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Locked on 06/01/2006 7:13:39 PM PDT by Admin Moderator, reason:
New thread here. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1642083/posts |
Posted on 04/18/2006 11:09:45 PM PDT by nwctwx
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Note: The following text is a quote:
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http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2006/20060522_5196.html
Up to 80 Taliban Members Believed Killed in Afghanistan Operation
American Forces Press Service
KABUL, Afghanistan, May 22, 2006 – Coalition forces conducted a significant operation early this morning in the Kandahar region near the village of Azizi that resulted in the deaths of up to 80 Taliban members, military officials here reported.
This was the third such operation in this area within a week in which coalition forces, in support of the Afghan government, have confronted and attacked anti-government forces.
The purpose of this morning's operation was to detain people suspected of terrorist and anti-Afghanistan activities, officials said, but coalition forces encountered organized armed opposition.
Ground and close-air support assets engaged the extremists, who were firing on coalition troops and endangering innocent civilians. The coalition targeted only armed resistance and compounds and buildings known to harbor extremists, officials emphasized, but they added that coalition forces must retain their ability to defend against fire emanating from known enemy positions.
Initial assessments confirmed 20 Taliban killed, with 60 additional Taliban casualties possible but as yet unconfirmed, officials said.
Five Taliban also have been detained and are being questioned regarding their participation in terrorist activities.
A military spokesman said reports of civilian casualties are under investigation. "We have taken this fight directly to the extremists who threaten the future progress of the people of Afghanistan," said Army Lt. Col. Paul Fitzpatrick, Combined Joint Task Force 76 spokesman. "Coalition forces are aware of media reports of civilian casualties and are continuing to review assessments from ground elements in the region."
(From a Combined Forces Command Afghanistan news release.)
Thank you Smatass.
Here's another press release, too.
NOTE: The following text is a quote:
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http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2006/20060522_5197.html
VA Urges Caution After Theft of Personal Information
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 22, 2006 – Veterans Affairs officials today announced the theft of personal information on up to 26.5 million veterans. However, VA Secretary R. James Nicholson stressed there's no indication the information is being used for purposes of fraud.
"We at the VA have recently learned that an employee here, a data analyst, took home a considerable amount of electronic data from the VA, which he was not authorized to do," Nicholson said. "His home was burglarized, and this data was stolen."
The compromised data includes names, Social Security numbers and birthdates of veterans separating from the military since 1975, he said. The information also may have included data on veterans who separated before 1975 but who submitted a claim for VA benefits.
No medical or financial information was compromised, though the files might have contained numeric disability ratings in some cases, Nicholson added. A statement issued by the department indicated that spousal information also might have been compromised in some cases.
"There is no indication & that any use is being made of this data or even that (the thieves) know they have it," Nicholson said.
Exercising what the secretary called "an abundance of caution," the department is working through a number of channels, including the news media, to make veterans aware of the situation. Individual notification letters also will be mailed to veterans.
The department is providing more information through the www.firstgov.gov Web site and call centers that can be reached at (800) 333-4636. The call centers, which will be active today, will be able to handle more than 250,000 calls a day.
"The most important priority that I have right now is to get the word out to our veterans and get them alerted and aware of this possibility," Nicholson said.
The department also is encouraging veterans to watch their financial accounts carefully for any signs of fraud or identity theft. If suspicious activity is detected, veterans should contact the fraud department of one of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian or TransUnion.
Nichols said the Federal Trade Commission has alerted credit bureaus of a potential increase in requests for fraud alerts and for requests for credit reports.
Any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently should be closed, and the veteran should file a report with local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place. Those who suspect identity theft also are encouraged to contact the Federal Trade Commission via its identity-theft hotline at (877) 438-4338, or through its Web site.
There is no indication when the career employee removed the information from his office, but the data was stolen when his home was burglarized sometime this month, Nicholson said. He declined to identify the employee or where he lives but said law enforcement officials reported several burglaries in the area and they do not believe the stolen information was targeted.
"The employee has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of (a full-scale) investigation," Nicholson said. All appropriate law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the Veterans Affairs Department's Inspector General are participating in the investigation.
Members of the President's Identity Theft Task Force will meet today to coordinate a comprehensive response, recommend ways to further protect affected veterans, and increase safeguards to prevent the reoccurrence of such incidents, Nicholson said. VA officials also moved up the date by which all department employees must complete the "VA Cyber Security Awareness Training Course" and the "General Employee Privacy Awareness Course." Both must be completed by June 30.
Additionally, Veterans Affairs will immediately begin conducting a review of all current positions requiring access to sensitive information. All employees requiring access to such data will undergo updated law enforcement and background checks.
Biography:
R. James Nicholson
Related Sites:
Department of Veterans Affairs
Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Resource
That's ok.
It was worth a repost.
Good afternoon all4one.
No coffee yet.
How strange.
I'm looking at that photo and it seems I have seen a guy that looks something like that without the long beard.
Anyway, THANKS for this post all4one.
| Attorney Gen.: Reporters Can Be Prosecuted May 21 10:43 AM US/Eastern |
 |
WASHINGTON
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Sunday he believes journalists can be prosecuted for publishing classified information, citing an obligation to national security.
Full Story:
Click Here
Thanks Smartass.
I appreciate the info.
OPINION: MySpace, like Yahoo is not on my personal preferences list.
