Threat Matrix: May 2007

To: backhoe; piasa; Godzilla; nwctwx; All

http://www.icc-ccs.org/prc/piracyreport.php

###
###

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1837355/posts

http://public.cq.com/docs/hs/hsnews110-000002515678.html

CQ HOMELAND SECURITY – TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE
May 18, 2007 – 8:00 p.m.

“Maritime Terrorism May Be al Qaeda Method of Choice”
By Eleanor Stables, CQ Staff

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Maritime terrorism is positioned to be al Qaeda’s method of choice, according to an Israeli intelligence expert.

“In the near future we will witness more maritime attempts to disrupt the oil flow in the Persian Gulf and against cruise ships,” writes Akiva J. Lorenz of the Israel-based International Institute for Counter-Terrorism in a May 2007 paper.

Terrorists might sink a vessel in order to disrupt narrow chokepoints vital to trade.

“Six of the nine chokepoints in the world are located in geographical areas where local terrorist groups with ties to Al Qaeda possess maritime capabilities,” Lorenz writes.”

1,001 posted on 05/21/2007 2:19:47 PM PDT by Cindy

http://www.jihadwatch.org/cgi-bin/mt-search.cgi?IncludeBlogs=1&search=maritime

stepping back in time...

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/001912.php

May 12, 2004

“US Coast Guard prepares for terrorist threat”
(Savannah Morning News)

1,002 posted on 05/21/2007 2:29:59 PM PDT by Cindy

Maritime terrorism is positioned to be al Qaeda’s method of choice, according to an Israeli intelligence expert.

I remember much to do about the "AQ Navy" shortly after 911 with very little panning out. I wonder if this is recycle of an old rumor?

1,003 posted on 05/21/2007 2:41:59 PM PDT by Godzilla (Give me ambiguity or give me something else.)

To: All; backhoe; piasa; Godzilla; nwctwx; Jet Jaguar

http://www.satp.org
http://www.saag.org

http://www.saag.org/papers23/paper2251.html
Paper no. 2251
21.05.2007
“JIHAD: AFTER BOSNIA & J&K, HYDERABAD - INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM MONITOR-—PAPER NO. 236”
By B. Raman

http://www.saag.org/papers23/paper2250.html
Paper no. 2250
20.05.2007
“USE OF MOBILE PHONE IN HYDERABAD BLASTS - INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM MONITOR-—PAPER NO. 235”
By B. Raman

http://www.saag.org/papers23/paper2249.html
Paper no. 2249
20.05.2007
“BLAST IN HYDERBAD’S MECCA MOSQUE -INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM MONITOR-—PAPER NO. 234”
By B. Raman

1,004 posted on 05/21/2007 2:42:07 PM PDT by Cindy

OPINION: No, not really.

It’s like AQ’s “air force” of sorts (http://www.internet-haganah.com/harchives/006047.html ), like LTTE’s air force (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=ltte , http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=tamiltigers ), the drug running submarine, etc...the bad guys keep trying to accomplish their goals — and failing for the most part.

I don’t know anything new about an AQ navy, but do read with interest the Weekly Piracy Report and watch what the “pirates” are interested in, interested in accomplishing.

I also think about yachts.
Do only good guys buy yachts, I wonder?

Anyway, time will tell.

1,005 posted on 05/21/2007 2:53:02 PM PDT by Cindy

To: Jet Jaguar; JohnathanRGalt; abu afak; SlowBoat407; Godzilla; nwctwx; All

Thanks to Diogenesis for starting this thread and for the ping:

QUOTE:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1837390/posts

GOTTA SEE THIS-War4 End.Freedom 5/21/07-Nahr al-Bared, Achrafieh,Beirut,Tripoli
NASA, Yahoo, AP, Reuters, AFP, the usual suspects, many brave photographs | May 21, 2007 | The Armies of Good against the Axis of Evil

Posted on 05/21/2007 2:17:16 PM PDT by Diogenesis

GOTTA SEE THIS - War for Enduring Freedom 5/21/07 - Nahr al-Bared, Achrafieh, Beirut, Tripoli

BREAKING: Achrafieh, East Beirut, terrorists attacks, explosions against Christians, at busy mall. Ignored by the MSM.
BREAKING: Tripoli, Lebanon - ‘David’ takes on al Qaeda, Syria and Iran as the EU, Israel and the US do nothing
BREAKING: North Lebanon - at the Nahr al-Bared ‘Palestinian’-al Qaeda Fatah al-Islam terrorist camp, more retaliation

