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Iraq Mission Aborted President Bush Calls Off Operation to Take Out Al Qaeda Poison Gas Laboratory By John McWethy W A S H I N G T O N, Aug. 19 — The CIA and the Pentagon began planning a covert operation into Northern Iraq to destroy what appeared to be a budding chemical weapons laboratory several years ago, but late last week, the president called it off, sources told ABCNEWS. U.S. forces had been monitoring a small group of al Qaeda operatives for weeks as they experimented with poison gas and deadly toxins — killing barnyard animals and...

IF THE TRUTH BE TOLD... IT IS TIME FOR ISLAM TO REPENT! By: Glenn R. Jackson Shortly after the September 11th attack Franklin Graham, son and successor to evangelist Billy Graham, came under intense criticism for calling Islam “a very evil and wicked religion.” Last week the Associated Press reported remarks by Franklin Graham that show he still holds some very un-Politically Correct views. The AP quotes Mr. Graham as saying “The silence of the (Islamic) clerics around the world is frightening to me.'' “How come they haven't come to this country, how come they haven't apologized to the American...

Saddam's Rap Sheet by Daniel Pipes and Jonathan Schanzer New York Post August 20, 2002 http://www.danielpipes.org/article/444 http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/55073.htm Consider the paradox: Almost every government agrees that Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein is an appalling monster and shudders at the prospect of his acquiring nuclear weapons. Yet those same governments are also furiously signaling their disapproval of an American-led military effort to depose him. That would be "risky adventurism," declares Germany's Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder; Saddam poses no immediate threat, and Washington lacks a justification to attack him. Most U.S. allies worldwide agree. But they are plain wrong. Saddam is an immediate menace, and...

Military says missile shot down helicopter in Chechnya KHANKALA. Aug 20 (Interfax) - Evidence has been found to confirm the theory that Monday's crash of a military helicopter in Chechnya, which killed more than 100 troops, was the result of a missile attack from the ground, a military source said on Tuesday. "An investigating group found the weapon of the crime, a Strela anti-aircraft missile launcher, which had been used," a source in the headquarters of the Combined Federal Forces in the North Caucasus told Interfax. Over 150 were aboard crashed helicopter in Chechnya - official source MOSCOW. Aug...

Iraq Lab Said Linked to al-Qaida CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) ? Arab terrorists linked to al-Qaida may have tested biological weapons at a small facility in northern Iraq known to American intelligence, a U.S. official said Monday. U.S. intelligence agencies had reason to suspect that the facility, in a part of northern Iraq not controlled by President Saddam Hussein's government, was a kind of laboratory for chemical and biological weapons activity that included testing on barnyard animals and at least one man, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. ..

<p>WASHINGTON -- The U.S. has evidence that a Kurdish militant group with possible ties to al Qaeda has conducted crude chemical-weapons experiments in northern Iraq, a U.S. official said.</p> <p>The group, Ansar al Islam, allegedly has been producing ricin, a toxin that can easily be made from castor beans, at a camp in northeastern Iraq. Intelligence reports indicate that at least one man and some farm animals died after exposure to the poison, the official said.</p>

- To judge by the press, the world’s sagest and most influential foreign policy expert is a 77-year-old named Brent Scowcroft. Mr. Scowcroft’s argument against an American attack on Saddam Hussein was the lead opinion piece in Thursday’s Wall Street Journal. The New York Times made it its lead, front-page news article on Friday and Saturday and its lead editorial on Friday. The Times editorial called Mr. Scowcroft’s words “an extraordinary challenge to the Bush administration” and “the equivalent of a cannon shot across the White House lawn.” All of which makes it appropriate to ask just who is Brent...

<p>August 19, 2002 -- TEL AVIV - An ex-treasurer of the Palestine Liberation Organization has accused Yasser Arafat of taking more than a half-billion dollars in international aid - and transferring it to his personal accounts.</p> <p>The shocking allegation comes on the heels of an Israeli intelligence report released last week that said Arafat had secretly amassed at least $1.3 billion in bank accounts in Europe, Arab countries, the Far East and the United States.</p>

RIYADH (Reuters) - Several Saudi banks and Islamic charities named in a lawsuit by families of Sept. 11 victims vehemently denied Sunday any role in funding terrorism and blasted the case as an attempt to extort Saudi wealth abroad. The suit has sparked rare calls by commentators and newspapers in the kingdom to review traditionally strong Saudi-U.S. ties. Saudi Arabia has yet to comment officially. Offended that the lawsuit named members of the royal family, including Defense Minister Prince Sultan -- the third highest official in the kingdom -- many Saudis accused Washington of putting pressure on the Gulf Arab...

