CIRA and RIRA Join Ranks in Ireland: Threat at Highest Level Since 1998

Hidden in the news last week - a 250 pound bomb exploded in front of a court house in Newry, Northern Ireland on 23 Feb. Reminiscent of a period known as "The Troubles" when IRA bombings were a regular occurrence in the UK, police received a message from the bombers and were able to clear the area just minutes before the device went off.

Takeaways from this bombing:

- Officials in Ireland know that due to the sophistication of the bomb and other data not released to the public that the CIRA and RIRA are now sharing tactics and have "crossfertilized".

- Police were told the bomb was set to go off in 30 minutes, the actual explosion was 17 minutes after the call. Whether this was an attempt to also target first responders is unknown, but worthy of noting.

- This is the first large car bomb attack since the deadly Omagh attack in 1998 and the bombing of a police station in 2000.

- Other smaller attacks are taking place across Northern Ireland, including a live mortar left outside of a police station last week, and a car bomb that killed a police officer. The attacks are widespread and persistent.

Why should we care about the increased terrorist activity in Ireland?

- It is a major throughfare for aircraft and cargo headed in and out of Afghanistan and Iraq

- It is a major tourist area for American citizens and a stopover for U.S. cruise lines

- The IRA and FARC have a relationship that dates back to the late 1990s when they shared bomb building techniques. The relationship was brokered by Spain's ethno-separatist group, ETA. 3 IRA members were arrest in Colombia, traveling on falsified passports and with traces of explosives on their clothing.

- The IRA has also been linked to HAMAS and Hezbollah.

- Al Qaeda is active in England.

Bottom line - although the IRA is an ethno-nationalist, separatist type of terrorist group located on an island, technology and globalization allows for groups to work together, even if their ideologies differ. Therefore a resurgent terror group anywhere in the world does impact our national security, in obvious and not so obvious ways.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/01/irish-justice-minister-warns-dissident

The al-Mubtakkar Cyanide Bomb Revisited

One of my students serving in Iraq told the class recently that insurgents are trying to create a cyanide bomb called the "Mubtakkar". I found this very interesting since al Qaeda was planning to use this weapon in an attack in 2003 in the New York subway system, until the operation was called off by al-Zawahiri (reason unknown). Also, the designs for this weapon were posted on a jihadi website (of Iraqi origin) in 2005, and found on a laptop seized in Saudi Arabia in 2006.

The Mubtakkar (meaning "invention" in Arabic and "initiative" in Farsi) is a fairly simple device consisting of 2 chambers, one containing sodium cyanide and the other a hydrogen product like hydrocloric acid. There is some type of seal between the chamber that when broken, allows the compounds to mix, creating a cyanide bomb. The picture above, from a jihadi manual, shows a weapon constructed with 4 coca-cola bottles, each filled with hydrocloric acid and sealed with a cork. The bottles are taped together with scotch tape, cyanide is packed around them, a detonator placed inside, then the entire package sealed in cardboard. This type of bomb could be remotely detonated by cell phone, similar to the devices used in the Madrid train bombings.

My student mentioned the insurgents were attempting to construct a container with two compartments, using a rubber glove as the seal. The weapon is strategically placed, and the acid would slowly eat through the glove and later cause the explosion.

From the al Qaeda manual entitled "The unique Invention: To deliver the Gaseous Killer to the Stubborn Infidel":

“The most effective way to disperse this gas is in closed quarters by using the central air conditioning and ventilation systems within a building or by using multiple devices if available.”
“When placing these devices inside buildings it should specifically be placed by the entrances and the emergency exits.

