Threat Matrix: February 2007

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[nwctwx]

How al-Qaida Fared in 2006
-Full Story-

In 2006, agents of al-Qaida, as well as those inspired by its ideology, continued their attacks. Violence in Iraq intensified, and Afghanistan saw its bloodiest year since 2001.

Despite worsening chaos on those fronts, counterterrorist forces arrested and killed high-profile terrorists and kept the West free from attack. But these actions don't appear to have weakened the appeal of al-Qaida's agenda. "Home-grown" militants around the world joined its jihad, as regional fighting heightened perceptions of a global war on Islam.

Here's an assessment of some of the most significant gains and losses for al-Qaida last year: Read more..

	Azzam the American: The Making of an al Qaida Homegrown
	Islamic Cells of Revenge Joins the al Qaida Movement
	Most Dangerous Destinations 2007

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[Cindy]

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_930.html

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

This information is current as of today, Thu Feb 22 2007 04:31:22 GMT-0800.

PAKISTAN

December 05, 2006

[Cindy]

Ping to post no. 1080.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1777773/posts?page=1080#1080

[Cindy]

UPDATE...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1789059/posts


"DIA, feds yet to crack windshield mystery"
The Denver Post ^ | February 21, 2007 | Jeffrey Leib

Posted on 02/22/2007 3:08:57 AM PST by billorites

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=63925

you are here: Home > Reports > Consular Affairs Bulletins > Report
Warden Message: Senegal Election Violence
Consular Affairs Bulletins
Sub-Saharan Africa - Senegal
21 Feb 2007

Printer Friendly Email Article
Related Reports
14 Feb 2007
Warden Message: Senegal Presidential Election Security
9 Feb 2007
Warden Message: Dakar Consular Closure February 12
6 Feb 2007
Crime in Senegal: January 2007
1 Feb 2007
Warden Message: Dakar Demonstration February 2
29 Jan 2007
Senegal Public Announcement
U.S. Embassy Dakar issued the following Warden Message on February 21:

The U.S. Embassy in Dakar is issuing this Warden Message to inform American citizens that the U.S. Embassy has just confirmed reports of election related violence the evening of Wednesday, February 21 throughout Dakar, including in areas and a restaurant frequented by expatriates. The U.S. Embassy recommends that American citizens avoid going out in public during the evening hours. The U.S. Embassy will send more details on Thursday, February 22, 2007.

Other Information:

Americans living or traveling in Senegal are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Senegal.

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. The U.S. Embassy is located at Avenue Jean XXIII, Dakar; the mailing address is B.P. 49, Dakar, Senegal. The telephone number is (221) 823-4296; after-hours (221) 823-4604. The U.S. Embassy website is http://usembassy.state.gov/dakar.

[Cindy]

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1161.html

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
This information is current as of today, Thu Feb 22 2007 04:41:37 GMT-0800.

Worldwide Caution

October 11, 2006

[Cindy]

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

[Cindy]

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

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http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/015373.php
(AP)

February 22, 2007
"2nd chlorine gas attack in Iraq"

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http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/015350.php
(CNN)

February 20, 2007
"At least 5 killed, dozens injured by chlorine tanker bomb in Iraq"

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=3125


No Serious Injuries in Helo Crash; Troops Kill, Detain Terrorists

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21, 2007 – No one was seriously injured when a U.S. Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter went down near Baghdad today, military officials reported. Meanwhile, coalition forces killed seven terrorists and detained 13 others, and local citizens and Iraqi police denied an al Qaeda convoy entry into a village over the last two days in Iraq.

The helicopter went down today north of Baghdad while conducting operations. No serious injuries or fatalities occurred. Nine military personnel were on board, and all were evacuated successfully, officials said.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.

In other developments, coalition forces killed seven terrorists and detained 13 others while performing raids today targeting al Qaeda terrorists and those supporting foreign fighters and car-bomb cells.

Intelligence reports indicated terrorists involved in foreign fighter facilitation and the manufacturing of car bombs were operating in Ramadi, Fallujah and Baqubah, officials said.

Coalition forces in an area northwest of Ramadi targeted a building believed to house terrorists involved with foreign fighter activities. Ground forces killed two armed terrorists who confronted them and refused to surrender..

