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World Terrorism: News, History and Research Of A Changing World #5
CIA ^ | Page last updated: 07/27/2006 | National Intelligence Council's "Global Trends 2015

Posted on 09/30/2006 10:18:39 AM PDT by DAVEY CROCKETT

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To: nw_arizona_granny

>>>>It has long been assumed that one of the reasons he has never been put on trial - or interrogated by the CIA - was because of who he might be able to implicate.

Now I'm soooo curious. :-)


261 posted on 10/02/2006 8:46:09 PM PDT by Velveeta
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 256 | View Replies]

To: All

Many injured in Turkey explosion
Fifteen people have been injured in an explosion in Izmir, Turkey's third largest city, police said.

The blast happened at a cafe in the affluent Alsancak district of the Aegean city.

"Two grenades were thrown into the cafe and exploded but the attack has no political links," Izmir police chief Huseyin Capkin told reporters.

A spate of deadly bomb attacks claimed by Kurdish separatists has hit Turkey this year.

This latest attack comes a day after the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which in the past has carried out bomb attacks, declared a unilateral ceasefire.

Turkey's top general has rejected the ceasefire by armed rebels, vowing to fight on "until not a single armed terrorist is left".

General Yasar Buyukanit, the new chief of military staff, said the PKK must "lay down arms unconditionally and give themselves up".

The PKK's conflict with Turkey has claimed more than 30,000 lives since it began in 1984.

Are you in the area? Did you witness the explosion? Send us your comments using the form below.

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Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/5400466.stm

Published: 2006/10/02 17:36:29 GMT

© BBC MMVI


262 posted on 10/02/2006 8:47:12 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny (Time for the world to wake up and face the fact that there is a war going on, it is world wide!)
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To: All; milford421; Velveeta

[interesting name]

Downing Street intruder charged
A man has been charged with possessing a knife and assaulting a police officer during an intrusion into the secure area of the prime minister's residence.

Byung Jin Lee, aged 32, was detained after scaling six-foot-high iron railings at Downing Street on Sunday.

Tony Blair was at home during the incident at the back of Number 10, but police said he was not "at risk".

Mr Lee was arrested after a brief struggle and will appear before magistrates on Tuesday.

Scotland Yard said: "We are satisfied that at no time was the prime minister at risk."

Mr Lee is due to appear at the City of Westminster Magistrates Court.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/5399654.stm

Published: 2006/10/02 19:20:48 GMT

© BBC MMVI


263 posted on 10/02/2006 8:54:50 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny (Time for the world to wake up and face the fact that there is a war going on, it is world wide!)
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To: All; milford421; Founding Father

Man murdered in row with youths
A father of two was stabbed to death yards from his doorstep after asking a gang of youths to be quiet.

Steven Nyembo-Ya-Muteba, 40, was attacked in Evergreen Square, Hackney, east London, on Sunday night.

Police said he went to speak to a group of up to 12 youngsters in the foyer of the flats where he lived when he was attacked. He died later in hospital.

Four teenagers, one aged 15, two 16-year-old and one 17-year-old, were arrested in connection with the murder.

Detectives said Mr Nyembo-Ya-Muteba had been disturbed by a group of 10-12 youths making loud noises in the communal area of the flats just after 2200 BST.

Forensic search

He went out to ask them to keep the noise down, as it was late and he had to be at work the next day.

Police believe that he ushered them away from the communal area of the block of flats but one or two of them returned and attacked him.

Mr Nyembo-Ya-Muteba, who was a maths student, was taken to Homerton Hospital with stab wounds but later died from his injuries.

Simon Pountain, Borough Commander for Hackney Police, said: "Steven did what any normal citizen would do in a situation like this if someone is causing a disturbance.

"It is tragic that it just so happens that one or more this group decided to come back and attack him."

The square has been cordoned off while forensic experts carry out a fingertip search of the victim's flat and the surrounding area.

Black bin liners have been used by the police to cover the windows to what is thought to be the stairwell where Mr Nyembo-Ya-Muteba was stabbed.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/5398866.stm

Published: 2006/10/02 15:05:42 GMT

© BBC MMVI


264 posted on 10/02/2006 8:56:41 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny (Time for the world to wake up and face the fact that there is a war going on, it is world wide!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 253 | View Replies]

To: All; milford421; Founding Father; LibertyRocks

Teenager stabbed in mosque attack
A 16-year-old Asian youth was stabbed in the arm as disturbances involving 200 people flared following attacks on cars parked at a mosque.

