Teheran agents smuggled missile that shot down RAF helicopter in Iraq

Telegraph.co.uk

A missile which brought down an RAF Lynx helicopter and killed five British Service personnel was smuggled into Iraq by Iranian agents, an official inquiry into the attack will reveal.

The Sunday Telegraph has learnt that a British Army Board of Inquiry (BOI) into the events surrounding last May's attack will state that the weapon, a shoulder-launched surface-to-air missile known as an SA14 Strella, came from Iran.

The attack, which was also responsible for the death of Flt Lt Sarah Mulvihill, the first British servicewoman to be killed on active service since the Second World War, appears to provide further evidence of Iran's direct involvement in the deaths of British troops serving in Iraq.

It is understood that the inquiry, which has assessed evidence from military engineers and scientists, will conclude that the aircraft was shot down with an Iranian SA14 missile. The inquiry, which is conducted by senior RAF and Army officers, will deliver its finding to defence chiefs next month.

Iran poised to strike in wealthy Gulf states

Telegraph.co.uk

Iran has trained secret networks of agents across the Gulf states to attack Western interests and incite civil unrest in the event of a military strike against its nuclear programme, a former Iranian diplomat has told The Sunday Telegraph.

Spies working as teachers, doctors and nurses at Iranian-owned schools and hospitals have formed sleeper cells ready to be "unleashed" at the first sign of any serious threat to Teheran, it is claimed.

Trained by Iranian intelligence services, they are also said to be recruiting fellow Shias in the region, whose communities have traditionally been marginalised by the Gulf's ruling Sunni Arab clans.

Were America or Israel to attack Iran, such cells would be instructed to foment long-dormant sectarian grievances and attack the ex-tensive American and European business interests in wealthy states such as Dubai and Saudi Arabia. Such a scenario would bring chaos to the Gulf, one of the few areas of the Middle East that remains prosperous and has largely pro-Western governments.

The claims have been made by Adel Assadinia, a former career diplomat who was Iran's consul-general in Dubai and an adviser to the Iranian foreign ministry. They came as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, made a formal visit to Saudi Arabia yesterday in what was widely seen as an attempt to defuse growing Sunni-Shia tensions in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of backing Shia death squads killing Sunnis in Iraq, and of backing the Lebanon-based Hezbollah militia in its efforts to bring down the government in Beirut. Meanwhile, a US naval build-up has continued in the Gulf waters south of Iran, a move intended to show Washington's readiness to strike against Teheran's nuclear installations for defying UN orders to cease uranium enrichment.

Mr Assadinia, who fled Iran after whistle-blowing on corruption among the country's all-powerful theocrats, said: "The Iranian government believes that to survive it needs permanent bases throughout the Middle East. Anybody who contemplates threatening or invading Iran will have those cells unleashed against them."

Mr Assadinia, 50, served for two years at the Iranian consulate in Dubai, which he says was also used as a conduit for illicit funding of Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based Shia militant group that waged a six-week war with Israel last summer.

Major Attack Aimed At Bin Laden?

The Blotter

For the past two days, U.S. and NATO forces have been conducting a major attack against a compound in a remote area of Eastern Afghanistan where Osama bin Laden or another senior al Qaeda leader may be hiding, ABC News has learned.

According to eyewitnesses and local reporters in Kunar province, Coalition forces launched a fierce attack on a small enclave in the village of Mandaghel, approximately 17 miles from the border with Pakistan, on Friday afternoon. Warplanes pounded the positions ; U.S. special forces and Afghan National Army soldiers moved in shortly afterwards.

The assault appeared to meet stiff resistance from militants at the compound. Heavy artillery and gunfire could be heard for hours, local witnesses said . A handful of civilians were reportedly wounded in the strike. Though sealed off from outside access, the area now appears to be under coalition control.

U.S. officials declined to identify who the operation was targeting, but indicated they were after a "High Value Target" (HVT) . Official sources would not rule out that al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden himself was the intended victim. Afghan officials said the target could be another senior ranking al Qaeda leader.

The Coalition, which generally refuses to discuss ongoing operations, declined to make an official comment.

According to a local official, the compound under attack belongs to an Islamic militant and suspected drug trafficker named Haji Aminullah. The area of Kunar province is known as a stronghold of Wahabbists—followers of the strict sect of Sunni Islam practiced in Saudi Arabia, according to Barnett Rubin, senior fellow at New York University. Since the 1980's, the area has been a haven for Arab militants, including Osama bin Laden.

Hahahahaha, "Official sources would not rule out that al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden himself was the intended victim." Not a 'victim', but a 'high value target'. Hopefully he will meet his 72 virgins soon.

Bill Maher Sorry the Assassination Attempt on Dick Cheney Failed

MSM fails to report and Democrat candidates for president have yet to condemn him. Maher seems to think the world would be a safer place if the Cheney would have been Assassinated.

NewsBusters.org

Maher: But I have zero doubt that if Dick Cheney was not in power, people wouldn’t be dying needlessly tomorrow. (applause)


Maher: I’m just saying if he did die, other people, more people would live. That’s a fact.

Video at Ms. Underestimated

This is also the same man who said the following after the 9/11 attacks.

"Look at what they did," he said. "First of all, you have a whole bunch of guys who are willing to give their life. None of (them) backed out. All of them slammed themselves into pieces of concrete ... These are warriors."

Maher, according to a transcript of the show, responded by saying, "We (the United States) have been cowards lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. That's cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it's not cowardly."

Ann Coulter Calls Edwards A 'Faggot', Dems Lose It

FOXNews.com

Democratic Party boss Howard Dean demanded that Republican presidential candidates denounce conservative columnist Ann Coulter after she referred to Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards as a ‘faggot’ during a speech Friday at a national conservative gathering.

Coulter, who was addressing the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., said:

"I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, but it turns out you have to go into rehab if you use the word 'faggot,' so I - so kind of an impasse, can't really talk about Edwards."

Members of the audience seemed startled, then many clapped, and she proceeded to open the floor to questions, reported EditorandPublisher.com

After her comments, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued a press release expressing his outrage. Dean called Coulter’s remarks ‘hate-filled and bigoted.’

