Navy to Base First Four Littoral Combat Ships in San Diego

U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
News Release
On the Web: Defense Link News Releases - 2006
Public contact: DoD Military Questions and Comments
IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 362-06

April 27, 2006

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Navy to Base First Four Littoral Combat Ships in San Diego

The Navy announced today that the first four Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) will be homeported at Naval Station San Diego, Calif.

Key in the success of implementing these new concepts is the ability to collocate these ships to achieve readiness alignment and economy of scale. This collocation is especially important for the first ships in the class as waterfront facilities, infrastructure, training and maintenance efficiencies are developed. San Diego was chosen as the initial homeport because of the Navy’s increased emphasis on the Pacific theater based on the Quadrennial Defense Review.

“Homeporting the first four ships in San Diego will enable us to establish synergy between the ships and with local commands,” said Vice Adm. Terry Etnyre, commander, Naval Surface Forces, based in Coronado, Calif. “With the Undersea Warfare Command here in San Diego and the Mine Warfare Command moving here soon, the undersea warfare and mine warfare mission packages will have direct coordination and representation locally.”

LCS will carry some core capabilities, such as self-defense and command and control; but its true war-fighting capability will come from its innovative and tailored mission modules. These ships will be configured for one mission package at a time, consisting of modules, manned aircraft, unmanned vehicles, off-board sensors, and mission-manning detachments. This will operate within open-systems architecture giving it the capability to reconfigure mission modules and ship systems to tailor it for specific warfighting missions.

The Littoral Combat Ships are the first Navy vessels to separate capability from hull form and provide a robust, affordable, mission-focused warship designed to provide assured access for our joint forces. LCS will have the size, speed, endurance, and connectivity to deploy as a member of carrier strike groups, expeditionary strike groups or surface strike groups.

The innovative concepts in LCS do not end with its modularity. LCS will operate with a quarter of the crew normally assigned to ships this size through a combination of technology and process improvements for maintenance, logistics, training and administration.

The keel for the first Littoral Combat Ship, to be named USS Freedom (LCS 1), was laid on June 3, 2005 and the second, to be named USS Independence (LCS 2), on Jan. 19, 2006.

For more information regarding the Littoral Combat Ship concept, visit the LCS website at
Peoships Crane - LCS

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Technorati tags: Navy, Ships, Defense,Military, Maritime, Nautical, LCS, Combat, DoD, Crane, Undersea Warfare, Mine Warefare, Littoral Combat Ships

Iran Threatnes to Strike at US targets if attacked

Iran threatens to strike at US targets if attacked

Rueters, Apr 26 5:39 PM US/Eastern"The Americans should know that if they assault Iran their interests will be harmed anywhere in the world that is possible," he was quoted as saying by a state television announcer. Link to the rest of the rant: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Threatens

Technorati tags: Khamenei, Iran, Threats, War, US, ElBaradei, IAEA, Aghazadeh, Ahmadinejad, Tehran, uranium enrichment, Nuclear, clandestine, Opinion

Hamid Hyat Found Guilty in Lodi Terror Trial

Re-posted with permission from Stop the ACLU

Hamid Hayat Found Guilty In Lodi Terror Trial
by Jay on 04-25-06 @ 7:03 pm
Filed at Stop the ACLU under ACLU, War On Terror, News.

A twist in the trial, as the father Umer Hayat gets a mistrial, his son Hamid Hayat is found guilty.

Hamid Hayat, the 23-year-old Lodi man on trial for terrorist-related activities in Sacramento federal court, was found guilty Tuesday, just hours after U.S. District Court Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. declared a mistrial was declared in the related trial of his father, Umer Hayat, because the jury was deadlocked. Umer Hayat was accused of lying to the FBI to cover up for his son, Hamid. Hamid Hayat was found guilty of providing material support to terrorists by allegedly attending an al-Qaeda camp while visiting Pakistan in 2003 and three counts of lying about it. Hamid faces up to 39 years in prison if convicted of all charges against him.

Read additional information compliments of Reuters: California Terrorism Case; Son found guilty while his father's ends in a mistrial .

Slideshow compliments of Yahoo News: Calif. Father, Son Terror Suspects.