QFN ==== YE OLDE QUAGMIRE-FREE NEWS

Exclusive to FReerepublic
PICTURES YOU WILL NOT SEE IN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA

1,006 posted on 05/21/2007 3:10:06 PM PDT by Cindy

To: Jet Jaguar; All

http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/english/index.cfm?page=Elbaneh

Thanks to Jet Jaguar for the ping to this thread

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1837413/posts

and potentially good news.

http://www.wben.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=07524

“BREAKING NEWS: Elbaneh In Custody?”
Monday, May 21, 2007 12:27 PM - WBEN/AP

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Buffalo, NY (AP) - A Yemen newspaper is reporting that Jaber Elbaneh — the fugitive associate of the so-called Lackawanna Six — is in custody in Yemen.

Elbaneh is wanted in Buffalo on a charge of providing material support to al-Qaida by attending a training camp in Afghanistan in 2001.”

1,007 posted on 05/21/2007 3:31:02 PM PDT by Cindy

1,008 posted on 05/21/2007 4:49:06 PM PDT by Cindy

Thanks to TexKat for the ping to this thread which goes with post no. 1008:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1837441/posts

“Fla. doctor convicted in terror case”
AP ^ | 5/21/07 | LARRY NEUMEISTER

Posted on 05/21/2007 4:17:04 PM PDT by TexKat

NEW YORK

1,009 posted on 05/21/2007 4:53:35 PM PDT by Cindy

UPDATE On the Idaho murderer/sniper/ambusher:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1836756/posts?page=52#52

UPDATE:

(Note: 1 photo and videos included)

http://www.kxly.com/news/?sect_rank=1&section_id=559&story_id=11220

“Moscow shooter had a history of violence”
KXLY.com Staff
Last updated: Monday, May 21st, 2007 05:09:37 PM

Latah County Sheriff’s Office
Moscow shooter Jason Hamilton

Related Videos:

Moscow shooter had a history of violence
Related Stories:
• Weapons used in ambush were civilian version of military rifles
• Wounded deputy’s condition improves
• UI student wounded in weekend ambush
• Timeline of the ambush in Moscow
• Devoted church groundskeeper killed in Moscow ambush
• Sound Off: Condolences to the Moscow community
• Husband, father, former Army Officer killed in Moscow shooting
Related Links:
• Officer Down Memorial Page for Lee Newbill

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “MOSCOW — Jason Hamilton, the gunman who killed three people and wounded two others before taking his own life in Moscow over the weekend, had a violent history and once told a psychiatrist if he were to commit suicide he would take a large number of people with him.

Moscow Assistant Police Chief David Duke said Monday morning that Hamilton, 36, had a long criminal history and had undergone a court-ordered mental evaluation in February in Lewiston. During that evaluation Hamilton talked about his thoughts on homicide and suicide and said that if he did commit suicide, he would try and take a large number of people with him.

After authorities confirmed Jason Hamilton’s identity troopers with the Idaho State Police went to his home at 1020 Julienne Way to conduct a welfare check on his wife Crystal. Inside a bedroom they found Crystal dead from a single gunshot wound to the head.”

52 posted on 05/21/2007 5:41:53 PM PDT by Cindy

1,010 posted on 05/21/2007 5:44:06 PM PDT by Cindy

To: All; Jet Jaguar; Border Enforcer; Marine Inspector; Miami Vice; backhoe; piasa; Godzilla; nwctwx

THANKS to Jet Jaguar for the ping to the Nuevo Leon situation.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=mexico
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=nuevoleon

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1837530/posts

Mexico: A Deteriorating Security Situation [Nuevo Leon police strike]
Stratfor.com ^ | May 21, 2007

Posted on 05/21/2007 6:21:19 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch

Summary

About 150 state police officers in Mexico’s northern Nuevo Leon state went on strike May 21, demanding higher salaries and more resources to fight organized crime, which has claimed the lives of six state police officers in the past four days. Given that drug cartels have increasingly targeted police, army and government personnel in response to a federal campaign to combat organized crime — and are showing no signs of stopping — the security situation in Mexico likely will continue deteriorating.

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

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1818968/posts

[Mexico:]More than 100 police arrested in Nuevo León crackdown
San Antonio Express-News ^ | 04/16/2007 | Sean Mattson

Posted on 04/17/2007 4:02:45 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1700225/posts

Sean Mattson: Another police chief killed in Nuevo Leon [Mexico]
San Antonio Express-News ^ | September 12, 2006 | Sean Mattson

Posted on 09/12/2006 1:33:38 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch

Another police officer fell in Nuevo León today.

