Threat Matrix: July 2007

Threat Matrix:
July 2007

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US Steps Up Security Following Attack in Britain

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff made appearances on several television talk shows.

He told ABC's This Week program there is no indication of a linkage between the events in Britain and any specific attacks on the United States. "We do not have, at this point, specific, credible intelligence that there is an attack, a particular attack, focused on this country," he said.

But at the same time, speaking on CNN's Late Edition program, Chertoff said U.S. authorities are concerned about the threat of terrorism, especially in the coming months. "We have had a number of al-Qaida leaders quite publicly talking about how they want to carry out their threats against the West. So, given that and given the history that we have had over past summers, with attacks in Britain, I think we were clearly focused on this as a possibility," he said. Full story...

	More United Kingdom Attacks Possible
	More US Air Marshals on Flights to Europe
	Officials: Car Bomb Plot Bears al Qaida's Trademark

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/07/fbi-iraqis-bein.html

“FBI: Iraqis Being Smuggled Across the Rio Grande”

July 17, 2007 3:11 PM
Brian Ross Reports:

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “The FBI report, issued last week, says the smuggling organization “used to smuggle Mexicans, but decided to smuggle Iraqi or other Middle Eastern individuals because it was more lucrative.” Each individual would be charged a fee of $20,000 to $25,000, according to the report.

The people to be smuggled would “gather at a house on the Mexican side of the border” and then cross the Rio Grande into the U.S., the report says.

“Unidentified individuals would then transport them to train stations in El Paso, Texas or Belen, New Mexico,” according to the FBI document.

The FBI in New Mexico had no immediate comment.”

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/17/nie.alqaeda/index.html

“Report: Al Qaeda may use Iraq operatives to attack U.S.”
(July 17, 2007)

WASHINGTON (CNN) —

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “But the radicalization process doesn’t stop there, according to the report. Islamist Web sites, aggressive anti-American rhetoric and an increasing number of self-generating terror cells in Western countries indicate that violent factions of Islam are spreading.

Though the problem is more dire in Europe than the United States, the report said, there is evidence that extremists in the U.S. are “becoming more connected ideologically, virtually and/or in a physical sense to the global extremist movement.””

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46750

‘Operation Ithaca’ Surprises, Pummels, al Qaeda Forces

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 17, 2007 – American and Iraqi military forces broke up al Qaeda operations in the Diyala River valley during “Operation Ithaca,” conducted July 12, a U.S. military officer said today.

Operation Ithaca targeted Sunni-backed al Qaeda forces in and around the villages of Haimer, Abu Nasim and Jamil, located about 20 kilometers north of Baqubah, the capital of Diyala province, said Army Lt. Col. Andrew P. Poppas, commander of the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division’s 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, which took part in the anti-insurgent offensive.

The operation was a great success and caught al Qaeda “completely by surprise,” Poppas said, noting U.S. ground troops were inserted into the battle space at multiple landing zones by helicopter.

Meanwhile, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II “Warthogs,” Army attack helicopters, and Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters fired on the insurgents from the air, Poppas said. Unmanned aerial vehicles kept an eye on insurgent movements during the battle, he added.

Each of the aircraft was assigned “very specific, detailed areas” for engaging the al Qaeda forces, Poppas said. In this way, he noted, the enemy lost the ability to control the battle and was blocked by coalition air or ground troops at every turn.

“In a direct firefight, American soldiers are going to win every time,” Poppas said, noting there were no U.S. casualties during the operation.

Twenty-nine al Qaeda operatives were killed and 23 others were captured during the operation. Also, three enemy weapons caches were discovered and a safe house was destroyed. Additionally, eight Iraqis who’d been held hostage by the insurgents were freed.

Local Iraqis fed up with al Qaeda had delivered hand-written maps and other information about the enemy that were used during pre-operational planning, Poppas said.

“We had some very specific intelligence that was provided to us from the local populace,” Poppas said. Unmanned aerial vehicles and other means were used to confirm the information.

Ongoing surge operations in and around Baghdad are putting the squeeze on al Qaeda and other insurgents, causing them to flee Iraq’s capital city to places like Baqubah to the north, Poppas explained.

The insurgents “have got to go somewhere” out of Baghdad, Poppas continued, noting his forces were positioned to intercept and deal with such relocations.

