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

Global Politician/Ocnus.Net ^ | Dec 17, 2006 | Professor Daniel M. Zucker

[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

[nw_arizona_granny]

http://www.amigospais-guaracabuya.org/oaget002.php

CASTRO'S TERRORIST CONNECTION

By Ernesto F. Betancourt

As soon as the attack on the World Trade Center took place, Castro started to take a dual position. He rejected terrorism, as well as the American potential reaction to it. He even gave assurances that under no circumstances would he resort to terror against the American people. Now, can we believe that? From the beginning of his regime, Castro has resorted and consorted with terrorism and has invested substantial resources in terrorist plans against the US.

continueed............

http://www.amigospais-guaracabuya.org/

This is the index, there are english reports mixed in.

There is one batch of Vietnam articles that look interesting.

[Velveeta]

Zawahiri tape coming...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1747324/posts?page=840#840

[nw_arizona_granny]

December 16-17, 2006 Anti-Terrorism News

Shooting resumes, Gaza cease-fire ends and Gaza Weapons Smuggling
Flourishes
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061218/ap_on_re_mi_ea/palestinians_politics
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9htfMSkE4ZF0gMBrxfQtDMD;_ylu=X3oDMTBjMHZkMjZyBHBvcwMxBHNlYwNzcg--/SIG=13539qeqt/EXP=1166501156/**http%3a//abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory%3fid=2732818%26CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

(Australia) 13 terror accused plead not guilty
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,20945426-1702,00.html?from=public_rss

The Regathering Storm - Newsweek: 12 Westerners being trained by Al
Qaeda in Pakistan for special mission - picture here
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16240565/site/newsweek/
http://msnbcmedia4.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/Newsweek/Components/Photos/Mag/061225_Issue/061216_Afghanistan_hsmall.standard.jpg

UK arms deal probe stopped over Saudi threat to cease terror help:
report
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world_business/view/247781/1/.html

You need us, Taliban's mentor tells Pakistan
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/12/18/wpak18.xml

(Canada) Focus shifts north amid terror fears
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-12-17-canada-border_x.htm?csp=34

Abbas forces overrun part of Gaza after polls call
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061217/ts_nm/palestinians_dc

Spanish judge jails seven Islamic militant suspects
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9htfMQXPYVFACcAzxHQtDMD;_ylu=X3oDMTBjb3ZrYjNkBHBvcwM0BHNlYwNzcg--/SIG=14sj8ddap/EXP=1166446231/**http%3a//www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp%3fxfile=data/theworld/2006/December/theworld_December409.xml%26section=theworld%26col=

France to withdraw special forces from Afghanistan
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061217/ts_afp/afghanistanunrestfrancewithdraw_061217103832

Gunmen stage mass kidnapping in Baghdad - Gunmen in Iraqi army uniforms
kidnapped 20-30 Iraqi Red Crescent employees amd Roadside bomb kills 3
U.S. soldiers in Iraq
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061217/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_mass_kidnapping
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061217/ts_nm/iraq_usa_soldiers_dc

(Afghanistan) Taliban fought in vain on hill
http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=249634

(U.S.) Testimony Helps Detail CIA's Post-9/11 Reach
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/15/AR2006121502044.html

(U.S.) Talk of Satellite Defense Raises Fears of Space War - Senior
official warned that nations and possibly terrorists "acquiring
capabilities" to destroy space systems
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/16/AR2006121600791.html

(Afghanistan) NATO convoy attack kills one
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20943401-1702,00.html

(India) Mobile phones latest terror tools
http://www.indianexpress.com/sunday/story/18743.html

Women in terrorism: a Palestinian feminist revolution or gender
oppression?
http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/women_terror_e.htm

Israeli Arab Planned Terror Attack in Upper Nazareth
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=117589

Gunmen kill Philippines congressmen
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20941084-38196,00.html

Muslims shots dead in south Thailand
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20938152-38197,00.html

(Iraq) 6 suspects detained in Sadr City raid
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061216/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_raid

(Afghanistan) Taliban deny receiving backing from Pakistan
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/16/AR2006121600213.html

(Iraq) Court sentences al-Qaida member to death - Iraqi court sentenced
Libyan member of al-Qaida in Iraq to death for 8 attacks
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061216/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_libyan_sentenced_1

Hillier: NATO offensive's aim to 'take out' Taliban leaders
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2006/12/15/nato-offensive.html

(U.S.) Informants' tips used to build case in Taliban plot
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4406435.html

Europe on edge over possible holiday terror attacks
http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2006/12/16/europe_on_edge_over_possible_holiday_terror_attacks

Philippines moves on Saudi-based charity - International Islamic Relief
Organization (IIRO) frozen, following U.S. Treasury action
http://metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20061215-060131-7963r

U.S. needs to better monitor money laundering: report - GAO report
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061216/pl_nm/usa_moneylaundering_report_dc_1

AP: Some Gitmo detainees freed elsewhere - Over 200 released by other
countries
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061215/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/after_guantanamo

The Book on Iraq - New Pentagon counterinsurgency manual issued - see
Andrew Cochran's Dec. 15 post
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16222877/site/newsweek/
http://counterterrorismblog.org/2006/12/new_pentagon_counterinsurgency.php

