Threat Matrix: February 2008

Previous Thread ^

[nwctwx]

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

	Why the Taliban Feel Confident
	Top US Officer Lauds al-Qaida Death
	US Air Strike Signals al-Qaida Onslaught

Threat Matrix:
February 2008

January 2007

Threat Matrix Index

Theat Matrix Handbook

Theat Matrix 'BOLO'

Invaluable Tips

Preparedness

[Cindy]

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

#

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7225551.stm

Last Updated: Monday, 4 February 2008, 06:35 GMT

“Suicide blast hits Pakistan bus”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “At least six people have died in a blast which hit a military bus in the Pakistani garrison city of Rawalpindi.

A military spokesman told the BBC that a suicide bomber riding a motorbike had rammed into the bus.

Over 20 people are reported to have been injured in the attack, which took place during the morning rush hour.”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “’Gigantic blast’

Several vehicles were reported to have been badly damaged and the bus destroyed in Monday’s blast, which went off near the army headquarters.

Officials said the military had cordoned off the area.

The blast took place early on Monday in a crowded market area.

One witness, Haji Shaukat Khan, told the AFP news agency that he heard a “gigantic explosion”.”

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1964540/posts?page=13#13

UPDATE:

QUOTE:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3502445,00.html

3 terror organizations claim responsibility for Dimona attack
Published: 02.04.08, 11:44 / Israel News

The al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, Fatah’s military wing, the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestinian’s military wing, and the National Resistance Brigades have claimed responsibility for the terror attack in Dimona on Monday, Hizbullah’s television station al-Manar reported.

According to the report, the first suicide bomber was a Fatah member, while the second one was sent by the other two organizations. It was also reported that the two terrorists were residents of the Gaza Strip. (Roee Nahmias)

13 posted on 02/04/2008 2:09:53 AM PST by Cindy

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1964545/posts?page=13#13

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/182396,two-injured-in-sydney-restaurant-explosion.html

“Two injured in Sydney restaurant explosion”

Posted : Mon, 04 Feb 2008 06:13:07 GMT
Author : DPA
Category : Australasia (World)

Sydney -

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Police have seized the car of one of the injured men, who might have been implicated in the early morning explosion.”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “One person who had severe burns and was found in the lift well of the building was neither an employee of the restaurant nor a local resident.

“We have seized a car,” Police Superintendent Chris Keen said. “At this stage, we are unable to determine if it was linked, but it is linked to the person that was injured in the lift well.””

Copyright, respective author or news agency

13 posted on 02/04/2008 2:15:38 AM PST by Cindy

[Cindy]

Small udpate:

Note: Includes video and photo.

http://www.livenews.com.au/Articles/2008/02/04/Sydney_gas_blast_1000_people_evacuated

“Businesses destroyed and residents injured in massive explosion”
Jason Morrison with Neil Varcoe

1 hour 47 minutes ago.

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Emergency crews were called to Mountain St in Ultimo just after one o’clock (AEDT) this morning, after reports of a loud explosion and a strong smell of gas.

City Central Police Acting Commander Chris Keen says a man, found in a lift well just outside the premises, is in Concord Hospital with extensive burns to around 80 per cent of his body.”

[Cindy]

Note: It is an unknown cause regarding the explosion in Australia. It’s under investigation.

Thread was pulled.

[Cindy]

https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=79224

YOU ARE HERE: Home > Reports > Consular Affairs Bulletins > Report
“Warden Message: Caution Following Colombo Attacks”
CONSULAR AFFAIRS BULLETINS
South / Central Asia - Sri Lanka
3 Feb 2008

[Cindy]

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1161.html

“Worldwide Caution”
January 17, 2008

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1964540/posts?page=23#23

UPDATE:

Quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3502508,00.html

Dimona attack carried out by PLFP operative
Published: 02.04.08, 13:18 / Israel News

One of the bombers who carried out the Dimona bombing Monday was identified as Musa Arafat, a resident of the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis.

