KEY FOREIGN AFFAIRS ISSUES FOR THE 110TH CONGRESS (CRS)
A new report from the Congressional Research Service presents a
comprehensive 80-page survey of foreign policy and national
security issues that will face the next Congress.
See "Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade: Key Issues for the 110th
Congress," December 20, 2006:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL33760.pdf
Also newish from CRS is "Bioterrorism Countermeasure Development:
Issues in Patents and Homeland Security," updated November 27,
2006:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/terror/RL32917.pdf
India: Antony to open defence artificial intelligence campus Friday
http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/34409
Antony to open defence artificial intelligence campus Friday
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Bangalore: The Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR),
that has done pioneering research in cutting edge technologies and in
developing futuristic communications and other systems for the Indian
Army, is to get a spanking new campus here with Defense Minister A.K.
Antony opening the facility.
Spread over 15 acres, the new campus will enable the center, created 20
years ago, to conduct R&D in areas like information systems,
communications and networking, information security, communications security and
intelligent systems in a single integrated complex against the diverse
locations in the city it currently operates from.
In terms of pure research, CAIR's work in the sphere of intelligent
systems is perhaps the most exciting because this has applications in the
other areas of its operations, a defense ministry official pointed out.
Through artificial intelligence (AI), which is the science of making
intelligent machines, or machines that can "think", and Neutral Networks
(NN) that ensure an Internet host, protocol, or application does not
receive preferential treatment, CAIR researchers are creating what are
termed "mining tools" that automatically search large volumes of data for
patterns, the official added.
"In today's information age, the value of these tools cannot be
underestimated," the official pointed out.
Speaking about CAIR's efforts in the information systems field, the
official explained: "Today's battlefield is characterized by a high degree
of movement of men and material on a wide front, and this demands rapid
acquisition, dissemination, collation and fusion of information amongst
field commanders involved in tactical planning and operations.
"In this scenario, with decision making a time-sensitive and complex
operation, a command, control, communication and information (C3I) system
consisting of networked computers in the tactical battle area
facilitates the process," the official added.
As for the communications and networking sphere, CAIR was developing
technologies needed for the futuristic tactical communications network of
the Indian Army.
"It is assisting the army in specifying the system architecture and the
subsystem specifications for its Tactical Communications System (TCS)
to facilitate multi-technology, multi-media communication networks
across the tactical battlefield area," the official pointed out.
In the area of information security, which aims at securing
confidentiality and integrity of data stored in computers and communicated over
networks, CAIR has been working in areas like authentication, including
speech biometrics, network access control, and intrusion detection
systems.
These include high-speed traffic analysis software, secure e-mail, IP
security, network and host intrusion detection systems, online disk
encryption, and smart card-based authentication, the official said.
This apart, CAIR has also developed a number of technological solutions
and products for the civilian sector, among them an automatic processor
for handwritten application forms, an intelligent wheelchair for
physically challenged persons, a laparoscopic surgery trainer and robots for
non-destructive training.
CAIR, an arm of the Defense and Research Development Organization
(DRDO) was established in 1986 and its research focus was initially in the
areas of AI, robotics, and control systems. In November 2000, R&D groups
of the DRDO's Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE)
working in the areas of C3I systems, communication and networking, and
communications security were merged with the center.
"This has made CAIR the premier laboratory for R&D in different areas
of information and communication technology (ICT) as applicable to the
defense sector," the official pointed out.
Google Alert - jihadi threats
EURSOC: France On Terror Alert
By A-News
Security around prominent campaigners, including interior minister
Nicolas Sarkozy
and Socialist Party contender Ségolène Royal has been stepped up
following the
threats. Senior security forces sources believe jihadi terrorists with
...
http://www.eu-digest.com/2006/12/eursoc-france-on-terror-alert.html
EU-DIGEST
http://www.eu-digest.com
Finally! A war liberals can get behind!
By DoubleTap(DoubleTap)
Threats have included no-fly zones, sanctions, and war crimes. The
Sudanese have
until 1 JAN to comply, ... Won't our intervention get the same jihadi
response?
Survey says...Yes! The Sudanese government says it will never allow UN
...
http://rightwinginfidel.blogspot.com/2006/12/finally-war-liberals-can-get-behind.html
Double Tap
http://rightwinginfidel.blogspot.com/index.html
Talks about a Brazil forum, with jihadi and hate groups.
I did not check it out.
http://shahpraneel.blogspot.com/index.html
I think you would call this an update on the OKC bombing:
http://woman123.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!C48E70A9E052DB51!864.entry
http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news/?fr=yalerts-keyword&c=&p=plane+crash&ei=utf-8
1. 4 killed, including 12-year-old boy, in small plane crash in Concord Open this result in new window
San Francisco Chronicle - Dec 21 3:54 PM
A 12-year-old boy who survived a small plane crash that killed three others died this afternoon. The crash occurred at 11 a.m. when the pilot of a small private plane apparently misjudged the landing approach to Concord Buchanan Field, struck Highway 4...
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2. Marshall plane crash affected Suns coach D'Antoni Open this result in new window
USA Today - Dec 21 7:53 AM
The release of the movie We Are Marshall that revives memories of the Marshall plane crash that claimed the lives of 75 people, including 37 school football players and 12 coaches, near Huntington, W.Va., is bringing back painful times for Phoenix Suns coach Mike D'Antoni.
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3. 3 survive small-plane crash Open this result in new window
The Arizona Republic - Dec 21 10:47 AM
A small plane crashed just south of South Mountain on Thursday morning, fire officials said. Three people on board suffered minor injuries after alerting authorities they were going to crash.
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4. Deadly Small Plane Crash Near Connally High School Open this result in new window
KXAN 36 Austin - Dec 21 2:23 PM
Authorities say the pilot died Tuesday in the crash of a small plane near Austin's Connally High School. An emergency official says the single-engine Cessna went down near the school's football stadium.
