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:
Read More
Hey Vel you are more than welcome :)
BREAKING NEWS ALERT: EARTHQUAKE RATTLES LA, FELT IN SAN DIEGO
July 29, 2008 (11:50 AM) — A strong earthquake hit Southern California late Tuesday morning. The jolt was felt from Los Angeles to San Diego. The quake is estimated at magnitude 5.8, centered 29 miles east-southeast of downtown Los Angeles near Chino Hills, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Log on to
http://www.cbs8.com/ for further details on this story.
[links to California groups for disaster news]
LA Co FD, Pomona and E. San Gabriel Valley:
Medical aids, structure fires, release of water from Morris Dam in San
Gabriel Canyon (apparently intentional, but alarming).
Some phones down.
Be sure to check out our Links Section at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/californiadisasters/links
Please join our Discussion Group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/californiadisasters_discussion/
http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/recenteqs/Quakes/ci14383980.htm
Version #2: This report supersedes any earlier reports of this event.
This is a computer-generated message. This event has not yet been
reviewed by a seismologist.
A moderate earthquake occurred at 11:42:15 AM (PDT) on Tuesday, July
29, 2008.
The magnitude 5.8 event occurred 3 km (2 miles) SW of Chino Hills, CA.
The hypocentral depth is 12 km ( 8 miles).
Magnitude 5.8 - local magnitude (ML)
Time Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 11:42:15 AM (PDT)
Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 18:42:15 (UTC)
Distance from Chino Hills, CA - 3 km (2 miles) SW (235 degrees)
Diamond Bar, CA - 8 km (5 miles) SE (127 degrees)
Yorba Linda, CA - 9 km (5 miles) NNE (23 degrees)
Pomona, CA - 11 km (7 miles) S (178 degrees)
Los Angeles Civic Center, CA - 47 km (29 miles) ESE (103 degrees)
Coordinates 33 deg. 57.5 min. N (33.959N), 117 deg. 45.1 min. W
(117.752W)
Depth 12.3 km (7.6 miles)
Location Quality Good
Location Quality Parameters Nst=144, Nph=144, Dmin=8 km, Rmss=0.42
sec, Erho=0.3 km, Erzz=1.3 km, Gp=18 degrees
Event ID# ci14383980
Yahoo! Groups Links
To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/californiasearthquakeforum/
http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/recenteqs/Quakes/ci14383980.htm wide spread
noticed in Carlsbad
Rick
www.HappyMoosePhoto.com
To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CaliforniaOnlineScanning/
The Los Angeles Fire Department’s free 40 page Disaster Preparedness Manual is available at: WWW.LAFD.ORG
[I can’t watch movies on my dialup internet connection, so am posting this for you]
shakemovie.caltech.edu
Event Id:14383980
There is new media now available for download on the recent seismic event:
ML: 5.4
5 miles SE of Diamond Bar, CA
UTC: Tue Jul 29 18:42:15 2008
Latitude: 33.96
Longitude: -117.75
All movies for this event are available from:
http://shakemovie.caltech.edu/event?evid=14383980
The movies available include:
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
http://shakemovie.caltech.edu/dl?evid=14383980&product=socal&style=orange&size=small
LOS ANGELES BASIN
http://shakemovie.caltech.edu/dl?evid=14383980&product=la&style=orange&size=small
__._,_.___
Be sure to check out our Links Section at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/californiadisasters/links
Please join our Discussion Group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/californiadisasters_discussion/
Jihadi website posts call to kill Canadians
Ottawa Citizen - Ontario, Canada
A virulent al-Qaeda website has issued a new call for followers to kill
Canadians and other westerners, and attack oil and economic targets. ...
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=a08c03db-e6b1-4679-98e6-072cfc92a60d
See all stories on this topic:
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ncl=http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html%3Fid%3Da08c03db-e6b1-4679-98e6-072cfc92a60d
Al-Qaeda Website Urges Jihadist Cells to Kill Jews, Christians and ...
By Andrew Fell
The message on the password-protected al-Ekhlaas.net forum was posted July 7, the third anniversary of the London transit massacre. The website is a notorious and favoured site of hardcore jihadists. ...
http://www.weaselzippers.net/blog/2008/07/al-qaeda-website-urges-jihadist-cells-to-kill-jews-christians-and-apostates-in-that-order.html
Weasel Zippers
http://www.weaselzippers.net/blog/
Steynian 209
By binky
NEW AL-QAEDA Video Urges Killing of Wahhabi King for Meeting With Pope Benedict …. (Wz). ~ IDIOTIC LIBERAL CHRISTIANS ADVISE: Iran? Harmless as a Kitten …. (reformedpastor). ~ RELIGION of explosions: There they go again, ...
http://steynian.wordpress.com/2008/07/29/steynian-209/
Free Mark Steyn!
http://steynian.wordpress.com
This once a day Google Alert is brought to you by Google...
http://anchorage.fbi.gov/doj/pressrel/2008/falsestatement072908.htm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, JULY 29, 2008
WWW.USDOJ.GOV
CRM
(202) 514-2007
TDD (202) 514-1888
U.S. SENATOR INDICTED ON FALSE STATEMENT CHARGES
WASHINGTON – United States Senator Theodore F. Stevens of Alaska was charged today in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia with seven counts of making false statements related to Stevens’ financial disclosure forms, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division announced today.
The seven-count indictment charges Sen. Stevens, the former chairperson of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, with engaging in a nearly eight-year scheme to conceal his receipt of more than $250,000 in things of value from VECO Corporation, formerly a multi-national oil services company based in Alaska, and Bill J. Allen, the Chief Executive Officer of VECO at the time. According to the indictment, Stevens concealed these things of value from his publicly filed United States Senate financial disclosure forms. The things of value that Stevens allegedly received included: substantial home improvements to property Stevens owns in Girdwood, Alaska; automobile exchanges in which Stevens received new vehicles worth far more than the used vehicles Stevens provided in exchange; and household goods. The indictment also alleges that Sen. Stevens, during the same time that he was concealing his continuing receipt of these things of value from VECO and Allen, received solicitations for official actions from Allen and other VECO employees, and that Sen. Stevens used his position and office on behalf of VECO during that same time period.
The indictment specifically charges Stevens with making false statements on his financial disclosure forms for calendar years 2001 to 2006. The indictment alleges that, during each of those years, Stevens knowingly failed to report his receipt of any thing of value from Allen, VECO or two other individuals, despite the fact that the forms required Stevens to report his receipt of such things of value.
