February 2007 Security News

COTE D'IVOIRE: Ivorians feel economic impact of avian flu IRIN 28 Feb 2007 -- Although only two outbreaks of avian influenza among poultry have been reported in Côte d'Ivoire, and no human deaths, the illness has taken a significant financial and humanitarian toll.
Chinese Woman Contracts Bird Flu, New Outbreaks Elsewhere in Asia VOA 28 Feb 2007 -- China has confirmed a new human case of bird flu, the first in seven weeks.
Terrorism Remains Preeminent Threat to US Security VOA 28 Feb 2007 -- The director of U.S. National Intelligence, Admiral Mike McConnell, says terrorism remains the preeminent threat to American security
AFGHANISTAN: Gov't steps up fight against bird flu IRIN 28 Feb 2007
Southeast Asia Terrorist Group Splits, But Retains Islamic Militancy VOA 28 Feb 2007 -- The Southeast Asia group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), which has been blamed for a series of bombings over the past several years, has splintered into factions and may be heading in new directions.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 28 Feb 2007
Bush Hails Diplomacy in Terror Fight VOA 27 Feb 2007 -- U.S. President Bush says defeating terrorism ultimately depends on offering a more hopeful vision for the future
Intelligence Officials Target Terrorist Safe Havens Washington File 27 Feb 2007 -- Nations must do more to prevent terrorists from establishing safe havens in lawless corners of the world, say top U.S. intelligence officials.
US Intelligence Chief: Al-Qaida Grows Stronger in Pakistani Safe Havens VOA 27 Feb 2007 -- The top U.S. intelligence officer says Pakistan could make more energetic anti-terrorist efforts along the Afghan border
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 27 Feb 2007
Backgrounder: Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (aka Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat) cfr.org 26 Feb 2007
Analysis: Homeland Security Goes Local cfr.org 26 Feb 2007 -- During his tenure, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff cast homeland security as primarily a state-level function, with the federal government offering guidance and assistance.
Bird flu spreading in Central Russia - emergencies ministry RIA Novosti 26 Feb 2007 -- Recent cases of avian flu in dead poultry have been registered in the Russian capital and two adjacent regions, the emergencies ministry said Monday.
Police avert terror attack in Moscow RIA Novosti 26 Feb 2007 -- Moscow's organized crime bureau said they averted a terrorist attack in Moscow February 22 when they arrested a man with an explosive device at a bus stop in the northwest of the city.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 26 Feb 2007
NORTHCOM Hosts Hurricane-Preparation Conference AFPS 23 Feb 2007 -- Representatives from military and civilian agencies that would provide federal hurricane-relief efforts attended the second annual Hurricane Preparation Conference hosted by U.S. Northern Command at its headquarters yesterday.
Security Council to step up action to keep deadliest weapons away from terrorists UN News Centre 23 Feb 2007 -- The United Nations Security Council will intensify its efforts to bring together concerned organizations working to keep weapons of mass destruction from falling into terrorist hands, the president of the 15-member body said today following a daylong debate on the issue.
U.S. Officials Offer Pandemic Flu Aid in Egypt, Switzerland Washington File 23 Feb 2007 -- During a five-day visit to Cairo, Egypt, and Geneva, officials from U.S. agencies offered help to the government of Egypt in controlling the spread of avian influenza among birds there, and met with World Health Organization (WHO) leaders to discuss international cooperation in preventing and responding to avian and pandemic influenza.
KAZAKHSTAN: Preparing for bird flu threat IRIN 23 Feb 2007 -- Kazakhstan is implementing measures to combat avian influenza as the spring migratory season looms, threatening to spread the disease as birds fly north after the winter, the government says.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 23 Feb 2007
Backgrounder: Fusion Centers: Intelligence Goes Local cfr.org 22 Feb 2007
New Redress System Helps Travelers to the United States Washignton File 22 Feb 2007 -- Travelers to the United States who experience difficulties during airport and train station screenings or at border crossings now can make inquiries or seek resolution at an easy-to-use Internet site.
SAIC to Provide Security Services to DHS Customs and Border Protection SAIC 22 Feb 2007 -- Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) today announced it won a contract from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide security services to Customs and Border Protection.
