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Threat Matrix: February 2008
Previous Thread ^

Posted on 02/01/2008 6:55:58 PM PST by nwctwx

:::FreeRepublic's Threat Matrix:::
Is the U.S. Failing in Afghanistan?

It was malice in wonderland at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday as Bush Administration envoys insisted things are getting better in Afghanistan, while angry lawmakers from both parties cited facts and figures showing just the opposite. Even the senior Republican on the panel, Senator Richard Lugar, found the Administration's claims wanting. "I'm not sure that we have a plan for Afghanistan," he said.

Long seen as the "forgotten war" eclipsed by Iraq in U.S. priorities, Afghanistan is in the Washington spotlight this week with the release of three independent reports concluding that without a change in U.S. policy there, the erstwhile sanctuary of Osama bin Laden would remain a failed state. Read More


Critical Threats: Blank When None
Threat Matrix:
February 2008
Click for Color Code Information


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: abuizzadeen; abukhabab; abutariq; abutariqsdiary; afghanistan; ahmad; airport; alaulaqi; albanna; aldori; algeria; alqaeda; alqaida; angel; antichristian; anwaralaulaqi; aqim; arson; australia; babarahmad; belgrade; berkeley; beydoun; binladen; bonanno; book; boxcutter; britain; brooks; burma; bus; cables; cafe; canada; cartoonjihad; castro; cellphone; cellphones; chavez; china; chlorine; christianpersecution; copticchristian; copticchristians; coughlin; cuba; cyberwarfare; denmark; dimona; doudzai; egypt; embassy; faidbeydoun; farc; filmjihad; florida; footballjihad; france; gambino; gaza; gazastrip; genovese; germany; gwot; hamas; hamza; hamzabinladen; hebbronville; hezbollah; hizballah; hizbullah; homicidebombers; honorkilling; honorkillings; hugochavez; humanbombs; internet; iran; iraq; ireland; israel; izzadeen; jaberalbanna; khabab; khan; kosovo; lacosanostra; laredo; lasvegas; lebanon; leemedia; leemedianetwork; library; losangeles; mafia; mall; malls; maryland; mauritania; mcallen; mexico; mia; missile; mohammedanism; mosque; murder; nadianaeem; naeem; nigeria; nkorea; northkorea; nuevolaredo; omarbinladen; omarbrooks; pakistan; paris; philippines; qaradawi; ricin; russia; saadbinladen; sadiqkhan; sanantonio; serbia; soccerjihad; somalia; srilanka; submarine; submarines; suicidebombers; syria; tablighijamaat; taleban; taliban; tariq; terrorismfinancing; terroristfinancing; texas; threatmatrix; tia; train; trainstation; trainstations; truckingcompany; tunnel; tunnels; uk; ukraine; usembassy; utah; venezuela; wangwoodford; woodford; wot; yemen; ymca; youth; youths
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To: Mossad1967; AliVeritas; All

Thanks to Ali Veritas for the ping to this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1975726/posts


1,081 posted on 02/24/2008 7:18:12 PM PST by Cindy
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To: All

Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3510746,00.html

Police to raise alert level Monday due to Gaza protests
Published: 02.24.08, 21:36 / Israel News

The police will raise their alert level on Monday across Israel due to the planned protest march of Palestinians in Gaza.

The police will deploy in large numbers in order to prevent the possible infiltration of Palestinians into Israel. (Efrat Weiss)


1,082 posted on 02/24/2008 7:21:12 PM PST by Cindy
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To: All

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_922.html

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

This information is current as of today, Sun Feb 24 2008 19:23:43 GMT-0800 (PST).

ISRAEL, THE WEST BANK AND GAZA

July 13, 2007


1,083 posted on 02/24/2008 7:23:15 PM PST by Cindy
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To: All

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=49055

“U.S., Australia Reinforce Defense Relationships”

By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

CANBERRA, Australia, Feb. 23, 2008


1,084 posted on 02/24/2008 7:24:38 PM PST by Cindy
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To: All; Turk; a_Turk; Turk2

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=49057

“Turkey Ops in Iraq No Threat to Stability, Gates Says”

By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

CANBERRA, Australia, Feb. 24, 2008


1,085 posted on 02/24/2008 7:25:47 PM PST by Cindy
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To: All

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=49059

Troops in Iraq Kill Four, Capture Dozens, Seize Weapons

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24, 2008 – Coalition and Iraqi forces killed four suspected terrorists, detained 56 others and destroyed weapons in Iraq over the past three days, military officials said.

