Lashkar-e-Taiba planning paraglider attacks in India

LeT, the terrorist group responsible for the 2008 attacks in Mumbai, has acquired 50 paragliders from Europe and plans to use them to carry out attacks in India. Paragliders (also known as "ascending parachutes") are capable of reaching a distance of 200+ miles under the right conditions and can be launched from a moving vehicle or via stationary winch.

Although some may dismiss the use of paragliders for attack, it is important to remember LeT's hallmark is asymmetric operations - as marked by their seaborne approach and attack on Mumbai.

Who is LeT?

- Formed in 1990 in the Kunar province of Afghanistan

- Designated by the U.S. as Foreign Terrorist Organization in Dec, 2001

- According to their manifesto entitled "Why Are We Waging Jihad", LeT's goals include the restoration of Islamic rule over all of India, and the union of all Muslim majority regions in countries that surround Pakistan

- The group has threatened the U.S. - vowed that it will plant the 'flag of Islam' in Washington, in addition to Tel Aviv and New Delhi.

- Headquartered outside of Lahore, Pakistan, the LeT compound houses a Madrassa (seminary), a hospital, a market, a large residential area for ‘scholars’ and faculty members, a fish farm and agricultural tracts

- Operates 16 Islamic institutions, 135 secondary schools, an ambulance service, mobile clinics, blood banks and several seminaries across Pakistan

- Publishes newspapers and journals, operates website http://www.jamatuddawa.org/ (may not appear to be a terrorist backed site, but it is...) and uses the name "Jamaat ud-Daawa

Read more at: http://www.investigativeproject.org/profile/136"

" as a front in public forums to raise funds.

- Has a stockpile of modern weaponry and a sophisticated communication network

- Carried out many terrorist attacks in the last 6 years - all well planned and executed

And, buried in the news last week...

Indian officials warned that a terrorist group — possibly LeT or al Qaeda — was poised to hijack an Indian passenger plane.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned last Wednesday that a syndicate of terrorist groups could trigger a war between Pakistan and India through a “provocative act”.

Bottom line - we need to keep an eye on LeT. Their tactics are innovative and other terrorist groups are no doubt watching. In an already unstable region, renewed tensions between Pakistan and India certainly is not in the U.S.'s best interests and any LeT operation will fuel this fire.

(derived from multiple sources)

VA Man Arrested in NJ w/ Arsenal and Suspicious Items

Lloyd R. Woodson, 43, of Reston, Virginia was wearing a military jacket and acting suspicious at a convenience store in central New Jersey around 0400 on 26 Jan. Police were notified by an observant and brave store clerk. When they arrived on scene and approached Woodson, he took off running and was later found in a trailer park and had to be subdued with pepper spray. He had on a bullet proof vest and was carrying a military assault rifle with three clips of ammo.

Detectives searched his hotel room and found a grenade launcher, a semiautomatic weapon (serial number scratched off) with 200 rounds of ammo, a red and white Muslim-style headdress, a nightvision scope and a map of a Ft Drum, located in New York state.

Woodson was a military veteran, having served in the Navy in 1988. He deserted in 1989 and was on the run until 1997, when he was arrested and convicted of a gun charge. in 2008, his wife asked for a protective order for her and their children (in Forestville, MD).

FBI sources report there is no tie between Woodson and any terror groups or plots, but the investigation continues. It sounds like Woodson was simply a troubled man and a lone wolf, but why Ft Drum? Where did he get the weapons, especially the grenade launcher? Why the Muslim garb? A story worth following.

(derived from multiple sources)

Spike in No-Fly List Terror Suspects Trying to Get to U.S.

Counter terrorism officials report they witnessed an “unusually high” number of people on the no-fly list trying to board U.S.-bound planes last week. At least 6 people on the no-fly list were denied boarding in a 48 hour period between 16-18 Jan.

At Heathrow, an Egyptian was stopped last Saturday as he tried to board an American Airlines flight to Miami. A man from Saudi Arabia was banned from boarding a United Airlines flight to Chicago the next day and sent back to Saudi.

In two other overseas cases involving people on the no-fly list, a man in Nairobi, Kenya was kept off a flight Sunday that would have connected in Amsterdam to Dallas, and a passenger attempting to fly on American Airlines to Los Angeles was stopped in Saint Maarten before he could board a connecting flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico, according to officials.

In the U.S., there were two additional incidents, in Minneapolis and in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in which people on the no-fly list were denied boarding, questioned and then allowed to leave the airport without being detained.

