Threat Matrix: March 2008

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[nwctwx]

Petraeus: Al Qaida Trying to 'Come Back In'

U.S. military officials said there will be no significant reduction in coalition troops in the Baghdad area as part of an effort to stop the Al Qaida offensive in northern Iraq.

They said Al Qaida was trying to reenter Baghdad and reverse its losses in 2007.

"Al Qaida is trying to come back in," U.S. military commander Gen. David Petraeus said. "We can feel it and see it, and what we're trying to do is rip out any roots before they can get deeply into the ground." Read More

	Militants Assert Themselves in Pakistan
	U.S. Optimistic about Afghanistan Reinforcements
	‘You Have to Rethink War’

Threat Matrix:
March 2008

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[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1969529/posts

#

QUOTE:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1969529/posts?page=406#406

http://www.memri.org/syria.html
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/syria/

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1205420766095&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

JPost.com » Middle East » Article

Mar 24, 2008 17:24 | Updated Mar 25, 2008 4:01
“’Syrian silence on Mughniyeh sign of tension with Hizbullah’”
By HERB KEINON AND YAAKOV KATZ

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Syria’s reticence in blaming Israel for killing arch-terrorist Imad Mughniyeh, despite Hizbullah’s claims of having “100 percent proof” that Israel was involved, indicates that the issue is causing some friction between Syria and the Lebanese guerrilla group, according to assessments in Jerusalem.

Last month, Syria announced that it was launching an investigation into Mughniyeh’s assassination, but has so far not released any findings. This has raised eyebrows in Jerusalem, especially since Hizbullah’s Deputy Secretary-General Naim Kassem categorically blamed Israel over the weekend for the February car-bombing.”

406 posted on 03/24/2008 10:08:48 PM PDT by Cindy

[Cindy]

A look at Chinese/China-related (recent) cases- RECAP:

US DOJ.gov/opa - Press Release: Santa Ana, California - "CHINESE AGENT SENTENCED TO OVER 24 YEARS IN PRISON FOR EXPORTING UNITED STATES DEFENSE ARTICLES TO CHINA" (PRESS RELEASE SNIPPET: "An engineer who conspired with family members to export United States sensitive military technology to the People's Republic of China was sentenced today to 293 months in federal prison. Chi Mak...") (March 24, 2008)

FBI.gov: "SPIES ON THE INSIDE Foreign Intrigue on American Soil" (February 14, 2008)

US DOJ.gov/opa - press release: Washington, D.C. - "DEFENSE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL AND TWO OTHERS ARRESTED ON ESPIONAGE CHARGES INVOLVING CHINA" (Press Release Snippet: "Tai Shen Kuo, age 58, and Yu Xin Kang, age 33, both of New Orleans. Louisiana, and Gregg William Bergersen, age 51, of Alexandria, Virginia...") (February 11, 2008)

US DOJ.GOV/opa - press release: Washington, D.C. - "FORMER BOEING ENGINEER CHARGED WITH ECONOMIC ESPIONAGE IN THEFT OF SPACE SHUTTLE SECRETS FOR CHINA" (PRESS RELEASE SNIPPET: "Dongfan "Greg" Chung, 72, of Orange, Calif....") (February 11, 2008)

Link

Link

[Cindy]

http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_4180.html

Travel Alert

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
This information is current as of today, Mon Mar 24 2008 23:42:54 GMT-0700 (PDT).

China

March 21, 2008

[Cindy]

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/03/24/news/OLY-Torch-Lighting.php?page=1

“Greeks prepare for Olympic torch amid fears of protests”
The Associated PressPublished: March 24, 2008

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece:

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Three men advocating press freedom evaded massive security and ran onto the field at the ceremony in Ancient Olympia before they were seized by police. Minutes later, a Tibetan woman covered in fake blood briefly blocked the path of the torch relay.”

[Cindy]

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

#

https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=81647

YOU ARE HERE: Home > Reports > Warden Messages > Report
Warden Message: Pakistan Security Guidance
WARDEN MESSAGE
South / Central Asia - Pakistan
21 Mar 2008

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/nato/
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/oil/
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/pakistan/
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/afghanistan/

#

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1990330/posts

NATO oil tankers destroyed in Pakistan
DPA ^
Posted on 03/23/2008 12:27:18 PM PDT by maquiladora

Dozens of tankers carrying oil for NATO forces have been destroyed in a bomb blast targeting a Pakistani border crossing where they awaited clearance to enter Afghanistan, officials say.