'Taleban law' blocked in Pakistan
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6182395.stm

Iran warns of painful revenge if sanctions imposed
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9htfMMT84JFh8wAaxLQtDMD;_ylu=X3oDMTBjMHZkMjZyBHBvcwMxBHNlYwNzcg--/SIG=12ojg1cun/EXP=1166296211/**http%3a//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061215/wl_nm/iran_nuclear_larijani_dc_1

Gone quiet - CNN's Henry Shuster: No messages from al-Zawahiri for 10
weeks
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/12/15/schuster.column/

Hamas, Fatah clash in deepening violence and Israel lets Haniyeh cross,
but not the $35 million
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061215/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians
http://washtimes.com/world/20061214-114623-3267r.htm

(US) Terror-Free Investing (Commentary) - Missouri state treasurer on
investing in companies with no ties to terrorist states
http://www.opinionjournal.com/cc/?id=110009382

2 Marines reportedly killed near Baghdad - Shiite tribal sheik linked
to British forces also killed in Basra
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061215/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

U.S. to retry terror case against Colombian rebel - First trial of FARC
leader Ricardo Palmera, aka Simon Trinidad, ended in hung jury
http://www.mtstandard.com/articles/2006/12/15/newsnationworld/hjjdihiejjiaij.txt

Suicide bombing injures 3 Afghan soldiers
http://english.people.com.cn/200612/15/eng20061215_333034.html

Islamic Jihad says its militants fire 8 rockets at Israel
http://english.people.com.cn/200612/15/eng20061215_333030.html

(India) 7/11 blasts accused says he attended terror camp in Pak
http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=342245&sid=NAT

Somali Islamists accuse US of sowing divisions with Al-Qaeda remarks
and Al-Qaeda controls Somali Islamist movement: US official
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061215/ts_afp/somaliaunrestusqaeda_061215095829
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9htfMSGsoJFmK4A5SnQtDMD;_ylu=X3oDMTBjMHZkMjZyBHBvcwMxBHNlYwNzcg--/SIG=1314qss88/EXP=1166279686/**http%3a//news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061215/pl_afp/somaliaunrestusqaeda_061215003341

Bombers hit Afghanistan as NATO launches operation and 8 Taliban rebels
killed in Afghanistan
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061215/ts_nm/afghan_dc
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7598_1868562,000500020005.htm

(South America) Tri-border transfers 'funding terror' - BBC: Telefax,
business in South American region, sends millions overseas
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6179085.stm
FBI Issues Warning to Police as Terrorist's Health Fails - Warning of
reprisals as health of Sheik Rahman fails - see Bill West's Dec. 14 post
and Rahman's role in 1993 WTC bombing

Saudis Planning to 'Clean up' al Qaeda in Anbar - Saudi intel official
tells ABC News that they could "clean up" Anbar of al Qaeda networks
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/12/saudis_planning.html

(Afghanistan) The Taliban's Book of Rules - Newsweek's Christopher
Dickey with translated 9-page pamphlet, now saved on CT Library page
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16169421/site/newsweek/
http://counterterrorismblog.org/library/

[nw_arizona_granny]

December 18, 2006 Anti-Terrorism News

Upcoming Video By Al-Qaeda No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahiri Say Fundamentalist
Websites
http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Terrorism&loid=8.0.369727343&par=0

(Afghanistan) Ten dead in fresh Afghanistan gunbattles
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061218/wl_asia_afp/afghanistanunrestus_061218105642

Blast hits NATO convoy in Afghanistan
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061218/wl_nm/afghan_violence_dc_3

The Regathering Storm - Newsweek: 12 Westerners being trained by Al
Qaeda in Pakistan for special mission
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16240565/site/newsweek/
http://msnbcmedia4.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/Newsweek/Components/Photos/Mag/061225_Issue/061216_Afghanistan_hsmall.standard.jpg

In Afghanistan, money tips the scales of justice
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-justice18dec18,0,4393580.story?coll=la-home-headlines:

Pakistanis, Afghans mull tribal talks on Taliban
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061218/wl_nm/pakistan_afghan_dc_1

(Pakistan) Al-Qaeda training jihadis from Pak: report
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1871738,00050001.htm

(Iraq) Car Bomb kills five at market - at wholesale vegetable market in
southern Baghdad, killing five people and wounding 19
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20949529-1702,00.html

(Iraq) Red Crescent stops work in Baghdad after kidnap
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/SectionHomeL.asp?section=middleeast

(Iraq) Gunmen free 17 seized at Baghdad Red Crescent office
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IBO838178.htm

Saudis report Shi'ite 'state' inside of Iraq
http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20061218-121346-2567r.htm

Hamas threatens to resume suicide bombings - Terror group warns if
government toppled, 'all options open'
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53412

(India) 3 terrorists killed in Jammu and Kashmir
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1871775,000600030010.htm

Yemen: Al-Qaeda Cell Uncovered - in Sanaa
http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Terrorism&loid=8.0.369622476&par=0

Six Yemenis released from Guantanamo
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2006/December/middleeast_December297.xml&section=middleeast

Report: Al-Qaida strengthening in Somalia
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20061218-074059-1628r

Somalia Islamists discuss defections - 200 troops serving govt
defecting to Islamic courts movement
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061217/ap_on_re_af/somalia_4

