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Threat Matrix: December 2007
Previous Thread ^

Posted on 12/01/2007 8:47:13 PM PST by nwctwx

:::FreeRepublic's Threat Matrix:::
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...

Critical Threats: Blank When None
Threat Matrix:
December 2007
Click for Color Code Information


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 19; afghanistan; ahmed; airfreshener; alf; alqaeda; alqaida; benazirbhutto; bomb; bus; california; china; christianpersecution; christmasbomb; coronado; cropduster; cropdusters; cyberwarfare; danielpearl; denison; domesticterrorism; farc; france; germany; globaljihad; gwot; hamas; holidayjihad; homicidebombers; humanbombs; immigrants; iran; iraq; israel; jihad; jis; khaleelahmed; lebanon; mall; malls; mauritania; nebraska; nitrogen; nkorea; northkorea; nuclear; omaha; oxygen; oxygentanks; paintball; paintballing; pakistan; paris; persecution; philippines; plane; planes; powergrid; qantas; russia; searstower; srilanka; suicidebombers; taleban; taliban; terrorism; threatmatrix; tunnel; tunnels; turkey; vandals; wedding; westroads; westroadsmall; youths; zubairahmed
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placemark


901 posted on 12/22/2007 6:47:18 AM PST by Godzilla (Jesus - the REASON for the SEASON)
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To: Godzilla; Cindy; MamaDearest; Velveeta; nwctwx; PGalt; all4one; All
NEFA Foundation: New IMU Video, Statements from the Taliban and Mullah Omar
Updated "Target:America" Report By Evan Kohlmann
December 22, 2007

The NEFA Foundation has obtained a new communiqué from Taliban supreme leader Mullah Mohammed Omar in which he appeals to "Muslims to help their Mujahedeen brothers" and "do Jihad" because it is "clear" that the "invaders will never withdraw their forces..." He also advises the Mujahedeen that they must not allow the "enemy" to create "cleavage[s]" that divide their forces.

Separately, NEFA has also obtained a new communiqué from the Taliban on the battle for the town Musa Qala, which asks "how many weeks will [the] invaders be able to" maintain control of the Musa Qala district?

Excerpted

http://counterterrorismblog.org/

‘Pakistan bomber loaded with ball bearings’
22 December 2007

PESHAWAR - The suicide bomber who killed 54 people in a Pakistan mosque had packed his explosives vest with ball bearings to inflict maximum casualties, a hospital official said on Saturday.

With security agencies hunting for clues to Friday’s attack, which targeted but missed a close ally of President Pervez Musharraf, a doctor said many of the victims suffered severe shrapnel wounds.

Excerpted

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2007/December/subcontinent_December737.xml&section=subcontinent&col=


902 posted on 12/22/2007 3:20:19 PM PST by Oorang (Tyranny thrives best where government need not fear the wrath of an armed people - Alex Kozinski)
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UPDATE on previously posted news:

Belgium frees 14 held in terrorism plot
December 22, 2007

BRUSSELS: The Belgian authorities released 14 people Saturday, a day after they were detained on suspicion of plotting to break a sympathizer of Al Qaeda out of prison, the Federal Prosecutor's Office said.

Although a court decided there was insufficient evidence to hold them for more than 24 hours, tightened anti-terrorism measures triggered by the arrest of the suspected Islamic militants on Friday will remain in place over the holidays, said Lieve Pellens, spokeswoman for the Prosecutor's Office. "We think there is still a threat," Pellens said by telephone.

The police picked up the 14 suspects in a series of raids Friday. Pellens said searches of the suspects' homes had found no explosives, weapons or other evidence to persuade the court to charge them with any offense or keep them in jail. Belgium does not laws that allow terrorism suspects to be held for longer than 24 hours without charge, Pellens said.

The government's Crisis Center said the investigation was continuing into other material found in the searches.

Excerpted

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/12/22/europe/belgium.1-193640.php#end_main

903 posted on 12/22/2007 3:27:16 PM PST by Oorang (Tyranny thrives best where government need not fear the wrath of an armed people - Alex Kozinski)
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To: Oorang

Thanks for the ping, post 902 and all of your posts, Oorang. BTTT!


