Threat Matrix: August 2008

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[nwctwx]

Pentagon Makes Fighting Extremism Top Priority

Seven years after the Sept. 11 attacks, the Pentagon on Thursday officially named "the long war" against global extremism as its top priority and pledged to avert any conventional military threat from China or Russia through dialogue.

The Defense Department, in a new national defense strategy, also emphasized the need to subordinate military operations to "soft power" initiatives to undermine Islamist militancy by promoting economic, political and social development in vulnerable corners of the world.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he hoped the change would help establish permanent institutional support for counterinsurgency skills acquired in Iraq and Afghanistan within a defense community heavily skewed in favor of expensive conventional and strategic modernization programs. Read More

	Rethinking the Post-9/11 Strategy
	Al-Qaida in Iraq Leaders Reportedly Leaving for Afghanistan
	Defense Rests at 1st Guantanamo War Crimes Trail

Threat Matrix:
August 2008

July 2008

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[Cindy]

I am not affiliated with either of these links, but fyi.

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http://www.churchsecuritysolutions.com

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https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=635780

“Church Security Solutions Conference”
Thursday, August 14, 2008 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

[Cindy]

Thanks to csvset for the ping to this article:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2060980/posts?page=21#21

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Note: Photo included.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7557765.stm

Page last updated at 06:25 GMT, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 07:25 UK

“Pakistan militant leader killed”

“Haji Namdar’s critics called him a ‘religious terrorist’”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “A militant leader in the Khyber region of north-west Pakistan has been shot dead by unidentified gunmen.

Haji Namdar was killed when the attackers entered the headquarters of his Vice and Virtue Movement and shot at him, his spokesman said.
He said two suspects have been captured after the killing, but it is too early to say who could be behind the attack.”

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0808/080812asheville.htm

ICE arrests 57 illegal aliens employed by Asheville Department of Defense Contractor

ASHEVILLE, NC - Fifty-seven illegal aliens working at Mills Manufacturing Corporation (MMC) were arrested here this morning by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents.

The arrests were based on an ICE critical infrastructure investigation that revealed that the illegal aliens had used fraudulent social security numbers to obtain employment. The company, located at 22 Mills Place, has been fully cooperative and is not a target of the ICE investigation.

MMC is a Department of Defense contractor responsible for the manufacturing of parachutes for the U.S. military. Illegal aliens employed at sensitive facilities — such as military bases, nuclear plants, chemical plants, airports and Department of Defense contractors — pose a homeland security threat.

ICE doesn’t believe that those arrested today at MMC had any ill intent against the United States; however, their illegal status could have made them susceptible to blackmail by those with ill intent. Today, ICE has neutralized a potential vulnerability.

“Protecting the integrity of our nation’s critical infrastructure is among ICE’s highest priorities,” said Delburt Richburg, assistant special agent-in-charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Charlotte. “When individuals use fraudulent social security numbers to get jobs, they hide their true identity and history. We need to know who is working on our critical infrastructure sites.”

All of those arrested today were transferred to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office for immigration processing. All have been placed into removal proceedings for being in violation of U.S. immigration law.

At this point, no criminal charges have been presented against the illegal aliens; however, the investigation continues.

Those arrested today were interviewed by ICE agents to determine if they had medical, caregiver, or other humanitarian issues. ICE identified approximately 29 individuals who qualified for a humanitarian release. These individuals are still required to appear before a federal immigration judge who will ultimately determine whether or not they will be deported.

Among those arrested, were nationals of Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador and Honduras. ICE contacted local Consular officials, community groups and other to provide accurate information regarding today’s operation.

Family members wanting information regarding those arrested today may contact ICE by dialing 704-679-6140.

ICE’s worksite enforcement investigations are aimed at promoting national security and public safety, protecting critical infrastructure, and ensuring fair labor standards. As of July 2008, ICE has made more than 3,800 administrative arrests for immigration violations during worksite enforcement operations.

— ICE —

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0808/080813washington.htm

ICE arrests 42 illegal aliens working at Dulles International Airport

WASHINGTON - This morning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 42 men illegally present in the country at Dulles International Airport as part of a critical infrastructure protection (CIP) operation. ICE agents, with support of airport security agencies, arrested the illegal aliens just inside the airport grounds at a checkpoint established to verify the identity and immigration status of workers entering a service gate.