Enrique Barrera Nevárez, public security director in the city of Linares, was shot with high-powered assault rifles while leaving his home this morning, http://www.elnorte.com is reporting.

As would appear to be the norm with this type of shooting, the killers escaped.

According to the newspaper, the police chief had been threatened and a previous attempt on his life failed earlier this year.

Linares is southeast of Monterrey on the highway to Ciudad Victoria.

The killing is the 38th in the state, a record, and the 6th of a law enforcer so far this year, according to El Norte.

Last week Marcelo Garza, one of the Nuevo León state’s leading organized crime investigators, was shot dead outside a community center, sparking fears that warring drug cartels are increasingly targeting government law enforcers.

1,011 posted on 05/21/2007 7:05:01 PM PDT by Cindy

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46111

Coalition Troops Free Captive Iraqis, Detain Suspected Terrorists

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 21, 2007 – Coalition forces freed five captive Iraqis and detained six suspected terrorists during operations throughout Iraq today.
Coalition forces freed five Iraqis who had been held captive and tortured by terrorists, targeting the building where the captives were held northeast of Karmah during continued operations to disrupt the al Qaeda network operating in the area.

After a thorough search of the building, ground forces found a padlocked room. Inside were a boy who had been kidnapped and severely beaten with chains, cables and hoses, and four men who also showed signs of torture. The boy said the terrorists had hooked electrical wires to his tongue and shocked him.

Coalition forces evacuated the five individuals and treated their injuries. The hostages indicated their captors were foreign fighters who spoke with different accents. The hostages will be turned over to their respective tribal leaders for repatriation.

“The brutality and viciousness of these acts demonstrate the complete disregard terrorists have for human life,” said Army Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. “We will continue to hunt foreign fighters who bring this violence into Iraq.”

Several enemy fighters were detained today in a series of raids elsewhere in Iraq:

— Coalition forces captured three suspected al Qaeda cell leaders during raids this morning in western Baghdad. One of the suspects is allegedly a commander of a group that conducts assassinations and car-bomb attacks in the capital city.

— In Mosul today, coalition forces captured a suspected commander of a bomb cell and an alleged senior cell leader. Intelligence reports also indicate the alleged senior cell leader formerly led a sniper cell.

— Coalition forces also captured four individuals with suspected ties to al Qaeda northeast of Karmah today.

— During operations south of Fallujah, coalition forces detained three suspected terrorists for alleged involvement with a regional al Qaeda in Iraq commander, officials report.

“Every day, we are hitting al Qaeda and disrupting their network,” Garver said. “We will continue this incremental progress against them, using each operation as a stepping stone to the next.”

In other recent operations, soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, discovered a component often used for bombs and traced it to a house near Hamadanyia, where they uncovered a weapons cache and detained the suspect who was with the weapons. The find yielded two AK-47 assault rifles, 1,000 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, several magazines, a video camera, six propane tanks, and many components used in the making of roadside bombs. An hour after finding the cache, the troops also found a bomb near the site. The suspect is being held for further questioning.

During a combat operation May 19, soldiers from Fort Drum, N.Y.’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, thwarted a possible sniper attack while looking for evidence of three missing U.S. soldiers who were abducted May 12.

Soldiers were notified that two insurgents with weapons were lying in wait for the troops. After the insurgents were positively identified, they were shot by an AH-64 Apache helicopter gunship crew.

Soldiers later found a semi-automatic sniper rifle and a magazine full of 7.62 mm ammunition. The unit also confirmed one of the insurgents was killed. The weapon will be analyzed to see if it had been linked to previous incidents within the area of operations, U.S. officials said.

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

1,012 posted on 05/21/2007 7:07:43 PM PDT by Cindy

To: SJackson; yonif; ganeshpuri89; backhoe; piasa; Godzilla; nwctwx; All

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=lebanon

###

http://counterterrorismblog.org/2007/05/al_qaedas_new_front_in_lebanon.php

“Al Qaeda’s New Front in Lebanon”
By Walid Phares
(May 21, 2007)

###

stepping back in time...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1810409/posts?page=236#236

http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/005995.html

05 April 2007
“Lebanon continues efforts to combat jihadis in and around Tripoli”

SNIPPET: “The following is an unsourced report of ongoing efforts by the Lebanese authorities to address the threat posed by Salafist Jihadis in north Lebanon.”

http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/005976.html

22 March 2007
“Lebanon rounding up jihadis?”

http://www.sofir.org/reports/2007-01-05-lebanon.html

“Lebanese-based Jihadis Online”

By: A. Aaron Weisburd, Director
Society for Internet Research
http://www.sofir.org
contact at sofir dot org

Restrictions: Reposting or republication of this document is subject to the approval of the author.

