Threat Matrix: February 2008

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[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

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[Cindy]

Thanks to Toby Westerman for pointing to another edition of INATODAY.com.

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

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http://www.inatoday.com/warofcivilizations2408.htm

MOSCOW WARNS OF A “LOOMING WAR OF CIVILIZATIONS”

February 4, 2008

International News Analysis Today
By Toby Westerman

“MOSCOW WARNS OF A ‘LOOMING WAR OF CIVILIZATIONS’”

[Cindy]

RECAP and UPDATED:

GUARDIAN.co.uk (AP): Islamabad, Pakistan - "US STRIKE EXPOSES ENTRENCHED MILITANTS" by Matthew Pennington (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Pakistani intelligence officials say they found the remains of satellite phones and a computer in the wreckage, suggesting the suspects had the ability to communicate outside the remote, rugged region, where land-based phone and Internet links are very limited.")

Link

LONG WAR JOURNAL.org - blog: "SENIOR AL QAEDA LEADER ABU LAITH AL LIBI KILLED IN NORTH WAZIRISTAN" by Bill Roggio (January 31, 2008)

MEMRI IWMP.org - blog: "AL-FAJR ANNOUNCES THE DEATH OF A PROMINENT AL-QAEDA COMMANDER, ABU LAYTH AL-LIBI" (January 31, 2008)

Link

ADNKRONOS.com (AKI): Islamabad - "PAKISTAN: US INTELLIGENCE AGENTS 'UNCOVER BIN LADEN LETTERS'" (January 31, 2008)

[Cindy]

ON THE INTERNET:

http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/Abu_Khabab_Training_Recru/2008/02/04/69954.html

“Abu Khabab Training Recruits for WMD Attacks”
Monday, February 4, 2008 11:51 AM
By: Newsmax Staff

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “After a U.S. airstrike in Pakistan in January 2006, President Pervez Musharraf and his intelligence officials said that Abu Khabab Masri had been killed.

But U.S. intelligence officials believe that Abu Khabab, an Egyptian-born chemical engineer, was not killed in the raid and has set up labs in remote parts of Pakistan where scientists and researchers can work to develop chemical and biological weapons.

According to recent intelligence, Abu Khabab is “training Western recruits for chemical attacks in Europe and perhaps the United States, just as he did when he ran the ‘Khabab Camp’ at al-Qaida’s sprawling Darunta training complex in Afghanistan’s Tora Bora region before the Sept. 11 attacks,” the Los Angeles Times reported.”

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stepping back in time...

http://threatswatch.org/inbrief/2006/01/abu-khabab-almasri-killed-in-p/

“Abu Khabab al-Masri Killed in Pakistan Strike”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “The strike on the compound in Damadola, Pakistan, where Ayman al-Zawahiri. al-Qaeda’s number two in Command, was believed to be attending a dinner to celebrate a Mulslim holiday, has netted at least one high-level al-Qaeda operative. Pakistani intelligence has confirmed that Abu Khabab al-Masri, al-Qaeda’s chief bomb maker and chemical weapons expert. Counterterrism expert Dan Darling reported that Masri ran al-Qaeda’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Program, known as “Project al-Zabadi” and was likely involved in the foiled Amman WMD attack.”

By Bill Roggio on January 18, 2006 at 4:54 PM | Permalink

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(http://www.counterterrorismblog.org)

stepping back in time...

http://counterterror.typepad.com/the_counterterrorism_blog/2006/01/top_alqaeda_bom.html

January 18, 2006

“Top Al-Qaeda Bombmaker & Other Senior Al Qaeda Reported Killed in Pakistan Strikes (updated with photos)”

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stepping back in time...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1560768/posts

“Reports: Airstrike Killed Top Militant”
Associated Press ^ | 1/18/06 | RIAZ KHAN
Posted on 01/18/2006 9:04:55 PM PST by anymouse

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stepping back in time...

http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/001386.html
(NYPOST.com)

10 January 2004
“’DIRTY BOMBER’ HUNT”

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http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/searchb10.asp?search=midhat&searchtype=all&B1=Submit

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http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/english/index.cfm?page=Midhat_Mursi

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

[Cindy]

And now for today’s entertainment news:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=omarbinladen
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1965176/posts

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http://www.agi.it/italy/news/200802041723-cro-ren0067-art.html

ITALY

“BIN LADEN JR IN ITALY: I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT THE VATICAN”

(AGI) - Rome, Feb 4

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Omar Bin Laden stays in a hotel in the centre of Rome with his wife.

