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Posted on 12/01/2008 6:12:32 PM PST by nwctwx
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Thanks, Oorang.
This just arrived in eMail:
“White Powder Letters Received Around the United States
FBI Requests Assistance and Information from the Public”
And more since that article was posted.
Merry Christmas everyone!!
It’s minus five here right now. Your fire really warms my cockles (whatever those are). I’ve been busy baking cookies and cleaning all day. Just came in here for a bit of a sit down. Lots of family flying in over the next couple of days, if they can get here from there with all the canceled flights.
And a most blessed Christmas to you, too.
Thank you for the lovely fire, WCG, and Merry Christmas to you, too. RR, right now it’s 9, with wind chill of -7.
I saw your weather forecast. Guess it is on its way here next. Actually this five below feels nearly balmy after our 22 below last week. That was straight temperature. With the fifty MPH winds, I have no idea what the chill factor was. Just knew it was dangerously cold.
We were in the mid seventies today going to low 30’s - high 20’s tonight.
I’m trying desperately to save my plants, we’ve been up and down like this for several weeks with ice about 5 days ago and then fog.
Yes, 9 degrees with sunshine seems balmy after last week when we had those fifty MPH winds for four days, too, wind chill was -44.
Mid seventies? Are you trying to make Lucy and me jealous? If so, you are succeeding. Although this beautiful white blanket around us certainly looks like Christmas.
Too cute!
bttt
Thank you WCG, what a beautiful sight!
New York Office Building used by Iranian regime, seized by Feds
By Walid Phares
December 21, 2008
The US Government seized control last Wednesday of a New York City office building partially owned by a company with ties to the Iranian government. The Treasury and Justice Departments move is aimed to end a flow of cash used to help Iran's program of nuclear weapons. The seizure is raising troubling questions.
The tower, situated on New York's Fifth Avenue, was built by an Iranian non-profit group in the 1970s. Federal officials say that the ownership of the building has evolved in an attempt to hide the stake held by an Iranian state-owned bank. The US alleges that Assa Corporation, which owns the building, is a front for Bank Melli, which facilitates the funding of nuclear materials for the Iranian regime. US authorities say that Bank Melli is involved in the Assa Corp. management of the Fifth Avenue facility. According to reports, rental income was sent back to Iran. But the designation does not interfere with the business and other activities of the tenants of 650 Fifth Avenue. In 2007, the Bush Administration froze Bank Melli's assets in the United States. The FBI seized two Assa's bank accounts holding $3.1 million.
According to Government sources Bank Melli handles funds for the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (Pasdaran) and its Qods Forces, which in turn fund Hezbollah, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad as well as some activities of the Taliban in Afghanistan.
This move raised several national security questions in the media and within the counter terrorism community:
1) Can the ownership of a building in Manhattan by entities controlled by the Iranian regime lead to a potential use of the facility by Terrorists or - in more dramatic circumstances- to sneak a dirty bomb or a nuke?
2) Should we be surprised that the Iranian intelligence and agencies operate such a facility in New York or in other cities in the US?
In an interview with Fox News I made the several of the following points:
a. We shouldn't be surprised at all that the Iranian regime is trying to have access to such assets. Their strategy is to have as many of these assets in the U.S. The chain begins in Tehran where the tasked agencies try to build a map of similar locations in America for future potential operations.
b. The goal for such locations is multiple. The Terrorist component could include hideouts for operatives (as in Mumbai) or worse, a location to deploy dirty bombs or more.
c. The United States and other democracies have an open space for trade. Hence Iranian funded networks can own, co-own or manage these assets. These locations can be used by other elements than those who manages the locations.
d. Even though these types of assets can be used in the future, we need to keep in mind that its took some time for the preparation for 9/11 or Mumbai. Hence if the Iranian regime is indeed managing these assets now, it would be to have it handy when and if it needs to use them in the future.
e. The New York Law Enforcement agencies and authorities are among the best in the nation and worldwide. They do have an understanding of the enemy's strategies. Hence they are on top of it in as much as possible. But there is no fully secure system against Terrorism.
Thanks, O. When Wahlid Phares speaks, I listen.
Happy Hannuka, Kickin’ Kwanza, Festive Festivus to you......but mostly, a most blessed Christmas to you and yours.