Some analysis - first of all, the no-fly list has been expanded since the Christmas Day airline bombing attempt, so the high numbers turned away could be a reflection of the increased pool. Screening procedures have tightened and there is increased vigilance. However, we can't discount the fact there are many al Qaeda sleepers in the world who have been trained on a specific task and await instructions and finances to move ahead with the operation. Certainly as we continue to close in on al Qaeda and splinter groups, destroying training camps and eliminating funding sources, being backed into a corner may lead to a call for action by multiple players with multiple scenarios. The wildcard here may certainly be use of WMD, particularly since religious terrorists have an apocalyptic mindset.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/female-suicide-bombers-heading-yemen/story?id=9636341&page=2

Killer of Army Recruiter in Little Rock Invokes al Qaeda/Yemen Ties

In June, 2009, Abdulhakim Muhammad walked to the front of the Little Rock military recruiting office and shot Pvt. William A. Long and Pvt. Quinton Ezeagwula point blank with a semiautomatic rifle, killing Private Long. Muhammad appeared to be a self radicalized, lone actor. However, he is now stating a connection to al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and has changed his plea to guilty. AQAP is headquartered in Yemen and led by 2 former Guantanamo Bay detainees.

Key takeaways:

- Muhammad is a U.S. citizen from Tennessee. He moved to Yemen in 2007 and spent 16 months there learning/teaching Arabic. He married a local woman.

- He was imprisoned in Yemen for overstaying his visa, holding a fraudulent Somali passport and having other fraudulent documents.

- At the request of the U.S., Yemen deported Muhammad in January, 2009.

- Muhammad moves back to Memphis, TN. He begins scouring the internet for targets. He uses Google Earth to identify military recruiting centers in 5 states. He also researches and considers the following targets: Jewish institutions, a day-care center, a post office and a Baptist Church.

- Muhammad makes several trips to Columbus, Ohio, an area of concern due to the disappearance of several Somali-Americans, who reappear as suicide bombers in Somalia.

- He was heavily armed. He fled the scene in a truck but was quickly apprehended. The police confiscated an SKS military-style rifle, a .22-caliber rifle, and a .380-caliber semiautomatic handgun he had tucked in his waistband. He was also wearing a green utility belt holding more than 150 rounds of ammunition for the two rifles, and an additional 24 rounds for the handgun were in his pants pocket. The truck contained a red duffel bag containing two homemade silencers, binoculars, clothing and medicine. There were also several CDs labeled in Arabic writing.

Until now, Muhammad has declared himself a lone actor. It is unclear whether we investigated any of his connections in Yemen or Columbus OH. Here are the important statements from his letter to the judge (with no grammatical corrections):

"I'm affiliated with Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Member of the Abu Basir's Army. This was a Jihadi Attack on infidel forces. That didn't go as plan. Flat out Truth."

"I wasn't insane or post traumatic nor was I forced to do this Act. Which I believe and it is justified according to Islamic Laws and the Islamic Religious Jihad To fight Those who wage war on Islam and Muslims. "

Was Muhammad connected to AQAP? Was he radicalized in prison in Yemen? One thing is known. When he arrived back in the U.S., it was a short 6 months before his attack in Little Rock. Appears he came home a changed man, but it may be impossible to go back, put the puzzle together and find out at whose hands.

Video of Palestinian Woman Stabbing Security Officer

http://matzav.com/video-palestinian-woman-stabs-israeli-soldier


We can learn many lessons from this video of a woman assailant at a
checkpoint from October 2009.

Thanks to an LE colleague for sending me this valuable link! 

U.S. on Alert for Female Suicide Bombers

American law enforcement officials have been told to be on the lookout for female suicide bombers who may attempt to enter the United States. One official said at least two of them are believed to be connected to al Qaeda and Yemen, and may have a non-Arab appearance and be traveling on Western passports. www.nationalterroralert.com

During the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, we've seen the effective use of women, children and the mentally challenged as suicide bombers. This is a good example of asymmetric engagement by the enemy, and a tactic we should expect to see employed here at home. It's a good time to ensure this tactic is part of our training and exercises.

DNI Says FBI Was Too Hasty In Detroit

Just read the following article in the Washington Post and can't help but comment...

"Intelligence chief says FBI was too hasty in handling of attempted bombing"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/20/AR2010012001364.html?sub=AR

Takeaways from the article:

- Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab (Christmas Day airline bomber) should have been interrogated by special terrorism investigators instead of FBI agents, according to Director of National Intelligence Dennis C. Blair. He also said that senior national security officials were not consulted before FBI and Justice Department authorities questioned him and pursued criminal charges.

