Threat Matrix: July 2008

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[nwctwx]

Al-Qaeda Draws New Recruits Via Internet

Al-Qaeda is using the Internet to recruit vulnerable young people to its terrorist network, according to a programme aired on Saudi Arabian TV late on Tuesday.

Umm Osama, the founder of al-Qaeda's first women-only website, al-Khansa, joined several others on the programme to discuss how they renounced jihadist ideology.

Among those who sought a response to this question was an imam from the Medina mosque, Saleh Ibn Awad al-Mudamsi, and the father of a young al-Qaeda suspect held in an Iraqi prison. Read More

	Qaeda Targets U.S. Oil Interests in North Africa
	U.S. to Send More Troops to Afghanistan
	'Osama on Deathbed'

Threat Matrix:
July 2008

June 2008

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[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/zimbabwe
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/rape

#

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2042789/posts

“Teenage girls raped at Robert Mugabe’s torture camps”
timesonline.co.uk ^ | July 6, 2008 | Douglas Marle
Posted on July 8, 2008 10:40:08 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe

[Cindy]

ADDING to post no. 217:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2040058/posts?page=217#217

#

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3565869,00.html

Report: Iran test fires longer range Shahab 3 missile
Published: 07.09.08, 07:42 / Israel News

Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards on Wednesday test fired a longer range Shahab 3 missile, whose range is sufficient to put Israel within reach, Arabic language state channel al-Alam reported.

The channel said that the missile test fired was a “Shahab 3 with a conventional warhead weighing one ton and a 2,000 kilometer (1,240 mile) range.” (AFP)

[Cindy]

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

#

IN THE U.S.A.:

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2042797/posts

Tunneling Intruder No Match For Homeowner And His Dog
Tampa Tribune ^ | July 9, 2008 | By VALERIE KALFRIN
Posted on July 8, 2008 11:30:59 PM PDT by I still care

TAMPA - TAMPA - Robert Cash Jr. said he felt like somebody was targeting his Palma Ceia home.

About two weeks ago, he found a claw hammer covered with a rag in a backyard flower bed. Last week, he saw the gate to his wooden privacy fence in the 4100 block of West San Luis Street had been opened. He secured it with a new lock.

“It was obvious something was about to happen,” recalled Cash, 40. “You don’t know what to think.”

About 2:50 a.m. Saturday, everything gelled. Tampa police said Cash surprised a man who had tunneled under a neighbor’s fence carrying a blowtorch and shimmied onto Cash’s property.

Cash said he greeted the intruder with a .357 Magnum after being awakened by the family dog, a 4-year-old male Chihuahua named Odie.

“You just don’t take chances,” Cash said. “This guy was hell-bent on breaking into my house.”

Cash’s wife called 911 while Cash kept the man at bay. Cash said he fired once at the man after he did not obey Cash’s commands to stay still; the bullet went into the fence.

(Excerpt) Read more at 2.tbo.com ...

[Cindy]

ADDING a thread to post no. 242:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2042799/posts

“Iran Test-Fires Missiles, State Media Reports”
New York Times and Reuters ^ | July 9, 2008
Posted on July 9, 2008 12:11:30 AM PDT by bd476

TEHRAN (Reuters)

[Cindy]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jul/09/rice-urges-08-candidates-on-missile-defense/

“Rice urges missile shield completion
Sees Iranian threat in pressing the project’s continuation”

Nicholas Kralev
Wednesday, July 9, 2008

PRAGUE

[Cindy]

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=D0A52215-262C-4438-A3CD-8073D0DE26CB

“Sharia Showdown on Wall Street”
By Paul Sperry
FrontPageMagazine.com | Wednesday, July 09, 2008

[Cindy]

POST 189 - UPDATE:

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

#

http://counterterrorismblog.org/2008/07/fisa_surprise_us_house_bill_me.php

“FISA Surprise: Bill Amendment Could Mean No Telecom Immunity for Months (corrected)”
By Andrew Cochran

(Updated July 8, 2008)

[Cindy]

SEE UPDATES HERE:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2042808/posts

“Police officers shot dead near U.S. Istanbul mission”
Reuters ^ | 9 June 2008 | Daren Butler
Posted on July 9, 2008 2:20:05 AM PDT by bd476

ISTANBUL (Reuters)

[Cindy]

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

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/hezbollah
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/hizballah
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/hizbullah

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http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3565975,00.html

“3 dead, 41 wounded in north Lebanon clashes”

SNIPPET: “Explosions, machinegun fire rock city of Tripoli from midnight as Sunni Muslim supporters of government, Alawite gunmen close to the Shiite Hizbullah-led opposition battle on outskirts of mainly Sunni Muslim port”

Reuters
Latest Update: 07.09.08, 11:34 / Israel News

[Cindy]

http://lebanon.usembassy.gov/warden_messages.html

#

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_3072.html

Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520

This information is current as of today, Wed Jul 09 2008 02:56:08 GMT-0700 (PDT).

