World Terrorism: News, History and Research Of A Changing World #6 Disinformation, Inc.

VEVAK learned its methodology from the Soviet KGB and many of the Islamist revolutionaries who supported Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini actually studied at Moscow's Patrice Lumumba Friendship University, the Oxford of terrorism. Documented Iranian alumni include the current Supreme Leader (the faqih) Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, under whose Velayat-e Faqih (Rule of the Islamic Jurisprudent) apparatus it has traditionally operated. Its current head is Cabinet Minister Hojatoleslam Gholam-Hussein Mohseni-Ezhei, a graduate of Qom's Haqqani School, noted for its extremist position advocating violence against enemies and strict clerical control of society and government. The Ministry is very well funded and its charge, like that of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (the Pasdaran) is to guard the revolutionary Islamic Iranian regime at all costs and under all contingencies.

From the KGB playbook, VEVAK learned the art of disinformation. It's not so difficult to learn: tell the truth 80% of the time and lie 20%. Depending on how well a VEVAK agent wants to cover his/her tracks, the ratio may go up to 90/10, but it never drops below the 80/20 mark as such would risk suspicion and possible detection. The regime in Teheran has gone to great lengths to place its agents in locations around the world. Many of these operatives have been educated in the West, including the U.K. and the United States. Iranian government agencies such as embassies, consulates, Islamic cultural centers, and airline offices regularly provide cover for the work of VEVAK agents who dress well and are clean shaven, and move comfortably within our society. In this country, because of the severance of diplomatic relations, the principal site of VEVAK activities begins at the offices of Iran's Permanent Mission to the UN in New York.

Teheran has worked diligently to place its operatives in important think tanks and government agencies in the West. Some of its personnel have been recruited while in prison through torture or more often through bribery, or a combination of both. Others are Islamist revolutionaries that have been set up to look like dissidents - often having been arrested and imprisoned, but released for “medical reasons”. The clue to detecting the fake “dissident” is to read carefully what he/she writes, and to ask why this vocal “dissident” was released from prison when other real dissidents have not been released, indeed have been grievously tortured and executed. Other agents have been placed in this country for over twenty-five years to slowly go through the system and rise to positions of academic prominence due to their knowledge of Farsi and Shia Islam or Islamist fundamentalism.

One of the usual tactics of VEVAK is to co-opt academia to its purposes. Using various forms of bribery, academics are bought to defend the Islamic Republic or slander its enemies. Another method is to assign bright students to train for academic posts as specialists in Iranian or Middle East affairs. Once established, such individuals are often consulted by our government as it tries to get a better idea of how it should deal with Iran. These academics then are in a position to skew the information, suggesting the utility of extended dialogue and negotiation, or the danger and futility of confronting a strong Iran or its proxies such as Hizballah (Hezbollah). These academics serve to shield the regime from an aggressive American or Western policy, and thereby buy more time for the regime to attain its goals, especially in regards to its nuclear weaponry and missile programs.

MOIS likes to use the media, especially electronic media, to its advantage. One of VEVAK's favorite tricks is setting up web sites that look like they are opposition sites but which are actually controlled by the regime. These sites often will be multilingual, including Farsi, German, Arabic French, and English. Some are crafted carefully and are very subtle in how they skew their information (e.g., Iran-Interlink, set up and run by Massoud Khodabandeh and his wife Ann Singleton from Leeds, England); others are less subtle, simply providing the regime's point of view on facts and events in the news (e.g., www.mujahedeen.com or www.mojahedin.ws). This latter group is aimed at the more gullible in our open society and unfortunately such a market exists. However, if one begins to do one's homework, asking careful questions, the material on these fake sites generally does not add up.

Let's examine a few examples of VEVAK's work in the United States. In late October, 2005, VEVAK sent three of its agents to Washington to stage a press event in which the principal Iranian resistance movement, the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MeK), was to be slandered. Veteran VEVAK agent Karim Haqi flew from Amsterdam to Canada where he was joined by VEVAK's Ottawa agents Amir-Hossein Kord Rostami and Mahin (Parvin-Mahrokh) Haji, and the three flew from Toronto to Washington. Fortunately the resistance had been tracking these three, informed the FBI of their presence in Washington, and when the three tried to hold a press conference, the resistance had people assigned to ask pointed questions of them so that they ended the interview prematurely and fled back to Canada.

Abolghasem Bayyenet is a member of the Iranian government. He serves as a trade expert for the Ministry of Commerce. But his background of study and service in the Foreign Ministry indicates that Bayyenet is more than just an economist or a suave and savvy businessman. In an article published in Global Politician on April 23, 2006, entitled “Is Regime Change Possible in Iran?”, Bayyenet leads his audience to think that he is a neutral observer, concerned lest the United States make an error in its assessment of Iran similar to the errors of intelligence and judgment that led to our 2003 invasion of Iraq, with its less than successful outcome. However, his carefully crafted bottom line is that the people of Iran are not going to support regime change and that hardliner President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad actually has achieved greater popularity than his predecessors because of his concern for the problems of the poor and his fight for economic and social justice. To the naive, Bayyenet makes Ahmadinejad sound positively saintly. Conveniently overlooked is the occurrence of over four thousand acts of protest, strikes, anti-regime rallies, riots, and even political assassinations by the people of Iran against the government in the year since Ahmadinejad assumed office. So too, the following facts are ignored: the sizeable flight of capital, the increase in unemployment, and the rising two-figure rate of inflation, all within this last year. Bayyenet is a regime apologist, and when one is familiar with the facts, his arguments ring very hollow. However, his English skills are excellent, and so the naОve might be beguiled by his commentary.

Mohsen Sazegara is VEVAK's “reformed revolutionary”. A student supporter of Khomeini before the 1979 revolution, Sazegara joined the “imam” on his return from exile and served in the government for a decade before supposedly growing disillusioned.