- Director Blair faulted the decision not to use the "High Value Interrogation Group" (HIG) to question alleged al-Qaeda operative . "That unit was created exactly for this purpose -- to make a decision on whether a certain person who's detained should be treated as a case for federal prosecution or for some of the other means," Blair told the Senate homeland security committee. The intelligence chief said the interrogation group was created by the White House last year to handle overseas cases but will be expanded now to domestic ones. "We did not invoke the HIG in this case; we should have," he added.

My thoughts on the subject:

-The FBI's Detroit field office and their agents have plenty of experience in the counterterrorism realm. Not only does Detroit have the highest Muslim population per capita in our country (with some 250,000 practicing Muslims), but it was host to a major al Qaeda terrorist cell and other high profile radicals in the last 9 years.

- The interrogation by FBI agents provided what another senior U.S. law enforcement official called "a treasure-trove of valuable intelligence." Recall that it led to the closure of our embassy in Yemen, the identification of major al Qaeda training camps in Yemen, and the search for 2 other men who have terrorist tactic training and may be in the US. This is only the open source data available, usually the tip of the iceberg.

- There is controversy about identifying Abdulmutallab as a criminal, vice an "enemy combatant". Some say more intelligence could have been gathered before he "lawyered up". It doesn't matter. Had we labeled him an enemy combatant, Abdulmutallab would have been turned over to the military and supplied a lawyer. His Miranda rights would have been read and he still would have legal representation which no doubt would have counseled him to stop making statements.

- The last time I looked, the FBI was part of the Intelligence Community (which consists of 16 agencies).

- Maybe the FBI should receive the same specialized training as the HIG.

- Perhaps the HIG should have been expedited to Detroit to ASSIST the FBI in their efforts during those valuable moments between capture of Abdulmutallab and his surgery for burns, which was just hours.

- Maybe the administration should clearly articulate NOW whether a terrorist caught in the act on U.S. soil is a criminal or an enemy combatant. The day of the event is not a good time to discuss the issue.

- Don't we have tabletop (and real world) exercises involving terrorist attacks? Do we mistakenly envision the terrorists will die in the attack and therefore not discuss the capture and subsequent interrogation? Don't the directors of the 3 letter IC agencies ever talk to each other and "what if" a scenario like this?

Here we go again, turning agency against agency in a public forum. And now the debate again has turned political, with both sides of the Congressional aisle pointing fingers. This type of catharsis in the public eye is counterproductive and divisive - let's continue to learn from these events, fix the disconnects and stay focused on the main point of the Christmas Day bombing attempt: al Qaeda is in a protracted and deadly war with the United States and we must focus all of our effort and energy on its defeat.

Update on the Canadian Islamist Militant Group "The Toronto 18"

In 2006, Canadian officials discovered a radical Islamist group (of Canadian citizens) with intentions of exploding a 1 ton fertilizer bomb at Toronto's Stock Exchange. The group gathered information from the internet and began constructing a fertilizer bomb similar to the one Timothy McVeigh used in the Oklahoma City bombing. The group was in the process of collecting 4 tons of ammonium nitrate. The goal was for Canada to withdraw from Afghanistan and for al Qaeda to take control of the country (per one of the defendants). Another defendant said he was so committed to the plot that he would bring the necessary ingredients "cup by cup" across the border from the US to Canada.

The group was also planning to kidnap and behead the Prime Minister, storm the parliament building and attack a military base.

Zakaria Amara, 24, pleaded guilty to co-leading the group and received life in prison. Saad Gaya, another member of the group, was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Five are still awaiting trial. Seven had their charges dropped.

Key take aways: radical Islamist cells are not only in our country, but along our border as well. Members may obtain materials here in small quantities and move them across the border for stockpiling, to avoid detection in the host country. Cells may be larger than previously seen (18 in this case) and members are patient and will take as much time as needed to pull their spectacular operation together.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8466846.stm

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jHHt-2v3PNh8EgLa9nUEDCGt7Brg

Deadly Start to 2010 for LEOs

Came across this column by Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith and thought it was good info to post here. We're only 2 weeks into the new year, and 11 law enforcement officers have already been killed in the line of duty.

Some takeaways from last year:

- Fewer law enforcement officers died in the line of duty in 2009 than in any year since 1959

- However, of the 125 officers lost, 48 of them were felled by gunfire -- marking a 23 percent increase in gunfire deaths. Most were ambushed, some were actually hunted by their killers.