Targets:

Brothels	Bars and Restaurants
Theaters	Banks and Loan Facilities
Markets and Shopping Malls	Cinemas
Synagogues	Gyms
Dancing Halls	Casinos
Trains (not stations which contain camera surveillance)	Churches on Muslim lands
Schools	Government Offices (especially security related)
Hospitals

“Al-Mubtakkar al-Farid: Li Irsaal al-Safah al-Athiri Ila al-Kafir al-`Anid – The Unique Invention: To Deliver the Gaseous Killer to the Stubborn Infidel,” al-Firdaws Jihadi Website, October 2005

http://www.wmdinsights.com/I7/I7_ME1_SP_MaunualFor.htm

HAMAS - Assassination, Now Betrayal by "Green Prince"

I've certainly been keeping up with the recent headlines concerning Hamas, but have refrained comment until now....

First of all, let's talk about the assassination on 20 January of Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Mabhouh at a hotel in Dubai. Something doesn't add up about this operation. I've seen the press refer to it as "carefully orchestrated" but I don't quite see it that way. Here are some questions I have been contemplating:

1) Why would Mossad send 26 agents to suffocate 1 man?
2) Why Dubai? Which has the most sophisticated facial recognition system in the world and is considered "neutral" territory for these types of operatives and operations?
3) Agents know full well a hotel is loaded with cameras -why are they hanging out in the lobby having discussions, in the same elevator and following just feet behind him to locate his room?
4) Why carry out such a highly visible operation, inevitably burning all of their identities, rendering them useless to Mossad?
5) When you have so many "tools of the trade" at hand, why kill a man in a way that would be so readily obvious like smothering?
6) Why kill him in his hotel room when there are so many more discreet places that would provide alternate explanations for his death?

and finally...

7) If the U.S. carried out a similar operation against Osama bin Laden would there be a similar international outcry?

These are just hypothetical questions to ponder. Here is a video with subtitles if you'd like to get a good overview of this operation:

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/02/australian-pm-angered-by-of-use-of-phony-aussie-passports-in-dubai-assassination/1

Next up, a startling new confession via a biography entitled "Son of Hamas" by Mosab Hassan Yousef, Codename "Green Prince". Yousef is the son of Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef. Yousef converted to Christianity, and lives in California. His father remains imprisoned in Israel. He apparently supplied key intelligence to Shin Bet, Israel's internal intelligence agency, starting in 1996 and supplied information that led to the arrest of many key Hamas officials.

Yousef asserts that assassinated Hamas leader al-Mabhouh was betrayed by members of his own group. So perhaps those weren't Mossad agents in the videos after all, but Hamas operatives? Does Hamas have the connections to obtain/forge passports from Australia, the UK, et al? Just another interesting possibility to ponder.

Al Qaeda Threat to the U.S.: We Will Blow Up The Earth From Below Your Feet

Somewhat hidden in the news yesterday...

"Qasim al-Raimi, a top military commander for al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, warned Americans in an article published in an online militant magazine that the group "will blow up the earth from below your feet."

"You have attacked us in the midst of our household, so wait for what will attack you in the midst of yours," al-Raimi said, according to a translation of the message from the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors militant Web sites." http://www.nationalterroralert.com/updates/2010/02/23/al-qadea-we-will-blow-up-the-earth-from-below-your-feet/

Many analysts are contemplating the meaning of the phrase "blow up the earth from under your feet". It is an interesting choice of words. Some initial thoughts would be subways or maybe an underground parking garage similar to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. It could also allude to the use of IEDs.

AQAP, headquartered in Yemen, is certainly growing in strength and assuming a lead as the "voice" of al Qaeda.

Patriot Hacker Known as The Jester (th3j35t3r) Demonstrates His Method

(second Jester video here: http://jennihesterman.blogspot.com/2010/03/patriot-hacker-jester-releases-new.html)


First video:


Infosec Island has gained exclusive access to a video made by The Jester, th3j35t3r (http://twitter.com/th3j35t3r )

In the video, Jester demonstrates his special Denial of Service technique which he calls "XerXeS" as he disables a Taliban web site. See below:

https://www.infosecisland.com/blogview/2990-Exclusive-Video-of-XerXeS-DoS-Attack.html

I am not advocating for private citizens carrying out attacks on Jihadi websites, simply passing along this video for those interested.

