Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat - Thread Thirty-Two

[Velveeta]

French counterterrorism agents arrest three with suspected links to al-Zarqawi

PARIS

French counterterrorism agents arrested three suspects in a network with alleged ties to al-Qaida in Iraq, seizing guns, explosives and detonators in a sweep north of Paris, officials said Thursday.

The overnight roundup in the suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois stemmed from information culled in investigators' questioning of 25 suspects detained in a similar anti-terrorism sweep Monday, officials said.(snip)

http://www.tkb.org/NewsStory.jsp?storyID=98665

[Velveeta]

Bridges searched because of suspicious vehicle

WASHINGTON A police officer spotted a suspicious vehicle beneat a bridge last night, so authorities searched a number of bridges in the D-C area.

It happened overnight after an off-duty officer with the Metropolitan Police Department approached a vehicle that was parked beneath the Key Bridge. Police say the officer thought the motorist might be disabled and need assistance. But when the officer approached, the vehicle took off.

That led to a search of other bridges in the area, including the Wilson Bridge, the Memorial Bridge, the 14th Street Bridge, the Chain Bridge and the Roosevelt Bridge. Officers from the M-P-D Harbor Unit, Arlington County and the U-S Park Police searched on foot and on boat but nothing was found.(snip)
http://www.wavy.com/Global/story.asp?S=4247968&nav=23ii

[Velveeta]

Agents find squirrels in man's coat pockets

SANTA TERESA, N.M. - A California man has been cited for bringing three ground squirrels into the United States from Mexico, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers.
The animals were found inside the man's coat pockets during an inspection at the Santa Teresa port of entry Tuesday. Officers became suspicious of the unidentified man after they found an empty bird cage in his pickup truck but no animals.
A special agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service took the animals into custody and issued the man a $350 fine and a violation notice.
Officers said smuggling live animals into the country from foreign locations is a concern because of the possible introduction of diseases.

****In the past, ground squirrels have tested positive for plague.****
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/13409469.htm

[jer33 3]

Speaking of Canada... I received this message on my chemical spills alert.... more xylene... what would have been consequences if not detected? I'm a few hundred posts behind, but hope to catch up after I finished my work projects.




Broken rail car spring causes chemical spill at rail yard


By Margaret Speirs
Dec 14 2005

A FAST-THINKING CN employee prevented a chemical spill from becoming a potential risk for people on Keith Ave. Dec. 8.
Around 1 p.m. while rail cars were being moved in the CN rail yard, a worker noticed some liquid leaking from the top of a rail car, located a few hundred feet down the tracks from the Petro-Canada refinery, and called for help immediately, said Terrace fire chief Peter Weeber.
The Terrace Fire Department assessed the situation and blocked off a 150-foot area around the rail car in all directions to avoid any exposure to the chemical, determined to be xylene, which is used in petroleum refinement and as a solvent.
Police blocked off traffic on Keith Ave. from the Sande Overpass to the intersection of Hwys 16 and 37. The roads were reopened to traffic after several hours.
A CN hazardous materials response team, employees from Canutec, a federal agency that deals with dangerous chemicals, and chemical experts from Prince George were called in to investigate, according to CN public affairs spokesman Graham Dallas.
Dallas said the investigation revealed that a small amount of xylene leaked due to a broken spring inside an emergency vent valve at the top of the rail car, but the chemical had evaporated and posed no danger to the public.
He said emergency valves eliminate any pressure buildup and this was the first he’d heard of a valve spring breaking.
Weeber said the CN crew transferred the xylene to another rail car and repaired the valve.

[Godzilla]

Iraq: Al-Zarqawi Announces Election Eve Offensive

Well, by the time this is posted, Iraq will have finished their election and the polls will be closed. News reports only very minor violence. Al-Z's pronouncement may have been unraveled by the Sunni terrorists telling him to back-off. All in all he lost a lot of 'face' and this was a major propagandistic loss to Al-Z.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Excellent googling you have there.

Seattle has so many muslims the mosque won't hold them all,makes it easy for one to slip across the border and blend in.

Now I will check a couple of thoughts.........LOL

Not much, except for the Northgate van rental company in the UK......and a Northgate Mall in Canada.

http://www.google.com/search?client=googlet&q=Northgate%20jehad

This has a forum that has the right words to check.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&client=googlet&q=Northgate+jihad&spell=1

This is from the next search:


Calgary Sun Columnist - Licia Corbella: Time to spy on the spies
(Coincidentally, Ressam says he met Charkaoui at an al-Qaida training camp in
... Juneau-Katsuya, who is now the CEO of Northgate Group, an Ottawa-based ...
www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/Columnists/
Calgary/Licia_Corbella/2005/03/19/966570.html - Similar pages

http://www.google.com/search?client=googlet&q=Northgate%20al-qaida

From the next search:


Justice For Mohamed Harkat
... intelligence agencies, which consider such measures to be a signature of al-Qaeda.
...
a corporate security-intelligence firm known as the Northgate Group, said ...
www.zerra.net/freemohamed/ data2/Duffy_Oct21_2004_2of2.php - 31k -
Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar pages

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&client=googlet&q=Northgate+al-qaeda&spell=1

Northgate Mall in Seattle:

http://www.google.com/search?client=googlet&q=Northgate%20terrorist

Has promise:

http://www.google.com/search?q=Northgate+gang&btnG=Search&hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&client=googlet

[nw_arizona_granny]

leaked due to a broken spring inside an emergency vent valve at the
top of the rail car, but the chemical had evaporated and posed no
danger to the public. <<<<

Reminds me of the airline mechanics.