As set forth in the indictment, the Ethics in Government Act requires all members of the United States Senate to file a financial disclosure form, detailing specified financial transactions that the elected official engaged in during the prior calendar year, including disclosure of gifts over a specified monetary amount and disclosure of liabilities in excess of $10,000 owed during any point of a calendar year.
The indictment is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation in the state of Alaska. An indictment is merely an allegation. Defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
To date, there have been seven criminal convictions arising out of the ongoing investigation. Thomas T. Anderson, a former elected member of the Alaska House of Representatives, was convicted in July 2007 and sentenced to five years in prison for extortion, conspiracy, bribery and money laundering for soliciting and receiving money from an FBI confidential source in exchange for agreeing to perform official acts to further a business interest represented by the source. Peter Kott, a former Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives, was convicted in September 2007 and sentenced to six years in prison for extortion, bribery and conspiracy. Victor H. Kohring, a former elected member of the Alaska House of Representatives, was convicted at trial in November 2007 for attempted extortion, bribery and conspiracy, and was sentenced to three and a half years in prison. In March 2008, James A. Clark, chief of staff to the former governor of Alaska pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services mail and wire fraud. Additionally, former Anchorage lobbyist William Bobrick pleaded guilty in May 2007 to felony public corruption charges.
Former VECO Chief Executive Officer Bill J. Allen and former VECO Vice President of Community Affairs and Government Relations Richard L. Smith, pleaded guilty in May 2007 to providing more than $400,000 in corrupt payments to public officials from the state of Alaska.
This case is being prosecuted by Principal Deputy Chief Brenda K. Morris, Trial Attorneys Nicholas A. Marsh and Edward P. Sullivan of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section, headed by Chief William M. Welch II, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph W. Bottini and James A. Goeke from the District of Alaska. The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigative Division.
July 29, 2008 Anti-Terrorism News - UnitedStatesAction.com
(Iraq) US, Iraqi forces launch new operation in Diyala
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080729/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_43;_ylt=ArPxxb.7lv3jv9YHdetTpiJX6GMA
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/29/africa/ME-Iraq.php
(Iraq) Tight security in Baghdad for Shia pilgrimage
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/darticlen.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2008/July/middleeast_July720.xml§ion=middleeast&col=
(Iraq) ‘Martyrs’ List’ tallies Mahdi Army’s troubles
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080729/ap_on_re_mi_ea/sadr_s_list_2;_ylt=Ah4Uy.t7TqrcSGz8Kg.r0a1X6GMA
(Afghanistan) About 40 rebels believed killed in Afghan violence — update on Ghazni province operations
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080729/wl_sthasia_afp/afghanistanunrest_080729171851;_ylt=AtQOi0liJUJfwtY7jCX51jnOVooA
(Afghanistan) Militants killed in Afghan clashes — troops fired on in Ghazni province, bomb-maker blows up in Kunar province
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080729/ap_on_re_as/afghanistan_3;_ylt=An4cKWH.fv5DQRhl4wVXF03OVooA
— ISAF soldier, several militants killed in Afghanistan
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1927987&Language=en
Afghans must command foreign troops: state newspaper
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080729/wl_nm/afghan_troops_dc_1;_ylt=Aj5RB339eRA1q_pXf_D178HOVooA
(Afghanistan) UN Envoy Backs Karzai Against Pakistan — Canadian the first Western diplomat to publicly support Afghan leader’s accusation that Islamabad spies are behind recent attacks
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080728.wafghan28/BNStory/Afghanistan/
(Pakistan) Bush hails Pakistan as strong ally
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080729/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_pakistan_15;_ylt=Aozd8FD3vslRCfMEWiT_CcMTv5UB
(Pakistan) ISI created IJI, supported PML-Q: Farzana Raja
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\07\29\story_29-7-2008_pg7_2
(Pakistan) NWFP: Swat Taliban kill 3 army officers and abduct 30 others
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=1.0.2375051775
(Pakistan) FATA: Militants execute alleged US spy in Mohmand - in Bajaur Agency
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\07\29\story_29-7-2008_pg7_12
(Pakistan) FATA: Taliban split into two factions in Bajaur Agency
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\07\29\story_29-7-2008_pg7_7
(Pakistan) FATA: Taliban take over Pakistan TV booster — in Bajaur Agency
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\07\29\story_29-7-2008_pg7_8
(Pakistan) Minister of Law: Madrassas In Sindh Province Are Involved In Terrorism
http://www.thememriblog.org/urdupashtu/blog_personal/en/8801.htm
Pakistan military warns US commander on strikes
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\07\29\story_29-7-2008_pg1_2
— Pakistan warns US over ‘unilateral’ missile strikes on its soil
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article4420760.ece
Pakistan Foreign Office: No country can intervene in Pak nuclear plan
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\07\29\story_29-7-2008_pg7_1
(Pakistan) Govt to protect Daily Times, Aaj Kal, says Sherry
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\07\29\story_29-7-2008_pg7_6
Pakistani, Indian troops continue to exchange fire at LoC
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1927993&Language=en
(India J&K) Police seize huge cache of arms from rebel hideout in Kashmir
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1928018&Language=en
(India) Mumbai Police get call from Ireland on fresh terror plot
http://www.calcuttanews.net/story/387898
(India) ‘18 bombs found, defused in Surat so far’
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/18_bombs_found_defused_in_Surat_so_far/articleshow/3300863.cms
— ‘Live bombs an attempt to distract attention from probe’
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Live_bombs_an_attempt_to_distract_attention_from_probe/articleshow/3302871.cms
(India) Three crude bombs defused in Rajasthan
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Three_crude_bombs_defused_in_Rajasthan/articleshow/3302866.cms
— Indian police defuse more bombs after weekend blasts
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2008/July/subcontinent_July944.xml§ion=subcontinent
(India) Three Maoist rebels killed, several injured in encounter with security - in Jharkhand
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1928028&Language=en
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Three_Maoist_rebels_killed_in_Jharkhand/articleshow/3301668.cms
(U.S.) Homeland Security workers to be told: Be vigilant