Meanwhile, four more terrorists were attempting to flee the area. Coalition forces saw they were armed with AK-47s, hand grenades and vests containing magazines. After multiple failed attempts to get the terrorists to surrender, coalition forces killed the four terrorists.

Ground forces detained seven suspected terrorists at the site and destroyed the weapons and grenades. Also on the scene were 13 women and 26 children, none of whom were harmed during the raid.

During a raid south of Baqubah, three individuals fled the scene as coalition forces arrived. One individual was detained without incident; however, another individual lunged at ground forces.

Ground forces used what officials called “proper self-defense measures” and killed the terrorist. The third individual crossed the river and escaped. While investigating the scene, coalition forces discovered AK-47s, magazines, body armor and a suicide vest.

Coalition forces targeting terrorists involved with a foreign fighter facilitator network in Fallujah detained four suspected terrorists without incident.

Elsewhere, local citizens and Iraqi police denied an al Qaeda in Iraq convoy entry into Jumaylah, 60 kilometers west of Baghdad, yesterday, firing on the convoy and detonating a suicide truck bomb that injured one Iraqi police officer, one civilian and the bomber.

U.S. Army soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry (Airborne), responded to the attack, where Iraqi police were already on the scene.

An Iraqi officer reported that terrorists seeking a safe haven within the town near Karmah had been threatening the citizens over the past several months. The citizens responded by forming a checkpoint within the town to deny al Qaeda any sanctuary.

At about 4 a.m., an Iraqi policeman attempted to stop a seven-vehicle convoy from entering the town. When the convoy continued, local civilians manning the checkpoint opened fire and one vehicle equipped as a car bomb exploded.

The injured Iraqi officer was medically evacuated to a coalition hospital. The civilian injured in the attack suffered minor injuries and was treated on the scene by coalition forces.

The driver of the vehicle used as a car bomb survived the incident and was transported by coalition forces to the Joint Coordination Center in Fallujah for questioning, where he was later identified as a Syrian national. Iraqi security forces and coalition forces are attempting to locate the remaining insurgents involved in the incident.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

[Velveeta]

2 Chicago-area men accused in Ohio terror case

Thanks, in particular, for the Chicago-area info.

[Godzilla]

placemark

[Velveeta]

Thanks, Joe.
I'm trying to catch up on TM.

[Cindy]

Freedom is not and will never be free.
You all know that. -Cindy

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ON THE NET...

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

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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1789323/posts

http://youtube.com/watch?v=YDh5eoiRJlk
"f I Die Tomorrow (militay music video)"
"Added October 19, 2006"

---

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nptA5uj6ZRY&NR
"Please Remember Me"
(Added February 10, 2007)

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http://www.odmp.org/

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=3137

Security Operations Continue; Baqubah Police Official Detained

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2007 – Iraqi and coalition forces killed or detained numerous terrorists over the last two days, and soldiers detained an Iraqi police official suspected of involvement in sectarian violence, military officials reported.
Coalition forces killed three terrorists and detained 11 others during operations today targeting al Qaeda in Iraq and foreign fighter facilitators near Taji and Samarra.

West of Taji, coalition forces captured six suspected terrorists with alleged ties to al Qaeda and found weapons, including several rocket-propelled grenades, in the targeted building.

As coalition forces started to leave the area with the detainees, they saw three armed men maneuvering toward them. Using what officials called “proper self-defense measures,” ground forces called for close air support. A coalition helicopter crew fired on and killed the three armed men.

Near Samarra, coalition forces captured five people suspected of helping foreign fighters enter Iraq.

Special Iraqi army forces, working with coalition advisors, conducted several operations in Baghdad yesterday:

-- In eastern Baghdad, they captured the suspected leader of an improvised-explosive-device cell and two other cell members. The suspects allegedly are responsible for carrying out IED attacks against Iraqi civilians and security forces, and inciting sectarian violence in the Baghdad area. The men are suspected of being part of a rogue militia operating against Iraqi civilians
and coalition forces, officials said.

-- Two other suspected members of the same rogue militia were captured in Baghdad’s Karadah district. The suspects are implicated in the sectarian kidnapping, torture and murder of Iraqi civilians, officials said, and of the kidnapping and murder of Iraqi soldiers.

