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XXIII: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1307764/posts |
Posted on 11/17/2004 9:24:29 PM PST by nwctwx
Well now, the pattern continues to England. Interesting.
Thanks for the links. Glad to see the hijacking in Greece ended peacefully.
Australia widens maritime security zone
12/15/2004, 10:11 p.m. ET
By MERAIAH FOLEY
The Associated Press
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) — Australia plans to enforce a maritime security zone more than 1,100 miles out to sea, far beyond its territorial waters, to boost defenses against possible terror attacks on its soil and offshore oil and gas facilities, the prime minister said Wednesday.
Under the new plan — due to begin in March — all vessels that enter within 1,150 miles of Australia's shores will be required to present information to defense and customs authorities about the ship's identity, crew, location, speed and intended port of arrival, Prime Minister John Howard said.
"It's just a way of making doubly sure that you know who wants to come to this country and what their business is," Howard told radio station 6PR in the Western Australia state capital, Perth.
The plan angered one of Australia's closest allies and neighbors, New Zealand, as the security zone would stretch into its waters.
New Zealand's Acting Transport Minister Harry Duynhoven said Thursday there had been no consultation or official approach from Australian authorities.
"I think there's been a massive slip-up in communication," Duynhoven said, adding that he was seeking clarification from Australian officials on whether they intend to intercept ships within New Zealand waters.
Australia's territorial waters extend about 230 miles off shore.
"The protection of Australia's oil and gas facilities is a key focus of the Australian government's priorities to enhance offshore maritime security," Howard said in a statement.
Legal experts warned that Australia could be breaking international law if it tried to take further action against ships in the new security zone.
Sydney Center for International and Global Law director Don Rothwell said the government was free to monitor ships beyond the 230 mile limit but could be violating the law if it attempted to intercept ships in international waters.
"With the exception of pirate ships and ships that are not flying flags and one or two very minor exceptions, there is no real basis upon which any country can just stop any ship at all on the high seas," Rothwell told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio.
Australia's opposition Labor Party said the scheme relied too heavily on trusting the ships' crews to tell the truth and not enough on physical inspections.
Labor recommended the government follow the United States' lead by introducing sea marshals empowered to board ships.
Australia's new plans build on higher international maritime security standards introduced in July at the insistence of the United States.
Howard also sought to clarify state and federal government roles in protecting coastal waters, saying defense forces and customs agencies will be responsible for patrolling the new zone.
State and local governments would continue to be responsible for security within ports, but the federal government would assume control over the security of Australia's coastal waters, including offshore oil and gas reserves, Howard said.
US to reach out to Muslims under new law
Banners - We will crush America and Israel must be wiped off the map
Indonesian extremists will be "reigned in"
Indonesia under heightened threat of terrorist attack over Christmas and New Years holiday
Anti-terrorism laws (after 9/11) in the UK unfairly target Muslims
Racists in vicious anti-mosque fight
Guantanamo inmates looking for news on Bin Laden
The number of people with leprosy in 1995 in various states is shown here
Hansen's disease (leprosy), a naturally occurring disease in ARMADILLOS.
http://www.faseb.org/opa/poster/armadill.html
Thank you Oorang.
Duly noted and will be added.
Yep.
Interesting and thanks for the info grizzfan.
You're welcome. I'll ping you to any more I come across in my "travels".
Armadillos!?! Guess I'll scratch that critter off my list of pets to have someday :-)
Senate report: Canadian security full of holes
TORONTO (AP) — Canada’s security net is full of holes, with most border crossings guarded by a lone staffer and airport security so lax that missing security badges and uniforms recently turned up for sale on eBay.
A new Senate security report calls for reform, a boost in defense spending and improved cooperation with the United States. Canadians have relied too long on luck to avoid a terrorist attack, it says, scolding: “Unfortunately, luck is notoriously untrustworthy.”
The 315-page report by the Senate Standing Committee on National Security and Defense, the first released under the year-old government of Prime Minister Paul Martin, said most of Canada’s 160 land and maritime border crossings have only one person at the posts.
Indonesia orders security clampdown after terror warnings from Australia, Britain, New Zealand
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia ordered a nationwide security crackdown Thursday after Australia, Britain and New Zealand warned terrorists were preparing to attack ahead of Christmas.
Australia’s warning was unusually specific, saying it had “credible information” that terrorists could be targeting Hilton hotels in the country. The foreign ministry warned Australians in Indonesia to avoid all international hotels and other places where foreigners gather.
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, has been hit by three terror attacks blamed on Islamist militants in the past three years. Local police and foreign governments repeatedly have warned more attacks were likely.
“We are doing our utmost to increase our vigilance,” said Jakarta police spokesman Ciptono, who uses a single name. “In light of the threat, the national police chief has ordered the Christmas and New Year’s security operation, which was supposed to start Saturday, to begin immediately.”
Thank you for posting that fullwave.
Yup, my brother-in-law lives 13 miles south of the Canadian border, in a rather rural area. A couple of months ago he told me that the crossing near him is manned by one person; occasionally.
GOOGLE Search Term: "Hassan Ibrahim Farhan"
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Hassan+Ibrahim+Farhan%22&hl=en&lr=&filter=0
AKA's (found in Google):
Hassan Ibrahim Farhan Zaydi
Hassan Ibrahim Farhan al-Zaid
Hassan Ibrahim Farhan Zyda
===
===
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/tm_objectid=14979630&method=full&siteid=50143&headline=zarqawi-aide-killed-by-iraqis-name_page.html
"ZARQAWI AIDE KILLED BY IRAQIS"
Dec 15 2004
By Chris Hughes
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "A TERRORIST linked to the beheading of Ken Bigley has been killed by security forces in Iraq.
Hassan Ibrahim Farhan was shot and two of his henchmen seized.
All three were followers of Jordanian terror boss Abu Musab al-Zarqawi."
Here's the travel warning from the U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT still in effect for INDONESIA:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/indonesia_warning.html
OMG!
I was at the gas station last week and there was a spanish speaker in line in front of me with this weird white oozing, bubbly, disgusting "something" covering his neck and half of his head. My immediate thought was leprosy.
I have barely been able to eat since I saw him. Maybe I touched the door handle after he did!
That's why I carry anti-bacterial or hand sanitizer and diaper wipes in my cars (and purse) at all times. You can buy miniature sizes of these things or keep the mini-size in your coat pocket. With the flu season coming on, its probably a good idea anyway. The visual of the man you described was enough to make you wonder about the cause of his skin eruptions and not only the doorknobs, but pushbuttons, escalator rails and tabletops/desks you encounter daily.
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