By the way, this admitted terror supporter was defended by CAIR and ACLU.

Technorati tags: ACLU, CAIR, Hamid Hayat, Mistrial, Lodi, Umer Hayat, FBI, Pakistan, al-Qaeda, Training Camps, Jeffrey Goldberg, News Feed, Sacramento, Opinion

Fmr. Sen. Graham: Iran Strikes Could Trigger World War

Fmr. Sen. Graham: Iran Strikes Could Trigger World War

In an exclusive interview with http://newsmax.com/Ken Timmerman, former Senator Bob Graham says the U.S. faces difficult choices with Iran's nuclear program fast developing. He warns U.S. military strikes on Iran could trigger World War III. Read More Go Here Now

Additional news links

• Israeli Defense Minister: Iran Threatens Our Existence
• Is the U.S. Ready for Nuclear D-Day? Special Report

Iran/Antisemitism Documentation Project

Special Dispatch - Iran/Antisemitism Documentation Project
April 26, 2006
No. 1148

Iranian President Ahmadinejad Elaborates on His Plan for the Jews to Leave Israel and Return to Germany and Austria

To view this Special Dispatch in HTML, visit: Plan for Jews .

The following are excerpts from a speech by Iranian President Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that aired on Iranian News Channel (IRINN) on April 24, 2006.

TO VIEW THIS CLIP, VISIT: Iranian President Ahmadinejad.

Iranian President Ahmadinejad: "The greatest problem from which humanity suffers today, the main problem facing the countries of the Middle East, is the continuation of the processes that took place during World War II."

[...]

"Let's assume certain things did happen [in World War II]. Why should the people of the Middle East, for over 60 years, be paying for it under this pretext?"

[...]

"The same people who claim to have saved humanity, and to have prevented further massacre in World War II, and who avenged the victims of that war - why have they killed over 100,000 innocent people in 60 years?"

[...]

"Why do they grieve over some of the victims only? Let's assume that the [Holocaust] was true - who should be punished for this? This is a serious question facing contemporary humanity."

[...]

"Although they claim that their hearts bleed for the Jews, during World War II and following it they caused the widespread phenomenon of anti-Judaism in two or three European countries. If you support the Jews - how do you explain this anti-Judaism? Why did you turn Europe in its entirety into a place unsafe for the Jews? Could there possibly be any other reason than creating unsafe conditions for the Jews, so that they would flee and find shelter in Palestine?

"Why do you think they are safe in Palestine? These people, who left their homelands as a result of your pressure and anti-Judaism, went to a country that did not belong to them. Different minorities from different countries came to live side by side, just like pieces of paper joined together with a paper clip. They live in an atmosphere of insecurity on a daily basis. I've said this once, and I'll say it again: Open the gates of this big prison. Allow these people to decide freely, and you will see that they will return to their homelands. Of course, you must first let go of your anti-Judaism. You must let go of it. We believe that just like the rest of mankind, the Jews have the right to live a life of prosperity, freedom, and security. Set them free, and let them return to their homelands."

[...]

"Now allow me to say a few words to the people of Germany and Austria. Look at the atmosphere in the world today. See how those who purport to promote human rights and democracy actually want to run the world. Sixty years ago a war took place, and 60 million people were killed by both sides. If we had any power in those days, we would have prevented this carnage. To the best of our ability we would not have allowed such a massacre. Sixty years have passed since that war, and the people of Palestine are still paying the price for a war in which they did not participate. The people of today's Germany are paying reparation for a war in which they themselves did not participate.

"My question is the following: Let's assume that 60 years ago a certain regime in Germany started a certain war, and certain crimes were committed. Three generations later - what is the fault of the current German generation that it must be so humiliated? Why can't it play an independent role in international relations? They are constantly being reminded that their parents were criminals. Monuments are built there. All countries build monuments for things that they are proud of, and when tourists come, they show them these monuments. Over there, they build monuments, and every German who passes by a park is constantly reminded: 'Look, you are the son of criminals, and you must be humiliated.'"

[...]

"In culture, science, and international politics, Germany should have a prominent standing. But 60 years later, they are still held prisoner by a handful of people, who themselves had planned all the events of that era. Now they say that no one is allowed to talk about or research this event. Why not research it?"

