Monitors: Jihadist threats to US navy increasing (Navy Times)

[Melissa (Tucson)]

Monitors: Jihadist threats to Navy increasing

By Philip Ewing - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jan 6, 2010 13:25:36 EST

Jihadist threats online against U.S. warships in the Middle East have spiked since just before the New Year, according to a monitoring group in Washington, including some of the most ambitious calls yet for terror attacks specifically on the Navy and sailors.

One Dec. 30 post, translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute, calls for readers to assemble and submit information about American ships and their crews in chilling detail:

“Information on every U.S. naval unit — and only U.S. [units]! — should be quietly gathered [as follows:] [The vessel’s] name, the missions it is assigned; its current location …; the advantages of this naval unit; the number of U.S. troops on board, including if possible their ranks, and what state they are from, their family situation, and where their family members (wife and children) live; what kind of weapons they carry; the [vessel’s] destination …; the missions it has carried out; the way to monitor it around the clock; if its location is changed, define its movements and its route; monitor every Web site used by the personnel on these ships, and attempt to discover what is in these contacts.”

The writer, whose handle is “Ubada bin Al-Samit” and who posted on a Web forum called Al-Falluja, assured readers every item would be useful:

“My Muslim brothers, do not underestimate the importance of any piece of information, as simple as it may seem; the mujahideen, the lions of monotheism, may be able to use it in ways that have not occurred to you.”

The posts were provided to Navy Times by MEMRI spokesman Richard Wachtel, who said his group does not usually see comments that call so specifically to target American warships. Also significant, he said, was that the post was a response to an official call from the Yemeni terror group, al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, to Muslims: “Kill the crusaders in the Arabian Peninsula on land, in the air, and at sea.”

The Yemeni branch of al-Qaida has been in an international spotlight after a man linked to it allegedly tried to blow up an airliner over Detroit on Christmas Day.

A Jan. 4 post on another jihadist site alluded both to the failed attack and to the pending “threat” to American warships, Wachtel said.

“We have attacked you on land and in the air ... and soon [we will attack] in the sea ... . Al-Qaida’s troops, especially those in the Arab Peninsula, have expertise in this area. Their first naval operations ... were the destruction of the [destroyer] Cole [in 2000] and of the French oil tanker [Limburg in 2002].”

As in posts on any topic across the Internet, the terror sites apparently include their share of bluster and bravado: Neither the Cole nor the Limburg were “destroyed” after their respective attacks.

Cmdr. Chris Sims, a spokesman for 5th Fleet in Bahrain, told Navy Times that officials there “[take] all threats, real or perceived, very seriously and therefore maintain a constant high level of vigilance to ensure the safety of our personnel both ashore and afloat.”

USS Cole

[Kathy (AOMom)]

Not wanting to scare anyone but this is the facts of this war. Can we get this posted on blogs or the first page, just so everyone is aware.It wouldnt hurt to post OPSEC again for a refresher, or for new Moms who may have no idea. Thanks for the info.

[Just_A_Spouse]

Thank you for posting this. It ran on the front page of the Norfolk VA paper today and I was coming here to see if someone had shared it (and if not, to post it myself),

I agree that this should be some kind of notice or sticky or permanent post in each area of this site. As mentioned by the others, this is why we preach about OPSEC and PERSEC (note the bit in the article where they also want info on Sailors and families!!!).

Little things add up over time. In the time I have been reading this site, long before I actually registered, I have seen enough information posted by more than a handful of members to the point that if I had the time and energy I could make dossiers for their Sailors. If I can figure that out then ANYONE can figure that out. The bad guys don't need you to give all the OPSEC details if you are willing to give them enough information so they can find the person (your Sailor) who has the details.

Don't be the weak link.

Stay safe-


Edited:
I just realized the text of the Norfolk article is a bit different than the one of above so I am now including it:



Trend surfaces: Islamist Web sites soliciting info on ships

NORFOLK
By Kate Wiltrout
The Virginian-Pilot
© January 8, 2010

A group that monitors Islamist Web sites has noted a disturbing trend - Internet posts from prominent contributors discussing attacks on U.S. warships.

