| August 15, 2020 |
Threat Journal is a weekly supplement to the
AlertsUSA National Threat
and Incident Notification
Service for Mobile Devices |
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WEEKLY THREAT AND ALERT ROUNDUP
Published Each Saturday Afternoon |
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Iran Directly Threatens President Trump
and the United States
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August 15, 2020 |
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On August 11, the following
related Flash SMS
messages was sent to AlertsUSA subscriber mobile devices: |
8/11 - Media outlets linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps rel new poster threatening POTUS for killing of Quds Force Cmdr Qasem Soleimani. See email.
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What You Need To Know |
On Tuesday, AlertsUSA subscribers were notified of the release of a new propaganda poster by media outlets linked
to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (or IRGC) within which President Trump and the U.S. are threatened for the killing of Quds Force Commander General Qasem Soleimani back in early January of this year (AlertsUSA subscribers were some of the first in the U.S. to learn of the strike).
The new poster, which shows an image of President Trump from Inauguration Day 2017 with cross-hairs on his head, includes a statement from Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei made just three weeks ago.
Readers are reminded that as commander of the Quds Force, which is the Revolutionary Guards' overseas operations arm, Soleimani was an architect of Iranian policy across the Middle East, including clandestine missions and its provision of guidance, funding, weapons, intelligence, and logistical support to allied governments and armed groups, including Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
According to a formal statement issued by the Department of Defense shortly after Soleimani was targeted:
"General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region."
According to a report published in April of last year by the Department of Defense, Iranian-backed militias in Iraq were responsible for the deaths of more than 600 US. troops. That means roughly one in every six American combat fatalities in Iraq was attributable to Iran. These losses came as a result of Iran supplying or assisting in the manufacture of explosively formed penetrators and other improvised explosive devices (IED), improvised rocket-assisted munitions (IRAM), stand alone rockets, mortars, rocket-propelled grenades, small-arms, as well as snipers and other forms of attack. And at the center of the planning all of these efforts in Iraq was..... Qasem Soleimani.
And a Few More Data Points:
The Domestic Threat
Readers are reminded that on Jan 18, 2020, The Dept. of Homeland Security issued a National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin warning Iran and its proxies have demonstrated their capability to conduct operations within the United States.
Iran also maintains a growing presence across Latin America, including within Venezuela, the tri-border area of Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil, as well as within Mexico (and see this, and this, and this.)
According to Rep. Peter King (R., N.Y.), a member of the House Homeland Security Committee and former chair of its subcommittee on counter-terrorism and intelligence:
A chief concern is "Iranian support for Hezbollah, which is active in the Middle East, Latin America, and here in the U.S., where Hezbollah operatives have been arrested for activities conducted in our own country."
And a Few Final Data Points:
AlertsUSA continues to monitor the domestic and international threat environment around the clock and will immediately notify service subscribers, via SMS messages to their mobile devices, of new alerts, warnings and advisories or any developments which signal a change the overall threat picture for American citizens as events warrant.
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Coronavirus Update |
August 15, 2020 |
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As of the time of this reports' preparation on Friday, there were more than 5,316,000 COVID-19 cases reported in the U.S., as well as 168,000 deaths attributed to the virus. In addition, multiple states are reporting increasing hospitalizations and deaths as a result of the virus.
Despite the dramatic influence of politics on the pandemic response, as well as the botched effort of federal and state health authorities in testing and accurate case counting, the two-step and mixed messaging on use of masks, the highly flawed rule-making hampering the use of hydroxychloroquine in the early treatment of those infected with COVID-19 and so much more, AlertsUSA encourages readers to remain conscious of the need to be cautious, not only out of concern for your own well being, but also that of others. There actually is a virus, is still in circulation globally, it is still hospitalizing people globally, and it is still taking lives globally.
SITUATION REPORTS / OFFICIAL CASE NUMBERS
World Health Organization
Centers for Disease Control (U.S.)
