Threat Matrix: July 2007

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

#

http://counterterrorismblog.org/2007/07/hamas_mystery_media_representa.php

“Hamas’ Mystery Media Representative in the U.S.”
By Brian Hecht, IPT
(July 12, 2007, 10:02 am)

Militant predicts Islamic uprising
Friday, July 13, 2007

Days after he was caught fleeing Islamabad’s Red Mosque in a burqa, its captured chief cleric gave an incendiary funeral oration at the village burial of his slain brother, predicting the bloodshed would drive Pakistan toward an “Islamic revolution.”

In an apparent backlash to the weeklong army siege that left 108 dead, a suicide bomber attacked the office of a top government official near the Afghan border, while thousands of angry tribesmen mourned three of the fallen militants. The bloodshed at the mosque has given hardliners a rallying point and new martyrs to mourn, and has sparked calls from Al Qaeda and Taliban for revenge attacks. But the crackdown on the radical mosque has raised the standing of President Gen. Pervez Musharraf among moderates and foreign backers worried about rising extremism in Pakistan.

Troops combing the Islamabad mosque and its adjoining seminary for girls found the body of Abdul Rashid Ghazi among the remains of at least 75 people after the 35-hour commando assault ended on Wednesday. His brother, Maulana Abdul Aziz, who was arrested during the eight-day siege while trying to flee disguised as a women, was allowed to attend Ghazi’s burial at his ancestral village in Pujab province. According to custom, prisoners are normally granted permission to attend the funerals of close relatives.

“Whatever happened in the past days is not hidden from anyone. God willing, Pakistan will have an Islamic revolution soon. The blood of martyrs will bear fruit,” Aziz said before leading prayers attend by about 3,000 people.

“We can let our necks be severed but we cannot bow down before oppressive rulers. Our struggle will continue. There are many Ghazis living to be martyred,” he said.

Excerpted

http://www.bahraintribune.com/ArticleDetail.asp?ArticleId=161482&CategoryId=3

Lebanese Army pounds Islamic militants
Thu, Jul. 12, 2007

The Lebanese army pounded a Palestinian refugee camp with artillery fire on Thursday, but the military denied reports that the action was part of a final assault on the al-Qaida-inspired Islamic militants barricaded inside. The firing began just before dawn and hours after more than 150 civilians fled on foot from the camp in northern Lebanon, as soldiers ringing the neighborhood moved up tanks and armored vehicles.

The army said two soldiers were killed Thursday, bringing the number of military dead to 88 since fighting began at the Nahr el-Bared camp on May 20. Earlier an armored personnel carrier was seen ferrying at least two wounded soldiers out of the camp. Between five and 10 shells were slamming into the camp every minute. Thick black smoke billowed from deep inside the seaside camp and covered a large area above it. Heavy machine gun fire could be heard.

Excerpted

http://www.kansascity.com/449/story/185421.html

IAEA team heads to North Korea to monitor shutdown of nuclear reactor
July 12, 2007

VIENNA, Austria: A team of U.N. experts left for North Korea on Thursday to supervise the shutdown of the country's plutonium-producing reactor, the key component of the nation's nuclear weapons program.

Their arrival will mark the first time in nearly five years that North Korea will receive a working expert team from the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency since the hardline communist regime expelled IAEA monitors in late 2002, shutting its nuclear activities from outside view. It exploded a test nuclear bomb in October, four months before agreeing to scrap its nuclear program in exchange for economic and political concessions in a deal with the United States, Russia, China, Japan and South Korea.

Excerpted

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/12/europe/EU-GEN-Nuclear-Agency-NKorea.php

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

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

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=hamas
http://www.memritv.org/Search.asp?ACT=S5&P1=157
http://www.memri.org/bin/search/search.cgi?nocpp=1&p%3Ats_udav=0&sort-method=3&Match=0&Terms=hamas&Realm=All

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RECAP:

http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/hamas_al_qaeda_e.htm

Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center
at the Israel Intelligence Heritage & Commemoration Center (IICC)
July 5, 2007

“In a recent tape recording, Osama bin Laden’s deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri promised Hamas support if it did not deviate from the path of radical Islam and jihad. He also promised financial and military support from Al-Qaeda. Hamas dismissed the offer for fear of further complications with the Arab-Muslim world.”

Thanks Oorang.

The jihadis using the children is absolutely heartbreaking.