He formed several reformist newspapers but ran afoul of the hardliners in 2003 and was arrested and imprisoned by VEVAK. Following “hunger strikes”, Sazegara was released for health reasons and permitted to seek treatment abroad. Although critical of the government and particularly of Ahmadinejad and KhameneМ, Sazegara is yet more critical of opposition groups, leaving the impression that he favors internal regime change but sees no one to lead such a movement for the foreseeable future. His bottom line: no one is capable of doing what needs to be done, so we must bide our time. Very slick, but his shadow shows his likely remaining ties to the MOIS.

[June 2006]

Buyers line up for China's arms
By Tim Luard

China may have lost its reputation for making low-cost goods, but when it comes to weapons, there is no doubt which end of the market its sights are still set on.

Some of the poorest and most unsavoury regimes on earth, which either cannot afford or are not allowed to buy sophisticated Western arms, are turning to the world's newest superpower to buy guns, leg-irons, anti-riot equipment and armoured vehicles.

Military specialists contacted by the BBC News website have confirmed the main findings of a report issued this week by Amnesty International, which said Chinese arms sales were fuelling conflicts and human rights abuses in countries such as Sudan and Burma.

China has been the Burmese military government's main supplier of weapons - including artillery, trucks, logistical support and communications equipment - ever since the 1990s, according to Tim Huxley, an Asia specialist at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London.

"Without Chinese arms supplies, the Burmese army would find it impossible to operate," he said.

China has also become a major, and perhaps the largest, supplier of weapons to Sudan, where its sales include fighter aircraft and helicopters, according to analysts.

The key question in Sudan, they say, is to what extent alleged war crimes in Darfur are dependent on these supplies.

China has used the threat of its Security Council veto to stall or dilute UN resolutions on Darfur, saying the situation in Sudan is an internal affair.

While the US maintains partial sanctions against Sudan, China has become the country's biggest trading partner, taking most of its oil exports.

Small scale

While there has been much debate on China's alleged transfer of nuclear or long-range missile technology to countries like Iran, North Korea and Pakistan, little attention has been paid to its routine export of conventional weapons and small arms.

Before it started introducing capitalist-style economic reforms in 1978, China gave arms as free military aid to governments and revolutionary groups seen as supporting its interests.

It's the country of choice when you want to buy cheap and simple weapons - like Kalashnikovs, rocket-propelled grenades and artillery shells
Paul Beaver,
defence analyst

As its new-found economic might has helped extend its reach and influence, arms sales have become an integral part of China's trade links in Asia, Africa and Latin America, according to Amnesty's report.

Some might say this is all part of being a successful capitalist country. China is already flooding the world with its goods of all kinds, so why not arms too?

Many also point out that Chinese arms exports are tiny compared with those of the United States. They are also smaller than those of Russia, France or Britain.

And the value of Chinese arms sales has in fact shrunk in the past 20 years from $2bn a year to about $1bn, mainly due to Russian competition and the poor performance of Chinese weapons in the Iran-Iraq and Gulf Wars in the 1980s and 90s.

'Cheap and simple'

Today, while Western nations tend to sell integrated weapons systems, China produces the kind of weapons they do not make any more, says Paul Beaver, a London-based defence analyst.

"It's the country of choice when you want to buy cheap and simple weapons - like Kalashnikovs, rocket-propelled grenades and artillery shells.

"China's export policy is that it will supply any country and any sovereign government. The problem is that some have arms embargoes on them," he said.

China, like other countries, does have a policy on export controls, but this is usually whatever is in the interests of the government, said Beaver.

While Chinese handguns and security devices such as electric batons are sold in many parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia on a purely commercial basis, China is also known to supply arms at "friendship prices".

It is especially interested in selling to countries with energy supplies. But there are often other strategic factors involved - as in Nepal and Burma, where China is competing for influence with India.

Derek Mitchell of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington says China has used arms sales not only to open new markets and extract natural resources, but also to help provide capital to its defence industry at a time when the military was being forced to give up its own commercial activities.

China's other main aim, he says, is "to demonstrate its credential as a friend of nations in the developing world in ways that can bear fruit in international institutions such as the UN, and that can be leveraged against US power globally".

Government-controlled

He shares Amnesty's view that China often ignores the impact its arms sales can have on the internal affairs of troubled states.

In Nepal, for example, a deal to supply nearly 25,000 Chinese rifles and 18,000 grenades came at a time when the security forces were involved in suppressing thousands of civilian demonstrators. Sometimes China has even provided assistance to both sides in a conflict, as with Eritrea and Ethiopia, added Mitchell.

He dismissed suggestions that the blame lies with Chinese arms companies acting independently.

"One must hold the government responsible because all arms merchants and weapons dealers in China are government-controlled," he said.

There are few multilateral controls on conventional weapons and China does not operate under the same restraints as most democratic countries, where arms deals tend to be much more transparent and subject to public scrutiny, say analysts.

China's official news agency carried a denial of Amnesty's charges. Chinese specialists contacted by the BBC for this article declined to comment. One simply said he wanted "no connection" with Amnesty International.

But China is keen to be viewed as a responsible world power. And while the US and other governments are concerned about its rising military spending, rights activists are hoping it will soon move to the higher, more strictly monitored end of the arms market - just as it is already doing in other areas, from clothing to computers.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/5086416.stm

Published: 2006/06/16 13:04:11 GMT

© BBC MMVII

Australia burdened by Pacific setbacks
By Phil Mercer
BBC News, Sydney

Is Australia losing its grip on the neighbourhood?

Some defence analysts believe that after a troubled year, Canberra's robust approach to regional affairs is beginning to unravel.

Since 9/11 and the Bali bombings in October 2002 the Australians have pursued a more aggressive role in matters close to home.

They worry that failing states could be exploited by terrorists or criminals.

