Posted on 08/01/2008 12:17:04 PM PDT by nwctwx
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Prayers for the troops.
Thanks to Jet Jaguar for the ping to this thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2064121/posts
“Afghan governor says militants try to storm US military base in eastern Afghanistan”
Associated Press (excerpt) ^ | August 19, 2008
Posted on August 18, 2008 10:18:04 PM PDT by HAL9000
AP NewsAlert - KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Afghan governor says militants try to storm US military base in eastern Afghanistan
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
ON THE INTERNET:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHnHbAms4v4
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/russia
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/georgia http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/venezuela
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ADDING to post no. 599:
BLOG:
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/08/18/putin-puppet-georgia-cannot-go-unpunished/
“Putin puppet: Georgia cannot go ‘unpunished’; Update: Russian navy to ‘visit’ Venezuela”
POSTED AT 3:56 PM ON AUGUST 18, 2008 BY ALLAHPUNDIT
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/venezuela
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/cement
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/cementplants
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/cementplant
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Note: The following post is a quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2064044/posts
Venezuela to seize Cemex unit in takeover fight (Mexican co. Also French & Swiss cos.)
Reuters ^ | Aug 18, 2008 | Various
Posted on August 18, 2008 5:48:29 PM PDT by decimon
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela will take control of cement plants and offices belonging to Mexico’s Cemex as of midnight on Monday after failing to reach an agreement in nationalization talks, the government said.
< >
The government said it paid $552 million for an 85 percent stake in Switzerland’s Holcim’s local unit and $267 million for 89 percent of the shares in France’s Lafarge’s local unit.
“Lafarge is working to protect as best as it can the interests of its shareholders and of its staff on the ground,” a spokeswoman for Lafarge said earlier in the day, declining any further comment.
Reuters was unable to reach a representative for Holcim Venezuela or Cemex.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsOA2GYRB-M
“Four Concerns About Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez”
VIDEO DESCRIPTION - QUOTE:
SubscribeFrom: HeritageFoundation
Joined: 1 year ago
Videos: 336
Added: July 21, 2008 (Less info)
Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez raises these four concerns with the United States:
1) He provides support to the FARC, a group of Columbian guerillas.
2) He aids Iran and Hezbollah.
3) He hinders anti-drug efforts.
4) He opposes democratic government.
Category: News & Politics
Tags: venezuela hugo chávez FARC iran hezbollah narcotics petroleum democratic government ray walser heritage foundation
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp1117.htm
August 15, 2008
HP-1117
Opening Remarks of Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing
Patrick OBrien at Treasurys Charity Roundtable
Washington DC—Good Morning. I would like to welcome you all to the Treasury Department for today’s Charity Roundtable. It is our hope that today’s discussion will build upon the regular dialogue we have had over the years both here in Washington and in community events around the country. Before I go further, I would like to extend my special thanks to Mr. Kareem Shora, National Executive Director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), and his capable staff for their assistance and leadership in organizing this event.
The United States government is committed to strengthening our relationship with Arab and Muslim-American communities. For our part, the Treasury Department continues to engage with both the charitable sector and affected communities to advance our shared interests in a free, open, tolerant, and charitable society. One that encourages charitable and humanitarian activities, while at the same time protecting those efforts from abuse.
Over the last several years, the Treasury Department has established an important relationship and dialogue with the Arab and Muslim-American communities as we work together to address the threat of terrorist financing in the United States and the Muslim and Arab worlds. This relationship is necessary as we work to protect and preserve the sanctity of charitable giving and zakat from terrorist groups like al Qaida, Hamas, Hizbollah, and others who have purposely usurped the goodwill and donations of Muslims around the world to fuel their terrorist agenda. It is also critical to advancing our collective mission of promoting charitable relief and development around the world to those most in need of our assistance. Although we may not agree on all points, an honest and frank exchange between the federal government and Arab and Muslim-American communities fosters mutual understanding and also serves as a basis for continued cooperation.
The Arab and Muslim-American communities are uniquely situated to advance our common interests in both promoting and protecting charitable activities. Your engagement and leadership has the potential to affect global practices and perceptions that are essential to these interests and winning the long term battle against terrorism.