If this was Cindy Sheehan, Al Franken, or any other left wing nutjob, they would be applauded for speaking out against the oppressors. Many Democrats have said equally offensive things.

The Next Steps Toward A New Soviet Union?

FOXNews.com

GROZNY, Russia — Chechnya's parliament approved a widely feared former security chief as president of the war-battered Russian republic in a nearly unanimous vote Friday, a day after President Vladimir Putin nominated him.

The confirmation of Ramzan Kadyrov, which had been seen as a foregone conclusion, cements his rise to power. His nomination won 56 votes in the 58-member, two-chamber legislature, with two ballots ruled invalid.

Human rights groups allege that security forces under Kadyrov's control abduct and torture civilians suspected of ties to Chechnya's separatist rebels. Some observers suggest he was tied to last year's murder of Anna Politkovskaya, a journalist who had reported extensively on Chechnya's wars and sufferings. Kadyrov has denied any involvement.

--------

Kadyrov has been at the heart of a Kremlin strategy to crush continued rebel resistance and establish order in the mostly Muslim region. He turned 30 in October, the minimum age for president, and had been expected to seek the job.

He became acting president after last week's dismissal of Alu Alkhanov, who had increasingly criticized Kadyrov.

Kadyrov is the son of Chechnya's first pro-Moscow president, Akhmad Kadyrov, who was assassinated in 2004. The elder Kadyrov became president in 2003 in a Kremlin-conducted aimed at undermining rebels by creating the image of Chechens being allowed a high degree of self-determination.

So...do we call the "Chechen Revolutionaries" terrorists, or freedom fighters now.

The Travesty At Walter Reed Medical Center

The Washington Post reports about the lack of personnel to adequately deal with in the increase in soldiers with injuries, psychological issues, and some with substance abuse problems. Injured soldiers were required to assist in some of the day-to-day operations at Walter Reed and those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD)were caring for soldiers on suicide watch. Building 18 of Walter Reed was fraught with mice and roach infestations along with deteriorating conditions including black mold, in the building. The excuse for this was mostly bureaucratic red-tape, but mostly due to inept career bureaucrats in the chain of command wanting only promotions.

The Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates became extremely agitated when news of the Walter Reed Medical Center conditions were brought to everyone's attention. It took less than a week for heads to roll.

The first was Army Maj. Gen. George W. Weightman, a two-star general of the North Atlantic Regional Medical Command and Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He was relieved from duty because "senior officials said they lost trust and confidence in his leadership abilities to address injured soldier care at military medical facilities".

The second was Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey. It should be noted that Mr. Harvey is a civilian, not military. He commands no troops and is responsible for budgeting, recruiting and other personnel and resource policies. While he resigned and was not "relieved of duty", I'm sure his only choices were one or the other.

Lt. Gen. Kevin Kiley, commanding General of U.S. Army Medical Command, will be acting as Weightman's temporary replacement, Peter Geren, the undersecretary of the Army, will serve as Harvey's temporary replacement until Bush nominates a new secretary and Maj. Gen. Eric B. Schoomaker, 58, will be the new commander of Walter Reed

Hopefully there will be more fallout from this horrible travesty. I highly doubt two people were responsible for this. Of course I'm not sure there is a need for the circus congressional hearings that Ms. Pelosi has scheduled. It looks that things are being taken care of correctly and promptly.

Germany To "Talk" about NATO Missile Shield

France surrenders

Yahoo! News

WIESBADEN, Germany (Reuters) - Germany called on Friday for talks on creating a
NATO missile defense shield for Europe, a day after the United States vowed to press ahead with its system without alliance approval.

The head of the
Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency said on Thursday Washington wanted to secure the understanding of its 25 NATO members for its plans to build a missile shield in eastern Europe, but was not seeking their green light.

The United States' European allies are concerned the move will damage their ties with Moscow, and Germany has led calls for wider consultations on the project. Ukraine has also complained Washington had not consulted with it.

"We should discuss developing such a defense measure within a NATO framework," German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung told reporters on the margins of a meeting of EU defense chiefs in the German city of Wiesbaden.

Jung said Russian concerns over the shield could be allayed by talks within NATO's existing NATO-Russia Council, a forum for discussing defense issues between the former Cold War foes.

"I think that is the right way forward," he said.

The United States wants to set up a radar system in the Czech Republic and a missile battery in Poland as part of a shield that would counter missiles fired by what Washington calls "rogue states" such as Iran and North Korea.

I fail to see why these countries are wavering on the issue of a missile defense shield. Why should they be concerned that a country who is slowly reverting back to a communist state see it as an act of aggression? Russia becomes giddy when they get a chance to form alliances with anyone the U.S. deems to be a state sponsor of terror or part of the 'axis of evil'. The time to be concerned with Russia's opinion passed long ago.

Swiss Invade Liechtenstein; Quagmire Ensues

Yahoo! News

ZURICH, Switzerland - What began as a routine training exercise almost ended in an embarrassing diplomatic incident after a company of Swiss soldiers got lost at night and marched into neighboring Liechtenstein.

According to Swiss daily Blick, the 170 infantry soldiers wandered just over a mile across an unmarked border into the tiny principality early Thursday before realizing their mistake and turning back.

A spokesman for the Swiss army confirmed the story but said that there were unlikely to be any serious repercussions for the mistaken invasion.

"We've spoken to the authorities in Liechtenstein and it's not a problem," Daniel Reist told The Associated Press.

Officials in Liechtenstein also played down the incident.

Interior ministry spokesman Markus Amman said nobody in Liechtenstein had even noticed the soldiers, who were carrying assault rifles but no ammunition. "It's not like they stormed over here with attack helicopters or something," he said.

Liechtenstein, which has about 34,000 inhabitants and is slightly smaller than Washington DC, doesn't have an army.

With the exception of the U.K., I didn't know European countries had a military. I'm sure the negotiators/appeasers outnumber the military though.

Good News From Iraq 2/27-3/1

SUSPECTED AL-QAEDA EMIR, ELEVEN OTHERS DETAINED IN RAIDS THROUGHOUT IRAQ

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Coalition Forces detained 12 suspected terrorists including a suspected Al-Qaeda in Iraq emir during raids Tuesday morning targeting foreign fighter facilitators and the al-Qaeda in Iraq network.