Johns Hopkins CSSE (Interactive map updated multiple times daily)
OFFICIAL PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE RESOURCES
White House: Guidelines for Opening Up America Again
CDC: K-12 Schools: Readiness and Planning Tool
CDC: One-Stop Shop for COVID-19 Resources
Department of Homeland Security / Ready.Gov
World Health Organization
CDC: How to Protect Yourself
CDC: What to Do If You Are Sick
OFFICIAL CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION PAGES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Food and Drug Administration
Public Health Agency of Canada
Infection Prevention and Control Canada
World Health Organization |
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AlertsUSA.com
SMS ALERTS FROM THIS WEEK
NOT DETAILED IN THIS NEWSLETTER ISSUE
8/14 - DHS: Ban on non-essential travel through border crossings with Canada and Mexico extended until September 21 due to COVID-19.
8/14 - Chicago BLM activists planning full shutdown of Dan Ryan Expy (I-90 / I-94) and Michigan Ave tomorrow (Sat). Large crowds & violence expected. Vigilance urged.
8/13 - Dept of State designates Confucius Inst US Center as a foreign mission of the PRC. Warns of CIUS propaganda & malign influence on US campuses & K-12 classrooms.
8/13 - USGOV orders suspension of private charter flights to all Cuban airports. Warns Cuban mil and intel orgs operate most hotels and tourism infrastructure.
8/10 - Per POTUS on return to press room: Individual shot by law enforcement near the White House. Secret Service to brief shortly. Check national media.
8/10 - President Trump abruptly pulled from press briefing by Secret Service. Unspecified security incident. AlertsUSA monitoring..
8/10 - Line of storms approaching Chicago area expected to produce 70-100 MPH winds. Dangerous situation. Expect loss of power. Seek shelter. AlertsUSA monitoring.. |
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COVID-19, Jihadism and the Challenge of a Pandemic
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August 15, 2020 |
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While the world questions the responsibility for the coronavirus epidemic, radical Islam solves the riddle with an assertion: God punishes unbelievers who persist in defying his authority. Punishment of apostates, ordeal inflicted by the Most High: armed groups maintain a doctrinal line without innovation. For the Islamic State (IS) group, we are in the presence of a "wrath of God" which has become the "nightmare of the crusaders" , as shown by the health record of the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic uncertainties linked to deconfinement. For Al-Qaeda, it is a divine 'punishment' which cannot divert believers from the final goal: to found an Islamic society.
View the Full Report Here
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Commentary / Analysis / Research |
August 15, 2020 |
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The Mullahs and Hezbollah, Lords of Drug Smuggling
When governments or organizations that operate under the legitimacy of a state engage in smuggling drugs, the negative consequences can be devastating for other nations. The Iranian regime and its proxy Hezbollah appear to be increasing their efforts to smuggle illicit drugs to other countries, particularly in the West.
~ READ MORE HERE ~
At Least 100,000 Victims of Modern Slavery Just in UK
A new British report, "It Still Happens Here: Fighting UK Slavery in the 2020s", by The Modern Slavery Policy Unit, a joint initiative led by the anti-slavery charity Justice and Care and The Centre for Social Justice, has estimated that "there could be at least 100,000 victims [of modern slavery] in the UK, with the actual number likely to be even greater".
~ READ MORE HERE ~
Deception Is Key to Chinese Military Strategies
The role of deception in military operations has long been valued by Chinese military leaders and strategists. Despite this long tradition, few studies on Chinese military power touch on the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)’s use of deception. China regards deception as a key component of national security policy and military planning, and PLA leaders continue to emphasize the widespread use of deception.
~ READ MORE HERE ~
Technology is Driving Another Global Power Shift
Since 2017, America’s national security strategy has focused on great-power competition, and today much of Washington is busy portraying our relationship with China as a new cold war. Obviously, great-power competition remains a crucial aspect of foreign policy, but we must not let it obscure the growing transnational security threats that technology is putting on the agenda.
~ READ MORE HERE ~ |
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| USNI Fleet and Marine Tracker |
August 15, 2020 |
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These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of August 10, 2020 based on Navy, public data provided by the U.S. Naval Institute, and open source reporting. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship.