“It is crucial to ICE’s homeland security mission to know who enters sensitive areas like airports, military bases and power plants to ensure the integrity of these key assets,” said Mark X. McGraw, Special Agent in Charge of ICE’s Office of Investigations, Washington field office. “This operation illustrates ICE’s ongoing efforts in partnership with federal and local agencies to secure the critical infrastructure within the National Capital Region.”

ICE agents interviewed more than 200 individuals to verify their identities, immigration status, and eligibility for lawful employment in the U.S. Most of the individuals encountered worked on construction projects at the airport. Those detained are being interviewed, fingerprinted, photographed and entered into Department of Homeland Security databases at a local ICE office. Relatives and friends wishing to check on the custody status and detention location of those detained may call 1-866-341-3858, ICE’s toll-free, 24-hour hotline.

Interviews can often generate critical law enforcement information that may lead to future investigations. There is no indication that any of the aliens were involved in any terrorist activity.

ICE agents prioritize enforcement efforts by focusing on the sites related to critical infrastructure and national security. The goal of CIP operations is to reduce the vulnerabilities at these facilities and other key assets to prevent potential attacks. Critical infrastructure has been defined as systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so crucial to the United States that the damage or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economy, public health or safety, and/or any combination of those matters.

Unauthorized workers employed at sensitive facilities such as airports, nuclear power plants, chemical plants, military bases, defense facilities and seaports, may compromise the integrity of these key assets. In FY 2008, ICE agents have made more than 700 administrative arrests and 100 criminal arrests at critical infrastructure facilities.

Transportation Security Administration and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority supported this operation.

— ICE —

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=88943

YOU ARE HERE: Home > Reports > Consular Affairs Bulletins > Report
Warden Message: Riyadh Reports Non-specific Threat to Westerners
CONSULAR AFFAIRS BULLETINS
Middle East / N. Africa - Saudi Arabia
13 Aug 2008

Printer Friendly Email Article
RELATED REPORTS
3 Mar 2008
SAUDI ARABIA 2008 CRIME & SAFETY REPORT
U.S. Embassy Riyadh released the following Warden Message on August 13

The U.S. Embassy Riyadh has received information regarding an alleged, non-specific threat to Westerners in downtown Riyadh, KSA, possibly during the weekend of 14-17 August, 2008. We have no further details regarding this information at this time; however the Embassy recommends American citizens living in Saudi Arabia consider this information and take appropriate personal security precautions.

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the State Department’s Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, including the Travel Warning for Saudi Arabia, and Travel Alerts can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. Holidays).

American citizens are reminded to keep their registration up-to-date. See https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ for registration information.

To hear recordings of the most recent security information, you may call the Embassy in Riyadh at +966-1-488-3800 and press 6 for regional or worldwide security information or press 7 for “Travel Warning for Saudi Arabia”. You can also review earlier Warden Messages at http://riyadh.usembassy.gov/service/advisories-for-americans-in-ksa/warden-messages.html.

[Cindy]

http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_936.html

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

This information is current as of today, Wed Aug 13 2008 17:07:32 GMT-0700 (PDT).

YEMEN

August 13, 2008

[Cindy]

http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_4203.html

Travel Alert

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs
This information is current as of today, Wed Aug 13 2008 17:08:44 GMT-0700 (PDT).

Comoros

August 12, 2008

[Cindy]

http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_4327.html

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

This information is current as of today, Wed Aug 13 2008 17:09:44 GMT-0700 (PDT).

GEORGIA

August 12, 2008

[Cindy]

Note: This post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2061635/posts

Glenn Beck interviews Georgia President Saakashvili - Video
YouTube ^ | August 13, 2008 | Glenn Beck/Saakashvili
Posted on August 14, 2008 12:54:45 AM PDT by calcowgirl

I’m not sure how Glenn Beck scored this interview, but it was worth watching.

Part 1 (8:34):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Z478VRTWYk

Part 2 (9:01):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLH_8KDkTvk

Part 3 (3:47):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FmxqoDNQtI

[Cindy]

http://www.infolive.tv

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http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/aug_e002.htm

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

“News of the Israeli-Palestinian Confrontation
August 5-12, 2008”
(August 13, 2008)

[Cindy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT6WeJYgEFc
(”O Little Town of Bethlehem”)

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Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3582331,00.html

DF injures Palestinian hurling Molotov cocktails in Bethlehem
Published: 08.14.08, 06:51 / Israel News

An IDF force shot and injured a Palestinian hurling Molotov cocktails in the Bethlehem area early Thursday. The suspect was taken to hospital for medical treatment.

