Iran And Hezbollah Are No Longer On The U.S. Intelligence Community's Terror Threat List

Lebanese Hezbollah supporters gesture as they march during a religious procession to mark Ashura in Beirut's suburbs November 14, 2013. Sharif Karim/REUTERS

Times of Israel: US intel report scrapped Iran from list of terror threats

Softened assessment, submitted in February, comes amid marathon nuclear talks, shared interests vis-a-vis the Islamic State

An annual report delivered recently to the US Senate by James Clapper, the director of National Intelligence, removed Iran and Hezbollah from its list of terrorism threats, after years in which they featured in similar reports.

The unclassified version of the Worldwide Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Communities, dated February 26, 2015 (PDF), noted Iran’s efforts to combat Sunni extremists, including those of the ultra-radical Islamic State group, who were perceived to constitute the preeminent terrorist threat to American interests worldwide.

WNU Editor: The unclassified version of the Worldwide Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Communities is here (PDF). What I find fascinating about this story is that with the exception of Newsweek, the U.S. main stream media has completely ignored it.

More News On Iran And Hezbollah Being Removed From The U.S. Intelligence Community's Terror Threat List

U.S. Omits Iran and Hezbollah From Terror Threat List -- Newsweek
Terrorism Threat: U.S. Removes Iran and Hezbollah From List On Eve of Potential Nuclear Negotiation Deadline -- HNGN
Iran Scrapped from US Terrorism Threat List, Praised for Fighting ISIL -- Sputnik
Expert Fears White House Deliberately ‘Whitewashing’ Iran, Hezbollah Terror Threat -- Algemeiner
U.S. Intelligence scraps Iran, Hezbollah from terrorist threats list -- Tehran Times
US intel. scraps Iran, Hezbollah from terrorist threats list -- Press TV (Iran)

Al-Shabaab Threatens To Attack U.S, U.K., And Canadian Shopping Malls

CNN: Al-Shabaab threatens malls, including some in U.S.; FBI downplays threat

But after a video from terror group Al-Shabaab calling for attacks on shopping malls in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, how worried should shoppers be?

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson told CNN Sunday that there's "no credible or specific evidence" suggesting a U.S. mall attack is in the works. But he warned Americans to watch out.

"If anyone is planning to go to the Mall of America today," he said, "they've got to be particularly careful."

WNU Editor: U.S. intelligence is skeptical .... U.S. intelligence casts doubt on Al-Shabaab's reach (CBS/AP)

More News On Al-Shabaab Threatening To Attack U.S, U.K., And Canadian Shopping Malls

US security chief warns shoppers after terror threat -- BBC
Homeland Security chief warns shoppers to be 'vigilant' after mall terrorism threats -- New York Daily News
U.S. homeland security says aware of no credible threat against malls -- Reuters
Al Shabaab calls for attack on Mall of America in new video -- FOX News
Mall of America Heightens Security After al-Shabab Threat -- ABC News
Big US, Canadian shopping malls: Next terrorist target? -- CSM
How big of a threat is Al-Shabaab to the United States? -- Peter Bergen, CNN

U.S. Department Of Homeland Security Warns Of Domestic Right-Wing Terror Threats

CNN: DHS intelligence report warns of domestic right-wing terror threat

Washington (CNN)They're carrying out sporadic terror attacks on police, have threatened attacks on government buildings and reject government authority.

A new intelligence assessment, circulated by the Department of Homeland Security this month and reviewed by CNN, focuses on the domestic terror threat from right-wing sovereign citizen extremists and comes as the Obama administration holds a White House conference to focus efforts to fight violent extremism.

WNU Editor:The Islamic State is causing mayhem and destruction throughout the Middle East and they have vowed to take their war to the U.S. .... but it appears that Homeland Security is focused elsewhere. I understand that all threats need to be looked at .... but does this one rise to the level of the Islamic State? In the eyes of Homeland Security the answer is apparently yes.

Plot To Bomb The U.S. Capital Uncovered

Washington Post: Ohio man arrested in alleged plot to attack Capitol

WNU Editor: This makes you wonder how many of these plots are out there .... after-all .... the U.S. is not immune to the fact that there are crazy and angry people in the world who would not be bothered if they bring death and suffering to others.

