Updated With Video: Taliban Attack On Afghan Presidential Palace Ends, All Attackers Killed

June 24, 2013 - 11:00 PM EDT - The Presidential palace ("the Arg") in Kabul, Afghanistan was attacked by four Taliban suicide bombers Monday morning. None breached the palace's security walls. One bomber blew himself up and three others were shot by Afghan security forces. Casualties were reported but the number is not known.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai was in the palace compound when the attack began around 6:20 AM local time (0200 GMT). Karzai had a scheduled meeting with journalists.

Karzai "never appeared to be in danger," reports The Guardian. He was "behind several more walls inside the heavily fortified palace itself. One source who was inside the complex, which has outer walls several dozen metres thick in places, said the fighting never approached the inner area."

The attack was put down entirely by Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). Earlier this month, ANSF  took the lead in providing security for Afghanistan, with NATO now in a support-only role.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, and said their targets included the Ariana Hotel, which is home to the CIA station in Kabul.

Afghan security officials said they believe the attack was actually executed by the Taliban-linked Haqqani Network, reports Reuters.  "The Haqqani Network is accused of masterminding high-profile attacks in Kabul and is believed to have close links to al Qaeda."

Earlier Reports, as it was happening:

UPDATED: NYPD Arrests Bomb Suspect; US Citizen Followed al-Qaeda; His Mom Apologizes To New York

Jose Pimentel at
Manhattan criminal court,
Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011
Photo: Tom Hays, AP

Police say this surveillance 
photo shows Jose Pimentel
making a bomb

November 20, 2011 - New York City - Police arrested a man who allegedly planned to blow up police vehicles, post offices and U.S. soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. A report by the Los Angeles Times says that NYPD said that one of his motives was to "protest U.S. military presence in those countries."

That man is Jose Pimentel, age 27, (photos, top) is a native of the Dominican Republic who was raised in Manhattan and converted to Islam. According to NYPD, Pimentel was in the process of constructing a pipe bomb when they arrested him. He had been on an FBI watch list for several years. See press conference video below; also see the press release from Mayor Bloomberg's office.

Authorities recently stepped up their surveillance of Pimentel after September 30. That's when Anwar Awlaki  was killed by a U.S. drone missile strike in Yemem. Pimentel is said to have been greatly influenced by Awlaki.  CBS News has posted the entire criminal complaint against Jose Pimentel.

According to a CBS report about Pimentel, "The complaint reveals the Pimentel made numerous incriminating statements to a confidential informant during a 12-month investigation. On Sept. 7, Pimentel allegedly told the informant he was interested building small bombs targeting government or police buildings and banks. Three weeks later, he allegedly gave the informant a flash drives containing two bomb-making manuals."

On Monday, November 21, Pimentel's mother actually apologized to New York for her son's alleged actions. New York Daily News quotes Carmen Sosa, 56, as saying, “I want to apologize to the City of New York,” and “I love the city. I’ve been here since 1987 and I’m very disappointed with what my son was doing. I didn’t raise him that way." She even praised the NYPD. “I feel very bad about the situation. I thank the police. They did what they’re supposed to do.”

U.S. Plot to Kill Al-Awlaki Included Fighter Jets, Special Ops

September 30, 2011 - U.S. forces killed two U.S. citizens who had become important Al Qaeda operatives. Dead are senior Al Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki Samir Khan, plus two others who were traveling with them in Yemen early this morning. The terrorists were taken out by "a CIA-led U.S. drone strike, marking the highest-profile takedown of terror leaders since the raid on Usama bin Laden's compound," reports Fox News. The operation involved two Predator drones. They flew over al-Awlaki's convoy and fired Hellfire missiles, killing al-Awlaki. Fox News says that a senior U.S. official claims that the operation "was carried out by Joint Special Operations Command, under the direction of the CIA."

