Threat Matrix: December 2007

Previous Thread ^

[nwctwx]

Calculating the Risks in Pakistan

A small group of U.S. military experts and intelligence officials convened in Washington for a classified war game last year, exploring strategies for securing Pakistan's nuclear arsenal if the country's political institutions and military safeguards began to fall apart.

The secret exercise — conducted without official sponsorship from any government agency, apparently due to the sensitivity of its subject — was one of several such games the U.S. government has conducted in recent years examining various options and scenarios for Pakistan's nuclear weapons: How many troops might be required for a military intervention in Pakistan? Could Pakistani nuclear bunkers be isolated by saturating the surrounding areas with tens of thousands of high-powered mines, dropped from the air and packed with anti-tank and anti-personnel munitions? Or might such a move only worsen the security of Pakistan's arsenal?
Full story...

	Musharraf: U.S. Shares Blame for Pakistan and Afghanistan
	Bin Laden's Message to the Europeans
	Messages from bin Laden Since 9-11

Threat Matrix:
December 2007

November 2007

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[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15594&Itemid=128

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20071202-02
December 2, 2007

Troops arrest 3 alleged terrorists, find roadside bombs
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad troops arrested a suspected terrorist bomb-maker and two financiers and found two improvised explosive devices in the Iraqi capital’s Rashid district Nov. 30.

Scouts from Apache Troop, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment “Raiders,” 4th “Dragon” Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, received a tip from an area resident that a maker of roadside bombs was operating out of a house in Doura neighborhood. The unit arrested the suspect without incident. The suspect is being held for questioning.

Later in the day, Soldiers from “Destroyer” Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment “Warriors,” detained a pair of suspected financiers involved with al-Qaeda in a north Doura neighborhood. Both suspects are being held for questioning.

“Dragon Soldiers are continuing to keep the pressure on terrorists and insurgents each day,” said Maj. Kirk Luedeke, spokesperson and public affairs officer with the 4th IBCT. “A significant reason for our success is the continued cooperation of Iraqi civilians who help us find these criminals and bring them to justice. These people are taking an active role in securing their neighborhoods.”

Soldiers with Apache and Bandit Companies, 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment “Tuskers,” uncovered two roadside bombs, including a buried IED in East and West Rashid. The bombs, consisting of homemade explosives, wiring and other materials were destroyed in place by explosive ordnance disposal teams.

-30-

[nwctwx]

Hi, Cindy. All is well, just busy busy busy... I guess that’s a good thing!

Thanks to you and everyone else for keeping things rolling.

[Cindy]

That great nw.
Nothing like getting settled in.

Don’t work too hard.

[Cindy]

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

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

#

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1933808/posts

Man is dragged by car after defending Christmas decorations from vandals
Chicago Tribune ^ | Dec. 2, 2007 | Jeff Long
Posted on 12/02/2007 7:37:49 PM PST by FocusNexus

A Hoffman Estates man said Sunday that he is recovering from the minor injuries suffered when he was dragged by a car carrying youths who stomped on and broke pieces of the Christmas display that has illuminated his yard for 17 years.

“There was about seven or eight boys just absolutely destroying our Christmas decorations,” he said. “Just stomping, ripping and breaking them to pieces.”

OBrill, 46, of the 4000 block of Winston Drive, said he stood in front of one of the two vehicles that the vandals jumped into.

“I got in front of the first car, thinking it was going to stop,” OBrill said. “He just kind of ran me down.”

OBrill’s hand got caught in the windshield wiper, was dragged a short distance and his left foot was run over. He did not get the license number of either vehicle.

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...

[Velveeta]

Thank you very much, Ian.
Thread 55.
Who’d a thunk we’d all still be here TMing away?

Thank you to all TMers for 55 enlightening and important threads.

[Velveeta]

HUGE news:

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&q=chavez&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tab=wn&scoring=n

Chavez loses vote on new powers in Venezuela
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1933835/posts

Unofficial: Chavez loses referendum vote (Could be hugh and series!)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1933827/posts

[Cindy]

That is great news unless he crowns he crowns himself dictator for life.

[Velveeta]

Well, that certainly is a possibility.
Watching with interest.

[Cindy]

Well, I’m always open to good news.
Watching with you.

[Cindy]

http://truthusa.com/a/index.php?topic=1230.0

#

UPDATE:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7124447.stm

Last Updated: Monday, 3 December 2007, 09:13 GMT

“Teddy row teacher to be released”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Teacher Gillian Gibbons is to be released from prison in Sudan after she was jailed for allowing children in her class to name a teddy bear Muhammad.

Mrs Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, was jailed for 15 days by a court in Sudan.

Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir pardoned her after a meeting with two British Muslim peers, Lord Ahmed and Baroness Warsi.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was “delighted and relieved” at the news and that “common sense had prevailed”.

The BBC’s Adam Mynott said Mrs Gibbons is expected to be released later on Monday.

The jailing of Mrs Gibbons has led to an international outcry and has embarrassed the government.”