Poppas said his troops have worked closely with 5th Iraqi Army Division soldiers.

“We do all of our patrols combined,” Poppas said of his unit’s relationship with local Iraqi troops. “My experience with the Iraqi army units that I have fought alongside personally (with) is excellent.”

Poppas said his soldiers’ morale is excellent, citing their “impressive” and “phenomenal” performance during Operation Ithaca. Their battlefield prowess is the result of training as a unit for more than two years, he said.

“You deny the enemy’s ability to react to you, because you’re on top of them,” Poppas pointed out.

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46752

Soldiers Detain Suspected al Qaeda Leader; Citizens Foil Car Bomb Attack

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 17, 2007 – A suspected al Qaeda leader is among three terrorism suspects detained today in Mosul, Iraq, by coalition and Iraqi forces, and local citizens helped to foil a car-bomb attack in eastern Baghdad.

Officials also reported that a firefight yesterday left about 12 enemy fighters dead.

Among the three suspects captured in Mosul is an alleged al Qaeda leader believed to have been promoted within the organization after recent coalition operations created numerous vacancies in the terrorist organization’s leadership structure.

Intelligence reports also indicate the individual is responsible for mortar and sniper attacks against Iraqi forces and a December attack against coalition forces, officials said.

Also today, troops responded to a phone call to the Adhamiyah Joint Security Station, and residents of the eastern Baghdad district then helped foil an attempted car bombing.

When the troops arrived at the scene, about 30 residents identified a parked vehicle as a possible car bomb. Investigation revealed they were correct, and the explosives were removed from the vehicle and safely detonated.

In other news from Iraq, troops killed about 12 insurgents during a firefight yesterday in eastern Baghdad after coming under attack by small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades.

The incident began when insurgents attacked paratroopers from the 1st “Red Devil” Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, attached to the 2nd Infantry Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team, in the Fadhl neighborhood of the Rusafa district. The soldiers returned fire and called for attack aviation support in what became a three-hour engagement. The insurgents were heard using the public address system of a local mosque in an appeal for more of their forces to engage coalition forces.

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

Related Sites:

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46749

Troops in Afghanistan Detain Five Militants; Police Find Weapons Cache

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 17, 2007 – Afghan and coalition troops detained five militants today, and Afghan police found a large weapons cache yesterday, military officials reported.

Credible intelligence led coalition forces to compounds in the Dih Bala district of Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, where they detained five men suspected of housing militants with ties to al Qaeda. Soldiers found magazines, weapons, grenades and chest racks during a search of the compounds.

“Coalition and Afghan forces are working to remove insurgents who conduct operations that threaten the peaceful people of Afghanistan and undermine the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,” Army Maj. Christopher Belcher, a coalition spokesman, said.

In other news, Afghan national police recovered a large weapons cache yesterday at a former Taliban training site during a unilateral operation in the Musa Khel district of Khowst province.

Afghan national police planned and executed the mission without coalition-partnered units, using credible intelligence, officials said.

The police recovered 10 107 mm rockets, 22 122 mm mortar fuses, 25 82 mm mortar rounds, 150 anti-aircraft rounds and 5,000 rounds of medium machine-gun ammunition.

“This operation will serve to disrupt the insurgent capabilities to conduct offensive operations in the Khowst province,” Belcher said. “This newly created ANP unit has demonstrated that they can successfully produce results that increase security and stability in the region.

(Compiled from Combined Joint Task Force 82 news releases.)

http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/images/hamadei1.jpg
http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/images/hamadei2.jpg

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/index.cfm?page=hamadei&language=english

Wanted
Mohammed Ali Hamadei
Up to $5 Million Reward

Hair: Black
Eyes: Dark Brown
Height: 5’8” (173 cm)
Sex: Male
Weight: 150 lbs (68 kg)
Scars/Marks/Tattoos: Mole on right cheek below his eye
Citizenship: Lebanese
Languages: Arabic, German
Aliases: Mohammod Ali Hamadei, Ali Hamadi, ‘Castro’

Remarks: Hamadei is believed to be a member of the terrorist organization, Lebanese Hizballah. He may be living in Lebanon.

