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Posted on 12/15/2005 5:40:46 PM PST by nwctwx
UPDATE...
http://www.thenewmexicochannel.com/news/5633410/detail.html
"Four People In Custody For Alleged Explosives Heist
Police Searching For Fifth Suspect Around Bloomfield"
POSTED: 8:52 pm MST December 23, 2005
UPDATED: 9:20 pm MST December 23, 2005
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Action 7 News has learned that four people are in custody in connection with a stolen explosives heist from a site west of Albuquerque.
According to police, all of the explosives have also been recovered.
Two of the suspects are brothers, David and Les Brown."
ARTICLE SNIPPET #2: "Authorities are still searching for a fifth suspect in the Bloomfield area."
ARTICLE SNIPPET #3: "Action 7 News has learned that investigators recovered some of the explosive material near Durango, Colo."
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-12-23-voa43.cfm
Israel Threatens Gaza Siege to Halt Rocket Attacks
By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
23 December 2005
Berger report - Download 245k
Listen to Berger report
Israel is threatening to step up military operations in the Gaza Strip in response to Palestinian rocket attacks. The Palestinian
Authority is facing an ultimatum.
Israel says the Palestinians crossed a red line by firing rockets from Gaza into the biggest Israeli city in the area, Ashkelon. Militants
fired the rockets from former Jewish settlements in northern Gaza that Israel abandoned
in August. Now Ashkelon is within range, and Israeli spokesman Dore Gold says that
poses a strategic threat.
"The real significant red line is that they are firing in the direction of southern Ashkelon where
major strategic installations of the state of Israel are located, including the Ashkelon power station
and the outlet of the Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline which carries oil from the Mediterranean to the Indian
Ocean," he said.
Mr. Gold says Israel will do whatever is necessary to halt the rocket attacks.
"Clearly, the Sharon government needs to take steps that haven't been take up until now," added
the spokesman.
Since Israel does not want to reoccupy areas of Gaza from where it pulled out, the plan that is shaping up is for the army to create a buffer
zone. The aim of any military offensive would be to push Palestinian militants out of the range of Ashkelon.
"That can only be done if they declare the area of northern Gaza as a no-entry zone where Israel will open fire on anybody who goes into
that region," he added.
Israel says the plan will be implemented unless the Palestinian Authority takes immediate action to halt the rocket fire. Palestinian leader
Mahmoud Abbas is taking the Israeli threats seriously. He ordered the deployment of additional security forces along the Gaza border with
the aim of preventing rocket attacks.
Israel has low expectations. Mr. Abbas has vowed to restore law and order, but he has been unable to rein in Islamic militants bent on
continuing the jihad, or holy war, against the Jewish state.
Source: Reuters [edited] http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PEK12265.htm
China is dumping chemicals into a southern river to try to neutralize a toxic spill and contain the 2nd environmental disaster to hit the country in as many months, a local official and state media said on Friday.
The cadmium-containing slick, which has cut tap water for tens of thousands of people downstream for 5 days, was flushed into the North River running across Guangdong province north to south from a Shaoguan zinc smelter last week.
The government has already lowered dam gates at the Baishiyao hydropower plant near Yingde, 90 km (54 miles) downstream from Shaoguan, to try to stall and dilute the pollutants. Now it is to dump chemicals into the water, Yingde government spokesman Huang Zhensheng told Reuters by telephone.
"With only 1200 tonnes of the chemicals, toxicity can be reduced by 30 percent," the Southern Metropolis News quoted an expert as saying. Cadmium, a metallic element widely used in batteries, can cause liver and kidney damage and lead to bone diseases. Compounds containing cadmium are also carcinogenic.
In China's northeast, the front of a slick of benzene compounds that poisoned drinking water for millions after a chemical plant blast last month has crossed the Russian border through the frozen Amur River. China apologized again to Russia on Thursday, while Russia's far east city of Khabarovsk readied alternative water supplies, though taps had not been turned off. "Analysis of the water showed that the benzene content does not exceed ... the maximum allowable concentration," RIA-Novosti news agency quoted an Emergencies Ministry official as saying.
"As a result, the city authorities have decided not to turn off the Khabarovsk water supply."
