Threat Matrix: November 2007

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[Velveeta]

Medical clinic at Vandenberg Air Force Base receives suspicious letter

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE

An emergency response team was dispatched to a medical clinic at Vandenberg Air Force Base when they received a suspicious letter Tuesday.

The envelope delivered was found to contain writings discussing a variety of bio-hazard topics.

http://www.ksby.com/Global/story.asp?S=7322138

[Velveeta]

Suspicious Letter Found (GA)

A threatening letter containing white powder was discovered at the Department of Natural Resources office off Shurling Drive in Macon, GBI Agent Craig Rotter says.

Earlier in the day, the Associated Press reported a similar event at a government building in Atlanta.

At this time, officials say the incidents could be related.
http://www.13wmaz.com/news/new_story.aspx?storyid=45235

[Cindy]

That arrest in Turkey is GREAT news!
Thanks Oorang.

[Cindy]

Smiling...yep.

[Cindy]

El Maati, yep, yep, yep.

[MamaDearest]

Thanks Vel. Vocalizing (so to speak) my frustrations, among them, this:

Border Patrol Local 2544

BORDER PATROL NO LONGER ARRESTS ILLEGAL ALIENS?
A Border Patrol chief at one of the nation's most dangerous Southwest border crossings says the agency's mission doesn't include apprehending illegal aliens or seizing narcotics — perplexing front-line agents and angering a congressional critic of illegal immigration.

[Velveeta]

Jailed Terrorist: “I Want My Walkman”

Convicted al-Qaeda murderer complains about life in federal prison

NOVEMBER 6—An al-Qaeda operative serving life in prison for his role in the bombing of American embassies in Africa contends that his rights are being violated by U.S. jailers who have denied him access to Arabic publications and religious books, limited his mail privileges, and no longer allow him to use a Walkman. Mohamed Al-Owhali, 32, claims that his incarceration at the “supermax” federal prison in Florence, Colorado has left him so severely depressed that he stopped eating for months, forcing Bureau of Prisons officials to feed him via a tube placed through his nose......
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/1106071sam1.html

[Cindy]

...ok...

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1921969/posts

#

http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071106/COMMENTARY/111060010

“Hoorah for waterboarding”
Deroy Murdock
November 6, 2007

COMMENTARY SNIPPET: “It’s not quite torture, but it sure has been painful watching Senate Democrats tie Attorney General-designate Michael Mukasey into knots over waterboarding.”

[Cindy]

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200711/NAT20071106a.html

“FAA Hasn’t Tracked Fraudulently Certified Airplane Mechanics”
By Fred Lucas
CNSNews.com Staff Writer
November 06, 2007

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “(CNSNews.com) - About 1,000 poorly trained or even untrained airplane mechanics have not been accounted for by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and could be working for the nation’s airlines.

Further, investigators do not know yet whether the mechanics who worked on a plane, which crashed and killed 20 people in 2005, were among those mechanics who were poorly trained or untrained.

The federal government has confirmed that it is investigating the FAA’s tracking of airline mechanics that obtained fraudulent certification from St. George Aviation, a Florida company whose owner was convicted on federal charges for issuing fraudulent licenses in the late 1990s.

Though the FAA was tasked with retesting at least 1,800 mechanics who obtained phony certificates from the company, fewer than half of those were retested. Also, the agency does not know where any of the mechanics who graduated from St. George are working now, FAA spokeswoman Allison Duquette told Cybercast News Service.

The federal agency charged with aviation safety responded to 12 written questions more than three weeks after Cybercast News Service submitted its inquiry. The questions had to be reviewed by counsel, Duquette said.”

[Cindy]

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

#

http://www.themedialine.org/news/news_detail.asp?NewsID=19347

“Challenges for Israel in Countering Missile Threat”
Written by Rachelle Kliger
Published Thursday, October 25, 2007

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “When a million Israelis took to their bomb shelters in the summer of 2006 defense specialists knew this would be a defining moment for Israel’s anti-missile strategy.

By the end of the fighting Hizbullah had fired nearly 4,000 Katyusha rockets with a range of more than 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) onto Israeli communities, killing 43 civilians.

The war only punctuated what some defense analysts had been saying for years – that the missile threat facing Israel was a top priority.

Hizbullah’s Katyushas are not the only missile threat lingering over Israel.

Israelis around Gaza are under constant fire from crude short-range Qassam rockets. Longer-range Katyushas have also been fired from Gaza, and there are indications that Palestinian organizations are trying to duplicate these tactics in the West Bank.

These threats, and the potential of being hit by long-range missiles from Iran, mean Israel has to counter rockets of different ranges, altitudes, capabilities and destructive potential. Israel’s failure in dealing with future rocket attacks could spell defeat in any future war and could be detrimental for the country, both strategically and politically.

The impact of a missile attack is not manifested in physical damage and loss of life alone. When Saddam Hussein launched 41 Scud missiles onto Israel in the first Gulf War in 1991 the damage was minimal, but the psychological effect and the disruption of daily routine was huge.”

