The New Issue of Technical Mujahid, a Training Manual for Jihadis ...
Also mentioned in other jihadi publications, the “Secrets of the
Mujahideen” is a ... Unmasking Terror Volume III: A Global Review of
Terrorist Activities ...
http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1057
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.
http://www.securityfocus.com/news/11539?ref=rss
Online payment site hijacked by crime gang
Dan Goodin, The Register 2008-12-04
Online payment service CheckFree lost control of at least two of its domains on Tuesday in an attack that sent customers to servers run by a notorious crime gang believed to be based in Eastern Europe.
“ I always pay my bills on the first of the month and I can’t get into your website to pay my bills and this will make them late. ”
A complaint posted online by an alleged CheckFree customer
Reg reader Richard D. reported receiving a bogus secure sockets layer certificate when attempting to log in to his Mycheckfree.com account early Tuesday morning. On further examination, he discovered the site was mapping to 91.203.92.63. To confirm the redirection was an internet-wide problem, he checked the site using a server in another part of the US and got the same result.
“I managed to get through to a commercial customer support tech, and reported the problem,” Richard wrote in an email sent early Tuesday morning. “He was not aware of any problem.”
The account is consistent with results of passive DNS search queries such as this one from bfk.de. Spamhaus shows precisely the same thing here.
Security experts say the 91.203.92.63 IP address has long served as a conduit for online crime. Spamhaus offers this laundry list of alleged dirty deeds that includes running botnet command channels and various drive-by download sites. According to security researcher Paul Ferguson of anti-virus software provider Trend Micro, the IP address was recently observed handing off booby-trapped PDF files that infected those unfortunate enough to open them.
According to bfk.de, Spamhaus, and SpyNoMore, several other web addresses are also being redirected to that IP address, including phgainc.org, brachetti.com, and camouflageclothingonline.net.
It’s unclear how long checkfree.com and mycheckfree.com were redirected to the rogue servers or whether customers have been warned they may have been compromised. CheckFree spokeswoman Melanie M. Tolley declined to provide details except to say that the company took steps to correct the hijacking at about 8 a.m. California time on Tuesday. The impostor website was shut down about five hours later, she said.
Company employees are in the process of warning customers that they may have visited a malicious website masquerading as CheckFree.
“It is taking time to determine exactly what type of malware we might be dealing with but we are currently working on a program update that provides information to the customers about the incident and maintenance tips recommending that all of our users run scans with Symantec’s scan utility, and install the latest patches for Adobe Reader, as well as make a regular practice of keeping their computer updated with the latest anti-virus software,” Tolley wrote in an email.
continued.
http://dallas.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel08/dl120908.htm
For Immediate Release
December 9, 2008 FBI Dallas
Contact: Special Agent Mark White
(972) 559-5000
Suspicious White Powder Letters Received Around the United States
Robert E. Casey Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Dallas FBI, announces during the last 24 hours, at least seven letters containing a suspicious white powder have been received by the offices of governors around the country.
The white powder substance has been field screened and the tests have met with negative results. The white powder substance has been forwarded to local laboratories for further testing.
To date, all letters have been postmarked from Dallas, Texas and were received by governors’ offices in Rhode Island, Michigan, Mississippi, Alabama, Minnesota, Montana, and Missouri.
Anyone with information concerning these letters should contact their local FBI office, or call the Dallas FBI at 972-559-5000.
http://dallas.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel08/dl120908.htm
For Immediate Release
December 9, 2008 FBI Dallas
Contact: Special Agent Mark White
(972) 559-5000
Suspicious White Powder Letters Received Around the United States
Robert E. Casey Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Dallas FBI, announces during the last 24 hours, at least seven letters containing a suspicious white powder have been received by the offices of governors around the country.
The white powder substance has been field screened and the tests have met with negative results. The white powder substance has been forwarded to local laboratories for further testing.
To date, all letters have been postmarked from Dallas, Texas and were received by governors’ offices in Rhode Island, Michigan, Mississippi, Alabama, Minnesota, Montana, and Missouri.
Anyone with information concerning these letters should contact their local FBI office, or call the Dallas FBI at 972-559-5000.
http://dallas.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel08/dl120908.htm
For Immediate Release
December 9, 2008 FBI Dallas
Contact: Special Agent Mark White
(972) 559-5000
Suspicious White Powder Letters Received Around the United States
Robert E. Casey Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Dallas FBI, announces during the last 24 hours, at least seven letters containing a suspicious white powder have been received by the offices of governors around the country.