-- ProMED-mail==== promed@promedmail.org
[There are a number of chemicals that may work as chelators for cadmium, but in excess, they may be as likely to cause problems as not. Metals such as selenium, zinc and mercury all interact with cadmium. So I am unsure what chemical has been chosen to chelate the cadmium. - Mod.TG]
I think the article is a NY Times, so will edit it hard, do
take time to read it, as it seems to contain things that have not been printed before, or that I had missed.
granny
http://www.google.com/search?client=googlet&q=%0D%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Lobbyist%20Nears%20Terms%20on%20Plea%20Deal%20%0D%0A%0D%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20By%20ANNE%20E.%20KORNBLUT%0D%0A%0D%0A
Mr. Abramoff is also linked to a Saudi banker accused of funding al-
Qaeda projects so it may be revealed whether or not some of the
funding for political junkets being investigated in the DC case came
from that source as well as from Indian and Mariannas clients.
David (sent this to me..granny)
December 22, 2005
Lobbyist Nears Terms on Plea Deal
By ANNE E. KORNBLUT
WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 - Jack Abramoff, the Republican lobbyist under
indictment for fraud in South Florida, is expected to complete a plea
agreement in the Miami criminal case, setting the stage for him to
become a crucial witness in a broad federal corruption investigation,
people with direct knowledge of the case said.
The terms of the plea deal have not been completed, and the
negotiations are especially complicated because they involve
prosecutors both in Miami and in Washington, where Mr. Abramoff is
being investigated in a separate influence-peddling inquiry,
participants said. Details of what he feels comfortable pleading
guilty to are "probably largely worked out," the participant said,
while the details of the prison sentence are less resolved.
"Anything can happen," the participant said, adding that the
agreement could fall apart. Another person with detailed knowledge of
the case said that while negotiations were continuing, the deal could
take longer than another week to be settled.
But after a lengthy bargaining phase, Mr. Abramoff's lawyers and
prosecutors in the Florida case appear closer to resolving several of
the central issues in the plea deal, in which the defendant would
receive a reduced prison sentence - most likely in the range of five
to seven years, though that is fluid - in exchange for pleading
guilty and agreeing to testify against his former associates.
Mr. Abramoff was indicted in Florida on Aug. 11 on charges stemming
from his purchase of a fleet of casino boats in 2000. Prosecutors
said Mr. Abramoff and a business partner, Adam Kidan, falsified
documents and lied about their financing in order to complete the
purchase. Mr. Kidan pleaded guilty last week, leaving Mr. Abramoff to
face six criminal counts and up to 30 years in prison as case's sole
defendant.
At the same time, prosecutors in Washington have been sifting through
evidence of what they believe is a corruption scheme involving at
least a dozen lawmakers and their former staff members, many of whom
worked closely on legislation with Mr. Abramoff and accepted gifts
and favors from him. Although Mr. Abramoff is also in negotiations in
that case, it is unclear whether a settlement can be reached in time
for both agreements to be announced at once.
Michael Scanlon, a close business associate of Mr. Abramoff in
Washington who also worked on the SunCruz casino boat deal, pleaded
guilty in October in exchange for testifying in both inquiries.
multiagency task force, has expanded in recent months to put senior
Republican officials and prominent party lobbyists under immense
scrutiny.
"Whitehorse school group is among a list of more than 1,500 anti-war
groups considered a risk to American security."
http://www.cbc.ca/north/story/print/protestthreat201205
Yukon school group found on U.S. threat list
Last Updated: Dec 20 2005 09:57 AM MST
A group of Yukon high school students who attended a peace
demonstration in Alaska last year have been labelled a threat by U.S.
Homeland Security.
The students and their teachers from Vanier Catholic Secondary School
in Whitehorse were singled out when they crossed the border on their
way to Fort Greely to protest the proliferation of missiles.
FROM SEPT. 27, 2004: Anti-missile peace camp hailed as success
A document leaked from the U.S. defense department shows the
Whitehorse school group is among a list of more than 1,500 anti-war
groups considered a risk to American security. They have been lumped
in with other organizations such as the Florida Quakers and student
unions from major American universities.
Teacher Mark Connell says he was surprised the Grade 11 and 12
students were included on the list.