[Cindy]

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewForeignBureaus.asp?Page=/ForeignBureaus/archive/200711/INT20071106d.html

“Israel Has No Peace Partner in Abbas, Netanyahu Says”
By Julie Stahl
CNSNews.com Jerusalem Bureau Chief
November 06, 2007

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Jerusalem (CNSNews.com) - Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is not a partner for peace and is not capable of fighting terrorism, Israeli opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu said, as plans for a U.S.-sponsored Israeli-Palestinian conference seemed to be taking shape.

Netanyahu, a former prime minister who might hold the job again, warned that Israel was making a mistake in negotiating with Abbas.

“We have a partner for words, but not for deeds, certainly not for fighting terrorism, and to my regret, no partner for a real peace,” Netanyahu said in a radio interview on Tuesday.

Netanyahu, leader of the rightwing Likud party, said that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was not being realistic when he claimed that Abbas (Abu Mazen) was a partner for peace and committed to fighting terrorism.

“Not only are they not fighting Hamas, Abu Mazen is incapable even of taking control of Fatah, his own people, who tried to assassinate the prime minister of Israel a few months ago,” Netanyahu said. He was referring to an alleged plot by members of Abbas’ Fatah faction to assassinate Olmert earlier this year.

According to Netanyahu, Hamas, under the sponsorship of Iran, would take over any territory that Israel cedes to the Palestinian Authority because the P.A. is not strong enough to control it. Olmert “is making peace with a virtual partner, in a virtual reality,” he said.”

[Cindy]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071107/FOREIGN/111070056/1001

“Jihadist training ground?”
By Willis Witter
November 7, 2007

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “LAHORE, Pakistan — A recitation of the Koran’s first chapter by 15-year-old student Muhammad Asher carries a melodic, almost hypnotic rhythm, as his voice rises and falls in the cadence of classical Arabic.

Muhammad is a star student at the Arabia Taeem-ul-Quran madrassa in Lahore because in three years, he managed to memorize the entire Koran, hundreds of pages in an ancient language that is rarely spoken and that neither he nor nearly 100 fellow students can understand.

Asked whether he could imagine himself attending a jihadist training camp one day, he replied: “It is my wish to do that, to defend Islam by the grace of God.””

[Cindy]

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=8D3D4C6A-12D7-444F-B104-5B7F40AB502E

“From Pakistan With Terror”
By Joe Kaufman
FrontPageMagazine.com | Wednesday, November 07, 2007

“The tragedy that occurred on 9/11 taught us that America is not insulated in safety from radicals positioned thousands of miles from our shores. So when violence in Pakistan erupts, as it did last month in the form of an assassination attempt on an ex-Pakistani Premier, or when the Pakistani government declares martial law, as has happened this week, possible implications on the United States must be delved into. This is especially the case given the fact that Pakistan has been used as a training ground for Al-Qaeda.”

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1919875/posts?page=47#47
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=hlf
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=holylandfoundation

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

#

http://www.investigativeproject.org/article/535

“From HLF to Hamas: A Modern Parallel”

by IPT
IPT News
November 5, 2007

[Cindy]

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

#

http://memritv.org/subject/en/121.htm

#

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1922142/posts

#

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/07/africa/ME-GEN-Iran-Nuclear.php

IHT.com (AP): Birjand - “AHMADINEJAD: IRAN HAS 3,000 CENTRIFUGES WORKING AT ENRICHMENT PLANT” (November 7, 2007)

[Cindy]

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=9C5806DB-81A5-47DE-8851-4B39EA8D0C2A

“The Arab American Institute’s Hezbollah Shish Kebabs”
By Robert Spencer
FrontPageMagazine.com | Wednesday, November 07, 2007

[Cindy]

Note: To read the entire text of the text; please click on the link below.

ICC-CCS.ORG - THE WEEKLY PIRACY REPORT - REPORT SNIPPET - QUOTE:
http://www.icc-ccs.org/prc/piracyreport.php

Weekly Piracy Report
30 October-5 November 2007

The following is a summary of the daily reports broadcast by the IMB’s Piracy Reporting Centre to ships in Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean Regions on the SafetyNET service of Inmarsat-C from 30 October to 5 November 2007.

ALERT

Chittagong anchorage, Bangladesh
The number of attacks has reduced since 2006. However, the area is still listed as a high risk area and mariners are advised to be cautious especially while approaching the anchorage and while at anchor at Chittagong

Suspicious crafts

Recently reported incidents

31.10.2007: 0330 LT: 06:15N - 003:15E, Lagos, Nigeria.
Three pirates armed with knives boarded a tanker drifting. They took hostage the duty A/B and O/S and tied them up. They threatened the O/S with knives on his throat and asked him to open the accommodation doors but the O/S did not have the key. Two of the pirates then went to the bridge and assaulted the 2/O. The next watch keeper woke up and saw the movements on poop deck and raised the alarm. All crew mustered. Pirates escaped with ship’s stores, property, crew personal belongings and cash. First aid administered to the O/S who received knife injuries. Port control informed.