A CBS News report late today notes that the U.S. military and intelligence forces tracked Anwar al-Awlaki for a number of years. "Awlaki," says CBS, "who apparently inspired the Fort Hood major who killed 13 service members and whose ties to al Qaeda may go back as far as the 9/11 hijackers, was tracked down leaving a funeral in Yemen and killed by a rocket fired from a U.S. drone aircraft." "Al-Awlaki would be the most prominent Al Qaeda figure to be killed since bin Laden's death in a U.S. raid in Pakistan in May," says Fox News, which also notes that U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said in July that Al-Awlaki was on the most wanted list, which included Ayman al-Zawahri, bin Laden's successor as the terror network's leader." The FBI's Most Wanted Terrorist List says that "Ayman Al-Zawahiri has been indicted for his alleged role in the August 7, 1998, bombings of the United States Embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya." Al-Awlaki, says the FBI, was designated by the United States as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist” on July 12, 2010. (Also see Terrorism Designations Press Releases, U.S. Dept. of State) CBS reports that while Samir Khan two fellow convoy passengers were also killed, Awlaki was the real target. "He had narrowly escaped an earlier drone strike the week after the Bin Laden raid," said CBS, "and this time the U.S. was taking no chances." Fox News notes that "Al-Awlaki was a U.S.-born Islamic militant cleric who became a prominent figure with Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the network's most active branch." One of Al-Awlaki's most important roles within Al Qaeda was propagandist. As a native English speaker and one who had first hand knowledge of American culture, he was especially effective at recruiting jihadists from within the U.S. "Awlaki has become a prominent cyber-jihadist," reported Long War Journal in July. "Combining his ability to communicate in English with his charisma with young, radical Muslims and his presence on the Web, Awlaki has developed a large following. He gives numerous lectures and speeches via the Internet and teleconferences. US law enforcement agencies and intelligence services consider Awlaki to be a prime recruiter for al Qaeda as well as a provider of the needed religious justifications, or fatwas, for jihadis to carry out attacks." That deadly voice has been silenced. There will be others.

Update 3: Bombs Kill At Least 64 In Kapala, Uganda

July 11, 2010 - Update #3 - Two or three bomb blasts at 11:00 p.m. local time in Uganda's capitol city Kampala have killed at least 64 people. As of July 11, 10:00 p.m. EDT, Houston Chronicle and AP report that the rising death toll is at least 64. The Syndey Morning Herald and AFP report the same death toll. (NOTE: As of 10:00 p.m. EDT, various reports disagree about the number of blasts. Most are reporting two explosions but some say three.) Some Americans and Europeans are believed to be among the casualties, but the numbers and details are not yet clear. Earlier Reports: The Daily Monitor in Kampala, reported (on July 12, 2010 at 02:06 local time): Police confirmed that 13 people, more than half of them foreigners were killed at Ethiopian Village Restaurant in Kabalagala, a Kampala suburb, while Daily Monitor reporters counted about 40 bodies at Kyaddondo Rugby Grounds where a huge crowd was watching the Spain Vs Netherlands Word Cup final. Police Chief Kale Kaihura says he can't yet confirm the death toll, but reports from the scene indicated it may be around 20 people killed and others injured. Kaihura says he believes that Somalia's most feared militia — al-Shabab, which has pledged loyalty to al-Qaida — could be behind the attack. One of the bombs went off at an Ethiopian restaurant in Kampala, Uganda's capital. AP (at NWCN News) RELATED: Ugandan bombings toll rises to 64 Sydney Morning Herald Uganda blasts point to possible Islamist link Reuters Africa Uganda: Bombs Explode, Somali Militia Blamed WFMY News 50 die in Kampala bomb blasts Daily Monitor, Uganda Bomb attacks hit Kampala‎ New Vision Police seize govt cars for AU meet‎ New Vision Report: At least 33 dead after two explosions hit Kampala, Uganda Wire Update Islamic Militant Groups Protest East African Union Troop Increase in Somalia Afro.com

TERROR ALERT ACROSS THREE CONTINENTS

JANUARY 23, 2010 - Late this week, the U.K. raised it's terror alert to "Severe," its second-highest level, but gave no reason for the action. "The highest level of security alert is 'critical,' and that means an attack is imminent, and we're not at that level," British Home Secretary Alan Johnson said on British television. This weekend, we're hearing that Al Qaeda is training female suicide bombers, and may be about to unleash them. It is not publicly know whether the 'Gal suicide bomber' alert is directly related to - or the cause of - a worldwide elevation of terror alerts. Meanwhile, the heightened alert levels come even as Syria partially mobilizes reserves as tensions rise on Israel's northern border. (See a video report below.) Eleven Nations Raise Preparedness Levels The following is excerpted from an ominous report at DebkaFile: In the last three days, the governments of eleven countries have scrambled to elevate their preparedness levels for Islamist terror, or enforced extraordinarily stringent security measures. Another six governments have pursued these steps without fanfare. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 22-23, India placed its airlines and airports and those of all of South East Asia -Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka - on alert for a possible airplane hijacking by al Qaeda or Lashkar-e-Taibem. The UK elevated its terror threat level from "substantial" to "severe" - one below top and suspended direct British airline flights to and from Yemen....Yemen itself stopped issuing entry visas at Sanaa airport. Full Article... RELATED: UK expects terrorist attack – threat severe Vancouverite Airport security on lookout for possible female terrorists NECN Indian hijack plot caused new UK terror alert Times Online New terror alert: 'American looking' female suicide bombers American Thinker FBI faked terror alerts to get phone records Register Indian flights over SE Asia on hijack alert debka.com Delhi airport put on heightened alert Hindustan Times Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