"I think it just indicates the level of paranoia that's at work and
that's a current concern," he said.
"I think if I was an American concerned with my security, if all of
the resources were being put in to monitor a high school group coming
from Whitehorse to learn about an issue and to voice my opinion, then
I would be concerned about that as well."
Although the group was labelled a threat at the time of the protest,
Connell said they have now been downgraded to what is called the "not
credible" category of compromising U.S. security.
They have not been told they cannot travel to the United States
again, he said.
Note: The following post is a quote:
---
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1546445/posts
Santa joins security sweep
Herald Sun ^ | 24 December 2005
Posted on 12/23/2005 11:29:00 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
SANTA isn't just filling stockings in Indonesia. He's also checking packages for bombs in the world's most populous Muslim nation, where authorities are gearing up to prevent possible militant attacks.
More than two dozen hotel security men dressed like Santa Claus in red outfits with white trims used metal detectors to inspect cars entering a five-star hotel in the heart of Jakarta, where malls and hotels are all dressed up for Christmas.
As policemen with machine guns looked on, some of Jakarta's Santas frisked visitors and opened bags to check for any unwanted Christmas gifts.
"We're doing this to celebrate Christmas. Hopefully, we can do this again next time," said Nyoman, one of the 27 security guards dressed up as Santa Claus at Mandarin Hotel.
Indonesian police are gearing up to prevent possible terror attacks during the Christmas and New Year's celebrations, deploying 61,000 personnel throughout the archipelago, a senior police official said yesterday.
Indonesia has already seen sporadic bombings blamed on the al-Qaeda linked Jemaah Islamiah, a militant South-East Asian network.
Police across Indonesia, a sprawling archipelagic nation of 17,000 islands, have stepped up security measures to prevent attacks, including a repeat of 2000 Christmas Eve bombings of churches in several Indonesian cities which killed 19 people.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1546443/posts
"Christmas Eve bushfire alert"
Herald Sun ^ | 24 December 2005 | Liz Bennett
Posted on 12/23/2005 11:14:48 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
"FIREFIGHTERS are bracing for conditions to worsen in eastern Australia today amid scorching temperatures and strong winds."
[As of Fri 23 Dec 2005, the cumulative numbers of laboratory-confirmed human cases of avian influenza A/(H5N1) reported to WHO are the following:
Cambodia, 4 cases and 4 deaths;
China, 6 cases and 2 deaths;
Indonesia, 16 cases and 11 deaths;
Thailand, 22 cases and 14 deaths;
Viet Nam, 93 cases and 42 deaths;
giving overall totals for East Asia of 141 cases and 73 deaths. - Mod.CP]
Off Topic...
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewSpecialReports.asp?Page=\SpecialReports\archive\200512\SPE20051222a.html
"Bush-Bashing Black Charity Sits on Katrina Cash"
By Marc Morano
CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer
December 22, 2005
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "(CNSNews.com) -The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, which slammed the Bush administration for its allegedly slow and racially insensitive response to Hurricane Katrina, has yet to spend any of the estimated $400,000 that it raised for the victims of the Aug. 29 storm."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/22/politics/22padilla.html
December 22, 2005
Court Refuses U.S. Bid to Shift Terror Suspect
By NEIL A. LEWIS
WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 - A federal appeals court delivered a sharp
rebuke to the Bush administration Wednesday, refusing to allow the
transfer of Jose Padilla from military custody to civilian law
enforcement authorities to face terrorism charges.
In denying the administration's request, the three-judge panel
unanimously issued a strongly worded opinion that said the Justice
Department's effort to transfer Mr. Padilla gave the appearance that
the government was trying to manipulate the court system to prevent
the Supreme Court from reviewing the case. The judges warned that the
administration's behavior in the Padilla case could jeopardize its
credibility before the courts in other terrorism cases.
What made the action by the United States Court of Appeals for the
Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Va., so startling, lawyers and others
said, was that it came from a panel of judges who in September had
provided the administration with a sweeping court victory, saying
President Bush had the authority to detain Mr. Padilla, an American
citizen, indefinitely without trial as an enemy combatant.
