Threat Matrix: September 2008

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[nwctwx]

How The West Was Won

The rapid and unexpected decline of the Sunni insurgency in Iraq was officially recognized this week, when Maj. Gen. John Kelly, commanding the Marine Expeditionary Force, turned operational control of Anbar Province over to the Iraqi army and police.

Anbar, a vast expanse of desert the size of North Carolina, had been the stronghold of the Sunni insurgency. For years, foreign fighters loyal to al-Qaida had sneaked across Iraq's northwestern border with Syria, into Anbar and down a "rat line" of safe houses in Haditha, Ramadi and Hit.

From Fallujah, the arch terrorist Zarqawi dispatched suicide bombers to murder hundreds of Shiites in Baghdad. So fearsome were the al-Qaida leaders in Iraq that by 2005 they had taken control or intimidated Sunni resistance cells 10 times their size. Read More

	Pakistan Official: We Just Missed Al Qaeda Number Two
	U.S. Conducts First Raid on Terrorists in Pakistan
	Video: 1st Column Erected at World Trade Ctr. Memorial

Threat Matrix:
September 2008

August 2008

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[Godzilla]

The Journal concluded, “...journalists who disregard normal moral sense in pursuit of a story give our profession a bad name.”
Opinion: The last sentence of this article is grossly understated.

Their "name" went into the sewer a long time ago.

[Unrepentant VN Vet]

JMHO, the whole “profession” went into the sewer. WSJ is just collateral damage.

[Cindy]

OPINION: I agree.

[Cindy]

RECAP AND UPDATED:

Link

THE JAWA REPORT - blog: "Jawa in Reuters on al Qaeda Website PWNAGE" (September 20, 2008)

Link

>CNN.com: "IN VIDEO, AL QAEDA VOWS MORE U.S. ATTACKS" (Updated September 19, 2008, 7:48 p.m. EDT)

THE JAWA REPORT - blog: "Al Qaeda Releases 9/11 Video -- 8 Days Later..." (September 19, 2008)

Link

Link

Link

JIHADICA.com: "CYBER ATTACK AND INEPTITUDE DELAY RELEASE OF AL-QAEDA 9/11 VIDEO" (September 17, 2008)

COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG.org: "AL-QAIDA'S 911 ANNIVERSARY VIDEO RELEASE DELAYED DUE TO TECHNICAL PROBLEMS, HUMAN ERRORS" by Evan Kohlmann (September 17, 2008)

THE JAWA REPORT - blog: "AL QAEDA RELEASES 9/11 ANNIVERSARY TAPE -- 6 DAYS LATE! (Update: Is al Qaeda even more retarded than we imagined?) (September 17, 2008)

Link

THE JAWA REPORT - blog: "REPORT: BLOGGER THWARTS AL-QAEDA 9/11 ANNIVERSARY PLANS" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "My response: A) I'm not a hacker, although I play one on TV. B) Aaron is not a hacker." ARTICLE SNIPPET: D) "Neither I nor Aaron are responsible for the take down of al Qaeda's main forum and two of its sister forums...") (September 15, 2008)

INTERNET-HAGANAH.com: "ANOTHER RAMADAN, ANOTHER ROUND OF ATTACKS ON JIHADI FORUMS?" (September 14, 2008)

HINDUSTAN TIMES.com: New Delhi - "HACKERS BLOCK QAEDA's 9/11 TERROR ON TAPE" by Pramit Pal Chaudhuri (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Sources close to US intelligence said, "Hackers knocked out Al Qaeda's online means of communication, thus preventing them from posting anything to commemorate the anniversary."Western intelligence suspects two hackers who have targeted Islamicist sites before were responsible: Aaron Weisburd from Internet Haganah and Rusty Shackleford from the web group My Pet Jawa." ARTICLE SNIPPET: "This is not the first time hackers have dented the plans of the world's deadliest terror network. In 2004, a hacker group called TeAmZ USA had knocked out the websites of Abu Musal al-Zarqawi, late head of the Al Qaeda in Iraq, for showing tapes of Westerners being beheaded. The hackers left the image of a gun-toting penguin on the website.") (Last updated September 13, 2008, 01:04)

Link

Link

Link

[Cindy]

RECAP:

http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/006364.html
01 August 2008
“INTERNET ARCHIVE: NUMBER ONE WITH A BULLET, AGAIN”

#

http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/006361.html
30 July 2008
“INTERNET ARCHIVE VS. YOUTUBE, 19 AUGUST 2007 TO 24 AUGUST 2007”

#

http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/006355.html
24 July 2008
“AL-QA`IDA ((HEARTS)) INTERNET ARCHIVE”

#
http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/006351.html
16 July 2008
“GET YER JIHAD AT ARCHIVE.ORG”

#

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/07/AR2008050703808.html?hpid=sec-nation

“FBI Backs Off From Secret Order for Data After Lawsuit”
By Ellen Nakashima
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 8, 2008; Page D01

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “The FBI has withdrawn a secret administrative order seeking the name, address and online activity of a patron of the Internet Archive after the San Francisco-based digital library filed suit to block the action.”

