Threat Matrix: April 2008

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[nwctwx]

Afghanistan to Ask NATO for Bigger Army

Afghan officials will go to the NATO summit in Romania Thursday with a request: pay to increase our national Army by 40 percent. A bigger Army, Afghan officials argue, will allow the US and other coalition members to scale back in the coming years.

This appeal comes amid pleas from the US and Canada for other NATO members to commit more to the Afghanistan mission, which many analysts say has floundered over the past year for lack of resources and a coherent strategy. France is expected to contribute another 1,000 forces and Germany is likely to make a bigger commitment.

But American and Afghan government sources with knowledge of the expected Afghan proposal say that an increase from the current authorization of 86,000 Afghan Army soldiers to 120,000 is the only way to create an enduring defense against a resurgent Taliban and elusive Al Qaeda operatives. Read More

	France May Send More Troops to Afghanistan
	Special Operations Increase Possible for Iraq
	Al-Qaeda Grooming Militants Who 'Look Western': CIA Chief

Threat Matrix:
April 2008

March 2007

Threat Matrix Index

Theat Matrix Handbook

Theat Matrix 'BOLO'

Invaluable Tips

Preparedness

[nwctwx]

UK Halts Troop Cuts after Iraq Clashes

(AFP/Essam al-Sudani)

The British defense minister on Tuesday said the number of British troops in Iraq will remain at the current level of around 4,000 for the time being.

Des Browne, briefing the House of Commons, said it would be "prudent" to halt any further reductions, particularly in light of the violence in Basra over the last week.

That was when Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki launched an offensive against "outlaws" and "criminals" in the city, and clashes broke out between troops and Shiite militants. Read More

Threat Matrix: Since November 3, 2003
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"No matter where you live in the world, this is a message that bears repeating: Your assistance is needed to prevent terrorist acts." From TM'er and Freeper ~appalachian_dweller~
Submit Information Online: FBI Tips & Public Leads
CDC ::::: CIA ::::: DHS ::::: DOJ ::::: DOD ::::: FBI ::::: NSA
Government Web Sites			Homeland Security Weekly		Nuclear Threat Initiative
	Most Wanted Terrorists		Terror-Alert.com		NCI: Nuclear Terrorism
	FBI: Seeking Information		Global Crisis Watch		IR and Security Network
	Are you Ready?: Ready.Gov		SOFIR		World Policy Institute
	CDC: Preparedness/Response		Little Green Footballs	Threat Matrix Related
	Defense Dept. War on Terror		Terror Base UK		Terrorism Knowledge Base
	U.S. Immigration & Customs		The Blotter		Terror Information Bank
	DOJ: Combating Terrorism		Middle East Live Daily Thread		South Asia Terrorism Portal
	US-Cert: Current Activity	Think Tanks			Terrorist Scorecard
News & Information			The Terrorism Research Center		Iraq Pipeline Watch
	IPN - Fire & Police Paging		The Jamestown Foundation		National Security Archive
	MEMRI | MEMRI TV		The Brookings Institution		Islamic Dictionary
	The Counterterrorism Blog		Council on Foreign Relations		IACSP Terrorism/Antiterrorism
	Jihad Watch		SITE Institute	Maps
	GlobalTerrorAlert.com		CSIS		Terrorist Network in U.S. Map
	LauraMansfield.com		RAND Corporation		Recent Disasters: Worldwide
	Internet Haganah		International Crisis Group		Nuclear Weapon Effects Calc.
	Topix.net: Terrorism News		The Heritage Foundation		Nuclear Terrorism: Blast Maps
	Faith Freedom International		Foreign Policy Institute		FEMA Nuclear Fallout Map
	TrackingTerrorism.com		Center for Defense Information		U.S. Nuclear Targets Map
	DEBKAfile		The Cato Institute		Global Incident Map
	TerroristWarning.com		Hudson Institute	Pay Sites
	HomelandSecurityUS.net		Homeland Security Institute		Strategic Forecasting
New Links in Italics

"America Supports You" spotlights what Americans are doing in support of the military all across the land, encourages others to thank the troops and allows all to tell their stories by giving voice and visibility to their efforts.

Threat Matrix: Recommended Reading

April 2008

The Bin Ladens
Steve Coll

Being prepared is a good thing, no matter where one lives; no matter what alert level we are on.
From TM'er and Freeper ~Cindy~

Intelligence is the best weapon against terrorism.
National Commission on Terrorism: 1999

Ian Livingston

[nwctwx]

April ping.

[Palladin]

Thanks for the new thread.