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5. Chinese plane crash due to frost on wings: experts Open this result in new window
New Kerala - 29 minutes ago
Beijing, Dec 21: China has punished 12 senior officials for their "negligence" and causing the crash of a plane two years ago in Inner Mongolia, which killed all 53 on board and two on the ground.
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6. 4 Dead, Including Child, In Concord Plane Crash Open this result in new window
CBS 5 Bay Area - Dec 21 12:22 PM
Four people, including a 12-year-old boy, died Thursday when a small plane crashed and erupted in flames on state Highway 4 at its intersection with Interstate 680 in Concord. Raw Video: Plane Crash Wreckage
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7. Investigators still gathering details in plane crash Open this result in new window
NewsChannel 10 Amarillo - Dec 21 1:31 PM
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. Federal investigators are still looking into possible mechanical or operational errors that may have caused a deadly plane crash Monday night near...
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8. Fourth Victim In Concord Plane Crash Dies Open this result in new window
KTVU 2 San Francisco - Dec 21 11:57 AM
A 12-year-old boy who was the only survivor of a fiery plane crash on state Highway 4 just north of Concord Thursday afternoon that killed the three adult passengers on the aircraft has died of his injuries, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Scott Yox.
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9. 4th Victim Dies Following Concord Plane Crash Open this result in new window
NBC 11 Bay Area - Dec 21 12:25 PM
The death count rises as authorities now say four people were killed in a small plane crash along Highway 4 in Concord. A 12-year-old boy died after being rescued from the wreckage.
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10. Florence - Body of man in plane crash found near Florence Open this result in new window
The Oregonian - Dec 21 7:59 AM
A body found on Baker Beach near Florence was identified Wednesday as that of a man who died in a Dec. 2 plane crash off the Oregon coast near Coos Bay.
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http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=3666
US Middle East Commander Gen. John Abizaid puts in request for another carrier in Gulf region as warning to Syria and Iran
December 21, 2006, 3:01 PM (GMT+02:00)
DEBKAfile’s military sources report that this request, revealed by a senior Pentagon official, is the first time in four years that an American general has asked for a special force as a deterrent for Syria and Iran.
Our Washington sources interpret the publication of Gen. Abizaid’s request during the visit to Iraq of the new defense secretary Robert Gates’ and head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace as indicating that the Bush administration is heading for a major operation against the two key threats to Iraq’s stability: the Sunni insurgents supported by Syria and the Shiite militias, which receive arms, intelligence and funding from Tehran.
In its latest quarterly report, the defense department accused Iran and Syria of undermining the Iraqi government by providing both active and passive support to anti-government and anti-coalition forces.
The application to deploy a third carrier in the Gulf in late March 2007 is a pointer to the projected timeline of this operation. It will confront Tehran and Damascus with the option of direct intervention to rescue their Iraqi allies, or standing aside. President George W. Bush is officially reported to have not yet decided on the coming steps in Iraq. However the central command’s application for another carrier suggests that the decision is more or less final.
The carrier Eisenhower and its strike group are already in the Gulf region accompanied by guided missile destroyers and the nuclear assault submarine USS Newport, as is the USS Boxer Strike Group.
Another sign of an impending US operation came from Gates’ talks with US generals and soldiers Wednesday. Whereas the soldiers did not propose a pull-out from Iraq and urged him to send reinforcements, the generals argued against a surge. Their reluctance stems from the fear that more manpower will result in a higher casualty score. The generals also calculate that in a withdrawal from the country, the bigger the force the more cumbersome and sluggish the evacuation.
US troops on the other hand explained to the new defense secretary that with a heavier US presence on the ground, the insurgents could be held off long enough to train the Iraqi army. They said training Iraqis is a challenge because of their sectarian ties to militias - police officers more than army personnel.
Gates is due to meet Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki Thursday, Dec. 21.
Copyright 2000-2006 DEBKAfile. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/12-21-2006/0004495569&EDATE=
Director of National Intelligence Releases Four Decades of U.S. Intelligence on Yugoslavia
WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Director of National
Intelligence's National Intelligence Council (NIC) and the Woodrow Wilson
International Center for Scholars recently organized an international
conference to mark the release of the NIC's declassified national
estimative material titled, From "National Communism" to National Collapse:
U.S. Intelligence Community Estimative Products on Yugoslavia, 1948-1990.
Held on Dec. 7, 2006 in Washington, D.C., the conference reviewed the role
and legacy of U.S. intelligence on Yugoslavia during the Cold War.
(NOTE: Please visit http://www.dni.gov/nic to view the declassified
material.)
The material contains 34 recently declassified National Intelligence
Estimates or NIEs representing the Intelligence Community's most
authoritative analysis of Yugoslavia. Over a period of nearly four decades,
these reports gave U.S. policymakers keen insights into the factors shaping
events in and around Yugoslavia -- Belgrade's break with the Soviet Union,
through the Tito years, and right up to the eve of the nation's collapse --
an event foretold by the documents.
Former Secretary of State and former U.S. Ambassador to Yugoslavia in
the 1970s, Lawrence S. Eagleburger, gave the keynote luncheon address. NIC
Chairman, Dr. Thomas Fingar, and the Wilson Center's president, Lee
Hamilton served as co-hosts of the luncheon.
The release of these papers reflects a continuing commitment by the
Director of National Intelligence to provide the public, when possible,
documents of value to historians and intelligence practitioners. The
conference offered leading historians, intelligence analysts, and
policymakers an opportunity to review intelligence judgments on Yugoslavia
and evaluate the quality of analytical tradecraft.
In addition to its scholarly value, the conference contributed to the
efforts of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to implement
intelligence reform legislation and WMD Commission recommendations to
engage leading scholars, and continually examine Intelligence Community
products to improve the quality of analysis.
This is the second time the NIC collaborated with the Wilson Center to
host a conference centered on recently declassified NIEs and other
intelligence memoranda. A similar conference was organized in October 2004
to launch a collection of newly declassified intelligence documents on
China.
