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]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=49019

Al Qaeda in Iraq Leaders Killed or Captured, But Threat Continues

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 2008 – Coalition forces in recent days have killed or captured three terrorist leaders responsible for planning or conducting attacks in Iraq or supplying other terrorists with supplies or training to attack, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman reported today.

As they continue investigating these criminals, coalition and Iraqi forces also are looking into al Qaeda in Iraq’s use of women as suicide bombers and working to mitigate that threat, Navy Rear Adm. Gregory J. Smith told Baghdad reporters today.

U.S. troops killed a senior al Qaeda in Iraq intelligence leader responsible for deadly attacks in Baghdad on Feb. 17, Smith said. Abu Karrar was a senior intelligence leader and facilitator for the Diyala suicide-bombing network, the admiral said. Karrar, also known as Arkan Khalaf Khudayyir, reportedly was a key player in the network that included female suicide bombers.

Coalition forces were operating near Khan Bani Sad in Iraq when they saw Karrar and another suspect fleeing their vehicle and pointing weapons at the soldiers, Smith said. The soldiers shot and killed both terrorists.

The incident followed the apprehension one day earlier of another al Qaeda in Iraq leader, Abu Sayf. Coalition forces captured Sayf on Feb. 16 in the East Mansour neighborhood of Baghdad. Sayf was responsible for two deadly car-bomb attacks in a crowded square in Karrada on Feb. 11, Smith said. These attacks killed 14 Iraqi civilians and an Iraqi army soldier and wounded 29 civilians.

On Feb. 18, coalition forces captured a man believed to be responsible for supplying Iranian-trained and –funded “special groups” operating out of the western Baghdad area with armor-piercing explosively formed projectiles and other munitions, Smith said. The suspect, whose name was not released, also ran a network that provided paramilitary training to terrorists, he said.

“Coalition soldiers and our Iraqi partners remain focused on protecting the people of Baghdad, and the investigation into these three criminals and their extremist networks is continuing,” Smith said. “Our investigation into al Qaeda’s use of women as suicide bombers and our efforts to mitigate this threat also continues.”

Smith cited quick action by the Iraqi army Feb. 17 that foiled a female would-be bomber’s efforts to commit mass murder in Baghdad’s Rusafa market. Noting the woman’s erratic actions, the Iraqi troops ordered the woman to stop and raise her hands. When she lifted one hand while attempting to conceal an object attached to multiple wires with the other hand, the soldiers called out a warning then fired three shots, Smith reported. The bomber staggered away from the market center to a nearby store, where her suicide bomb detonated, killing three shoppers and wounding several others.

“The vigilance and heroism of these Iraqi army soldiers prevented an untold number of deaths of innocent people in the market,” Smith said.

Iraqi soldiers aren’t the only Iraqis on the job against terrorism, he said. Smith noted a Feb. 17 incident in Adhamiyah, in which members of a citizen’s volunteer group prevented al Qaeda operatives from smuggling homemade bombs and improvised explosive devices into their neighborhood.

A minivan approached a checkpoint, and its driver refused to stop as ordered by concerned local citizens manning the post, Smith said. The civilian volunteers took defense positions and opened fire. The driver attempted to escape while the vehicle exploded, killing two passengers inside, he said.

Explosive ordnance disposal experts called to the scene found evidence that the van had been packed with homemade explosives. “This is yet another incident where potentially deadly materials were prevented from being used to murder innocent Iraqis,” Smith said.

Efforts like these have brought the number of civilian deaths in Baghdad from 1,087 in February 2007 to 178 in January 2008, Smith said. “Despite a decline of more than 75 percent, the number of deaths is still too high,” he said. “Each victim is a tragedy.”

Deaths from ethno-sectarian violence in Baghdad are down 95 percent during the past 11 months, and incidents involving improvised explosive devices have dropped more than 45 percent in the capital city, he said.

Smith said recent activities capturing and killing terrorists and uncovering their weapons caches underscores the fact that they’re still a threat. “While the progress has been significant, we all know Baghdad is not safe from al Qaeda and other extremists,” he said. “There is still much work to be done to secure Baghdad from extremism.”

He pointed to a Feb. 18 incident in which Iranian-backed special group criminals launched 16 rockets toward Baghdad International Airport, West Rashid and the Camp Victory complex. The attack killed five Iraqi civilians and wounded 14 others, including six children, Smith reported. It also killed two coalition troops.

