Threat Matrix: July 2007

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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

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=irhabi007
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=terrorist007

#

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1603333/posts?page=71#71

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/05/AR2007070501153_pf.html

“Terrorism’s Hook Into Your Inbox”
U.K. Case Shows Link Between Online Fraud and Jihadist Networks
By Brian Krebs
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Thursday, July 5, 2007; 2:34 PM

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Aaron Weisburd, who directs Internet Haganah, a Web forum dedicated to tracking pro-terrorist Web sites online, said cyber crime and credit card fraud have been a steady subplot underlying most of the terrorist-related sites he’s tracked online since 2002.

In a recent analysis, Weisburd examined a number of Internet sites residing on a Web server also used to host a jihadist site. Weisburd said he found numerous counterfeit online banking sites, the sort typically set up by scam artists to steal personal and financial data from consumers.

“In short, the terrorist Web site was the most legitimate site on the server,” Weisburd said. “In an age when people sign themselves up for the cause and make a good faith effort to try and kill people, credit card fraud and identity theft is a crime [terrorist sympathizers] can get into from the privacy of their own home. Pretty much wherever there are jihadists active online, you will also find guys engaged in online fraud.”

Weisburd said credit card fraud and the cyber crime methods that facilitate it are ideally suited for upstart terror cells seeking funding. The Carbondale, Ill.-based activist said he also sees a great deal of overlap in membership between the Arabic-language online hacking forums and those of the online jihadist community.

“If they don’t know how to get started in online fraud, these guys can find all kinds of support from people who will gladly teach them how to do it.”

If Tsouli helped to pioneer a number of methods for the jihadist forums, jihadist groups have since moved their Internet operations further underground. Experts said most of the major forums have since consolidated their operations into small number of password-protected forums known as the Al Fajr Center.”

71 posted on 07/05/2007 4:34:50 PM PDT by Cindy

[Cindy]

July 2, 2007

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2007/July/07_crm_481.html

High Ranking Member of Colombian FARC Narco-Terrorist
Organization Sentenced on U.S. Drug Charges

WASHINGTON – A high-ranking member of the designated foreign terrorist organization Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, or FARC, has been sentenced in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on drug charges, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division announced today.

Anayibe Rojas Valderrama, aka “Sonia,” was sentenced to 200 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Robertson. Her two co-defendants, Jose Antonio Celis, aka “Calvo,” and Juan Diego Giraldo, aka “Flaco,” were sentenced to 175 months and 200 months in prison respectively.

The three defendants were convicted by a jury of narcotics trafficking on Feb. 20, 2007, following a five-week trial. They had been indicted for conspiring to import five kilograms or more of cocaine into the United States and conspiring to manufacture and distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine intending and knowing that the cocaine would be unlawfully imported into the United States.

Rojas Valderrama was the finance officer of the 14th Front of the FARC. She was extradited from Colombia to the United States in March 2005 to stand trial on the U.S. charges, and is the first FARC leader to be convicted in the United States.

Evidence at trial consisted of the testimony of Drug Enforcement Administration agents and Colombian law enforcement officials, cooperating witnesses, surveillance evidence, videotapes, and tape-recorded conversations. The evidence showed that Rojas Valderrama oversaw all aspects of the purchasing and production of cocaine in the 14th Front territory and collected all of the proceeds from the sale of cocaine for the 14th Front. Jose Antonio Celis was a major drug trafficker who arranged for the purchase of large quantities of cocaine from Rojas Valderrama and the 14th Front, and coordinated the transhipment of the cocaine from Colombia to Panama, and from Panama into the United States. Antonio Celis conspired with Rojas Valderrama and Juan Diego Giraldo to purchase more than 5,000 kilograms of cocaine for shipment to the United States. Diego Giraldo introduced Celis to the 14th Front for the purpose of purchasing cocaine, worked with Rojas Valderrama to purchase and transport cocaine, brought equipment for the 14th Front’s cocaine production operation, and assisted Rojas Valderrama in all aspects of cocaine production and sale.

