August 2006

Lt. Col. "Buzz" Patterson (audio) interview on Saddam Hussein's links to terrorism, GWOT, Iraq and the role of bloggers

Lt. Col. "Buzz" Patterson (audio) interview on Saddam Hussein's links to terrorism, GWOT, Iraq and the role of bloggers

Lt. Col. "Buzz" Patterson, author of 3 books and top military advisor to President Clinton, recently made himself available for an extended interview with Regime of Terror. Patterson called upon his military/intelligence contacts and background as he talked about al-Qaeda's strength during 90's and today, the war in Iraq and wider Global War on Terror, bloggers and Saddam Hussein's support of terrorism.
Patterson predicts that the intelligence paper of the former Iraq regime, currently held in the HARMONY database and elsewhere, will "connect a lot of the dots" on Saddam Hussein's links to terrorism.
Lt. Col. Patterson also discusses al-Qaeda #2 Ayman al-Zawahiri's trip to Baghdad in 1998 (in which he received $300,000, possibly from Saddam Hussein himself), Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's medical trip to Baghdad in 2002 and the terrorist training that took place in the Salman Pak camp.
His new book, "War Crimes: The Left's Campaign to Destroy Our Military and Lose the War on Terror ", is available for pre-order through amazon.com and is set for a January 16, 2007 release.
Interview is also available for download here.

URL: http://regimeofterror.com/archives/2006/08/interview_with_lt_col_buzz_pat/

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Editor's note: Also in this interview (link above), LtCol. Patterson discusses the Operation Bojinka Plot in the Philippines that involved Ramzi Yousef and a plan to bomb airplanes in mid-air, over the Pacific ocean. Various modifications of this plan have also been attributed to other more recent plots, including a recent London scheme to bomb U.S. airplanes leaving the U.K. and traveling across the Atlantic to the USA.

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ERRI's Clark Staten first compared the London plot to Operation Bojinka within hours of the announcement of police raids in London, on Thursday, August 10, 2006, at 03:33:31 AM CDT. That news release read:

VERY Preliminary Analysis of U.K. Terror Plot
By Paul Anderson, Correspondent

CHICAGO, IL: ERRI CEO and Senior Analyst Clark Staten said today that as preliminary details begin to filter in, the situation involved in the terrorist plot in the United Kingdom increasingly sounds just like a 1995 Al-Qaeda terror operation called "Bojinka."
Operation Bojinka was a plot to destroy 11 airliners on January 21 and 22, 1995. It was was developed by Al-Qaida operatives Ramzi Yousef and Khalid Shaikh Mohammed while they were in Manila, Philippines in 1994 and early 1995.
Six years before the Sept. 11 attacks, Philippine police took down an al Qaeda cell in Manila that, among other things, had been plotting to fly liquid explosives-laden planes into the Pentagon -- and possibly some skyscrapers. The CIA knew about the plot, known as Operation Bojinka. So did the FBI. "We told the Americans about the plans to turn planes into flying bombs as far back as 1995," a Philippine inspector says.

The bombs - January 1995

The "Mark II" "microbombs" had Casio digital watches as the timers, stabilizers that looked like cotton wool balls, and an undetectable nitroglycerin as the explosive.
Other ingredients included 5 milliliters of glycerin, xx ml of nitrate, xx ml of sulfuric acid, and minute concentrations of nitrobenzene, silver azide (silver nitride), and liquid acetone. Two 9-Volt batteries in each bomb were used as a power source.
The batteries would be connected to light bulb filaments that would detonate the bomb. The batteries were taken from children's toys. The watch was a database watch that had no arms. Murad and Yousef wired a SCR as the switch to trigger the filiments to detonate the bomb. There was an external socket hidden when the wires were pushed under the watch base as the bomber would wear it. The alteration was so small that the watch could still be worn in a normal manner.
Yousef got batteries past airport security during his December 11 test bombing of Philippine Airlines Flight 434 by hiding them in hollowed-out heels of his shoes. Yousef smuggled the nitroglycerin on board by putting it inside a contact lens solution bottle.
Staten said that the exact type of devices to be used in this most recent plot in England have not been confirmed, but sources close to the investigation are telling EmergencyNet News that the explosives to be used were "liquid chemicals" * that were to be carried on-board the planes in carry-on baggage.
EmergencyNet News continues to monitor events in England very closely and we will bring you updates as circumstances warrant..."

* Postscript: It was later found that the liquid bombs probably contained a TAPT-type substance...please see reference w/ graphics elsewhere on our blog, click here.

Additional references:

Series of EmergencyNet News "Real-Time" Reports Concerning An Attempted Bombing of American Airlines Flt. 63; 22 Dec 2001 to 08 Jan 2002, can be found at: http://www.emergency.com/2001/AA-63_bomb.htm

Peripheral Link: Thursday 12th April 2002, Emerging Asian Threat: Riduan Isamuddin (Hambali) -- The Next Terrorist Mastermind??, can be found at: http://www.emergency.com/2002/hambali.htm

Iran Now Ready for Talks; Facing Sanctions?

