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]

You’re welcome Jet Jaguar.

[drymans wife]

You are right.

[Cindy]

http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/ndex/ndex_home.htm
“N-DEx: Law Enforcement National Data Exchange”

#

Thanks to a special freepmailer for pointing to this article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/05/AR2008030503656_pf.html

“National Dragnet Is a Click Away
Authorities to Gain Fast and Expansive Access to Records”
By Robert O’Harrow Jr. and Ellen Nakashima
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, March 6, 2008; A01

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Those network efforts will begin expanding further this month, as some local and state agencies connect to a fledgling Justice Department system called the National Data Exchange, or N-DEx. Federal authorities hope N-DEx will become what one called a “one-stop shop” enabling federal law enforcement, counterterrorism and intelligence analysts to automatically examine the enormous caches of local and state records for the first time.”

[Cindy]

IN THE U.S.A.:

UPDATE:

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1984007/posts

Christian Prosecuted: Refused to Photograph Homosexual ‘Commitment Ceremony’
National Catholic Register ^
Posted on 03/11/2008 1:00:09 PM PDT by No Dems 2004

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — As a Christian, Elaine Huguenin is against efforts to legitimize same-sex “marriage.”

So, when the Albuquerque photographer was asked via e-mail in September 2006 to photograph a “commitment ceremony” for two women, Huguenin declined. That was the end of the matter, she thought.

But Huguenin didn’t take into account New Mexico’s anti-discrimination laws. Instead of hiring another photographer, one of the lesbians, Vanessa Willock, filed a civil complaint against Huguenin’s company, Elane Photography.

Now, in one of the first cases of its kind in the state, a three-member tribunal of New Mexico’s Human Rights Commission is considering the complaint brought forward by New Mexico’s Human Rights Bureau, operated by the Labor Relations Division of the state’s Department of Workforce Solutions.

The tribunal will decide whether Huguenin should pay actual and punitive damages to Willock because of her decision not to take pictures of the homosexual ceremony.

Established in 1969 by the New Mexico Legislature to enforce state law preventing discrimination based on race and gender in employment, housing and public accommodation, the human rights commission is taking its first steps to incorporate a 2006 expansion of the act to include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.”

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

TOPICS: Editorial; Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: New Mexico; Click to Add Topic

KEYWORDS: christianpersecution; gaymarriage; gayrights; homosexualactivists; homosexualagenda; homosexuals; persecution; Click to Add Keyword
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This is why ‘anti-discrimination’ laws are a bunch of rubbish. If you’re the owner, you can turn down business if you want to and you shouldn’t be harrassed for it. This should be proclaimed loud and clear as to why the homosexual agenda TAKES RIGHTS AWAY from Americans. Amazingly, gay marriage is illegal in New Mexico yet they have the gall to pull this stunt. Wake up, America . . .
1 posted on 03/11/2008 1:00:10 PM PDT by No Dems 2004

[Cindy]

Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3517963,00.html

PFLP claims rocket fire on Ashkelon
Published: 03.11.08, 20:55 / Israel News

The Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine’s military wing, have claimed responsibility fro firing the rocket at Ashkelon, earlier Tuesday.

The group’s statement said the fire came as “the Palestinians’ natural response to the occupation’s crimes.” Sources in the Gaza Strip said the fire is unlikely to hinder efforts to keep the calm achieved between Israel and the Palestinians. (Ali Waked)

[Cindy]

March 11, 2008

Note: The following press release is a quote:

http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2008/March/08_ag_190.html

United States and Germany Agree to Share Fingerprint Databases and Information on Known and Suspected Terrorists

Agreement Initialed by Attorney General Mukasey and Secretary Chertoff

BERLIN – Officials from the United States and Germany today initialed a bilateral agreement related to sharing access to biometric data and spontaneous sharing of data about known and suspected terrorists. At a bilateral ceremony in Berlin, Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey and Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff joined the German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble and Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries in initialing the agreement.

The agreement gives the countries mutual access to fingerprint databases for the purpose of determining if evidence in them could be helpful in criminal investigations and prosecutions. It also sets forth procedures for obtaining that evidence through lawful processes, while ensuring that personal data is appropriately protected.

The agreement additionally provides a mechanism for the U.S. and Germany to share information about known and suspected terrorists, allowing the two countries to more readily assist one another in preventing serious threats to public security, including terrorist entry into either country.