During operations in Iraq today:

— Coalition forces nabbed nine suspected terrorists during operations in Tikrit and east of Hamim al Alil targeting suspects involved in foreign-terrorist smuggling for the al Qadea in Iraq network in Mosul.

— Troops detained four wanted suspects in an area in Mosul believed to be a safe haven for foreign terrorists involved in recent attacks on Iraqi and coalition forces. The location also reportedly is connected to a suspect detained Feb. 19 for his association with a senior-level terrorist smuggler in the city, military officials said.

— Coalition troops captured an alleged al Qaeda in Iraq member involved in planning suicide attacks in Baghdad. The suspect reportedly had arranged to receive a suicide vest in order to attack a group of concerned-local-citizen recruits. Ground forces detained an additional terrorist suspect in the operation.

— Troops nabbed one suspected terrorist east of Khan Bani Sad at an alleged al Qaeda in Iraq meeting location associated with the suicide network in the Diyala River Valley. Nearby, coalition forces directed a fixed-wing airstrike on a house assessed to be rigged with explosives, military officials said.

— Coalition forces south of Samarra captured an alleged associate of an al Qaeda in Iraq network operating in Anbar province. Reports indicate the suspect is connected to a terrorist leader associated with links to senior terrorists operating both inside and outside Iraq and who is involved in al Qaeda media and propaganda operations.

In operations around Iraq yesterday:

— Coalition troops killed a suspected terrorist east of Samarra in Karwi who was later identified as an al Qaeda in Iraq associate of the Baqouba suicide-bombing network, military officials said. Coalition aircraft killed two additional suspected terrorists, and ground forces detained seven others and seized bomb-making materials in the operation.

— Troops killed a wanted terrorist and captured another during an afternoon raid in Baghdad. Both wanted individuals were reportedly close associates of the senior al Qaeda in Iraq leader of networks operating in the Iraqi capital, military officials said. In a separate raid in Baghdad, coalition forces detained two alleged car-bomb-network operatives.

— Coalition forces seized five suspected terrorists in Mosul during an operation targeting an associate of a senior-level foreign-terrorist smuggler and al Qaeda in Iraq leader in the region, military officials said.

— Troops northwest of Tarmiyah nabbed a wanted individual believed to be involved in the Karkh al Qaeda in Iraq network and detained two additional suspects. Reports indicate the prime target had been inactive for several months but recently resumed a role in rebuilding the network following a series of recent coalition operations that degraded the cell.

— Coalition forces detained two suspects in Tikrit, including an alleged al Qaeda in Iraq associate involved in weapons smuggling. The suspect allegedly transferred weapons recently from Beiji to Tikrit. Reports also indicate the suspect is connected to foreign terrorist safe houses and a large weapons cache found in a previous operation in the area.

— Coalition troops detained four suspected terrorists northeast of Samarra near the Hamrin mountains during a multiday operation that took place yesterday and Feb. 22.

In other Feb. 22 operations:

— Troops west of Samarra captured an alleged al Qaeda in Iraq cell leader involved in the Jazirah network. The suspect allegedly commands a group of 10 to 15 terrorists who conduct attacks in the area. Ground forces detained six others in the operation.

— Troops in Mosul captured an alleged associate of foreign al Qaeda in Iraq leaders believed to be responsible for recent attacks against coalition and Iraqi security forces in the area. Ground forces nabbed two additional suspects in the raid and discovered a weapons cache containing 20 mortar rounds, military officials said.

— Coalition forces detained three suspected terrorists on the west side of Mosul, including an alleged associate of numerous foreign al Qaeda in Iraq leaders in Samarra. Reports indicate the suspect moved to Mosul from Samarra after coalition and Iraqi forces operations disrupted Samarra’s al Qaeda in Iraq leadership, military officials said.

— Coalition forces captured a suspected Iranian-trained “special groups” militia operative and detained one other suspect during operations to disrupt criminal networks in Baghdad. As an intelligence operative, the targeted individual reportedly aided special groups attacks on Iraqi and coalition forces, military officials said.

