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Posted on 04/01/2008 8:13:21 PM PDT by nwctwx
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ADDING links to post no. 820:
http://lasvegas.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel08/toxinposs041608.pdf
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April 16, 2008
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2008/April/08_nsd_304.html
Man Charged in Las Vegas Ricin Case
LAS VEGAS - Federal charges have been filed against the man who was discovered to have possessed ricin in his Las Vegas hotel room in February, announced Gregory A. Brower, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada.
Roger Von Bergendorff, 57, is charged in a three-count Criminal Complaint with Possession of Biological Toxin - Ricin, Possession of Unregistered Firearms, and Possession of Firearms Not Identified By Serial Number. Special Agents of the FBI arrested Von Bergendorff this morning without incident, following his release from a Las Vegas area hospital.
“It is illegal under federal law to knowingly possess a biological agent and toxin of a type and quantity that is not reasonably justified by a prophylactic, protective, bona fide research, or other peaceful purpose,” said U.S. Attorney Brower.
According to the Criminal Complaint, on February 14, 2008, Von Bergendorff, while residing at an Extended Stay America (ESA) Hotel in Las Vegas, contacted emergency medical personnel and advised he had problems breathing. Von Bergendorff was subsequently transported to Spring Valley Hospital in Las Vegas, where he was declared to be critically ill and placed on life support. His medical condition has since improved.
On February 26, 2008, ESA personnel were preparing an inventory of Von Bergendorff’s property in the hotel room when they discovered several weapons. They notified the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), and a subsequent investigation of the hotel room by LVMPD detectives revealed two .25 caliber semi-automatic pistols, a .22 caliber Ruger rifle, and a .22 caliber Browning pistol with a silencer. LVMPD detectives also found in the hotel room an Anarchist’s Cookbook, a collection of instructions on poisons and other dangerous recipes, including instructions on the preparation of ricin. Ricin is a toxin made from the mash that is left over after processing castor beans for oil. The toxic effects of ricin occur because it kills body cells when it is taken into the body. LVMPD detectives also recovered ricin, castor beans, syringes, and beakers.
Subsequent FBI searches of Salt Lake City storage units rented by Von Bergendorff resulted in the discovery of castor beans, various chemicals used in the production of ricin, a respirator, filters, painter’s mask, laboratory glassware, syringes, and a notebook on ricin production.
On March 7, 2008, tests conducted by the FBI determined that the material recovered from Von Bergendorff’s hotel room in Las Vegas contained 2.9% active ricin. The preparation was characterized as “crude.”
Von Bergendorff is scheduled for an initial appearance hearing at 3:00 p.m. today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peggy Leen.
“The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and all of the local, state and federal partners of the Nevada Joint Terrorism Task Force are to be commended for their outstanding investigative assistance in this matter,” said Steven M. Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of the Las Vegas Division of the FBI.
The case is being investigated by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, with assistance from the Nevada Joint Terrorism Task Force, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Gregory Damm.
The public is reminded that a Criminal Complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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08-304
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3532876,00.html
“6 rockets fired at southern Israel”
SNIKPPET: “Attacks at western Negev resumed Wednesday night, as Qassams land in Eshkol, Sdot Negev and Sha’ar Hanegev regional councils. One rocket falls outside Ashkelon. No injuries or damage reported in attacks”
Shmulik Hadad
Published: 04.17.08, 08:12 / Israel News
JPost.com » Israel » Article
Apr 17, 2008 1:15 | Updated Apr 17, 2008 6:09
“Police on highest alert ahead of Pessah”
By YAAKOV LAPPIN
SNIPPET: “In the shadow of terrorist threats emanating from Hizbullah in the North to the Sinai Peninsula in the South, police districts around the country have gone on their highest level of alert ahead of Pessah holiday and Israel’s 60th Independence Day celebrations, which follow soon afterward.”
