President-Elect Fred Thompson Closer To Announcing His Candidacy

Weekly Standard

On March 11, just a week before, Thompson had appeared on Fox News Sunday and told Chris Wallace that he was giving "serious consideration" to running for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. Ever since, advisers on other campaigns have tried to figure out how he'll affect the race if he runs. [...] After an hour, Thompson and Gillespie--currently chairman of the Republican party of Virginia--rose and left the restaurant. Ten minutes later, Thompson walked back in with former senator Bill Frist. They were led to a different table, but Thompson's waitress was the same. She laughed as she took his new order. Thompson says this second lunch was unplanned. Although he and Frist talk daily, the two Tennesseans met this time by chance. Finding they both had gaps in their schedules, they spent the next two hours at Café Promenade talking about a Fred Thompson for President campaign. [...] "We thought we had to get it out early," says Frist, "in the sense that he's going to be announcing." [...] Thompson says he came to respect George W. Bush during the 2000 campaign because of his plan to reform Social Security. Congressional Republicans considered the plan a political liability, and it went nowhere. Thompson says that although it was only tinkering on the margins of real reform, it was a good start. He won't share his own plan--"I'll roll that out at the appropriate time"--but the general principle he articulates sounds like a political risk.

There you have it, sounds about as close as one can come to announcing a candidacy without actually making it official. I still haven't made up my mind about him. I think he would be a good candidate, but I don't know if he can win. I want a conservative candidate that can win. The one thing he can do, is bring more attention to the conservative candidates that are already in the race. Brownback, Hunter, and Huckabee have been floundering at the bottom of the polls. You could probably throw the "other" Thompson in there, Tommy Thompson, but I can't see myself supporting him.  People keep complaining there is no conservative candidates, but apparently they can't see past the top 3 useless candidates of Giuliani, McCain, and Romney.

 

Technorati tags: Fred Thompson, Conservative, Candidate, President, Republican, 2008, White House

Good News From The War On Terror 4/12-4/14

AIRPOWER SUMMARY FOR APRIL 12

 

AIRPOWER SUMMARY FOR APRIL 13

 

TALIBAN SUFFER CONSIDERABLE LOSSES IN SANGIN

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - 1st Kandak, 209th Afghan National Army  Corps, and Coalition forces operating northeast of the Sangin District Center in Helmand Province positively identified and engaged several groups of Taliban fighters with close air support, direct and indirect fire April 12.  During the engagement, ANA and Coalition forces pursued fleeing Taliban fighters northward, near the village of Kaj Gerd, as they were attempting to break contact.  More than 35 Taliban fighters were killed by ANA and Coalition forces during the 5-hour afternoon battle. “Afghan National Army and Coalition Soldiers have dealt the Taliban fighters a severe blow in the Sangin District,” said Army Maj. Chris Belcher,  Combined Joint Task Force- 82 spokesperson.  “The small remnants of Taliban fighters that remain have two choices; reconcile with the Afghan government or face elimination.”

AL-QAEDA MILITARY EMIR, 16 OTHER SUSPECTS DETAINED IN RAIDS

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 17 suspected terrorists including a reported al-Qaeda in Iraq military emir during operations early Saturday morning. Northwest of Taji, eight suspected terrorists were detained during a Coalition Forces raid.  Among the suspects detained was the accused al-Qaeda emir of Rusafa and former vehicle-borne improvised explosive device cell leader. “This is another significant step in our efforts to disrupt the VBIED network and their devastating attacks against the Iraqi people,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. In Mosul, Coalition Forces captured two suspects with ties to recent al-Qaeda attacks on Iraqi and Coalition Forces. During a raid in Baghdad, three al-Qaeda in Iraq suspects were captured, and four more were captured east of Amiriyah.

COALITION FORCES CAPTURE 14 SUSPECTS IN EARLY-MORNING RAIDS

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces captured 14 suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists during operations early Friday morning. During an operation in Karmah, Coalition Forces captured six men with suspected involvement in recent vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks and anti-Iraqi and Coalition Forces operations. In Mosul, five suspected terrorists were captured with suspected links to recent VBIED attacks against Coalition Forces. A raid east of Amiriyah resulted in the capture of one suspected terrorist with known involvement in al-Qaeda senior leader transportation operations. In Baghdad, Coalition Forces captured two suspected foreign fighter facilitators. “Coalition Forces continue to target terrorists regardless of where they may hide or operate,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. “They will be identified, captured and prosecuted for their crimes.”

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, Afghanistan, War on Terror, Good News, Military

Anthrax Mailings Part II: The Al-Qaeda Connection

A few days ago, I wrote this post about the Iraq connection to the anthrax mailings following 9/11. Due to space limitations and copyright stuff, I couldn't copy the entire article. If you would have clicked the link I provided, you could have read the entire article.