I put a link below to Sgt. Smith's column with a recap of the 2010 losses. Naturally we don't like to linger on these events (and it is best psychologically to move on quickly), however there are lessons to learn from their sacrifices. Perhaps the best lesson, as she points out, is that there is nothing "routine" about the job. And there is no such thing as a "routine" call.

I used to tell my security forces personnel to fight complacency that would set in after a long period of inactivity. We would talk about how the routine traffic stop could easily turn into an "event". I encouraged them to somehow squeeze a physical fitness routine into their long days, and eat healthy on/off the job. Due to the long shifts, and ease of grabbing unhealthy fast food for meals, the very ones I needed in the best of health were often not.

Would be interested to hear your thoughts on this post! Thanks to all of our men and women who put it on the line every day to keep our communities safe!

http://www.policeone.com/police-heroes/articles/1990549-Learn-from-their-sacrifice-A-deadly-two-weeks-for-LEOs/

Terror Charges in 2009 Exceed 8 Previous Years

Federal prosecutors charged more suspects with terrorism in 2009 than in any year since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, providing evidence of what experts call a rise in plots spurred by Internet recruitment, the spread of al-Qaida overseas and ever-shifting tactics of terror chiefs.

A review of major national security cases by The Associated Press found 54 defendants had federal terrorism-related charges filed or unsealed against them in the past 12 months.

But the 54 defendants do not include, for example, those charged only with lying to agents in a terrorism investigation, or the Army psychiatrist in the Fort Hood military base shooting who faces nonterrorism murder charges brought by military prosecutors instead of civilian charges. Nor do the 54 include the five Washington, D.C.-area youths charged in Pakistan. If all those cases were also added - and some commentators do count them - the total number of defendants would be 63.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_YEAR_OF_TERROR?SITE=ININS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

U.S. Missile Kills FBI "Most Wanted" Terrorist

A U.S. missile strike in Pakistan killed one of the FBI's most-wanted terrorists, a man suspected in a 1986 plane hijacking. Pakistani intelligence officials said a Jan. 9 missile strike in the North Waziristan tribal region killed Jamal Saeed Abdul Rahim. The FBI's website says he was a member of the Abu Nidal Palestinian terrorist group. Rahim was wanted for his alleged role in the hijacking of Pan American World Airways flight in Karachi, Pakistan. Twenty two people, including two Americans, died.

This one has special significance to me. As a newly commissioned Air Force lieutenant, I was awaiting entry to active duty and watched the horrifying events unfold live on CNN. Kudos to the shooters down there on the front lines -- thanks for taking care of business.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/16/world/asia/16pstan.html


This hijacking operation is worthy of review from a tactical standpoint:


The four hijackers were dressed as Karachi airport security guards and were armed with assault rifles, pistols, grenades, and plastic explosive belts. At about 06:00 a.m. local time, the hijackers drove a van that had been modified to look like an airport security vehicle through a security checkpoint up to one of the boarding stairways to Pan Am Flight 73.

The hijackers stormed up the stairways into the plane, fired shots from an automatic weapon, and seized control of the aircraft. Flight attendants were able to alert the cockpit crew using intercom, allowing the pilot, co-pilot and flight engineer to escape through an overhead hatch in the cockpit, effectively grounding the aircraft.

Over the next approximately 16 hours, Safarini, as the leader of the hijackers on board the aircraft, demanded the return of a flight crew to fly the aircraft to Larnaca, Cyprus, where Safarini and his fellow hijackers wanted to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners being detained in Cyprus. During the course of negotiations between Safarini and Pakistani authorities, Safarini threatened to kill all of the passengers.

Within a short time after seizing control of the aircraft, Safarini ordered the flight attendants to collect the passports of passengers. The flight attendants complied with this request but, risking their own lives, they surreptitiously declined to collect some of the United States passports and hid other United States passports from the hijackers. After the passports had been collected, Safarini walked through the cabin of the aircraft, asking passengers about their nationalities. When he arrived at the seat of Rajesh Kumar, a 29-year-old California resident who had recently been naturalized as an American citizen, Safarini ordered Mr. Kumar to come to the front of the aircraft, to kneel at the front doorway of the aircraft and to face the front of the aircraft with his hands behind his head. At approximately 10:00 a.m., Safarini became angry about the delay in complying with his demand for a new flight crew and he threatened that he would shoot Mr. Kumar if something was not done within 15 minutes. Shortly thereafter, Safarini grabbed Mr. Kumar and shot him in the head in front of witnesses both on and off the aircraft. Safarini then heaved Mr. Kumar out of the door onto the tarmac below. Pakistani personnel on the tarmac reported that Mr. Kumar was still breathing when he was placed in an ambulance, but he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at a hospital in Karachi.