Three Florida Men Arrested For Doing Business With Hezbollah

A three year investigation by U.S. law enforcement agencies has ended with the arrest of 3 men in Miami: Khaled T. Safadi, Ulises Talavera, and Emilio Gonzalez-Neira. The men owned an export business -- they falsified paperwork and invoices and illegally shipped electronics such as Sony playstations and digital cameras to a shopping center in Paraguay for resale. They also falsified wire transactions, moving and hiding money illegally.

The shopping center, Galeria Page, is located in Ciudad del Este and serves as a Hezbollah fundraising source in the "tri-border" area of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. Since December 6, 2006, the Galeria Page has been a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity, meaning anyone who does business with them is breaking not only U.S., but international laws. The managers of the mall give a certain percentage of their earnings to Hezbollah, perhaps "hundreds of millions of dollars" per a knowledgeable source.

http://miami.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel10/mm021910.htm

I did a little digging and found a defunct website for an electronics dealer who has an outlet at the mall in question (not saying this THE electronics store in the investigation). But a perfect example of globalization - the parent company of this electronics outlet appears to be in China, with other branches in Chile, Brazil and Lebanon. Imagine how funds could be co-mingled, opaquely transferred, hidden across borders and moved through organizations. Thanks to technology and globalization, chasing the money trail is increasingly difficult, despite the many laws and designations in place post 9/11.

ASG Leader Killed in Philippines

Albader Parad, the leader of the Abu Sayaaf Group (ASG) was killed in the Philippines during a military-led operation today. ASG is directly tied to al Qaeda and another AQ offshoot that operates in Indonesia, Jemaah Islamiyah.

ASG has been in business for over 20 years. They seek an independent Islamic State in the southern Philippines. U.S. government agencies and special military units are on the ground to assist in stabilizing the region.

ASG specializes in kidnapping, torture, bombings and beheadings - mostly of innocents such as missionaries, journalists, religious figures, and Red Cross employees. Last year, 2 U.S. soldiers were killed at their hands in Jolo.

The group has many ties to al Qaeda, specifically through bin Laden's brother-in-law, Khalifa, and through Ramzi Yousef, mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the foiled operation Bojinka plot to simultaneously blow up 12 airliners over the Pacific Ocean. Yousef was working directly with his uncle, Khalid Sheik Mohammed on Bojinka, and the two tested and probed airport security throughout Asia in advance of the operation. ASG was also behind a plot to kill the Pope.

With ASG in the news today, it is a good reminder not to hyperfocus on al Qaeda in the Middle East and Africa. Offshoots (or franchises) of al Qaeda such as ASG and JI are alive and well around the world, and we can assume that they are in contact with each other through the internet and otherwise. We need to continue to study their operations, prepare for possible copycat activities in other theaters, and assist the host countries that want them eradicated.

Why The Diamond Trade In Zimbabwe Matters

One purpose of this blog is to identify global issues that seemingly don't affect our national security...and then examine how they might. For instance:

"Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has threatened to quit the Kimberley Process-the body which ensures diamonds do not fund conflicts. "We can sell our diamonds our own way," Mr Mugabe said as he opened a trade and tourism fare in Harare. The president and his allies have been accused of rights abuses in the eastern Marange diamond field." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8520579.stm

Zimbabwe is a nation in steep decline. Throughout the last decade, the life expectancy has fallen from age 60 to age 37 for men, and just 34 for women. The country is riddled with poverty and conflict. It is ranked close to last in almost every category: GDP, health, peace/stability, human rights. The main currency officially sanctioned by the government may surprise you - the U.S. Dollar.

The diamond trade provides the best export commodity and source of cash flow for the country. With a corrupt, unstable government and weak rule of law, there naturally is rampant smuggling and trade of illegally mined diamonds to countries such as Israel, Belgium and South Africa. Although the stones coming out of Zimbabwe constitute less than 1/2% of the world diamond trade, some are of very high quality and can command up to $1000 per carat for an uncut stone. The World Diamond Council has continually highlighted Zimbabwe's lack of adherence to international standards in the last few years. http://www.diamonds.net/news/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=24471

The moniker "blood diamonds" is used throughout Africa when a country smuggles or illegally trades their diamonds for cash, which is then used to fuel internal conflicts. The Kimberly Process was designed to try and stop this activity.