That same day, I received an email from the author of the following piece:

The Code Used In The Anthrax Letters By Ross E. Getman Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell told a recent  conference in Washington, D.C.: "People often ask me what keeps you up at night; what do you worry about? If someone were to have a sophisticated attack on our financial services system, let's just say cyber networks broadly, at  the same time that they mailed through U.S. mail, FedEx, and UPS the equivalent of  letters sprinkled with anthrax throughout the country, it would have a devastating impact.  If you chose the right time, right place, right season, it may have a maybe even more overwhelming devastating impact." While by his account in that speech, he starts his day at 4:00 a.m., let's consider whether Mr. McConnell has made the time to brief the  President on the code used in the earlier anthrax letters. (1)  Atta's "Jenny" Code and the Jennifer Lopez Letter             The goofy letter sent to the publisher of the National  Enquirer and Sun tabloids in Florida sought to dissuade Jennifer Lopez  from a planned marriage. “Wedding” is known Al Qaeda-speak for “event”  or “attack.” In the Summer of 2001, Mohammed Atta was communicating  with a terrorist contact in Germany.  He used tradecraft code in these  contacts -- he used the code "Two sticks, a dash and a cake with a  stick down" to convey to his contact the intended date of the 9/11  attack. In sending these emails to Germany, Atta pretended to be  writing to an imaginary girlfriend named "Jenny." Khalid Mohammed used a similar code in communicating with Ramzi Binalshibh during the period, instructing   Binalshibh to send "the skirts" to "Sally".  (The  9/11 Commission Staff noted that "Sally" was Zacarias Moussaoui.) KSM  admits that upon the death of military commander Atef, he came to  supervise the cell planning on attacking the United States with weaponized anthrax. In 2003, after the interrogation of  regional  operative  Hambali, "extremely virulent" anthrax was found at a house in Kandahar that could be readily weaponized. Al Qaeda had it prior to  9/11.

You can read the whole thing here. It's quite lengthy so make sure you have time to read all of it. I printed it out and it was 11 pages.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to connect dots. You have Iraq and Syria creating the anthrax. Remember, at this time it is still "Saddam's Iraq". Somehow, the anthrax gets in the hands of al-Qaeda. Then al-Qaeda mails out the anthrax. The brick wall to connecting all of this together is the talking heads keep telling us there was no cooperation between Saddam and al-Qaeda. I'm no investigative journalist but it doesn't take much effort to find bits of info concerning cooperation between Saddam and al-Qaeda. I've even posted a few of them.

The reason that we can't just say al-Qaeda created the anthrax is because the anthrax that was used, was very difficult to make. It takes a very skilled scientist to produce this type of anthrax. Mr. Spertzel, a biological weapons expert said that only 5 people in the United States could produce this type of anthrax and he was one of them. So, could a bunch of yahoo's running around caves be able to product this type of anthrax? I doubt it. I think the more realistic thought would be it was purchased or perhaps it was a gift for the common cause of defeating the infidels.

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, Syria, Al-Qaeda, Terrorist Attacks, Anthrax, 9/11

Weird News: Cockatoo Tries To Hatch Easter Eggs

Sky News

A confused cockatoo at a wildlife centre has spent the last two weeks trying to hatch a bowl of Easter eggs. The 17-year-old bird, called Pippa, adopted the chocolate eggs when her owner put them out just before Easter as a treat for visitors to the centre in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Thinking they were her own, Pippa latched on to them immediately and has been sitting on them ever since. Geoff Grewcock, owner of the Nuneaton and Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary, said: "It's very comical. She's not usually maternal, so it's come as a bit of a surprise. "We had a lot of creme eggs, so we put them in a dish on a table for people to take. "When we got Pippa out she went straight to them and began nesting on them. "She's so protective over them, and if anyone goes near them she'll attack." Pippa has become so possessive that Mr Grewcock is having to take the eggs away from her one by one. "They're going to melt if we don't take them away," he said. "We're taking them away gradually, so she should be okay. "I think she thinks they should be hatching now and has starting pecking at them. It's very strange."

 

 

Technorati tags: Cockatoo, Easter Eggs

Russian Revolution In The Making?

Guardian Unlimited

The Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky has told the Guardian he is plotting the violent overthrow of President Putin from his base in Britain after forging close contacts with members of Russia's ruling elite. In comments which appear calculated to enrage the Kremlin, and which will further inflame relations between London and Moscow, the multimillionaire claimed he was already bankrolling people close to the president who are conspiring to mount a palace coup. "We need to use force to change this regime," he said. "It isn't possible to change this regime through democratic means. There can be no change without force, pressure." Asked if he was effectively fomenting a revolution, he said: "You are absolutely correct."

Within the past year, the Russian government has been involved in a disturbing series of events. All of which point to Russia reverting back into a communist nation. Dissent is met with death, Russian espionage in the United States is at cold war levels, and nothing makes them happier than to provide enemies of the United States with weapons. Of course, I cannot fail to mention how upset they were when we decided to base a missile defense shield in former soviet bloc countries.

I certainly hope Mr. Berezovsky has a trustworthy and iron curtain security around him.

 

Technorati tags: Russia, Revolution

FBI Arrests Ohio Man For Alleged Al-Qaeda Plot

Yahoo! News

CINCINNATI (Reuters) - An Ohio man suspected of joining al Qaeda and conspiring to bomb targets in Europe and the United States has been indicted and will appear in court on Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department said. The FBI arrested Christopher Paul, a 43-year-old U.S. citizen, late on Wednesday after a four-year investigation of his alleged involvement with al Qaeda in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Germany, the Justice Department said in a statement. Paul joined al-Qaeda in 1991, the indictment said. He then trained and supported German co-conspirators planning to bomb European tourist resorts frequented by American citizens, as well as U.S. embassies, consulates and military bases overseas, it said. He also targeted a person in the United States, it said.

