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

November 2007

Threat Matrix Index

Theat Matrix Handbook

Theat Matrix 'BOLO'

Invaluable Tips

Preparedness

[Cindy]

http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/ct_191207e.htm

Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center
at the Israel Intelligence Heritage & Commemoration Center (IICC)
December 20 , 2007

“Palestinian Islamic Jihad operational-terrorist network in the Gaza Strip under attack: in several strikes, the Israeli Air Force killed ten PIJ operatives. One was the commander of the PIJ’s terrorist operative wing in the Gaza Strip, others were important weapons manufacturers and commanders of rocket launching squads.”

[Cindy]

http://truthusa.com/a/index.php?board=3.0

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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1942665/posts

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Cindy’s Note: OUR TROOPS ARE THE BEST IN THE WORLD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE FOR OUR COUNTRY.

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http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59315

“’I love you. Thank you. Be safe’”
Posted: December 21, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern

Commentary by Melanie Morgan

SNIPPET: “The smallest gestures mean the world to a soldier in faraway lands protecting our freedoms. I know. I see it in their eyes when they read a child’s homemade card that simply says, ‘I love you. Thank you. Be safe.’”

[Cindy]

Photos included.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/12/21/pakistan.blast/index.html

“Mosque bomb kills ‘at least 50’”
LAHORE, Pakistan (CNN) —

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “It was the second attempt on his life since April, when a suicide bomber blew himself up just a few feet away from Sherpao during a political rally there, injuring him and killing at least 28 people.

Police told CNN they were not sure whether the blast was the result of a suicide attack or a bomb. But they believe Sherpao was the target because he supervised operations against militants in the tribal areas of Pakistan’s North-West Frontier Province.

The Associated Press of Pakistan reported that the blast was caused by a suicide bomber inside a mosque, as people were gathering for religious observances of Eid al-Adha. The Muslim holy period coincides with the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.”

[Cindy]

http://truthusa.com/a/index.php?topic=360.0

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Note: Videos included.

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=3E2418CE-F7AF-4D0E-9F19-2CDE4E142A06

“Virgins for Terror”
By Itamar Marcus and Barbara Crook
Palestinian Media Watch | Friday, December 21, 2007

[Cindy]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/20/AR2007122002196.html

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Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1942689/posts

Uranium Traces Found on N. Korean Tubes
Washington Post ^ | December 21, 2007 | By Glenn Kessler
Posted on 12/21/2007 2:51:34 AM PST by notes2005

U.S. scientists have discovered traces of enriched uranium on smelted aluminum tubing provided by North Korea, apparently contradicting Pyongyang’s denial that it had a clandestine nuclear program, according to U.S. and diplomatic sources.

The United States has long pointed to North Korea’s acquisition of thousands of aluminum tubes as evidence of such a program, saying the tubes could be used as the outer casing for centrifuges needed to spin hot uranium gas into the fuel for nuclear weapons. North Korea has denied that contention and, as part of a declaration on its nuclear programs due by the end of the year, recently provided the United States with a small sample to demonstrate that the tubes were used for conventional purposes.

The discovery of the uranium traces has been closely held by senior U.S. officials concerned that disclosure would expose intelligence methods and complicate the diplomatic process. North Korea has steadfastly refused to open up about its past practices, simply asserting that it is not engaged in inappropriate activities. However, the uranium finding will force U.S. negotiators to demand a detailed explanation from Pyongyang.

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

[Cindy]

https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=77371

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http://africa.reuters.com/top/news/usnBAN123863.html

“Gas explosion in Sierra Leone kills 17 people”
Fri 21 Dec 2007, 6:37 GMT
[-] Text [+]

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “FREETOWN (Reuters) - A gas explosion on a street packed with Christmas shoppers killed 17 people in the capital of Sierra Leone on Thursday, emergency services in the West African country said.

The explosion tore through a shop owned by a Lebanese trader in Freetown which was packed with people buying second-hand clothing for the festive season, fire officials said.

A further five people were seriously injured, police said.

Vice President Samuel Sam-Sumana said authorities would carry out a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident.”

[Donna Lee Nardo]

Thank you, Cindy. Merry Christmas!

[Godzilla]

Before I forget.

[Velveeta]

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!!

[Cindy]

A blessed Christmas Donna and a joyous New Year.

[Cindy]

BIG DITTO and Amen.

A blessed Christmas Godzilla.

[Cindy]

Christmas blessings to you Vel.

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

http://truthusa.com/b/index.php?topic=7.0

[Cindy]

Thanks to a special freepmailer for the heads up on this case.

