Long article about the nexus between the Paki mafia and the UAE which is edited for length.
In the second such incident since December last, on February 3, 2003, Dubai arrested and subsequently released a number of high profile organised criminals linked with international terrorism, despite Interpol red corner notices against many of these, and despite the fact that India had again handed over a list containing the details of some of these criminals to the United Arab Emirate (UAE) authorities as recently as on January 28, 2003.
Initial reports suggested that 26 members of the notorious Dawood Ibrahim gang, widely known as the 'D-Company', including two of the gangleader's brothers - Noora (Noorul Haque) and Mustaqim - had been taken into custody in Dubai. Both Noora and Mustaqim - along with Mohammed Dossa, another of the arrested gangsters - are accused in the 1993 Bombay Blasts case involving a series of explosions in commercial centres that killed 257 persons, and injured another 713, and are believed by Indian authorities to be part of the network that provides operational support to terrorists in close coordination with Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) agency.
In the latest incident, reports indicated that all the persons arrested were subsequently released with instructions to 'leave the country immediately'. On the surface, it was unclear why Dubai chose to take sudden action against these gang-lords and their cadres who have had settled operations in the country for well over a decade. Sources indicate that the motive was primarily to prevent a bloodbath on Dubai soil, rather than any larger concern regarding the criminal and terrorist activities engaged in by these groups in other countries.
The present spate of arrests is believed to have been initiated when a large number of 'D-Company' men converged on Dubai in what was thought to be a prelude to a gang war to eliminate Chotta Rajan's network in the city. Dubai authorities, concerned with keeping their own turf clean - particularly on the eve of the annual 'Dubai shopping festival' - simply bundled up all the suspects, gave them a warning against such violence within their jurisdiction, and asked them to leave the country - probably for their safe havens in Pakistan - for a 'cooling off' period.
Dubai's conduct in this and other cases raises critical questions about the role of this tiny City State in the evolving international network of organised criminals and Islamist extremist terrorists. One of the largest and most unregulated financial centres in the world, with huge turnovers in undocumented movements of gemstones - including those originating in the world's worst conflict areas -, gold and cash, and located at the strategic crossroads of the Gulf, South Asia and Africa, Dubai has long been a financial hub for organised criminal and Islamist extremist groups, as well as a primary transit point for the shipping of contraband.
The Dawood Ibrahim gang controls much of this contraband movement from and to South Asia, as well as, crucially, a large chunk of the illegal hawala transactions in the region. It is this latter element that constitutes the gravest threat within the context of contemporary international terrorism: hawala is the future of terrorist financing, as various systems of transfer through 'regular' banking and conventional money laundering channels all leave behind paper trails that are vulnerable to eventual discovery. A paperless transaction, the traditional South Asian hawala system leaves behind no evidence once the monies are delivered to the recipient.
There is significant evidence of massive flows of terrorist finance from Afghanistan and Pakistan, and into Dubai after the US campaign against the Al Qaeda - Taliban combine commenced in October 2001. It is certainly the case that much of the money, both before and after 9/11, that financed terrorism in different parts of the world moved through ventures located in Dubai. The reality of this superficially modernised City State is that it runs a highly efficient operation that uses contemporary technologies and commercial systems that supports the world of disorder, lawlessness and terror, and Dubai is, indeed, a direct beneficiary of, and heavily dependent on, its linkages with this underworld.
Dubai claims that it is 'cooperating' with US authorities to shut down terrorist financing through financial networks based on its soil - but the nature of the underground system is such that it cannot be shut down selectively, disallowing transactions by one group of users, while facilitating others. Authorities in this port city have long demonstrated strong sympathies and direct commercial linkages with a terrorism-linked international criminal underground operating from its soil. Yet another Gulf state that is playing both sides
Posted by: Paul ||
02/14/2003 2:43:32 AM ||
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A Belgian court on Friday ordered 12 alleged members of a counterfeit passport ring to stand trial on charges of providing false documents used by the killers of the Afghan anti-Taliban leader Ahmed Shah Massood. It's only been a year and a half. What's the rush?
Massood was killed two days before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks by two suicide bombers who posed as journalists and traveled on false Belgian passports. Authorities believe the assassins were sent by Osama bin Laden to remove Massood. The alleged leader of the passport ring, Tarek Maaroufi, is suspected of having links to al-Qaida and will face charges that include recruiting for a foreign military force, prosecutors said. Maaroufi, who is of Tunisian origin, was arrested in Belgium on December 2001. Maaroufi is also a suspect in another al-Qaida-linked case centered on Nizar Trabelsi, a former professional soccer player from Tunisia who is suspected of planning to bomb the U.S. embassy in Paris and a Belgian military base used by American forces. It being Belgium, the guy will probably get a sentence of no TV for a week, if he's not let off...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
02/14/2003 4:18:35 PM ||
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Madonna took to her website Thursday evening to defend her upcoming video, AN AMERICAN LIFE. "I feel lucky to be an American citizen for many reasons - one of which is the right to express myself freely, especially in my work," Madonna wrote on Madonna.com. "As an American, I enjoy the right to be just as dumb as I want to be. It's protected by our constitution. Wanna see my boobs?"