We anticipate that today will provide an open and informal forum to exchange thoughts and mutual concerns. It is fair to say that our agenda is ambitious and engaging. There is a diversity of interests and concerns that are reflected by speakers from Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service, the FBI, USAID as well as a number of charitable and advocacy groups, civil rights organizations and concerned individuals.
Today’s dialogue will be wide-ranging and focused on the following topi
The nature of the threat of terrorist abuse of charities;
Basic governance, accountability, and transparency issues which affect charities as well as hearing how the private sector implements such principles;
Concerns of charities that operate in high-risk areas and measures they may voluntarily implement to minimize risks of abuse;
Providing guidance to donors on charitable giving; and
Identifying ongoing and future challenges.
I would like to make a few general observations about the first topic on the agenda the nature of the threat. Absent a baseline understanding of this matter, the United States and the international community’s response would not be well understood. As has been noted on many occasions, the nature of terrorist financing is dynamic, evolving, and it often varies by the particular region. However, the Treasury Department, working with its domestic partners and international organizations such as the Financial Action Task Force, has made a concerted effort to document the risks and typologies of terrorist exploitation through a number of publications.
Some believe that the terrorist financing threat in the charitable sector is limited to cases of diversion of funds or materials. Diversion occurs when a charity ostensibly raises money for a legitimate goal, but then uses the funds for an illicit purpose. In the broadest sense, this is fraud. However, it is not the only problem we confront in the sector. In addition to raising and moving funds as well as providing operational cover, it is well known that foreign terrorist organizations such as al Qaida, Hamas, and Hizbollah purposefully establish or exploit charities to gain support, recruit new members, and radicalize vulnerable populations. Terrorist groups often supplant a weakened central government and in effect, develop social welfare arms. They run the hospitals, schools, and clinics for these populations. This gives terrorist organizations a seemingly reputable foundation for recruiting new members.
Many of these charities do provide actual services, as well as support terrorism. It is this aspect of the threat the underlines our voluntary guidance covering the vetting of key employees and grantees of charities working in high-risk areas against lists of designated terrorist organizations, entities and individuals. This fact is supported by a number of different sources including law enforcement investigations, academic studies, media reports, and publicly available information that support Treasury Department designations. In this regard, the public information concerning Treasury’s designations of specific U.S.-based charities revealed that many of the charitable organizations engaged in actual charitable services. However, they were unfortunately owned or controlled by, or acted for or on behalf of; or provided financial, material, or technological support. This is a violation of U.S. law, namely Executive Order 13224. Organizations such as Benevolence International Foundation and Global Relief Foundation are prime examples of this type of illicit activity. Furthermore, Treasury’s recent designation of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) in Sri Lanka and a similar action taken by the Government of Canada illustrates that a wide range of foreign terrorist organizations that exploit charitable services. In fact, almost all of the foreign terrorist organizations maintained by the federal government have some charitable component or function.
The broader exploitation of charities operating in high-risk regions raises serious questions and challenges for the United States, the international community, and charities operating in high-risk areas. Going forward, some key challenges include: adoption of best practices, utilizing alternative relief measures, and improving private sector relief efforts. Let me just take a minute to briefly outline these areas.
Adoption of Anti-Terrorist Best Practices
All charities working in high-risk areas should consider adopting specific anti-terrorist measures. As guidance, Treasury published the Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines: Voluntary Best Practices for U.S.- Based Charities in consultation with a number of charitable groups. In light of the risk of exploitation in certain regions and the need to comply with U.S law, these measures, among other things, recommend that a charity collect information on its grantees as well as key employees and then check such information against lists maintained by the Department of the Treasury. It is important to note that such measures are risk-sensitive and recognize that charities may sometimes operate under exigent circumstances. However, we understand that there has been significant discussion both within the charitable sector and affected communities regarding the feasibility, potential burden, and the effect of such measures, and hope we can examine these concerns during today’s roundtable. Going forward, Treasury will continue to work with interested parties to further refine its guidance in this area, including through the Treasury Guidelines Working Group forum.
