Threat Matrix: March 2008

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[nwctwx]

Petraeus: Al Qaida Trying to 'Come Back In'

U.S. military officials said there will be no significant reduction in coalition troops in the Baghdad area as part of an effort to stop the Al Qaida offensive in northern Iraq.

They said Al Qaida was trying to reenter Baghdad and reverse its losses in 2007.

"Al Qaida is trying to come back in," U.S. military commander Gen. David Petraeus said. "We can feel it and see it, and what we're trying to do is rip out any roots before they can get deeply into the ground." Read More

	Militants Assert Themselves in Pakistan
	U.S. Optimistic about Afghanistan Reinforcements
	‘You Have to Rethink War’

Threat Matrix:
March 2008

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[Cindy]

http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=Nasimi1369

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OH7h4Wyafc

“Nuclear.....Hizballah,To hold celebration”

VIDEO - DESCRIPTION - QUOTE:

About This Video
News and politics Iran (less)
Added: March 03, 2008
Category: News & Politics
Tags: political commercial Iran

[Cindy]

Note: According to the tag words in post no. 101 - That is a political commercial.

[Cindy]

and a little early evening propaganda...

Note: The following blog entry is a quote:

http://www.thememriblog.org/iran/blog_personal/en/5955.htm

Ahmadinejad: Sanctions Resolution Invalid

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has announced that Iran will no longer negotiate with anyone over its nuclear program, because it has become routine and “normalized.”

Referring to the latest sanctions resolution, he said, “This resolution is invalid... and won’t harm the Iranian nation, but only the Security Council’s credibility.”

Source: IRNA, Iran, March 5, 2008

Posted at: 2008-03-05

[Cindy]

This is an older poster (print out ready and still valid) regarding Suspicious Packages and Mail.

Fyi.

#

Poster:

http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/pos84.pdf

[nw_arizona_granny]

Thank you for the ping.

[Kimberly GG]

Thanks Cindy!

[Cindy]

ADDING 1 link to post no. 73.

Note: Includes photos.

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http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/3389

Terrorist shoots eight students to death in religious school in Jerusalem wounds 13

March 6, 2008

“Arab Terrorist Attacks Jerusalem’s Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva: 8 Dead”
by Nissan Ratzlav-Katz

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “(IsraelNN.com) An Arab terrorist infiltrated Jerusalem’s Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva at around 8:30 Thursday night and murdered eight Jews. At least 10 people were wounded; five are in serious to critical condition, a sixth victim was wounded moderately and four others, lightly.”

[Cindy]

You’re welcome Kimberly.

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=11735

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 0179-08
March 05, 2008
Charges Referred Against Detainee Al Qosi

The Defense Department announced today that two charges have been referred against Guantanamo detainee Ibrahim Ahmed Mahmoud al Qosi of Sudan.

Al Qosi is charged with providing material support to terrorism and conspiring with Usama bin Laden and other al Qaeda members to target, attack and murder civilians; attack civilian objects; commit murder and destroy property in violation of the law of war; commit terrorism; and provide material support to terrorism. If convicted, the accused could be sentenced up to life in prison.

The charges allege that between 1996 and 2001, Al Qosi personally served as an armed guard and driver for Usama bin Laden. Until about 1998, Al Qosi is alleged to have provided logistical support by obtaining supplies and provisions for Al Qaeda, an international terrorist group dedicated to opposing non-Islamic governments with force and violence, at a compound near Jalalabad known as the “Star of Jihad.” It is further alleged that from 1998 through 2001, al Qosi lived at an al Qaeda compound near Kandahar, Afghanistan, with other al Qaeda members, including Usama bin Laden, where he provided security, transportation, and supply services. Between 1998 and 2001 he allegedly traveled from the Kandahar compound to the front line near Kabul, where he fought in support of al Qaeda as part of a mortar crew.

The charge sheet sets out that in 2001, Al Qosi, armed with a Kalashnikov rifle, evacuated the Kandahar compound and traveled to Kabul, then to Jalalabad, and then into the Tora Bora Mountains to provide transportation, security and support to Usama bin Laden and other al Qaeda members.

In accordance with the Military Commissions Act of 2006, the accused and his detailed defense counsel will be served a copy of the charges in English and the accused’s native language. Additionally, a military judge will be detailed to the case. The Manual for Military Commissions requires the accused to be arraigned within 30 days of the service of charges and the military judge to assemble the military commission within 120 days of the service of charges. Assembly is the procedural step that usually occurs when all parties, including the jury, are present and sworn. The military trial judge will contact attorneys in the case to set an initial trial schedule.

The military commissions provide the following protections for the accused: the right to remain silent and to have no adverse inference drawn from it; the right to be represented by detailed military counsel, as well as civilian counsel of his own selection and at no expense to the government; the right to examine all evidence presented to a jury by the prosecution; the right to obtain evidence and to call witnesses on his own behalf including expert witnesses; the right to cross-examine every witness called by the prosecution; the right to be present during the presentation of evidence; the right to prevent admission of statements obtained by torture; the right to have a military commission panel of at least five military members determine his guilt by a two-thirds majority; and the right to an appeal to the Court of Military Commission Review, then through the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The charges are only allegations that the accused has committed offenses under the Military Commissions Act, and the accused is innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

[Cindy]

ADDING links to post no. 96 and thanks for the ping to rdtf to post no. 109.
Note to our Canadian friends: Hit the top link here in this post that ends in 109.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1981613/posts?page=109#109

QUOTE:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1981613/posts?page=114#114

ARTICLE SNIPPET from post no. 109:

“The men left behind a backpack with photos of various New York City locations including Times Square, according to sources speaking on condition of anonymity.