[...]

"Why should a small handful of people ignite the entire world, merely in order to fill their pockets? Why? We are against this method of running the world, and we say this clearly. I am declaring clearly that I am against the policies of the U.S. and England in running the world. And by the way, I support peace and quiet, and I am a very peace-loving man.

"How come whenever someone criticizes you or exposes your mistakes, you attack him through the media that you finance, and portray him as a criminal? Wrong! Ahmadinejad is a schoolteacher and a very peace-loving man. To this day, I have never harmed an ant in my life. Allah willing, I will never harm any living or inanimate object."

*********************
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MEMRI holds copyrights on all translations. Materials may only be used with proper attribution.
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Search previous MEMRI publications at www.memri.org

Chavez - Ortega alliance

Chavez backs former US foe in Nicaragua election
Mon Apr 24, 2006

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday backed the favorite to win Nicaragua's November presidential election, days after Washington warned the country not to vote for its former cold war foe. Full Article

Bosun's analysis: Let’s get the facts strait. America has become complacent in our western hemisphere. We saw how Clinton Administration's falling asleep at the wheel on terrorism got us into the present situation with al-Qaeda. It seems like each administration develops a sleeping disorder on important issues. The American people have also grown weary at remaining situationally aware. It appears that we have fallen asleep to Nicaragua's Creeping Coup and other problems in the Americas. North Americans falsely assumed that Daniel Ortega's Marxist Dictatorship political career ended 15 years ago. Suprise, Suprise!!

America has not done a good job shoring up free democracy in Central and South America. And, we are probably going to pay the price for it again. With the lunatic jackass lefti dictator, Chavez, firmly in place in Venezuela and raising the ante with his trade agreements with North Korea and Iran, his buddy, Ortega, is also planning a comeback.

Thanks to the weakness of Nicaragua's democratic government (and America not helping the people of Nicaragua) Daniel Ortega is close to regaining power and broadening the Latin alliance of undemocratic states; Cuba and Venezuela.

Could it be that our State Department and the mindset of America Congress, the Administration, and others in the Americas take for granted our southern neighbors? Do we devote more diplomatic attention to the world community that our own backyard?

Perhaps we should soul search our foreign policy and take an objective look at what is going on in the Americas. I am not sure it is too late, but, our Latin neighbors will remember what we have and have not done for them. We must follow through on commitments.

Technorati tags: Hugo Chavez, Lunatic, Venezuela, jackass lefti, Foreign Relations, Cuba, Washington, imperialist, antagonism, Americas, oil fields, Daniel Ortega, Marxist,Caracas, Dictator, Castro, CIA, Gen. Alberto Muller Rojas, Cuba, paranoid

al-Jazeera releases transcript of bin Laden recording

Bin Laden: West waging a crusade

Aljazeera has aired an audiotape attributed to Osama bin Laden in which he attacks the West for boycotting Hamas and accuses Western governments of waging a "crusader war" against Islam. FULL STORY -->

• Transcript: Bin Laden accuses West
• Hamas distances itself from Bin Laden
• Timeline: Al-Qaeda tapes

A full Arabic transcript of the audiotaped message can be read here on Aljazeera's Arabic website.

Technorati tags: Bin - Laden, Hamas, terrorist,hostage, al-Qaeda, United States, Iraq, Aljazeera, Islamic, heretic, Muslim, Muhammad, Arab peninsula


Aljazeera

al-Jazeera releases new bin Laden recording

Reposted with permission from Northeast Intelligence Network

Filed under: Top Stories : New Osama Bin Laden Audio Tape Released

23 April, 2006: A new Osama Bin Laden audio tape has been released, and is currently being aired on Al-Jazeera. While not officially authenticated, reports are that the tape is authentic, and created within the last four to five weeks.

During the recording bin Laden also said the Western public shared responsibility for the actions of their governments, particularly for what he called their attacks on Islam.

The main message of this tape appears to be that by cutting off its funds to Hamas, the West has proven it is "at war with Islam". Bin Laden describes a "long battle" with the west, and that the war is the responsibility of citizens, as well as governments.

More information will become available, as analysis and translation continue.