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http://www.thefrontierpost.com/News.aspx?ncat=ts&nid=1550

“Media tour to Lal Masjid, written messages on wall ‘I love my parents and they will be proud of me’ Saeed Minhas”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “ISLAMABAD: Amidst no respite for hundreds of parents looking for their missing loved ones and under-curfew residents of G-6 area in Islamabad, army allowed the media people to observe the devastation and destruction caused at Lal Masjid, adjacent Jamia Hafsa and children’s library as a result of the Operation Silence (now termed as Operation Sun Rise by ISPR) since July 3. The entire compound of the mosque and seminary was riddled with marks of bullets and holes caused by grenades or mortar shells while personal belongings of female students and minors were lying everywhere in female seminary. This scribe came across notes of female students, written presumably during the siege of the mosque or during the last moments of their lives. One of the wooden-box was inscribed with the words, “Only my mother is allowed to open this box, if anyone else does this it will be haram.” Another message was written on the wall of a room which read that “I love my parents and they will be proud of me.””

http://www.cnn.com/

Breaking News

Al Qaeda is stepping up efforts to sneak terrorists into the U.S. and has rebuilt most of its capability to strike here, an intelligence estimate states

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4964125.html

July 12, 2007, 4:53PM
Report: Al-Qaida hike efforts to sneak into U.S.

By KATHERINE SHRADER
Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Al-Qaida is stepping up its efforts to sneak terror operatives into the United States and has acquired most of the capabilities it needs to strike here, according to a new U.S. intelligence assessment, The Associated Press has learned. The draft National Intelligence Estimate is expected to paint an increasingly worrisome portrait of al-Qaida’s ability to use its base along the Pakistan-Afghan border to launch and inspire attacks, even as Bush administration officials say the U.S. is safer nearly six years into the war on terror.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/04/10/august6.memo/

Transcript: Bin Laden determined to strike in US

(excerpted)

The following is a transcript of the August 6, 2001, presidential daily briefing entitled Bin Laden determined to strike in US. Parts of the original document were not made public by the White House for security reasons.

“Clandestine, foreign government, and media reports indicate bin Laden since 1997 has wanted to conduct terrorist attacks in the US. Bin Laden implied in U.S. television interviews in 1997 and 1998 that his followers would follow the example of World Trade Center bomber Ramzi Yousef and “bring the fighting to America.”

After U.S. missile strikes on his base in Afghanistan in 1998, bin Laden told followers he wanted to retaliate in Washington, according to a — — service. An Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ) operative told - - service at the same time that bin Laden was planning to exploit the operative’s access to the U.S. to mount a terrorist strike. The millennium plotting in Canada in 1999 may have been part of bin Laden’s first serious attempt to implement a terrorist strike in the U.S. . .

Ressam says bin Laden was aware of the Los Angeles operation. Although Bin Laden has not succeeded, his attacks against the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 demonstrate that he prepares operations years in advance and is not deterred by setbacks.

Bin Laden associates surveyed our embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam as early as 1993, and some members of the Nairobi cell planning the bombings were arrested and deported in 1997. Al Qaeda members — including some who are U.S. citizens — have resided in or traveled to the U.S. for years, and the group apparently maintains a support structure that could aid attacks. . .

Nevertheless, FBI information since that time indicates patterns of suspicious activity in this country consistent with preparations for hijackings or other types of attacks, including recent surveillance of federal buildings in New York. . . “

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN1037366420070711

White House calls meeting on al Qaeda threat: report

Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:11PM EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House has called an urgent multi-agency meeting for Thursday to discuss a potential new al Qaeda threat on U.S. soil, ABC News reported on Tuesday. Top intelligence and law enforcement officials have been told to meet in the White House Situation Room to report on steps to minimize or counter the threat and what steps are being taken to tighten security at government buildings, ABC said. . .

full article posted at link

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/12/terror.threat.ap/index.html

Report: Al Qaeda renewing efforts to sneak terror plotters into U.S. (excerpted)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Al Qaeda is stepping up its efforts to sneak terror operatives into the United States and has acquired most of the capabilities it needs to strike here, according to a new U.S. intelligence assessment, The Associated Press has learned. . .

Among the key findings of the classified estimate, which is still in draft form and must be approved by all 16 U.S. spy agencies:

- - Al Qaeda is probably still pursuing chemical, biological or nuclear weapons and would use them if its operatives developed sufficient capability.