(Somalia) Growth of Radicalism (my title)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2510196,00.html

(Spain) Mujahedin fighters return to Spain from Iraq: report
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/focusoniraq/2006/December/focusoniraq_December92.xml&section=focusoniraq

Norwegians trained by Al-Qaida
http://www.norwaypost.no/cgi-bin/norwaypost/imaker?id=37241

U.N.: States Urged To Ratify Nuclear Terrorism Treaty
http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Terrorism&loid=8.0.369257589&par=0

Car bomb explodes in Nigeria's oil delta
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L1851499.htm

Russian Terrorists Plan Massive Cyber Attacks — Expert
http://mosnews.com/news/2006/12/18/computerattacks.shtml

(USA) Feds Find No Credible Terror Threats for Holiday
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/12/feds_find_no_cr.html

Special Forces units work in allied countries and clash with the CIA
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-intel18dec18,0,3935943.story?coll=la-home-headlines:


Related News:

Jews attacked 4 times more than Muslims, police say
http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20061217-110724-7282r.htm

[nw_arizona_granny]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1754940/posts

The Russians Have Never Stopped Spying on Us
newsbyus.com ^ | Alan Caruba | Alan Caruba


Posted on 12/17/2006 2:04:21 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe


It is not for nothing that Vladimir Putin, the president of the Russian Republic, is a former member of the KGB. From its earliest days, Soviet Russia maintained a vast army of spies around the world and penetrating the United States remained high on its list of priorities.

continued...........

[nw_arizona_granny]

Good morning.

You beat me by a few minutes, same link below.

Of course, we had to get one for the holidays.

[struwwelpeter]

More on Alena Polyakova, from Gambler.ru

Vadim Gasanov, January 21st, 2003.

The Story of a Dead Girl

----------------------------------
Lena Polyakova was killed during the storming of 'Nord-Ost'. The authorites tried to hide her body, and she was buried in secret. The Moscow city prosecutor seems to be more worried about the actions of the lawyer for the 'Nord-Ost' hostages than anything else.
----------------------------------

The 'Nord-Ost' story continues. The first thing that we remember was the silence, or, alternatively, the unconvincing lie about the number of hostages who were killed during the storming of the theatrical center.

Later, it became clear that it was not just the terrorists and dextrous representatives of the police and special forces who were guilty of the tragedy, but many journalists. Last Friday the topic of the media's fault was personified in the resignation of Boris Jordan. As you may recall, NTV 'incorrectly' reported on the events at 'Nord-Ost'.

Now the prosecutor's office has decided to investigate Trunov, the lawyer for the former 'Nord-Ost' hostages, in spite of the laws protecting counsel. In other words, since the real terrorists are far away, they must 'wipe out' those who are closer.

With regards to all of this, I would like to tell our readers a very simple story. The story of a dead girl.

Unfortunately, the person who knows THE WHOLE STORY is dead. He, whom we shall call him 'D.B.' agreed to make public this story, but never succeeded. He was not able to tell me a lot, so I must tell of that which he did.

Thus, on the list of the dead is Alena Polyakova. We looked for this girl and her mother, Olga Polyakova, beginning on October 28th (2002), at D.B.'s request. They were the wife and daughter of a friend of his.

D.B. drove to all the hospitals and morgues specified in official reports. We, in turn, called them all. Mother and daughter Polyakova were not on any of the official lists.

Quickly understanding that the victims were transported to WHEREVER POSSIBLE, we changed our tactics. The editors here telephoned ALL the hospitals and morgues in Moscow. We were successful in one instance: in the intensive care ward of Hospital No. 68 we located Olga Polyakova. At this point Hospital No. 68 was NOT on any of the lists.

D.B. tried to use his connections (which he had a lot of) to try and transfer Olga Polyakova to Central Clinical Hospital. He was refused, and was told that it was FORBIDDEN to send 'Nord-Ost' hostages to Central.

Lena Polyakova still remained unaccounted for. Once again we called ALL the hospitals and morgues, and once again D.B. knocked about ALL the hospitals and morgues. Suddenly he phoned and said that there was still one place where Lena could be. In his words, a very high-ranking acquaintance told him that the bodies of those killed during the storming of the theater were at the certain military unit in Moscow. D.B. agreed to be taken there, but categorically refused to bring me along. He was granted permission to go alone, at night.

In the morning he phoned and told me that there was no need to look any further.

The military unit turned out to be one of the military hospitals used for high-ranking members of the command staff, located at Sokolniki. D.B. drove there at night. When he left, they told me, one could not bear to look at him. Alena was there, along with, at a minimum, nine bodies.

The girl had a gunshot wound. The pathologist assured him that the wound was in itself not fatal. On the other hand, does a 12-year-old child need much of a wound?

Problems later arose. Officially the girl did not exist - she was not on any of the hostage lists. "Some of the hostages," the Moscow city prosecutor stated cynically. "Went home on their own." Alena Polyakova was not in any morgue or hospital, officially. That is to say, the girl had ceased to be. Even her body vanished, officially.

D.B. would not give me details, he would not not say what favors he called in so that he could get custody of the girl's body. This, however, was only half the problem - NOW SHE COULD NOT BE BURIED!