"I understand that there have been reports about my upcoming video "American Life" in the media - much of which is inaccurate. I am not Anti-Bush. I am not pro-Iraq. I am pro Peace." "I realize that statement is meaningless, but you'll have to trust me on this..."
"I have written a song and created a video which expresses my feelings about our culture and values and the illusions of what many people believe is the American dream - the perfect life. As an artist, I hope that this provokes thought and dialogue. I don't expect everyone to agree with my point of view. I am grateful to have the freedom to express these feelings and that's how I honor my country." "And I want each and every one of you to buy it, just so you can look and listen and make up your own mind. It's not all the money I'll get when you do, it's the principle of the thing. Well, it's the money, too..."
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
02/14/2003 2:49:36 PM ||
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Not that this is a shock....
New York film director Spike Lee led a chorus of criticism against President Bush at the Berlin Film Festival Wednesday, telling the president he had no moral authority to launch a war against Iraq. Didn't know that Spike was in charge of doling out the "moral authority".
Going out of his way to praise the French and German governments for their outspoken resistance to the U.S. government's war moves, Lee said it was an outrage that Bush was ignoring world opinion in his rush to attack Iraq. "When you think about it, the German and French governments should be commended," Lee said at a news conference after his film "25th Hour," about New York after the Sept. 11 attacks, made its international premiere. "Too many people are being bowled over by Bush and Tony Blair in Britain. It's ludicrous to expect the whole world to follow what they want. America doesn't have the moral right to tell other people what to do. To say the whole world has to fall into line is you-know-what. I hope more people will rise up." Spike gets really cranky when the Knicks suck....
Lee, famed for his thought-provoking films about New York City, was joined by the cast of "25th Hour" in denouncing Bush. The anti-war comments drew thunderous applause from many of the 300 journalists and followed similar remarks from other U.S. celebrities in Berlin for the annual film festival. Remember, this is Reuters...
Dustin Hoffman and Martin Scorsese added their voices to a peace movement sweeping Europe, telling audiences in Germany violence would not solve the world's problems and that they wanted to speak out against Bush, without criticizing America. "I hope the world community will continue to voice itself and apply pressure on the U.S. government," said Edward Norton, who stars in Lee's film. "American citizens have to do it too. It's dismaying to see the unilateralism that the government is doing. They're aren't enough rational steps... It's nice being in Europe this week. Almost everyone in Germany and France is in sync with the governments. I almost forgot what it's like to be proud of my government." That's okay,Ed. I'm sure the republic will survive without you being on board.
Actress Rosario Dawson added she was frightened by the patriotic mood sweeping the United States. Ooohhhh, Rosario Dawson. Who's she?
"Any dissenting opinion is considered unpatriotic," she said. "It makes me upset. I'm embarrassed. It's my hope that Americans won't jump on anyone having a dissenting opinion." Please don't kill my career before it's even started...
Canadian actor Barry Pepper, who also features in Lee's film, added: "We're going to send our boys and girls overseas to kill -- and that's pretty sad." You know what's pretty sad? Who is this guy?
Hoffman also had some sharp words for Bush at a black-tie Berlinale charity dinner late Tuesday. "I'm not anti-American but I am against the current administration's policy," Hoffman said to cheers. He said politicians were manipulating public opinion through the media. "If there is no direct threat why are we invading?" They always have to tell you how they're "not anti-American".
Scorsese, a director famed for violent gangster films such as "Goodfellas" and whose latest "Gangs of New York" is competing in Berlin for a "Golden Bear" award, hoped war could be averted. "It seems to me that any sensible person must see that violence does not change the world and if it does, then only temporarily," he said. "There must be people who remember World War Two and the Holocaust who can help us get out of this rut." But violence is okay if I can put lots of it in my movies and make a ton of money with it.
A long list of Hollywood stars, including Martin Sheen, Sean Penn and Robert Redford, have spoken out against a new Gulf War (news - web sites). More than 100 celebrities have signed an open letter urging Bush to give peace a chance. Reuters/Variety Has anyone noticed when these folks spout this crap, they're usually in another country? Maybe the great unwashed will never find out...
Posted by: tu3031 ||
02/14/2003 10:00:49 AM ||
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A senior Pentagon adviser today accused France of striking a deal with Saddam Hussein to oppose military action in return for a lucrative oil contract. Old news, but with new details.
Richard Perle, a former US Assistant Defence Secretary, said the French anti-war stance was driven by economic interests. French oil giant TotalFinaElf has exclusive exploration contracts worth â¬60bn - â¬75bn boy is Russia gonna be jeolous when they see these numbers!to develop the massive Majnoon and Bin Umar oilfields in southern Iraq, he said. Using Perle, it is sure to get some headlines, though it will be interesting to see how willfully ignorant the Euro press will be.