- - The terror group has been able to restore three of the four key tools it would need to launch an attack on U.S. soil: a safe haven in Pakistan’s tribal areas, operational lieutenants and senior leaders. It could not immediately be learned what the missing fourth element is.

- - The group will bolster its efforts to position operatives inside U.S. borders. In public statements, U.S. officials have expressed concern about the ease with which people can enter the United States through Europe because of a program that allows most Europeans to enter without visas.

The document also discusses increasing concern about individuals already inside the United States who are adopting an extremist brand of Islam.

National Intelligence Estimates are the most authoritative written judgments that reflect the consensus long-term thinking of senior intelligence analysts. . .

The estimate echoes the findings of another analysis prepared by the National Counterterrorism Center earlier this year and disclosed publicly on Wednesday. That report — titled “Al Qaeda better positioned to strike the West” — found the terrorist group is “considerably operationally stronger than a year ago” and has “regrouped to an extent not seen since 2001,” a counterterrorism official familiar with the reports findings told The Associated Press. . .

SNIPPET - QUOTE:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/07/20070712.html

For Immediate Release
July 12, 2007

Initial Benchmark Assessment Report

White House News

Press Conference by the President
National Security Council
In Focus: National Security
In Focus: Renewal in Iraq

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Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/07/20070712-1.html

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 12, 2007

Memorandum for the Secretary of State

White House News

July 12, 2007

Presidential Determination

No. 2007-27

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE

SUBJECT: Waiver of Limitation on Obligation and

Expenditure of $642.5 million in Fiscal

Year 2007 Economic Support Funds for Iraq

Pursuant to the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 1314(c)(2) of the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 (Public Law 110 28)(the “Act”), I hereby waive the requirements of section 1314(c)(1) for $642.5 million of Fiscal Year 2007 Economic Support Funds for Iraq and direct you to submit to the Congress this determination along with the certification in accordance with section 1314(c)(2) of the Act.

You are hereby directed to publish this determination in the Federal Register.

GEORGE W. BUSH

# # #

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46705

Bush Pledges Support for Troops in Iraq, Asks Congress for Time, Resources

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 12, 2007 – President Bush today assured U.S troops in Iraq they have his “unwavering support” and that he wants them to return home as soon as conditions there allow it.

“As president, my most solemn responsibility is to keep the American people safe,” Bush said at the White House. “So on my orders, good men and women are now fighting the terrorists on the front lines in Iraq.”

Speaking to reporters about the newly released Initial Benchmark Assessment Report, Bush said he’s given the troops in Iraq clear objectives. “And as they risk their lives to achieve these objectives, they need to know they have the unwavering support from the commander in chief, and they do,” he said.

The troops also need to know that America “is not going to back down,” the president said. “So when I speak to the American people about Iraq, I often emphasize the importance of maintaining our resolve and meeting our objectives.”

Bush said the strategy he announced in January is designed to meet those objectives to allow U.S. troops to return home. The strategy seeks to:

• Help Iraqis strengthen their government so it can function, even amid violence;
• Enable Iraq’s political leaders to advance national reconciliation essential to lasting security and stability;
• Apply military pressure to root out terrorist networks in Baghdad and surrounding areas; and
• Use diplomacy to strengthen regional and international support for Iraq’s democratic government.

He noted that operations in Iraq have entered the fourth phase since the conflict began in March 2003. The first phase liberated Iraq from Saddam Hussein. The second phase helped Iraq regain its sovereignty and hold free elections. The third phase revolved around the tragic escalation of sectarian violence after the bombing of Samarra’s Golden Mosque in February 2006.

The current phase is focusing on deploying reinforcements and launching new operations to help Iraqis achieve security.

Bush said this critical phase will help speed up the time required to reach U.S. objectives in Iraq and, ultimately, to enable the troops to return home.

He acknowledged that some people want the United States to start leaving Iraq now. “To begin withdrawing before our commanders tell us we’re ready would be dangerous for Iraq, for the region and for the United States,” he said.

It would mean surrendering Iraq’s future to al Qaeda, risking mass killings on a horrific scale and allowing terrorists to establish a safe haven in Iraq to replace the one they lost in Afghanistan.

But, Bush said, there’s another major concern. “It would mean we’d be increasing the probability that American troops would have to return at some later date to confront an enemy that is even more dangerous,” he said.

Nobody wants U.S. troops to stay in Iraq longer than absolutely necessary, he said.

