Threat Matrix: January 2007

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[nwctwx]

Fighting Jihad: Strategic Thinking Needed
-Full Story-

The United States of America has some of the smartest leaders in government, military, and business in the world. Yet the American government has failed to collectively use this formidable brain-power 5+ years after the attack by Jihadists on the American homeland to develop a truly strategic plan to fight the global threat of Jihad and Islamist extremism. In one of the most complex wars in American history, rather than starting with holistic, big-picture thinking towards the challenges and prioritizing resources and actions accordingly, America has spent much of the past five years after 9/11 in reactive and bureaucratic churning.

	Zawahri Decries Moderate Arabs | Transcript: LauraMansfield.com
	There Is No Substitute For Knowing Your Enemy
	A Terror So Great We Forgot It At Once?

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[vimto]

Thanks for the ping....I havn't seen this before - will explore.

Certainly I can recommend Melanie Phillip's 'Londonstan' and and Michael Gove's '7/7 Celcius'.

warm regards to you and all from Wales.

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_928.html

Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520

This information is current as of today, Sat Jan 20 2007 02:42:05 GMT-0800.

NIGERIA

January 19, 2007

This Travel Warning is being re-issued to note a further deterioration in the security situation in the Niger Delta region, due to recent car bombings in the city of Port Harcourt and continuing kidnappings of expatriates in that area. American citizens should depart from and defer non-essential travel to Delta, Bayesa, and Rivers states. This Warning also provides an update on aviation safety in Nigeria and addresses upcoming elections. It supersedes the Travel Warning for Nigeria issued August 24, 2006.

The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens of the dangers of travel to Nigeria. The lack of law and order in Nigeria poses considerable risks to travelers. Violent crime committed by ordinary criminals, as well as by persons in police and military uniforms, can occur throughout the country and tends to peak between November and January, during the holiday period.

The security situation in the Niger Delta region has deteriorated significantly over the past year. Travel to the region remains dangerous and should be avoided. Throughout the year, a number of expatriate workers in the oil industry, including American citizens, have been held hostage for days or weeks. Hostages haven been taken from oil facilities, public roadways, and within the city of Port Harcourt. While most have been released unharmed, one militant group has threatened to kill oil workers and their families and, in November 2006, a British national was killed during an attempted kidnapping. In addition, U.S. citizens and other foreigners have been threatened and held hostage during labor disputes. Two car bomb explosions at oil company compounds in Port Harcourt on December 18, 2006, prompted a major oil company to withdraw employee dependents from the city. In light of these latest incidents, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens to defer non-essential travel to Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers states, and Americans not involved in the performance of essential duties depart from those three states.

Crime in Lagos and Abuja is an ongoing problem. Some expatriates have been robbed in the outlying Lagos suburb of Lekki, and in Abuja, the Maitama area has seen a series of home invasions. In a working class section of mainland Lagos, an October 2005 clash between police and residents left several dead. Even Victoria and Ikoyi Islands, which are generally safer than other parts of Lagos, have experienced attempted bank robberies, and have seen an increase in smash-and-grab car robberies, including some involving expatriates.

Federal and State elections are scheduled for April 2007. Previous elections in Nigeria have sometimes resulted in civil disturbances and unrest leading up to and during the election. U.S. citizens in Nigeria should exercise particular caution during this period. Large public gatherings, political rallies, and demonstrations should be avoided. The U.S. government’s ability to assist American citizens caught up in instances of civil disturbance or unrest may be limited.

Religious tension between some Muslim and Christian communities results in occasional acts of isolated communal violence that could erupt quickly and without warning. The states of Kano and Kaduna are particularly volatile. Rival ethnic groups have clashed violently in the Niger Delta region around Warri city and in Southeast Plateau State. Senior al-Qaida leadership has expressed interest publicly in overthrowing the government of Nigeria. Links also were uncovered connecting Nigerians to al-Qaida in 2004.

Road travel is dangerous. Robberies by armed gangs have been reported on rural roads and within major cities. Travelers should avoid driving at night. Because of poor vehicle maintenance and driving conditions, public transportation throughout Nigeria can be dangerous and should be avoided. Taxis pose risks because of the possibility of fraudulent or criminal operators, old and unsafe vehicles, and poorly maintained roads. Road travel in Lagos is banned between 7:00 and 10:00 AM on the last Saturday of every month for municipal road cleanup; police vigilantly enforce the ban.

Enforcement of aviation safety standards in Nigeria is uneven; civil aviation in Nigeria continues to experience air incidents and accidents, including four crashes with fatalities between October 22, 2005, and October 30, 2006. Incidents included fires on planes, collapsed landing gear, and planes veering off the runway. After each such occurence, aviation authorities may temporarily shut down the domestic airline involved, ground a number of planes, and close the affected airport. Flights in Nigeria, including international routes, are often delayed or cancelled. Travelers should be prepared for disruptions to air travel to, from, and within Nigeria.