Pacific Rim Bureau (CNSNews.com) - As debate rages about the wisdom of launching a military strike against Iraq, a leading defense publication Thursday called into question some of the key arguments against an attack, saying that many of the critics had been proven wrong in the past. Jane's Foreign Report said its access to Bush administration thinking had led it to the view that opponents of an attack may be exaggerating the dangers while underestimating the advantages of a successful operation for the wider Middle East. That assessment comes at a time politicians in the U.S. and key allies...

<p>WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A 15-count, $1 trillion lawsuit was filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by more than 500 relatives of people who died in the September 11 attacks.</p> <p>Calling themselves Families United to Bankrupt Terrorism, they are suing seven international banks; eight Islamic foundations, charities and their subsidiaries; individual terrorist financiers; the Saudi bin Laden Group; three Saudi princes; and the government of Sudan for allegedly bankrolling al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden and the Taliban.</p>

Israeli forces operating Wednesday in the village of Tubas in the northern West Bank killed senior Hamas terrorist Nasser Jerrar, suspected of planning suicide attacks inside Israel including a major attack to bring down a multi-story building. The army was criticized for using a Palestinian teenager, apparently shot and killed by Jerrar, as a "human shield" in attempts to get Jerrar to surrender. Hamas vowed to avenge Jerrar's death. Based on intelligence gleaned during the interrogation of Hamas terrorists recently arrested by the IDF in Jenin, an elite counter-terrorist unit was sent to Tubas, northeast of Nablus, and troops surrounded...

For half a century, Saudi Arabia has been a key economic and strategic ally of the United States. As the kingdom’s wealth grew and the scale of its oil reserves became apparent, the links became ever more intense, culminating in the deployment of 500,000 American troops during the Gulf War. Since then, a once warm relationship has become ever more strained, as tensions within Saudi Arabia have grown, the Arab world’s anger with America has become intense and Washington’s suspicions of the country’s Islamic agenda have deepened. Almost a year after the September attacks, perpetrated largely by Saudi citizens, relations...

Pat Oliphant on target. When are we going to take care of our Saudi problem?

Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat has personal assets estimated at a value of $1.3 billion, IDF Intelligence Chief Major General Aharon Ze'evi (Farakash) said Tuesday. Speaking Tuesday before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Ze'evi said that Arafat is isolated and criticism of the long-time Palestinian leader is growing - both within Palestinian society and Arafat's own Fatah movement. He said dissatisfaction with Arafat is being expressed in mass demonstrations in Gaza, Jenin and Tubas; newspapers; as well as a phenomenon of smashing photographs of Arafat. Even close associates of the Palestinian leader are distancing themselves, and some are...

S. Arabia affirms solidness of historical ties with US -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Xinhuanet 2002-08-13 02:46:56 ¡¡¡¡KUWAIT CITY, Aug. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Saudi Arabia on Monday affirmedthe solidness of its historical relations with the United States and vowed to develop the ties to the best of mutual interests between the two allies, Kuwait's official KUNA news agency reported. ¡¡¡¡Saudi acting Minister of Information Madani Bin Abdul-Qadir Alaqi made the remarks in a press statement after a cabinet meetingchaired by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul-Aziz. ¡¡¡¡Alaqi noted in the statement that the cabinet was briefed on a briefing prepared by a Pentagon consultative...

Israel's High Court of Justice today issued a temporary injunction against the deportation to the Gaza Strip of three Palestinians. Yesterday a military court ruled that the three, relatives of terrorists who organized recent terror attacks, would be deported because they knew of, and abetted terror activities. Lawyers for the Palestinians said deportations serve as "collective punishment" and are illegal according to international law. According to the High Court's decision today, the Israel Defense Forces were given fifteen days to reply to the Palestinians' appeal against the deportation orders. Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat said that deportations were illegal, and...

