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.thedailystar.net/2006/12/23/d61223100195.htm
Sat. December 23, 2006
General
Eid-ul Azha
Sacrificial animals pouring in, but prices very high
Anwar Ali, Rajshahi
Nearly a week ahead of Eid-ul Azha, sacrificial animals started pouring into local markets but the prices are high and beyond the capacity of low-income groups in the North Bengal region.
The wholesale buyers from different parts of the country, including Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Barisal, Kushtia and Khulna are busy taking trucks of sacrificial animals to urban markets.
Most traders say they have invested heavily this year, as this is the election year. Many prospective candidates are likely to sacrifice a number of animals in respective electoral areas.
Abdus Salam, a trader from Barisal, told The Daily Star, that this year's business is better than last year as the price has increased about 20 per cent. "Excluding tax, we can earn a bit more than last year," he said.
Some traders said there has been a less inflow of cattle for Eid-ul-Azha this year as border guards of Bangladesh and India tightened security, pushing up prices.
They also identified extortion as reason saying intermediaries of police and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) had been taking toll at different points between Chapainawabganj and Natore as the cattle are being carried to Dhaka.
They said, many seasonal animal traders of India and Bangladesh are gathering cows at different border points in Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and Naogaon expecting a brisk business.
Another trader said the markets are crowded with customers in the evening. Most cows come from India. Prices of small sized cow are ranging between Tk 12,000 and Tk 20,000 and price of a medium sized cow is between Tk 25,000 and 35,000 on an average.
The traders are demanding between Tk 80,000 and 150,000 for a large sized cow.
Goats are being sold at between Tk 5000 and Tk 10,000.
Siddik Pramanik, a trader of Gabtoli Hat of Dhaka, said he had to pay Tk 200 to the police in Rajshahi and Natore, and Tk 100 each at some other points.
Some BDR personnel are taking Tk 200 to Tk 1,000 from each truck of cattle at Kanshat in Chapainawabganj and Rajshahi, said Aminul Islam, another trader.
Deputy Inspector General of Police in Rajshahi Range and Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioners said they had beefed up security measures in every cattle market and at important points to ensure the safety of traders and buyers.
The cattle are mostly coming from the bordering points at Sona Mosque, Bulanpur, Sultanganj, Khanpur and through Padma river shoals in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj, said sources. Poor people are carrying cows through smuggling risking their lives.
In such a situation, the traders in the border areas are demanding Tk 2,000 to Tk 4,000 more for each cow, said Mobarak Hossain, a wholesale buyer from Kushtia who is likely to take some 50 cows to Dhaka.
The middle and limited earning people are worried, as the prices of cattle have jumped to the double than previous years.
The major markets of this region include Damkura, Tebaria, Moukhara hats and hats at Paba, Mohonpur, Nawhata, Godagari, Mohisalbari, Rajabari, Kathakhali, Keshorehat, Tahirpur, Lalpur, Bagha and Baneswar.
Picture
Sacrificial cattle start arriving at Gabtali market in the capital as nine days are left before the Eid-ul-Azha. PHOTO: STAR
http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/12/23/d61223013022.htm
Sat. December 23, 2006
Front Page
Sonia faces threat from al-Qaeda
Afp, New Delhi
India's ruling Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi's security detail has been put on high alert after a home ministry warning of a possible attack by an al-Qaeda-backed group, a report said Friday.
An outfit called the United Jehad Council, which the home ministry believes was formed by al-Qaeda and supported by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence, is aiming to attack the Italian-born widow, the Times of India daily reported.
"The Special Protection Group, Delhi police and other agencies have been told about the threat, not just during Sonia's election campaigns in Uttar Pradesh but also in the city," an unnamed source told the newspaper.
Her security detail was notified about the threat in a letter from the head of VIP security for the home ministry, the report said.
A terror cell led by a Pakistani militant is believed to be planning the attack, the letter said, adding that the group would try to use forged identity cards to breach Gandhi's security arrangements.
The home ministry confirmed in a statement that an advisory had been issued to strengthen security arrangements for "protectees", but said "such advisories are issued regularly and need not give rise to inaccurate or speculative news reporting."
"The Ministry of Home Affairs carries out periodic threat assessment for all its protectees," the statement said.
