Threat Matrix: February 2008

Previous Thread ^

[nwctwx]

Is the U.S. Failing in Afghanistan?

It was malice in wonderland at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday as Bush Administration envoys insisted things are getting better in Afghanistan, while angry lawmakers from both parties cited facts and figures showing just the opposite. Even the senior Republican on the panel, Senator Richard Lugar, found the Administration's claims wanting. "I'm not sure that we have a plan for Afghanistan," he said.

Long seen as the "forgotten war" eclipsed by Iraq in U.S. priorities, Afghanistan is in the Washington spotlight this week with the release of three independent reports concluding that without a change in U.S. policy there, the erstwhile sanctuary of Osama bin Laden would remain a failed state. Read More

	Why the Taliban Feel Confident
	Top US Officer Lauds al-Qaida Death
	US Air Strike Signals al-Qaida Onslaught

Threat Matrix:
February 2008

January 2007

Threat Matrix Index

Theat Matrix Handbook

Theat Matrix 'BOLO'

Invaluable Tips

Preparedness

[Cindy]

http://memriiwmp.org/content/en/report.htm?report=1822

“Cyberspace as a Combat Zone: The Phenomenon of Electronic Jihad”
No. 329 - February 27, 2007 - E. Alshech

[Cindy]

RECAP:

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "SYMPOSIUM: CYBER JIHAD" by Jamie Glazov (February 28, 2008)

MEMRI IWMP.org No. 329: "CYBERSPACE AS A COMBAT ZONE: THE PHENOMENON OF ELECTRONIC JIHAD" -E. Alshech (February 27, 2008)

THE JAWA REPORT - blog (STRATFOR.com): "GRASSROOTS JIHADISTS AND THE THIN BLUE LINE" by Fred Burton and Scott Stewart (February 27, 2008)

INVESTIGATIVE PROJECT.org - IPT NEWS: "THE ABC's OF RADICAL ISLAM" by Steven Emerson (February 27, 2008)

JIHAD WATCH.org: "RELAX! THERE ARE ONLY 91 MILLION JIHADISTS!" (February 27, 2008)

JIHAD WATCH.org (WORLD DEFENSE REVIEW): "'And he will be, indeed, a formidable soldier for jihad: if he can slit a person's throat at five years old, just imagine what he can do at 20'" (February 26, 2008)

Video: "TERROR UN-ISLAMIC, SAY MUSLIM SCHOLARS" (February 25, 2008)

[Cindy]

Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3512970,00.html

British Ministry of Defense says Prince Harry to be withdrawn from Afghanistan
Published: 02.29.08, 13:23 / Israel News

Britain’s Ministry of Defense said that Prince Harry is to be withdrawn from Afghanistan immediately.

The prince’s presence in the country was revealed for the first time on Thursday after he had been stationed there for ten weeks. (AP)

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2008/s08020208.htm

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Three men held over killing 7 Pakistani Christians in 2002

By Sheraz Khurram Khan
Special Correspondent for ASSIST News Service in Pakistan

KARACHI, PAKISTAN (ANS) — Pakistani police have arrested three Islamic militants in connection with murder of seven Christians belonging to Idara Amn-o-Insafa (or Organisation for Justice and Peace, a charity jointly run by Catholics and Protestants) in 2002.

The suspects are said to have confessed but Karachi police have not yet confirmed the news, Asia News has reported.

“We were trying to catch them since we arrested ten members of this organisation earlier,” Asia News quoted the Senior Superintendent of Police Raja Umer Khattab as saying.

All three belong to Tehreek-e-Islami Lashkar-e-Mohammadi, “a very dangerous group, but their leader is still at large,” it said.

The story said that at the time of the murder of the Christian men the local press and some public security officials had said that they had been caused by in-fighting in the local Christian community over real estate.

“We told the police immediately after the sad incident that some militant group had done this,” the story quoted Fr Bonnie Mendes, director of the Human Development Centre as saying.

