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Locked on 12/15/2005 5:50:57 PM PST by Admin Moderator, reason:
See the new thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1541389/posts |
Posted on 11/01/2005 6:57:01 PM PST by nwctwx
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More embassies get bomb threats
Police reinforced security at several embassies in Metro Manila on Wednesday after some reported receiving bomb threats a day after the US Embassy closed due to “plausible threat information.”
Police Chief Supt. Wilfredo Garcia, in charge of diplomatic security, doesn’t believe the telephone threats came from terrorists, but he didn’t elaborate.
He said whoever called the US, Singaporean and Swiss embassies “talked about a car bomb,” prompting police to deploy additional officers in those sites.
The Israeli Embassy also requested extra security measures, although it had received no threats, he said.
“We heightened security at these embassies,” Garcia said. “But I don’t think this is coming from terrorists. We don’t have any history of car bombings in the Philippines.”
The US Embassy closed to the public on Tuesday, citing “plausible threat information.” It said in a statement it would reopen on Thursday.
Although often mentioned as a potential terrorist target, the embassy has rarely closed in the past.
The Philippines is home to the al-Qaeda-linked Muslim group Abu Sayyaf, which is on a US list of terrorist organizations.
US intelligence chief John Negroponte, the former US ambassador to the Philippines, arrived unannounced late Tuesday and met that same night with President Arroyo, embassy spokesman Matt Lussenhop said.
Negroponte was also due to meet with other top security officials on intelligence matters and the terrorism threat.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said Mrs. Arroyo had dinner with Negroponte on Tuesday, but would not say what the two had discussed.
Negroponte’s visit is believed not to be linked to the threat that prompted the US Embassy to close on Tuesday. It remained shut on Wednesday, and it was still evaluating when it could reopen, Lussenhop said.
During his visit, Negroponte, 65, who heads some 15 US intelligence agencies, will discuss “the full gamut of [security] issues, but obviously terrorism is the highest on the list,” the spokesman added.
The nature of the threat to the embassy has not been disclosed, but police have dispatched bomb squads to scour the area.
Bunye reassured the public that “deep intelligence gathering and preemptive measures are already in place to foreclose any serious breaches in our peace and order situation.”
He said security forces were working with foreign embassies to neutralize any threats, but he did not identify who might be behind the threats.
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2005/dec/08/yehey/top_stories/20051208top5.html
Dunbar is always bringing us "gifts".
One spring day about eight years ago, I had all the doors open and was mopping my kitchen floor. All of a sudden, Dunbar came racing in with a 'twig' in his mouth. I just gave him a glance and continued with my mopping. Next thing I saw was Dunbar circling the 'twig' on the part of the floor I had already mopped. This 'twig' was striking out at him. Turned out to be a baby timber rattler. I dumped the water out of my bucket and slammed it down over the snake. Grabbed the snow shovel from the garage, slid it under the bucket, and hauled the whole thing back outside. When Mr. RR got home, he dispatched the snake.
I apologize for being off topic, but the snake was 'terrorizing' me.
About the "mega churches" closing down for Christmas. This makes me so sad. Christmas rarely falls on a Sunday. All the more reason for people to attend. Our small Lutheran Church will be open for worship. I, and sixteen of our family members, will be attending on Christmas morning. What a glorious opportunity to celebrate the birth of our Lord.
Electric blankets for your cats? We don't even use them for ourselves. Just don't like them. We keep our bedroom quite cold and use down comforters. Must be the Scandinavian ancestry.
Snip: Osama Bin Laden is still alive and leading a "holy war" against the West, according to a videotaped statement by his right-hand man. Ayman al-Zawahri was speaking in a message posted on the internet and then broadcast by al-Jazeera.
Fuel theft at Harbor Island Fuel Depot
Snip: The IRS agent's affidavit also reveals that the federal government has assumed control of what had been a state investigation into the theft of nearly $3 million worth of fuel from the Harbor Island depot belonging to Texas-based Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, the largest independent terminal operator in the U.S. Federal investigators say the suspects ripped off not only Kinder Morgan, but also oil companies that owned the fuel, a fuel-transport company and consumers.