236 posted on 04/05/2007 1:26:24 PM PDT by Cindy

###

stepping back in time...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1765132/posts

MI chief: Dozens, maybe hundreds, of al-Qaeda operative arrived in Lebanon
Yediot Ahronoth ^ | January 10, 2007 | Miri Chason

Posted on 01/09/2007 11:34:32 PM PST by HAL9000

Military Intelligence Chief Maj.-Gen. Amos Yadlin told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that dozens, if not hundreds, of al-Qaeda operative arrived in Lebanon lately.
“Those who can be harmed by al-Qaeda operatives are UNIFIL and western interests in Lebanon,” Yadlin said referring to the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon.

TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events; Click to Add Topic
KEYWORDS: alqaeda; alqaida; beirut; globaljihad; jihad; lebanon; pakistan; unifil; Click to Add Keyword
[ Report Abuse | Bookmark ]

1 posted on 01/09/2007 11:34:34 PM PST by HAL9000
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To: All
ON THE NET...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1761584/posts?page=183#183

http://www.sofir.org/reports/2007-01-05-lebanon.html

“Lebanese-based Jihadis Online”

By: A. Aaron Weisburd, Director
Society for Internet Research
http://www.sofir.org
contact at sofir dot org

Restrictions: Reposting or republication of this document is subject to the approval of the author.”

(December 5, 2007)

http://www.internet-haganah.com/harchives/005834.html

05 January 2007

“A couple of hundred jihadis online in Lebanon”

SNIPPET: “The problem with getting a handle on the jihad situation in Lebanon by way of analyzing who is accessing jihadist web sites is this: you can’t tell the Lebanese Sunnis from the Palestinian Sunnis (and in Lebanon, that is an important distinction). With that in mind, here is what we know about the presence of Lebanese-based jihadis online, based on the demographic research conducted by the Society for Internet Research in 2006:

• Lebanese-based Jihadis Online

For background and context see:”

2 posted on 01/09/2007 11:48:16 PM PST by Cindy
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To: All
http://www.sofir.org/sarchives/005745.php

05 October 2006
“Al-Qaeda’s Lebanese Ambitions”
Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Fighel
ICT – Senior Researcher
September 29, 2006

3 posted on 01/09/2007 11:49:40 PM PST by Cindy
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To: All
http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/005787.html

03 December 2006
“New statement from Palestinian al-Qaida in Nahr al-Barid camp in north Lebanon”

4 posted on 01/09/2007 11:51:27 PM PST by Cindy
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To: All
http://osint.internet-haganah.com/archives/000704.html

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3350364,00.html

“MI chief: Al-Qaeda operatives flocking to Lebanon
Military Intelligence chief Amos Yadlin says hundreds of al-Qaeda operatives flocking to Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, and Syria”
Miri Chason
Published: 01.09.07, 17:54

5 posted on 01/09/2007 11:54:02 PM PST by Cindy
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To: All
ON THE NET...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1761584/posts?page=290#290
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1761584/posts?page=300#300

6 posted on 01/09/2007 11:55:40 PM PST by Cindy
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To: All
QUOTE:

http://osint.internet-haganah.com/archives/000309.html

April 14, 2006

“Al-Qaeda Moving into Israel’s Neighbors”

Interview with Maj.-Gen. Amos Yadlin - Alex Fishman (Yediot Ahronot-Hebrew, 12Apr06):

“We see an increase in the importance which al-Qaeda attaches to the Arab states surrounding Israel. There are al-Qaeda cells in all these countries and their purpose is to try to overthrow the regimes and attack Israel,” said Israel’s Chief of Military Intelligence Maj.-Gen. Amos Yadlin.
Posted on 14 April 2006 @ 17:58 GMT

7 posted on 01/10/2007 12:01:54 AM PST by Cindy
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To: All
QUOTE:

http://osint.internet-haganah.com/archives/000572.html

September 26, 2006

You’ll find them at Ein el-Hilwah...

Negroponte: US watching for Al Qaida in Lebanon:

US Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte said Friday that the US was considering the possibility that Al Qaida could expand its operations to Lebanon, Israel Radio reported.
Negroponte said the possibility of Al Qaida’s cooperating with Hizbullah could not be ruled out, despite the fact that Al Qaida is a Sunni organization and Hizbullah is Shi’ite.