"A similar exercise was taken in view of the forthcoming festivals, Republic Day functions and assembly elections in four major states."
India celebrates its Republic Day national holiday on January 26.
"On the basis of the threat assessment received an advisory was issued to all concerned to be vigilant and strengthen security arrangements," the statement said.
Intelligence sources told the Times of India that Gandhi's security was already raised to the highest level possible in the wake of a series of blasts at a mosque in western Maharashtra state that killed 37 people in September.
Somalis Flee As More Violence Feared
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ats-ap_intl15dec22,0,4950063.story?track=rss
Somalis Flee As More Violence Feared
By MOHAMED OLAD HASSAN
Associated Press Writer
December 22, 2006, 2:01 PM EST
MOGADISHU, Somalia -- Somalia's Ethiopian-backed government and its
rivals in an Islamic movement fought to a bloody standstill Friday,
and geared up for a major push as villagers fled.
Islamic forces who have declared they want to bring the whole country
under Quranic rule promised to continue attacks to drive out troops
from neighboring Ethiopia, a largely Christian nation that is
providing military support to the government.
Late Friday, Ethiopia accused the Islamic movement of crossing into
its territory.
"The situation in Somalia has turned from bad to worse," the statement
said. "Ethiopia has been patient so far but there is a limit to this."
Ethiopia denies its forces are fighting, but says it has deployed
several hundred military trainers in support of Somalia's U.N.-backed
transitional government.
Government officials said more than 600 Islamic fighters have been
killed in four days of clashes. The Islamic militia said it killed
around 400 Ethiopians and government fighters. Neither claim could be
confirmed independently.
Families were abandoning their homes, crops and livestock. Hundreds of
people in areas held by the Islamic forces also were fleeing south to
the capital, Mogadishu.
"I think we have lost hundreds of our animals in the fighting, most of
them were caught in the crossfire," said Malable Aden, who reached
Mogadishu by car. "We were supposed to reap our harvest of this
season, but unfortunately we were forced to leave them behind for the
pigs and birds to destroy them."
In Kismayo, a strategic seaport held by the Islamic militia, several
foreign Arab fighters were seen by residents getting off ships.
The U.N. issued a statement in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, calling
for an immediate end to the conflict. It accused both sides of using
increasing numbers of child soldiers. "This conflict will push the
children of Somalia into further dire crisis," the U.N. said.
The United Nations fears fighting will prevent aid from reaching
hundreds of thousands in dire need of help because of hunger and
flooding. The fighting comes after a drought last year and devastating
flooding this year.
The worst of Friday's fighting was over by evening, although sporadic
gunfire and shelling could be heard around the central town of Baidoa,
headquarters of the government.
Sheik Ibrahim Shukri Abuu-Zeynab, a spokesman for the Islamic
movement, told reporters in the capital that the fighting would worsen.
"We will now start our real attack against the invaders and would not
stop until we force the Ethiopians out of our country," he said.
Somalia has not had an effective government since 1991. The country's
secular interim government, set up in 2004 and backed by the U.N., has
rejected religious rule. Muslim leaders have insisted on an Islamic
government.
Somalia's internationally recognized interim government holds only a
small area around Baidoa, about 140 miles northwest of Mogadishu. The
Islamic militiamen control Mogadishu along with most of southern
Somalia.
* __
Associated Press writers Salad Duhul and Mohamed Sheik Nor contributed
to this report.
Academic group seeks to make Jerusalem a violence-free city
Last update - 08:37 22/12/2006
Academic group seeks to make Jerusalem a violence-free city
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/804430.html
By Nadav Shragai, Haaretz Correspondent
Is it possible to turn Jerusalem, which has known so much war and terrorism, into a violence-free zone? A group of Palestinian, Israeli and European academics and intellectuals believes it could happen. On Sunday they will meet at the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies (JIIS) to discuss the idea, "Jerusalem First - City without Violence."
Between the start of the intifada in October 2000 and the first half of November 2004, there were 600 terror incidents in Jerusalem, 30 of them suicide attacks that killed 210 people. Next week the city's Tantur Ecumenical Institute will host a meeting of Jewish, Muslim and Christian clergy who will continue to discuss the idea.
