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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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Thanks for the info and link
Tale of Two Borders
Gaza field commander killed in airstrike as Syria set to sue for peace
By Steve Schippert
Israel and terrorists in Gaza continue to trade blows. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad suicide bombing that killed five in a busy Netanya mall drew an Israeli airstrike response that killed the field commander of the Popular Resistance Committees near Rafah. While Israel and the Islamic Jihad engage to the south, to the north Syrian President Bashar Assad is may be eager to restart peace talks with Israel.
In the airstrike in Gaza, Mahmud el-Arqan was killed as two missiles struck the car he was driving. Israel said it targeted the Popular Resistance Committees field commander because he had collaborated with the PIJ on recent attacks and weapons smuggling. He was likely a target of opportunity as well as choice who was seen, identified and eliminated. Various reports range from five to ten others injured in the strike. Israel also pounded rocket launch sites again with artillery.
The Popular Resistance Committees is a cooperative of sorts among Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and terrorists of other groups for the purposes of shared strategies, coordinated operations and combined tactics, predominantly rocket attacks.
The Popular Resistance Committees had vowed to continue rocket attacks from Gaza into Israeli settlements in Israel, largely populated by Israelis forced to leave their Gaza homes after the withdrawal. The homemade Qassam rockets are highly inaccurate and cause little damage as a result.
The same spokesman told reporters, “We are going to respond to every Israeli attack in order to show them that while our means are simple, our resolve is strong.”
The relatively ineffective Qassam rockets appear to be the weapon of choice as infiltrating Israel from Gaza has never been more difficult.
In a radio interview via phone with John Batchelor just north of Gaza, Abu Abir, Spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committees, confirmed as much when he said point-blank that it takes a month or more to infiltrate a single suicide bomber into Israel, but it takes just an hour to set up and fire Qassam missiles.
Previously on Monday, the IDF held raids in the West Bank towns outside of Nablus and Hebron resulting in the capture of two members of the PFLP and one PIJ member.
At the Islamic Conference Organization summit in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Jordan’s King Abdullah is pressing Syria’s Bashar Assad to resume peace talks with Israel. In so doing, King Abdullah also enjoys the support of both Egypt and Saudi Arabia. With Detlev Mehlis’ final report to the UN Security Council coming in just one week regarding Syrian involvement in the car bombing murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri, it appears Assad may be more than willing in attempts to head UNSC sanctions of at the pass.
“Syria would go along with almost anything at this point,” a senior Arab diplomat said yesterday. “They are looking for any leeway. They do not want to be penalized like Libya or Iraq. They are definitely looking for a way out of this mess.”
At first glance, the phrasing of “definitely looking for a way out of this mess” may appear a less than satisfactory Syrian escape from consequences. This is, however, an extremely positive development. The whole point of sanctions is not to punish, but rather to change behavior. If the very real prospect of sanctions compels the desired change, it is better for all involved, most notably the people of Syria who will bear the brunt of the sanctions’ effect. If talks (and other behaviors) occur and sanctions are delayed, the stick must remain very near the carrot to prevent potential backsliding.
For its part (and from a definite position of strength), Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon sees no real urgency in resuming talks with Syria.
Israel has occupied the Golan Heights area between the two countries since the 1967 war. Last week, Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister, said he was in no hurry to resume peace talks with Syria. “In my opinion, Israel should not surrender the Golan Heights,” Mr Sharon said.
It is also worthy of note that, as the Mehlis report to the UNSC and potential sanctions draw nearer, the past two weeks have seen very little activity from Hezbollah since the skirmishes along the Lebanese-Israeli border.
With Palestinians making war in the south and Syria potentially suing for peace in the north, there is, as usual, never a dull moment in the Levant.
Story with many embedded links:
http://inbrief.threatswatch.org/2005/12/a-tale-of-two-borders/
Prayers for you, Granny!
snippet from Chicago Tribune:
But every air marshal knows that he or she is being watched--and often tested.
Ever since the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, air marshals and airline pilots have reported instances to federal authorities in which individuals behaving suspiciously appeared to be evaluating onboard security, according to congressional testimony. It is believed that terrorists continue to fly on commercial airlines to and within the U.S. to look for weak links in layers of the still-evolving aviation security system.
The ploys have ranged from faking illnesses to disobeying orders from flight attendants to sit down to a few reported cases of individuals running toward the cockpit door in apparent efforts to flush any air marshals from their seats.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0512080236dec08,1,7824010.story?coll=chi-news-hed
Sooooo how are these "worker" protestors going to get to this meeting...swim. After all they may need to purchase a ticket from a big bad corporation, and fly on an airplane owned by a corporation, and stay in a hotel owned by a corporation..etc. Most of those they are asking to help protest at the WTO meeting could not afford the ticket to fly there.