Let's talk about diamonds as a way for terrorist groups to launder, store and move money. Diamonds are not traceable. Diamonds are not detected by dogs, chemicals or xrays. Diamonds hold their value. Diamonds are small and easier to move than bulk cash or precious metals such as gold.

Al Qaeda was rumored to be in the diamond trade in Africa prior to 9/11. In fact, in late 2002, intelligence indicated bin Laden bought $20 million in diamonds from 3 rogue smugglers in Africa. The diamonds were untraceable and have never been recovered.

With the presence of al Qaeda, Hezbollah and FARC on the continent, the diamond trade in Zimbabwe suddenly seems much more important in terms of regulation and oversight, doesn't it?

Why The Taliban Is So Quiet In Afghanistan - And Why Al Qaeda Should Start Worrying

The answer: the U.S. and Pakistan coordinated efforts/intelligence and captured the leader of the Taliban's military 10 days ago....and he is singing.

Early last week, a joint CIA and Pakistani team brought in Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, leader of the Taliban's military wing and also the #2 in the Taliban's chain of command. He is Mullah Mohammad Omar's right hand man and ran day-to-day operations for the Taliban. Omar was of failing health and interestingly, the relationship between Barandar and Omar goes back to 1992, when they jointly ran a madrassa in Afghanistan.

Take aways:

- Pakistan is now actively denying the Taliban a safe haven in their country

- Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) is now on board with counter-Taliban operations in the country, having provided intelligence that led to this arrest

- Due to the deafening silence of the Taliban following his arrest, we can assume it is a hierarchical organization. Therefore the time proven "decimation" principle of warfare may work - take out the top 10%, the rest of the organization follows.

- Barandar is talking, as are those arrested with him. This could provide valuable intelligence into the structure, activities and operational plans of the Taliban - and much more importantly, the group they fund - al Qaeda

The battle for Marjah, a Taliban stronghold continues, as does the overarching "Operation Moshtarak" - meaning "together" in Dari . Next up - look for the killing or arrest of Jalaluddin Haqqani and his son Sirajuddin, leaders of a particularly violent Taliban arm in eastern Afghanistan/northwestern Pakistan. They are now #1 on the list of "most wanted" by coalition forces in the region.

Hizb ut-Tahrir America (HTA) Launches Website, Newsletter Archive

Although you won't find mention of HTA in the "about us" section of the website, they are the authors of the Shield Newsletter, distributed to the Muslim community. HTA, headquartered in Chicago, is a branch of Hizb ut-Tahir (HT), an international Islamist political movement present in 45 countries.

From the site: "The primary objective of this site is to provide Islamic commentary on the state of the Muslim Ummah. We are committed to spreading the message of Islam through sincere actions, by adhering to the teachings of Qur’an and Sunnah. Since 2006, The Shield Newsletter printed copies have been distributed on a monthly basis throughout the Chicagoland area. After receiving repeated requests from the readers, Alhamdulilah, we have made The Shield Newsletter available online."
http://www.theshieldnewsletter.com/

HT states it is nonviolent in nature, however it stops short at condemning radical Islamist and jihadist activity. In past newsletters, HTA asks Muslims to rethink their identity as Americans, asserts that Jews and Christians are the enemies of Muslims. The current issue calls for Pakistan to become a "Khilafah", or caliphate -- one of HT's tenets is the desire for Islamic States ruled by Sharia law.