“The Iraqis do not want U.S. troops patrolling their cities forever, any more than the American people do,” he said. “But we need to ensure that when U.S. forces do pull back, the terrorists and extremists cannot take control.”

Bush said the strategy being carried out by Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, and the troops he commands represents “the best opportunity to bring us to this point.”

The president asked Congress to give troops the time and resources they need to get there.

“The men and women of the United States military have made enormous sacrifices for Iraq,” he said. “They have achieved great things, and the best way we can bring them home is to make sure our new strategy succeeds.”

Related Sites:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/07/20070712-5.html
Related Articles:
White House Report: Iraq Showing Good Progress in 8 to 18

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46708

Top Terrorist Leader Captured in Mosul

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 12, 2007 – Coalition forces in Mosul today captured a man they believe to be the most active terrorist cell leader in that area.

The man is a suspect in attacks on Iraqi and coalition forces and is believed to facilitate the movement of foreign terrorists. Forces detained five other suspects in the raid.

In other operations in Baghdad, coalition forces detained two suspects before dawn today. They are suspected members of a cell affiliated with Jaysh al-Mahdi, a terror group active in Baghdad, and believed to have ties to Iranian terrorist groups. Coalition forces confiscated AK-47 assault rifles and pistols.

Other raids there netted one suspect allegedly tied to al Qaeda senior leaders and al Qaeda operative who allegedly is a bomb-making expert.

Forces east of Balad today captured a suspected al Qaeda in Iraq financier. During the raid, coalition forces detained 11 suspects.

Yesterday, Iraqi army and U.S. special operation forces killed a rogue Jaysh al-Mahdi “special group” cell commander yesterday in eastern Baghdad. The high-level leader had a history of extortion, kidnapping and murder.

In other operations:

— Paratroopers from Strike Force Geronimo detained two suspected al Qaeda insurgents during a raid July 10 northwest of Iskandariyah. Paratroopers of the 25th Infantry Division’s Company A, 3rd Battalion, 509th Airborne, 4th Brigade Combat Team, conducted Operation Geronimo Strike III, capturing members of al Qaeda wanted in connection with the kidnapping of three U.S. soldiers.

— Iraqi security forces in western Iraq detained four enemy fighters on July 9, allegedly responsible for running an extortion network and two others suspected of planning attacks against coalition forces.

— Iraqi police forces detained one suspect in Samarra on July 9 allegedly responsible for running a mortar and sniper network there. Forces seized a large amount of ammunition, four sniper rifles and parts, mortar rounds, and material for making improvised explosive devices.

— Task Force Geronimo paratroopers captured a cell leader responsible for conducting rocket and improvised explosive device attacks in Iskandariyah on July 9. Paratroopers of the 25th Infantry Division’s 1st Battalion, 501st Airborne, 4th Brigade Combat Team, raided the man’s house and arrested him without incident.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq, Multinational Corps Iraq, and Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force Arabian Peninsula news releases.)

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46709

Afghan, Coalition Forces Kill 16 Taliban Fighters in Afghanistan Today

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 12, 2007 – Afghan National Army Corps and coalition forces killed 11 Taliban fighters today in a five-hour firefight near the village of Sarsina, in Oruzgan province, Afghanistan.

Insurgents hiding in a tree line and a compound fired at the combined patrol with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. Coalition forces estimated that more than 15 enemy fighters were in the compound.

In another operation, the Afghan National Auxiliary Police killed five Taliban fighters when they were ambushed on patrol south of the Sangin district center, west of the Helmand River in Helmand province today.

In other Afghanistan operations, the Afghan National Police detained a key terrorist leader yesterday in the Bati Kot district of Nangarhar province.

Haji Raiz was arrested and turned over to coalition forces. Raiz is considered to be a major improvised-explosive-device facilitator for the Taliban and al Qaeda in the Nangarhar area. He is believed to support suicide bombers as they move through eastern Afghanistan by providing funding, materials and safe haven.

(Compiled from Combined Joint Task Force 82 news releases)

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/DN-peace_12nat.ART.State.Edition1.43b8067.html

“Nobel winner apologizes for Bush comment 4:16 PM CT
Irish peace activist’s speech at Dallas event gets standing ovation
04:21 PM CDT on Thursday, July 12, 2007”
By JAMES HOHMANN / The Dallas Morning News

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Nobel Peace Prize winner Betty Williams of Ireland apologized Thursday after telling a Dallas audience a day earlier that she “could kill George Bush.”