Five people have been identified as having conspired to steal the fuel, sell it to gas stations in Washington and launder the proceeds through bank accounts. No one has been charged, and a supervising prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Seattle said Tuesday he did not know when charges might be filed.
What killed about 5,000 fish in Ecorse Creek (Michigan)?
Bruce Szczechowski, an environmental science teacher at Southgate Anderson High School, said he disputes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's preliminary finding that a sudden change in water temperature was responsible for the fish kill.
Szczechowski said that students in his environmental science class conducted tests of the water in Ecorse Creek near the LeBlanc Drain on Nov. 14 and Nov.18, within days of the kill.
They were measuring the amount of fecal coliform bacteria, or E.coli, and dissolved solids in the water, as well as its turbidity. Turbid water is water that is muddy or cloudy. Szczechowski said that on Nov. 18 he saw several dead gizzard chad floating in the drain.
The test results showed there were 10,000 bacterial colonies for every 100 milliliters of water, he said. He added that state law recommends no more than 300 colonies per milliliter. Since the water was so turbid and because of the high bacterial content, the fish likely were unable to extract oxygen from the water, Szczechowski said, causing them to suffocate.
Bryan Kelly of the EPA Large Lakes Research Station on Grosse Ile said tests to determine if E. coli was present were not performed by the various county, state and federal agencies that responded to the kill. "We did not look at that as a cause," Kelly said. "In communicating with the other agencies and because of the type of fish, it was our assessment (it) was temperature shock and we did not look at E. coli as a cause. At this point, it's not going to be considered as a cause."
However, should E. coli be found in the creek, Kelly said it would be a matter of concern and that it would be up to the state to handle the issue.
Albania Seizes Assets Of Bin Laden Associate
TIRANA (AP)--The Albanian government has seized the assets and bank accounts of a man who allegedly worked with Osama bin Laden and others to provide support to terror networks in Albania, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday.
Abdul Latif Saleh, who holds Jordanian and Albanian citizenship, was placed on a U.N. sanctions list in September, requiring all U.N. members to impose a travel ban on him and block his assets.
Albania earlier had blocked 33 bank accounts in three commercial banks as well as assets and investments in Saleh's businesses and civic organizations he was involved with. Saleh used six different names, said spokeswoman Eva Simoni.
She said she did not know how much money was in the accounts.
The Finance Minister's order also required people to report any link to Saleh or his businesses and prohibited them from doing business with him.
The U.S. Treasury Department alleges that bin Laden provided Saleh with funds to encourage the creation of extremist groups in Albania, where he is believed to be closely associated with groups linked to the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, a group connected to al-Qaida.
It said Saleh founded an Albanian jihadist group that has been bankrolled by the Al Haramain Foundation, an Islamic charity with alleged links to al-Qaida.
Saleh is believed to be associated with Yasin al Qadi, a Saudi businessman that the U.S. accused of being a terrorist in October 2001. The department said Qadi was an active fund-raiser for Saleh's jihadist group.
Saleh is also being investigated for alleged money-laundering for al-Qaida. He left Albania more than three years ago.
Earlier this year, Albanian authorities seized property and froze the assets of four foundations and a married couple accused by the United Nations of funding terrorist activities.
Awesome. Thanks for the pik freeperfromnj. Nice to put face to the scene.
I knew there was a reason that I am not fond of fish (although, I will admit to a few exceptions.) I'll stick to my diet of buffalo, elk, venison, beef, pork and chicken.......in that order.
Thanks MD for that enlightening recap. A few years ago I read a great book outlining the inner workings and history of OPEC and the oil industry...IIRC it was called "The Seven Sisters".
RR..prayers going up to ease your worry, and safe travel for your son and husband.
Snip: We haven't found any weapons of mass destruction yet, but give us time, we're still digging."Those are the words of Brian Mason, a first lieutenant in the Arkansas National Guard. He has been a member of the United States Army National Guard for nearly 20 years. In February, he will be promoted to captain.
And although the members of his troop, along with members of thousands of other troops, didn't find any weapons of mass destruction, Mason said boxes were uncovered that contained high amounts of radiation. "What was Saddam doing with this? He didn't have a nuclear power program. Was it enough for a dirty bomb?" questioned Mason. "Yes, absolutely."