Yesterday he had dinner in a hotel close to the Vatican, after that he said he wanted to return to Italy to visit Vatican City.”

[Cindy]

UPDATE:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-tinley_park_killings_05feb05,0,4069298.story

“Gunman made sexual advances
Source: Tinley Park women’s shop may have been targeted”

By Matthew Walberg and Steve Schmadeke | Tribune reporters
4:33 AM CST, February 5, 2008

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “He then took the women to a backroom and bound them with duct tape he had brought with him, a law-enforcement source said. He said that before the shooting began, the man made advances toward one or more of the women.

Four shoppers and the store manager died at the scene. A sixth woman, an employee, was shot in the neck but survived to tell police what happened.”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “At a news conference Monday outside Tinley Park police headquarters, Sgt. T.J. Grady described the gunman as black with a medium complexion, dressed in black jeans with embroidery and rhinestone decorations on the back pocket, a dark-colored jacket and a charcoal-gray knit cap.

He said the man was clean-shaven and well-groomed, with thick braids pulled back under his cap except for one that hung down the right side of his face and sported four green beads. The man appeared to be 25 to 35 years old, between 5 feet 8 inches and 5 feet 10 inches and 230 to 260 pounds.”

[Cindy]

Small update:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/shop-blast-cause-dispute/2008/02/05/1202090379337.html

“Shop blast cause dispute”
(February 5, 2008, 11:45 am)

[Jet Jaguar]

Thanks for the update.

[Cindy]

You’re welcome Jet Jaguar.

[Cindy]

More Details UPDATE:

http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2008/s08020019.htm

Sunday, February 3, 2008
“Aid agency says fighting in Chad could spiral into humanitarian crisis”
By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
DAKAR. SENEGA

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http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_2876.html

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

This information is current as of today, Tue Feb 05 2008 03:44:57 GMT-0800 (PST).

CHAD

February 03, 2008

[Cindy]

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2008/02/01/qc-street-gang0201.html

“Street gang crime a growing problem in Montreal: Police”
Last Updated: Friday, February 1, 2008 | 11:10 AM ET
CBC News

Snippet: “Overall crime rates are dropping in Montreal, but street-gang related violence continues to rise, and police need more resources to fight the problem, the force says.”

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16826&Itemid=128

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080204-09
February 4, 2008

Iraqi Security Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain 2 terror suspects, kill 3 terrorists in separate operations
Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO

BALAD, Iraq – Iraqi Security Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained two terror suspects and killed three terrorists in separate operations Feb. 1.

In the village of Mashraf, Iraqi and U.S. Forces detained two members of an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell who are believed to be responsible for multiple improvised explosive device and small-arms fire attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces.

According to intelligence reports, the two suspects are directly responsible for a January 2008 attack on an Iraqi Police checkpoint that killed two Iraqi Soldiers and an Iraqi Police officer.

Near the city of Tal Afar, an Iraqi Special Weapons and Tactics Team, together with U.S. Special Forces, conducted an operation to detain two suspected terrorist cell leaders.

During the course of the operation, the assault force came under small-arms fire. The assault force returned fire, killing three terrorists. One Coalition Force team member received minor injuries when a grenade thrown by one of the terrorists exploded near his position.

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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=16828&Itemid=128

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080204-11
February 4, 2008

Night raids apprehend eight extremists
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers arrested eight suspected extremists during ongoing operations in the Rashid District Feb. 1 and 2.

“Raiders,” from Troop C, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, MND-B, detained three men thought to be members of a Sunni extremist improvised-explosive device cell during a raid in Doura, Feb. 1.