As the hours wore on and nightfall came, the lights on the aircraft began to dim and flicker, due to a mechanical failure. At Safarini's instruction, the hijackers herded the passengers and crew members into the center section of the aircraft. Safarini and one other hijacker positioned themselves in front of the crowd of passengers in the right and left aisles, while the two other hijackers positioned themselves behind the crowd of passengers and crew in the right and left aisles. On Safarini's signal, after the hijackers recited a martyrdom prayer in Arabic, and after the lights on the aircraft had gone out, the four hijackers opened fire on the assembled passengers and crew, throwing hand grenades into the crowd and spraying the trapped passengers with automatic weapons fire, attempting to kill as many passengers and crew members as possible.

At least 20 additional passengers and crew were killed during this final deadly assault, including a second United States citizen, 50-year-old Surendra Patel, the father of three children, two of whom were next to him on the aircraft when he was shot. Scores of other passengers were injured. Most of the surviving passengers and crew, including 76 United States citizens, escaped through two doors of the plane which were forced open by heroic passengers and flight attendants when the firing began. Many passengers and crew were forced to jump from the wing of the aircraft onto the tarmac in order to escape the hijackers. 22 dead, 152 injured.

http://www.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel04/051304hijacker.htm

Winter Olympics - No Credible Threat, but State Dept Warns U.S. Attendees to be Cautious

We are just a few weeks away from the 12 Feb opening ceremony in of the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, B.C. The State Department just released this excellent fact sheet for attendees:

http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/VancouverOlympicsFactSheet2.pdf

This security statement appears toward the end of the document:

Al-Qaida's demonstrated capability to carry out sophisticated attacks against sizable structures – such as ships, large office buildings, embassies, and hotels – makes it one of the greatest potential threats to the Olympics. Threats could also emanate from extremists who may not be directly controlled by al-Qaida, as occurred in the Madrid train bombings on March 11, 2004, and the subway and bus bombings in London on July 7 and 21, 2005.

Domestic protest groups, supporting various political causes, may attempt to disrupt the Olympics through demonstrations or other activities. While the Canadian security services are highly skilled at protecting large events and controlling demonstrations, even peaceful events can turn violent, and Americans are therefore advised to avoid any areas of public protest.

Good to see the State Department informing citizens of the threat.

AQ Operatives Trained in Yemen At Large

Good article from ABC news - intelligence gleaned from the Christmas Day bomber points to training camps in Yemen where AQ operatives are preparing for attacks against the U.S. The hunt for two specific operatives in on - officials are trying to determine if they entered the U.S., possibly crossing the Canadian or Mexican border.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/al-qaeda-operatives-trained-yemen-large-government-intelligence/story?id=9565863

AQ Attack Possible-Detroit Op a Test Run?

Per STRATFOR (www.stratfor.com)

Jan 14th, 2010

The White House and the U.S. National Security Council may go public Jan. 14 with an alert based on new intelligence about a possible follow-on attack in the United States by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, STRATFOR learned from a source. It is believed that the Dec. 25 failed attack by a Nigerian against a U.S. airliner was a test run. According to the source, authorities are searching for two militants who are either en route to the United States or already in the country to carry out an attack.

al Qaeda Linked to Trans Atlantic Flights

Highlights from a Reuter's article - but you should read the enitire piece, link below.

In early 2008, an official at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent a report to his superiors detailing what he called "the most significant development in the criminal exploitation of aircraft since 9/11."

The document warned that a growing fleet of rogue jet aircraft was regularly crisscrossing the Atlantic Ocean. On one end of the air route, it said, are cocaine-producing areas in the Andes controlled by the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. On the other are some of West Africa's most unstable countries.

The report, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters, was ignored, and the problem has since escalated into what security officials in several countries describe as a global security threat.

The clandestine fleet has grown to include twin-engine turboprops, executive jets and retired Boeing 727s that are flying multi-ton loads of cocaine and possibly weapons to an area in Africa where factions of al Qaeda are believed to be facilitating the smuggling of drugs to Europe, the officials say.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60C3E820100113

This is no surprise to me, since I've written about the connection between South America and Africa, FARC and al Qaeda, and possibly Hezbollah since 2008. There is also much open source information about al Qaeda in the narco trafficking trade as well as corroborated information from multiple sources on the ground.

It is upsetting that a report like this from a Homeland Security analyst would be shelved and ignored - we may have missed a golden opportunity to get out ahead of this threat.