Iraqi and coalition forces quickly detained six suspects at the scene, all who tested positive for explosive residue, Smith said. The troops also seized 19 rail systems used to launch the rockets, a 107 mm rocket ready to be fired and several other high-explosive munitions.

Last night in the New Baghdad area, special groups fired rockets that wounded three coalition soldiers. Iraqi police reacted to the scene, where they found an abandoned truck loaded with multiple rockets, ready to be fired, Smith said.

As their explosive ordnance disposal unit attempted to render the rockets safe, one exploded, killing five national police and wounding 10 others. “Their selfless bravery no doubt saved the lives of countless innocent Iraqis had the special groups been successful in firing these rockets,” Smith said.

In another incident last night, one U.S. civilian died and other coalition and civilian workers were injured when special-group criminals fired several rockets in the Rustimiyah area, he reported.

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=49020

Troops in Afghanistan Seize Insurgents, Drugs, Destroy Weapons

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 2008 – Afghan and coalition troops captured 22 suspected insurgents, seized massive quantities of illegal narcotics and destroyed a weapons cache in Afghanistan over the past two days.

In Helmand province today, Afghan and coalition forces detained 11 suspected insurgents, found 1,000 pounds of heroin and destroyed a large weapons cache.

In an operation to disrupt insurgent activity and deny enemy sanctuary, Afghan soldiers with 1st Company, 201st Commando Kandak, and coalition troops cleared the target compound of known Taliban members, military officials said. During the raid, the combined force discovered a lab used for processing heroin and opium, which the Taliban sell to generate finances for their insurgency.

Meanwhile, coalition aircrews saw insurgents planting roadside bombs and establishing defensive positions. As the aircraft moved closer to investigate the suspected sites, enemy combatants fired on them. The aircrews responded with precision fire and eliminated the enemy positions. The combined force also destroyed a large weapons cache.

Military officials said the success of this mission confirms the resolve and ability of Afghan national security forces to rid Afghanistan of insurgents.

In Zabul province yesterday, Afghan and coalition forces detained 11 suspected insurgents during an operation to disrupt Taliban leadership networks.

In a raid on compounds in the province’s Dey Chopan district, the combined force nabbed the suspects for their alleged ties to a Taliban leader responsible for mounting several attacks against coalition forces, military officials said. Troops also discovered an AK-47 assault rifle during the operation. The detainees are being held for questioning.

“Afghan national security forces found six of the detainees, one of whom was identified as a Taliban leader, hiding in a concealed room in a mosque on the compound,” said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a coalition forces spokesman.

Belcher noted that coalition troops adhered to cultural sensitivities by not entering the mosque.

“Afghan and coalition forces are taking decisive, deliberate measures to inhibit the effectiveness of Taliban leadership networks,” he added.

(Compiled from Combined Joint Task Force 82 news releases.)

[Cindy]

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

#

http://memriiwmp.org/content/en/blog_personal.htm?id=356
(”Source: Ekhlass.info, February 19, 2008”)

“Al-Qaeda Maghreb To Algerian Berbers: Join Our Jihad Against The Regime”

Posted at : 2008-02-19

[Cindy]

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

#

Updates appreciated on both incidents.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1973663/posts

“Military Aircraft Makes Emergency Landing In Venus”
TBO.com ^ | February 20, 2008 | Douglas Carman
Posted on 02/20/2008 4:24:28 PM PST by uca99
VENUS

#

Separate incident:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1973675/posts

“Air Force: Both Missing Pilots Rescued”
cbs ^ | Feb 20, 2008 3:41 pm US/Pacific
Posted on 02/20/2008 4:49:13 PM PST by BenLurkin

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1973601/posts

#

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3509359,00.html

“IDF launches wartime television studio”

SNIPPET: “Over $1.3 million invested in broadcast studio to be operated by Home Front Command in event of national crisis. Channel will provide information, instructions and answer questions of civilian population during future conflicts”

Hanan Greenberg
Published: 02.20.08, 23:31 / Israel News

[Cindy]

Well, Florida seems to be the place for news today.

