Free Republic

Italy orders arrest of CIA agents over Imams abduction 6/24/2005 10:45:00 PM GMT Italian authorities ordered the arrest of 13 CIA agents accused of kidnapping a Muslim leader Italian authorities ordered the arrest of 13 agents of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) accused of kidnapping a Muslim leader in northern Italy, an Italian newspaper reported on Friday. The arrest warrants were issued by Italian Judge Chiara Nobili at the request of the anti-terrorist division of the state prosecutor's office, the Corriere della Sera said. The 13 agents are suspected of kidnapping Osama Mustafa Hassan, also known as Abu Omar,...

A Turkish newspaper has released details of a high-level meeting of the country’s military leaders, in which the Turkish government had considered sending warships into Israel as a military escort for the Mavi Marmara flotilla—and the possibility of triggering a war with the Jewish state as a result. On May 31 2010, nine Turkish Islamists were killed on the flotilla after violently attacking IDF soldiers, during an attempt to break Israel’s naval blockade on the terrorist group Hamas-enclave Gaza. The incident worsened a growing diplomatic crisis between Turkey and Israel, who had once been close allies. …

The Jihad Will Be YouTubed by Raffaello Pantucci December 15, 2011 FOREIGN POLICY - The AFPAK Channel SNIPPET: "While clearly the technology to make such videos is something that is universal, it does seem as though it is aspirant jihadists in the West who find it easiest to use. There was no evidence that Gul was being directed by foreign terrorist organizations to produce his material, and his case shows the continued existence of young Westerners producing radical material on their own. It may indeed be the case that the virtual armies have yet to fully emerge as active warriors...

It’s really getting hard to distinguish this crackpot from any other far left America-hating Jew-hating radical… Crazy Ron Paul says that Israel’s Gaza blockade is an act of war. For the record, Ron. The people of Gaza are not starving as every week 10,000 tons of food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies are sent by Israel to Gaza. But, they have shot off 4,000 rockets at Israel since the voluntary withdrawal from Gaza. (video at source link)

With the latest new wrinkle increasing the terror threat, one would think Israelis would be united. Despite the fact that Hamas has brought in unknown faces from Syria to commit the recent attacks including the fatal shooting of four Israelis including a mother in her ninth month of her pregnancy, dissent still divides Israelis. Some Israeli Jews have joined with Jews from Germany, the United States and the sponsors, U.K. group Jews for Justice for Palestinians, in a new assault against the blockade of Hamas in Gaza. One wonders how much faith can be placed on the promise that at...

Loss of Human Life (The New Frontier) by Ari Bussel “It's a very upsetting situation, but I do wish other actions had been possible, not resulting in loss of life. Israel is very vulnerable and it's frightening.” A reader’s comment to our Postcards “Israel seeks to justify response to flotilla - Regret for deaths missing” The Epoch Times In 2006, Israel’s enemies have shown to Israel and to the world that the country that once defeated the Arab armies in the Six Days War in 1967 has lost its edge. As a result, Israel’s deterrence suffered greatly, while she rushed...

At about 5:50 am on Saturday, the first reports came in over Twitter that the 'Rachel Corrie' had been boarded close to Gaza. Earlier the activists reported that their radar had been jammed, however their Twitter accounts continued to operate. The activists reported that three boats were following them for about twenty minutes and then that they had been boarded. The passengers are said to be under arrest.

A confirmed terrorist leader was among the Gaza flotilla extremists aboard the Mavi Marmara on Monday, holding a Dutch passport. Amin Abu Rashed, 43, was among the militants arrested on the Turkish vessel following the vicious attack on Israeli Naval commandos who boarded the ship. The Palestinian Authority Arab holds a Dutch passport and operates out of Rotterdam as the leader of the Hamas terrorist network in the Netherlands. He has presented himself to Dutch media and others as a “human rights activist.” According to a report posted Tuesday on the Global Muslim Brotherhood Daily Report, Abu Rashed – also...

Headline only - linked to a story from the Jerusalem Post with the following quote: "This comment, officials said, could signify a change in Turkish military posture in the event that another flotilla is dispatched to the Gaza Strip. The official said that the chances that Turkey would send navy ships were slim – due to its membership in NATO – but that the issue was of great concern. “This is a definte possibility that we need to prepare for,” a senior defense official said."

Formulating a Response by Ari Bussel At times, it is the outside observer who sees the obvious, yet those engrossed in the details fail to see the larger picture. Observations rather than being characterized as “lucid” are viewed as “rancid;” systems are adverse to change. Thus, even the most astute observations are neither incorporated in the decision making process nor translated into necessary action. In the 18th Knesset, ministerial positions were determined by bazaar-like negotiations on which the formation of a coalition government was dependent. These perks, paid by Israel and her citizens, are the price for a faulty electoral...