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Locked on 08/01/2006 10:01:47 PM PDT by Religion Moderator, reason:
New thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1676188/posts |
Posted on 07/01/2006 1:15:53 PM PDT by nwctwx
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http://www.dea.gov/pubs/states/newsrel/seattle071406.jpg
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http://www.dea.gov/pubs/states/newsrel/seattle071406.html
News Release [print friendly page]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 14, 2006
Builders of Drug Tunnel Between Canada and US Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison
Judge Sends Message to Drug Traffickers: Marijuana Smuggling Serious Crime
Three Canadians were sentenced in U.S. District Court in Seattle today to nine years in prison for their roles in the construction of the first ever tunnel on the northern border. FRANCIS DEVANDRA RAJ, 31, of Surrey, BC, TIMOTHY WOO, 35, of Surrey, BC and JONATHAN VALENZUELA, 28, of Surrey, BC were each sentenced to nine years in prison and five years of supervised release. At sentencing, U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour remarked on the seriousness of the BC Bud smuggling problem saying, “the proceeds of this drug trade are used to fund other criminal trade, including drugs going north into Canada.”
The tunnel, located just east of the Lynden/Aldergrove border crossing was under construction for more than a year. The tunnel was approximately 360 feet long and ran at a depth of between three and ten feet. It was reinforced with iron rebar and 2x6 wood supports. Both Canadian and American law enforcement monitored the construction of the tunnel and on July 20, 2005 shut down the tunnel and arrested RAJ, WOO and VALENZUELA for illegal drug trafficking.
According to records filed in the case, construction of the tunnel ? including the purchase of property on both sides of the border ? cost more than $400,000. The government argued for a lengthy sentence noting that the men who dug the tunnel planned to ferry more than 1000 kilograms of marijuana through the tunnel in order to recoup their investment. Telephone calls recorded in connection with the investigation reveal the men planned to make as much as $550 per pound on marijuana transported through the tunnel. Other calls indicate they planned to smuggle 300 pounds of marijuana a day generating some $165,000 per day to the conspiracy.
In asking for a lengthy sentence prosecutors noted the tunnel created hazards for those traveling in cars and school buses on the road above. The tunnel was used to move cocaine and ecstasy and could have been a risk to national security. “The tunnel would have posed even more serious risks if it went undetected. Just as cars and planes have become vehicles for the transportation of a wide variety of contraband and people, the tunnel could easily have served other nefarious purposes had it not been closed so quickly,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memorandum.
Judge Coughenour agreed that the tunnel was designed to move thousands of pounds of drugs noting the extensive preparation and expense of the tunnel. Judge Coughenour said he sees too many young people from Canada caught up in the drug trade who don’t realize that smuggling drugs across the border is a serious crime in the United States.
Rodney Benson, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration stated, "this criminal organization posed a serious threat to the United States, not only in terms of drug trafficking, but to the national security of our nation. The sentencing of these three individuals today sends a clear message to drug traffickers and others that their actions have consequences. The Drug Enforcement Administration continues to work with our counterparts nationally and internationally to target and dismantle drug trafficking organizations as well as to block their smuggling routes into this country."
All three men pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Import Marijuana. VALENZUELA pleaded guilty on February 16, 2006. RAJ pleaded guilty on March 1, 2006, and WOO pleaded guilty on March 3, 2006.
Canada’s Border Services Agency became aware of the tunnel construction in February 2005 and alerted the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-BC). That unit of the RCMP was launched in April 2004 to fight organized crime in British Columbia. Canadian and American law enforcement organizations coordinated their efforts to make sure all activity in the tunnel was monitored and that prosecutions could proceed on both sides of the border. The tunnel was filled in so it cannot be used for any smuggling or other illegal activities.
The case against RAJ, WOO and VALENZUELA was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jill Otake, Annette Hayes and Doug Whalley.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1667441/posts
"Poisoned Missiles: Syria's Doomsday Deterrent"
The Middle East Quarterly ^ | Fall 2002 | Dany Shoham
Posted on 07/17/2006 3:30:48 PM PDT by B-Chan
NOTE: POST NO. 1002 - "POISONED MISSILES..." IS STEPPING BACK IN TIME TO 2002.
