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Posted on 03/01/2007 8:28:33 PM PST by nwctwx
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Note: The following text is a quote:
http://osint.internet-haganah.com/archives/000967.html
March 29, 2007
Glorifying terrorism must be made criminal: House panel
The Ottawa Citizen Wednesday, March 28, 2007
A House of Commons committee has recommended making it a crime to "glorify" terrorism, a proposal critics fear would erode freedom of speech and alienate Muslims. The recommendation would bring Canada in line with a number of countries, including Britain and Spain, that have enacted similar legislation. In the British case, glorification is defined as "any form of praise or celebration." The offence is punishable by up to seven years in prison. The public safety and national security committee recommended that Canada follow suit. Specifically, it suggested amending the Criminal Code to make it an offence to "glorify terrorist activity for the purpose of emulation." But individuals charged under such a provision could argue it violates their freedom of speech under the Constitution, said Craig Forcese, an expert in national security law at the University of Ottawa… In recommending the anti-glorification provision, the subcommittee compared the incitement of terrorist activity to the distribution of hate propaganda by neo-Nazis during the 1960s. The incidents led to amendments of the Criminal Code to outlaw hate propaganda. But B'nai Brith Canada, a Jewish advocacy group, recommended a separate provision to deal with terrorism. The subcommittee agreed, arguing that hate-crime measures protect "identifiable groups," while the anti-glorification provision would be designed to prevent acts leading to "large-scale destruction."… Meanwhile, some Muslim groups are worried that anti-glorification measures could unfairly target their community. "If an imam or any other religious figure glorified the Sept. 11 attacks, we have to speak out against that. The question is what is the definition of terrorism?" said Sameer Zuberi, a spokesman for the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations…
Posted on 29 March 2007 @ 12:47 GMT
placemark
Ping to post no. 1581
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1793738/posts?page=1581#1581
http://www.sofir.org/resources/oss/
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http://www.sofir.org/sarchives/005982.php
29 March 2007
"Documents of the OSS"
I understand, dyrman's wife.
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.sofir.org/sarchives/005978.php
28 March 2007
"Threat of Islamic Radicalization to the Homeland"
Written Testimony of CHARLES E. ALLEN
Assistant Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis
Chief Intelligence Officer
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Senate
Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
March 14, 2007
INTRODUCTION
Chairman Lieberman, Senator Collins and other distinguished Senators: Thank you for the opportunity to share perspectives on the threat of Islamic radicalism to the homeland. I appreciate the opportunity to appear along side my colleague Daniel Sutherland today. We work closely with the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and the Privacy Office to ensure all of our activities are fully consistent with constitutional and federal law.
The spate of terrorist attacks in Western Europe over the past several years and the more recent disruption of extremist cells in North America highlight the threat radicalization poses. We believe the threat we face in the near term is less than that currently confronting our European allies, but we are concerned that radicalization will continue to expand within the United States over the long term.
In general, we have found that it is more difficult for radicalized individuals in the United States to turn their ideologically-driven violent inclinations into successful terrorist attacks. We believe that in Europe there exist closer links between criminal and extremist social networks and that Europe's larger pool of disaffected Muslims have more opportunity to connect with terrorist groups tied to al-Qa'ida globally. In the United Kingdom, several cases of home-grown radicalization have been linked to al-Qa'ida, who provided both operational expertise and ideological reinforcement in attack planning. Thus far, we have not seen these types of linkages between homegrown extremists and international terrorist groups in the United States, but we remain vigilant, and recognize that we are not immune to the threat.
In response to the threat, the Department's Office of Intelligence and Analysis realigned its analytic cadre in late 2006, and created a branch focused exclusively on radicalization and extremism in the homeland. This branch focuses on understanding the 'how and why' radicalizing influences take root. This approach differs from the traditional counterterrorism emphasis on the who, what, where, and when of potential threats. In studying the radicalization phenomena, we are working closely with our Federal, State, and local partners and are focusing on a wide range of actors and organizations both Islamic – those who try to gain legitimacy by illegitimately wrapping themselves within Islam – as well as non-religious extremists.
By identifying critical factors at the "front end" of the radicalization process, we will assist policymakers, and intelligence and law enforcement officers in developing the tools, procedures, and methods needed to prevent radical beliefs from "crossing the line" to committing violence. This Office of Intelligence and Analysis project is part of a broader DHS approach in addressing the issue of radicalization.
CONCEPTUAL APPROACHES
No universal definition of radicalization exists in the intelligence or the academic/social science communities. We have, therefore, developed a "working" definition. Radicalization entails "the process of adopting an extremist belief system, including the willingness to use, support, or facilitate violence, as a method to effect societal change." This definition separates radicalization from terrorism by emphasizing the difference between related social patterns, some of which may eventually lead to terrorism. Within these patterns we are interested in the interplay between radical actor groups and "nodes." Radical actor groups are communities and sub populations experiencing radicalization. Nodes are the conduits facilitating or supporting a person or group through the radicalization process. They may be physical institutions, virtual communities, charismatic individuals, written or recorded material, or even shared experiences.