Alternative Relief
In some circumstances, effectively and safely operating in regions where there are known terrorist activities may require creating alternative distribution means. Essentially, this type of partnership allows individual U.S. donors to tap into the government resources and distribution networks, thereby leveraging counterterrorism mechanisms only available to the government. The aim is straightforward to provide a safe and effective way for individuals to contribute to critical regions where aid is desperately needed, such as the West Bank and Gaza. Such partnerships also have the potential to weaken the hold that foreign terrorist organizations have on vulnerable populations by harnessing a competitive force the generosity of the American people. Dr. Ziad Asali, the American Charities for Palestine, and other government partners who work with USAID are doing just that. It is our hope that this type of collaboration will take root and serve as a model for other areas of concern as well as encompass other funding streams including that of the international community.
Private Sector Efforts
Of course, the first line of defense against terrorist exploitation of the charitable sector lies with charities themselves. On its own initiative, a Muslim-American advocacy group has started to educate its constituency and bolster the capacity of member charities. Muslim Advocates has taken an important first step by partnering with the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance to develop a training and certification program encompassing transparency, accountability, and governance related issues. We strongly support this effort and it is our hope that this type of program will be embraced by other groups and that the original scope will be expanded to also cover terrorist financing issues and preventive measures for charities working in high-risk regions.
Conclusion
In closing, I hope today’s Charity Roundtable discussion helps us all better understand how we can work together to advance our common interests in promoting and protecting charity. The continued dialogue and work between the federal government and Arab and Muslim-American communities is a critical element in our collective effort to combat those aiming to corrupt our charitable institutions and destroy the liberties we enjoy every day as Americans. We look forward to continuing our work together on these issues, and I thank you for your participation, concern, and leadership in moving this dialogue forward.
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https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=89136
YOU ARE HERE: Home > Reports > Consular Affairs Bulletins > Report
Warden Message: Russian/Georgian Border Security Information
CONSULAR AFFAIRS BULLETINS
Europe - Russia
18 Aug 2008
https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=89133
YOU ARE HERE: Home > Reports > Consular Affairs Bulletins > Report
Warden Message: Musharaff Resignation
CONSULAR AFFAIRS BULLETINS
South / Central Asia - Pakistan
18 Aug 2008
http://www.truthusa.com/IRAN.html
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Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21896&Itemid=21
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080818-09
Aug. 18, 2008
INPs find cache in Al Samari Mosque
Multi-National Division Baghdad PAO
BAGHDAD Iraqi National Police seized a munitions cache in the Al Samari mosque in the Karadah district in eastern Baghdad Aug. 18.
Police assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st National Police Division, and Soldiers from the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, conducted the combined operation. The NPs entered and searched the mosque as the Coalition forces provided an outer cordon of security.
The cache consisted of four Iranian 107 mm rockets, five 107 mm rockets of unknown origin, three 107 mm warheads, two empty rocket motors and two fuses.
The militants responsible for hiding this cache violated the sanctity of the mosque and disgraced their religion, said Maj. Joey Sullinger, a spokesperson for 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light), Multi-National Division - Baghdad. We commend the National Police for intercepting these tools of terror that extremists use to attack innocent Iraqi civilians, and we are proud to offer our support in helping them protect the people.
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Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21902&Itemid=21
Press Release A080819a-087
August 19, 2008
Special Groups suspect turns informant after capture north of Baghdad
BAGHDAD A Special Groups suspect turned into an informer Tuesday morning during operations in Qasarin, about 30 km north of Baghdad in Diyala Province.
Coalition forces were in pursuit of a suspected Special Groups criminal, affiliated with the Asaib al Haq criminal ring. Asaib al Haq, is the name of the Shiite group which broke away from Muqtada al Sadrs militia. According to information provided by suspects already in custody, the suspect was attempting to restart Asaib al Haq in the Qasarin area in Diyala Province. In addition, the wanted man is suspected of being the weapons and finance facilitator for Asaib al Haq in that area.
Coalition forces entered the wanted mans residence where his family identified him as the suspected criminal. In addition, forces detained two other suspects at that location. During questioning, the captured man told forces a senior Asaib al Haq criminal in Qasarin also lived in the neighborhood.