Technorati tags: Bin - Laden, Hamas, terrorist,hostage, al-Qaeda, United States, Iraq, Aljazeera, Islamic, heretic, Muslim, Muhammad, Arab peninsula

Déjà Vu: Terrorism's strange bed-fellows

According to World Net Daily, when Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad traveled to Damascus in January, he took a special guest with him on the flight from Tehran – one of the world's most wanted terrorists. Imad Mugniyah

Intelligence experts have told the London Times Ahmadinejad has recruited Imad Mugniyah, the Lebanese commander of Hezbollah's overseas operations, to oversee retaliation against Western targets if the U.S. orders a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. World Net Daily reported that Mugniyah and the Iranian President Ahmadinejad met with other leaders of Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and Hamas in Damascus in what has been called a "terror summit." Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and Hamas all have carried out attacks on Israel and Israelis over the years. Link to World Net Daily article, Ahmadinejad recruits Hezbollah terror chief

And, Ahmadinejad has regularly "threatened to "wipe Israel off the map."

Lets take a trip down memory lane in terrorism in the Middle East in regards to Mugniyah: Do you rememeber Mohammed Hamadi? Hamadi was serving a life sentence in Germany for the 1985 hijacking of a TWA flight 847 from Athens, Greece, to Rome. The hijacked plane landed in Beirut, Lebanon, where hijackers beat, shot and killed 23 year old United States Navy Petty Officer Stethem and dumped his body on the tarmac. Stethem was the only casualty during the hijacking ordeal, in which 39 Americans were held hostage for 17 days. Hamadi was paroled to Lebannon in November 2005, much to the dismay of the United States.

Now lets recall Mohammed's brother Abbas. Abbas, was arrested in Germany in 1987 and charged with helping to kidnap two German businessmen in a bid to use them as bargaining chips for Mohammed Hamadi's freedom. Abbas Hamadi was released in 1993 after serving half of his sentence. At the time, German news media reported, that he was let go as part of a deal between the German government and Hezbollah to release two other Germans held hostage in Lebanon. Guess who was the Hezbollah Security Chief at the time, Imad Fayex Mugniyah.

Both of the Hamadi boys are linked to Mugniyah. And it looks like the Hezbollah Security Chief has a new buddy, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Here is some background that was posted in previous artiles in The Bosun Locker about Mugniyah; a terrorist who has been active on the terrorism circuit for the past 20 years:

According to Laura Mansfield's Notebook, America's Truth Forum, there appears to be striking similarities between Mugniyah's terrorism for the past 20 years with the practices of the present-day terrorists in Iraq. It is quite possible that the Hezbollah terror syndicate in the middle east is closely related.

Mugniyah allegedly has been tied to kidnappings and bombings throughout the world over the past two decades, including the following:

▪ April 18, 1983 bombing of the United States embassy in Beirut, which killed 63
people including 17 Americans
▪ October 23, 1983 simultaneous truck bombings against the French paratroopers and US Marine killing 58 French soldiers and 241 Marines.
▪ September 20, 1984, he attacked the US embassy annex building and is believed to have killed William Buckley, the CIA station chief in Beirut
▪ Linked to the numerous kidnappings of Westerners in Beirut through the 1980s – some were killed, some by beheading, and a few were eventually released.
▪ Orchestrated the 2000 abductions of three Israeli soldiers in the southern part of Lebanon
▪ Abduction of Israeli Colonel Elchanan Tenenbaum.

And he has been active in the western hemisphere, too.

▪ March 17, 1992 bombings of the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires Argentina, which killed 29
▪ July 1994 bombing of the AMIA cultural building in in Buenos Aires Argentina, killing 86 people Source: Laura Mansfield

It would be fair to say that these terrorists are brothers for the cause and may be part of a larger crime and terror synidcate. There is still so much intrigue in the Middle East, who knows who is doing what to whom over there. The real kicker to the Hezbollah and radicalized islam story is that they are also established in South America.