But the judges were clearly angered when the administration suddenly
shifted course on Nov. 22, saying it no longer needed that authority
because it now wanted to try Mr. Padilla in a civilian court. The
move came just days before the government was to file legal papers in
Mr. Padilla's appeal to the Supreme Court. The government said that
as a result of the shift, the court no longer needed to take up the
case. Many legal analysts speculated at the time that the
administration's sudden change in approach was an effort to avoid
Supreme Court review of the Fourth Circuit ruling.
In the opinion on Wednesday, written by Judge J. Michael Luttig, the
court said the panel was denying permission to transfer Mr. Padilla
as well as the government's suggestion that it vacate the September
decision upholding Mr. Padilla's detention for more than three years
in a military brig as an enemy combatant.
Judge Luttig, a strong conservative judicial voice who has been
considered by Mr. Bush for the Supreme Court, said the panel would
not agree to the government's requests because that would compound
what was "at least an appearance that the government may be
attempting to avoid consideration of our decision by the Supreme
Court, and also because we believe that this case presents an issue
of such especial national importance as to warrant final
consideration by that court."
Continued at the link:
I am not at all sure that I understood this one, thought it was all solved a couple weeks ago.
This article goes on and on, about how wrong it was for President Bush to hold Padilla, with lots of liberals quoted.
Granny's opinion, is hold him, how ever you need too..........
Note: The following post is a quote:
---
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1546447/posts
Iran cleric calls hanging of youths “Islamic duty”
Iran Focus ^ | December 24. 2005
Posted on 12/23/2005 11:59:53 PM PST by ncountylee
Tehran, Iran, Dec. 23 – An Iranian cleric welcomed on Friday the execution by hanging of three men all in their twenties in the north-eastern town of Sabzevar.
Hojjatoleslam Gholam-Hossein Ebrahimi, the Friday prayers leader in the north-eastern city of Sabzevar, told worshippers that the sentences were carried out under Islamic law.
“This action was a great religious service and a prayer to the Almighty”, Ebrahimi said.
“Islam is a mixture of laws which once carried out bring bliss for the world and the day of judgement”, he added.
Two of the men, whose identities have not been made public, were aged 25, while the third man was 21 years old. They were hanged in public Tuesday morning.
ON THE NET...
http://www.infovlad.net
December 23rd
http://crusader.rulez.jp/files/1223200501.wmv
http://crusader.rulez.jp/files/1223200502.rmvb
ON THE NET...
http://trackingalqueda.blogspot.com/2005/12/media-collection-from-ansar-jehad.html
hursday, December 22, 2005
"Media collection from the Ansar-Jehad Yahoo! mailing list"
ON THE NET...
http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/english/wanted_captured/index.cfm?page=dulmatin
"Wanted
Dulmatin
(aka) Amar Usman
with a reward of up to $10 Million"
===
===
ON THE NET...
http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/english/wanted_captured/index.cfm?page=Patek
"Wanted
Umar Patek
(aka) Umar Kecil
with a reward of up to $1 Million"
Source: CNN [edited] http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/12/22/dog.deaths/index.html
One of the nation's largest dog food producers has recalled some of its products in 22 states after receiving reports that they caused death and illness, a company executive said Thursday.
In a letter to thousands of its suppliers, Diamond Pet Food announced it found aflatoxin in products made at its Gaston, South Carolina, plant, said Chief Operating Officer Mark Brinkmann.
Products made at the Gaston facility are shipped to Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Vermont and Virginia. 5 cat food products and 14 dog food products were recalled.
Aflatoxin is a poisonous substance produced by fungi that grow on grains, including corn.
Brinkmann said he wasn't sure how many animals fell ill from the toxin, but the 22 states' veterinarian's offices reported a total of 17 deaths and 24 illnesses believed linked to the tainted pet food.
Investigators were at the South Carolina plant Thursday trying to determine when the contamination began, state Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers said. "We were pulling samples yesterday and this morning," he said.
In its recall announcement, Diamond states that its in-house analysis has determined that "shipments were definitively clear of aflatoxin after 1 Dec 2005."