What people don't see with these "protests" is the hidden money being given to help get these protestors set-up. Their agenda is heavily sponsored by liberal and socialists groups with big money like Soros and his ilk. And many of the protestors are "poor little rich kids" taking time off from their Ivy League colleges, and taking the trip on their parents credit cards. And their parents either own or are on the board of the big bad corporations.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/
Unfriendly eyes follow air marshals
Experts: Terrorists seek security flaws
By Jon Hilkevitch
Tribune transportation reporter
December 8, 2005
Federal air marshals are the consummate frequent fliers, logging thousands of miles each week while trying to blend in with the airport crowd.
One air marshal, known as "the doctor" among his security associates, is a certified emergency medical technician. Without blowing his cover, he recently helped a sick passenger who needed the aid of an onboard oxygen canister during a flight.
Air marshals frequently pose as good Samaritans volunteering to help flight attendants deal with drunken or unruly travelers.
But every air marshal knows that he or she is being watched--and often tested.
Ever since the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, air marshals and airline pilots have reported instances to federal authorities in which individuals behaving suspiciously appeared to be evaluating onboard security, according to congressional testimony. It is believed that terrorists continue to fly on commercial airlines to and within the U.S. to look for weak links in layers of the still-evolving aviation security system.
The ploys have ranged from faking illnesses to disobeying orders from flight attendants to sit down to a few reported cases of individuals running toward the cockpit door in apparent efforts to flush any air marshals from their seats.
Experts say another strategy is focused on determining specific flights that are routinely flown by armed pilots participating in the flight deck officers program.
A major concern among air marshals is being identified by terrorists. On the flights selected for extra security, at least two air marshals are assigned to a plane in a specified seating arrangement--one in the first-class cabin to monitor the cockpit door, another in coach.
Until earlier this year, the Department of Homeland Security enforced a formal dress code for air marshals--suits and ties--that made them stand out from the more casual appearance of many passengers.
"I have sat in the same seat since my first day on the job," said a federal air marshal based in Chicago who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly. "At least in Iraq or Afghanistan you know what you are dealing with. Here, I am in jeopardy because a lot of the passengers know instantly who we are."
He also said there is widespread opposition among air marshals to last week's decision by the Transportation Security Administration relaxing the ban on passengers bringing scissors and short blades aboard planes.
"A terrorist knows who I am and how to slit my throat by placing two credit cards together," the air marshal said. "I don't want to make it any easier for him."
Oops, sorry should have read from the bottom up.
Not a problem, yours is the complete article.
I'm never sure which papers have to be excerpted.
I think it's important enough to be posted more than once anyway. ;-)
Known to many outside the bay area as the boondoggle by the bay, the costs of this little charm skyrocketed after SF and Oakland Mayor Brown(s) scuffled over design. Old bridge is being replaced due to the seismic instability of the double decker design and inability to cost effectively retrofit.
SITE Publications
Very sad. God bless him and his family.
Those scumbags need to meet their maker sooner rather than later!! This next week will probably be very intense in Iraq.
Until earlier this year, the Department of Homeland Security enforced a formal dress code for air marshals--suits and ties--that made them stand out from the more casual appearance of many passengers.
"I have sat in the same seat since my first day on the job," said a federal air marshal based in Chicago who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly. "At least in Iraq or Afghanistan you know what you are dealing with. Here, I am in jeopardy because a lot of the passengers know instantly who we are."
He also said there is widespread opposition among air marshals to last week's decision by the Transportation Security Administration relaxing the ban on passengers bringing scissors and short blades aboard planes.
That last paragraph takes the cake. Why does anyone need to have scissors and blades on a plane. Of course we all know this is happening, but somehow seeing it in print makes it worse.
Right after the Katrina hurricane, large groups of people descended on Washington, demanding the President "do something."
People who have just gone through a disaster are in shock with their lives in disarray. They do not spontaneously arrange an activist group and march on Washington.
Rent-a-mobs are employees, most of whom don't have a clue about the issue they're paid to protest. There was a FR article not long ago about one activist group hiring the mentally handicapped to stand outside the White House and "make lots of noise."
Now we'll see how many folks read the entire post before they switch on the flamethrowers....lol __________________
Ping.
I'm here.. been checking in every few days.
The last few weeks have been rather hectic. I have decided to make this semester my last at grad school, so I have been in the process of figuring that all out. It just ended up being something I didn't really want to do, it wasn't focused on what I was hoping. No time for studying what I really wanted...
Time to look for a job I guess. ;-)
Anyway, the next TM will be ready by tomorrow hopefully. And, I should be around more in the coming weeks/months.
Just a few of the reasons I'm terrified of flying!
Prayers for Libby.
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