Iraqi hospital raided to free terrorist
Snip: Fifteen Iraqi gunmen stormed a hospital in Kirkuk Wednesday to free an injured terror suspect, killing at least three police officers in the raid.
Police Chief Torhan Abdul Rahman said the raid freed Yousif Mohammed Khdaier, who was arrested by Iraqi police two weeks ago. Rahman said that Khdaier was a terrorist who was wanted for planting explosives.
Muslim in revenge plot to kill British soldier
Snip: A Muslim terror suspect planned to kill a decorated British soldier in revenge for boasting about how many Iraqi rebels he had killed, a court heard today. British-born Abu Baker Mansha's plot against Corporal Mark Byles was discovered during a raid by the anti-terrorist squad and firearms police on his flat in March this year, it was said.
David Cocks, QC, prosecuting, told Southwark Crown Court the 21 year-old's fingerprints were found all over a newspaper newspaper article dated 8 September last year on which he had circled the soldier's name, address and the number of Iraqi insurgents he had killed during the war. A dismantled fake gun which had tried to be converted to fire live bullets was also found at Mansha's south-east London home.
How Al Qaeda uses the internet
Snip: According to the writer, militant Islamists are content to get the gist of their message out so that the general public comes to know that they are “alive and kicking”.
Islamic Guide - Compulsory course in University
Snip: There are now some rumors among students that Mullah Zanjani intends to convert Tehran University to Relegious Domain (in Farsi: Houzeh). That is a very bad news. The students have also found out that Mullah Zanjani has a plan to introduce some compulsory courses at all faculties of the university. Among those courses, they think one is the textbook of Islamic Guide or Rahnamood-haayeh-Masoomin! Here is a part of that textbook in Farsi.
Report disputs belief about jobless illegals
Snip: WASHINGTON - The vast majority of illegal Mexican immigrants in the United States held jobs in their native country but left to find better-paying work in fields many Americans find unappealing, a Hispanic research group said Tuesday.
Compared with earlier generations, the latest arrivals are younger and more educated and use family connections to find jobs in a handful of blue-collar industries, according to the report by the Pew Hispanic Center. The report appears to dispel a common belief that undocumented Mexican workers sneak into the United States because they are jobless.
Texas to get more than 400 new border patrol agents in 2006
Snip: EL PASO, Texas - For the second time in as many years, the U.S. Border Patrol in Texas is poised for a significant influx of agents. The agency announced Tuesday that 1,700 new agents will be deployed this fiscal year in the four states along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border. Texas will see 452 of those agents, a nearly 10 percent bump in the state's Border Patrol work.
Thank you.
On the main thread there is a post that air marshalls have been on the alert for a shoe bomber this week and that an Egyptian tested positive for explosives on his shoes at JFK. Supposedly a student and heading to Des Moines. Feds can't locate him now. Quite interesting. I'm going to look for more on this report tomorrow (unless the late night TMers can find something on it)
Over and out.
Actually, I just refreshed the main board and found it.
Shoe Bomber Alert Preceded Airport Shooting
ABC News ^ | Dec. 7, 2005
Posted on 12/07/2005 8:52:13 PM PST by 11th_VA
Federal law enforcement sources tell ABC News they had been on the alert for a possible shoe bomber when a federal air marshal opened fire at the Miami International Airport today....
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1536172/posts
(President Bush hosted another dinner this year for Muslim leaders at the White House for the traditional meal that marks the end of a daily Ramadan fast.
Hosting Islamic leaders at the White House has become an annual event, one which began in 2001 after Islamic terrorists slammed three aircraft loaded with innocent Americans in the World Trade Center and Pentagon building and crashed a fourth filled with passengers into a field in Pennsylvania.
I always thought that an odd tradition to start, given the circumstances. Sort of like hosting an annual Shinto celebration in Washington, starting right after Pearl Harbor.
