Threat Matrix: December 2007

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[nwctwx]

Calculating the Risks in Pakistan

A small group of U.S. military experts and intelligence officials convened in Washington for a classified war game last year, exploring strategies for securing Pakistan's nuclear arsenal if the country's political institutions and military safeguards began to fall apart.

The secret exercise — conducted without official sponsorship from any government agency, apparently due to the sensitivity of its subject — was one of several such games the U.S. government has conducted in recent years examining various options and scenarios for Pakistan's nuclear weapons: How many troops might be required for a military intervention in Pakistan? Could Pakistani nuclear bunkers be isolated by saturating the surrounding areas with tens of thousands of high-powered mines, dropped from the air and packed with anti-tank and anti-personnel munitions? Or might such a move only worsen the security of Pakistan's arsenal?
Full story...

	Musharraf: U.S. Shares Blame for Pakistan and Afghanistan
	Bin Laden's Message to the Europeans
	Messages from bin Laden Since 9-11

Threat Matrix:
December 2007

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[Oorang]

Melbourne mother investigated over Somali jihadi links (Australia)
December 12, 2007

A Melbourne mother is being investigated by police over her links to Somali jihadis and accusations she supports Islamic martyrdom. The Muslim convert, a friend of Sydney's militant Islamic matriarch Rabiyah Hutchinson, is also alleged to have declared herself and her family "soldiers of Osama bin Laden", who act on his orders.

The allegations are contained in an official statement given to the Australian Federal Police in relation to its investigation into Somali community figures suspected of encouraging dozens of young men to return to their homeland and join Islamic jihad. The statement accuses another Australian convert, Aisha Whitehead, of encouraging her Somali-born Australian husband Ahmed Ali to fight alongside terrorists in his war-torn homeland.

The mother, who introduced Ms Whitehead to Mr Ali, allegedly told a small gathering of Muslim women in Melbourne that she supported Islamic jihad and was a follower of the hardline Wahabi form of Islam.

"We are Wahabi," the mother is quoted as saying in the sworn statement seen by The Australian and given by a Somali community member to the AFP in August. Asked at the gathering whether it was bad to be a Wahabi, she replied: "No, we are soldiers of Osama bin Laden. We take orders from him. If he tells us to go somewhere, we go."

Excerpted

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22911335-2862,00.html

Home made bomb found in Egremont (U.K.)
11 December 2007

POLICE are hunting a man after a home-made bomb was found at his house in Cumbria. Neighbours were evacuated after a “small, rudimentary explosive device” was discovered at the Egremont home of Sellafield worker Darren Morris yesterday. A bomb disposal squad was brought in and a 100-metre cordon put in place around the property on Southey Walk.

Police said a squad from the Catterick army garrison in North Yorkshire made the device safe. It has now been taken away for forensic examination. Senior officers stressed there was no risk to the public. It is understood the alarm was raised by bailiffs who discovered what they thought was a suspicious package as they visited Mr Morris’s home yesterday.

Police added they were concerned for the safety of Mr Morris, who they said was being treated as “a vulnerable missing person”, and appealed for the public’s help in finding him. He was last seen in the town’s Red Lion pub on Main Street yesterday afternoon. The alert was sparked at 1.30pm.

Acting Superintendent Gary Slater said: “A thorough investigation is currently underway and I would ask for the public’s help in tracing Darren Morris. “I would like to reassure the public that this is an isolated incident and that incidents of this nature are extremely rare in Cumbria.” Sellafield workers were told of the alert today so that they were aware in case Mr Morris decided to go to the site, where he has recently worked as an external contractor.

Officers said there was no other link to the nuclear site. They said they were liaising with Sellafield in a bid to trace Mr Morris. Mr Morris was wearing a cream hooded top and blue jeans when he was seen at the Red Lion. He is described as being between 5ft7ins to 5ft8ins tall, of medium build and has a distinctive scar on his neck. Anyone with information should phone Workington CID on 0845 3300247

http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=573278

[Palladin]

Thanks for this thread.

I didn’t even know about this attack today. I missed it on the main forum, and I ddn’t hear a word about it on the Evening News either.

The Islamic fanatics always get stirred up around the Christian holydays. I hope this does not spread to other African countries.

[Cindy]

You’re welcome Palladin.

As you know, it’s jihad — another day.

[Cindy]

http://truthusa.com/a/index.php?topic=18.0

#

blog:

http://michellemalkin.com/2007/12/11/the-murder-of-aqsa-parvez/

“The murder of Aqsa Parvez”
By Michelle Malkin • December 11, 2007 12:01 PM

#

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=ba198688-98a6-4c46-91bc-5ca26cc5aca8&k=11154

“Dad charged in daughter’s death”
Chris Wattie , National Post
Published: Tuesday, December 11, 2007

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “TORONTO - A Mississauga, Ont. cab driver has been charged with the murder of his 16-year-old daughter, who was attacked in the family home after clashing with her strict Muslim family over whether or not to wear the hijab, the traditional Islamic head scarf for women.
Muhammad Parvez, 57, was charged after his daughter Aqsa Parvez died in hospital late Monday.

