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Locked on 02/01/2007 7:40:51 PM PST by Admin Moderator, reason:
New thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1777773/posts |
Posted on 01/02/2007 7:23:18 PM PST by nwctwx
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A new Congressional report outlines additional -- but still circumstantial -- links between Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols and World Trade Center bomber Ramzi Yousef.
Titled "The Oklahoma City Bombing: Was There A Foreign Connection?," the report was conducted by the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House International Relations Committee, at the request of Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif. (Click here for full text of the report.)
The report was provided to INTELWIRE by attorney Jesse Trentadue, who has been pursuing new information on the case through Freedom of Information Act requests and other means (link). Trentadue said he seriously questioned the report's focus on possible connections to Islamic extremists, but said it clearly illustrates the Justice Department's unwillingness to cooperate with investigations of the Oklahoma City bombing.
The report contains a number of new tidbits of information, many of which are suggestive of a broader conspiracy in the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Alfred E. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, but none of which are entirely conclusive.
According to the report, former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating told investigators that President Bill Clinton's first comment to him after the bombing was, "God, I hope there's no Middle Eastern connection to this."
The report focused on three main issues:
Whether Terry Nichols met Ramzi Yousef during the period both men were in Cebu City, the Philippines. Whether Nichols and McVeigh were connected to a German national named Andreas Strassmeir who was linked to domestic white supremacist organizations. Whether the FBI made an adequate investigation of eyewitness reports linking McVeigh to other individuals around the time of the bombing. Some of those reports generated a composite sketch of a suspect known as "John Doe #2."
In large part, the report reiterates the findings of previous investigations and media reports (see INTELWIRE reports Al Qaeda and OKC and Did Yousef and Nichols Meet?).
The report did find significant new clues that suggest a link between Terry Nichols and Ramzi Yousef, including material gleaned from a review of Yousef's phone records. But it stopped short of saying a connection can be proven.
Excerpted
http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_j_m__ber_061223_congressional_invest.htm
Thanks Right_Handed_Writer. Updates appreciated.
Thanks for these links and snippets.
Spain is a hotbed right now.
Al-Qaida's No. 2 lashes out at Abbas
Dec. 31, 2006 8:15
The deputy leader of al-Qaida accused moderate Arab leaders of being traitors for cooperating with the United States and its allies in a taped message posted on militant Web sites Saturday.
Ayman al-Zawahri lashed out at Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah movement, saying "they cannot be brothers to the Muslims, but they are their enemies."
"Those who have sold Palestine, the secular traitors, cannot be your brothers," said al-Zawahri in the 15-minute audiotape posted on a Web site commonly used by Islamic insurgents. "Do not recognize their legitimacy. ... And don't sit with them ... and do not sign with them the documents that will make you lose Palestine."
The tape, released on Id al-Adha, the most important Islamic holiday, could not immediately be verified. But a banner posted on the Web site said it came from al-Qaida's media production house, al-Sahab.
Excerpted
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1167467626491&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1747324/posts?page=1642#1642
You're welcome Cindy. Too many hotbeds these days.
LAHORE: Police in Quetta and Jaffarabad arrested 26 alleged terrorists and seized arms from their possession on Wednesday. According to Aaj TV, Quetta police arrested two terrorists allegedly involved in gas pipeline explosions in Balochistan.
Separately, police in Jaffarabad arrested 24 alleged terrorists and seized several weapons, according to Geo TV. The channel also reported two blasts in Kandh Kot, near Kashmore. daily times monitor
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007/01/04/story_4-1-2007_pg7_16
Fatah: We will defend ourselves
01.03.07
On Wednesday the Fatah movement declared a state of high alert amongst its ranks in Gaza, calling for them to adjust their deployment following the deaths of three officers from the Fatah-affiliated Palestinian Preventive Security Service (PPSS) and an additional Fatah loyalist in clashes earlier in the day. Members were called to "be prepared and defend themselves by any means in the face of attack." p>Fatah has accused Hamas of instigating the violence and for the wave of kidnappings that plagued Gaza on Tuesday, when no less than 23 people were abducted by both organizations.
Excerpted
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3348115,00.html
Taliban chief Mullah Mohammad Omar has added to the mystery over Osama bin Laden, saying he hasn't seen his ally and fellow fugitive since US-backed forces ousted the Taliban from Afghanistan in late 2001.
"No, I have neither seen him, nor have I made any effort to do so, but I pray for his health and safety," Omar said in an e-mailed response to questions sent by Reuters. The questions were relayed to Omar through his spokesman Mohammad Hanif, and a reply was received late on Wednesday.