METHODOLOGY
My Office is taking a phased approach in studying radicalization, focusing more on examining radicalization dynamics in key geographic regions throughout the country. Our first phase focused on assessments in California and the New York City Metropolitan area to include New Jersey. Our second phase focuses on the Midwest, the National Capital Region, and Texas. We will conduct other regional or state assessments in future phases, with the goal of providing the building blocks for a more comprehensive national baseline assessment.
Each regional assessment begins by framing an intelligence picture unique to that state or region. First, we examine national-level intelligence reporting and open-source information. We then take those findings and share them during face-to-face meetings with federal, state, and local law enforcement, intelligence, and homeland security professionals to gain their insights. As of March 2007, we have held analytic exchanges on radicalization with state and municipal representatives from: New York City; Albany (NY); Los Angeles; San Diego; San Francisco; Sacramento; Chicago; Columbus (OH); Springfield (IL); Richmond, Baltimore; Washington DC; Detroit; Houston; Austin (TX); El Paso; Huntsville (TX); and Raleigh (NC). We have found that a number of foreign governments also are keenly interested in the issue of radicalization and possess in-depth substantive knowledge. Our meetings with officials from these countries have helped to strengthen and broaden our perspectives and knowledge.
FINDINGS
Our research indicates that the radicalization dynamic varies across ideological and ethno-religious spectrums, different geographic regions, and socio-economic conditions. We have found that there are many diverse "pathways" to radicalization and that it is not a "one-way street." Individuals and groups can radicalize or "de-radicalize" because of a variety of factors. Most of the groups and individuals we examined thus far did not appear committed to the final "stage" of the radicalization process—that is, the use of violence.
Our work on radicalization is preliminary and by no means complete. Some of our initial findings include:
• Radicalization occurs through a variety of human and institutional catalysts, such as formal and informal religious institutions (for example prisons), and increasingly within university settings and youth groups. Charismatic leaders and the Internet play significant roles in this process.
• Charismatic leaders naturally attract individuals willing to emulate their actions based on their views of the world. Within a radical context, the engaging personalities of the leaders enable them to instill a brand of extreme ideology in impressionable individuals, particularly the youth.
• Globalization has created a dynamic environment characterized by a confluence of political, religious, racial, and cultural flashpoints. This environment is being exploited by a small, yet influential number of radical actors who are hostile toward the United States.
• Radicalization is "marketed" through diverse methods by distinct actors with extreme ideological views. The methods used by extremist actors to market their message are tailored to appeal to the various audiences.
• Extremists are adept at developing propaganda and manipulating social situations to create perceptions of victimization. They will use deliberate actions for the sole purpose of provoking media, law enforcement, or political responses that can be used later for propaganda purposes.
• Insular communities with little exposure to moderating influences are particularly vulnerable to radical messages if they are isolated and alienated from the surrounding society. The nature of this alienation determines who is responsible for their discontent.
• The Office of Intelligence and Analysis has identified several groups active in the United States that serve as "gateways" to radicalization because of their doctrines, ideologies, and activities as well as the character of their leadership and membership. The experience of joining these groups may involve a deterioration of familial, social, and societal ties resulting in the acceptance of a new collective identity with the group. Most of the groups effecting this socialization do not directly support violent extremism. That said, violent actors on the periphery of the group may exploit the socialization process to spot, assess, and recruit vulnerable individuals.
• Radicalization in prison is becoming increasingly common. The nature of the prison environment, coupled with societal marginalization of convicts, cultivates a strong desire for social bonding, group identity, protection, spiritual guidance, and positive reinforcement, all things that extremist actors exploit. The degree to which prison radicalization is problematic varies greatly from state to state. While high-profile cases in recent years focused attention on the radicalization of Muslim inmates, this phenomenon is significantly less endemic than recruitment and violence by criminal and racists gangs in U.S. prisons.
• "Lone-wolf" radicalization is not unique to any particular ideology, and the ease of mass communications portends an increase in acts of terror by violent individuals. Moreover, formal affiliation with a group is not a predicate to radicalization, nor is it a predicate to being trained, obtaining resources, or otherwise supporting an operational capability.
INITIATIVES
My Office has several key initiatives to analyze and report on radicalization dynamics. This year I directed my intelligence analysts to reach out to relevant State and Local Fusion Centers (SLFCs) to develop joint analytic products, centered on radicalization. Our analysts continue to travel and meet with state and local intelligence and law enforcement professionals to present our findings on radicalization and extremism and to solicit their unique insight into what is taking place in their communities.