"This is an embryonic, gradual attempt in which both sides, the Israeli and the Palestinian, will commit themselves to removing violence from Jerusalem at least for a certain period of time," JIIS head Prof. Yaacov Bar-Siman-Tov, one of the proponents of the idea, explained. He noted that a similar formula was drafted during the Korean War, in the South Korean port city of Pusan.
According to Bar-Siman-Tov, if the experiment succeeds in Jerusalem it could serve as a model for cooperation between the two sides. "This initiative," he emphasized, "does not deal with Jerusalem's political future, and focuses solely on reducing and ending violence. In the first stage the proponents - Palestinians, Israelis, Swiss and Europeans [sic] - will issue a joint statement. In the next stage, we intend to bring in public figures who live in the city - clergy and intellectuals - and in the third stage an attempt will be made to persuade policymakers on both sides to adopt the initiative."
Among the proponents of the idea are members of the Swiss-based Lassalle-Institut, which a few months ago hosted a group of Palestinians and Israelis for a series of meetings. Fifteen of the 20 Israeli participants signed the joint statement, but only seven of the 20 Palestinians were willing to sign off on the idea of turning Jerusalem into a violence-free zone, and even then only on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution from extremist organizations.
Staff from Lassalle who are currently living in Israel have met over the past few months with delegations from UN member states and members of the Palestinian delegation. Dr. Anna Gamma, of Lassalle, told Haaretz that the responses from all parties have been good and that members of the Palestinian UN delegation promised to pass the message on to the decision-makers.
U.S. declassifies report on Yugoslavia's breakup
http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2006&mm=12&dd=22&nav_category=92&nav_id=38778
U.S. declassifies report on Yugoslavia's breakup
22 December 2006 | 14:13 | Source: AP
WASHINGTON -- Declassified report shows how U.S. intelligence
predicted Yugoslavia's demise and a lack of will to intervene.
U.S. intelligence predicted the violent breakup of the former
Yugoslavia in the 1990s with pinpoint precision, but also assessed
that the United States and its European allies would do nothing to
prevent it, according to a declassified U.S. secret service report.
The report covering Yugoslavia from 1948 to 1990, compiled by the CIA
and the National Intelligence Council, bluntly states in 1990 — a
year
before Yugoslavia started to unravel along ethnic lines — that the
Balkan country "will cease to function as a federal state within one
year. It will probably dissolve in two."
The ethnic clashes in Yugoslavia — starting in Slovenia in 1991,
spreading to Croatia in 1992 and climaxing in Bosnia the same year —
left at least 200,000 people dead and millions displaced. A decade
later, Yugoslavia split up in six independent states.
"A full-scale, interrepublic war is unlikely, but serious
intercommunal conflicts will accompany the breakup and will continue
afterward," the declassified document filed by the National
Intelligence on October 18, 1990, said. "The violence will be
intractable and bitter."
"There is little the United States and its European allies can do to
preserve Yugoslav unity," it continues. "European powers will pay lip
service to the idea of Yugoslav integrity while quietly accepting the
dissolution of the federation."
Marten van Heuven, a former National Intelligence officer for Europe,
said in his introduction of the 700-page document that "In sum, the
(U.S.) intelligence community had plenty material in the fall of 1990
on which to base its conclusions."
"The Washington policy world and the (U.S.) embassy in Belgrade shared
an awareness of what might happen, but there was no agreement on what
to do about it," van Heuven said. "The policy world hesitated."
Among U.S. state department officials, the 1990s report on Yugoslavia
"was characterized as overblown and greeted with disdain," van Heuven
said in his introductory remarks. "The message was unwelcome because
it spelled trouble ahead for an administration not ready to become
involved in the Balkans."
"Indeed, this would not happen in a decisive way until 1995," he said,
referring to the U.S.-sponsored Dayton peace accord between the
leaders of Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia that ended the Bosnian war.
The 1990s report also predicted "protracted armed uprising by
Albanians in Kosovo," Serbia's breakaway province which has been under
U.N. administration since the 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia to stop
former Serbian President Slobodan Miloševiæ's crackdown against Kosovo
Albanian separatists.
The U.S. intelligence report says Miloševiæ, considered the driving
force behind Yugoslavia's breakup, "seized power (in Serbia in the
late 1980's) on a wave of populism and ethnic assertion."