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080728/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/heightened_threat_awareness_1;_ylt=AvR3iseAY0YKhAdYF60Pr3ITv5UB
(U.S.) Rand Study questions US strategy against al-Qaida
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080729/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_al_qaida_3;_ylt=Aqtwr7QIEtBLi_BTtudUSMITv5UB
— American officials should stop using the term “war on terror” and replace it with “counterterrorism”
— “Terrorists should be perceived and described as criminals, not holy warriors, and our analysis suggests there is no battlefield solution to terrorism”
(U.S.) Guantanamo trial views graphic 9/11 video — “The Al Qaeda Plan”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080729/us_nm/guantanamo_hearings_video_dc_4;_ylt=Ahxu1RK.Gfw7gpKQ7vK17H8Tv5UB
(UK) Sir Salman Rushdie criticizes Britain’s ‘air of appeasement’ toward extremists
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2466565/Sir-Salman-Rushdie-criticises-Britain%27s-%27air-of-appeasement%27-toward-extremists.html
— (UK) Rushdie ‘may write book on fatwa’
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7530764.stm
(Iran) Kuwaiti Daily Reveals: Iran Building Secret Nuclear Reactor
http://www.memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD200608
Iran tells developing states to fight U.N. “bias”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080729/wl_nm/iran_nonaligned_dc_2;_ylt=Ah_rbxQD0WWTE1HrApolch1Sw60A
— Iranian president: ‘Big powers’ going down
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080729/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_ahmadinejad_2;_ylt=AosElGtY_jSTkTdmE83Gv2ZSw60A
Iranian official: Hezbollah swap a victory for the Muslim world
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1006654.html
(Lebanon) Roadside bomb wounds Fatah commander in Lebanon
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080729/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon_bombing_1;_ylt=AutmYzLhfoo6Aw19Y9E9iy7agGIB
Hamas warns of new intifada against IDF and PA security forces
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215331136241&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Hamas officials in Egypt for talks
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/29/africa/ME-Egypt-Palestinians.php
(West Bank) Palestinian rivals clash in West Bank village
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/darticlen.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2008/July/middleeast_July718.xml§ion=middleeast&col=
Somalia: Govt, Rebels Claim Victory After Mogadishu Attack
http://allafrica.com/stories/200807290006.html
(Algeria) Soldier killed, eight people injured in Algeria attack
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1927946&Language=en
Yemen hunts al Qaeda suspects after deadly attack
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/30/worldupdates/2008-07-29T215631Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-347329-1&sec=Worldupdates
Kenya: Sudan to Be Sued over Nairobi Bomb Attack
http://allafrica.com/stories/200807290173.html
Sudan sentences eight to death over Darfur rebel attack
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080729/wl_afp/sudanconflictdarfurkhartoumtrial_080729165633;_ylt=AoRjoybKmaVGRbhR28AoTCsTv5UB
(Russia) Bodyguards foil assassination of Chechen leader: report
http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?id=n147710
(Turkey) Police probe Istanbul blasts as army hits Kurdish rebels in Iraq
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080729/wl_afp/turkeyattacks_080729152130;_ylt=AtvF520F4Ee1pS0DC5pv_YrtfLkA
— PKK link to Istanbul blast questioned
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=148787
Turkish planes attack rebels in northern Iraq
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080729/ap_on_re_mi_ea/turkey_1;_ylt=Agkup30Vzl3RYlIyayqfd61X6GMA
— Turkish jets destroy Kurdish rebel base inside Iraq: army
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080729/wl_afp/turkeyiraqunrestkurds_080729132104;_ylt=AoI7xf3cJJEtiMBEaXcE0DjtfLkA
Netherlands: Former MP Hirsi Ali seeks police protection in US
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/CultureAndMedia/?id=1.0.2375269057
(Spain) Small bomb explodes on beach in popular tourist resort in southern Spain
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/29/europe/EU-Spain-Explosion.php
(France) Suspected PKK members to stand trial in France
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/29/europe/EU-France-Kurdish-Rebels.php
(Canada) Jihadi website posts call to kill Canadians
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=a08c03db-e6b1-4679-98e6-072cfc92a60d
(Indonesia) Petrol bombs found underneath Indonesia train — heading to the Indonesian capital Jakarta
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080729/wl_nm/indonesia_train_dc_1;_ylt=AnLwQKzHkzjUgpRt_H8gNuPaHXcA
(Indonesia) Bali terrorist: “For Islam, dying by decapitation is a blessing”
http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=12870&size=A
(Indonesia) Bali victim’s dad not surprised — fresh legal challenge by 2002 Bali bombers’ attorneys
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24098335-29277,00.html
Indonesia: Asian militants sought al-Qaida funds
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080729/ap_on_re_as/indonesia_terror_al_qaida_1;_ylt=AiuByvjtStYIVZp6CGX_q90Tv5UB
— Jemaah Islamiah (JI) militants seeking al-Qaeda funds
http://news.sbs.com.au/worldnewsaustralia/ji_militants_seeking_alqaeda_funds_553046
(Indonesia) Muslims storm Protestant school in Jakarta, injuring 265 students
http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=12865&size=A
(Australia) Melbourne 12 trial: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080728/ap_on_re_as/china_olympic_threats;_ylt=ApfxH5y0J6w8FdU_oFPxttCs0NUE
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24095480-2702,00.html
Sri Lanka fighting kills 37: government
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080729/wl_sthasia_afp/srilankaunrest_080729064856
Sri Lanka: Tamil Tiger rebels killed in renewed conflict
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=1.0.2375166399
(China) Turkistan Islamic Party issues threat of jihad targeting Beijing Olympics
http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/international_politics/turkistan+islamic+party+issues+threat+of+jihad+targeting+beijing+olympics/2363992
(Colombia) Eight Colombian rebels killed in fighting
http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-2717.html
(Venezuela) Military Confirms Detention of Alleged FARC Member
http://english.eluniversal.com/2008/07/29/en_pol_art_military-confirms-de_29A1849199.shtml
Commentaries:
Ignorance about the Enemy’s Ideology is the Problem - by Jeffrey Imm
http://www.investigativeproject.org/article/733
Al-Qaeda’s sinister creep into North Africa— by Amir Taheri
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article4425820.ece
Courage, at last — by Jiti Khanna
UN Envoy Backs Karzai Against Pakistan
Canadian UN special envoy Chris Alexander in Afghanistan - Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence agency is supporting Taliban insurgents
in Afghanistan
“Otherwise we really are pretending that Niagara Falls doesn’t flow.”
