November 2006

Britons Need to Know About the Fanaticism that Threatens Them//Editorial on Terrorism Reporting

Excerpted from: ERRI DAILY INTELLIGENCE REPORT, EmergencyNet News Service, Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006, Vol. 12, No. 324

"We'll Help You Better Understand Your World..."

The Face of Terror; Britons Need to Know About the Fanaticism that Threatens Them

Times of London

LONDON, ENGLAND: The 40-year sentence imposed yesterday on Dhiren Barot, the Muslim convert who masterminded plans for mass murder on a horrendous scale, is one of the longest terms handed down for non-capital offences. It reflects not only the gravity of the appalling acts that this senior al-Qaeda operative was planning, his callous glee at the scale of death and injury and his cunning in elaborating plans to maim and terrify thousands of people in Britain and America; it is also a clear message to other fanatics abusing the name of Islam that a democracy will take whatever measures are needed to protect itself from such evil.

The threat posed by Barot is hard to envisage. The middle-class Hindu, who went to school in London and worked briefly as an airline ticket clerk, sought out the most radical and violent form of Islam after his conversion and spent the next nine years as a full-time terrorist planner. His expertise and professionalism in surveying the nine London hotels, three stations, synagogues, banks and Underground lines targeted for destruction is matched only by his sadism in contemplating how he could increase the panic and human suffering caused by exploding gas cylinders, napalm, nails and a radiation bomb.

It is vital, however, that the threat posed by such men is understood. Had it not been for a determined effort by this newspaper, together with the BBC and the Associated Press, no detail of what Barot was planning or of his sentence could have been made public. Confronted with overwhelming evidence, he pleaded guilty. But seven co-accused are currently on trial, and the courts had refused to lift any reporting restrictions for fear of prejudicing trials that may not end for two years.

Such gagging would have been utterly unacceptable. Ruthless, religiously inspired terrorism is the greatest danger this country faces. Britons were shaken from earlier complacency by the London suicide bombings in July last year. Many, though, still do not comprehend the aims or methods of those who would slaughter thousands to create "a black day for the enemies of Islam".

Simple vigilance is not enough. The security services mounted one of the largest operations undertaken to monitor and unravel his plot, but were up against a level of sophistication and terrorist training rarely seen until now. Their success in cracking encrypted messages, penetrating hidden computer data and identifying electronic keys and terrorist paraphernalia is remarkable.

None of this would have been known had the reporting restrictions not been lifted. This case has already led directly to the change in law allowing police to hold suspects for 28 days (but not the 90 days that the Prime Minister wanted) rather than 14 days, before charging them. It must surely now provoke a full debate on how terrorist cases are prepared, tried and reported. Dozens of suspects face trial on terrorism charges, and the virus has a long way to run before it is eradicated. British justice had yet to find ways of accommodating old and fair procedures to this challenge.

The Barot case underlines the character of terrorism, its international tentacles, chameleon adaptability and ability to exploit Western fads and weaknesses. It should, and will, make more urgent the need to penetrate and disarm the mindset that kills in the name of a deity. It is a threat that no democratic society can ignore.

-- Source: Times of London, Nov. 08, 2006 Source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,542-2442556,00.html

Commentary/Opinion/Editorial on Terrorism Reporting
by C. L. Staten, ERRI CEO and Senior National Security Analyst

21 Nov 2006

CHICAGO, IL: Though disguised as "a rant" against the dangers of terrorism, this article is largely about more freedom for the press to report on terrorism matters. We, at ERRI, do believe that much of what the Times says about Dhiren Barot is true, and we consistently come down on the side of educating the public more about our enemies and their deadly tactics. We should also preface our remarks by saying that we are strong advocates of freedom of the press and open expression.

But, the point that must NOT be forgotten in this opinion piece is that the PRESS can NOT report details, sources, or methods that will compromise other investigations or court cases. Otherwise, we are giving other terrorists a legal "free ride" and may compromise agents or informants who will assist the free world in future battles against the "bad guys." Reporters should realize that in the long run, certain official secrets must remain secret...if we are to hope to win the struggle against the extremists.

Additionally, it should also be noted that a number of media sources in the U.K. have often taken an "anti-British government" and "pro-jihadist" stance in their coverage....particularly in regard to the Israeli/Palestinian issue, and more recently...concerning the war in Iraq. The public might be better served if some parts of the British press would "just report the news" without bias and put their opinions for the editorial page...not used as "coloring" of the facts on the front page, or in the lead story in the nightly TV coverage.

Finally, we are most encouraged that the media elite in England are belatedly becoming more cognizant of the menace that the jihadists pose to their very civilization. For the longest time, it appeared that many were in a state of denial about what was happening in their own country. The events of 7/7 in London, and recent MI5/6 revelations about "home-grown terrorism" appear to have finally awakened the "slumbering aristocracy" in the government and press of the United States' greatest ally (the U.K.). We, at ERRI/EmergencyNet News, at the risk of sounding terribly self-serving, hate to say it...but, we have been warning you about this peril for the past several years.