ON THE NET...
http://www.whitehouse.gov
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
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Thank you to a Specilal Emailer Scott for sending this message to me.
QUOTE:
Wouldn't it be WONDERFUL to see the USS Cole off the coast of Beruit providing protection for 25000 fleeing Americans?
I think that'd send a knife-like message to UBL, and those who got so much pr from attacking it.
It's in the area, and just did a port call in Greece a week or so ago.
I think in the War on Terror it'd be a great reminder of the USS Cole incident and as the world media reported its presence. Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya, MSNBC, CBS, NYT....they'd all be compelled to report its signifigance, the attack done on it, and the effect of not responding to that attack.
It's the modern form of gunboat diplomacy for asymetric warfare.
It'd send a damn fine signal that America can be hit, but not sunk.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Send your comments and hopes that the USS Cole be positioned for the world to see off the coast of Beruit....to the President
Note: The following text is a quote:
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1667097/posts
(Israeli) Police detain Al Jazeera crew members for third time
Haaretz.com ^ | July 17, 2006 | Yoav Stern
Posted on 07/17/2006 6:32:39 AM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia
Police detained Al Jazeera crew members three times in twenty-four hours, the last being on Monday. The official cause for the brief arrests was suspicions against the crewmembers of reporting on the location of rocket hits in order to assist Hezbollah.
Other TV networks, including Israeli news services, made similar reports without suffering from police intervention.
On Monday police detained Al Jazeera manager Walid al-Omri for reporting of rocket hits in the Upper Galilee village of Kfar Yasif. Al-Omri was also detained late on Sunday.
Also on Sunday police detained for questioning Al Jazeera correspondent Elias Karam and the team working with him in Acre. The team was released after an hour of questioning.
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
ON THE NET...
UPI.com: Washington - "HEZBOLLAH MAY ACTIVATE SLEEPER CELLS" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The New York Post, quoting sources, said the Lebanon-based fundamentalist Islamic group may be planning to activate sleeper cells in New York or other big cities. The investigation is being carried out by the FBI and the Justice Department. Quoting law-enforcement and intelligence officials, the newspaper said about a dozen hard-core supporters of Hezbollah have been identified in recent weeks as operating in the New York area. The Iranian Mission to the United Nations also is being watched. But U.S. officials also told the newspaper there is no intelligence information pointing to an imminent attack by Hezbollah.") (May 22, 2006) (Note: This url may expire.)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=globaljihad
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=jihads
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UPDATES...
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=gaza
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http://www.jpost.com
BANNER STATES: "Renewed barrages of rockets rain down on North"
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http://www.ynetnews.com
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3277533,00.html
"3 Reserves Brigades Called Up"
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http://www.haaretz.com
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/739524.html
"Government to demand disarmament of Hezbollah Israel fears Hezbollah will use cease-fire to rearm"
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http://www.foxnews.com
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http://www.internet-haganah.com/haganah/index.html
http://off-topic.internet-haganah.com/
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1659022/posts?page=992#992
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http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/183954.php
July 17, 2006
"Izadeen's Group Banned!!!"
placemark
ON THE NET...
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Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jul2006/20060717_5672.html
Coalition Forces Kill Terrorists, Strike Taliban Commander
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, July 17, 2006 – Coalition forces in Afghanistan had a long string of successes against terrorists during the last two days, military officials reported. They killed four suspected terrorists today, attacked the safe house of a known Taliban commander last night, thwarted a terrorist attack from a hospital yesterday, and confiscated a large weapons cache yesterday.
Coalition forces killed four suspected al Qaeda terrorists, detained three suspected al Qaeda terrorists and destroyed a weapons cache during an early morning raid today in Kwost province near the village of Pelan Kheyl. The operation was to capture or kill an al Qaeda operational leader who is a significant threat to Afghan and coalition forces in the Khowst province, officials said.
Elsewhere, Afghan and coalition forces attacked the safe house of a known Taliban commander in the Sangin district of Helmand province last night. A variety of intelligence assets identified the extremist's location before the compound was attacked with joint fire and the building destroyed, officials said. The commander's name will be withheld for security reasons until his death is confirmed, officials said.
Coalition forces had been watching the safe house and saw no evidence of non-combatants or signs that civilians were affected by the strike, officials said.
