Posted on 08/25/2007 2:26:58 PM PDT by DAVEY CROCKETT
Lowry: The CIA's record leading up to Sept. 11 was one of failure By Rich Lowry Article Last Updated: 08/25/2007 09:07:06 AM MDT
The new report from the CIA's inspector general about the spy agency's pre-9/11 failings could be titled, ''What We Did During Our Holiday From History.'' The stretch between the end of the Cold War and the Sept. 11 attacks was supposed to be a shiny new era of globalized peace and prosperity, to which an intelligence service was considered quaintly irrelevant.
The CIA conformed to the zeitgeist by remaining quaintly irrelevant. George Tenet presided over the agency, failing his way to the second-longest tenure of any director of central intelligence, a Presidential Medal of Freedom and a $4 million book advance. He made the Peter Principle work for him not just by advancing to his level of incompetence, but by benefiting from it handsomely.
Congressional Democrats pushed for the release of the scathing IG report, completed back in June 2005, to embarrass the Bush administration. But most of the failures identified in the report took place during the Clinton administration, which set the CIA's skewed priorities and selected Tenet in the first place. President Bush should be embarrassed only because he didn't fire Tenet upon taking office or after 9/11, while Bush also has failed to undertake a serious retooling of the sclerotic bureaucracy that is the CIA.
Tenet took terrorism seriously, ''sounding the alarm about the threat to many different audiences,'' in the words of the report. Maybe he should have gone on a lecture tour. Where Tenet fell down was in managing his agency. The thought may be father to the deed, but without the actual deed, the thought is only political cover in after-the-fact memoirs.
Tenet insists that he had a ''robust plan'' against al-Qaida. In reality, he only thought he had. He directed that such a plan be formulated, but according to the IG report, it never happened. Worse, Tenet did not ''work with the National Security Council to elevate the relative standing of counterterrorism in the formal ranking of intelligence priorities.''
In Tenet's defense, he operated within the context of a Clinton administration that basically was uninterested in intelligence. Tenet notes that the intelligence community lost 25 percent of its personnel in the 1990s and ''tens of billions of dollars in investment compared with the 1990 baseline.'' He implored the administration for funding increases in 1998 and 1999, but had to go ''outside established channels to work with then-Speaker Gingrich to obtain a $1.2 billion budgetary supplemental.''
Even with more resources, his managers repeatedly moved funds from counterterrorism programs to other needs, without ever raiding other programs to fund counterterrorism, according to the IG report. What could be more important than counterterrorism? Analytic resources were poured into addressing more pressing matters like the Balkans and the environment.
After 9/11, Clinton officials and Tenet argued whether the CIA had been granted the authority to kill Osama bin Laden, with the Clintonites, in a bout of retrospective bloodlust, insisting that it had. The IG report finds that restrictions on the CIA killing bin Laden had been ''arguably, although ambiguously, relaxed'' for a brief period in late 1998 and early 1999 (how Clintonian). But CIA managers refused ''to take advantage of the ambiguities,'' and even if they had, the agency didn't have the covert-action capability to kill bin Laden. Such was life during history's holiday.
What's more scandalous is how the CIA has escaped serious reform even today. Two CIA directors in a row have resisted the IG report's recommendation for an accountability board to evaluate the pre-9/11 performance of CIA officials. That word - not ''board,'' but ''accountability'' - raises hackles at Langley, where everyone is above-average at fighting al-Qaida. Even though as many as 60 CIA employees knew that two of the hijackers were in the U.S. before 9/11 and no one managed to get the word to the FBI, CIA Director Michael Hayden thinks holding anyone accountable for that or other failures would be ''distracting.'' And so the band plays on.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1904957/posts
YouTube Bomb Video Brings Scrutiny Terrorism Suspect Allegedly Gave Tips on Using Detonator
The Washington Post ^ | October 1, 2007 | Peter Whoriskey
Posted on 10/01/2007 10:09:04 AM PDT by khnyny
MIAMI — On a video posted to YouTube.com this summer, a man speaking Egyptian-accented Arabic instructed viewers how to convert a remote-controlled toy car into a bomb detonator.
The 12-minute lesson was referenced on the popular video-sharing Web site under the search terms “detonator from a distance,” “suiciders” and “martyrdoms.”
A detonator could “save one who wants to be a martyr for another day, another battle,” the man told viewers, according to federal prosecutors.
Last month, authorities identified the instructor as Mohamed Ahmed, 24, a graduate engineering student at the University of South Florida. An Egyptian national, he’d been stopped for speeding in South Carolina on Aug. 4, then arrested with a fellow student for allegedly carrying four pipe bombs in the trunk.
Now as the criminal prosecution continues, questions remain not only about the men’s intentions but also about the way the popular video-sharing Web site may have been used to spread bomb-building know-how.
Representatives of YouTube declined to answer questions last week regarding their handling of the detonator video.
They offered instead a generic statement, saying that videos are removed once viewers flag them as inappropriate and the company determines that they violate its standards.
The company would not say how long the detonator video was available on the site; how many times, if any, it was viewed; or whether the company took it down as part of normal policing based on viewer tips or whether it was removed at the FBI’s request.
The incident comes amid growing questions regarding what role a company such as YouTube has in controlling its content.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
October 1, 2007 Anti-Terrorism News
(Afghanistan) More than 20 rebels killed in US-led, Afghan raids - near Kabul
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071001/wl_sthasia_afp/afghanistanunrestus_071001093716;_ylt=Ar_e2xZLsVz_JboOUvM2WQjOVooA
(Afghanistan) Taliban executes Afghan teenager for having US money
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/01/asia/AS-GEN-Afghan-Violence.php
(Afghanistan) Al-Qaeda wants a part of Afghan talks
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IJ02Df01.html
(Afghanistan) India expresses concern over growing influence of Taliban
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India_expresses_concern_over_growing_influence_of_Taliban/articleshow/2419894.cms
Commentary: Afghanistan: No peace with terror
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2007/10/01/dl0102.xml
(Afghanistan) US offers $200,000 to catch Taliban - 12 local leaders, list does not includes Mullah Omar
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071001/ap_on_re_as/afghanistan;_ylt=Aqn4bP4jYM06gkcnnYPTbK.s0NUE
(Pakistan) Suicide bomber in burqa kills 16 in Pakistan
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071001/wl_asia_afp/pakistanunrestblast_071001112818
(Pakistan) Militants bomb girls’ school in Swat
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\10\01\story_1-10-2007_pg7_20
http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/detailed_news.asp?date1=10/1/2007#8
(Pakistan) Blast rocks Gwadar
http://www.dawn.com/2007/10/01/top8.htm
(Pakistan) US and Pakistan sign $750m accord for development of FATA
http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/detailed_news.asp?date1=10/1/2007#17
(Pakistan) Former ISI chief could succeed Musharraf as Army chief: Report — Pervez Kiyani
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Pakistan/Former_ISI_chief_could_succeed_Musharraf_Report/articleshow/2418314.cms
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu.pa8QBHlDgBgl5XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTFhMG9nNmQ5BHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMgRjb2xvA2FjMgR2dGlkA01BUDAxNV85OQRsA1dTMQ—/SIG=127eqomu1/EXP=1191330522/**http%3a//www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21036547/site/newsweek/
(Pakistan) Al-Qaeda, Taliban Recreating Afghanistan Inside Pakistan
http://rapidrecon.threatswatch.org/2007/10/alqaeda-taliban-recreating-afg/
(Iraq) Car bomb blast in Mosul kills professor
http://www.kuna.net.kw/home/Story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=1024443
(Iraq) Two Gunmen arrested, three injured in two incidents in Kirkuk
http://www.kuna.net.kw/home/Story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=1024269
Washington Post report on IEDs - Summer 2004 - Summer 2005 (my title)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/30/AR2007093001675.html?hpid%3Dtopnews⊂=AR
(India Assam) Five killed, 25 wounded in northeast India blasts
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070930/wl_nm/india_blasts_dc;_ylt=Ag.y1hQ72NQDWasUU9ueBqqs0NUE
(India) Naxalites blow up transporter’s house in Bihar
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Naxalites_blow_up_transporters_house_in_Bihar/articleshow/2420156.cms
(India) Analyst agrees with Stratfor report on ULFA outsourcing suicide attacks
http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20071001/781148.html
(India) Tracking terror funds may be a click away
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1124583
(U.S.) Terror database gets plenty of hits
http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071001/NATION/110010062/1001
US “Special Coordinator” against PKK terror submits resignation
http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/7396686.asp?gid=74&sz=69985
(Iran) Britain ‘on board’ for US air strikes on Iran after Navy hostage humiliation
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=485018&in_page_id=1811
(Lebanon) Fatah Al-Islam military leader arrested
http://www.kuna.net.kw/home/Story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=1024328
Syrian president tells BBC Israeli warplanes struck “unused military building” last month
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/01/africa/ME-GEN-Syria-Israel.php
Egypt frees Hamas group into Gaza — in exchange for wanted Al Qaeda leader - updated story
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2007/10/01/egypt_frees_hamas_group_into_gaza/2042/
(Gaza) Two Gaza militants killed in shootout with Israelis
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2007/October/middleeast_October8.xml§ion=middleeast&col=
Fatah video hoax aims to smear Hamas