-- A suspected weapons trafficker was detained in eastern Baghdad. The man is believed to be a key Baghdad facilitator for networks moving advanced IEDs and components into Iraq. Two other people were detained for questioning.

In Baqubah yesterday, 5th Iraqi Army Division forces and coalition forces detained a senior Iraqi police official.

Officials said credible intelligence indicates the suspect uses his position to provide cover for his alleged involvement in sectarian violence – including murder, torture and kidnapping -- against Iraqi citizens in Diyala province.

The suspect is believed to be a leader within a group operating in Baqubah and Diyala province that allegedly provides information on coalition forces, Iraqi security forces and Iraqi civilians to illegally armed elements. The police official was detained in his office building by Iraqi and coalition forces without incident, officials said.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news release.)

[Cindy]

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=3139

"General Discusses Chlorine Bombs, Helicopter Shoot-downs"

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2007 –

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The enemy in Iraq is adaptive, and is interested in “catastrophic attacks,” the commander of coalition ground forces in Iraq said today."

ARTICLE SNIPPET: ""But as the enemy changes its tactics, he noted, so will coalition forces.""

[Velveeta]

"Cascade"

Which covers the earth in a bloody cascade
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1777773/posts?page=873#873


Iran misses nuclear deadline, risks more sanctions
(snip)
The International Atomic Energy Agency said in a report Iran had installed two cascades, or networks, of 164 centrifuges in its underground Natanz enrichment plant with another two cascades close to completion.
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyid=2007-02-22T213250Z_01_L22475863_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAN-NUCLEAR.xml&WTmodLoc=NewsArt-R2-Today-3

[Cindy]

Thanks to freeperfromnj for the ping:

Adding a link to a thread to go with Oorang's post:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1788981/posts


"Two Chicago men arrested on charges of planning, recruiting for 'violent jihad'"
OHIO.COM ^ | Feb. 21, 2007 | MIKE ROBINSON

Posted on 02/21/2007 7:59:05 PM PST by do the dhue

[Cindy]

http://osint.internet-haganah.com/archives/000865.html
(YNETNEWS.com)

February 22, 2007
"Brazil bans nuclear technology exports to Iran"

===

http://osint.internet-haganah.com/archives/000863.html
(YNETNEWS.com)

February 21, 2007
"India bans export of all nuclear-related material, technology to Iran"

===

http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=countries&Area=iran&ID=SP147507

Special Dispatch Series - No. 1475
February 23, 2007 No.1475

"Reports on Iran's Nuclear Progress"

===

http://www.memritv.org/Search.asp?ACT=S5&P1=148
Video Clips: "Iran's Nuclear Program"

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http://hotair.com/archives/2007/02/22/the-obligatory-un-deadline-for-iranian-nuke-compliance-passes-post/
(Blog)

"The obligatory 'UN deadline for Iranian nuke compliance passes' post"
posted at 6:39 pm on February 22, 2007 by Allahpundit

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http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=24531_Irans_Manhattan_Project_Rushes_Ahead&only
(weblog)

Thursday, February 22, 2007
"Iran's Manhattan Project Rushes Ahead"

===
===

http://www.truthusa.com/IRAN.html
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=iran
http://www.jihadwatch.org

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


===
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OTHER LINKS OF INTEREST ON THE NET:



WHITEHOUSE.GOV: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - NATIONAL SECURITY
http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/nationalsecurity/

---

FreeRepublic.com - Key Word: "THREATMATRIX"
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=threatmatrix

---

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/015365.php
February 21, 2007
JihadWatch.org: "What Every American Needs to Know About Jihad"

http://www.terrorismawareness.org/know-about-jihad/
Terrorism Awareness Project: VIDEO: "What Every American Needs to Know About Jihad"

[Oorang]

The Spanish Connection
What the 9/11 Commission didn't consider
Thursday, February 22, 2007

The 9/11 Commission relied on information derived from two captured al Qaeda perpetrators for much of its picture of the conspiracy leading up to the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The interrogations of these men--Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, or "KSM," who masterminded the plot and got Osama bin Laden to finance it, and Ramzi Binalshibh, who acted as KSM's liaison with lead suicide terrorist Mohamed Atta--were performed by the CIA at secret locations.