“The sentencing of FARC’s Commandante Sonia and her co-defendants shows that the United States will hold the leaders of this narco-terrorist organization responsible for their role in trafficking drugs and committing acts of violence on the streets of this country,” said Assistant Attorney General Fisher. “The prosecution of these FARC members, the first of its kind in the United States, was made possible because of the exceptional cooperation of Colombian authorities and the hard work and efforts of the DEA agents and federal prosecutors who, working together, were essential to the successful conclusion of this important case.”

The FARC, a violent narco-terrorist guerrilla group operating in Colombia, controls large portions of Colombia and finances its violent conflict with the Colombian government by engaging in drug trafficking, augmented by other means including kidnaping and extortion. Drug trafficking is the lifeblood of the FARC because it enables the FARC to acquire weapons, ammunition and equipment necessary to carry on its violent attacks. DEA estimates that the FARC controls approximately 70 percent of the Colombian cocaine trade, and that approximately 80 to 90 percent of the cocaine that is shipped to the United States comes from Colombia. The FARC produces and distributes thousands of kilograms per month for export to the United States and other countries.

A number of FARC members and criminal associates have been charged with terrorism and drug-related crimes in U.S. indictments. In addition to narcotics trafficking, the indictments charge the FARC and its members with, among other crimes, the kidnaping and murder of U.S. citizens.

The case was prosecuted in the District of Columbia by trial attorneys Ron McNeil, Stephen May, and James Faulkner from the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS) of the Criminal Division. The investigation in this case was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, in close cooperation with Colombian law enforcement. The extradition of these defendants resulted from the cooperative efforts of the government of Colombia, and the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs and NDDS.

###

07-481

[Cindy]

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200707/NAT20070705b.html

“Agents Scour Nation’s Critical Facilities for Illegal Aliens”
By Kevin Mooney
CNSNews.com Staff Writer
July 05, 2007

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “(CNSNews.com) - Illegal aliens have been found working at military bases, refineries, airports and even a nuclear power station in the past few years, and their use of fictitious identification papers continues to bedevil even employers who try to operate legally, federal agents say.

Those apprehended were generally found to bear no ill intent, according to Special Agent Robert Weber of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency in Tampa, Florida.

Nevertheless, he told Cybercast News Service that the methodology used by these illegal workers could also be used by terrorists. Illegal aliens could also be open to blackmail, bribes and coercion at the hands of terrorists aiming to target their places of work.”

[Cindy]

https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=70448

You are here: Home > Reports > Consular Affairs Bulletins > Report
“Warden Message: Continued Islamabad Clashes”
Consular Affairs Bulletins
South / Central Asia - Pakistan
4 Jul 2007

[Cindy]

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100008_05/07/2007_85309

“Anarchists classified as terrorists”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “The activities of anti-establishment protesters, such as those who hurled petrol bombs at the Culture Ministry’s premises in central Athens on Tuesday, will henceforth be monitored by the national anti-terrorist unit, police sources confirmed yesterday.

A presidential decree reclassifying the activities of self-styled anarchists within the category of terrorism was made public last week. But police officers confirmed the shift in their operations yesterday.”

[Cindy]

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

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

#

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/04/europe/EU-GEN-Spain-ETA.php

Spanish interior minister says ETA planned fatal attack this week

The Associated Press
Published: July 4, 2007

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “MADRID, Spain: The Basque separatist group ETA clearly intended to cause casualties in a bomb attack it planned this week, Spain’s interior minister said Wednesday.

The attack was thwarted when authorities in France intercepted a van packed with explosives.”

[Cindy]

http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/05/1971227.htm?section=world
(AFP)

“Sri Lanka’s Tamil rebels commemorate suicide bombers”

Posted Thu Jul 5, 2007 9:20pm AEST

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Sri Lanka has been on high alert as Tamil Tiger rebels commemorated the 322 male and female suicide bombers who have blown themselves up for the guerrilla cause over the last two decades.

Security forces set up snap roadblocks and checkpoints in the capital, Colombo, and prevented heavy vehicles from passing key government buildings amid fears the rebels could try to mark “Black Tiger” day with a bombing.

“Measures are under way to heighten our alert during the Black Tiger week,” police spokesman General Jayantha Wickramaratne said.