The victim’s older brother Waqas Parvez, was charged with obstructing police in connection with the girl’s death.”

[Cindy]

http://www.cia.gov

#

https://www.cia.gov/news-information/press-releases-statements/taping-of-early-detainee-interrogations.html

“Director’s Statement on the Taping of Early Detainee Interrogations

Statement to Employees by Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, General Mike Hayden on the Taping of Early Detainee Interrogations”

December 6, 2007

[Cindy]

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

#

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/12/20071211-10.html

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 11, 2007

President’s Statement on UN Special Rapporteur’s Findings on Burma

White House News

I am deeply disturbed by the report that UN Special Rapporteur Paulo Pinheiro released today in Geneva documenting his findings from his trip to Burma last month. It provides further alarming details about the Burmese authorities’ crackdown on demonstrations by monks and democracy activists and the severe reprisals that continue today.

He describes how the regime harassed, detained, and killed many peaceful demonstrators. The Special Rapporteur received reports, for example, that a large number of bodies were burned September 27-30 at the Ye Way Crematorium.

I strongly condemn these actions and the junta’s refusal to accept the need for real change in Burma. Even while Mr. Pinheiro was in Burma, the regime continued to arrest and harass monks and democracy activists. The regime has also closed down monasteries, including the Maggin Monastery in Rangoon that served as a hospice and treatment center for HIV/AIDS patients.

Mr. Pinheiro’s report demonstrates why the world cannot go back to business as usual with General Than Shwe and his junta. I call on all members of the international community to condemn the atrocities detailed in Mr. Pinheiro’s report in the strongest possible terms. Last month, I announced new sanctions on the leaders of the regime and their cronies. Should the regime continue to ignore calls for a true democratic transition and the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners, the United States is prepared to lead international efforts to place more sanctions on the regime. Laura and I will continue to stand with the Burmese people as they seek the freedom they deserve.

# # #

[Cindy]

OPINION...

Oh dear...we left a couple of soccer ball jihads, cartoon jihads, the teddy bear jihad, (we never quite got to the toilet bowl jihad — but it was close) and now we’re heading on to the soccer shirt jihads. My, my, where does the time go?

#

blog:

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=28237_The_Dreaded_Offensive_Soccer_Jerseys_of_Italy&only

“The Dreaded Offensive Soccer Jerseys of Italy”
Tue, Dec 11, 2007 at 11:45:28 am PST

Let’s take a peak at those jerseys:

http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/24796_news.jpg

####

Off Topic:

A blessed Christmas to one and all!
http://www.truthusa.com/CHRISTmas.html

[Cindy]

ADDING 1 link to your post no. 514, Oorang.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1938200/posts?page=9#9

[Cindy]

ADDING this link to post no. 528:

http://counterterrorismblog.org/2007/12/terrorist_bombings_in_algeria.php

“Terrorist Bombings in Algeria: Previous CT Blog Posts on Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (updated)”
By Andrew Cochran
(December 11, 2007)

[Cindy]

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

#

http://counterterrorismblog.org/2007/12/recent_pkkled_istanbul_riots_r.php

“Recent PKK-Led Istanbul Riots Recall 2005 & 1995 Paris Riots”
By Andrew Cochran
(December 11, 2007)

[Velveeta]

12/11
Algiers

[Cindy]

Thank you and duly noted Velveeta.

[Cindy]

Thanks to BurbankKarl for starting this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1938241/posts

#

Thanks to bd476 for this post:

QUOTE:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1938241/posts?page=21#21

12/12/2007 06:03 BEIRUT, Dec 12 (AFP)
Four dead in Beirut explosion: Red Cross

At least four people were killed and seven others wounded when a blast rocked an area near the presidential palace on the outskirts of Beirut Wednesday, a source at the Lebanese Red Cross told AFP.

“Four people have been killed and seven others wounded,” the source told AFP.

The explosion took place at rushhour in the Christian suburb of Baabda, southeast of Beirut, an area where many Arab and Western embassies are located.

http://www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.php?area=mideast&item=071212060347.swvq0s4m.php

21 posted on 12/11/2007 10:23:57 PM PST by bd476

[Cindy]

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1938251/posts

Sleeping man awakens, shoots intruder (OK)
NewsOK ^ | December 12, 2007 | Micah Gamino
Posted on 12/11/2007 10:24:12 PM PST by DaveLoneRanger
A man shot a teenage intruder tonight who he said broke into his Tulsa apartment, which has no power, police said.

The youth was identified only as a 16-year-old male.

The man, a 20-year-old who police also would not identify, said he had been sleeping in his apartment in the 2100 block of S 99 East Avenue about 7:30 p.m. when he was awakened by the sound of breaking glass in another bedroom, Officer Leland Ashley said.

Ashley said the man then retrieved a shotgun and went into the room and discovered a person holding what he believed was a gun, but later turned out to be a flashlight.

