BEIRUT: Lebanon's army commander said last night that the militant group battling troops in a northern Palestinian refugee camp was affiliated with Al Qaeda, the first high-ranking official to make such a statement.
Some Lebanese government officials had alleged the Fatah Al Islam group, holed up in the Nahr El Bared camp was created by Syria, a claim denied by General Michel Suleiman.
"This organisation is not the creation of Syrian intelligence, nor its it supported by pro-government Lebanese groups," Suleiman said on the state-run National News Agency. "It is a branch of the Al Qaeda that was planning to make Lebanon and Palestinian camps a safe haven from which it would launch its operations in Lebanon and outside."
Excerpted
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=190590&Sn=WORL&IssueID=30147
Syria buys advanced anti-aircraft missiles
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
JERUSALEM: Israeli media reported on Monday that Syria has acquired an array of advanced Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles as part of a military build-up ahead of a possible war with the Jewish state.
Syria currently has “the densest anti-aircraft deployment in the world,” Israel’s mass-selling Yediot Aharonot daily quoted a military source as saying. “Syria has purchased from the Russians the world’s most advanced surface-to-air missiles. This is the last word in plane interception technology.
“According to one estimate, the Syrians hold about 200 anti-aircraft batteries of different models in an attempt to provide a response to the absolute superiority of the Israeli air force,” it said.
Army radio also reported that Syria has acquired advanced weapons, including chemical warheads for surface-to-surface missiles. Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has nevertheless refused to order the distribution of gas masks to civilians, fearing such a step would further escalate the heightened tensions between Israel and its northern neighbour, the report said, quoting sources in the military intelligence.
Excerpted
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\08\14\story_14-8-2007_pg4_3
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=airports
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=airport
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=airportsecurity
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=lax
#
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1880701/posts
http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=271897546966185
“Security Glitch”
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “By INVESTOR’S BUSINESS DAILY | Posted Monday, August 13, 2007 4:20 PM PT
Border Security: A computer “glitch” that paralyzed international terminals at LAX wasn’t an isolated problem. The system routinely crashes at other major airports, knocking out electronic watch lists.
Related Topics: Global War On Terror
It’s a chronic problem that Washington can’t seem to solve. Many frustrated border agents complain that it’s simply not a high priority at headquarters.
But if it’s not paying attention, rest assured al-Qaida is. New intelligence reports warn that it’s trying to sneak terror cells into the U.S. from Pakistan. Its chances improve every time the border security system is disabled.”