World Terrorism: News, History and Research Of A Changing World #7 Security Watch

Center for Security Studies at ETH Zurich ^ | 23 February 2007 | Sam Logan for ISN Security Watch

[DAVEY CROCKETT]

No one to counter Chavez In a region where the leading ideology is Bolivarianism, there is not one leader positioned to offer a better idea for a brighter future.

Commentary by Sam Logan for ISN Security Watch (23/02/2007)

For over two decades, the prevailing ideology in Latin America was neo-liberalism, a Washington-born idea that claimed the power of open markets would lift the region’s poor from misery. It did not, and corruption ran rampant.

While democracy still remains strong, resentful voters ushered in a new generation of neo-populist leaders touting a new idea: a form of socialism, called Bolivarianism, that has slowly but surely become the loudest and most prevalent ideology.

Bolivarianism is anti-capitalist, supports nationalization, regional trade with like-minded countries and above all, suggests that a country should rely on itself or fellow socialist states, not imperialist powers, as a source of the economic growth that will lift all from poverty. It is a sort of refurbished socialism that is not a guiding light for the future.

Latin America cannot readily absorb the economic shock of open markets, nor can it get bogged down in the trappings of old socialist ideas. A blended ideology must be promoted, but the problem is that no one is strong enough to counter Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the leader of Bolivarianism.

Chavez calls it Socialism for the 21st Century. Cuba's Fidel Castro passed him the torch. Leaders around the region pay homage to their own past as socialist upstarts through hugging and laughing with Chavez on the international stage while taking care of often pro-capitalist, neo-liberal business at home.

Brazilian President Luis Inacio “Lula” da Silva is a perfect example. He has the leftist background and eye for fiscal conservatism to become a great ideological counterweight to Chavez. His politics represent an ideal blend for the region. But his politically weak position at home and strong voices from his own left deter any would be shouting match with Chavez.

Within a week after winning his second term in office, Lula visited Chavez for a photo opportunity on a bridge linking both countries. That was in November, and it looks like Lula’s administration will remain bogged down until March as he struggles to get past his party’s sordid past and form a working cabinet willing to share the same table.

Argentina of the past could have been a counter weight to the Bolivarian ideology. But since Nestor Kirchner has come to power, Argentina has become a Venezuelan puppet.

Chavez has literally bought the support of his southern neighbor with over US$3 billion in purchases of Argentine debt. The most recent purchase occurred on 16 February, when Venezuela dumped another US$750 million into Argentine government coffers.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has the politics to promote an ideological battle with Chavez. Colombia has been a model of economic growth through a mixture of neo-liberal policies and social programs. But Uribe has serious problems.

Political allies are falling like dominos due to links with former paramilitary leaders. And if Uribe took the time to speak out for neo-liberalism and against Chavez, he would be dismissed as another of Washington's puppets. Colombia is a top recipient of US aid.

The only other leader who could take up an ideological fight with Chavez is Mexican President Felipe Calderon. He has the right politics and his country has a history of not blindly supporting the US. Voting against the US invasion of Iraq at the UN is a clear indication. But Calderon won on the thinnest possible mandate. His opposition controls enough seats in the Mexican Congress to block any unwanted initiative, and his focus is on Mexican organized crime, not on verbal sword play with Chavez.

Finally, the US has launched a diplomatic offensive in the region. This is to be a year of engagement, but the US president is clearly obsessed with the war in Iraq, not with putting a muzzle on Venezuela’s leader for the sake of the region’s future. Washington is doubly discredited, first for promoting an ideology that clearly did not work, and second for doing nothing about it.

Latin America needs an independent leader willing to stand up to Chavez, but that leader does not exist on the region’s geopolitical map. Bolivarianism will continue to seep into the minds and hearts of millions across Latin America. Chavez and his pool of allies will control the headlines until the next round of presidential elections tell the world how the region has embraced this new ideology.