The man then shot the youth once in the hip with birdshot, Ashley said.

“The man stated that he was afraid for his life,” Ashley said.

The youth was taken to St. John Medical Center. His injury is not life-threatening and he will later be taken into police custody on a complaint of first-degree burglary, Ashley said.

The man was not arrested.

[Cindy]

UPDATE:

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1938241/posts?page=22#22

AFP via translation -
Lebanon: A General of the Lebanese Army died in a bombing

BEIRUT-General of the Lebanese army, François el-Hajj, was killed in an attack that occurred Wednesday in a suburb of Beirut, told AFP an official of the security services.

“He is dead,” the source said under cover of anonymity.

Francis el-Hajj was chief of operations last summer when fighting between the Lebanese army and Islamists Fatah al-Islam in the Palestinian refugee camp nde Nahr al-Bared.

It is a close favorite candidate for the presidency, the Chief of the Army Michel Sleimane.

The explosion occurred at Baada, a Christian area southeast of the Lebanese capital, with the passage of the car of the general.

At least four people were killed and seven others wounded, according to the Lebanese Red Cross.

22 posted on 12/11/2007 10:36:27 PM PST by HAL9000 (Fred Thompson/Mike Huckabee 2008)

[MamaDearest]

As you know, it’s jihad — another day.

Praying for the jihadists to come to their senses and discover hatred and evil destroy everything in their path, including them and the people who love them.

Cruise ship with 1,700 passengers collides with cargo ship

A Bahamian-flagged Norwegian cruise ship on Monday collided with a cargo vessel off Uruguay, but authorities said the 1,700 passengers of the ship were not harmed.

The Uruguayan navy said the cruise ship sustained "not serious" damage above its waterline but will remain in harbor as authorities temporarily closed the Montevideo port in the Uruguay capital to transfer passengers to safety.

Somali pirates leave cargo ship

Somali pirates, who seized a Japanese-owned chemical tanker in October and were demanding ransom, have left the vessel without hurting any of its crew, a US military spokesperson said on Wednesday.

The Panama-registered Golden Nori was carrying benzene from Singapore to Israel when it was hijacked on October 28, just off Somalia, one of the world's most dangerous shipping lanes.

US and German navy ships had cornered the vessel, opening fire and destroying speedboats the hijacked tanker had in tow, earlier this month.

[Cindy]

Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1196847317305&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Dec 12, 2007 7:42
Four Kassams fired at w. Negev, no wounded or damage reported
By JPOST.COM STAFF

As post-Annapolis talks were set to kick off, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip fired a barrage of at least four Kassam rockets at the western Negev Wednesday morning.

All the rockets appeared to have landed in open territory, and no wounded or damage were reported as a result of the attack.

[Cindy]

No one hurt.

That is great and thank yoiu for the updates, MamaDearest.

[MamaDearest]

Marri was also charged with "possession (of) a weapon designed or adapted for the discharge of any noxious liquid, gas or other thing."

These two guys should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, emphasis "fullest."

Audit finds US funded university linked to terrorism

U.S. government officials authorized giving nearly $1 million in foreign aid to a Palestinian university with links to the terrorist group Hamas, despite vetting the school eight times for ties to terrorism, according to a government audit.

The audit concluded that the vetting process, initiated by the U.S. Agency for International Development and conducted by the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, found no "derogatory information" on the Islamic University in Gaza between 2002 and 2006—even after Hamas claimed a parliamentary majority in Palestinian elections in 2006. Several times, university officials certified that they provided no material support for terrorism.

[MamaDearest]

You're welcome Cindy.

Youth arrested in Newport Beach bomb scare

Police today arrested a 12-year-old student of Ensign Intermediate School suspected of bringing an improvised explosive on campus.

The school was immediately put on lockdown around 11:30 a.m. when the boy was reported to school officials as holding the makings of an 'acid bomb' – a makeshift explosive concocted with sulfur and vinegar, Newport Beach police Lt. Evan Sailor said.

While not necessarily deadly, the explosive can throw debris in a 300-foot radius, police said.

"It's a common, but dangerous, device that could potentially cause great harm," Sailor said. "We have no idea why the suspect brought it to school."

The boy is in police custody, and it is not known if he will be admitted to jail or released to his parents, Sailor said

Two dead in Russia bus bomb

Snippets: A bomb exploded on a bus on Sunday in Russia's northern Caucasus region, killing two people and injuring up to 13 others, according to police and media reports. "According to initial information, the bomb was packed with metal shrapnel and exploded with a force equivalent to between 100-150 grammes of TNT at the front of the bus," Viktor Barnash, chief of police for the Stavropol region, said on the First Channel TV station.

Various news agencies put the tally of injured at between seven and 13, whilst there were 34 passengers on board, according to Barnash.

The bomb was home-made, the same source said.

Five people were killed last month in a bomb attack on a bus in North Ossetia, a region neighbouring Chechnya but which has been less plagued by attacks than the rest of the Russian Caucasus.