Police said the attacks were racially motivated, and extra officers were patrolling the Avenham area of Preston.

Bricks and concrete blocks were thrown at cars of people attending the mosque.

Chief Supt Mike Barton said: "These problems are being caused by a small group of criminals in the area intent on intimidating the local community."

Cars damaged

The stabbed youth was not seriously injured and there were no arrests, police said.

The disturbance follows the death of an Asian student in July after a fight between up to 40 Asian and white youths nearby, which police described as a "suspected race attack".

About 100 officers were called to the Jamia Masjid mosque when disorder broke out on Sunday evening on Clarendon Street.

Ch Supt Barton said there was a growing element of criminal, anti-social behaviour in the area and those responsible needed ridding from the community.

He said: "This incident of stone throwing is an example of that, and as you can expect, people are unhappy with being victimised.

Video evidence

"[On Sunday] a number of cars were damaged outside the mosque and people who were worshipping inside came out to see what was going on. Not surprisingly, they have been very angry."

He said because of the large number of people on the streets, police decided to deploy more officers to offer reassurance and prevent disorder.

Patrols are being boosted and police are using video cameras to gather evidence. They are warning that people who launch reprisals will be arrested.

In July Shezan Umarji, 20, was killed on the Callon Estate, one and a half miles away from Avenham.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/lancashire/5398092.stm

Published: 2006/10/02 15:59:55 GMT

© BBC MMVI


265 posted on 10/02/2006 8:59:47 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny (Time for the world to wake up and face the fact that there is a war going on, it is world wide!)
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To: Velveeta

You never need to read fiction again, there are enough clinton stories to last your life.

I don't know about the school killer today, it does not make sense, but would fit someone who is off their meds or one who has converted to jihadi type groups.


266 posted on 10/02/2006 9:02:24 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny (Time for the world to wake up and face the fact that there is a war going on, it is world wide!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 261 | View Replies]

To: All; milford421

Pilot killed in glider collision
One man has died and another was injured when two gliders collided in North Yorkshire.

The two single-seat aircraft were involved in a mid-air collision near Sutton Bank Gliding Club.

The body of one of the pilots was found in wreckage on wooded land to the south of the club, a North Yorkshire Police spokesman said.

The second man parachuted out of his glider and is not believed to have been seriously injured.

He landed in trees and had to be cut free by firemen.

Helicopter search

Debris from the crash landed on the A170 road and diversions have been put in place, police said.

Two RAF search and rescue helicopters assisted with the search for the pilots and the Great North Air Ambulance also went to the scene.

The North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Both men are from outside the county and we're currently contacting their families.

"Some debris has fallen on the road, which is expected to remain closed for some time."

A Yorkshire Gliding Club spokesman said: "The accident has been reported to the Air Accident Investigation Branch and the British Gliding Association, who have begun an investigation into the accident.

"The club would like to thank the [emergency] services for their swift actions."

Monday's accident is the second fatal crash involving a pilot from the Yorkshire Gliding Club in the last few weeks.

On 30 August, a 56-year-old man was critically injured when his aircraft crashed on landing. He later died in hospital.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/north_yorkshire/5400870.stm

Published: 2006/10/02 18:29:06 GMT

© BBC MMVI


267 posted on 10/02/2006 9:14:50 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny (Time for the world to wake up and face the fact that there is a war going on, it is world wide!)
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To: All; Velveeta; LibertyRocks; Founding Father; milford421; DAVEY CROCKETT

[Odd???]

School bus pupils go to hospital
Thirty-one Lincolnshire pupils were taken to hospital after suffering breathing problems on a school bus.

They were treated for the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning after being taken off the bus, police said.

All the pupils, from Birkbeck School, in North Somercotes, near Louth, were later discharged from hospital.

The coach operator, Stagecoach, said the incident could have been caused by water leaking onto an exhaust pipe, causing steam to pass into the vehicle.

The pupils - aged between 12 and 16 - had arrived at school on Monday morning complaining of nausea and headaches.