Al Qaida’s number two, Ayman Al Zawahiri, in a video marking the fifth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, called on Muslims to fight “Zionist forces” in south Lebanon, and “set up a jihad base on the borders of Palestine.”

See, for example: Children of the camp

Posted on 26 September 2006 @ 20:26 GMT

8 posted on 01/10/2007 12:03:30 AM PST by Cindy
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To: All
Note: Photos included.

http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/005454.html

05 February 2006
“al-Qaida, the next generation”

9 posted on 01/10/2007 12:04:48 AM PST by Cindy
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To: All
http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/005780.html

20 November 2006
“Lebanon’s Sunnis Rising?”

SNIPPET: “5. Lebanon’s Sunnis and al-Qaida

Lebanon’s Sunni Muslim population is the weakest of all the ethnic/religious groups in the country, not due to lack of numbers, but due to lack of arms. This situation, combined with Hizballah’s move to topple the current Lebanese government, and an emerging United States policy in Iraq that will involve a rapid exit from the region and abandonment of previous commitments, all combine to create a situation where on the one hand Lebanon’s Sunnis are a people in need of a fighting force, and Sunni jihadis of the al-Qaida variety may be free to move into Lebanon to fill that need. Certainly conditions in Lebanon seem ripe for such a development.

6. “Lebanese” al-Qaida remains Palestinian al-Qaida”

10 posted on 01/10/2007 12:19:51 AM PST by Cindy
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To: All
ON THE NET...

http://osint.internet-haganah.com/archives/000293.html
(JPOST..com
April 06, 2006
“Al-Qaida planning terrorist attacks in Gaza”
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Al-Hayat also reported that al-Qaida recently appointed a chief for the region of Jordan, Israel, Syria and Lebanon, according to Israel Radio.

Al-Qaida is taking advantage of the lawlessness in Gaza to establish operational networks.”

http://osint.internet-haganah.com/archives/000212.html
February 08, 2006
“Still more on al-Qaida in Lebanon”

http://osint.internet-haganah.com/archives/000203.html
February 04, 2006
“MORE ON AL-QAIDA IN LEBANON”

http://osint.internet-haganah.com/archives/000199.html
February 02, 2006
“Al-Qaida claims responsibility for bomb in Lebanon”

11 posted on 01/10/2007 12:23:54 AM PST by Cindy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]
To: All
ON THE NET...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=lebanon

http://www.tkb.org/Country.jsp?countryCd=LE

http://www.jihadwatch.org/cgi-bin/mt-search.cgi?IncludeBlogs=1&search=Lebanon

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_3072.html

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

This information is current as of today, Wed Jan 10 2007 00:27:05 GMT-0800.

LEBANON

December 22, 2006

This Travel Warning is being issued to alert American citizens to the ongoing demonstrations and political tensions in Lebanon. The Department strongly urges U.S. citizens to defer travel to Lebanon and also urges American citizens in Lebanon to consider carefully the risks of remaining. This Travel Warning also alerts U.S. citizens to the ongoing safety and security concerns in Lebanon. It supersedes the Travel Warning issued on September 28, 2006.

The Department remains concerned about the personal safety and security of American citizens in Lebanon. American citizens traveling to or residing in Lebanon despite this Travel Warning should exercise heightened caution. Since the August 14 cessation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon, political tensions in Lebanon have increased and have become a cause for concern in recent weeks. Hizballah maintains a strong presence in many areas of Lebanon, and there is the potential for anti-American actions by other extremist groups in Tripoli, Sidon, and the Palestinian refugee camps. Americans are urged to avoid large public gatherings, including the Martyrs Square and Riad El Solh areas in Beirut when demonstrations occur. Conditions in Lebanon can change quickly and dramatically, including with regard to access to Beirut International Airport and the ports. Sporadic violence has occurred and there remains the possibility of further violence. All U.S. citizens in Lebanon are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Beirut where they may also obtain updated information on travel and security conditions in Lebanon. Registration details are discussed below.

U.S. citizens in Lebanon should at all times be aware of a possible deterioration of the security situation. Americans should pay close attention to their personal security and consider fully the necessity of remaining in Lebanon at this time. Accordingly, Americans and their family members should ensure that their passports and U.S. travel documents are up-to-date. The lack of valid travel documents will delay the ability of the U.S. Embassy to provide assistance.

The U.S. Government considers the potential threat to U.S. Government personnel assigned to Beirut sufficiently serious to require them to live and work under strict security restrictions. These practices limit, and may occasionally prevent, the movement of U.S. Embassy officials in certain areas of the country. Unofficial travel to Lebanon by U.S. Government employees and their family members requires prior approval by the Department of State.