The captured suspect then took Coalition forces to the additional house, where the suspected Asaib al Haq operations officer was captured without incident.
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Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21905&Itemid=21
Press Release A080819b-288
August 19, 2008
Iraqi and Coalition forces nab three wanted men
BAGHDAD Iraqi and Coalition forces targeted al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders and networks, detaining 12 suspects Monday and Tuesday during operations in central and northern parts of the country.
Iraqi and Coalition forces captured a regional AQI leader in Kirkuk Monday. The wanted man reportedly manages a network that provides components for homemade explosives from Basra to Mosul.
In Bayji Monday, Coalition forces detained one suspect while targeting associates of senior leaders in a suicide bombing network. Five suspected terrorists were detained during another operation in Bayji Tuesday when Coalition forces targeted members of a bombing network in the Tigris River Valley.
Coalition forces in Baghdad captured a wanted man Tuesday who is assessed to be a senior AQI operative in the southern part of the capital.
In Mosul, Coalition forces captured a man who reportedly plants roadside bombs and conducts bombing attacks against Iraqi civilians and the security forces that protect them. Three additional suspects were detained in the operation Tuesday.
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PERSECUTION.ORG
http://www.persecution.org
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1161.html
“Worldwide Caution”
July 16, 2008
SNIPPET: “This Worldwide Caution updates information on the continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence against Americans and interests throughout the world.”
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/algeria
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Note: The following news brief is a quote:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3584732,00.html
Algeria bomb kills 43, wounds 38
Published: 08.19.08, 12:48 / Israel News
A bomb attack east of Algiers on Tuesday killed 43 people and wounded 38, an Algerian Interior Ministry statement said.
The statement said the attack targeted a paramilitary gendarmerie training school at Issers 55 km (34 miles) east of the Algerian capital. (Reuters)
http://www.nctc.gov/
NATIONAL COUNTERTERRORISM CENTER
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http://www.fbi.gov/page2/august08/njttf_081908.html
“PROTECTING AMERICA
National Task Force Wages War on Terror”
08/19/08
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http://www.nctc.gov/press_room/speeches/7-10-shsgac-radicalization-sfr.pdf
QUOTE:
Hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs Committee
Hearing on Roots of Violent Islamist Extremism and
Efforts to Counter It
Michael Leiter
Director, NCTC
Statement for the Record
of Michael E. Leiter
Director
National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC)
Before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
10 July 2008
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/cyanide
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http://www.desastres.org
http://www.desastres.org/noticias.php?id=19082008-15
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Note: The following brief article is a quote:
Training for WMD Terrorist Attacks
Publicado - Published: 19/08/2008
CALIFORNIA (Daniel Terdiman/CNET News).- On Saturday, the San Francisco Fire Department led a multi-agency weapons of mass destruction exercise. The idea was to train the department’s personnel, as well as that of other local, state, and federal agencies, on how to respond to a terrorist attack with chemical weapons or other biohazards. All told, the exercise involved around 500 emergency workers who were tasked with responding to and dealing with an attack on one of downtown San Francisco’s biggest office buildings.
Here, several hazmat suits belonging to firefighters lay on the street. Several blocks of downtown were shut down Saturday for the exercise, which involved a simulated attack with both a chemical weapon—sodium cyanide—and explosives in one building, and a shooting in another.
One of the major purposes of the training exercise was to help the members of the various agencies get to know each other and learn how they are supposed to work together in case of an actual attack.