During a raid in the early hours of Feb. 2, the “Black Lions” of Company B, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th IBCT, arrested three alleged special group cell members — one believed to be a cell leader from Rusafa.

Soldiers from Company A, 1st Bn., 28th Inf., captured a suspected special group cell members thought to be involved with weapons trafficking during a morning raid in Aamel. In Doura that morning, Soldiers from Troop B, 1-4 Cav. Regt., arrested a man believed to be involved in an al Qaeda IED cell.

All detainees were taken to Coalition Detention Facilities for further questioning.

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[Cindy]

NOTE: Click on the link below to read the full report.

ICC-CCS.ORG - THE WEEKLY PIRACY REPORT - REPORT SNIPPET - QUOTE:

http://www.icc-ccs.org/prc/piracyreport.php

Weekly Piracy Report
29 January-4 February 2008

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 29 January to 4 February 2008.

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

Nigeria
Violent attacks carried out by pirates on board vessels at anchor and vessel carrying out STS operations. Mariners are advised to exercise extreme caution in these waters.

Suspicious crafts

None reported
Recently reported incidents

01.02.2008: 0315 UTC: Berth Tin Can No.4, Lagos port, Nigeria.
Three robbers boarded a container ship at berth. Robbers broke into forward paint locker. Duty officer raised alarm and the robbers escaped in a waiting boat. Nothing stolen.

31.01.2008: 1955 LT: 12:01.8S - 077:11.8W Callao anchorage, Peru.
Four robbers armed with long knives boarded a bulk carrier at anchor. The robbers tied up the duty crew, stole their personal belongings, broke into the bosun store, stole ship’s stores and escaped. Master tried to contact port authority via VHF, no response.

31.01.2008: 0615 LT: 03:12N – 008:36E, 15 NM SW Off Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea.
10-armed persons in military clothing boarded a cement carrier underway. The intruders identified themselves as Nigerian rebels and only demand food. After nearly six hours onboard, the intruders disembarked into speedboats where another five accomplice were waiting. No injury to crew or any damage to the ship.

30.01.2008: 0145 LT: Abidjan inner anchorage, Ivory Coast.
Two robbers boarded a bulk carrier at anchor. They stole ship’s stores and escaped. Port authorities informed.

27.01.2008: 2105 LT: Agadir port, Morocco.
Three persons in divers’ suites, without cylinders, swam to a container ship at berth. Ship’s watchmen saw the divers and raised the alarm. The suspected robbers swam to another berth and escaped. Master informed port control. The port police arrived one hour after reporting.

02.02.2008: 0030 LT: 05:09N – 106:51E, South China Sea.
Two unlit white-hull speedboats about five meters long approached a bulk carrier underway. Master raised alarm, crew alerted, fire hoses activated, and zig-zag course commenced. Fortunately, the sea swell conditions prevented the boarding. After seven hours of following, the pirates aborted the attempt

01.02.2008: 1510 LT 12:55N - 051: 23.6E, 65 nm North Northeast of Somali coast (Cape Raas Caseyr), Gulf of Aden.
The officer on watch on a tanker, underway, sighted a small wooden with four men on board approaching the ship. Master informed, alarm raised, accommodation locked down, fire hoses rigged and fire pump started. The boat approached on the port side at a distance of 60 meters and signalled the ship to stop. Master started taking evasive action by commencing a zig - zag course. The pirates started firing at the vessel’s accommodation. The ship continued zigzagging and activated the fire hoses. Pirate boat followed the ship for about 6 miles and aborted the attempt at 1530 hrs. No damage to the ship expect for bullet marks. Informed ships in the vicinity via VHF

01.02.2008: 1400 UTC: 12:57N – 051 24E Gulf of Aden.
An unknown number of Somali pirates have attacked and hijacked a tug and take its six crew as hostage. Owners are in contact with the crew. All the crew are safe. Negotiations for their safe release are in progress. Further details are awaited.

01.02.2008: 0140 UTC: 04:00N – 099:35E, Malacca straits.
Six small craft were in close vicinity of an oil tanker underway. Master took evasive manoeuvres to avoid the closing boats. The heavy rain and bad weather may have prevented the boats closing onto the vessel. Ship activated anti-piracy measures and continued on her voyage without further incident.