As Chavez puts it, Socialism for the 21st Century is just getting started. If that is true, then he will continue to trumpet his ideology until Latin Americans learn, the hard way, that Bolivarianism did not carry them much farther from poverty than neo-liberalism. Disillusionment with reality may then spread faster than hope for the future.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sam Logan is an investigative journalist who has reported on security, energy, politics, economics, organized crime, terrorism and black markets in Latin America since 1999. He is a senior writer for ISN Security Watch based in Brazil.

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author only, not the International Relations and Security Network (ISN).

[DAVEY CROCKETT]

NEW THREAD PING

[JockoManning]

Thanks for the ping, Davey. Keep looking up.

jm

[Quix]

Thanks much.

[DAVEY CROCKETT]

Thanks I am! Every time I get off the phone with one of my family members we say to each other,"Pray for the rapture".

[DAVEY CROCKETT]

!!!!!!!~~~~~~ New thread ping~~~~~~!!!!!

[DAVEY CROCKETT]

!!!!!!!~~~~~~ New thread ping~~~~~~!!!!!

[nw_arizona_granny]

Thank you for the new thread, it is perfect.

The prior threads in this series are:

World Terrorism prior threads:

WT Thread #1: [Started on January 1, 2006]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1550424/posts?page=4809

WT Thread #2: [The communist manifesto, muslim manifesto and list of elected in U.S. who belong to the Socialist party, on the first page of the thread]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1607641/posts?q=1&&page=4951

Thread #3:

Beginning of Israel/Lebanon War and so much more.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1650751/posts?q=1&&page=4601

Thread #4:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1679491/posts?q=1&&page=1

Thread #5:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1711256/posts?q=1&&page=1

Thread #6:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/1754972/posts?q=1&&page=5151

[nw_arizona_granny]

Thanks to Davey we have a new thread to fill up............

Lots of work to do too.....

[nw_arizona_granny]

Thank you Davey, for the new thread.

Which of us will post the googles? LOL, if we are not careful, we both will....

[nw_arizona_granny]

Anti-Terrorism News

Update: (Iraq) Female Suicide Bomber strikes Baghdad college; 41 dead
-- witnesses said a woman carried out the attack at the business school
annex to Mustansiriyah University
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/iraq;_ylt=AsLlF3B2W9ICiayaWwBGrG9X6GMA

(Israel) Female suicide bomber caught near Jenin on Feb. 7
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1171894513573&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Iran: U.S. Is in No Position to Attack
http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=2488947&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.4.1

Pirates hijack UN ship near Somalia
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=87&art_id=nw20070225221636602C662354

Hezbollah regroups in a new mountain stronghold - Hezbollah building
new line of defences in mountains north of Litani river —
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article1438090.ece

Algeria to try deported terror suspects
http://society.guardian.co.uk/asylumseekers/story/0,,2021566,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=1

U.S. Says Raid in Iraq Supports Claim on Iran - Raid on Shiite cache in
Hilla raises questions, but past errors lead to doubt
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/26/world/middleeast/26weapons.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

The Mysterious Mullah Omar - Newsweek: Mullah Omar sending messages to
Taliban commanders and preparing assault
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17313122/site/newsweek/

Iraq official says Iran has stopped meddling - Iraq's national security
adviser, a Shiite, says Iran has stopped interfering in recent weeks
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/02/25/iraq.iran/index.html?section=cnn_latest

Egypt canal fails to drain Sinai militancy - Egypt's Al Salam Canal
fails to stem rising militancy
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0226/p05s01-wome.html

[nw_arizona_granny]

Tehran to host conference on Latin America on Tuesday

http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-235/0702244328123846.htm

Tehran to host conference on Latin America on Tuesday
Tehran, Feb 24, IRNA

Iran-Latin America-Conference
Deputy Foreign Minister for Education and Research Affairs Manouchehr
Mohammadi said here Saturday that a day-long conference on Latin
America
will be held in Tehran on Tuesday, February 27.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference, Mohammadi said the purpose
of the conference is to update Iranians with developments in Latin
America.

He said that 65 articles, including 35 domestic and 30 foreign ones,
have been received by the secretariat of the conference for inclusion
in
the conference's topics of discussion.