'Saddam Willing To Fight America To the Last Palestinian' By Julie Stahl CNSNews.com Jerusalem Bureau Chief August 13, 2002 Jerusalem (CNSNews.com) - Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein is trying to stir up the Palestinians to perpetrate 'mega-attacks' against Israel so that an Israeli retaliation will be so strong that it will upset the entire region and prevent America from attacking Iraq, an Israeli analyst said on Tuesday. Nevertheless, Israel is preparing itself for the possibility that the U.S. will attack Iraq and Iraq will bombard Israel with missiles in return. The war of words between Iraq and the U.S. was heating...

As you might have suspected the list is very long so just go HERE

War with Iraq looms and not everyone is happy about it. "I think the principle of 'first things first' does apply," says Al Gore, "and has to be followed if we are to have any chance of success." By this he means that, instead of Saddam's removal, Afghanistan's stability "needs to be assured first" -- just as in the Second World War we wisely concentrated on nation-building in the Solomon Islands for two or three years instead of rushing on to liberate a lot of other places. I'd say it's Al Gore's stability that needs to be assured first. Across...

SHOCKER! Farouk Murad the former U.N. employee accused of aggravated battery and assault on a minor in a Marco Island Hilton was a no show in court this morning after promising authorities he was going to show up. Murad's attorney entered a not guilty plea for him. The mother of the girl was quite angry she wasn't notified and spent the morning looking for him and to no avail NOTHING. The Naples Daily News will be doing a story on this due for release after midnight. Murad had reportedly offered a money settlement before leaving the country but it was...

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Palestinian gunmen infiltrated a Jewish settlement in the West Bank on Saturday night, and one person was killed and several wounded in the ensuing firefight, Israeli security sources said. They said two or more gunmen penetrated Mehora in the Jordan Valley under cover of darkness as the Jewish sabbath ended, and were still exchanging fire with Israeli security forces. Israel Radio put the preliminary Israeli casualty toll at five, including one killed, and said one of the gunmen was also believed killed. Palestinians waging a 22-month-old uprising for independence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip have...

<p>National Guardsmen patrolled below and federal officials watched the skies over the Golden Gate Bridge during Monday morning's commute, wrapping up a weekend of intensified monitoring due to the latest word of a potential terrorist threat.</p> <p>The bridge was placed on a "super-heightened" state of alert Friday through Sunday after information was shared through an interagency coalition Friday, said Mary Currie, spokeswoman for the Golden Gate Bridge Highway & Transportation District.</p>

ARAB TERRORISTS INFILTRATE JEWISH TOWN Two or more terrorist have infiltrated the Jewish town of Mechora, east of Shechem. One Israeli woman has been reported murdered, and two others who were seriously wounded have been taken by helicopter to hospitals. One terrorist is reported killed, and shots are still being exchanged. Click here to read these real-time updates! Do you know what you are missing? Subscribe to the GAMLA Intelligence Report and stay in the know! (FREE email newsletter)

The author is a former political-military analyst with the U.S. Department of Defense and terrorism analyst with the State Department. He is currently a security consultant, focusing on the mitigation of post-Cold War patterns of terrorism and political violence. Definition of Terrorism "the unlawful use of -- or threatened use of -- force or violence against individuals or property to coerce or intimidate governments or societies, often to achieve political, religious, or ideological objectives." -- U.S. Department of Defense publication In the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S., the threat of militant Islamic terrorism --...

<p>"U.S. advisers see Saudis as enemies," said the lead story headline in the International Herald Tribune, a global newspaper read by almost all Americans living abroad and by the elites the world over. "Briefing at Pentagon recommends ultimatum over links to terrorism," was the subhead.</p>

There are reports a British-registered tanker has been hijacked off the coast of Somalia. Reuters news agency said the Somali hijackers were demanding $1m for the release of the Russian crew. Britain's Foreign Office could not confirm the reports. Helicopter A spokesman said the a British frigate had dispatched a helicopter to find the ship, but nothing was seen. The tanker was hijacked about two weeks ago and its crew taken ashore to a location in Alula district on Somalia's north-eastern coast, the militiaman told Reuters. "The ship was registered in Britain," one of the militiamen told the agency. Dangerous...