30.10.2007: 2120 LT: 03:59.6N-006:50.3E, 15 NM off fairway buoy, Bonny Town, Nigeria.
Ten robbers armed with guns boarded a reefer vessel. Alarm raised and crew mustered. Robbers escaped. Attempt to contact bonny signal station were futile

27.10.2007: 0142 LT: Santos outer roads anchorage, Brazil.
Robbers armed with guns boarded a container ship and fired their guns at the approaching crew members. For safety crew members locked themselves in a safer place. Robbers opened 8 reefer containers and stole cargo contents and escaped. No one was injured

19.10.2007: Offshore Lagos: Nigeria.
Robbers armed with knives boarded a tanker at anchor. They took as hostage one AB. They tied him up and warned him not to make any attempt to escape. They stole some ship’s store. Robbers then took the AB into the accommodation and searched for money. They then returned to stern, lowered ship’s store into the waiting boat and escaped.

04.11.2007: 0130 LT: 21:40N - 088:01E, Hoogli river, Sagar roads anchorage, India.
Six robbers armed with knives boarded a chemical tanker at anchor, via the poop deck. Crew raised alarm and activated anti-piracy measures. Robbers jumped overboard and escaped, with ship’s stores, in their waiting boat. No injuries to crew. Reported to harbour pilots but no action taken.

01.11.2007: 1320 LT: 01:52.5N – 102:09.5E, Malacca straits.
A small-unlit high-speed craft came close to a general cargo ship underway. Master switched on all deck lights, assembled all crew, and closed all entrances to the accommodation. Fire hoses standby and search lights directed towards the boat. Ships speed increased and evasive manoeuvres carried out. VTIS Port Klang notified. After about one and a half hours of trailing, the speedboat aborted the attempt. MRCC Kuala Lumpur was informed.

31.10.2007: 0410 LT: 06:44.84S - 039:35.02E, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Ten pirates in a 10m long wooden boat boarded a container ship drifting. They broke into three containers, stole ship’s stores, property and escaped as soon as the crew was alerted. Port control informed.

29.10.2007: 2130 LT 02:11.57N - 045:47.95E, Mogadishu inner anchorage, Somalia.
The IMB Piracy Reporting Centre received a distress call that a general cargo ship was boarded and hijacked by seven armed pirates while at anchor after discharging cargo at Mogadishu. Pirates took control of the bridge, engine room and steering room. There was a fight between the crewmembers and pirates. Crew regained control the engine room and later managed to regain control of the bridge. Six crewmembers were injured. An US warship rendered assistance in rescuing the crew and ship. The injured crewmembers were given medical aid. Six pirates were captured and one killed.

28.10.2007: 2015 LT 21:40N-091:40E, Chittagong anchorage, Bangladesh.
Duty AB on a tanker noticed three robbers armed with knives on poop deck. He informed D/O on bridge who raised alarm and flashed the Aldis lamp towards the robbers. Robbers jumped overboard and escaped. Some ship’s stores found stolen. Coast guard informed.

26.09.2007: 0236 LT: 14:36.4N - 120:52.05E, Vic north harbour anchorage, Manila, Philippines.
Robbers boarded the ship at anchor from stbd side using grappling hook. They broke forecastle store lock and stole ship’s property and a life raft. Master reported to coast guard and they conducted an investigation and advised the master to take precautionary measures.

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15105&Itemid=128

Press Release A071107b
November 7, 2007

Coalition forces disrupt al-Qaeda in Iraq networks; three terrorists killed, nine suspects detained

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed three terrorists and detained nine suspects Wednesday during operations to disrupt al-Qaeda and foreign terrorist networks in central and northern Iraq.

During an operation west of Abu Ghurayb, Coalition forces targeted an alleged associate of several senior terrorist leaders in Kirkuk. Reports also indicate the targeted individual has information about foreign terrorists in the area. As the ground force secured the target, several men, one of whom was armed, maneuvered toward Coalition forces. The suspected terrorists did not comply with the ground force’s instructions and warnings. The armed men continued to maneuver toward Coalition forces, and perceiving hostile intent, the ground force engaged with small arms fire, killing three terrorists. Coalition forces detained two suspects on site.

In Mosul, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual during an operation to disrupt al-Qaeda in Iraq operations. The wanted individual is believed to be a leader associated with car-bombing attacks in Baghdad. The wanted individual’s wife identified him to Coalition forces, and he was subsequently detained.

In other operations along the Tigris River Valley, Coalition forces detained six suspects believed to be associated with senior terrorist leaders, foreign terrorists, weapons procurement and al-Qaeda in Iraq media activities.

“Foreign terrorists are responsible for more than 90 percent of suicide bombings in Iraq, and we are relentlessly targeting Al-Qaeda’s foreign terrorist networks,” said Maj. Winfield Danielson, MNF-I spokesperson. “Increasingly, Iraqi citizens are helping us find these networks and Iraqi security forces are taking the lead in dismantling them.”

- 30 -

[Cindy]

blog:

http://www.terrorfinance.org/the_terror_finance_blog/2007/11/an-inside-look-.html

“An inside look at the Swiss investigation on Yassin Al Kadi”
(November 4, 2007)