One of the photos included the military recruitment center, officials said. As a precaution, NYPD outreach officers last month went to various New York City businesses, including the Times Square recruitment center, to investigate if there had been any recent threats.”

114 posted on 03/06/2008 6:36:57 PM PST by Cindy

[Cindy]

ADD 1 thread to post no. 96:

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1981706/posts

Canadian Border Incident, Photos Part Of Times Square Investigation
MSNBC ^ | 3/6/2008 | wnbc
Posted on 03/06/2008 6:42:22 PM PST by tobyhill

NEW YORK - WNBC.com has learned that NYPD and FBI officials are now revisiting an incident that occurred along the Canadian border last month because they are concerned there might be a connection to the Times Square explosion.

Four men trying to cross the border tried to flee the checkpoint when Canadian officials tried to question them, investigators said. Two of the men got away, officials said.

The men left behind a backpack with photos of various New York City locations including Times Square, according to sources speaking on condition of anonymity.

One of the photos included the military recruitment center, officials said. As a precaution, NYPD outreach officers last month went to various New York City businesses, including the Times Square recruitment center, to investigate if there had been any recent threats. No threat information was known at the time.

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/abuwaleed/

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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1981723/posts

“Radical Muslim preacher caught on film giving advice on how to hoodwink” the Government over benefits
Daily Mail ^ | 5th March 2008 | Staff
Posted on 03/06/2008 7:05:40 PM PST by forkinsocket

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “A radical Muslim preacher has been filmed talking about fraudulently claiming benefits and giving advice on how to cheat the Government.

Self-proclaimed extremist Abu Waleed was speaking at the London School of Shariah event in preparation for Ramadan, during which he also made jokes about Muslims taking backpacks on to the Underground.”

[Cindy]

blog:

http://counterterrorismblog.org/2008/03/fighting_farc_on_strategy_and.php

“Fighting FARC: On Strategy and Satellite Phones”
By Aaron Mannes

(March 6, 2008)

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blog:

http://counterterrorismblog.org/2008/03/why_was_viktor_bout_in_thailan.php

“Why Was Viktor Bout in Thailand When He Was Arrested?”
By Zachary Abuza

(March 6, 2008)

[MamaDearest]

Rare Q fever cases increase

Snippets: Both men had been diagnosed with Q fever, a rare bacterial infection, the previous spring. Nevada had eight reported cases of Q fever in 2007, six of them in Churchill County. In 2006, the state had seven reported cases, all of them in Churchill County.

Q fever is a comparatively rare bacterial infection usually associated with farms, veterinary clinics, slaughterhouses and animal research centers, according to the National Institutes of Health. Grazing animals have the Q fever bacteria in their bodies, and it is released when the animals give birth or defecate. Humans can get the disease by breathing barnyard air or dust that contains the microbes.

The bacteria can remain viable for months or years in soil, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The federal government lists Q fever as a potential bio-terrorism weapon because small amounts of the bacterium can cause infection, the microbes are resistant to heat and cold and are spread through the air. The disease is under reported, according to the CDC, and Western states usually confirm a handful of cases each year. Doctors said about half of the people exposed to the bacteria show no disease symptoms at all.

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1981613/posts?page=193#193

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QUOTE:

THANK YOU RDTF for this post:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1981613/posts?page=216#216

reaking on NBC 4 (DC) just now - they have the man in custody that sent the letters and are questioning him - there was a return address on them WITH HIS NAME

216 posted on 03/06/2008 8:16:33 PM PST by RDTF (Go AEGIS!)

[Velveeta]

Holy cow - what happened to FR?

I had trouble finding this thread! :-(

And what is RSS? Was so glad there wasn’t RSS here previously. I’ve seen it everywhere and never clicked on it, for fear that it would re-set something.

Is there any scoop on the NY bomber? Been itching to get to the computer today to find out.

[Cindy]

Hi Velveeta.

FR has undergone some modernization changes.

Re: The NY bomber incident, I was just getting
to post this update:

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/03/06/2008-03-06_police_investigating_letters_about_times.html?page=1

Page 2 - Article snippet:

“Although police stopped short of tying the bicycle bomber to the two earlier blasts, there were similarities: All three occurred between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. and a suspect on a bicycle was spotted in each incident.

“In layman’s view . . . the explosions are roughly similar,” said Kelly, who called the bomb “an unsophisticated device.”

Hollowed-out grenades - filled with black powder and a fuse - were used in the March 2005 attack on the British Consulate and last October’s blast at the Mexican Consulate, police said. Portions of the Times Square device were sent to the FBI in Quantico, Va., for comparison to the grenades from the earlier blasts, police said.

A top and a side panel from the green metal box used to hold the explosives were recovered Thursday. The container can be purchased readily at Army-Navy stores or on the Internet.
In the latest bombing, the nation’s busiest recruiting station suffered shattered windows and twisted metal.

“I heard a boom,” said Sandy Aris, 41, a parking attendant at a 43rd St. garage. “Everything in my booth moved.”

A source said that authorities were checking whether the bombing was possibly linked to an incident last month along the Canadian border. Four men stopped there were found to be carrying information, photos and maps of recruiting stations in New York City, including the one in Times Square. Two of the men bolted but left behind a backpack with the material.”

[Velveeta]

Thanks, Cindy. Sounds like anarchists, right?

This new FR will take some getting used to.

[Cindy]

OPINION:

Yes and yes.

As you know though the jihadis have interesting associations with various types, and the breaking news is still new and changing...so time will tell.

[Cindy]

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&tab=wn&ned=us&q=%22David+Karn%22&ie=UTF-8&scoring=n

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Thanks to Girlene for highlighting these details here and an update:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1981613/posts?page=275#275