Online threats against U.S. interests are not uncommon, and Internet propaganda is nothing new, said Steven Stalinsky, executive director of the Washington-based Middle East Media Research Institute, which translated the posts. But he said the recent posts are more significant because they come in response to an official communique from al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, the terror group linked to the attempted bombing of a commercial American jetliner on Christmas. It urged followers to kill "Crusaders" on land, in the air and at sea.

One Dec. 30 posting on the forum Al-Falluja directed readers to gather intelligence on U.S. Navy targets.

"My Muslim brothers, do not underestimate the importance of any piece of information, as simple as it may seem; the mujahideen, the lions of monotheism, may be able to use it in ways that have not occurred to you."

The information that should be quietly gathered, the posting continues, includes "(the vessel's) name, the missions it is assigned; its current location, including notation of the spot in accordance with international maritime standards; the advantages of this naval unit; the number of U.S. troops on board, including if possible their ranks, and what state they are from, their family situation, and where their family members (wife and children) live; what kind of weapons they carry; the (vessel's) destination... the missions it has carried out; the (recommended) way to monitor it around the clock."

Stalinsky said the responses to that message fill 50 pages and include postings with pictures of U.S. warships.

Some are clearly no longer in service; other images include diagrams of aircraft carriers that are easily available on the Internet and photos posted on defense industry Web sites.

"It's important to know al-Qaida and offshoots are Internet-savvy," Stalinsky said. "They do an incredible job with their propaganda. You never know what is propaganda and what is real."

The Dec. 30 posting refers to the 2000 attack on the Norfolk-based destroyer Cole in Yemen, which killed 17 sailors.

Retired Vice Adm. John Morgan said families with loved ones aboard ships deployed to the Middle East shouldn't worry too much.

"Constant vigilance is the order of the day," said Morgan, who commanded the Enterprise Battle Group in 2001 and is now on the board of directors of the U.S. Naval Institute.

"They're well-equipped, they're well-trained, they rehearse anti-terrorism drills daily. I don't think there's any need for any greater alarm."

Lt. Nathan Christensen, a Navy spokesman at the Pentagon, said the Naval Criminal Investigative Service regularly warns commanders about potential threats to ships, and did so on Dec. 31 after seeing the latest Web comments.

The Navy also is reminding sailors of the importance of keeping secrets.

"Anyone who thinks our enemies don't monitor what our sailors, families and commands are doing via the Internet and social media had better open their eyes," Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick West said in an article posted Wednesday on the Navy's Web site.

"But we're not talking about 'loose lips sinking ships' anymore; it's more than that. Our enemies are advanced and as technologically savvy as they've ever been. They're looking for personal information about our sailors, our families and our day-to-day activities as well as ways to turn that information into maritime threats."

[Flippos Mom~Vicki F.]

This is VERY alarming to me!! My son is only on day 6 of his first deployment!! I now feel that there isn't much at all that can be discussed via email that would be safe. If he's having a down day or qualified for a new skill, or...or...family problems back home....even the weather. Finding the family members would be a piece of cake from here. I hate the thought of having to wait for snail mail from him when I know that email is available to us. What is OPSEC and PERSEC? Should I remove any personal information in my profile...like the town I live in? This information, I believe, was a required field when I signed up. Wow....I just don't know what to do. As it is, I got a not-so-enthusiastic email from my Sailor early this morning that breaks my heart. He had been doing so well, but it appears it is all catching up to him, or something has changed. IDK how to receive that other than to bawl my eyes out...THAT I'm really good at! HELP me understand all this, please!!

[Anti M]

Begin by setting your profile here to private. That way you can choose who sees it.

Do use the email, just be mindful of what you send.

[Hannah]

so..should i take down some of my information regarding where i am? and change my name and take down mine and his picture?

[Anti M]

Look at your page and decide how much you feel comfortable with. Use nicknames and maybe be not very specific about your hometown. It is very hard to balance wanting to be so proud and wanting to keep him, and all of us, safe. Don't be paranoid (although it can't hurt), but be mindful of what you want the wrong people to know.

Mine is on private, so I'm not too worried, and I don't have a picture of my nephew up because he asked me not to do so. My name is Anti M, and any one who watched the Wiz of Oz will know what it is when they say it out loud!

[Hannah]

thank you i have set mine to private..and your name is very creative..thank you

[Mary]

Thanks, Melissa.