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1189411518043&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Israel releases 57 Palestinian prisoners in goodwill gesture
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/01/africa/ME-GEN-Israel-Prisoner-Release.php
Hamas Member Taken Off Release List of Terrorists
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/134029
(Israel) Terrorists on Their Way to Freedom
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/134023
Terror leader: Palestinian Authority officials conspired in Church of Nativity siege
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57914
(Sudan) African Union vows to punish Darfur troops’ killers
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071001/ts_afp/sudandarfurauunrest_071001091211;_ylt=AsDnl4Z6xyIfLtfpvk92YewShIMA
(Russia) Dagestan: Imam Shot Dead — a day after he spoke out against Islamic extremists
http://www.moscowtimes.ru/stories/2007/10/01/031.html
Turkish general says independent Kurdish state is security risk
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/01/europe/EU-GEN-Turkey-Military.php
(Turkey) Terrorists target civilians, regional calm
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=123528
(France) Algerian extremist on trial for metro bombings
http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?subchannel_id=25&story_id=44429
(Germany) Failed German terror attack had its roots in Islamabad, UK
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=146f26cb-873d-4d04-b87e-bcee7401e67e&MatchID1=4577&TeamID1=7&TeamID2=3&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1148&MatchID2=4569&TeamID3=8&TeamID4=2&MatchType2=2&SeriesID2=1146&PrimaryID=4577&Headline=Failed+German+terror+attack+had+its+roots+in+Pak%2c+UK
(UK) Islamic group ‘with links to Al Qaeda’ wants to open school near Olympic village — Tablighi Jamaat
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=484958&in_page_id=1770&ito=newsnow
(UK) London police on trial for safety lapses in death of innocent man mistaken for terrorist
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/01/europe/EU-GEN-Britain-Brazilian-Shot.php
(UK) De Menezes police control room ‘in chaos’ before deadly shooting
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2567496.ece
(UK) Phone data law extends surveillance powers
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/01/nphones101.xml
Spanish police dismantle bomb at party HQ — at HQ of Catalan green-left political party
http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?subchannel_id=81&story_id=44424
(Indonesia) Six men face terrorism charges in Indonesian court
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/s2048278.htm
(Thailand) Bomb blast injures two Thai police near army HQ in Bangkok
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070930/wl_asia_afp/thailandblastarmy_070930203820;_ylt=AmdIiZoLU.6hc1wmdOH5o8vuNREB
(Philippines) Officer known for his anti-terror exploits becomes Philippine police chief
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/01/asia/AS-GEN-Philippines-New-Police-Chief.php
(Philippines) One wounded by Islamists — Al Qaeda-linked Islamic militants attacked
an army camp on a southern Philippine island, wounding one soldier
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=175636&version=1&template_id=45&parent_id=25
‘Sri Lanka fighting kills 19, wounds 27’
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2007/October/subcontinent_October29.xml§ion=subcontinent&col=
(Maldives) FBI helping in the investigation into Maldives bombing
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/01/asia/AS-GEN-Maldives-Explosion.php
(Maldives) Ten held over Maldives bomb attack on tourists - update
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2181051,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront
Maldives president blames opposition for bomb attack
http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKL2932342520070930
Other News:
Iran MPs warn over Benetton stores
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071001/wl_mideast_afp/iranfashionsocialcompanybenetton_071001121033;_ylt=ArqPn2Ku12R.6dmsKVRSRU5Sw60A
(UK) Muslim ‘peace’ adverts launched
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7021323.stm
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article2566693.ece
UK: Supermarket staff can opt out on alcohol
http://islamineurope.blogspot.com/2007/09/uk-supermarket-staff-can-opt-out-on.html
Denmark: Islam in community colleges
http://islamineurope.blogspot.com/2007/09/denmark-islam-in-community-colleges.html
Denmark: Danish Muslims participating in Yemeni Islam courses
http://islamineurope.blogspot.com/2007/09/denmark-danish-muslims-participating-in.html
Indian Jews Outraged Over ‘The Nazi Collection’ Line of Bedspreads
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,298676,00.html
(Israel) Neo-Nazis in the Jewish homeland
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1189411484435&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull
(Israel) Three swastikas sprayed in Holon school grounds
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1189411523444&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
October 1, 2007 PM Anti-Terrorism News
CTB News Analysis: Austria: Attack on US Embassy in Vienna Foiled
http://counterterrorismblog.org/2007/10/vienna_attack_foiled.php
(Austria) Man with grenades held near US Embassy - in Vienna — Bosnian man carrying bag of
hand grenades and nails - bag included Islamic literature
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/01/waustria101.xml
— AP report
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=3674282
— OSINT report
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/message/98511
Hizb ut Tahrir going stronger worldwide — by Olivier Guitta
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/014/154nwrvp.asp
(Iraq) Al-Qaida in Iraq umbrella group confirms death of senior leader, calls him a ‘martyr’ —
Abu Osama al-Tunisi
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/01/africa/ME-GEN-Al-Qaida-Iraq.php
(Iraq) US troops disrupt Al-Qaeda leadership, seven killed, 11 detained
http://www.kuna.net.kw/home/Story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=1024505
(Iraq) ‘Dragon’ Offensives Destroy al Qaeda Outposts in Dora with Iraqi Assistance
http://www.army.mil/-news/2007/10/01/5125-dragon-offensives-destroy-al-qaeda-outposts-in-dora-with-iraqi-assistance/
Iraqi Christians forced to leave
http://washingtontimes.com/article/20071001/FOREIGN/110010067/1001
Pakistan: ‘Taliban abduct 24 military personnel’
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=1.0.1372339124
(Pakistan) Another Pakistani Defeat as More Soldiers Feared Kidnapped — over 20 Pakistan Army
feared kidnapped after armed militants attacked their base in Bannu
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/10/another-pakista.html
(Pakistan) Bhutto says she might allow U.S. strike on bin Laden
http://africa.reuters.com/world/news/usnN01317614.html
(U.S.) High court refuses bin Laden driver case
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-10-01-court-hamdan_N.htm
(U.S.) FBI has failed to plug spying gaps: inspector
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071001/pl_nm/security_usa_fbi_dc_1;_ylt=Aons0S0UgipCRL4PDvnYJcwTv5UB
(U.S.) Terrorist Training Video Leads To Heightened Security At Airports — online video showed how
remote control toys could detonate bombs
http://www.abcnews4.com/news/stories/1007/460017.html
(U.S.) Boston: Police: Man arrested at Logan after claiming to be in Al Qaeda
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_region/breaking_news/2007/10/police_man_arre.html
(Somalia) 5 killed in clashes in northern Somalia
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/01/africa/AF-GEN-Somalia.php
(Somalia) Young Somalis lured home by al-Qa’ida
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22516425-5013404,00.html
Jordan’s military court convicts alleged pro-al-Qaida poet for slandering the king
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/01/africa/ME-GEN-Jordan-Qaida-Poet.php
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20071001-084834-7461r
(Australia) Islamic cleric preaching ‘extremism, hate’ — Mohammed Omran
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22516508-601,00.html
(Europe) EU mulls Internet clampdown to combat ‘terrorism’
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Technology/EU-mulls-Internet-clampdown-to-combat-terrorism/2007/10/02/1191091044824.html
(UK) British designer blasts government’s stance on terrorism suspects
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/01/europe/EU-GEN-France-Fashion-Politics.php
(Sweden) Defying al-Qaeda threats, Swedish artist wants to turn prophet cartoon uproar into musical
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20071001-1107-sweden-prophetdrawings.html
Other News:
(UK) Coffee and biscuits the answer to integration for Muslims says Minister
http://www.theasiannews.co.uk/news/s/1018092_coffee_and_biscuits_the_answer_to_integration_for_muslims_says_minister
New York Times Columnist Thomas Friedman: “9/11 is over” - states US needs to stop “restrictions” in
foreign travelers coming to USA — says “We have got to get our groove back”, and hopes “that anyone who
runs on the 9/11 platform gets trounced”
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/09/30/news/edfried.php
THREATS
Expelled Ex-Imam’s Website Mentions Imminent Terror Attacks in Italy (back)
September 27, 2007
Expelled Ex-Imam’s Website Mentions Imminent Terror Attacks in Italy - Paper
Text of report by Italian newspaper La Repubblica on 27 September
[Unattributed report: ‘Journalists Threatened by the Former Imam on the Internet’]
Rome - Abu Sayyaf, the former imam of Carmagnola, has been attacking and insulting journalists from [news agency] Aki- AdnKronos International, from [ Milan daily] Corriere della Sera, and from [ Rome daily] La Repubblica on his Internet site. Abu Sayyaf was expelled from Italy by the then Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu back in 2003, and he has now sought refuge in Senegal . The Italian journalists whom he targets on his Internet site are Hamza Boccolini from Aki, [terrorism expert] Guido Olimpio from Corriere della Sera, and [US correspondent] Vittorio Zucconi from La Repubblica. Abu Sayyaf also talks about an alleged document from the terrorist network discussing imminent attacks in our country.
Originally published by La Repubblica, Rome , in Italian 27 Sep 07.
TERRORISM PREVENTION
EU Intends to Punish People Searching Online for ‘Terrorism’ (back)
September 27, 2007
by Jens Meiert
The European Commission apparently plans to control search for terms like ‘bomb’, ‘genocide’, and ‘terrorism’, according to German news sources like ZDF and Heise citing delegate Alexander Alvaro.