The Wednesday remarks prompted an uproar among conservatives across the nation, led to phone and email threats and caused a buzz among delegates at the International Women’s Peace Conference.

“I’m just really passionate about my work. Sometimes it’s ‘open mouth, insert foot,’ ” she said. “I’ll spend the rest of the day saying I’m sorry to everybody.””

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blog:

http://michellemalkin.com/2007/07/12/when-peaceniks-attack/

“When peaceniks attack: “Right now, I could kill George Bush” Update: Audio added Update: Up next…Rigoberta Menchu!”
By Michelle Malkin • July 12, 2007 02:22 PM

UPDATE:

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,70131-1275033,00.html?f=rss

Breaking News

“Glasgow Bomb: Woman Released”
Updated: 21:44, Thursday July 12, 2007

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “A woman arrested by counter-terrorism police investigating the London and Glasgow bomb plots has been released without charge.

Marwa Asha, 27, was arrested with her husband, Dr Mohammed Asha, 26, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, on the M6 motorway in Cheshire on June 30.

Dr Asha is among four terror suspects still questioned at the high security Paddington Green police station in west London.

On Saturday an Iraqi doctor appeared in court in connection with the suspected bomb plots in London and Glasgow.

Bilal Abdullah, 27, was remanded in custody after a brief bearing at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court in central London.

Abdullah spoke only to give his name and to confirm his date of birth.

He is accused of “unlawfully and maliciously conspired with others to cause explosions of a nature likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property in the United Kingdom.””

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3424958,00.html

***(Anyone have any theories on why this trip is REALLY being postponed for another month?)***

Rice to postpone next week’s Mideast trip

US official says stops in Jerusalem, Ramallah expected to be added to a trip secretary of state now plans in early August
Reuters

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has postponed a trip to the Middle East next week but will still visit Ghana and Portugal, a US official said on Thursday.

The US official, who asked not to be identified because the decision had not been announced, said the stops in Jerusalem and Ramallah were expected to be added to a Mideast trip Rice now plans in early August.

He said next week’s trip will be to Accra, Ghana, where Rice is to discuss trade and economic issues with African officials, and to Lisbon, where she will meet Portuguese officials and could attend a meeting of the “Quartet” of Middle East peace mediators, if one is scheduled.

Earlier, US President George W. Bush said he was sending Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates to the Middle East in early August as he unveiled an interim US report showing mixed progress on security and political goals in Iraq.

Rice’s trip to Jerusalem and Ramallah will be her first to Israel and the Palestinian territories since the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip in June.

The Hamas victory has transformed the Palestinian political and security landscape and effectively divided the Palestinians between the West Bank, which is governed by President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah movement, and Gaza, which is ruled by Hamas.

Rice last visited Israel and the West Bank in March, when she announced that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Abbas planned to meet every two weeks - a schedule the two politically weakened leaders were unable to meet.

So this red banner flashing “good news soon” as it did this time last year, might not mean “either-or” (either a new UBL message or a new attack), but “both-and”.<<<

I would think that is the meaning.

Their last major attacks have been stopped, so they must be chomping at the bit, to pull off a big one.

Thank you for the ping...............

I don’t have any theories.

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3424924,00.html

ihad: Palestinian killed by IDF planned to attack checkpoint

Published: 07.12.07, 21:31 / Israel News

A spokesman for the al-Quds Brigades, Islamic Jihad’s armed wing, said the Palestinian killed by IDF fire near Tulkarm was identified as Muhammad Ziad, a 23-year-old group member.

The spokesman added that Ziad was supposed to carry out a terror attack at the checkpoint as part of the organization’s response to the killing of two members by IDF forces near Jenin earlier in the week. (Ali Waked)

Oh, I don’t know. Maybe she is afraid of bullets.

This constant stream of high level leaks about threat is something new. CYA?

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3234.html

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
This information is current as of today, Thu Jul 12 2007 18:31:07 GMT-0700.

Zimbabwe

July 12, 2007

This Public Announcement informs U.S. citizens of security concerns in Zimbabwe and advises them to carefully consider the risks of travel to Zimbabwe. This Public Announcement supersedes the Public Announcement issued on May 11, 2007, and expires on September 30, 2007.