Iran Now Ready for Talks; Facing Sanctions? (Video) APTN (APTN), World Tue 22 Aug 2006 05:58 PM EDT An Iranian negotiator said Iran is ready for what he calls "serious" talks, but a a semi-official news agency in Tehran says the government won't stop its uranium enrichment program. (Aug. 22) (Video requires .mpg player and will open in new window.)

11 Atlantic Bomb Plot Suspects Charged (Video)

Atlantic Bomb Plot Suspects Charged APTN (APTN), World Mon 21 Aug 2006 05:05 PM EDT British police say their probe into the alleged plot to blow up trans-Atlantic airlines has uncovered some bomb-making materials -- and has resulted in charges against eleven suspects. (Aug. 21)

Flight Diverted Into Logan Airport in Boston (Video)

Flight Diverted to Logan Airport APTN (APTN), World Thu 17 Aug 2006 08:01 PM EDT A woman on a trans-atlantic flight was diverted to Boston for security concerns on Wednesday, the woman allegedly passed several notes to crewmembers, and made comments that the crew believed were references to Al-Qaeda and Sept. 11, 2001 (Clip will open in new window after you click play)

Terrorist plot busted: 7 ways police can learn from the incident

08/11/2006

Topics & Tactics for Law Enforcement
PoliceOne Exclusive: Terrorist plot busted: 7 ways police can learn from the incident

By Scott Buhrmaster
PoliceOne Managing Editor

Features interview with ERRI's Chief Clark Staten. Can be found at: http://www.policeone.com/terrorism/articles/509381

Analysis of Improvised Liquid Bombs in London Terrorist Plot

10 Aug 2006

Analysis of Improvised Liquid Bombs in London Terrorist Plot

According to feasible, but so far officially unconfirmed reports, the explosives to be used in the latest aviation terrorism plot in the U.K. were "peroxide-based." ERRI counter-terrorism analysts said that they may have been similar to those used in a transit system attack on 7/7/2005.

ERRI analysts continue to monitor developments in the investigation of the London case and we will bring you additional relevant data as it becomes available.

-- Source: Powerpoint Briefing; "Improvised Explosive Devices; World-Wide Review of Tactics and Strategies - August, 2005," By: C. L. Staten, CEO and Sr. Analyst, Emergency Response & Research Institute

Change to the nation’s threat level for the aviation sector

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Press Release
August 10, 2006
Contact: DHS Press Office, 202-282-8010

Statement by HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY MICHAEL CHERTOFF announcing a change to the nation’s threat level for the aviation sector

The United States Government has raised the nation’s threat level to Severe, or Red, for commercial flights originating in the United Kingdom bound for the United States.
This adjustment reflects the Critical, or highest, alert level that has been implemented in the United Kingdom.
To defend further against any remaining threat from this plot, we will also raise the threat level to High, or Orange, for all commercial aviation operating in or destined for the United States.
Consistent with these higher threat levels, the Transportation Security Administration is coordinating with federal partners, airport authorities and commercial airlines on expanding the intensity of existing security requirements.
Due to the nature of the threat revealed by this investigation, we are prohibiting any liquids, including beverages, hair gels, and lotions from being carried on the airplane. This determination will be constantly evaluated and updated when circumstances warrant. These changes will take effect at 4:00 AM local time across the country. Travelers should also anticipate additional security measures within the airport and at screening checkpoints.

Terrorist Warning Level in U.K. Raised to "Critical" (Plot Thwarted)

EmergencyNet News *FLASH* Report

8/10/2006 01:00CDT

Terrorist Plot Thwarted in England;
Terrorist Warning Level in U.K. Raised to "Critical"

From: The ERRI/EmergencyNet News Global Watchdesk

By C. L. Staten

LONDON, ENGLAND: According to law enforcement and other sources in the United Kingdom, a major terrorist plot has reportedly been interrupted before the terrorists had an opportunity to undertake it.

The plot is described as an attempt to smuggle aboard and detonate explosives in as many as ten planes over the United States and/or Great Britain. Few official details on the specific threat are currently available.

Consequently, the Home Office's level of security - indicating risk to the general public - has been raised from "severe" to "critical." According to MI5's website, a critical threat level means "an attack is expected imminently and indicates an extremely high level of threat to the U.K.".

Preliminary and unconfirmed reports suggest that as many as 20 men of "Asian origin" (commonly used in the U.K. to indicate Pakistani) have been arrested in raids by the Metropolitan Police and special counter-terrorist units.

It is believed that Great Britain is currently briefing U.S. law enforcement and Homeland Security in regard to the plot. ERRI analysts said that the early details that are available would seem to indicate that this was a "serious threat" that may still be underway.

EmergencyNet News is monitoring this series of events very closely and we will provide additional information as more details can be ascertained and verified.

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