[Cindy]

RECAP:

INTERNET-HAGANAH.com: "GOOGLE BLINKS?" (September 14, 2008)

[Cindy]

http://portland.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel08/pd091808.htm

“FBI Offers $5,000 Reward in Clinic Arson”
(September 18, 2008)

[Cindy]

ADDING 1 link:

blog:

http://terrorwonk.blogspot.com/2008/09/fire-as-tool-of-terror.html

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2008
“Fire as a Tool of Terror”

#

blog:

http://counterterrorismblog.org/2008/09/firefighters_developing_role_i.php

“Firefighters’ Developing Role in Counterterrorism”
By Daveed Gartenstein-Ross
(September 11, 2008)

#

RECAP:

http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/ptr_03.htm

Policing Terrorism Report
No. 3 August 2008

“Firefighters’ Developing Role in Counterterrorism”
by Daveed Gartenstein-Ross and Kyle Dabruzzi

[nw_arizona_granny]

melamine - is spreading.

ProMedMail.org has a new report, 3 or 4 other countries are now reporting it in the milk products from China, including yogurt.

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=51259

Coalition Forces Kill, Detain Militants in Afghanistan

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21, 2008 – Coalition forces killed a militant and detained seven suspected militants during operations targeting the Haqqani terrorist network in Afghanistan’s Khowst province yesterday, military officials reported.

Coalition forces targeted a compound suspected to host Haqqani network militants in Khowst district. As coalition forces entered the compound, an armed militant attempted to engage the force. Realizing the threat, the force responded with small-arms fire, killing the militant.

A search of the compound revealed multiple AK-47 assault rifles and hand grenades, which were destroyed to prevent future use.

Elsewhere, Afghan national security forces and coalition forces captured six militants, one them a Taliban commander, in the Surobi district of Kabul province, Sept. 18.

The operation deliberately targeted the Taliban commander and his associates, officials said. Elements of the Afghan National Army’s commando force and coalition forces conducted a raid on the known commander’s safe house.

Forces received small-arms fire as they searched the compound. After positively identifying the militants responsible, the forces returned fire, killing two.

Two rocket-propelled grenade launchers, three AK-47s and a machine gun were recovered.

(Compiled from Combined Joint Task Force 101 news releases.)

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=51260

Coalition Forces Apprehend Suspects, Take Down Bombing Cells

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21, 2008 – Coalition forces apprehended five suspected members of an Iranian-backed terrorist group today during two separate operations in New Baghdad, and captured seven wanted men and 18 additional suspects in operations yesterday and today throughout Iraq, military officials reported.

Acting on intelligence information, coalition forces targeted suspected key members of the Khataib Hezbollah network in two separate locations today. The network allegedly funnels weapons and materiel into Iraq from Iran, which is then used to conduct attacks against coalition and Iraqi forces, officials said.

Coalition forces entered a building where one suspect was believed to be, and they apprehended him along with three associates. The suspect had $1,800, a 9 mm hand gun, an AK-47 assault rifle and numerous passports. Other coalition forces captured the other targeted suspect nearby without incident.

An operation yesterday netted one alleged terrorist believed to facilitate car bomb operations in the Baghdad area. He also is believed to have connections to one of the city’s car-bomb cell leaders. Two additional suspects were apprehended during the operation.

In a related operation today, coalition forces netted another Baghdad car-bomb cell leader who targets the Monsour area. Three additional suspected terrorists were detained during the operation.

Yesterday in Mosul, coalition forces detained six suspects, including one wanted man who is believed to facilitate the movement of terrorist funds between Iraq and neighboring countries. Intelligence reports also suggest that the suspect has connections to the regional al-Qaida leader. Additionally, the suspect allegedly aids the movement of suicide bombers from Iran to Iraq, officials said.

Coalition forces detained three suspected terrorists in Mosul today during two related operations targeting a wanted man with multiple links to al-Qaida financial networks. Coalition forces also targeted al-Qaida finance networks during an operation in Baghdad today. During that operation, an alleged terrorist financier who is believed to be a direct conspirator with a longtime regional al-Qaida leader was detained along with another suspect.

During an operation outside Ash Shurah, about 25 miles southeast of Mosul, coalition forces detained an alleged terrorist believed to be associated with multiple al-Qaida leaders. Four additional suspects were detained during the operation.

A coalition operation today in Dujayl, about 35 miles north of Baghdad, targeted al-Qaida communication networks. Forces captured a wanted man allegedly connected to a senior al-Qaida in Iraq courier.