He said oil experts who had analysed the deal described it as âextraordinarily lopsidedâ in favour of the French company. âThis is not your normal oil exploration bribe contract.â I doubt this will be what the protestors mean this weekend when they wave around their 'no blood for oil' signs. It is interesting how today we learn how the South Korean government bribed the North Koreans and the Iraqi's bribed the French, yet the PM of Canada says the US is not trusted and need UN backing to disarm Iraq.
Iran's Supreme Court has lifted the death sentence ordered in the case of a university professor whose sentencing provoked nationwide demonstrations. Hashem Aghajari, a history professor at Tehran's Teachers Training University, had been condemned to death for insulting Islam and questioning clerical rule during a speech in June. "The death sentence against Aghajari has been revoked by a majority of votes by the review judges. Three out of four of the judges voted to revoke the sentence," said Ayatollah Mohammad Sajjadi, one of the judges who heard the appeal in the Supreme Court in Qom. "The decision came after weeks of careful study and scrutinizing of Aghajari's entire speech. Three out of four judges decided that the charges against Aghajari was not compatible with his speech." He said the fourth judge opposed the lifting the sentence. "Well, I think we should kill him. Can't have people running around saying ayatollahs aren't infallible, can we? I mean, if the Pope's infallible, why can't we be?"
Hard-line clerics warned this month that they would execute Hashem Aghajari themselves if the court overturned the death sentence. It was not clear Friday what they intended to do. I'd guess they intend to kill him. That's what they said they were gonna do.
"I say we should kill him!"
"Well, you're infallable, so I guess we gotta..."
"I don't think we should."
"You're infallible, too, so we shouldn't. But he's infallible and sez we should..."
"Careful, Ardeshir. Your turban's starting to smoke!"
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
02/14/2003 4:30:01 PM ||
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A squad of policemen, acting on a tip about a rebel assassination plot against President Alvaro Uribe, raided a house in this southern Colombian city before dawn Friday. In one thunderous explosion, the house and the policemen were no more. Three other houses in the working-class neighborhood adjoining the airport also were destroyed in the blast that killed 15 people, including eight policemen, an investigator with the attorney general's office and three children. The blast gouged a 15-foot-deep crater in the ground and turned a quiet neighborhood into one of destruction and desolation. Security officials said rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia planned to kill Uribe as he flew in to Neiva on Saturday. They were to do it either by detonating the huge bomb as his plane flew low overhead - the house was located on the flight path of approaching planes - or by firing mortar rounds at him from launching tubes that were believed to be at the house. Sounds like a set-up to kill the cops. Sounds like Colombian thugs' IRA training is paying off...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
02/14/2003 4:11:50 PM ||
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Banning a peaceful party like Hizb ut-Tahrir in itself is evidence enough that the Ummah's desire to be unified through the Khilafah has reached enormous heights. Hizb ut-Tahrir being the largest non-violent Islamic political party in the Central Asia has become a source of fear for Russia. The "non-violent political party" serves as a legit front organization where the eye-rollers and spittle spewers can be sorted through to see which will fit best with which band of crazed killers.
Their fear can be gauged from the statement issued by Russian President Putin: "They not only want to create a Caliphate on the territory of Russia, they want to create a global caliphate. I repeat this idea is not very different from the idea of world supremacy that Hitler and his circle once promoted". I don't see a lot of difference, either...
As of now the agent rulers of Central Asia have arrested thousands of Hizb activists and martyred several of them in the past; but Hizb ut-Tahrir and Khilafah are gaining popularity with every passing day. Let Russia know, their ghastly deeds cannot put any hurdles in the establishment of the Khilafah. "The Thousand-Year Reich, uh... Caliphate is coming!" Khilafah liberated Samarqand and Bukhara from the Russians in the past and this time she will free all inhabitants of Russia from the subjugation of the kufr system. The time has come for the establishment of Khilafah and Muslims from all over the world and they anxiously await reunification under one Khaleefah. The need of the hour is that the influential and powerful people among the masses respond to the call of the Ummah and establish the Khilafah, lifting the Muslims again as a power in the world arena. Goddammit. He got spittle all over me, and one of his eyes rolled right out of his head.
The peaceable sheep of the world are convinced that this type of thinking just doesn't happen. It doesn't exist. There is no Master Religion, before which all inferiors must bow. There isn't a group of nutbags who are determined to reestablish the caliphate that went out with the demise of the Ottoman Empire â and to expand it. Underachieving holy men aren't yearning for the chance to strut before adoring Islamic masses, wearing their jewelled turbans...
Nope. Just a figment of the imagination of war-mongering hegemons like us.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
02/14/2003 1:19:52 PM ||
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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.