Despite the intervention of Australian troops and police officers as well as doses of heavyweight diplomacy, 2006 was a bad year for the South Pacific. There was violence in East Timor, the Solomon Islands and Tonga.

A military coup robbed Fiji of its elected government and tensions have persisted in parts of Papua New Guinea.

"The crises of 2006 have reinforced the reasons why Australia is involved in the South Pacific, but they have undermined our confidence that we know what to do about it," said Hugh White, professor of Strategic Studies at the Australian National University.

"[Prime Minister] John Howard's always had a sense that there was a lot of trouble brewing in the immediate neighbourhood but I don't think they (the Australians) ever expected to find themselves as deeply engaged in as many places for such protracted periods of time," Prof White, a former government adviser, told the BBC.

In recent times Australia has sent hundreds of soldiers and police officers to the region's trouble spots in addition to deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Last November's mission to Tonga was short-lived but Australia is looking at an almost permanent presence in the Solomon Islands and East Timor.

The appointment of Australian-born police chiefs in the Solomons and Fiji have ended in disaster with both men banished by disgruntled local officials.

Paternal views?

There are signs that resentment in the neighbourhood is mounting.

"Australian popularity is at an all time low and its (regional) policies are being severely weakened," said Dr Steven Ratuva from the University of the South Pacific in Fiji.

The Howard government is accused of being too paternalistic.

"Australia is more concerned with its own security in relation to terrorism and international crime to worry too much about the internal plight of the small island neighbours," cautioned Dr Ratuva.

"The basic security issue in Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Tonga and East Timor is linked to internal political dynamics and economic development, not terrorism."

Generally Australia's efforts to help its smaller regional cousins are welcomed.

But there is a feeling that Canberra should take more time to listen.

A former member of the Solomon Islands parliament, Yukio Sato, said that a greater understanding of local problems was essential.

"Australia must get off its high horse and properly look at these issues from the same vantage point as a Solomon Islander. The root causes still lie in wait, as does a time bomb ticking away waiting to trigger yet another explosion," Mr Sato warned.

The Solomon Islands capital Honiara was hit by violent disturbances last April. Years of ethnic fighting across the archipelago prompted Australia to lead an international rescue mission in 2003.

Important steps to recovery have been made but the road ahead promises to be rocky.

The official view from Canberra is that Australia is committed to helping its island neighbours through difficult times and that aid and reconstruction efforts have been a success.

The eradication of corruption and poverty remain key goals for the future.

Analysts believe that Australia needs a keener appreciation of a diverse and volatile region if they are to be achieved.

"Australia hasn't yet found what else you send apart from the army to try and address those deeper political, social, economic problems that are the real root of the issue," said Prof Hugh White.

Undoubtedly countries in the South Pacific need Australia's help but they want to be seen as equal partners and not basket cases.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/6233895.stm

Published: 2007/01/05 12:25:58 GMT

© BBC MMVII

Morocco reporters defend article
By Richard Hamilton
BBC News, Casablanca

A Moroccan magazine editor accused of defaming Islam and damaging morality by printing articles about religious jokes has defended his position in court.

Nichane magazine's Driss Ksikes, who is on trial in Casablanca with magazine journalist Sanaa al-Aji, denied the articles were intended be offensive.

The prosecutor urged sentences of three to five years, saying journalists must balance liberties and responsibilities.

The judges have retired and a verdict is expected later this month.

'Funny society'

Following the publication of the articles, Moroccan authorities closed the magazine down and withdrew copies of it from newspaper stands.

The article that has caused such an outcry looked at popular jokes on religion, sex and politics.

Mr Ksikes told the court he believed Morocco was a funny society.

To ask the magazine why it told the jokes would be like asking the French playwright Moliere why he made people laugh, Mr Ksikes said.

Ms Aji added that the jokes shed light on society and were in common usage, but they did not reflect her own beliefs.

Media reform

The journalists, who have received death threats, said they were not making fun of religion.

They have, however, issued a public apology.

They are supported by international organisations such as Reporters Without Frontiers, which says this is a serious blow for press freedom.

But the government does not see it that way, and says that attacking religion is one of the most serious offences a journalist can commit.

Since the death of the previous king, Morocco has been undergoing a period of modernisation and media reform has been part of that process.

However, this case may turn back the clock to the days when Moroccans had to be very careful about what they said.

Are you in Morocco? Do you know what the jokes were? Are you offended by them? You can contact us using the form below:

The BBC World Service radio programme World Have Your Say will be discussing this topic at 1800 GMT and using comments left here during the show. As a result comments will not appear on this page.

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Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/6239825.stm

Published: 2007/01/08 17:57:06 GMT

© BBC MMVII

{That is one beautiful cat]

Leopard creates bathroom mayhem

There's a new joke doing the rounds in the western Indian city of Vadodara.

How do you know that you have a leopard in the bathroom? He is the one with the 'L' on his pyjamas and spongebag.

But for one household in the city, there really was a leopard in the bathroom - and it was not very interested in performing its ablutions.

In fact, the animal roared with rage once it discovered that it had been locked in the bathroom by frightened members of the house.

Baton charge

"When we woke up in the morning, we heard noises. We saw a leopard walking into our compound," said householder Dhiren Sukhadia.

"We closed all the doors, but saw him standing at the rear side of the house where we have a bathroom.

"The maid was cleaning there, and we called her in. The moment we closed the door, the leopard went there and started roaring.

"It kicked around the stuff lying there. We called the fire helpline and... they said they were on the way and asked us to keep all doors and windows closed."

Thousands of interested spectators converged on the house on Sunday morning once news of the trapped leopard spread.

They watched as frustrated forestry officials repeatedly attempted to lure the animal out of the bathroom and into a cage near the outside door.

But their job was made more difficult because the noisy crowd frightened the animal from coming out.

Correspondents say police were left with no choice but to fend off the onlookers with batons.

The animal was eventually tranquilised and taken away.