Arafat was a member of the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades – the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestinian’s military wing. (Ali Waked)

23 posted on 02/04/2008 3:43:24 AM PST by Cindy

[Donna Lee Nardo]

Hi MD. It’s good to be here with the ol’ crowd.

[Donna Lee Nardo]

Hi Cindy.

[Godzilla]

Egypt’s transport ministry said footage recorded by onshore video cameras of the location of the cables showed no maritime traffic in the area when the cables were damaged.”

Iranian Republican Guard submarines

[milford421]

Thanks for the info. It has now been posted.

[WestCoastGal]

I just saw on the cable news today that illegals from Arizona and Oklahoma are pouring into Texas because we don’t have a law that states employers CAN’T hire illegals.

How stupid is Texas??????????

I have been hearing a commercial on the radio about a fast track to becoming a border patrol agent, they’re hiring. And, today I saw a truck hauler carrying BP trucks...what they were doing HERE is another question?

[MamaDearest]

It’s good to be here with the ol’ crowd.

The (emphasis) "ol" applies to me for sure (giggling).

Afgan sentenced to death being punished for brother's jouralism

An Afghan journalist sentenced to death for distributing an article "violating Islam" is actually being punished for his brother's writing detailing abuses by northern warlords, a media group claimed today.

Sayed Parwez Kambakhsh, 23, was sentenced to death yesterday by a three-judge panel in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif. It was said he distributed a report he printed off the internet to fellow journalism students at Balkh University.

Illegal aliens from Cuba charged with aggravated ID theft

The three-count indictment named Negrin, age 34, and Rodriguez, age 21. Both Negrin and Rodriguez are illegal aliens originally from Cuba, who were living in the Miami, Florida area at the time of the offense. Negrin is currently incarcerated in Miami, Florida on unrelated charges.

Officials unable to find source of chemical smell

Luzerne County Public Safety Director Alan Pugh said before noon, county 911 received several calls from residents reporting a bluish cloud that smelled like chlorine.

“They apparently had some kind of vapor in the air, from the Back Mountain all the way to the Pittston area,” he said.

When the sun came out, the haze dissipated, Pugh said. Luzerne County Emergency Management Agency personnel accompanied representatives from the state Department of Environmental Protection to test the air in Jackson, Lehman and Lake townships, from where most of the calls were coming.

How safe is that airline?

A new source, from iJet Intelligent Risk Systems, examines safety records and practices for many airlines excluded from the EU, FAA, and IATA lists. iJet's Worldcue Airline Monitor (WAM) has assembled a dossier on 354 airlines around the world including many smaller and domestic airlines. WAM continuously collects data about each airline and evaluates that airline against 14 criteria to compile a composite safety rating for each carrier.

[redgolum]

Self ping for later

[Oorang]

And the plot thickens. Thanks for the info Cindy.

[Oorang]

Quite the jump between the two classes of driving. Thanks much for that info MamaD.

[Cindy]

http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/5047.htm

“Article in Jihadist E-Journal: Attack U.S. Interests Worldwide To Break Gaza Siege”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “An article in the 22nd issue of the GIMF’s e-journal Sada Al-Jihad (Echo of Jihad), posted on jihadist forums such as www.ekhlaas.info (which is hosted by Piradius-Net in Malaysia), calls for attacking U.S. interests worldwide in order to break the siege on Gaza.”

(Posted On February 4, 2008)

#

http://memriiwmp.org/content/en/blog_personal.htm?id=350

“Article in Jihadist E-Journal: Attack U.S. Interests Worldwide To Break Gaza Siege”

(Posted February 4, 2008)

[Cindy]

ON THE INTERNET:

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

www.ekhlaas.ws/forum/showthread.php?t=121327

[Cindy]

RECAP:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3501884,00.html

“Al-Qaeda affiliate claims responsibility for Mauritania attack on Israeli embassy”

SNIPPET: “Shooting targeting embassy in Nouakchott said to be retaliation for Israel’s policies in Gaza, proclaims al-Jazeera, citing statement purportedly from ‘ al-Qaeda in Islamic North Africa,’ an affiliate of bin-Laden’s global network”

Associated Press
Published: 02.03.08, 01:52 / Israel News