Illegal mechanics and strange things break.

[nw_arizona_granny]

I found it interesting that the attacks in Iraq, all but stopped, when the borders were closed.

[Godzilla]

I found it interesting that the attacks in Iraq, all but stopped, when the borders were closed.

We pushed them out of their interior strongholds back to the Syrian border, denying them the cover of urban areas. Also put the pressure on Syria since that was the major route into Iraq for jihadiis. To get a rid of the 'gators, you must first drain the swamp.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Keeping out the foreigners, has to be bothering all the left, who kept saying "it is only Iraqi's fighting for their country"......I would be rich if I were paid for every time I have heard that statement.

[nw_arizona_granny]

December 15, 2005 Anti-Terrorism News

Patriot Act's fate remains uncertain
http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/12/14/patriot.act/index.html
Despite strong House support, opposition brewing in Senate

Iraqis voting in historic election
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/12/15/iraq.elections/index.html
While there were no reports of major violence, some scattered incidents
were reported.

(France) Arrested men 'had Zarqawi link'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4531002.stm
French police have arrested three more people in a continuing crackdown
on suspected Islamic extremists believed to have links to al-Qaeda.

(Australia) Fresh charges over terror cell
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17576010%255E1702,00.html
Eight alleged members of a Melbourne terror cell face a new charge of
financing a terrorist organization.

PST: Nordic countries also under terrorist threat
http://www.norwaypost.no/cgi-bin/norwaypost/imaker?id=20452
It is only a question of time before terrorists will strike against
Denmark, Norway or Sweden, says Joern Holme, Chief of the Norwegian Secret
Police (PST). He says there are already militant groups in Scandinavia.

Hamas says will step up attacks if Israel hits Iran
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3184842,00.html

(Israel) 11 Hamas Terrorists Apprehended
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=94862

House endorses ban on mistreating terrorism suspects
http://www.nwherald.com/MainSection/local/284941319812567.php

51 terror suspects nabbed trying to enter U.S. illegally
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47914
according to figures released to Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., by the
Department of Homeland Security

(Australia) Judge back silence on cleric deport
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17576731-29277,00.html

(Russia) Terrorists, Not Russian Security Forces Guilty of Beslan
Tragedy -- Commission
http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/12/15/beslanprobe.shtml

Bush: "Axis of evil" member Iran is “real threat”
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2005/December/middleeast_December377.xml&section=middleeast

(Israel) 10 suspected Islamic Jihad members arrested
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1134309581396&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Iraqis vote in 7 U.S. sites
http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20051213-114945-4064r.htm

(US) Congress Mulls Ban On Hamas In Elections
http://www.menewsline.com/stories/2005/december/12_15_3.html

Jordan PM vows "pre-emptive" terror war
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10468477/from/RS.3/
Jordan's new prime minister vowed Wednesday to wage a "pre-emptive" war
against Islamic extremists

Iraqi, Coalition Forces Capture Terrorists, Seize Weapons
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec2005/20051214_3662.html
Iraqi Army troops and coalition forces captured 11 insurgents and
seized 6 caches in operations southeast of Baqubah - other cache captures
also reported

(Australia) Now churches are targeted
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17572776%255E601,00.html
Four churches in Sydney's southwest have been attacked in 24 hours as
the city's riots spread from race to religion.

(Israel) Hamas Explosives Lab Discovered in Shechem
http://www.arutzsheva.com/news.php3?id=94833

(Netherlands) Translator jailed for leaking secret service's terror
files
http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=1&story_id=26165&name=Translator+jailed+for+leaking+secret+service%27s+terror+files+
A Moroccan-Dutch translator for the Dutch intelligence service AIVD has
been jailed for four-and-a-half years for leaking information to
terrorist suspects.

House Approves Extension of Patriot Act
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/patriot_act;_ylt=Al2K1sVlXQDlR64Dp0ci9PWs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

Israel kills 4 Gaza militants in air strike
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L14766608.htm

Europe passes tough new data retention laws
http://news.com.com/Europe+passes+tough+new+data+retention+laws/2100-7350_3-5995089.html?tag=nefd.top
Legislation championed by U.K. and other governments to trace
terrorists through communications records

More details emerge on arrest of "bin Laden's man in Sweden" (update)
http://www.radio.cz/en/article/73723

In Basra, democracy is good - for Shiites
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/12/14/news/basra.php

Some secular or Sunni candidates shot, campaign headquarters attacked,
and posters rarely last hours

Bangladesh 'militant leader' held
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4527852.stm
Security forces in Bangladesh say they have arrested the military head
of a banned Islamic militant group, Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, blamed for a
series of suicide bombings.