“Beyond the important practical value of this agreement, it symbolizes the joint resolve of Germany and the United States to fight terrorism and transnational crime,” said Attorney General Mukasey. “The values we share with Germany and our mutual interest in protecting our citizens makes us even more determined to deepen our partnership with Germany. We look forward to implementing this important instrument in a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation.”

“I applaud Germany’s leadership as we work as an international community to deter and defend against those who seek to do our citizens harm,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “This agreement builds upon our strong relationship with Germany to protect not only the security, but also the privacy of our citizens. We must work together against a patient and adaptive adversary; in today’s world, our enemies are far less concerned with borders than they are with attacking freedom wherever they can.”

Under the agreement, the U.S. and Germany can, for the purpose of advancing criminal investigations and prosecutions, query each other’s fingerprint databases with unknown prints to determine if the other party has information about the print. If a “hit” is received, the querying party will make a mutual legal assistance request for identifying data, and the use of that data is governed by treaty. If no hit is received, then no information is retained.

Additionally, the agreement contains a spontaneous sharing article that can be used to share biographic and fingerprint information about known and suspected terrorists, as well as information about planned attacks or persons trained to commit terrorist acts. Attorney General Mukasey and Secretary Chertoff were visiting Germany for the initialing ceremony and to hold bilateral meetings with their German counterparts.

###

08-190

[Cindy]

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/cac/pressroom/pr2008/023.html

Release No. 08-023

March 3 , 2008

“INDONESIAN SENTENCED TO 10 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR HACKING INTO HOTEL BUSINESS KIOSKS AND STEALING CREDIT CARD DATA”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “A Lomita resident who admitted hacking into business kiosks at hotels and stealing credit card information that he used to obtain credit was sentenced this afternoon to 10 months in federal prison.

Hario Tandiwidjojo, 28, an illegal alien from Indonesia, was sentenced by United States District Judge Gary A. Feess, who also ordered the defendant to pay $34,266 in restitution.”

[Cindy]

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

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/020266.php

March 11, 2008

California Muslim jailed for attempted Iranian weapons deal
An update on this story, in which Maghloubi’s lawyer had claimed his client had intended “to actually try and help a rapprochement between the U.S. and Iran” by arming a rival of Ahmadinejad. There are many unanswered questions there, not the least of which concerns the truth of that claim, but even if it were the case, would this supposed rival of Ahmadinejad still be committed to the perpetuation of the Sharia state, and the destruction of Israel? For that matter, how could Maghloubi be sure these weapons would not cross the border into Iraq and endanger U.S. and British troops?

“American jailed for attempted Iran weapons deal: prosecutors,” from Agence France-Presse:

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — A Los Angeles court jailed an American of Iranian origin for three years and five months Monday for trying to buy up to 100,000 submachine guns and sell them to Iran, prosecutors said.

Seyed Mostafa Maghloubi, 50, was arrested in early 2007 by police acting on a tip-off and pleaded guilty last August to violating the US trade embargo against Iran.

Prosecutors said Maghloubi admitted trying to buy up to 100,000 Uzi submachine guns and night-vision goggles, which he wanted to export to Iran through Dubai.

“These were very dangerous actions,” said US District Judge George King, quoted by local media.

He said Maghloubi’s actions could have caused many deaths and destabilized “an area of the world that has suffered enough from continuing upheaval.”

Posted by Marisol at March 11, 2008 10:08 AM

###

Previously...

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/020266.php
(AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE)

March 11, 2008
“California Muslim jailed for attempted Iranian weapons deal”

[Cindy]

Note to “Media Jihadis”: You are the winner of the STUCK ON STUPID award today.

#

http://www.youtube.com/user/abumuslim22
“This account is suspended.”

www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=abumuslim22&btnG=Google+Search

#

ekhlaas.info/forum/showthread.php?t=127942

#

http://memriiwmp.org/content/en/report.htm?report=2528

“Islamist Forum Posts Instructions for Conducting ‘Media Jihad’”
No. 1867 - March 12, 2008 -

SNIPPET: “In a message posted March 2, 2008 on the Islamist forum Al-Ikhlas (hosted by Piradius.net in Malaysia), a member calling himself “abumuslim22” urged his fellow forum members to engage in “media jihad,” and provided advice and safety tips.