Mendes, the story said, was present at the slain Christians’ funeral. “It is good that these extremists were captured. Now the government has to be very strict with such elements because now they know the root causes and the people behind all this. This is the time to get the maximum information from them,” Mendes told Asia News.

According to the story Peter Jacob, executive secretary of the Catholic Church’s National Commission for Justice and Peace, said that the victims’ families were not properly compensated for their loss.

And as a result of the murders, the sense of insecurity that followed and the lack of government protection Idara Amn-o-Insafa ceased operations, it said.

Sheraz Khurram Khan has been reporting from Pakistan for ASSIST News Service on Christian persecution and minorities’ situation since 2005. He is also a representative of the International Press Association (IPA), USA.
** You may republish this story with proper attribution.

[Cindy]

http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_cameroon.html

Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520

This information is current as of today, Fri Feb 29 2008 03:44:10 GMT-0800 (PST).

CAMEROON

February 28, 2008

[Cindy]

Note; The following text is a quote:

https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=80442

YOU ARE HERE: Home > Reports > Consular Affairs Bulletins > Report
Warden Message: Singapore Reports Criminal Escape
CONSULAR AFFAIRS BULLETINS
East Asia / Pacific - Singapore
28 Feb 2008

Printer Friendly Email Article
U.S. Embassy Singapore released the following Warden Message on February 28:

The United States Embassy in Singapore wishes to call to your attention the recent escape from detention in Singapore of known terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari. The Embassy notes that this escape has been widely reported in the media. The Embassy has no information concerning any specific threat to Americans or American interests in Singapore, but does remind Americans that the Department of State issued a Worldwide Caution on January 17, 2008 describing the continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence against Americans and interests throughout the world. American citizens are reminded to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness. Local authorities advise anyone who has information concerning Kastari’s whereabouts should call 999 in Singapore.

The full text of the World Wide Caution can be found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1161.html. U.S. citizens living or traveling in Singapore are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy through the State Department’s travel registration website at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency.

For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Public Announcements, and Travel Warnings can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-317-472-2328. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

The U.S. Embassy in Singapore is located at 27 Napier Road, tel. (65)6476-9100. For after-hours emergencies, please call (65) 6476-9100 and listen to the instructions to reach a duty officer.

[Cindy]

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1161.html

Worldwide Caution

January 17, 2008

[Cindy]

PERSECUTION.ORG
http://www.persecution.org

[Cindy]

blog:

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/02/28/galloway-on-prince-harry-i-dont-know-about-you-but-i-have-no-enemies-in-afghanistan/

“Galloway on Prince Harry: “I don’t know about you, but I have no enemies in Afghanistan””
POSTED AT 10:05 PM ON FEBRUARY 28, 2008 BY ALLAHPUNDIT

[Cindy]

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

#

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1204213988597&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Feb 29, 2008 13:16
“Haniyeh: God willing, we will have victory after this battle”
By ASSOCIATED PRESS

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “”No doubt these are bloody days, painful days, but God willing, we will have victory after this battle,” Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said Friday.

Haniyeh was addressing a crowd of around 2,000 Hamas supporters at Friday prayers session in the Strip, as terrorists continued to launch Kassam rockets at the western Negev and Israel fired at Gaza targets.”

[Cindy]

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

#

Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3512983,00.html

Hamas’ military wing claims responsibility for Qassam rocket fire
Published: 02.29.08, 13:48 / Israel News

The Izz a-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, claimed responsibility for the Qassam rocket fire on Sderot.

Since this morning, Palestinians have fired five rockets into Israel. One woman was lightly injured and a few others suffered shock in the attacks. (Ali Waked)

[Cindy]

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

#

Note: The following blog entry is a quote:

http://www.thememriblog.org/iran/blog_personal/en/5821.htm

Iran Condemns EU Foreign Policy Chief Solana For Silence Over IAEA Report

Iran had condemned EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana for his silence on the International Atomic Energy Agency report, claiming that this silence “woult harm his efforts” to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue.

Iranian Ambassador to Spain Daoud Salahi said that Tehran expected Solana to be more active, and to clearly express his opinion.