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RECAP and UPDATES:

http://www.nycourts.gov/reporter/3dseries/2007/2007_09961.htm

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blog:

http://www.democracy-project.com/archives/003574.html

December 21, 2007
“Publishers Beware: NY State Says First Amendment Inapplicable”

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blog:

http://www.westernresistance.com/blog/archives/003914.html

November 16, 2007
“Media: The Libel Tourist”

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http://www.youtube.com/user/libeltourist

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In English:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWq5QsZLCrg

“The Libel Tourist”
(Added November 15, 2007)

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In Arabic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWq5QsZLCrg

“The Libel Tourist”
(Added November 15, 2007)

[Oorang]

Police on alert in Brussels to prevent terror attack
12/21/2007

BRUSSELS -- Police and security services are on a heightened state of alert to prevent a terror attack in Brussels, local media reported Friday.

This follows reports that Belgian police on Thursday night detained fourteen people who were suspected of planning to free by force Tunisian Nizar Trabelsi, who is currently serving a ten-year-prison sentence for planning an attack on a military base which houses American soldiers in Belgium.

Police and security services have been placed on a heightened state of alert to thwart any terror attacks, said the media reports. However, Belgium's Interior Ministry has reassured the population that there is no reason to panic.

http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1869878&Language=en

Saudi nabs militants planning attacks during haj
December 22, 2007

RIYADH - Saudi security forces have arrested al Qaeda militants suspected of planning to mount attacks during the current Muslim haj pilgrimage, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television said on Friday. The television quoted an unnamed security official as saying the suspects aimed to cause "security confusion" during the pilgrimage, in which more than 2 million Muslims are taking part.

They were arrested in various cities in the kingdom days before the start of the pilgrimage on Monday, the official was quoted as saying. The report did not say how many were being held.

Excerpted

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/12/22/worldupdates/2007-12-22T014002Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-310845-1&sec=worldupdates

[Oorang]

Egyptian 'explosive expert' not our member - MILF
12/21/2007

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Friday said that an Egyptian national who was arrested on suspicion of having ties with al-Qaeda is not a member of the separatist group. Radio reports quoted MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu as denying even knowing Mohamad Said, who was arrested early Wednesday morning after police found a number of explosive devices and bomb-making materials inside his apartment in Cotabato City.

Kabalu also said they have no idea how Said, known by his aliases Mohamad Sayed and Abu Hussien, got a hold of a copy of the MILF booklet that police recovered from him. Aside from the booklet, several explosive devices were also confiscated from the Egyptian national. But Said denied owning any of the seized items.

He is currently being subjected to a tactical investigation by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Police, reports said. Police also said they have yet to determine whether Said has any links to the Jema’ah Islamiyah, the al-Qaeda arm in Southeast Asia. Said reportedly told investigators that he previously stayed in the country for two years before going back to his homeland. He also claimed that when the arrest happened, he has just gone back from Egypt to teach Islam in Cotabato City.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/73801/Egyptian-explosive-expert-not-our-member---MILF

Khan offered nukes to Syrians
December 21, 2007

VIENNA: Syria received a letter purportedly written by the head of the same nuclear black market that supplied Iran and Libya with its atomic technology but did not respond, President Bashar Assad said in comments published yesterday.

Mr Assad's comments appeared to be the first time that a senior Syrian official had linked the country to Abdul Qadeer Khan, the top Pakistani scientist who was exposed in 2004 as the head of an international black market in nuclear technology.

Excerpted

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22955653-2703,00.html

[Oorang]

Gates: Qaeda has regrouped in Pakistan border area
Fri Dec 21, 2007

WASHINGTON - Al Qaeda has regrouped in Pakistan's remote Afghan border area and begun to focus attacks on the Pakistani government and military, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Friday.

Excerpted

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071221/ts_nm/usa_qaeda_gates_dc

Iran: Europe will become a Muslim continent, says Khamenei's spokesman
21 Dec. 2007

Tehran - Europe will eventually become a Muslim continent, according to a representative of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. "In a dozen years, Europe will be an Islamic continent," said Rasul Jalilzadeh on Friday as he was speaking to the basiji, a voluntary organisation in the capital Tehran. "The Islamisation of the European continent is imminent and this step favours the arrival of the Mahdi," he said, referring to the 12th imam of Shiite Islam.

Shiites believe that the Imam Mahdi, who disppeared as an adolescent, will return to bring an end to chaos and bring universal justice. Rasul Jalilzadeh believes that "the Islamisation of Europe is one of the consequences of the Islamic revolution in Iran" in that "the messages and values that this revolution has transmitted to the Europeans, to convince them "to abandon their current faiths and convert to Shiite Islam."

http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Politics/?id=1.0.1696552901

[Cindy]

Ping to Oorang’s post no. 874 regarding Brussel’s alert.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1933472/posts?page=874#874

[Oorang]

These articles have more details:

Belgium arrests 14 in terrorism probe

Belgium on edge after thwarting Qaeda jail break

[Cindy]

Thank you Oorang.

[Cindy]

http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2373869
TERRORISM MONITOR

“Oil and Jihad in Central Africa: The Rise and Fall of Uganda’s ADF”
By Andrew Mc Gregor
(December 20, 2007)