More News On The Plot To Bomb The U.S. Capital

Ohio Man Held in Inquiry on Plan to Attack Capitol -- NYT
Ohio man arrested in Islamic State-inspired plot to bomb Capitol, FBI says -- L.A. Times
Ohio Man Charged With Plotting ISIS-Inspired Attack on U.S. Capitol -- WSJ
FBI: Ohio Man Inspired By ISIS Plotted Attack On U.S. Capitol -- CBS
Ohio man arrested, charged with Islamic State-inspired bomb plot on U.S. Capitol -- Washington Times
Ohio man plotted attack on U.S. Capitol, FBI says -- CNN
Ohio Man's Plot to Blow Up Congress Foiled -- Newsweek
Ohio Man Accused of Plotting to Set Off Bombs at US Capitol -- VOA
ISIS sympathizer arrested after allegedly plotting US Capitol attack, authorities say -- FOX News
Ohio man, 20, arrested for ISIS-inspired terror plot on the US Capitol -- Daily Mail

Europe's Top Police Chief: 5,000 European Jihadist Fighters In Syria Pose Risk

Daily Mail: Terror threat highest since 9/11 with up to 5,000 fanatics at large after returning from Syria, warns Europe's police chief

WNU Editor: Only 5,000?

More News On The Head Of Europol Warnings That The 5000 European Jihadist Fighting In Syria Pose A Long Term Security Threat To Europe

Europol says up to 5,000 EU nationals in jihadist ranks -- AFP
Up to 5000 Europeans pose terror threat after going abroad to fight for Jihad -- The Telegraph
Terror threat posed by 'thousands' of EU nationals -- BBC
Up to 5000 EU nationals join jihadists -- SKY News
Up to 5,000 EU nationals pose terror threat – Europol -- RT
Europol Head Says Up to 5,000 EU Nationals Joined Jihadist Ranks -- Sputnik
Stark terror warning as up to 5,000 EU nationals 'could commit Paris-style attacks' -- Express
Europe faces highest terror threat since 9/11, MPs told -- The Guardian
Europe faces 'most serious terrorist threat since 9/11' as up to 5,000 Jihadi suspects pose risk -- IBTimes

MI5 Chief Says Al-Qaeda Plotting Mass Casualty Attacks In West

Business Insider: MI5 Boss Warns Al-Qaeda Is Planning 'Mass Casualty Attacks' Against The West

WNU Editor: This playbook is getting old. Warn of terror threats and attacks .... followed by a request for more powers and monies .... MI5 chief seeks new powers after Paris magazine attack (The Guardian)

More News On The MI5 Chief Warning That Al-Qaeda Is Plotting Mass Casualty Attacks Against The West

Militants planning mass casualty attacks against West -- AFP
UK: Qaeda in Syria planning mass attacks on West -- Reuters
U.K. MI5 Chief Andrew Parker Warns of Threat of al Qaeda Attack in West -- WSJ
British Intel Chief Warns That Syrian Groups Plotting Terror Attacks in West -- NBC
MI5 Head Warns of 'Mass Casualty' Terrorist Attacks: Reports -- Sputnik
Mi5 head warns Al-Qaeda are plotting a 'large scale massacre' in Britain -- IBTimes
Al Qaeda 'Plotting New Massacre' In Britain -- SKY News
MI5 chief: Paris attack 'terrible reminder' of terror threat --AP
MI5 boss warns 'we cannot stop every UK terror threat' -- BBC

FBI Issues Urgent Warning To All U.S. Military Personnel Of ISIS Threats

FBI Warns Military Of ISIS Threat -- CNN

Washington (CNN) -- The FBI issued a warning Sunday to members of the U.S. military that ISIS is calling for attacks against them, according to a law enforcement source, saying that "overseas based individuals are looking for like-minded individuals in the US to carry out these attacks."

"We also request members of the military review their online social media presence for any information that might attract the attention of violent extremists," the bulletin said, advising that members of the military "use caution and practice operational security when posting."

The FBI also issued a security bulletin in October warning of similar attacks on U.S. soil against law enforcement personnel and members of the news media.

That advisory was based on increased chatter on social media and extremist forums.

Read more ....

