Snips: The Netherlands is grappling with an outbreak of a rare disease. It normally strikes farm animals, but it’s now sickening hundreds of people who have no contact with farms. While most people get something like the flu or pneumonia for a few weeks, some are sick for months, and a handful have died. The disease is caused by a type of bacteria so resilient that the U.S. government considers it a bioterrorism agent. From the Netherlands, Emily Kopp reports.
They took some blood, he says, and they came up with a diagnosis: Q-fever. It’s a bacterial infection, transmitted by livestock. Jos van de Sande is an infectious disease expert at the public health department here in the Dutch province of Brabant. He says, usually, only people who work with farm animals are at risk. But something has changed. Now, many people here who have no connection to farms are coming down with Q-fever, and the number of patients is growing. Three years ago, the Netherlands had fewer than 200 cases. Last year, it had more than 2000. At least nine people have died. It’s not clear why the disease is spreading. Jos van de Sande says the bacteria may have mutated.
Call them snuggies for dirty bombs. Some of New York's newest high tech weapons in the war on terror look like ordinary blankets. Others resemble bulletproof vests or shields commonly used by riot cops. But they're all made of state-of-the-art material that can protect civilians and rescuers against chemical, biological and radiological attacks.
The shield and vests would be used by first responders. The blankets come in two models. One would be thrown over radiation victims to keep them from irradiating others. Also in the depart ment's arsenal is a "Hi-Energy Nuclear Suppression Blanket," designed to be placed over a dirty bomb about to go off.
Last October, the Yemeni government came to the CIA with a request: Could the agency collect intelligence that might help target the network of a U.S.-born al-Qaida recruiter named Anwar al-Awlaki? What happened next is haunting, in light of subsequent events.
The CIA concluded that it could not assist the Yemenis in locating al-Awlaki for a possible capture operation. The primary reason was that the agency lacked specific evidence that he threatened the lives of Americans — which is the threshold for any capture-or-kill operation against a U.S. citizen. The Yemenis also wanted U.S. Special Forces' help in pursuing al-Awlaki; that, too, was refused.
Even if the CIA had obtained hard evidence in October that al-Awlaki was a threat, and Special Forces had been authorized for a capture operation, permission from the National Security Council would have been needed.
That's because any use of lethal force against a "U.S. person," such as al-Awlaki, requires White House review.
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White House review...
I say they knew.
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Judge's ruling links CIA to prosecution of OKC bombing conspirator Timothy McVeigh
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Something most of us already knew and are deeply suspicious of.
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Excerpt:
Global Conservation Act Introduced
Even as six federal agencies conduct conservation programs around the globe, the U.S. government still lacks a coordinated, overarching strategy for stopping the environmental destruction. The Global Conservation Act would mandate such a strategy. Under the coordination of the White House, the bill requires that agencies come up with a plan to:
-- Protect millions of square miles of land and sea,
-- Address illegal and unregulated fishing around the world,
-- Safeguard the natural sources of fresh water to several major population centers around the world,
-- Stop the worst wildlife trafficking operations, and
-- Stabilize environmental destruction trends in areas vulnerable to conflict and instability.
The bill identifies a coordinator in the executive branch to ensure action and encourages the administration to secure additional funding and support for a global conservation strategy from other countries--including European nations, Japan, China, and India. It is cosponsored by Representatives Russ Carnahan (D-MO), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Dave Reichert (R-WA), Norman Dicks (D-WA), James Moran (D-VA), Albio Sires (D-NJ), Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), Judy Biggert (R-IL), and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY).
"The Global Conservation Act of 2010 presents a wonderful opportunity for genuine and effective bipartisan cooperation on prudent, cost-effective environmental stewardship. I am proud to join in this worthy effort to help protect some of our world's most fragile and magnificent ecosystems," said Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), the lead Republican co-sponsor of the bill.
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We need to start paying attention to this. This is dangerous
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Are you protected??
Full-screen
IDAHO - Police Investigate Possible Bomb In Boise
[IDAHO - Police Investigate Possible Bomb In Boise]
Map data ©2010 Google - Terms of Use
Type: Bomb Incidents/Explosives/ Hoax Devices
City: Boise, ID (US)
Date: 2010-03-22 00:00:00
Severity: Severe
“Ustick and Cole, one of Boise’s busiest areas, was shut down during rush hour Monday as police investigated a possible bomb.”
“Police say it all seems to trace back to Bruce Loggins, who last month led them on a chase and was arrested after police discovered pipe bombs in a stolen car.”
Read the full article:
Outbreak of rare disease in the Netherlands
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