In 2002, Jeffrey Goldberg, reporter-at-large for The New Yorker magazine did an interesting 2- part article, "IN THE PARTY OF GOD" about Hezbollah operations in South America and the United States:

• Part 1 - Are terrorists in Lebanon preparing for a larger war?
• Part 2 - Hezbollah sets up operations in South America and the United States

You gotta read these articles which provide open source information by Jeffery Goldberg who went into the bush in both the Middle East and South America where the bad guys live. Here is a brief quote from his article in The New Yorker:

"Roughly two hundred thousand people live in the Ciudad del Este region, including a substantial minority of Arab Muslims; in the Triple Frontier zone, there may be as many as thirty thousand. According to intelligence officials in the region and in Washington, this Muslim community has in its midst a hard core of terrorists, many of them associated with Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite group backed by the Iranian government; some with Hamas, the Palestinian fundamentalist group; and some with Al Qaeda. It is, over all, a community under the influence of extreme Islamic beliefs; intelligence officials told me that some of the Triple Frontier Arabs held celebrations on September 11th of last year and also on the anniversary this year. These officials said that Hezbollah runs weekend training camps on farms cut out of the rain forest of the Triple Frontier. In at least one of these camps, in the remote jungle terrain near Foz do Iguaçu, young adults get weapons training and children are indoctrinated in Hezbollah ideology—a mixture of anti-American and anti-Jewish views inspired by Ayatollah Khomeini.

In the Triple Frontier, Hezbollah raises money from legitimate businesses but, more frequently, from illicit activities, ranging from drug smuggling to the pirating of compact disks. Unlike the other radical Islamic groups in the Triple Frontier, Hezbollah, it is said, has the capability to commit acts of terror."

Keep in mind that Part 2 of the series takes place in South America, not the Middle East.

Now we potentially have Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad traveling to Damascus in January, with a special guest, Mugniyah – one of the world's most wanted terrorists.

Be ever vigilant.

Technorati tags: Hezbollah, Germans, hostage, Laura Mansfield's Notebook, Iraq, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Jeffrey Goldberg, Ahmadinejad, Damascus, Mugniyah, terror summit, journalists, Opinion

NewsMax: Nuclear Iran

From NewsMax

According to NewsMax, Iran Completes Secret Uranium Enrichment Facility
Just when the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) thought it had its hands around the Iranian nuclear program, NewsMax has learned from intelligence sources that Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps is completing a secret, underground uranium enrichment plant that should begin operating in October 2006.

Read NewsMax Contributing Editor Kenneth Timmerman's bombshell report – information that puts Iran much closer to building a nuclear device. Read More Here.

Technorati tags: Nuclear, Iran, IAEA,Hostage, Timmerman, Uranium, Revolutionary guard, Nuclear devise, news feed, journalists, Opinion

"Alleged" Terrorists Among Us...

Obtained with permission from Northeast Intelligence Network:

Top Stories: US : Georgia Tech Student Indicted on Terrorism Charges

The "Alleged" Terrorists Among Us...

21 April 2006: The Northeast Intelligence Network is following the case of Syed Haris AHMED, the Pakistani Georgia Tech student who was arrrested by federal authorities on March 23 on charges related to terrorism. According to developing information, AHMED, 21, who was under investigation and surveillance for the last 12-14 months, has been indicted on charges of providing “material support” to a terrorist organization. AHMED appeared before US Magistrate Joel Feldman Wednesday, pleading not guity to the charges contained in the indictment. For the complete story link to: Terrorist among us

Additional news link from Reuters via Yahoo! News:
Georgia student held on terrorism charge Friday, 21 Apr 2006 12:13 PM PDTU.S. authorities in the southern state of Georgia have charged a 21-year-old engineering student at Georgia Tech in Atlanta with supporting terrorism.


Technorati tags: Georgia Tech, Terrorism, AHMED,terrorism, Atlanta, Pakistani, Pakistan, material support, Northeast Intelligence Network, Joel+Feldman, US Magistrate, indictment, Opinion

Gitmo

Apparently the mainstream media (MSM) has just decided to announce last month's news that litigation has forced Department of Defense (DOD) to release names of some of the war on terror detainees being held at U.S. Naval Station Guantamano Bay, Cuba (Gitmo) (Financial Times Rueters news agency). In March 2006, the DOD released 317 "unredacted" records on detainees being held at Gitmo. A press release issued by DOD dated March 6, 2006 indicated that:

The records, containing about 5,000 pages, are being released as part of an Associated Press Freedom of Information Act litigation decided in late January. A federal judge in New York ordered DOD release records of combatant status review tribunals and administrative review board summaries to the Associated Press (AP)by March 3.