This is happening more frequently here than what is reported in the national media. Most of the men arrested were found with 100's of prepaid cellphones. The same cellphones used to detonate roadside bombs. My guess is that most of these people are coming out of Dearborn-istan, Michigan.

 

Technorati tags: FBI, Al-Qaeda, Terrorists, Ohio

Good News From The War On Terror 4/10-4/11

COALITION AIRCRAFT ENGAGES INSURGENTS FIRING ON CONVOY

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq - A coalition helicopter engaged insurgents with machine gun and missile fire after positively identifying them following an attack on Multi-National Division - Baghdad troops south of Baghdad April 8. Paratroopers from Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment observed six insurgents personnel carrying weapons northeast of Mahmudiyah, Iraq. The insurgents engaged the paratroopers and a convoy of trucks on a nearby highway with gun fire. The insurgents fled to a nearby house after engaging the paratroopers, and an attack helicopter was called in for assistance. After positive identification of the insurgents, the helicopter fired on the house. Five insurgents were seen fleeing the house, and the attack helicopter engaged them again. Following the attack, paratroopers on the ground searched the house and the surrounding grounds, finding three insurgent trucks destroyed. One individual was detained near the house. He reported that possibly five insurgents had been killed and three more wounded. The detainee was held for further questioning.

ONE TERRORIST KILLED, 12 SUSPECTS DETAINED IN RAIDS

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Coalition Forces killed one terrorist and detained 12 suspected terrorists during operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq Tuesday morning. During operations south of Haditha, Coalition Forces killed one terrorist and detained three suspects with alleged involvement in al-Qaeda and foreign fighter facilitation. As Coalition Forces entered a targeted building, they instructed the occupants to put their hands up. One man, who initially complied with instructions, rushed and tackled a Coalition Forces member and attempted to grab his weapon. Coalition Forces used self-defense measures killing the terrorist. The remaining suspects surrendered without incident. In Baghdad, Coalition Forces detained nine suspects with ties to al-Qaeda in Iraq courier operations. "Coalition Forces continue systematic operations to capture terrorists," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. "Terrorists will be brought to justice and will be prosecuted for their crimes."

ONE MILITANT CAPTURED IN JALALABAD RAID

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan National Police and Coalition forces captured one militant during an early morning raid April 10 in the city of Jalalabad, Nangarhar Province. The combined force was targeting an anti-coalition militia commander who was responsible for attacks against Afghan and Coalition forces in the Khogiani District of Nangarhar Province. The targeted militant was also teaching and facilitating the use of improvised explosive devices in Kunar province. No shots were fired and there were no injuries reported as a result of the operation.

ANA, COALITION FORCES CONTINUE TO ELIMINATE TALIBAN FIGHTERS

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan National Army and Coalition forces operating northeast of the Sangin District Center, Helmand Province, received Rocket Propelled Grenade and small arms fire from an unknown number of Taliban fighters hiding in a compound Monday night. Coalition close air support was requested and fired on the enemy occupied compound. As Taliban fighters began to flee, Coalition aircraft engaged and killed four Taliban fighters who were attempting to escape. Later yesterday evening, near Chamkani, Patika Province, Coalition and ANA forces repelled five Taliban fighters with mortar and small arms fire as the fighters were attempting to attack a checkpoint located within Patan village. There were no Afghan civilian injuries reported during the separate enemy engagements. “The Taliban are no match for ANA and Coalition forces,” said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force- 82 spokesperson. “We will intensify our operations to rid Afghanistan of all Taliban fighters’ who harm innocent Afghan civilians and threaten the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.”

JOINT OPERATIONS ROOT OUT TERRORISTS IN AD DAWR

TIKRIT, Iraq - Iraqi army troops and Coalition Forces began major operations March 28, 2007, near Tikrit in Mujamma and Ad Dawr, Iraq, to root out known insurgents who have been using the town as a safe haven and orchestrating acts of terror against the town's people and security forces. Anti-Iraqi forces here have carried out heinous acts such as the attack on the Ad Dawr police headquarters by a car bomb Feb. 11, 2007, which left 12 policemen killed, 22 wounded and the entire building in rubble. The backside of the Ad Dawr City Hall was also destroyed. More than 500 Paratroopers from Task Force Loyalty - which is centered around the 1st Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division - and their IA counterparts from 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division, established a city-wide cordon and 24-hour curfew, then began a round-the-clock presence along the Tigris River and in small villages to the east of Ad Dawr conducting raids and patrols. [...] Numerous weapons caches have also been discovered throughout the operation: * Large numbers of various mortar and illumination rounds * rocket-propelled grenades * RPG launchers, sticks of TNT, grenades * automatic machineguns * sniper rifles - with scope * two anti-tank mines * washing machine timers, identification card-making materials * multiple remote detonation devices * propellant, detonation cord, assorted command wire * assorted small-arms ammunition and assorted fuses

IRAQI SECURITY FORCES CONDUCT CORDON AND SEARCH IN DIWANIYAH

KALSU, Iraq – Iraqi security forces conducted a cordon and search against suspected insurgents in Diwaniyah April 11. This search was an intelligence-driven, precision operation searching for a known terrorist believed to be in an office belonging to the Organization of the Martyr Sadr. Coalition force soldiers provided security outside the office as Iraqi troops entered the office and began their search for the terrorist suspect and weapons. Once inside, the Iraqi troops found hand grenades, multiple identification cards, improvised explosive device-making materials, anti-government propaganda, photos of wounded soldiers and battle-damaged vehicles, and a low-power transmitting station. In accordance with the Iraqi Prime Minister’s directive given in a recent speech, any buildings, including those used by political parties, that are being used for criminal or illegal purposes may be entered and searched. In addition, when these sites are used for criminal or terrorist activities, they lose any protective they may have under international law.