904 posted on 12/22/2007 3:38:44 PM PST by PGalt
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To: Oorang; Calpernia; All

Thanks to Oorang and Calpernia for the ping to this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1943028/posts

“Is Terrorism Behind Mysterious Crop-Duster Crashes in Philippines?”
pajamasmedia.com ^ | Dec 21 2007 | Annie Jacobsen
Posted on 12/21/2007 4:14:34 PM PST by Dog


905 posted on 12/22/2007 3:44:05 PM PST by Cindy
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To: Cindy
Medical couple may have contributed to 56 OD deaths

According to the indictment, 56 of the doctor's patients have died from accidental prescription drug overdoses in the past five years. However, the indictment alleges that only four of the deaths were directly caused by drugs prescribed by Schneider's clinic in Haysville, south of Wichita.

Sari heroin gang very arrogant

Snippets: Five drug smugglers have been jailed for stitching heroin into the linings of dresses and posting them from Pakistan to Oldham, Greater Manchester.

Equipped with aging sewing machines their humble workshop hid the real profits behind a mail-order fashion business with a difference.

Ijaz Ahmed, 29, a high-ranking member of the crime group, gives a running commentary as men toil on sewing machines to prepare garments for their special linings.

His associate Manir Khan, 37, can be seen gesturing to the camera and the footage eventually cuts to a package clearly bearing an Oldham postal address.

Officers discovered that Fazal Hussain, 40, known locally in Oldham as "The Godfather", had become involved in the smuggling operation.

He had begun taking a more "hands on" role in his drugs business following a series of police busts in 2005. Hussain and fellow gang member Mohammed Akseem, 39, were arrested at Knutsford Service Station on the M6, Cheshire, in March last year.

They had 2kg of heroin, with a street value of £200,000, in their possession. Mohammed Akseem, Manir Khan and Mohammed Iqbal. All members pleaded guilty to drug trafficking offences. This led officers to the house in Cambridge Street, Werneth, where Khan and fellow gang member Mohammed Iqbal, 40, were arrested.

906 posted on 12/22/2007 3:46:27 PM PST by MamaDearest
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To: NautiNurse; Judith Anne; All

Thanks to a special freepamailer for these links:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/12/22/2007-12-22_flock_of_birds_mysteriously_die_in_si.html

“Flock of birds mysteriously die in S.I.”
BY JOE GOULD AND RICH SCHAPIRO
DAILY NEWS WRITERS
Saturday, December 22nd 2007, 4:00 AM

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “More than 50 birds plummeted to the pavement in Bay Terrace about 3 p.m., causing frightened residents to scramble indoors.

“It was like Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘The Birds,’” said Donna Toti, 50. “Birds were just falling out of the sky. They would land, lie on the ground, flap and die.”
The birds - all believed to be Purple Martins - landed within the Port Regalle development near the intersection of Wiman Ave. and Tennyson Drive. Some appeared to die in the air; others expired in the moments after they hit the pavement, authorities said.

“When we pulled in, most of the birds were on the ground, floundering and foaming at the mouth,” said FDNY Battalion Chief John Giacella.”

#

http://www.silive.com/news/advance/index.ssf?/base/news/1198308620191180.xml&coll=1

More From Staten Island Advance | Subscribe To Staten Island Advance
“45 birds fall to earth and die
Ammonia-laced compost eyed as Health Department begins tests, Great Kills residents worry”
Saturday, December 22, 2007

By KIAWANA RICH
STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. —

ARTICLE SNIPPE: “Rep. Vito Fossella (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn), who visited the area around 5 p.m., said he, too, had heard that ammonia-laced mulch or compost might be to blame. By the time he arrived, he said, the birds had been taken away to be tested; he praised the city’s handling of the situation.

But an official with the Health Department, which is conducting the tests, said, “Most often, this is the result of pesticide poisoning.”

The DEP performed air-quality tests at the site last night and declared it safe.”