The white powder substance has been field screened and the tests have met with negative results. The white powder substance has been forwarded to local laboratories for further testing.
To date, all letters have been postmarked from Dallas, Texas and were received by governors’ offices in Rhode Island, Michigan, Mississippi, Alabama, Minnesota, Montana, and Missouri.
Anyone with information concerning these letters should contact their local FBI office, or call the Dallas FBI at 972-559-5000.
http://dallas.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel08/dl120908.htm
For Immediate Release
December 9, 2008 FBI Dallas
Contact: Special Agent Mark White
(972) 559-5000
Suspicious White Powder Letters Received Around the United States
Robert E. Casey Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Dallas FBI, announces during the last 24 hours, at least seven letters containing a suspicious white powder have been received by the offices of governors around the country.
The white powder substance has been field screened and the tests have met with negative results. The white powder substance has been forwarded to local laboratories for further testing.
To date, all letters have been postmarked from Dallas, Texas and were received by governors’ offices in Rhode Island, Michigan, Mississippi, Alabama, Minnesota, Montana, and Missouri.
Anyone with information concerning these letters should contact their local FBI office, or call the Dallas FBI at 972-559-5000.
http://dallas.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel08/dl120908.htm
For Immediate Release
December 9, 2008 FBI Dallas
Contact: Special Agent Mark White
(972) 559-5000
Suspicious White Powder Letters Received Around the United States
Robert E. Casey Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Dallas FBI, announces during the last 24 hours, at least seven letters containing a suspicious white powder have been received by the offices of governors around the country.
The white powder substance has been field screened and the tests have met with negative results. The white powder substance has been forwarded to local laboratories for further testing.
To date, all letters have been postmarked from Dallas, Texas and were received by governors’ offices in Rhode Island, Michigan, Mississippi, Alabama, Minnesota, Montana, and Missouri.
Anyone with information concerning these letters should contact their local FBI office, or call the Dallas FBI at 972-559-5000.
TSA Week at a Glance (December 1, 2008 - December 7, 2008)
* 17 passengers were arrested due to suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
* 21 firearms found at checkpoints
* 2 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 15 incidents that involved a checkpoint closure, terminal evacuation or sterile area breach
http://dallas.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel08/dl120908.htm
For Immediate Release
December 9, 2008 FBI Dallas
Contact: Special Agent Mark White
(972) 559-5000
Suspicious White Powder Letters Received Around the United States
Robert E. Casey Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Dallas FBI, announces during the last 24 hours, at least seven letters containing a suspicious white powder have been received by the offices of governors around the country.
The white powder substance has been field screened and the tests have met with negative results. The white powder substance has been forwarded to local laboratories for further testing.
To date, all letters have been postmarked from Dallas, Texas and were received by governors’ offices in Rhode Island, Michigan, Mississippi, Alabama, Minnesota, Montana, and Missouri.
Anyone with information concerning these letters should contact their local FBI office, or call the Dallas FBI at 972-559-5000.