— UN Envoy Backs Karzai Against Pakistan — Canadian the first Western diplomat to publicly support Afghan leader’s accusation that
Islamabad spies are behind recent attacks
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080728.wafghan28/BNStory/Afghanistan/
Other News:
Turkish court deliberates closure case against ruling party
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/darticlen.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2008/July/middleeast_July715.xml§ion=middleeast&col=
Libya asks citizens not to travel to Switzerland after arrest of Gadhafi’s son
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/29/africa/ME-Libya-Switzerland.php
(U.S.) Black Muslim bakery pair plead no contest to liquor-store trashing — pleaded no contest to a hate-crime enhancement
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/29/BA5V121A60.DTL&tsp=1
— One of the men “identified himself as a Muslim (and) asked why another Muslim would sell alcoholic beverages”
(Iran) Ahmadinejad blames West for AIDS
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215331135767&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
(Iran) German govt. approves gas plant building for Iran
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-07-29-Germany-gas_N.htm?csp=34
Afghan journalist detained after alleged govt criticism
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080729/wl_sthasia_afp/afghanistanmediapolitics_080729155929;_ylt=AnCHuCQKwPKYYGudagszPhXOVooA
(China) U.S. Senator: China spying on Internet use in hotels
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080729/ap_on_go_co/china_spying_1;_ylt=AiA4dfMfXH1HXklH.NFQHD5PzWQA
__._,_.___
If reposting elsewhere, please credit source of this research as UnitedStatesAction.com
http://newyork.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel08/embezzlement072908.htm
United States Attorney
Southern District of New York
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 29, 2008 CONTACT: U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
YUSILL SCRIBNER,
REBEKAH CARMICHAEL,
JANICE OH
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
(212) 637-2600
PRIVATE BANKER ARRESTED IN ARGENTINA ON CHARGES FOR EMBEZZLING MORE THAN $5 MILLION FROM BANK CLIENTS
MICHAEL J. GARCIA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and MARK J. MERSHON, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the arrest of HERNAN ARBIZU in Argentina, and the unsealing of a fifteen-count Indictment against ARBIZU for the embezzlement of more than $5 million dollars from the accounts of bank customers at UBS AG (“UBS”) and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“JPMorgan”). ARBIZU, 41, was arrested yesterday, in Buenos Aires, Argentina in connection with the charges filed in Manhattan Federal Court. According to the Complaint filed in May 2008 and the Indictment unsealed yesterday:
ARBIZU was employed as a Vice President in the private banking division of JPMorgan, and in that position was responsible for developing and maintaining private banking relationships with customers located in Latin America.
Between March 2007 and April 2008, while serving as Vice President at JPMorgan, ARBIZU initiated, or caused to be initiated, twelve wire transfers from private banking clients at UBS and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. totaling $5,379,500.
Four of the twelve unauthorized transfers, totaling $2,797,500 were made from a JPMorgan account on April 15, 2008. ARBIZU accomplished these transfers by forging a letter purporting to authorize the wire transfers on behalf of the bank client.
The Indictment charges ARBIZU with a total of fifteen counts: twelve counts of wire fraud for each of the twelve unauthorized transfers; one count of embezzlement by a bank employee; one count of bank fraud; and one count of aggravated identity theft for using the identities of bank customers to effect the unauthorized funds transfers. Finally, the Indictment contains forfeiture allegations, which seek the forfeiture of $5,379,500, constituting the proceeds obtained from the offenses charged in the Indictment.
If convicted, ARBIZU faces on each of the wire fraud, embezzlement by a bank employee, and bank fraud counts a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, and a fine of the greatest of $1,000,000, or twice the gross gain or loss resulting from the offense. If convicted of aggravated identity theft, ARBIZU faces a statutory mandatory minimum two-year’s imprisonment.
ARBIZU is currently being held by Argentine authorities, pending extradition.
Mr. GARCIA thanked the FBI for its work in the investigation of this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney NICK LEWIN is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
08-185
http://newyork.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel08/fraudschemes071508.htm
United States Attorney’s Office
Eastern District of New York
Robert Nardoza
Public Affairs Officer
(718) 254-6323
Robert.Nardoza@usdoj.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2008
PRESS RELEASE
AIRLINE MAINTENANCE COMPANY OWNER ARRESTED FOR RUNNING FRAUDULENT SCHEMES
Earlier this morning MICHAEL GRASSO was arraigned for his role in conspiring to defraud the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey by failing to pay permit fees for work his companies performed at John F. Kennedy Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Newark International Airport. The defendant’s initial appearance was held before United States Magistrate Judge Marilyn D. Go at the U.S. Courthouse, 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, New York.
The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The charges were announced by Benton J. Campbell, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Mark J. Mershon, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Division, and Robert E. Van Etten, Inspector General, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
According to the indictment, GRASSO was the owner of the now-defunct companies AOG Maintenance, Inc. and AOG Sheetmetal, Inc. Both companies performed repair work on aircraft for several airlines and conducted business at JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark Airports. The Port Authority required companies conducting business at its airports to obtain a separate privilege permit to work at each of the airports, and to pay to the Port Authority a monthly fee of 5% of the companies’ gross receipts. The thirty-eight count indictment alleges that GRASSO and others conspired to defraud the Port Authority and several airlines by failing to remit the permit fees owed by AOG Sheetmetal, notwithstanding the fact that AOG Sheetmetal added the amount of the fees to its bills to the airlines and the airlines paid these fees to AOG Sheetmetal. The indictment also charges that GRASSO underpaid the fees owed to the Port Authority on behalf of AOG Maintenance by falsifying business records to indicate that work had been performed by AOG Maintenance at non-Port Authority facilities.
In addition, the indictment alleges that Grasso directed a cash kickback scheme in which he and another individual paid cash to an airline employee so that the employee would direct business to AOG Maintenance and AOG Sheetmetal for repair work on the airline’s aircraft.
“We will aggressively investigate fraud directed at agencies such as the Port Authority upon which the public relies so heavily for its transportation needs,” stated United States Attorney Campbell.
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Mershon stated, “By billing airlines for fees owed to the Port Authority and failing to remit those fees, Grasso defrauded both private sector businesses and the public. Unjust enrichment alone is of concern to the FBI. Defrauding a public authority merely ups the ante for us.”
Port Authority Inspector General Van Etten stated, “I want to thank the United States Attorney for prosecuting this case. There are numerous businesses, like AOG, operating at all of our various facilities and they are required, by agreement, to remit a percentage of their receipts to the Port Authority. This revenue is what allows the Port Authority to remain self-sufficient and free of any tax dollars.”