Frist hits Patriot Act proposal (for postponing vote)
http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20051213-111246-8303r.htm
"I'm against postponing it yet again"; wants the Senate to vote on the
just-finished conference report that extends the provisions by four
years

Commentary: Iran's undeclared war
http://www.washingtontimes.com/commentary/20051213-093520-8443r.htm

Afghan Terrorist Blasted Himself in Attempt to Set a Bomb
http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?catid=138&newsid=78603&ch=0&datte=2005-12-14
An Afghan terrorist blasted himself in an attempt to set a bomb near a
mosque in the town of Mazari Sharif; the mosque was expected to be
visited by the Minister of Youth of Afghanistan Amin Afzali.

EU parliament adopts anti-terrorism data rules
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=internetNews&storyid=2005-12-14T110739Z_01_MCC368824_RTRIDST_0_OUKIN-UK-SECURITY-EU-DATA.XML

[jer33 3]

Approximately 130 behind in the current poll for DoctorZin's "Regime Change for Iran"...keep voting. I think today is the last day.

[nw_arizona_granny]

http://frontpagemag.com/Articles/Printable.asp?ID=20535


Muslim Gang Rapes and the Aussie Riots
By Sharon Lapkin
FrontPageMagazine.com | December 15, 2005

In Australia this week amidst anger over an Islamic man’s rape conviction and the bashing of two Aussie life
savers, working-class locals erupted in a rampage of anger and brawling in some of the worst racial riots in
decades. But there is more to the story than is being repeated in the American mainstream media....

Four days after he set foot in Australia, the rape spree began. And
during his sexual assault trial in a New South Wales courtroom, the
Pakistani man began to berate one of his tearful 14-year-old victims
because she had the temerity to shake her head at his testimony.

But she had every reason to express her disgust. After taking an oath on the Qur’an, the
man – known only as MSK – told the court he had committed four attacks on girls as
young as 13 because they had no right to say “no.” They were not covering their face or
wearing a headscarf, and therefore, the rapist proclaimed: “I’m not doing anything wrong.”

MSK is already serving a 22-year jail term for leading his three younger brothers in a gang
rape of two other young Sydney girls in 2002. In his own defence, he argued that his
cultural background, was responsible for his crimes.

And he is right.

In some parts of Pakistan, sexual assault – including gang rape – is officially sanctified as
a legitimate form of enforcing the social value system.

One village council recently ordered that five young girls should be “abducted, raped or
murdered” for refusing to be treated as chattel. The girls were aged between six and
thirteen when they were married without their knowledge, to pay a family debt.

And when Mukhtar Mai’s 12-year-old brother was alleged to have
committed an offence in a small Pakistani farming village, the village
council ordered that his sister be gang-raped. So, she was taken to a
hut where four men repeatedly assaulted her.

According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan there were 804 cases of such
officially orchestrated sexual assault in 2000, and 434 of these were gang rapes. And if
that isn’t bad enough, the victims of these atrocities are then expected to commit suicide
because rape victims bring irreparable shame upon their family.

So as MSK committed his acts of rape while visiting Australia, he was
simply perpetuating his own cultural heritage. He hails from a society
where officially sanctioned sexual violence is commonly employed as a
means to enforce the subservience of women.

And this is where two fundamental tenets of the modern Left clash: the irresistible force
of cultural relativism collides with the immovable object of gender equality. But in the
21st century it is the latter that must prevail.

The laissez faire attitudes of cultural relativism are unacceptable in modern society.
Female genital mutilation is not some quaint tribal custom that we are bound to respect:
it is barbarism, pure and simple.

Yet many Western leftists habitually excuse these crimes against women in order to
maintain political solidarity with their allies in the Islamic world. After all, it would be
tough to make common cause with Muslim groups in the antiwar movement if
Progressives began to criticize the practice of polygamy.

But along with Islamic immigration to the West have come Third World value systems
regarding the treatment of women. We must not be seduced by the false tenets of
cultural relativism into a toleration of forced marriages, officially sanctioned rape, and
honour killings.

Australia’s unique brand of multiculturalism confers both rights and obligations: while
cultural and linguistic diversity are to be cherished, every Australian must subscribe to a
single standard of human rights. Australians must forcefully repudiate the corruption of
the multicultural idea that would condone crimes against women and support jihadism.

The dangers of cultural relativism became evident Down Under last weekend when
long-festering ethnic tensions erupted into violence at Cronulla Beach near Sydney. The
trouble began when a group of Middle Eastern men were assaulted by mobs of angry
locals. The local Member of Parliament, Bruce Baird MP, claimed the public outcry was
revenge for the Bali bombings and September 11.

