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

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[Cindy]

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

“Worldwide Caution”
January 17, 2008

SNIPPET: “This Worldwide Caution updates information on the continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence against Americans and interests throughout the world. American citizens are reminded to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness.”

[Cindy]

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

[Cindy]

http://www.interpol.int
http://www.interpol.int/Public/Notices/default.asp

#

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

#

Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3527728,00.html

Interpol: ‘Red notice’ issued for capture of FARC rebel Granda
Published: 04.05.08, 08:09 / Israel News

Interpol has issued a “Red notice” for the capture of Colombian rebel leader Rodrigo Granda, wanted in connection with a high-profile kidnapping and killing in Paraguay.

The warrant was made public on Interpol’s Web site Friday at Paraguay’s request. It adds a potential wrinkle to French efforts to free ailing French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt, who is in her seventh year of captivity with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. (AP)

[Godzilla]

placemark

[Unrepentant VN Vet]

bttt

[drymans wife]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,346852,00.html

Australian Planes Targeted in Laser Attacks

Saturday, April 05, 2008

Australian terror experts are investigating a series of recent laser-pointer attacks on airplanes after several reportedly linked incidents to determine whether they were carried out by an organized group, reports showed.

The laser pointers, which easily can be found and bought online, vary in color, price and range, with some able to project their beams at objects miles away.

Government officials also are considering a ban on the lasers after pilots of six planes made emergency complaints of the distracting light being shone into the cockpits and had to alter their flight paths into Sydney when they were targeted in a “cluster attack” last Friday.

The planes changed their flight paths into Kingsford Smith airport after pilots were targeted by four green lasers around 10:30 p.m. local time.

Authorities said it was a co-ordinated attack lasting 15 minutes.

The laser beams appeared to have originated from the Bexley area in southwestern Sydney.
The attack was described by an Air Services Australia spokesman as “the worst attack in our experience.”

NSW Police Minister David Campbell on Sunday said he was considering a ban on the laser pointers.

“There are some penalties that police can impose now, but we’re looking to make these items a prohibited weapon in certain circumstances which would lead to substantial fines and possible jail terms,” he said on Macquarie Radio.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority supported the ban, saying it would bring NSW into line with other states.

CASA spokesman Peter Gibson said laser attacks on pilots were increasing in number, with five to six reported in Australia each week.

snip..

[Cindy]

Thanks to F15 Eagle for pointing to this thread and article:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1997220/posts

Note: Photo included:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/04/03/2008-04-03_gop_rep_darrell_issa_under_fire_from_eve.html

“GOP Rep. Darrell Issa under fire from everywhere after 9/11 comments”
BY RICHARD SISK AND MICHAEL MCCAULIFF
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Thursday, April 3rd 2008, 4:00 AM

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “San Diego GOP Rep. Darrell Issa was under siege for suggesting the federal government had already done enough to help New York cope with ‘a fire’ that ‘simply was an aircraft’ hitting the WTC.

WASHINGTON - The California congressman who called the Sept. 11 attacks “simply” a plane crash ran for cover Wednesday under a barrage of ridicule from fellow Republicans, first responders and victims’ families.

San Diego GOP Rep. Darrell Issa was under siege for suggesting the federal government had already done enough to help New York cope with “a fire” that “simply was an aircraft” hitting the World Trade Center.

“That is a pretty distorted view of things,” said Frank Fraone, a Menlo Park, Calif., fire chief who led a 67-man crew at Ground Zero. “Whether they’re a couple of planes or a couple of missiles, they still did the same damage.”
“New York was attacked by Al Qaeda. It doesn’t have to be attacked by Congress,” added Long Island Rep. Pete King, a Republican.”

[Cindy]

Ping to drymans wife post no. 226:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1995304/posts?page=226#226

[Cindy]

I should have had my coffee before posting.

It’s obvious that Rep. Darrell Issa is the this afternoon’s STUCK ON STUPID award winner.

See post here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1995304/posts?page=227#227

[drymans wife]

I would say he is definitely stuck on something.

Even claims to be a republican?

[drymans wife]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,346953,00.html

Cops: Men Arrested at LAX Trying to Take Military-Style Cameras to China

Saturday, April 05, 2008

LOS ANGELES — Two men were arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday after they tried to board a plane to China with sensitive infrared cameras in their luggage, a federal official said.

Yong Guo Zhi, a Chinese national, and Tah Wei Chao, a naturalized U.S. citizen, were stopped by federal agents on the jetway as they were preparing to board the flight to Beijing, said Rick Weir, assistant special agent in charge of the Los Angeles office of the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security.

The men, who had been in the United States for about a week, were arrested for investigation of trying to take thermal imaging cameras with potential military use to China without the proper export licenses, Weir said.