The force arrested another Palestinian on suspicion of hurling Molotov cocktails as well. (Ynet)

[Cindy]

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

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http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=D734D401-F557-402E-8F7C-3DBBB28F6AE7

“Farewell Musharraf, Farewell Pakistan?”
By Steve Schippert
FrontPageMagazine.com | Thursday, August 14, 2008

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2061579/posts

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http://www.covertradioshow.com/

http://www.covertradioshow.com/podcast.cfm?pid=38

QUOTE:

Posted Wednesday August 13, 2008
Covert Radio Show: 08 0813 Long War Journal On Pakistan, China and Russia

Brett Winterble Talks with Bill Roggio from the Long War Journal about the latest from Pakistan, China, Iraq and the Russia Georgia Fight.

[Cindy]

COLORADO

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/17186690/detail.html

“Fort Collins Police Warn Returning Students About Intruder
Victim Says Assailant Tried To Cover Her Face With Cloth”

By Lance Hernandez, 7NEWS Reporter
POSTED: 11:17 pm MDT August 13, 2008
UPDATED: 12:37 am MDT August 14, 2008

FORT COLLINS, Colo. -

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “The victim told police that the man who intruded into her home was about 6 feet tall and was wearing dark clothing.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Fort Collins police at 970-416-2051”

[Cindy]

UPDATE:

http://www.foxnews.com

Banner Only:

“Breaking News >> Explosions Heard Near Georgian City of Gori as Russian Troop Withdrawal Appears to Collapse”

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http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,403462,00.html

“Georgia: More Russian Troops Enter Gori, Tanks Into Poti”
Thursday, August 14, 2008

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “BREAKING NEWS — The Georgian Foreign Ministry says more Russian troops have moved into the city of Gori after a withdrawal had appeared to be under way earlier in the day.

Ministry spokeswoman Nato Chikovani said Thursday that Russian troops also moved into the Black Sea oil port city of Poti, from which they had appeared to leave earlier.”

[Cindy]

VIDEO BREAK:

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=4d8_1218645444

“USAF Engage Alqaeda Leaders Meeting House With 5 Missiles In Afghanistan”
(Added August 13, 2008)

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http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ed6_1218630823

“Apache And UAV Predators Takes Out Insurgents Compilation - Iraq”
(Added August 13, 2008)

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More Videos:

http://www.liveleak.com/user/IRAQI_TRANSLATOR_USMC

[Cindy]

August 12, 2008

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://portland.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel08/pd081208.htm

Tre Arrow Sentenced to 78 Months in Federal Prison for Pair of 2001 Arsons

Portland , Ore. —Tre Arrow, formerly known as Michael J. Scarpitti, 34, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge James A. Redden to 78 months in federal prison for his part in two arsons in 2001. Arrow earlier pleaded guilty, acknowledging he set fire to cement-mixing trucks at Ross Island Sand and Gravel Company in Portland on April 15, 2001, and logging trucks at Schoppert Logging Company in Eagle Creek on June 1, 2001. Arrow’s three co-defendants pled guilty in 2003 and have each completed 41-month prison terms.

In Arrow’s case, Judge Redden increased the ordinary 60-month mandatory minimum term for arson based on a finding that Arrow committed the arsons in an aggravated manner calculated to influence or affect the conduct of the victims by intimidation, coercion and retaliation. The court also ordered Arrow to pay restitution of $101,057.09 for the Ross Island arson and $53,500 for the arson at Schoppert Logging, jointly and severally with his codefendants. Arrow waived the right to appeal his sentence.

After completing his prison term, Arrow will be on supervised release for three years. In addition to reporting to a U.S. probation officer and meeting other conditions, Arrow must maintain full employment and a stable residence, and will be prohibited from knowingly associating with individuals and groups, such as the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), which engage in or advocate criminal activity.

Originally indicted in August 2002, Arrow became an international fugitive and eluded authorities until his arrest for shoplifting in Victoria, British Columbia, on March 13, 2004. He unsuccessfully resisted extradition and was returned to the United States on February 29, 2008. Federal law requires that Arrow receive credit for time served in Canada awaiting extradition.

“The sentencing of Tre Arrow closes the final chapter in a seven-year effort for justice in these cases,” U.S. Attorney Karin J. Immergut stated. “Arrow and his three co-defendants have admitted their guilt and received just punishment for their crimes,” she added.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen F. Peifer.

[jer33 3]

Thank you, Cindy. I hope your day is going well.

[Cindy]

Smiling at you...summer is always good (minus the weeds).