TSA Week at a Glance (December 1, 2008 - December 7, 2008)
* 17 passengers were arrested due to suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents
* 21 firearms found at checkpoints
* 2 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints
* 15 incidents that involved a checkpoint closure, terminal evacuation or sterile area breach
December 9, 2008 PM Anti-Terrorism News - UnitedStatesAction.com
(Pakistan) Arrests won’t affect jihad: Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Pakistan/Arrests_wont_affect_jihad_LeT/rssarticleshow/3815424.cms
(Pakistan) ‘India may question suspects but jointly with Pak’
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India_may_question_suspects_but_with_Pak/articleshow/3814815.cms
Pakistan’s mixed feelings on terror groups perilous
http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/stories/2008/12/10/kellyed_1210.html
(Pakistan) Bush Warns Pakistan as He Defends Military Strategy
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/10/washington/10prexy.html?_r=1
(Pakistan) Jamaat-ud-Dawa could be banned following UN plea: Pakistan’s permanent representative to UN Haroon
http://www.geo.tv/12-10-2008/30419.htm
(India) Declare Jamaat-ud-Dawa a terrorist outfit: India to UN
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Declare_Jamaat-ud-Dawa_a_terrorist_outfit_India_to_UN/articleshow/3815595.cms
India steps up pressure on Pakistan by publishing details of Mumbai gunmen
— listing their home towns in Pakistan
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5314311.ece
— India gives info tying Mumbai gunmen to Pakistan
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081209/ap_on_re_as/as_india_shooting
India closely “monitoring and verifying” Pakistan arrests
http://www.geo.tv/12-10-2008/30409.htm
(India) Mumbai attacks: Terror boat was almost nabbed off Mumbai
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Terror_boat_was_almost_nabbed_off_Mumbai/articleshow/3815507.cms
(India) Mumbai attacks: Police name new suspect in Mumbai attack probe
— Sabauddin
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081209/india_nm/india369466
(India) What high alert? For a price, you can speed past security
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/What_high_alert_For_a_price_you_can_speed_past_security/articleshow/3816205.cms
Afghanistan ready to accept mediation with Taliban from Muslim countries
— “The interior minister of Afghanistan, Mohammad Hanif Atmar,
said here Tuesday that Kabul has sought help from Saudi Arabia and
other Muslim countries to mediate with Taliban to end violence in the Muslim country.”
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1959173&Language=en
(Afghanistan) No winter lull in fight with Taliban rebels, says NATO
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=259954&version=1&template_id=41&parent_id=23
Iraqi police arrest 30 in fatal truck bombings
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081209/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iraq
(U.S.) Rice welcomes Pakistan measures, doesn’t confirm arrests
http://www.geo.tv/Pakistan.htm
— U.S. calls Pakistan efforts ‘credible’ but expects more
http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20081210/wl_mcclatchy/3119635
(U.S.) Fort Dix: Government rests case in Fort Dix plot trial
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081209/ap_on_re_us/fort_dix_plot_4
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/dec/09/government-rests-case-in-fort-dix-plot-trial/
http://www.nbc40.net/view_story.php?id=7715
-— Fort Dix terror suspects won’t testify at conspiracy trial
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/12/fort_dix_terror_suspects_wont.html
-— Jihadist videos take center stage at Fort Dix trial
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2008/12/09/3844753.htm
(U.S.) Millenium Jihadist Bomber: Prosecutors seek yet another sentencing for Ahmed Ressam
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iROzvsopJ-9vJVh3zDUiJJwa0BzgD94VF0SO1
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008486762_webressam09m.html
US supports UN’s’central role’ in fighting terrorism
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/245442,us-supports-unscentral-role-in-fighting-terrorism—summary.html
UN focuses on global threat of terrorism
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/focuses+global+scourge+terrorism/1054131/story.html
(U.N.) Criticism of US heard at UN session on terrorism
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3636114,00.html
(UK) Lockerbie bomber’s wife appeals for mercy
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/scotland/3690544/Lockerbie-bombers-wife-appeals-for-mercy.html
Miniature Nuclear Reactors Could Provide Energy — and Opportunity for Terrorists
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,464625,00.html
Iran warns of Fatah al-Islam activity
http://www.metimes.com/Security/2008/12/09/iran_warns_of_fatah_al-islam_activity/581a/
(Lebanon) Former Pres. Jimmy Carter Ready to Meet Hezbollah Officials, If They Agree
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,464585,00.html
(Syria) Fatah al-Islam says leader captured or killed in Syria: report
— “group said Shaker al-Abssi and two other members of its group
were ambushed in Syria while trying to link up with other Islamic militants from Iraq and Afghanistan”
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18/20081209/twl-fatah-al-islam-says-leader-captured-3cd7efd.html
Other News:
(UK) Teachers ‘beat and abuse’ Muslim children in British Koran classes
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article5315021.ece
-— Madrassas case study: a brave face, then the tear
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article5314736.ece
-— Law to protect the young must cover madrassas as well
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article5314757.ece
(UK) Al Jazeera to produce children’s show with Welsh language channel S4C
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mandrake/3691108/Al-Jazeera-to-produce-childrens-show-with-Welsh-language-channel-S4C.html
When Do Online Attacks Cross the Line Into Cyberwar?