Julie Salcido, a supervising agent with the Bureau of Industry and Security, said one of the men purchased the cameras, assuring the seller repeatedly that they were only for domestic use.

snip..

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/gwot
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/wot

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/globaljihad
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/jihad

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/turkey
http://www.memriblog.org/turkey
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/afghanistan
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/pakistan

###

Note: Includes video.
(A little noise occurs at the beginning of the video.)

http://www.thememriblog.org/turkey/blog_personal/en/6589.htm
(”Source: Velfecr.com, Turkey, running since March 18, 2008”

“Radical Islamist In Van: “There Are Many Brave Sons In Every Corner Of This Country Who Yearn To Sacrifice Their Lives To Defend Palestine Against The Rabid Jews Whom Allah Declared Our Enemy””

Posted at: 2008-04-03

###

Note: Video and photos included.

http://www.thememriblog.org/turkey/blog_personal/en/6587.htm
(”Source: Velfecr.com, running since March 18, 2008”)

“Imam Of University In Van: “Listen And Hear! Your Worst Enemy Is The Jew, the Jewish infidels; Even Allah Announced And Warned Us That The Jews Are Our Eternal Enemies””
Posted at: 2008-04-02

###

Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3527781,00.html

Turkish court charges 24 suspected al-Qaeda militants
Published: 04.05.08, 13:09 / Israel News

Police say a Turkish court has charged 24 suspected al-Qaeda militants accused of planning bomb attacks with membership of a terrorist organization.

Police rounded up the suspects over the past week following a crackdown on another suspected al-Qaeda cell in January. They are accused of planning attacks in Istanbul if Turkey sends more troops to the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan. (AP)

###

Thanks to csvset for the ping to this thread.

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1997099/posts

4 Al Qaeda suspects arrested (Turks in Pakistan)
Dawn ^ | April 05, 2008 | Saleem Shahid
Posted on 04/05/2008 4:14:22 AM PDT by csvset

QUETTA, April 4: Four foreigners suspected of having links with Al Qaeda have been arrested from the Dera Murad Jamali area of Nasirabad district. They were travelling in a Peshawar-bound bus.

“The suspects are Turkish nationals. They were going to Jacobabad when security officials intercepted the bus on Thursday night,” sources told Dawn. They were handed over to the authorities in Quetta for interrogation.

According to sources, the bus coming from Quetta was intercepted by the Frontier Corps personnel on a tip-off. A large quantity of high explosives, 1,600 rounds of sub-machine gun, a laptop, 10 Jihadi books, CDs and a digital camera were found in their possession.

Fake Afghan refugee cards and dollars and riyals were also seized.

The sources said that three of the suspects carried Turkish passports, while the fourth man, also a Turkish national, had no travel documents.

“They might have links with Al Qaeda,” the sources said, adding that initial investigations suggested that they were planning to attack an airbase in Jacobabad being used by the US for providing logistic support to its forces in the region.

[drymans wife]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,346871,00.html

Priest Killed in Baghdad Drive-By Shooting

Saturday, April 05, 2008

BAGHDAD — An Assyrian Orthodox priest was killed in a drive-by shooting Saturday in Baghdad, police and an assistant said, the latest attack against Iraq’s Christian minority.

The priest, Youssef Adel, was shot by gunmen who drove up in a car and opened fire as he was opening the gate of his house near the St. Peter and Paul church where he presided, an assistant said.

Christians have frequently been caught up in the violence or been targeted in this predominantly Muslim country.

The body of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho, one of Iraq’s most senior Chaldean Catholic clerics, was found on March 13, about two weeks after he was seized by gunmen in the volatile northwestern city of Mosul.

snip..

[Cindy]

Yep.

and now for today’s second STUCK ON STUPID award winner:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3527858,00.html
(AP)

“Senator Biden: Troop buildup in Iraq a failure”
Published: 04.05.08, 20:09 / Israel News

Note: Biden is a Democrat.

[Cindy]

Ping to priest killed in drive-by shooting in Baghdad:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1995304/posts?page=233#233

[Cindy]

Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3527852,00.html

Two rockets land outside Ashkelon
Published: 04.05.08, 19:43 / Israel News

Two rockets landed in open spaces near Ashkelon. No injuries or damage were reported. (Yonat Atlas)

[drymans wife]

You know, I think Biden has earned the “Crown” for the
infamous Stuck on Stupid award.

[Palladin]

May Father Adel rest in peace.

If a Democrat becomes US President, it will be time for all Christians to leave Iraq. There will be no US presence there any longer if Obama has his way. These good people will be utterly without protection.

[drymans wife]

Agreed, such sad times we are in.

[Cindy]

You are probably right, but...

Well, let’s not be hasty as the STUCK ON STUPID contenders are working hard to be award winning idiots. Just goes to show, that ignorance is not bliss.