldiers Detain Suspected Terrorists, Seize Weapons

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2006 – Multinational Division Baghdad and Iraqi army soldiers detained seven suspected terrorists and seized two weapons caches in separate operations in and around Baghdad Nov. 11, military officials in Iraq reported.
Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers detained four suspected terrorists and seized a weapons cache in one of the capital’s western neighborhoods Nov. 11.

After witnessing suspicious activity, soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, searched four suspects. They found a rocket-propelled-grenade launcher, an RPG round, an AK-47, a heavy machine gun, three grenades, and two assault rifles with two 100-round belts of ammunition.

The suspects were detained for further questioning. An explosive ordnance disposal team later performed a controlled detonation of the weapons cache.

In another operation, Iraqi army and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers seized a large weapons cache and detained three individuals in the Qa-Qaa apartment complex in Mahmudiyah, 30 kilometers south of Baghdad on Nov. 11.

Iraqi soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, teamed up with a U.S. advisory team from 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, and conducted a cordon-and-knock operation in the apartment complex.

Three 107 mm rockets, 24 82 mm mortar rounds, 17 60 mm mortar rounds, 19 60 mm mortar fuses, 100 mortar charges, two mortar tripods and aiming devices, a rocket-propelled-grenade launcher, an AK-47 assault rifle, an RPK medium machine gun, false identification cards, and four license plates were seized during the operation.

The most significant find in the cache was the discovery of 25 anti-armor improvised explosive device cover plates.

The operation was delayed briefly with the discovery of a car bomb parked near the apartment complex. An explosive ordinance team was brought in to dispose of the car bomb.

The operation was based on actionable intelligence collected from sources in the area, officials said. The detainees are in the custody of the Iraqi army for questioning.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=IRAN

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=SYRIA

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1737984/posts

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6144996.stm
Last Updated: Monday, 13 November 2006, 20:39 GMT


"'No softening' on Iran and Syria"

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Britain's policy towards Iran and Syria has not softened, Downing Street says, despite the prime minister's call for them to help bring stability to Iraq."

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=EU

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=terroristfinancing

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=wot
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=waronterror




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http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=PRES/06/304&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

"Council approves rules on the tracing of fund transfers
in order to better combat terrorist financing"

Reference: PRES/06/304 Date: 10/11/2006

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=alqaeda
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=alqaida

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=Lebanon



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http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/014030.php

November 13, 2006

Al-Qaida threatens to topple Lebanon government

Because it "receives orders from the American administration." "Al-Qaida threatens to topple Lebanon govt.," from AP:


BEIRUT, Lebanon - Al-Qaida has purportedly issued a statement threatening to topple Lebanon's "corrupt" Western-backed government, according to a London-based Arabic newspaper Monday.
The Al-Hayat newspaper reported that al-Qaida issued the statement from the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr el-Bared in northern Lebanon.

"The organization has arrived in Lebanon and we will work on destroying this corrupt government that receives orders from the American administration," Al-Hayat said, quoting the statement.



The Lebanese government is denying that this statement really came from the A-Q boys. But of course, the Lebanese government is in denial about a lot of things.

Posted by Robert at November 13, 2006 02:47 PM

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=un

---

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1737994/posts


"New UN Children’s Book Promotes Global Warming Fears to Kids"
US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works ^ | 11/13/06 | Marc Morano, Matt Dempsey

Posted on 11/13/2006 2:30:09 PM PST by Kellis91789

[Cindy]

We're still monitoring (via public information on the internet) these threats so, updates appreciated.

A few more details UPDATE:

Thanks to Hegemony for the ping:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1737610/posts?page=290#290

to this article:

http://intelligence-summit.blogspot.com/2006/11/india-airports-and-flights-to-us-on.html

Monday, November 13, 2006

"INDIA: AIRPORTS AND FLIGHTS TO U.S. ON HIGH ALERT"

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "New Delhi, 13 Nov. (AKI/Asian Age) - America's Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has sent a communication to India's Intelligence Bureau (IB)warning against an "imminent" terrorist threat, probably in the form of a hijack on US-bound flights from Indian airports. The FBI received an email that is believed to have originated from India, warning of terror attacks.

Following the alert that was conveyed on Saturday, the IB informed the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), which promptly despatched a communication to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is responsible for guarding airports in India. Airports across the country and airlines operating flights to the United States have also been alerted. Security has been beefed up further."


ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The latest terror alert follows the one on November 9 when an anonymous letter was found at Trichy airport in Tamil Nadu, warning that AL-Qaeda would "blast Chennai airport like the airports in Thailand". The note also warned of attacks on Trichy, Madurai and Coimbatore airports, as well as airports in Kerala."