I’ll probably be off line for a few days. Much family coming in. Mr. RR is at the airport right now picking up my sister from Kentucky. (four hours late) Many more trickling in tomorrow, Tuesday and Wednesday.
When I require sanity and solitude, I shall sneak in here to the computer room.....so keep the pings coming.
Thanks for the ping.
placemark
bttt
Russian S-300 anti-air weapon already delivered to Iran
Special Report
December 18, 2008, 12:00 PM (GMT+02:00)
Russian S-300s on way to guarding Iran’s nuclear sites
Despite the efforts of US and Israeli leaders, Moscow has begun delivering the highly sophisticated medium-range air defense S-300 system to Iran for securing its nuclear and strategic sites against potential attack.
The RIA news agency reported Wednesday night, Dec. 18: “Moscow has earlier met its obligations to supply Tor-M1 (short-range) systems to Iran and is currently implementing its contract to deliver S-300 systems.”
Military sources disclose the S-300 deliveries began two weeks ago.
Their installation, coinciding with the return home of members of Iranian air defense officers from training in Russia, means that air or missile attacks on Iranian sites will henceforth be extremely difficult and carry a high price.
On 9th October, DEBKAfile’s Moscow sources reported that Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert failed in the key mission of his trip to persuade Russian leaders to refrain from selling this advanced weapon to Iran and Syria.
On July 9, US Secretary of State Robert Gates said: “Based on what I know, it’s highly unlikely that those air defense missiles would be in Iranian hands any time soon.” Clearly, Gates was misinformed, since five months on, those missiles are on their way to Iran.
While both the Bush administration and Israeli leaders insisted that a military option remained on the table if Iran persisted in its nuclear weapons program, neither took into account that Tehran was not deterred or standing idle.
This week, the Israeli defense ministry announced that Amos Gilead, a high official, would travel to Moscow Wednesday, Dec. 17 in a final bid to hold the Kremlin’s hand. But Olmert and defense minister Ehud Barak had missed another boat.
Military and intelligence sources report that after Iran, Moscow will install the S-300 in Syria, focusing on securing the Russian naval bases going up in the Mediterranean port of Tartous. By selling these countries top-line weaponry, Moscow is strengthening its military presence and influence in two Middle East countries of especial interest to the United States and Israel – a tactic Soviet Russians employed in the Cold War.
US: Russia’s S-300 missile sale to Iran marks Israel’s decision point
December 23, 2008, 11:22 AM (GMT+02:00)
Russian SA-300 long-range anti-air missile in action
An American military intelligence official says Russia’s sale of S-300 long-range missiles to Iran presents a “decision point for Israel, since once the anti-aircraft system is in place it could deter any strike” against Iran’s nuclear sites. In this first gloomy statement, the American source did not rule out such a strike but implied it would be more difficult.
State department spokesman Robert Wood said Monday, Dec. 22: “We have repeatedly made clear… that we would strongly oppose the sale of S-300.” US officials warned the missiles installed within Iran’s borders could reach American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and shift the Middle East military balance of power.
Military sources point to the confusion contrived by Moscow about the state of the consignment. Nonetheless, an American source said Tuesday: “The US believes it is taking place.” In Moscow, a “military-diplomatic source” said Monday the S-300 systems are being packed up and prepared for shipment to Iran: “S-300 air defense systems,” he added, “are expected to be delivered from the defense ministry’s warehouses.” The latter statement indicates that the missiles going to Iran are coming out of Russia’s own emergency stores and not waiting to come off production lines.
In response to media reports regarding the sale of S-300 systems to Iran, Vyacheslav Davidenko, spokesman of the Rosoboronexport arms exporters, said Monday without mentioning the missile by name: “At present exclusively defense systems, air defense systems fall within this category, are supplied to Iran,” adding: The Tor-M1 missile aid defense systems were earlier supplied to Iran.”
DEBKAfile’s military sources draw two conclusions from the Russian official’s comment: One, that Moscow first sold Tehran a short-range air defense system and is now following up with the long-range S-300 to round off the full range of its air defenses; and two, a sales pitch is advising the Arab regimes to count on Russia - rather than America - to look after their defensive requirements for important strategic sites just like Iran. The same message was conveyed by the gift of 10 MiG-29 fighter jets Moscow made to Lebanon earlier this month.
The Russian government’s actions refute the soothing assurance by its Tel Aviv ambassador who denied Moscow planned a missile transaction with Iran or had begun deliveries.
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