“The explosion took place this evening when the oil tankers were parked in the parking lot of Torkham border in the tribal town of Landi Kotal. More than 60 tankers caught fire and 35 of these were completely destroyed,” government official Bismillah Khan told Deutsche Presse-Agentur.

At least two people were killed and more than 50 injured in the attack, and the government officials deployed at the border crossing vacated the compound, he added.

The Afghan National Army dispatched two fire brigade vehicles as the fire spread to more vehicles.

Many of the tankers carrying oil for NATO in Afghanistan come through the Khyber pass in a tribal area adjoining Peshawer, the capital of North-West Frontier Province (NWFP).

They have been increasingly targeted by Taliban insurgents operating along the border area in recent months.

[Cindy]

Link Set UPDATED:

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: "OIC: ELIMINATING 'DEFAMATION' OF ISLAM - an examination of the Organisation of Islamic Conference's Observatory Report on Islamophobia" by Elizabeth Kendal (March 24, 2008)

CNS NEWS.com: "OIC DENOUNCES TERROR, BUT FIGHTING 'OCCUPATION' STILL EXEMPTED" by Patrick Goodenough (March 18, 2008)

JIHAD WATCH.org (AFP): Dakar - "INDONESIAN PRESIDENT: "ISLAM HAS BEEN UNJUSTLY ASSOCIATED WITH VIOLENCE'" (March 15, 2008)

JIHAD WATCH.org: "FITZGERALD: THE OIC's REBRANDING GAME" (March 15, 2008)

JIHAD WATCH.org: "OIC: 'COMBATING ISLAMOPHOBIA IS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACED BY THE MUSLIM WORLD'" (SNIPPET: "Well, Jihad Watch can offer a handy five-point plan for countering 'Islamophobia'...") (March 12, 2008)

CNS NEWS.com: "STATE DEPT INTRODUCES NEW ENVOY TO MUSLIM NATIONS" by Susan Jones (March 10, 2008)

COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG.org: "JIHAD, ISLAMISM, AND U.S. ENVOY TO OIC" by Jeffrey Imm (February 29, 2008)

WHITEHOUSE.gov - news release: Oval Office - "PRESIDENT BUSH MEETS WITH SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE ORGANIZATION OF THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE" (February 27, 2008, 2:01 pm EST)

[Cindy]

CORRECTION:

VIDEOS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkvNujdkOew
“Wafa Sultan Clashes with Egyptian Islamist [Part 1 of 2]”
(Added March 6, 2008)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwzwGjWb890
(Added March 6, 2008)

“Wafa Sultan Clashes with Egyptian Islamist [Part 2 of 2]”
(Added March 6, 2008)

[Cindy]

RECAP:

http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=subjects&Area=jihad&ID=SP187608

Special Dispatch Series - No. 1876
March 20, 2008 No. 1876

“Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi Accuses Arab-American Psychiatrist Wafa Sultan of ‘Cursing Allah’ on Al-Jazeera TV”

SNIPPET: “In a program on Al-Jazeera TV, Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi accused Arab-American psychiatrist Wafa Sultan of “publicly curs[ing] Allah, His Prophet, the Koran, the history of Islam, and the Islamic nation.”

The following are excerpts from the program, which aired on March 16, 2008:

To view this clip on MEMRI TV, visit: http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/1718.htm .

To view the MEMRI TV page for Sheikh Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi, visit: http://www.memritv.org/subject/en/589.htm .

To view the MEMRI TV page for Wafa Sultan, visit:http://www.memritv.org/subject/en/371.htm .”

[Cindy]

stepping back in time...

http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/1050.htm

“Title of Video: Arab-American Psychiatrist Wafa Sultan: There is No Clash of Civilizations but a Clash between the Mentality of the Middle Ages and That of the 21st Century” -”Clip #1050 Broadcast: February 21, 2006”

[Cindy]

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=DD194309-04AE-4C20-9C26-110A30762BED

“Target of Jihad”
By Robert Spencer
FrontPageMagazine.com | Tuesday, March 25, 2008

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Wafa Sultan is a national and international treasure. The American government should be rushing to protect her against any who might be motivated to act by the distortions of the thuggish Qaradawi. Is that happening?”