Technorati tags: Iraq, Afghanistan, War On Terror, Good News

U.S. Military: Iran Training Terrorists in Using Roadside Bombs

FOXNews.com

BAGHDAD —  Iran has been training Iraqi fighters in Iran on the assembly of deadly roadside bombs known as EFPs, the U.S. military spokesman said on Wednesday. "We know that they are being in fact manufactured and smuggled into this country, and we know that training does go on in Iran for people to learn how to assemble them and how to employ them. We know that training has gone on as recently as this past month from detainees debriefs," Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, the U.S. military spokesman, said at a weekly briefing. EFP stands for explosively formed penetrator, deadly roadside bombs that hurl a fist-size lump of molten copper capable of piercing armor. In January, U.S. officials said at least 170 U.S. soldiers had been killed by EFPs. Caldwell also said on Wednesday that the U.S. military had evidence that Iranian intelligence agents were active in Iraq in funding, training and arming Shiite militia fighters.

YAWN! Nothing new here. We knew this has been going on for a while. I've posted several times about it. Wake me up when somebody decides to do something about it.

 

Technorati tags: Iran, Iraq, Insurgents, Terrorists

Iraq Behind Anthrax Mailings Following 9/11?

American Thinker Blog VIA AOSHQ 

Richard Spertzel, a BW expert formerly with UNSCOM and the Iraq Survey Group, was kind enough to share his expertise with a few colleagues and wrote the following comment on that article: To start, I have believed all along that Iraqi intelligence had their dirty hands on this event.  Based on ISG findings that Iraq had apparently decided in 1994 to not attempt production, but rather only research to enhance "break-out" capability and that the Iraqi and Syrian intelligence services had formed an alliance to develop the field "in chemical and biological of mutual interest,"  I now suspect that Syria made the anthrax product with Iraqi Intelligence assistance.  The cooperation included Iraqi scientists assisting the Syrians. Much of what these authors say, I can verify.  Iraq had air-freighted into Baghdad two Niro spray dryers that were of the type that would yield "plus or minus any particle size" the producer desired.  One of these was located at Al Hakam and was destroyed under UN supervision in May/June 1996. The other one we were unable to locate (and, of course, Iraq did not know its whereabouts) until spring 1998.  Within two weeks I had a sampling team in Iraq to thoroughly sample the 2nd dryer.  Unfortunately, Iraq suddenly had an urgent need for the dryer and had thoroughly disassembled it, cleaned and sterilized it and then reassembled it.  We were not able to get permission to destroy it but we kept tabs on it.  However, UNMOVIC never checked for it and I believe the US did not after the war.  It very well could have been moved to Syria .

It is interesting to note that when the bombs starting falling, the anthrax letters abruptly stopped. If anyone has read the book, Saddam's Secrets: How an Iraqi general defied and survived Saddam Hussein by Gen. Georges Sada, they would know where all the chemical and biological weapons had disappeared to. Commercial jets were stripped out and used as cargo planes for moving the weapons into Syria under the guise of a humanitarian mission.

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, Saddam Hussein, Anthrax, WMD's, Syria, 9/11

9/11 Truthers

I happened to catch this on my Google Adsense Ads. Here is the conclusion from this website:

From the above disclosures, the Bush Administration must have approved of the attacks on the WTC and Pentagon on 9/11/01, and without whose assistance the attacks would not have been possible. Atta and company were co-conspirators and officially took the blame. This conclusion is based on an overwhelming set of otherwise unlikely coincidences. In the author's opinion this theory is proved beyond a reasonable doubt. However if the reader does not feel so, at the very least, there is enough evidence to call for an end to the US "War on Terror".

The Google Adsense team says they supposedly screen these ads to put them on sites that are similar to the ad. They must think it's funny to put those ads on sites like this. Google's history of being biased has been pointed out in several blogs, especially referencing search engine results.

From the Popular Mechanics website, which is linked below, they point out the number of lunatics believing in the 9/11 conspiracy.

Three and a half years later, not everyone is convinced we know the truth. Go to Google.com, type in the search phrase "World Trade Center conspiracy" and you'll get links to an estimated 628,000 Web sites. More than 3000 books on 9/11 have been published; many of them reject the official consensus that hijackers associated with Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda flew passenger planes into U.S. landmarks.

Thankfully, several people and organizations have explained away the 9/11 conspiracy theories.

Popular Mechanics

Debunking 9/11 Conspiracy Theories

Journal of Debunking 9/11 Conspiracy Theories

There is many more. Doing a search for "debunking 9/11 conspiracy" yields 978,000 results. Some of the results, the truther's have managed to use "debunking" as a keyword.

