NEW DELHI: Nearly 1,200 uninhabited islands in the Indian seas pose a major security threat as these are being scanned by Pakistan-based terror outfits - Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) - to make new bases to launch jihadi operations against India. Although the vulnerability of these islands has been discussed in every high-level meeting ever since the home ministry made a detailed presentation before the country's top cops in November 2006, no one in the security establishment is sure whether these uninhabited tracts are actually free from any jihadi element.
A detailed note of the ministry, accessed by TOI, shows that the then joint secretary (security) had categorically mentioned LeT's plans to start sea wings and JeM's plans to train its cadres in deep-sea diving during the presentation. The JS while referring to intelligence inputs had also told the gathering of police chiefs of all the states how the Pakistani espionage agency "ISI was looking for these unihabited islands to expand its operational base".
These islands -- most of them having thick jungles -- are spread all around. Kuruvadweep in the Kabiri river delta in Kerala, Isle of Man and Tilangchong near Nicobar Island, Barren Island in the Andaman Sea, Purbasha Island near Bangladesh and Kalpeni and Cheriyam near Lakshadweep are among the hundreds of uninhabited islands which fall in the category of becoming jihadis' launch-pad.
Realising the looming threat of maritime terrorism, the home ministry had quickly launched the coastal security scheme for nine coastal states and four Union Territories (UTs), earmarking over Rs 550 crore. But, the scheme has got a very poor response from the states. The only exception has been Gujarat which made its coastal police stations functional, though without any boats as they have to be procured by the Centre. A total of 73 coastal police stations, 97 check posts, 58 outposts and 30 barracks are supposed to be set up under the scheme which covers Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Goa, Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, Daman and Diu. But, what is the purpose of such police stations when they do not have boats to patrol?
An official said: "A contract has been signed between the ministry and two vendors for supply of 110 (each of 12 tonnes) and 84 (five tonne) boats. Delivery of these boats is expected to begin by April next year."
The FBI is reaching out to the Somali-American community amid reports that young men are being recruited to be trained as suicide bombers in Somalia, officials said Thursday. "There are reports of kids missing from different parts of the country," said FBI special agent E.K. Wilson. "Our concern is that they are returning to fight and to train to fight or conduct terrorist activity."
Citing Department of Justice policy, Wilson said he could not confirm whether the FBI was actively investigating whether a terrorist recruiting cell was operating in the Somali-American community. About 20-40 Somali youth are reported to have disappeared in Minneapolis where about half of the estimated 200,000 Somali-Americans reside.
"We are in touch with the Somali-American community and we're committed to working with them to stop or prevent recruitment and radicalization of Somali youth," Wilson told AFP. Wilson said the FBI is assisting Somali authorities in investigating an October 29 suicide bombing but would not confirm reports that a Somali-American youth who was buried on Wednesday was the bomber. "The FBI did facilitate the return of some remains after the bombing of a US citizen to Minneapolis. We are not confirming the identity or whether it was the bomber or a victim."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081204/pl_afp/usattackssomaliafbi
Friday, December 5, 2008
Syria Back To Producing Plutonium
Looks like Syria is cruising for another Bruising. Just 15 months ago, Israel blew up a Nuclear Plant in the middle of the Syrian desert. When UN inspectors were allowed to visit the site, lo and behold they found traces of nuclear material.
Syria refuses to let the UN back to the site, so a covert marine operation was launched to take a look at what is going on. The answer is Syria is back to producing Plutonium:
Covert marine operation uncovers Syria’s return to plutonium production
Exclusive Report
December 5, 2008
The Orontes River, Syria
In the face of Damascus’ refusal to allow UN inspectors access to three suspect “research laboratories, Western agents recently carried out a daring covert operation to collect water samples from the Orontes river in Syria where it drains into the Mediterranean, intelligence sources reveal. Their discoveries were presented to a closed session of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency’s board on Nov. 27-28.
Situated on the river bank near Homs is one of the three research institutes where Syrian, Iranian and North Korean technicians and scientists are suspected of reprocessing plutonium for Syria’s clandestine military nuclear program. The Orentes samples confirmed the suspicion that Syria has gone back to the plutonium project which was cut short when Israeli destroyed its reactor at Al Kibar in September 2007.
The Orontes rises at Tal al Musa north of Damascus and south of Homs. It flows into the sea near Antakya, which is north of Latakiya and west of Aleppo, not far from the Turkish border.
The IAEA board meeting was told in general teams how the tainted river samples were obtained. Military sources add that western nuclear technicians collected them from a boat which sailed surreptitiously up to the river mouth in Syria. To make sure of their finding, they collected river water on three different dates in the last two months.
Their discovery tied in with a separate report reaching the nuclear watchdog board that Iran and North Korea were frantically drafting in nuclear specialists to help Syria revive its plutonium reprocessing project. The product is to be stored in protected hideouts.
It was the view of some board members that Tehran and Pyongyang had determined to prove that the Israeli attack had not put Syria off its nuclear program. Both were even more insistent on showing the world that the Iranian nuclear program of which the Syrian project was a part was unstoppable.
Syria and North Korea accordingly renewed their clandestine nuclear cooperation accord on Oct. 22, so making sure of an uninterrupted flow from Pyongyang of nuclear materials, technology and experts for Syria’s covert nuclear facilities.
http://yidwithlid.blogspot.com/2008/12/syria-back-to-producing-plutonium.html