ARTICLE SNIPPET: "A TV report had said that an Internet centre in the US had received an email warning that a plane flying from India to a destination in Europe or the United States could be hijacked. This email was then passed on to the FBI, which in turn informed the Indian authorities, the TV report added.

(Aki/Asian Age)
posted by Marko at 11/13/2006 05:06:00 AM



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Thanks to freeperfromnj for this link (recap)


http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-13551926,00.html?f=rss

"Aiports On Terror Alert"
Updated: 22:56, Sunday November 12, 2006

[Cindy]

Off Topic, but interesting.

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/11/20061113-7.html

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 13, 2006

Message to the Senate of the United States



With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification, I transmit herewith the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs (the "Agreement"), adopted in Geneva on July 2, 1999, and signed by the United States on July 6, 1999. I also transmit, for the information of the Senate, a report of the Department of State with respect to the Agreement.

This Agreement promotes the ability of U.S. design owners to protect their industrial designs by allowing them to obtain multinational design protection through a single deposit procedure. Under the Agreement, U.S. design owners would be able to file for design registration in any number of the Contracting Parties with a single standardized application in English at either the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or at the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Similarly, renewal of a design registration in each Contracting Party may be made by filing a single request along with payment of the appropriate fees at the International Bureau of WIPO. This Agreement should make access to international protection of industrial designs more readily available to U.S. businesses.

In the event that the Senate provides its consent to ratify the Agreement, the United States would not deposit its instrument of ratification until the necessary implementing legal structure has been established domestically.

I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to this Agreement and give its advice and consent to its ratification, subject to the declarations described in the accompanying report of the Department of State.

GEORGE W. BUSH

THE WHITE HOUSE,

November 13, 2006.

[Cindy]

Note: Speech and Q&A:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/11/20061113-3.html

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 13, 2006

"President Bush Welcomes Prime Minister Olmert of Israel to the White House"
Oval Office
11:45 A.M. EDT

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=MEXICO
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=OAXACA

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Adding on to post no. 613:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1730468/posts?page=613#613

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Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1738043/posts


Oaxacan leftists (APPO) threaten to expand and unite protest with Lopez Obrador (Translation)
El Universal ( Mexico City ) ^ | November 13, 2006 | Alejandro Torres & Jorge Octavio Ochoa ( translated by self )

Posted on 11/13/2006 4:07:12 PM PST by StJacques

APPO will reactivate blockades in Oaxaca


They also agree to extend their protests against the government over which Felipe Calderon Hinojosa will preside if when he begins his mandate Ulises Ruiz Ortiz still remains in his position [as Governor of Oaxaca].


Alejandro Torres & Jorge Octavio Ochoa/Correspondents
El Universal (Mexico City)
Oaxaca City, Oaxaca
Monday 13 November 2006


1:17 p.m. Reinstalling barricades, taking state public offices and town councils, and the closure of major highways are some of the conclusions which the constituent congress of the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO) approved upon concluding its work early this Monday morning.

The 1,700 delegates to the congress, representing eight regions of the state and of the labor, native people, student, union, and the suburban secotrs, reiterated that the demand for the fall of Governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz is neither negotiable nor renounceable.


To release the resolutions of the constituent congress, Zenen Bravo Castellanos, who acted as President of Speaker's Desk, said that APPO also will extend its protests against the Government over which Felipe Calderon Hinojosa will preside if when he begins his mandate, starting December 1, Ulises Ruiz Ortiz still remains in his position [as Governor of Oaxaca].


The delegates to the congress also approved that APPO be run by a collective body without a particular leader. The organ of leadership of that movement will be a state council composed of 260 people who will represent the eight regions of the state and the different sectors who adhere to APPO.


Moreover, said council will include as honorary members ex-political prisoners and those who have had arrest orders [issued] against them for their participation in the movement.


Over the course of this Monday the state council will take up in its time the different committees in which they will distribute the tasks of the nascent organization.


Zenen Bravo explained in a press conference, at the beginning of a march of some thousand APPO members, that the plan of action of the organization contemplates, among other means, the reactivation of the mobile brigades who would blockade the state public offices, in addition to reinstalling barricades and carrying out blockades of the major highways in the state.


"The proposal is to demonstrate what there is no governability," he explained. He said that, within the bosom [of the organization], they are still about to set the moment in which they will bring about such actions.

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=philadelphia
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=philly

---

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1738063/posts


Downtown Shooting Rounds Out Violent Weekend (Quagmire in Philly)
CBS 3 PHILADELPHIA ^ | 11/13/2006 | AP

Posted on 11/13/2006 5:00:43 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist

CBS / AP) PHILADELPHIA A Philadelphia civic group and the city's top cop will hold a news conference Monday morning calling for an end to the bloodshed after an especially violent weekend.