EGYPT: $450m needed for new bird flu campaign IRIN 22 Feb 2007 -- Egypt will embark on a new nationwide campaign to vaccinate live poultry against avian influenza, Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif said on Wednesday.
Bird flu confirmed in ninth district near Moscow RIA Novosti 22 Feb 2007 -- Laboratory tests confirmed avian flu in culled birds in the Dmitrov District of the Moscow Region, bringing the total number of affected districts to nine, the local agriculture and food ministry said Thursday.
Bird flu now confirmed in eight districts near Moscow RIA Novosti 22 Feb 2007 -- Laboratory tests have confirmed the deadly avian flu virus in culled birds in three more districts in the Moscow Region, bringing the total number of affected districts to eight, the local agriculture and food ministry said Thursday.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 22 Feb 2007
Detainee Transfer Announced 21 Feb 2007 -- The Department of Defense announced today that it transferred seven detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to Saudi Arabia
Al-Qaida Threat in Western Hemisphere Should Be Taken Seriously Washington File 21 Feb 2007 -- In the wake of al-Qaida's threat to attack oil facilities in the Western Hemisphere supplying the United States, a State Department official said the Bush administration takes those threats seriously and has offered to collaborate with all countries in the region, including Venezuela, which specifically was targeted.
Abu Sayyaf Defectors Talk of Difficult Life in Jungles VOA 21 Feb 2007 -- One of Southeast Asia's most violent terrorist groups, Abu Sayyaf, is under siege in the southern Philippines.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 21 Feb 2007
Analysis: Shoring Up the Home Front cfr.org 20 Feb 2007 -- This month Congress is considering legislation to better monitor foreign ownership of U.S. infrastructure and keep companies overseas from gaining too much sway over vital national security assets.
Egypt Reports More Avian Influenza Infections and One Death Washington File 20 Feb 2007 -- Two more people in Egypt have been infected with the highly pathogenic form of avian influenza and one of them has died, as experts meeting at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva report progress in developing pandemic influenza vaccines.
Pakistan Rejects Fresh Reports of Al-Qaida Activity VOA 20 Feb 2007 -- Pakistan is sharply rejecting new U.S. reports that the terrorist group al-Qaida has reestablished training bases inside the country's remote tribal areas.
FAO Urges Stricter Bird Flu Controls in Nigeria VOA 20 Feb 2007 -- Nigeria is being urged to increase its control measures on poultry farms and markets to prevent the spread of bird flu - and reduce the risk to humans
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 20 Feb 2007
Terrorism Suspected in Blasts Aboard India-to-Pakistan 'Peace Train' VOA 19 Feb 2007 -- More than 66 people, including many Pakistani nationals, have been killed in a fire aboard the only train linking India's capital with the Pakistani border
New York Times: Al-Qaida Chiefs Have Regained Control VOA 19 Feb 2007 -- The New York Times is reporting that U.S. intelligence officials believe senior al-Qaida leaders operating from Pakistan have re-established a chain of command over their worldwide terror network.
1 mln birds to be vaccinated from bird flu near Moscow RIA Novosti 19 Feb 2007 -- At least a million domestic birds will be vaccinated against avian influenza near Moscow now that the disease has reached areas surrounding the Russian capital, a senior local veterinary official said Monday.
Russia Works To Contain Bird-Flu Outbreak Near Moscow RFE/RL 18 Feb 2007 -- Russian officials took steps to prevent the spread of bird flu as they investigated new reports of birds dying near Moscow.
Moroccan Defendant Denies Involvement in Madrid Train Bombings VOA 16 Feb 2007 -- A Moroccan man on trial for the 2004 Madrid train bombings has denied involvement in the deadly attacks.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 16 Feb 2007
Bourses also source of terror funds: India's NSA IRNA 15 Feb 2007 -- Terrorists are not only getting tech- friendly but market-savvy as well. A good part of terror funds is being sourced from manipulation of bourses, particularly the Mumbai and Chennai stock exchanges, through fictitious or notional companies, according to India's National Security Adviser M K Narayanan.
