- MUST READS
- PRODUCTS
- RESOURCES
- MULTIMEDIA
- ENFACTLOPEDIA
- FSM AUTHORS
- ABOUT US
- CONTACT US
- FSM BLOG
- DONATE
- PRESS COVERAGE
SEARCH FSM
- IN THIS SECTION
January 17, 2009
Exclusive: CRC Open-Source Intelligence Briefs
Maj. W. Thomas Smith Jr., Director of the Counterterrorism Research Center
BAHRAIN: The U.S. Navy is establishing a multinational counter-piracy task force – Combined Task Force 151 – aimed at combating 21st-century buccaneers, particularly those operating “in and around the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Red Sea,” according to Vice Admiral William E. Gortney, who commands U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, the U.S. 5th Fleet, and Combined Maritime Forces.
"Some navies in our coalition did not have the authority to conduct counter-piracy missions," Gortney said last week. "The establishment of 151 will allow those nations to operate under the auspices of CTF 150, while allowing other nations to join CTF 151 to support our goal of deterring, disrupting and eventually bringing to justice the maritime criminals involved in piracy events."
CTF 150 currently conducts maritime security operations, including “the deterrence of drug smuggling and weapons trafficking,” according to the U.S. Defense Department. The new CTF 151 will be commanded by Rear Admiral Terence E. McKnight.
CHICAGO: Two Chicagoans have pled guilty of conspiring to commit acts of terrorism against Americans.
According to the Waukegan (Illinois) News Sun:
“A North Chicago man accused of terrorist conspiracies against Americans and U.S. military personnel pleaded guilty Thursday in Ohio.
“Zubair A. Ahmed, 29, and his cousin, Khaleel Ahmed, 27, of Chicago, also pleaded guilty before U.S. District Chief Judge James Carr in Toledo to one count of conspiracy to provide material support and resources, including the defendants themselves as personnel to terrorists.”
LEBANON and ISRAEL: Lebanese Druse parliamentarian Walid Jumblat said Thursday "some regional powers insist on turning Lebanon into a post office box … and an open arena for the region's conflicts."
Jumblat, who chairs that country’s Progressive Socialist Party, was referring to the recent firing of rockets into Israel from south Lebanon.
Jumblat, who chairs that country’s Progressive Socialist Party, was referring to the recent firing of rockets into Israel from south Lebanon.
According to Naharnet, Jumblat said:
“‘Lebanon would not accept to be again a field for the wars of others on a pad for launching rockets so that others can go into negotiations at its expense.’ …
“Jumblat urged the Lebanese Army and U.N. peacekeepers to practice ‘maximum alert in south Lebanon to halt this mockery of launching rockets.’”
The Lebanon-based terrorist group, Hizballah, which maintains a sizeable arsenal of rockets, has denied firing the rockets. But military experts predicated prior to the first rocket being launched from south Lebanon into Israel (post-Gaza offensive) that rockets would indeed be launched by Hizballah proxies, and that Hizballah would deny any involvement.
According to one of my Lebanese sources: “This is precisely what is taking place, and it is standard operating procedure for Syria, Iran, and Hizballah, all of whom have a direct hand in this.”
— Visit W. Thomas Smith Jr. at uswriter.com.
Reader Comments: Submit Your Comment (0)
| Print This E-mail This |
|