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and a $25,000 fine.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Martin Coffey.
http://newyork.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel08/securitiesfraud072408.htm
United States Attorney
Southern District of New York
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 24, 2008 CONTACT: U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
YUSILL SCRIBNER,
REBEKAH CARMICHAEL,
JANICE OH
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
(212) 637-2600
PENNSYLVANIA MAN INDICTED FOR MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR BANK AND SECURITIES FRAUD SCHEME
MICHAEL J. GARCIA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the indictment of ERIC SKYS, the purported Chairman, President and CEO of Kaiser Himmel Corporation (“Kaiser Himmel”), on securities and wire fraud charges stemming from his attempts to defraud several financial institutions out of millions of dollars. SKYS was previously arrested on May 15, 2008, in Somerset, Pennsylvania, on a federal criminal Complaint. According to the Indictment and Complaint filed in Manhattan federal court:
SKYS engaged in a scheme to defraud several financial institutions by falsely claiming that he, through Kaiser Himmel, owned and controlled 13.4 million shares of stock in Sprint Nextel Corporation (“Sprint”). SKYS claimed that Sprint had awarded those shares as payment for goods and services allegedly supplied to Sprint by Kaiser Himmel, and SKYS sought millions of dollars from these financial institutions in return for a pledge by Kaiser Himmel of an ownership interest in the purported Sprint shares. To mislead the financial institutions and convince them that Kaiser Himmel actually possessed the Sprint shares, SKYS provided them with fabricated documents such as contracts with forged signatures of Sprint managers, altered e-mails, and fake securities account statements.
SKYS is charged with one count of securities fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and one count of bank fraud. If convicted, SKYS faces a maximum sentence of 110 years in prison and a fine of the greatest of $6,000,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.
SKYS was previously ordered detained pending trial. His case has been assigned to United States District Judge WILLIAM H. PAULEY III, and the initial pretrial conference is scheduled for July 30, 2008, at 3 p.m.
SKYS, 27, resides in Somerset, Pennsylvania.
Mr. GARCIA praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and thanked the Pennsylvania State Police for their invaluable assistance in this case.
Assistant United States Attorney DAVID SIEGAL is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint and Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
08-184
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A CATHAY Pacific Airways Boeing 747 aircraft with 363 passengers suffered
mid-air damage while descending for a landing at Vancouver overnight.
There were no injuries but officials were trying to determine what happened
to the plane at 20,000 feet while on a flight from New York to Hong Kong via
the western Canadian city of Vancouver, said Jennifer Pearson, a Cathay
Pacific spokeswoman.
continued.
http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news/?fr=yalerts-keyword&c=&p=%22Syria%22&ei=utf-8
* 1.
Olmert: Syria must choose between peace, isolation Open this result in new window
AP via Yahoo! News - Jul 29 11:22 AM
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Tuesday that Syria must make a strategic choice between peace and isolation, as a new round of mediated peace talks began in Turkey.
* 2.
Olmert sends envoys to Turkey for more Syria talks
Olmert sends envoys to Turkey for more Syria talks Open this result in new window
Reuters via Yahoo! News - Jul 29 8:31 AM
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert dispatched two top aides to Turkey on Tuesday for a fourth round of indirect peace talks with Syria, an Israeli official said.
* 3.
Sources: Israel encouraged by Syria moves Open this result in new window
UPI - Jul 29 12:49 PM
JERUSALEM, July 29 (UPI) — Syria is taking significant steps to show it is serious about its peace talks with Israel, sources say.
* 4.
Could peace break out for Israel and Syria? Open this result in new window
International Herald Tribune - Jul 29 4:01 AM
President Bashar al-Assad of Syria is concerned about the survival of his regime. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel seeks to wrest Syria out of Iran’s orbit. After eight years of stalemate, peace may be possible.
* 5.
Israel-Syria peace talks to resume under Turkish mediation
Israel-Syria peace talks to resume under Turkish mediation Open this result in new window
AFP via Yahoo! News - Jul 28 10:48 PM
Israel and Syria will begin on Tuesday a fourth round of indirect peace talks under Turkish mediation, an Israeli official said.
* 6.
Olmert sends envoys to Turkey for more Syria talks Open this result in new window
Reuters via Yahoo! UK & Ireland News - Jul 29 11:19 AM
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the Jewish state had resumed indirect talks with Syria in Turkey on Tuesday and called on Damascus to break with Iran in favour of a broader peace.
* 7.
Israel, Syria Find New Incentives to Make Peace After Stalemate Open this result in new window
Bloomberg.com - Jul 29 12:13 AM
July 29 (Bloomberg) — Israel and Syria have suddenly found fresh reasons to try to make peace after eight years of stalemate. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad , concerned about the survival of his regime, wants to reap the political and economic benefits of ending his nation’s isolation from the West. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert , mindful of his own precarious political future, aims to ...
* 8.
Olmert says Syria must choose peace or isolation as indirect talks set to resume Open this result in new window
The Daily Star Lebannon - Jul 29 2:23 PM
Isreali Premier Ehud Olmert issued Syria an ultimatum Tuesday, saying Damascus must choose between peace or international isolation as the two countries still technically at war are set to begin another round of indirect Turkish-mediated talks. In an address to students at Hebrew University in Occupied Jerusalem.
* 9.
Israel-Syria peace talks resume in Turkey Open this result in new window
Deutsche Welle - Jul 29 2:25 PM
Israel and Syria are set to begin another round of indirect peace talks in the Turkish city of Istanbul. The Turkish-mediated negotiations began in May after an eight-year freeze.
* 10.
Syria envoy talks peace Open this result in new window
JTA - Jul 29 7:09 AM
Syria’s ambassador to the United States called on Israel to make peace with his country. “We desire to end this state of war between us, to conclude peace between two states and to recognize each other,” Imad Moustapha told Americans for Peace Now.
* 1.
Rice warns Iran against stalling on nuclear offer
Rice warns Iran against stalling on nuclear offer Open this result in new window
AFP via Yahoo! News - Jul 29 1:20 PM
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Iran Tuesday not to delay a decision on an international offer of incentives if it halts sensitive nuclear work, ahead of a Saturday deadline.
* 2.
Economic, political pressure on Iran is best: Pentagon
Economic, political pressure on Iran is best: Pentagon Open this result in new window
AFP via Yahoo! News - Jul 29 12:11 PM
Washington believes economic and political pressure are the best ways to dissuade Iran from seeking atomic weapons, a Pentagon spokesman said Tuesday, following an appeal by Israel’s defense minister to keep “all options” on the table.
* 3.
Iran says nuclear talks ‘positive and progressive’
Iran says nuclear talks ‘positive and progressive’ Open this result in new window
AFP via Yahoo! News - Jul 29 9:41 AM
Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili said on Tuesday that talks with world powers aimed at resolving the crisis over its atomic drive were “positive and progressive,” local media reported.
* 4.