Dangers posed by landmines and unexploded ordnance throughout southern Lebanon are significant and also exist in other areas where civil war fighting was intense. There is a danger of unexploded cluster bombs and other ordnance in areas south of the Litani River that were scenes of fighting in the July-August 2006 conflict. Over 100 civilians have been injured, and more than a dozen killed, by unexploded ordnance, since the cessation of hostilities. Travelers should be aware of posted landmine warnings and strictly avoid all areas where landmines and unexploded ordnance may be present.

The Embassy is located in Awkar, near Antelias, Beirut, Lebanon. Public access hours for American citizens are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. However, American citizens who require emergency services outside of these hours may contact the Embassy by telephone at any time. The telephone numbers are (961-4) 542-600, 543-600, and fax 544-209. American citizens may register with the Embassy online by visiting https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs. Information on consular services and registration can also be found at http://beirut.usembassy.gov or by phone at the above telephone numbers between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday local time.

Updated information on travel and security in Lebanon may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States or, from overseas, 1-202-501-4444. Additional details can be found in the Department of State’s Consular Information Sheet for Lebanon, the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, the Middle East and North Africa Public Announcement and the Travel Publication A Safe Trip Abroad, all of which are available on the Department’s Internet site at http://travel.state.gov.

12 posted on 01/10/2007 12:27:24 AM PST by Cindy
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To: Dog; Coop; AdmSmith; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Straight Vermonter; Calpernia; Deetes; jmc1969; ...
Ping

13 posted on 01/10/2007 12:40:33 AM PST by Cap Huff
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To: dennisw; Cachelot; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; Lent; GregB; ..
If you’d like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.
High volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel, WOT

..................

14 posted on 01/10/2007 7:02:45 AM PST by SJackson (The Pilgrims—Doing the jobs Native Americans wouldn’t do!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]
To: Cap Huff
Maybe we could loan Israel a couple of our gun-ships once they get finished in Somalia?

15 posted on 01/10/2007 7:36:49 AM PST by newcthem (George Bush’s legacy.....a war with an enemy that can’t be named and the “Religion of Peace”)
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To: newcthem
Yeah. But I’m thinking that Lebanon is going to be a lot different than Somalia.

16 posted on 01/10/2007 8:49:57 AM PST by Cap Huff
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To: All
A bit off topic, but fyi:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1761584/posts?page=619#619

17 posted on 01/11/2007 2:55:06 AM PST by Cindy
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To: All
A bit off topic, but fyi:

(Note: AQ in Nablus)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1761584/posts?page=643#643

18 posted on 01/11/2007 2:04:45 PM PST by Cindy
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To: SJackson; 4butnomorethan30characters; RDTF; FARS; All
RECAP and UPDATE:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1810409/posts?page=1199#1199

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1177251152741&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://osint.internet-haganah.com/archives/001042.html

April 23, 2007

Another sunny day in Ein el-Hilweh

Lebanon: Palestinian man shot, bomb damages car

A Palestinian taxi driver was shot and critically wounded and a bomb exploded Monday in a southern Lebanese refugee camp notorious for lawlessness, Lebanese security officials said.

A man with a pistol shot the driver, Kayed Abdullah, in the head at point-blank range in Ein el-Hilweh camp and fled, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of government regulations. The motive was not known.

Abdullah, 30, was rushed to hospital where he was listed as in a serious condition.

Separately, a bomb exploded under a car in another part of Ein el-Hilweh, causing limited damage, the officials said. The bomb attack was thought to be the work of Muslim extremists.

Posted on 23 April 2007 @ 18:23 GMT

###

Note: Please read the whole thread.
Thank you.

stepping back in time...

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1765132/posts

MI chief: Dozens, maybe hundreds, of al-Qaeda operative arrived in Lebanon
Yediot Ahronoth ^ | January 10, 2007 | Miri Chason

Posted on 01/09/2007 11:34:32 PM PST by HAL9000

Military Intelligence Chief Maj.-Gen. Amos Yadlin told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that dozens, if not hundreds, of al-Qaeda operative arrived in Lebanon lately.

“Those who can be harmed by al-Qaeda operatives are UNIFIL and western interests in Lebanon,” Yadlin said referring to the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon.

1,199 posted on 04/23/2007 2:39:02 PM PDT by Cindy

19 posted on 04/23/2007 2:43:11 PM PDT by Cindy
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Comment #20 Removed by Moderator
To: Cindy
BTT

21 posted on 04/23/2007 2:56:46 PM PDT by Rushmore Rocks
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To: Rushmore Rocks
Thank you RR.