 

Technorati tags: 9/11, Conspiracy Theories, Debunking, Google, Adsense

Our Military In Action

***Warning: Explicit Lyrics***

 

Technorati tags: Military, Iraq, War on Terror

Good News From The War on Terror 4/8-4/9

WEAPONS CACHE SEIZED IN ADHAMIYAH

BAGHDAD - Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team found and detonated a weapons cache uncovered April 5 in the Adhamiyah district. Soldiers from Company C, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment made the discovery while clearing an suspected insurgent safe house located near the Abu Haneefa Mosque. The cache was hidden in an underground bunker beneath a courtyard behind the safe house. Weapons recovered included a sniper rifle outfitted with a scope and a silencer, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, two L2A3 submachine guns, one PKM, mortar, land mines, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and a variety of bomb-making materials, including 20 pounds of homemade explosives. An explosive ordnance team conducted a controlled detonation of the explosives at the site, after notifying the local Imam to make sure no damage to the Mosque occurred.

OPERATION BLACK EAGLE: IRAQI GENERAL NOTES 'GREAT SUCCESS'

DIWANIYAH, Iraq - Soldiers from the Iraqi Army and Coalition forces entered their third day of fighting against illegally-armed militia in Diwaniyah in order to secure the city and provide stability to the region. During the second day of Operation Black Eagle, clashes between the Iraqi Army and militia members continued. "So far, we have achieved great success fighting the terrorists," said Maj. Gen. Oothman Faroud, commander of the 8th Iraqi Army Division, which is leading the assault.  "We have freed the people of Diwaniyah from the murder and  intimidation that has plagued the city 24 hours a day, seven days a week for months." The 8th IA Div. and their Coalition counterparts from Multi-National Division-Center South and Multi-National Division-Baghdad have uncovered many large caches of weapons including several explosively formed projectiles and improvised explosive device making factories.  They have also uncovered caches of EFPs and IEDs along with homemade explosives and other bomb-making material across the city. The operation has netted 39 militia members, and killed several more during sporadic fire fights.  Two wanted terrorists were captured on the first day of Operation Black Eagle.  Both of these detainees have taken part in attacks against Iraqi Security Forces, Coalition troops and innocent civilian targets.

JOINT OPERATION CLEARS TERRORISTS FROM DIYALA RIVER VALLEY

BAQUBAH, Iraq - A joint operation, which began March 24 in the Diyala River Valley northeast of Baqubah, cleared two terrorist safe havens and the surrounding palm groves by unearthing more than 15 weapons caches, killing more than 30 terrorists and detaining 28 suspected terrorists. Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division, partnered with Coalition Forces from 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, attached to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, cleared enemy territory in Zaganiyah and Qubbah, Iraq and continue to maintain a permanent presence with the newly-constructed patrol base in the heart of the Diyala River Valley. "To secure the population against terrorists, Iraqi Security Forces are becoming more offensive in their operations," said Col. David W. Sutherland, 3-1 Cav. commander and senior U.S. Army officer in Diyala. "They will attack the terrorists in the perceived safe havens.  However, the importance of these operations is that the people of the area are showing trust and confidence in their soldiers by providing specific information relative to the whereabouts of the enemy," Sutherland added.  Aside from discovering more than 20 improvised explosive devices, the security forces uncovered caches consisting of more than 17,000 rounds of small-arms ammunition, 130 mortar rounds, 175 rocket-propelled grenade rounds, 80 grenades, IED-making materials and other terrorist equipment. "The people remain our center of gravity, and each of these discoveries continues to deny the enemy the ability to use force to target the population and security forces," said Sutherland. The detainees were transferred to a detention center for further questioning.

SENIOR AL-QAEDA LEADER CAPTURED IN BAGHDAD RAID

Coalition Forces captured a senior al-Qaeda leader and two others during raid Sunday morning in Baghdad. Coalition Forces identified the man as the gatekeeper to the al-Qaeda emir of Baghdad.  He has alleged ties to several senior al-Qaeda members and is reportedly linked to a number of mass casualty vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks in the Baghdad area. He was detained along with another known al-Qaeda VBIED cell leader and one other suspect. "This is a significant step in our efforts to disrupt the VBIED network and their devastating attacks against the Iraqi people," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.

AL ANBAR SECURITY CONFERENCE

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq - The 7th Iraqi Army Division Headquarters hosted the Al Anbar Security Conference here today to discuss security and transition in the province with leaders from the Government of Iraq, Al Anbar and Iraqi Security Forces. The Minister of Defense, Abd al-Qadir al Mufriji, Minister of Interior, Julad al-Bulani, and National Security Advisor, Dr. Mowaffak al-Rubbaie were briefed by the Provincial Director of Police and commanders from the 1st and 7th Iraqi Army Divisions and 2nd Brigade of the Division of Border Enforcement. The joint security conference promoted the transition to provincial Iraqi security control and cultivated the steps necessary to achieve this goal. Representatives from the Iraqi Ground Forces Command in Baghdad and the Provincial Joint Coordination Center, which is collocated here with the 7th Division, were also in attendance. Multi National Corps - Iraq and Multi National Force - West commanders offered security and transition assessments as well as their continued support towards provincial Iraqi control. The conference was a continuation of the dialogue Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki began with the leaders of Al Anbar during his visit here March 13.

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, Afghanistan, War on Terror, Good News

Report: Iran Ready For Attack On Nuke Facilities

Jerusalem Post

Iran's army has raised its level of alert in preparation for a possible attack on its nuclear facilities by the United States or Israel, the newspaper Al-Hayat reported Monday. A spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Muhammad Ali Husseini, told the paper that if its nuclear facilities were attacked, Iran would "know how to defend itself."

They may be prepared for it, but that doesn't mean they can do anything about it. Let's review what they could be facing based upon history.