Clinical signs that an animal may have ingested aflatoxin include yellowing of the whites of the eyes or gums, bloody vomiting or stools, lethargy, loss of appetite and increased water consumption. Since other illnesses can cause the same symptoms, it is important for a veterinarian to check any suspected cases, experts said.
Brinkmann said the company was alerted to the problem last Friday by a veterinarian in New York State who said he had seen 3 dogs that were exhibiting symptoms associated with liver disease.
"They were all 3 on one of our foods," Brinkmann said.
The company issued the recall Wednesday for foods containing corn produced at the South Carolina plant between 1 Sep and 10 Dec 2005.
The suspect items are marked with "best by" date codes of between 1 Mar and 10 Jun 2007. They contain an 11th or 12th digit, "G," signifying the Gaston facility.
The plant routinely takes samples of each half hour of production and is sending those samples to laboratories as part of an investigation into how the contamination occurred, Brinkmann said.
He urged consumers to check any product they may have before feeding it to their pets.
Diamond Pet Food, a family-owned company, is based in Meta, Missouri, outside Jefferson City.
-- ProMED-mail promed@promedmail.org
****** [2] Date: 22 Dec 2005 From: David Dassey -- ddassey@ladhs.org
Perhaps the reason for this public notice it not for the protection of dogs but of humans. It is common knowledge that people will eat canned dog food since it is cheaper than other protein sources and yet it is prepared under similar FDA regulations as for human foods.
-- David E. Dassey MD Acute Communicable Disease Control Department of Health Services Los Angeles, CA 90012
ddassey@ladhs.org
Note: The following text is a quote:
---
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_2500.html
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
This information is current as of today, Sat Dec 24 2005 00:30:49 GMT-0800.
Libya
December 23, 2005
This Public Announcement reminds Americans of the current security situation in Libya and provides updated contact information for the U.S. Liaison Office in Tripoli. The United States Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens traveling to Libya to exercise caution. This Public Announcement supersedes the Public Announcement dated November 1, 2005, and expires on June 28, 2006.
The U.S. lifted restrictions on the use of U.S. passports for travel to Libya in February 2004. While Libya has taken steps to cooperate in the global war on terrorism, the Libyan Government remains on the U.S. Government’s State Sponsors of Terrorism List.
Recent worldwide terrorist alerts have stated that extremist groups continue to plan terrorist attacks against U.S. interests in the region. Therefore, any American citizen who decides to travel to Libya should maintain a strong security posture by being aware of surroundings, avoiding crowds and demonstrations, keeping a low profile, and varying times and routes for all required travel.
The U.S. Liaison Office, which opened in June 2004, is currently operating in interim facilities. The Consular Section of the U.S. Liaison Office no longer operates out of the Belgian Embassy and a consular officer is available at the U.S. Liaison Office for limited services to U.S. citizens by appointment. Appointments can be made by telephone from 9 am to 4 pm Sundays through Thursdays (except U.S. and Libyan holidays) at 091-335-1235 or via e-mail at consulartripoli@yahoo.com. In the event of an emergency involving an American citizen, the after-hours telephone number is 091-220-0125.
Most U.S. economic sanctions on Libya were lifted on September 20, 2004. Technologies and goods on the Department of Commerce Export Control List must be licensed by the Department of Commerce for export to Libya.
Travelers should be aware that credit cards and checks drawn on U.S. banks generally are not accepted in Libya, and should be prepared to engage in cash-only transactions while in Libya.
Americans who travel to or reside in Libya are strongly encouraged to register through the State Department's travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov. Updated information on travel and security in Libya may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States, or, from overseas, 1-202-501-4444. Travelers should also consult the Department of State's latest Consular Information sheet for Libya and the current Worldwide Caution and Middle East and North Africa Public Announcements, which are available on the Department's Internet site at http://travel.state.gov.
Note: The following text is a quote:
---
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_932.html
Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520
This information is current as of today, Sat Dec 24 2005 00:33:23 GMT-0800.
SAUDI ARABIA
December 23, 2005
This Travel Warning updates recommended security precautions and reminds U.S. citizens of ongoing security concerns in Saudi Arabia. It supersedes the Travel Warning issued May 17, 2005.