"His followers will remain susceptible to those themes as the cement
of Communism erodes and the other republics resist the imposition of
Serbian control," the report correctly predicted.
However, the report — only the third such document to be declassified
by the U.S. intelligence after those covering Vietnam and China —
made
a wrong assessment that the pro-Western republics, Slovenia and
Croatia, would form a loose confederation after they split from
Yugoslavia.
ONE MORE HINDU LEADER BRUTALLY MURDERED IN INDIA BY JIHADISTS
Shri. Sukhanand Shetty a BJP leader from Mangalore known for his
intense
Hinduism was brutally murdered on 1 December 2006. He was struck with
sword
by Muslims. The images of his murder show the cruel mentality of
Muslims.
Understand the strategy of the Muslims in killing handful of Hindus who
strive for Hindudom.
Pay respects by avenging the killing!
"Sukhanand06"
late Shri. Sukhanand Shetty
"Sukhanand05"
Shri. Sukhanand Shetty's dead body
"Sukhanand01"
Deep wound on the head
"Sukhanand03"
The chopped palm
"Sukhanand02"
Arm cut from elbow
"Sukhanand04"
The broken wrist
Read the detail news of late Shri. Sukhanand Shetty's murder
http://www.hindujagruti.org/eng/phpnews/news.php?action=fullnews&id=1266
(Click here)
Muslims ploy to eliminate staunch Hindu leaders in Karnataka
Mangalore: After the murder of staunch Hindu leader Shri. Sukhanand
Shetty,
there has been atmosphere of terror in the State of Karnataka. The
police
have so far nabbed 9 persons in connection with the killing, out of
them 3
are directly connected to the crime and all 9 persons are Muslims. It
has
been unearthed in the police interrogations that a Muslim mafia has
made a
plan to eliminate all Hindu leaders in Karnataka. A list of Hindu
leaders
has been obtained by the police. It has also been learnt that a Muslim
goon
named Maduru Isubu has collected over a crore of rupees from various
Muslim
businessmen to execute the plan.
Source: 'Dainik Sanatan Prabhat'
Dharmendra
19 Dec 2006, 11:20
Muslims have been playing this game right from the day they landed in
India.
Swami Vivekanand rightly said " When one hindu gets converted to Islam,
the
number of hindus not just reduces by one; but Hindu Enemy increases by
one"
I read a beautiful sentence in some book "The right time to kill a
monster
is when it is still small". We Hindus have to take action against such
acts
before they take to monstorous and uncontrollable dimension.
Every Hindu is important for us and "No Hindus" will ever go killing
any
person or group. But let us not forget that in every word of Bhagwat
Gita
Lord Krishna urges Arjuna to pick up arms and destroy the evil.
I call upon all hindus to take a save these pictures on your desktop,
send
it to as many Hindus as possible daily and whenever and as many times
you
see them; reminding yourself that you will do everything possible to
fight
such acts against Hindus.
If you dont act even now, be ready to see such pictures of your near
and
dear in very near future.
Our Government (irrespective of parties) will not do anything. Our
legal
system is biased and takes long time before justice is done. Remember
"Justice delayed is justice denied".
We have to find our own solution.
I do not want the "Atma" of Sukhanand Shetty to rest in peace. I wish
his
"Atma" haunts thousands of Hindus and give them many sleepless nights
and
compell them to act.
December 23, 2006
New York Times Passes Sensitive Information to Terrorists - Again
By Patrick Poole http://www.americanthinker.com/patrick_poole/
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1757121/posts
Truck carrying 6000 lbs of Uranium overturns in NC
www.foxnews.com ^ | 12/21/06 | Fox News
Posted on 12/21/2006 8:04:13 PM PST by cowtowney
Truck carrying 6000 lbs of Uranium overturns in NC - No thread yet
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Articles about the muslim connection to OKC bombing:
http://okcbombing.org/news_articles.htm
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1757721/posts
Probe of Islamic ties 'obstructed' by feds
WorldNetDaily ^ | December 23, 2006 | Art Moore
Posted on 12/23/2006 8:06:54 AM PST by kc8ukw
Federal officials were "outrageously obstructive" during a congressional probe examining possible Islamic terrorist and foreign ties to the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, according to a congressman who disclosed to WND some of the highlights of a subcommittee report scheduled for release next week.