I also have initiated programs designed to provide the physical infrastructure and information management technology to allow for the sharing of intelligence reporting and analytical products on radicalization. Under the Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN), we have established a Community of Interest (COI) for analysts at DHS and SLFCs to collaborate. This capability allows for protected virtual exchange so that homeland security analysts can collaborate while being protected from intrusion. We are also posting both intelligence reporting and analytical products at the unclassified and For Official Use Only levels. Importantly, earlier this year, we hosted an analyst conference inviting current and potential users of the COI to meet with our analysts. A key theme of the discussions was radicalization in the homeland. We plan additional conferences in the months ahead.
Currently, my Office, in full coordination with the Department's Chief Information Officer, is deploying the Homeland Secure Data Network (HSDN) at the SECRET level to the SLFCs. The establishment of these capabilities is a major step forward in increasing our collaborative efforts to better understand radicalization dynamics in the homeland and information sharing in general.
Finally, we are exploring methods to develop a capability to track emerging radicalization trends before they manifest into violence. As we collect additional data on radicalization, it may be possible to provide indicators of the process here in the United States. While our initial assessments have been focused on establishing a baseline, we are now seeking to establish radicalization indicators that can be measured over time. These indicators could then be disseminated to the SLFCs in order to train officers in how to code law enforcement and intelligence reporting. Coding law enforcement and intelligence reporting for radicalization activity and measuring it over time should make it possible to enhance our "warning" capability on this issue. Ultimately we should be able to identify those populations and locales where radicalization is occurring, as well as its scope. This information can then be collected and analyzed nationally and be used to help target counter-radicalization efforts more specifically, objectively, and appropriately.
CONCLUSION
The Department, and the Office of Intelligence and Analysis, recognizes that radicalization is a serious homeland security challenge. Therefore, we are working with determination to ensure that we develop and maintain consistent awareness of radicalization trends and actors, both in the United States and abroad. We are dedicating ourselves to fortifying and sustaining the analytical capabilities that are critical in preventing and mitigating threats from radicalization.
Mr. Chairman, thank you again for giving me the opportunity to speak with you and the members of the Committee on this significant homeland security issue. I welcome your questions.
Posted on 28 March 2007 @ 07:19
Interesting, interesting stuff. Marking for further study. Thanks, Cindy.
RECAP:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=hamas
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http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/al_zawahiri_e.htm
Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center
at the Israel Intelligence' Heritage & Commemoration Center (IICC)
March 22 , 2007
"Ayman al-Zawahiri lashed out at the Hamas movement once again, accusing it of abandoning jihad and “selling Palestine” for seats in the Palestinian unity government. Hamas spokesmen defended their political activity, stressing the continuing adherence of the movement to its radical principles, namely “resistance” and “jihad”, and non-recognition of Israel."
Ayman al-Zawahiri: the Hamas leadership has fallen into the “swamp of surrender”
(Al-Jazeera, March 11, 2006)
"The main points of Ayman al-Zawahiri's statement as broadcasted
on Al-Jazeera TV (March 11, 2007)"
Yes, it is interesting.
I have been reading a book off and on (in that rare spare time) regarding the SOE and the OSS. Most people were made of sterner, tougher stuff in those days.
PUBLICATION - SNIPPET - QUOTE:
http://internet-haganah.org/hmedia/28mar07/pub766-USvCN_subsahara_political_warfare.pdf
POLITICAL WARFARE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA:
U.S. CAPABILITIES AND CHINESE
OPERATIONS IN ETHIOPIA, KENYA,
NIGERIA, AND SOUTH AFRICA
Donovan C. Chau
March 2007
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in
Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. As such, it is in the pub-
lic domain, and under the provisions of Title 17, United States
Code, Section 105, it may not be copyrighted.
Visit our website for other free publication downloads
http://www.StrategicStudiesInstitute.army.mil/
To rate this publication click here.
*****
The views expressed in this report are those of the author
and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the
Department of the Army, the Department of Defense, or the U.S.
Government. This report is cleared for public release; distribution
is unlimited.
OPINION-SPECULATION: Golly Mr. and Ms. Jihadi, who's watching you? Only The Shadow knows....
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Note: The following text (minus the graphics) is a quote:
http://www.internet-haganah.com/harchives/005981.html
29 March 2007
Fear and Loathing on the Jihadi Forum
The brother enters the "preparing for jihad" section of the forum, and asks, in typically verbose fashion "where's the Jihad?" and "how come there are only 20 members of this group?" and "don't you know there's a war on?".
Among the responses was the following...