More News On The FBI Issuing An Urgent Warning To All U.S. Military Personnel Of ISIS Terror Threats

ISIS Threat at Home: FBI Warns US Military About Social Media Vulnerabilities -- ABC News
American servicemen warned to scrub social media accounts for fear ISIS sympathizers may use sites like Facebook and Twitter to target military at home -- Daily Mail
FBI cautions military members to be on alert -- Washington Post/AP
Feds urge US military members to scrub social media accounts over ISIS attack concerns -- FOX News
Feds warn ISIS targeting US military personnel -- The Hill
Homeland Security issues warning to U.S. troops at home and abroad -- Examiner
ISIS fear: FBI warns military to 'scrub' social media in anticipation of homeland attacks -- RT

A Terror Plot Directed At Oprah?

Photo: Wikipedia

Oprah Targeted in Foiled Terror Bomb Plot -- Judicial Watch

The Chicago studios of talk-show superstar Oprah Winfrey and the iconic “Sears Tower” (renamed Willis Tower) were the targets of a terrorist truck-bomb plot in 2009. But initially unbeknownst to federal authorities, two of the conspirators recently were arrested for unrelated state crimes in different parts of the country. The alleged bombers targeted Ms. Winfrey’s Harpo Studios because they resented her popularity and power, while the tower was selected because of its obvious landmark status. The bomb plot itself, planned in 2009, was inspired by militant Islamist hatred of American military involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to law enforcement and other sources interviewed by Judicial Watch.

Sources requested anonymity for fear of reprisal by terrorist bomb-plotter associates, as well as retaliation from embarrassed federal law enforcement agents who apparently mismanaged the subsequent counterterrorism case.

Read more ....

My Comment: Apparently this plot was uncovered in 2009 .... but news on it is only coming out now !?!?!?! None of the main stream media news organizations are reporting this case .... which is news itself.

Update: Report: Oprah, Sears Tower targeted in terror plot -- AJC

Al Qaeda Christmas Spectacular: Plot To Blow-Up 5 Passenger Planes Before Christmas Uncovered

Al Qaeda Plot To Blow Up 5 Passenger Planes In Christmas 'Spectacular' -- Express

TERRORISTS are plotting to blow up five European passenger jets in a Christmas "spectacular", security experts say.

The threat has been taken so seriously it came close to leading to an outright ban on all hand luggage, a senior insider has revealed.

Mobile phones and electronic devices could still be banned from plane cabins, with the threat of a 9/11-style coordinated attack on London and other major cities feared imminent.

The warning comes as Whitehall officials admit that a terror strike on the UK is now "almost inevitable" particularly with British jihadis returning from fighting alongside the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

An airport security source told the Sunday Express: "We've been told that five planes are being targeted in a high profile hit before Christmas. They've been waiting for the big one.

Read more ....

More News On Reports That Al Qaeda Is Plotting To Blow-Up 5 Passenger Planes Before Christmas

Port Authority, FBI Investigating Bomb Threat Against Flight From Spain At JFK -- CBS/AP
Terrorists reportedly plot passenger jet attacks over Europe -- FOX News
Terrorists plotting to blow up 5 planes in Christmas ‘spectacular': report -- New York Post
Christmas terror plot to 'blow up five planes' almost caused festive hand luggage ban -- IBTimes
Al Qaeda plotting to blow up 5 European passenger planes before Christmas? -- DNA

My Comment: I have a bad feeling about this .... intelligence agencies and governments are clearly worried about what may happen during this Christmas period.

Spanish Intelligence: Jihadists Want To Weaponise Ebola

Spanish Intelligence Intercepts Plot To Weaponise Ebola -- Breitbart

Spanish intelligence has intercepted messages passed between jihadists online discussing the weaponisation of the deadly Ebola virus for use against the West, while a blackmailer in Prague has threatened to unleash the virus unless the Czech Republic pay him one million bitcoin, a volume of online currency worth over £200 million.

The national secretary of state for security in giving evidence to the Spanish Senate revealed online jihad propagandists had issued an edict to followers to kill Westerners by any means possible. Some of the methods suggested included “deadly chemical products from laboratories”, “poisonous injections” and “Ebola as a poisonous weapon”, reports theLocal.es.

Read more ....