(Excerpt) Read more at worldnetdaily.com ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1757823/posts
Police hunt for 'English brothers' ... [Terrorists helped American Adam Gadahn]
The Times (UK) ^ | December 23, 2006 | by Zahid Hussain in Islamabad and Daniel McGrory
Posted on 12/23/2006 11:57:45 AM PST by aculeus
Police are trying to trace a gang of British Muslims who are thought to have returned to plot terror attacks in Britain after being trained abroad for more than a year by al-Qaeda, Nine Britons, all said to be in their twenties, were among a group of 12 Western recruits groomed by al-Qaeda at a secret camp near the Afghan border to set up new terror cells in London and other Western capitals.
Police do not know the real identities of this gang, who are known as the “English brothers” because of their shared language. As well as nine Britons, they include two Norwegians and an Australian who were smuggled into the Waziristan tribal region in Pakistan in October 2005.
They are believed to have been under the command of an al-Qaeda veteran suspected of training some of the Britons accused of the alleged plot to blow up passenger planes flying to the US from Heathrow airport in the summer.
The intensive manhunt for the “English brothers” was revealed to The Times as the alleged British mastermind of the Heathrow plot spoke for the first time as he appeared yesterday in a court in Pakistan on separate charges. Outside court, he vehemently denied any role in plans to bomb up to ten transatlantic flights.
[snip]
The sources are reported to have been escorted to the al-Qaeda camp by Adam Gadahn, a Californian indicted by the US authorities as an al-Qaeda terrorist, who introduced the “brothers” to their tutors.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
http://english.cri.cn/2947/2006/12/23/189@177006.htm">http://english.cri.cn/2947/2006/12/23/189@177006.htm
Iraqi Insurgents Offer U.S. Truce
2006-12-23 12:45:14 CNN
The leader of an umbrella organization for Iraqi insurgent groups is offering the United States a one-month truce to withdraw all U.S. forces from Iraq and turn over its military bases "to the mujahedeen of the Islamic state."
In an audiotape posted on Islamic Web sites Friday, a speaker identified as Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Mujahideen Shura Council, said that if U.S. forces begin withdrawing from Iraq immediately and leave their heavy weaponry behind, "we will allow your withdrawal to complete without anyone targeting you with any explosive or anything else."
"We say to Bush not to waste this historic opportunity that will guarantee you a safe withdrawal," al-Baghdadi said on the audiotape.
The United States was given two weeks to respond to the offer.
The Mujahideen Shura Council is an umbrella group formed in late 2005 that includes several terrorist and insurgent groups, including al Qaeda in Iraq.
On the audiotape, al-Baghdadi also called on officers from the former Iraqi army to join an "army of the Islamic state," promising them a house and a salary as long as they pass a "test of faith" intended to demonstrate the extent of their "hatred" for Saddam Hussein and his regime.
The U.S. military Friday reported five U.S. troop deaths, while Iraqi authorities reported the discovery of a dozen bodies and the kidnapping of a Sunni imam in Baghdad.
One soldier was killed and another wounded when attackers targeted a coalition patrol west of the capital, the U.S. military said. Three Marines and a sailor assigned to Regimental Combat Team 7 died Thursday from wounds suffered during combat in Anbar province, the military also said.
The deaths bring the December U.S. military death toll to 73 and the overall total during the war to 2,955; seven U.S. contractors also have been killed.
Other developments
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates concluded his three-day tour of Iraq to assess U.S. troop levels and Iraq's security situation. He was headed for Washington on Friday and was expected to issue a report of his consultations with U.S. troops, commanders and Iraqi officials to President Bush during the weekend.
Coalition forces in Baghdad killed an insurgent and detained 35 others Friday morning during raids aimed at al Qaeda in Iraq members, the U.S. military said. In Basra, about 1,000 British troops arrested four and seized weapons in a sweep to arrest police suspected of death squad activities. Iraqi troops in Diyala province also launched raids, detaining 13 people in a sweep that targeted "an illegal armed group cell."
http://english.cri.cn/2946/2006/12/23/53@176963.htm">http://english.cri.cn/2946/2006/12/23/53@176963.htm
[photos]
Yellow River Turns Milk White in Lanzhou
2006-12-23 07:47:35 CRIENGLISH.com
The Yellow River abnormally turned ivory-white in color around Lanzhou in northwestern China on Friday, Dec 22, 2006. [Photo: China Foto Press]
The Yellow River abnormally turned ivory-white in color around Lanzhou in northwestern China on Friday, a local newspaper has reported.