Sharp price cuts on local goods have caused shortages of bread, milk, meat, poultry and gasoline, and other basic goods, resulting in outbreaks of violence as security agents seek to enforce the price cuts and citizens rush to buy available goods. Visitors should be prepared for food shortages and avoid large gatherings, particularly around shopping areas and in the high-density suburbs of Harare and Bulawayo.

In response to growing public protests against deteriorating conditions, the Zimbabwe Government continues to authorize its security forces to suppress all dissent by whatever means deemed necessary. Political leaders at the highest levels of the Zimbabwean government are condoning the security forces’ use of violence, including lethal force, against anyone the Government perceives as an opponent. Security forces increasingly use force against protestors and other civilians, often without provocation, and act with impunity. The Government publicly has defended its right to treat individuals roughly, including those in custody, and has warned of more such abuses. A particular concern is the Government’s use of youth militia to suppress dissent. These so-called “Green Bombers” have perpetrated some of the worst offenses, are undisciplined, and often are under the influence of drugs.

While heavily-populated urban areas remain the focal point for the Government’s crackdown, the U.S. Embassy has received reports of indiscriminate state-sponsored violence in rural areas, including tourist, hunting, and safari areas. American citizens in Zimbabwe should minimize travel within the country and, to the extent practicable, avoid public places and gatherings. The Government frequently uses road blocks to enforce order. Road blocks can be particularly dangerous, and extreme caution should be used when approaching them. Travelers should comply with instructions from police or other security officials to stop at road blocks. Travelers are advised to carry a mobile phone or other means of communication.

In light of the current circumstances, U.S. citizens are advised to consider the risks before traveling to Zimbabwe at this time. American citizens already in Zimbabwe should monitor regularly the Department’s Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov where the current Consular Information Sheet for Zimbabwe, the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, and other travel information can be found. Up to date information on security also can be obtained by emailing consularharare@state.gov or calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada. Callers outside the United States and Canada may call a toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are answered from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

All Americans in Zimbabwe are urged to register either online at https://travelregistration.state.gov , by phone or in person at the U.S. Embassy in Harare. Registering gives U.S. citizens access to updated information on travel and security within Zimbabwe and makes it easier for the Embassy to contact citizens in case of emergency. Security updates are e-mailed to all registered Americans with an e-mail address.

The U.S. Embassy is located at 172 Herbert Chitepo Ave. The 24- hour telephone number is (263) 4-250-593; fax (263) 4-590-593. The U.S. Embassy website is http://harare.usembassy.gov /. In the event of an after-hours emergency, please call the above number and ask to be transferred to the duty officer.

Stepping back in time (updated thread, too).

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1765132/posts

Note: The following text is a quote:

MI chief: Dozens, maybe hundreds, of al-Qaeda operative arrived in Lebanon
Yediot Ahronoth ^ | January 10, 2007 | Miri Chason

Posted on 01/09/2007 11:34:32 PM PST by HAL9000

Military Intelligence Chief Maj.-Gen. Amos Yadlin told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that dozens, if not hundreds, of al-Qaeda operative arrived in Lebanon lately.

“Those who can be harmed by al-Qaeda operatives are UNIFIL and western interests in Lebanon,” Yadlin said referring to the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon.

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More details Update:

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=83794

“Six soldiers die as Army pounds Nahr al-Bared
Attempts to evacuate families of militants fail as wives refuse to leave besieged camp”
By Rym Ghazal
Daily Star staff
Friday, July 13, 2007

NAHR AL-BARED CAMP:

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “In related developments, attempts by the Palestinian cleric Sheikh Mohammed al-Hajj - a member of the Clerics of Palestine Association - to evacuate the 21 wives and 52 children of Fatah al-Islam have failed, as the wives refused to use the cars sent to them four times since Thursday.

“The wives said they want to die with their husbands,” a Palestinian source at Beddawi camp who was involved in arranging the evacuation cars told The Daily Star.

“Two of the women are Palestinian, one is from Borj al-Barajneh, and the other from Ain al-Hilweh,” said the source, adding: “the one from Ain al-Hilweh is Abu Huriera’s wife.””

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http://www.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, Thu Jul 12 2007 18:50:56 GMT-0700.

LEBANON

June 14, 2007

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Off (Post) Topic, but FYI:

http://www.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, Thu Jul 12 2007 18:52:58 GMT-0700.

ISRAEL, THE WEST BANK AND GAZA

January 17, 2007