During an operation in Baghdad, Coalition Forces captured a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq emir and three of his associates. Based on intelligence reports, these suspects are allegedly involved in the production of improvised explosive devices.

Also in Baghdad, Coalition Forces detained two suspected terrorists who have alleged ties to al-Qaeda in Iraq and anti-Coalition Forces activities.

Two suspected terrorists were detained during a raid in Mosul.
Intelligence reports indicate the suspected terrorists have ties with an al-Qaeda terrorist who has coordinated attacks against Iraqi security and U.S. military personnel.

Another suspected terrorist was detained in Fallujah during a raid targeting foreign fighter facilitators.

Coalition Forces detained two suspected terrorists in Tikrit who are believed to have links with terrorists involved in explosives shipments from other countries and facilitating the production of vehicle-borne IEDs.

In Ramadi, Coalition Forces netted a suspected terrorist who is allegedly involved in courier activities for al-Qaeda terrorists in Iraq.

"These raids, taking place all across Iraq this morning show that Coalition Forces continue to make progress dismantling the terrorist networks," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.

"The capture of these detainees reduces the ability of the terrorist networks to operate, and increases the safety of all Iraqi citizens, Iraqi forces, and Iraq's Multi-National partners," he said.

EIGHT TERRORISTS KILLED, SIX SUSPECTS DETAINED IN RAIDS

BAGHDAD, Iraq -Coalition Forces killed eight terrorists and detained six suspects during operations Wednesday morning targeting foreign fighter facilitators and the al-Qaeda in Iraq network.

Intelligence reports indicated terrorists associated with small arms and rocket attacks against Coalition Forces were operating northeast of Taji.

As Coalition Forces approached the targeted area, they noticed several armed men maneuvering toward them in a nearby palm grove. Coalition Forces called in close air support to eliminate the threat. Rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft used precision fires killing eight armed terrorists. Two suspected terrorists were detained.

Coalition Forces also captured two suspected terrorists in Amiriyah and two more in Baghdad with alleged ties to the al-Qaeda in Iraq network.

"Coalition Forces continue methodical, deliberate efforts to eliminate terrorism in Iraq," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.

IRAQI SWAT CAPTURES 8 MAHDAWIYAH INSURGENT GROUP MEMBERS

BAGHDAD - Al Hillah Iraqi Special Weapons and Tactics personnel captured eight suspected members of the Mahdawiyah insurgent group during operations with Coalition advisors Feb. 26 in the Wardiyah district of Al Hillah. The suspects are believed to be involved in attacks against Iraqi civilians and security forces in the area.

The suspects are allegedly part of the insurgent group that fought against Coalition Forces and Iraqi Security Forces Jan. 28 in Najaf. The suspects are believed to threatening the lives of persons within the leadership of Iraqi Security Forces in Babil Province.

There were no Iraqi civilian, Iraqi forces or Coalition Forces casualties.

IRAQI POLICE DETAINS FOUR SUSPECTS DURING OPERATIONS AGAINST IED CELL NEAR SAMARRA

BAGHDAD - Samarra Iraqi Police and Coalition Forces captured a suspected insurgent bomber during operations Feb. 27 southwest of Samarra.

The suspect was captured during operations targeting an insurgent improvised explosive device cell conducting attacks against Coalition Forces and Iraqi Security Forces. The cell is responsible for emplacing IEDs targeting Coalition Forces and Iraqi Security Forces along Main Supply Route TAMPA and other locations in Samarra.

Three additional suspects were detained by Iraqi Police for further questioning.
Iraqi and Coalition Forces caused only minimal damage during operations.

There were no Iraqi civilian, Iraqi forces or Coalition Forces casualties.

HOSTAGES FREED BY PARATROOPERS, WEAPONS CACHE SECURED

KALSU, Iraq - Dismounted paratroopers located an insurgent safe house uncovering a weapons cache and freeing two hostages south of Baghdad Feb. 26.

Paratroopers from 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division located the safe house, where they found the two hostages and a weapons cache near Mahmudiyah.

The cache contained three AK-47s, 14 30-round magazines, one 100-round magazine drum, two fragmentary grenades, one cell phone and one hand held radio.

The freed hostages were given immediate medical treatment.

GOLDEN DRAGONS DISCOVER MASSIVE CACHE SOUTHWEST OF BAGHDAD

YUSUFIYAH, Iraq — Multi-National Division – Baghdad troops found and seized a massive weapons cache along one of Baghdad’s main highways Feb. 28.

Soldiers from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment “Golden Dragons,” 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) discovered the cache while conducting a combat patrol along Mulla Fayad Highway, west of Yusufiyah.

The cache consisted of

2 Sanger missiles with launch tubes,
200 meters of fuse,
1000 12.7mm Dishka rounds,
2 122mm rockets,
18 60mm mortar rounds,
80 hand grenades,
6 rocket stabilizers,
10 120mm mortar tail fins,
100 60mm mortar fuses,
5 106mm artillery rounds,
1 57mm rocket,
1 rocket-propelled grenade,
1 57mm anti-aircraft round,
2 RPG-9s, 60 120mm mortars,
2 unknown mortar rounds,
1 RPG launcher,
1 60mm mortar illumination round,
1 Dishka heavy machinegun receiver,
20 canisters,
10 cylinders of homemade explosives,
2000 7.62mm rounds,
14 57mm rockets,
40 pounds of homemade explosives
200 ZPU-1 anti-aircraft rounds.

“The (find) will put a dent in the terrorists’ ability to make improvised explosive devices,” said Maj. Brock Jones, the executive officer with the Golden Dragons and a native of Lakewood, Ohio. “The Soldiers did well today – their familiarity with the area of operations allowed them to locate the cache”

The battalion continues to search the area for more caches. The cache was destroyed during a controlled detonation conducted by an explosive ordnance team.

Thirty 120mm mortar rounds are laid out for inventory following a massive weapons cache discovered by Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment “Golden Dragons,” 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) along Mullah Fayad Highway, just west of Yusufiyah, Iraq Feb. 28.