Of the 65 articles, 40 have been accepted and will be presented in the
conference.

According to the deputy foreign minister, representatives from 10
countries have signified their desire to participate in the confab.

Articles written by experts from Venezuela, Brazil, Cuba, Colombia,
Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, Italy, Russia and China will be taken up
in
the conference, it was further learned.

Cuba's minister of external trade will be among participants in the
conference.

An exhibition of documents of cooperation signed between Iran and Latin
American states will be held on the sidelines of the conference.

[nw_arizona_granny]

[unknown url, from a Pilot's newsletter]

VP's plane has minor electrical problem

SINGAPORE - Vice President Dick Cheney's plane left Singapore on Sunday
after a scheduled refueling stop and repairs to a minor mechanical
problem
experienced on an earlier flight from Sydney, officials said.

The plane was on the ground at Singapore's Paya Lebar Air Base for an
hour
and 40 minutes.

A U.S. Embassy spokeswoman said the electrical glitch was fixed while
the
plane was at the military base, although she could not elaborate on
what the
problem was. She spoke on condition of anonymity, in line with embassy
policy.

Cheney did not leave the plane or meet any officials during his brief
stop
in the city-state.

Earlier, a White House spokeswoman said the plane, which left Sydney on
Sunday morning, was "fine" and that the stop in Singapore was
previously
planned.

"There was an electrical problem involving a generator, but no safety
issue," White House spokeswoman Emily Lawrimore said. "The plane is
fine."

Australian Prime Minister John Howard said earlier Sunday that he had
received a report that Cheney's plane was being diverted after it took
off
from Sydney, but that he did not have any details.

Reporters on the plane said a power surge during the flight disabled
the
cabin's electrical outlets and shut down the galley and the inflight
films.

[nw_arizona_granny]

European Union Bans Pakistan International Airlines - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - The European Union is all set to blacklist Pakistan
International Airlines from flying into the 27 member states. The
European
experts commission met in Brussels agreed that the Pakistan airlines
falls
short of the safety standards of the Union.

Pak flights operate flights to France, Britain, the Netherlands and
Italy
among the European destinations.

[nw_arizona_granny]

NOAA GULFSTREAM-IV HURRICANE SURVEILLANCE JET TAKES ON PACIFIC WINTER
STORMS
TO IMPROVE MODEL FORECASTS

Hawaii Middle School Teacher Will be Member of Flight Crew

Feb. 22, 2007 — In an effort to improve forecasts released 24 to 96
hours
before a winter storm, NOAA deployed its high-altitude Gulfstream-IV
jet
from a temporary base in Honolulu. The jet is acquiring atmospheric
data
from severe winter storms originating over the Pacific Ocean that will
affect the continental United States, Hawaii and Alaska. The flights
are in
support of the winter storms reconnaissance program of the NOAA
National
Centers for Environmental Prediction, part of the NOAA National Weather
Service.

While conducting the winter storms project, the aircraft will fly
extended
patterns over the north Pacific launching dropwindsonde atmospheric
profiling devices to more accurately characterize the environment of
developing winter cyclones and snowstorms. Data from these instruments
will
be screened aboard the aircraft, transmitted to NCEP by satellite
communication, and used in NOAA's most sophisticated forecasting models
to
improve warnings of severe weather events. The G-IV crew also will
measure
concentrations of ozone on each flight for the chemical sciences
division of
the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory.

"Our NOAA aircraft crew, made up of pilots, flight engineers,
meteorologists
and electronic technicians, is prepared to fly north of Hawaii on a
daily
basis as the winter storms intensify over the Pacific. The storms we
profile
will affect areas from California and the Pacific Northwest to the U.S.
East
Coast," said Jack Parrish, G-IV program manager and flight director.

To provide full coverage of the Pacific jet stream, which affects
weather
patterns over the United States, two Air Force Reserve WC-130J aircraft
will
fly missions out of Anchorage, Alaska, through March 12 in conjunction
with
the NOAA jet.