Going to Hell in a hand basket ping:
http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=subjects&Area=jihad&ID=SP189808
Special Dispatch Series - No. 1898
April 16, 2008 No. 1898
“Saudi Cleric Omar Al-Sweilem Extols the Physical Traits of the Black-Eyed Virgins of Paradise”
SNIPPET: “Following are excerpts of a video clip featuring Saudi cleric Omar Al-Sweilem, which was posted on the Internet. The video quality is low in the original.
To view this clip, visit http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/1741.htm “
stepping back in time...
http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/005722.html
03 September 2006
“PROOF OF CONCEPT”
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http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/004590.html
28 July 2005
“GIVES A WHOLE NEW MEANING TO THE EXPRESSION ‘WE LOVE DEATH MORE THAN YOU LOVE LIFE’”
ON THE INTERNET:
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/suicidebombers
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/suicidebomber
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/homicidebombers
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/homicidebomber
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/humanbombs
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/humanbomb
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/southkorea
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/skorea
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Thanks to Jet Jaguar for starting this thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2002767/posts
“S. Korean cadets’ views shaped by a skewed education”
Stars and Stripes ^ | Friday, April 18, 2008 | Ashley Rowland
Posted on April 17, 2008 1:06:56 AM PDT by Jet Jaguar
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “This is the first in a two-day series exploring the South Korean population’s perception of the U.S. military presence.
SEOUL — When the Korea Military Academy asked its incoming cadets in 2004 to name South Korea’s main enemy, they were shocked at the answer: 34 percent said the United States while only 33 percent said North Korea.
The country’s top military leaders asked that question of the 250 cadets — among the smartest university students in the nation — because they wanted to know if a 2-year-old surge of anti-Americanism had influenced the future military officers, Kim Chul-woo said. He is a spokesman for the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, which conducted the survey.
The academy’s then-superintendent, retired Lt. Gen. Kim Choong-bae, was so concerned about the survey results he cut the cadets’ boot camp from six weeks to four.
During the two extra weeks, cadets attended classes on South Korean history to learn how the country got its independence, what happened during the Korean War, and the role the United States played in the war.”
http://www.ice.gov/pi/news/factsheets/pilgrimspridefactsheet.htm
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Note: The following text is a uote:
http://www.ice.gov/pi/news/newsreleases/articles/080416dallas.htm
ICE and Deparment of Justice Joint Operation Targets Identity Theft at Poultry Process Plants in Five States
Many workers facing criminal charges
DALLAS - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in coordination with the U.S. Department of Justice and an array of other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, today arrested more than 280 foreign nationals employed at Pilgrim’s Pride plants in five states who are suspected of committing identity theft and other criminal violations in order to obtain their jobs.
Simultaneous enforcement actions were carried out at Pilgrim’s Pride plants in the following locations: Mount Pleasant, Texas; Live Oak, Fla.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Batesville, Ark.; and Moorfield, W.Va. The management at these Pilgrim’s Pride facilities cooperated fully with today’s arrests. Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., headquartered in Pittsburg, Texas, is one of the largest chicken-processing companies in the United States. More specific information about each enforcement location is available on an accompanying fact sheet.
A federal grand jury in Tyler, Texas, returned multiple-defendant indictments on April 1, 2008, that remained under seal until today’s operation. The indictments allege that each defendant obtained and used the Social Security account numbers of others to obtain employment with Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. If convicted, each defendant could receive up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The Department of Justice anticipates that a substantial number of those detained will be federally prosecuted.
During the investigation leading up to today’s operation, investigators identified numerous identity theft victims. The identity theft victims described to ICE agents a myriad of hardships they suffered as a result of having their identities stolen, including mistaken tax liens, denial of medical and social services benefits, and damage to their credit ratings.
“Criminal cases like these show how illegal immigration can leave behind a trail of victims,” said Julie L. Myers, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for ICE. “A significant percentage of identity theft is carried out by illegal aliens trying to avoid detection and gain employment. However, even under the least damaging circumstances, these identity thieves wreak havoc with the credit and tax histories of innocent U.S. citizens who spend years trying to repair the damage.”
“We will continue to aggressively prosecute all persons who take someone else’s good name and credit for the purpose of working illegally in this country,” said John L. Ratcliffe, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas. “These federal indictments underscore our commitment to stopping immigration fraud and identity theft in the American workplace.”
All of the individuals arrested during the operation are being photographed, fingerprinted and processed by ICE. They are also being interviewed by ICE agents and health care professionals currently assigned to ICE from the Department of Health and Human Services Division of Immigration Health Services. The goal of the interviews is to elicit information from the arrestees about possible health, caregiver or other humanitarian issues, and to identify any urgent medical needs.
For those arrested solely on immigration violations, that information will assist ICE in making decisions about whether to detain the individual or permit a conditional humanitarian release. Similarly, the information will be provided to the relevant U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and state social services agencies so they are fully informed about humanitarian-related issues that may arise in the individual cases being handled through the criminal justice system. Those being prosecuted on criminal charges will be remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and housed at various facilities near the arrest sites.
ICE is coordinating with social service agencies and non-governmental organizations in all five states to ensure accurate information is available for family members of those arrested. ICE also has established a toll-free number that family members can call to get information about their relative’s detention status and the removal process. The toll-free hotline number is 1-866-341-3858.
“These sweeping indictments demonstrate my office’s steadfast resolve to aggressively investigate fraud against the foreign labor certification program,” said Gordon Heddell, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. “Together with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and our other law enforcement partners, we will continue to protect the integrity of the foreign labor certification process by dedicating resources to investigate the use of both identity theft and false documentation to facilitate the entry of undocumented workers.”
ICE officials underscore the investigation of the individual offenders is ongoing. ICE, together with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), first began looking into the allegations in January 2007. The initial arrests occurred December 11, 2007, when ICE took 24 persons into custody after serving criminal arrest warrants at the Pilgrim’s Pride plant in Mount Pleasant, Texas, and at several nearby residences. Since then, five of those arrested have pleaded guilty to misusing Social Security numbers and are awaiting sentencing.
This is an ICE-led investigation with support from the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in the Eastern District of Texas, the Eastern District of Arkansas, the Eastern District of Tennessee, the Middle District of Florida, and the Northern District of West Virginia. Also aiding in the investigation are the DOL-OIG; the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the U.S. Postal Service; the U.S. Marshals Service; the West Virginia State Police; and numerous other state and local agencies.
It is important to note that an indictment should not be considered as evidence of guilt and that all persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Click here to read the Pilgrim’s Pride Fact Sheet.
— ICE —
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/china
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http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=76205
“Tancredo hopes ‘China Democracy Act’ will bring changes”
Chad Groening - OneNewsNow - 4/16/2008 10:30:00 AM
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Congressman Tom Tancredo has introduced legislation that would suspend U.S. trade and investment with China until Beijing makes significant political reforms and takes concrete steps to respect human rights.
Representative Tancredo (R-Colorado) believes that boycotting the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing will send a mere symbolic message, but do little in practical terms to change the behavior of the Chinese government. He is hopeful, however, that his “China Democracy Act” will have some effect toward that end.
The legislation would impose financial sanctions on Beijing amid its violent Tibet crackdown, human-rights abuses against Christians and others, and continued threats against the island democracy of Taiwan. Tancredo says the communist dictatorship refuses to recognize Taiwan (a.k.a. the Republic of China) as a separate country.
“It is perceived ... by the government of [communist] China [to be] a province,” he explains. “They do not believe that they are separate country ... with a separate government and an army and a navy and an air force — and an economy that is, of course, naturally thriving.””
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/china
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/taiwan
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http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080417/NATION/122589302/1001
Page 1 of 2
“Taiwan Strait tension cools off”
By Bill Gertz
April 17, 2008
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “The United States sent three aircraft carrier strike groups to waters around Taiwan after China told U.S. officials last year there was high risk of a military incident after Taiwan’s March 22 presidential election, according to Pentagon and military officials.”
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18534&Itemid=128
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080416-12
April 16, 2008
Sons of Iraq lead MND-C Soldiers to weapons cache (Tameem)
Multi-National Division – Center PAO
BAGHDAD – Sons of Iraq led Multi-National Division – Center Soldiers from Troop C, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, and Iraqi Policemen with 3rd Brigade, 1st National Police Division to a large weapons cache in Tameem, a town east of Baghdad, April 14.
The cache was buried approximately 500 meters from the NPheadquarters in Tameem.
“The cache had been in the ground a long time,” said 1st Lt. Andrew Ellison, from Coleman, Ala., a squad leader in Troop C. “EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) Soldiers estimated that the munitions had been buried for over a year based on their condition.”
The cache contained 389 82 mm mortar rounds, 96 125 mm tank rounds, 172 57 mm anti-aircraft rounds, 38 60 mm mortar rounds, 30 130 mm artillery rounds, 17 122 mm mortar rounds, 15 100 mm rockets, seven 155 artillery rounds, five 100 kg aircraft bombs and four 120 mm mortar rounds.
“Even though many of the munitions were badly degraded, they could have still been used to make IEDs (improvised explosive devices),” Ellison said.
“We are extremely happy to help interdict these accelerants here.”
The 3-1st Cav. Regt. is assigned to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March 2007. The 789th Ordnance Company (EOD) is from Ft. Benning, Ga., and is currently assigned to the 3rd HBCT.
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Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18536&Itemid=128
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080417-02
April 17, 2008
Iraqi Army discovers IED materials during clearing operations (Mahmudiyah)
Multi-National Division – Center PAO
BAGHDAD – During a clearing operation in Mahmudiyah, Iraq, in support of Operation Marne Piledriver, Iraqi Army soldiers from 25th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division uncovered five weapons caches April 15.
The caches contained two 155 mm artillery rounds, one oxygen tank rigged as an improvised explosive device, a Katusha rocket launcher, two oxygen tanks, two 82 mm mortar tubes, a 3-foot tube of homemade explosives and multiple pressure strips.
Marne Piledriver is taking place in the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), area of operations. While the focus of the operation is on capacity building, Iraqi Security Forces will simultaneously target remaining insurgent pockets with the help of Coalition forces.
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www.youtube.com/user/Hamsawiy3
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http://www.youtube.com/user/Hamsawiy2
“This account is suspended.”
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http://www.youtube.com/user/Hamsawiy
“This account is suspended.”
http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/apr8_15_08e.htm
Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center
at the Israel Intelligence Heritage & Commemoration Center (IICC)
“News of the Israeli-Palestinian Confrontation
April 8-15, 2008”
(Posted April 16, 2008)
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/eta
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http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3533004,00.html
(AP)
“Several police officers injured in bomb blast in northern Spain”
Published: 04.17.08, 12:02 / Israel News
Note: The following news brief is a quote:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3533017,00.html
German Muslim charged with stabbing Frankfurt rabbi
Published: 04.17.08, 12:25 / Israel News
A 23-year-old German Muslim went on trial Thursday for stabbing a rabbi in Frankfurt, telling a court that he felt threatened by the rabbi and had acted in self-defense.
Defendant Sajed Aziz testified that the Frankfurt-based rabbi, Zalman Gurevitch, approached him in a threatening manner on a street in the city in September. He said he reacted by pulling a knife and stabbing the rabbi, but did not intend to kill him. Prosecutors have said the rabbi told authorities at the
time of the attack that his assailant said, “I’ll kill you, you (expletive) Jew,” Then pulled out a knife with a and stabbed him in the stomach. (AP)
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,351543,00.html
(AP)
“Homicide Bomber Hits Funeral North of Baghdad, Killing More Than 50”
Thursday, April 17, 2008
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “BREAKING NEWS — BAGHDAD — A suicide bomber struck the funeral of two anti-Al Qaeda Sunni tribesmen in a town north of Baghdad on Thursday, killing more than 50 people, FOX News confirms.”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2002780/posts
“Algae Outbreak Arrives Early Sparking Fears Of Toxic Water”
Zhejiang Online ^ | April 16, 2008 | Shanghai Daily
Posted on April 17, 2008 2:56:38 AM PDT by JACKRUSSELL
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