Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48852
Coalition Forces Degrade Enemy Operations in Afghanistan
American Forces Press Service
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Feb. 3, 2008 – Several armed insurgents were killed Jan. 31 in Oruzgan province during a coalition operation to degrade weapons-facilitation networks in the area.
Coalition forces searched compounds in the Deh Rahwood district targeting a Taliban insurgent believed to be involved with supplying arms to militants who conducted several attacks on coalition forces. The individual also is reported to be associated with foreign fighter-facilitation cells in the area.
While conducting a search of compounds, coalition forces were engaged by several armed insurgents. Coalition forces returned fire, killing the insurgents.
After securing the area, coalition forces recovered numerous small arms and rocket-propelled grenades and launchers, as well as an improvised explosive device. Allwere destroyed on site to prevent their use by extremist forces.
“Coalition forces are focused on disrupting every facet of insurgent operations,” Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force 82 spokesman, said.
(From a Combined Joint Task Force 82 news release.)
LONDON: Two people have been charged in Britain with distributing a publication that encourages acts of terrorism, police said Sunday.
Amjad Mahmood, 29, and Shella Roma, 27, both of Manchester, northern England, were arrested on Thursday and released on bail. They will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Feb. 12.
Mahmood and Roma were charged under Britain's Terrorism Act with distributing or circulating a terrorist publication that directly or indirectly encourages acts of terrorism. Further details of the allegations against them were not immediately available.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/03/europe/EU-GEN-Britain-Terrorism.php
Security firm: Al-Qaeda group's encryption software stronger
"Mujahideen Secrets 2" software gets security boost
Feb.4.2008
Al-Qaeda support group Al-Ekhlaas has improved the encryption software it now provides to its online members, according to one security researcher who examined the software, known as "Mujahideen Secrets 2."
Mujahideen Secrets 2 has added the ability to encrypt chat communications, which the first version lacked, says Paul Henry, vice president of technology evangelism at Secure Computing. Henry says he got the software through a contact in the intelligence community. The home-grown Mujahideen Secrets 2 encryption software, based on open source RSA code, can encrypt binary files so they can be posted on ASCII-text-based bulletin boards and Web sites.
"They have improved the operation of the graphical user interface and it will now encrypt chat communications," says Henry, who adds that the Arabic translation suggests the software is encouraged for use by Al-Ekhlaas members to evade US government efforts at surveillance.
Excerpted
http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1656338674;fp;16;fpid;1