The National Intelligence Council is a center of strategic thinking
within the U.S. Government and provides coordinated analyses for senior
policymakers on high interest topics. Although most of its work is for
internal government use, the NIC also produces unclassified reports and
collaborates with a wide range of independent scholars, experts, and
organizations around the world.
Note: The Yugoslavia, Vietnam, and China collections are available from
the U.S. Government Printing Office and on the NIC website:
http://www.dni.gov/nic.
ON THE WEB:
http://www.dni.gov/
http://www.dni.gov/nic
SOURCE Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Related links:
# http://www.dni.gov/
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President George W. Bush Granted Pardons
WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On December 21, 2006
President George W. Bush granted pardons to the following 16 individuals:
* Charles James Allen -- Winchester, Virginia
Offense: Conspiracy to defraud the United States; 18 U.S.C. § 371
Sentence: August 3, 1979; District of Maryland; one year of custody to
be served by 30 days in jail, 90 days in a work-release
program, and the remaining period on parole
* William Sidney Baldwin, Sr. -- Green Pond, South Carolina
Offense: Conspiracy to possess marijuana; 21 U.S.C. § 846
Sentence: October 27, 1981; District of South Carolina; six years'
imprisonment
* Timothy Evans Barfield -- Cary, North Carolina
Offense: Aiding and abetting false statements on a Small Business
Administration loan application; 15 U.S.C. § 645(a) and
18 U.S.C. § 2
Sentence: July 17, 1989; Eastern District of North Carolina; three
years' probation, including 96 hours of community service
* Clyde Philip Boudreaux -- Thibodaux, Louisiana
Offense: Borrowing money from enlisted men, accepting a non-interest
bearing loan from a government contractor, and signing and
swearing to a false affidavit; U.C.M.J. Articles 92, 107, 134
Sentence: December 2, 1975; as approved by the convening authority on
January 29, 1976; United States Navy general court-martial
convened at Okinawa, Japan, and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina;
reprimand; loss of numbers on the promotion list; and a
$1,000 fine
* Marie Georgette Ginette Briere -- Gatineau, Quebec
Offense: Possession of cocaine with intent to distribute; 21 U.S.C.
§ 841(a)(1)
Sentence: July 9, 1982; District of Puerto Rico; three years'
imprisonment and three years' special parole
* Dale C. Critz, Jr. -- Savannah, Georgia
Offense: Making a false statement; 18 U.S.C. § 1014
Sentence: July 13, 1989; Middle District of Florida; three years'
probation
* Mark Alan Eberwine -- San Antonio, Texas
Offense: Conspiracy to defraud the United States by impeding,
impairing, and obstructing the assessment of taxes by the
Internal Revenue Service; 18 U.S.C. § 371; false declarations
to the grand jury; 18 U.S.C. § 1623
Sentence: February 1, 1985, as amended April 23, 1986; Western District
of Texas; two years' imprisonment
* Colin Earl Francis -- Naugatuck, Connecticut
Offense: Accepting a kickback; 41 U.S.C. §§ 53 and 54
Sentence: May 7, 1993; District of Connecticut; two years' probation
and a $2,500 fine
* George Thomas Harley -- Albuquerque, New Mexico
Offense: Aiding and abetting the distribution of cocaine; 21 U.S.C. §
841(a)(1), 18 U.S.C. § 2
Sentence: November 30, 1984; District of New Mexico; nine years'
imprisonment; five years' special parole
* Patricia Ann Hultman -- Kane, Pennsylvania
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to
distribute cocaine and other controlled substances; 21 U.S.C.
§ 846
Sentence: October 28, 1985; Western District of Pennsylvania; one year
of imprisonment
* Eric William Olson -- Ojai, California
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, possession
with intent to distribute, possession, and use of hashish;
U.C.M.J. Articles 81 and 134
Sentence: February 21, 1984; United States Army general court-martial
convened at Bamberg, Germany; confinement at hard labor for
one year; reduction to pay grade E-1; forfeiture of all pay
and allowances; bad conduct discharge
* Thomas R. Reece -- Cumming, Georgia
Offense: Violating the Internal Revenue Code pertaining to alcohol; 26
U.S.C. § 5681(c)
Sentence: May 2, 1969; Northern District of Georgia; one year's
imprisonment
* Larry Gene Ross -- Indio, California
Offense: Making false statements in a bank loan application; 18 U.S.C.
§ 1014
Sentence: August 15, 1989; District of Wyoming; four years' probation,
$7,654.20 restitution
* Jearld David Swanner -- Lexington, Oklahoma
Offense: Making false statements in a bank loan application; 18 U.S.C.
§ 1005
Sentence: December 6, 1991; Western District of Oklahoma; three years'
probation
* James Walter Taylor -- McCrory, Arkansas
Offense: Bank fraud; 18 U.S.C. § 1344
Sentence: October 18, 1991; Eastern District of Arkansas; 90 days in
jail, followed by two years and nine months' probation
* Janet Theone Upton -- Salinas, California
Offense: Mail fraud; 18 U.S.C. § 1341
Sentence: May 23, 1975; District of Nevada; two years' unsupervised
probation
On December 21, 2006, President Bush granted a commutation of sentence
to the following individual:
* Phillip Anthony Emmert -- Washington, Iowa
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, 21 U.S.C. § 846
Sentence: December 23, 1992; Southern District of Iowa; 262 months'
imprisonment (as reduced on February 21, 1996); five years'
supervised release
Terms of commutation: Sentence of imprisonment to expire on January 20,
2007; term of supervised release left intact and
in effect
SOURCE U.S. Department of Justice
Related links:
# http://www.usdoj.gov
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Saudi National Sentenced for Visa Fraud and Harboring Illegal Aliens
BOSTON, Dec. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A Saudi national living in
Winchester was sentenced today in federal court having pleaded guilty to
charges of visa fraud and harboring of illegal aliens relating to her
employment of two domestic servants.