 

 

 

Technorati tags: Iran, Nuclear, Shock and Awe, Military Attack

Iran To Start Industrial Scale Uranium Enrichment

FOXNews.com

NATANZ, Iran  —  Iran on Monday announced it was prepared to start "industrial scale" enrichment of uranium, expanding a key nuclear process that the United Nations has demanded it halt. The announcement came as Iran celebrated its first success in enriching small amounts of uranium at its Natanz enrichment facility in central Iran. "Now we are entering the mass production of centrifuges and starting to launch industrial scale enrichment, another step toward the flourishing of Islamic Iran," Vice President Gholamreza Aghazadeh said at a ceremony at Natanz. Aghazadeh, who heads Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, did not elaborate. Industrial-scale enrichment is the term Iran uses to mean a capability to produce greater levels of nuclear fuel — which would suggest Iran has increased the number of centrifuges working at Natanz. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was expected to speak later at the ceremonies, and announce "good nuclear news," according to state-run TV. The Iranian press has speculated he will announce the installation of 3,000 centrifuges at Natanz.

Clearly, the U.N. sanctions were working perfectly. Oops, they were supposed to force the Iranians to stop enrichment. It's back to the drawing board for the U.N. Security Council now. My expectations that something meaningful will come out of the U.N. is abysmally low.

 

Technorati tags: Iran, Nuclear, Uranium

An Inconvenient Scientist

WSJ.com OpinionJournal

Climate of Fear Global-warming alarmists intimidate dissenting scientists into silence. BY RICHARD LINDZEN Wednesday, April 12, 2006 12:01 a.m. EDT There have been repeated claims that this past year's hurricane activity was another sign of human-induced climate change. Everything from the heat wave in Paris to heavy snows in Buffalo has been blamed on people burning gasoline to fuel their cars, and coal and natural gas to heat, cool and electrify their homes. Yet how can a barely discernible, one-degree increase in the recorded global mean temperature since the late 19th century possibly gain public acceptance as the source of recent weather catastrophes? And how can it translate into unlikely claims about future catastrophes? The answer has much to do with misunderstanding the science of climate, plus a willingness to debase climate science into a triangle of alarmism. Ambiguous scientific statements about climate are hyped by those with a vested interest in alarm, thus raising the political stakes for policy makers who provide funds for more science research to feed more alarm to increase the political stakes. After all, who puts money into science--whether for AIDS, or space, or climate--where there is nothing really alarming? Indeed, the success of climate alarmism can be counted in the increased federal spending on climate research from a few hundred million dollars pre-1990 to $1.7 billion today. It can also be seen in heightened spending on solar, wind, hydrogen, ethanol and clean coal technologies, as well as on other energy-investment decisions. But there is a more sinister side to this feeding frenzy. Scientists who dissent from the alarmism have seen their grant funds disappear, their work derided, and themselves libeled as industry stooges, scientific hacks or worse. Consequently, lies about climate change gain credence even when they fly in the face of the science that supposedly is their basis. [...] Alarm rather than genuine scientific curiosity, it appears, is essential to maintaining funding. And only the most senior scientists today can stand up against this alarmist gale, and defy the iron triangle of climate scientists, advocates and policymakers. Mr. Lindzen is Alfred P. Sloan Professor of Atmospheric Science at MIT.

It seems like these scientists are on a slave plantation. If they refuse to follow in line with what the masters want, their funding gets cut. Apparently it's no longer science, it's an ideology.

 