Updated (2x) - Detroit Airline Terrorist Attack Fails Narrowly

UPDATE, Dec 26, 2009, 5:23 PM CST Police search London flat in US plane bomb probe - BBC News Nigerian Charged in Northwest Bomb Attempt - Wall Street Journal Abdul Mudallad, a Nigerian man with al-Qaida ties apparently tried to blow up [Northwest Airlines Flight 253] flight as it was descending over Detroit Metro Airport on Christmas afternoon. Details are still coming in, but apparently the powder-and-liquid bomb was ignited by the terrorist--who received third degree burns. Passengers subdued the bomber. More at Marathon Pundit... NOTE: Delta has acquired 100 percent ownership of Northwest and is in the process of fully integrating the airline into the Delta family. Customers are already seeing signs of the merger as the Northwest brand is gradually being phased out and replaced by Delta's name and brand. Delta and Northwest will continue to operate their own aircraft until the integration process is complete. - [Completion target is mid-2010] Source Also see: Delta, Northwest one step closer to becoming one‎ - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Dec. 24, 2009 MORE ON THIS STORY: Terror Attempt on Delta/NWA Flight 253 - How Will it Affect Your Travel? - About.com Delta Air Lines Issues Statement on Northwest Flight 253 - Press Release Source: Delta Air Lines On Friday December 25, 2009, 7:54 pm EST via Yahoo! News Jet fliers tackle bomber - New York Post An al Qaeda terrorist tried to blow up a plane packed with Christmas travelers yesterday as it was about to land in Detroit -- but was thwarted by heroic passengers who tackled the madman, authorities said. The 23-year-old Nigerian suffered serious burns, and at least two other passengers were injured in the terrifying violence aboard the Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam. 'Al-Qaeda links' suspect probed over US plane 'attack' BBC News Northwest Airlines Flight 253 had begun its descent towards Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Friday afternoon when the incident occurred. The Airbus 330, which had originated in Amsterdam, was about 20 minutes from landing when passengers noticed something was wrong. One of them, Syed Jafri, said he had been seated three rows behind the suspect and had seen a glow and smelt smoke. AP Sources: Al-Qaida Link in Failed Plane Attack - AP Video A Northwest Airlines passenger from Nigeria, who said he was acting on al-Qaida's instructions, set off an explosive device Friday in a failed terrorist attack on the plane as it was landing in Detroit, federal officials said. Plane Passenger: 'Terrifying; Thought We Weren't Going to Make It' - AP Video Flight 253 with 278 passengers aboard was 20 minutes from the airport in Detroit when passengers heard popping noises, witnesses said. A Nigerian man who said he was an agent for al-Qaida tried to blow up the plane Friday, officials said. Passenger Tells Story Of Hero Who Took Down Muslim Terrorist On Flight 253 CNN Video Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

UPDATED: PAKISTAN BRACING FOR WAR: INDIAN MILITARY ASKS FOR AIRSTRIKES

Will it be war? Let us hope not, but tensions between India and Pakistan seem to be deteriorating by the hour. The Australian is reporting that India's military "chiefs" are pleading with India's leaders for permission to bomb the "al-Qa'ida-linked Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist organisation near Lahore" in Pakistan, near the Indian border. UPDATE: US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice is now in India to facilitate diplomacy between India and Pakistan. What she can do to ease tensions remains to be seen. RELATED: Condoleezza Rice on mission to ease India and Pakistan tensions Pak accepts terrorists may be from its territory: US Will they battle terror or each other? Rice in India to ease tension with Pakistan Pakistan, India assert right to self-defense Pakistan says Pranab's military action statement won't help Italy arrests two jihadists planning attacks on Italian civilians

MUST READ: "8 Links to al-Qaeda"

A stunning article that shows al-Qaeda ties to the terrorists that attacked Mumbai last week. Written by 20-year CNN veteran correspondent Maria A. Ressa for the Philippine Daily Inquirer. MANILA, Philippines—There is increasing evidence that the attacks in Mumbai were carried out by a Pakistani militant group linked to al-Qaeda, Indian and American intelligence sources tell me....The ties are clear if we take the facts in Mumbai and compare them with the history of al-Qaeda and its affiliate groups. Full Article...