But Baird also explained that a series of high profile rapes in the area had spurred locals
on and that a group of Middle Eastern men had attacked two Aussie lifesavers the
previous weekend. Locals claimed to the media after the riots that they were sick of
Lebanese Muslim gangs calling their daughters and wives names, and throwing cigarette
butts at them.

Then neo-Nazis showed up in a transparent attempt to exploit local ethnic tensions for
their own benefit. But mainstream Australians expressed their frustration with both the
violence inflicted by Middle Eastern men, and the equally violent effort by white racists to
exploit it.

While rejecting the tenets of neo-Nazism, working-class Aussies who live near Cronulla
Beach were saying they’ve had enough of this culturally motivated crime wave in a wave
of violence that is also unacceptable. The race riots in suburban Sydney represented a
clash between two polar opposites of white supremacy and Islamic male supremacy. But
the average Australian seeks a midpoint between these equally vile extremes in which
fairness and a single standard of law will apply to all.

[RonDog]

Our very own FReeper "Doctor ZIn" created an AMAZING website called "Regime Change IRAN"...

...which has been nominated as one of the finalists for the "Best Middle East blog" in the Annual Weblog Awards.

www.WEBLOGawards.org

Since "Iraq the Model" won LAST year...

...and since the elections in Iraq show that tremendous progess is being made over there -- in spite of DNC/media reports to the contrary...

...and since Doctor ZIn is a FReeper...

...and since Iran is currently governed by a MAD MAN...

...and since "Iraq the Model" is O.K. with "Regime Change Iran" winning THIS year:

CLICK HERE to vote:

http://weblogawards.org/2005/12/best_middle_east_or_africa_blo.php

Please go to that website, vote RIGHT NOW for "Regime Change IRAN"

[nw_arizona_granny]

(The underlined areas are live links in the article at site)


December 15, 2005, 8:52 a.m.
The Enemy Among Us
They’re coming, you know. In fact, they’re here.

The French just arrested 20 people, apparently pretty close to
doing some mean terrorist thing. In late September, nine people
were arrested in Paris in "what officials said was a crackdown on
suspected Islamic terrorist activities." It was later reported that the
DST (internal-security service) had learned that members of this
group had been trained in Lebanon, and possessed an exotic
poison: seeds of the "nigelle" plant, said to be highly lethal.

At the end of October, the London Telegraph reported that French
authorities had discovered that "an Islamic terror cell has smuggled
two surface-to-air missiles into Europe in a plot to shoot down
planes at one of France's main airports..." For extras, the terror
group, part of the Zarqawi network, had chemical and biological
agents including ricin, cyanide, and botulin.

In mid-October, the London Times reported that the British had
found that everyone's favorite terrorist deus ex machina, Abu Musab
al Zarqawi, had created a new terrorist group (Ansar al-Fath, the
Partisans of Victory) in Britain, and was recruiting "young Muslim
fanatics" to go to Iraq to join the glorious jihad there.

In the Netherlands, seven presumed terrorists (including one
female) were arrested in mid-October in the Hague, Amsterdam,
and Amiere. This took place against continued threats against the
lives of two members of parliament, Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Geert
Wilders, outspoken critics of radical Islamic extremists. Dutch
authorities say the terror group is called Hofstad." Hofstad is quite
interesting to counterterrorist organizations, because one of its
supporters, a Chechen identified as "Marad J.," had moved
materials from Amsterdam to a very interesting garage in the town
of Schiedam. In that garage the Dutch discovered all manner of
documents, videos, and audiotapes, all related to jihad. It included
instructions for making and moving bombs, how to respond to police
interrogations, and various documents — belonging to another
Chechen, Borz-ali I — tracking the purchase of helicopters,
landmine detectors, listening devices, and (get this) 1,246,000 gas
masks.

Suspected suicide terrorists were arrested in Copenhagen in late
October. Islamic extremists have been expelled from Italy in recent
weeks. And in our very own sunny Florida, at the Sami al-Arian trial
in Tampa last August, an FBI agent by the name of Kerry Myers was
asked whether Islamic Jihad had ever done anything mean to the
United States. Myers said that there had been threats against
America. Al-Arian's attorney, William Moffitt, asked whether any
action had followed the threats. "I can tell you there was a plot to
commit terrorist acts in the United States," Myers answered.
Pressed for further information, he said "it's classified."

In Jordan, one of the country's best journalists, Mohammed Abu
Rumman, commented sadly that the country's intelligence service —
long considered the best in the Arab world — was totally surprised
by the bloody attack in Amman. They thought they had the Zarqawi
organization effectively penetrated, Rumman said, "we know he
moves easily between Baghdad and Kabul, thanks to guaranteed
safe passage from the Iranians," but he still surprised the
Jordanians.