United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan; Assistant Attorney General
for Civil Rights Wan J. Kim; Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of
Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and Kenneth W. Kaiser, Special Agent
in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced today that Hana
F. Al Jader, age 40, of Winchester, Massachusetts, was sentenced by U.S.
District Judge Reginald J. Lindsay to 2 years of probation, the first 6
months of which are to be served in home confinement. She was also ordered
to complete 100 hours of community service. Judge Lindsay also ordered her
to pay a fine of $40,000 and restitution in the amount $206,000 to three of
her former domestic servants. Al Jader was also ordered to forfeit a second
residence in Arlington. Lastly, Judge Lindsay ordered that Al Jader be
deported to her native Saudi Arabia following completion of her term of
home confinement.
In September of this year, Al Jader pleaded guilty to two counts of
visa fraud and two counts of harboring illegal aliens for private financial
gain in connection with her employment of two women from Indonesia as
domestic servants.
At the earlier plea hearing, the prosecutor told the Court that Al
Jader, who has resided in Winchester and Arlington since the mid-1990's
with her invalid husband, Prince Mohamed Al Saud, brought the two
Indonesian women to the United States in 2003 to work as domestic servants.
In order to obtain visas for the women, Al Jader was required to submit to
the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia a copy of a work contract guaranteeing
that the women would be paid $1,500 a month and would work no more than 8
hours daily. However, when the women arrived in the United States, they
were required to work -- cooking, cleaning, serving meals, caring for the
severely disabled Prince, and serving at frequent parties -- routinely in
excess of 8 hours per day. Al Jader paid them only $300 a month which, at
their request, was wired to their families in Indonesia.
In July, 2003, Al Jader, through an attorney, filed applications with
the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services ("BCIS") for a six-month
extension of the visas for her domestic servants. In connection with the
extension application, Al Jader submitted another employment contract,
which again represented falsely that the servants were each being paid
$1,500 per month and working only eight hours per day. Based on the false
information provided in the contracts, the servants' visas were extended;
however, when those extensions expired, Al Jader failed to apply for or
obtain any additional extensions. Despite the fact that the servants' legal
status had expired, Al Jader continued to employ them for the next 11
months at the same pay rate of $300 per month.
In exchange for Al Jader's plea of guilty to these charges, her
agreement to pay restitution of approximately $98,000 to each of the
servants, and her acceptance of a stipulated order of deportation to her
native Saudi Arabia, the government agreed to dismiss pending charges of
forced labor and document servitude against Al Jader.
The case was investigated by agents from Immigration and Customs
Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by
Assistant U.S. Attorney S. Theodore Merritt in Sullivan's Public Corruption
and Special Prosecutions Unit and Lou DeBaca, Special Litigation Counsel,
and Barbara Kay Bosserman, Trial Attorney, in the Department of Justice's
Civil Rights Division.
SOURCE U.S. Department of Justice
Related links:
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Three Men Plead Guilty in Arson of Nine Alabama Churches
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Dec. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- MATTHEW LEE CLOYD,
BENJAMIN NATHAN MOSELEY, and RUSSELL LEE DEBUSK, JR., plead guilty today to
the offenses of conspiracy and arson in connection with a string of church
arsons that spanned from February 3 through February 7, 2006. The men have
remained in U.S. Marshal custody since their arrest on March 8, 2006, after
a criminal complaint was filed in U.S. District Court. CLOYD, MOSELEY and
DEBUSK were indicted in U.S. District Court on March 29, 2006.
"These senseless crimes have resulted in incalculable losses," stated
U.S. Attorney Alice H. Martin. "The devastation of nine church homes, as
well as the devastation of these young men's families - think before you
act is the lesson others should heed - some actions have dire consequences.
It is a sad day," adds U.S. Attorney Martin.
CLOYD, 21, of Pelham, and MOSELEY, 20, of Birmingham, plead guilty to
the ten count indictment which charges in count 1, that all the defendants
conspired to damage and destroy by fire nine churches in Bibb, Pickens,
Greene, and Sumter Counties. This conspiracy count also alleges that
persons were injured as a direct and proximate result of the charged
offense. Counts 2-6 charge all the defendants with damaging and destroying
by fire five churches located in Bibb County. Counts 7-10 charge CLOYD and
MOSELEY with damaging and destroying by fire four churches located in West
Alabama. The affected churches and dates of the fires are listed:
2/3/06 Rehobeth Baptist, Bibb County
2/3/06 Ashby Baptist, Bibb County
2/3/06 Old Union Baptist, Bibb County
2/3/06 Pleasant Sabine Baptist, Bibb County
2/3/06 Antioch Baptist, Bibb County
2/7/06 Dancy Baptist Church, Pickens County
2/7/06 Morning Star Missionary Baptist, Greene County
2/7/06 Spring Valley Baptist, Sumter County
2/7/06 Galilee Baptist Church, Sumter County
DEBUSK, 20, of Hoover, plead guilty without a written plea agreement to
counts 1-6 of the indictment.
The written plea agreements contain waivers of the right to appeal and
post-conviction relief. The factual basis contained in the plea agreements
for CLOYD and MOSELEY states that during the evening hours of February 2,
2006, CLOYD, MOSELEY, and DeBUSK traveled from Jefferson County, Alabama,
to Bibb County, Alabama, in CLOYD's dark green Toyota 4Runner to spotlight
deer while drinking beer. After a period of time, the three drove to
Rehobeth Baptist Church and broke into the church where artificial flowers
were set on fire. The three fled the scene and continued to other churches
in the area where they broke into those churches and set fires as well.
In the days following the church fires, the three men followed the
local news reports regarding the investigation into the first series of
fires. CLOYD and MOSELEY became concerned that the investigators were
getting close to discovering their actions, so they made a plan to divert
the investigation further away from Birmingham in to West Alabama. On the
night of February 6, 2006, CLOYD and MOSELEY drove to Galilee Baptist
Church located in Sumter County, Alabama, and broke into the church and
started a fire there. They repeated this act at three more churches in the
West Alabama area and returned to Birmingham.