Iran: Religious minority reports arson attacks Open this result in new window
CNN.com - Jul 29 9:36 AM
Iran’s Baha’i community — a religious minority that has faced persecution in the Islamic republic — is reporting a string of arson attacks targeting homes and vehicles.
* 5.
Iran tells developing states to fight U.N.
Iran tells developing states to fight U.N. “bias” Open this result in new window
Reuters via Yahoo! News - Jul 29 7:51 AM
Iran’s president called on Tuesday for developing nations to unite against what he said was bias by the U.N. Security Council, which the Islamic Republic accuses of siding with the West in a nuclear row.
* 6.
Iran hangs three criminals
Iran hangs three criminals Open this result in new window
AFP via Yahoo! News - Jul 29 8:58 AM
Iran on Tuesday hanged in prison three criminals convicted of murder and drug trafficking, local media reported.
* 7.
German govt. approves gas plant building for Iran Open this result in new window
USA Today - Jul 29 6:14 AM
Germany’s federal export control office has cleared the way for an engineering company to build three plants for Iran to liquefy natural gas, a government spokesman said Tuesday.
* 8.
Iran’s mass execution an ‘affront to human dignity’: EU
Iran’s mass execution an ‘affront to human dignity’: EU Open this result in new window
AFP via Yahoo! News - Jul 29 4:45 AM
The European Union’s French presidency on Tuesday condemned the hanging of 29 men recently in Iran as an “affront to human dignity”.
* 9.
Iran tells developing states to fight world-power bias
Iran tells developing states to fight world-power bias Open this result in new window
Reuters via Yahoo! News - Jul 29 2:33 AM
Iran’s president called on Tuesday for developing nations to unite to fight what he said was bias shown by the U.N. Security Council and other world bodies that only serve the big powers’ interests.
* 10.
Israel’s Barak tells US: keep all Iran options open
Israel’s Barak tells US: keep all Iran options open Open this result in new window
AFP via Yahoo! News - Jul 29 3:09 AM
Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has urged his US counterpart Robert Gates to keep all options open in dealing with Iran’s nuclear programme, his ministry said on Tuesday.
* 1.
Police Ask Public to Help Identify Suspect in Drive-By Shooting Open this result in new window
FOX 31 Denver - 34 minutes ago
DENVER - Denver Police have released pictures of a suspect who they would like to question in connection to Sunday morning’s drive-by shooting.
* 2.
Girl wounded in drive-by shooting in Davenport Open this result in new window
Quad-City Times - Jul 29 4:15 AM
UPDATED: A 17-year-old girl suffered a gunshot wound during a drive-by shooting at about 11:30 p.m. Monday at Locust and Iowa streets in Davenport.
* 3.
Female bystander hit in drive-by shooting Open this result in new window
WQAD Moline - Jul 29 10:48 AM
DAVENPORT, Iowa — Late last night, a 17-year-old girl was injured when she found herself in the middle of a drive-by shooting. According to witnesses, the drive-by occured around the 1700 block of Iowa Street.
* 4.
Drive-by shooting wounds two teens on East Side Open this result in new window
The Post-Standard - Jul 29 2:14 AM
Two 16-year-olds were injured in a drive-by shooting Monday night on Syracuse’s East Side, city police said. A silver sport utility vehicle pulled up to a parking lot at East Fayette and Ellis streets about 8:25 p.m. and shots were fired, Sgt. Tom Connellan said.
* 5.
Two hurt in drive-by shooting in Lynchburg Open this result in new window
The News & Advance - Jul 29 6:25 AM
Two people were injured Monday night in a drive-by shooting on Pierce Street, according to the Lynchburg Police Department.
* 6.
Juvenile charged in drive-by shooting Open this result in new window
WSLS Newschannel 10 Roanoke - Jul 29 2:02 AM
Lynchburg Police arrest a juvenile in connection with a drive-by shooting.
* 7.
Two teens injured in drive-by shooting Open this result in new window
WSYR 9 Syracuse - Jul 28 7:08 PM
Two teens were taken to the hospital Monday evening after a drive-by shooting on Syracuse’s east side. Both are expected to recover from their injuries.
* 8.
2 killed in drive-by shooting on Northwest Side Open this result in new window
Chicago Tribune - Jul 28 4:46 AM
Two men were killed in a drive-by shooting on Chicago’s Northwest Side early Monday morning, police said.
* 9.
2 killed in drive-by shooting on Northwest Side Open this result in new window
Chicago Tribune - Jul 28 4:31 AM
Two men were shot to death in a car in a drive-by shooting on Chicago’s Northwest Side early Monday morning, police said.
* 10.
Man injured in Calgary drive-by shooting Open this result in new window
CBC Calgary - Jul 28 7:00 AM
A 23-year-old man is in a Calgary hospital recovering from gunshot wounds after a drive-by shooting Sunday night in the Martindale neighbourhood, police said.
* 1.
Menendez Plans For Success Via Social Development Open this result in new window
Scoop.co.nz - Jul 29 6:40 AM
In December 2007, COHA Research Associates Laura Starr and Maria Delle Donne published an extensive article on the Mérida Initiative and its implications for the region, titled, “ Does the Mérida Initiative Represent a New Direction for U.S.-Mexico Relations ...” Please reference that material for an analysis of the initiative as it pertains to the following research effort.
* 2.
Sting nets arrest of 17 illegals Open this result in new window
Southwest Iowa News - Jul 27 1:53 AM
Seventeen illegal immigrants were arrested in a three-day operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement targeting illegal aliens with ties to violent street gangs in the metropolitan area.
* 3.
Online-only letters Open this result in new window
Seattle Times - 2 hours, 15 minutes ago
Police shouldn’t jump to conclusions Whatever your feelings about Critical Mass, the driver involved in Friday night’s incident should be...
* 4.
Gunmen kidnap eight expats off oil vessel in Nigeria Open this result in new window
Reuters via Yahoo! News - Jul 26 6:49 AM
Gunmen kidnapped eight foreign oil workers from a vessel off Nigeria’s Niger Delta early on Saturday, bringing to 16 the number of industry workers seized in the past 48 hours, security sources said.
* 5.
ICE moves to narrow deportation of N.Va. illegals to worst felons Open this result in new window
The Washington Examiner - Jul 28 12:16 AM
Federal immigration officials have told Northern Virginia governments they want to focus their limited resources on the most egregious felons when selecting jailed illegal immigrants for a deportation program.
* 6.
Cocaine Boat Captured At Sea By Commandos Open this result in new window
Strategy Page - Jul 25 3:14 AM
July 25, 2008: The submarine war off the northwest (Pacific) coast of South America took a strange turn when one of the cocaine carrying boats was spotted by U.S. patrols, off the coast of Mexico.