Due to concerns about the possibility of additional terrorist activity directed against American citizens and interests, the Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens to defer non-essential travel to Saudi Arabia. The United States Mission in Saudi Arabia remains an unaccompanied post as a result of continued security concerns. Non-emergency employees and all dependents of the U.S. Embassy Riyadh and Consulates General Jeddah and Dhahran were ordered to leave the country on April 15, 2004. An armed attack on the U.S. Consulate General in Jeddah occurred on December 6, 2004, resulting in casualties among the non-American staff and damage to consulate facilities. On November 13, the Consulate General in Jeddah closed the visa section for security reasons that require the assistance of the Government of Saudi Arabia to resolve. However, the consular section remains open for American citizen services.
Terrorist groups continue to target housing compounds and other establishments where Westerners may be located. Saudi Government facilities are also targets. In addition to car bombs and armed assaults involving multiple gunmen against such facilities, terrorists have used ambush attacks to kidnap and/or assassinate individual Westerners.
American citizens who choose to visit or remain in Saudi Arabia despite this Travel Warning are strongly urged to avoid staying in hotels or housing compounds that do not apply stringent security measures including, but not limited to, the presence of an armed guard force, inspection of all vehicles, and a hardened security perimeter to prevent unauthorized vehicles from approaching the facility. American citizens are further advised to exercise caution and maintain good situational awareness when visiting commercial establishments frequented by Westerners or in primarily Western environments; keep a low profile, varying times and routes for all required travel; and ensure that travel documents and visas are valid. American citizens are also advised to exercise caution while driving, entering or exiting vehicles.
U.S. citizens who travel to or remain in Saudi Arabia despite this travel warning are strongly urged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh or the Consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov, in order to be included in the Mission’s warden network. Updated travel and security information for Saudi Arabia is issued periodically via the warden network.
From time to time, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Saudi Arabia may restrict the travel of official Americans or suspend public services for security reasons. In those instances, the Embassy and Consulates will keep the local American citizen community apprised through the Warden System and make every effort to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens. Warden messages can be found on the U.S. Embassy Riyadh website: http://riyadh.usembassy.gov.
Updated information on travel and security in Saudi Arabia may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 in the U.S. or Canada or on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. For additional information, consult the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet for Saudi Arabia, the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, and Middle East and North Africa Public Announcement at http://travel.state.gov.
Agreements with the infidel are not binding."
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/article.php3?id=5883
"Palestine" Will Never Come Into Existence
by Ted Belman
December 23, 2005
"Palestine" will never come into existence. One would think the
opposite is true, what with the Roadmap endorsing it and all members
of the Quartet supporting it, even to the point of giving a pass to
Arab violence, the end of which is supposed to be a pre-condition to
the establishment of such a state.
The US is backing the plan because it wants to curry favour with the
European Union, which is demanding a resolution of the "occupation"
and the refugee problem. This is the price the US must pay to get
European support in the war against terrorism and for the war in
Iraq. Paradoxically, the Europeans care not a whit for the
Palestinians. The EU lavishes billions on the Palestinian Authority
without requiring that the money be spent to improve the lives of
ordinary Palestinian Arabs, content to allow the money to be used to
support terrorists and to line the pockets of kleptocrats at the head
of the PA. In effect, the Europeans support Palestinian terror and
not the peace process.
The main reason Palestine won't come into existence is that the Arab
Palestinians don't want it, nor does Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia or
Egypt, notwithstanding protestations to the contrary.
Ever since the Palestine Mandate was created, the Arabs have resisted
the Zionist enterprise and Britain has supported this resistance.
They rejected the Partition Plan in 1947. They rejected the State of
Israel when it was declared in 1948, with the support of the US State
Department, and invaded Israel en masse. In 1964, they created the
PLO, dedicated to destroying Israel. They massed for invasion again
in 1967 and, after being soundly defeated by Israel, they rejected
Resolution 242. Instead, they passed a resolution in Khartoum that
advocated "no peace with Israel, no recognition of Israel, no
negotiations with it."
They finally accepted Resolution 242 and the State of Israel in the
Oslo Accords because it was part of their "phased plan" to destroy
Israel. They never had any intention of honouring the accords and
they never did. It is not the Islamic way. Agreements with the
infidel are not binding.