Agents, in the meanwhile, were gathering evidence from the fire scenes
and were able to trace tire tracks to CLOYD's Toyota 4Runner. On March 8,
2006, CLOYD was arrested near his Birmingham apartment. Agents also
arrested MOSELEY and DeBUSK on March 8, 2006.
"Today's guilty pleas bring this case full circle; the young defendants
admitted to their actions," stated James Cavanaugh, Special Agent in
Charge, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. "Although good police
work has prevailed, the victimized church communities continue to heal."
"These guilty pleas represent the tireless efforts of many law
enforcement agencies to bring this matter to justice," stated Carmen S.
Adams, Special Agent in Charge, Birmingham Field Division, Federal Bureau
of Investigation. "The destruction of a house of worship is something the
FBI and our local, state and federal partners take very seriously. We
appreciate the efforts of everyone involved."
The minimum mandatory sentence faced by each of the three men is not
less than seven years and not more than forty years and a fine of not more
than $250,000 or both, for each count. In addition, each must serve a term
of supervised release following their prison terms of not more than five
years. Under the advisory federal sentencing guidelines, the sentences for
counts 1-10 can run concurrently. The sentencing hearing will be set and
punishment will be determined by the court at a later date.
Assistant United States Attorneys Herbert H. Henry and Michael W.
Whisonant are prosecuting this case on behalf of the U.S. Government.
Special Agents of ATF and FBI along with numerous local law enforcement
investigated this case.
United States Attorney's Office Press Releases are also on the
Internet, visit http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/aln.
Jill Ellis, Public Information Contact, 205-244-2015
SOURCE United States Attorney's Office
Related links:
# http://www.atf.gov
http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news/?fr=yalerts-keyword&c=&p=school+bus+accident&ei=utf-8
1. $600,000 settlement approved for Marysville teen who was hit, dragged by school bus Open this result in new window
The Olympian - Dec 21 8:38 AM
EVERETT -- The Marysville School District has agreed to pay $600,000 to resolve a claim over a school bus accident that badly injured a teenager. The agreement that was approved by a judge Monday settled one of two $25 million claims that were filed on behalf of in Keito Swan, 17, and his family.
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2. Several students injured in school bus accident Open this result in new window
KJRH-TV Channel 2 Tulsa - Dec 20 11:24 AM
VELMA, Okla. (AP) -- A school bus went out of control and landed in a ditch in southern Oklahoma Wednesday, leaving several children injured. Officials at Duncan Regional Hospital said the injuries appeared minor.
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3. Girl hit in school bus stop accident Open this result in new window
Deseret Morning News - Dec 20 12:55 PM
A 12-year-old girl was seriously injured after being hit by a pickup outside a school bus stop early Wednesday morning.
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4. Driver prevents tragedy after school bus forced off I-95 near Jupiter Open this result in new window
Sun-Sentinel - 1 hour, 24 minutes ago
When the brakes choked the final turn of the school bus wheels and the smoke cleared, it was a Christmas tragedy averted, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
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5. School Bus Involved In Crash On Pleasantburg Drive Open this result in new window
WYFF via Yahoo! News - Dec 19 8:44 AM
A Greenville County school bus was involved in a four-vehicle accident on Pleasantburg Drive on Tuesday morning.
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6. 2 students injured after school bus forced off I-95 near Jupiter Open this result in new window
Sun-Sentinel - Dec 21 11:26 AM
JUPITER – Two middle school students were sent to area hospitals with minor injuries on Friday after their school bus was forced off Interstate 95 by a erraticly driven van, troopers said.
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7. Local School Bus Involved In Accident Open this result in new window
KWTX-TV Waco - Dec 19 10:40 AM
(December 19, 2006)—No one was injured when a Killeen ISD school bus and an SUV collided Tuesday morning at the intersection of Stan Schleuter and Highway 190.
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8. Man Dies In Accident Involving School Bus Open this result in new window
CBS4 Denver - Dec 19 9:15 AM
A 59-year-old man died when he rear ended a school bus stopped at the railroad tracks on Highway 60.
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9. One killed in accident with school bus Open this result in new window
9 News Denver - Dec 19 3:48 PM
JOHNSTOWN - A man was killed Tuesday afternoon when his SUV crashed into the back of a school bus.
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10. Bus Accident Open this result in new window
KWQC-TV 6 Davenport - Dec 21 9:56 AM
It's the second time in a little more than week a North Scott School bus slides off the road. It happened this yesterday afternoon in Princeton, Iowa. There were students inside the bus but no one was hurt. Police say the bus hit a slick spot on a gravel road and slid into a ditch.
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Global Crisis Watch
December 20, 2006 | Episode #39
Midweek NatSec Panel - Somalia
Dahir Mirreh Jibril, Permanent Secretary in Charge of International Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, and Niagara University's Dr. Abdiweli Ali join Nick Grace to dissect the situation on the ground inside Somalia.
Link: http://www.GlobalCrisisWatch.com/gcw/gcw_061220.mp3
29:30 minutes | 13.7 Megs
Notable Quotes from the Podcast
"The free world cannot negotiate with al Qaeda and I don't think that surrender is an option for the Transitional Federal Government. The Transitional Federal Government will fight as much as it can and I believe that the perception that negotiation can happen there is a gross and misleading proposition for the current situation."
- Dahir Mirreh Jibril
"The Transitional Federal Government is in contact with United States officials both in Nairobi, Kenya, and in Addis Ababa. Also the TFG Foreign Minister has been here in Washington about 15 days ago and he has been in touch with the United States government... I believe the United States is the one country today that clearly understands what is at stake and what's going to happen if al Qaeda is allowed to take over Somalia... The fact that John Abizaid came to Addis Ababa shows you the gravity of the situation in the area. I believe that John Abizaid did not come to Addis Ababa to appease al Qaeda in Somalia. And I believe the United States at least politically is now there as stated by Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Ms. Jendayi Frazer - there is no moderate in the situation now. The top layer (of the Islamic Courts Council) are terrorists. The top layer are people who want to destabilize the whole region and to fight a global jihadist war."