http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/world/2008/12/09/when-do-online-attacks-cross-the-line-into-cyberwar.html
HSBC: “How Brazil Can Profit from US$ 80 Billion-Rich Islamic Bonds”
http://www.brazzil.com/articles/198-november-2008/10139-how-brazil-can-profit-from-us-80-billion-rich-islamic-bonds.html
Commentaries:
Still asleep after Mumbai - by Daniel Pipes
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1228728128921&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
First among freedoms - Matthew Jones
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2008/dec/09/religion-unitednations
__._,_.___
If reposting elsewhere, please credit source of this research as UnitedStatesAction.com
http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news/?fr=yalerts-keyword&c=&p=%22Iran%22&ei=utf-8
News Stories for “Iran”
(Results 1 - 10 of about 20,553)
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* 1.
Moscow says Iran has no capability to build nuclear bomb
Moscow says Iran has no capability to build nuclear bomb Open this result in new window
AFP via Yahoo! News - Dec 09 7:38 AM
Iran does not currently have the capability to build a nuclear weapon, a senior Russian diplomat was quoted as saying by Interfax and ITAR-TASS news agencies Tuesday.
* 2.
Obama urged to heed Hillary’s warning against talks with Iran Open this result in new window
UPI - Dec 09 1:12 PM
By JAMES PHILLIPS and PETER BROOKES UPI Outside View Commentator WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (UPI) — If President Barack Obama sat down with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad without preconditions, it would hand the Iranian leader an opportunity to practice his own Taqiyyah, strut on the world stage, lecture about the supposed superiority of Iran’s Islamic system and assert Iran’s claim to ...
* 3.
Iran Cleric to Israel: Muslim Anger Over Gaza to Explode Open this result in new window
Fox News - Dec 09 9:24 AM
Iran’s former president and influential cleric is warning Israel of the consequences of the ongoing siege of the militant Hamas-run Gaza Strip.
* 4.
Iran Urges Obama to Change Approach Open this result in new window
New York Times - Dec 08 7:13 PM
Iran said that it would not abandon its nuclear program and urged President-elect Obama to change America?s carrot-and-stick policy toward Iran, the official IRNA news agency reported.
* 5.
Iraq Proposes Regional Partnership With Iran, Turkey, Others Open this result in new window
Nasdaq - Dec 09 2:53 PM
WASHINGTON (AFP)—Iraq outlined plans Tuesday for a new partnership with neighbors such as Iran on economic matters and security, in a speech delivered by an Iraqi government spokesman in Washington.
* 6.
Iraq proposes sharing resources with Iran, other neighbors Open this result in new window
Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune - Dec 09 2:14 PM
WASHINGTON - Reaching out to Iran and other neighbors, a top Iraqi official called Tuesday for the formation of an economic security union designed to share water, energy and other resources, and mediate disputes among its members.
* 7.
Israeli president says military option against Iran unnecessary Open this result in new window
People’s Daily - 1 hour, 56 minutes ago
Israeli President Shimon Peres on Tuesday said that the falling oil price has made currently unnecessary the military option to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, local daily Ha’aretz reported. During a tour to the Arab town of Sakhnin to mark the Islamic feast of the sacrifice, Peres was quoted as saying that with the oil price plunging, Iran would “not have as much money to invest in ...
* 8.
Moscow says Iran has no capability to build nuclear bomb Open this result in new window
Middle East Times - Dec 09 12:38 PM
Iranian technicians work at the Isfahan Uranium Conversion Facilities, 420km south of Tehran. Iran does not currently have the capability to build a nuclear weapon, a senior Russian diplomat was quoted as saying by Interfax and ITAR-TASS news agencies.
* 9.
Arms expert urges moderate approach on Iran Open this result in new window
Los Angeles Times - Dec 09 12:17 AM
In a new report, Mark Fitzpatrick argues for accepting some aspects of Iran’s nuclear program, such as enrichment, in order to maintain access for inspectors and help prevent development of a bomb. A report released Monday by a respected arms-control expert urges the West to change course by accepting sensitive features of Iran’s nuclear program and focusing instead on discouraging Tehran ...
* 10.
Iran’s Oil Output May Fall 25%; Exports May Cease, FACTS Says Open this result in new window
Bloomberg - Dec 09 12:36 AM
Dec. 9 (Bloomberg) — Iran, the second-largest crude producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, may reduce output by as much as 25 percent and cease exports because of ageing fields and a lack of foreign investment.
