A Dutch tourist who looked under his pillow in a hotel room in Malaysia after he felt something wriggling there was temporarily blinded in one eye when a cobra spat at him. Jaroean Ferdinand, 27, was due to fly home Wednesday after spending two days in hospital in Malacca, the member of parliament for the area, Sim Tong Him, told AFP. Local media quoted Ferdinand as saying: "After checking into the hotel room (in Malacca), I settled down for a rest. But seconds later, I felt something wriggling under my pillow." As he lifted the pillow, a 0.6 metre (one-and-a-half-foot) cobra lunged at him, missing him by centimetres as he ducked. But the reptile managed to spit venom into his right eye. "Other than that, how was your vacation, Jar?"
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/18/2002 10:16 am ||
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He was "temporarily blinded" in one eye, and that's all?
That's one lucky man.
Posted by: Kathy K ||
12/19/2002 5:23 Comments ||
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Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai has contradicted suggestions that Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network has set up new training camps in eastern Afghanistan. Mr Karzai, commenting on a UN report that al-Qaeda had activated training camps in the east of the country, said he was "certain there are no large-scale camps in Afghanistan." However, President Karzai told reporters in the Swedish capital Stockholm on Wednesday that there were individuals and small groups active in his country. President Karzai said some people hiding in Afghanistan occasionally come out and "do certain things like they did yesterday in Kabul, throwing a grenade at a jeep carrying American soldiers." "Hard to kill every single cockroach, they keep crawling in from the neighbors."
He said such small incidents would continue for a long time but the major activities of the past had ended. We hope so.
Posted by: Steve ||
12/18/2002 11:12 am ||
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I really agree with Mr. Karzai, Now that the Major Activities of the past ended we can go search for the Real Killers out there.
p.s. Hamid, could you please forward me some information about Kabul area Golf Courses and Country Clubs
#2
I think Karzai's probably more accurate in his assessment than the UN is. If there were large-scale camps, they'd be inviting targets for U.S. forces and for the fledgling Afghan army. Major camps are more likely in NWFP and/or Kashmir, with infiltration in onesies-twosies. The question I have is how much involvement ISI still has with trying to subvert Afghanistan - we know the Pak fundos are involved, but if "rogue" elements of the Pak government are involved it means there's no end in sight until Pakland has a new (non-Islamic) system of government, preferably as a part of India.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/19/2002 9:12 Comments ||
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Just as U.S. Gen. Tommy Franks was wrapping up his weeklong test exercise for running Central Command from the new mobile HQ in Qatar, and as the U.S. and Qatar completed their long negotiations on giving the U.S. bases a permanent legal presence, an extremely nervous visitor arrived in the Gulf state. She is Michele Marie-Alliot, France's defense minister, who is exceedingly worried that France is about to be played out of the game. The French have hitherto supplied some 90 percent of Qatar's defense imports, and the French are deeply suspicious that part of the new U.S.-Qatari relationship includes a special procurement deal. In Paris, Marie-Alliot's success will be judged on her ability to complete the deal for Qatar to buy 100 French-made Leclerc tanks, naval combat helicopters and an anti-aircraft missile system. Word is that she is batting 0 for 3, with the Americans now close to a deal to sell Abrams tanks. The Russians are offering a cheap package of their old and new S-300 and S-400 anti-aircraft system, and the Qatars are looking hard at alternatives for the naval choppers. Zut alors! That will teach Paris to be sniffy about invading Iraq. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha ,ha
Posted by: Steve ||
12/18/2002 01:54 pm ||
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Allow me to play a song on this here Stradivarius. It's the world's smallest.
#6
In true fasion this morning my breakfast table became a history lesson. As I placed my bottle of Syrup on the table, the French Toast promptly surrendered and allowed Syrup to walk all over it.
Posted by: Rick ||
12/19/2002 5:06 Comments ||
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Former Algerian president Ahmed Ben Bella made faces accused U.S. President George Bush and Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon of defying the whole world with their colonial arrogance. "Yasss... Went out this morning and shot a few wogs before breakfast this morning..."
In exclusive interview with IslamOnline on the sidelines of the opening session of a two-day conference on looming U.S.-led war on Iraq, the Algerian leader asserted that crystal-clear and unquestionable American purpose of striking Iraq is to control Arab oil. That was why we struck Afghanistan, too...
The United States has come to the conviction that to control Arab and Iraq oil it must control Islam and that is what they are trying to do, he warned. "Y'see, it has nothing to do with dead people, or crazed killers with turbans..."
According to Ben Bella, the American people are the only power capable of curbing the new Imperialism championed by Bush. "Rise up, ye oppressed! Rise up in your wrath! Throw off your chains!"
He underlined that solving the Iraqi crisis requires all efforts and support, stressing that it is an issue of major importance to the entire Arab world. And for a bunch of kleptocrats it's a matter of self-preservation...
The former Algerian president underlined that the key to end the hegemony policies of the Bush administration is in the hands of the world peoples, including the American people. "Rise up, ye oppressed!... Oh. Already said that."
Asked whether Arab peoples have become helpless, Ben Bella heaped the blame on Arab rulers. Like he used to be, until he got tossed, 35 years ago.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/18/2002 10:42 am ||
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It's funny- if it's really All About Oil, wouldn't it be so much easier to subvert and control Mexico and South America?
#2
It has always been about oil.... They own it, we provide the technology to produce it, we pay the cost of production and then some, then we burn it.
#3
I don't understand, can someone explain to me what the word "colonial" means when refering to the U.S.? Does the U.S. have any colonies? Is it refering to McDonald's? I knew those BigMacs were nothing but trouble.
Hungary has given permission for the United States base at Taszar to be used for the training of Iraqi opposition members.
Up to 3,000 people from Iraq and other Arab countries will start arriving next month at the US base, 200 kilometres (120 miles) southeast of Budapest. They are being groomed to take part in a possible successor administration to that of President Saddam Hussein. Hungary's permission for the use of the base is valid for the whole of 2003, but only two rounds of training lasting no longer than 90 days each is allowed.
Hungarian Government spokesman Zoltan Gal told reporters that the Iraqi trainees would not take direct part in combat operations. "The training is primarily theoretical, which means military and civil relations, interpreting and translating, and theoretical training for military police," he said. I think he means classroom sessions only, no field or weapons training.
Briefing members of parliament, Hungary's Foreign Minister, Laszlo Kovacs, said the US would cover all the costs of the programme. Up to 1,500 American personnel will provide support for the training. Trainees will not be allowed to leave the base. Hungarian Defence Minister Ferenc Juhasz has given assurances that the base will be protected by the US military, in addition to security measures by the Hungarian army, police and secret services. The base at Taszar has been used by the United States as a logistical support centre for peacekeeping operations in Bosnia-Hercegovina since 1995. Thanks, Hungary. We remember our friends.
Posted by: Steve ||
12/18/2002 11:06 am ||
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Iraqi military forces have begun placing obstacles on the runways of their key air bases, the most overt steps yet by Baghdad to prepare for a possible U.S. invasion, according to U.S. defense and intelligence officials. The obstacles, detected recently by U.S. spy satellites, could stop or delay an attack in which fixed-wing aircraft would bring ground troops to seize the bases for U.S. invasion forces. Use of the obstacles shows that the Iraqis fear the Pentagon will try to occupy the remote bases as staging areas for an attack on Baghdad and other parts of central Iraq. U.S. intelligence has been closely following Iraqi activity at a cluster of bases in western Iraq called H-3. Pentagon planners have signaled that these bases are likely to be primary targets in a U.S. attack. As they say in real estate, location, location, location
In addition to using them as a steppingstone to further strikes inside Iraq, the Pentagon wants to position forces to stop Iraqi missile attacks against Israel. Because of the limited range of Iraq's Scud missiles, an Iraqi strike that could reach Israel would likely have to come from western Iraq. The H-3 military complex is a cluster of four airfields within a few miles of an oil pipeline pumping station of the same name. The airfields have long runways that can accommodate heavy transports. They have been little used by the Iraqi air force because they lie within a zone where flights by Iraqi aircraft have been banned since the 1991 Gulf War. You fly, you die
U.S. defense intelligence officials suspect that some missiles may be stored at or near the bases. Officials also suspect that Iraqi military personnel operating out of the bases have surveyed pre-set locations for mobile missile launchers. Suspect = we got pictures
Spy satellites have also detected similar defensive moves by Iraq at air bases in southeastern Iraq and around Baghdad. The Iraqis are blocking the runways by parking trucks in landing areas and dragging concrete highway barriers across airstrips. The Iraqis could move the obstacles aside quickly to allow their own forces to use the airfields. But the barriers would force U.S. planners to consider riskier or more time-consuming approaches during an invasion, such as a helicopter-borne assault or a land attack. Somebody read the Ranger training manual. He missed the part on how fast we can clear runway obstacles though. If they block the runways, we don't have to bomb them. Rangers jump or chopper in, either hotwire a dozer or fly one in under a chopper, and clear enough strip for a 130. That will bring in the engineers and after that it won't take long to return to full ops.