#

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&tab=wn&ned=us&q=Benjamin+Baines&btnG=Search

#

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

#

http://www.theaviationnation.com

Note: Photo included.

http://www.theaviationnation.com/wp-content/images/022008baines.jpg

blog:

http://www.TheAviationNation.com/2008/02/20/passenger-arrested-with-box-cutter-in-hollow-book/

“Passenger Arrested with Box Cutter in Hollow Book”
By Annie Jacobsen in category Airport Security & Screening

SNIPPET: “21-year old Benjamin Baines, Jr. was arrested on Sunday at Tampa International Airport after a TSA screener found a box cutter in a hollowed-out book in his backpack. The photograph at right was provided by the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority.

According to a report from the TSA, the books in Baines’ backpack included “Muhammad in the Bible,” “The Prophet’s Prayer” and “The Noble Qur’an.” “

#

Note: Photo included.

http://media.tbo.com/photos/trib/2008/feb/022008boxcutter1.jpg

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/feb/20/man-airport-had-box-cutter-hidden-book/

“TIA Passenger Had Box Cutter In Hollowed-Out Book”

“A security officer at Tampa International Airport found a box cutter hidden in a hollowed-out book on Sunday.”
By Thomas W. Krause of The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 20, 2008

TAMPA -

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Several sheets of paper in the backpack included rap lyrics that referred to police, narcotics, weapons and killing. Baines told officers he is a rapper who writes his own lyrics and that rap music writers need to “play the part,” the report states.

Officers performed a background check and found no record of crimes or active warrants.”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Cole said Baines will be arrested by U.S. marshals upon his release from jail on the state charge.”

[Cindy]

Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3509316,00.html

3 Qassams land in southern Israel, no injuries
Published: 02.20.08, 20:33 / Israel News

Three Qassam rockets were fired from northern Gaza on Wednesday evening. Two rockets landed in the Shaar HaNegev Regional Council and the third rocket landed in Palestinian territory.

No injuries were reported and the ‘Color Red’ alert sirens were not activated. (Shmulik Hadad)

[Cindy]

http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/feb12_19_08e.htm

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

“News of the Israeli-Palestinian Confrontation
February 12-19, 2008”
(February 20, 2008)

[Cindy]

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

#

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1973715/posts

#

http://www.fcw.com/online/news/151334-1.html

“Foreign hackers seek to steal Americans’ health records”

By Nancy Ferris
Published on January 17, 2008

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Foreign hackers, primarily from Russia and China, are increasingly seeking to steal Americans’ health care records, according to a Department of Homeland Security analyst.

Mark Walker, who works in DHS’ Critical Infrastructure Protection Division, told a workshop audience at the National Institute of Standards and Technology that the hackers’ primary motive seems to be espionage.

“They’ve been focused on the [Department of Defense] – the military – but now are spreading out into the health care private sector,” Walker said.

Early in 2007, a virus was placed on a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site, he said, and in April a Military Health System server holding Tricare records was hacked.

Walker said the hackers are seeking to exfiltrate health care data. “We don’t know why,” he added. “We want to know why.” At the same time, he said, it’s clear that “medical information can be used against us from a national security standpoint.””

[Cindy]

Off Topic - for archival purposes:

Lunar Eclipse in progress:

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&tab=wn&ned=us&q=lunar+eclipse&btnG=Search+News

[MamaDearest]

My husband was in the 82nd Airborne and father-in-law was a bombardier in WWII.

Your husband and your father-in-law are heroes Cindy. Please thank them from our family to yours for their service to our nation.

My dad was a Merchant Marine, one of my brothers was in the Army in VietNam, another brother in the Navy, and our son was in the Air Force. God bless the USA.

Serious crime levels reaching new heights in South America

NAFBPO - .....there were 25,700 violent deaths in Guatemala in the last five years, an average of 41.8 per 100,000 population, making the area one of the most violent in Latin America.

January 2008 exceeded 2007's violence in Honduras; just last Sunday there were 16 kidnappings, and last month 133 persons were murdered. The regional director of Forensic Medicine said that, as an institution, their systems are collapsing; dawn brought ten more cadavers.

Last year there were 1,200 homicides in Honduras' Sula valley but only 134 cases have been presented for prosecution since last July and of those only 40 have met prosecutorial requirements..