December 10, 2008 Anti-Terrorism News - UnitedStatesAction.com
Pakistan confirms Mumbai arrests — second arrest of Zarrar Shah
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081210/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan;_ylt=A0wNcwZa_D9J8wEAKARvaA8F
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28153891/
Pakistan’s Lashkar-e-Taiba arrests met with Indian mistrust
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081210/india_nm/india369615_1
(Pakistan) Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)’s Jamaat ud Dawa will be banned,
if evidence against it found: Pakistan security Advisor Mahmood Ali Durrani
http://www.geo.tv/12-10-2008/30430.htm
(Pakistan) U.S. sharpens focus on Lashkar-e-Taiba
-— “’We have seen a potential broadening’ of Lashkar-e-Taiba’s ambitions,
said a senior U.S. intelligence official. ‘By taking a page out of Al Qaeda’s playbook, it exalts itself as a movement.’”
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-pakistan10-2008dec10,0,2872223.story
Pakistan Media: Wicked CIA-RAW-Mossad axis against Islamabad
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Wicked_CIA-RAW-Mossad_axis_against_us_Pak_media/articleshow/3819866.cms
-— Pakistan’s Frontier Post: “A wicked axis”
http://frontierpost.com.pk/News.aspx?ncat=ed&nid=220
(Pakistan) Ready for crushing reply to any aggression: Pak Air Force
http://www.geo.tv/12-10-2008/30435.htm
Pakistan won’t be provoked by India’s jingoistic attitude: PM Gilani
http://www.geo.tv/12-10-2008/30439.htm
(Pakistan) Being responsible nuclear power will not take action under pressure: PM Gilani
http://www.geo.tv/12-10-2008/30431.htm
Pakistan govt blocks UN resolution against former ISI chief Hamid Gul
— Pakistan PM Gilani: “a resolution was moved in the (UN) Security Council but we got it put on hold”
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Top_Headlines/Pak_govt_blocks_UN_resolution_against_former_ISI_chief_Hamid_Gul/articleshow/3819301.cms
Pakistan: PM Gilani renews pledge to prosecute Mumbai terrorists
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=3.0.2800328820
(Pakistan/U.S.) US warns Pak of ‘unintended consequences’
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/US_warns_Pak_of_unintended_consequences/articleshow/3819808.cms
(India) Mumbai terrorists had Pakistani IDs
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/dec/10/mumbai-terrorists-had-pakistani-ids/
(India) Police say Indian helped smuggle Pakistani gunmen — Sabauddin Ahmed
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081210/ap_on_re_as/as_india_shooting
(India) Mumbai attacks: Mumbai terrorists ‘part of a larger group’
-— “’Another 20 were trained in the same way,’ Deven Bharti, Mumbai
Police Deputy Commissioner, told The Times. ‘We suspect they were
being trained for similar missions. This is a worry for all parts of the world,
these men could strike in any one of several countries.’”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5316934.ece
(India) Mumbai attack: Police question fifth suspect as search for 20 terrorists begins
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/3698896/Mumbai-attack-Police-question-fifth-suspect-as-search-for-20-terrorists-begins.html
(India) Mumbai terrorists thwarted security agencies by using internet telephones
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5317075.ece
(India Assam) Powerful bomb found in Guwahati cinema hall
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Top_Headlines/Powerful_bomb_found_in_Guwahati_cinema_hall/articleshow/3818576.cms
(India) Terrorism tops agenda as parliament reopens
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081210/india_nm/india369610
Terror attacks to push up security spending in India: study
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081210/wl_sthasia_afp/indiaattackseconomysecurity
(Afghanistan) 6 Afghan police killed in mistaken US strike - Zabul province
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/10/asia/AS-Afghanistan.php
(U.S.) Fort Dix prosecutors rest; case could reach jury next week
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/20081210_Fort_Dix_prosecutors_rest__case_could_reach_jury_next_week.html
(U.S.) Executing Accused Terrorists May Be Left to Obama
http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20081210/pl_bloomberg/aoywhtkg3spu
US courts reconsider whether ‘tortured’ man mistaken for a terrorist and sent to Syria can sue
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1093494/US-courts-reconsider-tortured-man-mistaken-terrorist-sent-Syria-sue.html
(UK) Ex-MI5 chief ‘astonished’ at how many organisations use anti-terror law
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2008/dec/10/terrorism-law
(Iraq) US forces in Iraq kill al-Qaeda suspect, arrest 18
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/245569,us-forces-in-iraq-kill-al-qaeda-suspect-arrest-18.html
— Iraq arrests 10 Al-Qaeda suspects for Fallujah bombings
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081209/wl_mideast_afp/iraqunrestqaeda_081209155143
(Iraq) British troop withdrawal from Iraq to begin in March — report
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1959229&Language=en
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/3692049/British-troops-to-withdraw-from-Iraq-by-June.html
(Iran) U.S. Official stands by Iran nuke report
-— Thomas Fingar insists Tehran froze program
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/dec/10/official-stands-by-iran-nuke-report/
(Israel) Kassam rocket strikes open area in western Negev; none wounded
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1228728131598&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
— Israel unveils new anti-rocket radar
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/12/10/Israel_unveils_new_anti-rocket_radar/UPI-69281228914898/
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1228728130021&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
(Israel) Barak okays NIS 100m transfer to Gaza
— “Decision for Sunday transfer follows appeals from Fayad, Fischer; Yishai calls move ‘a terror prize.’”