- Dahir Mirreh Jibril
"The TFG "captured one Oromo in Baidoa who was trying to - these kinds of operations are the kind that one person cannot execute. So the perception is that there are more in Baidoa or there are more who are probably coming and he was the lead agent. And also the same thing in Galkacyo and the police... did a good job and captured a few of those with the bomb making materials. So... what we found in Baidoa, the guy we captured in Baidoa and the group they captured in Galkacyo is the tip of the iceberg. The expectation is that we must be vigilant and the expectation is that there will be more."
- Dr. Abdiweli Ali on the capture of suicide bombers last week in Baidoa and Galkacyo
"I want to dissect the fighting force that the ICU has now. Essentially there are two groups: a group of foreigners and a group of Somalis. The Somali group is called al-Shabab (Youth)... They are offshoots of the old terrorist organization al-Ithaad al-Islami. We all know that. But they are more hardline than al-Ithaad al-Islami. The foreigners are composed of three groups. The global Islamic jihadists, which are essentially al Qaeda and al Qaeda-guided, the number is now between 2,500 and 3,000. And the other two groups who are also foreigners are Eritreans who are essentially looking to open a southern front against... Ethiopia. And the other group is the armed opposition groups that want to overthrow the Ethiopian government (Oromo Liberation Front and Ogaden National Liberation Front)."
- Dahir Mirreh Jibril
"We already know more than 300 suicide bombers who are already assigned to start bombing in the neighboring countries, the Ethiopian capitol, Addis Ababa, and Nairobi, the capitol of Kenya, and in Somalia, Baidoa, Galkacyo, Boosaaso, Hargeisa - the main population centers of Somalia."
- Dahir Mirreh Jibril
"Close to 1000 (Somali) youngsters were transported for training to Syria and to Hezbollah areas and many went there during the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Some of them died there and we have the proof, the families who lost youngsters there. The number of Hezbollah who are physically there in Somalia is very difficult to know. What we know is that they all look alike, most of them are Arabs, and they are in Somalia and they are in the thousands."
- Dahir Mirreh Jibril
Playlist
Hans Zimmer - Hunger
Wong Kar Wai - Angkor Wat Theme II
Global Crisis Watch is an independent and weekly 30-minute current affairs and news podcast focusing on the Global War on Terror, the War of Ideas, and indigenous pro-democracy efforts around the world. Hosted by Richard Lafayette in Minneapolis and co-hosted by Sasha Eckstein of BillRoggio.com and Nick Grace in Washington, DC, the show features interviews with brave activists and journalists about terrorism, democratization, and indigenous efforts to promote freedom and liberty.
Combating Holocaust Denial: Holocaust Deniers and Public Misinformation
This essay discusses Holocaust denial--the belief that the Holocaust
never happened--with a focus on refuting the reasons for these beliefs.
Includes links to related essays on Holocaust denial, annotated website
links, and a press release about the December 2006 Holocaust conference
in Iran, stating that it "will serve as nothing more than an
international platform for Holocaust denial." From the Holocaust Encyclopedia,
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
URL TRUNCATED, SEE LII ITEM
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/23071
BNA's Web Watch Reading Room
"Here you will find links to government, industry, and academic
resources on selected topics" in politics, law, health and science, and social
issues. Sample focuses include the alternative minimum tax, aviation
security, data mining, fuel cells, global warming, nanotechnology,
pipeline safety, and Social Security. From librarian Laura Gordon-Murnane of
the Bureau of National Affairs (BNA), a "publisher of information and
analysis products for professionals in law, tax, business, and
government."
URL: http://www.bna.com/webwatch/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/23080
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Associated Press report
[edited]
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/shared-gen/ap/Health_Medical/Restaurant_Sickness.html
600 Sickened After Eating at N.Y. Bar
[from 11-20-06, is this related to todays world wide threat of an attack?]
Merger of North African al-Qaeda Terrorists
http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Terrorism&loid=8.0.361364266&par=0
http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Terrorism&loid=8.0.361364266&par=0
Barcelona, 20 Nov. (AKI) - Al-Qaeda has instructed the Algerian terror
formation the Salafite Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) to take
under
its command other groups such as Morocco's Islamic Combat Group,
several
extremist Tunisian groups and Libya's Islamic Group, forming a single
terror
network for North Africa and Europe, Catalan daily El Periodico
reports,
citing unnamed Spanish anti-terror intelligence sources.
GSPC operatives are reported to be travelling all over Europe to put
the
various North African terror cells located there in touch with each
other,
worried anti-terror sources say. Investigators have noted extensive
contacts
and financial flows between groups in Spain, Italy (especially the
northern
city of Milan), Holland, Belgium and France, El Periodico said.
The new, unified terror network is called 'The Union of the Arab
Maghreb',
according to the Spanish intelligence sources quoted by the paper. In
France
alone, there are estimated to be 40 terror cells, most of which belong
to
the GSPC. A document containing a draft plan for the new 'merged'
terror
network was discovered by Moroccan police in a July raid, El Periodico
said.
The individual allegedly responsible for spearheading the 'merger' is
the
Algerian GSPC member Jaled Abu Basir, who has links with operatives in
Belgium, Holland, Fance, Spain, Britain, Demark and Germany, according
to El
Periodico.
The merger is intended to make it easier to organise attacks in the
various
countries, the Spanish intelligence sources said. The fusion of the
GSPC and
al-Qaeda was announced on 11 September - the fifth anniversary of the
9/11
attacks on the United States - by al-Qaeda's second in command,
Egyptian-born Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Cells belonging to the GSPC - which was founded in 1998 following a
split
within the other principal Algerian terror group, the Armed Islamic
Group
(GIA) - are believed to have operated in Italy and have been the
subject of
several anti-terror investigations.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20793368-2703,00.html
Female terror 'honeytraps'
Bruce Loudon, South Asia correspondent
November 21, 2006
KASHMIRI terror group Lashkar-e-Toiba is believed to have recruited a
"honeytrap brigade" of female militants to gather vital information
from
Indian soldiers about troop deployments and strategy.