Iraq seems to be quite thoroughly infested with Iranian weapons,
agents, and money (and, if Dexter Filkens of the New York Times
has it right, with phony ballots as well). At the end of October, the
London Telegraph's Con Coughlin reported that "Iran's
Revolutionary Guards have set up a network of secret smuggling
routes to ferry men and equipment into Iraq for attacks on coalition
troops." The information was sourced to the MEK, which, while
politically unattractive, often has good information, and Coughlin
added that Western intelligence agencies (heaven help us!) "Have
reported a sharp increase in Iran's involvement in insurgent
operations..."

Coughlin also reported, in late November, that "Chechen rebels" (I
wonder what's the difference between "rebels' and "insurgents"...)
were being trained by Iranian Revolutionary Guards in Iran itself —
the Imam Ali camp in Tehran.

It's always fun to listen to the spooks try to explain what's going on.
Why are the Iranians supporting the Chechens against the Russians,
when the Russians are so helpful to the Iranian nuclear program?
Well, you see, "the Iranians are growing increasingly suspicious of
Moscow's intentions...so they are trying to put pressure on Moscow
by backing Chechen fighters." And why are the Iranians staging
terrorist attacks against British soldiers in Basra? "To pressure
Britain to drop its opposition to Iran's nuclear programme."

All very subtle, you see. Except that the Iranians have been
supporting the Chechens for years, maybe even decades. It isn't
fine-tuned to diplomatic chitchat. And the domination of southern
Iraq is part of the Iranian strategic plan, whatever Britain may or
may not do about the Iranian nuclear program.

Look at that list of uncovered terrorist operations, and ask yourself
how anyone could link the terror war against the West to any
specific act by any specific country. Do the spooks think that France
has come too close to the satanic Americans? Can anyone take
these people seriously?

Look at the list again. Remind yourself that it is undoubtedly only a
small fraction of the terror universe contained in Western countries.
Look in the mirror and say "they are at war with us, but we are not
taking the war to them anywhere but Iraq. That's a sucker's game."

Then call the White House and say "faster, please."

— Michael Ledeen, an NRO contributing editor, is most recently the
author of The War Against the Terror Masters. He is resident scholar
in the Freedom Chair at the American Enterprise Institute

http://www.nationalreview.com/ledeen/ledeen200512150852.asp

[Godzilla]

I would be rich if I were paid for every time I have heard that statement.

LOL with enough left over for me to become rich too.

[nw_arizona_granny]

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewForeignBureaus.asp?Page=\ForeignBureaus\archive\200512\FOR20051213c.html

Putin Calls Russia Islamic World's Most Reliable
Ally
By Sergei Blagov
CNSNews.com Correspondent
December 13, 2005

Moscow (CNSNews.com) - Russia is the Islamic world's most
reliable partner, President Vladimir Putin said in Chechnya on
Monday, implying that by attacking Russia, terrorists were doing
their cause a disservice.

Putin paid a surprise visit to Grozny, capital of the war-torn
Islamic region, to address the opening of the first session of the
local parliament.

"Russia has always been the most faithful, reliable and consistent
defender of the interests of the Islamic world," he told Chechen
lawmakers, to applause. "Russia has always been the best and
most reliable partner and ally."

"By destroying Russia, these people [terrorists] destroy one of
the main pillars of the Islamic world in the struggle for rights in
the international arena, the struggle for their legitimate rights,"
Putin added.

He said the leaders of key Islamic states understood this, which
was why the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and the
Arab League sent observers to monitor recent elections and a
referendum on a constitution for Chechnya.

While Western organizations refused to serve as observers, the
Arab and Islamic bodies sent delegates and gave the elections
their approval.

Expanding on Russia's ties to the Muslim world, Putin said OIC
member states had unanimously agreed to admit Moscow as a
permanent observer.

"Recently a delegation of Russian Muslims has been to Mecca to
discuss the problems of Muslim world development with their
brothers," he said. "Russia will pursue this policy."

Russia has a total population of some 144 million, of which more
than 20 million are Muslims.

Although the OIC agreed to make Russia a permanent observer,
a request from India to join the body four years ago was turned
down.

India is a predominantly Hindu country, but its Muslim minority is
the second largest Muslim community in the world, after
Indonesia, and is much bigger than Russia's.

Putin's comments are seen here as the latest step in a strategy to
reposition Russia as a strong ally of the Islamic world. He seems
eager to combat any perception that the conflict in Chechnya is a
battle between Christianity and Islam.

The president, who flew to the parliament building by helicopter,
asked members of the new parliament to focus on restoring law
and order -- "a complicated task for Chechnya and the Russian
Federation as a whole."

Chechens cast ballots on Nov. 27 in the region's fourth vote since
2003 to elect a new
parliament, whose aim is to allow the region to function as a
normal part of the Russian state following years of conflict.

The election, in which the United Russia party won the largest
number of seats, has been cited by the Kremlin as proof that the
southern region is stabilizing, despite continued armed violence.