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1228728142547&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Lebanon: Hezbollah refuses to meet former US president
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=3.0.2800530710
(Algeria) Report: Roadside bombs wound 2 Algerian soldiers - Al-Qaeda in Islamic North Africa suspected
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/10/africa/AF-Algeria-Roadside-Bombs.php
Somalia: Blast Occurs in Galkayo
http://allafrica.com/stories/200812100292.html
(Somalia) Four dead in battles between Somali Islamists
http://www.kyivpost.com/world/31797
(Somalia) Top Islamist returns to Somalia
— Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed’s Union of Islamic Courts (UIC)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7775697.stm
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4B943G20081210?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews
(Somalia) Ethiopian troops launch major offensives against Islamist insurgents in Somalia
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1210/p99s01-duts.html
Somali fighting kills 16,210 civilians since 2007
http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/5204874/somali-fighting-kills-16210-civilians-since-07/
(Somalia/Germany) Germany’s gov’t agrees on military operations against maritime piracy
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1959237&Language=en
Somali piracy backed by international network
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/10/africa/AF-Somalia-Global-Piracy.php
Somalia: Human Rights Day is ‘Just Another Day of Suffering’
-— Faliz Ali “said human rights in Somalia were ‘just words and nothing more’”
http://allafrica.com/stories/200812100804.html
—— See also: Human Rights, Islamic Supremacism, and Our Responsibilities
http://anti-jihad.org/blog/2008/12/human-rights/
http://www.unitedstatesaction.com/blog/imm-articles/119.html
(Russia) Police officer, civilian wounded in southern Russia
— in Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Ingushetia
http://en.rian.ru/russia/20081209/118761949.html
German charity wants spying charge probed — linked to Afghanistan
http://www.expatica.com/de/news/local_news/German-charity-wants-spying-charge-probed—.html
(Germany) A Terrorist Gets the Judicial Middle Finger
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,595609,00.html
(Spain) Guns, computers found in arrested ETA chief’s car
http://www.expatica.com/es/news/local_news/Guns_-computers-found-in-arrested-ETA-chief_s-car.html
(Greece) Firebombs greet police at court
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24783805-23109,00.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/greece/3700248/Greece-comes-to-a-standstill-as-riots-continue.html
http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,595573,00.html
Malaysia Frees Jemaah Islamiah (JI) Man With Links To 11 Sept Plotters
-— Malaysian Yazid Sufaat
http://www.mysinchew.com/node/19103
-— Malaysia: Yazid Sufaat is ‘no longer a threat’
-—— Yazid Sufaat is “US-trained biochemist” and was arrested on
suspicion “of working on a biological and chemical weapons program”
-—— “Yazid emerged as a key figure in JI’s regional network because of
his link to Zacarias Moussaoui, a French citizen of Moroccan descent who
was convicted of conspiracy charges in the Sept 11 attacks in New York”
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/SE%2BAsia/Story/STIStory_312587.html
http://www.asianewsnet.net/news.php?id=3050&sec=1
(Philippines) Thirteen Muslim rebels, one soldier killed in southern Philippines
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/245485,thirteen-muslim-rebels-one-soldier-killed-in-southern-philippines.html
Other News:
(U.S.) Barack Obama plans to reach out to Muslim world
-— Obama: “I think we’ve got a unique opportunity to reboot America’s image around the world and also in the Muslim world in particular”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-barack-obama-muslim-1210,0,5694976.story
—— Barack Obama plans major address in Islamic capital
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/3700476/Barack-Obama-plans-major-address-in-Islamic-capital.html
(U.S.) Homeland Security gets more time to appeal Paterson Muslim cleric’s immigration status