907 posted on 12/22/2007 3:59:42 PM PST by Cindy
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To: MamaDearest

“Stitching heroin into the lining of dresses...”

I’ve heard of computer parts, jewelry, even keys stitched into dresses, but not heroin.

Thanks Oorang.


908 posted on 12/22/2007 4:01:50 PM PST by Cindy
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To: Cindy
Christmas blessings to you and yours Cindy!

Vancouver BC gangs cruising streets in armored vehicles police say

It's bad enough, police said, that the gangsters have bulletproof vests. Holding up a vest, an exasperated Inspector Dean Robinson said that four such items, capable of stopping various handguns and smaller-calibre automatic weapons, have been seized from "very prominent gang individuals."

But now, he said, there are also armoured vehicles that can be platforms for violence, not to mention traffic hazards.

"You can imagine one of these things. It's a rolling tank. If it was to collide with a regular vehicle on the road, it would be no contest," Insp. Robinson said.

909 posted on 12/22/2007 4:03:27 PM PST by MamaDearest
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To: MamaDearest; fanfan; Clive; GMMAC

ping to MamaDearest’s post no. 909 regarding Vancouver BC gangs.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1933472/posts?page=909#909


910 posted on 12/22/2007 4:08:37 PM PST by Cindy
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To: All; Jim Robinson; RDTF; Oorang; penguino; Velveeta; MamaDearest; backhoe; piasa; Godzilla; ...

Thanks to a special freepmailer for pointing to this thread.
Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1942217/posts

Lakota Indians Withdraw Treaties Signed With U.S. 150 Years Ago
Fox News ^ | Thursday, December 20, 2007
Posted on 12/20/2007 5:36:13 AM PST by Sopater

WASHINGTON — The Lakota Indians, who gave the world legendary warriors Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, have withdrawn from treaties with the United States.

“We are no longer citizens of the United States of America and all those who live in the five-state area that encompasses our country are free to join us,’’ long-time Indian rights activist Russell Means said.

A delegation of Lakota leaders has delivered a message to the State Department, and said they were unilaterally withdrawing from treaties they signed with the federal government of the U.S., some of them more than 150 years old.

The group also visited the Bolivian, Chilean, South African and Venezuelan embassies, and would continue on their diplomatic mission and take it overseas in the coming weeks and months.

Lakota country includes parts of the states of Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming.

The new country would issue its own passports and driving licences, and living there would be tax-free - provided residents renounce their U.S. citizenship, Mr Means said.

The treaties signed with the U.S. were merely “worthless words on worthless paper,” the Lakota freedom activists said.

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


911 posted on 12/22/2007 4:16:03 PM PST by Cindy
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To: Cindy; GMMAC; Clive; exg; kanawa; conniew; backhoe; -YYZ-; Former Proud Canadian; Squawk 8888; ...
Thanks fir the Ping to 909, Cindy.


912 posted on 12/22/2007 4:26:51 PM PST by fanfan ("We don't start fights my friends, but we finish them, and never leave until our work is done."PMSH)
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To: All

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1943365/posts

China Airlines door opens mid-flight
Japan Today ^ | Friday, December 21, 2007 at 17:40 EST

Posted on 12/22/2007 4:22:51 PM PST by DeaconBenjamin
TAIPEI — A China Airlines passenger jet earlier this month turned back mid-flight shortly after take-off from Taiwan after a cabin door malfunction at an altitude of 3,000 meters, local media reported Friday. Passengers on Flight CI008 panicked after a “swishing” sound emanated from the slightly ajar door, whose handle had malfunctioned, prompting the pilots to jettison fuel and turn back to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, the reports said.

Nobody was hurt, and the Los Angeles-bound Boeing 747-400 landed without incident, which occurred Dec 8, said Taiwan’s Civil Aeronautics Administration. The problem emerged five minutes into the flight as passengers and cabin crew became alarmed at what appeared to be an unlocked lever on the cabin door and sounds of escaping air pressure.

The CAA’s initial findings point to possibilities that include the door being affected by jarring or banging of the jet in the process of taking off, and ground crew failing to fully secure the door. A door suddenly opening in a pressurized cabin at a high altitude could cause passengers to get sucked out of the cabin and the jet to crash.