Mohammed Ali Hamadei was indicted for his role in planning and participating in the June 14, 1985 hijacking of TWA Flight 847. This hijacking resulted in the assault of various passengers and crew members, and the murder of Petty Officer Robert D. Stethem, United States Navy.

Indicted for: aircraft piracy in the Special Aircraft Jurisdiction of the United States; unlawful placing of a destructive device on an aircraft; hostage taking; murder; assault on a passenger; and conspiracy.

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/017420.php

July 17, 2007

Jail for the Muslim with blueprint for rocket
With a baby he was ready to offer as a “martyr.”

From the Daily Mail (thanks to all who sent this in):

A Muslim who tried to smuggle blueprints for home-made rockets into Britain smiled as he was jailed for three-andahalf years yesterday.

Yassin Nassari was stopped by police with his wife and five-month-old son at Luton airport after an easyJet flight from Amsterdam.

The 28-year-old from Ealing had a laptop containing bomb recipes while his wife Bouchra El-Hor had a letter offering their baby as a “martyr”.

Nassari, head of the Islamic Society at the University of Westminster, was convicted last week of possessing a document likely to be useful to terrorists.

Judge Gerald Gordon said at the Old Bailey that he accepted Nassari did not plan to make use of the extremist material.

But he added: “I have come to the conclusion that sadly, like a number of other young Muslims, you have somehow been indoctrinated into beliefs which support the use of terrorism by others.”

Somehow! If only they could figure out how these adherents of the Religion of Peace keep getting their religion so terribly, terribly wrong! Maybe it’s something in the water, Judge Gordon!

Posted by Robert at July 17, 2007 8:03 PM

http://www.truthusa.com/IRAN.html

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1867536/posts

U.S. says Iran knows its weapons reaching Taliban
alertnet ^ | 17 Jul 2007 16:10:42 GM | By Jon Hemming

Posted on 07/17/2007 6:46:09 PM PDT by Flavius

KABUL, July 17 (Reuters) - Iranian arms are entering Afghanistan and reaching Taliban insurgents in such quality and quantity that the Tehran government must know about it, the U.S. ambassador to Kabul said on Tuesday.

The charge is similar to that made by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates a month ago, rejected by Tehran as “baseless and illogical”.

(Excerpt) Read more at alertnet.org ...

Note: The following blog entry is a quote

http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/2185.htm

More Electricity Outages In Iran

The Iranian website Baztab, which is identified with Expediency Council Secretary Mohsen Rezai, has reported that, despite repeated denials by government representatives, there has been in recent weeks a sharp rise in electricity outages in Tehran and many other locations in Iran.

According to Baztab, the reason for the outages is the inability to meet the power needs in peak summer hours – a problem that the government is not dealing with.

The reformist daily Rooz was informed that recently, residents of the Khozestan province have been asked to cut back on electricity use during heavy usage hours.

Source: Baztab, Iran, July 17, 2007; Rooz, Iran, July 11, 2007

Posted at: 2007-07-17

Note: The following text is a quote:

https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=70987

you are here: Home > Reports > Consular Affairs Bulletins > Report
Warden Message: Sri Lanka Caution Urged
Consular Affairs Bulletins
South / Central Asia - Sri Lanka
16 Jul 2007

Printer Friendly Email Article
Related Reports
3 May 2007
Warden Message: Sri Lanka Air Attack Security
3 May 2007
Tamil Tiger Air Attacks
10 Apr 2007
Worldwide Caution Public Announcement
5 Apr 2007
Sri Lanka Travel Warning
26 Mar 2007
Warden Message: Sri Lankan Airport Reopens after Attack
U.S. Embassy Colombo issued the following Warden Message on July 16, 2007:

Embassy Colombo would like to make Americans aware of the heightened possibility for terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka. The LTTE has a history of conducting attacks against Sri Lankan officials and institutions throughout the country. recently, the LTTE have stated their intention to continue their attacks on economic, as well as military, targets. The Embassy advises Americans to be on alert when visiting government facilities and high-profile venues. Americans should continue to avoid military installations, military convoys traveling on the roads, and where possible, government buildings and political rallies/events, as they have in the past been targets for LTTE attacks. Traffic disruptions are also likely during this period as Sri Lankan security forces increase their security checks. Americans are again reminded to cooperate fully with Sri Lankan security forces as they implement increased security measures.