Despite the growing likelihood of war, Iraqi military forces have been relatively inactive in beefing up their defenses, U.S. military and intelligence officials say. There have been no major Iraqi troop movements in recent months and few observable steps to bolster the defense of the main approaches to Baghdad. Even so, there have been some moves. Spy satellites have detected the installation of additional gun emplacements around key points in Baghdad, particularly around Saddam Hussein's main Baghdad palace on the Tigris River. Iraqi commanders have ordered ammunition stocks dispersed from vulnerable central storage sites to battle-ready sites outside Baghdad. Iraqi authorities also have conducted civil-defense exercises with civilians. Although its supply of missiles was severely depleted during the Gulf War, Iraq might have preserved about 20 missiles that intelligence officials believe could be capable of reaching Tel Aviv from launch points in western Iraq. Western Iraq is most likely already crawling with Special Forces, U.S., SAS, Israeli, etc.
The Defense Department is also concerned about Iraqi L-29 drone aircraft fitted with sprayers that might be used in a chemical or biological attack. But U.S. intelligence has picked up little Iraqi training activity involving the drones. If you don't train with them, lots of luck using them in a real world operation.
Posted by: Steve ||
12/18/2002 11:20 am ||
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Usually, the big concrete road leading up to the airport makes a better runway than the very possibly mined and obstructed runway.
Posted by: Frank Martin ||
12/18/2002 11:48 Comments ||
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Might be a good mission for the V-22 Osprey to come in fast on the airfield and then repel troops on the airbase to clear the barriers. Meanwhile the Osprey can then bug out at high speed.
The George Washington carrier battle group â returning home this week following a scheduled six-month deployment â will be kept fully ready to redeploy "should the need arise," Adm. Robert J. Natter said Tuesday, a clear reference to a possible war with Iraq. Atlantic Fleet Commander Natter, speaking during an interview with Navy Times editors and reporters, didnât specify the length of time the battle groupâs six returning ships and its Carrier Air Wing 17 would be kept in a ready status. But after completing a recent comprehensive review of the battle groupâs current readiness in terms of people, parts and ordnance, Natter he said he wants the group "to be able to do that through the Christmas holidays and as long as we need it."
The availability of Navy carriers could be critical during such a war, particularly given the apparent reluctance of Saudi Arabian officials to permit war-related operations to be launched from bases in that country. Four carriers are currently at sea. The Norfolk, Va.-based George Washington, on the way home, was recently relieved by Norfolkâs Harry S. Truman; the Everett, Wash.-based Abraham Lincoln, most recently in the Persian Gulf, is due to be replaced by the Constellation, based in San Diego. Natter noted that returning battle groups traditionally remain in a surge mode for a short time. "But weâve not, in the past, maintained it at this kind of readiness level," he said. "Itâll be ready to go."
The ships returning with the group include the George Washington, the cruisers Normandy and Monterey, the destroyers Laboon and Mahan â all based in Norfolk â and the fast combat support ship USNS Supply, out of Earle, N.J. Natter said the Navy may not need all of the ships, without elaborating. "But the battle group will be able to redeploy should the need arise," he said. Crews will get Christmas leave, but told to stay in touch. Yard crews will be putting in overtime getting the ships ready. If they only have a short time off, that's less time it takes to do workups when they get the word. Normal steaming time to the Med is about a week, but that's if you have to wait for the support ships. I'll bet the carrier, cruisers and destroyers won't wait this time.
Posted by: Steve ||
12/18/2002 11:57 am ||
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The United States and Britain are piling the pressure on Saddam Hussein, accusing the Iraqi leader of "obvious falsehood" and omissions in his weapons declaration to the United Nations.
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said on Wednesday that US President George W Bush was "concerned" about gaps in the Iraqi report. UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw also criticised the declaration, saying it was not "the full and complete" version demanded by the UN Security Council. "This will fool nobody," Mr Straw said in a statement on Wednesday. "If Saddam persists in this obvious falsehood, it will become clear that he has rejected the pathway to peace." Mr Bush is meeting security officials in Washington to consider a formal response to the 12,000 page Iraqi declaration. After they stop giggling.
They are expected to find the report inadequate, but correspondents say Mr Bush is unlikely to cite this as a "material breach" of the US arms resolution and therefore justification for war. Instead, Mr Bush is expected to chart a slightly more patient course that would push the prospects for military action back to Mid-January. Remember, new moon 2 Feb
Britain has been the strongest international supporter of Bush's tough line on Iraq - and the latest statement keeps Britain's position closely aligned with that of the US.
Mr Straw said the declaration had "obvious omissions" - notably a failure to account for the weapons of mass destruction listed in the final report of the UN inspectors who left Iraq in 1998. Iraq screwed up big time here, they forgot we had a itemized list of everything we found after GW1.
Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Wednesday that Britain would give its formal response to the declaration after Christmas. The Brits have placed a order for ships to carry armor to the Gulf, loading to begin around 15 Jan. Nothing to do with this, just a preplanned live-fire exercise.
Posted by: Steve ||
12/18/2002 12:32 pm ||
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I believe HMS Battleaxe is a frigate, a completely different ship from the "Harrier carrier" HMS Ark Royal.
Posted by: Mike ||
12/18/2002 15:22 Comments ||
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It was a joke.
"At least the American Navy doesn't name ships after our mothers-in-law..."
U.S. jets Wednesday bombed an Iraqi military air defense radar that was moved into the southern no-fly zone near Al Kut and could threaten the aircraft, according to U.S. Central Command.
It was the fourth such strike in five days, and the third time in the same period Al Kut was on the target list. Al Kut is about 100 miles southeast of Baghdad. The strike occurred at approximately 4:30 a.m. "Yawn...Honey, time to get up and fix the radar."
On Monday, jets enforcing the southern no-fly zone struck a communications site near Al Kut. On Sunday, jets bombed mobile radar and cable repeater sites. On Dec. 14, aircraft bombed at least three military air defense communications facilities, including one in Al Kut. I don't care how many he's smuggled in, at some point Saddam has got to run out of radars.
Posted by: Steve ||
12/18/2002 01:48 pm ||
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D'ya get the feeling there's something around al kut that the Iraqis are real interested in protecting?
#2
Where is all this radar equipment manufactored in the first place? Perhaps we could have a talk with the, er, Ukrainians about how we're getting a little tired of bombing the radars -- overtime, flight pay, cost of 1,000 bombs -- so perhaps the Ukes oughta close the spigot. Failing that, we could remind them that the big, bad Russian bear to the north has, throughout history, generally considered Ukraine to be another "federated republic."
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/18/2002 14:39 Comments ||
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Which costs more, a radar installation or an iron bomb with satellite guidance package?
There is a diplomatic flurry in Ankara after Turkey's NTV reported on Dec. 16 that 50 trucks have carried weapons from Turkey through the Habur border crossing to 2,000 Kurdish fighters. The TV report added that they are currently being trained by 500 U.S. intelligence personnel. Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Prime Minister Barham Saleh denied it, asserting that there was no American presence in the area controlled by the PUK, and insisting that no weapons had been delivered. A second denial came from Safeen Dizayee, the Ankara representative of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, which controls the remaining parts of northern Iraq. But NTV is sticking to its story, claiming that American liaison officers transferred the weaponry from the Incirlik air base to the Pesh Merga Kurdish militia. The United States sent a defense and intelligence mission into northern Iraq last February to evaluate the area's capabilities in the event of war with Iraq. A second U.S. military mission was subsequently sent to the region to assess the capabilities of the Kurdish forces and estimate the necessary logistic support that will be needed for an attack on Iraq. The louder the denials, the more it sounds true
Posted by: Steve ||
12/18/2002 01:58 pm ||
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#3
"...Alabama?"
"Um, no, we mean, um... Georgia?"
"Oh, Russians? Oh, okay, never mind then..."
"Whew, that was a close one!"
"What was that?"
"Nothing! Nothing at all..."