913 posted on 12/22/2007 4:27:08 PM PST by Cindy
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To: fanfan

You’re welcome fanfan.


914 posted on 12/22/2007 4:28:05 PM PST by Cindy
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To: All

http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/006273.html

22 December 2007
“TERRORIST USE OF THE INTERNET FOR TRAINING PURPOSES”
by A. Aaron Weisburd


915 posted on 12/22/2007 5:29:56 PM PST by Cindy
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To: Cindy; blam

http://scienceblogs.com/effectmeasure/2007/12/whos_new_spin_on_human_to_huma.php#more

Referenced in commentary:

http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=6077

“So China considers H5N1 a state secret...”

“Alas, this stonewalling can kill as the H5N1 acquires more lethal genes - like Ebola genes.
Although it has never been officially seen outside Africa, the intrepid Boxun.com reported last April an Ebola outbreak in Shenzen, next to Hong Kong, which the authorities denied. Now, Boxun sources tell them that the Sichuan outbreak is the rapidly evolving Ebola SZ-77 strain which can infect birds, so it may be tied to bird flu at Qinghai.”


916 posted on 12/22/2007 5:33:54 PM PST by Domestic Church (AMDG...)
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To: All; Jim Robinson; Jet Jaguar; RDTF; StillProud2BeFree; JohnathanRGalt; Godzilla; nwctwx

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1603333/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1603333/posts?page=93#93

#

http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/006272.html

22 December 2007
“IRHABI007 & CO. TO REMAIN ON HOLIDAY IN BELMARSH FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME”

###

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42463000/jpg/_42463782_internet_203.jpg

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7150641.stm

Last Updated: Tuesday, 18 December 2007, 17:39 GMT

“Longer sentences for al-Qaeda men”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Three men linked to al-Qaeda, who admitted inciting terrorist attacks against non-Muslims via the internet, have had their sentences increased.

Younes Tsouli, 24, had a 10-year jail term raised to 16 years, while Waseem Mughal, 24, had seven-and-a-half-years lengthened to 12.

And Tariq Al-Daour, 22, originally jailed for six-and-a-half years, had his term increased to 10 years.

The Court of Appeal agreed the original terms were “unduly lenient”.

The decision was taken after being referred under the Unduly Lenient sentence scheme by Vera Baird, the Solicitor General.”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Computers, notebooks and digital storage media were seized when police raided the homes of the three men.

They were originally sentenced in July.”

93 posted on 12/22/2007 5:41:13 PM PST by Cindy


917 posted on 12/22/2007 5:43:24 PM PST by Cindy
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To: All

http://www.sofir.org/sarchives/006274.php

22 December 2007
“READING THEIR LIPS: THE CREDIBILITY OF JIHADI WEB SITES AS ‘SOFT POWER’ IN THE WAR OF THE MINDS”
by Reuven Paz

Global Research in International Affairs (GLORIA) Center
THE PROJECT FOR THE RESEARCH OF ISLAMIST MOVEMENTS (PRISM)
OCCASIONAL PAPERS Volume 5 (2007), Number 5 (December 2007)
Director: Reuven Paz


918 posted on 12/22/2007 6:03:05 PM PST by Cindy
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To: Domestic Church

I find the bird flu studies fascinating...it seems the research always brings up something new.


919 posted on 12/22/2007 6:19:11 PM PST by Cindy
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To: Cindy; Oorang
You're welcome re post 902. Surmising they thought they were "crafty." (sarc.)

Deportation of former cop who lied about his identity delayed

He was arrested May 31, agreed to a plea deal about two weeks later and resigned. A judge sentenced Ayala last month to a year of probation. He agreed to be deported.

Felon gets jail time for weapons

When police searched his home, his vehicle and a rented storage locker, they found a cache of weapons, two homemade silencers, ingredients that could be used for making bombs - including black powder, fast-acting nitrogen and igniters -and writings touching on terrorism and revolution.

920 posted on 12/22/2007 6:31:43 PM PST by MamaDearest
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