“We are taking all measures to eliminate the risk of terrorist attacks.””

[Velveeta]

There’s an update to your link:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-705bomb,0,4115150.story?coll=sfla-news-palm

The man arrested, Nassar David Ghelichkani, 44, was detained because his supervised release from jail was withdrawn, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Barbara Gonzalez said.

An immigration judge ordered him to be deported but Iran refused to grant him traveling documents. So Ghelichkani remained in the United States until federal authorities were required to release him in 2004 and supervise his movements, Gonzalez said. A U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2001 requires ICE to release detainees after 180 days if deportation efforts are unsuccessful.

Federal agents got a recent tip that he was obtaining a Florida driver’s license while claiming he was an American citizen.

[Oorang]

Thanks very much Velveeta.

[Velveeta]

Friend takes release of kidnapped contractor into his own hands

Minneapolis — (AP) A Minneapolis man who went on his own intelligence-gathering trip to the Middle East after his friend and three other American security contractors were kidnapped said Thursday he has a plan to secure their release.

The four Americans, along with an Austrian colleague, were kidnapped Nov. 16 in southern Iraq when their truck convoy was ambushed.

Mark Koscielski, a Minneapolis gun-shop owner who is friends with Paul Reuben, one of the contractors, said Thursday in a radio interview that he, other friends, and family members of the four Americans had raised about $150,000 they hope to use as a ransom to obtain their release. (snip)

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/07/05/hostage/

[Velveeta]

Thank you for the original link.

I haven’t been able to find information on his initial crime.

[Velveeta]

Threats of Terrorist Attacks Against Mayport

MAYPORT, FL — A group of Muslim doctors threatened a terrorist attack inside the United Sates apparently targeting Naval Station Mayport, the Telegraph of London reported Thursday.

According to the Telegraph, the threats were made on an extremist Internet chat site. One message said, “The first target which will be penetrated by nine brothers is the naval base which gives shelter to the ship Kennedy.” The recently decommissioned USS John F Kennedy is based at Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville.(snip)
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=85909

Kennedy fixation - back in time:

Anytime you hit Kennedy, it is the most hurtful thing to the United States. To hit John F. Kennedy, wow .... They love John F. Kennedy like he’s the man .... If you hit that, this whole country will be in mourning. It’s like you can kill the man twice.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1843491/posts

[Velveeta]

Tamil doctors in the forefront of Tiger terrorism

Melbourne, 06 July, (Asiantribune.com): After the latest arrests of doctors in UK and Australia the international media spotlight has fallen on Muslim doctors. They are now seen as agents of Islamic terrorism. The focus of investigations has shifted to these respectable faces of terrorism which has taken the counter-terrorist agencies of the West by surprise. In UK Mohammed Asha, a Jordanian doctor, was arrested. In Australia Dr. Mohammed Haneef was arrested at the airport just as he about to board the plane to India.

But long before these Muslim doctors were arrested the Tamil doctors have been in the forefront of Tamil Tiger terrorist outfit, financing, lobbying and legitimizing the violence unleashed by Velupillai Prabhakaran, the sole representative of the one-man fascist regime in the jungles of Sri Lanka,

In Australia, Federal Police have questioned Dr. Rajan Rasiah, a gynecologist in Melbourne. He is the head of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) which is banned in some countries because it is a front for raising funds for the Tamil Tigers. The TRO funds are frozen in Sri Lanka.

Another doctor questioned by Federal Police is Dr. Easwaram Kanapathipillai, a general practitioner, also in Melbourne. According to the 2005 report filed with Australian Securities and Investment Commission he is the Executive Director. Chairman, Dr. Rajan Rasiah is Chairman, Dr R Tharman Saverimuttu, Executive Director of Board of Directors TRO and Dr. Kanapathipillai is a board member, who ran a Sri Lankan restaurant in Glen Waverley.

This is seen as another business front of the Tamil Tigers to raise funds. Arooran Vignanamorthy, who is now held in custody by the Australian government, was one of the key operatives working at this restaurant. He and Yadhavan were refused bail last week by the Supreme Court. But they have lodged another appeal in the Appeals Court.