The list presented by Heise currently refers to the German words ‘Bombe’, ‘töten’, ‘Völkermord’, and ‘Terrorismus’, thus including the equivalent to ‘to kill’ as well.
Current coverage goes on to say that people looking for information on the above terms should be staked out, effectively making them terror suspects. While this specific plan doesn’t seem to have passed yet, it is seen as a part of the European Union’s ‘Anti Terror Program’ that is apparently heavily supported by the vice president of the European Commission, Franco Frattini.
This development really worries me, and it certainly doesn’t ease the anger I already expressed; instead, it makes me care even more:
How does a search for a usually harmless word make somebody a terrorist? Are the ZDF, Heise, and other reporters now terrorists, too; me, you?
How does control (and censorship) actually prevent terrorism? Really, how?
Are criminal resources tagged ‘terrorism’, ‘bomb’, and stuff? If yes, shouldn’t it be quite easy to stop those apparently brainless people then, without throwing essential rights overboard?
Isn’t it yet such actionism that should be controled? Aren’t the EU delegates responsible for citizen rights, too? Don’t they yet jeopardize these rights!?
How long will it take until there’s such a strong industry behind the growing surveillance monster that there’s no turning back anymore? (Like many Europeans judge the US arms industry as so strong that, though certainly linked to the history of America , there’ll never be such a situation as in Europe where the absolute minority of people owns more than a kitchen knife.)
Instead, how ‘terrorist’ is ‘absolute surveillance’? Do some people believe that this ‘terrorism from inside’ neutralizes the ‘terrorism from outside’ one day, anyway …?
Orwell must be really proud of us, the ‘2014’ reality show will make ‘1984’ look like a pale bootleg. ‘Terror fighters’, you’re great, we will all feel safe, and thus we should probably yet expand Schäuble’s idea of online monitoring, panic even more people by talking about the danger of nuclear attacks, and also back up Jung’s attempt to shoot down hijacked airplanes.
Please, wake me up. Before we’re all treated like terrorists, before the love for freedom doesn’t count anymore.
Source: htt://meiert.com/en/blog/20070927/eu-intends-to-punish-people-searching-for-terrorism/
TERROR MODUS OPERANDI
Bin Laden Ramadan Lanterns Show Record Sales in Egypt (back)
September 27, 2007
Huge Ramadan lanterns, displaying the world’s number one terrorist Osama bin Laden are proving immensely popular among Egyptian children, the Al-Masri Al-Yaoum newspaper said Thursday.
Fanoos, a Ramadan lantern, lighted from inside by a candle, became the symbol of Ramadan in early Islamic Egypt, when women visited relatives with lanterns to break the fast.
Sellers say the immense popularity of the bin Laden lanterns among children can be explained by his long white beard and traditional Islamic clothing which are reminiscent of a popular ‘cartoon hero.’
‘All bin Ladens have already been snatched up’ - the newspaper quotes a fanoos merchant in Ismalia, a city on the west bank of the Suez Canal , as saying.
The lanterns, made of elaborate tin and colored glass, are produced in China and cost significantly more than other fanoos - 100 Egyptian pounds ($18).
Egypt is known for its weird Ramadan goods. Every year Cairo merchants name their dates in a tradition allowing Muslims to break the fast during the Islamic holy month, when observant Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from sunrise to sunset. Last year stalls in the Egyptian capital were packed with ‘bin Laden,’ ‘Nasrallah’ and ‘Saddam’ dates.
Source: http://en.rian.ru/world/20070927/81323521.html
Canadian ‘R&R’ for an ETA Terror Cell (back)
September 27, 2007
by Stewart Bell
The photo taken at an organic herb farm in D’Arcy, B.C., shows three Spanish men and their wives relaxing in a garden on plastic lawn chairs, their coffee mugs perched on a round patio table.
It looks unexceptional, but it isn’t. When the RCMP found the snapshot during a recent raid in Vancouver , they identified the men as Ivan Apaolaza Sancho, Victor Tejedor Bilbao and Mario Ines Torres — all wanted terrorists.
What they were doing at the isolated Moon Farm, deep in the Coast Mountains , remains a mystery, but two have since been captured by the RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency, which say they are members of the terrorist organization ETA.
Canadian authorities have arrested Ivan Apaolaza Sancho and Victor Tejedor Bilbao, suspected of belonging to the terrorist group ETA. A third man is at large. Sancho is accused of participating in a Madrid car bombing in 2000, above.
The third, Mr. Torres, remains on the loose. Canadian immigration has issued an arrest warrant. It describes him as a member of the International Revolutionary Action Group. All three men in the picture are alleged to have violent pasts.
Police files obtained by the National Post say Mr. Torres kidnapped a bank director, placed two car bombs in front of an Iberian airlines office in Belgium , was caught with weapons in France and has ties to ETA and several other leftist terror groups.
The documents say Mr. Bilbao was a gunman in an ETA commando unit and took part in four assassination attempts and several bombings, while Mr. Sancho allegedly committed three murders as a member of another ETA cell.
There is no evidence the Spaniards were planning attacks in Canada . Officials believe they were simply here for ‘R&R.’ Despite being wanted on international warrants, the men spent years living freely in B.C. One drove a black SUV to work. Another took his parents on a vacation to the Rockies last year.
This wasn’t supposed to happen anymore. After Algerian terrorist Ahmed Ressam was caught at the Canada-U.S. border in 1999, as he was driving to California to bomb Los Angeles airport, the Canadian government vowed to fix the security gaps that had allowed him to live in Montreal under a false identity. More reforms followed the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
But since the arrests of Mr. Sancho and Mr. Bilbao in June, some are asking how, in post-9/11 Canada , suspected terrorists were able to hide out in the country for so long, in Mr. Bilbao’s case, for 11 years.
‘Something sounds wrong about the whole thing,’ said Martin Collacott, a former Canadian ambassador and a critic of Canada ‘s immigration system. ‘What aren’t we doing that we should be doing? And how many others are there around like them?’
Spanish police records say Mr. Bilbao was recruited into ETA in 1979 in the Zubulbara neighbourhood of Bilbao , a city in the Basque region of northern Spain . He joined a commando unit called Donibane that operated in the Vizcaya district.
In 1981, ETA ordered Mr. Bilbao’s commando unit to kill the manager of the Basque newspaper La Gazeta del Norte, Gerardo Huezo Fernandez, who was branded a ‘squealer,’ the documents say.
At 11 a.m., on April 4, the four man hit squad arrived at the newspaper office at 8 Tayer Tenayo. Two stayed outside as lookouts; the other two donned ski masks and stormed the building.
They found their target upstairs and shot at him from a distance of three or four metres. When Mr. Fernandez fell to the ground, the gunmen fled to a nearby market, ditching their guns in a parked car. They didn’t realize until later that their shots had missed.
That summer, the same commando unit bombed three electrical substations and tried to attack a police patrol, but after one of the members was arrested in August, Mr. Bilbao fled to France , the documents claim.
Seven years later, Mr. Bilbao was arrested by French police and expelled to Spain , where he was questioned about the shooting of Mr. Fernandez. In a statement obtained by the National Post, he confessed to his involvement in the assassination attempt.
The next day, however, he recanted, saying he had been tortured during his interrogation. He was charged with membership in an armed organization, but acquitted in 1989 for lack of evidence and set free.
The investigation into the newspaper shooting continued and in July, 1993, police made another arrest. Manual Jose Chavarri Lopategul was convicted for his role (although he claimed the attack was only meant to frighten Mr. Fernandez).
When he named Mr. Bilbao as one of the gunmen, Spain issued an arrest warrant. The information was forwarded to Interpol and Mr. Bilbao fled to Mexico , and then to Canada in 1996. He used a false Spanish passport to get in.
He used at least five fake names, according to Canadian immigration. ‘In fact,’ a CBSA official said at a hearing, ‘he seems to have an infinite supply of fraudulent documents available to him.’
In B.C.’s Lower Mainland, he was known as Serge Brault. Others knew him as Juan. He found work at construction and renovation sites in Langley , West Vancouver and at the University of B.C. campus, and lived on Fraser Street with his wife Iciar Otaegui Olagaray, who worked at a care home.
Like Mr. Bilbao, Mr. Sancho had fled terrorism charges in Spain . ‘Spanish intelligence indicate that he was involved in three homicides and one attempt in 1996, 1997 and 2000,’ says an RCMP report. The last attack, on Jan. 21, 2000, killed Lieutenant-Colonel Pedro Blanco Antonio Garcia of the Spanish Army.
Using the alias Jose Perales-Herrera, Mr. Sancho lived on East 15 Ave. in Vancouver with his girlfriend Ekai Alcorta Zabaleta, a.k.a. ‘Maria Gonzales.’ He worked as a carpenter at an antique reproduction company, and she was employed as a house cleaner.
Asked what Mr. Sancho had been doing in Canada for the past six years, his lawyer, William Sloan, said he was ‘living here, living with a lady and doing what we all try to do. He was hiding basically, from the Spanish police.’