After passing through quality control measures at NCEP, all
observational
data are carefully analyzed to distill a detailed snapshot of the
atmosphere
at the time of the observations. This analysis is then fed into
sophisticated numerical models of the atmosphere that are used to
project
the current weather into the future. The model forecasts are
disseminated
worldwide and used as a basis for most weather forecasts.

In its seventh year, the WSR program has improved forecast accuracy an
average of 20 percent while accuracy for individual targeted events has
been
increased by as much as 60 percent to 80 percent in 24 to 96 hour
forecasts
during past missions.

Joining NOAA personnel on one of the missions in February will be
Jessica
Schwarz, a seventh grade science and math teacher from West Hawaii
Explorations Middle School in Kona, Hawaii. Participating in the NOAA
Teacher in the Air program, an offshoot of the NOAA Teacher at Sea
program,
she will write logs and lessons that correspond with the G-IV's
research.
Her work will be posted on the NOAA Teacher at Sea Web site.

"I am thrilled to have the unique opportunity to fly with the crew
through
the NOAA Teacher in the Air program," Schwarz said. "By sharing my
knowledge
and experiences I hope to enrich science curriculum while inspiring my
students, some of whom already have aspirations to be a pilot one day."

The G-IV also will be utilized by the NOAA Earth System Research
Laboratory
to investigate the transport of ozone in the vicinity of the Pacific
jet
stream. Ozone is a gas that occurs both in the troposphere, where it
affects
climate and is a pollutant at the Earth's surface, and stratosphere,
where
it is more abundant and absorbs much of the sun's harmful ultraviolet
radiation. Data from ozone-measuring instruments will be combined with
the
dropwindsonde data being gathered during the mission to help
researchers
unravel the jet stream's complex effects on the atmosphere.

That mission should help scientists learn more about factors affecting
the
amount of ozone in the air that eventually arrives at the U.S. West
Coast,
which influences air quality in that region. Measurements have
indicated
that this ozone has been increasing in recent years; the 2007 study
should
provide insights into the natural and human-caused factors that
underlie
those observations.

NOAA's G-IV jet is based at the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center at
MacDill
Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla. AOC is part of the NOAA Marine and
Aviation
Operations, which includes civilians as well as officers of the NOAA
Corps,
the smallest of the nation's seven uniformed services. NOAA Corps
pilots and
civilian meteorologists, flight and electronics engineers and
technicians
are highly trained to operate in adverse weather conditions. NMAO also
administers the NOAA Teacher in the Air and Teacher at Sea programs.

NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, is celebrating 200
years of
science and service to the nation. From the establishment of the Survey
of
the Coast in 1807 by Thomas Jefferson to the formation of the Weather
Bureau
and the Commission of Fish and Fisheries in the 1870s, much of
America's
scientific heritage is rooted in NOAA. NOAA is dedicated to enhancing
economic security and national safety through the prediction and
research of
weather and climate-related events and information service delivery for
transportation, and by providing environmental stewardship of the
nation's
coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth
Observation
System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners,
more
than 60 countries and the European Commission to develop a global
monitoring
network that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and
protects.
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2007/s2801.htm

[nw_arizona_granny]

Two men killed in Walton copter crash; cause still unknown

(AP) Federal authorities are continuing their probe into a Walton
County
helicopter crash that killed a 64-year-old pilot and his passenger
Saturday.

Investigators on the scene Sunday from the National Transportation
Safety
Board and the Federal Aviation Administration couldn't determine much
about
what caused the private helicopter to go down on North Cross Lane near
the
Walton-Barrow County line about 3:30 p.m.

But Sgt. Gary Couch with the Walton County Sheriff's Department said
the
problem appeared to be "mechanical failure." Passenger Roy Hubbard, 43,
of
Monroe, died at the scene, Couch said. Rawlins Reeves, a pilot out of
Ruskin, Fla., was pronounced dead after undergoing surgery at Grady
Memorial
Hospital.

"All we know is that they were up flying around," said Butch Wilson, an
NTSB
investigator. "My understanding is that they were doing some
maintenance
test flights, then they crashed."