Mexican drug hitmen kill singer near Mexican border

Mexico, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Drug hitmen have killed a popular Mexican singer along with his manager and assistant near the U.S. border, authorities said on Wednesday, the latest murder among musicians who sing "narcocorrido" ballads glorifying drug traffickers.

The body of Jesus Rey David Alfaro, known as "The Little Rooster," was one of six that turned up tortured, murdered and pinned with threatening messages for Mexico's army last week in the border town of Tijuana near San Diego.

[Cindy]

The old spy satellite has been hit:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1973769/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1973768/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1973767/posts

[Cindy]

Yea Team! Way to Go!!!

#

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,331591,00.html
(AP)

“Navy Shoots Down Wayward Satellite”
Wednesday, February 20, 2008

[Cindy]

UPDATE:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=49023

“Pentagon Opens Window of Time to Shoot Down Satellite”

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 2008

###

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=49024

Missile Hits Decaying Satellite Over Pacific

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 2008 – A network of land-, air-, sea- and spaced-based sensors confirms that the U.S. military intercepted a non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite which was in its final orbits before entering the earth’s atmosphere.

At approximately 10:26 p.m. EST today, a U.S. Navy AEGIS warship, the USS Lake Erie (CG-70), fired a single modified tactical Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) hitting the satellite approximately 247 kilometers (133 nautical miles) over the Pacific Ocean as it traveled in space at more than 17,000 mph. USS Decatur (DDG-73) and USS Russell (DDG-59) were also part of the task force.

The objective was to rupture the fuel tank to dissipate the approximately 1,000 pounds (453 kg) of hydrazine, a hazardous fuel which could pose a danger to people on earth, before it entered into earth’s atmosphere. Confirmation that the fuel tank has been fragmented should be available within 24 hours.

Due to the relatively low altitude of the satellite at the time of the engagement, debris will begin to re-enter the earth’s atmosphere immediately. Nearly all of the debris will burn up on reentry within 24-48 hours and the remaining debris should re-enter within 40 days.

DoD will conduct a press briefing at 7 a.m. EST to provide further information related to the operation. The briefing can be viewed live on www.Defenselink.com through the Pentagon Channel.

[Palladin]

Hurray for the US Navy and Hurray for us!

[Cindy]

BIG DITTO, Palladin.

[Cindy]

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

#

Thanks to a special freepmailer for pointing to this article:

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1203343713483&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull

Feb 20, 2008 15:00 | Updated Feb 20, 2008 22:20
“Iran opposition: Teheran making nukes”
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF AND AP

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Teheran has accelerated its nuclear weapons program, including the production of atomic warheads, an exiled Iranian opposition group claimed in Belgium on Wednesday.

“The Iran regime entered a new phase in its nuclear project,” said Muhammad Mohaddessin, a representative of the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran, while speaking at a news conference in Brussels.

He said that Teheran had established a command and control center to work on a nuclear bomb for the first time, and that southeast of the capital a center was being set up to produce warheads.”

[Cindy]

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

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=egypt
http://www.memri.org/egypt.html

#

blog:

http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/5573.htm

“Egypt Reacts To Publication Of Muhammad Cartoons”
(”Sources: Al-Ahram, Egypt, February 20, 2008, ‘Akidati, Egypt, February 19, 2008”)

Posted at: 2008-02-20

[Cindy]

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

#

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1973812/posts

N Korea Fighter Jets Flew Record Number Of Missions Last Mo-AFP (most since ‘95)
Nasdaq ^ | 02/21/08
Posted on 02/21/2008 12:57:31 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster
N Korea Fighter Jets Flew Record Number Of Missions Last Mo-AFP

SEOUL (AFP)—North Korea’s fighter jets flew a record number of daily missions during exercises last month despite a nationwide shortage of fuel, experts said Thursday.

The jets staged more than 100 missions on a single day in January, breaking a 1995 record for daily sorties, according to a military official quoted by Yonhap news agency.

He said the communist state, between the late 1990s and this winter, had refrained from major military drills - possibly because of a lack of fuel.

“Despite its shortage of fuel, the North Korean military has significantly increased the size and quality of the winter exercise of its ground and air forces since late last year,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

“In the case of the air force, we believe its training has more than doubled.”

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

[Cindy]

And I appreciate what your relatives did for our country.

“God bless the USA.”
Amen.