Posted by: Just John ||
12/18/2002 16:31 Comments ||
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Anti-U.S. sentiment emerged as a key issue ahead of South Korea's presidential election Thursday, with the front-runner losing the support of an important backer over a remarkably stupid remark about the possibility of war between the United States and North Korea. Candidate Roh Moo-hyun favors the South Korean government's "sunshine" policy of engaging the North and wants his country to be less dependent on Washington, which keeps 37,000 soldiers here. So do lots of us. Matter of fact, we can leave any time now. Won't bother me a bit, and it'll make lots of South Koreans happy. For awhile.
But a bonehead comment he made on the campaign trail Wednesday triggered an angry reaction from Chung Mong-joon, his coalition partner and the popular architect of South Korea's successful co-hosting of the soccer World Cup this year. Kim Hang, Chung's spokeswoman, said the soccer chief and industrialist withdrew his support because Roh made an "inappropriate remark." To whit:
"If the United States and North Korea start a war, we could get embroiled," Kim quoted Roh as saying. If that ain't the dumbest damned...
Kim said Chung, a former presidential candidate who dropped out of the race to support Roh, believes there is no reason for the United States to start a war with North Korea. ... piece of drivel I've ever heard, I've never heard one. The only reason the U.S. would ever become involved in a war with NKor, short of NKor pointing its patented not-quite-yet-nuclear missiles directly at the U.S. of A., would be to keep it from overrunning South Korea. Like it did last time. You know, that time that the SKors have forgotten about by now?
North Korea has often accused the United States of plotting an invasion, but Secretary of State Colin Powell on Monday echoed earlier comments by Bush that Washington has no plans to invade the North. Except for its attempts at developing a nuke arsenal and its proximity to SKor, NKor is beneath our notice. Think of it as Botswana, only with kimchi when the CARE packages are rolling in. Since our "friendship" with SKor seems to have unraveled, that makes NKor even less important.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/18/2002 02:55 pm ||
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How far into North Korea would 37,000 Us troops get? Against the million man army we'd, perhaps, get a few feet past the DMZ.
The 37,000 troops are there to show commitment, and to die if North Korea invades, ensuring US action. There is just not enough to do anything else. Everyone knows that except Skorean politicians, students and Nkorean knuckleheads.
#2
I dont put much stake in the North Korean Army. Last time up the turnpike, they had the advantage in manpower, available arms and surprise, and despite getting caught by surprise, we marched them all the way back to the Yalu in pretty short order. It wasnt until the Chinese stepped in that we go into a serious amount of trouble.
Problem with having a million men under arms is you have to feed, clothe and arm all of them and/or have secure supply lines to feed,house, and clothe them. In both cases, the North Koreans have very little to offer. They can barely feed themselves when they are not under the stress of war, they certainly do not have air superiority, and arent likely to have it anytime soon. They cant control the seas and cant count on the support of the chinese communists this time around.
Best they can do is extort japan and south korea with they threat of "possible action". Truth of the matter is the only reason they are still standing up is we have propped them up. With President Bush cutting oil and food supplies those days seem to be over.
Steven Den Beste posted a great picture of NKor at night from space that I think tells the tale better than anything
Posted by: Frank Martin ||
12/18/2002 17:35 Comments ||
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There's another possible trigger for US-NKor war -- NKor supplies nuclear weapons to Iraq/Saudi Arabia/Iran/Al Quaeda/Syria/etc. I don't doubt the US has warned NKor that this would be a casus belli. The stopping of the Scud ship was at least a warning to the NKors that we're watching and maybe also a check to see what was in the ship - if it was only Scuds, or something worse.
#4
I have been living here in SKorea for a while now and I must say your actually giving them more credit than they deserve. These freaking people sound like there going to war, and thats just their conversation with the bagger at the food market. The only thing I wondering about the north is just how many baby milk factories will appear when it starts raining red white and blue on pyonyang
Posted by: Rick ||
12/18/2002 22:48 Comments ||
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Two things that people should remember when debating anything concerning N Korea: 1st, when China says jump, N Korea jumps. 2nd, N Korea is what happens when you elect the Natural Law Party as government (sorry :)
#6
People old enough to remember the war overwhelmingly support the conservative, pro-American Lee. It's the soft coddled generation(s) since then -- classic Clinton voters! -- who are for the anti-American appeasers. Unfortunately the 9/11 that would wake them up would be a lot bloodier than ours.
U.S. officials say they have convincing evidence of Iraq's continued efforts to build weapons of mass destruction in the form of communications intercepts that depict transactions with foreign suppliers of Baghdad's secret program, but that no decision has yet been made about whether or how to make it public. "What we have got in hand are a whole series of money transfers and contracts all relating to efforts to build nuclear, biological or chemical weapons," a former senior U.S. intelligence official told United Press International. Records include Iraqi deposits to Swiss and Persian Gulf bank accounts, dealings with Swedish and German manufacturers, Dubai and Jordanian front companies, Chinese companies, contracts with South African technological firms, and invoices of materials including ingredients for biological and chemical weapons, this source said. Paper trail, can't do business without one
So far, none of that evidence has surfaced in the 12,000-page Iraqi weapons of mass destruction declaration made to the United Nations on Dec. 8, these U.S. intelligence analysts said.
The dossier was ordered by the U.N. Security Council as part of Resolution 1441 demanding that Iraq disarm or face serious consequences. This always was what was going to sink Iraq. Everyone wanted Bush to go to the U.N. Well, you got what you wanted.
The intercepts held by U.S. intelligence also deal with communications between Iraqi clandestine sites for enriching uranium and "other sites," said the former senior U.S. intelligence official. We've been listening, and recording too.
The Iraqis have declared they have no weapons of mass destruction, and "the Iraqis have lied," a State Department official said. Under the terms of Resolution 1441, passed on Nov. 8, omissions or false statements in the declaration, coupled with any failure to comply with inspections, constitutes a material breach of Iraq's obligations and would result in unspecified "serious consequences" for Baghdad. I believe omissions or false statements by themselves are a violation, but I can't find my copy of the U.N. resolution.
Asked if the United States would present its evidence at the U.N. Security Council as John Kennedy did in the Soviet missile crisis of 1962, an administration official said, "No decision about the time or place of any presentation has been made." "We'll let you know right after the bombing starts."
Posted by: Steve ||
12/18/2002 03:13 pm ||
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The U.N. will never believe these horrendous lies about Iraq. Those U.S. Satellites cant be trusted.
Britain moved to a war footing on Wednesday, dismissing Iraq's weapons dossier as full of holes and preparing the military for a possible conflict next year. Shipping sources told Reuters the British military, America's top ally in the standoff with Iraq, had chartered a large vessel to carry heavy armour to the Gulf in the New Year. One source said the MoD had chartered a large merchant ship for a 90-day period from January 15 to carry heavy armour and military supplies to the possible battle zone. Britain also stepped into the London ship broking market to request two more vessels for a military deployment. The orders follow similar moves by the United States, and come as Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon confirmed troops were also gearing up. "What we are doing is preparing in the event of military action being necessary," said Hoon. "We would not necessarily want to signal the timing or the date of any such military action in advance," he said. "It would depend on how events over the next weeks and months unfold." Hoon also said Britain would consider deploying extra naval resources to the Gulf region in the New Year if needed. He told parliament that in addition to a long-planned naval deployment in the area next year, five navy ships will be deployed to the region ahead of time to undertake exercises. To ensure forces are equipped and ready to act, procurement orders of specialised desert equipment are being accelerated and some troop units are being put on shorter notice to move. Reservists have not been called up but the government is contacting them and their employers for advance planning. End of Jan, first of Feb.
Posted by: Steve ||
12/18/2002 03:39 pm ||
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This article indicates that the words will be said on the last week of January.
#2
And not before time too. Seems we are preparing to send again a beefed up 7th Armoured (as per Gulf War 1 but with significantly better Challenger 2 MBTs) with some elements of the Air Assault Brigade plus assorted units of the Royal Navy (which is now Tomahawk capable) and Royal Air Force (already bombing Iraq on a pretty much daily basis).
Suggests to me that Franks, like Schwarzkopf before him, will entrust some serious parts of this battle plan to the UK - and we'll again deliver. Any other 'allies' will again be invited to peel potatoes.
Posted by: Patrick ||
12/19/2002 1:31 Comments ||
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Police have searched a house in Mombasa where the bombs used in the November 28 Coast terrorist attack are believed to have been assembled. Prime suspect Mr Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan and an unidentified associate lived in the posh rented house as they worked on the final plans to attack Israeli interests in Mombasa, police revealed yesterday. Paid Sh66,000 advance rent in cash for three months
Kenyan and Israeli security agents were led to the four-bedroom house in Giriama Road in Tudor estate by Mr Nabhan's wife, Fatuma. Two families lived in the house - Mr Nabhan, his wife and their one-year-old child and his associate and his wife.