[Cindy]

PERSECUTION.ORG
http://www.persecution.org

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http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2008/s08030143.htm

Sunday, March 23, 2008

“Adopt a Terrorist for Prayer Movement Begins
New Ministry Promotes Christian Response to Terrorism”

By Jeremy Reynalds
Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

COLORADO

[Cindy]

ON THE INTERNET:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1hesa08rNE

[Cindy]

Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3523247,00.html

2 Qassam rockets land in Palestinian Authority territory
Published: 03.25.08, 08:09 / Israel News

Two Qassam rockets fired from the northern Gaza Strip Tuesday landed within Palestinian Authority territory.(Shmulik Hadad)

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/turkey/
http://thememriblog.org/turkey

#

velfecr.com

kudusyolu.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ny3oygy02L4

#

Note: Photos included:

blog:

http://www.thememriblog.org/turkey/blog_personal/en/6369.htm

“Massive Pro-Hamas, Jihadist Rally in Sakarya; Turkish Islamists To U.S. Vice-President Cheney, On Eve Of His Visit To Turkey: “Hey Murderer! Hey Terrorist! Don’t Come To This Country! Get Out! Get Out of Here!””

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17810&Itemid=128

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080325-01
March 25, 2008

Coalition forces engage suspected IED emplacers in Basra Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO

BAGHDAD – Coalition forces killed five suspected improvised explosive device emplacers and wounded several others after 10 individuals were spotted conducting suspicious activity in the Al Hyyaniyah District, Basra at approximately 11: 45 p.m. March 24.

After verifying the individuals were burying what appeared to be an IED, Coalition forces directed aerial fires against the enemy force.

There were no Coalition force casualties or damage reported.

-30-

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17811&Itemid=128

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080325-02
March 25, 2008

Apache crews destroy enemy rocket-launching rails Task Force XII PAO Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad attack helicopter crews destroyed 10 rocket-launching rails northeast of Baghdad that enemy forces had been using to launch rocket attacks March 23.

Apache helicopter crews from 4th “Longknife” Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Task Force XII, reported seeing rockets launched from the area earlier that evening.

Upon arrival at the suspected point of origin of the attacks, the air crews discovered the launching rails and requested clearance to destroy them. Upon receiving clearance, the crews cleared the area, fired on the rails and destroyed all 10 targets.

There was no other damage as a result of destroying the targets.

-30-

[Cindy]

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

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

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http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080325/FOREIGN/274023219/1003

“U.N. ambassador ‘recalled’ amid nuclear impasse”
By Nicholas Kralev and Betsy Pisik
March 25, 2008

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http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/namibia/
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/uranium/

#

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1990550/posts

North Korea says will deepen ties with Namibia
Reuters Africa ^ | 24 Mar 2008 | Reuters
Posted on 03/24/2008 4:52:53 AM PDT by Jet Jaguar

WINDHOEK (Reuters) - North Korea’s number two leader ended a trip to Namibia, a leading uranium producer, on Sunday saying he would strengthen ties with the country.

North Korea, under pressure to declare its nuclear programmes, and Namibia said they signed a memorandum of understanding on diplomatic consultations.

Kim Yong-nam, president of the presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, started an African tour on Thursday in Namibia, the world’s fifth-largest uranium miner.

In a joint statement issued by Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba’s office, the countries “expressed satisfaction” that their ties have grown.

North Korea watchers said the search for business was the focus of the impoverished country’s diplomacy and would be an important part of the visit to Africa, which will also take Kim to Angola and Uganda.

Namibia recently announced it would develop plans to enrich locally mined uranium in conjunction with the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Officials from the southern African nation declined to say if cooperation on uranium enrichment was discussed with North Korea.

The top U.S. negotiator with North Korea said this week that Pyongyang was not yet ready to provide an accurate description of its nuclear programmes but he expected it to do so eventually.

A 2005 accord under which North Korea agreed to abandon its nuclear programmes in exchange for economic and diplomatic benefits has stalled because of Pyongyang’s failure to produce a declaration of its nuclear programmes by the end of last year.

(Reporting by John Grobler, writing by Michael Georgy; editing by Tim Pearce)

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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1991154/posts

“’Huge Food Shortage In North Korea’(people in Pyongyang start starving)”
Sky News ^ | 03/20/08
Posted on 03/25/2008 2:24:40 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/iran/
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/iraq

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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1991153/posts

“Sadr Followers Shutter Stores, Plan Rallies”
washington post ^ | 3/25/08 | By Sholnn Freeman
Posted on 03/25/2008 2:21:13 AM PDT by Flavius
BAGHDAD, March 24

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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1991096/posts

“US blames Iran for Green Zone bomb”
Herald Sun ^ | 25 March 2008
Posted on 03/24/2008 8:33:20 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher