Posted on 12/17/2006 4:03:30 PM PST by DAVEY CROCKETT
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.
http://www.ocnus.net/artman/publish/article_27144.shtml
http://www.ual.es/~abecerra/ID/time3.all
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THE ROAD TO JAIL IS PAVED WITH NONOBJECTIVE ART SINCE THE
KREMLIN'S SHARPEST BARBS THESE DAYS ARE AIMED AT MODERN ART AND "
WESTERN ESPIONAGE, " IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE KGB'S COPS
WOULD TURN UP A VICTIM WHOSE WRONGDOINGS COMBINED BOTH EVILS . HE
TURNED OUT TO BE A LENINGRAD PHYSICS TEACHER WHOSE TASTE FOR ABSTRACT
PAINTING ALLEGEDLY LED HIM TO JOIN THE U.S . SPY SERVICE . POLICE SAID
THEY FIRST SPOTTED THE TEACHER, ONE RUDOLF FRIEDMAN, AS HE MUTTERED
UNCOMPLIMENTARY REMARKS ABOUT SOCIALIST REALISM WHILE STROLLING THROUGH
LENINGRAD'S RUSSIAN MUSEUM . A WELL-DRESSED U.S . TOURIST APPROACHED
HIM, ENTHUSIASTICALLY SHARED HIS SENTIMENTS, AND PROMISED TO SEND
FRIEDMAN REPRODUCTIONS OF AVANT-GARDE PAINTINGS FROM AMERICA . THE
PICTURE FRIEDMAN LIKED BEST, SAID THE COPS INDIGNANTLY, WAS A " CHAOS
OF BLACK, RED AND BLUE SPLOTCHES CAPTIONED I NEED YOU TONIGHT . " SOON,
THEY SAID, THE TEACHER WAS GETTING MESSAGES FROM THE U.S . WRITTEN IN
INVISIBLE INK . JUST AS FRIEDMAN PREPARED TO DELIVER INFORMATION " VERY
REMOTE FROM THEORETICAL ARGUMENTS ABOUT ABSTRACT ART, " POLICEMOVED IN
AND HUSTLED HIM OFF TO JAIL .
http://www.google.com/search?q=MODERN+ART+AND+%22+%0D%0A%0D%0AWESTERN+ESPIONAGE&client=netscape-pp&rls=com.netscape:en-US
http://www.google.com/search?q=THE+TEACHER+WAS+GETTING+MESSAGES+FROM+THE+U.S+.+WRITTEN+IN+%0D%0A%0D%0AINVISIBLE+INK&client=netscape-pp&rls=com.netscape:en-US
[same as last url, date would be about 1950 to 65?]
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RED CHINA FIXING FRONTIERS RED CHINA PRODUCED A SECOND SURPRISE
LAST WEEK . AT PEKING AIRPORT, PREMIER CHOU EN-LAI WELCOMED OUTER
MONGOLIA'S PREMIER YUMZHAGIIN TSEDENBAL, 46, WHO IS NORMALLY REGARDED
AS A RUSSIAN PUPPET . WHISKED OFF IN A BLACK, SOVIET-MADE LIMOUSINE
AMONG CROWDS DUTIFULLY WAVING CHINESE AND MONGOLIAN FLAGS, TSEDENBAL
WAS PUT THROUGH THE USUAL ROUTINE OF TOASTS, BANQUETS AND FULSOME
SPEECHES . THEN, ON THE SAME DAY THAT RED CHINA ANNOUNCED PLANS TO
DEFINE ITS BORDERS WITH PAKISTAN, TSEDENBAL AND CHOU EN-LAI SIGNED A
TREATY FIXING THE 2,500-MILE FRONTIER BETWEEN THEIR TWO COUNTRIES . IT
WAS ANOTHER LITTLE LESSON AIMED AT DELHI . AT THE FAREWELL BANQUET FOR
TSEDENBAL, PREMIER CHOU EN-LAI SMOOTHLY NOTED THAT RED CHINA HAD NOW
SOLVED ITS BORDER PROBLEMS ON THE BASIS OF " PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE "
WITH BURMA, NEPAL, PAKISTAN AND OUTER MONGOLIA, MAKING THE POINT THAT
ONLY TWO NEIGHBORS NOW REMAIN WITH WHOM CHINA HAS NOT MADE A BORDER
ADJUSTMENT : INDIA AND THE SOVIET UNION .
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GREAT BRITAIN THE KING'S WORD THE NAZI DUKE OF COBURG MADE
SEVERAL VISITS DURING THE MID-1930S TO HIS SECOND COUSIN, BRITAIN'S NEW
KING EDWARD VIII . ONCE, THE ROYAL COUSINS CHATTED " WITH PIPE AT THE
FIRESIDE " IN WINDSOR CASTLE, ANOTHER TIME AT TEA IN BUCKINGHAM PALACE
WITH MARY, THE QUEEN MOTHER . THE TALKS ROUSED LITTLE INTEREST AT THE
TIME, AND WERE SOON OVERSHADOWED BY THE MELODRAMA OF EDWARD'S
ABDICATION IN ORDER TO MARRY " THE WOMAN I LOVE " THE TWICE-DIVORCED
AMERICAN SOCIALITE, WALLIS WARFIELD SIMPSON . SINCE THEN, THE DUKE AND
DUCHESS OF WINDSOR, GROWING PALER AND FRAILER WITH THE PASSAGE OF
YEARS, HAVE DRIFTED FROM PORTUGAL TO THE WEST INDIES, FROM MANHATTAN TO
PARIS . THEIR PASTIMES HAVE BEEN THE TRIFLING ONES OF SHOWING UP AT
BALLS, GROWING ROSES . IS KING HERE ? " BUT LAST WEEK THE
LONG-FORGOTTEN CHATS OF THE DUKE OF COBURG WERE MAKING HEADLINES IN
LONDON NEWSPAPERS AS THE GERMAN ARISTOCRAT WAS ALSO REVEALED AS A
SPECIAL EMISSARY SENT BY HITLER TO BRITAIN BECAUSE OF HIS FAMILIAL
CONNECTIONS WITH THE ROYAL FAMILY . THE REVELATIONS APPEARED IN THE
LATEST BATCH OF CAPTURED NAZI DOCUMENTS PUBLISHED JOINTLY LAST WEEK BY
THE BRITISH, FRENCH AND U.S . GOVERNMENTS . COBURG'S " STRICTLY
CONFIDENTIAL " REPORT WAS ADDRESSED " ONLY FOR THE FUHRER AND PARTY
MEMBER V . RIBBENTROP (NO COPY), " AND SAID OF EDWARD VIII THAT " FOR
HIM A GERMAN-BRITISH ALLIANCE IS AN URGENT NECESSITY AND A GUIDING
PRINCIPLE OF BRITISH FOREIGN POLICY . " COBURG EAGERLY SUGGESTED THAT
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT FUTURE RELATIONS BE HELD BETWEEN HITLER AND BRITAIN'S
PRIME MINISTER STANLEY BALDWIN . THE KING, SAID COBURG, " REPLIED IN
THE FOLLOWING WORDS : " WHO IS KING HERE, BALDWIN OR I ? I, MYSELF,
WISH TO TALK TO HITLER AND WILL DO SO HERE OR IN GERMANY . TELL HIM
THAT, PLEASE . " BRITAIN'S INTERESTS . THE CHARGE OF PROGERMAN
SYMPATHIES HAS OFTEN BEEN MADE AGAINST THE GERMAN-DESCENDED DUKE OF
WINDSOR, MOST NOTABLY AFTER THE PUBLICATION OF OTHER CAPTURED NAZI
DOCUMENTS FIVE YEARS AGO . THE LONDON DAILY EXPRESS DISMISSED THE LATE
DUKE OF COBURG'S ACCOUNT AS HAVING NO VALUE AS EVIDENCE BECAUSE " HE
WAS A NAZI, SPREADING NEWS HE KNEW WOULD BE WELCOME IN BERLIN . " BUT
THE DAILY MIRROR'S COLUMNIST CASSANDRA SEEMED CONVINCED OF WINDSOR'S "
CLOSE AND CORDIAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE NAZI REGIME . " AT WEEK'S END
THE DUKE OF WINDSOR, NOW 68, DENIED MOST BUT NOT ALL OF THE PUBLISHED
REPORTS . " THEY GIVE A GENERALLY FALSE IMPRESSION, " HE DECLARED IN A
STATEMENT ISSUED BY HIS SECRETARY IN FRANCE, ADDING : " IT MUST BE
REMEMBERED THAT THE DUKE, WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAD THE
INTERESTS OF GREAT BRITAIN AT HEART, WAS STRIVING FOR SOME
UNDERSTANDING WITH GERMANY .
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SOUTH VIET NAM THE HELICOPTER WAR RUNS INTO TROUBLE THE
HELICOPTER HAS REVOLUTIONIZED THE UGLY LITTLE ANTI-COMMUNIST WAR IN
SOUTH VIET NAM . USING THE WHIRLYBIRDS FOR TRANSPORT, GOVERNMENT FORCES
NO LONGER REMAIN IMMOBILE IN FIXED OUTPOSTS . THEY NOW GO WHERE THE
VIET CONG GOES . SOMETIMES THIS IS NOT VERY HEALTHY, FOR THE RED
GUERRILLAS HAVE DEVELOPED TACTICS TO COUNTER THE COPTERS . IN THE EARLY
DAYS, THEY TRIED TO SHOOT THEM DOWN WITH HOMEMADE SHOTGUNS AND ANCIENT
FRENCH RIFLES ; ONE HELICOPTER EVEN RETURNED TO BASE WITH AN ARROW
STUCK IN ITS FUSELAGE . TODAY, WITH MORE PRACTICE AND AN ABUNDANT
SUPPLY OF CAPTURED U.S . WEAPONS, THE VIET CONG GANGMEN CAN MAKE THINGS
HOT FOR THE MOST SKILLED U.S . HELICOPTER PILOT . LAST WEEK THE VIET
CONG FORCES PROVED THEIR PROWESS BY SHOOTING DOWN FIVE HELICOPTERS OVER
RICE MARSHES SOUTHWEST OF SAIGON AND INFLICTING A BRUTAL DEFEAT ON THE
GOVERNMENT FORCES . LIKE SHOOTING DUCKS . THE BATTLE BEGAN AS A ROUTINE
/ SEARCH AND CLEAR " OPERATION IN A RED-INFESTED AREA NEAR THE TINY
HAMLET OF APBAC . THE STRIKE PLAN CALLED FOR TEN U.S . H-21
TROOP-CARRYING HELICOPTERS, ESCORTED BY FIVE U.S . ROCKET-FIRING HU-1A
CHOPPERS, TO FERRY 400 GOVERNMENT TROOPS TO THE DROP ZONE IN WAVES OF
100 MEN EACH . THE FIRST THREE GROUPS LANDED WITH NO GROUND FIRE FROM
THE ENEMY . BUT AS THE FOURTH LIFT FLUTTERED OVER THE PADDIES, THE
COMMUNISTS LET LOOSE WITH A BLAZE OF BULLETS FROM THE WOODS AT THE EDGE
OF THE RICE FIELD . " THE TREE LINE SEEMED TO EXPLODE WITH MACHINE-GUN
FIRE, " SAID ONE HELICOPTER PILOT . " IT WAS PURE HELL . " VIRTUALLY
MOTIONLESS, THE BANANA-SHAPED HELICOPTERS WERE HELPLESS TARGETS AT
POINT-BLANK RANGE ; FIVE OF THE HOVERING CHOPPERS WERE SHOT DOWN, AND
NINE OTHERS WERE RIDDLED BY ENEMY FIRE . ON THE GROUND, THE GOVERNMENT
FORCES WERE PINNED DOWN IN THE HAIL OF FIRE . " WHEN THOSE POOR
VIETNAMESE CAME OUT OF THE CHOPPERS, IT WAS LIKE SHOOTING DUCKS FOR THE
VIET CONG, " SAID ONE U.S . OFFICER . THE STUNNED SURVIVORS BURROWED
INTO THE SLIMY MUD OF THE PADDIES AND STAYED THERE, REFUSING TO
CONTINUE THE ASSAULT . DESPERATELY CAPTAIN KENNETH GOOD, 32, A WEST
POINTER FROM EWA BEACH, HAWAII, SOUGHT TO RALLY THE VIETNAMESE FOR A
COUNTERATTACK, BUT HE WAS STITCHED THROUGH THE NECK AND CHEST BY A
BURST FROM A VIET CONG AUTOMATIC RIFLE . THE GOVERNMENT TROOPS STAYED
PUT . AFTER EIGHT HOURS OF CONTINUOUS BOMBARDMENT, REINFORCEMENTS BEGAN
TO ARRIVE . BLASTING AWAY WITH MACHINE GUNS, GOVERNMENT ARMORED CARS
REPEATEDLY ATTACKED THE ENTRENCHED VIET CONG POSITIONS AT THE TREE LINE
AND ALONG A CANAL BORDERING THE PADDIES ; EACH TIME THEY WERE DRIVEN
BACK . OVERHEAD, GOVERNMENT PLANES POUNDED THE VIET CONG WITH BOMBS AND
NAPALM, BUT THE COMMUNISTS DID NOT BREAK . " MY GOD, WE GOT A FIX ON
ONE MACHINE-GUN POSITION AND MADE 15 AERIAL RUNS ON IT, " SAID A U.S .
ADVISER . " EVERY TIME WE THOUGHT WE HAD HIM, AND EVERY TIME THAT
DAMNED GUNNER CAME RIGHT BACK UP, FIRING . " THE OPEN WALLET . AS DUSK
FELL, THE VIET CONG SLIPPED INTO SAMPANS AND ESCAPED DOWN THE DARKENED
CANAL WITH THEIR DEAD AND WOUNDED . " EVERYTHING WE DID WENT WRONG, "
COMPLAINED A U.S . ADVISER . A BATTALION OF GOVERNMENT PARATROOPERS,
ASSIGNED THE JOB OF BLOCKING THE REDS' ESCAPE ROUTE, WAS AIRDROPPED
INTO THE WRONG POSITION . AND WHEN GOVERNMENT ARTILLERY AT LAST STARTED
TO SHELL THE WOODED VIET CONG POSITIONS, THEIR ROUNDS WERE ZEROED IN ON
THEIR OWN TROOPS, KILLED THREE OF THEIR OWN MEN . WORST OF ALL, THE
BATTERED VIETNAMESE TROOPS SHOWED LITTLE INTEREST IN PURSUING THE REDS
. INSTEAD, THEY SLOSHED THROUGH THE PADDYFIELDS, PICKING UP THEIR
CASUALTIES 68 DEAD AND 100 WOUNDED AND POKING THROUGH THE DOWNED
HELICOPTERS . ON THE CABIN FLOOR OF ONE OF THE CHOPPERS LAY THE WALLET
OF A DEAD U.S . ADVISER OPEN TO A PICTURE OF HIS WIFE AND CHILD . IN
ALL, THREE U.S . ADVISERS CAPTAIN GOOD, SERGEANT WILLIAM DEAL OF MAYS
LANDING, N.J., AND SPECIALIST 4 DONALD BRAMAN OF RADCLIFF, KY . WERE
KILLED IN THE AMBUSH, AND SIX MORE WOUNDED . THE DEAD BROUGHT TO 56 THE
NUMBER OF U.S . TROOPS KILLED SO FAR IN SOUTH VIET NAM . PIECEMEALED TO
DEATH . THE EXTENT OF THE GOVERNMENT DEFEAT UNDER CONDITIONS OF ITS OWN
CHOOSING AND THE HEAVY LOSSES SUFFERED BY THE U.S . HELICOPTERS CAUSED
HEADS TO SNAP FROM SAIGON TO WASHINGTON . UNDER ORDERS FROM PRESIDENT
KENNEDY, THE PENTAGON BEGAN TO INVESTIGATE WAYS IN WHICH THE CHOPPERS
CAN BE BETTER PROTECTED . IN SAIGON, U.S . ADVISERS ADMITTED THAT THE
DAY WAS A " MISERABLE PERFORMANCE, " BLAMED THE DEFEAT ON A " LACK OF
AGGRESSIVENESS " BY GOVERNMENT TROOPS . " THEY MOVED IN SLOWLY AND GAVE
THE VIET CONG A CHANCE TO PIECEMEAL THEM TO DEATH, " SAID ONE AMERICAN
OFFICER . STILL, U.S . ADVISERS ARE PLEASED WITH THE PROGRESS MADE BY
GOVERNMENT TROOPS OVER THE PAST YEAR . " CASUALTIES ARE INEVITABLE WHEN
YOU ARE FIGHTING A WAR, " SAID ONE . " THE VIET CONG ARE IMPROVING
THEIR ARSENAL AND TECHNIQUES . WE'RE DOING THE SAME AND ON BALANCE
WE'RE STILL WAY OUT AHEAD OF THEM .
[In the mid 1960's, Chinamen would come from Mexico and had a regular route thru the areas in the west, that had small mines, that were producing gold, they paid more than the gov did at that time.
granny]
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RUSSIA THE GOLD RUSH THE SOVIET UNION BOASTS SOME OF THE TIGHTEST
BORDER CONTROLS IN THE WORLD, BUT THEY ARE NOT TIGHT ENOUGH TO HOLD
BACK A THRIVING NETWORK OF RUSSIAN DEALERS IN CONTRABAND CURRENCY THAT
STRETCHES FROM PEKING TO PARIS AND POINTS BEYOND . LAST WEEK A
KAZAKHSTAN FACTORY OWNER WENT ON TRIAL IN ALMA ATA AFTER HE WAS NABBED
WEARING A MONEY BELT CRAMMED NOT ONLY WITH RUBLES BUT ALSO WITH FRENCH
FRANCS AND U.S . DOLLARS . IN HIS HOME WERE THREE OUNCES OF PEARLS,
2,700 ANTELOPE HORNS, WHICH THE CHINESE PRIZE FOR THEIR SUPPOSED
MEDICINAL QUALITIES, AND 22 LBS . OF GOLD, WHICH HE PLANNED TO EXPORT
TO ACCOMPLICES IN COMMUNIST CHINA . USING A MINE DETECTOR, COPS FOUND
ANOTHER CACHE OF GOLD BURIED IN THE GUTTER IN FRONT OF THE SMUGGLER'S
HOUSE . LAST MONTH ANOTHER RING OF PROSPERING FOREIGN TRADERS WAS
BROKEN UP IN THE MOSLEM SOVIET REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN . ALAS, A
RAILROAD POLICEMAN WAS STANDING ON THE PLATFORM OF TASHKENT'S STATION
WHEN COINS CLINKED AT THE FEET OF AN ELDERLY BEGGAR . STOOPING TO
INVESTIGATE, THE COP DISCOVERED THAT THE COINS WERE SOLID GOLD AND BORE
THE FACE OF CZAR NICHOLAS II . THE GAME WAS UP . SEWN INTO THE BEGGAR'S
RAGS WERE HUNDREDS OF COINS, PEARLS AND PRECIOUS STONES . THE TRAIL LED
TO FOUR OTHER GANG MEMBERS, WHOSE ILLICIT INVENTORY INCLUDED 400 LBS .
OF PRECIOUS ANILINE DYES, 220 YARDS OF SATIN, $200 IN BRITISH POUNDS,
AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF RUBLES IN STATE LOAN CERTIFICATES, RUBIES,
COINS AND MEDALS . A CROOK NAMED " BLUE EYES " WAS ALL SET TO HAUL THE
SWAG OUT BY CAR TO AFGHANISTAN . THE GANG HAD HOPED TO USE THE PROFITS
TO FINANCE A PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA . INSTEAD, THEY ALL LANDED IN A
TASHKENT JAIL, SENTENCED TO TERMS OF 10 TO 15 YEARS .
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HELP US ! " SLAM OUT OF THE SWIRLING SNOW OF A MOSCOW WINTER
MORNING LAST WEEK, 32 SHABBY PEASANTS SUDDENLY APPEARED AT THE IRON
GATES OF THE U.S . EMBASSY AT 19-21 TCHAIKOVSKY STREET, BRUSHED PAST
THE RUSSIAN GUARDS ON THE SIDEWALK, AND STRODE INSIDE . TO
FLABBERGASTED AMERICAN DIPLOMATS THEY PUT A STARTLING REQUEST : HELP
US GET OUT OF RUSSIA . THE SIX MEN, TWELVE WOMEN AND 14 CHILDREN CLAD
IN TATTERED SHEEPSKIN COATS AND BABUSHKAS WERE A FORLORN LOT WITH A
FORLORN TALE . THEY CAME FROM A SECT OF PROTESTANT PENTACOSTAL
EVANGELISTS IN THE SIBERIAN TOWN OF CHERNOGORSK, NEAR THE MONGOLIAN
BORDER 2,100 MILES TO THE EAST . OF LATE, LOCAL AUTHORITIES THERE HAD
TAKEN AWAY SEVERAL CHILDREN OF THE SECT, AND THREATENED TO IMPRISON THE
ADULT FAITHFUL . WITH THE VAGUE NOTION THAT A FOREIGN EMBASSY MIGHT
HELP THEM, THE SIBERIANS WENT BY TRAIN TO MOSCOW . NOW THEY WANTED TO
TRAVEL TO " ISRAEL " PROBABLY MEANING THE ISRAEL OF THE OLD TESTAMENT .
THE AMERICANS LISTENED SYMPATHETICALLY, BUT AMBASSADOR FOY KOHLER HAD
TO STICK TO REGULATIONS. OUT WENT A CALL TO THE SOVIET FOREIGN
MINISTRY, EXPLAINING THE SITUATION AND ASKING THAT THE PEASANTS BE
REMOVED . MEANWHILE, THE SIBERIANS WERE INVITED INTO THE EMBASSY
LUNCHROOM TO HAVE COFFEE AND CAKE . EMBARRASSED BY THE WHOLE THING, THE
U.S . OFFICIALS PREVENTED FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS FROM PHOTOGRAPHING OR
SPEAKING WITH THE VISITORS . AT LAST, A DILAPIDATED BUS DROVE INTO THE
EMBASSY COMPOUND AND BACKED UP TO THE LUNCHROOM DOOR . WITH IT CAME
SOVIET FOREIGN MINISTRY AGENTS, WHO URGED THE PEASANTS TO COME ALONG
QUIETLY . " COME NOW, LET'S NOT HAVE A DEMONSTRATION, " SAID ONE . "
WHERE WILL YOU TAKE US ? " A SIBERIAN INQUIRED . " TO A HOTEL, "
REPLIED THE OFFICIAL . " THEN WE WILL ARRANGE FOR YOU TO GO BACK HOME .
/ BY THEN, THE WOMEN WERE WAILING . ONE PEASANT YELLED, " BUT I DO NOT
WANT TO GO BACK ! THEY WILL ARREST ME AND SHOOT ME ! " TO A CLUSTER
OF NEWSMEN STANDING NEAR BY, HE CRIED, " WE ASK ALL BROTHERS AND
SISTERS WHO BELIEVE IN GOD : HELP US ! HELP US ! " THEN THE BUS
DROVE AWAY INTO THE SNOW . THE STATE DEPARTMENT LATER EXPLAINED
THAT IT IS U.S . POLICY,
AS A RULE, TO DENY ASYLUM TO FOREIGNERS IN EMBASSIES ABROAD UNLESS THE
PERSON IS IN " IMMINENT DANGER FROM MOB VIOLENCE . " JOSEF CARDINAL
MINDSZENTY, ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIMATE OF HUNGARY, WAS CONSIDERED TO
QUALIFY " UNDER EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES " WHEN HE WON SANCTUARY IN
THE U.S . LEGATION DURING THE 1956 UPRISING IN BUDAPEST, WHERE HE STILL
LIVES .
There must be 100's of stories here, I have to quit reading, but did want to add this one:
http://www.ual.es/~abecerra/ID/time3.all
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SOUTH VIET NAM RICE & RATS ONE DAY LAST JULY SERGEANT FIRST
CLASS ROQUE MATAGULAY, 31, A GUAM-BORN U.S . MILITARY ADVISER WITH A
VIETNAMESE DETACHMENT, VENTURED OUT OF HIS COMPOUND NEAR THE COASTAL
TOWN OF PHANTHIET, 90 MILES EAST OF SAIGON, ON AN OFF-DUTY HUNTING TRIP.
INSTEAD OF GAME, SERGEANT MATAGULAY RAN INTO A BAND OF COMMUNIST VIET
CONG GUERRILLAS, WAS HELD CAPTIVE UNTIL HIS RELEASE LAST MONTH . LAST
WEEK, IN HIS FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE SINCE HE WAS FREED, MATAGULAY
DEPICTED THE SPARTAN LIFE AND GRIM DEDICATION OF THE VIET CONG .
MATAGULAY SAID THAT THE VIET CONG MOVED FREELY OVER THE COUNTRYSIDE AND
THAT IN THE VILLAGES PEASANTS FREELY OFFERED REBELS FOOD AND SHELTER .
THE TYPICAL MENU FOR BOTH PRISONER AND CAPTORS WAS RICE, SALT AND FISH
OIL . RATS WERE AN OCCASIONAL DELICACY THAT BRIGHTENED THE DIET SERVED
BOTH AS RAT SOUP AND BARBECUED RODENT . THOUGH GAME WAS PLENTIFUL, THE
REDS NEVER HUNTED . " THEY WERE AFRAID TO USE UP AMMUNITION HUNTING
DEER, " SAID MATAGULAY . FOR THE FIRST SEVERAL MONTHS OF HIS CAPTIVITY,
MATAGULAY WAS TIED UP AND CONSTANTLY REMINDED THAT HE WOULD BE KILLED
ON THE SPOT IF HE MADE THE SLIGHTEST EFFORT TO ESCAPE . HE UNDERWENT NO
PHYSICAL TORTURE, INSTEAD WAS DAILY SUBJECTED TO EIGHT SOLID HOURS OF
POLITICAL INDOCTRINATION AND INTERROGATION . MATAGULAY WAS FORCED TO
LISTEN TO THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE BROADCASTS ON COMMUNIST NORTH VIET NAM'S
RADIO HANOI THREE TIMES A DAY AND WAS REGULARLY TESTED ON WHAT THEY HAD
TO SAY ABOUT THE WORLD SITUATION . OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE MADAGULAY IS A
DARKSKINNED GUAMANIAN, HIS INTERROGATORS HARPED ON THE PLIGHT OF THE
NEGROES IN THE U.S . SOUTH . AGAIN AND AGAIN, HE REFUSED TO SIGN
ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA DOCUMENTS, BUT FINALLY, WRACKED WITH MALARIA
AND WITH HIS WEIGHT DOWN FROM 185 TO 145, HE SIGNED FOUR STATEMENTS, "
WHEN I BELIEVED I WAS AT THE END OF MY PHYSICAL ENDURANCE . " THE
DOCUMENTS, WHICH MATAGULAY LATER HAD TO READ ALOUD SO THAT THE VIET
CONG COULD RECORD THEM ON TAPE, BITTERLY ATTACKED SOUTH VIET NAM'S
PRESIDENT NGO DINH DIEM AND THE U.S.'S SUPPORT FOR HIS GOVERNMENT .
LAST MONTH, TO CHEER MATAGULAY UP, THE COMMUNISTS SAID THAT THEY WERE
FIXING HIM A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS DINNER . HE NEVER GOT IT . ON CHRISTMAS
EVE THE REDS HELD A RELEASE CEREMONY, INVITED 400 SOLDIERS, PEASANTS,
WOMEN AND CHILDREN TO WITNESS A LAST ACT OF GENEROSITY TO THEIR
PRISONER . MATAGULAY THEN WAS PUT ON A BUS AND SENT BACK TO FREEDOM .
[1999]
http://www.fas.org/irp/news/1999/01/990127-in.htm
Bin Ladin and Iraq
Iraq News, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1999
By Laurie Mylroie
The central focus of Iraq News is the tension between the considerable, proscribed WMD capabilities that Iraq is holding on to and its increasing stridency that it has complied with UNSCR 687 and it is time to lift sanctions. If you wish to receive Iraq News by email, a service which includes full-text of news reports not archived here, send your request to Laurie Mylroie .
I. OSAMA BIN LADIN URGES REVENGE FOR IRAQ STRIKES, AP, DEC 26
II. CORRIERE DELLA SERA, BIN LADIN AND IRAQ, DEC 28
III. AL WATAN AL ARABI, BIN LADIN AND IRAQ, JAN 1
IV. AL MAJALLAH, BIN LADIN AND IRAQ, JAN 10
V. DAILY TELEGRAPH, THE KIDNAPPINGS IN YEMEN AND IRAQ, JAN 3
VI. AL ITTIHAD, KUWAIT ARRESTS IRAQ-TRAINED FUNDAMENTALISTS, JAN 12
VII. AL MAJALLAH, BIN LADIN AND IRAQ, JAN 22
At 9 PM EST tonight CBS' new program "60 Minutes II" will feature a
report on Iraq's continuing nuclear threat and on inspections by the
International Atomic Energy Agency in Iraq. The Nuclear Control
Institute participated in the preparation of the report and urges all to
tune in.
The Iraqi Nat'l Assembly will conclude its two-day extraordinary
session tomorrow. The next "Iraq News" will provide an update on the
ongoing, vituperative exchanges between Iraq and other Arabs.
Meanwhile, it seemed useful to review an issue that arose following
last month's US/UK air strikes-Iraq, Osama bin Ladin, and Muslim
Fundamentalists. That question received far more attention in the
Arabic press, than it did in the US press, where Newsweek, Jan 11 [see
"Iraq News," Jan 6] seemed alone in addressing the issue.
On Dec 26, as AP reported, Al Sharq Al Awsat published an interview
with bin Ladin in which he said, "'The British and the American people
loudly declared their support for their leaders' decision to attack
Iraq. ' . . . This made it 'the duty of Muslims to confront, fight and
kill' Britons and Americans."
A series of articles followed in the international, particularly
Arabic, press about links between Iraq and bin Ladin. Some party/ies
wanted to put the story out, it seems. Some information in the articles
is known and reliable, like the role of Hassan Turabi, head of Sudan's
Islamic movement, in putting Osama bin Ladin in contact with Iraqi
intelligence, during bin Ladin's residence in Khartoum. But other
information would not likely be known to outsiders and seems invented.
That said, on Dec 28, the Italian paper, Corriere della Sera, reported
"Saddam Husayn and Osama Bin Ladin have sealed a pact. Faruq Hijazi,
the former director of the Iraqi secret services and now the country's
ambassador to Turkey, held a secret meeting with the extremist leader on
21 December. . . . Hijazi reiterated Iraq's amenability to offering
shelter to Osama and to his mujahedin, 'You will always be a welcome
guest. . . We cannot forget our debt of gratitude. This was a reference
to the establishment last February of the 'International Islamic Front
against the Crusaders and the Jews,' announced by Osama in the midst of
one of the periodic crises between Iraq and the United Nations. . . The
same ritual was reenacted during the most recent crisis. The day after
the air strikes, Osama called an international news conference and
issued a new statement, including threats that neither Washington nor
London are taking lightly. . . . "
On Jan 1, the Paris-based, Al Watan Al Arabi, reported that in late
Oct, 98, an Iraqi and Sudanese visited bin Ladin in Afghanistan.
"Informed intelligence sources . . . were convinced that it was part of
a new plan for cooperation and coordination, or more accurately a
renewed one, between Iraq, bin Ladin and Sudan. Information available
to these sources confirmed that bin-Ladin began to establish close ties
with Iraq at least five years ago, specifically when the leader of
Muslim extremists chose to reside in Sudan with the blessing and
protection of Dr. Hassan al-Turabi, leader of the National Islamic
Movement. These sources asserted that they received in the past few
years confirmed and detailed information that cooperation between bin
Ladin and Iraq entered 'an important and grave stage' through their
cooperation in the field of producing chemical and biological weapons.
"Al Watan al-Arabi's information indicated that several western
diplomatic and security sources, including European ones, which have
good relations with Sudan, warned in secret reports they sent at the end
of last year that Iraq, Sudan, and bin Ladin were cooperating and
coordinating in the field of chemical weapons. These reports said that
several chemical factories were built in Sudan. They were financed by
bin Ladin and supervised by Iraqi experts and technicians following a
deal between Baghdad, Khartoum, and bin-Ladin. . . .
"Informed sources asserted that the meeting was extremely serious.
The two sides laid down the details of the biggest act of cooperation
and coordination between the extremist Islamic organizations and Baghdad
for confronting the United States, the common enemy. This information
indicated that the meeting focused on the ways with which Iraq could
help the germ and chemical weapons laboratories.
A second meeting was held later in which "Bin Ladin stressed to the
Iraqi envoys that he could reach areas, which the Iraqi intelligence
could not reach. He referred to the spread of his cells in the Arab
countries and the world and focused on his ability to penetrate Arab and
Islamic countries through fundamentalist groups."
On Jan 10, the Saudi-financed, London-based, weekly, Al-Majallah,
reported that in Oct 98, an Iraqi intelligence official met with the
Taliban leader, Mullah Omar, Osama bin Ladin, and Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri,
leader of Egypt's Jihad movement. In Dec, according to Al-Majllah, the
Iraqi embassy in Islamabad held a series of meetings with "leaders of a
number of Pakistani fundamentalist movements and elements from the
Taleban, with the knowledge of Pakistani military intelligence . . . On
21 December a high-ranking Iraqi diplomat normally based in Turkey
visited Taleban leader Mullah Omar's residence in Kandahar, then headed
for Khowat where he met with bin Ladin and al-Zawahiri. . . . [He]
affirmed to his Afghan and Arab audience Iraq's willingness to provide
financial, logistic, political and informational support for the Taleban
and the Afghan Arabs."
On Jan 3, the Daily Telegraph, reported on the UK/US investigation
into the Dec 29 kidnapping of 16 UK, US, and Australian tourists and
fatal shooting of four, by fundamentalists in Yemen. The Telegraph said
that authorities suspected that the Anglo-Saxons "were kidnapped as
'direct retribution' for last month's air strikes on Iraq, and not to
achieve the release of local Islamic militants as Yemeni authorities
claimed originally. The detectives suspect that the tourists may have
been kidnapped to 'shield' Saddam Hussein from further bombing raids,
with a warning that they would die if Iraq was attacked again."
On Jan 12, Al-Ittihad (Abu Dhabi) reported, "Kuwaiti security
authorities have received an important report indicating that there are
hundreds of 'Arab Afghans' receiving advanced military training at
al-Nasiriyah District in the south of Iraq. . . . The 'Arab Afghans' are
being trained within the context of 'an alliance' struck recently
between the Iraqi Government and an international network of militants.
Kuwaiti security authorities are said to have been able to dent that
alliance when they smashed a 'subversive cell' made up of 25 Egyptians,
which operated on Kuwaiti territory. . . It emerged from investigations
that there is an agreement in place between Iraq's intelligence services
and a front comprising six militant organizations whose ranks included
former fighters in the Afghan war effort. . . .
"'Al-Ra'y al-Amm,' a Kuwaiti daily newspaper, said yesterday that the
country's security police had rounded up 25 people . . . The daily said
that the 25 were working on behalf of Iraq and that along with them were
seized leaflets urging that the Arabs rise against the Americans. The
fliers also featured words of incitement against the regime in Kuwait.
The arrested suspects confessed to being members of a cell that had been
organized by the Iraqi regime to engage in activity designed to hurt the
stability and security of the state of Kuwait. . .
"'Al-Ittihad' has come by a copy of the leaflets that were caught with
the 25 Egyptians. One of them led with this sentence: 'A statement from
the Liberation Party-the Province of Kuwait.' The leaflet urged the
population of Kuwait to drop their arms and refrain from fighting
against the Iraqis considering that 'your taking up arms against your
fellow Muslims who come from other nations in point of fact has nothing
to do with jihad because it is a sin for a Muslim to do battle against
other Muslims. . . ."
Finally, Al Watan Al Arabi, Jan 22, suggested that Saddam's Jan 6 Army
Day speech, calling on Arabs to overthrow their governments, "was made
in the context of a grand and well-thought-out plan designed so as to
turn the clock back to a climate not unlike the run-up to operation
'Desert Storm.' . . . The Iraqi president is said to have huddled with
his sons Uday and Qusay in late November, with the private session
ending in the three making up their mind to fight their last battle that
would see the Iraqi leader join a common cause and join forces with all
extremist groups, Islamic and otherwise, who are known for their
hostility to the United States. The scenario drawn up by President
Saddam Husayn and his sons calls for that alliance to launch a global
terrorist war against the great Satan, the United States, and its
allies. The campaign would pursue, in the words of the Iraqi president,
an uncompromising and scorched earth policy. . . .
"It is said that the contribution made by Iraqi Army soldiers and
security personnel in the war in southern Sudan and in south Yemen has
had the effect of fostering Baghdad's relations with the extremists who
happened to be there in Sudan and Yemen, both of which are 'allies' of
Iraq. In fact, Hasan al-Turabi and Ali Abdallah Salih, the president of
Yemen, have continued to play a role on behalf of Iraq, winning over
Islamic groups for the Baghdad government. Yemen had been regarded as a
rearguard base for those extremists who came from various nationalities.
Yemen had been using them as much to advance its own national interests
as to help Iraq, which viewed the presence of those militants on Yemen's
soil as leverage with which it could bring pressure to bear on Gulf
states. The abduction of 16 Western hostages a few weeks ago by the
Aden-Abyan Islamic Army was to retaliate for the US-UK air strikes
against Iraq. . . .
"The intelligence sources saw in the arrest of 25 Islamists in Kuwait
for their involvement in the distribution of leaflets hostile to the
Americans a fresh warning that this new front had actually begun to
activate its cells in concert with Islamic groups based in a number of
countries. . . .
Finally, al Watan al Arabi described events of the first half of
1993. "In the month of June of that year, the Iraqi President Saddam
Husayn surprised the world when he made the threat in response to the
military strike carried out against Iraq then [the US cruise missile
attack on Iraqi intelligence headquarters] that he would unleash
'terrorist attacks against the United States and its allies. . . . The
threats made by Iraq to lead terror attacks against US and Zionist and
other interests coincided with the investigation into the bombing of the
World Trade Center in New York in the month of February 1993. Several
months later, the investigation led to the discovery of a threat linking
Islamic extremists with the Iraqi regime. That was confirmed when it
emerged that the key suspect, Ramzi Yusuf, had sought refuge in Iraq
after the New York blast and remained in Iraq for a number of months."
Indeed, some Arab governments suspect/are aware that Iraq was behind
the Trade Center bombing. One of those involved in the bombing, Mahmud
Abu Halima, an Egyptian fundamentalist, fled to his family home in the
Nile delta, where he was quickly found and arrested by Egyptian
authorities. Under harsh interrotgation, Abu Halima told them that two
Iraqis had participated in the bombing, one of whom had been the
mastermind, (Abu Halima knew Ramzi Yousef as an Iraqi.) It was only two
years after the Gulf war and the Egyptians understood that Iraq was
behind the bomb. As one official Egyptian source told Newsweek's Chris
Dickey, they didn't understand why the US did nothing about it.
But the Clinton administration did, or thought it did, although its
response to the suspected Iraqi role in the Trade Center bombing was
related to events elsewhere, including in NYC. The Trade Center bombing
was followed by an FBI undercover operation, carried out in the spring
of 93, aimed at the local fundamentalists. A Sudanese emigre picked up
the bait to make jihad. His original target was a Manhattan armory.
But he had two "friends" at Sudan's UN mission--intelligence officers.
They suggested he target the UN instead and offered to provide
diplomatic plates to get a bomb laden van into the UN parking garage.
They also suggested adding another target, New York's federal building.
Two tunnels were added as well.
When the FBI had the evidence it needed--the conspirators on
videotape, mixing what they thought was a bomb--the FBI arrested them,
on Jun 24. Two days later, Clinton attacked Iraqi intelligence
headquarters. Publicly, he said the attack was retaliation for Saddam's
attempt to kill George Bush. But Clinton also meant it for the two New
York bombing conspiracies.
NY FBI, like the Egyptians, suspected Iraq was behind the Trade Center
bomb. And US authorities knew of Sudan's involvement in the second
plot, as the FBI was running it. The White House recognized that Sudan
alone didn't make sense. US-Sudanese relations were not that hostile.
The White House thought in terms of fundamentalism and thought Sudan was
fronting for Iran.
But Iran had no reason to attack the UN. After all, the 1988 UNSC
cease-fire that ended the Iraq-Iran war determined that Iraq was the
aggressor in that war and declared that Iraq owed Iran large
reparations.
But who hates the UN more than anyone else? And also has good
relations with Sudan? Of course, Iraq. But the White House did not
understand that.
When Clinton struck Iraqi intelligence headquarters, Jun 26, he
believed that the attack would stop Saddam from carrying out any more
terrorist attacks, while it would serve as warning to Sudan and Iran.
Thus, Tom Friedman reported, in an article dated Jun 27, that appeared
in the NYT, Jun 28, "White House officials said today that their only
regret about the missile attack on the Iraqi intelligence headquarters
was that there was no CNN crew there to broadcast the event live so it
could be watched in the Sudan, Iran and other countries suspected of
involvement in terorism. Administration officials say they have no
conclusive evidence that the Sudanese or Iranian intelligence services
were involved with the Muslims recently arrested in the New York area
and accused of plotting to bomb the United Nations and other sites. But
they said that when the White House was planning the strike in Baghdad,
it had not only the Iraqi audience in mind, but also the intelligence
services of countries suspected of sponsoring terrorism, like the
bombing of the World Trade Center in New York."
Thus, as the prominent Iraqi journalist, Salah Mukhtar, wrote in Al
Jumhuriyah, Jul 3, "It is . . . a wrong conclusion on Clinton's part
that striking the intelligence headquarters will ease the Iraqis' anger.
[ED: ie stop Iraq's terrorism, which is driven by anger]. This also
confirms Clinton's weakness and naivete."
Or as "Iraq News" told then NSC adviser on the Middle East, Martin
Indyk, in Dec 94, "One strike on an empty building at night is not going
to stop Saddam forever."
http://www.fas.org/irp/news/1999/01/990127-china-net.htm
DATE= JANUARY 27, 1999 TYPE= EDITORIAL NUMBER= 0-08167 TITLE= EDITORIAL: CHINA AND THE INTERNET
CONTENT=
THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR BROADCAST JANUARY 27, 1999.
ANNCR: THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.
VOICE: THIS MONTH, A SHANGHAI COURT SENTENCED THE OWNER OF A COMPUTER SOFTWARE COMPANY TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON FOR SENDING CHINESE E-MAIL ADDRESSES TO AN INTERNET PUBLICATION IN THE UNITED STATES. COMPUTER ENGINEER LIN HAI WAS ARRESTED ON CHARGES OF SUBVERSION LAST MARCH AFTER SELLING THIRTY-THOUSAND ADDRESSES OF CHINESE COMPUTER USERS TO V-I-P REFERENCE. V-I-P REFERENCE IS AN ONLINE PUBLICATION RUN BY U.S.-BASED CHINESE DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS.
CHINESE AUTHORITIES PRODUCED NO EVIDENCE TO JUSTIFY ALLEGATIONS OF SUBVERSION. IF PRESS REPORTS ARE ACCURATE, LIN HAI WAS CHARGED AND SENTENCED MERELY FOR COMMUNICATING PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION THROUGH THE INTERNET FOR PEACEFUL, NON-VIOLENT PURPOSES.
CHINA SHOULD CEASE ITS EFFORTS TO BLOCK, FILTER AND CENSOR INTERNET COMMUNICATIONS. SUCH RESTRICTIONS VIOLATE THE INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED RIGHT OF PEACEFUL EXPRESSION. THE SENTENCING OF LIN HAI FOLLOWS OTHER CASES INVOLVING FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.
IN HUNAN PROVINCE, ZHANG SHANGUANG WAS RECENTLY SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS IN PRISON FOR, AMONG OTHER THINGS, DISCUSSING PROBLEMS OF CHINESE FARMERS ON AN INTERNATIONAL BROADCAST OF RADIO FREE ASIA.
BEFORE THAT, THREE PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS WERE GIVEN LONG PRISON TERMS FOR ATTEMPTING TO ESTABLISH AN OPPOSITION POLITICAL PARTY.
THE U.S. CALLS ON CHINA TO RELEASE ALL THOSE HELD FOR THE PEACEFUL EXPRESSION OF THEIR POLITICAL VIEWS. U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS CAN REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL ONLY WITH SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS BY CHINA ON HUMAN RIGHTS.
THE U.S. WILL CONTINUE TO URGE CHINA'S LEADERS TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY WHEN IT COMES TO HUMAN RIGHTS. AS PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON SAID IN HIS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, "STABILITY CAN NO LONGER BE BOUGHT AT THE EXPENSE OF LIBERTY."
PRESIDENT CLINTON STRESSED THAT IT IS "IMPORTANT NOT TO ISOLATE CHINA. THE MORE WE BRING CHINA INTO THE WORLD, THE MORE THE WORLD WILL BRING CHANGE AND FREEDOM TO CHINA."
ANNCR: THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, V-O-A, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A.
YOU MAY ALSO COMMENT AT WWW-DOT-VOA-DOT-GOV-SLASH-EDITORIALS, OR FAX US AT (202) 619-1043. 26-Jan-99 3:30 PM EST (2030 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
http://www.fas.org/irp/news/1999/01/990122-terror2.htm
DATE=1/22/99 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-244514
TITLE= FRANCE ISLAMISTS TRIAL (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JULIAN NUNDY DATELINE=PARIS CONTENT= VOICED AT:
INTRO: A PARIS COURT FRIDAY ACQUITTED NEARLY ONE-QUARTER OF 138 DEFENDANTS ACCUSED OF BEING ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS IN A TRIAL THAT OPENED LAST SEPTEMBER. THE DECISION ADDS TO THE EMBARRASSMENT OF A FRENCH ANTI-TERRORIST SERVICE THAT IS UNDER FIRE FOR OVERREACTING AND PRODUCING ONLY MEAGER RESULTS. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.
TEXT: THE THREE MAIN DEFENDANTS IN THE TRIAL WERE EACH GIVEN SENTENCES OF EIGHT YEARS IN JAIL FOR THEIR ROLE IN RUNNING A LOGISTICS NETWORK FOR ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS FIGHTING THE GOVERNMENT IN ALGERIA. BUT ANOTHER 31 OF THE 138 ON TRIAL WERE ACQUITTED ON ALL CHARGED. ANOTHER 20 HAD CHARGES OF KNOWINGLY BELONGING TO A TERRORIST GROUP DISMISSED.
THE MAINLY NORTH AFRICAN DEFENDANTS WERE ACCUSED OF OBTAINING AND TRANSPORTING ARMS AND EXPLOSIVES FOR TERRORIST GROUPS IN ALGERIA.
THE TRIAL, HELD FOR SECURITY REASONS IN A PRISON GYMNASIUM JUST OUTSIDE PARIS, SHOULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR COURT CASES IN FRANCE IN MODERN TIMES.
HOWEVER, FROM THE SECOND DAY OF HEARINGS, MANY OF THE DEFENDANTS REFUSED TO APPEAR IN COURT. SO DID MANY OF THE 120 FRENCH LAWYERS REPRESENTING THEM.
THEY ARGUED THAT THE SECTION OF THE PARIS PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE HANDLING TERRORIST AFFAIRS HAD OVERSTEPPED THE MARK AND HAD ROUNDED UP FAR TOO MANY SUSPECTS.
THIS VIEW WAS GIVEN SOME JUSTIFICATION BY THE JUDGES, WHO DID NOT HEED THE PROSECUTION'S CALL TO GIVE ALLEGED RING LEADERS 10-YEAR-JAIL TERMS. /// OPT /// THE LENIENT TREATMENT HANDED OUT TO THE DEFENDANTS -- WHO WERE ARRESTED BEFORE A WAVE OF ALGERIAN ISLAMIC BOMBINGS IN FRANCE IN 1995 AND 1996 -- ADDS TO THE WOES OF THE FRENCH ANTI-TERRORIST SERVICE AND ITS CHIEF, JEAN-LOUIS BRUGUIERE.
A WEEK AGO, ANOTHER COURT DISMISSED CHARGES AGAINST ILICH RAMIREZ SANCHEZ, THE VENEZUELAN BETTER KNOWN AS "CARLOS," FOR BOMBING A PARIS CAFE IN 1974.
THE COURT CRITICIZED THE CASE DRAWN UP BY MR. BRUGUIERE. IN PRACTICAL TERMS FOR CARLOS, THIS MEANS LITTLE SINCE HE IS ALREADY SERVING A LIFE SENTENCE IN A FRENCH JAIL FOR THE MURDER OF TWO FRENCH SECURITY AGENTS.
MR. BRUGUIERE HAS ALSO BEEN RECEIVING UNFAVORABLE PUBLICITY BECAUSE HIS ANTI-TERRORIST UNIT HAS FAILED TO FIND THE KILLERS OF THE MAIN FRENCH GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE ON THE MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND OF CORSICA, WHO WAS ASSASSINATED LAST FEBRUARY.
IN THAT CASE, MR. BRUGUIERE AND TWO FELLOW INVESTIGATING MAGISTRATES HAVE THEMSELVES BEEN QUESTIONED OVER ILLEGAL LEAKS TO THE MEDIA.
EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE FAMILY OF THE DEAD CORSICAN PREFECT CLAUDE ERIGNAC APPEALED FOR AN END TO QUARRELS BETWEEN THE INVESTIGATORS AND FOR NEW EFFORTS TO FIND THE MURDERERS.
ADDING TO THE PROBLEMS HAS BEEN A NEW REPORT FROM THE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS FEDERATION, ALLEGING THAT THE FRENCH ANTI-TERRORIST SERVICE ABUSES ITS POWERS.
THE FEDERATION ACCUSED MR. BRUGUIERE OF INDULGING IN SPECTACULAR BUT INEFFECTIVE OPERATIONS THAT PUT THE RIGHTS OF THE CITIZEN AT RISK. /// END OPT ///
(SIGNED) NEB/JWN/PCF/GE 22-Jan-99 10:57 AM EST (1557 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
http://www.fas.org/irp/news/1999/01/990114-fsb.htm
DATE=1/14/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244183
TITLE=RUSSIA / U-S (L)
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: RUSSIA'S MAIN SPY AGENCY HAS SUGGESTED THE UNITED STATES
MAY HAVE RELIED ON FAULTY INTELLIGENCE IN SLAPPING SANCTIONS ON
MOSCOW FOR AIDING IRAN'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM. CORRESPONDENT
PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS FROM MOSCOW ON RUSSIA'S DEFIANT REACTION
TO THE U-S ALLEGATIONS.
TEXT: IN A POINTED JAB AT ITS TRADITIONAL RIVAL, RUSSIA'S
FEDERAL SECURITY SERVICE -- THE F-S-B -- SAID (THURSDAY)
PENALTIES IMPOSED ON RESEARCH INSTITUTES ACCUSED OF SUPPLYING
NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN COULD BE THE RESULT OF SLOPPY U-S SPY
WORK.
THE F-S-B -- THE MODERN-DAY SUCCESSOR TO THE SOVIET K-G-B --
ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING IT FOUND NO EVIDENCE THE ACCUSED
ORGANIZATIONS VIOLATED INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS INTENDED TO BAR
PROLIFERATION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
THE F-S-B STATEMENT SAID ALLEGATIONS MADE BY NATIONAL SECURITY
ADVISER SANDY BERGER SEEM TO BE BASED ON WHAT IT CALLED -- A
MISUNDERSTANDING, AND PERHAPS DEFECTIVE WORK BY THE AMERICAN
SPECIAL SERVICES.
TUESDAY, MR. BERGER ANNOUNCED A BAN ON AID OR COMMERCIAL LINKS
WITH THREE RUSSIAN SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTES. THE THREE WERE ADDED
TO A LIST OF SEVEN OTHERS HIT WITH U-S SANCTIONS LAST JULY FOR
ALLEGEDLY SUPPLYING IRAN WITH TECHNOLOGY NEEDED FOR ITS NUCLEAR
WEAPONS PROGRAM.
A STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN WARNED WEDNESDAY OF FURTHER
PENALTIES UNLESS COOPERATION WITH IRAN IS HALTED. JAMES RUBIN
SAID RUSSIA MIGHT BE CUT OUT OF THE LUCRATIVE SPACE LAUNCH
BUSINESS IF ACTION IS NOT TAKEN SOON.
A RUSSIAN SPACE OFFICIAL WAS QUOTED THURSDAY AS SAYING SUCH A
CUTOFF COULD COST HIS COUNTRY 280-MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN BADLY
NEEDED HARD CURRENCY.
REACTION IN MOSCOW TO THE U-S SANCTIONS HAS BEEN ONE OF
NEAR-UNANIMOUS OUTRAGE. SEVERAL COMMENTATORS EXPRESSED THE VIEW
THAT SABRE-RATTLING FROM WASHINGTON WAS LINKED TO PRESIDENT
CLINTON'S IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.
RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN VLADIMIR RAKHMANIN SUGGESTED A
CUTOFF OF U-S / RUSSIA SPACE LAUNCH COOPERATION WOULD BE FOOLISH.
/// RAKHMANIN ACT IN RUSSIAN, THEN FADE TO... ///
HE SAYS CANCELLING THE SATELLITE LAUNCH PROGRAM WOULD HURT THE
UNITED STATES AS MUCH AS RUSSIA. MR. RAKHMANIN DESCRIBED
RUSSIA'S COOPERATION WITH IRAN AS HARMLESS, AND TOLD REPORTERS IT
IS FARFETCHED TO TRY TO LINK THE SPACE LAUNCH PROGRAM TO NUCLEAR
PROLIFERATION.
BUT ONE RESPECTED RUSSIAN VOICE STOOD IN SHARP CONTRAST TO THE
MAJORITY. VLADIMIR LUKIN, THE INFLUENTIAL CHAIRMAN OF
PARLIAMENT'S INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, SUGGESTED MOSCOW
SHOULD BREAK OFF NUCLEAR COOPERATION WITH IRAN EVEN IF U-S
ALLEGATIONS ARE FALSE.
THE ITAR-TASS NEWS AGENCY QUOTED MR. LUKIN AS SAYING RUSSIA MUST
ULTIMATELY MAKE A CLEAR CHOICE BETWEEN SUPPLYING THE TEHERAN
GOVERNMENT WITH SENSITIVE TECHNOLOGIES, OR DEVELOPING CLOSER
COOPERATION WITH THE WEST. (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/RAE/KL
14-Jan-99 11:39 AM EST (1639 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
Reports from 1999, several tempt me, but I am getting past heavy reading......
http://www.fas.org/irp/news/1999/01/index.html
http://www.fas.org/irp/index.html
As far as the numbers stations go, the 'unisex' Russia voice operator was probably using a voice filter (software to prevent ID of their voice - lots of NSA monitoring equipment 'harvests' everything and sorts by known operator (voice prints can be as unique as fingerprints unless filtered). <<<<
I do not have a tv, so listen to the radio, one of my games is to figure out if a voice changer was used in the ads, or it really is several people, who are talking.
Isn't it amazing, they can identify you by your eyes, your voice and of course, the old things like DNA.
"sickly-sweet pop music. Probably part of a desensitization program ;-)"<<<
You have got it right, and I suspect, it is also the same reason that our teens are all in the killing mode.
Did you catch the Iranian poems in 3597 & 98, about Eagles and Crows?
I appear to be having a history lesson tonight, the next batch of posts and the link, are amazing sources of history, above this one, I don't know why the one has the 1950 to 65 type news reports, but love the one, in a bus, with potatoes to protect from the russian bullets, as they crashed the Berlin wall...........
It makes sense to use the natural poisons, harder to trace.
I am not really searching for the poison stories, they just keep falling on my screen, and you know that I can't resist posting bits and pieces of history and knowledge.
So much out there to find and learn.
It was good to hear from you.
http://www.google.com/search?q=Pufferfish+poison&client=netscape-pp&rls=com.netscape:en-US
Appears that the fish might have been on the list of maybes:
http://www.google.com/search?q=Pufferfish+poison++KGB&btnG=Search&hl=en&rls=com.netscape%3Aen-US
http://www.google.com/search?q=Pufferfish+poison++known+to+be+used+by+KGB&btnG=Search&hl=en&rls=com.netscape%3Aen-US
http://www.google.com/search?q=Pufferfish+poison++known+to+be+used+by+murderers&btnG=Search&hl=en&rls=com.netscape%3Aen-US
http://www.google.com/search?q=+poison++known+to+be+used+by+Russian++murderers&hl=en&rls=com.netscape:en-US&start=10&sa=N
http://www.google.com/search?q=Assassination&client=netscape-pp&rls=com.netscape:en-US
http://www.google.com/search?q=Assassination+by+Russia&btnG=Search&hl=en&rls=com.netscape%3Aen-US
http://www.google.com/search?q=Assassination+by+Russian+KGB&btnG=Search&hl=en&rls=com.netscape%3Aen-US
The best one, maybe:
http://www.google.com/search?q=Assassination+by+Russian+KGB+using+poison&btnG=Search&hl=en&rls=com.netscape%3Aen-US
Laughing.
You need a brain twister and enlarger.
I was sure the answer would be Fonsi, as he was so popular in the 1960's on tv..........LOL
I love the answer, you must be learning code, as nothing else would fit it.
Will you train your dogs to know the answers to this test?
http://www.axisglobe.com/print_article.asp?article=1216
05.02.2007
Eurasian Secret Services Daily Review
AIA
REVIEW TOPICS:
Belarusian KGB actively recruiting students in Poland
Some 250 thousand of former Communist agents are still living in Poland
Belarusian KGB actively recruiting students in Poland
photo: Tygodnik Powszechny
Vlad Mikhailov
BelGazeta, Belarusian analytical weekly newspaper, addressed two representatives of the opposition, Andrei Dmitriev (25) and Vladimir Matskevich (50), asking them to comment the confession of the opposition Unified Civil Party (OGP) member Vlad Mikhailov (20) about his cooperation with KGB. On January 22, Mikhailov, the Belarusian student studying in Poland, gave an interview to the Polish Tygodnik Powszechny newspaper. He told that he started his opposition activity in 2004. He was collecting signatures in favor of the opposition candidates to the Parliament, distributed oppositionist pamphlets, created and edited a website (studgomel.com) of a relevant content. According to Mikhailov, he was recruited by the Belarusian KGB at the beginning of 2006. He told that: “That was preceded by half a year of contacts (between him and the KGB representatives)…
There also were threats, and blackmail, and phone calls to the friends”.
Already in Poland, Mikhailov was informing the Belarusian KGB about activity and attitudes of the Belarusian students studying together with him. In particular, it concerned the son of the main opposition leader in Belarus, Alexander Milinkevich.
Mikhailov said that he terminated his cooperation with KGB in November 2006.
One of BelGazeta’s interviewees, member of the Unified Civil Party (OGP) Andrei Dmitriev, commented Mikhailov’s confession in the following way: “KGB has a plan of work with sources of information. Students are a solid material. It is easy to talk to them, and it is easy to threaten them”. Dmitriev explained how the contact between KGB representatives and a student is being established. According to him: “Usually, the conversation goes as that of the nice people taking interest in situation in the country. They ask questions and listen to your opinion. The person realizes that there is nothing wrong with it, and it’s just a conversation. The KGB serviceman, in his turn, uses sophisticated tricks, for instance, saying such phrases as ‘You surely realize, what kind of problems that can lead to’. And everyone pictures problems as far as his imagination lets him”. Answering the question, why some people agree to contact the KGB at all, Dmitriev told: “First reason is fear. Besides that, a person tries to live well in any place he is situated. In Belarus, people use to cooperate with KGB in order to avoid problems at their workplace or in the university. People want to feel themselves comfortable, therefore the KGB will always have its agents.
The KGB servicemen use standard methods: ‘we’ll throw you out of the university; we’ll fire your parents from the job”.
Commenting Mikhailov’s interview, the former member of the OGP board Vladimir Matskevich told that many Belarusian students studying in Poland cooperate with the KGB.
On the other hand, he emphasized that such informants, given their young age, provide the KGB only with a very secondary information. Matskevich, who himself was the KBG recruiters’ target at the beginning of the 1990s, assumes that the secret police works with young students not for the sake of information that they supply, but rather for obtaining an instrument of compromising them later on, as they proceed with their career.
“A big man can grow up from a twenty-year-old guy – a scientist, a businessman, or an official. Some of them can be of use”, Matskevich explained. He added: “It was told about Eastern Germany that every fourth citizen there was cooperating with Stasi in this or that way. I assume that this rate matches ours”.
Regardless of this fact, Matskevich noticed that the KGB is not capable to spy on everyone, “only leaders are under the supervision”. Therefore, people like Mikhailov, who talk “about chasing them, are really nourishing the feeling of their own meaningfulness. They like to think that they are interesting for such a ‘frightening’ organization as the KGB”.
Some 250 thousand of former Communist agents are still living in Poland
In the Communist era in Poland, number of the officers in the Polish secret services was about 26 thousand. On the other hand, according to different evaluations, number of the secret police’s informers in the Polish society was about 250 thousand people. This was told by the former Polish Intelligence and the CIA agent, now – the expert on secret services’ issues – David Dastych in the interview to the Voice of Israel radio.
He also mentioned that the process of decipherment of the former informers of the Communist secret police in different countries of Eastern and Central Europe was going on in a different speed and with a different level of success. Most results in this sphere were achieved in Eastern Germany, due to the help that it got from Western Germany.
In Poland, at the beginning of the 1990s nothing similar happened, because the change of the totalitarian regime by a democratic one was going on in a different manner. Although, the first attempts to clear the state system of the former secret police’s agents were undertaken in Poland as early as 1992, this problem remains partially unsolved till today.
According to Dastych, only now, late as it is, do the Polish authorities try to finalize this process.
All Rights Reserved - AXIS
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070207/ap_on_re_us/kennedy_crash_call
Audio clip on JFK Jr. flight released
Thank you, Ruth. For all your googles.
Appreciate the translation, Ruth.
How are things with you?
[Shall we start this day with something useful?]
Happy Valentine's Day!
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Sincerely,
Jan Brett
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