Source: IRNA, Iran, February 28, 2008

Posted at: 2008-02-28

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17352&Itemid=21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080229-01
February 29, 2008

Paratroopers capture senior Special Groups leader
Multi-National Division – Baghdad

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers captured a suspected senior leader of a criminal Special Groups network during an operation in Baghdad’s Beida neighborhood Feb. 27.

After receiving actionable intelligence on his whereabouts, paratroopers with the 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, detained the suspect.

The suspect is accused of being a key facilitator in the procurement and movement of weapons in northeast Baghdad, as well as being involved in the kidnapping, torture and death of Iraqi citizens who did not adhere to his beliefs.

“The honorable Iraqis in the surrounding neighborhoods are tired of those who choose to disobey the cease-fire directives from al-Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr, and are determined to rid themselves of these criminals,” said Maj. Trey Rutherford, executive officer for the 2nd Bn., 325th Abn. Inf. Regt.

“The loss of yet another senior Special Groups leader places additional stress on the criminal Special Groups network,” he said. “The network is cornered in Sadr City, and every member of the criminal group who sets foot outside is being captured rapidly. The network’s armament caches are being discovered and destroyed. Even more importantly, the Special Groups element is being recognized by locals for what it is—a criminal force focused on instilling fear, for monetary profit, in the people they claim to protect.”

-30-

[WestCoastGal]

Cindy can you check this out, I have to go to work.

I’m a little bit worried about Nascar this weekend in Vegas. Just this morning, the poison ricin was found in an Extended Stay America hotel in Vegas. I’m just worried that the nut who “cooked” this stuff surely has some plan for it. After all, it isn’t the kind of thing you would use to flavor your morning eggs. And who knows where He or She plans to distribute it! Seven people were hospitalized for decontamination and observation.

[Godzilla]

Do either one of you know if there are pre-scheduled maneuvers or exercises in that area?

No, nothing prescheduled. Correction of the lead ship. The Cole is the closest and will be there first with a few support ships. The amphibious assault ship USS Nassau will bear the flag (mini-flattop) and is en route to the Mediterranean along with guided missile destroyers USS Bulkeley and USS Ross.

Gaza continues to heat up as rumors are building that Israel will finally move into Gaza to try to eliminate the missile threat there. It is probable that this would happen sooner rather than later IF the suspected Hezbollah revenge attacks start in the north after March 22-23ish, that way IDF can redeploy forces northward as necessary.

[Godzilla]

The Jawa report is indicating that Adam Gadahan met his fate from the same attack that nailed Abu Laith al-Libi last month.

http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/191494.php

[drymans wife]

AWESOME NEWS!!!!!!

I thought we probably got the traitor.

[Godzilla]

AWESOME NEWS!!!!!!

Heavy RUMINT, but still sounding good. Waiting for Al-J to release his martyrdom tape for confirmation.

[drymans wife]

That may take some time because up to this point they have
said he was missing.

I thought he probably got killed too in that same attack.

[drymans wife]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,333781,00.html

oisonous Package Discovery at Las Vegas Motel May Be Part of Murder Plot

Friday, February 29, 2008

LAS VEGAS — Detectives may be looking at the discovery of a poison-infested package at a Las Vegas motel as a murder plot, FOX News has learned.

The toxin known as ricin turned up on a parcel found at the Extended Stay America Motel, leaving seven people sick and in the hospital.

Law enforcement officials told FOX that the Las Vegas Police Department is leading the probe and the investigation appears to be focusing on a possible murder plot of some kind.

One of those exposed to the ricin is clinging to life and may be in a coma, the sources told FOX.

Federal and local officials also said that there doesn’t appear to be a terrorism connection in the case, but identifying the sender and receiver of the package had taken top priority.

“This is not a terror incident at this point,” said police Captain Joseph Lombardo.

Authorities were called to the Vegas motel on Thursday and retrieved a package from the motel manager that was determined to be a chemical or controlled substance, Officer Ramone Denby said.

snip..