A half-dozen audio tapes of bin Laden were circulated during the first half of 2006, but the al-Qaeda leader last appeared on video tape in late 2004, while tapes of his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, have been issued regularly.
A video tape of bin Laden was released late last year, but it was identified as old footage, and the fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States passed without any word from the al-Qaeda leader.
Speculation over the whereabouts and health of bin Laden boiled over in September when a French provincial newspaper reported that he had died of typhoid in late August. Though several governments and intelligence agencies rebutted that report, saying they had no evidence to suggest bin Laden had died, nor did they have any clue to where he was.
The wealthy Saudi-born bin Laden helped bankroll the Taliban after moving to Afghanistan in the mid-1990s, and he reportedly married one of Omar's daughters to cement their alliance. The United States has offered a USD 25 million reward for the capture of bin Laden and USD 10 million for Omar. The best guess to bin Laden's whereabouts remains somewhere on the rugged border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, in the ethnic tribal lands where Omar's Taliban counts on support to fight an insurgency against US and NATO forces in Afghanistan and the government of President Hamid Karzai.
'Islamic spirit'
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, both major US allies in the war on terrorism, have deteriorated sharply over the past year in the wake of the bloodiest campaign mounted by the Taliban since it was ousted from power.
Omar said people from the Pashtun tribal belt straddling the border were rallying to the Taliban's cause. "The people themselves have risen up to fight the Americans," he said. "I would like to say that without any doubt the people of the region are behind us, but not based on tribal loyalty, but because of their national and Islamic spirit."
Although the Taliban and al-Qaeda are seen as allies, Omar said his sole focus was Afghanistan while bin Laden's movement was engaged in a global jihad, or holy war. "They have set jihad as their goal, whereas we have set the expulsion of American troops from Afghanistan as our target," he said.
To start a political process to end the militancy, Pakistan and Afghanistan plan to organize tribal councils – known as jirgas – on both sides of the border. No dates have been fixed. A Taliban spokesman last month said the group might join the jirgas if asked, but Omar rejected the proposal. "The only people who would participate are those who have sold out to foreign powers. Our participation is absolutely out of the question," the fugitive militant leader said. He reiterated his call for the withdrawal of foreign troops to end conflict in Afghanistan. "Unless that happens, the war will heat further up," Omar said.
Afghanistan says Omar is based in or around the southwest Pakistani city of Quetta, but Omar said he is in Afghanistan. "The leadership, resistance and shura (council) are all based in Afghanistan," he said.
ISLAMABAD: Not a single seminary in the federal capital has returned a form from the Federal Education Ministry seeking information about the seminaries’ sources of funding and decrees. The deadline for returning the forms ended on December 30.
Among other information sought by the ministry, the seminaries (madaris) affiliated with the Wafaqul Madaris were required to submit details of the decrees each seminary had issued in 2006. Besides, each seminary had to attach an affidavit by its principal that they were ready to introduce formal subjects such as English, mathematics, social studies/Pakistan studies and general science at the primary, middle and secondary level; and English, economics, computer science and Pakistan studies at the intermediate level to integrate religious education with the formal education system.
Excerpted
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007/01/04/story_4-1-2007_pg7_12
Fatah leader: We wish al-Qaeda success
01.03.07
A Fatah leader and former minister in the Palestinian Authority (PA) has wished al-Qaeda success in attacking Americans during an appearance on PA TV, according to a report by Palestinian Media Watch (PMW).
During the January 1 interview, made available by PMW in video format, Abu Ali Shahin, addressing al-Qaeda, said: "Do to Bush whatever you want, and we wish you success... We are fighting the Americans and hate the Americans more than you!" According to a brief by PMW, "Shahin was responding to a statement by Al-Qaeda's deputy leader , Ayman al-Zawahri, criticizing Palestinian Fatah leaders for contacts with the US."
"Oh (Al-Qaeda) brother, leave us and focus on your business. You have Bush! Do to Bush what you want, and we wish you success with Bush, even more. I, Abu Ali Shahin, wish you success with Bush," Shahin said.
"Whoever is interested in creating a split in the Palestinian camp, is not serving anyone but the Americans and their protégé, the Zionist Imperialist Project. We are fighting the Americans and hate the Americans more than you!" he added. "We know we are described as enemies of the Americans. About Americans, we say, publicly: the central, head enemy to the Arab Palestinian people and to the national struggle, is this American leadership embodied by the White House and this George Bush sitting there," Shahin said.
PMW added in its brief that "according to a December 2005 public opinion poll," carried out by the Fato Institute for Applied International Studies in Norway, "65% of Palestinians support Al-Qaeda actions in the US and Europe."
CHICAGO - A Rockford man who dreamed of becoming a terrorist was indicted Thursday on charges of trying to use hand grenades to blow up garbage cans at a shopping mall.
Derrick Shareef, 22, was arrested Dec. 6 by an FBI-led anti-terrorism task force following a sting operation in which an undercover informant secretly tape-recorded his plans.
Excerpted
http://cbs2chicago.com/illinoiswire/IL--TerrorArrest_i_n_0il--/resources_news_html
Thanks Cindy, I appreciate that. I'm semi-brain dead this evening :-)
Tehran, 4 Jan. - A special police corps has been officially tasked with checking the cell phones of Iranians and in the past few days plain-clothes officials have started stopping passers-by in Iran's main cities to inspect their mobiles. All text messages and audio or video files considered 'illegal' are erased by the officials from this new corps. In the past few years, cell phones have reportedly become the main means to convey news which would never make it into the government-controlled Iranian media.
News on scandals, jokes on Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and other political leaders, information on meetings, political assemblies and rallies mainly circulate via cell phones.
The crackdown on mobile phones follows measures in the past year to ban satellite television from Iranian homes, obscure over 100,000 internet websites and close the last daily considered relatively independent from the government, Shargh.
This latest attempt to control the free circulation of news has reportedly upset the president of the parliamentary commission on national security, Alaeddin Brujerdi, who has slammed the new police corps as "an illegal body" carrying out "completely illegal" inspections on mobile phones.
http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level_English.php?cat=Politics&loid=8.0.373441661&par=
Tunisia: Arrested Militants Hailed From Algeria
Tunis, 4 Jan. - A group of Islamic militants who engaged in a gunbattle with Tunisian security officials Wednesday in the area of Soliman, 40 km south of Tunis, hailed from Algeria, according to a report Thursday published by London-based Arabic language daily al-Hayat. Security forces shot dead 12 people and arrested 15 near Tunis after the rare gunbattle, a government source said on Thursday.
Al-Hayat reported that those killed were part of a larger group of militants who had crossed the border from Algeria. Authorities claimed that Wednesday's clash during a hunt for a gang of criminals who clashed with police in Tunis on 23 December. In last month's incident, two gang members were killed and two policemen wounded, the authorities said at the time.
http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level_English.php?cat=Terrorism&loid=
Cindy's OPINION: Is Khamein dead? I don't know, but apparently (according to news reports) his health is so bad, he soon will be -- if he is not already.
ON THE NET...
http://www.khamenei.ir/
http://www.leader.ir/
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http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?hl=en&q=khamenei&ie=UTF-8&spell=1&oi=spell&scoring=d
http://news.google.com/nwshp?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&tab=wn&q=%22Khamenei%22&scoring=d
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http://rapidrecon.threatswatch.org/2007/01/ayatollah-khameini-is-dead/
Article snippet: "Michael Ledeen is reporting that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khameini, is dead."
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Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.iranian.ws/iran_news/publish/article_19925.shtml
ran News Jan 2nd, 2007 - 17:56:15
Page One > Iran News
Iran's Supreme Mullah Leader Will Be Dead Soon
Jan 2, 2007
Iran's Supreme Mullah Leader, Ali Khamenei is seriously ill and will have to be replaced in the coming months as he is no longer capable of holding office, according to Assembly of Experts member mullah Nasseri. The powerful mullah body appoints and oversees the country's supreme leader. "Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei is gravely ill - he can no longer see very well, has difficulty hearing, and is no longer able to properly perform his duties," Nasseri told a women's group.
Iranians have speculated for sometime about Khamenei's health. But talk of the 67 year-old Khamenei's health is taboo and officials have denied he is seriously ill, although United States sources had previously said Khamenei had cancer. He is widely regarded as the figurehead of mullahs' regime. The survivor of an assassination attempt, his supporters call him a "living martyr", and Iranians call him "cholaaq ali gedaa".
The country's supreme leader since 1989, Khamenei succeeded the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, infamous mullah Khomeini, as president in 1981 and served two terms. His death or removal from office by the Assembly of Experts will trigger a power struggle within mullahs' regime, according to observers.
The names of three possible successors to Khamenei are currently on the lips of Iranians: Khamenei's son, Mojtaba; Iran's former reformist president, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani; and Gholam Ali Mesbah Yazdi, the ultra-conservative ayatollah who is considered the spiritual father of Iran's current hardline president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. All mullahs.
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http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20061224/capt.xhs10512241409.iran_nuclear_khamenei_xhs105.jpg?x=380&y=253&sig=qBpf1pkgv9KGzm3Y6KlXXw--
http://news.yahoo.com/photo/061224/481/xhs10512241409
PHOTO CAPTION - QUOTE:
Escorted by his bodyguards Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, attends a ceremony in Tehran, Iran on Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday downplayed U.N. Security Council sanctions on his country over its refusal to suspend uranium enrichment, saying world powers will soon regret imposing them. (AP Photo/Bagher Nasir)
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Note: The following text is a quote:
http://osint.internet-haganah.com/archives/000632.html
December 07, 2006
Iran Supreme Leader Hospitalized. Condition Grave.
pajamasmedia.com:
Three days ago, Iran’s dictator, Supreme Leader Ayatollah ali Khamenei, was rushed to the vast medical facility traditionally known as “Vanak” hospital (it now has an Arabic name that means “the 12th Imam Hospital”), a 1,200-room facility that saves half of its beds for the leadership.
Khamenei is known to be suffering from cancer, and taking considerable quantities of an opium-based pain killer. He has lost more than 17 pounds in the past ten months, and was told last spring that he was unlikely to see another New Year (In the Iranian calendar, the New Year begins at the end of March).
Posted on 07 December 2006 @ 16:10 GMT
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http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9063822194153221252&q=KHAMENEI
(Added to Google December 23, 2006)
No, you're absolutely fine.
Just adding links as you go.
I was out snow plowing with my husband...so keep on keeping on.
I appreciate you.
Yep, you're so right.
Oh, I'm sorry for you Oorang.
I understand and I agree; it's
not the desired time of year
for butchering.
I hope that steer gets better.
In California, it seemed that butchering time was always when the ground was muddy.
Yep, we did the roads, neighbors, etc.
Laughing...had to stop about 4 times because the snow was so heavy on the windshield.
Pretty as a postcard, but.... Can't wait for spring.
The community of the most northerly parish on the Shetland mainland has been left bitterly divided over the suspension of a local doctor who distributed a controversial religious pamphlet to his patients which critics claim is highly offensive to Muslims.
Dr Mick Russon, who has been an associate GP at the Hillswick health centre since 2004, was suspended by the Shetland Health Board after he sent out a 46-page booklet, entitled Proclamation, to more than 200 people in the parish of Northmavine. The health authority took the disciplinary action after receiving a complaint from a member of the public. His case has now been referred to the General Medical Council.
The pamphlet makes no direct reference to the Islamic faith, but critics claim that Dr Russon's repeated references to a "Babylonian Moon God" and Satan are a thinly veiled attack on Allah and that he is asserting that Islam is Satanic.
Dr Russon states in the pamphlet: "Satan is the Babylonian Moon God; a cult that has become probably the most oppressive of women throughout time.
"There are probably more people worshipping the Moon God at this moment in time than at any previous time in the history of mankind; it is probable that most who follow him do so out of fear and not reverence.
"As each successive world empire has reached its height, it is largely the conflict between politics and finance that brings it down. We have seen this only too well in recent days, when the buildings that represented the centre of global trade were destroyed by those who carry the symbols of the Babylonian Moon God. I of course refer to the events now universally referred to as 9/11."
Excerpted
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=22302007
Spanish bishops fear rebirth of Islamic kingdom
05 January 2007
Spain's bishops are alarmed by ambitious plans to recreate the city of Cordoba - once the heart of the ancient Islamic kingdom of al-Andalus - as a pilgrimage site for Muslims throughout Europe.
Plans include the construction of a half-size replica of Cordoba's eighth century great mosque, according to the head of Cordoba's Muslim Association. Funds for the project are being sought from the governments of the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, and Muslim organisations in Morocco and Egypt.Other big mosques are reportedly planned for Medina Azahara near Cordoba, Seville and Granada.
The bishops of those cities are alarmed at the construction of ostentatious mosques, fearing that the church's waning influence may be further eclipsed by resurgent Islam financed from abroad. Up to one million Muslims are estimated to live in Spain. Many are drawn by a romantic nostalgia for the lost paradise of Al-Andalus, the caliphate that ruled Spain for more than five centuries.
Excerpted
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=northkorea
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=nkorea
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1762528/posts
"North Korea Prepping Nuclear Weapons Test"
ABC News ^ | 1/4/07
Posted on 01/04/2007 3:03:00 PM PST by bnelson44
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 2007
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1761684/posts
"North Korean Foreign Minister dies"
Australian Broadcasting Corporation ^ | 3 January 2007
Posted on 01/03/2007 4:26:02 AM PST by Aussie Dasher
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