I believe there are two takeaways - money and established routes. The narco trade gives al Qaeda a significant boost in funds, to the point where the poppy crop in Afghanistan and the Taliban's take is literally meaningless. Established trafficking routes mean that not only drugs can be moved but human slaves, bulk cash, and weapons.

Jihadists groom children in the UK under 10

"Police have identified children as young as seven being groomed for terrorism, with some expressing a wish to become suicide bombers.

Up to 10 primary school pupils, aged between seven and 10, have been placed on a government outreach programme for individuals considered at risk of being radicalised and turning to violence.

Some have taken inspiration from jihadi websites or after viewing extremist material in Islamic bookshops.

One child was referred to the program by his teacher after writing on a school book: “I want to be a suicide bomber.”"

This government outreach program might serve as a good model for our country -- especially in areas where we've seen the Jihadist ideology take root with youth. Recall the Muslim community in Minneapolis where 6 bright, promising young Americans of Somali descent left good homes to become suicide bombers in Somalia.

I've spent the last few days researching the Saudi rehabilitation program for violent Jihadists and one thing is certain - once an individual is poisoned with this powerful ideology, it is very difficult to unseat or counter. It takes skilled clerics, academics, counselors and the community to make sure the individual doesn't turn back. Frontloading the effort to prevent radicalization and interrupt recruitment is critical.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6982399.ece

Article By Bruce Hoffman about al Qaeda

Noted terrorism expert Bruce Hoffman wrote a very enlightening article for the Sunday Washington Post, page B-1

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/08/AR2010010803555.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

His key points:

First, al-Qaeda is increasingly focused on overwhelming, distracting and exhausting us.
Second, in the wake of the global financial crisis, al-Qaeda has stepped up a strategy of economic warfare.
Third, al-Qaeda is still trying to create divisions within the global alliance arrayed against it by targeting key coalition partners.
Fourth, al-Qaeda is aggressively seeking out, destabilizing and exploiting failed states and other areas of lawlessness.
Fifth and finally, al-Qaeda is covetously seeking recruits from non-Muslim countries who can be easily deployed for attacks in the West.

Bottom line - as their strategy morphs, we need to adjust accordingly.

Another interesting op ed this morning from Dana Milbank - "Was that Al Qaeda's Best Shot"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/08/AR2010010803549.html?sub=AR


Some good points, perhaps the threat is overblown. However, 9/11 proved al Qaeda can pull off a major, coordinated attack in our homeland. And we can not overlook that they could acquire and use a WMD - they have the monetary resources to put the needed experts on the payroll.

I agree that in resource constrained times, the application of resources against the right targets and threats is a necessity. However, we owe it to our citizens to worst-case-scenario plan when it comes to the radical religious ideology and jihadists with apocalyptic agendas- there are some fights we can't afford to lose.

Shifting Focus: The Threat On Our Southern Border...

As I mentioned in previous blogs, cartel violence in Mexico is escalating and the acts are becoming more gruesome as they struggle for control:

The body of 36-year-old Hugo Hernandez was left on the streets of Los Mochis in seven pieces as a chilling threat to members of the Juarez drug cartel. A note read: ''Happy New Year, because this will be your last.''

To drive home the point, the assailants skinned Hernandez's face and stitched it onto a soccer ball.

The gruesome find, confirmed Friday by Sinaloa state prosecutors, represents a new level of brutality in Mexico's drug war, in which torture and beheadings are almost daily occurrences.

Hernandez was taken to Sinaloa after being kidnapped Jan. 2. His torso was found in a plastic container in one location; elsewhere another box contained his arms, legs and skull, Robles said. Hernandez's face, sewn onto a soccer ball, was left in a plastic bag near City Hall.

The cartels are ruthless and not afraid of law enforcement. They are heavily armed and some even operate like small armies with similar tactics and equipment (and in the case of Los Zetas, special operations training) .

The cartels are operating at our border and the violence is already spilling over in some areas. We can't take our eyes off of this direct threat to our national security and communities.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/01/08/world/AP-LT-Drug-War-Mexico.html

Summary of the White House Review of the Attempted Attack Christmas Day

The key takeaway:

"The U.S. Government had sufficient information prior to the attempted December 25th attack to have potentially disrupted the plot"

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/summary_of_wh_review_12-25-09.pdf

NCTC Director Under Fire for Going Skiing Following the Christmas Day Bombing Attempt

After he learned of the attempted airline bombing that easily could have left 300 innocent civilians dead, National Counterterrorism Center director Michael Leiter left for a 6 day skiing vacation while his staff worked tirelessly to assess the situation in Detroit and elsewhere.