The following are excerpts from the posting:”

[Cindy]

RECAP and UPDATED:

SOUTH ASIA ANALYSIS GROUP - Paper no. 2614: "THREAT TO BEIJING OLYMPICS FROM UIGHURS - International Terrorism Monitor --- Paper No. 379" by B. Raman (March 10, 2008)

stepping back in time...SOUTH ASIA ANALYSIS GROUP - Paper no. 2361: "SECURITY DURING BEIJING DURING OLYMPICS - International Terrorism Monitor: Paper No. 274" by B. Raman (September 7, 2007)

YNET NEWS.com (AP): "CHINESE OFFICIAL SAYS FOILED TERROR PLOT TARGETED BEIJING OLYMPICS GAMES" (Published March 9, 2008, 13:01)

Link

FOX NEWS.com: Beijing - "CHINESE OFFICIAL: FLIGHT CREW PREVENTED PLANNED TERRORIST ACT ABOARD JETLINER" (March 9, 2008)

BBC NEWS: "CHINESE 'FOILED AIRLINE ATTACK'" (Last updated March 9, 2008, 10:29 GMT)

Link

WTOP.com (AP): Shangai, China - "AUSTRALIANS TAKEN HOSTAGE IN CHINA FREED" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Police in China have shot and killed a local man who took 10 Australians hostage on a tourist bus.") (March 5, 2008, 5:29 am)

Link

Link

Link

Link

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1983966/posts
http://infidelsarecool.com/2008/03/10/islamic-blogger-explains-how-islam-will-dominate-america/

#

blog:

http://duaat.wordpress.com/2008/03/10/how-islam-will-dominate-the-world/

“How Islam will dominate the world”

March 10, 2008

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “So how will Islam dominate the world when the majority of people will never accept it?”

[Cindy]

http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/191699.php

#

http://www.youtube.com/user/huzurr
“This account is suspended.”

http://www.youtube.com/user/4IslamWorld
“This account is suspended.”

[Cindy]

Note: Photos included.

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=49242

U.S. Bomber Destroys Al Qaeda in Iraq Jail, Torture Facility

By Tech. Sgt. Joel Langton, USAF
Special to American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 11, 2008 – Three buildings that had served as an al Qaeda detention and torture facility were destroyed yesterday by a U.S. military bomber.

An al Qaeda in Iraq torture compound and prison in northern Zambraniyah, Iraq, is destroyed after being hit with six 500-pound precision-guided bombs dropped from a U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bomber March 10, 2008. Photo by Master Sgt. Andy Dunaway, USAF
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.
A B-1B Lancer bomber used six 500-pound, global positioning system-guided bombs to level the compound located in Zambraniyah, a village south of Baghdad, according to officials.

“The precise targeting, synchronized employment and focused effects that eliminated these facilities demonstrate the outstanding capability our integrated ground and air team brings to this fight every day,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Robert Gass, commander of 379th Expeditionary Operations Group.

The targeted compound consisted of three main buildings along with several smaller shelters. It was apparent that terrorists had used the facility as a place to hold and torture captives, officials noted, citing a post-attack discovery of handcuffs attached to walls — several of which were blood-splattered — and bare wires plugged into nearby electrical outlets.

The villagers began standing up to al Qaeda terrorists a little more than a month ago, officials said.

The joint operation featured U.S. and Iraqi ground forces, as well as American military air assets, officials said. A concerned local citizens group also helped provide security during the operation.

U.S. soldiers found several interrogation manuals in the compound after the air strike.

“This (air strike) removes the last remnants of al Qaeda from this area,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Mark Solomon, 6th Squadron, 8th U.S. Cavalry, commander.

Aubid Abdalla was kidnapped and held for 15 days in the now-destroyed al Qaeda prison, but later escaped. He said he witnessed the deaths of a young boy and an old man during his captivity and that it was a new day for the village as he looked into the bomb’s craters.

“We all feel good,” Abdalla, a former Iraqi Army intelligence officer, said. “It’s a dark past that is gone.”

Air Force Senior Airman Joseph Aton said he was glad he played a role in the destruction of the al Qaeda jail and torture facility. “It was great to be part of this,” Aton, a controller who assisted in coordinating the path of the B-1’s precision-guided munitions, said. “You can tell the people were happy to have this place gone, and it was awesome to make a difference for them.”

The mission’s objective was twofold, explained Air Force Lt. Col. John Nichols, 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron director of operations and coordinator of the sortie. First, to destroy facilities used to illegally detain, falsely convict, and torture innocent Iraqi civilians; second, to bring closure to friends and families of the victims.

“Words can never replace the loss many Iraqi families suffered, but we’re honored to have been part of a mission to help rid Iraq of al Qaeda operatives,” Nichols said.