My Comment: It is not going to happen ... and this is why .... How hard would it be to weaponize Ebola? Pretty hard -- Anna Mulrine, CSM

Pentagon Warns All Personnel That They Are Islamic State Targets

Pentagon Warns Employees About Islamic State Threats -- USA Today

Military personnel and civilians who work in the Pentagon could be targeted by the Islamic State group or other terrorists, the building's internal security agency is warning employees in a memo distributed late last week.

The Pentagon Force Protection Agency directed security managers to remind Pentagon employees about how they can avoid standing out to terrorists, said agency spokesman Christopher Layman.

"We disseminated this advisory, not because of a specific threat, but as a reminder for Pentagon employees to be vigilant at home, at work, during travel and in their communities, by using individual protective measures," Layman told Military Times on Wednesday.

Read more ....

More News On The Pentagon Warning All Personnel That They Are Islamic State Targets

Pentagon security agency: Watch out for Islamic State attacks in the U.S. -- Washington Post
Pentagon Workers Warned They Might Be ISIS Targets -- DoD Buzz
Pentagon warns employees about potential Islamic State-related terror attacks -- FOX News
U.S. military ordered to hide identities, change routines to avoid terrorist attacks -- Washington Times

NYPD Expressing Their Concerns That Terrorists May Use Drones

NYPD Scanning The Sky For New Terrorism Threat -- CBS

For the last year, the country's largest police force has been increasingly concerned about a potential terror attack from the air by a drone armed with a deadly weapon.

Now, they are far along in planning a response to that possible security threat, reports CBS News correspondent Jeff Pegues.

"We look at it as something that could be a terrorist's tool," New York Police Department Deputy Chief Salvatore DiPace said.

For the first time, he is publicly acknowledging why the NYPD is paying close attention to America's fascination with drones and the potential that they could deliver a terrorist attack.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The British were the first to voice these concerns .... Report: Drones Can Be Used By Terrorists To Take Down Passenger Planes.

Report: Drones Can Be Used By Terrorists To Take Down Passenger Planes

Drone Deliberately Flown At Plane Above Essex Sparking Terror Fears -- Mirror

Airliner narrowly avoided a collision with a remote controlled quadcopter which the pilot states was purposely being flown at the plane

A passenger plane was just 75ft from a mid-air crash with an unmanned drone, an official report has revealed.

The quadcopter drone was deliberately flown towards the turbo-prop plane as it came into land, according to the co-pilot. He feared there was a high risk of a collision with the plane, which holds up to 74 passengers.

It is thought to be the first reported UK case of a near-miss between an airliner and a drone.

The safety alert sparked an investigation which has highlighted the growing menace of unmanned vehicles in British skies.

Read more ....

Update: Quadcopter drone 'deliberately flown at passenger airliner' over Essex -- Daily Mail

My Comment: If a bird sucked into a jet engine can bring down a plane .... why not a drone. As the above video shows .... these drones can fly high and they can fly far.

Al Qaeda Wants To Close The World's Oil Choke Points

Al Qaeda’s Next Target: American Oil Tankers -- Sarah Kaufman & Saar Fresco, Vocativ

The group's newest publication talks about attacking U.S. supertankers and screwing up the oil supply chain

Al Qaeda discusses strategic attacks on chokepoints of oil shipments from the Middle East to the West in its first issue of “Resurgence,” an English-language propaganda magazine posted to al Qaeda online forum Shamikh1.info. In a 117-page issue produced by As-Sahab, a new South Asia al Qaeda media branch, the group lays out the American oil flow system in detail and suggests the interruption of that flow with attacks.

The extremists have recently taken a back seat in western media to their more evil counterparts, ISIS, but they are still plotting the destruction of America. In an article called, “On Targeting the Achilles Heel of Western Economies,” Hamza Khalid writes that the way for al Qaeda to weaken the U.S. is to carry out a “multi-pronged strategy that focuses not only on attacking American military presence in the Muslim world, but also targeting the super-extended energy supply line that fuels their economies and helps to sustain their military strength.” al Qaeda is going straight for American oil chokepoints, like the Straits of Gibraltar, the Straits of Hormuz, the Suez canal, or the Bab El Mendeb Strait at the mouth of the Persian Gulf. Some spots are narrow enough for insurgents to lurk in the bushes and launch RPG attacks on passing ships.