Investigators plan to pull records Monday to learn more about Reeves'
experience as a pilot, Wilson said.

http://www.ajc.com/services/content/metro/stories/2007/02/25/0225metcopter.h
tml?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=13

[nw_arizona_granny]

[unknown url]

French TV host held by police for violent in-flight outburst

PARIS (AFP) - French TV host Jean-Luc Delarue was detained by police
upon
arriving at Charles de Gaulle airport Sunday for allegedly attacking
cabin
crew on a flight to South Africa earlier this month.

Three Air France in-flight attendants filed complaints saying the
popular
talk-show host, known for his gentle and low-key manner, became
"aggressive
and abusive" on a February 13 flight from Paris to Johannesburg.

Delarue was met Sunday by border police when he got off the plane,
according
to an airport source. His lawyer was also waiting when he arrived.

The TV star, travelling in first class, allegedly insulted, bit and
slapped
one of the flight attendants, according to union representative Pierre
Destugues.

Delarue had been drinking heavily, according to judicial and airport
sources.

Cabin crew had to use handcuffs to restrain the television host and to
prevent him from further disrupting the flight, an Air France official
said.

One of the air hostesses said Delarue also grabbed her breasts.

The local prosecutor in Bobigny, a suburb north of Paris, could press
charges against the talk-show host, in which case he would be convened
to
appear before a criminal court.

The complaints were filed on February 16, three days after the alleged
incident took place.

Delarue is the host of the tabloid talk show "Ca se discute" (Let's
Talk
About It) which touches on such human interest topics as how to deal
with
teenage suicide, choosing a plastic surgeon or how siblings cope in
large
families.

[nw_arizona_granny]

N.Korean diplomatic couriers tear-gassed in Finland

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyid=2007-02-26T102141Z_01_L26615199_RTRUKOC_0_US-KOREA-NORTH-FINLAND.xml&src=rss

N.Korean diplomatic couriers tear-gassed in Finland
Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:21am ET143

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finnish police used tear gas to evict two North
Korean diplomatic couriers from a train after they refused to show
their
tickets or identify themselves.

Police briefly held the two after they failed to cooperate with a
ticket
inspector on the Moscow-Helsinki train this month, said the Foreign
Ministry's deputy chief of protocol, Tiina Myllyntausta, on Monday.

"They locked themselves in the compartment and refused to come out.
They
were diplomatic couriers, but according to the police they didn't
identify themselves at all," she said.

continued...........

[nw_arizona_granny]

February 26, 2007 Anti-Terrorism News

(Iraq) Baghdad blast kills 6, wounds top officials - VP and cabinet
minister injured
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070226/wl_nm/iraq_dc_34;_ylt=ApYHJ3t3AY819cDTZhobq11X6GMA

(Iraq/Iran) U.S. forces in Iraq say found more Iran-made weapons
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070226/ts_nm/iraq_iran_weapons_dc_1;_ylt=AkQZsUfEAknP3IugXmpnXIRSw60A

Iraq: Arms cache with Iranian bomb parts seized
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1171894521210&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

(Afghanistan) Suicide bomber kills policeman in Afghanistan - Khost
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070226/wl_asia_afp/afghanistanunrestsuicide_070226080318;_ylt=AmW1YHwgSup9VJ9gljrYPlrOVooA

(Somalia) U.S. warship heads for vessel hijacked off Somalia
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070226/wl_nm/somalia_piracy_dc_3;_ylt=As.DsMBtvJvQMBUXO8Of4r6QLIUD

Somalia: Islamists Willing To Negotiate - According To Al-Jazeera
Report
http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Security&loid=8.0.389876994&par=0

(Pakistan) US concerned by Al-Qaeda build-up in Pakistan
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070226/ts_afp/usattackspakistan_070226112310;_ylt=Apq.D2OsbywHABUJIsggK0vzPukA

(Pakistan) Do more against Taliban, al Qaeda, Cheney asks Pakistan
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070226/ts_nm/pakistan_usa_cheney_dc_5;_ylt=AvArUwlR0i5Bq8MH3PI6_PvOVooA