The "Palestinians" are making war, not nice. It has ever been so.
Aside from the odd pro-peace comment, I challenge you to identify one
thing they have done in the furtherance of peaceful coexistence. Just
one.
Incitement continues without abatement, arms and terrorists are
smuggled in and the PA publicly supports and praises its terrorists
and martyrs. The populace is voting in favour of the terrorists,
including Hamas and the terrorist arms of Fatah. The convicted mass
murderer Marwan Barghouti is leading the polls. Suicide bombings and
rocket attacks continue. All this in brazen disregard of their
government's commitment to end incitement and dismantle the terrorist
infrastructure. Mahmoud Abbas is the walking dead.
The charters of both the PLO and Hamas dedicate these organizations
to the destruction of Israel. The Arabs cling tenaciously to
the "right of return" because if it were accepted, it would destroy
Israel, and if it is rejected, which is a certainty, the conflict
goes on.
The conflict suits the needs of the Arab world, which wants to
concentrate the world's attention elsewhere than on themselves. Iran
wants to get the bomb. Egypt and Saudi Arabia want to avoid
democratization and to avert the gaze of human rights organizations.
Jordan wants Israel to remain on the Jordan River to ensure its
survival. Syria continues to support the terrorists in Israel as a
bargaining chip to make a deal for their survival, or as a deflection
of attention from them. So, they all have vested interests in keeping
the conflict alive.
The United Nations is also dependant on the conflict not being
resolved. It has created a vast bureaucracy since 1948 that is
obsessed with the Palestinians. If the conflict were to be resolved,
then this bureaucracy would have to be dissolved. No bureaucracy
would stand for this. I urge you to visit Eye on the UN , which fully
discloses how infested with hatred it is. What Roadmap? There is no
evidence that the UN really is committed to it.
Then there is Al-Qaeda and its fellow travelers. They plan to re-
establish the Caliphate. They are just beginning to flex their
muscles. The Palestinian cause fuels their recruitment. A defeat of
Israel would fuel it even further.
Iraq is another case in point. The coalition wants out, desperately.
It realizes that the US bit off more then it is prepared to chew. If
Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia wanted the coalition out, the insurgency
would end immediately. But it continues. They want America bogged
down and in need of their help. They want the US to be more concerned
with an exit strategy then with preventing Iran from getting the bomb
or with democratizing them or with regime change. Furthermore, behind
the scenes lurks the inevitable conflict for power and ascendancy
between the Shiites and the Sunnis. Finally, the Iraq conflict is
filling the coffers of OPEC and the oil interests in the US, making
it financially rewarding for the conflict to continue.
A Jewish One-State Plan has been proposed, but many supporters of
Israel rejected it because the world wouldn't allow it or because it
involved absorbing many more Arabs into Israel. The Plan argued that
the ratio of Jews to Arabs in the expanded state would be 2:1 and
that it could be maintained. But many felt that the Arabs, who have
been nurtured on hate, could not be "domesticated". I mention this
because the Arabs themselves are still advocating their One State
Solution, which is a euphemism for the destruction of Israel. Search
the web and you will see that this idea is alive and well not only in
the Arab world, but also in many parts of the Western world.
The Roadmap is the flavour of the month. But it won't always be so.
Much can happen in the next few years which would change the
paradigm. The US is in retreat, but it doesn't want to retreat from
the Middle East. It may well decide not to force retreat on Israel.
There are other solutions that it may develop an appetite for.
But "Palestine" will never come into existence.
Why do they turn into terrorists?
Anab Afifi, Jakarta
[From: Jakarta Post 23 December 2005]
The Oct. 1 suicide bombings in Bali, allegedly arranged by the
Malaysian
terrorist duo of Noordin M. Top and Azhari bin Husin, remind us of the
terrible bombing in Bali by Ali Ghufron, Imam Samudra, Amrozi, Ali
Imron and
Mubarok three years ago.
I could have never imagined that a clever student named Ali Ghufron
would
become a terrorist. It was almost 25 years ago, when I met him at
Ngruki
Islamic boarding school during the first year of my six-year education
there. My father sent me to Ngruki in 1981.