For a burial one needs a death certificate. It was impossible to get one, because the certificate must have a cause of death. The girl had a gunshot would, so this means that the police and prosecutor's office had to be notified. Generally speaking, after 'Nord-Ost' no one wanted anything to do with this, not even for money. A death certificate was eventually purchased somewhere in Kazan.

They went to the Troekurovsky cemetary to bury the girl. As D.B. told me, it was an awful funeral - only nine people, and the coffin was too large for the little girl.

D.B.'s heart could not handle the awful pressure. Within a month he passed away.

By the way, those who were interested in this story COULD NOT FIND Alena Polyakova in the registry of the Troekurovsky cemetary or its crematorium.

This story is a ghastly one, and an everyday occurrence in Russia. It is so commonplace that the prosecutor's office is more interested in other matters, such as the lawyer of those who spent three days in the theater hall with Alena Polyakova, but, unlike her, survived.

[nw_arizona_granny]

This leaves me, confused.

Why?

So a kid gets shot, during a hostage situation, why keep it a secret, why hide the body?

That she was shot is not shocking, a shame and a loss, YES, but not reason to hide her.

I can only think of the poor mother, they were set to never let her know what happened to Alena.

It would have driven me mad, to think that someone had taken her and_________!!!

It is no wonder that Svni cannot let it go, I don't know that I could have either.

I know of only the two incidents/murders, how many others are there like this one?

And this is how the Anna and Linvinenko cases will go to.

Thank you, for keeping the information flowing.

[nw_arizona_granny]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1755226/posts

Elementary School Evacuated: Several students fall violently ill
18 DEC 06 | dcbryan1


Posted on 12/18/2006 8:10:18 AM PST by DCBryan1


Fox News just broke in with an alert. They said that a Brookline, Massachusettes elementary school was being "evacuted" (strange use of word) after several students became "violently ill".....

Developing....

[Velveeta]

>>>You beat me by a few minutes, same link below.

Not an easy feat. ;-)

[nw_arizona_granny]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1755341/posts



FBI searches in Albania for radioactive material intended for terrorism attacks
makfax ^ | December 18, 2006


Posted on 12/18/2006 12:40:12 PM PST by joan


Skadar, 16:34

FBI agents in cooperation with Albanian authorities are investigating eventual smuggling of radioactive material deemed to have been planned for using in terrorist attacks across Europe.


Citing sources from the Prosecution Office, the Albanian media reported there are grounds for suspicions that 170 kilograms of radioactive material was brought in the country.


According to the same sources, the illegal shipment was planned to serve for the purposes of carrying out terrorist attacks in Western Europe.


FBI agents have taken in five suspects, including three Albanian police officers and two residents of Skadar. After questioning, they have been released .

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TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Click to Add Topic
KEYWORDS: ALBANIA; ALLIES; WARONTERROR; Click to Add Keyword

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RADIOACTIVE LOAD ARRIVES VIA MONTENEGRO?

18.12.2006 10:54 PODGORICA, (Tanjug) - The Podgorica-based daily Dan quoted on Monday an information from Tirana, according to which the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Albanian Special Prosecution have issued a search warrant against a group of terrorists who transport dangerous radioactive material into that country, which can be used to build mass-murder weapons.


1 posted on 12/18/2006 12:40:16 PM PST by joan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

[nw_arizona_granny]

Thanks to Milford421 for finding this report....

Update: H.S. Salad Dressing Befouler Booked


From the Smoking Gun.
Senior, 17, facing aggravated battery, disorderly conduct raps
DECEMBER 18--Meet Marco Raphael Castro. The Illinois high school
student surrendered today to face charges resulting from a revolting
lunchroom prank earlier this month. According to Wheaton police and
school officials, the 17-year-old senior ejaculated into a bottle of
ranch salad dressing on December 6 and returned the befouled
condiment to the Wheaton North High School cafeteria. It is unclear
if the dressing was used by any students before the container was
cleaned and refilled the following day. Castro, pictured below in
Wheaton Police Department mug shots, has been charged with
disorderly conduct and attempted aggravated battery, both
misdemeanors. School officials learned of the prank from students,
and Principal Jill Bullo sent parents a December 14 letter informing
them of the "very unusual and disgusting incident." (1 page)

WOOHOO: The Dog Dialed 911, TSG's new book, has arrived!

Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/under-investigation/

[struwwelpeter]

Here are another three courageous journalists, from Russian Human Rights Organization

"Forgive us, we remember you..."

Published December 14th, 2006

by Vera Vasileva 

Journalism in our country remains one of the most dangerous of professions. In Russia, more than 200 journalists have been killed during the last 15 years. Everyone, regardless of their ideological leaning, was shaken by the recent murder of Anna Politkovskaya. The practice of contract killings to silence objectionable voices has made more and more members of the media fear to write the truth.

At Moscow's Novopushinsky Square, from 2-3 pm on December 17th, 2006, there will be a memorial rally in honor of these journalists. The organizers are a group of reporters from several different publications, and they emphasize that their protest is not political, but civil. They summon journalists to Novopushinsky independent of their political leanings, because, as they put it, "...today they are killing reporters in Russia because someone objects to what they report. Tomorrow they will be killed simply for belonging to the profession."