(Pakistan) Cheney warns Pakistan to act on terror - warns that aid
could be cut
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/26/america/web.0226pakistanCND.php

(Pakistan) Rice: Pakistan must control border area
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070226/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_pakistan_3;_ylt=AuYNWpXwI5BKNwMbWze9T1DOVooA

(Pakistan) "Political Issues" Mar Pakistan's Fight Against Al-Qaeda,
Says Rice
http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Terrorism&loid=8.0.389795768&par=0

(India/Pakistan) Six bombs were planted on India-Pakistan train
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070226/wl_afp/indiapakistanblast_070226072831;_ylt=AgN6o2yuw.vNkWwUmdXEss5A7AkB

(Iran) Report: "Gulf states to aid attack on Iran" - Kuwaiti newspaper
Al-Siyasa reports Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates have told
the United States that they would not object to Israel using their
airspace - report states NATO negotiating with Turkey to open airspace for
potential attack
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\02\26\story_26-2-2007_pg1_10

(Iran) U.N. Council to consider Iran sanctions
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/nuclear_iran;_ylt=Ak0xdQP_abFTOiyvEs1Xwf1Sw60A

(Iran) Russia 'worried' about Iran attack talk: minister
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070226/wl_mideast_afp/irannuclearpoliticsus_070226114837;_ylt=Ap0H4NHLeOeEzQZ4NLZfvDp_5GIA

(Iran) French minister Nicolas Sarkozy won't support an attack on Iran
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1171894523350&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

(Iran) 'Devastating response' if Iran nukes attacked -- Terrorists say
Tehran providing instructions in case U.S., Israel strike atomic
facilities
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54427

(UK) Radical cleric Abu Qatada loses appeal against deportation from
Britain - suspected key Al-Qaeda figure to be deported to Jordan
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070226/wl_uk_afp/britainattackscourt_070226114541;_ylt=Ao3OlpHwbWTcUZ8Qwm7AiMkwuecA

(UK) Al-Qa'eda 'plotted to kill Blair in front of Queen'
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/02/26/nalqaeda26.xml

(UK) Jail imams vetted by security services and Muslim books screened
for code
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1437916.ece

(Spain) 'Brains' of Madrid bombing denies taped phone calls - Rabei
Osman, known as Mohammed the Eqyptian
http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?subchannel_id=81&story_id=36940

Israeli troops besiege Nablus for second day - house-to-house search
for weapons caches and wanted militants
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070226/wl_mideast_afp/mideastconflictwestbank_070226111344;_ylt=AjpI0D2KegAdkSgY5tO4k9YUvioA

(Israel) Report: Palestinian killed in Nablus operations
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1171894522671&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Hamas chief in Moscow for Palestinian govt talks
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070226/wl_nm/palestinians_russia_dc_1;_ylt=AoQJynjuru3.XClQQxiyuZN_5GIA

Algeria: Eight Suspected Al-Qaeda Militants Arrested
http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Terrorism&loid=8.0.389918319&par=0

(Tunisia) Al Qaeda Smuggling Operation Busted - Tunisian police believe
AQ operations headquarters moved to Algeria
http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/algeria/articles/20070226.aspx

Egypt: Imam Abu Omar Flouts Media Ban (my title)
http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Terrorism&loid=8.0.389826614&par=0

(Australia) Terror suspect Hicks turns to Australian court
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070226/ap_on_re_au_an/australia_guantanamo_inmate_1;_ylt=AoGWCJlITaDX9CzUgGkp_RwTv5UB

(Australia) Airport security plans 'on track'
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21290301-1702,00.html

Philippines: 6 Muslim insurgents killed in clash
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1171894520020&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Philippine communists say rebel leader abducted
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/CrisesArticle.aspx?storyId=MAN305444

Philippine communist rebels say peace talks consultant abducted
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/02/26/asia/AS-GEN-Philippines-Communist-Rebels.php

New DNA technique provides clue to identity of bomb-makers
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200702260921.htm

(Jordan) Conference on money laundering and terror funding kicks off
http://www.petra.gov.jo/nepras/2007/Feb/25/214000.htm