US Seeks to Deny Bail for US Citizen Accused of Links with Islamic Extremists in Somalia VOA 15 Feb 2007 -- The U.S. Attorney's Office in Houston is planning to ask that accused terrorist Daniel Joseph Maldonado remain in custody without bail as it prepares its case against the man who is the first U.S. citizen charged with joining Islamic extremist combatants in Somalia
Prosecutors Ask for Death Penalty for 44 in 1993 Mumbai Bombings VOA 15 Feb 2007 -- Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for suspects convicted in deadly bombings that struck Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, in 1993.
Madrid Bombing Trial Begins RFE/RL 15 Feb 2007 -- The trial started today of people charged with involvement in the 2004 Madrid train bombing that killed 191 and injured almost 2,000.
Trial for 2004 Madrid Train Bombing Begins VOA 15 Feb 2007 -- A trial into Europe's worst terrorist attack, opened in Spain Thursday, with 29 suspects facing charges in train bombings that killed 191 Madrid rush-hour commuters, nearly three years ago
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 15 Feb 2007
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 14 Feb 2007
New al-Qaida Tape Says Bush Iraq Policy Headed for 'Abyss' VOA 13 Feb 2007 -- A new audio message purportedly from Al-Qaida's second in command, Ayman al-Zawahiri, calls for Muslim unity and says U.S. policy in Iraq is headed for failure.
World: Countries Discuss Nuclear-Terrorism Measures RFE/RL 13 Feb 2007 -- Turkey is playing host to an international gathering that brings together nuclear and non-nuclear countries in an effort to prevent fissile material falling into the hands of terrorists.
OIC says Middle East Peace Key to Ending Terrorism VOA 13 Feb 2007 -- During a visit to Indonesia, the secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Conference says a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the Middle East is the key to ending terrorism and Islamic extremism, and says Jakarta should use its seat on the United Nations Security Council to push for a peaceful resolution to the Middle East crisis
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 13 Feb 2007
Ankara Meeting Considers Ways to Confront Nuclear Terrorism Washington File 12 Feb 2007 -- A group of partner nations is meeting in Turkey to sketch out an agenda of future counterterrorism and nonproliferation activities to prevent and reduce the threat of nuclear terrorism.
Red Cross Agencies Share Lessons from Terrorist Attacks VOA 12 Feb 2007 -- Representatives from Red Cross agencies in Spain and Britain joined American colleagues in New York at a recent symposium to share the lessons they have learned from dealing with terrorist attacks in urban environments
Man at Center of Italian Rendition Case Freed in Egypt VOA 12 Feb 2007 -- An imam who was kidnapped in Italy in 2003 in what is believed to have been an extraordinary rendition operation by the CIA and Italian secret services has been released from prison in Cairo
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 12 Feb 2007
Russia's defense minister warns of new possible terrorist acts RIA Novosti 11 Feb 2007 -- Russia's defense minister on Sunday warned about the possibility of new large-scale terrorist acts and urged the international community to draft effective measures to fight terror.
Analysis: Bird Flu Season Again cfr.org 09 Feb 2007 -- In late January came another reminder of the sturdiness of avian flu. Britain was hit by its first major outbreak in domestic poultry when 2,600 turkeys died (Times of London) at a farm run by one the country's biggest producers.
Enhance Welcome for Visitors, Say Travel, Tourism Officials Washington File 09 Feb 2007 -- Potential visitors to the United States need to be told that the visa process has been accelerated and that America wants them to come, Jay Rasulo, the chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, told a Senate hearing recently.