DENVER POST.com: "JUMBLED VIEWS OF CYANIDE FIGURE" by Joe Bunch and Kieran Nicholson (ARTICLE SNIPPET: ""People who knew him are shocked, " Jamal said. "He was unemployed; he had no money. Whoever gave him the money for that hotel may have also given him the cyanide. "We need to find that person.") (ARTICLE LAST UPDATED August 15, 2008, 02:10 am MDT)
DENVERPOST.com: "FBI JOINS HOTEL CYANIDE INQUIRY; VICTIM IDENTIFIED" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Hazardous materials teams from several jurisdictions, including the FBI, found a jar in the fourth-floor room where the victim was staying that held between a pint and a quart of an unknown substance. Investigators became concerned that they might be dealing with cyanide because the jar contained labeling that suggested it could be the deadly chemical, fire Lt. Philip Champagne said.") (August 13, 2008)
http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/193667.php
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blog:
BLOG ENTRY SNIPPET - QUOTE:
http://reportonarrakis.blogspot.com/2008/08/iranian-satellite-launch-failure.html
TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2008
Iranian Satellite Launch ‘a Failure’
According to a US official the Iranian satellite launch was a “dramatic failure”. Reuters
Radar tracking by the USS Russell, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer patrolling the Persian Gulf confirmed the satellite launch was a failure. According to the data collected by the USS Russell, the dummy satellite lost control at high altitude never completing its ascent profile. Aviation Week
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OPINION:
UPDATE: Ahmandinejad, your satellite program sucks [Note: This analysis is set forth here in non-scientific terms.]
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skoXHEzC1iQ&eurl=http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/
“AC/DC - Satellite Blues”
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How’s that missile program coming along?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97lH0-tuuWE
NOTE: PHOTOS INCLUDED.
http://www.icc-ccs.org/main/all_piracy_al.php
“Pictures of suspected pirate mother vessels”
13 August 2008
Gulf of Aden
SNIPPET: “To all ships transiting the Gulf of Aden
Please be advised that intelligence sources revealed that there are now two suspicious trawlers in the Gulf of Aden believed to be pirate mother vessels looking to attack ships with the intent to hijack.
The description of the suspected trawlers - long white, Russian made stern trawlers with names “BURUM OCEAN or ARENA or ATHENA”. One of the trawlers is believed to be operating at approximately 60 NM NE of Bossasso, Somalia in the Gulf of Aden.
All ships are strongly advised to maintain a strict 24 hours visual and radar watch while transiting these waters and report any attacks or suspicious boats including the trawlers named above to the 24 hour IMB PRC. Tel: +603 2031 0014 / +603 2078 5763 email: piracy@icc-ccs.org”
Note: Click on the link below to read the entire text of the Piracy Report.
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ICC-CCS.ORG - THE WEEKLY PIRACY REPORT - REPORT SNIPPET - QUOTE:
http://www.icc-ccs.org/prc/piracyreport.php
Weekly Piracy Report
12-18 August 2008
The following is a summary of the daily reports broadcast by the IMB’s Piracy Reporting Centre to ships in Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean Regions on the SafetyNET service of Inmarsat-C from 12 to 18 August 2008.
ALERT
Chittagong anchorage, Bangladesh
The number of attacks has reduced since 2006. However, the area is still listed as a high risk area and mariners are advised to be cautious especially while approaching the anchorage and while at anchor at Chittagong
Nigeria
Violent attacks carried out by pirates on board vessels at anchor and vessel carrying out STS operations. Mariners are advised to exercise extreme caution in these waters.
Suspicious crafts
None reported
Recently reported incidents
13.08.2008:01.30 LT: Outer Anchorage, Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Duty watchman onboard a refrigerated cargo ship spotted two robbers hiding behind a 40 container. They had stolen ships stores from the paint locker and lowered them into a waiting boat. As soon as they realised they had been spotted they jumped into the water and escaped in the waiting boat.
13.08.2008: 0005 UTC: 12:00.8S 077:12.1W: Callao anchorage, Peru.
Duty crew noticed robbers boarding the ship. Alarm raised and crew mustered. Robbers overpowered duty crew and tied him up. Robbers stole ships properties and escaped. Local authorities informed.
12.08.2008: 1348 UTC: 13:12.02N 050:07.48E: Gulf of Aden.
A general cargo ship underway was attacked and hijacked by pirates. The ship sent an SSAS alert distress. The pirates sailed the ship into Somali territorial waters and anchored her. Pirates are demanding a ransom for the safe release of the 28 crewmembers and ship. Negotiations are in progress.
06.08.2008: 0400 LT: 00:10:19N-117:36:12E: Bontang anchorage, Indonesia.
Duty crew onboard a LPG tanker saw robbers stealing ships equipment. Alarm raised and crew alerted. On seeing crew alertness, robber escaped into a waiting boat. Ships stores and equipment stolen.
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