Tracking, tracking...
OPINION: One should never screw around with their ankle bracelets.
How awful.
I wonder what his name is and where he is from?
Updates appreciated.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,196507,00.html
AP
"Jordan Announces Arrest of Al Qaeda Leader"
Monday, May 22, 2006
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "AMMAN, Jordan — Jordan announced Monday the arrest of an unidentified leader of the Al Qaeda in Iraq militant group, saying the man was responsible for kidnapping Jordanians and Arabs and robbing commercial trucks driving between the kingdom and Iraq.
"He has committed several crimes," said the announcement on Jordanian state television.
It said Jordanian intelligence agents have taken the suspected militant into custody, but did not say when or provide other details.
The announcement said details of his operations would be aired on television in a special program Thursday night.
No other details were immediately available."
...and YOU wondered why 'class-action lawyers' make so much money???
Where did I say that?
You're welcome Smartass.
Never forgot that one and THANKS for the link and reminder backhoe.
ON THE NET...
JIHAD WATCH.org: "REACH OUT, REACH OUT AND TORCH SOMEONE" (ARTICLE SNIPPET (GLOBE AND MAIL): "Security experts say it's no surprise that a group linked to Hezbollah cloned the cellphones of Ted Rogers and other high-level Rogers executives. The Iranian-backed radical Shia group based in Lebanon -- regarded by many as even more sophisticated than al-Qaeda -- has sharpened its counterintelligence expertise over the years by keeping a step ahead of Mossad, Israel's secret service. Hezbollah, whose name means Party of God, has become ever more adept at intercepting electronic surveillance, penetrating cellphone networks and recruiting computer science technicians.") (December 21, 2005)
MEMRITV.org - Video Clip No. 962:"Lebanese Students at a Hizbullah TV Symposium: We Should Fight the Jews and Burn Them Like Hitler. Israel Should Be Wiped Off the Map" (SNIPPET: "Following are excerpts from a symposium of students at Universite Libanaise, hosted by Hizbullah's Al-Manar TV, and broadcast on November 29, 2005."
INTELLIGENCE.org.il: "IRAN AND HEZBOLLAH AS INSTIGATORS OF TERRORISM: Iran's Growing Involvement, through Hezbollah, in Palestinian Terrorism in Israel and in the Palestinian Authority Administered Territories in the Course of 2004" (Note: "Based on a report by the Israel Security Agency on Palestinian terrorist activities in 2004") (January 12, 2005)
"fayrouz.blogspot.com/2004_09_01_fayrouz_archive.html#109415983198622045" - "IRAN AND AL-ZARQAWI" - "posted by Fayrouz 9/2/2004" (ARTICLE - TRANSLATION - SNIPPET: "A former corps chief said Abu-Mosaab Al-Zarqawi escaped to Turkey last year, after being in Iran and entered Iraq more than a year ago. He confirmed to the newspaper that a meeting was held last June between Al-Zarqawi and a Lebanese fugitive, Emad Mughania, at one of Al-Quds corps centers in Kermanshah providence in western Iran. The source said Mughania played an influential role in forming the Al-Mahdi Army. Al-Mahdi Army belongs to the strict Shia religious cleric, Muqtada Al-Sadr, and trains its members in camps inside Iran. He also mentioned the entrance of Shia fighters from Lebanon to Iraq dressed as religious studies students. These fighters then join Al-Madi Army under the supervision of Emad Mughania. Mughania underwent a cosmetic surgery recently in a sanitarium for the revolutionary guards in northern Iran to change his face. This is the 5th surgery for Mughania, who's been chased by Western and Arabic intelligence organizations for a number of years now. The source said Mughania kept his relationships with Aymen Al-Thawahiri, the number-two man in Al-Qaida organization despite the difficulty of contacting him lately. He added that Mughania submitted a report early this year to chief of the revolutionary guards intelligence after a visit to Iraq. The report outlined the importance of expanding a framework of collaboration between Al-Mahdi Army and Al-Zarqawi's group. Muqtada has lost his standing among the Iraqi shia, especially Al-Najaf, while gaining more supporters in the Sunni triangle.")
TREAS.GOV/OFFICES/ENFORCEMENT/OFAC/SDN/SDNLIST.TXT: "ALPHABETICAL LISTING OF SPECIALLY DESIGNATED NATIONALS AND BLOCKED PERSONS" (SNIPPET: "HIZBALLAH (a.k.a. PARTY OF GOD; a.k.a. ISLAMIC JIHAD; a.k.a. ISLAMIC JIHAD ORGANIZATION; a.k.a. REVOLUTIONARY JUSTICE ORGANIZATION; a.k.a. ORGANIZATION OF THE OPPRESSED ON EARTH; a.k.a. ISLAMIC JIHAD FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE; a.k.a. ORGANIZATION OF RIGHT AGAINST WRONG; a.k.a. ANSAR ALLAH; a.k.a. FOLLOWERS OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMED) [SDT][FTO][SDGT]"
Vets personal information/social security numbers stolen.
Why would someone be bringing all this sensitive information to their home?
I remember the Chowchilla incident.
That was horrific.
Adding this specific link to post no. 2395:
http://fayrouz.blogspot.com/2004/09/iran-and-al-zarqawi.html
bookmark
Oh my, more good news!
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