I read here often, although I seldom comment.

I appreciate the job all of you are doing here.

[good old days]

Thank you!

[PGalt]

Thanks very much, Ian.

[PGalt]

Thanks for the ping to post #1498 on the March thread. Very interesting.

[Velveeta]

Thank you for the new thread.
You’ve put up over 40 threads!

Thanks to ALL for the hard work and continuing input.

[Quix]

THANKS THANKS.

Has anyone researched more . . . the Russian intel org . . . has released info asserting that

The USA has equal forces arrayed currently against Iran as we had at the beginning of the Iraq war . . . and that we will be ready to go at Iran the first half of April . . . that it will remain up to the political leaders as to when the festivities will start.

I think the info is probably largely accurate.

IF SO

I assume the festivities will start against Iran probably after the Beijing Olympics though that would have lots of forces holding in readiness a long time—which they don’t do well without deterioration—so that may not be the case . . . maybe festivities will begin sooner.

Regardless, I DOUBT

MERELY DOUBT

that China would not end up attacking us until after the Beijing Olympics.

However, I have essentally little to no doubt that our going into Iran will lead into China attacking the West coast and Russia the East coast . . . . and that life will never again be he same . . . PERIOD.

And that true peace will not fully, honorably, authentically, constructively reign ‘again’ until Christ touches down on the Mt of Olives. . . . though the Anti-Christ will “wage war with peace” as Scripture says—more or less, evidently, for up to 3.5 years with the world crying PEACE PEACE PEACE AT LAST . . . though it will be a pseudo peace as the tyranny tightens it’s grip.

In any case . . . interesting times we live in . . .

[Cindy]

Thank you very much nw.

[Cindy]

ON THE INTERNET...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=frwn
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=gwot
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=wot
http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/english/index.cfm?page=Captured

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

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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=globaljihad
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=jihad
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=jihadpropaganda
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=jihadmedia
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=jihadvideos
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=jihadtv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=jihadcds
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=internet

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http://www.jihadwatch.org
http://www.threatswatch.org

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http://www.memri.org/jihad.html
http://www.memriiwmp.org/
http://www.memritv.org
http://www.thememriblog.org/

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SEPTEMBER 11, 2001: Before, During and After
http://www.truthusa.com/911news.html
http://www.truthusa.com/911news2.html
http://www.truthusa.com/911news3.html
http://www.truthusa.com/911.html

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http://www.sofir.org
http://sfir-arabicsource.blogspot.com/
http://www.internet-haganah.com

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http://www.terrorism-info.org.il
http://www.infolive.tv

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http://www.truthusa.com/IRAN.html
http://www.memri.org/iran.html
http://thememriblog.org/iran

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

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http://www.persecution.org
http://www.memri.org/antisemitism.html

[Cindy]

RECAP:

http://philadelphia.fbi.gov/doj/pressrel/2008/ph033108.htm

For Immediate Release
March 31, 2008

“Abdullahu Sentenced to 20 Months in Prison for Supplying Guns and Ammunition to Illegal Aliens”

CAMDEN, N.J.

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RECAP:

http://washingtondc.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel08/wfo033108.htm

MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2008
WWW.USDOJ.GOV

“DEFENSE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL PLEADS GUILTY TO ESPIONAGE CHARGE INVOLVING CHINA”

WASHINGTON , D.C.

[Cindy]

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=49444

“Mullen Calls for Continuous Assessments in Iraq”

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C., April 1, 2008

[Cindy]

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

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http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/04/yemeni_mobilizes_mil.php

“Yemeni Mobilizes Military to Quell Riots”
By JANE NOVAK
April 1, 2008 5:56 PM

[Cindy]

blog:

http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/192041.php

April 01, 2008
“Al Qaeda Propagandist Arrested in Mosul”

[Cindy]

Following the FITNA movie - RECAP and UPDATED:

JIHAD WATCH.org (CBC): "FITNA RAGE IN INDONESIA: 'The Dutch government must arrest him. Wilders must be killed because he has declared war on Muslims.'" (April 2, 2008)

FreeRepublic.com - Discussion Forum (AP via Yahoo News): "DUTCH LAWMAKER TO EDIT ANTI-QURAN FILM" (April 1, 2008)

JIHAD WATCH.org (NISNews.nl): "FILM 'WORSE THAN FITNA' ABANDONED: FILMMAKER SAYS DUTCH GOVERNMENT CAN'T PROTECT HIM" (April 1, 2008)

HUMAN EVENTS.com: "GEERT WILDERS' 'FITNA': INSIGHTFUL AND INCITEFUL" by Robert Spencer (MARCH 31, 2008)