[nw_arizona_granny]

TerroristWarning.com Terrorism Headlines 12/15/2005 # 1

National:

[AP] NORTH CAROLINA - Radioactive Material Reported Stolen In Statesville [Americium 241]

http://www.wfmynews2.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=53626

[AP] GEORGIA - Agency removes radioactive samples from Georgia Tech campus

"to prevent access to them by terrorists"

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/local/13398804.htm

[WNDU] INDIANA - Michiana military recruiters evacuated from offices

"sore throats, watery eyes, and breathing problems"

"problems started, after the departure of three visitors to the office"

http://www.wndu.com/news/122005/news_46564.php

[AFP] USA / CHINA - Hacker attacks in US linked to Chinese military: researchers

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/12/12/051212224756.jwmkvntb.html

[Mercury News] USA - Grandfather seems stuck on terror list

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/columnists/13395771.htm

[Daily Record/ Sunday News] PENNSYLVANIA - Bomb scare traps shoppers in stores [False alarm]

http://www.ydr.com/newsfull/ci_3302013

[CBS4 Kingston] MASS - Dog’s Discovery Leads To Kingston Explosives [Chemical reaction bombs]

http://cbs4boston.com/topstories/local_story_346095449.html

[AP] SOUTH CAROLINA - Drill tests response to smuggled radioactive material

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/13390957.htm

[AP] GLOBAL - State Dept. Renews Terror Warning

http://www.gadsdentimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051212/APW/512120979

[Orlando Sentinel] FLORIDA - Mailboxes put back in place after probe

"after strange powder was found inside them"

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/orl-lbriefs13_505dec13,0,3700041.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-lake

[Narragansett Times] RHODE ISLAND - HAZMAT responds to white powder at hospital [False alarm]

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15717664&BRD=1714&PAG=461&dept_id=73829&rfi=6

[Washington Post] USA - Air marshals, officers to patrol mass transit at 7 sites across U.S.

http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/5781158.html

[NAPSOA] USA - The North American Professional Security Officer's Association

"We Are First Responders! Yet We Are Being Left Out Of Important Anti-Terrorism Training!"

http://www.napsoa.org/

[KOTA] NEBRASKA - Bus drivers watch for terrorist activity

http://www.kotatv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4233190&nav=menu411_2

[News Journal] DELAWARE - Officials close DAFB after bomb scare

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051214/NEWS/512140359/1006

[Denver Post] USA - Lawyer's tale sheds light on terror list

http://www.denverpost.com/nationworld/ci_3298569

[Sacramento Bee] CALIFORNIA - Local home hit by pipe bomb

http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/13978147p-14811909c.html

[Visalia Times] CALIFORNIA - Pipe bomb detonated near museum

http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051214/NEWS01/51214003/1002

[AP] USA - Air Marshals to Expand Their Mission

http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp?idq=/ff/story/0001/20051214/1032445289.htm&ewp=ewp_news_1205air_marshals

[AP] USA - Pentagon reviewing handling of information on suspicious people

http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=4246984&nav=HMO6HMaY

[Rocky Mountain News] COLORADO - ELF back in spotlight

"Recent eco-terrorism arrests may have revealed link to Vail"

http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_4316671,00.html

[Jim Kouri] USA - Jordanian Conspirator Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Arabs into US

http://www.theconservativevoice.com/articles/article.html?id=10785

[KVBC] LAS VEGAS - Terrorist's son to stand trial in Vegas

http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=4246756&nav=15MV

[UPI] NEW YORK - Anti-terrorist billboard called racist

http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/?feed=TopNews&article=UPI-1-20051214-19200900-bc-us-billboard.xml

[WCAX] NEW YORK - Bomb Damages NY Bar

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=4248876

[AP] USA - Man charged in Oregon terrorist training plot

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/12/15/man_charged_in_oregon_terrorist_training_plot/

[Global Politician] USA/MEXICO BORDER - Invasion from Mexico: Islamic Terrorism and Sex Slavery are Imported Through the Insecure Border

http://globalpolitician.com/articledes.asp?ID=1478&cid=1&sid=26

[WND] USA/MEXICO BORDER - 51 terror suspects nabbed trying to enter US illegally

'If this isn't a wake-up call to our lax border security, I don't know what is'

http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47914

[AP] DC - Bridges searched because of suspicious vehicle

"when the officer approached, the vehicle took off"

"led to a search of other bridges in the area, including the Wilson Bridge, the Memorial Bridge, the 14th Street Bridge, the Chain Bridge and the Roosevelt Bridge. Officers from the M-P-D
Harbor Unit, Arlington County and the U-S Park Police searched on foot and on boat but nothing was found"

http://www.wavy.com/Global/story.asp?S=4247968&nav=23ii

[ChannelOklahoma.com] OKLAHOMA - Store Reopened After Del City Bomb Scare

http://www.channeloklahoma.com/news/5542150/detail.html

[IWO.com] USA - A tribute to our military [Video]

http://www.iwo.com/heroes.htm

International:

[UPI] TURKEY / USA - Goss warns Ankara to be ready for a possible U.S. aerial operation against Iran and Syria

http://www.champress.net/english/index.php?page=show_det&id=1574

[Inquirer] RUSSIA - Hacker takes out TV station

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=28299

[Global Security Newswire] RUSSIA - Russian Prison Connections Could Lead to Nuclear Smuggling

http://www.nti.org/d_newswire/issues/print.asp?story_id=B29BA7C6-9E2A-4CA3-9C28-DAC4EFF07969

[KiM Info Newsletter] KOSOVO - Rocket Attack, Grenades and Gun Battle- Kosovo's Latest "Isolated Incidents"

"unknown attackers fired two rocket-propelled grenades at the bus"

http://www.kosovo.com/news/archive/2005/December_11/3.html

[CNA] CZECH REPUBLIC - Swede suspected of terrorism detained in Prague

http://www.ctk.cz/english/services/english/index_view.php?id=162524

[Belford Telegraph] IRELAND - Bomb alert at Maghaberry jail [Telephone bomb threat]

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=672725

[INN] ISRAEL - IDF Steps Up Northern Border Alert Level

http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=94698

[CBC] CANADA / AFGHANISTAN - Afghan bomb blast injures 3 Canadian soldiers

http://www.cbc.ca/calgary/story/ca-afghanistan-ppcli20051212.html

[PTI] INDIA - Bomb threat in Kolkata office building

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1328555.cms

[Sangai Express] INDIA - One hurt in bomb blast

http://www.e-pao.net/GE.asp?heading=14&mx=15&src=121205

[Reuters] IRAQ - Security incidents in Iraq, Dec 12

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/KAM238905.htm

[Herald Sun] AUSTRALIA - Ugly messages in call to arms

"SMS messages calling on young Arabs to start another round of attacks at Sydney's Cronulla Beach "

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,17548165%5e662,00.html

[AAP] INDONESIA - Warning of possible Bali terror attacks

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=71423

[Dow Jones] UNITED KINGDOM - UK Buys Russian Missiles To Combat "Terrorism" [Combatting Terrorism SAM missiles]

"U.K. has secretly bought dozens of sophisticated Russian surface-to-air missiles, some of which are believed to have fallen into the hands of militant Islamists, to develop counter
measures against them"

http://framehosting.dowjonesnews.com/sample/samplestory.asp?StoryID=2005121308420001&Take=1

[IANS] INDIA - Four arrested in Gujarat for terrorist links [LeT]

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=India&month=December2005&file=World_News2005121322545.xml

[Reuters] AFGHANISTAN - Afghan bomber dies; donkey bomb hits aid vehicle

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=Philippines+%26+South+Asia&month=December2005&file=World_News2005121531655.xml

[Dawn] PAKISTAN - Bomb found in Jacobabad

http://www.dawn.com/2005/12/14/local30.htm

[Reuters] BURUNDI - Burundi army says kills 120 rebels since October

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L15436990.htm

[Arabic News] SYRIA - Asharq Al-Awsat: Syrian authorities arrest 12 members of terror organization

http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/051214/2005121408.html

[AP] FRANCE - French Counterterror Agents Arrest Three

http://www.startribune.com/stories/722/5783730.html

[Arab News] SAUDI ARABIA - Explosives Seized at Riyadh Villa

"Home-made bombs, weapons, chemical products, computers and leaflets inciting violence were among the items seized"

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=74706&d=15&m=12&y=2005&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom

[Boston Globe] PAKISTAN - Parsing tapes, some see a shift at Al Qaeda helm

http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2005/12/13/parsing_tapes_some_see_a_shift_at_al_qaeda_helm/

[IOL] IRAQ - Iraq insurgency 'could groom extremists for terror in Europe'

http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=165801982&p=y658xz688

[Dawn] PAKISTAN - Govt trying to locate Al Qaeda man: High Court informed

http://www.dawn.com/2005/12/14/local5.htm

[AP] SPAIN - 3 men with suspected al-Qaeda ties charged in Spain

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3184826,00.html

[AP] PAKISTAN - U.S. envoy: Bin Laden may no longer have operational control of al-Qaeda

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3183344,00.html

[Mosnews] RUSSIA - Security Forces Claim Top Al Qaeda Agent Killed in Russia

http://mosnews.com/news/2005/12/13/alqaedarussia.shtml

[Chicago Tribune] THAILAND - Thais fight insurgency in Muslim south

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0512150136dec15,1,5988997.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

[IsraelNN.com] ISRAEL - Car Bomb Detonated on Tunnel Highway

http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=94891

[nwctwx]

TM #33 will be online today at some point.

Sorry for the absence, I've been busy offline.

[nw_arizona_granny]

This is not the link for the article, but to a gentle reminder of what fear is:

http://www.gerardgroup.com/about_terrorism.php


Why We Must Stay in Iraq

By Ilana Freedman

December 16, 2005



On Thursday morning, 6,000 polling places opened in Iraq, even as large
explosions rocked the cities of Baghdad and Ramadi. If history is any
indication, millions of Iraqis will once again defy the danger and come
out
to vote in record numbers. They will elect the 275 seat parliament that
will
rule them for the next four years.