Militant Muslims + Militant Hindus = Trouble

Some people are quite happy about the murder and mayhem in Mumbai this week. It seems to make them giddy and cheerful. Those who feel that way have one thing in common: They are followers of the "religion of peace." Mumbai, 27 Nov. (AKI) - Al-Qaeda websites on Thursday were swamped with messages from people who were celebrating the devastating Mumbai attacks which have left over 100 people dead and 281 injured. "Oh Allah, destroy the Hindus and do it in the worst of ways," was one of the comments that appeared on Islamist forums on the Internet immediately after the attacks. (Source: adnkronos international) Hindus can be just as unpleasantly murderous. To wit: Extremist Hindu groups offered money, food and alcohol to mobs to kill Christians and destroy their homes, according to Christian aid workers in the eastern [Indian] state of Orissa. Orissa has suffered a series of murders and arson attacks in recent months, with at least 67 Christians killed, according to the Roman Catholic Church. Several thousand homes have been razed and hundreds of places of worship destroyed, and crops are now wasting in the fields. In recent weeks the violence has subsided but at least 11,000 Christian refugees remain in camps in Kandhamal, the district worst affected. “They are too scared to go home. They know that if they return to their villages they will be forced to convert to Hinduism,” Father Manoj, who is based at the Archbishop’s office in Bhubaneshwar, the state capital, said. (Source: TimesOnline.co.uk) Free drinks to kill a Christian! Such a deal, eh? What was it that that the unpatriotic American comedian Rosie O'Donnell said about Christians being such dangerous people? Ah, I remember. She said, "Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam in a country like America where we have separation of church and state." Really, Rosie? Really? RELATED: Hindu Militants Offer Bribes to Hurt Christians, Says Rights Group ... Christian 'Untouchables' describe attacks by Hindu militants in India BBC News South Asia Hindu militants stage lesbian film attacks India Hindu Militants Threaten To "Burn" Pastor And Family ... Suspected Hindu militants burn orphanage, killing nun locked ... Rosie O'Donnell Ratings Disaster: Nemesis Barbara Walters Soars

Mumbai Attacks Are NOT 9/11

The world is watching Mumbai and the tragic events there, and we pray for all of the victims. We pray that India will pull this intact and move on. History indicated that they will. However, while we are sympathetic and do not wish to diminish the horrific scope of the events in Mumbai, we would like to remind the world of something:

MUMBAI IS NOT NEW YORK, AND THE TERROR ATTACKS THERE ARE MINISCULE COMPARED TO SEPT. 11, 2001.

The comparison of this week's terror attacks in Mumbai to the terror attack on New York 2001 is flawed for many glaringly obvious reasons. Just a few:

1) The death toll of Mumbai now stands at just under 200 officially. Sadly, many of those already injured will probably not pull through and will add to the death toll. Nevertheless, how do you compare 200 deaths to 3,000?

2) The destruction of property and of businesses in Mumbai this week is a small fraction of that which was destroyed when the World Trade Center towers collapsed.

3) The impact that the New York attacks of 2001 had on the economy of the US and the world was infinitely greater than will be the impact of this week's attacks in Mumbai. Remember that in 2001, all commercial airline flights into and out of the US were grounded, whereas the Mumbai airport continues to function.

4) The events this week in Mumbai will probably not spark a war. Highest level officials of Pakistan and India are talking, face to face. After the 9/11 attack on New York, highest-level US officials did not sit at a table with leaders of al Qaeda or the Taliban in Afghanistan.

5) The 9/11 attacks in 2001 included the Pentagon, the center of US military command. No Indian equivalent was attacked in Mumbai.

So please, for the sake of historical accuracy, and so as not to diminish the scope of September 11, 2001, stop calling this week's events in Mumbai "India's 9/11."

UPDATED: IS INDO-PAK WAR ON HORIZON?