LONDON, Aug 12, 2002 -- As revealed in a recent front-page story in The Washington Post, "Briefing Depicted Saudis as Enemies," neoconservatives in the US are gaining a wider audience for their attempts to demonize Saudi Arabia. Such jingoistic talk runs counter to the position of the Bush administration, which recognizes Saudi Arabia as a vital ally. Still, the talk is fanning resentment in the kingdom and making it more difficult for the royal family to cooperate with the US on a range of initiatives, such as regional peace, economic development, and maintaining stability in the oil markets. Saudis see...

<p>Various state and federal law enforcement officials increased patrols on and around the Golden Gate Bridge on Sunday after bridge district officials learned of a potential terrorist threat 11 months after attacks on New York and Washington.</p> <p>The bridge was placed on a "super-heightened" state of alert after information was shared through an interagency coalition Friday, said Mary Currie, spokeswoman for the Golden Gate Bridge Highway & Transportation District.</p>

RELIGION OF PEACE WATCHThe vile, depraved, disgusting posts of Muslim kids at ClearGuidance.com have been discussed around the Web, but this thread, urging the murder of President Bush (along with the Pope, King Fahd, and Salmaan Rushdie) seems like grounds enough for the FBI to step in and throw some people in the clink. I'm no lawyer, but isn't threatening the President a serious crime?Of course, if this happens, look for CAIR and other Islamist apologist groups to play the victim card and cite it as proof that the U.S. government is "rounding up Muslims."posted by James Morrow | 10:44...

MUSLIM MERCHANTS BOYCOTT NEW YORK POST Muslim and Arab-American merchants in the New York City area report to CAIR they are boycotting sales of the New York Post because of that newspaper's alleged anti-Muslim, anti-Arab bias and the failure of editors to offer sufficient right-of-reply to negative articles. Boycott organizers say almost 500 merchants are taking part in the campaign by refusing to sell the Post in their newsstands, grocery stories or other businesses. In Staten Island alone, some 100 merchants have joined the boycott. The campaign apparently began spontaneously, but is now coordinated by a Brooklyn-based organization called the...

Feds investigate ex-president of Islamic CenterTerrorism task force focuses on possible financial crimesBill MorlinStaff writer The former president of the Spokane Islamic Center is under investigation by a joint terrorism task force for possible financial crimes. Hassan Abdul Hadi Mallah, a Palestinian immigrant who became a U.S. citizen in 1988, has been the target of the federal probe for at least seven months, according to his friends and associates. Besides his financial dealings, the witnesses say investigators asked about Mallah's frequent trips to the Middle East and his vocal support of the terrorist group Hamas. The witnesses were identified and...

BLY, Ore. — This hard-knocks hamlet seems an unlikely place to search for clues to the al-Qaida terrorist network. It sits on an arid plateau in Southern Oregon, about 50 miles east of Klamath Falls. With a population of about 250, it has a couple of cafes and small stores, an antique shop, and the razed foundation of an abandoned lumber mill. But in late 1999, federal authorities and other sources say, the area had something far more unusual: militant Muslims scouting a ranch outside of town as a possible training camp for jihad fighters. That aborted effort has now...

<p>U.S. intelligence agencies are watching several groups of Middle Eastern men thought to be part of an infrastructure of as many as 5,000 al Qaeda terrorists and their supporters in the United States, The Washington Times has learned.</p> <p>Small groups of about a half-dozen men in Seattle, Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta are under surveillance by FBI and other intelligence agencies and are thought to be part of Osama bin Laden's terrorist network, said intelligence officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity.</p>

With rumors swirling of a possible link to the al-Qaida terrorist network, the FBI insisted Monday that investigators still don't know why Hesham Mohamed Hadayet went on an Independence Day shooting rampage at LAX. ONLINE EXTRA Recent stories on the shooting at LAX:• Outpouring of grief for 2 shot to death in LAX attack• Arab-Americans fear backlash• Jewish leaders urge calm• Airport security to be boosted• Victims mourned across Valley• LAX shooter full of anger• Local man slain, father of eight• El Al security tops in industry• 3 dead at LAX IN MEMORY Memorial funds have been created to...