29.01.2008: 0415 LT: Pulau Laut anchorage, Indonesia.
Four robbers, armed with knives, boarded a bulk carrier at anchor. Duty crew confronted them but that did not stop the robbers from stealing stores. 2/O raised alarm, ship’s whistle sounded and crew mustered. 14 crewmembers went forward. Seeing the crew, the robbers jumped into the water and escaped in a 30m long speedboat. Port authorities asked to be called after one hour when contacted by the ship.

29.01.2008: 0830 UTC: 06:00.8N - 082:01.9E, Sri Lanka.
Pirates approached a yacht underway. Crew fired shots in the air and the pirates aborted the attempt. The pirates attempted to attack the yacht twice, at 0830 and 1100 UTC.

[Cindy]

ADDING to post no. 183:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1965193/posts

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http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=1.0.1843140498

“Terrorism: Al-Qaeda ‘eyeing nuclear weapons’”
Kabul, 4 Feb. (AKI)

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1965212/posts

“Three al-Qaeda leaders killed in US attack (the Libi raid)”
www.adnkronos.com ^ | 5 Feb. 2008
Posted on 02/05/2008 4:44:09 AM PST by Dog
Kuwait City, 5 Feb. (AKI)

[milford421]

Thanks for both stories. They have now been posted.

[Godzilla]

placemark

[Cindy]

RECAP and UPDATED:

ANDREW BOSTOM.org - blog: "MAJOR COUGHLIN WILL NOW BE RETAINED BY THE DOD, and the rest of Congresswoman Sue Myrick's Statement on the Coughlin Affair, 2/5/08"

INVESTIGATIVE PROJECT.org - IPT News: "PENTAGON AIDE'S INVITATIONS CONTRADICTED U.S. POLICY" by Steven Emerson (February 4, 2008)

WASHINGTON TIMES.com: "INSIDE THE RING Islam Probed" by Bill Gertz (February 1, 2008)

FreeRepublic.com - Discussion Forum - (FAMILY SECURITY MATTERS): "MAJ. STEVE COUGHLIN FOR BEGINNERS" by Jeffrey Breinholt (January 30, 2008)

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "DEPARTMENT OF THE DEFENSELESS" by Joe Kaufman (January 28, 2008)

NATIONAL REVIEW.com: "QUESTIONS FOR THE PENTAGON Who is Hesham Islam?" by Claudia Rosett (January 25, 2008)

WASHINGTON TIMES.com - INSIDE THE RING by Bill Gertz - Page 2: "CENTCOM and Islam" (January 25, 2008)

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "VALIDATING MAJOR COUGHLIN" by Andrew G. Bostom (January 24, 2008)

WASHINGTON TIMES.com: "FRONT-GATE" -Commentary by Frank J. Gaffney Jr. (January 22, 2008)

IBD EDITORIALS.com: "GULLIBLE GORDON'S PENTAGON PC" by Investor's Business Daily (January 18, 2008)

CNS NEWS.com: "CONGRESSMEN SEEK ANSWERS ABOUT TERROR EXPERT'S FIRING" by Fred Lucas (January 16, 2008)

COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG.org: "ISLAMISM AND CHALLENGES TO RESOURCES FOR U.S. STRATEGIC PLANNING AGAINST JIHAD" by Jeffrey Imm (January 12, 2008)

JIHAD WATCH.org: "THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE DISMISSAL OF STEPHEN COUGHLIN, JOINT STAFF, PENTAGON" (January 12, 2008)

Off-Topic.Internet-Haganah.com: "ELEMENTS IN THE US MILITARY INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY FIND THE KOOL-AID* LESS-THAN-PALATABLE..." (January 11, 2008)

WASHINGTON TIMES.com: "INSIDE THE RING Coughlin Backed" by Bill Gertz (January 11, 2008)

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "FIRED FOR THE TRUTH" by Andrew G. Bostom (January 10, 2008)