Technorati tags: MIT, Global Warming, Lindzen

A Grim Vision Of The Future

Guardian Unlimited

New weapons An electromagnetic pulse will probably become operational by 2035 able to destroy all communications systems in a selected area or be used against a "world city" such as an international business service hub. The development of neutron weapons which destroy living organs but not buildings "might make a weapon of choice for extreme ethnic cleansing in an increasingly populated world". The use of unmanned weapons platforms would enable the "application of lethal force without human intervention, raising consequential legal and ethical issues". The "explicit use" of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons and devices delivered by unmanned vehicles or missiles. Technology By 2035, an implantable "information chip" could be wired directly to the brain. A growing pervasiveness of information communications technology will enable states, terrorists or criminals, to mobilise "flashmobs", challenging security forces to match this potential agility coupled with an ability to concentrate forces quickly in a small area. Marxism "The middle classes could become a revolutionary class, taking the role envisaged for the proletariat by Marx," says the report. The thesis is based on a growing gap between the middle classes and the super-rich on one hand and an urban under-class threatening social order Pressures leading to social unrest By 2010 more than 50% of the world's population will be living in urban rather than rural environments, leading to social deprivation and "new instability risks", and the growth of shanty towns. By 2035, that figure will rise to 60%. Population and Resources The global population is likely to grow to 8.5bn in 2035, with less developed countries accounting for 98% of that. Some 87% of people under the age of 25 live in the developing world. Demographic trends, which will exacerbate economic and social tensions, have serious implications for the environment - including the provision of clean water and other resources - and for international relations. The population of sub-Saharan Africa will increase over the period by 81%, and that of Middle Eastern countries by 132%. The Middle East The massive population growth will mean the Middle East, and to a lesser extent north Africa, will remain highly unstable, says the report. It singles out Saudi Arabia, the most lucrative market for British arms, with unemployment levels of 20% and a "youth bulge" in a state whose population has risen from 7 million to 27 million since 1980. "The expectations of growing numbers of young people [in the whole region] many of whom will be confronted by the prospect of endemic unemployment ... are unlikely to be met," says the report Islamic militancy Resentment among young people in the face of unrepresentative regimes "will find outlets in political militancy, including radical political Islam whose concept of Umma, the global Islamic community, and resistance to capitalism may lie uneasily in an international system based on nation-states and global market forces", the report warns. The effects of such resentment will be expressed through the migration of youth populations and global communications, encouraging contacts between diaspora communities and their countries of origin. Tension between the Islamic world and the west will remain, and may increasingly be targeted at China "whose new-found materialism, economic vibrancy, and institutionalised atheism, will be an anathema to orthodox Islam". Iran Iran will steadily grow in economic and demographic strength and its energy reserves and geographic location will give it substantial strategic leverage. However, its government could be transformed. "From the middle of the period," says the report, "the country, especially its high proportion of younger people, will want to benefit from increased access to globalisation and diversity, and it may be that Iran progressively, but unevenly, transforms...into a vibrant democracy." Terrorism Casualties and the amount of damage inflicted by terrorism will stay low compared to other forms of coercion and conflict. But acts of extreme violence, supported by elements within Islamist states, with media exploitation to maximise the impact of the "theatre of violence" will persist. A "terrorist coalition", the report says, including a wide range of reactionary and revolutionary rejectionists such as ultra-nationalists, religious groupings and even extreme environmentalists, might conduct a global campaign of greater intensity". Climate change There is "compelling evidence" to indicate that climate change is occurring and that the atmosphere will continue to warm at an unprecedented rate throughout the 21st century. It could lead to a reduction in north Atlantic salinity by increasing the freshwater runoff from the Arctic. This could affect the natural circulation of the north Atlantic by diminishing the warming effect of ocean currents on western Europe. "The drop in temperature might exceed that of the miniature ice age of the 17th and 18th centuries."

Let me first start by pointing out that "This is the world in 30 years' time envisaged by a Ministry of Defence team responsible for painting a picture of the "future strategic context" likely to face Britain's armed forces."

Some of this is definitely possible, some of it is part of the "sky is falling" mindset.

I particularly enjoyed the climate change section. What they are stating, is that the earth will warm to the point where glaciers will melt, which would cause cooling, which would put us in a mini-ice age like the one we are coming out of now. I wouldn't call this global warming, I would call it a cycle.

Throughout history, people have overpredicted what technology may exist in the future. Even those who did not live in the 60's (like myself), still have an idea on what the "house of the future" would consist of. We're still waiting for flying cars also.

I think the estimate for over-population can be questioned. You can call it divine intervention or just nature, but throughout history there has been some form of natural population control. Disease, famine, and natural disasters are part of this natural population control.

One of the most interesting topics was, terrorism. "But acts of extreme violence, supported by elements within Islamist states, with media exploitation to maximise the impact of the "theatre of violence" will persist". This what many SANE people have been saying since the beginning of the Iraq phase of the War on Terror. The fight is being lost in the media, not on the battlefield. It was the same situation in Vietnam.

 

Technorati tags: Future, Climate Change, Terrorism, Iran, Islam, Middle East, Population, Resources, Social Unrest, Marxism, Technology, Weapons

Happy Easter!

To pass the time today, I found some interesting tidbits from www.newadvent.org. I left all the links from their website in the post. So any of them you click, will take you to the newadvent.org website.

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PECULIAR CUSTOMS OF EASTER TIME

1. Risus Paschalis

This strange custom originated in Bavaria in the fifteenth century. The priest inserted in his sermon funny stories which would cause his hearers to laugh (Ostermärlein), e.g. a description of how the devil tries to keep the doors of hell locked against the descending Christ. Then the speaker would draw the moral from the story. This Easter laughter, giving rise to grave abuses of the word of God, was prohibited by Clement X (1670-1676) and in the eighteenth century by Maximilian III and the bishops of Bavaria (Wagner, De Risu Paschali, Königsberg, 1705; Linsemeier, Predigt in Deutschland, Munich, 1886).

2. Easter Eggs

Because the use of eggs was forbidden during Lent, they were brought to the table on Easter Day, coloured red to symbolize the Easter joy. This custom is found not only in the Latin but also in the Oriental Churches. The symbolic meaning of a new creation of mankind by Jesus risen from the dead was probably an invention of later times. The custom may have its origin in paganism, for a great many pagan customs, celebrating the return of spring, gravitated to Easter. The egg is the emblem of the germinating life of early spring. Easter eggs, the children are told, come from Rome with the bells which on Thursday go to Rome and return Saturday morning. The sponsors in some countries give Easter eggs to their god-children. Coloured eggs are used by children at Easter in a sort of game which consists in testing the strength of the shells (Kraus, Real-Encyklop die, s. v. Ei). Both coloured and uncoloured eggs are used in some parts of the United States for this game, known as "egg-picking". Another practice is the "egg-rolling" by children on Easter Monday on the lawn of the White House in Washington.

3. The Easter Rabbit

The Easter Rabbit lays the eggs, for which reason they are hidden in a nest or in the garden. The rabbit is a pagan symbol and has always been an emblem of fertility (Simrock, Mythologie, 551).