Coalition forces operating alongside the Iraqi army in Kirkuk today netted a wanted terrorist believed to have connections with foreign terrorist organizations. During the operation, the man identified himself and forces seized multiple weapons, including a sub-machine gun.

In other operations yesterday:

— Coalition forces captured two Iranian-backed illegal militia suspects during an operation in Kut, about 125 miles southeast of Baghdad. Coalition forces targeted one suspect believed to be a roadside-bomb expert responsible for numerous attacks against coalition forces. Forces approached the wanted man’s location, where they encountered two suspected associates. During questioning, the two suspects appeared to be intoxicated to the point where they could not stand, and they were belligerent with coalition forces. The suspects were detained without incident.

— “Sons of Iraq” citizen security group members manning a checkpoint discovered a mobile cache in Salahuddin province. The vehicle carrying the explosives was designed for emplacing roadside bombs from within its interior. The cache included 18 RKG-3 anti-tank hand grenades, 15 RKG-3 fuse handles, a tin of RKG-3 detonators, and a 107 mm rocket.

In operations Sept. 19:

— The Muqdadiyah special weapons and tactics team arrested the mayor of Abu Sayda after they discovered a weapons cache at his orchard house in the Diyala province. Among items found were an improvised claymore mine, an RPG launcher, a 60 mm mortar tube, a 60 mm mortar tripod, a 2.75-inch rocket, an RPG round, two 120 mm high-explosive mortar rounds, 12 60 mm high-explosive mortar rounds, two 81 mm high-explosive mortar rounds, two homemade bombs, 35 non-electric detonators, five 60 mm mortar fuses, three electric detonators, a stick of C4 explosive, two fragmentation grenades, three AK-47 assault rifle barrels, two machine gun barrels and 10 bombs designed to pierce armor-hulled vehicles.

— Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, conducted a targeted raid using actionable intelligence to apprehend two suspected criminals living in southern Baghdad. Two pistols were confiscated from the detainees, who reportedly are responsible for sectarian violence in southwestern Baghdad.

In operations Sept. 18:

— Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division’s 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, detained a suspected roadside-bomb cell leader and his brother north of Taji. The suspect is believed to have orchestrated an Aug. 10 suicide-bomb attack in Tarmiyah, as well as multiple small-arms attacks, officials said. The suspect also is alleged to have secured weapons for use against Iraqi and coalition forces.

— The Iraqi special weapons and tactics unit in Amarah arrested a suspected criminal after receiving information on the individual’s location from various sources. Iraqi forces conducted the mission without coalition forces present. Following the apprehension, the Amarah SWAT unit searched the individual, his home and job locations. They found several items that may lead to future arrests, officials said.

— Hillah SWAT arrested a suspected criminal cell leader while serving an Iraqi Interior Ministry warrant in the Hamza area. The man is a suspect in small-arms attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces, and is said to be a specialist in constructing electrical components for roadside bombs. While searching for another individual named in the warrant, SWAT detained three men in a home where they uncovered homemade explosives, including a wooden crate wired to explode. U.S. Special Forces, who assisted in the operation, entered another home when they came under fire from within the house. They returned fire, killing the suspect.

— Iraqi special operations forces in New Baghdad captured a suspected criminal leader of a roadside-bomb cell.

— The newly formed Amarah SWAT team captured a man suspected of leading a criminal cell leader and facilitating the acquisition of Iranian weapons by other criminal groups in Iraq.

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

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22512&Itemid=128

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080922-01
Sept. 22, 2008

MND-B Soldiers, ISF capture SG criminals with SoI help, seize cache in Baghdad’s Rashid district
Multi-National Division – Baghdad

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – Multi-National Division –Baghdad Soldiers, working with Iraqi Security Forces, detained Special Groups criminals and seized a weapons cache during ongoing security operations in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad Sept. 20 - 21.

Around 9:30 a.m., Sons of Iraq members flagged downed Iraqi National Police of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Brigade, 2nd NP Division, to inform them of two individuals emplacing an improvised explosive device on the roof of a house in the Doura community Sept. 20.

With the help of SoI security volunteers, the INPs discovered the IED and, upon searching the area, detained two known Special Groups criminals suspected of placing the improvised explosive device, which consisted of a 57 mm rocket rigged with an improvised timer and initiator device. The detainees are also suspected of carrying out a similar attack against ISF in August.

About 7:30 p.m., Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, MND-B, acting on intelligence information, conducted a target raid in the Hadar community of Rashid, capturing a reputed vehicle-borne IED maker.

At approximately 12:30 a.m. Sept. 21, Soldiers of Company C, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B, discovered a weapons cache while investigating a tip from a concerned Iraqi.