"Bomb experts combed and dusted the house and the compound on Sunday night and found vital evidence showing the bomb was likely to have been assembled there," a senior police source said. He added that they found traces of the material used to manufacture bombs. Police also established that the gas cylinders used to make the bombs were welded in a garage in the house. Good police work
The new developments emerged two days after the 17-year-old Fatuma was picked up by the investigators on Saturday at her mother's house in Lamu town, near the Kenya-Somalia border.
The source said Fatuma moved to Lamu two days before the terrorists blew up Paradise Hotel, killing 10 Kenyans, three Israelis and three suicide bombers. The source said that after police took Fatuma back to Mombasa, she showed them the house where she and her husband had lived. He said: "Nabhan and his wife lived a secretive life and they accommodated an unidentified couple. We have been informed the house was frequented by people of Arab origin." Oh, that's a big suprise!
The tenants moved out of the house two days before the attack.
Fatuma went to Lamu while her 23-year-old husband went underground for a day before he went to see his father-in-law on November 29. He visited his wife at her mother's home on December 2 and that is the last time his family saw him, the police said. Fatuma told the police her husband later called her twice and said he was hiding in Baidoa town in the war-ravaged Somalia. UPDATE:Maybe, maybe not
The prime suspect in the suicide bomb attack that killed 17 people at the Mombasa Paradise Hotel in Kilifi District is still in Kenya, police have said. The suspect, Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, 23, might still be holed up along the Kenya-Somali border. Police believe the suspect is still holed up somewhere on one of the Lamu islands and has not crossed over to Somalia. Told the wife a phoney story after you left her behind, did you? Shows signs of brains, not cannon fodder type.
Posted by: Steve ||
12/18/2002 12:59 pm ||
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A Rotterdam court has acquitted four suspected members of an Islamic militant network linked to al-Qaeda on the grounds of insufficient evidence and procedural mistakes. Three of the four men were arrested in the immediate wake of the suicide bombings in the US in September 2001. They were suspected of planning to blow up the US embassy in Paris and a US airbase in Belgium. That was the airbase with nukes
Police found fake passports, driving licences and credit cards in their Rotterdam home, as well as videos featuring messages from bin Laden and information on bomb making. Sounds like al-Qaeda to me
The alleged plot included a fourth Algerian-born suspect, who was extradited to the Netherlands from Canada last summer. On the basis of the evidence, prosecutors demanded heavy sentences for the Frenchman, Dutchman and two Algerians, ranging from one to six years. During preliminary hearings, all suspects denied the allegations and rejected any links with a Europe-wide Islamic militant network. On Wednesday, the men were acquitted by a Rotterdam court, which ruled that there had been insufficient legal grounds to arrest the suspects and conduct the house searches. The investigators had acted on information provided by the Dutch AIVD intelligence service, but failed to follow the required legal procedures. The AIVD had tapped the suspects' telephones without prior permission. Oops!
The court concluded that even if the investigation had been properly done, there was still insufficient proof the men were planning to bomb the US embassy. "If the court had had another opinion about the proper start of the investigations, we would still have reached the same conclusion with regard to the charges," Judge Stephaan van Klaveren told the court. In other words, they would have been let off no matter what the evidence was.
The ruling adds yet another dent to the image of Dutch intelligence and security officials. It comes a day after the publication of an independent report slamming the authorities for their failure to provide special protection to Pim Fortuyn, the popular Dutch politician who was assassinated shortly before last May's election. The report singled out the AIVD as well as the Justice and Interior Ministries for particular criticism, accusing them of overall laxness. With allies like this, etc
Posted by: Steve ||
12/18/2002 10:51 am ||
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I hope that phone tap is still in place- with a party line to the NSA and Mossad.
Just as the heated debates within the German government over the role of German troops and equipment in a possible war against Iraq seem to be cooling down, another potential bombshell threatens to reignite the fires. On Tuesday, the Berlin-based left-wing paper, Tageszeitung reported that aspects of the 12,000-page Iraqi report on Iraq's weapons programs, submitted to the U.N last week, could prove highly embarrassing for Germany. The newspaper - believed to be the first to have access to the top-secret dossier - has written that the Iraqi declaration contains the names of 80 German firms, research laboratories and people, who are said to have helped Iraq develop its weapons program. The most contentious piece of news for Germany is that the report names it as the number one supplier of weapons supplies to Iraq. German firms are supposed to easily outnumber the firms from other countries who have been exporting to Iraq. Don't you love it when a plan comes together?
They have delivered technical know-how, components, basic substances and even entire technical facilities for the development of atomic, chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction to Iraq right since 1975. In some cases, conventional military and technical dealings between Germany and Iraq are said to date till 2001, ten years after the second Gulf war and a time when international sanctions against Saddam Hussein are still in place. The paper reports that the dossier contains several indications of cases, where German authorities right up to the Finance Ministry tolerated the illegal arms cooperation and also promoted to it to an extent. The German Finance Ministry has said that it will react to the report only once it has studied the Iraqi declaration. "Weâll first wait till the report is in our hands," a spokesman from the ministry said on Tuesday. The spokesman however said that the German government of the time in 1990 had informed the parliament about such German supplies to Iraq. "It's the former governments fault!"
Ever since Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, there has been a strict embargo against the country. The spokesman said that there have been a few cases of violation of the embargo and the government has initiated investigations. Explosive as the newspaper report may appear, itâs not the first of its kind. For months rumors have been circulating in the German media of murky deals between German arms companies and businessmen with Iraq despite the rigid embargoes in place. In October this year, a magazine of the German radio channel, SÃŒdwestrundfunk reported that electronics giant Siemens had delivered specialized technical equipment to Iraq for the treatment of kidney stones, but which could also under certain circumstances be used as a detonator for atom bombs. High speed electrical pulse needed for the trigger
Siemens insisted that the device could not be misused because it had commissioned an Iraqi company to regularly monitor the equipment. Oh, that's a good defense
In fact the delivery was even sanctioned by the sanctions council of the U.N. and the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA). Enough said
The latest newspaper report also touches upon the gray zone between medicine and armaments and writes of so-called dual-use goods that can be used for developing weapons as well as for civilian purposes. The German government was apparently informed in 1999 of the delivery of such dual-use goods to Iraq, but is said to have turned a blind eye. German arms companies in the meantime have been conducting booming business with Iraq in recent years. According to the German Federal Statistics Office, German military exports to Iraq have been steadily rising from year to year. From annual exports amounting to 21,7 million euro in 1997, the volume of exports for the following year shot to some 76,4 million euro. The trend continued in 2001 with exports to Iraq bringing German firms profits in the range of 336,5 million euro. German goods worth 226,2 million euro have already been shipped to Iraq in the first half of this year. Some of the official heavyweights in the export scene are the German electronics firm Siemens with medical equipment and energy distribution systems and carmaker DaimlerChrysler. Both are reported to rake in revenues worth double digit figures in the millions. Like they always say, follow the money.
Though the German government has not officially reacted to the Iraqi declaration detailing its role in supplying Iraq with arms, there is little doubt that the issue is bound to stoke passions. Ever since Chancellor Gerhard Schröder refused to be part of any military action in Iraq before the German general elections in September, Berlinâs relation to Washington has been a strained one. With Schröder sticking to his pacifist line, but dithering over the level of cooperation with the U.S. in the case of a war against Iraq, the latest report is guaranteed to provide ammunition to the opposition who have strongly criticized Schröderâs policy towards America.
Another real fear is that Schröderâs image as a staunch pacifist might now be sullied if it emerges that Germany has all along been helping the very leader who it has been unwilling to topple, to stockpile his weapons. If you talk the talk, you better have walked the walk
The report could also provide the U.S. with an excuse to step up the pressure on Germany to give in to American military demands for deployment of German troops and use of German military equipment in the case of a military attack on Iraq. Paybacks a mother, ain't it Gerhard?
Posted by: Steve ||
12/18/2002 02:08 pm ||
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We don't need German troops or military equipment for an attack. They could be useful as peacekeepers AFTER we win, but that's about it. Schroeder is going to pay dearly for his anti-American vitriol. He doesn't want us, and he'll get his wish. Our forces, once deployed to Iraq, ain't going back to Germany. The Poles, Czechs, and Hungarians want us and we'll oblige...We'll see how the Germans enjoy losing thousands of jobs and euros when we depopulate our bases...