...which attempts to answer the brother's questions by explaining that
* none of them actually have any military experience
* they can't rely on information from the Western sites
* they are under surveillance and they know it
* and because none of them have the relevant experience, they can't trust the information they find on other forums, because they know the intelligence services are busy planting false information.
Posted on 29 March 2007 @ 07:50
http://www.internet-haganah.com/harchives/005979.html
29 March 2007
"How do you know when you raided the right mosque?"
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=gaza
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http://off-topic.internet-haganah.com/archives/000966.html
March 29, 2007
"Having a wonderful time in Gaza"
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=ethiopia
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Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/015856.php
March 29, 2007
Ethiopia: Muslims beat Christian evangelist to death
Christian proselytizing is a capital offense under Islamic law. "Ethiopian Evangelist Beaten to Death by Militant Muslims: Militant Wahabbi Islamists Drag Christian Evangelist into Mosque and Beat Him to Death," from Christian Newswire, with thanks to Tom:
WASHINGTON, Mar. 29 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Washington-DC based human rights group, International Christian Concern (ICC) has just learned that an Ethiopian evangelist named Tedase was beaten to death by militant Muslims on Monday, March 26th, as he and two young women were on a street evangelism assignment in Jimma, Ethiopia. This marks the second time in six months that Christians residing in Southeast Ethiopia have been attacked and killed by extremist (Wahabbi) Muslims.
On Monday afternoon Tedase and two female coworkers were conducting street evangelism on Merkato Street in Jimma, Southern Ethiopia. Merkato Street runs by a Wahabbi Mosque. As the team was walking by the Mosque, a group of Muslims exited the Mosque and began to run after them to confront them. Tedase's female coworkers ran away from the mob but Tedase continued on. The Muslims caught up with Tedase, pulled him into the mosque, and savagely beat him to death. Sources from Jimma reported that Tedase was beaten with a calculated intention to kill him. This was no accident or case of mob frenzy getting out of control. His body was later taken to the hospital for an autopsy and he was buried Tuesday, March 27.
Our sources also reveal that Jimma Christians were conducting an evangelism campaign, and news of the outreach was spreading among Jimma residents as well as militant Muslim groups in the area. The Muslims that belonged to the Wahabbi sect purposefully beat Tedase to death as a message to Christians that they are ready to combat evangelism.
Posted by Robert at March 29, 2007 04:01 PM
RECAP:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=iran
http://www.truthusa.com/IRAN.html
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1793738/posts?page=1567#1567
http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/images/2007/03/29/image2622222g.jpg
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http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/015854.php
(DailyMail.co.uk)
March 29, 2007
"Iran: Britain has 'incorrect attitude'"
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=youths
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=france
===
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Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1808888/posts
FRENCH ELECTION UPDATE : Street Violence by Paris Youths Intrudes Again Into French Politics
The New York Times ^ | March 29, 2007 | KATRIN BENNHOLD
Posted on 03/29/2007 2:06:12 PM PDT by Cincinna
PARIS -France’s top presidential candidates seized on a new campaign issue on Wednesday after the police fought gangs of youths for seven hours at a railroad station here. Stores were destroyed, the pall of tear gas filled the station, Gare du Nord, and 13 people were arrested.
The episode, described as “urban guerrilla warfare” by the new interior minister, François Baroin, was a reminder of the tensions still simmering 18 months after rioting swept immigrant neighborhoods across France. It foreshadowed the task ahead for the candidate who is elected president in May.
The police said the trouble began Tuesday afternoon at the subway station at Gare du Nord when an illegal immigrant from Congo jumped a turnstile and then tried to punch an agent who demanded to see his ticket.
(Excerpt) Read more at select.nytimes.com ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1808869/posts
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http://powerlineblog.com/archives/017189.php
March 29, 2007
"A word from Sergeant Krueger"
SNIPPET: "Sergeant Stephen Krueger writes from Iraq to Speaker Pelosi with a message that bears on our post "To our readers in Iraq." Sergeant Krueger writes:"
http://powerlineblog.com/archives/017191.php
March 29, 2007
"Pelosi Refusing to Support British on Iran?"
SNIPPET: "It's hard to believe, but that's what we're hearing from Capitol Hill. A resolution has been proposed in the House of Representatives that condemns Iran for the seizure of British sailors and marines, expresses support for our British allies. It's hard to see anything controversial in that. But apparently, the resolution has languished all week while Pelosi refuses to allow it to come to the floor.
Earlier today, Congressman Eric Cantor wrote the following letter to Pelosi:"
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=32629
"Bush Repeats Call for War Funding Bill With ‘No Strings’"
By John D. Banusiewicz
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, March 29, 2007
===
===
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=32628
"Cheney: Withdrawal From Iraq Would Validate al Qaeda’s Strategy"
By John D. Banusiewicz
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, March 29, 2007
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