Men United for a Better Philadelphia will join with Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson at 10 a.m. at Philadelphia's City Hall calling for a "Cease Fire" in neighborhoods plagued with violence. The location of the news conference is near the scene of one of the city's most recent shootings.

A man was wounded from gunfire in downtown Philadelphia, rounding out a deadly weekend with several unrelated fatal shootings around the city.

The downtown shooting happened Sunday afternoon at city hall, as people were crowded onto the Broad Street Subway to return from an Eagles game.

Police say a gunman shot a man in the back, then escaped onto the Market-Frankford Line. The victim was hospitalized.

A number of unrelated shootings kept both Philadelphia police and SEPTA transit police busy Saturday night into Sunday morning.

Three of the shootings turned into homicides bringing the total for the year to 354.

Just after 7 p.m. Saturday, 56-year-old Durell Marshall was shot and killed in Southwest Philadelphia.

Around 9:30 p.m. Saturday gunfire claimed the life of 18-year-old Kaire Oaks in West Philadelphia.

In Southwest Philadelphia, guns were blazing at approximately 10:30 p.m. Saturday when 21-year-old Jameel Clark was fatally wounded in West Philadelphia.

There is no one in custody in any of the three murders.

Philadelphia had 380 homicides last year and is on target to exceed that number this year.

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=china

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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1738097/posts

"US eyes China’s naval power"
the news ^ | November 14, 2006 | na

Posted on 11/13/2006 6:07:25 PM PST by Flavius

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/images/elbaneh1.jpg
http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/images/elbaneh2.jpg

---

Note: The following post (minus the photos) is a quote:

http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/english/index.cfm?page=Elbaneh

WANTED
Jaber A. Elbaneh
Up to $5 Million Reward
Date of birth: September 9, 1966
Place of birth: Yemen
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 200 lbs
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Sex: Male
Occupations: Salesman, Taxi Driver.
Aliases: Jaber A. Elbanelt, Jaben A. Elbanelt, Jabor Elbaneh, Abu Jubaer, Jubaer Elbaneh, "Jubair"

Jaber A. Elbaneh is wanted in connection with a federal criminal complaint unsealed on May 21, 2003, in the Western District of New York, Buffalo, New York. He is charged with providing material support to a terrorist organization and conspiring to provide material support, specifically to Al-Qaeda.

Elbaneh is believed to have fled the United States and is still thought to be outside the country.

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1730468/posts?page=22#22


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=GLOBALJIHAD
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=JIHAD

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1738136/posts

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http://hughhewitt.townhall.com/g/abfc9ccf-4293-4bab-bdfe-11e9983b450c

Monday, November 13, 2006
"It's The Jihad, Stupid"
Posted by Dean Barnett | 5:22 PM

[Cindy]

On The subject of Traveling:

http://www.gcn.com/online/vol1_no1/42565-1.html
11/10/06 -- 01:13 PM

"Traveling abroad? DHS has its eyes on you"
By Alice Lipowicz, Contributing Writer

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http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis_pa_tw_1168.html
"International Travel Information"

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http://www.cdc.gov/travel/
"Travelers' Health"

[Velveeta]

British Prime Minister Tony Blair will focus on the fight against terrorism when he unveils the last package of laws of his premiership in a program to be read to Wednesday by Queen Elizabeth.

It will be interesting to hear the details of the program.

[Velveeta]

I remember the name.
Lots of information here on Noshir Gowadia:
http://cicentre.com/Documents/DOC_Noshir_Gowadia_Case.htm

[MamaDearest]

Man convicted of incitement during cartoon protest:

He was not only a web designer, but clearly a designer of evil as well.

[MamaDearest]

Elbaneh is believed to have fled the United States and is still thought to be outside the country.

Keywords here are "is still thought to be outside the country...." Far too many jihadi thugs are here and have not been found. They seem to slip in and out of the country with ease - which should tell those in charge how critical it is that we promptly secure our nation's borders.

FDA adds "abnormal behavior" warning for Tamiflu

Snip: Patients who take Tamiflu should be closely monitored for signs of abnormal behavior, health officials said Monday in announcing an updated label for the flu drug.

The added precaution comes after reports of more than 100 new cases of delirium, hallucinations and other unusual psychiatric behavior in children treated with the drug. Most were Japanese children.

Japanese children died after taking Tamiflu

Snip: The FDA is concerned about reports coming out of Japan in which children who were given Tamiflu died while others began to behave abnormally.

Governments around the world are buying up huge stocks of Tamiflu (oseltamivir) as it is the only medication that may give some measure of help for patients infected with the more virulent strain of bird flu (H5N1). The drug is being stockpiled in preparation for a looming flu pandemic.