It is worth noting that the rally was originally thought up as a march along the avenue from the House of Journalists to Pushinskaya Square, and to end with a minute of silence at Novopushinsky. The Moscow city government, however, refused to grant permission for the march, referring the organizers to page 3, article 17, of the Constitution that "the pursuit of human rights and freedoms shall not disrupt the rights and freedoms of other citizens". This strange justification was sent to the rally organizers by the directorate of security for the Moscow city government, and signed by its chief, N.V. Kulikov.

This situation, as well as many others, was described to our online reporter Vera Vasileva by members of the rally's organizing committee - Novaya Gazeta journalist Viktoriya Ivleva, and by Yelena Grishina, director of the Center for Public Information community organization.

Vera Vasileva: Tell me, please, where did the idea for this rally come from?.

Viktoriya Ivleva: It came to us spontaneously, during a conversation.
It happened after we published an issue of Community Gazette dedicated to Anna Stepanovna Politkovskaya. The idea for a march came from my children, who were terribly frightened after Anna Stepanovna was murdered. They were so frightened that they were physically shaking. They began hugging me and saying: "It's good that you don't write about Chechnya, it means that maybe they won't kill you." My children's fear touched me deeply.

That same day I was talking about this with Nadezhda Azhgihina (secretary of the Russian Journalists Union, and co-organizer of the rally) - V. V.), and we decided that it would be worthwhile honoring the memory of those who died because the word was their only weapon.

Killing for a word is an ancient Russian tradition. On the one hand, it speaks volumes about the power of the word, while on the other hand, everyone know that it shouldn't be like this.

Vera Vasileva: And this peaceful rally was forbidden by the Moscow authorities? Why?

Yelena Grishina: As you know, at first we'd planned a protest march. We wanted to walk silently with pictures of murdered journalists from Nikitsky Boulevard along Tverskoy to Pushkinskaya, and once there light candles and hold a moment of silence while remembering our fallen colleagues. We wanted to walk with non-political banners, because our rally was thought up to be non-political, and even though we were inviting representatives from various political organization to march alongside the reporters, none of them were to carry political signs and such.

We chose Sunday, December 17th, because on the 15th the House of Journalists was holding a memorial for journalists who perished on the job. On that day relatives, friends, and acquaintances of the dead journalists were gathering.

But the Moscow government would not allow us to hold a march. Unfortunately, they decided that we would bother Muscovites on their day off, who wished to stroll along the boulevards on Sunday. Even though our rally was to be at 1 pm, i.e.: lunchtime, when people generally aren't out and about.

Vera Vasileva: And how would you characterize such an answer from the city authorities?

Yelena Grishina: Moscow's refusal is kind of humorous, like a story out of the old Soviet parody journal "Krokodil", from their "You Can't Make This Up" section. City hall asserts that we will disrupt the rights of the citizenry, but we also have a constitutional right to free assembly, procession, and meeting. Aren't these disrupted by such a refusal?

They forced us to settle for holding a meeting, but at the rally, which they have allowed, you won't be able to listen to any speeches, we haven't planned any. We don't even have any sound equipment right now, we haven't rented a sound truck or anything. Firstly, it's because we don't have the money, and secondly, there just won't be a need for speeches, in our view. But for now we'll think about it. Perhaps we'll find some kind of a amplifier.

Viktoriya Ivleva: It turns out that the Constitution is a remarkable thing; it can be used however one wishes, because one can always find someone who will be bothered by something, and, accordingly, you can forbid anything, or, conversely, you can permit it. You can permit a hooligan to behave like a hooligan, but what if he interferes with the actions of people who try to stop him? This can go on to absurdity.

I'd like to believe that City Hall's refusal is because all the police will be busy with the "holiday" that the "Nashi" party is planning. I asked the officials why the "Nashi" party is allowed to have a march, but the journalists are not, They replied that "Nashi" isn't having a march, but a holiday procession. Perhaps all the police will be busy at this "holiday", which, of course, will certainly not bother anyone. But it's a bit hard to believe any of this, because, putting it mildly, it looks ugly.

Vera Vasileva: Do the organizers of your march plan to appeal City Hall's decision in court, or hold a march in spite of the prohibition?

Viktoriya Ivleva: No, we won't appeal the decision, and we won't try to argue with them. We'll circulate the information as much as we can in the media. I think that after reading about Moscow's decision, any sober-minded person can figure it all out. And to spend time running around the courts, I think, is useless. Because, judging from everything, the authorities will do whatever they like regardless, and the courts won't do anything except waste time, even if we do win.

But laughing at all this stupidity, well, they haven't forbidden that yet. Maybe they'll see that quoting the Constitution in this letter doesn't make them look very good. And they won't do it again.

Vera Vasileva: Do I understand correctly, that journalists who represent various media outlets will participate in the rally? Not just democratic and liberal outlets, but all who share your grief and wish to honor the memory of your murdered colleagues?

Yelena Grishina: Yes. On our website we've put up a memorial to all the journalists who died on the job. None of us care what faction in the parliament one or another journalist belonged to, or what their political ambitions were. These journalists died for their work, for wishing to objectively report information, or simply to report information.