And from the HTA website an invitation to an upcoming webinar:

LIVE Webinar: Hizb ut-Tahrir - "The Idea & the Method" As part of our next installment of talks we invite you to a frank and open discussion about Hizb ut-Tahrir:
"The Idea & the Method"
Thursday, Feb 25th 2010
9:00 PM (CST)

WEBSITE



If I can get through the layers of security questions, passwords, information gathering steps, and can safely/anonymously download the software needed to attend the webinar, I plan to listen in and will provide a recap in a future blog.

http://counterterrorismblog.org/2010/02/hizb_ut-tahrir_america_publish.php

Port of Los Angeles Launches New Counter-Chem/Bio Ship

A new ship to detect chemical and biological weapons has been launched to protect the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department said Wednesday it started using the $3 million vessel this week. It is staffed by explosives experts and equipped with tools to screen cargo ships for threats before they enter the nation's busiest port complex.

The experts board the ships and screen for substances used for weapons of mass destruction. Deputies have also added a helicopter to screen for radioactive material, while the ship's sonar system looks for underwater threats.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=9799825

In related news, The LA Sheriff's department also has a new weapon in its WMD detecting arsenal:

"The dog, an 18-month-old black Golden Retriever named Johnny Ringo, has one of most highly trained noses ever...he can sniff out chemical agents at lower concentrations than any instrument. He's also the only pooch in the Sheriff's Department with his own badge."

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local-beat/Long-Beach-Port-Gets-Security-Superhero-like-Upgrades-84062322.html

Americans Targeted by Taliban in Pakistan

The enemy used a 14 year old boy and a cleric for this foiled attack:

"Pakistan police have arrested six suspected Taliban militants with a suicide vest and hand grenades allegedly on their way to attack a five-star hotel and kill Americans in the country's cultural capital. The militants arrested on the outskirts of Lahore included a 14-year-old boy and a prayer leader from Pakistan's Khyber tribal area near the Afghan border, said police official Zulfikar Hameed. The prayer leader was wearing a vest packed with explosives. They told police they were targeting Americans at the Pearl Continental hotel, he said. "We think they were on their way to launch the attack," said Mr Hameed. "They told us that Americans are responsible for the death of every innocent Muslim in the so-called war on terror."

The eastern city of Lahore has suffered a spate of bombings at markets and security installations in recent years as the Taliban have expanded attacks beyond their main sanctuary in the north west. Militants have also targeted hotels and restaurants in other parts of Pakistan popular with Westerners. Police seized 26 hand grenades and five detonators from the suspects, who were traveling by car and motorcycle, said Mr Hameed. Despite their intentions, the men did not know for certain whether any Americans were staying at the hotel, he said."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gUhL6UJ-XdC1acI6ES1tdCVOgCVA

Hacking 101

Two items of interest in the news today:

Chinese police close hacker training that openly recruited thousands of members online and provided them with cyberattack lessons and malicious software. The hacker site known as the Black Hawk Safety Net disseminated hacking techniques and Trojan software that allows outside access to a computer when implanted, are used by hackers to illegally control computers. Black Hawk Safety Net recruited more than 12,000 paying subscribers and collected more than 7 million yuan ($1 million) in membership fees, while another 170,000 people had signed up for free membership. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1960755,00.html

How Wi-Fi attackers poison your browser - Public Wi-Fi in coffee shops and airports present a bigger security threat than ever -attackers can “poison” users’ browser caches in order to present fake Web pages or even steal data at a later time. An expert recently said it is simple for an attacker over an 802.11 wireless network to take control of a Web browser cache by hijacking a common JavaScript file, for example. “Once you’ve left Starbucks, you’re owned. I own your cache-control header,” he said. “You’re still loading the cache JavaScript when you go back to work.” Open networks have no client protection." Browser-cache poisoning over Wi-Fi can be kept in a persistent state unless the user knows how to effectively empty the cache. “Once the cache is poisoned, it’s going to stay there,” the researcher said. This means that an attacker can intercede to “poison the URL” of the victim so that he will see a fake Web page when they try to visit a specific Web site or try to insert a “shim” that could “ship your internal pages off to a remote server once you’re in a VPN.”
http://www.pcworld.com/article/188614/how_wifi_attackers_poison_browsers.html

Different Viewpoint on Jihadists

Stumbled on an interesting new book regarding radicalization. I firmly believe that we must harness the brainpower of all disciplines to defeat this threat - sociologists, psychologists, theologians and economists. I am always looking for studies on terrorism emanating from these experts to provide a fresh perspective.