[Cindy]

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

#

http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071203/FOREIGN/112030058/1001

“Putin’s party wins Russian elections”
By Lynn Berry
December 3, 2007

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “MOSCOW (AP) — Vladimir Putin’s party won a crushing victory in parliamentary elections yesterday, paving the way for the authoritarian leader to remain in control even after he steps down as president.

The vote followed a tense Kremlin campaign that relied on a combination of persuasion and intimidation to ensure victory for the United Russia party and for Mr. Putin, who has used a flood of oil revenues to move his country onto a more assertive position on the global stage.”

[Cindy]

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

#

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3478369,00.html

“Minister Ze’evi’s murderer jailed for 125 years”

Aviram Zino
Published: 12.03.07, 10:30 / Israel News

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “The Jerusalem District Court on Monday sentenced Hamdi Quran to five consecutive terms of life imprisonment – 125 years – after he was convicted of killing Minister Rehavam Ze’evi in October 2001.

Quran (33) confessed to killing Ze’evi on the orders of the Popular Front. According to his confession, on the morning of October 17 2001, he entered the Hyatt hotel in Jerusalem along with his accomplice, Bassel Assamer, and the two proceeded to follow Ze’evi from the dining court to his room, on the hotel’s eighth floor.

When Ze’evi reached his room, Quran shot him in the head three times, at point-blank range. Ze’evi suffered fatal wounds and died shortly after.”

#

Previously...

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3442527,00.html

“Rehavam Ze’evi’s killer pleads guilty”

“During hearing at Jerusalem’s District Court, Hamdi Quran recounts day of assassination, pleads guilty to involvement in other terror activities”

Aviram Zino
Published: 08.27.07, 15:33 / Israel News

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Hamdi Quran, accused of assassinating minister Rehavam Ze’evi at Jerusalem’s Hyatt hotel on October 17, 2001 pleaded guilty to all charges brought against him on Monday.

Quran, 33, entered his plea during the evidentiary hearing in his case, held at the Jerusalem District Court. He also pled guilty to involvement in various other terror activities.

During the hearing Quran said he was instructed by Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) member Majdi Rimawi to murder Ze’evi in the beginning of 2001.”

[Cindy]

Editorial:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/06/AR2007110602026.html

“Land of the Freed
For two members of the ‘Los Angeles Eight,’ America finally acts to right a wrong.”
Wednesday, November 7, 2007; Page A20

EDITORIAL SNIPPET: “LAST WEEK, after almost 21 years, the U.S. government agreed to drop its case against Khader Hamide and Michel Shehadeh. The two men, who are of Palestinian descent, were permanent legal residents of the United States when they were targeted for deportation because of their alleged affiliation with a terrorist group. The government’s evidence was so flimsy and its legal arguments so bizarre that many in the immigrants’ rights, civil liberties and Arab American communities came to see the case as an overt act of hostility by the government toward people of Arab descent — and understandably so.

The saga began in 1987 when Mr. Hamide and Mr. Shehadeh, along with six others who came to be known as the Los Angeles Eight, were arrested and accused of supporting the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), an extremist offshoot of the Palestine Liberation Organization.”

[Cindy]

Event:

http://www.heritagenewmedia.com/basics120307.htm

[Cindy]

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

#

A little propaganda to start the day off with:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1933869/posts

“US Accused of Instigating Russian Revolt”
New York Times ^ | December 3, 2007 | Associated Press Staff
Posted on 12/03/2007 2:38:59 AM PST by america4vr

[nw_arizona_granny]

Thanks for the ping.

[Cindy]

Ding.Ding.Ding-dong...We have a STUCK ON STUPID award winner:

http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2007/s07120010.htm

Sunday, December 2, 2007

“UN Secretary General links Darfur conflict to Global Warming
Says ecological perspective is key in conflict prevention”

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
CARONPORT, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA

[Cindy]

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1195546787829&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Dec 3, 2007 7:57 | Updated Dec 3, 2007 11:10
“Israel frees 429 Palestinian prisoners”
By JPOST STAFF AND AP

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “The release was originally planned to take place ahead of last week’s Annapolis conference but for various reasons, including a request by Abbas, it was delayed.

The Israel Prisons Service (IPS) said 408 Palestinians were transported to the West Bank and 21 to Gaza. All those released were sentenced to up to ten years for committing security offences.”

[Cindy]

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=105&sid=1302711

“Thieves Steal 17 Tons of Christmas Ham”
December 2, 2007 - 11:00pm

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - Thieves stole 17.6 tons of ham and bacon from a warehouse and left behind a message busting the owners’ chops, police said Monday.

“Thanks,” the crooks daubed on a wall of the Zammit Hand and Bacon curers warehouse in suburban Sydney. “Merry Christmas.””

[Cindy]

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=105&sid=1302757

“Bomb Kills 6 at School in Pakistan”
December 3, 2007 - 5:42am

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) - A bomb exploded inside an Islamic school in southwestern Pakistan on Monday, killing six students and wounding four others, officials said.

The explosion ripped through the school in Qilla Saifullah, a town about 90 miles north of Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province, police official Mohammed Farooq said.”