These days it frequently turns out that they kill a journalist for what they wanted to say. Why did they kill Anna Politkovskaya? Because she spoke, and could involve a mass of people. Practically all the journalists who have been killed died because they worked as journalists. You can count on your fingers those cases when these people died in car crashes or other accidents.

For example, Galina Kovalskaya, she died in a fire, but she also carried out her professional, journalistic duties. She went there to report on a fire and her helicopter caught fire and crashed. Galina wasn't there on a lark, however, she was there in order to observe and write about it, to objectively tell us, the listeners, readers, and viewers, all that went on there.

Vera Vasileva: What do you think, is it possible to change the situation? Journalists, and other citizens, can we prevent these murders, these deaths, which lately, unfortunately, have become so frequent?

Yelena Grishina: We can't prevent murders and deaths; we haven't the power. In my view, our coming together, our understanding of each other, or mutual aid, these can, at least, show the power, which is doing the killing, we can show it that we are also strong.

Vera Vasileva: And in spite all of these tragic events, you don't intend to keep silent, you aren't going to hide?

Viktoriya Ivleva: Why hide? I'd like to tell my dead colleagues: "Forgive us, we remember you". But should I hide in order to remember them, those who died, by the way, for our country? From whom and why should I hide? Am I really doing something illegal, in remembering people who were shot in Chechnya, or remembering a woman who was murdered in an elevator?

Vera Vasileva: Yes, life these days has become abnormal, and quite the paradox...

Viktoriya Ivleva: I think that the largest paradox is included in City Hall's answer. Certainly, we're all used to bureaucratic pseudo-answers, and frequently it happens that they mix apples and oranges, but to misuse a fundamental constitutional right so sarcastically, the law that is the life of the nation, now it turns out that the protest marches of extremists bother no one, and are allowed by the Constitution, since they are permitted, and vehicles with sirens also bother no one, but on the contrary, they help... Perhaps the Constitution has some kind of a selective character? It applies to some people a certain way, but differently to others... We know what's a law, and what's a shaft, but since the Constitution is the fundamental law, doesn't this mean that it's the main shaft, the axle on which the whole nation rides? How has it come to this?

In short, this question is absolutely rhetorical; it hangs in the air, because those who should answer it, don't. To all the rest of us, though, it's all very clear.

---

Article address: http://www.hro.org/editions/freedom/2006/12/14.php

[Founding Father]

'Qaeda training jehadis from West'

Posted at Monday, 18 December 2006 17:12 IST
New York, Dec 18: Media reports have claimed that Osama bin Laden's terror outfit Al Qaeda is currently training a 12-member team of Westerners in Pakistan to carry out a special mission.

The 12-member squad is likely to help plotting attacks on return to their home countries, the report said.

The team includes nine British citizens, two Norwegian Muslims and an Australian.

The report was published quoting Taliban's Chief Qaeda liaison for Ghazni province in Afghanistan, Omar Farooqi. The report claimed that some Taliban commanders told it of seeing the "English brothers" in person during the training.

Farooqi said he spent roughly five weeks last year helping indoctrinate and train A-class foreign recruits near Afghanistan border in tribal Waziristan.

Their mission will be to act as, underground organisers and operatives for Al Qaeda in their home countries, he said. The yearlong training course of the foreigners is just about finished, he added.



http://www.saharasamay.com/samayhtml/Articles.aspx?NewsId=66861

[nw_arizona_granny]

ProMED-mail
promed@promedmail.org

[Norovirus-associated viral gastroenteritis, also known as "winter
vomiting disease," is now prevalent throughout the northern
hemisphere. This Health Advisory provides useful advice for treatment
and containment of illness caused by noroviruses, the predominant
cause of sudden onset gastroenteritis. In view of the ubiquity of
norovirus infection during the winter months, reporting in
ProMED-mail will be restricted to large outbreaks of sickness or when
there is an association with specific or atypical situations.

There is no vaccine for control of norovirus infection nor any
specific treatment other than strict attention to cleanliness to
restrict person-to-person transmission of infection. Noroviruses
multiply prolifically in the human gut but cannot be propagated in
culture, which has thwarted efforts to develop vaccine.

The noroviruses, formerly designated only as "small round structured
viruses," are now classified as members of the genus _Norovirus_ in
the family _Caliciviridae_. They take their name from the town of
Norwalk, Ohio, where the association with disease was 1st
demonstrated in primary school children in the early 1970's. - Mod.CP]

[Founding Father]

Litvinenko Investigation Leaves Russia
It looks like UK investigators have all they need or can get from the Russians they wanted to interrogate with respect to the Litvinenko investigation, as they seem to be heading back to the UK tomorrow:

British detectives probing the murder of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko have wound up their investigation in Moscow and are due to leave for home on Tuesday, a British police source said on Monday.

No details of what the Scotland Yard investigators had discovered were available.

Earlier, Russian agency Interfax, quoting what is said was an informed source, reported that the investigators had interviewed six people including Dmitry Kovtun and Andrei Lugovoy, who met Litvinenko in London on November 1, the day he fell ill with radiation poisoning.