The book is entitled "Radical, Religious, and Violent: The New Economics of Terrorism", written by Eli Berman, a professor of economics at the University of Southern California. Here is a quick summary of his points:

- Terrorist organizations succeed due to a few business principles - they are resilient, they've found a way to control defection, they weed out the lesser believers until they have a core of loyalists
- The organizations have a philosophy of mutual aid, improving the terrorist's personal and economic situation
- He views some terrorist organizations as "clubs" with the same sociological structure
- Terrorists are more rational than we might think
- We should stop viewing them as superheros or as the author calls them, "cartoon characters"
- The book discusses suicide bombings in depth - the economical aspects, the targets selected and what types of organizations (the "clubs") employ the tactic
- The author looks at the economical aspects and business practices of Taliban, Hezbollah and Hamas as a way to explain their long term success, stability and tactics

The author presents his arguments in a rational, apolitical manner. Interesting reading not only for those at the strategic level of the fight, but for all of us that seek more insight into the enemy and the radical, religious mindset.

Asymmetric Tactics - The Week in Review

In Iraq, a female suicide bomber attacks a group of women and children, killing 54.
In Pakistan, terrorists bomb a hospital, specifically targeting those wounded in an attack earlier in the day.

These two events are shocking to Westerners. However, as we continue to increase security and harden targets in the U.S., we have to keep an eye on attack methods and targets in the AOR.

Churches, schools, hospitals, school buses, childcare centers - these are all legitimate targets for the enemy. But how well are they protected?

The enemy has used women, children and the mentally impaired as suicide bombers. Do we employ the same security measures to all demographics?

We can't let our culture and biases get in the way when it comes to protecting our nation and its citizens. To win this battle, we have to think like the enemy in order to truly fight asymmetrically.

5,600 Tons of Urea Nitrate Imported by U.S. Stolen in Karachi

Officials in Pakistan are very concerned about Friday's theft of 5,600 tons (11 million pounds) of urea nitrate fertilizer, used in the farming industry. Urea is rarely used in bombs due to its quick decomposition rate, however under the right circumstances, can be deadly. The compound was successfully used the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center (1200-1500 pounds).

A possibly related story...ammonium nitrate fertilizer was recently banned in Afghanistan - the compound has been used extensively in IEDs against coalition forces (was also used by Timothy McVeigh in the OKC bombing and in the 2002 nightclub bombings in Bali in which 202 people died.).

ISAF soldiers are now seizing ammonium nitrate from Afghani farmers, paying them cash and destroying their supply. Farmers are being encouraged to use urea nitrate as a substitute. So perhaps the stolen urea is headed to Afghanistan for sale on the black market. Hopefully the enemy won't add it to their arsenal.


http://thefinancialdaily.com/NewsDetail/113455.aspx
http://www.public-action.com/SkyWriter/WacoMuseum/death/tscr/whitehur/fw_22.gif

Tankers from Yemen Headed for the Boston Harbor

Tanker ships from Yemen carrying highly flammable liquefied natural gas will be allowed entry to the Boston Harbor later this month. Two or three shipments per month are expected, and the Coast Guard has security measures in place.

Authorities state that similar shipments have been made around the globe without incident. However, I would assert that no other foreign ports are as attractive to al Qaeda than Boston. With Yemen as an al Qaeda stronghold and breeding ground for recruitment and training, these shipments are a reason for great concern.

http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20100203uproar_as_lng_tankers_head_for_boston_harbor/srvc=home&position=also

The Directors Testify: al Qaeda attack before June, sleeper operatives on the way/here

CIA Director Leon Panetta and the Director of National Intelligence, Admiral Dennis Blair, testified to Congress about the current threats to our national security. Instead of reading the various "spin" articles in the news right now, I recommend you read the actual testimony, link below.