Yes, this blog is free of opinion and I won't render one publicly. But suffice it to say that my colleagues in the military and the government have put many vacation plans on hold, usually at great personal expense, to do their job as a leader. Leading from the front.

Read more here:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/01/07/2010-01-07_white_defends_.html

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab Indictment

Here is a link to the 7 page indictment of the terrorist that attempted to use a weapon of mass destruction constructed of TATP and PETN to bring down Flight 253 and kill almost 300 people:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/misc?URL=/templates/ArticleMultiMediaPopup.pbs&dato=20100106&lopenr=100106050&Category=NEWS05&Params=Id=149568

New Report Critical of Intelligence Agencies and Efforts in Afghanistan

The Center for a New American Security released a report today entitled "Fixing Intel: A Blueprint for Making Intelligence Relevant in Afghanistan" - you can find it at this site:
http://www.cnas.org/files/documents/publications/AfghanIntel_Flynn_Jan2010_code507_voices.pdf

Here is the opening statement and it is an attention grabber:

"Eight years into the war in Afghanistan, the U.S. intelligence community is only marginally relevant to the overall strategy. Having focused the overwhelming majority of its collection efforts and analytical brainpower on insurgent groups, the vast intelligence apparatus is unable to answer fundamental questions about the environment in which U.S. and allied forces operate and the people they seek to persuade. Ignorant of local economics and landowners, hazy about who the powerbrokers are and how they might be influenced, incurious about the correlations between various development projects and the levels of cooperation among villagers, and disengaged from people in the best position to find answers – whether aid workers or Afghan soldiers – U.S. intelligence officers and analysts can do little but shrug in response to high level decision-makers seeking the knowledge, analysis, and information they need to wage a successful counterinsurgency."

In the report, Major General Michael Flynn, the Deputy Chief of Staff of Intelligence for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is critical of U.S. intelligence agencies and the overall effort in Afghanistan. The BBC picked up on this report with headlines like: "US spies in Afghanistan are clueless, says intelligence chief"

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/Afghanistan/article6976278.ece

The release of the report, the recent bombing of a CIA outpost in Afghanistan and associated counterintelligence failures, and the inability of U.S. agencies to "connect the dots" on the Christmas Day airline bombing attempt has put intelligence and law enforcement agencies under scrutiny.

I am interested to hear your comments on this report, and the events of the last few weeks. Are we resource-constrained? Are the cultural differences between agencies insurmountable? Is information shared, traded or withheld?

CIA Bomber Was Jordanian Intelligence Asset

The New York Times
Mon, January 04, 2010 -- 4:45 PM ET

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- The suicide bomber who killed seven CIA. officers and one Jordanian intelligence officer last week in southeastern Afghanistan was an asset of the Jordanian intelligence service who had been brought to Afghanistan to help hunt down top members of the Qaeda
network, according to a Western official briefed on the matter.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/05/world/asia/05cia.html?hp

The U.S. government has given millions of dollars to Jordan to assist in tracking al Qaeda in both Afghanistan and Iraq in the last few years and the country has been a key ally of the CIA since 9/11. The bomber was brought to the country by Jordan to specifically help find Zawahiri (al Qaeda's #2 in country), but he turned against the allies. In fact, his handler was also killed in the attack at Forward Operating Base Chapman.

Kidnapping on the RIse: California Asst Principal Abducted and Killed in Mexico

Augustin Roberto "Bobby" Salcedo was a school board member and assistant high school principal. Salcedo, 33, was abducted and killed by gunmen while visiting his wife's family in Mexico (Gomez Palacio) for the holidays. He was found dead Thursday in the northern state of Durango by Mexican authorities, his brother Carlos Salcedo said. Salcedo was abducted while he and his wife had dinner. Five other men were abducted at the same time and sadly, all were brutally executed.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,581742,00.html

If you travel or work internationally, you are a potential target for criminals and terrorists who want to raise funds by putting a price on your life.

Sometimes, they won't wait for an answer, and will take action as in the case of Mr. Salcedo.

The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) is the primary clearinghouse for all data related to citizens killed, injured or kidnapped as a result of terrorist activity. The NCTC's most recent report shows trend data from 2005, 2006 and 2007 concerning “noncombatant” kidnappings. Data shows that there has been a slight increase of kidnappings abroad, not just in Iraq and Afghanistan, but in other areas of instability, such as Africa and Central America.

The State Department “A Safe Trip Abroad” website is full of good information for those traveling and living overseas and worthy of review even by the most seasoned traveler. For instance, at the airport, check in and go through security as soon as possible; do your shopping and dining after you are in the secured area.