JIHAD WATCH.org: "'The termination of Stephen Coughlin on the Joint Staff is an act of intellectual cowardice'" (January 5, 2008)

NADREW BOSTOM.org - blog: "EATON AGONISTES, REDUX?" (January 5, 2008)

WASHINGTON TIMES.com: "INSIDE THE RING Coughlin Sacked" by Bill Gertz (January 4, 2008)

JIHAD WATCH.org (WASHINGTON TIMES.com, "Inside the Ring" by Bill Gertz, Page 2): "PRO-MUSLIM PENTAGON OFFICIALS PRESSURING ONE OF THE U.S. MILITARY'S MOST IMPORTANT SPECIALISTS ON JIHAD" (December 28, 2007)

STRATEGY CENTER.net/docLib: "'TO OUR GREAT DETRIMENT': IGNORING WHAT EXTREMISTS SAY ABOUT JIHAD (with appendices)" by Stephen Collins Coughlin, Major, Military Intelligence, USAR, NDIC Class 2007 (July 2007) (pdf)

[Cindy]

UPDATE:

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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1964540/posts

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To: All
Note: Photos included.

Blog:

http://www.westernresistance.com/blog/archives/003969.html

February 5, 2008
“Israel: Gaza Muslims Celebrate Suicide Bombing With Flowers And Candy”

41 posted on 02/05/2008 2:44:28 PM PST by Cindy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

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To: All
Note: Photos included.

http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/ct_040208e.htm

Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center
at the Israel Intelligence Heritage & Commemoration Center (IICC)

“Suicide bombing attack in the Dimona commercial center kills one city resident and wounds many. Although a number of terrorist organizations claimed responsibility, it was apparently carried out by a Hamas terrorist squad from Hebron.”

February 5, 2008

42 posted on 02/05/2008 2:53:57 PM PST by Cindy

[Oorang]

Experts say Libyans are third force behind al-Qaeda
5 Feb. 2008

Dubai - According to US counter-terrorism experts from West Point's military academy, the Libyan connection inside the terrorist group al-Qaeda is very strong and second only to the Egyptian and Saudi forces.

In consultations with West Point's experts by Arabic language newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat, the assassination of Abu Layth al-Libi, an al-Qaeda field commander, has not diminished these connections. After the Egyptian and Saudi terrorist forces which dominate the Jihadist movement. "There has been a recent rise of Libyans inside the al-Qaeda network," explains terrorism expert Vahid Brown.

"Today, Egyptians and Saudis control the military strategies and sources of funding, but there are various signals that point out the increasing influence and usage of Libyans."

Excerpted

http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=1.0.1846748713

A.Q. Khan will be released after elections, says Mushahid
February 4th, 2008

Lahore - Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Secretary General Syed Mushahid Hussain has said that incarcerated nuclear scientist and proliferator Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan would be released after the February 18 elections.

The BBC Urdu service quoted Hussain as saying that he had met the detained scientist and told him that his previous status will be restored. Speaking in BBC Urdus programme Talking Point, Hussain said Khan had sacrificed for the sake of Pakistan to save the countrys nuclear assets. Khan, is widely regarded as the founder of Pakistans nuclear program.

Excerpted

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/south-asia/aq-khan-will-be-released-after-elections-says-mushahid_10016150.html

Islamic preacher 'recruited terrorists for Iraq' (U.K.)
05/02/2008

A radical preacher who heckled the Home Secretary tried to recruit Muslims to fight British soldiers in Iraq and raise money for terrorists, a court has been told.

Trevor Brooks, who uses the names Omar Brooks and Abu Izzadeen, and six co-defendants, claim their arrest in 2007 was "politically motivated" because Brooks once interrupted a speech made by John Reid when he was home secretary, the court heard.

In a video played to the jury, one of the accused, Abdul Rehman Saleem, praised Osama bin Laden and said Islam was a "religion of terrorism". He said: "Terrorism against the kuffar [non-believers], terrorism against those that terrorise us, terrorism against those that terrorise our women and children. Yes we have terrorised them so when they call you terrorist, be proud to have that title."

Excerpted

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/05/nterror205.xml