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| World News Roundup |
August 15, 2020 |
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AMERICAS
Winter is coming: Why America’s window to beat back Covid-19 is closing
US Troops May Not Get Priority for COVID-19 Vaccine After All
Trump urges Portland to bring in National Guard amid unrest
Bolivia: Opposition blocks roads, demand election goes ahead
Bolivia's military and police called on political leaders to lift blockades
Mexico: Former president accused of receiving bribes
Biden and Harris call for three-month nationwide mask mandate
POTUS calls Biden's mask mandate an attack on 'Americans' freedoms'
Canada Is Sick of Americans Crossing Over During the Pandemic
U.S. Seizes Iranian Fuel Cargoes for First Time
Air Force: First B-21 test aircraft starting to 'look like a plane'
Air Force may buy 180 new B-21 stealth bombers
Trio Of B-2 Stealth Bombers Deploy To Diego Garcia
Air Force helicopter shot while flying over Virginia; crew member injured
EUROPE
Mass Protests in Belarus After Presidential Election
Russian Media Responds to Belarus Protest Crackdown
Beatings and indiscriminate arrests as armed men roam streets of Minsk
Belarus election: 'Widespread torture' inflicted on jailed protesters
'They were smashing me with batons': detained Belarusians tell of jail abuse
NATO Needs to Focus on the Black Sea
Greek, Turkish warships in 'mini collision' Ankara calls provocative
Erdogan says attack on Turkish ship in Med dispute will exact 'high price
France to bolster Med military presence over Turkish prospecting: Macron
World Health Organisation wants to review Russian vaccine trials
We have no idea if the Russian Covid vaccine is safe or effective
MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA
POTUS unveils Middle East 'peace deal' with Israel and UAE
Turkey and Iran condemn Trump's Middle East peace deal
Turkey may recall ambassador in UAE, suspend diplomatic ties
Palestinians warn Israel-UAE deal imperils Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque
CENTCOM Chief Warns of Resurgent IS Without Repatriation from Camps
Lebanon's military gets new powers amid anger over Beirut explosion
Beirut Explosion Likely Sparked by Maintenance at Warehouse
Mocimboa da Praia: Key Mozambique port 'seized by IS'
Erdogan Has Hidden an Economic Disaster Deep in Turkish Banks
Locust and COVID-19 are threatening to drive large-scale famine in Africa
ASIA
China’s Days as World’s Factory Are Over, IPhone Maker Says
S. Korea is building its first aircraft carrier complete with US-made fighter jets
Satellite Image Shows Pakistani Submarine With Chinese Navy
China-India border talks stall, sparking calls for Modi to get tough on Beijing
China blasts US for Taiwan visit while virus spreads at home
National security law: Hong Kong’s US exports to be relabelled ‘Made in China’
Auckland locked down NZ finds first coronavirus cases in 102 days
Australia's worst-hit state 'flattening' virus curve
Philippines' Duterte volunteers to be Putin's coronavirus vaccine guinea pig
Thailand protesters 'cross the Rubicon' and risk all to criticise the monarchy |
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Travel Security
The U.S. Dept. of State Travel Website is the authoritative federal source for information on the security situation at travel destinations worldwide. With tensions rapidly increasing in most regions, readers planning international travel, even to such common destinations as Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean Islands, are strongly encouraged to do a little research on the security situation at your destination well prior to departure.
The Department of State’s Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) provides a variety of resources to enhance the safety and security of the U.S. private sector businesses and organizations operating abroad.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website is the authoritative federal source for information on current health issues related to specific destinations worldwide. These issues may arise from disease outbreaks, special events or gatherings, natural disasters, or other conditions that may affect travelers’ health.
Foreign Sources of Travel Guidance
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Take Advantage of These Resources
Our social media channels provide a steady steam of important news and resources between issues of Threat Journal with little or no overlap of content. Combined with the AlertsUSA service for instant mobile notification of the really bad developments, you have an unmatched set of tools to keep yourself fully up to speed on the nation's threat environment. With times getting worse by the day, we urge you to utilize these resources.
  
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