-— Mohammad Qatanani, the spiritual leader of the Islamic Center of Passaic County
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/12/homeland_security_gets_more_ti.html
(U.S.) North Carolina: Muslim Women Start Swim Lessons At Curran Aquatic Center
-— “for those who want to learn to swim but need to adhere to the requirements of the Shariah”
http://wake.mync.com/site/wake/news|Sports|Lifestyles/story/21449/muslim-women-start-swim-lessons-at-curran-aquatic-center
(UK) Muslim lawyer Anjem Choudary brands Christmas ‘evil’
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3699565/Muslim-lawyer-Anjem-Choudary-brands-Christmas-evil.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1093414/Christmas-pathway-hell-Muslim-lawyers-extraordinary-rant-evil-celebration.html
(UK) Britain targets phony Afghan asylum seekers
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081209/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_immigration
Netherlands: “An Interview with Mohammed”
http://islamineurope.blogspot.com/2008/12/netherlands-interview-with-mohammed.html
Sweden: Pool rents out burkinis
http://islamineurope.blogspot.com/2008/12/sweden-pool-rents-out-burkinis.html
(Israel) MK Arye Eldad to push ‘anti-Islamization’ laws
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1228728129918&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
MEMRI: Sa’d Eddin Ibrahim: The Muslims Should Learn Openness from the Catholic Church in France
http://memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD214508
AIG owes $10 billion on trades gone bad: report
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081210/ts_alt_afp/financeeconomyinsuranceuscompanyaig_081210123530
- But AIG can afford to promote Sharia!
-— AIG Defies U.S. Taxpayers by Promoting Sharia in America
http://anti-jihad.org/blog/2008/12/aig-defies-us-taxpayers/
-— End U.S. Ownership of Sharia Business Now Petition
http://www.petitiononline.com/stopaig/petition.html
(U.S.) Homeland Security Issue: How to prepare for February’s digital-TV switchover
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/12/09/digital.tv.switch/index.html
Commentaries:
Human Rights, Islamic Supremacism, and Our Responsibilities - by Jeffrey Imm
http://anti-jihad.org/blog/2008/12/human-rights/
http://www.unitedstatesaction.com/blog/imm-articles/119.html
http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.1980/pub_detail.asp
— Video: Universal Declaration of Human Rights: 60 years on
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2008/dec/10/united-nations-declaration-of-human-rights
9/11 Defendants Claim Divine Praise While Pleading Guilty - by Robert Spencer
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=29845
Propaganda:
Baltimore newspaper defends Pakistan-born Syed Fahad Hashmi aka “Fahad”
— defends Al Muhajiroun and compares to “Christian Right”
http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/2008/121008Lendman.shtml
-— Syed Fahad Hashmi extradited from UK in May 2007
-— accused of “supplying unspecified equipment for Al Qadea ‘to fight against United States forces in Afghanistan.’”
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,276181,00.html
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/016648.php
The ‘end’ of human rights
— Guardian’s Costas Douzinas - in the hands of western governments human rights have lost their true aim
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/dec/10/humanrights-unitednations
__._,_.___
If reposting elsewhere, please credit source of this research as UnitedStatesAction.com
Today’s Cool Site...
Share videos with the troops
YouTube is one of the hottest Web sites on the ‘Net. But not everybody is enamored with the video-sharing site.
The Defense Department has banned soldiers from using YouTube. Why? It’s all in the interest of national security.
So, military families may be wondering how to share videos. Fortunately, the military has launched its own video-sharing site.
Videos posted to TroopTube are screened by Pentagon employees. They’re checked for copyright violations and taste. National security is also considered, of course.
With Christmas almost here, it’s the perfect time to check out TroopTube. Share your holiday wishes with family members stationed overseas.