Americans living or traveling in Sri Lanka are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov/ . The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Colombo is located at 210 Galle Road. The telephone number is 249-8500. The number for after-hours emergencies is 249-8888. The fax number is 249-8501. The Consulate’s e-mail address is colomboacs@state.gov and its internet web page is http://srilanka.usembassy.gov . U.S. citizens should also consult the Department of State’s latest consular information sheet for Sri Lanka, and the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, available at http://travel.state.gov . Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States, or, for callers outside the United States 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).

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

Note: The following thext is a quote:

http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/index.cfm?page=athens&language=english

January 12, 2007 – Athens, Greece – Attack on U.S. Embassy

On January 12, 2007, a rocket-propelled grenade was fired at the U.S. Embassy in Athens. Each year, terrorist attacks like this kill and injure innocent men, women, and children through the world. You can help bring terrorists to justice and save lives by providing valuable information to resolve past acts of terrorism or prevent future ones.

A reward of up to $1 million is being offered for information leading to the successful resolution of this attack.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/4976757.html

July 17, 2007, 11:32PM
“Second Metro bus driver attacked, this time over fare”

By LINDSAY WISE
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Two men attacked a Metro bus driver Tuesday after they argued with her about the fare, marking the second attack this week of a female driver.

The men, who appeared to be inebriated, got into a dispute with the driver over fares and threatened her, said Metro spokeswoman Raequel Roberts. The men initially retreated into the bus, but about 10 minutes later, they returned to the front and punched her, Roberts said.

The driver was taken to Memorial Southwest hospital, where she was treated for a cut on her nose, Roberts said.

Some passengers on the bus took pictures of the two men with their cell phones, and Metro police are now looking for them, Roberts said.”

###

http://www.click2houston.com/news/13686731/detail.html

“Police: Passenger Sexually Assaults Bus Driver”
POSTED: 6:45 am CDT July 16, 2007
UPDATED: 5:57 pm CDT July 16, 2007

HOUSTON —

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Police said the driver described her attacker as a black man with a dark complexion, 20 to 25 years old, 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall with a thin build and long bushy hair. The woman told investigators that the man spoke with a Louisiana accent.

“It’s possible that his hair may have been braided at one time and he took the braids down,” Buchanan said.”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. A $5,000 reward is being offered in the case.”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: ““Investigators suspected three women, who sat in the back of the bus then hurriedly got off in Tacurong may have brought the bomb on board.”

http://e.sinchew-i.com/content.phtml?sec=2&artid=200707180009&sdate=

“Philippines: Bomb Explodes In Passenger Bus, Wounding 2 In Philippines, Officials Say”
Updated:2007-07-18 15:48:06 MYT

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “MANILA, PHILIPPINES: A homemade bomb exploded Wednesday (July 18th) in a bus in the southern Philippines, seriously wounding two people in the latest in a series of attacks that police have blamed on an extortion gang in the region.

The bomb, set off with a cell phone, exploded shortly after all the passengers left the bus at a crowded public transport terminal in southern Tacurong city in Sultan Kudarat province, army Col. Danilo Garcia said.

The bomb badly damaged the rear portion of the bus and shattered its windows, wounding a passenger eating at a nearby food stall and a passer-by, Garcia told reporters.”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Investigators suspected three women, who sat in the back of the bus then hurriedly got off in Tacurong may have brought the bomb on board. The bus’ owner, Yellow Bus Line, had received a letter demanding money from a new extortion gang called Al-Khobar, Garcia said.

Although extortion was suspected as the motive, the possible involvement of terror groups was not being ruled out, he said.

Tacurong, a predominantly Christian agricultural region 950 kilometers (590 miles) southeast of Manila, has been hit by deadly bomb attacks that have been blamed on al-Qaida-linked militants.

Last month, a bomb blast in a passenger bus killed eight people in Bansalan township in southern Davao del Sur. A nearly simultaneous explosion damaged a second bus but caused no injuries.

Both buses were owned by a company that had been threatened with attacks by Al-Khobar if it did not pay 2 million pesos monthly to the group, police said. “

(AP)
Sinchew-i 2007.07.18

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