The existence of the brigade has reportedly alarmed Indian security
agencies
already concerned about incidents in which their soldiers have passed
on
classified information to the terror group linked to al-Qa'ida.
Intelligence agencies have become aware of a steady stream of women
returning to Kashmir after receiving arms and tactical training in
camps in
Pakistani territory.
The interrogation of a 20-year-old Kashmiri woman, Khalida Akhtar,
arrested
in Srinagar recently, revealed details of the band of women terrorists.
The woman had got to know an Indian army officer and had met him
several
times and attempted to get information from him. But the officer
approached
his superiors, and the woman was arrested when she arrived to meet him
at a
Srinagar park.
Members of the honeytrap brigade were being used "to trap army officers
and
jawans (soldiers) to monitor troop movements so LeT gains vantage
positions"
during encounters with the Indian armed forces, it was reported last
night.
The Black Book of the Sandinistas
http://frontpagemagazine.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=25408
http://www.gulfnews.com/region/Iran/10084096.html
US says Iran probably has biological warfare weapons
Reuters
Geneva: Iran probably has germ warfare weapons, North Korea may have
developed them and Syria could have carried out research into such
banned
weaponry, the United States told an arms control conference yesterday.
Addressing the opening session of the sixth review conference of the
Convention on Biological Weapons (BWC), US delegation head John C. Rood
said
those countries were of particular concern given their 'support for
terrorism'.
"We believe that Iran probably has an offensive biological weapons
programme
in violation of the BWC," Rood said. "We also believe North Korea has a
biological weapons capability and may have developed, produced and
weaponised for use.
"Finally, we remain seriously concerned that Syria ... has conducted
research and development for an offensive biological weapons
programme," he
said.
IAEA meeting
EU opposes atomic assistance for Tehran
The European Union urged a politically charged meeting of the UN
nuclear
agency yesterday to deny Iran's request for help with a facility that
could
yield plutonium for atom bombs.
The International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation governing board has
repeatedly asked Iran not to pursue the Arak heavy water reactor
project.
Tehran has vowed to complete it and applied for IAEA expertise to
ensure it
meets safety standards. "We cannot support providing technical
assistance to
a heavy water research reactor project that ... would in future produce
significant quantities of plutonium and involve a significant [nuclear]
proliferation risk," Finnish envoy Kirsti Helena Kauppi, speaking on
behalf
of the EU, told the IAEA board.
TerroristWarning.com Terrorism Headlines 12/22/2006 # 1
Most incidents appearing in TerroristWarning.com and TransitSecurityReport.com also appear at www.GlobalIncidentMap.com
National:
[KSBY] CALIFORNIA - Suspicious White Powder in Jury Summons Envelope Prompts Santa Maria HazMat Lockdown
http://www.ksby.com/news/headlines/4974301.html
[Young Broadcasting] VIRGINIA - Suspicious Package Found Downtown
"placed very deliberately so that someone would notice it"
http://www.wric.com/global/story.asp?s=5839137
See also http://www.richmond.com/news/output.aspx?from=rss&feed=localheadlines&article_id=4520825
[North County Times] CALIFORNIA - Use of database for analyzing terrorism threats to expand
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/12/20//news/state/13_28_2512_19_06.txt
[Tennessean.com] TENNESSEE - Injuries reported after explosion at Nashville's Historic Courthouse
http://www.fairviewobserver.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061220/NEWS03/61220003
[Dayton Daily News] OHIO - FBI takes over probe of suspicious white powder
"FBI has taken over the investigation of unaddressed letters containing a suspicious white powder that a number of residents in the Washington Twp./Centerville area reported finding in their curb side mailboxes Tuesday"
" Letters also have been found in Miami Twp. and possibly in Kettering"
http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/oh/story/news/local/2006/12/20/ddn122006fbiweb.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=16
[Palm Beach Post ] FLORIDA - Powder in mail temporarily closes Post building [False alarm]
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/pbccentral/content/local_news/epaper/2006/12/20/1220powder.html
[The Monitor] TEXAS - Bomb scare shuts down Chase tower
"A bomb threat forced workers at the city’s tallest building out to the street late Wednesday afternoon. But an hour-long search turned up no evidence of explosives"
http://www.themonitor.com/SiteProcessor.cfm?Template=/GlobalTemplates/Details.cfm&StoryID=17001&Section=Valley
[Chariho Times] RHODE ISLAND - Eco-terrorist charges levied
"Mageau first tried to file his eco-terrorist complaint in a letter to the state police dated November 29, 2006"
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17619103&BRD=1717&PAG=461&dept_id=74264&rfi=6
[AP] SOUTH CAROLINA - Suspicious mail at S.C. federal courthouse turns up nothing harmful
"small envelope didn't contain any explosive residue"
"Both local and federal officials refused to say what was in the envelope or who it was addressed to"
http://www.dailycomet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061221/APN/612213858
International:
[AP] TURKEY - Kurdish militant group "Turkish Hezbollah" issuing terror threats
"A Kurdish Islamic militant group with reported ties to al-Qaida is re-emerging in Turkey after six years underground — and has started issuing vague but worrying threats"
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/12/21/europe/EU_GEN_Turkey_Islamic_Terror.php
[AFP] IRAN - Ahmadinejad: Britain, Israel, US to 'vanish like the pharaohs'
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/12/20/061220094102.ixs3bo81.html
[Ynet] IRAN - Ahmadineajd: Iran now nuclear power
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3342489,00.html
[AFP] DUBAI - Zawahiri vows attacks on US, slams Hamas
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/20122006/323/zawahiri-vows-attacks-slams-hamas.html
See also http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=18859
[AP] SOMALIA - Heavy fighting erupts in Somalia
"Heavy fighting broke out between Somalia's government troops and rival Islamic militia today, throwing a European Union's peace initiative into doubt"
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-somalia1220,0,4316293.story?track=rss
[The Sun] USA/IRAN - United States issues Iran alert