* 7.
REGION: ICE anti-gang operation nets 81 Open this result in new window
North County Times - Jul 23 1:01 AM
NORTH COUNTY —— Federal agents arrested 81 people last week in a crackdown on illegal immigrants connected with gangs, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said Tuesday.
* 8.
Nigerian gunmen release 8 expats, others still held Open this result in new window
AlertNet - Jul 26 2:31 AM
Source: Reuters (Recasts with 8 released) By Nick Tattersall LAGOS, July 26 (Reuters) - Gunmen in Nigeria released eight foreign oil workers seized from a vessel off the Niger Delta on Saturday but eight other ...
* 9.
Nigerian gunmen release 8 expats Open this result in new window
Reuters via Yahoo! Malaysia News - Jul 26 2:06 PM
By Nick Tattersall
* 10.
Remnants of Hanoi’s French Colonial Past Open this result in new window
The Salt Lake Tribune - Jul 27 6:17 AM
HANOI, Vietnam - A tall, blond woman in black and a small Asian girl stand at the prow of a gilded barge moving slowly over a wide, jungle-banked river. The woman is Catherine Deneuve, star of the 1992 movie “Indochine” about the war for independence in French colonial Vietnam.
[#3 Critical mass riders plan to be in Denver for the convention.
granny]
1.
House Committee on Foreign Affairs :: U.S. House of Representatives
Berman Says U.S. Envoy to Iran Talks Should be Start of a New ... On July 9 the Foreign Affairs Committee will have a hearing on U.S. policy toward Iran ...
www.internationalrelations.house.gov - Cached
2.
Foreign Affairs - How the Street Gangs Took Central America - Ana Arana
The result has been an explosive rise of vicious, transnational gangs that now ... Confidence in U.S. Foreign Policy Index. How to Promote Global Health ...
foreignaffairs.org/.../how-the-street-gangs-took-central-america.html - Cached
3.
Foreign Policy In Focus | Gangs, Terrorists, and Trade
They have profited from the legacy of civil wars and U.S.-backed dictators. ... “Gangs, Terrorists, and Trade,” (Silver City, NM and Washington, DC: Foreign ...
www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/4144 - Cached
4.
TheHill.com - Foreign-owned U.S. companies furious over Schumer lobby bill
The Hill is a congressional newspaper that publishes daily when Congress is in session, with a special focus on ... “Why gang up on thousands of those ...
thehill.com/business—lobby/foreign-owned-u.s.-companies-furious-ov... - 54k - Cached
5.
[PDF]
China’s Holdings of U.S. Securities: Implications for the U.S. Economy
124k - Adobe PDF - View as HTML
markets and induced other foreign investors to sell off their U.S. holdings as well. ... However, on November 14, 2007, Yi Gang, assistant governor of the People’s ...
www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL34314.pdf
6.
Mara Salvatrucha Gangs and U.S. Security | Stratfor
... deported about 500 foreign gang members in recent months, most of the deportees ... U.S. law enforcement can bring MS-13 under control before the gangs become ...
www.stratfor.com/mara_salvatrucha_gangs_and_u_s_security - Cached
7.
AEI - Short Publications - Making U.S. Foreign Aid More Effective
Clear objectives and structured priorities will make America’s aid dollars go ... dollars of aid funding is best spent on nutrition or on combating drug gangs. ...
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8.
[PDF]
Gangs in Central America
150k - Adobe PDF - View as HTML
committee worked together to develop a U.S. Strategy to Combat Criminal Gangs ... Ana Arana, “How the Street Gangs Took Central America,” Foreign Affairs, May/June ...
assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34112_20080327.pdf
9.
U.S.-Central American Cooperation Focuses on Fighting Gangs
The anti-gang strategy, part of an overall... U.S. Department of State. America.gov - Telling America’s Story. Home. Foreign Policy ...
america.gov/st/washfile-english/2007/July/...
10.
Mexico drug gang threatens foreign journalists
News Safety ... Mexico drug gang threatens foreign journalists. 14 Jul 2007 00:04:54 ... of U.S. journalists who work on each side of our common border, ...
www.newssafety.com/hotspots/countries/mexico/alertnet/mexico140707.htm - Cached
http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs11/18862/gangs.htm
National Drug Intelligence Center
National Drug Threat Assessment 2006
January 2006
Organized Gangs and Drug Trafficking
Strategic Findings
* Street gangs and prison gangs have, to varying degrees, established relationships with Mexican DTOs; these relationships have enabled them to evolve from primarily retail-level distributors of drugs to significant smugglers, transporters, and wholesale distributors.
* The estimated number of gang members in the United States has decreased over the past few years; however, the proliferation of gangs and their involvement in drug activity continue to increase throughout the country, particularly in rural and suburban areas.
Independent dealers are the primary retail-level distributors of illicit drugs in most regions of the country. However, street gangs, prison gangs, and outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs) have long been and continue to be the predominant organized retail drug distributors; their level of organization is the key factor that renders gangs a significant threat to the country, particularly in metropolitan areas. Compounding the threat that gangs pose to the nation, their influence with respect to drug smuggling, transportation, and wholesale distribution has increased sharply. A number of issues have contributed to this increase. First, many gangs—particularly national-level street gangs—have evolved from turf-oriented gangs to sophisticated, profit-driven, organized criminal enterprises that engage in polydrug trafficking activities. Second, gangs have established and increasingly seek to establish relationships with Mexican DTOs. Finally, gangs have proliferated in areas throughout the country not previously affected by gang activity, either by means of emulation, migration, or a combination of both.
Many gangs have evolved from turf-oriented gangs to profit-driven, organized criminal enterprises whose activities include not only retail drug distribution but also other aspects of the trade, including smuggling, transportation, and wholesale distribution. Some national-level street gangs are highly organized, with as many as 100,000 members and associates. The most highly organized, such as Latin Kings, Gangster Disciples, and Vice Lords, have centralized leadership cores that conspire to transport and distribute drugs throughout the country. Some prison gangs have evolved from ethnic-based protection gangs within the prison system to organized criminal enterprises that use their connections with Mexican DTOs as a means of conducting drug trafficking activities in various regions of the country, particularly the West and Southwest Regions. OMGs generally have fewer members than most large street gangs but are even better organized; most have numerous chapters with bylaws or constitutions established by a national or international hierarchy. The strength of OMGs lies in their international connections, which provide them with access to wholesale quantities of illegal drugs, particularly marijuana and methamphetamine.