It all came to an end when Mr. Sancho’s girlfriend left Canada in May and flew to Paris , and made her way to the Spanish city of San Sebastion . Spanish intelligence intercepted her phone calls. In one of them, she spoke to Mr. Sancho, who talked about leaving Canada within a week and
said the ‘other’ was also departing. Spanish intelligence believed he was referring to Mr. Bilbao.
With confirmation the two fugitives were in Canada , Spain ‘s National Intelligence Centre notified the RCMP Liaison Officer at the Canadian embassy in Madrid . Spain wanted Canadian police to conduct ‘surveillance and discreet enquiries.’
‘The Spanish Authorities have expended considerable resources over the years investigating the whereabouts of these subjects,’ the RCMP officer wrote in a May 30 memo to headquarters in Ottawa . ‘They feel that this is a unique opportunity and are asking for Canadian assistance to bring them to justice before they disappear.’
The RCMP arrested Mr. Bilbao in Vancouver two days later. During recorded interviews with an immigration officer, he called ETA a ‘military organization’ fighting to free Basque country.
He referred to himself as a ‘militant’ member of the Basque political party Herri Batasuna (suspected of being an ETA front) and complained about the Spanish government, saying, ‘To me, the government is worse than ETA.’
His lawyer Phil Rankin said the government’s case is built on statements obtained under torture and Mr. Bilbao fears he will be tortured again if Canada returns him to Spain. ‘There’s quite a bit of evidence of torture of Basque suspects, even very recently,’ Mr. Rankin said.
Nineteen days after Mr. Bilbao’s arrest, police tracked Mr. Sancho to Quebec through his banking activities. He was arrested on the ferry that links Quebec City and the south shore town of Levis .
Canadian immigration officials claim he was on his way to the French islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, and planned to go from there to continental Europe , but his lawyer said he was simply on a cycling holiday.
‘They claimed that he wanted to bike to Europe or something. They’ve got some wild theories,’ Mr. Sloan said. ‘He was just on his summer holidays; he was on a bike tour.’
Their cases are now before the Immigration and Refugee Board. Mr. Bilbao’s case resumes today in Vancouver . Mr. Sancho’s case was to be heard behind closed doors, but the National Post applied to open it to the public and the IRB agreed. His case begins on Oct. 4.
The RCMP’s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team in B.C. showed the photo they found to a ‘confidential source’ who identified everyone in the shot.
The informant told police a woman in the foreground was Mr. Torres’ wife, Margaret Moon, the organic farmer who runs Moon Farm and sells her produce at the market in Whistler, B.C.
A Canadian immigration report says Mr. Torres was stopped at the Douglas border crossing in B.C. in April, 2005, as he was returning to Canada from a holiday in Mexico .
Interviewed by immigration officers, he said he had been living in D’Arcy and confirmed he had been a member of the International Revolutionary Action Group.
Asked if he had any involvement with ETA, he said: ‘No, I don’t like nationalists, particularly.’
The CBSA decided to deport Mr. Torres for terrorism. Instead of holding him in custody, he was instructed to come to a hearing before the IRB in Vancouver on Jan. 12, 2006.
He never showed up. Police are still looking for him.
MARIO INES TORRES
Date of Birth Jan 1. 1954. Born Barcelona .
1974 Joins ‘Gari’ — International Revolutionary Action Groups.
1974 Involved in kidnapping bank director in Paris and two car bombings.
1978 Arrested in Paris as part of a group planning robbery. 1980 Tried in absentia in Paris and sentenced to three years.
1984 Arrested in Spain for being part of an armed group. 1986 Madrid court issues arrest warrant.
1987 Arrested by Finnish police and jailed.
1988 Extradited to Spain . 1996 Applies for a Spanish passport at the Spanish Consulate in Mexico City .
2005 Photographed with two suspected ETA terrorists in D’Arcy, B.C.
ETA
A.K.A. Basque Homeland and Liberty .
Headquarters Basque regions of Spain and France .
Goal Creation of an independent Basque state.
Methods Has been called the most dangerous terrorist organization in Europe , said to have killed more than 800 people and carried out about 1,600 terrorist attacks. Legal status Put on Canada ‘s list of outlawed terrorist groups on April 2, 2003.
Source: Public Safety Canada
NP
For more on this story visit our news blog at nationalpost. com/posted
BACK STORY
Why did it take so long to capture two suspected ETA terrorists hiding in Canada ?
The Canada Border Services Agency says it did not know they were here until Spanish authorities came forward in May.
Unless the CBSA is told a suspected terrorist might be travelling to Canada , or might already be here, there isn’t much the agency can do, said spokesman Erik Paradis. ‘We need to know,’ he said. ‘There’s a sense of urgency as soon as we know that person is on our territory or is coming to Canada .
‘We don’t want these people in Canada.We want them out as soon as possible and we’re going to take all the measures that need to be taken in order to remove those persons from Canada .’
Once the CBSA got word from Spain the men were believed to be in Canada , the agency worked with police to quickly locate and arrest them, and is now attempting to deport them.
Source: http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=1bf098f3-aff0-4248-b3f7-5bbc59b91091
Sunni-Shi’a Collaboration
http://www.islam21stcenturysuperpower.com/page6/page6.html
There is a battle for the hearts and minds of the Muslim world and it
is not
being waged by the Americans, British, French or indeed any non-Muslim
country or society. This battle is being waged by the new Islamic
leaders of
the 21st century, such as those in Dubai, with the extremists of the
Islamic
community. Where some members and organizations of the Islamic
community are
engaged in the export of conflict, Dubai is currently engaged in
exporting a
new collaborative Islamic model of socioeconomic investment and
resource
stewardship that has the very real promise of bringing opportunity and
security to the world.
The leaders of Dubai have rightly recognized that there is no ROI in
indiscriminate destruction of human life or conflict between cultures
and
communities. The first president of the UAE, Sheik Zayed, was very
clear in
pointing out that Islam did not advocate the kind of violence that is
occupying the front pages of most newspapers.19
Sheikh Zayed imbibed the principles of Islam in his childhood and they
remained the foundation of his beliefs and principles throughout his
life.
He was a firm and dedicated opponent of those who sought to pervert the
message of Islam to justify harsh dogmas, intolerance and terrorism. In
Sheikh Zayed’s view, however, such an approach was not merely a
perversion
of the message but is in direct contradiction of it. Extremism, he
believed,
has no place in Islam. In contrast, he stressed that: Islam is a
civilizing
religion that gives mankind dignity. A Muslim is he who does not
inflict
evil upon others. Islam is the religion of tolerance and forgiveness,
and
not of war, of dialogue and understanding. It is Islamic social justice
which has asked every Muslim to respect the other. To treat every
person, no
matter what his creed or race, as a special soul is a mark of Islam. It
is
just that point, embodied in the humanitarian tenets of Islam, that
makes us
so proud of it. He recognized, however, the necessity not only of
eradicating terrorism, but of tackling its fundamental causes. Besides
the
international campaign against the types of terrorism, there should, he
believed, be a strong international alliance that worked, in parallel,
to
exert real and sincere efforts to bring about a just and lasting
solution to
the Middle East conflict.
As a devout Muslim, Sheik Zayed was clear in his vision to provide
opportunity to the people of the UAE through financial decisions and an
unwavering obedience to the teachings of the Qur’an. Not only does the
Qur’an articulate the need for stewardship of God’s original creation,
and
against the senseless and evil destruction of innocent lives, Muslim or
otherwise; there is also no economic argument for it.
The visionary leaders of Dubai have instead decided to invest in
constructing the future communities of the Islamic world based on an
integration of the rights of all people and devout respect for the
teachings
of the Qur’an. Where some members of the Islamic faith want to force
societies to fit their model of religious community, Dubai has
recognized
that in order to develop a sustainable and diversified economy it must
be
respectful of other cultures and other religions. As the Qur’an
teaches, the
leaders of Dubai are engaged in a model of stewardship for their
people,
their resources and the members of the international community who
would
choose to either visit or indeed live in Dubai. There is no argument
that in
order for anyone to invest their hard earned money in a residence in
Dubai
or a trip to the country for tourism, there must be a sense of justice
and
safety.-
IMG_2670
http://www.islam21stcenturysuperpower.com/page6/files/page6_2.jpg
Commercial development on the scale that is taking place at breakneck
speed
in Dubai is dependent on one critical socioeconomic component;
stability.
People will simply not fly into a country where they are concerned
about
random violence or systematic and unchecked corruption. I can
personally
attest to the absolute safety and sense of stability and fairness that
is
present in Dubai. I visited every major shopping venue, including the
local
Souqes. I walked the streets at all hours of the day and night in all
parts
of the city, by myself, and experienced nothing but cordiality and
security.
I did not see police armed with anything more than a whistle or a
clipboard.
Dubai is safe and secure quite possibly because it is practicing a new
model
of community collaboration. A collaboration between the values and
practices
of Islam (daily call to prayer, traditional dress, etc.) and the
acceptance
of the social dress and practices of international commerce that is
best
reflected in the growing consumer and investment sector of Dubai. The
people
of Dubai and the people visiting Dubai are indeed engaged in
consumerism and
capitalism. It is no accident that the largest mall in the world with
the
largest indoor ski slope is located in Dubai or that the tallest tower
in
the world is currently being constructed there. People are engaged in
buying
and selling of goods and services. This is not in any way an insult to
God
or Islamic norms. Commerce of this type has been taking place in
Islamic
countries for centuries. The Islamic society that is emerging in Dubai
is
unique and powerful in its ability to create a society that is a true
cross-cultural integration of faith and finance, where the Mosque and
the
marketplace can coexistence in a theologically- sound and spiritually
respectful way.
http://waficity.com/waficitymall/index.htm
IMG_2388
The fact that there is an attention to the need to pray while shopping
is
where Islam has embraced the model of creation and development that
both the
Qur’an and the Bible attest to. God, Allah did not intend to create a
beautiful world that was to not be enjoyed. But the difference between
what
is happening in Dubai and Dallas is that God is still first in the
lives of
the leaders and the people of Dubai, while the pursuit of riches and
happiness are allowed as long as they are second to and not in conflict
with
the worship of and obedience to God. This is the way that a Theology
Economy
reinforces itself on a daily basis. God is not left out of any part of
the
Muslim lifestyle or daily processes. Muslims and non-Muslims can go
shopping
at the Mall of the Emirates together, and when the call to prayer is
broadcast, the Muslims have a place to go and pray. There is no
conflict
between faith and the daily activities of life.
This is not the case in most Western countries where the idea of a
church or
prayer room in a mall would more than likely lead to lawsuits and
protest.
Islam and shopping can exist side by side and whether one is at the
Mall of
the Emirates or engaging in business at one of the many office towers,
a
Muslim prayer room is never far away. Where the west has systematically
attempted to remove God and religion from all public aspects of life,
Islam
would never consider doing this. As a result, what you see happening in
Dubai is the first sign of a 21st century model of the city of tomorrow
incorporating worship and consumerism in one location without
destroying the
profit incentive of either.
What is being practiced in Dubai and exported to other Muslim and
indeed
non-Muslim countries is a model of financial investment in the net
present
value of peace. What this means is that the long-term return in net
present
value terms of peaceful coexistence and investment in constructing new
cities and societies, exceeds the return in continued conflict and
destruction of societies. What Sheik Rashid understood and his sons and
family have continued to practice and perfect is the wisdom of the
model of
stewardship of resources that is embedded in the thread of creation
found in
the Qur’an and indeed, is also found in the teachings of the other
major
religions. This is not to be confused with or understood to mean a
global
religious objective or conspiracy. This is entirely about the emerging
economic model of Islamic Economics and social relations with the rest
of
the world.
This new model of Islamic economics that is sweeping over the Arabian
Peninsula and quite possibly all of the Islamic world, is based on a
Theology Economy as opposed to a knowledge economy. It is this Theology
Economy that holds the promise of promoting and sustaining
collaboration
between cultures and communities instead of conflict.
Islamic Economics
http://www.islam21stcenturysuperpower.com/page4/page4.html
The key to the development and sustainability of any superpower is
economics. Economic power and influence have supported and defined all
superpowers since the dawn of time and will continued to do so in the
Islamic century. The ability to develop a diverse economy is essential
to
maintaining a superpower economy. Economic strength and diversity have
provided the necessary capital in the past for superpowers to not only
fund
their military budgets but to also act as a component of overall global
strategy. The United States has used both its military strength and
economic
strength in the past to engage in foreign policy. The economic embargos
and
sanctions, often imposed on other nations as a means of diplomatic
persuasion, have been a common approach to resolving international
incidents. The best and most recent example is the Gulf War of 1991.
Economic sanctions were initially suggested as a means to convince Iraq
to
retreat from its hostile takeover of Kuwait. Without a strong economy
to
economically support a military action or influence sanctions, a
superpower
would be unable to dictate international foreign policy.
What is developing in Dubai, and at the cutting edge of Islamic
Economics,
is an ability to encourage and enforce peaceful behavior based on
economic,
cultural, and theological arguments and solutions, not military ones.
While
the USA, China, Russia, and Europe invest in new weapons systems, Dubai
is
investing in new cities and new worlds. The military expansion of the
Middle
Eastern nations, with the exception of Iran, has for the most part
stopped.
Instead, the focus is on developing new economies and new opportunities
for
the citizens of Islam. Instead of an arms race, the focus is shifting
to a
more potent form of power, what I call the Theology Economy.
This Theology Economy is focused on achieving the objectives of a
global
Islamic community centered on staying true to the theological teachings
of
stewardship found in the Qur’an. One of the primary motivators for
Mohammed
was a desire to fight the poverty and corruption that was affecting the
people of his day in Arabia. The result of his search for answers was
the
Qur’an, which very clearly states the requirement for mankind to be
khalifas, or stewards of God’s creation.11
A Theology Economy is therefore, first and foremost, an economy of
stewardship before it is one of profit. The profit motive of modern day
economics is not forbidden, but is instead incorporated into the
theological
basis of stewardship. Stewardship of resources also means stewardship
of
finances, which means intelligent investments that yield a positive
return.
In a capitalist system, maximizing utility and returns all to often
leads to
a big winner and a big loser. As the world is witnessing today, the
disequilibrium this model creates leads to an increase in corruption
and
poverty which, in effect, is a tax on investment returns. The result is
the
proliferation of sick societies that Peter Drucker wrote will
ultimately
lead to sick corporations instead of “functional societies”.12 The
model of
a Functional Society is a core component of the Theology Economy of
Stewardship. By finally addressing the issues of systematic corruption
and
abject poverty, the
Theology Economy will incorporate the best of the teachings of
stewardship,
the vision for a just economy, and equal rights for all people to fully
participate in the global economic system.
Islamic leaders understand that economic power is superior to military
power. While the West, Russia and China have been busy stockpiling for
a war
that will never be fought, Islamic Economics will be the preferred
method of
competition in the future for Islam. Security, in the Islamic context,
will
be gained by uniting the growing base of Muslims globally into one
economic
trading block that will also protect and promote the cultural capital
and
values of Islam. For arguments sake, it is true that the one military
weapon
that is required for superpower status is already in the possession of
one
if not more Islamic countries, nuclear weapons. Pakistan has nuclear
capability and has not been hesitant in sharing this knowledge with
other
Muslim countries like Iran. The critical factor for Islam going forward
is
to demonstrate responsible stewardship of this weapon for the benefit
of
mankind and not its destruction. Commerce instead of conflict,
especially
nuclear, must be the goal.
Adam Smith had it wrong when he wrote of the invisible hand guiding the
economic behavior of people and nations.13 His argument failed because
it
assumed people would act for the benefit of each other when in reality
they
often act selfishly, in their own interest. This is why the Game
Theory14
developed by John Nash has proven to be so successful in the past fifty
years. It clearly demonstrates to individuals and organizations the
wisdom
of collaborating and cooperating on economic decisions for the benefit
of
both sides. Islamic Economics goes one step further in showing how
stewardship of all resources is a benefit for all members of a
community and
ultimately the world.
The Islamic economy that is providing the fuel for superpower
development is
being strengthened and enabled by the creation of an Islamic stock
exchange.
In 2005, the DIFX, Dubai International Foreign Exchange15 was opened
with
the goal of creating an Islamic alternative to the exchanges in New
York,
London, and other Western countries. This development gives
entrepreneurs in
Islamic countries the access they need to capital via the selling of
shares
in companies. This new Islam Incorporated will provide the capital to
create
the next generation of Islamic companies that are helping to build the
new
Islamic cities and societies.
C 2006 Steven R. Watts
[Propaganda or is it their plan???}
Islam: 21st Century Superpower
http://www.islam21stcenturysuperpower.com/page1/page1.html
Who will be the 21st century superpower?
USA
CHINA
INDIA
RUSSIA
ISLAM
Hint:
It will not be a country
Throughout history, superpowers have been defined more or less by the
same
standards. Whether one looks at the most recent 20th century models
demonstrated by the United States, the USSR, or Great Britain; or the
more
ancient models of the Ottoman Empire, the Roman Empire, or the ancient
civilizations of the Greeks or the Persians, the standards have been
the
same. The best definition, commonly accepted in a historical context,
is a
nation with the ability to project its cultural identity and
geopolitical
will on other peoples, cultures and nations.
The USA, it is argued, emerged from the cold war with the communist
USSR as
the only nation capable of projecting a global military, economic and
cultural presence around the world without any real competition or
barriers
to entry to other cultures. This is best seen in the adoption of the
English
language as the accepted language of international commerce and the
American
dollar as the accepted form of international currency. The spread of
democracy, as a sociopolitical solution to the general governance of
people
in the context of national identities, is widely argued as due to the
American model of government. Other evidence of the superpower nature
of
American culture is the rapid adoption and affinity for American
movies,
music, and fast food. The final qualifier for superpower status is the
ability to project military power, anywhere, anytime and the associated
critical possession of nuclear weapons.
Given these parameters, it is the intent of this article to introduce
the
hypothesis, with supporting evidence, that a new superpower is emerging
in
the 21st century - ISLAM. This superpower not only possesses all the
requirements highlighted above, but it also has unique qualities that
will
make the 21st century a very different place in which to live and work.
This
is a superpower that for the first time in the history of civilization
will
neither rely upon, nor need to develop a dominant military strategy.
The
power of the Islamic Superpower will reside primarily in its economic,
cultural and theological foundations. The most powerful and compelling
distinction of this superpower is that for the first time in the
history of
the world, a global superpower will not be constrained by nationalistic
motives or geographic limitations of artificial borders. This new
Islamic
Superpower will possess the ability to effectively fight poverty and
corruption where the Western powers have failed. It will be the most
effective, if not only legitimate response to radical Islamic
fundamentalism.
The 21st century will be the Islamic century as much as the 15th
century
could be argued as the Christian century with the emergence of the
global
military, economic, and theological capability of Christian Spain,
Portugal,
France, and England. These, and all other Christian countries are
becoming
more Islamic, more secular, and less Christian. As you will see, the
sheer
demographic growth of Islam will overtake every Christian nation by
2050,
with the exception of most South American countries and the United
States.
C 2006 Steven R. Watts
Speaking Of Bird Strikes...
AirTran Flight Turns Around After FO Injured By Bird-Strike Induced
Debris
Just as we were writing up a listing of all the recent bird strikes,
ANN has
learned that yet another case of “Shredded Tweat” has occurred. An
AirTran
Boeing 737-700, departing Philadelphia (Saturday) took a bird strike to
the
right side of the nose resulting in windshield damage that also injured
the
First Officer.
The FO suffered injuries as a result of windshield debris, resulting in
a
number of minor facial cuts and bruises. The aircraft notified PHL
tower
that they were returning to PHL about 10 minutes into the flight,
landing
without further incident. Bound for Atlanta, the flight carried 143
people,
none of which were injured, according to AirTran spokesperson, Phyllis
Van
Istendal.
The flight was originally scheduled for an 1100 departure but a
replacement
flight was able to continue the flight at 1608, arriving in ATL at
1740,
EDT.
FMI: www.airtran.com
aero-news.net
Engine Fire forces Jet landing soon after take off
An American Airlines MD-80 jet had to be landed back soon after it took
off
from the St. Louis’ airport when one of its two engines caught fire.
Reportedly, the problem was in the aircraft’s left engine. After
landing
safely, the plane was quickly evacuated on the runway itself.
Fire crews at the Lambert Airport snuffed out the fire with
flame-retardant
foam.
No injuries were reported among the 137 passengers, two pilots and
three
flight attendants who were aboard the plane.
Flight 1400 took off at 2:12 p.m. EDT and was headed for Chicago’s
O’Hare
International Airport. It had to be brought back on the ground within
30
minutes, said Mary Frances Fagan, a spokeswoman for American Airlines.
“It had a left-hand engine fire that occurred after take-off. The
aircraft
returned to Lambert International safely. No one was hurt, and the
passengers were evacuated on stairs,” Fagan said.
Passengers and the crew were safely taken into the terminal.
American Airlines said that its maintenance will examine the aircraft
and
try to find out the cause of the fire.
A jet engine specialist along with one other investigator will be sent
by
the National Transportation Safety Board, agency spokesman Peter
Knudson
said.
http://www.themoneytimes.com/articles/20070930/engine_fire_forces_jet_landing_soon_after_take_off-id-1010407.html
[Why would the truck be in the path of the plane?]
Jet wing hits Logan fuel truck
BOSTON — An airplane arriving at Logan’s Terminal A hit a fuel truck
around
noon Sunday.
The aircraft was a Delta Airlines Canadair Regional Jet.
It was coming into the gate when the left wing tip hit the outside
mirror of
the truck
No one was hurt. The 48 passengers and three crew members were taken
off the
aircraft.
There was no major damage to the plane and very minor damage to the
fuel
truck, according to a Massport spokesperson.
http://www3.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO63404/
Israir, Alitalia passenger planes nearly crash at B-G airport
A serious airplane accident was averted at the last minute on Sunday at
Ben
Gurion International Airport when an Israir aircraft was preparing to
land
at the same time an Alitalia passenger plane was about to take off from
the
same runway.
The Alitalia aircraft had apparently entered the airport’s only
operational
runway accidentally, without being instructed to do so.
El Al pilots who were waiting for takeoff behind the Italian plane
noticed
the mistake and immediately reported the imminent crash to the control
tower. The control tower in turn hurried to warn the Israir pilot not
to
land in order to avoid a crash.
The Israel Airports Authority launched an investigation into the
incident,
which it termed a serious safety failure.
In August, a report on the investigation of another near collision at
Ben
Gurion Airport, which occurred on February 8, revealed serious safety
violations and antiquated equipment at the airport as the result of
neglected infrastructure.
According to report, although a great deal of money was invested in the
construction of a new terminal, no funds went towards improving the
runways
and control tower, and only one of the airport’s three runways is
equipped
for automated landing.
In addition, the physical conditions at the airport make it difficult
for
the control tower to rectify the flight paths of planes flying too
close to
each other.
The report recommended installing equipment for automated landing in
all the
runways and building a new control tower or renovating the old one, as
well
as reconsidering its location.
Copy-Cat Bali In Male - International Terrorism Monitor-—Paper No. 285
Paper no. 2396
01-Oct-2007
By B. Raman
http://saag.org/%5Cpapers24%5Cpaper2396.html
Twelve foreign tourists—— eight Chinese, two Japanese and two
British-—
were injured in an explosion on September 29, 2007, in a park near the
main
mosque in the Maldives capital of Male. It is not yet known whether the
Chinese were from mainland China or elsewhere. Nor is it known whether
the
explosion specifically targeted the foreign tourists or whether the
tourists
just happened to be near the scene when the explosion took place. The
local
police, however, seem to suspect that the blast was meant to target
foreign
tourists and affect the flow of tourists to the country. So far, no one
has
claimed responsibility for the blast.
2. The Friends of Maldives (FOM), a non-Governmental organisation,
which
has been supporting the pro-democracy movement in the Islands, has
strongly
refuted insinuations allegedly made by President Abdul Gayoom and a
Government spokesman that the FOM, which, according to them, has been
carrying on a Boycott of Tourism to the Maldives campaign, might have
been
behind the blast. In a statement, Mr. David Hardingham, the founder of
the
FOM, has stated as follows: “The FOM has never requested tourists NOT
to
visit the Maldives .The FOM campaign asks tourists to choose a resort
not
closely associated with the repressive Regime of President Maumoon
Abdul
Gayoom.
FOM understands that the bombing has potentially significant
ramifications
for the Maldives tourism industry and in solidarity with the people of
the
Maldives, the FOM has decided on a temporary suspension of the FOM
Selected
Resorts Boycott Campaign. This will be reviewed at the end of October
2007.
The FOM maintains the importance of the installation of a liberal and
democratic Maldives where tourism and free enterprise can flourish and
prosper. The current dictatorship and their refusal to allow a real
democracy and respect for human rights will continue to create an
environment where criminal activity and extremism will flourish. The
international community must be more active in this regard.”
3. According to the local media, the improvised explosive device (IED)
used
in the blast consisted of a gas cylinder, a washing machine motor and a
mobile telephone. It is not yet clear whether the mobile telephone was
used
as a remote control device or as a timer. Automobile fuel, gas
cylinders and
mobile telephones were also used by the jihadi terrorists-—one of them
an
Indian Muslim from Bangalore-— who attempted to stage terrorist
strikes in
London and Glasgow in the last week of June, 2007. The Maldivian Police
claim to have detained two persons for questioning. They are also
reportedly
examining the pictures in the Closed Circuit TV cameras installed in
the
park.
4. Since 9/11, there have been reports of the spread of fundamentalist
ideas
to the Maldives from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. In 2002, a 28-year-old
Maldivian national named Ibrahim Fauzee was arrested in Karachi,
Pakistan,
and taken to the Guantanamo Bay detention centre in Cuba by the US’
Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on suspicion of his having links with Al
Qaeda. As his interrogation did not confirm this suspicion, the FBI
sent him
to the Maldives. He lives in Male and is subject to regular police
surveillance.
5. In the spring of 2006, the Maldivian authorities announced the
arrest in
Sri Lanka of three Maldivians-two women and a man-who were allegedly on
their way to a jihadi training camp in Pakistan, but they were not
prosecuted for want of satisfactory evidence. Fatimah Nisreen, a
policeman’s
daughter, was accused of helping them to go to Pakistan, but she
refuted
this allegation.
6. Ahmed Shah, a Maldivian national, was reported to have attended a
training camp of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LET) at Muridke, near Lahore. He
was
deported to the Maldives by the Pakistani authorities. In April last
year,
seven young Maldivians were arrested by the Maldives Police on a charge
of
encouraging other Maldivians to wage jihad abroad, but they were not
prosecuted for want of evidence.
7. Himendhoo, one of the outlying islands, has been described as a
centre
for Wahabism. A Hindu school teacher working in the island was
allegedly
beaten up badly by Wahabi elements last year.
8. For over a year now, the local Wahabis of the island have been
refusing
to obey Ibrahim Abrahman, the Government-appointed chief cleric in the
island. They have declined to pray in the Government-maintained mosque.
They
constructed their own mosque, which was demolished by the Government.
They
built another. Cassettes containing the video and audio messages of
Osama
bin Laden and his No.2. Ayman al-Zawahiri freely circulate in the
island and
nearby islands. Some students from the island, who were studying in the
Lal
Masjid of Islamabad, were reported to have recently returned home after
the
Lal Masjid was raided by the Pakistani commandos between July 10 and
13,
2007. They have also been spreading stories of what is projected as the
glorious martyrdom of the girl students of the Lal Masjid’s madrasa for
girls.
9. Saudi money has funded the construction of a high school in Male,
called
the Islamic Studies Institute, where the students are taught, inter
alia,
the Arabic language. This is becoming another centre for the spread of
Wahabism.
10. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has also been using the
Maldives as a transit point for its arms smuggling activities for many
years. There were reports of the Maldivian authorities co-operating
with the
Sri Lankan Navy in some of its recent operations to disrupt arms
smuggling
by the LTTE. Thus, the LTTE has reasons for anger against the Maldivian
authorities.
http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2007/09/analysis_the_fi.php
- The Fires in Iran
Saturday, 29 September, 2007 @ 11:46 PM
By: Mshari Al-Zaydi
Beirut / Tehran - There is no exaggeration in saying that the waters of
the
Arabian Gulf are set to reach a boiling point again.
nasrallah & ahmedinijad.jpgSigns of a war between Iran and the US are
looming on the horizon. Iran’s Supreme Guide is adopting a threatening
rhetoric, while America has announced that it is setting up a military
group
called Checkmate, which is part of the United States Air Force.
[Checkmate
is a highly confidential strategic planning group whose task includes
providing innovative strategies for warfighting and assessing future
needs
for air, space and cyberwarfare ].
Only a miracle or magic can prevent this war from happening, such as
Iran
declaring absolutely and unequivocally that it has renounced its
revolutionary policies and nuclear ambitions under [Mahmoud]
Ahmadinejad and
[Ali] Khamenei’s regime. The other alternative is if the US and the
West
were to completely surrender to Iran, which would make it the leader of
the
entire Gulf region.
Both options, realistically speaking, will not happen, which is why
only a
supernatural force can prevent this war from happening.
Iran’s crisis is a grave one. It is one that involves history, a
specific
role, and culture and nationalism î º but this is another issue
altogether.
What is happening today is more modern than that; it is the crisis born
of a
fundamentalist regime that has reached a deadlock. Thus, the only
option
left is confrontation, here and there and between this party and that.
The war of statements has begun: media missiles have been launched and
the
battle of nerves has erupted. We find the Supreme Guide saying last
Saturday, as reported by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), that
the
enemy’s reiteration of threats aims to intimidate and spread alarm and
fear,
furthermore adding that, & “Contrary to the enemys expectations, we are
increasing our level of preparation.”
Hossein Shariatmadari, media advisor to Khamenei and the
editor-in-chief of
the conservative Kayhan newspaper, which is closely associated with the
Supreme Guide (who personally appoints the publication’s
editor-in-chief),
was asked by an American journalist for the New York Times if Bahrain
was
simply a part of Iran. The question was broached since it was
Shariatmadari
who had introduced that idea in an article previously published by
Kayhan
mid-July of last year.
Shariatmadari laughed in response to the question and referring to the
entire Gulf region, he said that it wasn’t only Bahrain but that,”
these
states are not even 200 years old,” and that, “they were small states
where
the sheikhs live a life of leisure.” Within the context of the media
war, he
accused most Gulf States of “compliance with the Zionist entity,
cooperating
with it whilst turning a blind eye towards the crime it has committed”
(al
Qabas newspaper, Kuwait, 18 July 2007).
First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Iran, Mohammad Reza Bahonar,
told
the Lebanese As-Safir newspaper that threatening his country will lead
to
“;setting the whole region on fire.”Meanwhile, former commander of the
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Yahya Rahim Safawi, pointed
out
that Irans missiles were long ranging.
During this time, Ahmadinejad is traveling all over the world; he went
to
New York to beautify the face of the fundamentalist regime and to add a
cosmetic touch. The Iranian government spokesman [Gholam-Hossein Elham]
had
stated that Ahmadinejad intended to visit the Ground Zero site in New
York.
But let us not forget that the”gracious” Ahmadinejad had supervised
over a
military parade in Iran before traveling to the US in which Iranian
forces
flexed their muscles and announced that they possessed new missiles
with a
near 2000-kilometer range. The parade was drowned amidst the cheers and
war
cries of the audience present.
Iran is provocative; and with every passing day as the crisis deepens,
the
tension escalates amongst Tehran’s rulers, its Supreme Guide and his
associates amidst the conservative mullahs and the “hawk” president of
their
government Ahmadinejad.
Aside from the Iranian propaganda with all its psychological
dimensions,
Iran is capable of doing some things. It has repeatedly upheld that it
will
set the region on fire if it was deprived of its right to possess a
nuclear
weapon, which it publicly claims is for peaceful purposes!
In a previous interview with Hossein Shariatmadari, conducted by
journalist
Manal Lutfi for Asharq Al-Awsat (26 March 2007), he said that in the
event
of a strike against Iran that they, “were militarily ready and prepared
for
anything. I believe that if anything were to happen that the Americans
and
Israelis would regret it. Hezbollah is but a sample of what could
happen; we
can compare it with what we can do.”
This is an explicit statement that the fundamentalist Iran has been
using
the Lebanese party Hezbollah to serve its defense policy outside of
Iran by
virtue of its ideological “cloning” and its tight arms and financial
ties î
º secretly via Syria, of course!
But subordination to Tehran’s mullah system is not denied even among
Hezbollah’s leadership. Suffice it to mention two examples; on one
occasion,
in March 1997, the official spokesman for Hezbollah, Ibrahim al Amin
said,
“we are not part of Iran: We are Iran in Lebanon, and Lebanon in Iran,”
as
published in “al Nahar” newspaper.
Another example is when Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Hassan
Nasrallah,
previously said in al Muqawama (Resistance) magazine, which is the
mouthpiece of the party’s military wing, that, the religious authority
there
(Iran) constitutes the religious and legitimate cloak for our
resistance and
struggle.”(al Muqawama magazine, edition 27, p. 15-16)
If indeed as Shariatmadari says that the Lebanese Hezbollah with all
its
soldiers and arms and its “absolute” ideological loyalty to the Supreme
Guide is only a “sample” of Iran s capabilities î º then what about
other
models?!
We must not, then, underestimate the gravity of the situation.
But some may say “why go to war in the first place?” Aren’t the
Americans,
along with Britain and France the aggressors? Didn’t the French Foreign
Minister, [Bernard] Kouchner warn that the world must prepare itself
for a
war against Iran (19 September 2007).
The truth is that the regime in Iran is a “quandary” Whatever honeyed
words
[Ali] Larijani and [Manouchehr] Mottaki use to gloss it over î º it is
a
fundamentalist revolutionary expansionist regime that is based on the
ancient concept of “imperialism”;. To understand the extent of the
regime’s
detrimental nature, it is enough to remember what it has done to
Lebanon and
Iraq.
For Iraq, Wilayat al Faqih [Guardianship of the Jurists] expressed joy
at
the fall of Saddam’s regime at the hands of Bush “the fool”, in the
words of
Shariatmadari. This paved the way for unleashing “exceptional
capabilities”,vaccording to Shariatmadari, against the fundamentalist
Iraqi
Shia opposition.
“Presently, those who were exiled in Iran for decades are the people in
power in Iraq today. This is an important factor, and a third advantage
in
our interest” , said the editor-in-chief of “Kayhan”; in the Asharq
Al-Awsat
interview previously mentioned.
Iran is dangerous, very dangerous, and this is without nuclear power î
º
what will the case be if it did have nuclear power?!
However, away from the glossy words and courtesies, it is in the best
interest of the Gulf States, and even Egypt and Jordan, that the
revolutionary Iran does not gain power to that extent, especially since
the
region is witnessing upheaval and chaos caused by the fundamentalist
forces
which threaten “all” Arab states without exception. This includes the
states
that flirt with them and grant them a satellite television channel! It
knows
well that if Iran decided to set the Gulf on fire that it will be the
first
country to be set aflame in the east.
If wishful thinking could come true then we would wish that no war
would
happen. “Enough problems in the region” like Egyptian President Hosni
Mubarak said. We would also have hoped that Iran adopt a more moderate
attitude and that it abandon the policy of sabotage and the agitation
of
radical extremist forces î º but hoping is one thing and reality
another.
If the guesses and expectations among the knowledgeable circles are
accurate, then the winds of war presently carry clouds of fire. It
might
rupture and wreak havoc about a year from now, perhaps at the end of
next
summer at the latest. If this war were to take place, with all the
ugliness
entailed, it will serve to loosen the fist whose grip cripples Iraq and
Lebanon. It is hoped that Lebanon and Iraq may be freed of all grips
that
seek to regress them, whether Shia or Sunni.
No one wishes for a war; it is reprehensible and harrowing. But history
is
full of wars, and despite the tragedies in their aftermath, they were
responsible for guiding the course of history î º whether we like it or
not.
We cannot envisage the world if World War II had not taken place and
the
Nazis had not been vanquished, or if the war that expelled Saddam
Hussein’s
forces from Kuwait had not occurred, or if Napoleon’s war against the
Mamluks had not happened, and the ensuing repercussions of this French
intervention on all Mohamed Ali’s accomplishments in all fields. What
would
the world have been like if the Thirty Years War between Catholics and
Protestants in Germany did not take place? It ended with the Peace of
Westphalia [Treaty of Münster and the Treaty of Osnabrück] in 1648,
which
was the paradigm that helped shape modern political thought in terms of
the
contemporary concept of the state.
War is sometimes bloody; however with the spilled blood an infection is
purged, which if left unattended would slowly kill the rest of the
body.
picture: Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad( L) and Hezbollah leader
Hassan Nasrallah
sources: aawsat.com
Interfax: Putin agrees to head United Russia election ticket
Putin agrees to head United Russia election ticket
MOSCOW. Oct 1 (Interfax) - President Vladimir Putin “thankfully”
accepted a proposal by the pro-Kremlin United Russia on Monday that he
head its ticket for December’s State Duma elections.
United Russia “can and must become an effective instrument for
achieving
social stability and for making the future parliament and the entire
state system effective, be an initiator of development and provide
support for executive bodies of government in implementing all their
plans,” Putin told a United Russia congress in Moscow.
“It is, of course, possible and necessary to speak about this.
Therefore, I thankfully accept your proposal that I should head the
United Russia ticket,” he said.
With other words, the little dictator is going to be prime minister
under a puppet president. One can only hope on behalf of the people of
Moscow and the North Caucasus that this manoeuvre won’t need another
bloody provocation to succeed. N.S.[person who posted this to the group]
To visit group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/chechnya-sl/
http://visalawcanada.blogspot.com/
Monday, October 1, 2007
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WARNED ABOUT SCAM
This article appeared on the weekend in the St. Petersburg Times , FL, and it should serve as a warning to all those who are being duped by unscrupulous immigration consultants who promise”asylum” in Canada for illegals currently in the US :
Canada offers illegal immigrants no easy asylum
Illegal immigrants hear that they will be welcomed. Instead, they may be deported.
By SAUNDRA AMRHEIN, Times Staff WriterPublished September 30, 2007
NAPLES — After years of waiting, Daniel Gaspar was finally hearing what he thought impossible.
The Guatemalan man could get asylum. Not here in the United States, but in Canada.
Sitting in a crowded Bonita Springs church, Gaspar listened as a man explained how he had helped Haitians make the move, and how he also could help Hispanics, like Gaspar.
Frustrated by dead ends with his case and fearful of stepped-up immigration raids, Gaspar packed his bags.
“I’ve been here so many years, if they offer me hope, I’m willing to sell everything here to start new,” he told friends.
Gaspar, 30, is one of hundreds of illegal immigrants, mostly Mexicans from southwest Florida, who have streamed into Canada the past several weeks. Many, like Gaspar, were sent by Jacques Sinjuste, general director of the Jerusalem Haitian Community Center Inc. of Naples.
The allure is great: Sinjuste promises they’ll find legal work, free from worry about immigration raids. They’ll also get help with rent and living expenses until they’re on their feet.
Mexican immigrants who made the trip in the past month have called back to friends and family with good news. It’s all true, they say. Canadians put them up at the Ramada Inn, helped them find a place to live, even brought them breakfast.
What they don’t know is their good fortune is temporary — maybe a year or so. Canadian officials say some immigrants do get living assistance and a work permit, but only because their refugee applications are pending. Some get deported immediately.
Chances of a permanent stay are slim, they said.
Gaspar, who lived in the United States for 16 years after fleeing war-torn Guatemala, abandoned his lawn care business, bought a $287 plane ticket to Vermont and paid the Haitian man $400 for his paperwork.
Within a week of crossing into Canada in a taxi, Gaspar was deported to Guatemala.
Canadian officials told him they were puzzled by his paperwork, he said.
“They are not sure what is the law,” Gaspar said of the Haitian center from his family’s home in Guatemala. “They should tell people the truth. I know they are making a lot of money.”
Long-term impact
The recent influx has sparked concern in Canada, where officials worry that U.S. immigration woes could start spilling across the border.
If the rumor spreads unfettered, Canada could be overwhelmed, said Janet Dench, executive director of the Canadian Council for Refugees.
“What the people in Canada are worried about is the long-term impact,” she said.
Even 1 percent of 12-million illegal immigrants estimated to be in the United States would make a huge impact, she said.
Lucas Benitez of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers has been trying to warn immigrants.
“Don’t believe it and don’t pay hundreds of dollars,” Benitez tells the listeners of the coalition’s low-wattage radio station.
He says immigrants walk into the coalition’s office off Main Street looking for paperwork to apply for Canadian refugee status and citizenship.
Every few years a new scam turns up, he said. Immigrants are particularly vulnerable now, he added, because of the failed immigration reform bill and stepped up enforcement.
In August, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office trained 20 deputies to enforce immigration law.
But Benitez is one of the few voices competing against a wave of misinformation.
Now it’s not just the Haitian center offering help to get to Canada. Others around Florida promise the same.
Down Main Street in Immokalee, tucked into a law office for workers’ compensation, Gloria Hernandez works as a paralegal.
She praised the program in the local Spanish-language weekly Gaceta Tropical. She saw it with her own eyes, she said in the mid September edition.
Hernandez, who heads the newly formed Immigrants United for a Free Immokalee, decided to make the trip because many workers were asking questions about paperwork filled out by the Haitian center.
She didn’t know what to tell them.
So she followed two trucks and a van full of immigrants headed to Canada with paperwork and a map provided by the Haitian center. She watched them cross the border, she said.
Hernandez said she talked to a Canadian border crossing guard who told her that Canada was admitting the immigrants as refugees. So she came back and started holding community meetings in Immokalee to spread the word.
Lawyers and other community activists around west-central Florida have been calling her for more information about the program, she said.
When told by a St. Petersburg Times reporter what Canadian officials had to say, she was alarmed.
“I need to know so I can tell workers that,” she said. “I don’t want to get them deported.”
To worker Miguel Orea, Canada was still the promised land.
If immigrants get deported after a year of living and working legally in Canada, that’s still better than what they find in Florida, he said.
“There’s no work here,” Orea, 22, said recently, standing outside Radio Road Plaza in Naples.
He and three other men, all in soiled shirts, work in construction, where jobs have all but dried up, they said.
Orea said his friends paid the Haitian center $400 each for paperwork for themselves and their three children. They left last month.
Overwhelmed Ontario
Complaints have led the Collier County Sheriff’s Office to launch an investigation into Sinjuste and the Haitian center.
Sinjuste, a Haitian immigrant who founded the nonprofit in 2000, did not return calls.
However, earlier this month he told the New York Times he did not encourage immigrants to seek asylum in Canada. He merely helped them fill out forms, describing the $400 they paid as a “donation.”
Dench of the Canadian Council for Refugees said she has been tracking complaints regarding the Haitian center for more than a year.
“They had on their Web site that we had an ‘economic refugee program,’” she said. The center took that down after complaints, she added.
Eddie Francis, mayor of Windsor, Ontario, said Sinjuste flew up to meet with him Friday.
The two men spoke about how the influx of 300-plus immigrants has overwhelmed the city of 220,000.
Men were put up in Salvation Army shelters. Families were placed in hotels until the city could make other arrangements.
They receive help until their case is heard. Because of a backlog, that can take more than a year, Francis said.
“You need to communicate with people that their possibilities of settling here are low,” Francis said he told Sinjuste. “He said he doesn’t want to hurt anyone or cause problems and that he’s going to go down there and tell people it’s not a good situation.”
Francis has asked Canada’s federal authorities for financial assistance, as well as help to speed up the refugee hearings.
Windsor and its province have spent more than $300,000 on lodging and other assistance, “a significant drain,” he said.
“That’s why the federal government needs to play a role,” he said. “If they choose not to act immediately, there is going to be the wrong message to send out and there’s going to be more of this taking place in more cities across the country.”
Saundra Amrhein can be reached at amrhein@sptimes.com or (813) 661-2441.
FAST FACTS: Canadian immigration policy
Immigrants trying to obtain refugee status in Canada must show a “well-founded fear of being persecuted” for reasons connected to their race, nationality, religion, political opinion or certain social group membership. Immigrants from certain countries also can be protected from return to their home country if they can show risk of torture, death or cruel punishment.
In 2006, 28 percent of Mexican immigrants who applied for Canadian refugee status received it, compared to 53 percent of Haitians who applied and 47 percent for all groups.
For the first half of 2007, the number for Mexican refugee applicants admitted was just 13 percent.
Immigrants from eight countries, including Haiti, are not sent back to their countries if they are denied because of the turmoil there. Mexico is not on that list.
The current lag time between the date a refugee application is accepted until a decision is made by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada is 14.2 months.
Source: Stephane Malepart, spokesman for the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.
Posted by Sergio R. Karas at 4:19 AM
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1905000/posts
Thousands dead in massacre of the monks dumped in the jungle - Myanmar (Burma)
Daily Mail UK ^ | 2007-1001 | MARCUS OSCARSSON
Posted on 10/01/2007 11:40:02 AM PDT by davidlachnicht
Thousands of protesters are dead and the bodies of hundreds of executed monks have been dumped in the jungle, a former intelligence officer for Burma’s ruling junta has revealed.
The most senior official to defect so far, Hla Win, said: “Many more people have been killed in recent days than you’ve heard about. The bodies can be counted in several thousand.”
Mr Win, who spoke out as a Swedish diplomat predicted that the revolt has failed, said he fled when he was ordered to take part in a massacre of holy men. He has now reached the border with Thailand. (more)
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
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