Suspended matters were found in the water that smelled sour, the reporter said, adding stones near the bank were also tinted white.
The local environment department later launched an investigation into the case and collected samples from the contaminated water, but failed to give a detailed explanation for the color change.
According to preliminary results, the 30-kilometer riverway was affected.
http://english.cri.cn/2906/2006/12/22/1042@176830.htm">http://english.cri.cn/2906/2006/12/22/1042@176830.htm
Debate on Whether to Excavate Underground Cities
2006-12-22 15:54:07 Xinhua
Experts cannot agree about whether to excavate and explore the ancient cities slumbering beneath Kaifeng, in central China's Henan Province, according to a provincial newspaper.
The underground cities will be invaluable in the study of urban development, hydrology and architecture, and the relics will be better protected if proper exploration is carried out, said Zhu Shiguang, head of China's Academy of Ancient Capitals.
Zhu's call for a dig was backed by a number of other researchers.
"The underground cities should be presented to the world, as a condensation of over two thousand years of Chinese civilization," said Qiu Gang, a local relics researcher, adding that they would be a big tourist drawcard for the developing city.
But excavation would entail immense difficulties because there are rich water resources underground, said Cheng Minsheng, a professor of history at Henan University.
"We would have to actually move the modern city to explore what's underneath, because it sits right on top of the buried cities," said Cheng, adding that only a small part of the ancient cities could be explored.
The city plans to unearth an ancient bridge, built around 780 and flooded in 1642, as well as a royal park built in the Song dynasty (420-479), said Liu Chunying, deputy head of the local cultural relics bureau.
"But digging is simply not possible in the downtown areas," said Liu.
Archaeological evidence has shown that at least six cities lie buried beneath Kaifeng. Repeated flooding from the nearby mud-clogged Huanghe, or Yellow River, destroyed the cities which were regularly rebuilt on the same site.
The buried cities are found in successive layers from three to 14 meters beneath the earth surface, each layer being one to two meters thick.
The deepest layer is Daliang city which dates from the Warring States period (475--221 B.C.). The Qing dynasty (1644-1911) Kaifeng city, which may have been flooded around 1842, is the closest to the surface.
Kaifeng, whose history dates back 2,700 years, was seven times the capital of China in the feudal period, and the prosperity of the ancient city is depicted in a famous 17-foot scroll painting kept in the Palace Museum in Beijing.
The city's name comes from its ceaseless struggles with floods. Kai, which means open, refers to the flood receding. Feng, which means close, alludes to the arrival of a flood.
THANKS THANKS.
[Does anyone know the background on this celebration? the photos are a must see, easy to load, even on dialup connection...granny]
Tourists appreciate ice lanterns and snow sculptures at the 2006 Ice Lantern Festival in Zhaolin Park, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, Dec. 21, 2006. More than 2,000 craftworks were exhibited during the festival, which attracted more than 50 thousand visitors on Thursday. [photo: cnsphoto]
1 2 3 4 5 6
http://www.google.com/search?q=Ice+Lantern+Festival+in+Zhaolin+Park&client=netscape-pp&rls=com.netscape:en-US
http://www.google.com/search?q=+history+of+Ice+Lantern+Festival+in+Zhaolin+Park&btnG=Search&hl=en&lr=&rls=com.netscape%3Aen-US
http://english.cri.cn/2946/2006/12/24/53@177084.htm">http://english.cri.cn/2946/2006/12/24/53@177084.htm
Over 12,000 Evacuated in Sichuan after Gas Leak
2006-12-24 09:11:35 CRIENGLISH.com
More than 12,000 local residents have been evacuated to safety since a well began leaking natural gas on Thursday, Dec 21, 2006 in Xuanhan County, Dazhou city of Sichuan. [Photo: Xinhua]
More than 12,000 local residents have been evacuated to safety since a well began leaking natural gas on Thursday in Xuanhan County , in Dazhou city of southwest China's Sichuan Province, China National Radio reported Saturday.