Read more ....

My Comment: Plotting to cause an immense environmental catastrophe makes no sense to me .... but to those who support Al Qaeda .... this is a smart strategy.

Former Head Of U.S. Counterterror Operations: 'Imminent Threat' Remains

Former U.S. Counterterror Chief: 'Imminent Threat' Remains -- CNN

Washington (CNN) -- The former head of U.S. counterterror operations said Tuesday the "imminent threat" posed by an al Qaeda offshoot in Syria hasn't lessened after a U.S. air campaign there.

Speaking to CNN's Jim Sciutto, Matt Olsen said by his analysis the threat from the Khorasan group "is still in the same place as it was before" President Barack Obama ordered airstrikes against the terror operation last month.

"This group was in a position to train without any sort of interference, they were able to recruit operatives," said Olsen, who stepped down as director of the National Counterterrorism Center in July. "We saw that they were looking to test explosives. So they were in the advanced stages of plotting. They had both intent and that capability that put them nearing an execution phase of an attack."

Read more ....

My Comment: The message from this former head of U.S. counterterror operations  is very clear .... be afraid .... be very afraid.

Saudi Arabia's King Issues A Warning To The West; The Jihadists Are Going To Strike You Next

Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud speaks before a meeting with the US Secretary of State at his private residence on June 27, 2014 in the Red Sea city of Jeddah (AFP Photo/Brendan Smialowski)

Saudi King Warns West Will Be Jihadists' Next Target -- AFP

Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) (AFP) - King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has warned that the West will be the next target of the jihadists sweeping through Syria and Iraq, unless there is "rapid" action.

"If we ignore them, I am sure they will reach Europe in a month and America in another month," he said in remarks quoted on Saturday by Asharq al-Awsat daily and Saudi-backed Al-Arabiya television station.

"Terrorism knows no border and its danger could affect several countries outside the Middle East," said the king who was speaking at a welcoming ceremony on Friday for new ambassadors, including a new envoy from Saudi ally the United States.

Read more ....

My Comment: In my opinion he is probably right .... but the President of The United States has a different point of view .... Seeking to Ease Worries, Obama Says the World Has Always Been 'Messy' -- New York Times

U.S. Intelligence: ‘Significant Increase’ In Terror Chatter Ahead Of 9/11 Anniversary

U.S. Officials Say ‘Significant Increase’ in Jihadi Chatter Ahead of 9/11 Anniversary -- The Blaze

U.S. intelligence has picked up increased chatter among Islamist terror networks approaching the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and amid the continuing battle for supremacy between Al Qaeda and the Islamic State, current and former U.S. officials told TheBlaze.

“We’ve noticed a significant increase in chatter among Islamic terrorist organizations overseas both on the Internet and phone lines,” said a U.S. government official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the matter. “This is certainly concerning, but as of yet we can’t pinpoint what or if they are planning a particular attack. We did see this kind of increase in chatter before the September 11 attacks. We just hope the public continues to remain vigilant.”

Read more ....

Update: ‘Significant Increase’ In Terror Chatter As Haunting Anniversary Of 9/11 Nears -- Washington Times

My Comment: Let us hope that it remains as "chatter".

Was The White House Caught Off Guard By The Growing Islamist Threat In The Middle East?

CIA Director John Brennan (Reuters / Gary Cameron)

Obama Administration Caught Off Guard By Islamist Threat In Iraq -- Washington Times

The White House is facing questions about whether it underestimated the threat from Islamic State militants in Iraq after the surfacing of a 2011 speech by John O. Brennan, then President Obama’s counterterrorism chief and now CIA director, who dismissed the danger of an Islamic caliphate as “absurd.”

“Our strategy is … shaped by a deeper understanding of al Qaeda’s goals, strategy and tactics,” Mr. Brennan said on June 29, 2011. “I’m not talking about al Qaeda’s grandiose vision of global domination through a violent Islamic caliphate. That vision is absurd, and we are not going to organize our counterterrorism policies against a feckless delusion that is never going to happen. We are not going to elevate these thugs and their murderous aspirations into something larger than they are.”

Read more ....

My Comment: My perception is that many in the U.S. administration believed that with Osama Bin laden dead .... the movement would die over time. Wow ....  that is becoming an oopps moment.