4. Handball

In France handball playing was one of the Easter amusements, found also in Germany (Simrock, op. cit., 575). The ball may represent the sun, which is believed to take three leaps in rising on Easter morning. Bishops, priests, and monks, after the strict discipline of Lent, used to play ball during Easter week (Beleth, Expl. Div. off., 120). This was called libertas Decembrica, because formerly in December, the masters used to play ball with their servants, maids, and shepherds. The ball game was connected with a dance, in which even bishops and abbots took part. At Auxerre, Besançon, etc. the dance was performed in church to the strains of the "Victimae paschali". In England, also, the game of ball was a favourite Easter sport in which the municipal corporation engaged with due parade and dignity. And at Bury St. Edmunds, within recent years, the game was kept up with great spirit by twelve old women. After the game and the dance a banquet was given, during which a homily on the feast was read. All these customs disappeared for obvious reasons (Kirchenlex., IV, 1414).

5. Men and women

On Easter Monday the women had a right to strike their husbands, on Tuesday the men struck their wives, as in December the servants scolded their masters. Husbands and wives did this "ut ostendant sese mutuo debere corrigere, ne illo tempore alter ab altero thori debitum exigat" (Beleth, I, c. cxx;Durandus, I, c. vi, 86). In the northern parts of England the men parade the streets on Easter Sunday and claim the privilege of lifting every woman three times from the ground, receiving in payment a kiss or a silver sixpence. The same is done by the women to the men on the next day. In the Neumark (Germany) on Easter Day the men servants whip the maid servants with switches; on Monday the maids whip the men. They secure their release withEaster eggs. These customs are probably of pre-Christian origin (Reinsberg-Düringsfeld, Das festliche Jahr, 118).

6. The Easter Fire

The Easter Fire is lit on the top of mountains (Easter mountain, Osterberg) and must be kindled from new fire, drawn from wood by friction (nodfyr); this is a custom of pagan origin in vogue all over Europe, signifying the victory of spring over winter. The bishops issued severe edicts against the sacrilegious Easter fires (Conc. Germanicum, a. 742, c.v.; Council of Lestines, a. 743, n. 15), but did not succeed in abolishing them everywhere. The Church adopted the observance into the Easter ceremonies, referring it to the fiery column in the desert and to the Resurrection of Christ; the new fire on Holy Saturday is drawn from flint, symbolizing the Resurrection of the Light of the World from the tomb closed by a stone (Missale Rom.). In some places a figure was thrown into the Easter fire, symbolizing winter, but to the Christians on the Rhine, in Tyrol and Bohemia, Judas the traitor (Reinsberg-Düringfeld, Das festliche Jahr, 112 sq.).

7. Processions and awakenings

At Puy in France, from time immemorial to the tenth century, it was customary, when at the first psalm of Matins a canon was absent from the choir, for some of the canons and vicars, taking with them the processional cross and the holy water, to go to the house of the absentee, sing the "Haec Dies", sprinkle him with water, if he was still in bed, and lead him to thechurch. In punishment he had to give a breakfast to his conductors. A similar custom is found in the fifteenth century at Nantes and Angers, where it was prohibited by the diocesan synods in 1431 and 1448. In some parts of Germany parents and children try to surprise each other in bed on Easter morning to apply the health-giving switches (Freyde, Ostern in deutscher Sage, Sitte und Dichtung, 1893).

8. Blessing of food

In both the Oriental and Latin Churches, it is customary to have those victuals which were prohibited during Lent blessed by the priests before eating them on Easter Day, especially meat, eggs, butter, and cheese (Ritualbucher, Paderborn, 1904; Maximilianus, Liturg. or., 117). Those who ate before the food was blessed, according to popular belief, were punished by God, sometimes instantaneously (Migne, Liturgie, s.v. P&aicrc;ques).

9. House blessings

On the eve of Easter the homes are blessed (Rit. Rom., tit. 8, c. iv) in memory of the passing of the angel in Egypt and the signing of the door-posts with the blood of the paschal lamb. The parish priest visits the houses of his parish; the papal apartments are also blessed on this day. The room, however, in which the pope is found by the visiting cardinal is blessed by the pontiff himself (Moroni, Dizionariq, s.v. Pasqua).

10. Sports and celebrations

The Greeks and Russians after their long, severe Lent make Easter a day of popular sports. At Constantinople the cemetery of Pera is the noisy rendezvous of the Greeks; there are music, dances, and all the pleasures of an Oriental popular resort; the same custom prevails in the cities of Russia. In Russia anyone can enter the belfries on Easter and ring the bells, a privilege of which many persons avail themselves.

Iraq PM Barred From Iranian Airspace

Yahoo! News

BAGHDAD - Iran refused to allow the Iraqi prime minister to fly across its airspace as he was traveling to Tokyo, members of the delegation traveling with Nouri al-Maliki told The Associated Press early Sunday. The delegation members said al-Maliki's plane was diverted on Saturday night to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where al-Maliki stayed in the airport for more than three hours while his government aircraft was refueled and a new flight plan was filed. Two members of the delegation told AP about the incident by telephone from Dubai. A government official in Baghdad confirmed their account. All spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the information.

So much for wanting to help the Iraqi government. Apparently Iran now has this superiority complex after the British hostage fiasco. I certainly hope PM Maliki remembers this Iranian snub. Maybe it will prod him into cracking down on those loyal to Iran, such as Mugtada al-Sadr (AKA The Dark Lord)

 

Technorati tags: Maliki, Iraq, Prime Minister, Iranian Airspace, Iran