KSM claimed that he left almost all the tactical details to Atta, and therefore could not say where Atta went, or whom he visited, in the final months of the plot. Binalshibh claimed he was Atta's only contact with al Qaeda during this period and that, other than himself, Atta never met with anyone on his trips abroad in 2001.

If these accounts are true, it follows that the conspiracy was a contained one, and the 9/11 Commission could preclude outside collaborators, including the participation of foreign countries. Thus, although the CIA was unable to trace the origin of the money supplied to Atta, the commission deemed this gap "of little practical significance" since the CIA's prisoners established that no one else was involved in the plot. Thus, too, when the CIA found that Iran had "apparently facilitated" the travel of eight of the 9/11 muscle hijackers in flights to and from Afghanistan (by not putting the required stamps on their passports, and by having a top Hezbollah official accompany their flights in and out of Iran), the commission could nevertheless rule out the possibility Iran or Hezbollah were "aware of the planning." The basis for this conclusion was the information provided by KSM and Binalshibh.

But what if these CIA prisoners--who after all are diehard jihadists--were lying?

Excerpted

http://opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110009698

The Taliban Recruits Hundreds of Suicide Bombers in Response to NATO's Planned Spring Offensive
2/22/2007 Clip No. 1387

Following are excerpts from reports on military plans of the Taliban. The reports were aired on Al-Jazeera TV on February 21 and 22, 2007.

Excerpted

http://www.memritv.org/Transcript.asp?P1=1387

[Cindy]

http://www.terrorismawareness.org/islamic-mein-kampf/
Terrorism Awareness Project: VIDEO: "The Islamic Mein Kampf"

[Oorang]

You can't stop us, Qaeda brags in vids
February 22, 2007

WASHINGTON - Osama Bin Laden's henchmen are advertising their new offensive in Afghanistan by releasing an unprecedented seven videos showing them attacking U.S. troops. The videos, released by Bin Laden's propaganda arm As Sahab, are seen as a warning that Al Qaeda isn't waiting for the snow to melt before launching its annual spring offensive.

The startling videos obtained by the SITE Institute show the ambush of a convoy of Humvees near Khowst, a dozen miles from Pakistan, the rare suicide bombing of a convoy in Orgun-E and three rocket attacks. Other videos show training camps operating with impunity.

The U.S. has Special Forces camps near all three towns that were attacked, including Camp (Pat) Tillman in Lwara, which Defense Secretary Robert Gates visited last month. Al Qaeda claims that all the attacks occurred directly across the border from North Waziristan, a tribal area where a Pakistani government deal with militants was struck last fall. U.S. officials blame the "truce" for a surge of cross-border attacks. "That deal put in motion more training camps to spring up in North Waziristan," said one veteran U.S. special operations commander. "The logical place for them to go is right across the border and strike us there."

But Pakistan's ambassador in Washington, Mahmud Ali Durrani, yesterday blamed U.S. Special Forces for failing to contain Al Qaeda on the Afghan side. "They have not done a good enough job," the retired Pakistani general told the Daily News. Al Qaeda's message in the videos "is that they have control of that area," he added. Durrani admitted there are camps in Pakistan. Two were bombed this year by Pakistani forces with U.S. help, he said.

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/499849p-421385c.html

Bombs found in abandoned suitcases in train (India)
22 Feb, 2007

BHAGALPUR: Fifteen bombs were on Thursday found in suitcases abandoned in a coach of the Sealdah- Varanasi Express train near Dhanauri station during intensified searches of trains in the aftermath of the Samjhauta Express blasts. Police said passengers travelling in coach number 95411 noticed two abandoned suitcases near the toilet and immediately informed Government Railway Police and railway officials.

After breaking open the suitcases, five powerful and 10 small crude bombs and materials used for making them were found in one suitcase. The other suitcases contained some admit cards for a test for a government job and bills of the Jharkhand State Electricity Board, officials said. The bombs were being defused. No arrests had been made in this connection, they said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bombs_found_in_abandoned_suitcases_in_train/articleshow/1662227.cms