THREE TERRORISTS KILLED, 16 OTHERS DETAINED IN OPERATIONS

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed three terrorists and detained 16 suspected terrorists during operations Thursday morning targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq.

During an operation west of Ramadi, Coalition Forces killed two terrorists and detained six suspected terrorists with alleged ties to foreign fighter facilitation.

South of Baghdad, Coalition Forces killed one armed terrorist who charged at them as they entered a targeted building.

Six suspected terrorists allegedly associated with al-Qaeda in Iraq were detained in operations in Bayji, and four others with alleged ties to foreign fighter facilitation were detained in Ramadi.

“Coalition Forces will continue to successfully kill or capture al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists regardless of where they may hide or operate,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. “No place is safe for a terrorist in Iraq.”

OPERATION SABER BOSS: 4 WEAPONS CACHES, 10 KILLED, 5 DETAINED

DIYALA - The 3rd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division, in partnership with Coalition Forces from 6-9 Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, seized four weapons caches, killed approximately 10 insurgents and detained five suspected terrorists during a combined operation, Operation Saber Boss, in Muqdadiya, Iraq, Monday.

While conducting combat patrols, the Soldiers located caches consisting of more than 50 rocket-propelled grenades, improvised explosive device making material, several small-arms munitions, more than 15 various rockets and seven sticks of explosives.

The forces also discovered three IEDs and recovered a stolen fire truck that was being prepared as a vehicle-borne IED.

The cache items were secured for disposal and the suspects were taken in for further questioning.

* In other operations throughout Diyala, a joint patrol secured a
cache site in Baqubah, Tuesday consisting of a VBIED, TNT, propane tanks and other IED making material. Coalition EOD destroyed the VBIED.

* On Monday a coalition patrol discovered another cache in Baqubah
consisting of a complete mortar system including three rounds, as well as a recoilless rifle and 150 rounds. Iraqi EOD responded and destroyed the mortar rounds while coalition forces secured the rest of the cache.

"As we continue to discover these caches, the terrorists' abilities are diminished, and their ability to harm the security forces and the innocent people of Diyala is denied," said Col. David W. Sutherland, 3-1 Cav. commander and senior U.S. Army officer in Diyala province. "We will continue to aggressively target these individuals who are using acts of fear and intimidation against the innocent people of this province."

Military Responds to Cut Backs

Natural Family Blog via Jawa Report

The military really knows how to make the left wing lunatics feel stupid.

Check out the rest of the pics here

US ‘will not hand over CIA agents to Italy’

FT.com

Washington would refuse any demand by Rome to give up alleged Central Intelligence Agency operatives to face criminal trial on charges that the agency abducted terror suspects, a leading US official said.

John Bellinger, legal adviser to the US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, said in Brussels: “We have not gotten that extradition request from Italy. If we got an extradition request from Italy, we would not extradite US officials to Italy.”

An Italian judge last month ordered 25 alleged CIA operatives and the former head of Italy’s military intelligence service to go on trial on charges of kidnapping an Egyptian iman in Milan in 2003 and taking him to Egypt for interrogation.

Mr Bellinger, who was in Brussels to meet European legal advisers, is the first senior US official to say publicly that CIA agents would not be sent for trial abroad.

The US faces continued criticism from many Europeans over its contentious practice of kidnapping terrorist suspects on foreign soil after the September 11 attacks on America. In January, prosecutors in Germany issued arrest warrants for 13 alleged CIA operatives in connection with allegations that a German citizen was abducted and then detained in a secret Afghan prison.

I'm glad the U.S. is refusing to extradite the agents. This has nothing to do with with legality, it is only to appease the left wing factions of Italy and Europe.

Israel To Supply Armored Vehicles For WOT

The MEMRI Blog via LGF

The London daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat reports that Israel will supply the U.S. Marines in Iraq with specially equipped armored “Golan” vehicles which are specifically suited for urban warfare and can sustain attacks by RPGs and road mines.

I'm happy to hear that Israel is aiding the United States in the War On Terror. They have the experience with Urban Warfare and I think we should do some negotiating to have our military trained by members of the IDF.

HRW Wants To Aid The Enemy

MSNBC.com

WASHINGTON - A human rights group is asking President Bush to disclose the fates of all terror suspects held since 2001, including at least 16 it believes have been locked up in secret CIA facilities.

Human Rights Watch said it compiled a report about the 16, whose whereabouts are unknown, along with 22 others possibly held by the CIA, based on interviews with former detainees, press reports and other sources.



Human Rights Watch interviewed Jabour in December and is telling his story as part of a push for more information from the Bush administration. Jabour says he was beaten, burned with an iron, held naked and chained to the wall of his cell so tightly that he could not stand up.

I'll go back to my earlier statements about this, WHO CARES! These people were acting like filthy little animals and were treated as such. Maybe Human Rights Watch should spend more time aiming their rhetoric at, say....every muslim country.

Big Surprise From Pakistan

The Blotter

In the most definitive statement in years, America's top intelligence official said Tuesday Osama bin laden is in Pakistan actively re-establishing al Qaeda training camps.

The newly appointed Director of National Intelligence Jack McConnell made the assertion about bin Laden and his No. 2 man, Ayman al Zawahri, in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Referring to Pakistan's rugged tribal area, McConnell said "to the best of our knowledge that the senior leadership, No. 1 and No. 2, are there, and they are attempting to re-establish and rebuild and to establish training camps."

I'm pretty sure everyone in the world knew he was there. The Pakistani military cannot go after him and/or doesn't have the will to capture Bin Laden. Since Pakistani President Pervez Musharaff decided on appeasement with the Pakistani warlords, there is nothing to keep Bin Laden on the run. Of course if Musharaff wanted to indirectly deal with this, he could give the U.S. authorization to perform engagements within a certain number of miles of the border. Musharaff's life is constantly in danger from radical elements in Pakistan. The authorization might be his best option to save his life and aid in the war on terror.