"US Warships were on standby last night to head to Iran in the nuclear weapons stand-off"
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006580837,00.html
[AP] PAKISTAN - Bomb Injures 7 People in Pakistan
"bomb rigged to a bicycle exploded Wednesday in the southwestern Pakistan city of Quetta, wounding seven people"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/20/AR2006122000607.html
[India Daily] INDIA - Youth threatens to blow up US visa centre, held
"A youth carrying ingredients used in making crude bomb today entered the office of the US visa application centre here and threatened to blow it up but was overpowered by police"
http://www.indiadaily.com/breaking_news/83697.asp
[TodayOnline.com] NORTH KOREA - North Korea may hold second nuke test: SKorean lawmaker
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/162130.asp
[ThaisNews] THAILAND - A bomb exploded in a market in Pattani, no injuries reported
"explosive device was triggered by a remote control, and it was hid inside a trash can in front of Mor Wit market"
http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=199554
[Bangkokpost.com] THAILAND - Suspicious package sent to PM
"A security guard found suspicious package addressing to Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont at a bus stop in front of the Government House on Thursday morning"
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=115322
[Washington Times] BELIZE - U.S. fugitive with terror ties arrested in Belize
http://wpherald.com/articles/2689/1/US-fugitive-with-terror-ties-arrested-in-Belize/American-Muslim-fugitive-pleased-guilty-in-2003.html
[ABC Australia] AUSTRALIA - Authorities doubt missing radioactive substance stolen
"canister containing radioactive material is missing somewhere in Western Australia"
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200612/s1816828.htm
[AAP] AUSTRALIA - Parliament cleared, security scare at PM's office
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,20961908-421,00.html?from=public_rss
[AP] AFGHANISTAN - Separate Afghan bomb attacks leave seven dead
"Two roadside bombs exploded almost simultaneously today in two separate parts of Afghanistan, killing three police officers and four civilians"
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061221/afghan_bomb_061221/20061221?hub=World
[Reuters] INDIA - Grenade blast in market wounds 19 in Assam
http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-12-21T204802Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-281101-2.xml
[Reuters] LEBANON - Lebanon seizes explosives from pro-Syrian group
"Lebanese police found and confiscated large quantities of explosives, detonators and timers in houses owned by members of a pro-Syrian group in north Lebanon on Thursday"
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L21356484.htm
[Prensa Latina] CHILE - Sharp Chile Cop Spots Bomb
"A homemade explosive device placed in the facade of the State Defense Council s building in this capital was defused by the Special Police Operations Group"
"bomb was made of a five-kilo gas cylinder full of gunpowder and accompanied by a timer"
http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7B886380DB-AEF3-4489-9651-338D3B5A9FD9%7D&language=EN
[LIP] PERU - 2 arrested for possessing more than 1000 dynamite cartridges
"2 people were arrested as they attempted to smuggle more than 1000 dynamite cartridges into Lima on a bus "
http://www.livinginperu.com/news/2909
[Interfax] TURKMENISTAN - Turkmenistan's armed forces on combat alert - source
"In connection with the death of President Saparmurat Niyazov Turkmenistan's armed forces have been put on combat alert"
http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/politics/28.html?id_issue=11651287
[Ynet] ISRAEL - Islamic Jihad claims responsibility for Qassam attack
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3343116,00.html
[PTI] INDIA - 20 hurt in blast in Guwahati
"when an improvised explosive device (IED) believed to have been planted by the ULFA in a bicycle exploded in the busy Athgaon area of the city "
http://www.newkerala.com/news4.php?action=fullnews&id=70230
[IANS] INDIA - Mumbai on guard against terror attack
"Anticipating terror attacks during the year-end and New Year's eve"
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2006/December/subcontinent_December735.xml§ion=subcontinent&col=
[IBN] INDIA - Qaeda threat puts Sonia's security on high alert
"Security around UPA chief and Congress President Sonia Gandhi has been put on a high alert following intelligence inputs suggesting threat to her life from an al-Qaeda supported outfit"
"Intelligence reports suggest that United Jehad Council - formed by al-Qaeda with support from ISI - whose India operations is headed by a Pakistani national Sajjad, has plans to target the Congress chief"
http://in.news.yahoo.com/061222/211/6ai7e.html
[WND] ISRAEL - Hamas threatens attacks on U.S. [U.S. Interests]
"Terrorist warns 'Middle East is full of American targets'"
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53474
[Telegraph] UNITED KINGDOM - Tampering fears as glass found in bread
"third time in just over a year that glass has been reported in packs of Kingsmill"
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/12/21/uglass121.xml
[Reuters] UNITED KINGDOM - U.K. warned of Christmas terror threat
"Says no specific plan known, but risk of chemical, nuke attack 'unparalleled'"
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16322214/
See also http://www.ktre.com/Global/story.asp?S=5845336
[Reuters] SERBIA - Kosovo officials arrested after huge weapons haul
"12.7 mm anti-aircraft gun and more than 100 rocket-propelled grenades"
" International Crisis Group (ICG) said the temptation to avoid a tough decision on independence must be avoided, or there could be a "major new crisis."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061221/wl_nm/serbia_kosovo_weapons_dc_1
[The Times] HORN OF AFRICA - Declaration of war threatens stability of Horn of Africa
"The leader of Somalia’s Islamist militia said yesterday that his country was now at war with neighbouring Ethiopia"
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2514894,00.html
[Daily Tribune] PHILIPPINES - Assassination plots set for martial law
"before declaring an emergency rule, two congressmen and a senator will be assassinated"
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20061221hed1.html
[Associated Newspapers of Ceylon] SRI LANKA - LTTE abducts six bus passengers
http://www.dailynews.lk/2006/12/22/sec10.asp
[Reuters] ISRAEL - Fatah gunmen fire on Hamas activists in W.Bank
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061222/ts_nm/palestinians_dc_1