JAWA REPORT - blog: "FITNA WEBSITE HACKED BY CYBERTERRORISTS!" (March 31, 2008)

Link

JIHAD WATCH.org (RADIONETHERLANDS.NL): "26 ISLAMIC COUNTRIES ASK NETHERLANDS TO BAN FITNA" (March 31, 2008)

HOT AIR.com: "LIVELEAK RESTORES 'FITNA'; VIDEO: INDONESIANS CALL FOR WILDER'S DEATH" (March 31, 2008)

JIHAD WATCH.org (REUTERS) - Snippet: ""I call on Muslims around the world, if you run into the maker of the film, kill him," said one of the speakers at the rally, Awit Mashuri. "Geert Wilders is a Christian terrorist," declared a placard held up by a protester. "Kill Geert Wilders," read another..." (March 31, 2008)

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "FITNA" (March 31, 2008)

Link

JIHAD WATCH.org: "JIHADIST CLERIC OMAR BAKRI: FITNA 'COULD BE A FILM BY THE MUJAHIDEEN'" (March 29, 2008)

Link

EZRA LEVANT.com: "FITNA UPDATE" (COMMENTARY SNIPPET: "Thoughtful defenders of Western, liberal values will see the irony here: a film about radical Islamic violence is stopped by the threat of radical Islamic violence. It proves Wilders' point.") (March 28, 2008, 7:08 pm)

THE JAWA REPORT - blog: "Reader Love Mail: Fitna YouTube Edition" (March 28, 2008)

CNS NEWS.com: "KORAN FILM: 'THE DAY WILL COME WHEN WE WILL RULE AMERICA'" by Patrick Goodenough (March 28, 2008)

JIHAD WATCH.org (AFP): "'DEATH TO THE FILMMAKER'" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "In Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, about 40 supporters of the hardline Islamist party Jamaat-i-Islami staged a protest, chanting 'Death to the filmmaker'") (March 28, 2008)

Link

WESTERN RESISTANCE.com - blog: "MEDIA: GEERT WILDERS' MOVIE ON ISLAM" (March 27, 2008)