The BBC's Rajeev Khanna in the Gujarat commercial capital, Ahmedabad, says that it will be released into the wild in a few days' time.

A spokesman for the Gujarat Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says that the leopard probably came from the jungle near the city.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/6240569.stm

Published: 2007/01/08 12:09:30 GMT

© BBC MMVII

[would this work in New Orleans?]

Council residents get Asbo power
Council estate resident groups in England will be able to apply for anti-social behaviour orders, under measures announced by the government.

The resident groups will be assessed before being allowed such powers, with "clear safeguards" to make sure they are not abused.

Asbos ban people from continuing specific anti-social behaviour or from being in certain areas.

Tony Blair said the powers would allow people to take "swift action".

Asbos are a key plank of the government's "respect" agenda, but separate reports from the Home Office and the National Audit Office in December found that between 47% and 55% have been breached in England and Wales.

Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly, appearing with the prime minister as the row continued over her decision to send her son to a private school, also announced £485 million would go to update about 55,000 run-down council housing this year.

No-one knows better how to transform a community than the people that live there
Tony Blair

She said the powers and funds were a step towards "making sure that the improvements we want to see are happening both inside and outside the home".

The increased powers add to areas of responsibility that resident groups already have, such as rent collection, house allocations and lettings.

"No-one knows better how to transform a community than the people that live there," Mr Blair said.

"Local people are increasingly playing a bigger role in the decisions that affect them and the areas in which they live."

Decent homes

The modernisation budget since 2002 rises to £3.7bn with the latest addition.

It will be used by 17 local authorities to bring their housing up to standard under the government's Decent Homes programme.

The government said a million council homes had been improved since 1997, with 500,000 new kitchens, 350,000 new bathrooms and 630,000 new boilers installed.

"Poor housing can make areas unpopular to live in and create a bad reputation," Ms Kelly said.

"The ongoing investment we are putting into decent homes together with the growing role for tenants in shaping their own environments is transforming not just individual homes but entire communities."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6244057.stm

Published: 2007/01/09 11:02:27 GMT

© BBC MMVII

http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=240182

January 08, 2007 21:56 PM E-mail this news to a friend Printable version of this news

Selangor Launches Info Sessions On Rufaqa

SHAH ALAM, Jan 8 (Bernama) -- The Selangor government will begin information sessions next week on the Rufaqa Corporation which it suspects of trying to revive the deviant teachings of the outlawed Al-Arqam movement.

Chairman of the State Islamic Affairs, Youth and People-Friendly Committee Datuk Abdul Rahman Palil said the information sessions would be held in the districts to explain to Muslims the deviation of faith conducted by the Rufaqa Corporation.

"We will provide clear understanding in this matter and the deviation aspects conducted by the group. We will ask former members of the group to give explanations to the people," he told a news conference after launching the information session on the Rufaqa Corporation, here.

He said today's programme was a preliminary effort to provide an explanation on the group's activities to district officers, mosque officials, tertiary students, non-governmental organisations and religious offices.

The information sessions are being held to prevent more Muslims in the state from being influenced by the group's teachings and beliefs, and eventually succumbing to deviation of faith, he said.

Last month, the Selangor Fatwa Council issued a "fatwa" (edict) outlawing the Rufaqa Corporation and all its activities after it was found to be engaged in efforts to revive the teachings of the Al-Arqam movement that was banned in 1995.

Abdul Rahman said the state government, with the help of agencies such as the police, Immigration Department, local authorities and the Registry of Societies, would proceed to seal, confiscate and close down premises of Rufaqa as it was now outlawed.

He also said that there are followers of Al-Arqam who are still with the former leader of the movement, Ashaari Muhammad, in attempts to consolidate the deviationist tendencies of the group.

Evidence of such inclination was the receipt by Abdul Rahman of a message this morning via SMS (short messaging service) asking all members of Rufaqa to hold a "solat hajat" (special prayer session) seeking disorder to befall the information session programme organised by the Selangor government.

Abdul Rahman said the SMS message, claiming that the request was from Ashaari, was sent by a member of the group identifying herself as Ibu Maznah.

-- BERNAMA

http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=240321

January 09, 2007 18:53 PM E-mail this news to a friend Printable version of this news

JPJ To Introduce E-plate To Beat Vehicle Smuggling

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 9 (Bernama) -- The Road Transport Department (JPJ) will introduce in stages from the end of this year the "e-plate", a chip-embedded vehicle registration number plate containing data on the chassis number, engine number and type of vehicle, to ward off smuggling and falsifying of registration numbers.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said the implementation would be carried out in stages, with new vehicles required to be fixed with the e-plate initially while those registered earlier would be given a grace period of between three and five years to comply.

The e-plate will be made a price-controlled item and can be issued only by authorised workshops, he told reporters, here Tuesday.

"With the e-plate, enforcement officers can verify the data of vehicles passing through border checkpoints. Now, it is difficult to determine whether their registration numbers are genuine or false," he said.

The ministry has received 13 proposals from companies interested in producing the e-plate, he said, adding that the JPJ was still studying the technology to be used in the system.

Stressing that the price of the e-plate would be nominal, he said enforcement agencies would be equipped with scanners to read the data from the chip in the e-plate.

JPJ Deputy Director-General Solah Mat Hassan said the falsifying of vehicle registration numbers would no longer be easy because the department would be able to detect if the chips had been tampered with as the data would be missing.

"When the data disappears, it is an indication that there were attempts to tamper with the data in the plate," he said, adding that the JPJ had yet to decide on the material of the e-plate.

Earlier, the Malaysian Advertising Alliance Association expressed its concern over loss of revenue among its members with the introduction of the e-plate, at its meeting with Chan.

However, Chan assured the association that some of its members would be commissioned to issue the e-plate under the supervision of the JPJ.

-- BERNAMA

Are the sharks smelling the blood in the water?

http://www.canadafreepress.com/2007/carol010807.htm

Are the sharks smelling the blood in the water?