UPDATE 11/28: Associate Press: "Clues point to domestic terrorists in India attack." NOTE: Earlier, intelligence officials were implicating Pakistan in the Mumbai attacks. Now, opinions have changed: LONDON (AP) - The attack on India's financial capital bears all the trademarks of al-Qaida - simultaneous assaults meant to kill scores of Westerners in iconic buildings - but clues so far point to homegrown Indian terrorists. FULL ARTICLE... Original Post: FLASH, HIGH PRIORITY: It now appears that the Mumbai attacks were carried out by Islamic terrorists. India has been racked by many such attacks in recent years, but this one was the largest and most organized. Strong evidence that they came into India from the sea indicates foreign involvement, and the top suspect is Pakistan. Terror attacks are known to have been sponsored and choreographed by Pakistan's intelligence service. A LATE BREAKING BULLETIN FROM STRATFOR WARNS US THAT A NUCLEAR CONFRONTATION MAY BE COMING. THE ALARMING REPORT: If the Nov. 26 attacks in Mumbai were carried out by Islamist militants as it appears, the Indian government will have little choice, politically speaking, but to blame them on Pakistan. That will in turn spark a crisis between the two nuclear rivals that will draw the United States into the fray. FULL REPORT at STRATFOR... (NOTE: IS THIS WHAT US VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN CRYPTICALLY WARNED ABOUT WEEKS AGO?)

FLASH: TROOPS NOW STORMING TAJ MAHAL HOTEL

This leave no time for commentary. Not needed anyway: Storming the Taj Mahal hotel to save hostages KXNet.com North ... Reiten Television KXMB Bismarck, ND - 2:45 AM EST - AP MUMBAI, India (AP) Indian commandos apparently are beginning an assault on gunmen holding hostages at Mumbai's luxurious Taj Mahal hotel. ALSO: Gunmen take 50 persons hostage in Taj, Oberoi GreaterKashmir.com (press release), India - 2:53 AM EST ALSO: Rabbi, wife being held hostage in Mumbai 2:58 AM EST

INTELLIGENCE: AL-QAEDA BEHIND MUMBAI ATTACKS

The Islamic terrorists who are currently wreaking mayhem and murder in Mumbai, India call themselves the "Deccan Mujahideen." They appear to be a previously little-known branch of al Qaeda, as Western intelligence sources now say. A Newspost Online article reports that "Western intelligence chiefs on Thursday said that the planned and synchronized terror strikes across southern Mumbai had all the markings of a strategy designed by the Osama-bin Laden-led al Qaeda." Yet, even with the ensuing chaos, flights into and out of Mumbai are on schedule, reports NDTV. Newspost continues: As the unprecedented scale of the attacks became clear last night, it looked to be the most co-ordinated terrorist operation since the targeting of the Twin Towers in New York in 2001. Wednesday’s attacks, however, involving the taking of Western hostages made it more likely that the operation’s masterminds were from the core leadership of al-Qaeda, which is based in the lawless tribal regions close to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, they said. [The intelligence chiefs] also said that in recent weeks they were expecting an al-Qaeda-type spectacular terrorist attack between the end of President George Bush’s administration and the succession of Barack Obama. They said Osama bin Laden’s terror outfit might be plotting an attack to grab headlines before Obama takes over on January 20. RELATED: Shocked industry demands tougher laws against terrorists Hostage Situation Continues at Nariman House One terrorist caught alive, confirms RR Patil Encounter on at Nariman House in South Mumbai Jewish targets in Mumbai carnage How it happened: A blow-by-blow account Irish students lie low as terror attacks rock city centre

What If They Win a War and Nobody Noticed?