PRESS CONFERENCE BY UN SYSTEM COORDINATOR FOR AVIAN AND HUMAN INFLUENZA United Nations 09 Feb 2007
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 09 Feb 2007
Bush Seeks $294.8 Billion for Counterterrorism Washington File 08 Feb 2007 -- President Bush asked Congress for significant spending increases in fiscal year 2008 to fight terrorism and to safeguard the United States from future attacks.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 08 Feb 2007
Seasoned Judge Tapped to Head Detainee Trials 07 Feb 2007 -- Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has designated an experienced former U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces Judge, Susan J. Crawford, to the position of convening authority for military commissions
Indonesia Stops Sharing Bird Flu Samples VOA 07 Feb 2007 -- The Indonesian government has announced it is withholding samples of a deadly bird flu virus in light of its new partnership to develop a vaccine with a U.S. drug company
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 07 Feb 2007
Suicide Bomber Targets Islamabad International Airport VOA 06 Feb 2007 -- A suicide bomber has detonated explosives outside Islamabad's busy international airport
Human Toll from Avian Influenza Continues in Nigeria, Egypt Washington File 06 Feb 2007 -- The first human death from avian influenza in Africa has been reported in Nigeria, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and the highly pathogenic Asian strain of bird flu has been found for the first time in the United Kingdom.
Intelligence Chief Nominee Warns of Internal Terrorist Threat Washington File 06 Feb 2007 -- Retired Navy Vice Admiral J. Michael McConnell, the man President Bush has tapped to be the next director of national intelligence, told senators at his confirmation hearing he will focus on reforming the intelligence community to counter a growing terrorist threat from inside the United States.
PRESS CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENT OF COLOMBIA United Nations 06 Feb 2007
Pakistan: U.S. Program Seeks To Reform Madrasahs RFE/RL 06 Feb 2007 -- A major irritant in relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been the charge that many of Pakistan's Muslim religious schools, madrasahs, teach intolerance and help recruit young men to the Taliban, which has become a resurgent threat in Afghanistan.
Bird Flu Expert Warns of More Outbreaks in Nigeria VOA 06 Feb 2007 -- In the wake of last week's announcement confirming Nigeria's first human case of bird flu, Gilbert da Costa in Abuja examines the incidence of bird flu in Nigeria and growing concerns about its spread.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 06 Feb 2007
NIGERIA: More support on avian flu IRIN 05 Feb 2007 -- The World Health Organisation (WHO) has sent three specialists to Nigeria to support local efforts to identify the source of the country's first human case of avian influenza.
Hunt for bird flu source begins in Britain IRNA 05 Feb 2007 -- Experts on Monday continued their attempts to determine the source of an outbreak of bird flu at one of Britain's most famous industrialized poultry farms a Suffolk farm as several countries started to announce import bans.
Britain Satisfied With Tactics to Combat Bird Flu VOA 05 Feb 2007 -- Britain's quick response to its first mass outbreak of the deadly Asian variety of bird flu seems to be working
New Raytheon ID Technology Answers Concerns About New Passport Regulations for Americas Raytheon 05 Feb 2007 -- With new passport regulations now in effect and reinforcing the critical concern to upgrade security around U.S. borders, Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has developed a high tech, first- of-its-kind personal ID system to significantly protect and facilitate entry and exits at the nation's key checkpoints.
French Police Arrest 13 Turkish Kurds on Terrorism Financing Charges VOA 05 Feb 2007 -- Authorities in France say they have arrested 13 Turkish Kurds on suspicion of helping to finance terrorism.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 05 Feb 2007
Britain Culls Tens of Thousands of Turkeys Infected With Bird Flu Virus VOA 04 Feb 2007 -- British health official are acting quickly to contain an outbreak of the H5N1 strain of bird flu
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 02 Feb 2007
Civil Support Teams Certified for Five States 01 Feb 2007 -- The Department of Defense notified Congress today that Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams (WMD-CST) of the New Hampshire, Vermont, Delaware, North Dakota and Montana National Guard are now certified.
UK seeks to extend pre-charge detention beyond 28 days IRNA 01 Feb 2007 -- The British government is to make a fresh attempt to further extend the maximum period that terror suspects can be detained without charge, Prime Minister Tony Blair's spokesman announced Thursday.
US Establishes Flu Pandemic Severity Rating VOA 01 Feb 2007 -- The U.S. government has a introduced a system to rate the severity of a potential influenza pandemic
Analysis: Rethinking Terrorist Financing cfr.org 31 Jan 2007 -- When the 9/11 Commission issued its final report (PDF) in December 2005, it assigned letter grades to rate the federal government's progress on its various recommendations
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 01 Feb 2007

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February 2007 Security News