He was a senior student who conducted his last assignment as junior
ustadz
(teacher). He was diligent in providing guidance to junior students. He
drilled us loudly to let the students follow his way to spell
correctly. He
was always enthusiastic. Ghufron taught Arabic language.
He loved volleyball. He had good communication skills and spoke Arabic
very
well. That is why he was also assigned as the head of Ngruki's Language
Board. He was responsible for encouraging and monitoring students'
daily
practice in using Arabic and English.
There was no sign of violence in his face. He was just a young man from
a
remote village.
Tenggulun, the village where Ali Ghufron was born, is a remote and
impoverished place, located in Lamongan Region, East Java. It is about
50
kilometers from Lamongan bus terminal. There is still no public
transportation from the city to Tenggulun. The only way to reach the
village
is by taking an ojek (motorcycle taxi).
I visited Ghufron's house early this month. He has a very modest
family.
I also knew Mukhlas when we were still young. It was unbelievable for
me
when I heard about his major involvement in the Bali Bombing I in
2002 which killed 181 victims. Mukhlas also graduated from Ngruki. And
another 23 Ngruki alumni have also been linked to the many terror acts
in
and around Indonesia.
Fathurrahman Al-Ghozi is one of them. He was another big surprise to
me. The
Philippines authorities arrested him for his involvement in bombing
attacks
in Manila that killed 22 people in December 2000. He was arrested in
January
2002 for possession of explosives, escaped from detention in July 2003
and
was shot to death by the Philippines antiterror unit in October 2003.
What went wrong with Al-Ghozi? I knew him very well because his village
is
only about three kilometers from my house.
How could he become one of the most feared men in this planet?
I studied with Al-Ghozi from 1984 to 1987 in Ngruki. He was an
introverted,
but polite youth. He was also diligent and clever. I was three years
his
senior.
Another guy is Utomo Pamungkas, alias Mubarok. The Denpasar Court
sentenced
him to life over his role in the Bali Bombing I.
Actually I could not remember Mubarok until I met him for an interview
several months ago.
To my surprise, he still remembered my complete name.
Without a doubt, he shook my hand and hugged me. "Maazilta shoghiiir ya
akhii (you are still thin my brother) ha ha," he joked in Arabic.
All of us from Ngruki call each other "my brother".
I could not see any sign of sadness, although he has been detained for
quite
a long time.
Mubarok, who also started after me at Ngruki, was an assiduous student
and
very strict in practicing the religious obligations. He always woke
very
early in the morning and prepared the mosque for our subuh
(predawn) prayer. He was a brilliant student and also a hafidz, a title
for
a man who has been able to completely memorize the Koran.
Muklas, Al-Ghozi and Mubarok are among 24 Ngruki graduates involved in
terrorism. But it is a very small number compared to the thousands of
Ngruki
alumni and students. So let us not make a reckless conclusion that
Ngruki
Islamic boarding school is a school for terrorists.
As a part of our war against terrorism, we must be able to find all
possible
roots of terrorism and then find the right prescriptions to heal the
dangerous disease.
Most of the 24 former Ngruki students had been directly active in
conflict
areas, such as Afghanistan and in the southern Philippines.
And after the war in Afghanistan was over, they sought a new place to
launch
their jihad -- in their homeland. Their experience in the war zones
strongly
affected their minds to the point that they will fight anything they
regard
as the enemies of Islam. They became terrorists not because of their
experience or teachings they had at Ngruki.
Muklas, for instance, met Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan.
In the case of Al-Ghozi, we may see a unique cause. When he was still
very
young, the military detained his father Zaenuri without trial for
nearly
nine years for his suspected role in the Komando Jihad (Jihad
Command) terror attacks.
Al-Ghozi, since then, had a strong sense of injustice about his
father's
detention. An anti-government sentiment rapidly grew after that.
Just imagine if we also had the same bitter experience as he did.
Whatever our religion is, we could also become a terrorist like him.
This article is just a starting point to explore further ideas: Why the
young men became terrorists?
The writer is a graduate of the Islamic boarding school of Al-Mukmin
Ngruki
in Surakarta, Central Java. He also can be contacted at
anabafifi@yahoo.com
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaileditorial.asp?fileid=20051223.E03&irec=2
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