Posted by: R. McLeod ||
12/19/2002 1:44 Comments ||
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I am outraged that German Government would allow such a "Tragic Error in Judgment". To let weapons and other harmful devices be sold and delivered to obviously Terroristic Nations
Posted by: Kim Jong II ||
12/19/2002 5:58 Comments ||
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exposure of German Co.'s selling arms,supplies,equipment to Iraq.Wonder if that has anything to do with Germany's vehement objections to taking out Insane Hussien.
Surley not Germany is our......friend?????
As to France,well what can you expect from the Toads,opps sorry Frogs,damn I mean French.
Malaysiakini
While Muslims around the world complained the American media distorted the image of Islam, an American activist claimed the media in Muslim countries were no better by their biased portrayal of the United States. After speaking at the Inter-Faith Cooperation in Fighting Terrorism forum in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, Jim Kenney told reporters that âthoughtless anti-Americanismâ was prevalent in the Muslim world. Well, I can certainly agree with that! Pray, tell on...
The forum was held in cooperation with the Academy for Civilisational Studies, Malaysia and Islamic Outreach arm of the Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Abim). I think it's wonderful that Islamic countries are studying civilization...
The president of the Inter-religious Engagement Project said he heard numerous complaints about his country from Muslim friends in Malaysia. âThe assumption that all Americans are imperialists, that all Americans support the war against Iraq, that all Americans support the administration of (US President) George W Bush, that all Americans know nothing about Islam, that Americans are opposed to Islam and that Americans think all Muslims are terrorists... Every single one of those statements, I have heard for more than once in the three days I have been in Malaysia,â said Kenney, who was also the former global director in the council for a Parliament of the Worldâs Religion . Oh! He's damning with such faint praise!
We certainly wouldn't want people to think we're imperialists, would we? Y'see, if we were imperialists, then we'd have a real empire, and we'd tax the goobers we've been trying to protect from each other.
All Americans don't support war against Iraq, but the majority do, and for reasons that have nothing to do with Islam. Sammy could be a Lutheran, or practice Shinto, and we still wouldn't like him.
All Americans don't support the administration of G.W. Bush. Some have honest disagreement with the way he wants to do things, and some don't support him for the most noxious of reasons, to include a hatred of their own country, its institutions and its people.
Merkins used to know nothing about Islam. They've learned a lot in the past fifteen months. A lot of what they've learned, they haven't liked. Get used to it; we're not done learning yet.
Merkins aren't opposed to Islam, but they're opposed to Islamists. We don't like people who wear turbans, wave automatic weapons, scream "Jihad!" and try to kill people who weren't bothering them. We used to be indulgent of that crap, but then they succeeded in killing 3000 of us â who weren't bothering them. If we're ever indulgent of that crap again, the Islamists will kill another 3000 of us, or more. We're not going to roll over and let that happen. So get bent, turb.
We don't think all Muslims are terrorists. We think that most terrorists â with the exeption of the IRA, ETA, FARC and other weed outfits â are Muslim. We also think they're terrorists because they're Muslims. They interpret their holy book as calling for other people's blood.
I think Mr Kenney is an anus. But that's just my opinion, and nobody ever listens to me because I'm an old crank. But he's brown, he's puckered, and he has the aroma...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/18/2002 10:16 am ||
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Thomas Nagy, a professor of Business and Public Management at George Washington University, told IslamOnline that it is the âresponsibility of U.S. citizens primarily to prevent the escalation of the war against Iraq.â Yeah. If you can't trust Thomas Nagy, who can you trust? (Who's he?)
Speaking in a live dialogue with IslamOnlineâs visitors, Nagy said that there is a growth in the opposition to the escalation of war throughout the U.S. âIt is critical to retain a margin of hope that we can, all working together in active nonviolent ways, prevent the atrocity of an escalation,â said Nagy adding that it is critical to retain optimism that protests and other efforts to help restore safe water in Iraq, will âend the move towards escalating the on-going war.â "So get out there and holler and make faces!"
He gave some examples of the success of the protests beyond campus cities. He said that the state of Montana has an active, effective peace movement (www.montanapeaceseekers.org). Yeah. They're tearin' 'em up. (Never heard of 'em, actually...)
Another indicator, Nagy said, is that so many best sellers in the U.S. oppose the Bush foreign policy. âThese books range from Mooreâs Stupid White Men to Tariq Aliâs book, and the books of Gore Vidal and Chomsky and Barbara Kingsolver,â he said. Oh, yeah! That'll do it. People take Mikey and Gore and Gnome and Whatsername very seriously...
However, Nagy said that there is a high likelihood that the U.S. will escalate, which ethically requires us to devote more effort to undertake nonviolent protest and positive programs. Nagy said that the U.S., like previous empires, is âshowing credibilityâ. Whuzzat?
âThat is, committing spectacularly cruel acts, to intimidate other countries. The downside for the U.S. government is that it losses respect and by resorting to terror, is increasing the prospect of more terror,â he said. Yeah. Y'remember when they dropped that load of groceries on that woman in Afghanistan and killed her? That was all premeditated...
He said that he believes that the U.S. is operating as an âempireâ, but a very sophisticated empire that makes use of marketing tools such as focus groups to âdisguise what is illegal in its foreign policy... As an empire, it feels compelled, for financial gain, to resort periodically to great cruelty to intimidate the world as well as to keep its own citizens from dwelling on broken promises such as universal health care and the biggest theft in history â the Enron and similar scandals.â I didn't promise anybody universal health care. Did you?
Nagy said that it would be helpful if the E.U. explain to âtheir U.S. friendsâ why the world opposes the U.S. foreign policies. âI hope Europe sends more people into Iraq (parliamentarians, entertainers, pacifists, professors) whose presence would help deter escalation. I salute those who have gone such as George Galloway, Member of the British parliament,â he said. Sammy needs the human shields...
Responding to a question on how the U.S. will take over the country, and whether it was really going to oust Saddam, Nagy said: âI fear that, consistent with the U.S. Air Force Doctrine, âStrategic Attackâ 2-1.2 dated 20 May 1998, the U.S. will destroy the infrastructure of Iraq yet again as it did in 1991. I hope Iâm wrong because that would cause very large civilian casualties as it did in 1991.â Tell 'em about the bomb shelter we toasted. That was a good 'un!
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/18/2002 11:25 am ||
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The evil American empire, dropping focus groups on Iraq. Truly showing great cruelty.
I imagine the Iraqis really suffered, showing Sean Penn around. They were jumping in front of buses.
Dr. Nagy argues that the purposeful destruction of Iraq's water treatment facilities amounted to "a plan for achieving extermination without the need of constructing extermination camps."
Time for a chill pill, Dr. Tom.
Posted by: John B. ||
12/18/2002 11:34 Comments ||
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Ever wonder if some Islamic believers want any Arab nation to get nukes, they don't care who it is or how many Arabs that fella has killed as long as he gets a nuke and is willing to use it.
#4
No reason we cant win the war on terror AND move in the direction of universal health care. Thats what i expect to hear from Sen. Lieberman and Sen. Edwards in the next gew months. A good start would be a serious commitment to improving our public health network, which would be useful against bioterror, and also have peacetime benefits. Kinda like the Interstate highway system.
#6
IslamOnline really gets the A list for interviews, huh? This boob, Ben Bella... really impressing the shit outta me. Who's next, Mullah Omar's beard fumigator?
The "galvanizing" piece of information that led to the arrest of 34-year-old Mohamed Harkat in Ottawa last week was supplied by one of Osama bin Laden's top lieutenants, intelligence sources say. They say that the name of Mr. Harkat, who worked as a gas-station attendant and pizza-delivery driver in Ottawa, came up during an interrogation by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation of Abu Zubaydah, a key member of Mr. bin Laden's inner circle. Mr. Zubaydah's information, which was passed on to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, is considered a crucial element in the investigation of Mr. Harkat. Mr Harkat would be in deep doody if he was anywhere other than The Great White North...
According to a classified intelligence file, CSIS investigators believe Mr. Harkat is a member of an al-Qaeda sleeper cell and has spent the past several years preparing for an unspecified terrorist mission in North America. Although few details about his activities have been released, intelligence sources have confirmed that Mr. Harkat worked at a Petro-Canada gas bar directly across the street from a CSIS office. CSIS spokesman Phil Gibson refused to comment on whether Mr. Harkat may have used this vantage point to learn the identities of CSIS operatives. But an intelligence-community source said Mr. Harkat is suspected of carrying out surveillance operations at a number of locations, including Parliament Hill, where he was reportedly spotted taking pictures from a vehicle. "Just casing the joint. There ain't no law against that, is there? Didn't think so..."