The Soldiers immediately notified an explosives ordnance disposal unit after they discovered four 57 mm rockets, nine 60 mm mortar rounds, two rocket propelled grenades, two RPG boosters, an illumination round, a grenade fuse, 300 12.7 mm rounds, 200 7.62 mm rounds, and IED-making materials.

“The 1st Brigade continues to pursue criminals in the Rashid district, working shoulder-to-shoulder with their counterparts, the Iraqi Security Forces, to keep the people of the Rashid district safe and allow the Government of Iraq the freedom to operate,” said Lt. Col. Paul Hossenlopp, deputy commander, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B. “With the cooperation of Iraqi citizens, our Soldiers and the ISF are ridding the streets of criminals and their weapons.”

-30-

[Cindy]

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

#

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2087530/posts

British Airways suspends Pakistan flights
Reuters (excerpt) ^ | September 22, 2008
Posted on September 22, 2008 1:33:25 AM PDT by HAL9000

Excerpt -

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - British Airways has suspended its flights to Pakistan because of security fears after a bloody suicide truck-bomb blast at a hotel in Islamabad on the weekend, an airline spokesman said on Monday.
~ snip ~

(Excerpt) Read more at uk.reuters.com ...

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/northkorea
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/nkorea
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/nuclear

#

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2087549/posts

N Korea ‘removes nuclear seals’
BBC ^ | 09/22/08
Posted on September 22, 2008 2:54:00 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster

N Korea ‘removes nuclear seals’

North Korea has removed UN nuclear watchdog seals from a key atomic facility, the organisation has said.

Pyongyang had said it would reactivate the Yongbyon plant amid disputes over a disarmament-for-aid deal.

North Korea said Washington had not removed it, as promised, from a list of state sponsors of terrorism.

The removal of similar seals in December 2002 sparked a long-running crisis which resulted in Pyongyang testing an atomic weapon in 2006.

Pyongyang was expecting to be removed from the US terror list after finally submitting a long-delayed account of its nuclear facilities to the six-party talks in June, in accordance with the disarmament deal it signed in 2007.

It also blew up the main cooling tower at Yongbyon in a symbolic gesture of its commitment to the process.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...

[Cindy]

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

#

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=28633

HUMAN EVENTS.com (JIHAD WATCH.org): “RETURN OF THE IZOD AYATOLLAH” by Robert Spencer (September 22, 2008)

[Cindy]

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=AE18BE49-FEAE-43D1-8170-F7E6DBE76ABF

“Chavez’s Dangerous Liaisons”
By Jaime Daremblum
The Weekly Standard | Monday, September 22, 2008

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/philippines
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/globaljihad
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/jihad
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/milf

#

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/022789.php
(GMA NEWS)

September 22, 2008
“Moro Islamic Liberation Front renews call for jihad against Philippines gov’t”

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/russia
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/venezuela
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/syria

#

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2087562/posts

“Russia - Northern Fleet heading to Venezuela for naval maneuvers in the Caribbean”
Interfax.ru via translation ^ | September 22, 2008
Posted on September 22, 2008 3:33:32 AM PDT by HAL9000

#

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2087470/posts

“Russian warships in Syrian waters”
press tv ^ | 9/20/08 | press tv
Posted on September 21, 2008 9:10:04 PM PDT by Flavius

#

RECAP:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2087393/posts

“Israel Says Russia Feeds Tips to Syria”
moscow times ^ | 9/22/08 | moscow times
Posted on September 21, 2008 6:08:51 PM PDT by Flavius

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/afghanistan
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/globaljihad
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/taleban
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/taliban

#

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2087554/posts

Afghanistan - Taliban abduct 140 civilian workers from construction project
Reuters (excerpt) ^ | September 22, 2008
Posted on September 22, 2008 3:05:27 AM PDT by HAL9000

TALIBAN ABDUCT MORE THAN 140 CIVILIAN LABOURERS OF A CONSTRUCTION FIRM IN WESTERN AFGHANISTAN -GOVERNOR

[Cindy]

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

#

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2087563/posts

Egypt - Group of foreigners kidnapped, including five Italians
Reuters Italy via translation ^ | September 22, 2008
Posted on September 22, 2008 3:46:17 AM PDT by HAL9000

ROME (Reuters) - A group of foreigners, including five Italians, was kidnapped in Egypt.
This was announced by the Foreign Ministry, without giving other details on the exact place where the abduction took place.

“The foreign minister, Franco Frattini, in flight to the United States, follows closely with the crisis unit of the Ministry of kidnapping cases in Egypt by a group of foreigners, among whom there are five Italians,” you law in a note.

“The minister - continues the note - has provisions to enable the full cooperation between the countries concerned, and the foreign ministry at this time maintains close contacts with other ministries of foreign affairs, as well as several Italian authorities and diplomatic offices Egypt-consular. “

(Excerpt) Read more at it.notizie.yahoo.com ...