Bush's guest list this year includes prominent Muslim-Americans and ambassadors from large Muslim countries. In previous years, Bush hosted prominent Muslim-American leaders with strong connections with terrorism, like Muzzamil Siddiqi and Abdurahman Alamoudi.)
and recently sent this letter on White House stationary,
(President Bush sent greetings to Muslims around the world November 4 on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, the festival that ends the holy month of Ramadan.
In a White House press statement, the president welcomed the generous contributions of American Muslims to relief efforts in the wake of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma.
Following is the text of the press statement:
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary (Mar del Plata, Argentina) November 4, 2005
I send warm greetings to American Muslims and Muslims around the world observing Eid al-Fitr, the Festival of Breaking the Fast.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, a time of prayer, reflection, and fasting. It is the holiest month of the Muslim year. To celebrate this holiday, many Muslims gather in their homes and mosques to thank God for His blessings and His help in keeping the fast. Muslims also demonstrate their compassion by reaching out to the less fortunate and giving gifts of money or food to help those in need. This year, many American Muslims have reached out to the victims of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma and to those affected by the devastating earthquake in South Asia. Their contributions have been generous and reflect the important values shared by all Americans.
Our Nation is blessed to count many Muslims among our fellow citizens. As Americans, we share a commitment to family, a belief in God's justice and man's moral responsibility, and hope for a future of peace and tolerance.
Laura and I send our best wishes for a joyful celebration. Eid Mubarak.
GEORGE W. BUSH ),
which leads to the question "just what the hell is he doing?" Said question becoming more unanswerable considering Bush's delight in leaving our borders undefended while playing kissy-face with the Clintons and CFR.
Well, finally, some happy news.
Thanks Oorang.
ON THE NET...
ABC NEWS.go.com/WNT: "EXCLUSIVE: SHOE BOMBER ALERT PRECEDED AIRPORT SHOOTING" by Brian Ross (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Officials say a 50-year old Egyptian man was stopped six days ago at New York's John F. Kennedy airport. Sources say he had a suspicious pair of shoes that tested positive five times for the explosive substance TATP on the interior of his shoes between the heel and sole. Federal officials say the man's shoes are remarkably similar to those used by shoe bomber Richard Reid, who attempted to blow up an American Airlines jet over the Atlantic four years ago. The Egyptian man's destination was Des Moines, Iowa, sources say, and he claimed he was a student at Iowa State University, in Ames. Strangely, after holding him overnight, airport security in New York released him. The FBI was notified after he was released. Now the FBI has put out a nationwide alert.") (December 7, 2005) (Read More...)
CNN.com: Miami, Florida - "MAN KILLED AFTER BOMB CLAIM AT AIRPORT" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- A 44-year-old U.S. citizen who claimed to have a bomb was shot and killed when air marshals opened fire on a boarding bridge at the Miami airport, several sources told CNN. American Airlines Flight 924 was in Miami on a stopover during a flight from Medellin, Colombia, to Orlando, Florida, when the man, identified as Rigoberto Alpizar, said there was a bomb in his carry-on backpack, a Department of Homeland Security official said.") (December 7, 2005)
Thanks to a special FReeper for pointing to this article:
===
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051207/wl_mideast_afp/syriaunrest_051207210557
http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/afp/20051208/capt.sge.map77.071205210550.photo00.photo.default-370x278.jpg?x=370&y=278&sig=ONEAdSk8RRE1JsuymEXzqg--
"Major arms cache unearthed in Syria"
Wed Dec 7, 4:05 PM ET
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "DAMASCUS (AFP) - Syrian security forces found caches of arms and explosives in the province of Aleppo and the suburbs of Damascus, it was reported, adding the weapons came from Lebanon.
The official SANA agency also said security forces had unearthed a bomb-making factory in the northern province of Aleppo, the site of recent clashes between militants and security forces.
"The security forces in charge of fighting terrorism have discovered during their latest operations against Takfirist (Sunni extremist) terrorists several arms and explosives caches in various places in Aleppo province and the suburbs of Damascus."
SANA said that among the objects discovered were "automatic rifles, anti-tank missile launchers, revolvers, bombs, explosive materials, explosives belts as well as personal documents and Takfirist propaganda."
"These arms came into Syria from Lebanon and they were seized during an attempt to send them back into Lebanon following police intervention," it said."
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