Who the six people are is of some interest. We know three of them are Lugovoi, Kovtun and Sokolenko - three who attended the soccer game and stayed at the Millenium Hotel where Polonium contamination was detected. I would assume Lugovoi’s wife was the 4th person. But it might be we have two more Russians who were at the Millenium who also had contaminated rooms and have been identified. If this is the case I would not be surprised to learn one or more of these may have been in London at the other meetings in Oct between Lugovoi and Litvinenko.

What also has me interested is the fact Lugovoi and Kovtun still talk to the media, but are apparently assisting the authorities and of the questioning they have undergonr or their situation with respect to Litvinenko:

A key witness in the poisoning death of former Russian security service defector Alexander Litvinenko said Monday he has again been questioned by investigators probing the case.

“Today I met with representatives of the [Russian] Prosecutor General’s Office and the British police, and gave comprehensive answers to all their questions,” Kovtun, also a former security service agent, told RIA Novosti. He stopped short of revealing any details.

Let’s assume this incident does revolve around a Polonium-210 smuggling ring but the smugglers - coordinated by Lugovoi and Kovtun - were never notified of exactly what they were dealing with. I am sure precautions were explained and how to avoid detection, but the lethality of the material may not have been explained as well as it should be. This is the problem with smuggling rings. You don’t want the transporters running off with the goods so you tell them as little as possible.

Let’s also assume, now that these two are ill and basically busted, Lugovoi and Kovtun are turning on their masters and exposing what they can regarding the force behind the smuggling ring and all the details of all the meetings with these people (Litvinenko and Berezovsky especially). This would be a wonderful turn of events because it could mean resolution on this matter ASAP - which I am seriously hoping will happen. Again, making some wild predictions here, I would suspect UK authorities may have enough to start rolling people and turning them to make deals to catch the leadership of this incident.

The most critical imperative is to locate any remaining Polonium-210 stashes or destinations. Anyway, it may be things begin to break open a bit more on this case this final week before Christmas.

http://strata-sphere.com/blog/index.php/archives/3120

[struwwelpeter]

Report on Sunday's rally, from Russian Human Rights Organization

Memorial to dead and murdered journalists held on Novopushkinsky Square

Published December 18th, 2006

by Vera Vasileva 

On Sunday, December 17th, there was a rally in memory of journalists who had died or been killed on the job. According to the rally's organizers, more than 200 members of this profession have been killed in the last 15 years in Russia. The rally's date was no accident - December 15th is the traditional time when relatives, friends, and acquaintances of fallen journalists gather at the House of Journalists.

At first it had been planned to hold a procession from the House of Journalists along Nikitsky boulevard to Novopushkinsky Square, but the Moscow authorities decided that a memorial march (as opposed to those held by the 'Nashi' political movement) would bother Muscovites on their day off, and so that was forbidden.

Therefore a majority of the people met at the square, while only about sixty walked from the House of Journalists. The journalists held photographs of their dead colleagues, and along the boulevards they carried a banner reading "Memorial March for Fallen Journalists". Almost immediately, however, they were required to put this away, in accordance with the demands of the police.

Once at the square, they again opened their banner and lit candles. A few politicians took part in the rally with the journalists, including Grigory Yavlinsky and Sergey Mitrohin, members of the ("Yabloko" democratic party), as well as members of the Committe of Anti-war Activities.

There were no speeches. The people had gathered in order to hold a moment of silence as a sign of grief and in memory of those who had died or been murdered while carrying out their professional duties. The silence was broken only by a reading of the names of the fallen. It required a full hour to read this tragic list in full. The last name read was that of Novaya Gazeta correspondent Anna Politkovskaya, who had been shot down in the elevator of her apartment by unknown assailants on October 7th, 2006.

See also:

• "Forgive us, we remember you..."

[Founding Father]

Imperialist Iran
By Amir Taheri
New York Post | December 18, 2006

Millions of Muslim pilgrims from all over the world begin trekking to Mecca for the annual Hajj ceremony next month - and officials in Saudi Arabia, where the "holy" city is located, are on tenterhooks. They fear that Iran's ultra-radical President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will turn the Hajj into a political demonstration in support of his agenda for a "clash of civilizations" between Islam and what he calls "The Zionist-Crusader camp" led by the United States.
"We know that a lot of agitation is going on," a senior Saudi official claims. "Iranians have been recruiting radicals to send to Mecca from all over the world, including the United States."

The Islamic Republic itself is expected to send 200,000 pilgrims, representing almost 10 percent of the total. Saudi officials claim that some 5 percent of the Iranian pilgrims have always been identified as members of the Islamic Revolutionary Corps and the Islamic Republic's various intelligence services. This year, however, the profiles of Iranian applicants for pilgrimage visas indicate that more than 20 percent may belong to the military or security services.

To these must be added professional street-fighters from the various branches of the pan-Islamic Hezbollah movement, which Iran created in the 1980s as a way to "export" Khomeinism to other Muslim countries. The movement's best-known branch, the Lebanese Hezbollah, has announced it will sending over 3,000 pilgrims this year - all paid for by Iran.

With so many men with military and security backgrounds in Mecca, the mullahs leading the Iranian pilgrims would be in a position to seize control of the space around the black stone of the Ka'aba (The Cube) and use it as a venue for political demonstrations.