22 posted on 04/23/2007 2:58:01 PM PDT by Cindy
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To: Cindy
IMHO......this is quite relevant and needs more attention.

“Something wicked this way comes.”.......or words to that effect.

23 posted on 04/23/2007 3:00:08 PM PDT by Rushmore Rocks
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To: Rushmore Rocks
Ditto that.

24 posted on 04/23/2007 3:02:18 PM PDT by Cindy
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1,013 posted on 05/21/2007 7:25:23 PM PDT by Cindy

To: All; backhoe; piasa; StillProud2BeFree; Calpernia; Velveeta

ON THE BLOGS:

http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/1656.htm

“Police, Improperly Clad Women Clash In Tehran”
(May 21, 2007)

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=25574_Iranian_Police_Beat_Women_in_Tehran&only

Monday, May 21, 2007
“Iranian Police Beat Women in Tehran”

Note: And more links here, too.

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2007/05/my-god-theyre-beating-their-women-to.html

Monday, May 21, 2007
“My God!!! They’re Beating Their Women to a Bloody Pulp!”

1,014 posted on 05/21/2007 7:37:54 PM PDT by Cindy

To: JohnathanRGalt; backhoe

1,015 posted on 05/21/2007 10:59:32 PM PDT by Cindy

To: piasa; backhoe; All

THANKS to piasa for the ping and updating this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1837441/posts

“Fla. doctor convicted in terror case”
AP ^ | 5/21/07 | LARRY NEUMEISTER

Posted on 05/21/2007 4:17:04 PM PDT by TexKat

NEW YORK

1,016 posted on 05/22/2007 1:49:25 AM PDT by Cindy

1,017 posted on 05/22/2007 2:12:27 AM PDT by Cindy

THE WEEKLY PIRACY REPORT - REPORT SNIPPET - QUOTE:

http://www.icc-ccs.org/prc/piracyreport.php

Weekly Piracy Report
16-22 May 2007

The following is a summary of the daily reports broadcast by the IMB’s Piracy Reporting Centre to ships in Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean Regions on the SafetyNET service of Inmarsat-C from 16 to 22 May 2007.

ALERT

Chittagong anchorage, Bangladesh
Forty seven incidents have been reported since 28.01.2006. Pirates are targeting ships preparing to anchor. Ships are advised to take extra precautions.

The 2006 Annual IMB Report on Piracy and Armed Attacks against Ships is now published. Please see the end of this page to order.

Suspicious crafts

18.04.2007: 2320 LT: Entrance Cartagena Colombia.
A container ship, while disembarking her pilot on the port side noticed, on radar, one unlit suspicious boat approaching from the stbd side at high speed. The master alerted the crew. The boat came very close to the vessel (about 10 m from the hull). On seeing the alert crew on ship’s side, the boat retreated and disappeared into the darkness. The master informed the Centre to alert other vessels calling Cartagena, Colombia.

Recently reported incidents

16.05.2007: 0125 LT: Fairway Buoy RACON ‘B’, Bonny River, Nigeria.
OOW onboard a tanker drifting off Bonny River noticed three boats on radar at a range of one mile. When the boats came within two cables from ship OOW informed master and alerted crew. The suspicious boat moved away when searchlights were directed towards it.

12.05.2007: Monrovia, Liberia.
About 25 pirates armed with machetes, in two fishing boats, boarded a refrigerated cargo ship at anchor that was awaiting repairs due to a fire onboard several days earlier. They assaulted the crewmembers, who received serious injuries and forced them to disembark. The pirates hijacked the ship and towed it to neighbouring Ivory Coast.

08.05.2007: 1800 LT: Corentyne River, Suriname.
Four pirates armed with guns boarded four fishing vessels. They assaulted all the crew and kidnapped a crewmember. Pirates stole fishing vessels property, cargo, crew personnel belongings and escaped. The rest of the crew were rescued on 10.05.2007 at 1500 lt.

08.05.2007: 2300 LT: 10 km Off Escravos, Delta State, Nigeria.
Forty pirates armed with guns in six boats attacked the vessel. Nigerian military personnel engaged the pirates in a gun battle, but the pirates managed to kidnap four crew. One crew and three naval personnel sustained injuries.

05.05.2007: Early morning Hrs: Off Nigeria Coast, Nigeria.
Pirates armed with guns boarded a platform rig at dawn. They kidnapped one crewmember and escaped. The pirates have made no demands.