Commentary: Springtime for Al Qaeda
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ideas_opinions/story/500739p-422256c.html

Other News:

(Australia) Imams to debate Sheik's future - Sheik Taj al-din al-Hilali
compared women to uncovered meat
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21288888-1702,00.html

Pakistan: Mujahadeen Group Calls For Ban On Music In Buses
http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Security&loid=8.0.389836007&par=0

Iran: 'Space Rocket' Launch for Educational Purposes
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,254623,00.html

Iranian MPs enraged over test accused of mocking Muhammad
http://www.guardian.co.uk/iran/story/0,,2020401,00.html

Saudi royal says U.S. oil independence a myth
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070225/pl_nm/oil_saudi_usa_dc_1;_ylt=Ag4KR9ib7s9h9nD2nBtIWJfn7SkC

[nw_arizona_granny]

Want a Contract With Your Key Logger?

http://www.internetnews.com/security/article.php/3661741

February 23, 2007
Want a Contract With Your Key Logger?
By Andy Patrizio

Malware (define) authors in Russia are now offering service contracts
with their spyware.

Yes you read right: You can now get a service contract to provide
upgrades for spyware, Trojans, rootkits and key loggers, just like you
get with your computers, Oracle databases and CRM software.

You have to marvel at the sheer brass of it all. "The pricing model is
scarily professional," Mark Sunner, chief security analyst at security
firm MessageLabs, told internetnews.com. "You can buy a one-off and get
an update or pay more and get many updates. The whole thing looks like
a
commercial model but is revolving around malware."

The prices start at around $260 for just the software, and can go up to
$3,500 for something guaranteed with updates and containing specific
functionality, such as being able to recognize specific online banks.

Sunner first noticed late last year that Russian spyware and virus
sites
were offering to sell the Bespoke Trojan, which is designed to steal
corporate information and intellectual property. Bespoke had been
around
a while, but now they were offering modifications to target a specific
company and updates if a company's security methods detected it.

He also noted a shift in targets. Large enterprises had been the
traditional targets of Trojans and spyware like Bespoke, but
corporations had better security methods, so small and medium-sized
businesses have become the new targets. Small firms have less money for
security and are therefore easier targets.

Because of this shift in malware to targeted industrial espionage,
there
is a good chance that the spyware will never make it to the labs of
Symantec, McAfee, F-Secure and the others. These aren't viruses
floating
around on the Internet. They are aimed at one particular target, so the
antivirus vendors are less likely to get a sample of the malicious
code,
said Sunner.

This exposes the dirty secret of the antivirus market: it's reactive.
Antivirus software has heuristics, intelligence designed to catch
patterns of behavior to trap unknown viruses. But the problem is,
heuristics often aren't very good.

"They find out about a virus because someone else takes a bullet. The
problem with these targeted attacks is, because they are aimed at only
one company, the chances of it getting onto the radar of the broader
security world is zero," said Sunner.

It's becoming impossible to keep up with the bad guys because they are
always ahead of the antivirus vendors. "The bad guys are gaming that
reactive model very successfully. We've intercepted 20 variants of a
single virus in 24 hours. They have them queued up ready to go, knowing
that reactive model can't keep up with that," said Sunner.

Not helping at all is Russia. There's an absence of legislation to
prevent something like this in the first place, said Sunner. Russia and
other countries, like China, are not participants in worldwide groups
like the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and/or
the International Telecommunications Union, which attempt to fight
malware.

Natalie Lambert, senior analyst for client security and management at
Forrester Research, wasn't surprised at such a development.

"The shift in Internet threats today is moving away from the malicious
that's out to cause harm. It's all about money. So why create harm for
fun when you can make millions of dollars? That's what's happening
now,"
she told internetnews.com.

Since antivirus writers can't protect against a specific, targeted
attack, Lambert said the urgency is for multilayered security. "It
really is a matter of making sure your systems are protected," she
said.

"Antivirus software can only protect you against the known. You need a
multilayer approach, antivirus, anti-spyware, firewalls, host IP
filtering, application control, device control, the works."