LEBANON

May 30, 2008

This Travel Warning updates information on security threats and ongoing political violence in Lebanon and informs U.S. citizens of current safety and security concerns. The Department of State continues to urge that Americans avoid all travel to Lebanon. Americans who live and work in Lebanon presently should understand that they are accepting risks in remaining and should carefully consider those risks. This supersedes the Travel Warning for Lebanon issued on May 19, 2008.

On May 7, 2008, Hizballah militants blocked the road to Rafiq Hariri International Airport. The action rendered the airport inaccessible and travelers were unable to enter or leave the country via commercial air carriers. Armed Hizballah and other opposition members proceeded to enter areas of Lebanon not traditionally under their control resulting in heavy fighting and a number of casualties. While there is now full access to the airport and widespread hostilities have subsided, the United States is concerned about Hizballah’s willingness to use violence to achieve political ends with little or no warning.

The threat of anti-Western terrorist activity exists in
Lebanon; groups such as Al-Qaeda and Jund al-Sham are present in the country and have issued statements calling for attacks against Western interests in the past.

U.S. citizens traveling to Lebanon or resident in Lebanon should be aware that the U.S. Embassy has limited ability to reach all areas of Lebanon. The Embassy cannot guarantee that Embassy employees can render assistance to U.S. citizens in all areas of the country. Furthermore, in the event that the security climate in the country worsens, American citizens should be aware that they will bear the responsibility of arranging their own travel out of Lebanon. American citizens with special medical or other needs should be aware of the risks of remaining given their condition and be prepared to be treated in Lebanon if they cannot arrange for travel out of the country.

U.S. Government-facilitated evacuations such as took place in 2006 occur only when no safe commercial alternatives exist. Evacuation would be provided on a cost-recovery basis, which means the traveler must reimburse the U.S. government for the cost of the travel. The lack of valid travel documents (U.S. passport or U.S. visa, as appropriate) will slow the U.S. Embassy’s ability to provide assistance. Further information on the department’s role during emergencies is provided at http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1212.html

Landmines and unexploded ordnance continually pose significant dangers throughout southern Lebanon, particularly south of the Litani River, as well as in areas of the country where civil war fighting was intense. More than a dozen civilians have been killed and over 100 injured by unexploded ordnance following the armed conflict in July-August 2006. Travelers should watch for posted landmine warnings and strictly avoid all areas where landmines and unexploded ordnance may be present.

The Department of State considers the threat to U.S. government personnel in Beirut sufficiently serious to require them to live and work under strict security restrictions. These practices limit, and may occasionally prevent, access by U.S. Embassy officials to certain areas of the country. Unofficial travel to Lebanon by U.S. government employees and their family members requires prior approval by the Department of State.

The Embassy is located in Awkar, near Antelias, Beirut, Lebanon. Public access hours for American citizens are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; however, American citizens who require emergency services outside of these hours may contact the embassy by telephone at any time. The telephone numbers are (961-4) 542-600, 543-600, and fax 544-209.

American citizens may register with the embassy online by visiting https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs. Americans are strongly encouraged to update their registration information if it is no longer current. Information on consular services and registration can also be found at http://lebanon.usembassy.gov or by phone at the above telephone numbers between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday local time.

Updated information on travel and security in Lebanon may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States and Canada or, from overseas, 1-202-501-4444. Additional details can be found in the Department of State’s Country Specific Information for Lebanon, and the Worldwide Caution, which are available on the Department’s Internet website at http://travel.state.gov.

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2042810/posts # Note: See photos. http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=8644629 "Witness in murder trial disappears" Updated: July 8, 2008 08:31 PM Video Gallery <1> Emily Longnecker/Eyewitness News Indianapolis

[Cindy]

CORRECTED:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2042810/posts

#

Note: See photos.

http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=8644629

“Witness in murder trial disappears”
Updated: July 8, 2008 08:31 PM

Emily Longnecker/Eyewitness News
Indianapolis

[Cindy]

ON THE INTERNET:

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/turkey
http://www.thememriblog.org/turkey
http://www.memri.org/turkey.html
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1046.html
http://turkey.usembassy.gov/warden_information.html

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/turkey/
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/germany

#

Thanks to bd476 for the ping to this thread.