Victory in Iraq? Yep, and the British press knows it. The U.S. media, however, has virtually ignored it. This was noticed by Investors Business Daily (IBD), an American newspaper, back in July, 2008 in an editorial titled "Winning Isn't News." Still, the U.S. media - which claim to be "objective" - continue to ignore multiple victories in Iraq. Yet news of the huge victories in Iraq - military and political - are hard to find in the mainstream media of the U.S. IBD asked, "What would happen if the U.S. won a war but the media didn't tell the American public? Apparently, we have to rely on a British newspaper for the news that we've defeated the last remnants of al-Qaida in Iraq." IBD then quotes from the Sunday Times (London UK), which called it "the culmination of one of the most spectacular victories of the war on terror." "A terrorist force that once numbered more than 12,000," said IBD, "with strongholds in the west and central regions of Iraq, has over two years been reduced to a mere 1,200 fighters, backed against the wall in the northern city of Mosul." Right. But we had to get that from a British newspaper. Not from CNN, CBS, NBC, ABC, the New York Times, Washington Post or any other major U.S. media outlet. Kudos to IBD for bringing this to our attention. Shame on the treasonous U.S. "mainstream" media for purposely ignoring. Oh? You say the mainstream media wouldn't purposely ignore such a big story? So what are you saying? That those major news organizations are simply unaware of "one of the most spectacular victories of the war on terror," as the Sunday Times called it? Perhaps the New York Times didn't consider tremendous U.S. victories as news that is fit to print. Uh huh, keep fooling yourself. IBD's July 7th editorial misses a point, which The Bench will happily point out. To continue with IBD: But where are the headlines and the front-page stories about all this good news? As the Media Research Center pointed out last week, "the CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News and CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 were silent Tuesday night about the benchmarks" that signaled political progress. Yep, no surprise to those of us who study follow the media. But here's the kicker: Yet apart from IBD, Fox News Channel and parts of the foreign press, the media don't seem to consider this historic event a big story. That's where IBD got it (slightly) wrong. IBD wrote that "the media don't seem to consider this historic event a big story," but - in my opinion - the media does consider U.S. victories in Iraq to be "a big story." That, sadly, is exactly why CNN, CBS, NBC and the rest are suppressing the story. It doesn't fit their Liberal template. It would not help the Democrats or, most especially, Barack Obama. Am I accusing the mainstream media in the U.S. of being unpatriotic, of putting political preference ahead of telling the truth? Yes, and I'll go further in saying that the mainstream media in the U.S. is guilty of sedition by omission. RELATED: RON HART Wars of choice: an unimagined outcome

Iraq: Fighting Femmes With Femmes

Baghdad (AKI) - Iraqi authorities have trained 130 women from Sunni tribes to seek out and prevent attacks carried out by al-Qaeda's aspiring female suicide bombers. FULL ARTICLE at Jihad Watch... RELATED: How to win the war within Islam

You Mean, We ARE Safer?

Gosh, imagine this. U.S. surveillance of terrorists and terrorism suspects is... working! This from the Washington Post, July 6: In the six-and-a-half years that the U.S. government has been fingerprinting insurgents, detainees and ordinary people in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa, hundreds have turned out to share an unexpected background, FBI and military officials said. They have criminal arrest records in the United States. This article should give some Democrats and the Left a collective upset stomach. The ones who insist that we have not been kept safe since 9/11, that is. The Post goes on: "I found the number stunning," said Frances Fragos Townsend, a security consultant and former assistant to the president for homeland security. "It suggested to me that this was going to give us far greater insight into the relationships between individuals fighting against U.S. forces in the theater and potential U.S. cells or support networks here in the United States." FULL ARTICLE...

"Use Silenced Guns to Kill"

An American Forces Press Release shines a light on the twisted minds of al-Qaida tacticians who plan and direct murder and mayhem. "Use silenced guns to kill coalition forces at Iraqi security checkpoints, smuggle weapons in gradual shipments to reduce the risk of detection, and poison Iraq’s water supply with nitric acid to spread disease and death," says the intercepted 11-page document. The press release continues: Providing a glimpse into the proposed inner workings of al-Qaida in Iraq, the author discusses the need to split jihadists into three groups: snipers, assassination experts and martyrs. Each well-trained group should have an emir, or unit commander, at the lead. Through a series of coordinated surprise attacks, groups should work in unison to “bring down the city or the area,” he wrote. FULL RELEASE at Defenselink.mil... Big hat tip to Black Five

Al-Qaeda Leaders Are Scared Shitless

One of the nicest headlines in a while: "Al-Qaeda leaders admit: 'We are in crisis. There is panic and fear'" at Time OnLine.com. Spin this, Democrats. Al-Qaeda in Iraq faces an “extraordinary crisis”. Last year's mass defection of ordinary Sunnis from al-Qaeda to the US military “created panic, fear and the unwillingness to fight”. The terrorist group's security structure suffered “total collapse”. These are the words not of al-Qaeda's enemies but of one of its own leaders in Anbar province — once the group's stronghold. They were set down last summer in a 39-page letter seized during a US raid on an al-Qaeda base near Samarra in November. FULL STORY... Hat tip to Drudge!

Video: Al Qaeda Smashed In Baghdad

Victory Video: Al Qaeda Driven From Last Stronghold In Baghdad You probably won't hear about this from that commie bartender at the Red Line Tap.

No Al Qaeda Strongholds Left?

“In general, we think that there are no al-Qaeda strongholds at this point,” Petraeus said. He added: “They remain very lethal, very dangerous, capable at any point in time, if you will, of coming back off the canvas and landing a big punch, and we have to be aware of that.” Full Story - Petraeus: No Al Qaeda Strongholds Left In Baghdad