By Dr. Steve Carol

Monday, January 8, 2007

During the past seven years, Israel has taken a series of steps -- a
series
of miscalculations -- would be better phraseology, that in retrospect
has
emboldened its enemies. The unilateral Israeli withdrawal from southern
Lebanon in May 2000 did not bring peace with that nation. To the
contrary,
it brought a terrorist organization, the Iranian-sponsored Hezbollah,
to
Israel's northern border committed to Israel's destruction.

In September 2005, Israel again unilaterally withdrew from territory,
this
time from the Gaza Strip. That move too, did not bring peace, or the
establishment of a second Palestinian state. Instead it facilitated
turning
Gaza into a Middle East "terror central" and paved the way for the
election
of Hamas, another terrorist organization whose charter vows to
eliminate
Israel.

To make matters worse, Israel turned control of the Philadelphi
corridor --
the Egypt-Gaza border -- over to Egyptian control with European
"observers"
looking on. Their mission was to monitor and control persons and
material
entering the Gaza Strip as a step towards promoting peace between the
Palestinians and Israel. Something quite different occurred. Far from
stopping or curbing the flow of weapons, munitions, money, and foreign
fighters into Gaza, the Egyptians have facilitated such entry. They
turned a
blind eye to this movement and to the numerous underground tunnels
under the
frontier that enable even more terrorists to enter to continue their
jihad
against the Jewish State.

These steps without any real Israeli reaction other than verbal
protests
have emboldened Israel's enemies to press their attack further. Rocket
fire
from Gaza commenced, with rockets of ever-increasing range and
effectiveness
striking Israeli cities, towns and villages. The Israeli response was
token
artillery shelling of empty fields. The enemy pressed further. The
kidnapping of an Israeli businessman was "rewarded" by the release of
400
terrorists from Israeli prisons. An earlier (Oct. 2000) attack on
Israeli
soldiers, who were subsequently murdered by Hezbollah, elicited no
Israeli
response. Their murdered bodies were finally recovered in Oct. 2004 but
only
in exchange for over 400 live terrorists. Israel's willingness to
release
large numbers of terrorist prisoners with blood on their hands sends
the
unmistakeable message that killing Jews no longer even guarantees
imprisonment for any length of time.

No doubt that act encouraged last summer's twin terrorist attacks on
Israeli
soldiers both along the Gaza frontier and along Israel's northern
border
with Lebanon. Along the Gaza frontier the terrorists killed two Israeli
soldiers, seriously wounded a third, and took alive, a fourth. In the
north,
terrorists killed eight Israeli soldiers and seized two others. The
three
Israelis taken are still in captivity and presumed alive, though no
evidence
has been produced. Haggling continues as to how many terrorists should
be
exchanged for the Israeli soldiers, with numbers being estimated from
900 to
over 1,400.

Israel's poor performance in the Iranian-encouraged and sponsored war
that
erupted as a result of these attacks has empowered Islamofascist
jihadists
across the Middle East. They sense the Jewish state is faltering, being
increasingly isolated, becoming marginalized by the U.S. State
Department
and threatened by the Iraq Study Group Report. The latter calls for
Israeli
unilateral territorial concessions to continue in Judea-Samaria
including
Jerusalem (that the Arabs call the "West Bank"), and the Golan Heights.
Such
appeasement does nothing more than further encourage Israel's foes.
Israel's
previous deterrent capabilities seem rapidly to be disappearing.

Now, even Israel's Arab population has come forth calling for Israel to
become a bi-national state, to even change its flag and national
anthem.
Israeli Arab Members of Knesset have openly visited an enemy capital,
Damascus, Syria, and endorsed the activities of Hezbollah. They
encourage
Israeli Arabs -- most of whom consider themselves Palestinian first and
Israeli last -- to emulate the tactics of Hezbollah and Hamas. On Jan.
5,
2007, another Israeli Arab MK, Mohammad Barakeh urged the Palestinians
to
cease their internal feuding in Gaza, and unite against Israel.

Even a nation formally at peace with Israel -- Egypt -- has shown its
true
colors. The situation between the two nations has been described by
many as
a "cold peace." "Cold War" would be a more apt description. The
Egyptian
media and their educational system continue to turn out vehement
anti-Semitic propaganda directed at the Jewish State. The Egyptian
armed
forces, largely equipped with U.S.-made weaponry (thanks to the largess
of
US aid) trains for a war against the named "enemy" -- Israel. Now
encouraged
by Israeli unilateral territorial concessions, Egypt has joined those
threatening Israel's sovereignty. In the last week of December 2006,
members
of the Egyptian Parliament openly debated and called for the Israeli
return
of Umm Rashrash to Arab control. Since 1948, Umm Rashrash, then an
isolated
police post -- has been known as the city of Eilat, Israel's southern
port
on the Gulf of Eilat, what the Arabs call the Gulf of Aqaba. The
debate,
revolved not about whether Eilat is Israeli or Egyptian, but rather
whether
the site is Egyptian or Palestinian!

Sensing Israel's national malaise, its apparent lack of national will
to
take the long-overdue necessary basic steps to ensure its survival, the
sharks -- Israel's enemies foreign and domestic -- smell the blood in
the
water. They are circling ever closer, prepared to move in for the final
kill
-- when they sense and choose the moment. The scene is eerily
reminiscent of
the dark days of late May 1967 as the Arab world mobilized for the
final
onslaught against Israel. In October 1973, Israel saw a similar set of
circumstances. In the earlier case, Israel pre-emptively struck to save
itself. In the latter case, Israel waited and nearly lost everything
when
the Arab attack was launched. Israel now, must return to the tactics of
the
past that worked so successfully in June 1967. It must regain a
deterrent
capability; it must demonstrate its will, its strength and its ability
to
survive.

http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news/?fr=yalerts-keyword&c=&p=gun+at+school&ei=utf-8

1. 10-Year-Old Charged In School Gun Case Open this result in new window
WLEX-TV Lexington - 1 hour, 25 minutes ago
Nicholasville Police have charged a 10-year-old student at Warner Elementary with bringing a firearm to school Monday morning. The gun, a .25 caliber hand gun, was allegedly in the student's book bag when it fell out as he was getting other items out of the bag.
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2. School Official Unfazed By School Shooting Open this result in new window
WLWT ChannelCincinnati.com via Yahoo! News - 2 hours, 47 minutes ago
A teenager is in custody on felonious assault charges after firing a gun in school, and the assistant principal and target of the shooter spoke about safety Monday.
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3. Police charge 16-year-old boy after gun fired inside high school Open this result in new window
Akron Beacon Journal - Jan 09 12:29 AM
A ninth-grade student at Taft High School was arrested Monday after he fired two shots in a hallway, a spokeswoman for Cincinnati Public Schools said. No one was injured.
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4. Kindergartner Brings Unloaded Gun To School Open this result in new window
The Morning News - Jan 09 12:43 AM
JONESBORO -- A kindergartner took an unloaded .22-caliber handgun to school belonging to his mother, authorities said Wednesday.
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5. Two Kennett High students to be charged in BB gun shooting Open this result in new window
The News Journal - 1 hour, 26 minutes ago
KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. — Two Kennett High School seniors suspended last month after shooting a BB gun in the parking lot have returned to classes, but Police Chief Albert McCarthy said they will still face charges. The two teenagers were reportedly handling a loaded BB gun when it discharged and a pellet struck a female student in the face. School board member Nick Perigo said the two were suspended ...
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6. Police chief says two students to be charged in BB gun shooting Open this result in new window
WFMJ Youngstown - 1 hour, 11 minutes ago
KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. Two Kennett High School seniors who were suspended last month after shooting a B-B gun in the parking lot have returned to classes.
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7. Chapin High student charged with having a gun at school Open this result in new window
WIS News 10 Columbia - Jan 08 5:00 AM
(Chapin) January 6, 2006 - A Lexington County Sheriff's Department deputy who works as a school resource officer at Chapin High School arrested and charged a 15-year-old male student with possessing a .22-caliber revolver on school grounds Friday.
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8. Shots Fired in Cincinnati High School Open this result in new window
WTOL 11 Toledo - Jan 08 3:03 PM
The 16-year-old boy pulled a gun in the cafeteria of the school about 11 a.m., a spokeswoman said.
Save

9. Shooting suspect allegedly had gun at school before Open this result in new window
Seattle Times - Jan 06 12:17 AM
A teenager accused of shooting a fellow student at Foss High School had previously bought and sold firearms and had even brought a gun to...
Save

10. Shots fired in Cincinnati high school, but no one hurt Open this result in new window
WFMJ Youngstown - Jan 08 1:36 PM
CINCINNATI A ninth-grade student at Taft High School in Cincinnati has been arrested after school officials said he fired two shots in a hallway. A spokeswoman says the 16-year-old boy pulled a gun in the cafeteria, and an assistant principal tried to wrestle it away.
Save

Russia Halts Oil Deliveries to Germany

SPIEGEL ONLINE - January 8, 2007, 03:34 PM

URL: http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,458401,00.html

http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,458401,00.html

ENERGY WARS

In an apparent escalation of a gas and oil dispute with Belarus, Russia
on Monday temporarily halted oil deliveries to Germany. By shutting off
the Druzhba pipeline, Moscow cut off the source of 20 percent of
Germany's oil imports.

The conflict between Moscow and Minsk over energy prices worsened on
Monday, with potentially serious consequences for Western Europe. Russian
pipeline operator Transneft shut down its Druzhba pipeline, which is
the source of 20 percent of Germany's oil imports.

Transneft has accused Belarus of illegally tapping oil from the Druzhba
pipeline, whose name translates as "friendship". Russian news agency
RIA Novosti quoted Transneft chief Simon Vainshtock as saying that the
company had stopped oil transports through the pipeline -- which is used
to export oil to Poland and Germany -- during the night. The company
said it is currently seeking alternative routes for transporting oil to
Poland and Germany, but did not provide any information on when the
pipeline might be reopened.

The Druzhba pipeline is an enormously important part of Germany's
energy supply. Of the total of 112 million tons of oil that are consumed in
Germany each year, 20 percent travel through the pipeline.

"I view the closure of the important Druzhba pipeline with concern,"
German Economics Minister Michael Glos said Monday. "I expect the
deliveries through the pipeline to resume completely as soon as possible."

"Druzhba is very relevant for Germany," a spokesperson for the
Association of the German Petroleum Industry told SPIEGEL ONLINE. Most German
oil imports from Russia travel through the pipeline. The only
alternative would be through tanker deliveries, the spokesperson said, but this
would cover "only a small portion" of the lost oil. According to the
association, there are no other pipelines available to do the job.

Poland's Economics Ministry also confirmed that oil supplies had been
interrupted through the Druzhba pipeline on Monday morning. Germany's
Economics Ministry confirmed similar trouble.

A spokesperson for European Union Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs
said the European Commission in Brussels will investigate the
interruption of oil supplies. "We have contacted the Russian and Belarussian
authorities and demanded an urgent and detailed explanation for this
interruption," spokesman Ferran Tarradellas Espuny said.

In the short term, however, physical shortages aren't expected because
Germany has strategic oil reserves that can last up to 130 days and
Poland has at least 70 days' worth.

Earlier on Monday, deputy Polish economy minister Piotr Naimski told
Polish TV station TVN24 that the pipeline had been shut off because of
the ongoing energy dispute between Minsk and Moscow. Russia dramatically
increased gas prices on Jan. 1 and acquired a controlling interest in
Belarussian natural gas pipeline operator Beltransgas. In addition, the
Russian government imposed an export duty of $180 per ton on petroleum.

The government in Minsk responded by promptly applying a â‚¬34 per ton
transit fee for Russian oil exports to Western Europe. So far,
Transneft has refused to pay the tax.

Ernst Uhrlau, president of Germany's foreign intelligence service, the
BND, said the pipeline outage on Monday underscored the importance of
energy security for Germany. Uhrlau said it was important to gather and
analyze information about conflicts between states affected in order to
try to prevent repeats of the current crisis.

dsl/wal/reuters/dpa/afp

Shin Bet: 14 percent of suicide bombers had Israeli citizenship

Shin Bet: 14 percent of suicide bombers had Israeli citizenship
By Gideon Alon, Haaretz Correspondent
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/810936.html

38 of the 272 suicide bombings in Israel (roughly 14 percent)
were carried out by terrorists that had received Israeli
citizenship in the context of family reunification, a Shin Bet
official told the Knesset Internal Affairs and Environment
Committee on Monday.

The committee met Monday in order to discuss the extension of a
temporary law that prevents family reunification between
Palestinian residents of the West Bank and Gaza and Israeli Arabs
due to security reasons.

The Shin Bet official said the figures show it is imperative that
the government extend the temporary law, which will expire
January 16.

Deputy Attorney General Mike Blass also said it is absolutely
necessary to extend the law, because security threats have not
decreased. Justice Ministry attorney Yochi Gansin said there has
been an increase in the involvement of women in terrorist
attacks, including married women, widows, and educated women.

Nearly all of the MKs who participated in the deliberations were
harshly critical of calls to extend the temporary law. The
committee's chairman, Labor MK Raleb Majadele, demand the
committee be presented with statistics on the involvement in
terror of Palestinians who received entry permits, and not just
those who received citizenship as a result of family unification.

Meretz Chairman Yossi Beilin called the law "a terrible law, a
draconian law that has no place in the book of laws," while
Hadash MK Dov Khenin said: "It is a bad law that harms human and
civil rights."

Ra'am-Ta'al MK Ahmed Tibi said the "rationale behind the law is
not security but demographics."

Attorney Oded Peler from the Association for Civil Rights in
Israel said the association opposes extending the law, saying it
constitutes collective punishment, blatantly violates
individuals' constitutional rights to personal freedom, dignity,
equality, and privacy, and harms family life.

This is the fourth time the Knesset has been asked to extend the
temporary law.

In the summer of 2005, the law was amended allow Palestinian
males over the age of 35, and women over the age of 25, to begin
the family reunification process. In addition, the amendments
expanded the army's authority to grant entry permits for periods
over six months for the purpose of medical treatment.

In May, an expanded High Court of Justice panel approved the
temporary law in a 6-5 vote. The court determined, however, that
arrangements must be put into place in order to put greater
emphasis on humanitarian concerns.

Among the dissenting votes was former Supreme Court president
Aharon Barak, who argued that the "worthwhile objective of
increasing security does not sanctify serious harm to the lives
of thousands of Israeli citizens."

The new version of the law will change the response to
humanitarian exceptions. For instance, the interior minister will
determine the maximum annual quota of individuals that will
receive entry permits for humanitarian reasons on the basis of a
professional committee's recommendation.

In such cases, the Palestinian individuals in question may be
granted not only entry permits, but also may be given temporary
resident status, which will allow them to work legally.

The new version of the law would also grant the interior minister
the authority to reject any citizenship request filed by
residents of Iran, Iraq, Syria, or Lebanon.

Peace Index Poll: 69.5% Palestinians would destroy Israel if could, 53% oppose evacuating most of the Jewish settlements for full peace agreement

[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: This month's Peace Index poll provides important
insight for those wanting to interpret polls. The same Israeli who want to
negotiate,etc. don't think much will come from it = the reason that they
support certain activities is for other reasons than the stated purpose of
the activity (for example, they may support talks becuase they think it will
keep Washington happy).

From the standpoint of the policy debate, with 69.5% of Israeli Jews
convinced that the Palestinians would destroy Israel if they could, it is
clear that the primary focus for opponents of retreat proposals should be
the security ramifications.]

THE EVENS PROGRAM IN MEDIATION THE TAMI STEINMETZ CENTER
AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION FOR PEACE RESEARCH

Peace Index: December 2006
Prof. Ephraim Yaar and Prof. Tamar Hermann

The education minister's decision to have the Green Line marked on maps in
schoolbooks, and the controversy it sparked, led us to reexplore this month
the Israeli Jewish public's views on the future of the settlements and
relations with the Palestinians. In keeping with the Education Committee of
the Knesset, and unlike the minister's position, the rate of those
preferring that the Green Line not be marked on the maps is higher than the
rate of those who agree with her. Likewise, even though a considerable
majority of the Jewish public realizes that it is impossible to reach a
peace agreement with the Palestinians without evacuating most of the Jewish
settlements in the territories, only a minority supports such an evacuation
and an even smaller minority thinks the Palestinians would sign a peace
treaty in return. At the same time, opinions are divided on the government's
recent decision to expand some settlements in the territories so that they
can absorb evacuees from the Gaza Strip. That is, at least some of the
opponents of an evacuation oppose a further expansion of settlements,
apparently out of worry of aggravating relations with the Palestinians.

In other aspects of relations with the Palestinians, too, there is a certain
ambivalence in the public's positions, resembling or perhaps influenced by
the government's policy on the issue. Despite the prevailing assessments
that most of the Palestinians would destroy the state of Israel if they
could and that the recent decline in terror attacks was caused first and
foremost by preventive Israeli actions and not by Palestinian measures, we
found sweeping support in the Jewish public for holding contacts like the
recent meeting between Olmert and Abu Mazen. Indeed, a clear-albeit
smaller-majority says that if Hamas were to free Gilad Shalit, Israel should
agree to talk with its leaders as well.

The execution of Saddam Hussein was a source of satisfaction for the
majority of the Israeli Jewish public, and the majority also thinks it was
an appropriate measure that will increase the chances of regional calm.

With the onset of the new secular year, it appears that the Jewish public
tends to be optimistic about what it will bring for the world and for
Israel, and still more for their own personal fortunes.

Those are the main findings of the Peace Index survey for December 2006 that
was carried out on 1-2 January 2007.
Exactly half the public opposes the education minister's decision to start
marking the Green Line on schoolbook maps while 38% support it (the rest
have no clear opinion on the matter). As expected, the support runs very
high among Meretz voters-78%, and Labor voters-69%. Kadima voters are
divided on the question. Among voters for the rest of the parties, opponents
have a clear majority. We checked, therefore, current views about the
territories beyond the Green Line. It turns out that a clear majority of
59.5% think or are sure that it is now impossible to reach peace with the
Palestinians without evacuating a majority of the Jewish settlements in the
territories; 16% are not sure or have no opinion on the issue; and only
about one-quarter think or are sure that peace can be reached even without
dismantling most of the settlements. Nevertheless, 53% oppose evacuating
most of the Jewish settlements in the territories for a full peace agreement
and only 34% favor it (the rest have no clear opinion or no opinion on the
subject). This opposition could be rooted in the widespread view-68%-that
even dismantling most of the settlements would not suffice for the
Palestinians to sign a full peace agreement with Israel. A cross-section of
the two questions-readiness for a mass evacuation and assessment of the
chances that the Palestinians would be satisfied-shows that both among
supporters and opponents of an evacuation, a majority thinks it would not be
enough to bring the Palestinians to sign a full peace agreement with Israel.
As expected, this majority is slightly smaller among the supporters of an
evacuation.

Despite the reservations about an evacuation, a majority of the public does
not back the government's decision to expand certain settlements so that
they can absorb evacuees from the Gaza Strip. On this question the opinions
are split with, in fact, a slight advantage for the opponents: 41% favor an
expansion and 45% oppose it, apparently out of concern about aggravating
relations with the Palestinians. A segmentation of the responses by voting
for the Knesset shows a clear distinction between Left and Right.
Eighty-nine percent of Meretz voters and 84% of Labor voters oppose an
expansion. A majority-56%-of Kadima voters are against it while 36% support
it. In all the other parties, a majority of voters favor it.

This month we returned to the question we asked many times in the past about
the basic intentions of the Palestinians. This time, too, a clear
majority-69.5%-said that if they could, the Palestinians would destroy the
state of Israel. Here we should note that since 1994 there have been only
small fluctuations on this question, between two-thirds and three-quarters,
compared to the volatility of events. Indeed, a majority of members of all
parties except Meretz see this as the Palestinians' intention. Among Meretz
voters, 33% currently think the Palestinians would destroy Israel if they
could, 23% oppose this view, and 44% do not know.

Not surprisingly, then, when asked what has caused the decrease in terror
attacks in recent times, the majority-42%-ascribe it to the preventive
measures by the Israeli security forces and only 29% to an intentional
avoidance by the Palestinians for their own reasons. Ten percent attribute
equal importance to both factors, 3% to neither of them, and the rest have
no clear opinion.

Yet, at the same time, 70% favor having contacts with the Palestinians such
as the meeting Prime Minister Olmert recently held with Palestinian
president Abu Mazen (only 21% oppose such contacts and the rest have no
definite view). Moreover, a clear majority-58%-also favor contacts with
Hamas leaders if the organization frees abducted soldier Gilad Shalit (37%
oppose this and the rest have no opinion on the matter). Not surprisingly,
there is congruence though not identity between support for contacts with
the Authority and support for contacts with Hamas. Among those who support
meetings like the one between Olmert and Abu Mazen, 66% also favor
negotiations with Hamas and 33% oppose them. Among those who oppose the
meeting between Olmert and Abu Mazen, however, only 37% support contacts
with Hamas and 58.5% are against them.
We wanted to know how Israelis felt about last week's execution of former
Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Although those who were satisfied with the
hanging have the edge, it is not a matter of happiness across the board.
Some 19% reported that they were very happy, 27% that they were moderately
happy, 13.5% moderately unhappy, and 13% were not happy at all. About
one-fourth responded that the event did not affect them emotionally. As for
how this measure will influence the future of the region, 53% see it is a
positive step and 30% think it will harm regional stability.

And if we are dealing with the future, it turns out the public is quite
optimistic about the year that is just beginning. Forty-three percent think
it will be better for the world than the preceding one, 29% expect it to be
worse, and 27% say things will more or less stay the same. As for Israel,
45% foresee a better year whereas 30% predict a worse one. Here, too, about
one-quarter think the situation will not change. And as for personal future,
67% see a better future for themselves in the new year, 7.5% expect a worse
one, and 26.5% do not anticipate a change for better or worse. Although the
majority are optimistic, as expected we found a clear connection between
degree of optimism and income level. Among those with a lower-than-average
income, 56% are optimistic; among those with an average one, 74%; and 78% of
those with a higher-than-average income are optimistic.

The peace indexes for this month were:
Oslo Index: 31
Negotiation Index: 47
Syria Index: 29

Note that this month only a Jewish sample was included in the survey because
of the difficulty in conducting interviews with the Arab public during the
Id al-Adha holiday.

The Peace Index project is conducted by the Tami Steinmetz Center for Peace
Research and the Evens Program in Mediation and Conflict Resolution at Tel Aviv University, headed by Prof. Ephraim Yaar and Prof. Tamar Hermann. The
telephone interviews were conducted by the B. I. Cohen Institute of Tel Aviv
University on 1-2 January 2007 and included 488 interviewees who represent
the adult Jewish population in Israel (including the territories and the
kibbutzim). The sampling error for a sample of this size is 4.5%

IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il

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