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2042813/posts

Three German tourists kidnapped in eastern Turkey
HotNews Turkey.com Hurriyet.com ^ | June 9, 2008
Posted on July 9, 2008 3:17:31 AM PDT by bd476

Three German tourists kidnapped in eastern Turkey

Three German tourists were kidnapped in Turkey’s eastern province of Agri, CNNTurk reported on Wednesday. They were kidnapped by terrorists, it added quoting the governor of Agri. (UPDATED)

Three German climbers on Mount Ararat were kidnapped in Turkey’s eastern province of Agri, CNNTurk reported on Wednesday. The three, who were party of a 13-member team, were kidnapped by terrorists, it added quoting the governor of Agri

[hershey]

Thanks for the updates. Like so many things, Iran’s behavior and what we do about it will be so obvious in hindsight.

[Cindy]

You’re welcome Hershey.

[Cindy]

Note: To read the entire report; click on the link below.

#

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

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

Weekly Piracy Report
1-7 July 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 1 to 7 July 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

Recently reported incidents

06.07.2008: 0135 LT: Posn: 21:48N – 091:42E, Kutubdia Island, Bangladesh.
Two robbers using a rope and hook boarded a tanker at anchor. Alert duty watch-keepers raised alarm. Robbers disembarked into a waiting boat, which had four other robbers and escaped. No injury to crew. Nothing reported stolen.

01.07.2008: 0330 LT: Nha Be River, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.
Three robbers boarded and broke into the forward locker on a container ship at anchor. Alert anti piracy watch-keepers raised alarm. Robbers jumped overboard and escaped. Nothing stole. No injuries to crew.

01.07.2008: 0230 UTC: Posn: 10:15N - 107:07E: Vung Tau Anchorage, Vietnam.
Robbers boarded and stole ship stores from the forward locker on a tanker at anchor. Anti piracy watch-keepers spotted the robbers and raised the alarm. Robbers escaped with stolen goods. No injuries to crew.

29.06.2008: 0030 LT: Posn: 02:30.6N – 104:14.0E: Off Pulau Tioman, Malaysia
Six pirates’ armed with knives boarded a tug towing a barge underway while four pirates, armed with guns remained standby in the speedboat. The pirates stole crew personal belongings, ship’s properties and cash. After three hours of looting, the pirates escaped in their speedboat.

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/binladen
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/hamzabinladen/

http://images.google.com/images?client=safari&rls=en&q=%22hamza%20bin%20laden%22&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi

#

http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/193238.php

#

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2273613/Osama-Bin-Laden’s-son-calls-for-Britain-to-be-wiped-out-on-terror-web-film.html

“Osama Bin Laden’s son calls for Britain to be wiped out on terror web film”
By Aislinn Simpson
Last Updated: 9:50AM BST 09/07/2008

#

stepping back in time...

http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=1.0.1850053394

“Terrorism: Bin Laden son named al-Qaeda heir”

ARTICLE SNIPEPT: “Saana, 6 Feb. (AKI) - Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden’s youngest son Hamza is being groomed to take over from his father as leader of the terror network, says former Islamist Yemeni militant, Muhammad Sayd.

Sayd told the Arab satellite TV network Al-Arabiya that the 16-year old had been selected for the role.

“Young Hamza bin Laden, son of Osama, has been chosen to lead the al-Qaeda organisation in the future,” said Sayd, who has been close to the al-Qaeda leader in the past.

“I have met Hamza several times and the last time was 20 days before the ‘9/11’ attacks. He is a very religious boy, he learnt the Koran by heart at a young age and has been educated in Jihad (Holy War),” Sayd told Al-Arabiya, the Saudi-backed based in the United Arab Emirates.

“When I met him, he already knew who to used light weapons and how to escape from guerrilla attacks,” Sayd said, adding that Hamza writes poetry.

Hamza is well placed to take over his father’s job in the future, Sayd said.

“He is the only son by Osama’ s Saudi wife, and has always had a different education from the other children,” he said.

Sayd claimed Hamza is used to a spartan existence and is able to face the difficulties of such living conditions.”

[Eye of Unk]

I have not seen much yet about Iran test firing the Shehab-3 missile that has a 1 ton payload at 2,000 kilometers, easily able to hit Israel.
For what its worth its on Debka.

[Cindy]

PHOTOS:

http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/Assets/Imgs/Personaggi/B/hamza_bin_laden—200x150.jpg
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00527/SNN0909AN-280_527387a.jpg

#

AND A VIDEO included here:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1398695.ece

“Bin Laden’s son in web terror rant”
by Simon Huges
(July 9, 2008)

[Cindy]

ADDING to post no. 259, ARTICLE SNIPPET from Hamza bin Laden's rant as noted in the article:

"The teen declared in his demented ditty to fanatics: “Accelerate the destruction of America, Britain, France and Denmark.”"