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Posted on 07/11/2005 8:12:04 PM PDT by nwctwx
Note: The following text is an exact quote:
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http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2005&m=August&x=20050802161522EAifaS0.5645105&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html
02 August 2005
Rumsfeld Says There Can Be No Moderate Solutions to Extremism
Op-ed by U.S. Secretary of Defense
(This op-ed by Donald Rumsfeld, U.S. Secretary of Defense, appeared August 1 in the Financial Times and is in the public domain. There are no republication restrictions.)
(begin byliner)
There Can Be No Moderate Solutions To Extremism
By Donald Rumsfeld
Last month Britain was twice attacked by an enemy that takes advantage of the openness of free societies to kill and terrorise from within. Shortly after the July 7 massacre, one American, summarising the sentiments of his countrymen, wrote to the British embassy in Washington: "Anyone who would attack London must not know history. The people who did this will find that while you can never have a better friend than the British, you can also never have a more fearsome enemy."
In the wake of such an atrocity it is essential that we take care in understanding what motivates -- and does not motivate -- extremists to commit mass murder. As they have in previous attacks, the extremists and their sympathisers will offer the usual empty justifications. In the past, these have included a range of real and imagined affronts going back centuries, including, but not limited to: US troops stationed in Saudi Arabia after 1991 to deter an attack by Saddam Hussein; the founding of Israel in 1948; the break-up of the Ottoman Empire some 80 years ago; the reconquest of Spain from the Moors in 1492; and the Crusades, the first of which was in 1095.
Chief among these today is the coalition's campaign against extremists worldwide and the so-called "occupation" of Muslim countries by the west. In fact, coalition forces operate in Afghanistan and Iraq at the request of democratically elected governments. It is the extremists, not the coalition, who are intentionally targeting and killing countless Muslim civilians in a series of barbaric attacks in recent months.
Some seem to believe that accommodating extremists' demands -- including retreating from Afghanistan and Iraq -- might put an end to their grievances, and, with them, future attacks. But consider that when terrorists struck America on September 11, 2001, a radical Islamist government ruled Afghanistan and harboured al-Qaeda leaders, virtually undisturbed by the international community. And Saddam Hussein tightly clung to power in Iraq, and appeared to be winning support for his efforts to end United Nations sanctions.
In reality, Islamic extremists have long demonstrated an interest in attacking Britain. In January 2003, British police thwarted a likely planned attack using ricin -- a poisonous agent -- two months before Operation Iraqi Freedom began.
And in the two decades before September 11, long before coalition involvement in Afghanistan or Iraq, extremists killed or kidnapped hundreds of innocent civilians in places such as Tehran, Beirut, Saudi Arabia, Berlin, New York, on ships in the Mediterranean and a jet over Scotland.
The extremists do not seek a negotiated settlement with the west. They want America and Britain and other coalition allies to surrender our principles and commitment to Muslim friends around the world. In 2002, Osama bin Laden advocated the overthrow of moderate Muslim governments. And the fantasies of al-Qaeda and its ilk to impose intolerance and indoctrination extend far beyond the Middle East. In particular, the extremists are enraged by equality for women and the freedom of expression that are the hallmarks of free societies.
Just a few days after the first London attack, an extremist accused of murdering a Dutch filmmaker over a film deemed offensive to Islam stated openly that he would kill again if given the chance. There is no "separate peace" to be had with such an enemy.
The attacks of September 11 roused a nation and a civilisation to anger and action. Since then, the extremists have lost sanctuaries and popular support in Afghanistan and Iraq, and are being hunted down on every continent by an unprecedented global coalition.
They have struck back using everything from knapsacks to cars to kill hundreds of innocent people in places such as Spain, Turkey, Kenya, Indonesia, Russia and, now, London. They seek to destroy things they could never build in 1,000 years and kill people they could never persuade.
They failed on September 11. They are failing in Iraq and Afghanistan. And, knowing what we know about the British people, in attacking London the extremists have no doubt failed again.
[The writer is U.S. defense secretary.]
(end byliner)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
Good morning Cindy & MD.
Quiet so far. Hope it stays quiet.
War On Terror Leads To D.C. Cabbie Arrest
http://www.nbc4.com/news/4811011/detail.html
BALTIMORE -- Mahmud Faruq Brent, a D.C. cab driver that lives in Baltimore was arrested in Newark, N.J., Thursday and charged with conspiring to provide support or resources to a group with terrorist ties.
Authorities said at one point Brent lived in Mount Rainier, Md., just across the D.C. line, but his most recent address is in northwest Baltimore.
Federal prosecutors said Brent attended a terrorist training camp in Pakistan and trained in a camp with ties to al-Qaida.
Investigators said Brent has direct ties to suspect Tarik Shah, a New York musician and martial arts expert as well as Dr. Rahik Sabir. Both men were arrested Memorial Day weekend on similar terror related charges.
Police also searched homes near Baltimore and the District where Brent once lived.
Prosecutors also said Brent had direct ties with the so-called Virginia Jihad network, men, who allegedly traveled to terror camps overseas and later practiced at paintball camps outside D.C.
According to court papers, investigators said they taped Brent boasting of traveling to Pakistan for training with quote "the fighters," and that it was one of his "better decisions of his life."
>> freighter on the Detroit River Friday morning after the ship skipped a security checkpoint <<
Interesting indeed. This bears watching. I wonder how long before the agents board the ship.
The ship is registered in Antigua. Has there been any activity relating to terrorism there? I'm also wonder just what that ship is carrying.
IMHO, this is WAY too similar to that summer exercise being planned..what the heck was it called - Summer Pulse or some such thing?
Almost carbon copy. Kinda makes one wonder!
"Our message to you is clear, strong and final: There will be no salvation until you withdraw from our land, stop stealing our oil and resources and end support for infidel, corrupt (Arab) rulers," he said.
"There is no way out for Washington except by immediate withdrawal," said al-Zawahiri. "Any delay in this decision means more killing and losses. If you don't withdraw today you will inevitably withdraw tomorrow, but only after tens of thousands are killed and injured."
What would change in a day that would make America pull out? And when he talks of tens of thousands killed, could he be talking about American civilians, not soldiers?
good morning also guys.. heres a plane incident, odd looking too.
RENTON, Wash. (AP) - Two small planes collided over a busy highway in this Seattle suburb, with one smashing through the roof of an empty school, killing both people aboard, police said. The second plane landed safely at a nearby airport.
http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB31TNB0CE.html
I thought the same thing yesterday MamaD. Watching the stories about the soldiers being murdered in Iraq was heart wrenching
I thought how heart wrenching it will be when they hit us here as well. They do watch our news and illegal border crossing is one of the top stories. What a coup it would be for him, or any of them, for that matter to come across that way and then attack one or more of our cities.
Good morning, all.
Yike, I used spellcheck and didn't check it....first hibbie now this. :)
Rummy is, as usual, spot-on.
2 jailed in immigration papers plot
NORFOLK — A federal judge Thursday ordered a Central American man jailed on charges of producing phony immigration documents after learning that he had been convicted of manslaughter 15 years ago but had never been deported.
Margarito Diaz is one of two men charged in an investigation of mass-produced phony identifications used by illegal immigrants to remain in the country and obtain employment.
Federal authorities arrested Diaz this week after executing a search warrant at his residence in Accomac in Accomack County . Another suspect, Perfecto Perez, was arrested after a similar raid at his home in Parksley, also in Accomack County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. Moore said in court that Diaz “admitted he was involved in the large-scale production of documents.”
The phony documents, Moore added, would have put illegal immigrants “on the fast track to U.S. citizenship.”
Diaz has remained in this country despite a deportation order in 1990 following his conviction for involuntary manslaughter and failing to stop and provide aid at an accident, according to Moore and state court records. Moore said Diaz was involved in an alcohol-related fatal crash.
Records in Northampton County Circuit Court show that Diaz was convicted after being tried in 1989. Moore said Diaz served one year and 10 months in prison. Further details of the fatal crash were unavailable.
Court records show that Diaz is from Guatemala and that he has had an application for asylum pending at an immigration court in Northern Virginia. Immigration officials did not return calls for more information .
Magistrate James E. Bradberry ordered Diaz and Perez jailed without bond. But Bradberry had harsh words for immigration officials, questioning why Diaz was allowed to remain in the country. Immigration “has done absolutely nothing in the last 10 years,” Bradberry said.
“It’s only 9/11 that all of a sudden has gotten them off their butts,” he added, referring to the 2001 terrorist attacks.
Agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the FBI and the Virginia State Police conducted the raids.
At Diaz’s home, agents found equipment, including a laminating machine, and paperwork capable of producing 500 fake identifications, including Social Security cards and permanent resident cards, Moore said. They also found $30,000 and a gun, he said.
Undercover agents in October had purchased two pairs of the documents from Diaz and in June purchased two pairs from Perez, according to court records. Each pair cost $120. Authorities said they were operating independently of each other.
Authorities would not comment on how many fake documents may have been sold or whether any were used in South Hampton Roads.
There have been numerous cases in recent years of illegal immigrants caught with phony work papers at area shipyards and military bases.
Diaz said in court papers that he worked in construction, earning $1,600 a month. He said he pays $375 a month for rent and supports three children.
Perez said in court records that he works for a Perdue chicken plant earning $1,800 a month and that he supports two children.
I don't know how long ago it was now, but one of the threats posted here included the signals before we're attacked. One of which was assassination of a head of state. I would hope Musharraf and Mubarak have strong and trustworthy security now.
The other being an attack in Europe. Since that's happened already I wonder what's next?
Perfect cover for a bomber I would say!!
Thanks for posting that Cindy.
I love that man!!
"Our message to you is clear, strong, and final: There will be no salvation until you withdraw from our land, stop stealing our oil and resources, and end support for corrupt rulers," al-Zawahri added.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/41F14605-4546-4EFA-9DFF-41E356B3CBFB.htm
Our message to you is clear and unequivocal: You will not be saved unless you withdraw from our land, stop stealing our oil and our resources, and cease your support of the corrupt (Arab) rulers.
http://memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD95005
Wouldn't it be the perfect way to kill people who do eat pork!!
We always threaten to splatter them in pig blood!! I wouldn't doubt for a minute that they are feverishly working on some kind of bio weapon. Maybe this is it???
"There is a videotape of Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri which shows them sitting on a blanket beside a mountain stream—or, in the view of some intelligence analysts, an artificial backdrop—talking about the jihad operations of September 11th. (Their comments are interspersed with scenes from a martyrdom tape of a young man named Ahmed al-Haznawy, one of the hijackers, but the footage with bin Laden and Zawahiri is thought to have been shot sometime in December.) On the tape, a pallid bin Laden says little. Zawahiri is wearing a white galabeya, a black turban, and a vest. Although the black turban may be a sign that he is in mourning for the death of his family, he appears healthy and content."
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/020916fa_fact2j
P.s... Can anyone tell me how to make links clickable when using html?
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