In Sydney, Dr. T. Manamohan, a heart surgeon, has been one of the main financial backers of the Tamil Tigers. He lobbies for them behind-the-scene and lends his professional status and name to pressure other Tamils to make contributions. Dr. Manmohan is reported to have written a $100,000.00 cheque recently.

Rohan Gunaratne in his book, International and Regional Security-Implications of the SL Tamil insurgency(1997) identified the Australian Federation of Tamil Association (AFTA) as a front of the Tamil Tigers and among the representatives in the various states, the following docs are mentioned:1. Dr R. Ravindran, Adelaide, South Australia; 2. Dr Nadanchandran, Canberra, ACT; 3 Dr Bertie Sebastianpillai, Darwin, Northern Territory; 4 Dr .N. Rasalingam, Auckland, New Zealand 5 Dr V.Sundaralingam, Sydney, New South Wales. In Dr D.R.L Fernando’s book Big Bluff -1985, he mentions Dr R. Sivagurunathan and Dr John St George-both from NSW- as vociferous campaigners for Tamil Tigers.

In America Dr. A. Ranjan, a nephrologist, functioned as the head of the TRO. He too was questioned by the FBI.

This is only the tip of the iceberg of the Tamil doctors who are some of the major financiers of Tamil Tiger terrorism.....(snip)
http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/6415

[Cindy]

THANK YOU Velveeta.
I appreciate the update.

[Oorang]

Kosovo man arrested warning violence against "foreign country"
July 04, 2007

PRISTINA, Serbia-Authorities in Kosovo stepped up security Wednesday after police detained a man claiming to have been threatened into acting against "the interests of a foreign state," police said. The man, whose claim is being investigated, told police masked and armed men approached him "demanding he act in their service and fights the interests of a foreign state and collect information for them," threatening to harm him and his family, police said in a statement.

The claim, which was made on Tuesday, prompted police to seek additional help from NATO peacekeepers. However, police believe the suspect made a false claim and is being held in detention pending an investigation. Authorities did not reveal which country the threat was directed against. But a security source, who spoke on condition of anonimity because of the lack of authority to speak to the media, told the AP the alleged threat was aimed against US interests in the province.

US officials in Kosovo said they were confident in the local police's ability to control the situation and did not comment further. US peacekeepers serving as part of the 16,000 strong NATO-led force said earlier Wednesday they maintained a "high level of force security" during Independence Day celebrations.

In the largest military installation, Camp Bondsteel, home to some 1,500 US troops, Maj. Robert Isabella said dog teams were being used as an additional measure of security. "On certain days we have the dogs out. This is normal standard operating procedure," Isabella said, adding that no specific threat to the troops was received.

Kosovo's majority ethnic Albanian population is predominantly Muslim although mostly secular. The province remains one of the most pro-American corners of Europe. The province has been administered by the United Nations since 1999 following NATO's air war that halted a Serb crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists.

http://www.serbianna.com/news/2007/01934.shtml

Long but interesting read on jihadis, bribes and allegations in Kosovo:

http://www.serbianna.com/columns/mb/060.shtml

[Cindy]

Yep and adding 2 links:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1603333/posts?page=66#66

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1603333/posts

[Cindy]

Great Oorang.

I’m always interesting in this area of the world.

[Godzilla]

I’ve looked at the images on SPTBF’s site. No rifle in the background as has been in every other video I’ve seen. Am I missing something? Looks to be in front of a blue board, rifle should still show up. Remember discussions on its location and orientation being a sign, what about its absence?

[Oorang]

I’ve wondered about that as well but have no clue to the significance, if any.

[Cindy]

RECAP and UPDATES:

COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG.org: "AL QAEDA'S ZAWAHIRI URGES MUSLIMS TO JOIN JIHAD" by Jeffrey Imm (July 5, 2007)

SITE INSTITUTE.org: "'THE ADVICE OF ONE CONCERNED' - A Video Speech by Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, Produced by as-Sahab Group" (July 4, 2007)

THE JAWA REPORT - blog: "NEW ZAWAHIRI VIDEO RELEASED: 'The Advice of One Concerned' (Updated, Bumped)" (July 4, 2007)

A Link

A Link