The vehicle that took the children to school has been withdrawn from service
Denise Carr, Lincolnshire County Council

The school's head teacher Gary Loveridge said: "It appears that for a significant part of the journey the main body of the bus had obvious fumes in it, according to the children."

He added he initially phoned the Accident and Emergency Unit at Louth County Hospital and was advised to call the ambulance service.

All the youngsters' parents had been informed, he said, and he expected the vast majority of the pupils involved to be back in school on Tuesday.

Eight of the affected youngsters were taken by ambulance to the Diana Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby, with the rest travelling by coach.

"The injuries that I've been made aware of were only minor so I should imagine it was shortness of breath, possibly watering of the eyes and some blockage of the nasal passages," said Phil Morris, from the East Midlands Ambulance Service.

Police investigation

Police officers are working with the coach company to investigate the circumstances of the incident.

Lincolnshire County Council said it had been informed by Stagecoach that the vehicle concerned had now been traced.

Denise Carr, head of transport services for the council, said: "The vehicle that took the children to school has been withdrawn from service.

"A full and thorough investigation will take place into the incident."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/lincolnshire/5399488.stm

Published: 2006/10/02 16:14:51 GMT

© BBC MMVI


268 posted on 10/02/2006 9:22:08 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny (Time for the world to wake up and face the fact that there is a war going on, it is world wide!)
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To: nw_arizona_granny; DAVEY CROCKETT

October 3, 2006
On the Road

Colliding With Death at 37,000 Feet, and Living

By JOE SHARKEY

SÃO JOSE DOS CAMPOS, Brazil, Oct. 1 — It had been an uneventful, comfortable flight.

With the window shade drawn, I was relaxing in my leather seat aboard a $25 million corporate jet that was flying 37,000 feet above the vast Amazon rainforest. The 7 of us on board the 13-passenger jet were keeping to ourselves.

Without warning, I felt a terrific jolt and heard a loud bang, followed by an eerie silence, save for the hum of the engines.

And then the three words I will never forget. “We’ve been hit,” said Henry Yandle, a fellow passenger standing in the aisle near the cockpit of the Embraer Legacy 600 jet.

“Hit? By what?” I wondered. I lifted the shade. The sky was clear; the sun low in the sky. The rainforest went on forever. But there, at the end of the wing, was a jagged ridge, perhaps a foot high, where the five-foot-tall winglet was supposed to be.

And so began the most harrowing 30 minutes of my life. I would be told time and again in the next few days that nobody ever survives a midair collision. (snip)
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/03/business/03road.html?hp&ex=1159934400&en=e400a2a6d73b9dca&ei=5094&partner=homepage


269 posted on 10/02/2006 9:24:23 PM PDT by Velveeta
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To: All; milford421

Eight held after airbase protest
Eight people are being questioned by Suffolk Police after chaining themselves to gates at an airbase.

Two men and six women chained themselves to the gate of the ammunitions area at RAF Lakenheath, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.

They were cut down by MoD police and taken to police stations in the county.

The incident follows a large rally organised by members of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) outside the airbase on Sunday.

An MoD spokesman said: "All arrests were within non-sensitive areas of RAF Lakenheath."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/suffolk/5399576.stm

Published: 2006/10/02 13:17:07 GMT

© BBC MMVI


270 posted on 10/02/2006 9:30:49 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny (Time for the world to wake up and face the fact that there is a war going on, it is world wide!)
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To: All; milford421

Air pellet shot at girl's throat
A 10-year-old girl is being treated in hospital after being shot in the throat with an air pellet.

Joy Dell was playing with friends in a park in Bushbury Lane, Wolverhampton, when she was hit on Sunday afternoon.

Joy, who said she heard a bang before falling to the ground, is in a stable condition and her injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

A boy, aged 15, was arrested on suspicion of wounding and has been released on police bail.

Joy said of the attack: "Me and my friends heard a bang then I fell to the ground. Then I think I went to sleep for a couple of hours."

Police want to speak to a man who was in the park at the time of the attack. He is white, aged 20 to 30, and was wearing a black hooded top, black trousers and black trainers.

Det Con Matt Trott, of West Midlands Police, said: "This is a very serious incident that could have resulted in this young girl sustaining even worse injuries.