Democrats Good For The Economy? Not Today

As I am writing this, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was around -540 points. In 5 minutes, the market dropped 250 points. This is one of the largest sell-offs in history and the largest since the market reopened after 9/11.

This will hurt my IRA and I will probably end up eating cat food when I retire. All this time I thought it was the Republicans that were going to make old people eat cat food.

Time to wander off topic:
Has anyone seen the price of cat food? There is plenty of different types of human food you can buy that cost the same as soft cat food. A can of cat food costs about $1.69. What can you buy with a $1.69? A couple cans of tuna, a pound of hamburger, some macaroni and cheese, and various other foods, especially on sale. Don't even send me emails or comments telling me I'm wrong. I manage a grocery store.

'Miracle' baby comes back from the dead

Telegraph.co.uk

A family has described how their baby son "came back to life" when he was revived by doctors half an hour after he stopped breathing following a heart attack.

Two-week-old Woody Lander was pronounced dead at Leeds General Infirmary after frantic attempts to save him by medical staff apparently failed.

But his body began "twitching" and the team tried again to resuscitate him, this time successfully starting his heart.

There were worries Woody may have suffered brain damage because he stopped breathing for so long, but scans have shown no problems.

"They reached the cut-off point for resuscitation and said 'that's it' and handed Woody to us to say goodbye," father Jon Lander told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

"They started taking tubes out and that's when he started twitching.

"They managed to get his heart going again and he came back to life in front of us."

The couple had rushed the baby to hospital after he stopped breathing and he suffered a heart attack in the accident and emergency department.

Surgeons found a blockage in his aorta and the youngster underwent a major operation.

Now Mr Lander, 34, and his wife Karen, 32, say Woody - now 14-months-old - is their "little miracle".

And civil servant Mr Lander is hoping to thank the hospital by running in the Leeds 10k Run for All later this year.

He is raising cash for the Children's Heart Surgery Fund at the hospital.

Iran Wants To Talk, Until Nukes Are Ready

FOXNews.com

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's foreign minister reiterated Tuesday that his country will never again suspend uranium enrichment, dismissing the threat of further United Nations sanctions.

Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki was speaking a day after the U.S., the four other permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany considered measures to punish Iran for refusing to suspend enrichment, including the possibility of more sanctions.

"Demands that Iran halt enrichment are illegal and illegitimate and based on an incorrect political strategy. This (suspension) will never materialize," the official Islamic Republic News Agency quoted Mottaki as saying.

Mottaki added, however, that Iran is prepared to negotiate about its nuclear program "without any preconditions."

This is right out of the terrorist handbook. How many times have we seen this. It usually happens monthly with the Palestinian Terror-tory and with Hizbollah last year. They get beat down and need time to re-supply and for re-enforcements. This is to only delay the inevitable.

Algore Responds To His $30,000 Utility Bill

VP Cheney Unhurt In Explosion

Fox News-Breaking News

An explosion outside the main U.S. military base in Afghanistan went off Tuesday as Vice President Dick Cheney was visiting, causing an unknown number of casualties but apparently not putting the vice president in danger, officials said.

The blast happened at the first gate outside the base at Bagram, and there were an unknown number of casualties, said Kabir Ahmad, the district chief of the Bagram region.

Maj. William Mitchell said it did not appear the explosion was intended as a threat to the vice president, who was "safely inside the base" during the blast.

Updated Story:

BAGRAM, Afghanistan — An explosion outside the main U.S. military base in Afghanistan killed 19 people and wounded 11 on Tuesday during a visit by U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, though the vice president was apparently not in danger, U.S. and Afghan officials said.

The blast happened near the first security gate outside the base at Bagram, killing 19 people, said Khoja Mohammad Qasim Sayedi, chief of the province's public health department. Gov. Abdul Jabar Taqwa said "18 to 20 dead bodies" lay on the ground after the blast.

Good News From Iraq 2/22-2/26

MND-B TROOPS ENGAGE WEAPONS SMUGGLERS IN SE BAGHDAD

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers engaged gunmen attempting to smuggle weapons across the Tigris River by boat in a southeastern section of the Iraqi capital Feb. 23.

Members of 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, initially engaged two armed men on the west bank side of the Tigris River. The smugglers fled in their boat to the east side of the river, where they were joined by three other gunmen.

After an initial firefight, the five gunmen took cover in a bunker and a large shipping container along the river bank. They continued firing across the river at the troops. The Soldiers returned fire with small arms, and eventually used tank rounds to destroy the bunker and end the attack.

THREE-DAY OPERATION LEADS TO 15 TERRORISTS KILLED, IED FACTORY DESTROYED

BAGHDAD, Iraq - During a recent three-day operation in Salman Pak targeting al-Qaida in Iraq terrorists, Coalition Forces killed 15 terrorists involved in an improvised explosives device cell, destroyed an IED factory and thwarted two explosives emplacements.

On Feb. 14, Coalition Forces began receiving enemy contact on the ground from a fortified building in the area. Determining the targets too hostile for ground troops, Coalition Forces called for close air support. Fixed wing aircraft used precision fires to destroy the building killing five terrorists and wounding four suspected terrorists.

Also during this raid, Coalition Forces disrupted two separate groups of terrorists who were in the process of emplacing IEDs alongside a road.
Due to the high level of danger, fixed wing aircraft were used to destroy the IEDs. Ten terrorists are believed to have been killed as a result.

Coalition Forces continued their raid the following day and found a male Iraqi citizen shackled in one of the rooms of a targeted building.
Ground forces detained four males who were hiding near the building.
During a search, Coalition Forces found the hostage's cell phone on one of the detainees.

According to the hostage, he was tied up with a hood over his head for three days. He said he prayed and fasted during his captivity because he believed his captors were going to execute him. He was transported to a nearby military medical facility for an examination.

On the third and final day of the operation, Coalition Forces performed a controlled detonation destroying an IED factory. During a search of the targeted building, ground forces found a large amount of IED-making material including 1,000 pounds of various types of explosives, including nitric acid.

An explosives ordnance disposal team determined the material was too unstable to move. Ground forces cordoned off the area and ensured local citizens were moved to a safe distance during the controlled detonation.
The IED-making materials and building were destroyed to prevent future use by terrorists.

