Posted on 06/03/2002 1:29:40 PM PDT by Dallas
Insider notes from United Press International for June 3 ...
The latest squall in the U.S.-led anti-terrorism alliance follows the Bush administration's announcement to southern European governments that the U.S. Navy intends to stop and search ships flying their respective national flags in the busy Mediterranean Sea lanes. Washington is looking for weapons' shipments to the Middle East, and maybe suspected terrorists going in either direction. The United States wants units of the Sixth Fleet to carry out inspections unilaterally on the high seas, and to conduct joint searches in territorial waters. So far, Washington has received sharp refusals from Spain and Greece. The message from Athens was that the Greek navy and coastguard were perfectly capable of carrying out their own maritime inspections and all Washington had to do was pick the ship. The general feeling in European Union circles was that the Bush administration would be hearing this refrain from other southern governments as well.
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Russia's Federal Security Service was congratulating itself Monday on having blocked an attempt by al Qaida to acquire 11 lbs of radioactive thalium from Russian intermediaries. The thalium was stolen from measuring devices on decommissioned submarines. One arrested naval officer had four thalium cartridges on him when detained; a former police officer who worked at naval bases was discovered with nine. The use of thalium -- used in making rat poisoning among other things -- has been banned in the United States since 1975. Russian officials estimate that the thalium if put in the water system of a medium-sized city would be capable of killing more people than the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.
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Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat faces an awkward test of his self-proclaimed determination to clamp down on militant action against Israelis. The Palestinian supreme court in Gaza Monday ordered the release of Ahmed Saadat, leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, from the special Jericho prison jointly run by the United States and Britain. The Israelis say Saadat was involved in the killing of Tourism minister Rehavam Zeevi, and his arrest was one of Israel's conditions for ending the siege of Arafat's headquarters in Ramallah. Now, however, the court has ruled that there is insufficient evidence to detain him and the Israelis are furious. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said his government would "take all steps necessary" to prevent his release. It's now up to Arafat to uphold, or counterman the court's decision. But given the level of Israel's fury, Saadat is probably safer staying in jail.
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From Ecuador and Peru, the spillover in America's narcotics war in Colombia will now take in Panama and Costa Rica. As part of Washington's $1.6 billion Plan Colombia package, the United States plans to build observation and monitoring posts in both countries. The aim is to keep a watch on, and possibly prevent, the regional flow of drugs. At the same time, the observation posts will track cross-border terrorist movements -- a useful objective if Colombia's new President Alvaro Uribe follows up on his campaign promise to get tough with the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, and its members run for cover to other countries. The Panamanian posts will be built at Paso Canoas on the border with Colombia; a second in the center of the country, and a third on the Costa Rican border.
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The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts annual "Wiretap Report" has noted a dramatic increase in state electronic surveillance. In 2001, state judges approved 1,005 wiretap applications, up from 711 approved the previous year. In contrast, federal judges approved 486 requests in 2001, an increase of only six from the previous year. Most of the state requests were for narcotics cases, nearly 80 percent. Gambling and racketeering requests were second and third, while homicide and assault cases accounted for a meager 3 percent of all state requests.
Copyright © 2002 United Press International
He's da man....(gulp)
I suspect so. Either thallium or chocolate Ovaltine. But the spelling would suggest they intended to write thallium.
. One arrested naval officer had four thalium cartridges on him when detained; a former police officer who worked at naval bases was discovered with nine.
Let's hope there were no more. There's still a threat out there that says the next will be bigger than 9/11.
Our water sources aren't really that hard to get to. Especially since the INS break in. Anyone can get into America now.
Make that Valium in my water, and I'd probably give up Busch w/ a shot of Jose'.......nahhhh.
FMCDH
I'm sure it's still used here for medical purposes. I've had cardiology work-ups that included radioactive thallium injected during stress tests, and also for 3-D color X-rays or somesuch.
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