"Incidents of this type are rare but clearly they can have serious consequences."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/5398534.stm

Published: 2006/10/02 18:48:48 GMT

© BBC MMVI


271 posted on 10/02/2006 9:34:17 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny (Time for the world to wake up and face the fact that there is a war going on, it is world wide!)
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To: Velveeta

I found one report, some place today, said the two planes did hit each other.

Still it is so very odd and sadd, all that open sky and for some reason 2 planes hit each other.


272 posted on 10/02/2006 9:37:23 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny (Time for the world to wake up and face the fact that there is a war going on, it is world wide!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 269 | View Replies]

To: All; milford421

[A brave lady]

'Courage' of knife attack witness
A woman who chased an attacker after a teenager was stabbed during a robbery has been praised for her courage.

Police said the woman challenged the attacker and gave chase through Priory Gardens, Orpington, south-east London.

The man stabbed 17-year-old Carley Furness in the neck and stomach before stealing her handbag and running away along Court Road.

The teenager, who is still seriously ill in hospital, managed to leave the park before collapsing in the street.

Detectives have studied CCTV footage, and forensic experts have examined the area.

Det Insp Bryan Davidson, of Bromley CID, said: "We have a number of witnesses who we are continuing to interview.

"Their information is very valuable in helping us to piece together a picture of what happened."

Carley was attacked at about 0840 BST on Saturday while taking a short cut through the park to Orpington High Street, where she is understood to work in a shop.

The suspect is described as a white man, about 30 years old, of stocky build, about 5ft 6in tall, with dark brown hair.

He was wearing a white jacket and blue jeans.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/5398530.stm

Published: 2006/10/02 14:39:01 GMT

© BBC MMVI


273 posted on 10/02/2006 9:43:13 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny (Time for the world to wake up and face the fact that there is a war going on, it is world wide!)
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To: All; Velveeta; milford421

The Times October 03, 2006

Waiting for the imam's return to Earth

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2385384,00.html

THE followers of Moqtada al-Sadr believe that the US invaded Iraq to
prevent the return to Earth of their sect's messiah-like figure, the
Mahdi, or 12th imam.

Hojatoleslam al-Sadr claims that his militia is preparing for the day
when the Mahdi, the last direct descendent of the revered Shia figure
Ali, reappears. Shia believe that the Mahdi, who disappeared in 868, will
bring justice to Earth.

At a prayer service in the central Iraqi city of Kufa on September 15,
the cleric told a crowd of thousands that the Americans were collecting
a dossier on the Mahdi to prevent his return. "Did you ever ask
yourself about why all of this, the bloodshed and the prisons? Why are the
brothers fighting each other for a political game planned by the
Americans? This all happened because they (the Americans) are waiting for the
Mahdi. This planning started ten years ago. They have a big file for Imam
Mahdi and they just need his picture to complete it."

Hojatoleslam al-Sadr and his advisers are convinced that the Americans
want to destroy Islam and stop the Mahdi. "The Americans are trying to
hijack Islamic movements. They think that these are serving the Mahdi's
interests. Whatever they did in Afghanistan and Iraq are all attempts
to hijack the Mahdi’s return."


274 posted on 10/02/2006 10:29:58 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny (Time for the world to wake up and face the fact that there is a war going on, it is world wide!)
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To: All

I listened to this article being discussed on KGO.com radio.

It was amazing the solutions, that the left has for the over crowding problems, they all involve what we will do, not what "they" will do to solve the problem.

They are sure, that the Government will "Have" to step in and take control..........control of those of us who can have children and put a stop to all that child bearing.

It did not appear to dawn on them that closing the borders would solve the problem.

As one lady said "now that we are responsible for all the third world countries".

Why do we have to be responsible, sorry, guess I am one of those "one worlders", which means to me, take care of yourself first. I do not see why we have to bring a million foreigners here.

No, I do not object to helping others, but let them stay in their own countries. As I choose to stay in mine.

granny.........

