Threat Matrix: July 2007

Previous Thread ^

[nwctwx]

Threat Matrix:
July 2007

June 2007

Threat Matrix Index

Theat Matrix Handbook

Theat Matrix 'BOLO'

Invaluable Tips

Preparedness

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]

You’re welcome RR.

Sometimes, dismally speaking, I have the feeling that all I am doing is archiving info for historians/researchers/analysts to look back on at a later period of time.

I hope I’m wrong.

I do hope and pray that the good guys/gals are find the info useful now.

[callmejoe]

“http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,22053993-2702,00.html

Al-Qa’ida ‘moving to blast American city with N-bomb’
July 11, 2007” . . .

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1687360.ece

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=10834&sectionid=351020101

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyid=2007-05-21T174319Z_01_BLA148747_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAN-USA.xml

http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=countries&Area=iran&ID=SP109606

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,272514,00.html

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21923990-1702,00.html

http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070706/NATION04/107060076/1008&template=nextpage

Nuclear messages (excerpt)

. . . International radio operators picked up large numbers of coded Air Force communications being sent around the world on June 26 that indicated some type of military activity was about to take place. A U.S. military official said the radio traffic was monitored from the Air Force Global High Frequency System (GHFS) that some observers regarded as “extraordinary” because of the unprecedented length of messages. They were sent to Air Force commanders at Andrews Air Force Base; Wideawake Airfield on Ascension Island; Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; Andersen Air Force Base, Guam; Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii; Lajes Field in the Azores; Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska; Salinas Air Base, Puerto Rico; Thule Air Base, Greenland; and Yokota Air Base, Japan. All are sites of GHFS ground stations.

The messages appeared to be emergency action messages, coded communications sent by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to U.S. Air Force strategic nuclear forces. The messages sent June 26 included 174 characters, much longer than normal 30-character messages, and amateur radio monitors say they have not seen the size of this message since the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Air Force Maj. Tom Knowles, a U.S. Strategic Command spokesman, said there were no large-scale exercises going on that would account for what were likely “routine” messages. “We routinely exercise that capability to make sure of the readiness of our forces,” he said. A retired Air Force general said the strategic nuclear forces also dispatch command action messages that are part of a nuclear command system that requires force commanders to respond within two minutes. . . .

[nwctwx]

Sometimes, dismally speaking, I have the feeling that all I am doing is archiving info for historians/researchers/analysts to look back on at a later period of time.

Hopefully they'll be able to access this archaic format in the future.. As you say, smiling. ;)

[nwctwx]

Bush orders contingency plans for attack on U.S.
From the Washington Post
May 10, 2007

WASHINGTON — President Bush issued a formal national security directive Wednesday ordering agencies to prepare contingency plans for a surprise, “decapitating” attack on the federal government, and assigned responsibility for coordinating such plans to the White House.

The prospect of a nuclear bomb being detonated in Washington without warning, whether smuggled in by terrorists or a foreign government, has been cited by many security analysts as a rising concern since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-attack10may10,1,436038.story?coll=la-headlines-nation

[Cindy]

Yep.

[Cindy]

RECAP:

Note: Poll included.

http://www.internet-haganah.com/harchives/006143.html

08 July 2007

“Jihadi forum poll of the day: “Do you agree to undertake martyrdom?””

SNIPPET: “Responses vary on two forums where we find the question posted, but in both cases an overwhelming majority of those who bothered to respond say “yes” to death in the cause of Allah.”

[Godzilla]

President Bush issued a formal national security directive Wednesday ordering agencies to prepare contingency plans for a surprise, “decapitating” attack on the federal government, and assigned responsibility for coordinating such plans to the White House.

We've had 6 years to prepare for this and should have gotten it done by now. The timing does not look good to me.

[nw_arizona_granny]

They never forget.

Thanks for the ping.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Thank you for the links.

[Palladin]

Just one cell? I believe there are hundreds here already.

[milford421]

Something is not quite right here.

NY area airports were closed this evening...weather cited. However, no storms, and visibility according to forecasts is 10 miles...same as in Miami, FL where there are no delays.

Boston’s Logan, Baltimore Washington International, Newark, NJ, Chicago, O’Hare, Chicago, Midway, LaGuardia, JFK...Here’s the link for the airport delay information: http://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp

Checked out random weather forecasts for Miami, Newark, Boston...something isn’t right. Add to it the information that authorities think AlQ operatives might be either on their way, or here. Add to that Chertoff’s outrageous statement about a “gut feeling”. Add to that Brian Ross’ two reports regarding an attack...add to that, callmejoe’s latest posted info.

[Oorang]

Ping to a very interesting article linked in post #962 by callmejoe - Thanks Joe.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070706/NATION04/107060076/1008&template=nextpage

[celtic-cat]

Just one cell? I believe there are hundreds here already.

I'm sure that they know that there are hundreds here already.

I am afraid that what I am reading between the lines in all the latest press and quotes is that they are concerned about one group in particular that they don't have a solid location on which they believe may have a nuclear device or the wherewithal to create one on the fly.

I hear fear in the latest statements from the administration, and a desire to give themselves cover if anything should happen, but they don't want to panic the sheeple. And obviously from the latest from Chertoff, they believe the timeline is soon...very soon.

[nwctwx]

That is a bit odd. There is very little severe weather in the country as a whole right now. Though, there was considerable storminess up and down i95 DC-NYC earlier in the day.

[SlowBoat407]

Add to it the information that authorities think AlQ operatives might be either on their way, or here. Add to that Chertoff’s outrageous statement about a “gut feeling”. Add to that Brian Ross’ two reports regarding an attack...add to that, callmejoe’s latest posted info.

And don't forget the stories about Syria pulling their citizens out of Lebanon by July 15. I'm afraid there may be a multi-level effort out there to throw things off balance, and that story might be connected to it as well.

[nwctwx]

Listened to report out of NYC news. It sounds like the delays have been ongoing since afternoon when there were storms. I think it does make sense. Once delays start they pile up at other airports and aren’t simple to erase.

[Palladin]

The President certainly looks nervous lately. I wonder what’s up.

[Oorang]

Here is a thread on the NY area airports. They are saying it is a "ground stop" (whatever that is) rather than a closure, due to weather. But, if the weather is clear, than I agree something odd is going on.

http://www.airliners.net/discussions/general_aviation/read.main/3502698/

[Oorang]

...there was considerable storminess up and down i95 DC-NYC earlier in the day...

That makes sense. From the thread on airliners.net the "ground stop" was much earlier in the day. Thanks Ian.

[nwctwx]

DCA got about 3/4” in an hour and a half around 2pm and Baltimore Washington saw almost 2” in the same time period from heavy thunderstorms. It looks like most inbound were diverted and it caused a ripple effect.