Link

Link

Link

Link

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

~~~FWIW~~~3-27-08~~~Navy.mil :

Ships and Submarines
Deployable Battle Force Ships: 280

Ships Underway (away from homeport): 141 ships (50% of total)

On deployment: 105 ships (38% of total)

Attack submarines underway (away from homeport): 33 submarines (61%)

On deployment: 19 submarines (35%)
Ships Underway

Carriers:
USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - Pacific Ocean
USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - Philippine Sea
USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - Atlantic Ocean
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - Pacific Ocean
USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) - Pacific Ocean
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - 5th Fleet
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) - Pacific Ocean

Amphibious Warfare Ships:
USS Nassau (LHA 4) - Mediterranean Sea
USS Peleliu (LHA 5) - Pacific Ocean
USS Boxer (LHD 4) - Pacific Ocean

Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group:
USS Tarawa (LHA 1) - 5th Fleet

[Cindy]

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

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Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3526524,00.html

Basque ETA says killed Spanish councillor in March

Published:
04.01.08, 23:45 / Israel News

The Basque separatist group ETA said on Tuesday it shot dead a former Socialist councillor just before last month’s election, confirming widely held suspicions that the armed group was responsible. In a statement published in the Basque newspaper Gara, ETA said it had killed Isaias Carrasco outside his house in the northern town of Mondragon on March 7, two days before an election won by the incumbent Socialists.

He was shot five times at point-blank range in front of his wife and young daughter. Gara also quoted ETA as saying it also carried out four bombings in the region in the run-up to the poll. (Reuters)

[Cindy]

"It is a fact: our enemies hate us." -Cindy

"Death to America" (On The Internet)

"Death to America" (On The Blogs)

"Death to America" (In Pictures)

"Death to America" (In Videos)

[Carry_Okie]

But American and Afghan government sources with knowledge of the expected Afghan proposal say that an increase from the current authorization of 86,000 Afghan Army soldiers to 120,000 is the only way to create an enduring defense against a resurgent Taliban and elusive Al Qaeda operatives.

Blowing up a few madrassas wouldn't hurt.

[Cindy]

http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1762.html

“Olympics 2008 Fact Sheet (China)”
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs

###
###

Note: The following text is a quote:

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, Tue Apr 01 2008 22:37:28 GMT-0700 (PDT).

China

March 21, 2008

This Travel Alert is being issued to update U.S. citizens to safety and security concerns in China ’s Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) as well as the neighboring provinces of Yunnan, Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai . American citizens in Tibet, especially in Lhasa , are advised to avoid areas where demonstrations are taking place. American citizens should defer travel to Tibet at this time. This supersedes the Travel Alert for China dated March 15, 2008 and expires on April 21, 2008.

On March 14, violence erupted following peaceful demonstrations in the city of Lhasa . Scattered violence continues in Lhasa and protests, some of them resulting in violence, have been reported in parts of Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai, and Yunnan provinces. Currently, there is a significant increased security presence in many Tibetan areas of China , including Tibetan communities outside of the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR). Chinese authorities have restricted tourist and other travel to Tibet and other affected areas.

American consular personnel have not yet been granted access to the TAR or other affected areas, and therefore assistance to American citizens in those areas may be limited.

For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, and Travel Warnings can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. or Canada, or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada , a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

The U.S. Embassy in Beijing can be reached 24 hours per day at 86-10-6532-3431. The addresses and telephone contact information for the U.S. Embassy and Consulates are at the bottom of this announcement.

U.S. citizens residing or traveling in China are reminded to register with the U.S. Embassy or closest U.S. Consulate by entering your travel itinerary and contact information at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/home.asp. In case of difficulties registering online, please contact the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

U.S. Embassy Beijing : tel. 86-10-6532-3431
U.S. Consulate General Chengdu : tel. 86-28-8558-3992
U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou : tel. 86-20-8518-7605
U.S. Consulate General Shanghai: tel. 86-21-3217-4650
U.S. Consulate General Shenyang : tel. 86-24-2322-1198

[Cindy]

Yep.

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http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1206632388560&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Apr 2, 2008 0:35 | Updated Apr 2, 2008 6:08
“Next terror attack ‘a matter of time’”
By TOVAH LAZAROFF

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Alexander Galiah, who lost his wife in a terrorist attack at the Rimonim junction six years ago, told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday he knows from personal experience what it means to ease security restrictions for the Palestinians.

Etty Galiah, 48, was shot to death on November 18, 2002 by a Palestinian terrorist who plugged nine bullets into her car as she drove past that junction, near the Palestinian village of Taiba. The roadblock was unmanned as a gesture to the Palestinians.

So Galiah, who never remarried, was concerned to hear on Monday that the roadblock, which had been in use since his wife’s murder, had been dismantled by the army as part of a promise by Israel to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

“It’s worrisome,” said Galiah.

The father of seven has lived in the Orthodox Kochav Hashahar settlement for 28 years.”

[Cindy]

Click on the link below to read the full report.

ICC-CCS.ORG - THE WEEKLY PIRACY REPORT - REPORT SNIPPET - QUOTE:

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

Weekly Piracy Report
25-31 March 2008

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 25 to 31 March 2008.

ALERT

Chittagong anchorage, Bangladesh
The number of attacks has reduced since 2006. However, the area is still listed as a high risk area and mariners are advised to be cautious especially while approaching the anchorage and while at anchor at Chittagong

Nigeria
Violent attacks carried out by pirates on board vessels at anchor and vessel carrying out STS operations. Mariners are advised to exercise extreme caution in these waters.

Suspicious crafts

None reported
Recently reported incidents

28.03.2008: 0200 LT: Posn 22:47.18N – 070:04.63E, Kandla outer anchorage, India.

Three robbers boarded a tanker at anchor via the main deck. Crewmembers were maintaining anti piracy watches forward and aft. Alarm was raised as soon as the robbers were spotted. On hearing the alarm, the robbers escaped in their waiting boat. Investigation revealed ship’s stores stolen. Port authorities were informed.

24.03.2008: 0230 LT: Chittagong TSP jetty, Bangladesh.

Four robbers armed with long knives boarded a bulk carrier during discharging operations. Fearing injuries, crew on anti piracy watch retreated into accommodation. Within ten minutes, crew mustered and went forward to investigate. By then, robbers had escaped in waiting boat after stealing ship stores

[Cindy]

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

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http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/papers27/paper2656.html

Paper no. 2656
30-Mar.-2008
“MAJOR SUCCESSES AGAINST INDIGENOUS JIHADI TERRORISM INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM MONITOR-—PAPER NO.387”
By B. Raman

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http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/papers27/paper2655.html

Paper no. 2655
30-Mar.-2008
“AIRCRAFT HIJACKINGS IN INDIA & THE KANDAHAR FIASCO INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM MONITOR-—PAPER NO.386”
By B. Raman