To Top To Contents
Street gangs and prison gangs have, to varying degrees, established relationships with Mexican DTOs; these relationships have enabled them to evolve from retail-level distributors of drugs to significant smugglers, transporters, and wholesale distributors. While some street gangs simply obtain drugs for retail distribution from Mexican DTOs, others have established relationships with Mexican DTOs that allow them to obtain multikilogram-quantities of drugs including cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine for transportation to and wholesale distribution in locations throughout the country. The transfer of drugs from Mexican DTOs to street gangs frequently is brokered by prison gangs, some of which have organized into sophisticated and compartmentalized DTOs in their own right. As a result, prison gangs are increasingly gaining dominance over street gangs by exacting taxes from their retail drug distribution activities and managing the drug supply through major Mexican DTOs. Both gangs and DTOs benefit from these relationships, which provide gangs with access to wholesale quantities of cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine and at the same time provide the DTOs with a layer of insulation from U.S. law enforcement.
While the total number of gang members in the United States may have decreased over the past few years, the proliferation of gangs and their involvement in drug activity continue to increase throughout the country. According to the National Youth Gang Center (NYGC), estimated gang membership in the United States decreased 6 percent from 780,233 in 1998 to 731,500 in 2002. Nonetheless, 2005 NDTS data indicate that the percentage of state and local law enforcement agencies reporting that either street gangs or OMGs were involved at some level in drug distribution in their jurisdictions increased each year from 44.6 and 29.8 percent, respectively, in 2003 to 51.9 and 34.7 percent, respectively, in 2005. As gangs proliferate in rural and suburban areas of the country, they seek new markets for drug distribution activities. For example, the increased availability of methamphetamine in the Northeast, Southeast, and Great Lakes Regions of the country is at least in part attributable to the proliferation of California- and Texas-based Hispanic gangs such as Latin Kings and Mara Salvatrucha (MS 13) in these areas. These Hispanic gangs obtain multikilogram-quantities of methamphetamine from Mexican DTOs in the Southwest Region and transport the drug to previously untapped methamphetamine markets in the Northeast, Southeast, and Great Lakes Regions.
The threat posed by gangs will increase as gangs become better organized and more sophisticated and expand their markets. This threat is magnified by the high and increasing level of violence associated with expansion of drug trafficking activities by gangs as well as their intensifying relationships with Mexican DTOs. Such relationships will afford street gangs, prison gangs, and OMGs greater access to drugs from foreign sources. And while to date there is no evidence to suggest that U.S.-based street gangs, prison gangs, or OMGs have forged definitive relationships with foreign terrorist organizations, it is possible that some gangs may associate with foreign terrorists for the purpose of conducting drug trafficking and various criminal activities. Moreover, the potential for such relationships exists primarily among U.S. prison gangs, whose members seem to be particularly susceptible to terrorist and other extremist recruitment.
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Buprenorphine: Potential for Abuse—Intelligence Bulletin
September 2004
Product No. 2004-L0424-013 html pdf (370 KB)
This bulletin addresses the use of buprenorphine, a drug recently approved for use in opiate addiction therapy. It examines the drug’s effects, advantages of traditional treatment options, and vulnerability to diversion and abuse.
Children at Risk—Information Bulletin
July 2002
Product No. 2002-L0424-001 html pdf (415 KB)
En Español 2003-L0508-002 html pdf (248 KB)
This information bulletin provides information on the risks to children who are exposed to chemicals used in the production of methamphetamine.
Crystal Methamphetamine—Information Bulletin
August 2002
Product No. 2002-L0424-005 html pdf (280 KB)
En Español 2003-L0508-003 html pdf (261 KB)
This information bulletin provides an update on the availability of, demand for, production, transportation, and distribution of crystal methamphetamine.
DXM (Dextromethorphan)—Intelligence Bulletin
October 2004
Product No. 2004-L0424-029 html pdf (332 KB)
This intelligence bulletin provides an assessment of DXM availability and abuse in the United States.
GHB Analogs: GBL, BD, GHV, and GVL—Information Bulletin
August 2002
Product No. 2002-L0424-003 html pdf (391 KB)
This information bulletin provides an update on the availability of, demand for, production, transportation, and distribution of GHB analogs.
GHB Trafficking and Abuse—Intelligence Bulletin
September 2004
Product No. 2004-L0424-015 html pdf (294 KB)
This report provides an assessment of GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) trafficking and abuse in the United States. It includes information on the drug’s availability, abuse, production, transportation and distribution.
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Huffing - The Abuse of Inhalants—Intelligence Brief
November 2001
Product No. 2002-J0403-001 html pdf (327 KB)
En Español 2002-L0508-002 html pdf (556 KB)
En Français 2002-L0521-002 html pdf (258 KB)
This intelligence brief discusses the abuse of inhalants in the United States.
Iodine in Methamphetamine Production—Information Brief
July 2002
Product No. 2002-L0490-002 html pdf (492 KB)
En Español 2003-L0508-004 html pdf (237 KB)
This information brief discusses the use of iodine in methamphetamine production, its hazards, availability, theft and diversion, and attempts at control by legislation.
Ketamine—Intelligence Bulletin
July 2004
Product No. 2004-L0424-007 html pdf (261 KB)
This Intelligence Bulletin discusses the trafficking and abuse of ketamine hydrochloride. It presents background information, smuggling from Mexico, abuse, effects, and its use in drug-facilitated sexual assault.
Khat (Catha edulis)—Intelligence Bulletin
May 2003
Product No. 2003-L0424-002 html pdf (589 KB)
This bulletin indicates that the availability of khat, a plant containing stimulants regulated under the Controlled Substances Act, is increasing in the United States.
LSD Trafficking and Abuse—Intelligence Bulletin
September 2004
Product No. 2004-L0424-026 html pdf (261 KB)
This intelligence bulletin provides an assessment of LSD trafficking and abuse in the United States.
Methamphetamine-Related Identity Theft—Intelligence Bulletin
May 2007
Product No. 2007-L0424-003 html pdf (534 KB)
This bulletin documents the relationship between the trafficking and distribution of methamphetamine and the crime of identity theft.
PCP: Increasing Availability and Abuse—Intelligence Bulletin
September 2004
Product No. 2004-L0424-002 html pdf (331 KB)
This Intelligence Bulletin provides law enforcement, seizure, and treatment data indicating that PCP availability and abuse are increasing in some areas of the country, particularly in metropolitan areas. Though considered a minor threat in comparison to other illicit drugs, the resurgence of PCP poses a significant threat to the United States.
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