Profile: Lashkar e-Tayyiba (Lashkar e-Toiba)

Profile: Lashkar e-Tayyiba (Lashkar e-Toiba)
November 14, 2006 15:29 CST

Terrorist Group Profile

Lashkar e-Tayyiba (LT) (Also LeT)

a.k.a. Al Mansooreen;
Al Mansoorian;
Army of the Pure;
Army of the Pure and Righteous;
Army of the Righteous;
Jamaat ud-Dawa and Al Monsooreen;
Lashkar e-Toiba;
Lashkar-i-Taiba;
Paasban-e-Ahle-Hadis;
Paasban-e-Kashmir;
Paasban-i-Ahle-Hadith;
Pasban-e-Ahle-Hadith;
Pasban-e-Kashmir

Description
LT began as the militant wing of the Islamic extremist organization Markaz Dawa ul-Irshad (MDI), which was formed in the mid-1980s. MDI changed its name to Jamaat ul-Dawa (JUD) in 2001, probably in an effort to avoid Government of Pakistan restrictions. The U.S. State Department designated Lashkar e-Tayyiba a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) in 2001, and Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf banned LT in 2002. The United Nations designated LT as an FTO in 2005. LT is led by Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and is one of the three largest and best-trained groups fighting in Kashmir against India. It is not connected to any political party. The Pakistani Government banned the group and froze its assets in January 2002. Elements of LT and Jaish-e-Muhammed combined with other groups to mount attacks as "The Save Kashmir Movement."

Activities
The LT has conducted a number of operations against Indian troops and civilian targets in Jammu and Kashmir since 1993. The LT claimed responsibility for numerous attacks in 2001, including an attack in January on Srinagar airport that killed five Indians; an attack on a police station in Srinagar that killed at least eight officers and wounded several others; and an attack in April against Indian border security forces that left at least four dead. Indian Listed on the UN 1267 Committee List. Government publicly implicated the LT, along with JEM, for the attack in December 2001 on the Indian Parliament building, although concrete evidence is lacking. The LT is also suspected of involvement in the attack in May 2002 on an Indian Army base in Kaluchak that left 36 dead. India blames the LT for an attack in New Delhi in October 2005 and an attack in Bangalore in December 2005. Senior al-Qaida lieutenant Abu Zubaydah was captured at an LT safe house in Faisalabad in March 2002, suggesting that some members were facilitating the movement of al-Qaida members in Pakistan.

Strength
The LT has several thousand members in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, in the southern Jammu and Kashmir and Doda regions, and in the Kashmir valley. Almost all LT members are Pakistanis from madrassas across Pakistan or Afghan veterans of the Afghan wars. The group uses assault rifles, light and heavy machine guns, mortars, explosives, and rocket-propelled grenades.

Location/Area of Operation
Based in Muridke (near Lahore) and Muzaffarabad.

External Aid
Collects donations from the Pakistani community in the Persian Gulf and United Kingdom, Islamic NGOs, and Pakistani and other Kashmiri business people. The LT also maintains a Web site under the name Jamaat ud-Daawa through which it solicits funds and provides information on the group’s activities. The amount of LT funding is unknown. The LT maintains ties to religious/militant groups around the world, ranging from the Philippines to the Middle East and Chechnya, through the fraternal network of its parent organization Jamaat ud-Dawa (formerly Markaz Dawa ul-Irshad).

-- Source: "Country Reports on Terrorism 2005,"
Published April 2006 United States Department of State,
Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism
United States Department of State Publication #11324
Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism
On the Internet at: http://www.mipt.org/pdf/Country-Reports-Terrorism-2005.pdf

Additional reference:
Lashkar-e-Taiba, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, (Army of the Righteous), can be found at: http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/lashkar.htm

ERRI/EmergencyNet News References:
"Series of EmergencyNet News Reports of Escalating Conflict Between India and Pakistan in the Kashmir Region - 23 May, 1999 to 04 June 1999," on the net at: http://www.emergency.com/1999/kasmir99.htm

"Crisis in Kashmir: Summary of EmergencyNet News Reports of the Continuing Conflict Between India and Pakistan Over the Disputed Region of Kashmir -- 01 Oct 2000 to 05 Nov 2000," on the net at: http://www.emergency.com/2000/kashmir-crisis2000.htm

"Crisis in Kashmir: 2001-2002, Series of EmergencyNet News "Real-Time" Reports Concerning Escalating Tensions Between Pakistan and India -- 13 Dec 2001 to 19 Jan 2002," on the net at: http://www.emergency.com/2001/crisis_in_kashmir2001.htm

Pakistan Advisory Page (Up to 2002) http://www.emergency.com/pakiwarn.htm

Compilation courtesy of:
Emergency Response & Research Institute
EmergencyNet News Service
6348 N. Milwaukee Ave.
#312 Chicago, IL 60646
(773) 631-ERRI - Voice/Messages
(773) 631-4703 - Facsimile
E-mail: webmaster@mail.emergency.com
Main Webpage: http://www.emergency.com

Terror Threat Reported Against Airliner Traveling From India

Excerpt: ERRI DAILY INTELLIGENCE REPORT, EmergencyNet News Service, Sunday, Nov 12, 2006, Vol. 12, No. 315

Terror Threat Reported Against Airliner Traveling From India

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Indian authorities renewed a high security alert (previously reported here) at its airports following a warning that the al-Qaeda terror network could try and hijack US-bound passenger flights.

“We sounded an alert after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) forwarded an email that spoke of the possibility of an al-Qaeda attempt to hijack US-bound flights from India,” a home ministry official said.

The official, who did not wanted to be named, said the email written by an “unknown entity” appeared to have originated from India and was received by the FBI Saturday at its headquarters in the US. The U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security is reportedly calling the threat "uncorroborated"

“While the 'target' was US-bound flights, the nature of threat mentioned in the email was 'hijacking”', he said. "All airlines have been asked to request passengers to cooperate with the enhanced security and to reach airports a little ahead of time,” the Press Trust of India quoted an unnamed official as saying.

The heightened measures included last-minute special checks before embarkation, increased security around airports and extra baggage screening.

India tightened security on Thursday at airports in the southern cities of Coimbatore, Madurai, Chennai, Bangalore and Thiruvanthapuram.