A total of 13 suspected terrorists were detained during the three-day operation.

"Coalition Forces continue to tear apart the al-Qaida network inside Iraq. This operation contributes to the reduction of this IED terrorist network's ability to operate, and increases the safety of all Iraqi citizens, Iraqi forces and Iraq's Multi-national partners," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.

CAVALRY TROOPS FIND CACHE, DETAIN SUSPECT

2nd BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. (LI) Public Affairs
KORESH, Iraq - Multi-National Division - Baghdad troops found a weapons cache near the village of Koresh, Iraq during a security patrol at approximately 9:30 a.m. Feb. 24.
Soldiers of the 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) found a weapons stockpile consisting of two rocket-propelled grenade warheads, a star-cluster flare, 600 rounds of linked 7.62mm ammunition, an assault rifle, two machine guns, a machine-gun barrel and two bipods for rifles.
The Soldiers detained the owner of the property where the cache was discovered for questioning. An explosive ordnance disposal team was called in and conducted a controlled detonation to destroy the weapons and munitions.

SUSPECTED SENIOR AL-QAeDA LEADER CAPTURED IN MOSUL

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Coalition Forces killed two terrorists and captured a suspected senior al-Qaida leader during a raid Sunday morning in Mosul.
While approaching the first targeted building, Coalition Forces began receiving enemy fire from an adjacent building. Coalition Forces fired back, killing one terrorist.
Upon entering the adjacent building, ground forces were confronted by an armed terrorist who began maneuvering on the ground forces. Ground forces took proper self-defense measures and killed the armed terrorist.
During the raid, Coalition Forces detained six suspected terrorists, including the targeted individual who is believed to be a senior al-Qaeda in Iraq leader operating a terrorist cell in Mosul.
This operation was part of ongoing efforts to empower the Iraqi people to defend, govern and rebuild their country. Coalition Forces will continue to hunt down and capture or kill terrorists trying to prevent a peaceful and stable Iraq," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.

IRAQI ARMY, COALITION FORCES DISRUPT TERRORIST CELLS IN TITTEN

BAQUBAH, Iraq - The 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army, in conjunction with a Military Transition Team from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, conducted a cordon and knock operation targeting improvised explosive device and ambush cells in Titten, Iraq, Saturday.
During the operation, the IA Soldiers detained six suspected terrorists who were transferred to the Khalis detention facility for further questioning.
A small cache of small arms munitions was discovered in the yard of one of the detainees.
"The Iraqi Soldiers and officers are continuously showing their commitment to making Diyala a safer province," said. Col. David W.
Sutherland, 3/1 Cav. commander and senior U.S. Army officer in the Diyala province. "They are now conducting targeted operations independent of Coalition Forces, and are experiencing the successes of well-planned and executed operations."
Following the cordon and knock, the Soldiers delivered school supplies throughout the area. The school supply drop was received very well by the local population.

SUSPECTED AL-QAEDA EMIR, 14 OTHERS CAPTURED

BAGHDAD, Iraq -Coalition Forces detained 15 suspected terrorists including a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq emir during raids Monday morning targeting foreign fighter facilitators and the al-Qaeda in Iraq network.
During an operation in Baghdad, Coalition Forces captured a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq emir and one of his associates.
Three suspected foreign terrorist facilitators were captured in operations northeast of Samarra, and eight more were captured in a foreign fighter safe house west of Mahmudiyah.
In downtown Ramadi, Coalition Forces captured two suspects in a foreign fighter safe house. Intelligence reports indicated members of the cell were allegedly planning suicide operations against Coalition or Iraqi Forces.
"Coalition Forces are making progress dismantling the foreign fighter and al-Qaeda terrorist networks inside Iraq," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. "These operations send a message to terrorists that they will be caught and prosecuted for their crimes under the Iraqi justice system."

IRAQI POLICE, COALITION FORCES DISCOVER LARGE EFP CACHE

BAQUBAH, Iraq - Information provided by a concerned citizen led Iraqi Police officers from Judidah, Iraq, and Coalition Forces from the 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, to a large improvised explosive device cache in the Baqubah area Saturday.
The cache consisted of:

* 2 explosively formed projectiles in various stages of
assembly
* One completed improvised mine and more than a dozen
others in various stages of construction
* More than two dozen mortar rounds and 15 rockets
* Over 150 disks capable of producing as many individual
EFPs
* Six rocket launchers
* Five anti-aircraft rounds
* Over two dozen RPG warheads
* More than 400 plastic and steel containers in various
stages of fabrication for IED construction
* Large quantities of IED-making material such as
detonation cord, C4, blasting caps, fuses, EFP launching tubes, bags of ball bearings and voltage regulators

"The vigilance of the Iraqi Police and the willingness of the people of Diyala to end the cycle of violence led to this discovery,"
said Col. David W. Sutherland, 3-1 Cav. commander and senior U.S. Army officer in Diyala province.
A Coalition Forces explosive ordnance disposal unit safely disposed of some of the munitions with the majority of the cache being transferred to Forward Operating Base Warhorse.
"The terrorists and sectarian fighters who use these explosives have no other desire than to stop the progress of the country,"
Sutherland said. "Their hatred manifests itself in the weapons that these supplies would have been used for. The people realize this and understand that progress is impossible without stopping the violence.
"The people are choosing, and they are choosing progress and development by providing information," he added.
Discovery
An Iraqi Police officer from Jadidah, Iraq, and a Soldier from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, unearth a large improvised explosive device cache discovered near Baqubah, Iraq, Saturday.

Iraqi Police officers from Jadidah, Iraq, in partnership with Coalition Forces from 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, discover a large improvised explosive device cache containing supplies for explosively formed projectiles near Baqubah, Iraq, Saturday.

CAVALRY PARATROOPERS FIND, DESTROY CACHE

KALSU, Iraq - Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers discovered a cache while conducting a reconnaissance patrol south of Baghdad Feb. 23.
Paratroopers from Troop A, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division uncovered the cache in a two-foot deep hole near Hawar Rajab, Iraq.
The cache consisted of one AK-47 rifle, a bandolier with two magazines, copper command wire, two cell phones, one 155mm artillery round, and one rocket-propelled grenade round.
An explosive ordnance disposal team was called to the site and performed a controlled detonation of the cache.

