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Note: The following post is an exact quote:
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1438286/posts

US: Washington rejects call for troop pull-out from Central Asia
AKI/DAWN ^ | 2005 Jul 7

Posted on 07/07/2005 7:34:08 AM PDT by Wiz

Washington D.C., 7 July (AKI/DAWN) - The US State Department has rejected demands from Russia, China and some Central Asian states to withdraw its troops from the region, saying that US troops in Afghanistan and neighbouring states would remain for as long as those countries want them to stay. Russian and Chinese officials made the demand at meeting in Kazakhstan of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) which took place against backdrop of veiled criticism of Western influence in Central Asian region.

SCO delegates asked the US-led troop contingent to fix a date for their departure from military bases in the region that were set up to support operations in Afghanistan in 2001.

Founded in June 2001, the SCO includes China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The United States operates military airbases in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan — two of the five former Soviet Central Asian republics that Russia still views as its backyard and where China, seeking oil and gas, is increasingly vocal player.

Other states from the neighbouring regions, such as India, Pakistan and Iran, are also attending the SCO summit now being held in the new Kazakh capital, Astana.

Asked to comment on the demand for the withdrawal of US troops from Central Asia, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack acknowledged that the United States maintained military bases in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

He then pointed out that Afghanistan, where US troops and the official Afghan army were jointly fighting remnants of Taliban and al-Qaeda movements, did not endorse the demand for the withdrawal of US forces from the region.

"I would note, however, there was a party from those discussions and from the signature line on the statement who’s missing, and it’s Afghanistan," said McCormack.

(Excerpt) Read more at adnki.com ...

Note: The following news brief is an exact quote:
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http://www.menewsline.com/stories/2005/july/07_07_1.html

U.S. FINDS RAT LINE FROM N. AFRICA TO IRAQ

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The United States has determined that North Africa comprises a major source of funding and manpower for the Sunni insurgency in Iraq.

U.S. officials said a study by the military's European Command has traced the flow of money and recruits from such countries as Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia to Iraq. They said the operatives often travel through Iran and cross into the largely unpoliced border of Iraq.

"The Islamic cells in North Africa have become the No. 2 supplier of funds and foreign fighters for the insurgency in Iraq," an official said. "The ties between these cells and Al Qaida in Iraq are very tight."

The study said nearly 30 percent of all suicide bombers in Iraq come from North Africa. Algeria alone contributes up to 20 percent of suicide car bombers and another five percent come from Morocco and Tunisia.
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I just heard the first blast was at 8:51am. A book I am currently reading lists this as the same time the first WTC building was hit. I am having trouble confirming that on the internet, but it definately stoood out in what I heard.

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pg 28, America the Vulnerable (dirty bomb scenario):

"The box will not be picked up until the following day, which is perfect for Hassan's plan to set off the explosive device precisely at 8:51 A.M., the time when the first plane collided into the north tower of the World Trade Center on September 11."