I haven't completely dissected it, but a few takeaways:

- Cyber threats are emerging, complex and perpetrators are working globally to counter security measures. Two industry initiatives to increase efficiencies also increase vulnerability to attack:

-- Convergence—the merging of distinct voice and data technologies to a point where all communications (e.g., voice, facsimile, video, computers, control of critical infrastructure, and the Internet) are transported over a common network structure—will probably come close to completion in the next five years

-- Channel consolidation, the concentration of data captured on individual users by service providers through emails or instant messaging

- Over to the global financial crisis, I was happy to see officials finally admitting it is a threat to global and national security. Oil reserves are mentioned, as well as the U.S. dependency on foreign natural resources

- The terrorist threat to the homeland remains high. Although multiple cell, coordinated attacks are al Qaeda's hallmark, intelligence agencies are penetrating and disrupting, making this type of attack more difficult for the enemy.

- al Qaeda retains the capability to recruit, train, and deploy operatives to mount some kind of an attack against the Homeland

- Targets that have been the focus of more than one al Qaeda plot include aviation, financial institutions in New York City, and government targets in Washington, D.C. Other targets al Qaeda has considered include the Metro system in Washington D.C., bridges, gas infrastructure, reservoirs, residential complexes, and public venues for large gatherings

What will it take to stop al Qaeda?

- The U.S. and partners must maintain enhanced counterterrorism efforts against the group’s activities in the FATA and on US, European, and Pakistani efforts to identify and disrupt operatives

- "At least until Usama Bin Ladin and Ayman al-Zawahiri are dead or captured, al-Qa’ida will retain its resolute intent to strike the Homeland" per the report. I personally don't think the loss of these two figure heads will lead to the demise of al Qaeda.

- "Until counterterrorism pressure on al-Qa’ida’s place of refuge, key lieutenants, and operative cadre outpaces the group’s ability to recover, al-Qa’ida will retain its capability to mount an attack."

- "Sustaining defensive US security measures...enhanced law enforcement and security measures in the U.S. and overseas, including immigration controls, visa requirements, and aviation and border security, continue to deter terrorists from undertaking plots, complicate terrorists' ability to enter the U.S., and stop terrorist activity before plans reach the execution phase."

The report then covers nuclear proliferation, and provides an assessment of a variety of countries.

http://www.dni.gov/testimonies/20100203_testimony.pdf

MI5 Says al Qaeda Planning to Implant Bombs Inside Terrorist's Bodies to Defeat New Airport Body Scanners

MI5 has intercepted "chatter" about a possible change in al Qaeda's strategy for attacking airliners, made in conjunction with the ongoing deployment of body scanners to airports around the world.

Experts said the explosive PETN (Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate) would be placed in a plastic sachet inside the bomber’s body, possibly in place of an appendix, or in women, disguised as a breast implant. The wound would be stitched up like a normal operation incision and allowed to heal. The explosives would then be detonated by the bomber using a hypodermic syringe to inject TATP (Triacetone Triperoxide) through their skin into the explosives sachet.

A shaped charge of 8oz of PETN can penetrate five inches of armor and would easily blow a large hole in an airliner. Source:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1247338/Terrorists-plan-attack-Britain-bombs-INSIDE-bodies-foil-new-airport-scanners.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0eLczts7q

Takeaways:

-- al Qaeda is changing strategies to match our security enhancements
-- Passenger jets are still a major target
-- The attempted aircraft boarding by the Nigerian terrorist a few months ago, and the Christmas Day bombing attempt may have both been dry runs to test the syringe tactic

Al Shabaab Announces Partnership with al Qaeda

Cementing a relationship counterterrorism officials have suspected for years, al Shabaab is formally joining al Qaeda "in a drive to establish an Islamic state in Somalia and fight for Muslims across East Africa". In a statement Monday, the group said it had agreed, among other things, "to connect the horn of Africa jihad to the one led by al Qaeda and its leader Sheikh Osama Bin Laden."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704107204575038674123215854.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsTop