Posted on 07/28/2008 8:37:15 AM PDT by DAVEY CROCKETT
Is U.S. Bioterror Attack Just A Matter of Time?
The overriding question is whether the U.S. is “ready” for a bioterror attack. The answer could well rely on the “other” question of what bio-agent and what’s the source? In 1991, 40,000 Russian scientists dispersed throughout the World, with knowledge of what the U.S.S.R. was doing in chemical and biological weapons. The question is to whom did they sell their knowledge? Some believe former Soviet scientists sold technology to countries like Iran, Syria, and North Korea. Lurking is the spectre of al-Qaeda, a group that the Pentagon says continues to pursue biological weapons.
Another scenario is an outbreak of a pandemic. How would the U.S. deal with an infectious disease outbreak? The picture, despite reassurances, is not pretty. Until now, the U.S. has experienced two major biological attacks.
In 1984, the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and his followers attempted to take over the town of the Dalles, Oregon by contaminating salad bars in the town. In 2001, there was the as yet unsolved mystery of the anthrax letters that killed five people.
But the question of bioterrorism extends to potential threats against our food supply and our clean water resources. It also extends to the threat of outbreaks of diseases in our animals populations. Here, the concern are diseases that attack animals but that can jump to humans. These are referred to as zoonotic diseases. The World Health Organization defines zonnotic diseases as:
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http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news/?fr=yalerts-keyword&c=&p=%22Syria%22&ei=utf-8
News Stories for “Syria”
(Results 1 - 10 of about 6,051)
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313 News PhotosPlay Play 3 News Videos
* 1.
The London girl with a plan to save Syria Open this result in new window
Times Online - Dec 06 1:29 PM
It doesn’t take much to cause ripples in a staid Arab society, so the impact on Syria of its British-born first lady, Asma Assad, has been nothing less than seismic. From the moment she married the country’s president, Bashar al-Assad, eight years ago, she threw away the rule book.
* 2.
Hezbollah proud by Aoun’s visit to Syria Open this result in new window
People’s Daily - Dec 06 12:47 AM
Lebanese pro-Syrian Shiite Hezbollah group said Friday that they are proud by the “courage and honesty “of Christian opposition Leader Michel Aoun’s visit to Syria, localal-Manar TV reported. Hezbollah’s Parliamentary block said in a statement after their weekly meeting that Aoun has a clear approach to the relations with Syria regardless of the past mistakes, the Hezbollah owned TV said. “He ...
* 3.
Missile-test gear headed for Syria is seized in Dubai Open this result in new window
The Virginian-Pilot - Dec 05 5:12 PM
NORFOLK The federal government intercepted a shipment of equipment, bound for Syria, used to test ballistic missiles.
* 4.
Former President Carter to Visit Syria, Lebanon Open this result in new window
13 WMAZ Macon - Dec 05 7:39 PM
ATLANTA (AP) — Former President Jimmy Carter plans to meet with Syrian President Bashar Assad and other officials to discuss prospects for peace in the Middle East during visits to Lebanon and Syria next week.
* 5.
BUSH SAYS IRAN, SYRIA CONTINUE TO SPONSOR TERRORISM - SPEECH Open this result in new window
AlertNet - Dec 05 6:53 AM
Source: Reuters BUSH SAYS IRAN, SYRIA CONTINUE TO SPONSOR TERRORISM - SPEECH ...
* 6.
Syria discusses oil deal with Cyprus Open this result in new window
AP via Yahoo! News - Dec 04 6:54 AM
Syria promised Thursday to cooperate with Cyprus in offshore oil-and-gas exploration, despite objections by Turkey.
* 7.
Trip to Syria widens schism among Lebanese Christian rivals Open this result in new window
EARTHtimes.org - Dec 05 6:08 AM
Beirut - Anti-Syrian Christian leaders in Lebanon criticized Friday the decision by rival Christian leader Michael Aoun to visit Syria, saying the move sought to promote relations too quickly and in the wrong manner. At issue are talks by 73-year-old...
* 8.
Covert marine operation uncovers Syria’s return to plutonium production Open this result in new window
DEBKAfile - Dec 05 3:27 AM
In the face of Damascus’ refusal to allow UN inspectors access to three suspect “research laboratories, Western agents recently carried out a daring covert operation to collect water samples from the Orontes river in Syria where it drains into the Mediterranean, DEBKA file ‘s intelligence sources reveal.
* 9.
Syria Denies Everything Open this result in new window
Strategy Page - Dec 05 2:47 AM
December 5, 2008: The UN is accusing Syria of trying to conceal nuclear weapons development work at four different locations. Syria refuses to allow the UN inspectors to investigate the sites.
* 10.
Syria discusses oil deal with Cyprus Open this result in new window
AP via Yahoo! Finance - Dec 04 6:54 AM
Syria promised Thursday to cooperate with Cyprus in offshore oil-and-gas exploration, despite objections by Turkey. “The area is promising,” Syria’s oil minister, Sufian Al-Alao, said after talks with Cypriot officials.
News Stories for “Russia”
(Results 1 - 10 of about 47,581)
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* 1.
Medvedev Sees ‘New Framework’ for U.S.-Russia Ties Under Obama Open this result in new window
Washington Post - Dec 06 6:54 AM
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said yesterday that there is “no trust” in U.S.-Russia relations at the moment, but he expressed hope that the ties between Moscow and Washington could be repaired in Barack Obama’s administration.
* 2.
Russia Allocates $2 Billion on New Arms, Countering U.S. Shield Open this result in new window
Bloomberg - Dec 06 10:16 AM
Dec. 6 (Bloomberg) — Russia will spend an extra $2 billion next year on weapons, including modernizing short-range Iskander missiles that could counter a proposed U.S. anti-missile shield.
* 3.
Russia’s Strike Shows The Power Of the Pipeline Open this result in new window
Washington Post - Dec 06 1:40 AM
It was surely not lost on Russia’s bully in chief, Vladimir Putin, that the oil giant BP decided to shut down the pipeline that runs through parts of Georgia controlled by Russian troops. Indeed, that was one of the aims of the cross-border incursion.
* 4.
Russia Again Halts Stock Trading Open this result in new window
Washington Post - Dec 06 1:46 AM
MOSCOW, Sept. 17 — Russia suspended stock trading for a second straight day and took other emergency measures in an attempt to halt a severe crash Wednesday as market turmoil spread to Latin America and raised fears the U.S. crisis will test the strength of the emerging economies that supply oil...
* 5.
NATO-Russia deal shows EU influence Open this result in new window
UPI - Dec 06 6:55 AM
BRUSSELS, Dec. 6 (UPI) — NATO’s move to resume talks with Russia shows the increasingly key role the European Union is taking in setting the West’s agenda with Moscow, analysts say.
* 6.
OSCE divided on Georgia war, Russia s security proposal Open this result in new window
norsorpor.com - Dec 06 2:13 PM
OSCE divided on Georgia war, Russia s security proposal HELSINKI, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) — Foreign ministers meeting of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) concluded here on Friday, but its member states were still divided on the Caucasus situation after the Russia-Georgia war as well as on Russia s proposal of setting up new European security architecture.
* 7.
3 killed in storming of southern Russia hotel Open this result in new window
Detroit Free Press - Dec 06 7:56 AM
ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia— Police stormed a small hotel where armed militants were blockaded in the southern Russian province of Dagestan today, and two rebels and a policeman died, the regional Interior Ministry said.
* 8.
Russia striker starting to make his mark at White Hart Lane Open this result in new window
The Star - 1 hour, 32 minutes ago
CHIGWELL (England): Russia striker Roman Pavlyuchenko (pic) has started to shine after a slow start at Tottenham Hotspur, the club he joined in August from Spartak Moscow for 17mil.
* 9.
Russia says India should remain calm over Pakistan evidence Open this result in new window
Calcutta News - 1 hour, 5 minutes ago
Russia has told New Delhi it should seek the support of the international community and present its case to the UN if it has concrete evidence of the complicity of elements in Pakistan in the Mumbai attacks.
* 10.
3 killed in storming of southern Russia hotel Open this result in new window
The Charlotte Observer - Dec 06 9:11 AM
(The Associated Press) Police stormed a small hotel where armed militants were blockaded in the southern Russian province of Dagestan on Saturday, and two rebels and a policeman died, the regional Interior Ministry said. Details of the attack on the two-story hotel with about 10 rooms near the regional capital, Makhachkala, were sketchy. But the ministry’s southern Russia division said the ...
December 6, 2008 PM Anti-Terrorism News - UnitedStatesAction.com
Pakistan on track to being named terrorist state
-— Times of India: “The United States is dusting off a long-discarded
proposal to declare Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism. But with the
Bush administration now in its final six weeks in office, a decision in
this regard is being left to the incoming Obama government, sources
said, contingent on corrective actions taken in the meantime by
Islamabad to the satisfaction of India, US and other countries affected by Pakistan’s toxic export of death.”
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pak_on_track_to_being_named_terrorist_state/articleshow/3803272.cms
-— Pakistan extends ‘war exercise’ along border
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Pak_extends_war_exercise_along_border/articleshow/3803527.cms
(Pakistan) Gunmen had elite training ‘from Pakistan’
— “India says the killers were among 500 schooled by special forces”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5298993.ece
US senators says Pakistan will act
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081206/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan_4
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/06/asia/AS-Pakistan.php
-— Indian airstrikes if Pakistan does not act fast: McCain
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\12\07\story_7-12-2008_pg1_1
-— McCain with Pakistan PM Gilani
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Gilani-Prime-Minister-Sen-John-McCain-Pakistan/photo//081206/481/7e643ab9c8684570850f809d34753e81//s:/ap/20081206/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan_4
-— December 3, 2008: Pakistan refuses to hand over suspects to India
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/3544329/Pakistan-refuses-to-hand-over-suspects-to-India-bombay-india.html
-— December 3, 2008: Pakistan will not hand over terror suspects: Reports
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pakistan_will_not_hand_over_terror_suspects_Reports/articleshow/3787462.cms
-— December 1, 2008: We’re yet to see proof on Pak link to Mumbai attacks: Gilani
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Were_yet_to_see_proof_on_Pak_link_to_Mumbai_attacks_Gilani/articleshow/3781257.cms
Pakistan ‘feared Indian attack’
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7769297.stm
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081206/wl_sthasia_afp/indiaattackspakistandiplomacy_081206215834;_ylt=ArQM3OyvA_gy5Mh..vIhFMUBS5Z4
Pakistan agrees to 48-hour timetable for action against LeT: Report
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pak_agrees_to_48-hour_timetable_for_action_against_LeT_Report/articleshow/3802793.cms
(Pakistan) Two suspected Al-Qaida terrorists held in Lahore
- suicide bomb jackets recovered from Sher Rehman and Sharafat Gul
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Top_Headlines/Two_suspected_Al-Qaida_terrorists_held_in_Lahore/articleshow/3802384.cms
(Pakistan) NWFP: ANP leader says Swat out of govt’s control
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\12\07\story_7-12-2008_pg1_2
-— see also: June 10, 2008 - Pakistan and the Growing Threat of a Sharia Mini-State
http://www.unitedstatesaction.com/blog/imm-articles/087.html
-— Pakistan Public Polls on Support for Sharia
http://www.unitedstatesaction.com/blog/imm-articles/sources_reconciliation.html#Pakistan_Sharia
(Pakistan) NWFP: 13 Taliban killed in Swat clashes
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\12\07\story_7-12-2008_pg7_8
(India) Mumbai attacks: Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) picked old hands for Mumbai attack
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/LeT_picked_old_hands_for_Mumbai_attack/articleshow/3803546.cms
-— Indian terror suspects linked to Mumbai plot
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5292508.ece
(India) Mumbai attackers involved in operations before: Police
-— “Three months ahead of the Mumbai terror attacks here, the group
of ten terrorists who carrired out the strikes were shown photos of their
targets and not allowed to meet anyone else lest the plot was leaked, a senior police official said on Saturday.”
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Mumbai_attackers_involved_in_operations_before_Police/articleshow/3802561.cms
(India) Mumbai attacks: Cops called him ‘Kasav’ as dad was a butcher
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Cops_called_him_Kasav_as_dad_was_a_butcher/articleshow/3803542.cms
-— India attacker rose from crook to militant
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/06/asia/AS-India-Shooting-Gunman.php
(India) Mumbai attacks: No prior information of attack on Nariman House, says intel
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/No_prior_information_of_attack_on_Nariman_House_says_intel/articleshow/3803544.cms
(India) Explosives found at Indian nursing home — in Nagpur
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\12\07\story_7-12-2008_pg7_15
(India) Qaida ‘threat’ has Goa in tizzy
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Qaida_threat_has_Goa_in_tizzy/rssarticleshow/3803525.cms
Hezbollah blames Sunni group for Mumbai attacks
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Hezbollah_blames_Sunni_group_for_Mumbai_attacks/rssarticleshow/3803531.cms
(Afghanistan) Ghazni Province: In the lair of the Taliban
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5288230.ece
-— Taliban promises: “We will put the Americans in their graves.”
(Afghanistan) Taliban and civilians hit by bombardment - Helmand province
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081206/wl_sthasia_afp/afghanistannatoviolencecivilians
(Iran) IAEA: ‘World failed to rein Iran nuke program’
— “ElBaradei: Policy hasn’t addressed issues; tells LA Times Teheran not planning nuclear attack on Israel”
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1227702448771&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
(Israel) IAF aircraft target Gaza Kassam crews as rocket attacks continue
— “Palestinians say two injured; defense official predicts large-scale
Gaza op possile only if ‘many people are killed in a Kassam attack’”
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1227702449129&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Palestinian Islamic Jihad: PA forces arrest wanted senior member Fa’ady Qitani
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1227702451205&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
(Russia) Three killed in storming of southern Russia hotel -— Dagestan province
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1227702448853&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
-— Police attack on southern Russia hotel leaves 2 militants, 1 officer dead
http://www.startribune.com/world/35653324.html
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If reposting elsewhere, please credit source of this research as UnitedStatesAction.com
More and more Somalis with a residence permit in Denmark are going to back their former homeland to get military training and religious school at the al-Qaeda related terror group al-Shabab. This has gotten the Danish intelligence service to pay more attention to Somalis living in Denmark, reports Politiken.
The head of the Somali Society in Aarhus, Abdirashid Sheikh Mohamud, is concerned about the development and calls it a “very sensitive area.”
“The government in Somalia has complained in the past about people from Scandinavia who support al-shabab either militarily or financially. I believe that about 15 people from Jutland traveled to Somalia to train with the group. In Zealand there are certainly several,” he says to Politiken.
He has unsuccessfully tried to warn against an extremist group among a small, non-integrated part of the 16,000 Somalis in Denmark.
“But we can’t make contact with this group of Somalis, because they often act threateningly,” he explains.
PET, the police intelligence service, has no comment, but points to information in its latest yearly report that “several people with a residence permit in Denmark are involved in or in different ways contribute support to terror related activities in several countries.” PET names here Somalia among others.
“PET is paying more attention to this tendency, because people who participated in fighting and gotten operative experience from conflict zones abroad, can constitute a security risk in Denmark,” writes PET.
Source: DR (Danish)
See also: Denmark: Money going for al-Qaeda attacks, Denmark: Danish citizens active in terrorism abroad
—
Posted By Esther to Islam in Europe at 12/06/2008 02:42:00 PM __._,_.___
Islam In Europe
News and Opinions about the Muslim
and Islamic Community in Europe and the West
http://islamineurope.blogspot.com
December 7, 2008 Anti-Terrorism News - UnitedStatesAction.com
We Remember This Date That Will Live in Infamy - December 7, 1941
http://www.pearlharborday.org/
— Day lives in infamy for Pearl Harbor survivor
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1137320&srvc=rss
— Pearl Harbor commemoration to focus on US response
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081207/ap_on_re_us/pearl_harbor_anniversary
Anti-Terrorism News online at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/unitedstatesaction/
(Pakistan) No deadline to act against LeT: Pakistan — DENY any 48 hour deadline for action against LeT
-— former ISI director Hamid Gul “reports seeking my extradition is laughable”
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/No_deadline_to_act_against_LeT_Pak/articleshow/3804270.cms
-— Mumbai attacks: Ex-ISI chief Gul terms Post report ‘nonsense’
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Pakistan/Mumbai_attacks_Ex-ISI_chief_Gul_terms_Post_report_nonsense/articleshow/3804814.cms
-— Pakistan ex-spy chief: US wants him on terror list
http://in.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idINISL27578520081207?rpc=401&;
—— Comment: if Gul is on terror list would mainstream media stop using him as source or give him his own op-ed column?
http://www.unitedstatesaction.com/blog/imm-articles/069.html#Gul
(Pakistan) Hamid Gul “godfather of the Taliban”
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/12/us_moves_to_declare.php
http://threatswatch.org/rapidrecon/2008/09/hamid-gul-alqaedas-man-in-paki/
http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/CL13Df01.html
-— western media whitewash of Hamid Gul - concealing his Islamic supremacist background
http://www.unitedstatesaction.com/blog/imm-articles/069.html#Gul
(Pakistan/India) Mumbai Attacks: November 26 terrorists trained by Pak army, navy instructors: Report
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mumbai_terrorists_trained_by_Pakistan_army_navy_Report/articleshow/3804856.cms
(Pakistan/India) Mumbai Attacks: Villagers confirm surviving Mumbai attacker is Pakistani
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/world/story/57251.html
-— Surviving terrorist hails from Pakistani Punjab: Report
http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/dec/07mumterror-captured-terrorist-is-from-pakistan-punjab-uk-daily.htm
-— India attacks: ‘Jihad was his calling’
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/World%20News/India-attacks-—Jihad-was-his-calling-
(Pakistan/India) Mumbai Attacks: ‘India Was Ready to Strike Pakistan’
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,463126,00.html
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Mumbai-Attacks-Wajid-Shamsul-Hassan-Claims-India-Was-Ready-To-Retaliate-Against-Pakistan/Article/200812115173987?lpos=UK_News_First_Home_Article_Teaser_Region_4&lid=ARTICLE_15173987_Mumbai_Attacks%3A_Wajid_Shamsul_Hassan_Claims_India_Was_Ready_To_Retaliate_Against_Pakistan
-— Hoax phone call ‘almost took Pakistan to war’
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5302549.ece
(Pakistan) Mumbai suspect lives freely in Pakistan
— Hafiz Mohammed Saeed of Lashkar-e-Taiba
— Backed by military, accused militants go unchallenged
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-pakistan-militants_barkerdec07,0,706488.story
Pakistan to thwart terrorist designs, US senators told
http://www.dawn.com/2008/12/07/top2.htm
http://www.dawn.com/2008/12/07/images/top01.jpg
(Pakistan) NWFP: More than 160 US, NATO vehicles burned in Pakistan - in Peshawar
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081207/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan_16
-— Pakistan militants torch 65 NATO supply trucks: police
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081207/wl_afp/pakistanafghanistanunrestnato_081207133711;_ylt=Aie.sXp4pLoSHeoKvnjXqIEBS5Z4
-— Taliban fighters destroy crucial Nato supplies in Pakistan
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/3658877/Taliban-fighters-destroy-crucial-Nato-supplies-in-Pakistan.html
—— Reminder:
—— December 1, 2008: Pakistan’s The News - Army official calls Baitullah Mehsud, Fazlullah ‘patriots’
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=18709
(India) Indian FM Pranab: Pakistan diverting attention by hoax call story
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Pakistan_diverting_attention_by_hoax_call_story_Pranab/articleshow/3804478.cms
(India) Andhra Pradesh Police averts Maoist attack
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/AP_Police_averts_Maoist_attack/articleshow/3805201.cms
(India) Nine injured in Assam bomb blast - Karbi Longri National Liberation Front (KNLF)
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Top_Headlines/Nine_injured_in_Assam_bomb_blast/articleshow/3802644.cms
(Pakistan/Afghanistan) Taliban urges Western troops to leave Afghanistan -— Mullah Omar
http://in.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idINL748385520081207?rpc=401&;
— Taliban Leader Mullah Omar Calls On Afghans To Boycott Election
http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20081207\ACQDJON200812070920DOWJONESDJONLINE000284.htm&selected=9999&selecteddisplaysymbol=9999&StoryTargetFrame=_top&mkt=WORLD&chk=unchecked&lang=&link=&headlinereturnpage=http://www.international.na
-— Comment: Mullah Omar is given safe haven by “ally” Pakistan, and “ally” Afghanistan seeks to negotiate with him
-—— See also:
-— U.S. Rewards for Justice: “Seeking Information Against International Terrorism: Wanted - Mullah Omar - Up to $10 Million Reward”
http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/english/index.cfm?page=MullahOmar
-— November 26, 2008: Karzai Offers Taliban Leader Mullah Omar ‘Protection’ For Peace
http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20081126\ACQDJON200811261221DOWJONESDJONLINE000762.htm&selected=9999&selecteddisplaysymbol=9999&StoryTargetFrame=_top&mkt=WORLD&chk=unchecked&lang=&link=&headlinereturnpage=http://www.international.na
-— October 3, 2008: Karzai proposes Mulla Umar to return to Afghanistan
http://www.geo.tv/10-3-2008/26156.htm
-— October 17, 2008: Jihad and the “Reconciliation” with Islamic Supremacism
http://www.unitedstatesaction.com/blog/imm-articles/109.html
(Afghanistan) Latest violence leave five Afghan soldiers, 12 Taliban dead
— in Gereshk district and Kapisa province
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/245082,latest-violence-leave-five-afghan-soldiers-12-taliban-dead—summary.html
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1227702457231&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
-— US troops kill three militants in Afghanistan — of Hezb-e-Islami in Kapsia province
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1958872&Language=en
(Afghanistan) Taliban militants release four policemen in Afghanistan
http://en.rian.ru/world/20081207/118736213.html
(Iraq) Bomb targets Iraqi police as they lift barricades - Diyala province
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081207/ts_nm/us_iraq_violence_1
Iraqi authorities detain 30 fugitives
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1958829&Language=en
(U.S.) Rice: Chance of terrorist attack is top threat
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081207/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/rice_2
— Comment: not enough of a priority to define enemy ideology of Islamic supremacism though
(U.S.) Daily Telegraph report on Obama’s Views on Guantanamo Bay and KSM Trial
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/3630797/Barack-Obama-storms-the-Guantanamo-Bay-torture-chamber.html
‘Iran test-fires sea-to-sea missile’
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1227702455812&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
(Israel) Rocket fire on western Negev continues
— “In wake of attacks, Barak decides to keep border crossings closed; IAF attacks rocket squads in Gaza”
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1227702449129&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
—— Palestinians fire three Kassam rockets at Israel; no wounded or damage
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1227702459770&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
—— IAF attacks Kassam launching squad in northern Gaza Strip
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1227702461843&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
(Israel) Livni attacks Barak, calls for reassessment of Gaza truce
— FM: “Whoever is responsible for security must act”
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1227702453952&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
(Somalia) Islamists regain ground and strength in Somalia
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-somalia-islamists7-2008dec07,0,1139540.story?track=rss
(Somalia) Ten Somalis die as insurgent group sets up local administration — in Merka
-— Al-Shabaab’s Sheik Muqtar Robow Abu Mansoor: “The new administration
will implement the (Islamic) Sharia Lawand will govern justly in the interest of the people in this town”
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-12/07/content_10466944.htm
(Somalia) Denmark: Somalis leaving to fight in Somalia
http://islamineurope.blogspot.com/2008/12/denmark-somalis-leaving-to-fight-in.html
Source: DR (Danish)
http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2008/12/06/000304.htm
Somali pirates fail to seize ship off Tanzania
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/dec/07/somali-pirates-fail-to-seize-ship-off-tanzania/
(Germany) Verdict due in German train bomb plot — Yusef Mohammed al-Hajj Dib
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081207/wl_mideast_afp/germanylebanonattackstrial_081207150819
Greek Government Urges Restraint After Riots
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,463146,00.html
(Thailand) Southern terrorist bomb claims sixth victim — in Narathiwat
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=135197
(Philippines) Marines-Sayyaf clashes erupt in Sulu, Basilan
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/138044/Marines-Sayyaf-clashes-erupt-in-Sulu-Basilan
-— Troops raid Sayyaf hideout in Sulu village, seize weapons
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/137944/Troops-raid-Sayyaf-hideout—in-Sulu-village-seize-weapons
Other News:
(U.S.) Maryland - IPT News: More Muslim Students Association (MSA) Extremism
— regarding Islamic Supremacist lecture hosted by MSA to MD’s Towson University
http://www.investigativeproject.org/blog/#66
-— lecture was alleged to by on war on terror and on drugs
-— Maryland Towson University’s Tower Light (Molly Groo) reports on Islamic supremacist Imam Abdul Alim Musa:
“Instead, with virtually no evidence to back up his points, Imam Musa
claimed that the United States and the Israelis were responsible for the
attacks on 9/11; that President-elect Barack Obama is an “idiot” because
“no black man should believe in America”; that Martin Luther King Jr. was a
coward who should have rebelled against the system more actively and
violently; that al-Qaeda doesn’t exist; and that by 2050, the Imam aims to
change the United States into an Islamic state run by Sharia law.”
http://media.www.thetowerlight.com/media/storage/paper957/news/2008/11/24/Opinion/Lecture.Demonstrated.Hate-3559238.shtml
-— Imam Abdul Alim Musa (aka) Clarence Reams
-— Musa is Founder and director of the As-Sabiqun movement, calls for Islamic supremacism:
—— “This way of life called Islam, will dominate all others.”
http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=2087
http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=7438
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/As-Sabiqun
-— ADL states: “Sabiqun traces its ideological roots to 20th century Islamic
revivalism, including the radical Muslim Brotherhood and Imam Khomeini of Iran, as well as to Malcolm X”
-— ADL states Musa “propagates a radical and anti-Semitic ideology,”
supports Hezbollah, and attended Black Panther supremacist meetings
http://www.adl.org/israel/alim_musa.asp
-— Wikipedia says Musa “references the writings of Malcolm X, Ayatollah Khomeini, Sayyid Qutb, Maulana Maududi, and Kalim Siddiqui”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul_Alim_Musa
(U.S.) Muslim Terrorist Burials: India Refuses, but US Agrees
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/128727
(U.S.) CNN courts US newspapers to expand its reach
http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,27753,24763637-31037,00.html
(Afghanistan) McCain: Afghanistan situation will get harder before it gets easier
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1227702460410&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
— Comment: no mention of confronting ideology of Islamic supremacism
Saudi Mufti urges Muslim unity
-— Saudi Mufti Sheikh Abdelaziz Al Al-Sheikh discusses idea of Islamic “security,” and links economy with Islamic supremacist Sharia
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1958871&Language=en
Netherlands: Study of Muslim youth
http://islamineurope.blogspot.com/2008/12/netherlands-study-of-muslim-youth.html
UK: Campaigners welcome force marriage legislation
http://islamineurope.blogspot.com/2008/12/uk-campaigners-welcome-force-marriage.html
(UK) Asian police chief to sue Scotland Yard
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/dec/07/scotland-yard-police-chief-sue-descrimination
Universal Declaration of Human Rights 60th anniversary on December 10
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/dec/01/universal-declaration-of-human-rights
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/11/30/eleanorroosevelt.jpg
Commentaries:
Mark Steyn: Jews get killed, but Muslims feel vulnerable
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/mumbai-muslims-time-2248410-jews-muslim#
Westerners welcome harems - by Daniel Pipes
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/dec/07/westerners-welcome-harems/
What if Muhammad never existed? — by Robert Spencer
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/023811.php
Guest Columnist: The gospel truth? — by Sean Gannon
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1227702431692&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Never Again? — by Irwin Cotler
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1227702438188&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Against Nazi News:
Romania and the Holocaust
http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,594036,00.html
__._,_.___
If reposting elsewhere, please credit source of this research as UnitedStatesAction.com
December 5, 2008
FBI helps bring remains of Somali suicide bomber back to US; given Muslim burial
ShirwaAhmed.jpg
Shirwa Ahmed: Duly buried
If the story of how an Islamic group denied Islamic burial to the Mumbai bombers last Monday was so important, why isn’t this one? If the Mumbai burial story was evidence that at least some Muslims reject the jihad ideology (which it may indeed have been), isn’t this story evidence that at least some Muslims, right here in the United States, accept it? And shouldn’t that be something to which at least some people are paying attention?
When the Muslim Jama Masjid Trust refused the Mumbai jihadists an Islamic burial, it made the news everywhere. Muqtedar Khan brought it up to me on the BBC the other day, and in response I pointed out that this gesture would have had much greater significance if not for the fact that Islamic jihad terrorists who have carried out suicide attacks and other attacks against Israel have been treated as heroes and given Islamic burials on numerous occasions.
There is also a question of the sincerity of the Muslim Jama Masjid Trust, for reasons I discussed with a commenter in this Hot Air thread.
But in any case, will this story get the same attention from the people who were so heartened by the denial of Muslim burial to the jihadists in India? After all, this is a story about an Islamic jihad-martyrdom bomber being given a Muslim burial in the United States — and if that isn’t enough, add in the little fact that the FBI seems to have pitched in (at taxpayer expense?) to bring his remains back into the country.
“One of Five Suspected Somali Suicide Bomber Laid to Rest,” by Tom Lyden for FOX 9 in Minneapolis, December 3 (thanks to all who sent this in):
BURNSVILLE, Minn. (FOX 9)—One of the five men suspected to be a suicide bomber who killed himself and 29 others last October in Somalia, was buried Wednesday at a Burnsville Cemetery.
FOX 9 has learned DNA tests have confirmed Shirwa Ahmed was one of five suicide bombers who killed himself and 29 others last October in northern Somalia.
He is also a Minnesotan and a naturalized U.S. citizen.
The FBI helped return Ahmed’s remains to his family.
At a Twin Cities cemetery in Burnsville Wednesday afternoon, the suspected suicide bomber was laid to rest.
Shirwa Ahmed, 27, was given a traditional Muslim burial.
Family and friends did not wish to talk about the circumstances of his death.
Community activist Omar Jamal is one of the few who will.
“Honestly I look at him seriously as a victim and not as a criminal, I think of him as a young victim,” says Jamal....
Uh huh. Meanwhile, we learned last week that Shirwa Ahmed may have been recruiting jihad terrorists among Muslims in Minneapolis:
“MN Man Possibly Behind Recruiting Somali Terrorists,” by Esme Murphy for WCCO.com, November 26 (thanks to Paul):
(WCCO) An investigation into terrorism recruiting among young Somalis leads to Minnesota. Shirwa Ahmed of Minneapolis is believed to have killed himself in a suicide bombing in Somalia last month. However, investigators fear he may have left a deadly legacy of recruiting other young Somalis to leave Minnesota and join terrorist groups in Somalia.
His high school pictures show a clean cut young man and neighbors at his Minneapolis apartment say lately 26-year-old Shirwa Ahmed had a thick beard.
“He doesn’t talk to people,” one neighbor said. [...]
In recent months a dozen young Somalis, some as young as 17, have left the Twin Cities, apparently headed back to Somalia where a civil war rages.
Omar Jamal, a local Somali activist, said the families of the young men are frightened.
“The families didn’t think, it never crossed their mind, that their kids would have gone to Somalia either to blow themselves up or to join the holy war,” said Jamal.
Sources tell WCCO the group suspected of recruiting the young Twin Cities men is know as al-Itihadd al-Islamiya, or AIAI, an organization with known ties to Al-Qaeda. [...]
Canjemi said the Twin Cities Somali community has been a ripe recruiting ground for AIAI for years.
“I believe this recruiting continues on a daily basis,” he said.
According to national reports Al Qaeda is enjoying resurgence in Somalia. The FBI said the U.S. government continues to be involved in an active outreach to young Somalis to keep them from being courted by radical groups.
Which may be why the FBI helped bring Ahmed’s body back to the States. But will the kuffar’s ever-present willingness to help really keep young Somali Muslims in Minneapolis from joining the jihad?
Posted at December 5, 2008 3:50 AM
December 07, 2008
Bosnia and global jihad
By Leslie S. Lebl
http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/12/bosnia_and_global_jihad.html
=== Google Blogs Alert for: jihadi threat to america or u.s. ===
Feds Scrutinize US LeT Cells
By Brother_Mujahid
According to federal officials, LeT cells within America are made up of
US-born Muslims as well as young Muslims from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the
Persian Gulf states, Yemen, Somalia and others. Those jihadi agents coming
from abroad do ...
http://forums.islamicawakening.com/showthread.php?t=19143
IA Forums
http://forums.islamicawakening.com/
Obama Threatened by Muslim Cleric
By Ben(The Truth Surge)
Al-Ashbal made other threats, which conflict with each other. “Know, Obama,
that America, with all its size and might, will know no peace as long as a
single Muslim child lacks food, drink, medicine, or housing. “If you
refuse, Obama, ...
http://www.anewtone.com/2008/12/obama-threatened-by-muslim-cleric.html
A Newt One version 808
http://www.anewtone.com/index2.html
NEW LIGHT ON THE OFFICE OF LEGAL COUNSEL
In 2004, Congress enacted an ambiguously-worded statute that made it a
crime to produce, possess, or use the variola virus (which causes
smallpox) or any derivative of it that has more than 85 percent of the
variola gene sequence.
Scientists were alarmed because the statute could be read to prohibit
possession of other viruses that are used in research, and to compromise
the development of vaccines. The National Science Advisory Board for
Biosecurity, which advises the Secretary of Health and Human Services,
recommended that the statute be repealed.
But it wasn’t repealed. Instead, it was “interpreted” by the Justice
Department Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) to eliminate the problem. The
OLC opinion, published by the Justice Department this week, said that the
prohibition extends only to viruses that cause smallpox and those that are
deliberately engineered by human manipulation of the smallpox virus itself.
The vaccine developers and other scientific researchers were off the
hook.
http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/doj/olc/variola.pdf
December 8, 2008 Anti-Terrorism News - UnitedStatesAction.com
(U.S.) Reuter: Sept. 11 defendants ask to plead guilty at Guantanamo
— Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM) “self-styled mastermind of
the September 11 attacks and four co-defendants sent a note to a
military judge at Guantanamo on Monday saying they wanted to confess and plead guilty”
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE4B73SF20081208
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,463405,00.html
-— Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to plead guilty: judge
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081208/wl_afp/usattacksjusticeguantanamoplea_081208151329
-— Judge reads document from Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other defendants
—— document states: “Our success is the greatest praise of the Lord”
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=axjP5cpUSs7k
(U.S.) Sept. 11 Defendants to Face Guantanamo Court, Victims’ Families
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,463244,00.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1092816/9-11-victims-relatives-attend-Guantanamo-hearing-attack-mastermind-Khalid-Sheikh-Mohammed.html
(Pakistan) Mumbai terror mastermind among 20 Lashker-e-Taiba activists held: Report
— Lashker-e-Taiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhwi — crackdown
in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, similar actions planned in Pakistan’s Punjab
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mumbai_terror_mastermind_among_20_LeT_activists_held_Report/articleshow/3807337.cms
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/3681764/Mumbai-attacks-Pakistan-arrests-suspected-mastermind-Zakiur-Rehman-Lakhvi.html
-— “Pakistan previously arrested Haifz Mohammed Saeed, 63, the
head and ideological director of Lashkar-e-Taiba, but then released him”
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/08/asia/08pstan-raid.php
-— Pakistan Security forces take over Lashkar camp, says witness — in Pakistan occupied Kashmir
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\12\08\story_8-12-2008_pg1_4
-— Security forces take control of Jamaat-ud-Dawa office
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/updates.asp?id=61996
-— Pakistan reportedly arrests Mumbai planner
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28104738/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7771360.stm
—— Note - no reports yet of Hamid Gul or other Islamic supremacists in Pakistan nation arrested
(Pakistan) Official silence as Pakistan nabs Mumbai plot suspect
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSISL6112920081208
(Pakistan) London Times: “It is unlikely to satisfy either Delhi or Washington
unless Islamabad follows up by prosecuting those arrested and taking further
action against other militant groups linked to attacks on Indian soil”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5305642.ece
— interviews India’s B. Raman, a former head of the Pakistan desk at the Research and Analysis Wing:
—— Raman: “We’ve seen before how Pakistan will arrest some
militants, keep them for a couple of months and then release them when the world’s not paying attention”
—— Raman: “It must not be allowed to do that this time. They have to
prosecute these people and dismantle the whole terrorist infrastructure”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5305642.ece
(Pakistan) “Asia Times Online has learned that the public faces of
the Jamaatut Dawa, such as its chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, will be spared”
http://atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JL09Df01.html
-— Asia Times: “Jamaatut Dawa, which was formed separate from the
LET’s military activities when the LET was banned in 2002, will continue to operate as a political and welfare group”
-— Asia Times: “this does not mean the end of militancy - the move will
simply pass the LET-Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) nexus to the al-Qaeda network in South Asia”
Pakistan militant group builds web of Western recruits — Lashkar-e-Taiba recruits in U.S. and UK
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-militants8-2008dec08,0,3556399.story
(Pakistan/U.S.) Mumbai attacks seen planned in Pakistan
-— “U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the Mumbai
terror carnage doubtless was planned on Pakistani territory, a charge also made by India”
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/12/07/Mumbai_attacks_seen_planned_in_Pakistan/UPI-20421228710607/
—— Rice denies 48-hour deadline for Pakistan
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\12\08\story_8-12-2008_pg1_5
(Pakistan/U.S.) US military aid to depend on Pakistan anti-militancy role
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\12\08\story_8-12-2008_pg7_1
-— Bush aides preparing Afghanistian strategy review for Obama
—— “proposal amounts to a tacit acknowledgment that roughly
$10 billion in military aid provided to Pakistan as ‘reimbursements’ for its efforts to root out militant groups has largely been wasted”
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/07/asia/strategy.php
(Pakistan/U.S.) Zardari sent right signals after attacks, says Obama
http://www.dawn.com/2008/12/08/top2.htm
—— December 4, 2008: Pakistan to try suspects, not surrender them to India, says Zardari
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\12\04\story_4-12-2008_pg1_5
—— December 3, 2008: Pakistan refuses to hand over suspects to India
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/3544329/Pakistan-refuses-to-hand-over-suspects-to-India-bombay-india.html
—— December 2, 2008: Pakistan President Zardari: ‘Pakistan in no way responsible’ for Mumbai attacks
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/12/02/pakistan.zardari.lkl/index.html
(Pakistan/U.S.) Obama vows partnership with Pakistan to resolve Afghan challenges
http://www.pakistanlink.com/Headlines/Dec08/08/07.htm
(Pakistan/U.S.) They Hate Us — and India Is Us — by Patrick French
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/08/opinion/08french.html?em
-— “The remark by Pakistan’s president, Asif Ali Zardari (a man whose history
of shady business dealing makes him demonstrably unfit for high, or even
low, office), that he did not think the terrorists came from Pakistan would be funny if it were not tragic”
Pakistan’s spies aided militants tied to attacks in Mumbai
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/08/asia/08terror.php
— Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) backed Lashkar, gave protection during Mumbai attack
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ISI_backed_Lashkar_protected_it_during_Mumbai_attack/articleshow/3809256.cms
— ISI helped LeT plan Mumbai terror attack: NYT
http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/dec/08mumterror-isi-helped-let-plan-mumbai-terror-attack-says-nyt.htm
(Pakistan) Ex-ISI chief Gul dismisses charge of Taliban, al-Qaeda link as ‘lies’
-— Hamid Gul “Dismissing US charge of his having links with the Taliban and al-Qaeda”
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Pakistan/Ex-ISI_chief_Gul_dismisses_charge_of_al-Qaeda_link_as_lies/articleshow/3808873.cms
-— Hamid Gul “godfather of the Taliban”
http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/CL13Df01.html
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/12/us_moves_to_declare.php
http://threatswatch.org/rapidrecon/2008/09/hamid-gul-alqaedas-man-in-paki/
http://www.unitedstatesaction.com/blog/imm-articles/069.html#Gul
(Pakistan) NWFP: Militants attack trucks carrying supplies for NATO troops, 90 destroyed — Peshawar
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1958950&Language=en
-— Taliban raids NATO convoys for second night
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/3682067/Taliban-raids-Nato-convoys-for-second-night.html
(Pakistan) NWFP: Peshawar slipping into chaos
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\12\08\story_8-12-2008_pg1_3
(Pakistan) NWFP: Three beheaded bodies found in Mingora — barbers
http://www.geo.tv/12-8-2008/30323.htm
(Pakistan) Lahore: ‘Explosives’ recovered from Alhamra theater
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\12\08\story_8-12-2008_pg7_20
Pakistan’s Khan obtains key nuclear components in Japan — Kyodo
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1958940&Language=en
(India) Mumbai Attacks: Mumbai attackers used every trick in the book, say experts
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\12\08\story_8-12-2008_pg7_45
(India) Secret Cabinet note warns of Qaida threat
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Secret_Cabinet_note_warns_of_Qaida_threat/rssarticleshow/3806253.cms
(Afghanistan/Pakistan) Taliban chief: More fighting to come — Mullah Omar
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/08/asia/AS-Afghanistan.php
(Afghanistan) Top Taliban commander rejects negotiations with Afghan government — Mullah Hassan Rahmani second to Mullah Omar
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/12/08/rahmani-interview.html?ref=rss
Afghanistan: Taliban ‘de facto’ power in many provinces, says report — by ICOS
-— “International Council on Security and Development [ICOS] said that
the Taliban now holds a permanent presence in 72 percent of Afghanistan”
-— Islamic supremacist Taliban advanced from southern stronghold to
“western and north-western provinces, as well as provinces north of Kabul”
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=3.0.2791226538
—— ICOS: Struggle For Kabul: The Taliban Advance
http://www.icosgroup.net/modules/reports/struggle_for_kabul
—— ICOS Full Report (PDF)
http://www.icosgroup.net/documents/Struggle_for_Kabul_ICOS.pdf
—— ICOS Map of Taliban Advance
http://www.icosgroup.net/modules/reports/struggle_for_kabul/taliban_advance
(Afghanistan) Taliban in 72 Percent of Afghanistan, Think-Tank Says
— NATO, Afghan Government Reject the Figure as Too High
http://abcnews.go.com/International/Terrorism/wireStory?id=6414377
(Afghanistan) Report: Taliban closing in on Kabul
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/12/08/Report_Taliban_closing_in_on_Kabul/UPI-42611228747188/
-— Report: Taliban now encircle Kabul
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Thinktank_West_in_danger_of_losing_1208.html
(Afghanistan) Fresh US troops to be deployed around Kabul
http://www.dawn.com/2008/12/08/top11.htm
(Afghanistan/Germany) German intelligence spied on charities in Afghanistan
http://www.expatica.com/de/articles/news/German-intelligence-spied-on-charities-in-Afghanistan—.html
Iraqi mayor among 34 hurt by roadside bomb — in Baquba
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2008/December/middleeast_December130.xml§ion=middleeast
(Iraq) American troops nab four Hezbollah militants in Iraq
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1958943&Language=en
(U.S.) Jurors in Fort Dix plot case face real dilemma
http://www.timesleader.com/news/Jurors_in_Fort_Dix_plot_case_face_real_dilemma_12-07-2008.html
-— Fort Dix Five: jihad or talk?
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/20081208_Were_Fort_Dix_Five_just_talking_tough_or_planning_for_a_jihad_.html
Iran Rejects Obama’s Carrot and Stick Policy
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,463324,00.html
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1227702464942&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
(Israel) 45 known terrorists granted amnesty
— “Pardoned Fatah members from same group that planned bus station bombing”
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=82998
Hamas Connected to Muslim Brotherhood
— “According to the source, the Egyptian government recently uncovered this connection”
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/157114
-— Report: Hamas, Muslim Brotherhood confer on Gaza siege
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3635232,00.html
Somalia: Police Commander Surrenders to Insurgents
-— Mogadishu Wadajir district police station
-— Captain Adan Mohamed Yusuf (Adan Bolis): “The country is under occupation, that is why I have decided to join Islamic fighters”
http://allafrica.com/stories/200812080704.html
Somalia: Ethiopian Troops Capture Town — border town of Balanbal in Galgadud region
— After Islamic supremacist Al-Shabaab capture three towns in central Somalia on Sunday
http://allafrica.com/stories/200812080276.html
Somalia: We Are Not Fighting With Sufis, Says Abu Mansur — Al-Shabaab’s Sheik Muqtar Robow Ali (Abu Mansur)
-— Muqtar Robow: “Muslims slaughter animals in this holiday but
I call for the Mujahidin (Islamic fighters) to slaughter the Amharas (the Ethiopian soldiers) who invaded our beloved country”
http://allafrica.com/stories/200812080277.html
Somalia ‘most danger place on earth for aid workers’
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4786525a12.html
-— Comment: notably for Western aid groups
— Rights group berates West over Somalia failure
—— Human Rights Watch blames Bush, not Islamic supremacists - by CNN “Journalist Abdinasir Mohamed Guled”
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/12/08/somalia.downward.spiral/index.html?section=cnn_latest
Somalia: Muslim Aid Foundation Supplies Medicine
http://allafrica.com/stories/200812080703.html
(Somalia) U.S. Somalis fear teens left to join jihad — AP report on Minnesota Somalians
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/dec/08/us-somalis-fear-teens-left-to-join-jihad/
Sudan’s Leaders Brace for U.S. Shift
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/07/AR2008120702819.html?hpid=topnews
German court to rule in Lebanese train bombs case
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/245180,preview-german-court-to-rule-in-lebanese-train-bombs-case.html
Turkey: Kurdish militants halt attacks during Muslim holiday
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=3.0.2791226212
Greece rocked by third day of riots
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/12/08/greece.riots/index.html
Northern Ireland man gets 16 years for attempted murder
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/08/europe/EU-NIreland-Protestant-Militant.php
Philippines: Troops clash with Islamist militants in south
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=3.0.2790955104
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/08/asia/phils.php
-— 24 soldiers killed in Philippines clashes
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/24_soldiers_killed_in_Philippines/articleshow/3806888.cms
Sri Lanka seizes bunkers outside rebel capital
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/08/asia/AS-Sri-Lanka-Civil-War.php
Other News:
(U.S.) Tancredo retires
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1208/16296.html
-— On September 18, 2008, Congressman Tom Tancredo’s office introduced “Jihad Prevention Act” (H.R. 6975)
http://www.unitedstatesaction.com/documents/HR6975.pdf
http://tancredo.house.gov/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=1386
(U.S.) Congressional panel wants inquiry into wiretapping of Muslim scholar — Ali al-Timimi
-— Representative Rush Holt says wiretapping may have impacted trial
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/08/america/wiretap.php
-— April 26, 2005: Jury Convicts Islamic Scholar of Exhortation
—— convicted in 10 counts that “of exhorting his followers in the days after Sept. 11, 2001, to join the Taliban and fight U.S. troops”
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,154635,00.html
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=62840&d=27&m=4&y=2005&pix=world.jpg&category=World
—— Dept of Justice press release on Ali al-Timimi conviction
http://www.investigativeproject.org/documents/case_docs/73.pdf
(U.S.) Laptop searches at border might get restricted
— complaints by Cisco’s Mohamed Shommo in overseas travel
— native of Sudan, not U.S. citizen, referenced in those seeking U.S. Constitutional protections from searches
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20081208/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_laptop_searches_1
Dutch politician to tour world with Fitna film — Geert Wilders
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/worldhotnews/read.php?newsid=30090490
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/245146,dutch-politician-to-tour-world-with-anti-islam-film.html
(UK) We must fight extremism, says top Muslim scholar — Dilwar Hussain
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1092757/We-fight-extremism-says-Muslim-scholar.html?ITO=1490
(Turkey) 350 ‘honour killings’ in Turkey: report
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1034045
Nigeria: Sharia Council Moves Against PDP in Kwara
http://allafrica.com/stories/200812080535.html
(Bangladesh) London doctor a forced marriage captive in Bangladesh — Humayrah Abedin
http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-57694.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1092822/Fears-London-doctor-held-hostage-family-Bangladesh-plot-make-marry-Muslim.html?ITO=1490
(Africa) Teen stoning death casts shadow on conference
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_News&set_id=1&click_id=79&art_id=vn20081208110808538C982142
— Commenting on the Somali stoning incident, [Imam Handemine Ould]
Salek said some countries instituting Sharia law do so in ignorant ways”
— Salek “who heads a network of Imams for the rights of women and children,
expressed exasperation that Islam was once again being pointed out as a religion that fuels gender-based violence”
(Egypt) Muslim plea to Obama: Return to ‘Islamic roots’ - WND version of MEMRI report
— Egyptian cleric Hassan Abu Al-Ashbal: “Allah will reward you for all who convert in your footsteps”
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=82984
Iranian prof who “Islamized” Iran’s universities now teetering on the edge of heresy
— Jihad Watch follow-up comments on Soroush in December 5 NYT report
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/023815.php
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/07/magazine/07wwln-essay-t.html?_r=1&ref=magazine
(Saudi Arabia) Iran report: ‘Al-Qaeda helps curb Saudi unrest’
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=77745§ionid=351020205
(Saudi Arabia) Militants have no link with Islam: haj sermon
— Grand Mufti Abdul Aziz Al Sheikh aka Abdelaziz Al al-Sheikh
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\12\08\story_8-12-2008_pg7_6
Saudi cleric cites crisis to press for sharia
— Grand Mufti Abdul Aziz Al Sheikh aka Abdelaziz Al al-Sheikh
-— “Muslim countries must have sharia-compliant economies and unite to become a formidable economic power”
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6aeb1b9a-c4a0-11dd-8124-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1
Saudi Arabia: Millions of Muslims take part in Haj ‘stoning’ ritual
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Religion/?id=3.0.2790978502
(France) Vandals hit French Muslim graves
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7771491.stm
U.S. Shoots Downs Missile in Simulation of Long-Range Attack
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/05/AR2008120503319.html
Commentaries:
They Hate Us — and India Is Us — by Patrick French
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/08/opinion/08french.html?em
-— “The remark by Pakistan’s president, Asif Ali Zardari (a man whose history
of shady business dealing makes him demonstrably unfit for high, or even
low, office), that he did not think the terrorists came from Pakistan would be funny if it were not tragic”
Mohamed El-Baradei Clouseau Admits His Failure to “Harness” Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Quest — by Andrew Bostom
http://www.andrewbostom.org/blog/2008/12/06/mohamed-el-baradei-clouseau-admits-his-failure-to-%e2%80%9charness%e2%80%9d-iran%e2%80%99s-nuclear-weapons-quest/
__._,_.___
If reposting elsewhere, please credit source of this research as UnitedStatesAction.com
BREAKING NEWS ALERT: F-18 PLANE CRASH IN UNIVERSITY CITY
December 8, 2008 (12:22 PM) — An F-18 aircraft has crashed in a residential area near Interstate 805 and Genessee in University City , according to a News 8 report. The pilot was reportedly able to eject before the crash. At least one home may be on fire; fire crews are at the scene. The cause of the crash was unknown.
Log on to http://www.cbs8.com/ for further details on this story as they become available.
[Radio news says 2 houses destroyed.]
December 8, 2008 PM Anti-Terrorism News - UnitedStatesAction.com
(Pakistan) Ex-Taliban hostage’s 3 months in Pakistan terror training camp
-— Islamic supremacist Taliban showed hostage photo of son - “bomb-strapped kid blowing up a U.S. Humvee”
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2008/12/06/2008-12-06_journalist_sean_langan_tells_of_life_in_.html
Pakistan rejects India’s demand to hand over Dawood, Memon, Masud
— Dawood Ibrahim, Tiger Memon, and Maulana Masood Azha (aka Masud)
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Pakistan/Pak_rejects_Indias_demand_to_hand_over_Dawood_Memon_Masud/articleshow/3809950.cms
(Pakistan) Punjab: Pak cracks down on terror outfits
— “Police in Pakistan’s Punjab province on Monday ordered the
sealing of all offices of banned religious groups, hours after security
forces launched a crackdown on the outlawed Lashker-e-Taiba and
its front organization Jamaat-ud-Dawah in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir”
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Pakistan/Pak_cracks_down_on_terror_outfits/articleshow/3810519.cms
-— Army confirms operation against banned organisations
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\12\09\story_9-12-2008_pg1_2
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=3.0.2791218851
(Pakistan) MEMRI: Lashkar-e-Taiba Leader: ‘Indians Will Continue to
Mislead the World Community By Linking Us to Lashkar[-e Taiba], The ISI, Even Al-Qaeda’
http://memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD214308
(Pakistan) US wants me on terror list: Pak former ISI chief Hamid Gul
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/US_wants_me_on_terror_list_Pak_former_ISI_chief/articleshow/3810119.cms
-— Hamid Gul “godfather of the Taliban”
http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/CL13Df01.html
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/12/us_moves_to_declare.php
http://threatswatch.org/rapidrecon/2008/09/hamid-gul-alqaedas-man-in-paki/
http://www.unitedstatesaction.com/blog/imm-articles/069.html#Gul
(Pakistan) FATA: Govt official kidnapped - Mir Ali Asmatullah Wazir
— in North Waziristan
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\12\09\story_9-12-2008_pg1_5
(Pakistan) NWFP: NATO route’s future depends on seriousness of government, or Taliban
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\12\09\story_9-12-2008_pg7_13
(Pakistan) NWFP: Troops, Taliban clash after attack on army vehicle
-— Decapitated bodies found on Mingora outskirts
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\12\09\story_9-12-2008_pg7_1
(Pakistan) NWFP: Attacks increase fears of Peshawar’s fall to Taliban
-— “Residents of the city’s Hayatabad locality believe fall is imminent”
-— Taliban assailants chanting Allahu Akbar and “death to America”
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\12\09\story_9-12-2008_pg7_12
-— see also: June 10, 2008 - Pakistan and the Growing Threat of a Sharia Mini-State
http://www.unitedstatesaction.com/blog/imm-articles/087.html
-— Pakistan Public Polls on Support for Sharia
http://www.unitedstatesaction.com/blog/imm-articles/sources_reconciliation.html#Pakistan_Sharia
(India) Mumbai attacks: Tausif, who supplied SIMs, was arrested a year ago
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Tausif_who_supplied_SIMs_was_arrested_a_year_ago/articleshow/3811224.cms
(Afghanistan) US Marines to ‘shift from Iraq to Afghanistan’
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/3686246/US-Marines-to-shift-from-Iraq-to-Afghanistan.html
(U.S.) Fort Dix Trial: Fort Dix conspiracy trial could be nearing end
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/12/fort_dix_conspiracy_trial_coul.html
— NJ terror suspect said group ‘not going to kill’
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081208/ap_on_re_us/fort_dix_plot
(U.S.) Guantanamo’s Jihad: The Show Begins... by Walid Phares
http://foxforum.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/12/08/phares_gitmo/
(U.S.) 9/11 ‘mastermind’ postpones guilty plea
-— “Sheikh Mohammed and two defendants initially told the judge of
the tribunal in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba that they were prepared to enter
pleas immediately and intended to confess to terrorism charges that could bear the death penalty.”
-— “However, they reversed course and said they would delay entering
pleas until mental capacity hearings were held on two of their fellow defendants
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24772851-23109,00.html
— Make us martyrs, 9/11 suspects dare President Bush
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article5309977.ece
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/3685099/Alleged-911-mastermind-wants-to-confess-to-plot.html
— Pentagon: 9/11 conspirators want to confess
http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/12/08/guantanamo.defendants/index.html
— 9/11 Jihadists to U.S. Military Court: “Our success is the greatest praise of the Lord”
— Bloomberg Report: Sept. 11 Suspects Offer to Plead Guilty ‘in Full’ (Update3)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=axjP5cpUSs7k
-— Judge reads document from Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other defendants
-— “’Our success is the greatest praise of the Lord,’ the judge read from the document.”
(U.S.) Oklahoma: Tulsa highway patrolman subdues armed man who “was praying for Allah to help him carry out his mission”
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/023830.php
— Trooper honored for subduing man with a gun
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20081205_16_A1_OKLAHO761585
(U.S.) America’s Bioterrorism Labs Under the Microscope
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2008/12/04/americas-bioterrorism-labs-microscope/
‘Iran rocket arsenal tripled in 2008’
— “Channel 10 reports that the Iranian arsenal of Shihab-3 missiles increased from 30 to over 100”
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1228728112652&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
French police arrest suspected new Basque ETA chief
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081208/wl_afp/francespainbasques
(Philippines) Filipino militants free 7 hostages after battle
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/09/asia/AS-Philippines-Abu-Sayyaf.php
Other News:
Bangladesh - Christian Family Beaten, Cut – and Faces Charges
-— Muslim neighbors, local council threaten to burn home of Christian converts if they file assault case
http://www.compassdirect.org/en/display.php?page=news&lang=en&length=short&idelement=5722&backpage=summaries
MEMRI: Saudi Cleric, Women’s Rights Activist in TV Debate on Types of Marriage in Arab World
-— Saudi cleric Ahmad Al-’Omari defends denying women’s equality based on Islamic supremacist Sharia
http://memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD214408
‘Fight radical Islam with ideology’ — Tawfik Hamid
— “Former terrorist tells ‘Post’: Counterbalance the brainwashing tactics that are used by teaching love”
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1228728114280&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
— May 19, 2008 - Call radical Islam by its name
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2008/05/19/2008-05-19_call_radical_islam_by_its_name.html
— January 21, 2008: The development of a jihadist’s mind
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/019659.php
-— April 3, 2007: “Traditional and even mainstream Islamic teaching accepts and promotes violence”
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/015908.php
Malaysia’s RHB Islamic drops controversial contract
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssFinancialServicesAndRealEstateNews/idUSKLR37969520081209?rpc=401&;
(U.S.) AIG Says More Will Get Retention Pay, Top Award of $4 Million
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601203&sid=ai_nK0aSYPtA&refer=insurance
-— End U.S. Ownership of Sharia Business Now Petition
http://www.petitiononline.com/stopaig/petition.html
-— AIG Defies U.S. Taxpayers by Promoting Sharia in America
http://anti-jihad.org/blog/2008/12/aig-defies-us-taxpayers/
Commentaries:
Guantanamo’s Jihad: The Show Begins... by Walid Phares
http://foxforum.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/12/08/phares_gitmo/
Why India Is Still Skeptical of Pakistan’s Anti-Terror Efforts
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1865044,00.html?xid=rss-world
The United Islamist Nations by Supna Zaidi
http://www.meforum.org/article/2020
‘Islamophobia’ or ‘Truthophobia’? - by Matthias Kuntzel
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122869182286886467.html
http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/archives/023826.php
Iraq is still Iraq, but end of al-Qaeda in Iraq puts end truly in sight
— Author Michael Totten does not get that Al-Qaeda is not the only enemy in Iraq
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2008/12/08/2008-12-08_iraq_is_still_iraq_but_end_of_alqaeda_in.html
__._,_.___
If reposting elsewhere, please credit source of this research as UnitedStatesAction.com
Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2008 11:05:13 -0500
From: National Security Archive archive@GWU.EDU
Subject: Reagan, Gorbachev and Bush at Governor’s Island
National Security Archive Update, December 8, 2008
Reagan, Gorbachev and Bush at Governor’s Island
Previously Secret Documents from Soviet and U.S. Files
On the 1988 Summit in New York, 20 Years Later
Edited by Dr. Svetlana Savranskaya and Thomas Blanton
For more information contact:
(202) 994-7000 or nsarchiv@gwu.edu
Washington, DC, December 8, 2008 - Previously secret Soviet documentation shows that Mikhail Gorbachev was prepared for rapid arms control progress leading towards nuclear abolition at the time of his last official meeting with President Reagan, at Governor’s Island, New York in December 1988; but President-elect George H. W. Bush, who also attended the meeting, said “he would need a little time to review the issues” and lost at least a year of dramatic arms reductions that were possible had there been a more forthcoming U.S. position.
The new documentation posted today by the National Security Archive at George Washington University (www.nsarchive.org) includes highest-level memos from Gorbachev advisors leading up to Gorbachev’s famous speech at the United Nations during the New York visit, notes of Politburo discussions before and after the speech and the Reagan-Bush meeting, CIA estimates before and after the speech showing how surprised American officials had been and how reluctant the new Bush administration was to meet Gorbachev even half-way, and the declassified U.S. transcript of the private meeting between Reagan, Bush and Gorbachev on December 7.
Visit the Web site of the National Security Archive for more information.
Truckload of baby formula stolen from Grandville
WZZM - Grand Rapids,MI,USA
(WZZM) - The Grandville Police Department is looking for a stolen truckload
of Enfamil Lipil. The baby formula is valued at approximately $688000. ...
http://www.wzzm13.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=101322&catid=14
See all stories on this topic:
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ncl=http://www.wzzm13.com/news/story.aspx%3Fstoryid%3D101322%26catid%3D14
http://washingtondc.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel08/wfo120808a.htm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2008 (202) 514-2007 TDD (202) 514-1888
Colombian Terror Organization Leader Indicted for Two Separate Hostage Takings of U.S. Citizens in 1999 and 2003
WASHINGTON—A federal grand jury in the District of Colombia has indicted Carlos Marin Guarin, also known as “Pablo,” also known as Gustavo Anibal Giraldo Quinchia, a high-ranking member of the terrorist group the National Liberation Army (in Spanish the “Ejercito De Liberacion Nacional,” or “ELN” for short), in connection with two separate hostage takings of United States citizens which took place in Colombia in 1999 and 2003, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Taylor and Patrick Rowan, Assistant Attorney General, National Security Division, U.S. Department of Justice, announced today.
Carlos Marin Guarin, 40, is currently incarcerated in Colombia on other charges. The ELN has been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the Secretary of State of the United States since 1997.
The indictment in the first matter, which was returned on December 4, 2008 , alleges that on May 13, 1999 , armed members of the ELN kidnapped American citizen Matthew A. Burchell and held him hostage for fifteen months, until August 5, 2000 . The ELN told Burchell, and those negotiating for his release, that Burchell had been seized in the hope that a ransom would be paid to the group by a United States or British company.
During his fifteen months of confinement, Burchell was put through two mock executions, bound, taken on long journeys while blindfolded and given numerous death threats. Guarin, then the ELN’s Eastern Front Commander, conspired with others to carry out the hostage taking of Burchell. In addition, Guarin acted as the primary negotiator for the ELN throughout the ransom negotiations. The indictment charges Guarin with conspiracy to commit hostage taking and hostage taking (aiding and abetting and causing an act to be done).
The indictment in the second matter, which was returned on December 5, 2008, alleges that on January 21, 2003, Scott A. Dalton, a United States and citizen, and Alison Ruth Morris, a British citizen by birth and a United States permanent resident, were working as professional journalists on assignment for The Los Angeles Times in the Arauca province of Colombia, when they were taken hostage and held captive under armed guard for twelve days by the Eastern War Front of the ELN, under the command of Guarin.
During that time, Guarin forced the journalists to interview him. Guarin also caused a letter bearing his nom de guerre “Pablo” to be sent on behalf of the General Command of the ELN to the Reuters international news agency, demanding that the government of Colombia form a commission and undertake certain actions as a condition for the release of the hostages. The hostages were eventually released unharmed. The indictment charges Guarin with conspiracy to commit hostage taking and hostage taking (aiding and abetting and causing an act to be done) and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence. This indictment supersedes a previous indictment that was returned in 2003 and unsealed today.
In announcing the indictments, U.S. Attorney Taylor and Assistant Attorney General Rowan praised the hard work of the FBI’s Miami Extraterritorial Squad, in particular lead case agents Special Agent Christopher Carbonneau and Special Agent Manuel Ortega, as well as Special Agent M. Alexandra Montilla, Supervisory Special Agent Alex Barbeito, Intelligence Analyst Christopher Wright of FBI Miami, FBI Legal Attaché Joseph Jeziorski based in Bogotá, Colombia.
Furthermore, they acknowledged the efforts of Paralegal Nadia Arnett Snoddy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and Trial Attorney Matthew F. Blue of the Counterterrorism Section of the National Security Division of the Department of Justice and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brenda J. Johnson and Jeanne M. Hauch, who are prosecuting the case.
The charges contained in these indictments are allegations only and the defendant is presumed innocent until convicted at trial.
http://washingtondc.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel08/wfo120808.htm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2008 (202) 514-2007 TDD (202) 514-1888
Five Blackwater Employees Indicted on Manslaughter and Weapons Charges for Fatal Nisur Square Shooting in Iraq
A Sixth Blackwater Employee Pleads Guilty to His Role in the Shooting
WASHINGTON —A 35-count indictment was unsealed today in the District of Columbia charging five Blackwater security guards with voluntary manslaughter, attempt to commit manslaughter, and weapons violations for their alleged roles in the Sept.16, 2007, shooting at Nisur Square in Baghdad, Iraq. The defendants are charged with killing 14 unarmed civilians and wounding 20 other individuals.
In addition, a sixth Blackwater security guard pleaded guilty on Dec. 5, 2008, to charges of voluntary manslaughter and attempt to commit manslaughter for his role in the Sept. 16, 2007, shooting at Nisur Square. This guilty plea was also unsealed today.
The indictment against the five defendants and the guilty plea by a sixth defendant were announced today by Patrick Rowan, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; Jeffrey A. Taylor, United States Attorney for the District of Columbia; and Joseph Persichini, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, FBI Washington Field Office.
The indictment, which was returned under seal on Dec. 4, 2008, charges Paul A. Slough, age 29, of Keller, Texas; Nicholas A. Slatten, age 24, of Sparta, Tennessee; Evan S. Liberty, age 26, of Rochester, New Hampshire; Dustin L. Heard, age 27, of Maryville, Tennessee; and Donald W. Ball, age 26, of West Valley City, Utah. Each of the defendants is charged with 14 counts of voluntary manslaughter, 20 counts of attempt to commit manslaughter, and one count of using and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
The defendants, who surrendered to federal authorities this morning in Utah, are scheduled to appear today in federal court in Salt Lake City at 1:30 pm (Mountain Time). If convicted of the charges against them, the defendants face a potential maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment for each count of manslaughter, seven years of imprisonment for each count of attempt to commit manslaughter, and a mandatory minimum imprisonment of 30 years for the firearms count.
The indictment represents the first prosecution under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA) to be filed against non-Defense Department private contractors, which was not possible prior to the 2004 amendments to MEJA that specifically expanded the reach of MEJA to non-Defense Department contractors who provide services “in support of the mission of the Department of Defense overseas.”
“The government alleges in the documents unsealed today that at least 34 unarmed Iraqi civilians, including women and children, were killed or injured without justification or provocation by these Blackwater security guards in the shooting at Nisur Square. Today’s indictment and guilty plea demonstrate that those who engage in unprovoked and illegal attacks on civilians, whether during times of conflict or times of peace, will be held accountable,” said Patrick Rowan, Assistant Attorney General for National Security.
“We honor the brave service of the many U.S. contractors who are employed to support the mission of our Armed Forces in extremely difficult circumstances. Today, we honor that service by holding accountable the very few individuals who abused that employment by committing some very serious crimes against dozens of innocent civilians,” stated Jeff Taylor, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia .
“Today’s indictments illustrate the FBI’s expanded responsibilities and its dedication to respond to any crime scene; be it in the United States or on foreign soil. The FBI will continue to work with its law enforcement partners in this country and abroad to ensure that the nation’s federal laws are enforced,” said Joseph Persichini, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, FBI Washington Field Office.
According to the indictment, the defendants were all employed by the Armed Forces outside the United States—that is, the defendants were employed as independent contractors and employees of Blackwater Worldwide, a contractor of the Department of State, to provide personal security services related to supporting the mission of the Department of Defense in the Republic of Iraq, within the meaning of MEJA.
All events alleged in the indictment took place outside of the jurisdiction of any particular State or district and within the venue of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, as provided by 18 U.S.C. § 3238.
Counts 1-14 of the indictment charge the defendants with committing voluntary manslaughter by killing the following individuals: 1) Amed Haithem Ahmed Al Rubia’y, 2) Mahassin Mohssen Kadhum Al-Khazali, 3) Osama Fadhil Abbas, 4) Ali Mohammed Hafedh Abdul Razzaq, 5) Mohamed Abbas Mahmoud, 6) Qasim Mohamed Abbas Mahmoud, 7) Sa’adi Ali Abbas Alkarkh, 8) Mushtaq Karim Abd Al-Razzaq, 9) Ghaniyah Hassan Ali, 10) Ibrahim Abid Ayash, 11) Hamoud Sa’eed Abttan, 12) Uday Ismail Ibrahiem, 13) Mahdi Sahib Nasir, and 14) Ali Khalil Abdul Hussein.
Counts 15 through 34 of the indictment charge the defendants with attempting to commit manslaughter by attempting to kill the following 20 additional individuals who were wounded as a result of the shooting: 15) Majed Salman Abdel Kareem Al-Gharbawi; 16) Jennan Hafidh Abid al-Razzaq; 17) Yasmin Abdul Kidr Salhe; 18) Mohanad Wadhnah; 19) Haydar Ahmad Rabie Hussain Al-Khafaji; 20) Hassan Jaber Salman; 21) Farid Walid Hasoun Al-Kasab; 22) Abdul Amir Raheem Jihan Yasser; 23) Wisam Raheem Fliah Hasan Al-Miri; 24) Talib Mutluk Diwan; 25) Adel Jaber Sham’ma Al-Jadiri; 26) Nasir Hamzah Latif Al-Rikabi; 27) Mahdi Abid Khider Abbas Al-Faraji; 28) Abdul Wahab Abdul Qadar Al-Qalamchi; 29) Bara Sadoon Ismail Al-Ani; 30) Sami Hawa Hamud Al-Sabahin; 31) Fawziyyah Aliwi Hassoon; 32) Ali Hadi Naji Al-Rubaie; 33) Alah Majeed Sghair Zaidi; and 34) Jassim Mohammad Hashim.
Count 35 of the indictment charges the defendants with knowingly using and discharging firearms, that is, an SR-25 sniper rifle; machine guns (M-4 assault rifles and M-240 machine guns); and destructive devices (M-203 grenade launchers and grenades), during and in relation to a crime of violence for which each of them may be prosecuted in a court of the United States.
Also announced today was the unsealing of a guilty plea by Jeremy P. Ridgeway, age 35, of California. On Dec. 5, 2008, Ridgeway pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia before U.S. District Judge Ricardo Urbina to a superseding criminal information charging him with voluntary manslaughter and attempt to commit manslaughter for his role in the September 16, 2007, shooting at Nisur Square. A sentencing date has not been set by the court.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The Iraqi Ministry of Interior and the Iraqi National Police also provided cooperation and assistance in the investigation.
The prosecution is being handled Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth C. Kohl and Jonathan M. Malis from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, as well as Barry Jonas, Trial Attorney from the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
The public is reminded that an indictment is merely a formal charging document notifying a defendant of the charges against him or her. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
TSA Week at a Glance (November 24, 2008 - November 30, 2008)
* 4 passengers were arrested due to suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
* 17 firearms found at checkpoints
* 6 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 23 incidents that involved a checkpoint closure, terminal evacuation or sterile area breach
December 9, 2008 Anti-Terrorism News - UnitedStatesAction.com
Al-Qaeda suspects saw Guantanamo trial as ‘joke’
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/3688378/Al-Qaeda-suspects-saw-Guantanamo-trial-as-joke.html
-— Ramzi bin al-Shibh: “’I reaffirm my allegiance to Osama
bin Laden,’ he said in Arabic at the end of the hearing. ‘I hope
the jihad continues and I hope it hits the heart of America with weapons of mass destruction.’”
-— Ramzi bin al-Shibh offers “congratulations” to Osama Bin Laden and “the entire Islamic world” on Eid al-Adha
-—— Guantanamo’s Jihad: The Show Begins... by Walid Phares
http://foxforum.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/12/08/phares_gitmo/
(Al-Qaeda) 9/11 plotters offer, withdraw guilty plea
— “withdrew their offer to plead guilty when a military judge raised
questions about whether the plea would bar them from receiving the death penalty, something the five want”
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/12/09/911_plotters_offer_withdraw_guilty_plea/UPI-18981228832445/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/08/AR2008120801087.html?hpid=topnews
Pakistan: We’re ready for war
— “Pakistan’s foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, also insisted he would not hand over any suspects in the Mumbai attacks”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/3688288/Pakistan-Were-ready-for-war-with-India.html
(Pakistan) Jaish-e-Mohammed founder Maulana Masood Azhar under house arrest
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Pakistan/JeM_chief_Masood_Azhar_under_house_arrest/articleshow/3811634.cms
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=1de1f448-fb14-41b6-b674-3411bdbd9347&ParentID=4b698260-a435-449d-bc22-2d8102525aa9&&Headline=Masood+Azhar+put+under+house+arrest
Pakistan arrests Mumbai ‘mastermind’ fingered by surviving terrorist in raid on militant camp
-— follow-up report on Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1092802/Pakistan-arrests-Mumbai-mastermind-fingered-surviving-terrorist-raid-militant-camp.html
Pakistan arrests do little to stop Lashkar-e-Taiba
— LeT tells Washington Times that “Militant group thousands strong”
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/dec/09/pakistan-arrests-do-little-to-stop-lashkar/
(Pakistan) After Dawood, Masood and Memon, Pak denies India access to Mumbai attack mastermind
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Pakistan/After_Dawood_Masood_and_Memon_Pak_denies_India_access_to_Mumbai_attack_mastermind/articleshow/3813657.cms
Pakistan not to hand over Mumbai terror suspects to India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Pakistan/Pakistan_not_to_hand_over_Mumbai_terror_suspects_to_India/articleshow/3812333.cms
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5311366.ece
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081209/wl_sthasia_afp/indiaattacks_081209125808;_ylt=AtINzjHDjy5APerV4k0O3PoBS5Z4
— Pakistan Arrests 20 Mumbai Suspects, Won’t Extradite to India
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,464046,00.html
(Pakistan) Zardari to India: ‘Take a breath’
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/12/09/pakistan.india/index.html
— Action being taken against non-state actors: Zardari
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Action_being_taken_against_non-state_actors_Zardari/articleshow/3812705.cms
—— December 4, 2008: Pakistan to try suspects, not surrender them to India, says Zardari
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\12\04\story_4-12-2008_pg1_5
—— December 3, 2008: Pakistan refuses to hand over suspects to India
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/3544329/Pakistan-refuses-to-hand-over-suspects-to-India-bombay-india.html
—— December 2, 2008: Pakistan President Zardari: ‘Pakistan in no way responsible’ for Mumbai attacks
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/12/02/pakistan.zardari.lkl/index.html
(Pakistan/U.S.) Pakistan aid must be linked to its terror record: US lawmaker — Congressman Frank Pallone
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Fight_terror_or_face_aid_cut_US_lawmaker_to_Pakistan/articleshow/3807285.cms
(Pakistan) WND: Taliban threatens Pakistan takeover
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=83045
(Pakistan) Bruce Riedel: “It would be a nightmare if the Indians do find
evidence of Pakistani government participation either through the army or the intelligence services”
-— When asked “Is Pakistan really an ally of the United States in the war against terror?”
-— Reidel states: “It is one of the most important allies we have”
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,595148,00.html
—— See Also:
—— December 1, 2008: Pakistan’s The News - Army official calls Baitullah Mehsud, Fazlullah ‘patriots’
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=18709
—— August 4, 2008: Pakistan and Another “Wake-Up Call”
http://www.unitedstatesaction.com/blog/imm-articles/096.html
—— August 1, 2008: Pakistan and Delusions about Negotiating on Jihad
http://www.unitedstatesaction.com/blog/imm-articles/095.html
—— August 2, 2008 - Wall Street Journal: U.S. Ties Pakistani Intelligence to Attack in Kabul
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121755998577303583.html?mod=rss_whats_news_asia
—— August 1, 2008 - International Herald Tribune: Pakistanis aided attack in Kabul, U.S. officials say
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/08/01/asia/01pstan.php
—— July 30, 2008 -International Herald Tribune: CIA outlines Pakistan links with militants
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/30/asia/30pstan.php
—— June 10, 2008: Pakistan and the Growing Threat of a Sharia Mini-State
http://www.unitedstatesaction.com/blog/imm-articles/087.html
—— May 22, 2008: Another Pakistan Deal with the Taliban Jihadists
http://www.unitedstatesaction.com/blog/imm-articles/086.html
-— Pakistan Public Polls on Support for Sharia
http://www.unitedstatesaction.com/blog/imm-articles/sources_reconciliation.html#Pakistan_Sharia
(India) Mumbai attackers used sophisticated technology
— “attackers used GPS handsets and satellite photos, and communicated with their handlers via hard-to-trace Internet phones”
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/09/asia/attack.php
(India) Google Earth accused of aiding terrorists
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article5311241.ece
— PIL demands removal of country’s images from Google Earth
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/PIL_against_India_pics_on_Google_Earth/articleshow/3814679.cms
India not impressed by Azhar detention, wants handover
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=HomePage&id=4b698260-a435-449d-bc22-2d8102525aa9&&Headline=India+not+impressed+by+Azhar%27s+detention%2c+wants+handover
(India) Hindustan Times: “Have your say: Are the actions taken by Pak merely an eyewash?”
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Submitcontent/SubmitFeedback.aspx?Mode=Story&FId=dd6f3df3-848a-495e-b75a-fdfc985f612f&StoryId=4b698260-a435-449d-bc22-2d8102525aa9&StoryHeadline=India+not+impressed+by+Azhar%27s+detention%2c+wants+handover&FHeadline=Are+the+actions+taken+by+Pak+merely+an+eyewash%3f&RefUrl=..\StoryPage\StoryPage.aspx?Id=4b698260-a435-449d-bc22-2d8102525aa9
(India) Police release names and photos of all 10 terrorists involved in Mumbai attack
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cops_release_names_and_photos_of_all_10_terrorists_involved_in_Mumbai_attack/articleshow/3814427.cms?TOI_latestnews
(India) Chabad to rebuild Mumbai Jewish Center
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mumbai/Chabad_to_rebuild_Mumbai_Jewish_centre/articleshow/3813497.cms
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/09/asia/AS-India-Shooting.php
-— Heroism vs. terrorism
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1050034
(Afghanistan) NATO Kills Taliban Commander in Targeted Operation - Mohammad Bobi
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,464064,00.html
Iraq police arrest mastermind behind Falluja explosions — Tariq al-Qurbali
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/245377,iraq-police-arrest-mastermind-behind-falluja-explosions—summary.html
(Iran) Cleric: Muslim anger will burn Israelis — Former Iranian president Rafsanjani
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1228728119814&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
(Iran) Russian diplomat: Iran not yet able to build nuclear bomb
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/3689314/Russian-diplomat-Iran-not-yet-able-to-build-nuclear-bomb.html
(Iran/U.S.) Ex-officials: Obama can settle Iranian nuclear standoff
— Former US Defense Secretary William Perry: Strong cooperation
between Moscow and Washington essential for settling Iranian nuclear program dispute
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1228728124586&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
(Lebanon) Carter to meet with officials in Beirut
— “Former US president does not rule out meeting with Hizbullah leaders; visit to also include Syria”
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1228728114042&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
— Hezbollah Meeting on the Agenda for Jimmy Carter?
—— Carter’s press secretary Deanna Congileo: “We are in contact with
major parliamentary blocs, and we anticipate meeting with almost all”
http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=40451
— Naharnet News: Carter will meet with Lebanese President and parliamentary speaker
-— “Carter is also scheduled to meet with representatives of several parliamentary blocs, including Hizbullah”
http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/Lebanon/115AE0E447BC58A8C2257518002FD0E0?OpenDocument
(Israel) Livni: I am ashamed to call situation with Gaza a ceasefire
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1228728121439&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
(Somalia) Witnesses: Ethiopians troops pouring into Somalia
— “to fight radical Islamists who have taken over much of the country”
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/09/africa/AF-Somalia.php
Somali pirates threat force cruise ship evacuation
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/09/news/Piracy.php
(Germany) Suitcase bomber jailed for life in Germany
— Lebanese Yusef Mohammed al-Hajj Dib
— German state prosecutor Duscha Gmel: “Germany was never closer to an Islamist attack”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/3688833/Suitcase-bomber-jailed-for-life-in-Germany.html
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,595339,00.html
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=3.0.2795286938
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/09/europe/09germany-sentence-cnd.php
-— Germany: Lebanese sentenced for 15 years in train terrorism case
http://islamineurope.blogspot.com/2008/12/germany-lebanese-sentenced-for-15-years.html
http://www.thelocal.de/national/20081209-16001.html
Greek youths occupy consulate office in Berlin
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Top_Headlines/Greek_youths_occupy_consulate_office_in_Berlin/articleshow/3810831.cms
— Greek violence spreads to parliament
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article5312867.ece
Philippines: ‘No ceasefire during Christmas’, says rebel leader — Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=3.0.2794626023
(Thailand) Southern terrorist bomb claims sixth victim — in Narathiwat
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=135197
Other News:
(U.S.) Pentagon Turnover Rolls Hesham Islam
http://www.investigativeproject.org/blog/#68
— Inside the Ring: Islam leaving
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/dec/04/inside-the-ring-70978545/?page=4
(Canada) Stir over talking doll’s ‘Islamic’ message
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/12/09/Stir_over_talking_dolls_Islamic_message/UPI-21801228828952/
http://www.labelthatdoll.com/
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/ask-mattel-to-recall-islam-promoting-doll
(Denmark) Copenhagen: Muslims riot on Eid al-Adha
http://islamineurope.blogspot.com/2008/12/copenhagen-muslims-riot-on-eid-al-adha.html
http://www.cphpost.dk/get/110149.html
(UK) Prison cops in 5 hour Muslim riot
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2018421.ece
(UK) Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK (MPACUK): “Understanding The Philosophy Of Muslim Violence”
http://www.mpacuk.org/content/view/5140/102/
— MPACUK uses video of Black Panther Stokely Carmichael to justify calls for violence by Islamic supremacism
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGisMOY6M4c&eurl=http://www.mpacuk.org/content/view/5140/102/&feature=player_embedded
-— historical challenge of identity-based supremacism justifying violence
http://www.unitedstatesaction.com/blog/imm-articles/090.html
— Background on Black Panther Stokely Carmichael
http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=1516
— Wikipedia on Black supremacy ideology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_supremacy
— SPLC article on Black Supremacism: “Black Supremacists”
http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=705
— SPLC on Black Separatist Active U.S. Hate Groups, includes New Black Panther Group
http://www.splcenter.org/intel/map/type.jsp?DT=3
(Netherlands) Dutch founder of ex-Muslim group to present film critical of Islam — Ehsan Jami
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/245304,dutch-founder-of-ex-muslim-group-to-present-film-critical-of-islam.html
Iran students protest amid heavy security
— on Sunday: “Iranian students held a protest on Sunday at Tehran
University calling for freedom and denouncing the policies of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a pro-reform student group said”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081207/wl_mideast_afp/iranstudentdemo_081207231005;_ylt=AgmUsZtOiSP35_PvARj_3OT5SpZ4
Morocco: King pardons hundreds of convicts for Eid al-Adha
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=3.0.2794698706
(Saudi Arabia) Muslims stone the ‘devil’ as hajj nears end
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28137066/
World’s first virtual world for Muslims is launched
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1093102/Worlds-virtual-world-Muslims-launched.html
Australian Newspaper The Age - Business Day: “We are all Islamic bankers now”
http://business.theage.com.au/business/world-business/we-are-all-islamic-bankers-now-20081208-6tli.html
Israel pioneers electric car network
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/3687048/Israel-pioneers-electric-car-network.html
Commentaries:
A Modern-day Islamist Inquisition? by Walid Phares
http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/12/a_modernday_islamist_inquisiti.html
The Confrontation Requires Adopting “The Plan” by Walid Phares
http://www.thecuttingedgenews.com/index.php?article=975&pageid=20&pagename=Security
__._,_.___
If reposting elsewhere, please credit source of this research as UnitedStatesAction.com
http://chicago.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel08/dec09_08.htm
SEQUITURU.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney
Northern District of Illinois
Patrick J. Fitzgerald
United States
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY OCTOBER 28, 2008
www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln
Federal Building
219 South Dearborn Street, 5th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60604
(312) 353-5300
PRESS CONTACT:
Randall Samborn 312-353-5318
ILLINOIS GOV. ROD R. BLAGOJEVICH AND HIS CHIEF OF STAFF JOHN HARRIS ARRESTED ON FEDERAL CORRUPTION CHARGES
Blagojevich and aide allegedly conspired to sell U.S. Senate appointment, engaged in “pay-to-play” schemes and threatened to withhold state assistance to Tribune Company for Wrigley Field to induce purge of newspaper editorial writers
CHICAGO – Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich and his Chief of Staff, John Harris, were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges alleging that they and others are engaging in ongoing criminal activity: conspiring to obtain personal financial benefits for Blagojevich by leveraging his sole authority to appoint a United States Senator; threatening to withhold substantial state assistance to the Tribune Company in connection with the sale of Wrigley Field to induce the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members sharply critical of Blagojevich; and to obtain campaign contributions in exchange for official actions – both historically and now in a push before a new state ethics law takes effect January 1, 2009.
Blagojevich, 51, and Harris, 46, both of Chicago, were each charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery. They were charged in a two-count criminal complaint that was sworn out on Sunday and unsealed today following their arrests, which occurred without incident, announced Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Both men were expected to appear later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan in U.S. District Court in Chicago.
A 76-page FBI affidavit alleges that Blagojevich was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps during the last month conspiring to sell or trade Illinois’ U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama for financial and other personal benefits for himself and his wife. At various times, in exchange for the Senate appointment, Blagojevich discussed obtaining:
* A substantial salary for himself at a either a non-profit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions;
* Placing his wife on paid corporate boards where he speculated she might garner as much as $150,000 a year;
* Promises of campaign funds – including cash up front; and
* A cabinet post or ambassadorship for himself.
Just last week, on December 4, Blagojevich allegedly told an advisor that he might “get some (money) up front, maybe” from Senate Candidate 5, if he named Senate Candidate 5 to the Senate seat, to insure that Senate Candidate 5 kept a promise about raising money for Blagojevich if he ran for re-election. In a recorded conversation on October 31, Blagojevich described an earlier approach by an associate of Senate Candidate 5 as follows: “We were approached ‘pay to play.’ That, you know, he’d raise 500 grand. An emissary came. Then the other guy would raise a million, if I made him (Senate Candidate 5) a Senator.”
On November 7, Blagojevich said he needed to consider his family and that he is “financially” hurting while talking on the phone about the Senate seat with Harris and an advisor, the affidavit states. Harris allegedly said that they were considering what would help the “financial security” of the Blagojevich family and what will keep Blagojevich “politically viable.” Blagojevich stated, “I want to make money,” adding later that he is interested in making $250,000 to $300,000 a year, the complaint alleges.
On November 10, in a lengthy telephone call with numerous advisors that included discussion about Blagojevich obtaining a lucrative job with a union-affiliated organization in exchange for appointing a particular Senate Candidate whom he believed was favored by the President-elect and which is described in more detail below, Blagojevich and others discussed various ways Blagojevich could “monetize” the relationships he has made as governor to make money after leaving that office.
“The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering,” Mr. Fitzgerald said. “They allege that Blagojevich put a ‘for sale’ sign on the naming of a United States Senator; involved himself personally in pay-to-play schemes with the urgency of a salesman meeting his annual sales target; and corruptly used his office in an effort to trample editorial voices of criticism. The citizens of Illinois deserve public officials who act solely in the public’s interest, without putting a price tag on government appointments, contracts and decisions,” he added.
Mr. Grant said: “Many, including myself, thought that the recent conviction of former governor would usher in a new era of honesty and reform in Illinois politics. Clearly, the charges announced today reveal that the office of the Governor has become nothing more than a vehicle for self-enrichment, unrestricted by party affiliation and taking Illinois politics to a new low.”
Mr. Fitzgerald and Mr. Grant thanked the Chicago offices of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General for assisting in the ongoing investigation. The probe is part of Operation Board Games, a five-year-old public corruption investigation of pay-to-play schemes, including insider-dealing, influence-peddling and kickbacks involving private interests and public duties.
Federal agents today also executed search warrants at the offices of Friends of Blagojevich located at 4147 North Ravenswood, Suite 300, and at the Thompson Center office of Deputy Governor A.
Pay-to-Play Schemes
The charges include historical allegations that Blagojevich and Harris schemed with others – including previously convicted defendants Antoin Rezko, Stuart Levine, Ali Ata and others – since becoming governor in 2002 to obtain and attempt to obtain financial benefits for himself, his family and third parties, including his campaign committee, Friends of Blagojevich, in exchange for appointments to state boards and commissions, state employment, state contracts and access to state funds. A portion of the affidavit recounts the testimony of various witnesses at Rezko’s trial earlier this year.
The charges focus, however, on events since October when the Government obtained information that Blagojevich and Fundraiser A, who is chairman of Friends of Blagojevich, were accelerating Blagojevich’s allegedly corrupt fund-raising activities to accumulate as much money as possible this year before a new state ethics law would severely curtail Blagojevich’s ability to raise money from individuals and entities that have existing contracts worth more than $50,000 with the State of Illinois. Agents learned that Blagojevich was seeking approximately $2.5 million in campaign contributions by the end of the year, principally from or through individuals or entities – many of which have received state contacts or appointments – identified on a list maintained by Friends of Blagojevich, which the FBI has obtained.
The affidavit details multiple incidents involving efforts by Blagojevich to obtain campaign contributions in connection with official actions as governor, including these three in early October:
* After an October 6 meeting with Harris and Individuals A and B, during which Individual B sought state help with a business venture, Blagojevich told Individual A to approach Individual B about raising $100,000 for Friends of Blagojevich this year. Individual A said he later learned that Blagojevich reached out directly to Individual B to ask about holding a fund-raiser;
* Also on October 6, Blagojevich told Individual A that he expected Highway Contractor 1 to raise $500,000 in contributions and that he was willing to commit additional state money to a Tollway project – beyond $1.8 billion that Blagojevich announced on October15 – but was waiting to see how much money the contractor raised for Friends of Blagojevich; and
* On October 8, Blagojevich told Individual A that he wanted to obtain a $50,000 contribution from Hospital Executive 1, the chief executive officer of Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, which had recently received a commitment of $8 million in state funds. When the contribution was not forthcoming, Blagojevich discussed with Deputy Governor A the feasibility of rescinding the funding.
On October 21, the Government obtained a court order authorizing the interception of conversations in both a personal office and a conference room used by Blagojevich at the offices of Friends of Blagojevich. The FBI began intercepting conversations in those rooms on the morning of October 22. A second court order was obtained last month allowing those interceptions to continue. On October 29, a court order was signed authorizing the interception of conversations on a hardline telephone used by Blagojevich at his home. That wiretap was extended for 30 days on November 26, according to the affidavit.
Another alleged example of a pay-to-play scheme was captured in separate telephone conversations that Blagojevich had with Fundraiser A on November 13 and Lobbyist 1 on December 3. Lobbyist 1 was reporting to Blagojevich about his efforts to collect a contribution from Contributor 1 and related that he “got in his face” to make it clear to Contributor 1 that a commitment to make a campaign contribution had to be done now, before there could be some skittishness over the timing of the contribution and Blagojevich signing a bill that would benefit Contributor 1. Blagojevich commented to Lobbyist 1 “good” and “good job.” The bill in question, which is awaiting Blagojevich ’s signature, is believed to be legislation that directs a percentage of casino revenue to the horse racing industry.
Sale of U.S. Senate Appointment
Regarding the Senate seat, the charges allege that Blagojevich, Harris and others have engaged and are engaging in efforts to obtain personal gain, including financial gain, to benefit Blagojevich and his family through corruptly using Blagojevich’s sole authority to appoint a successor to the unexpired term of the President-elect’s former Senate seat, which he resigned effective November 16. The affidavit details numerous conversations about the Senate seat between November 3 and December 5. In these conversations, Blagojevich repeatedly discussed the attributes of potential candidates, including their abilities to benefit the people of Illinois, and the financial and political benefits he and his wife could receive if he appointed various of the possible candidates.
Throughout the intercepted conversations, Blagojevich also allegedly spent significant time weighing the option of appointing himself to the open Senate seat and expressed a variety of reasons for doing so, including: frustration at being “stuck” as governor; a belief that he will be able to obtain greater resources if he is indicted as a sitting Senator as opposed to a sitting governor; a desire to remake his image in consideration of a possible run for President in 2016; avoiding impeachment by the Illinois legislature; making corporate contacts that would be of value to him after leaving public office; facilitating his wife’s employment as a lobbyist; and generating speaking fees should he decide to leave public office.
In the earliest intercepted conversation about the Senate seat described in the affidavit, Blagojevich told Deputy Governor A on November 3 that if he is not going to get anything of value for the open seat, then he will take it for himself: “if . . . they’re not going to offer anything of any value, then I might just take it.” Later that day, speaking to Advisor A, Blagojevich said: “I’m going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain.” He added later that the seat “is a [expletive] valuable thing, you just don’t give it away for nothing.”
Over the next couple of days – Election Day and the day after – Blagojevich was captured discussing with Deputy Governor A whether he could obtain a cabinet position, such as Secretary of Health and Human Services or the Department of Energy or various ambassadorships. In a conversation with Harris on November 4, Blagojevich analogized his situation to that of a sports agent shopping a potential free agent to the highest bidder. The day after the election, Harris allegedly suggested to Blagojevich that the President-elect could make him the head of a private foundation.
Later on November 5, Blagojevich said to Advisor A, “I’ve got this thing and it’s [expletive] golden, and, uh, uh, I’m just not giving it up for [expletive] nothing. I’m not gonna do it. And, and I can always use it. I can parachute me there,” the affidavit states.
Two days later, in a three-way call with Harris and Advisor B, a consultant in Washington, Blagojevich and the others allegedly discussed the prospect of a three-way deal for the Senate appointment involving an organization called “Change to Win,” which is affiliated with various unions including the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
On November 10, Blagojevich, his wife, Harris, Governor General Counsel, Advisor B and other Washington-based advisors participated at different times in a two-hour phone call in which they allegedly discussed, among other things, a deal involving the SEIU. Harris said they could work out a deal with the union and the President-elect where SEIU could help the President-elect with Blagojevich’s appointment of Senate Candidate 1, while Blagojevich would obtain a position as the National Director of the Change to Win campaign and SEIU would get something favorable from the President-elect in the future. Also during that call, Blagojevich agreed it was unlikely that the President-elect would name him Secretary of Health and Human Services or give him an ambassadorship because of all of the negative publicity surrounding him.
In a conversation with Harris on November 11, the charges state, Blagojevich said he knew that the President-elect wanted Senate Candidate 1 for the open seat but “they’re not willing to give me anything except appreciation. [Expletive] them.” Earlier in that conversation, Blagojevich suggested starting a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization, which he could head and engage in political activity and lobbying. In that conversation with Harris and other discussions with him and others over the next couple of days, Blagojevich suggested by name several well-known, wealthy individuals who could be prevailed upon to seed such an organization with $10-$15 million, and suggesting that he could take the organization’s reins when he is no longer governor, according to the affidavit.
On November 12, Blagojevich spoke with SEIU Official who was in Washington. This conversation occurred about a week after Blagojevich had met with SEIU Official to discuss the Senate seat, with the understanding that the union official was an emissary to discuss Senate Candidate 1’s interest in the Senate seat. During the November 12 conversation, Blagojevich allegedly explained the non-profit organization idea to SEIU Official and said that it could help Senate Candidate 1. The union official agreed to “put that flag up and see where it goes,” although the official also had said he wasn’t certain if Senate Candidate 1 wanted the official to keep pushing her candidacy. Senate Candidate 1 eventually removed herself from consideration for the open seat.
Also on November 12, in a conversation with Harris, the complaint affidavit states, Blagojevich said his decision about the open Senate seat will be based on three criteria in the following order of importance: “our legal situation, our personal situation, my political situation. This decision, like every other one, needs to be based upon that. Legal. Personal. Political.” Harris said: “legal is the hardest one to satisfy.” Blagojevich said that his legal problems could be solved by naming himself to the Senate seat.
As recently as December 4, in separate conversations with Advisor B and Fundraiser A, Blagojevich said that he was “elevating” Senate Candidate 5 on the list of candidates because, among other reasons, if Blagojevich ran for re-election, Senate Candidate 5 would “raise [] money” for him. Blagojevich said that he might be able to cut a deal with Senate Candidate 5 that provided Blagojevich with something “tangible up front.” Noting that he was going to meet with Senate Candidate 5 in the next few days, Blagojevich told Fundraiser A to reach out to an intermediary (Individual D), from whom Blagojevich is attempting to obtain campaign contributions and who Blagojevich believes is close to Senate Candidate 5. Blagojevich told Fundraiser A to tell Individual D that Senate Candidate 5 was a very realistic candidate but Blagojevich was getting a lot of pressure not to appoint Senate Candidate 5, according to the affidavit.
Blagojevich allegedly told Fundraiser A to tell Individual D that if Senate Candidate 5 is going to be chosen, “some of this stuff’s gotta start happening now . . . right now . . . and we gotta see it.” Blagojevich continued, “You gotta be careful how you express that and assume everybody’s listening, the whole world is listening. You hear me?” Blagojevich further directed Fundraiser A to talk to Individual D in person, not by phone, and to communicate the “urgency” of the situation.
Blagojevich spoke to Fundraiser A again the next day, December 5, and discussed that day’s Chicago Tribune front page article stating that Blagojevich had recently been surreptitiously recorded as part of the ongoing criminal investigation. Blagojevich instructed Fundraiser A to “undo your [Individual D] thing,” and Fundraiser A confirmed it would be undone, the complaint alleges.
Also on December 5, Blagojevich and three others allegedly discussed whether to move money out of the Friends of Blagojevich campaign fund to avoid having the money frozen by federal authorities and also considered the possibility of prepaying the money to Blagojevich’s criminal defense attorney with an understanding that the attorney would donate the money back at a later time if it was not needed. They also discussed opening a new fund raising account named Citizens for Blagojevich with new contributions.
Misuse of State Funding To Induce Firing of Chicago Tribune Editorial Writers
According to the affidavit, intercepted phone calls revealed that the Tribune Company, which owns the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Cubs, has explored the possibility of obtaining assistance from the Illinois Finance Authority (IFA) relating to the Tribune Company’s efforts to sell the Cubs and the financing or sale of Wrigley Field. In a November 6 phone call, Harris explained to Blagojevich that the deal the Tribune Company was trying to get through the IFA was basically a tax mitigation scheme in which the IFA would own title to Wrigley Field and the Tribune would not have to pay capital gains tax, which Harris estimated would save the company approximately $100 million.
Intercepted calls allegedly show that Blagojevich directed Harris to inform Tribune Owner and an associate, identified as Tribune Financial Advisor, that state financial assistance would be withheld unless members of the Chicago Tribune’s editorial board were fired, primarily because Blagojevich viewed them as driving discussion of his possible impeachment. In a November 4 phone call, Blagojevich allegedly told Harris that he should say to Tribune Financial Advisor, Cubs Chairman and Tribune Owner, “our recommendation is fire all those [expletive] people, get ‘em the [expletive] out of there and get us some editorial support.”
On November 6, the day of a Tribune editorial critical of Blagojevich, Harris told Blagojevich that he told Tribune Financial Advisor the previous day that things “look like they could move ahead fine but, you know, there is a risk that all of this is going to get derailed by your own editorial page.” Harris also told Blagojevich that he was meeting with Tribune Financial Advisor on November 10.
In a November 11 intercepted call, Harris allegedly told Blagojevich that Tribune Financial Advisor talked to Tribune Owner and Tribune Owner “got the message and is very sensitive to the issue.” Harris told Blagojevich that according to Tribune Financial Advisor, there would be “certain corporate reorganizations and budget cuts coming and, reading between the lines, he’s going after that section.” Blagojevich allegedly responded. “Oh. That’s fantastic.” After further discussion, Blagojevich said, “Wow. Okay, keep our fingers crossed. You’re the man. Good job, John.”
In a further conversation on November 21, Harris told Blagojevich that he had singled out to Tribune Financial Advisor the Tribune’s deputy editorial page editor, John McCormick, “as somebody who was the most biased and unfair.” After hearing that Tribune Financial Advisor had assured Harris that the Tribune would be making changes affecting the editorial board, Blagojevich allegedly had a series of conversations with Chicago Cubs representatives regarding efforts to provide state financing for Wrigley Field. On November 30, Blagojevich spoke with the president of a Chicago-area sports consulting firm, who indicated that he was working with the Cubs on matters involving Wrigley Field. Blagojevich and Sports Consultant discussed the importance of getting the IFA transaction approved at the agency’s December or January meeting because Blagojevich was contemplating leaving office in early January and his IFA appointees would still be in place to approve the deal, the charges allege.
The Government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reid Schar, Carrie Hamilton, and Christopher Niewoehner.
If convicted, conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, while solicitation of bribery carries a maximum of 10 years in prison, and each count carries a maximum fine of $250,000. The Court, however, would determine the appropriate sentence to be imposed under the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The public is reminded that a complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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