In general, international airlines have paid close attention to conditions at airports in Nigeria and have taken appropriate action. As such, international carriers operating direct flights to Nigeria have experienced far fewer incidents. However, domestic carriers operating within Nigeria and the region are less responsive to local conditions and may present a greater safety risk to travelers. Where possible, international travelers to and from Nigeria should avoid transiting an additional Nigerian city.

Travel by any means within Nigeria is risky. For essential travel, official Americans in Nigeria balance the risk between domestic air and road travel by using direct flights on Virgin Nigeria Airlines or AERO Contractors to cities serviced by these carriers. Currently, however, neither Virgin Nigeria nor AERO appears in most travel agency software. Additional information on current flight schedules is available at http://www.VirginNigeria.com and http://www.acn.aero/cgi-bin/airkiosk.

Some Nigeria-based criminals conduct advance fee fraud and other scams that target foreigners worldwide. These fraudulent activities pose great risk of financial loss. Recipients traveling to Nigeria to pursue such fraudulent offers have been subject to physical harm, and local police authorities are often unwilling to help in such cases. No one should provide personal financial or account information to unknown parties. Under no circumstances should U.S. citizens travel to Nigeria without a valid visa -- an invitation to enter Nigeria without a visa is normally indicative of illegal activity. Furthermore, the ability of U.S. Embassy officers to extricate U.S. citizens from unlawful business deals and their consequences is limited. Persons contemplating business deals in Nigeria are strongly urged to check with the U.S. Department of Commerce or the U.S. Department of State before providing any information or making any financial commitments. See the Department of State's publications “Tips For Business Travelers To Nigeria” at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_2113.html, and “Nigerian Advanced Fee Fraud” at http://www.state.gov/www/regions/africa/naffpub.pdf.

Americans who travel to Nigeria should obtain the latest health information before departing the U.S., read the Department’s Fact Sheet on Avian Influenza at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1181.html, and consult with their personal physicians concerning avian influenza. The websites of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov and the World Health Organization at http://www.who.int have up-to-date information on outbreaks of contagious and tropical diseases.

U.S. citizens who travel to or reside in Nigeria are strongly advised to register through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.

Periodically, travel by U.S. mission personnel is restricted based on changing security conditions, often due to crime, general strikes, or student/political demonstrations or disturbances. U.S. citizens should contact the U.S. Embassy in Abuja or the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos for up-to-date information on any restrictions. The U.S. Embassy in Abuja can be contacted by phone at [234](9) 461-4000. American citizens may contact the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos at 011 [234](1) 261-1215 during business hours. For after-hours emergencies call [234] (1) 261-1414, 261-0195, 261-0078, 261-0139, or 261-6477. You may also visit the U.S. Embassy’s website at http://nigeria.usembassy.gov.

U.S. citizens should also consult the Department of State's most recent Consular Information Sheet for Nigeria and the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, which are located on the Department's Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov. Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

[Cindy]

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_guinea.html

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
This information is current as of today, Sat Jan 20 2007 02:43:48 GMT-0800.

GUINEA

January 19, 2007

[Cindy]

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_922.html

Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520

This information is current as of today, Sat Jan 20 2007 02:44:51 GMT-0800.

ISRAEL, THE WEST BANK AND GAZA

January 17, 2007

[Cindy]

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_3072.html

Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520

This information is current as of today, Sat Jan 20 2007 02:45:46 GMT-0800.

LEBANON

December 22, 2006

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...


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

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


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=HEZBOLLAH
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=HIZBALLAH
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=HIZBULLAH

[Cindy]

Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3354576,00.html

Palestinian woman who planned to carry out stabbing attack nabbed
Published: 01.20.07, 12:48
Border Guard policemen detained a Palestinian woman carrying a 25-centimeter knife at a checkpoint near Heron.

During her questioning the woman divulged that she planned to carry out a stabbing attack. The knife was confiscated and the Palestinian was handed over to the police. (Efrat Weiss)

===

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3354539,00.html

3 Palestinians who tried to infiltrate Israel detained in Gaza
Published: 01.20.07, 09:40
IDF forces detained three Palestinians who were apprehended near the Gaza security fence.

The three are suspected of attempting to infiltrate Israel. The men were taken for questioning. (Ynet)



===

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3354525,00.html

IDF nabs 10 wanted Palestinians across West Bank Friday night
Published: 01.20.07, 07:20
IDF soldiers detained 10 wanted Palestinian suspects across the West Bank during the night, including five Tanzim members in Hebron.

Fire was opened at the troops during the operation in Hebron, but no injuries or damage were reported. The soldiers uncovered a hand grenade in the course of searches in the area. (Ynet)

[Cindy]

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

---

RECAP:

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?c=JPArticle&cid=1167467763039&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

AP

JPost.com » Iran » Article

Jan. 18, 2007 14:26 | Updated Jan. 19, 2007 12:56
"Iran to start assembling centrifuges"
By ASSOCIATED PRESS

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Iran is ready to start assembling 3,000 centrifuges to produce enriched uranium - a possible pathway to nuclear arms - after finishing most preliminary work on an underground facility housing such machines, a diplomat and a UN official said Thursday.