Meanwhile, the liberal left, championed by Democratic Congressman John
Murtha, continues to support the notion that our mission in Iraq has
failed
and that our only sensible alternative is to leave as soon as possible.
Murtha insists "we must begin discussions for an immediate
re-deployment of
US forces from Iraq" and suggests that it "be accomplished in as little
as
six months." Murtha is wrong.

I have a colleague who is now working as a contractor in Iraq. He
suggests
that understanding what is happening in Iraq today reminds him of the
story
of the ten blind men trying to describe an elephant. Each man described
only
what he could feel.

One man, feeling the animal's great leg, described the elephant as
"like a
large tree", another grasping its ear described it as "like a broad
leaf",
and so on. It is a good comparison.

The news we get from Iraq is fragmented and contradictory. It gives us
only
simplistic snapshots of a very complex situation in a very large
country,
one whose culture is vastly different from our own.

The recent rise in terrorist attacks throughout Iraq has led me to some
interesting speculation. Rather than representing an elevation of
organized
terrorism and a strengthening of the terrorists' power, this surge of
violence prior to the election may in fact reflect a growing
fragmentation
of what is called 'the insurgency' and a desperate attempt to sabotage
Iraqi
progress by small, disconnected cells whose leadership has been
disrupted by
US military efforts.

When I suggested this possibility to my colleague, he responded, "I do
think
that your analysis is accurate. What we are seeing now appears to be
desperation . . . the attacks are not directed toward strategic
targets.
Although it is true that the attacks are becoming more and more
sophisticated, and we are seeing some advancement in their tactical
responses to our advances, they are still only taking advantage of soft
civilian targets of opportunity, which would suggest they are not under
any
sort of unified command."

In the end, he suggested, "it may simply be that the reason the
information
is confusing to us all is that the people we are evaluating are
themselves
very confused." Many Iraqis have never lived in a free society and the
experience is as bewildering as it is exhilarating. They are struggling
with
diverse new ideas that need to be tailored to their diverse and unique
culture. In addition, there are those who are simply using this war as
an
opportunity to press their own personal agendas, complicating an
already
difficult situation.

Which leads me to another point. Iraq is a Middle Eastern country, and
the
Iraqi people are very Middle Eastern indeed. This is not said as a
criticism. It is a comment on the reality that Iraqis are not
Americans.
They do not think like Americans, their view of life is different, and
the
way in which they want to carry on their lives is not the same as ours.

So when we expect them to embrace our American version of democracy and
are
disappointed when they don't, we are doing them and ourselves a great
disservice. Iraq is quite capable of a democratic system that will
guide
them into the 21st century. But it will be their unique version of
democratic process that takes into account the dramatic differences
between
Sunni, Shia, and Kurdish populations, and the parliamentary type of
government by which they have chosen to be ruled. Pluralism in Iraq
will be
colored by their singularly Middle Eastern character and the
long-observed
traditions of their ancient country.

In an early morning CNN interview at a polling station in Iraq, school
teacher Buthana Mehdi spoke about the continuing terrorism. "I am sure
it
will end," she said, and added with a big smile, "I feel so happy.
[This
election] represents the beginning of our new life."

But Iraqi's satisfaction with the new instruments of democracy does not
mean
they are ready to take hold of the reins of democracy without continued
support - military and advisory. Because even though Iraqis welcome the
changes that are occurring daily in their country, they still have a
long
learning road to travel before democracy will come easily and without
costly
mistakes. If more Americans understood this, our ongoing presence in
Iraq
might make much more sense.

For example, a few weeks ago, two suicide bombers entered a large
police
academy in Baghdad and detonated themselves. They had to pass through
four
separate Iraqi police checkpoints to get to the lecture rooms. At two
of
these, they were supposed to have their identification checked and have
been
patted down. Yet somehow, this did not happen and they managed to get
through these levels of supposedly tight protection and kill more than
40
police recruits, seriously injuring 70 more. The lesson learned here is
that
the Iraqi police still have not fully absorbed all the hard lessons
that
they need to keep them safe, and that considerably more training and
support
will be required before they will be truly able to stand on their own.
New ideas are learned slowly in the Middle East. But given time, they
will
be learned well. The day will come when the withdrawal of US troops
will be
welcomed by Iraqis and Americans alike. But for the time being, our
strong
presence in Iraq keeps the democratization process moving forward. This
week's elections will once again show that the Iraqi people have both
the
will and the courage to continue the fight for freedom in their
homeland.
My colleague was recently home for a well-earned holiday with his
family,
and I asked him what the attraction was that kept him returning again
and
again to Iraq.
"This is the first time in my life that I have had the opportunity to
see a
country born," he answered, "and I don't want to miss it."

Ilana Freedman is a specialist in counter-terrorism and CEO of Gerard
Group
International LLC. She welcomes your comments and questions at
ilana@gerardgroup.com