In a separate operation, a group of Taliban extremists attacked Afghan and coalition security forces yesterday. The extremists attacked the combined force with machine-gun fire from inside a hospital in the Nawzad district center of Helmand province, which they were using for cover.
Despite receiving direct fire, the coalition ground commander held off returning fire until he was able to confirm that neither patients nor staff members were inside the hospital. Afghan National Police helped confirm this information.
After positively confirming that only enemy fighters were in the hospital, the coalition troops launched a single precision-guided munition at the enemy machine-gun position to minimize damage and impact only that position, officials said.
"The coalition, working with the Afghan national security forces, is determined to root out these enemy safe havens and help establish the conditions for reconstruction and aid to come to the people of Nawzad," Col. Thomas Collins, a coalition spokesman, said. "The Afghan people should have the opportunity to live in peace without fear, and they deserve the chance for a better future."
This was the 17th straight day of fighting between Afghan and coalition forces and enemy fighters, officials said.
In other news, coalition forces confiscated a significant weapons cache during a cordon-and-search operation yesterday in the Bermal district of Paktika province. The weapons recovered included rifles, AK-47s, shotguns, ammunition, powder charges, a suicide bomber belt and various improvised explosive device parts. Foreign passports, airline tickets and other extremist documents also were recovered.
(Compiled from Combined Forces Command Afghanistan news releases.)
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http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jul2006/20060717_5671.html
Taliban Extremist Kills Five; 22 Wounded in Suicide Blast
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, July 17, 2006 – A suicide bomb attack in the Gardez district Afghanistan's of Paktia province killed five people and wounded up to 22 others, mostly innocent civilians, yesterday, military officials reported.
An extremist armed with a suicide vest detonated his explosives as an Afghan National Army patrol approached. One Afghan soldier and four Afghan civilians were killed in the blast. Two Afghan soldiers and up to 20 more innocent Afghan civilians were wounded by the explosion and transported to a local hospital for treatment. Several vehicles and structures also were damaged.
A coalition quick reaction force and explosive ordnance disposal team responded to the scene to help investigate and secure the site.
"Our deepest sympathies go out to the family of the brave soldier who gave his life in the defense of his nation's freedom and the families of the innocent civilians needlessly killed and wounded in this terrorist act," said Army Lt. Col. Paul Fitzpatrick, Combined Joint Task Force 76 spokesman.
Witnesses say the bomber entered the street as the Afghan National Army patrol approached. Suspicious, the patrol stopped and confronted the bomber. As he rushed the lead vehicle in the patrol, Afghan soldiers fired to disable him. Before he fell, the extremist apparently detonated his bomb with total disregard to the dozens of innocent civilians in the vicinity, officials said.
"Coalition forces are currently supporting the Afghan government in investigating claims of civilian casualties," Fitzpatrick said. "Our trained and disciplined force goes to great lengths to limit the potential of accidentally harming Afghan civilians. When it does happen, we take full responsibility for our actions. Taliban extremists purposefully inflict death and destruction on their own people and show no remorse for their actions. Their blatant disregard for human life cannot be justified under any circumstance."
(From a Combined Forces Command Afghanistan news release.)
Israel will also try to target the 12 most senior members of Hezbollah, who are hiding in bunkers deep in the Dahiya quarter in southern Beirut. These men are strategic targets and they include Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, Ibrahim Akil, Imad Mughniye and others. These senior figures constitute the group's equivalent of a General Staff and its political-diplomatic cabinet.
Thanks to CallMeJoe for the ping to this post...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1614188/posts?page=294#294
ON THE NET...
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http://www.newsmax.com/hottopics/North_Korea.shtml
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http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2006/7/17/101004.shtml
"Leaders Press North Korea on Missile Tests"
NewsMax.com Wires
Monday, July 17, 2006
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1667583/posts
North Korea May Have Tested New Longer-Range Missiles
Chosun Ilbo (South Korea) ^ | July 18, 2006
Posted on 07/17/2006 8:56:18 PM PDT by HAL9000
Intelligence services in Seoul and Washington are analyzing suspicions that the seven missiles North Korea test-fired on July 5 include two new intermediate-range ballistic missiles with a range of 2,500-4,000 km.