Make sure someone at home has your itinerary and knows your general whereabouts and movements. Register your travel online with the State Department. Ensure your personal affairs are in order and that papers such as wills and powers of attorney are in an accessible, known place prior to departure. Read the Country Specific Information, Travel Warnings, and Travel Warnings issued by the State Department before traveling. Have a list of emergency contact info for your destination including the embassy and consulates.

Stay in large, modern hotels which typically have good security. Travel light so your hands are free and you aren’t burdened by heavy bags if you need to engage an attacker or run. Do not dress or accessorize in a manner that draws attention or makes you appear affluent.

Avoid areas where you could be easily victimized such as festivals, busy marketplaces and crowded subway and bus stations. Don’t use short cuts or poorly lit streets, stay on main roads and sidewalks. Try not to travel alone. Keep a low profile and do not discuss business or travel situations with strangers, including those on airplanes, driving taxis or at the hotel check in desk.

Bring a satellite phone, extra battery and charger. Also, learn how to use the hotel room phone as well pay phones, and have the right change easily accessible. Learn a few key phrases in the host country’s language so that you can indicate the need for police or security response, or ask bystanders for help.

If you have a laptop and need to leave it at the hotel, secure it in the room safe or the hotel safe. A quick internet search will yield several new locking mechanisms that secure your laptop in the hotel room by anchoring it to stationary objects such as pipes or radiators. You can also lock your hard drive to prevent unauthorized downloading. Remember that your laptop will provide a criminal or terrorist a host of information that can later be used against you if kidnapped, including pictures of family members, financial data and work-related information.

If driving, always check your vehicle thoroughly for tampering or unwanted occupants before entering it. Keep the tank full. Don’t fall for ploys such as someone flagging you down for help. If you get into an accident or are purposely “bumped” in the attempt to get you to exit the vehicle, stay put with the windows up and doors locked. Wait until someone of authority approaches the scene before exiting the vehicle and use your cell phone to call the embassy or the consulate and provide information on the incident. When parking at your destination, do not exit the vehicle if you see suspicious individuals, drive by and return later, or park elsewhere and take a taxi to your destination.

In the unlikely situation that you are taken hostage, there are several steps you can take to minimize the danger. First of all, know that if you are kidnapped in a foreign country, the US government looks to that nation to exercise its responsibility under international law to deal with the situation and ensure safe release. However, US government agencies will engage with the country to bring the situation to resolution.

Part of surviving a stressful event such as a violent crime is mental preparation. Envisioning the scenario and how you might react is a good rehearsal for the potential event.

The State Department offers the following advice if you find yourself as a hostage (in any situation):

It is extremely important that you remain calm and alert and manage your own behavior.

Avoid resistance and sudden or threatening movements. Do not struggle or try to escape unless you are certain of being successful. Don't try to be a hero, endangering yourself and others.

Consciously put yourself in a mode of passive cooperation. Talk normally. Do not complain, avoid belligerency, and comply with all orders and instructions.

If questioned, keep your answers short. Don't volunteer information or make unnecessary overtures.

Make a concerted effort to relax. Prepare yourself mentally, physically and emotionally for the possibility of a long ordeal.

Try to remain inconspicuous, avoid direct eye contact and the appearance of observing your captors' actions.

Avoid alcoholic beverages. Eat what they give you, even if it does not look or taste appetizing, but keep consumption of food and drink at a moderate level. A loss of appetite and weight is normal.

If you are involved in a lengthier, drawn-out situation, try to establish a rapport with your captors, avoiding political discussions or other confrontational subjects.

Establish a daily program of mental and physical activity.

Think positively. Avoid a sense of despair. Rely on your inner resources. Remember that you are a valuable commodity to your captors. It is important to them to keep you alive and well.

Protecting family members while abroad is another concern. Last year, a 3 year old girl, a US citizen, was kidnapped in Guatemala. The girl was taken from outside of her home in the early morning hours as she was going to school. The FBI and The State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service immediately responded to the area, and assisted Guatemala’s anti-kidnapping unit (CAS) with negotiations. While communicating with the kidnappers, they were able to pinpoint her location and the girl was successfully rescued and her 5 kidnappers killed in the ensuing operation.

If living in an area for an extended period of time, always vary your schedule and that of your dependents. Kidnappings are often planned events, and the victim is observed over a long period of time. Change routes of travel, times of departure, who travels in the group, etc. Don’t make yourself and easy target by being predictable and habitual.

Finally, trust your intuition. If you believe that you are being watched, or something or someone seems out of place, go with your instincts and take control of the situation. It could be a matter of life and death.