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


1,086 posted on 02/24/2008 7:27:35 PM PST by Cindy
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To: All

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=49060

Forces Kill Insurgents, Destroy Enemy Infrastructure, Weapons in Afghanistan

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24, 2008 – Afghan and coalition forces have killed enemy combatants and destroyed insurgents’ infrastructure and weapons in Afghanistan in recent days, military officials said.

Coalition troops searched compounds in the Kajaki district of Helmand province yesterday for a Taliban leader responsible for conducting antigovernment operations in the area, military officials said.

During the two operations, coalition forces were attacked by insurgents using small arms and hand grenades. Troops retaliated, killing an unspecified number of enemy combatants.

“While coalition forces conducted a search of the building during one operation, armed assailants who were barricaded in separate rooms engaged coalition forces with small-arms fire and hand grenades,” said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a coalition forces spokesman.

“The assailants were killed when coalition forces responded in self-defense,” Belcher said. “A search of the site after the exchange revealed a dead female and child in one of the rooms the assailants used to engage coalition forces.”

The spokesman expressed condolences to the family and friends of the slain woman and child. “It is a deplorable, yet common, tactic of insurgents to place innocent women and children in harm’s way,” he added.

In the pair of operations, troops detained two individuals suspected to have ties to Taliban insurgents, and seized AK 47 assault rifles and ammunition. The suspects are being held for questioning, officials said.

Earlier in Helmand province, Afghan and coalition forces conducted operations Feb. 20-22 in the Karez deh Baba and Kajaki districts which lay along a supply line used by insurgents to smuggle weapons and drugs. Military officials said enemy combatants also were using the areas to launch attacks on surrounding cities.

In the first two days of the operation, Afghan national security forces raided target areas to disrupt the insurgents’ ability to engage friendly forces with small-arms, rocket and indirect fire from prepared fighting positions. At the same time, friendly forces used precise air strikes on enemy targets.

“Throughout the day, insurgents kept trying to fight the (Afghan national security forces). The result was always the same,” said Army Capt. Vanessa R. Bowman. “(The insurgents were) defeated.”

Meanwhile, Afghan forces spoke with local citizens to ensure they understood that the mission’s purpose was to restore security and improve local infrastructure. “We have been impressed by the efforts in Musa Qaleh and want the same for our village,” a local Afghan was quoted as saying.

Other villagers echoed this sentiment, saying they welcome the security and stability that leaders of the national security forces and government can provide. Villagers also provided crucial information about insurgent practices and the locations of insurgent safe houses, military officials said.

On Feb. 21, Afghan-led forces deployed in smaller units when they observed insurgents moving into fighting positions to engage them. Afghan forces rooted out the insurgents and cleared the position, finding an improvised explosive device and a small-arms cache.

The enemy reinforced different fighting positions and engaged with indirect fire when the Afghan-led force renewed their assault. Troops found another small-arms and ammunition cache, and coalition forces found roughly 400 pounds of ammonium nitrate. All of the seized materials were later destroyed.

“This was an enormous find because this substance is a common explosive additive that could be used in IEDs,” Bowman said. “The (Afghan national security forces) prevented future attacks and saved innocent civilians with this discovery.”

In the course of operations, the Afghan-led force discovered the insurgents’ command center and a 100-foot deep interconnected tunnel system. The command center contained a series of caves, and the tunnel was littered with spare ammunition and shell casings, military officials said. Afghan troops suppressed enemy forces in the immediate area before destroying the cave and tunnel system with precision-guided munitions.

“In the last three days, the government of (the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan) and (Afghan national security forces) saved numerous lives by capturing bomb-making materials,” Bowman said. “(Afghan-led) forces have maintained pressure on the Taliban to prevent them from accomplishing their goals of terrorizing and intimidating the Afghan populace.”


1,087 posted on 02/24/2008 7:30:05 PM PST by Cindy
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To: All; Straight Vermonter; backhoe; piasa; Godzilla; nwctwx; Oorang

UPDATE:

http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=375937

“Pastor: St. Pius incident a simple misunderstanding”

Posted online: February 23, 2008 11:43 PM
Print publication date: 02/24/2008

By Joel Donofrio, jdonofrio@qconline.com

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “An incident at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Rock Island that prompted a warning letter and a brief investigation by police was nothing more than a misunderstanding, the parish pastor said.