A government source said spy agencies detected electronic signals different from the North’s Rodong or Scud missiles from two of six medium-range missiles the North test-launched on July 5.
Intelligence services considered whether they could be Scud-ERs with a range of up to 1,000 km, but additional analysis produced the suspicion that they could be a whole new type of IRBM, the source said.
If so, they are based on Soviet Navy SS-N-6 submarine-launched ballistic missiles and are 12 m long and 1.5 in diameter, shorter than the Rondong-1, which is 15 m long and the Taepodong-1, which measures 23 m. U.S. reconnaissance satellites spotted some 10 such missiles at the Mirim Airbase near Pyongyang ahead of the communist state’s Foundation Day in September 2003.
Signs that the missiles were deployed in Sangnam-ri and Heocheon County in North Hamgyeong Province were spotted in 2004 and there have been rumors that Pyongyang exported them to countries in the Middle East late last year. So far, no test launches were known to have been conducted. The missiles are believed to be capable of reaching the U.S. regional base in Guam.
PROPAGANDA LINKS ON THE NET...
http://press-release.blogspot.com/
http://albayanat.blogspot.com/
http://www.al-hesbah.org/v/
http://www.al-ekhlaas.net/forum/
http://www.al-boraq.com/
Thanks to BurbankKarl for the ping to this post:
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To: Calpernia; Peach; Solson; Arizona Carolyn; sofaman; Rte66; OldFriend; jeffers; rebel_yell2; ...
Al-Jezeera footage of Iranian missile shooting up in the air then igniting Lebanese neighborhood on fire....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJsN2eGiOyM
2,303 posted on 07/17/2006 9:28:17 PM PDT by BurbankKarl
That is GOOD news, to say the least.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1667590/posts\
"American Muslims angry at US stance on Mideast conflict"
afp ^ | 7/17/06 | by Laurence Thomann
Posted on 07/17/2006 9:18:01 PM PDT by Flavius
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http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1161.html
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
This information is current as of today, Mon Jul 17 2006 21:40:16 GMT-0700.
Worldwide Caution
June 06, 2006
This Public Announcement updates information on the continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence against Americans and interests overseas. This supersedes the Worldwide Caution dated December 12, 2005 and expires on December 6, 2006.
The Department of State remains concerned about the continued threat of terrorist attacks, demonstrations and other violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests overseas. Americans are reminded that demonstrations and rioting can occur with little or no warning. The publication in the international press of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed, for example, led to widespread demonstrations and riots in several countries.
The March 2006 bombing near the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, illustrates the continuing desire of al-Qa’ida to strike official American targets. Current information suggests that al-Qa’ida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks against U.S. interests in multiple regions, including Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. These attacks may employ a wide variety of tactics to include assassinations, kidnappings, hijackings and bombings.
Extremists may elect to use conventional or non-conventional weapons, and target private interests or “soft targets” with a reduced security posture. Examples of such targets include high-profile sporting events, residential areas, business offices, clubs, restaurants, hotels, places of worship, schools, public areas and locales where Americans gather in large numbers, including during holidays. Financial or economic targets of value may also be considered as possible venues; the failed attack on the Abqaiq oil processing facility in Saudi Arabia in late February 2006 is one such example.
In the wake of the July 2005 London bombings and the March 2004 train attacks in Madrid, Americans are reminded of the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems. In addition, extremists may also select aviation and maritime services as possible targets.
U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance, be aware of local events, and take the appropriate steps to bolster their personal security. For additional information, please refer to “A Safe Trip Abroad” found at http://travel.state.gov.
U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of alert. These facilities may temporarily close or periodically suspend public services to assess their security posture. In those instances, U.S. embassies and consulates will make every effort to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens. Americans abroad are urged to monitor the local news and maintain contact with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
As the Department continues to develop information on any potential security threats to U.S. citizens overseas, it shares credible threat information through its Consular Information Program documents, available on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1667600/posts
"Which Side is the New York Times On?"
Hot Air - Vent with Michelle Malkin ^ | July 17, 2006 | Michelle Malkin
Posted on 07/17/2006 9:45:45 PM PDT by CedarDave
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http://hotair.com/archives/vent/2006/07/17/which-side-is-the-nyt-on/
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