Ahmadinejad: Tomato price hikes an enemy plot

Jihad Watch

TEHERAN - Iran’s president said on Sunday the country’s enemies had hatched a range of plots to push the Islamic Republic to give up its disputed nuclear programme, including driving up the price of tomatoes and other food.


Rising prices, particularly the cost of tomatoes which form an important ingredient in Iranian food, have prompted growing public criticism of Ahmadinejad’s government. The president has often dismissed complaints as media exaggeration.

‘In order to harm us, they (enemies) make plots, for instance they come and push tomato prices up in the market. They think we will give up our ideals with their plots,’ Ahmadinejad said in a speech in which he said Iran would not reverse its atomic plans.

That's right! No need for bombings or targeted assassinations. We just raise the cost of tomatoes. They will bow before us in no time and worship the great satan that is the United States.

Algore Home Uses 20x The National Average

Tennesseepolicy.org via DRUDGE REPORT

Al Gore’s Personal Energy Use Is His Own “Inconvenient Truth”
Gore’s home uses more than 20 times the national average

Last night, Al Gore’s global-warming documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, collected an Oscar for best documentary feature, but the Tennessee Center for Policy Research has found that Gore deserves a gold statue for hypocrisy.

Gore’s mansion, located in the posh Belle Meade area of Nashville, consumes more electricity every month than the average American household uses in an entire year, according to the Nashville Electric Service (NES).

In his documentary, the former Vice President calls on Americans to conserve energy by reducing electricity consumption at home.

The average household in America consumes 10,656 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, according to the Department of Energy. In 2006, Gore devoured nearly 221,000 kWh—more than 20 times the national average.

Last August alone, Gore burned through 22,619 kWh—guzzling more than twice the electricity in one month than an average American family uses in an entire year. As a result of his energy consumption, Gore’s average monthly electric bill topped $1,359.

Since the release of An Inconvenient Truth, Gore’s energy consumption has increased from an average of 16,200 kWh per month in 2005, to 18,400 kWh per month in 2006.

Gore’s extravagant energy use does not stop at his electric bill. Natural gas bills for Gore’s mansion and guest house averaged $1,080 per month last year.

“As the spokesman of choice for the global warming movement, Al Gore has to be willing to walk the walk, not just talk the talk, when it comes to home energy use,” said Tennessee Center for Policy Research President Drew Johnson.

In total, Gore paid nearly $30,000 in combined electricity and natural gas bills for his Nashville estate in 2006.

Algore wins an award that only 5 people care about.

FOXNews.com

The documentary that turned former vice president Al Gore's power-point presentation on global warming into an engaging and entertaining film won the Oscar Sunday night.

When will these global warming lunatics kill themselves? I've grown quite bored with the rhetoric. The ice caps on Mars is shrinking. I'm sure that's our fault too. Didn't they find that Antarctica used to be tropical? Maybe that's what it was when the earth wasn't coming out of ice age like we are now. I've also read that 95% of the greenhouse gases is water vapor. Seems to me the only way man can stop that is to set up giant dehumidifiers.

Lastly, Algore attempt at a joke was so lame his face almost broke:

"I am Al Gore. I used to be the next president of the United States of America,"

I thank god everyday that he and John Kerry were not.

A Funny

From Free Republic

Last Tuesday, as President Bush got off the helicopter in front of the
White House, he was carrying a baby piglet under each arm.

The squared-away Marine guard snaps to attention, salutes, and says:
"Nice pigs, Sir."

The President replies "These are not pigs. These are authentic Arkansas
Razorback Hogs. I got one for Senator Hillary Clinton and I got one for
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi."

The squared-away Marine again snaps to attention, salutes, and says,
"Excellent trade, Sir."

Sadr slams Baghdad security plan

I look forward to the day when the quotes stop coming from this primate.

Reuters.com

Radical Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr withdrew his support for a security crackdown in Baghdad on Sunday, hours after a female suicide bomber wearing a vest packed with explosives killed 40 in a student college


"There is no benefit in this security plan because it is controlled by the occupiers," said an aide to Sadr, reading a statement from the cleric in front of thousands of chanting supporters in the firebrand's stronghold of Sadr City.

"(The United States) is watching car bombs explode, taking the souls of thousands of innocent Iraqi people."

First he wants us to leave, then he blames us for not stopping the suicide bombings. It just goes to show you that no matter what we do, it's wrong.

Cleric in CIA Kidnapping Case: Americans Tortured Me

FOXNews.com

CAIRO, Egypt — An Egyptian cleric allegedly kidnapped off the streets of Italy by CIA agents in 2003 claimed Sunday that the Americans who abducted him "savagely" tortured him while deporting him to Egypt for interrogation.

Good! Apparently they didn't torture him enough, he's still able to cry about the injustice against him.

Israeli Troops Uncover Explosives Labs, Weapons Caches in Large West Bank Raid

FOXNews.com

NABLUS, West Bank — The largest Israeli raid in the West Bank for months entered its second day with tens of thousands of Palestinians confined to their Nablus homes as soldiers searched the a crowded, poor section for suspected militants.

The military said soldiers uncovered the second explosives laboratory in the city in two days on Sunday, pledging to maintain the open-ended sweep through the overcrowded warren of paths and streets in Nablus until it fulfills its goal — nabbing the city's top militants and heading off attacks against Israelis.

Now for the best part:

Palestinian officials charged the offensive threatened efforts to restart peace negotiations.

U.N. Food Aid Ship Hijacked off Somalia

FOXNews.com

NAIROBI, Kenya — Pirates hijacked a cargo ship delivering U.N. food aid to northeastern Somalia on Sunday — at least the second time in recent years that a vessel contracted to the United Nations has been hijacked off the country's dangerous coast.

The ship, MV Rozen, had just dropped off more than 1,800 tons of food aid in the semiautonomous region of Puntland in northeastern Somalia when the pirates struck, said Stephanie Savariaud, a spokeswoman for the U.N.'s World Food Program.