Several unknown men who were seen last weekend inside and outside the church actually were a resident who is new to the area and some of his friends, said the Rev. Michael Schaab.”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “After learning of newspaper reports regarding the incident, the new resident -– who is Catholic and a native of India –- visited Rev. Schaab Saturday morning to explain the situation.

The man, his wife and their 3-year-old child recently moved to the Quad-Cities after he took a job here, Rev. Schaab said. Because the man’s father recently had died, he had friends visiting him who wished to attend church with him, the pastor added.

“The family has been coming to Mass but hadn’t registered at our parish yet. That’s why we didn’t know them,” Rev. Schaab said. “It was simply a misunderstanding.”

Rev. Schaab said he did not ask the man whether he or any of his friends took photographs before, during or after Mass.”


1,088 posted on 02/24/2008 7:36:17 PM PST by Cindy
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To: backhoe; piasa

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1975758/posts

“Obama Once Visited ‘60s Radicals (Weather Underground Terrorists)”
Politico ^ | Feb 22, 2008 | Ben Smith
Posted on 02/24/2008 8:27:17 PM PST by Travis McGee


1,089 posted on 02/24/2008 9:28:49 PM PST by Cindy
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To: All; fanfan; GMMAC; Clive; backhoe; piasa

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

#

http://youtube.com/user/EzraILevant
http://ezralevant.com

#

blog:

http://ezralevant.com/2008/02/ive-been-threatened-with-anoth.html

“I’ve been threatened with another lawsuit”
By Ezra Levant on February 24, 2008 7:08 PM


1,090 posted on 02/24/2008 10:34:48 PM PST by Cindy
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To: Cindy
Cops arrest cleric in search for bombs

COTABATO CITY -- POLICE ARRESTED A Muslim cleric following the seizure of bomb components during a raid on his home in Kidapawan City on Friday. Chief Insp. Leo Ajero, Kidapawan City police chief, yesterday identified the cleric as Ustadz Abdulhasis Hassan of Barangay Nuangan. Ajero said the raid, which was backed by a search warrant, was conducted after the arrest of a suspected member of the al-Khobar Gang who confessed the presence of the bombs in Hassan’s house.

Ajero admitted police found no bomb inside the house during the raid but bomb components. Hassan, a member of the North Cotabato Ulama-Priest Federation, denied hiding any bomb in his house. He also said what the police seized were fertilizers, which came from the provincial government.

David Hicks jihad diary - sample page

US can attack Russia in 2012-2015 - Russian military analyst

After 2012-2015, the U.S. will be able to annihilate Russian strategic nuclear forces by a non-nuclear preemptive strike, said Konstantin Sivkov, the first vice president of the Russian Academy of Geopolitical Problems.

"I declare that the likelihood of a military threat is great as never before now," Sivkov told Interfax on Saturday.

Western military experts have recently started to talk about the possibility of attacking Russia and annexing its territory, Sivkov said. "Russia is supposed to be dismembered into three parts, with the Western part going to the European Union, the central part and Siberia to the U.S., and the eastern to China. This is a rough scenario," he said.

Russian armed forces will be unable to successfully counter an aggression, Sivkov said. "At the present time, the conventional armed forces cannot properly perform their duties in a regional war, like the Great Patriotic War, even in theory. Even if fully deployed, their potential is limited even in local wars. The only factor that deters [the U.S.] now is the nuclear arsenal," he said.

Kosovo independenc could mean trouble for Western Christians

Moscow's envoy to NATO warned that Russia may resort to "brute military force" to earn respect on the world scene if all EU nations and NATO oversteps its authority in Kosovo. Dmitry Rogozin says Western countries are ignoring international law by recognizing Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia.

1,091 posted on 02/24/2008 10:36:54 PM PST by MamaDearest
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To: MamaDearest

COTABATO CITY — Duly noted, MamaDearest and thanks for posting this.

OPINION: Russia needs to take a chill pill.