The successful mission also “strengthens and reminds the local leadership and Iraqi people that we are dedicated to the elimination of al Qaeda in Iraq,” the colonel added.

(Langton is assigned to U.S. Air Forces Central Public Affairs. Air Force 2nd Lt. Tania Bryan, also attached to AFCENT, contributed to this report.)

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=49243

Coalition Troops in Iraq Detain 11 Suspected Terrorists

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 11, 2008 – Coalition forces in Iraq detained 11 suspected terrorists today during operations to disrupt al Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq, military officials said.

— In Mosul, coalition forces detained four suspects during two operations targeting foreign terrorists associated with al Qaeda in Iraq networks in the western and southeastern regions of the city.

— In Beiji, coalition forces detained two suspects while targeting an alleged associate of a senior-level foreign-terrorist facilitator and al Qaeda senior leaders operating inside and outside of Iraq.

— During operations west of Samarra and near Tikrit, coalition forces detained three suspected terrorists while targeting alleged associates of an al Qaeda leader involved in propaganda operations in Anbar province.

— Another two suspects were detained during an operation in Abu Ghraib targeting an alleged associate of the senior leader for the southern-belt network of al Qaeda in Iraq.

“We will not allow al Qaeda to interfere with the progress the Iraqi people and their elected government are making,” said Navy Capt. Vic Beck, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. “With the help of Iraqi citizens who reject al Qaeda’s targeting of innocent civilians and corrupt Taliban-like ideology, Iraqi and coalition forces will continue to find the terrorists, dismantle their networks and improve safety and security for the Iraqi people.”

In other news, Iraqi army and coalition forces killed two insurgents during a March 7-8 cordon-and-search operation in Lej, officials reported. The operation also resulted in discovery of four improvised explosive devices and one weapons cache. Two buildings used for storing enemy ammunition and explosives were destroyed.

“The importance of the mission was to push out any al Qaeda insurgents who were entrenched in al Lej,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jay Carey. “The mission was also to clear all weapons caches. This will allow the local populace to move back to the area and have a normal, stable life.”

Coalition soldiers have not had any presence in Lej for about five years, said U.S. Army Capt. Jimmy Hathaway, commander of Task Force Petro. Hathaway works closely with Georgian army Maj. David Sulkhanishvili, the commander of a detachment of Georgian soldiers who also work in the area.

Hathaway said the mission set the stage for the arrival of 1st Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army, which is slated to operate in the area.

When U.S., Georgian and Iraqi soldiers entered the villages, they found the majority of houses abandoned, Hathaway said. The Georgian troops and members of a local concerned citizens group set up 12 checkpoints throughout the area. Other soldiers secured a local water-pumping station.

“It was great to see the Georgian soldiers securing the objective and immediately being able to transition to helping the locals,” Hathaway said.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

[Cindy]

blog:

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/03/walling_mosul.php

“Walling Mosul”
By BILL ROGGIO
March 11, 2008 1:56 PM

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1984028/posts

#

blog:

http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/03/terrorists_marxists_leftists_a.html

March 10, 2008
“Terrorists, Marxists, Leftists and the Democrats”
By Lance Fairchok

[Cindy]

RECAP:

FACT-BASED OPINION:

Note to Children and Jihadi Wannabes: There is nothing “champion”-like when it comes to jihad. Jihad is evil. It hurts people. It kills people.

I want you to know this because I care about the victims who believe the harmful jihad propaganda posted on the internet.

God loves you.
He doesn’t want you to join jihad.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

[Cindy]

ON THE INTERNET:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzNY5s0gEPo

[Cindy]

ADDING thread link to post no. 329:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1984110/posts

“Islamist Forum-Instructions for Conducting Media Jihad [Find out where you can purchase weapons]”
MEMRI ^ | 3-11-08
Posted on 03/11/2008 5:13:42 PM PDT by SJackson

[Cindy]

http://www.truthusa.com/IRAN.html
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/iran/
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/syria/

#

Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3518022,00.html

Pentagon: Syria, Iran supporting foreign fighters in Iraq
Published: 03.12.08, 00:48 / Israel News

A Pentagon report finds that up to 90% of the foreign fighters in Iraq cross the border from Syria and that Iran’s support for Shiite militants also is hurting efforts to improve security in Iraq.

As those external pressures dog coalition and Iraqi forces, the government of Iraq is also hamstrung by internal corruption and persistent problems getting basic services to the people. The Defense Department’s quarterly report on progress in Iraq released Tuesday says that terrorists continue to find safe havens and logistical support in Syria. (AP)