The source said Mr. Harkat is considered a "high-level player" in the North American terrorist network. "There have only been a few cases of this magnitude," the source said. "We don't proceed this way against people on the periphery." "Matter o' fact, we're pretty lackadaisical with all of them..."
Mr. Harkat, who was arrested last week, is at the centre of a closed federal hearing that will determine whether he can be deported to his native Algeria as a threat to national security. Oh, probably not...
Solicitor-General Wayne Easter said Tuesday that he was confident the investigation into Mr. Harkat had yielded a solid case. "I believe the intelligence information that we had will stand up to the test of the court." Uhuh. We'll see, won't we? Actually, we probably won't, since the incident will probably never make the papers again...
Mr. Harkat's supporters say he is a victim of mistaken identity. "He is not involved in any terror plots, and he doesn't know any terrorists," said Bruce Engel, an Ottawa lawyer who is representing Mr. Harkat at his federal court hearing. "As far as he's concerned, it's all a big mistake." The "wudn't me" defense...
According to documents obtained Tuesday, Mr. Harkat came to Canada in 1995 using a forged Saudi passport that he bought in Pakistan for $1,200 (U.S.). According to the CSIS investigative file, this was one of many deceptions Mr. Harkat used to get into Canada and pursue a secret terrorist agenda. "The Service believes that Mohamed Harkat is an Islamic extremist," the file says. "[He] was and is a member of the bin Laden Network, and that Harkat's role in this terrorist network is exemplified by his actions and intentions. "Forged Saudi passport" is redundant. It's like saying "boney bones," or "chocolaty chocolate," or "rich plotocrat." So we have this Algerian, and he's in Pakland, with a Soddy passport, wearing a Samoan grass skirt, Equimeaux-style mukluks, a false nose and glasses... There's obviously a perfectly reasonable explanation for it all...
Although Mr. Harkat lived a life of near-poverty in Canada, the CSIS file says that was a cover for his true activities. According to the file, Mr. Harkat was a highly connected member of the al-Qaeda network. His best-known associate was Mr. Zubaydah, whom he had known "since the early 1990s." Mr. Zubaydah, who was arrested last March in Pakistan, has provided key information on al-Qaeda operatives to the FBI. Sources said the naming of Mr. Harkat by Mr. Zubaydah was the "galvanizing factor" behind Mr. Harkat's arrest last week. Inconvenient, that. But Jihad Unspun is doing its part:
(Editors Note: There is much debate whether Abu Zubaydah, a senior bin Laden's lieutenant is actually in custody or whether he died in a gun battle with authorities. The Bush Administration have not released any pictures of Zubaydah since his alleged arrest which cast further doubt on his fate.)
So, y'see, Zubaydah's really dead so he didn't say anything except maybe a death rattle, and they just picked poor Harkat's name out of the phone book at random to frame him because he's an innocent Muslim...
In an interview with CSIS agents in 1997, Mr. Harkat denied that he had visited Afghanistan or trained with the mujahedeen. He told the agents that one of his legs was partly paralyzed. "As far as mujahedeen are concerned, Mohamed commented that he cannot walk a kilometre," one of the agents noted. "No, no! Only Kashmir Pakistan!"
When Mr. Harkat was confronted about his use of aliases, he replied that he had used them only in Pakistan. "Mohamed commented that aliases are very common in Pakistan and everyone used them," the agent said. "When he met people that he did not trust, he would give them another name." "Like when he met us. And when he met his Mom. He was eight years old before she found out his name wasn't Stanley..."
Mr. Harkat told the agents he owned two cars. One of them was a five-year-old Honda Accord that he was trying to sell for $8,500. The other was a 13-year-old Accord that he used to deliver pizzas. He said the older car was worth about $500. Mr. Harkat told the agents he was on social assistance, but acknowledged that he received money from Yemen. "I mean, the dole's there. Might as well take advantage of it, right? That's why they have taxpayers in this country. And that money from Yemen, that's all charitable donations..." How'd Yemen get in that routine, by the way?
When he was asked whether he knew Ahmed Said Khadr, a Canadian aid worker who was implicated in the bombing of the Egyptian Embassy in Pakistan, Mr. Harkat initially said no. But when pressed by the agents, Mr. Harkat said he he had met him during a visit to Toronto with a friend. Named Muggsy...
The interview ended on a note of sharp skepticism. "We know you are not being truthful with us," the agents told Mr. Harkat. "Is there nothing you wish to add or change? "No," Mr. Harkat replied. "See what parts of the story you can break easiest and then we'll talk some more..."
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/18/2002 10:16 am ||
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Chuck e-mailed me the headzup and followup on this one, since his browser wouldn't let him post it...
Four men connected to a computer company that did business in the Middle East were arrested by federal anti-terrorism agents early Wednesday on money-laundering charges. Authorities were seeking a fifth man believed to be an official in Hamas. The four men worked at Infocom, a suburban Richardson computer company that federal agents raided in September 2001. This is interesting. There's a punchline here. See below...
Company Vice President Ghassan Elashi, identified as one of the four arrested Wednesday, was also a director of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, which was shut down in December 2001 after the Treasury Department accused the self-described charity of being a Hamas front and seized its assets. Infocom and Holy Land Foundation officials have steadfastly denied raising money for Hamas and claimed they were victims of a campaign by Israel to silence them because they aided Palestinians. "Hamas is chock full of Paleostinians..."
The four men arrested were identified as Elashi, 48, and his brothers, Bayan Elashi, 47, Basman Elashi and Hazim Elashi, 41. A fifth brother, Ihsan Elashi, is already in custody on charges of illegally exporting computer goods to the Middle East. The government's case against the Holy Land Foundation was based in part on a 49-page FBI report that said Hamas members met with Ghassan Elsashi and other Holy Land officials in 1993 to discuss raising money for the families of suicide bombers. The report also noted a previously disclosed $210,000 donation from Mousa Abu Marzook, a Hamas political leader whose wife is a cousin of the Elashis by marriage. He's a member of Hamas' politburo, in fact...
Holy Land Foundation raised $13 million in 2000 and claimed to be the largest U.S. Muslim charity, supporting schools and social programs for Palestinians and in predominantly Muslim nations. Maybe not the rest of the story, but more of the story:
The Guardian (UK)
Middle East dispatch US pulls the plug on Muslim websites Islamic groups have condemned a government crackdown on a Texan telecoms company as part of a "witch-hunt", writes Brian Whitaker
Monday September 10, 2001
Five hundred websites - many of them with an Arab or Muslim connection - crashed last Wednesday when an anti-terrorism taskforce raided InfoCom Corporation in Texas.
The 80-strong taskforce that descended upon the IT company included FBI agents, Secret Service agents, Diplomatic Security agents, tax inspectors, immigration officials, customs officials, department of commerce officials and computer experts.
Three days later, they were still busy inside the building, reportedly copying every hard disc they could find. InfoCom hosts websites for numerous clients in the Middle East, including al-Jazeera (the satellite TV station), al-Sharq (a daily newspaper in Qatar), and Birzeit (the Palestinian university on the West Bank).
A coalition of American Muslim groups immediately denounced the raid as part of an "anti-Muslim witch-hunt" promoted by the Israeli lobby in the United States.
So they raided these goobers a week before the 9-11 attack. The coaltion of American Muslim groups immediately shut the hell up, at least for a few days. It's worthwhile to read the (rather long) followup article in its entirety, though...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/18/2002 02:13 pm ||
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infocom? I hope my zork cd's havent contributed to terrorism...
#2
The raids prior to 9/11/01 are evidence that the FBI was doing something about terrorism in the States. We can quarrel about how much, but this looks like a good raid.
Federal agents raided several businesses and homes Wednesday thought to be part of illegal money transfer operations that sent as much as $50 million a year to Yemen. Seven people were arrested, six in connection with the search warrants and one on an immigration violation. They were expected to appear in court later Wednesday. U.S. Customs agents seized records and computers from some of the businesses, including convenience stores, service stations and restaurants. Five seizure warrants were issued for banks in the Detroit area and Toledo, Ohio. The raid netted more than $200,000 from the bank accounts and more than 20 pounds of the controlled substance khat, a popular African stimulant. The money goes out, the money comes in... Busy, busy, busy little money men...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/18/2002 02:42 pm ||
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"...convenience stores, service stations and retaurants..." Talk about reinforcing some sterotypes. Must've been a slow day in Lakawana.