It was not immediately known if any of the 12 crew members aboard — six from Sri Lanka and six from Kenya — were injured in the attack.

"We know it has been hijacked by pirates but we do not know how many pirates there are," Savariaud said. "We are very concerned about the safety of the crew."

There was an attempted hijacking on the same ship in March last year by five pirates armed with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades, but the vessel managed to outrun them.

"The pirates have not made any demands yet," said Andrew Mwangura, head of the Kenyan chapter of the Seafarers Assistance Program.

Y'all think they should have a naval escort? The U.N. would probably object because it may be seen as antagonistic.

Dutch politician doubts Muslim ministers' loyalty

Reuters.com

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The leader of a Dutch anti-immigration party will call for a vote of no-confidence in two Muslim government ministers next week, citing their dual nationality as the issue, a newspaper reported on Saturday.

Geert Wilders said in an interview with the Dutch daily NRC Handelsblad the appointment of Moroccan-born Ahmed Aboutaleb and Turkish-born Nebahat Albayrak as junior ministers was wrong because both could have loyalties toward countries other than the Netherlands.

----------------------

In Saturday's interview, Wilders said: "I do not want to live in a country where some day six or seven members of cabinet could be Muslim," adding that Islamic laws were "barbaric", referring to four people who were beheaded in Saudi-Arabia this week.

"I want to encourage Muslims to leave the Netherlands voluntarily. The demographic development should become such, that the chance is small that we again have two Muslims in the cabinet." About 1 million Muslims live in the Netherlands out of a population of 16 million.

Last week Wilders called on Muslims to ditch half the teachings in the Koran and said he would chase Islam's Prophet Mohammad out of the country if he were alive today.

I can help but chuckle at the last sentence. I admire Mr. Wilders for his courage. There is no doubt fatwas will be issued.

Theft of radioactive device in Canada cause for concern

Well isn't this just great. You would think they would have these things locked up. Not only are they potentially dangerous, but I'm sure they're not cheap either.

homelandsecurityus.com via Jawa Report

25 February 2007: Sometime on or shortly before Tuesday, February 20, 2007, a portable radioactive nucleodensimeter (pictured above) was stolen from a construction site in Vaudreuil-Dorion, outside of Montreal. Weighing about 75 pounds, the specialized device is clearly labeled with radioactive warning stickers and contains radioactive material used to take soil samples and measure ground water. The radioactive substance inside, however, can be potentially dangerous if improperly exposed – or used for nefarious purposes.

Second theft in the same area

This is the second time a nucleodensimeter has been stolen from the greater Montreal area. On September 23, 2002, the same type of device was stolen from an engineer’s truck while the vehicle was parked at his residence in Laval, Canada, just outside of Montreal. Based on inquiries to police officials by the Northeast Intelligence Network, that device was never recovered.

There is a growing level of concern among police officials that the radioactive material contained in these devices, in part, could be used in the construction of a "dirty bomb," where radioactive products are mixed with explosives, thus creating a radiological dispersal device that could spread radiation over a large area.

Report: 3 Gulf states agree to IAF overflights en route to Iran

Nope, it's Israel that's going to bomb Iran.

Haaretz.com via LGF

Three Arab states in the Persian Gulf would be willing to allow the Israel Air force to enter their airspace in order to reach Iran in case of an attack on its nuclear facilities, the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Siyasa reported on Sunday.

According to the report, a diplomat from one of the gulf states visiting Washington on Saturday said the three states, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, have told the United States that they would not object to Israel using their airspace, despite their fear of an Iranian response.

Al-Siyasa further reported that NATO leaders are urging Turkey to open its airspace for an Attack on Iran as well and to also open its airports and borders in case of a ground attack.

If this does turn out to be true, it shouldn't be a surprise. As I said before, many countries in the middle east are not happy about Iran's nuclear ambitions and would rather end it before Iran has a chance to hold the whole middle east hostage.

Iran Gets A Taste Of It's Own Medicine?

Please read the whole thing

Telegraph

America is secretly funding militant ethnic separatist groups in Iran in an attempt to pile pressure on the Islamic regime to give up its nuclear programme.

In a move that reflects Washington's growing concern with the failure of diplomatic initiatives, CIA officials are understood to be helping opposition militias among the numerous ethnic minority groups clustered in Iran's border regions.

The operations are controversial because they involve dealing with movements that resort to terrorist methods in pursuit of their grievances against the Iranian regime.

In the past year there has been a wave of unrest in ethnic minority border areas of Iran, with bombing and assassination campaigns against soldiers and government officials.

Such incidents have been carried out by the Kurds in the west, the Azeris in the north-west, the Ahwazi Arabs in the south-west, and the Baluchis in the south-east. Non-Persians make up nearly 40 per cent of Iran's 69 million population, with around 16 million Azeris, seven million Kurds, five million Ahwazis and one million Baluchis. Most Baluchis live over the border in Pakistan.

Wait! We're the ones to bomb Iran.

Reuters.com

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Despite the Bush administration's insistence it has no plans to go to war with Iran, a Pentagon panel has been created to plan a bombing attack that could be implemented within 24 hours of getting the go-ahead from President George W. Bush, The New Yorker magazine reported in its latest issue.

The special planning group was established within the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in recent months, according to an unidentified former U.S. intelligence official cited in the article by investigative reporter Seymour Hersh in the March 4 issue.

The panel initially focused on destroying Iran's nuclear facilities and on regime change but has more recently been directed to identify targets in Iran that may be involved in supplying or aiding militants in Iraq, according to an Air Force adviser and a Pentagon consultant, who were not identified.

The consultant and a former senior intelligence official both said that U.S. military and special-operations teams had crossed the border from Iraq into Iran in pursuit of Iranian operatives, according to the article.


Oops, wrong again.

"The United States has been very clear with respect to its concerns regarding specific Iranian government activities. The president has repeatedly stated publicly that this country is going to work with allies in the region to address those concerns through diplomatic efforts," Whitman said.

Pentagon officials say they maintain contingency plans for literally dozens of potential conflicts around the world and that all plans are subject to regular and ongoing review.