ECOLOGY AND YOU: The population bomb is ticking again
Augusta Free Press - Waynesboro,VA,USA
... Al-Qaeda trains there ... In Mexico and Egypt, for example, birth
rates
have been ... director of government relations at another advocacy
group,
Population Connection. ...

http://www.augustafreepress.com/stories/storyReader$40662


275 posted on 10/02/2006 10:46:49 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny (Time for the world to wake up and face the fact that there is a war going on, it is world wide!)
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To: All

http://www.regrettheerror.com/2006/10/florida_communi.html

Interesting website, it is a collection of newspaper retractions as published in the publications.


276 posted on 10/02/2006 10:56:40 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny (Time for the world to wake up and face the fact that there is a war going on, it is world wide!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 253 | View Replies]

To: All; milford421

High cost of petrol caused by congestion at port
East African - Nairobi,Kenya
... of the opinion that having a new oil offloading facility at the
port
should be a ... plans to import fuel from Tanzania when its refinery is
closed for maintenance ...
http://www.nationmedia.com/eastafrican/current/Business/Business021020064.htm

Durban harbour to get R1,7bn upgrade
Independent Online - Cape Town,South Africa
... the entry of submarines into the port. Two years ago, a container
ship
collided with one of the caissons (underwater gate) and the harbour had
to
be closed. ...
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=181&art_id=vn20061002010933768C977101
See all stories on this topic:
http://news.google.com/news?ie=utf8&oe=utf8&persist=1&hl=en&client=google&ncl=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php%3Fset_id%3D1%26click_id%3D181%26art_id%3Dvn20061002010933768C977101

Ghanaian Port risks International isolation
African News Dimension (subscription) - Johannesburg,Gauteng,South
Africa
... Capt Owusu-Koranteng said a closed circuit security television has
been
installed at vantage points to prevent pilfering and other negative
acts in
the port. ...
http://www.andnetwork.com/index?service=direct/0/Home/top.titleStory&sp=l52982

Illegal activities threaten Ghanaian port
Business in Africa (subscription) - South Africa
... people did not patronise risky ports in any part of the world and
added
that closed circuit television cameras had been installed around the
port
to prevent ...
http://www.businessinafrica.net/news/west_africa/233623.htm


277 posted on 10/02/2006 11:03:39 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny (Time for the world to wake up and face the fact that there is a war going on, it is world wide!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 253 | View Replies]

To: All; Founding Father

[An interesting read about a Columbian writer and the threats against him.
granny]

Google Alert - Recently declassified US government documents

Newsman at Risk in Colombia Gets Help
ktla 5 - Los Angeles,CA,USA
... documents describing that link were not declassified until 2004 ...
had
served prison time in the US for drug ... downs, a grateful Coronell
said
recently, limping from ...

http://ktla.trb.com/news/la-me-colombian2oct02,0,3006437.story?coll=ktla-news-1


278 posted on 10/02/2006 11:12:19 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny (Time for the world to wake up and face the fact that there is a war going on, it is world wide!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 253 | View Replies]

To: All; Velveeta; DAVEY CROCKETT; milford421; LibertyRocks; Founding Father

LOL, I kept on too long, just one more click and look where I am, these are interesting sites to read:

http://www.spiescafe.com/

http://www.spyschool.com/

http://www.google.com/search?q=Robert+Reynard&client=netscape-pp&rls=com.netscape:en-US

http://home.comcast.net/~dhhamer/sites.htm

http://home.comcast.net/~dhhamer/aspects.htm

http://secretcodebreaker.com/author.html

http://www.und.nodak.edu/org/crypto/crypto/

http://www.und.nodak.edu/org/crypto/crypto/othersites.html

The link was too old, so I asked google, this is the missing wagon load of gold..........[beales treasure].......LOL

http://www.google.com/search?q=Beale+cipher+info+and+freeware&client=netscape-pp&rls=com.netscape:en-US

Now Chinese gold bars: [ The Chinese worked in the western mines, the American Rose, near Yuma, has 400 Chinamen in it, trapped, when there was a collapse of the inside of the mountain.

I was there 40 years ago, they had removed the ore, from a vein, about 3 foot high, you could see how it was done, maybe think of a marble cake, where the chocolate, is in swirls, throughout the cake..........that is what it looked like, the top of the mountain/large hill in the desert, was held up still by hundreds of 3 foot high posts.

The posts were from the desert trees and other than the mesquite trees, and Ironwood, all would be soft woods.

http://www.und.edu/org/crypto/crypto/links/misc.html

Back to terrorists, but there is going to be lots of fun, in chasing these links and learning........I would rather do that, than all this terror gore.


279 posted on 10/02/2006 11:58:21 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny (Time for the world to wake up and face the fact that there is a war going on, it is world wide!)
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To: All; DAVEY CROCKETT

[a post for study and research]

http://my.earthlink.net/article/top?guid=20061002/4521e040_3ca6_1552620061003-1111474693


Rumsfeld: Venezuela Build-Up Is Concern
By LOLITA C. BALDOR (Associated Press Writer)
From Associated Press
October 03, 2006 1:48 AM EDT

MANAGUA, Nicaragua - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld passed on an offer of Venezuelan tobacco, but tried to smoke out the government of President Hugo Chavez on the country's recent military buildup.

"I don't know of anyone threatening Venezuela, anyone in this hemisphere," said Rumsfeld, who is attending a meeting here of Western hemisphere military leaders - many of them concerned about the weapons, jets and helicopters Chavez is buying.

Other countries in the region are worried that the weapons could end up in the hands of terrorists, Rumsfeld told reporters Monday, adding, "I can understand neighbors being concerned."

While he raised questions about the buildup, he also exchanged greetings with Venezuelan defense minister Gen. Raul Isaias Baduel, who also is attending the meeting.

"I have spoken to Mr. Rumsfeld to convince him that he should try smoking Venezuela's good tobacco," Baduel told the Associated Press. "He said he doesn't smoke, that his wife wouldn't let him."

Baduel, who did not meet one-on-one with Rumsfeld, also said his country's recent military spending spree wasn't "an arms race," despite Washington's protests.

Rumsfeld also did not meet with Chavez, who has repeatedly charged that United States is planning to invade his country, a claim American officials dismiss as preposterous. And he said Sunday that he's heard the Bush administration is plotting to assassinate him or topple his regime.

U.S. Army Gen. Bantz J. Craddock, chief of U.S. Southern Command, called the accusation "mindless" and "way over the top." But he also agreed that Venezuela's recent deal to buy roughly $3 billion worth of arms from Russia - including rifles, jet fighters and helicopters - is triggering "more concern from more countries."

Meanwhile, Craddock and other officials said Monday that they don't see a credible threat in Venezuela's call for the creation of an anti-U.S. military coalition with other leftist countries in the region. Craddock said Brazil's defense minister told the gathering he doesn't see a need for a regional military organization.

Gen. Moises Omar Hallesleven, the commander of the Nicaraguan military, told U.S. reporters he is not concerned about the Chavez effort.

Venezuela, he said through an interpreter, has very weak influence in the region. Hallesleven also vowed that as long as he is its leader, the Nicaraguan military will remain apolitical and professional - even if Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega wins the upcoming presidential election.

Chavez grabbed headlines recently when he called Bush "the devil" and slammed U.S. leaders for trying to block his country from taking a seat on the U.N. Security Council.

U.S. officials have long considered Chavez a destabilizing force. And they have suggested that Venezuela would make the Security Council unworkable if the nation were to win its bid against U.S.-backed Guatemala for a rotating council seat.

Rumsfeld, in his formal remarks to the gathering, also made a reference to the other main U.S. antagonist in the region: Cuba.

He said he hoped that one day soon "the final holdout in our hemisphere against the democratic sweep of history will give its citizens the right to choose their own destiny and will participate in our conference."

Rumsfeld also called for more regional cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

"These new challenges can be solved only if we work together to protect our free democratic institutions and to provide economic opportunities for our people," Rumsfeld said.

The military conference, along with a NATO defense ministers meeting and other military visits in the Balkans last week, have largely kept Rumsfeld out of Washington for the past week, where there is renewed debate on his stewardship of the Iraq war.

He said he will not resign, and told reporters he has not read, and likely won't read, the new book, "State of Denial" by Washington Post assistant managing editor Bob Woodward, that is critical of his stewardship of the war.

---

Associated Press Writer Julie Watson contributed to this report.

---

On the Net:

Defense Department: http://www.defenselink.mil
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved


280 posted on 10/03/2006 12:10:44 AM PDT by nw_arizona_granny (Time for the world to wake up and face the fact that there is a war going on, it is world wide!)
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