01.05.2007: Penington River, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Pirates armed with weapons / explosives attacked an FPSO and kidnapped six crewmembers. Negotiations are underway for the safe release of the crew.

24.04.2007: 0245 LT: Posn 2.2 miles from Tema Port breakwater, Ghana.
Robbers armed with knives boarded a general cargo ship at anchor. They caught and tied up the duty AB and took his walkie talkie. The robbers stole ship’s stores from the forecastle store. The robbers escaped in the waiting boat. Duty AB released himself and raised alarm

19.04.2007: Evening Hrs: Delta Region, Nigerian.
Pirates armed with guns attacked a security vessel. They kidnapped three Nigerian crewmembers and stole weapons and equipment form the vessel. Six crew were injured.

06.04.2007: 0200 LT: Lagos, Nigeria.
Robbers boarded a tanker at berth. They broke open the paint store, and stole ship’s stores. Alarm raised and authorities informed. Master suspected robbers might have boarded with the assistance of the port watchman.

17.05.2007: 0530 LT at “B” Inner Anchorage, Mombassa, Kenya.
Ship’s crew onboard a container ship spotted a robber on the ship’s stern. Alarm raised and crew proceed aft to investigate. On seeing the crew, robber jumped overboard and escaped in a small boat waiting with two more persons. Robbers stole ship’s stores.

15.05.2007: 0840 UTC: Posn 01:10N - 049:00E, 210 NM from coast, Somalia.
While underway, five pirates armed with guns boarded and hijacked a fishing vessel. They sailed the vessel to a new location and moored in Posn: 04:30N - 048:10E. The 13-crew members are held hostage onboard.

15.05.2007: 0840 UTC: Posn 01:10N - 049:00E, 210 NM from coast, Somalia.
While underway, five pirates armed with guns boarded and hijacked a fishing vessel. They sailed the vessel to a new location and moored in Posn: 04:30n - 048:10e. The 11-crew members are held hostage onboard.

14.05.2007: 1530 LT: Posn 01:19.62N - 048:51.92E, 180 NM off Somalia.
Pirates, armed with machine guns and rocket launchers, approached a general cargo ship underway from her port quarter. The pirates ordered the ship to stop and started firing towards the bridge. D/O raised alarm, SSAS alarm activated, master took evasive manoeuvres, and fired rocket parachute signals on the boat when he saw the pirates preparing to fire rocket propelled grenades. The ship was hit and the accommodation caught fire and was extensively damaged. The crew extinguished the fire and took preventive measures to stop the fire from spreading. The master continuously maneuvered the vessel to prevent the pirates from boarding. The attack lasted for one hour before the pirates aborted the attack. No injuries to crew. PRC relayed message to coalition navy for assistance.

09.05.2007: 1800 LT: Posn 07:47N - 120:21E, Philippines.
15-armed pirates with masked faces approached a tug towing a barge underway, in a speedboat. The speedboat closed to a distance of 150 meters from the tug but stopped when it encountered engine problems. The tug used this opportunity to escape from the attempted pirate attack / hijacking. The master reported that the area was active for Abu Sayyaf rebel’s activities

08.05.2007: 1343 LT: Posn 10:15.6N - 107:04.9E, Vung Tau anchorage, Ho Chi Minh Port, Vietnam.
Five robbers boarded a container ship via the anchor chain and broke open the forecastle store. They were spotted by crew and alarm raised. Robbers managed to steal ship’s stores and escaped via anchor chain in a waiting boat. Port informed. No response.

07.01.2007: 2145 LT: Posn 02:59.1S - 104:05.2E, Pertamina Jetty 4, Plaju, Indonesia.
Three robbers in a motorboat boarded a LPG tanker, which was berthed. They were noticed by the duty AB and the general alarm was raised. They entered the engine room, held third Engr as hostage, stole ship’s properties, and escaped. No injuries to crew. Incident reported to the agent.

1,018 posted on 05/22/2007 2:25:13 AM PDT by Cindy

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6675117.stm

Last Updated: Monday, 21 May 2007, 09:09 GMT 10:09 UK

“Pirates halt Somali aid shipments”

1,019 posted on 05/22/2007 2:32:22 AM PDT by Cindy

Military Intelligence Chief Maj.-Gen. Amos Yadlin told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that dozens, if not hundreds, of al-Qaeda operative arrived in Lebanon lately.

Perhaps things were getting too hot for them in Iraq recently...

1,020 posted on 05/22/2007 2:39:55 AM PDT by piasa (Attitude Adjustments Offered Here Free of Charge)

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