1,092 posted on 02/24/2008 10:43:46 PM PST by Cindy
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To: All; backhoe; piasa; Godzilla; nwctwx

http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/191406.php

#

http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_headline=cartoon-for-kid-bombers%26method=full%26objectid=20329575%26siteid=93463-name_page.html

24 February 2008
“CARTOON FOR KID BOMBERS
EXCLUSIVE ‘Fun’ films help groom suicide lads”
By Daniel Jones

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “In a video, a cartoon character resembling Mickey Mouse helps teach children about extreme Islamism.

Other cartoons show children being waved off on suicide missions by their mums.

An MI5 source told The People: “It is easy to get children to watch films and cartoons and play computer games.

“The grooming is done slowly, with the ultimate aim of making utterly unacceptable acts seem normal. This is how paedophiles work.””


1,093 posted on 02/25/2008 12:38:36 AM PST by Cindy
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To: Godzilla; bd476; All

Fyi Only:

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&tab=wn&ned=us&q=Earthquake&ie=UTF-8&scoring=n

#

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,332212,00.html
(AP)

“Magnitude 7.3 Earthquake Rocks Indonesia; Tsunami Warning in Effect”
Monday, February 25, 2008

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia issued a tsunami warning on Monday after a powerful quake struck off the western coast of Sumatra island.”

#

Previously...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1973202/posts


1,094 posted on 02/25/2008 1:13:54 AM PST by Cindy
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To: All
SILENCING CHRISTIANS.com: "SPEECHLESS Silencing The Christians"

ONE NEWS NOW.com - Perspectives: "SERIES SPOTLIGHTS BIAS AGAINST CHRISTIANS" by Rebecca Grace (February 22, 2008)

1,095 posted on 02/25/2008 1:50:09 AM PST by Cindy
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To: All; Godzilla; nwctwx

I’ll be updating this thread as updates become available.

QUOTE:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1975807/posts

Blast shakes northwestern city in Iran
Ynet / Reuters ^
Posted on 02/25/2008 1:47:33 AM PST by maquiladora

An explosion shook the nortwestern Iranian city of Tabriz on Monday, but the cause of the blast and whether there were any casualties were not immediately clear, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

Fars said the blast occurred shortly after mid-day and was felt across the city. (Reuters)


1,096 posted on 02/25/2008 1:55:55 AM PST by Cindy
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To: All

Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1203847460430&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Feb 25, 2008 11:11
Two Kassam rockets fired at Israel; one lands in Gaza Strip; no wounded
By JPOST.COM STAFF


1,097 posted on 02/25/2008 2:12:00 AM PST by Cindy
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To: All

More details...

Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3510922,00.html

Qassam lands south of Ashkelon; no injuries
Published: 02.25.08, 11:56 / Israel News

Two Qassam rockets were fired from northern Gaza; the first landing in an open area south of Ashkelon and the second landing in the Strip. No injuries or damage were reported. (Shmulik Hadad)


1,098 posted on 02/25/2008 2:29:42 AM PST by Cindy
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To: All

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7262622.stm

Last Updated: Monday, 25 February 2008, 10:59 GMT

“Bomb hits Pakistan garrison city”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “A suicide attack in Rawalpindi on 4 February left at least six dead
There has been a suicide bomb attack in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi, government officials say.

The attacker killed two people after ramming his car into a military van, officials say. One of the dead is reported to be a senior army medic.

The attack took place in a garrison area of the city”


1,099 posted on 02/25/2008 3:11:15 AM PST by Cindy
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To: All

Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7262562.stm

Last Updated: Monday, 25 February 2008, 10:26 GMT

E-mail this to a friend Printable version
Iraqi pilgrims caught in bombing

Police in Iraq say at least three Shia pilgrims have been killed in a bombing in southern Baghdad.
Separately, in Samarra north of the capital, a suicide bomber in a wheelchair attacked a police station.

An assistant police chief, Maj Gen Abduljabbar Rabia, was killed.

The attack on the pilgrims occurred as the group walked towards the city of Karbala, south of Baghdad, for an annual religious ceremony.

It came a day after a suicide bomber infiltrated another group of pilgrims south of the Iraqi capital, killing about 40 people.


1,100 posted on 02/25/2008 3:14:31 AM PST by Cindy
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