The two - who demanded anonymity in exchange for divulging confidential information - said much, but not all of the hardware needed for the installation of the centrifuges was now in place at the Natanz facility designated to house Teheran's industrial-scale enrichment program.

THE IRANIAN THREAT
JPost.com special: news, opinion, blogs and more

Both men emphasized that the facility had been ready for some time, and there was no sign that actual work on putting in the centrifuges would begin at any particular date.

Still, there has been speculation that the hard-line leadership might start doing so next month, to celebrate the 28th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution that brought the clerical leadership to power."

[Cindy]

PERSECUTION.ORG
http://www.persecution.org

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Yeah, I've read Melanie Phillip's articles a few times - he is quite good!

[Irish_Thatcherite]

he = she

I went to bed too late....

[Cindy]

Recap and Update:


http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/014911.php

January 20, 2007
"Police seize Muslim 'kill enemies' videos"

---

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/014893.php

January 19, 2007
"Fiery Australian cleric claims jihad remarks were misunderstood"

---

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/014885.php

January 18, 2007
"Jihadist cleric may face charges"

----

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/014863.php

January 17, 2007
"Australia: Muslim cleric calls Jews pigs and urges children to die for Allah"

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

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

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1770847/posts

---

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6281879.stm

Last Updated: Saturday, 20 January 2007, 11:56 GMT

"Peruvians march for death penalty"

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Thousands of Peruvians have joined a march in Lima supporting a proposal to introduce the death penalty for members of the Shining Path rebel group.

Many of the crowd waved pictures of relatives killed by the Shining Path."

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Mr Garcia said he could not stop the clamour in favour of capital punishment for members of the group, whom he calls terrorists."

[Oorang]

Abu Hamza's home could be seized to pay £1.1m legal bill

Good news, I hope they do seize his home. Not only is he a hate filled, jihad waging mongrel, he is a con artist of the snake oil variety.

[Cindy]

Off Topic:

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

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The incident followed reports of boys urinating in girls' shoes, as well as repeated bullying and beatings on school premises."

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1770851/posts


"Love it or leave it: 'Swedish only' at Landskrona school"
www.thelocal.se ^ | 01/20/2007 | TT/The Local

Posted on 01/20/2007 1:01:19 PM PST by WesternCulture

'Swedish only' at Landskrona school

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The principal of Landskrona's Gustav Adolf School is to introduce a new policy prohibiting the use of foreign languages on school premises. Almost half of the children at the school come from an immigrant background.

The rules are to be tightened following the expulsion of 6 pupils and the suspension of 22 others from the school in the southern Swedish town.

When leftover fireworks from the recent new year's celebrations exploded inside the school on Thursday, health and safety representative Leif Paulsson ordered the school's immediate closure.

The incident followed reports of boys urinating in girls' shoes, as well as repeated bullying and beatings on school premises.

The only exception to the new rule is the teaching of foreign languages. Otherwise only Swedish will be tolerated.

"This means that pupils may speak only Swedish in the classroom and in the corridors. This applies even when they are speaking to each other.

"We are doing this so that others will not be able to think that they are saying anything insulting," principal Patrik Helgesson told newspaper Helsingborgs Dagblad."

[Cindy]

Ditto, ditto, ditto.

[Cindy]

NOTE: "24" IS A FICTIONAL TV SERIES.

---

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=24

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1770816/posts

http://www.dailynews.com/santaclarita/ci_5047698

"Honey, they've nuked our town - or life after '24'"
BY ROB LOWMAN, Entertainment Editor
Article Last Updated: 01/19/2007 08:09:27 PM PST


ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Last year, I interviewed Sutherland, who's also an executive producer of the show, and asked him why the show did so much filming in the area. Parts of the city - Newhall, Valencia, Canyon Country - have all played prominent parts, and Season 4 opened with another terrorist attack in the city, the bombing of a train. Even Jack's daughter had moved to Valencia.

Sutherland demurred, saying he left those decisions to others. Later, though, he had this to say:

"To pretend there are not terror cells and people working at that level across the United States is simply foolish. It does exist, and it is a reality.""

[Cindy]

JIHAD WATCH.org: "WILL THEY REST EASY IN TEL AVIV TONIGHT?" (January 20, 2007)

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...


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

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


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://memri.org/iran.html

Special Dispatch Series - No. 1431
January 19, 2007 No.1431

"Former Hizbullah Sec-Gen: Hizbullah is an Integral Part of Iranian Intelligence; The Abduction of the Israeli Soldiers Was an ‘Unsuccessful Adventure’"

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1761584/posts?page=1111#1111

---

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1770888/posts


"Bolivia's Evo Morales Attacks Colombia for U.S. Ties at Mercosur Summit (Translation)"
El Mundo ( Bolivia ) ^ | January 20, 2007 | El Mundo staff article ( translated by self )

Posted on 01/20/2007 3:16:20 PM PST by StJacques

"Mercosur Summit: Evo generates an impasse and discomfort with Colombia"