If that is, indeed, the Iranian intention, it would not be the first time that the Khomeinist mullahs have used the Hajj to promote their ideology. Through much of the 1980s, the late Ayatollah Ruhallah Khomeini managed to disrupt the pilgrimage by sending his shock troops to the "holy" city with a mission to indoctrinate pilgrims from all over the world.

Khomeini claimed that the main reason for the pilgrimage was to demonstrate the Muslim nations' "exoneration from the Infidels" (bara'a lil-mushrekin). In 1986, he claimed that the slogan "Death to America!" was as important to Muslims today as the more traditional one of Allah Akbar (Allah Is The Greatest).

For several years, the Saudi authorities managed to control the Khomeinist shock troops and prevent total disruption. In 1987, however, things ran out of control. A group of Khomeinist militants went on the rampage, provoking a police reaction. The ensuing street battles killed more than 400 pilgrims and injured nearly a thousand.

The tragic incident led to a boycott of the Hajj by the Islamic Republic that continued until after Khomeini's death in 1989. In the 1990s, the Iranian pilgrims returned and steered clear of trouble thanks to a pledge given to Saudi Arabia by Hashemi Rafsanjani, then president of the Islamic Republic.

But Ahmadinejad's supporters denounce Rafsanjani's decision to end Hajj demonstrations as another example of the former president's "betrayal of the revolutionary values."

"It is clear that Ahmadinejad is keen to demonstrate broader Muslim support for his promise to drive the Americans out of the Middle East and destroy Israel," says Manuchehr Badi'i, a Tehran political analyst. "Anecdotal evidence shows that Ahmadinejad, while facing mounting opposition at home, is popular in Islamic radical circles elsewhere. He may want to use that popularity as a weapon against domestic critics."

On Friday, a leading cleric with close ties with Ahmadinejad fired what sounded like the first shots in the coming clash with Saudi Arabia over the Hajj. Addressing the Friday prayer congregation in Tehran, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami warned the Saudi authorities against any attempt at preventing the Iranian pilgrims from "venting their anger at the Crusaders and the Zionists."

Khatami also criticized a fatwa issued by 38 leading Saudi clerics last week, calling on Sunni Muslims to take up arms and travel to Iraq to fight the Shi'ite-dominated government in Baghdad. "I wonder how these people can call themselves religious scholars," Khatami said. "If they are not traitors we must assume that they are naive."

Khatami dismissed suggestions that the Middle East is entering a period of sectarian wars between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims. He claimed that the real issue was the choice between revolutionary Islam, represented by Iran, and "an Islam of defeat and compromise" represented by all other governments in the Muslim world. (Allah Is The Greatest).

For several years, the Saudi authorities managed to control the Khomeinist shock troops and prevent total disruption. In 1987, however, things ran out of control. A group of Khomeinist militants went on the rampage, provoking a police reaction. The ensuing street battles killed more than 400 pilgrims and injured nearly a thousand.

The tragic incident led to a boycott of the Hajj by the Islamic Republic that continued until after Khomeini's death in 1989. In the 1990s, the Iranian pilgrims returned and steered clear of trouble thanks to a pledge given to Saudi Arabia by Hashemi Rafsanjani, then president of the Islamic Republic.

But Ahmadinejad's supporters denounce Rafsanjani's decision to end Hajj demonstrations as another example of the former president's "betrayal of the revolutionary values."

"It is clear that Ahmadinejad is keen to demonstrate broader Muslim support for his promise to drive the Americans out of the Middle East and destroy Israel," says Manuchehr Badi'i, a Tehran political analyst. "Anecdotal evidence shows that Ahmadinejad, while facing mounting opposition at home, is popular in Islamic radical circles elsewhere. He may want to use that popularity as a weapon against domestic critics."

On Friday, a leading cleric with close ties with Ahmadinejad fired what sounded like the first shots in the coming clash with Saudi Arabia over the Hajj. Addressing the Friday prayer congregation in Tehran, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami warned the Saudi authorities against any attempt at preventing the Iranian pilgrims from "venting their anger at the Crusaders and the Zionists."

Khatami also criticized a fatwa issued by 38 leading Saudi clerics last week, calling on Sunni Muslims to take up arms and travel to Iraq to fight the Shi'ite-dominated government in Baghdad. "I wonder how these people can call themselves religious scholars," Khatami said. "If they are not traitors we must assume that they are naive."

Khatami dismissed suggestions that the Middle East is entering a period of sectarian wars between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims. He claimed that the real issue was the choice between revolutionary Islam, represented by Iran, and "an Islam of defeat and compromise" represented by all other governments in the Muslim world.

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=26047

[struwwelpeter]

"conscience of the nation"

[nw_arizona_granny]

TSA Rolls Out Holiday 311 Campaign
http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) once again takes to
airports around the nation to remind travelers of the 3-1-1 rule during
the holiday season. Look for TSA events in Atlanta, Ga.; Chicago,Ill.;
Denver, Colo.; Detroit, Mich.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Louiseville, Ky.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Madison, Wis.; Miami, Fla.; Milwaukee, Wis.; and
Minneapolis, Minn. The 3-1-1 rule for carry-ons means passengers can take a
3 oz. bottle or less of a liquid item in a 1 quart-sized, clear,
plastic, zip-top bag, with 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin.

Note - the liquid items in plastic zip-top bag should be separate from
other carry-on items.