Or, simply post a video to all of our troops. Thank them for all their hard work and the sacrifices they have made!
TO VISIT TODAY’S COOL SITE, GO HERE:
www.trooptube.tv
[From the Kim Komando newsletter: http://www.kommando.com
granny]
Human Rights, Islamic Supremacism, and Our Responsibilities
December 10, 2008
by Jeffrey Imm
Anti-Jihad League of America
http://anti-jihad.org/blog/2008/12/human-rights/
http://www.unitedstatesaction.com/blog/imm-articles/119.html
http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.1980/pub_detail.asp
If reposting elsewhere, please credit source of this research as UnitedStatesAction.com
Just on kdwn.com radio news:
All internet is down to Las Vegas State of Nevada offices, the cause is unknown.
[This would bring down the courts, auto license, Highway Patrol and all the criminal records, and the list goes on, even the property taxes go to the state........granny]
=== Google Blogs Alert for: jihadi training camps ===
Mumbai Terror Group Trained American Jihadists
By Noah Shachtman
Royer spent a month at the LeT camp, firing AK-47s and other weapons, and
going through endurance training. In August, Seifullah Chapman made a
similar trip, arranged by Royer, who called it a “straight path” to global
jihad. ...
http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/12/let-usa.html
Danger Room
http://blog.wired.com/defense/
LeT:History of Terror
By worldmonitor
Its suspected role in training some recruits from Singapore at one of its
training camps in PoK. Its assumption of the role of the co-ordinator of
the International Islamic Front formed by bin Laden in 1998. ...
http://worldmonitor.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/l-e-thistory-of-terror/
WORLD MONITOR
http://worldmonitor.wordpress.com/
http://www.ic3.gov/media/2008/081210.aspx
Intelligence Note
Prepared by the Internet Crime
Complaint Center (IC3)
December 10, 2008
Flurry of Spam Targeting the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Consumers continue to be inundated by spam purportedly from the
FBI. As with previous spam attacks, the latest versions use the names
of several high ranking executives within the FBI and even the IC3 to attempt to
defraud consumers.
Many of the spam e-mails currently in circulation claim to be an “official order”
from the FBI’s Anti-Terrorist and Monetary Crimes Division, from an alleged FBI
unit in Nigeria, confirm an inheritance or contain a lottery notification, all informing
recipients they have been named the beneficiary of millions of dollars.
To claim the large sum, recipients are instructed to furnish their personally identifiable
information (PII)
and are often threatened with some type of penalty, such as prosecution, if they
fail to do so. Specific PII information requested includes, but is not
limited to, the recipient’s name, banking information, telephone number, and a copy
of their passport.
The spam e-mail allegedly from the IC3 states that the recipient has extorted money
and will be given a limited amount of time to refund the money or face prosecution.
Do not respond. These e-mails are a hoax.
The FBI does not send unsolicited e-mails of this nature. FBI Executives are briefed
on numerous investigations but do not personally contact consumers regarding such
matters. In addition, the IC3 does not send threatening letters to consumers demanding
payments for Internet crimes.
Consumers should not respond to any unsolicited e-mails or click on any embedded
links associated with such e-mails, as they may contain viruses or malware.
It is imperative consumers guard their PII. Providing your PII will compromise your
identity!
If you have been a victim of Internet crime, please file a complaint at
www.IC3.gov.
For previous PSAs concerning e-mail scams targeting the FBI and other government
agencies:
* http://www.ic3.gov/media/2008/081205-1.aspx
* http://www.ic3.gov/media/2008/081016.aspx
* http://www.ic3.gov/media/2008/080606.aspx
* http://www.ic3.gov/media/2008/080508.aspx
* http://www.ic3.gov/media/2008/080606.aspx
* http://www.ic3.gov/media/2007/071214.aspx
* http://www.ic3.gov/media/2007/070717-2.aspx
* http://www.ic3.gov/media/2007/070717-3.aspx
* http://www.ic3.gov/media/2007/070627.aspx
* http://www.ic3.gov/media/2006/061018.aspx
* http://www.ic3.gov/media/2006/061013-2.aspx
* http://www.ic3.gov/media/2006/060724.aspx
* http://www.ic3.gov/media/2005/051201.aspx
* http://www.ic3.gov/media/2005/051122.aspx