An Indian court awarded the death sentence to three of the four convicts in the Parliament attack case which brought India and Pakistan to the brink of war. Special Judge SN Dhingra awarded the death sentence to alleged Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) âterroristsâ Mohammad Afzal and Shaukat Hussain Guru and Dr. SAR Geelani, suspended lecturer of Arabic at a Delhi University college. He wasn't actually suspended until the attack...
The fourth convict, Shaukatâs wife Navjot Sandhu alias Afshan Guru, who was found guilty of failing to inform the authorities of the plot, was sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment. Bad girl. Lock her up. Hubby won't be there when she comes out...
The special court had on Monday, December 16, held Afzal, Shaukat and Geelani guilty of waging war against India in conspiracy with the five slain Pakistani terrorists and JeM chief Masood Azhar, the outfitâs chief commander in Kashmir Ghazi Baba and one Tariq Ahemd [Ahmed] for the attack on Parliament on December 13, 2001. The Paks sprung Azhar on the annivesary of the attack. They're so sentimental...
The counsel for the JeM militants and Geelani sought leniancy on the ground that they should be given an opportunity to reform and rehabilitate themselves in the society and pleaded that they should not be awarded death penalty. "Sure, we're crazed killers! But we don't always have to be crazed killers! Give us a chance!"
Reacting to the conviction, Geelaniâs brother Abdul Rehman Geelani alleged that Professor Geelani was framed in a âfalseâ case and they would appeal against the conviction. âWe are determined to unearth this conspiracy,â he said. "Yeah. It wudn't him. They're just pickin' on him, cuz he's an innocent Muslim..."
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/18/2002 11:00 am ||
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Terrorist training camps operated by Hezbollah continue to flourish in a remote and lawless area along the shared borders of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, according to law-enforcement officials and a recent report by anti-terrorism authorities.
Known as the "tri-border region," the area is flanked by the freewheeling cities of Puerto Iguazu in Argentina, Foz do Iguazu in Brazil and Ciudad del Este in Paraguay, where terrorists meet for what the sources said were high-level sessions to discuss future attacks on U.S. and Israeli targets in North and South America. Since the September 11 attacks on America, anti-terrorism investigators worldwide have intensified their focus on the tri-border region and on reports of increased cooperation between Hezbollah and al Qaeda.
Argentina's Secretariat of State Intelligence first reported in 1999 that al Qaeda members were in the region to coordinate terrorist training and to plan future attacks with Hezbollah.
U.S. intelligence officials are concerned that an alliance with Hezbollah would give al Qaeda a new base close to the United States for attacks, the sources said. They also said that Hezbollah, implicated in the suicide truck bombings of the U.S. Embassy and U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983 and the U.S. Embassy annex in Beirut in 1984, is believed to have an al Qaeda-like capacity to organize attacks against U.S. targets.
Hezbollah, which has several thousand members, has established cells in Europe, Africa, South America and North America, and receives substantial financing, training, weapons and explosives from Iran and Syria.
Former FBI Director Louis J. Freeh once described the tri-border region as a "free zone for significant criminal activity, including people who are organized to commit acts of terrorism." The FBI sent agents to the region this year after a poster of Iguazu Falls, the area's major tourist attraction, was found inside an al Qaeda bunker in Afghanistan. Everyone goes to Afghanistan, it seems. Even travel agents
A meeting of terrorist operatives took place three months ago in a camp near Ciudad del Este, the Paraguayan boomtown of 240,000, the sources said. The town is known as a haven for terrorists, arms smugglers, drug dealers, international organized-crime figures and money launderers, many of whom are tied to Middle Eastern countries. Sounds like a fun place.
Fueled by the area's rampant political corruption, representatives of Hezbollah and other terrorist groups â including those sympathetic to al Qaeda â travel nearly unchecked in and out of the region, organizing meetings, engaging in criminal activity and establishing training camps, the sources said. The Virginia-based Terrorism Research Center (TRC) concluded in a recent investigation that the area was being used to train terrorists "to kill Americans and Jews" and was a safe haven for terrorists on the run. The report said that the region had emerged as a "conduit for raising and transferring money for terrorist groups."
TRC Director Walter Purdy said Hezbollah's military chief in the region, Assad Ahmad Barakat, is one of the area's six power brokers and co-owns one of Ciudad del Este's largest shopping malls. "Shop at Crazy Assad's! Today's BlueLight Special - Semtex!"
Ahmad Barakat's top lieutenant, Sobhi Mahmoud Fayad, was arrested last month in Ciudad del Este on suspicion of raising funds for Hezbollah. He was detained after police spotted him writing down license-plate numbers outside a U.S.-sponsored disaster-management meeting. Putting together a list, was he?
The Bush administration believes Mahmoud Fayad, 34, is part of an international money-laundering operation that bankrolls terrorism. The arrest came after U.S. authorities pressed Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina to boost anti-terrorism efforts after the September 11 attacks. Press harder
Mr. Purdy said that a lack of government control on the borders, ineffective law enforcement and a support network already in place provides a "comfortable atmosphere for terrorists to operate." He said that between 25,000 and 30,000 of the region's residents are Arab immigrants, mostly Lebanese, Palestinians and Syrians. He said TRC interviews confirmed that al Qaeda terrorists were moving freely in and out of the area.
"The system is wired and in place," Mr. Purdy said. "For $5,000, you can get anyone in or out, and there'll be no trace you were ever there." Documents R'Us on every corner
Mr. Purdy also said that the region is "one of the world's emerging threat areas" that terrorists could use to stage attacks. "Sometimes you have to look no further than your own border," he said, noting that al Qaeda terrorists easily found immigration routes into the United States through Canada. "Terrorists in the tri-border region already have established contacts with crime cartels in Mexico." But, the drug cartels don't have anything to do with terrorists! And checking IDs at the border is anti-hispanic!
Posted by: Steve ||
12/18/2002 12:13 pm ||
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Sources close to Archmandrite Attallah Hanna, of the Greek Orthodox Church in occupied Jerusalem started an open hunger strike on Monday, December 16, to protest a case raised against him two days ago by the Greek Patriarch of Jerusalem Arinous I calling for him to be present in court after 30 days. Boy, this sammitch is really good! Want some? Oh. Sorry...
Speaking to Quds Press, the orthodox source, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that Attallahâs has gone on strike because he feels that the complaint which Arinous filed against him was âpart of a joint conspiracy between him and the Israeli authorities and with clear collaboration with the Israeli Mossad which was following Attallah for supporting the Palestinian resistance.â These fries a like perfection: hot, crispy, just a light sprinkle of salt...
He added that pressures from the Greek Church as well as Israel have been placed on Attallah to force him to submit his resignation and leave the occupied territories, especially in the light of several offers that he is receiving from churches around the world. Oooh! Lemon meringue pie! One of my favorites! Oh, that piece is much too big!... Well, if you insist...
The source, who was speaking on the sideline of a sit-in organized by hundreds of the orthodox followers in the Church of Ascension, stressed the Israeli-Greek prejudice against Attallah, saying that it has reached its peak and to an extent that one can not continue to remain silent about it. Mmmmm... Barbecue! Carolina barbecue's okay, but this Texas-style is really the best!
He called on all Orthodox churches around the world to boycott Patriarch Arinous I who, according to the source, âdoes not comply, even partially, with his actions and stance to the spirit of the orthodox church.â Oh, no thank you! I couldn't hold another bite!
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/18/2002 11:08 am ||
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#1
The spats between the various Orthodox and Uniate Catholic churches, and the various religious orders of each, deserve their own Saturday Night Live episode. Moving a chair on a rooftop (in the last twelve months) has provoked serious fistfights. With all of the real problems in the Holy Land, it's so nice to see the religious concentrating on who gets to light the candles and where that chair actually goes.
#2
HEY! Whachodoin' talkin bad bout Carolina barbq? I don't care what you say bout them Muzlims but don't start dissin our Q! This stuff is the first choice for last meals around here!
Posted by: Scott ||
12/18/2002 12:21 Comments ||
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Far be it from me to badmouth Carolina barbeque! Most lovers of Texas barbeque regard it as a tasty and nutritious dessert dish...
Posted by: Fred ||
12/18/2002 16:31 Comments ||
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WASHINGTON - The Pentagon has launched a radio propaganda war in Iraq, broadcasting anti-Saddam Hussein messages officials say are aimed at weakening his support among his people and his military.