Related departments from the local government and the Sinopec Corporation began taking emergency measures immediately following the accident to temporarily relocate households lying within a one-kilometer radius of the well.
No casualties have been reported, according to official sources, while the local environmental department says it has not yet checked sulfur dioxide and sulfureted hydrogen has polluted the area's air and water.
Workers successfully lit the leaking gas at 10:30pm on Thursday and experts predicted the situation would be completely under control within two days. @
An engineer checks the polluting contents in the air after the accident on Friday, Dec 22, 2006. [Photo: Xinhua]
You are welcome.
Can you add to the history of the Ice Sculptures?
They are beautiful, see post 455
http://english.cri.cn/2946/2006/12/22/1042@176914.htm">http://english.cri.cn/2946/2006/12/22/1042@176914.htm
[I do hope that Miss Ma, is praised for what she was able to do, a fine act and to have been cut on the face, at 20 years old, deserves an award....prayers going up...granny]
Man Killed Children in Revenge for the School
2006-12-22 21:13:59 Xinhua
A man allegedly killed two schoolchildren with a broadsword in revenge for their school's failure to explain why his son killed his daughter in an argument over schoolwork, say police in northwest China.
Abduhalik Muzht allegedly attacked a group of pupils with the sword at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, killing two and injuring three others and a teacher.
The attack occurred as the students and teacher, from the primary school attached to the city's No. 65 Middle School, were waiting to cross the street in front of the school.
One child died at the scene and another later in hospital, the police said, adding that the victims were aged about nine or ten.
The three injured children and their 20-year-old teacher Ma Rui are still in hospital, but out of danger, said police.
"Miss Ma protected us and was badly injured on her face," said 10-year-old Yu Yang.
Last year Muzht's eight-year-old son strangled his elder sister in a furious quarrel over the girl's poor school results, which "embarrassed" him, police said.
Muzht believed the school was responsible for the incident. He repeatedly asked the school for an "explanation", but received no response.
The investigation is continuing and the school is operating as normal, police said.
http://english.cri.cn/2946/2006/12/23/189@177003.htm">http://english.cri.cn/2946/2006/12/23/189@177003.htm
Overseas Chinese in S. Africa Set up Anti-crime Fund
2006-12-23 12:09:01 Xinhua
Overseas Chinese in South Africa on Friday established a special fund designed to protect their security in the country.
More than 30 representatives participated in a meeting and decided to set up the fund designed to fight violent crimes targeting overseas Chinese in South Africa.
The fund will be used to award police, detectives and informers, who make contributions in solving cases.
As many as 14 Chinese were killed in since the beginning of this year.
Pan Xinchun, a counselor at the Chinese embassy in South Africa, said that the Chinese embassy in South Africa would strengthen cooperation with South Africa's law-enforcing departments and urge them to bring the criminals to justice.
http://english.cri.cn/2946/2006/12/22/1042@176916.htm">http://english.cri.cn/2946/2006/12/22/1042@176916.htm
Girl Killed in Trampling Accident in North China
2006-12-22 21:18:47 Xinhua
A ten-year old student was trampled to death and four others were injured in a stampede at a primary school in north China's Hebei Province on Friday, local government sources said.
The stampede happened at around 11:50 a.m. when dozens of pupils at No. 1 Experimental Primary School in Yongnian County swarmed out of their classrooms and onto the stairway.
The girl was seriously injured on the spot and died in hospital. A boy who was slightly injured in the accident left hospital at 2 p.m. after treatment. The other three injured are still receiving treatment in hospital.
The boy said he saw someone pushing the crowd at the staircase and the students fell on top of each other as their momentum carried them forward.
The incident raises further concerns on the safety management of Chinese primary and middle schools.
Six middle school students were trampled to death and 39 others were injured in a similar stampede at a school in east China's Jiangxi Province on Nov. 18.
Eight children were killed in another stampede that happened in October 2005 in a primary school in southwest China's Sichuan Province, when the students were heading home after evening classes.
Also in October 2005, a boy was killed and 64 others pupils injured in a stampede in a primary school in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, when part of the stairway collapsed.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.