"People of Iraq ... the amount of money Saddam spends on himself in one day would be more than enough to feed a family for a year," said an English translation of one radio broadcast released by the U.S. Central Command. "How much longer will this corrupt rule be allowed to exploit and oppress the Iraqi people?"
"Soldiers of Iraq. Saddam does not care for the military of Iraq," said another of several radio messages. "Saddam uses his soldiers as puppets ... for his own personal glory.
"Saddam also sacrificed thousands of soldiers during the Iran/Iraq war ... When the Iraqi soldiers that were taken prisoner were returned, Saddam ordered their ears to be cut off as punishment for being captured. "
Transmitted five hours a night from American planes flying outside the country, the broadcasts are the first of their kind since those used in the 1991 Persian Gulf War when Iraqi forces were ousted from Kuwait, defense officials said. Dont you kinda wish they'd use one these planes over the greenwich village or hollywood?
The broadcasts of Arabic music and anti-Saddam messages began Thursday, said Pentagon spokesman Lt. Daniel D. Hetlage. But the program only became known Monday when the Central Command said it had dropped 480,000 leaflets over the southern no-fly zone in Iraq, including some alerting the Iraqis to radio frequencies and times to tune in to the American broadcasts.
The radio programs aim to "dissuade the Iraqi military from supporting Saddam," said Hetlage. No official word on efforts to stop celebrities from supporting Saddam....
Other versions include ones on Saddam's past use of weapons of mass destruction and explaining the world's view of weapons inspections now under way in Iraq.
They are being transmitted from an Air Force EC-130E Commando Solo aircraft, according to another official.
Leaflets dropped Monday to advertise the broadcasts feature a map of Iraq and two radio transmitters, with a message saying "Information Radio" can be heard from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., at five frequencies.
The mass drop of nearly half a million leaflets was the seventh distribution of flyers over southern Iraq in three months â and the largest. Leaflets were dropped over six locations and also included messages warning Iraqi military not to shoot at coalition aircraft monitoring the restricted zones, saying the zones are set up to protect the Iraqi people.
Officials said other drops have had little effect in getting Iraqi forces to stop harassing British and American planes that have been monitoring no-fly zones set up a decade ago over the country.Failure to fire is a death sentence offense. We should note that in 10 years of shooting, they havent managed to hit a single thing. The northern zones protect the Kurdish minority and the southern zones protect the Shiites. Saddam considers the zones a violation of his sovereignty.
My guess is the Iraq Operation is going to look a whole lot more like Panama than "Gulf War I", can you say 'decapitation'?, sure, I knew you could.
Posted by: Frank Martin ||
12/18/2002 11:51 am ||
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Palestinian refugees stormed on Tuesday an office of the UN Relief Work Agency (UNRWA) in southern Lebanon to protest cuts in medical aid which they said led to the death of a heart patient. Dozens of protesters gathered in front of the main UNRWA office in the southern port city of Tyre to protest Monday's death of Ahmad Salem, a refugee from the nearby Bass camp, an AFP correspondent said. Representatives of the protesters said Salem, 60, had failed to secure UNRWA financial coverage for a necessary open-heart surgery, he said. Those HMOs are... Wait a minute. When did UNRWA become an HMO?
A number of protesters entered the UNRWA office by force and occupied the premises for half an hour, he said. âWhat nation accepts that its sons die at the doors of the hospitals?â said a banner carried by the protesters. âIn Palestine, the Israeli enemy tanks are killing our people and in Lebanon, UNRWA policies are also contributing to the killing of our people,â said another. Because they didn't pay for his operation?
The protesters distributed a statement which called for more protest actions against UNRWA budget cuts and for finding solutions to health problems, particularly those related to chronic diseases. Similar incidents in the summer in which Palestinian refugees stormed several UNRWA offices to protest the budget cuts led to the closing of the agency premises in south Lebanon and the relocation of staff to Beirut for about two months. "Yeah! You guys are supposed to take care of us!"
UNRWA, charged with tending to Palestinian refugees, has repeatedly complained about a lack of funds coming from international donors. Some 376,000 Palestinian refugees reside in Lebanon, more than half of whom live in miserable conditions in 12 lawless sprawling hellholes camps scattered across the country. "International donors" doesn't refer to the Rothschilds kicking in a few bucks. They're governments, funneling their citizens' tax dollars into medical care for Ain el-Hilweh.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/18/2002 02:28 pm ||
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Dammit! Let's send Hillary over there to set up universal health care.
Ten members of the security forces have been killed by suspected Islamists in the west of Algeria. Eight soldiers and two pro-government militias were killed on Tuesday in an ambush by a 200-strong group near the town of Miliana, about 120km west of the capital, Algiers, local newspapers say. This latest incident is the biggest attack on the security forces for several weeks. The fighting which followed the ambush was particularly violent, lasting three hours, according to Le Matin. The newspaper says that the counter-offensive was the first of its kind in the region. Several militia fighters are reported missing after the attack. It is not clear whether they managed to escape or were kidnapped by the assailants. You really don't want to be taken alive by these thugs.
Posted by: Steve ||
12/18/2002 11:01 am ||
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Asia-Pacific officials meeting yesterday near the site of a deadly bombing on Indonesia's Bali island urged the region to bolster efforts to cut off the sources of terrorist financing to prevent further attacks. 'The region needs to do more to combat money laundering by passing legislation and to give law enforcement agencies additional powers and improving coordination between financial institutions and governments,' said Australian Justice Minister Chris Ellison. I'd call that a statement of the obvious. The Indon parliament would call it an imperialist plot. The Malays will probably consider it a matter for debate. Singapore probably just beats them when they catch them and forgets about it. The Philippines sends the army into the jungle to track down the bankers and somebody blows up a bus in Zamboanga for revenge, then kidnaps the bus driver's grandmother and cuts her head off.
The delegates were expected to release a statement today expressing their intent to increase cooperation to track terrorist money in the region. Yes. Maybe we can all find some middle ground...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/18/2002 10:16 am ||
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Only a Social Deviant would stoop so low as to use the pulpit to convey political views. Geez, the next thing you know they'll be boycotting the Augusta Open.
The Malaysian government is gathering evidence of politically-motivated sermons by some religious leaders at mosques nationwide. Deputy Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin said Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) would air the proof on television after the ministry decides on the dates. He said the move was part of RTM's efforts to expose khatibs (preachers) and imams (prayer leaders) who played politics instead of discharging their duties. 'The people must understand that there are khatibs and imams who are hypocrites and have the tendency to use mosques as the platform to dabble in politics,' he told a media conference at his residence. That's a lead a few other countries would be better off following.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/18/2002 10:16 am ||
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Malaysiakini/AFP
An Australian council was accused Wednesday of racism over a decision to reject an application for a Muslim prayer centre following an angry backlash by thousands of residents opposed to the building. The council in the leafy Sydney suburb of Baulkham Hills rejected the application by 10-2 on the grounds it was not in the community interest, not compatible with the area and not in accordance with the community's shared beliefs. A development application to the council by local businessman Abbas Ali prompted an unprecedented flood of 5,000 letters to council, demanding it oppose the building. More than 250 people packed the council chambers on Tuesday night to hear the long-awaited decision. "Thanks, but no thanks. You'll have to store your explosives elsewhere."
Ali has complained to the local media that his premises have been vandalised and sprayed with slogans since he submitted the development application. He said there was a demand from local Islamic families for such a prayer centre, which would have been used twice a week. And on "special occasions."
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/18/2002 10:16 am ||
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Seems like the good people of Baulkham Hills have their collective heads screwed on.
Posted by: Tony ||
12/19/2002 3:13 Comments ||
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Jakarta Post The guards on the mosques are probably redundant, but I guess we have to be even-handed, don't we?
The local police in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, will deploy hundreds of policemen to guard houses of worship during the upcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations here, the city's police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Hakka Astana said on Tuesday. "Police officers will be deployed to all churches and mosques across the city. Each house of worship will be guarded by three policemen," Hakka said as quoted by Antara, while others would be assigned to guard public facilities, such as power plants, gas stations, telecommunications offices, ports, bus terminals and airports. Hakka said he did not want a recurrence of the bomb blasts that hit the city during Christmas last year, which damaged four churches and injured four people. He also called on the public to participate actively in guarding facilities near their neighborhoods through local security posts. "Hi! We're from the Indonesia Mujaheddin Council, and we're here to help guard this here church. Heh heh!"
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
12/18/2002 10:16 am ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