Those documents were originally provided to AP, but with names and identifying information redacted for privacy reasons, as part of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in June 2005. "The court's ruling applies to those documents that have been provided under FOIA in June 2005," a senior official speaking on background said.

The list does not give the names of all 490 detainees being held at Gitmo. Senior defense officials said the 317 records only cover the previously released redacted documents. These will be "unredacted," and names, nationalities and other personal identifying information will be released. Other protected information -- names of American servicemembers for example -- will remain redacted, officials said.

DOD and the Bush Adminstration say the Gitmo detailees are terror suspects. However, the liberals and leftists say that they (detainees) are not terrorists, but, are innocent victims of war. The Supreme Court ruling regarding this matter is a double edged sword. DOD has provided a government website that will provide updated information on Gitmo. You can access the DOD Gitmo site throught this link: Detainee Affairs at Gitmo

Related Sites: DoD Freedom of Information Act

Technorati tags: Gitmo, Detainees, Military Detention, redacted documents, terrorist, terror suspect, Iraq, Afghanistan, tribunal, DOD, liberal media, FOIA, Opinion

Chavez is getting more weird

As reported in Newsmax, Hugo Chavez the lefti dictator of Venezuela has threatened to blow up his oil fields if attacked and also is making his poor countrymen paranoid. This looney, Chavez, has been ratcheting up his anti-United States rhetoric.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Wednesday again raised the specter of U.S. designs to oust him and promised that his government will blow up his country's oil fields if the United States should ever attack. U.S. officials have repeatedly denied any military plans against Chavez, but also call him a threat to stability in the region. Link to article: Crazy Chavez threatens to blow oil fields

In addition to his paranoid rants, President Hugo Chavez constantly warnings Venezuelans that a U.S. invasion is imminent. So, now he's begun training a civilian militia as well as the Venezuelan army to resist in the only way possible against a much better-equipped force: By taking to the hills and fighting a guerrilla war. Guess looney Hugo sees himself as a Che Guevara and Fidel Castro rolled into one. The psycho ward rendition of Robo-Soldier.

Apparently, Chavez aspires to train his army reserves of an estimated 1 million armed men and women. His citizen soldiers are organizing into neighborhood-based militia units for his Territorial Guard. Link to article: Chavez Training Anti-U.S. Civilian Militia

Technorati tags: Hugo Chavez, Lunatic, Venezuela, jackass lefti, Foreign Relations, Cuba, Washington, imperialist, antagonism, Americas, oil fields, Iran, naval exercises ,Caracas, Colombia, Territorial Guard, CIA, Gen. Alberto Muller Rojas, Bay of Pigs, paranoid

Operation Mountain Lion Update

COMBINED FORCES COMMAND – AFGHANISTAN
COALITION PRESS INFORMATION CENTER
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
APO AE 09356
http://www.cfc-a.centcom.mil

News Desk: 070-223-758
Press Center: 070-276-545
Kabul-Presscenter@cfc-a.centcom.mil

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2006
Release # 060417-F-002

Aircrews launch Operation Mountain Lion

By Army Master Sgt. Doug Sample and Army Sgt. Stephanie van Geete

Task Force Falcon Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Task Force Falcon aircrews took to the sky April 11 at the start of an Afghan and Coalition offensive aimed at defeating insurgents in eastern Afghanistan.

Operation Mountain Lion is concentrated in Kunar, Nuristan and Nangahar provinces – known as hotspots of insurgent activity. It involves about 2,500 Afghan National Army and Coalition forces.

Aviation assets are playing a critical role in the operation, said Army Col. Michael Rose, who commands the Coalition’s Task Force Falcon, composed primarily of the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade from Fort Drum, N.Y. The operation began with air assaults; since then, the Falcons have continued to fly supplies into the region.

“Without aviation support, the ground troops are limited to roads and valley floors, which are very narrow and give the enemy an opportunity to ambush or place improvised explosive devices along the routes ahead of Coalition forces,” said Rose, of Honesdale, Pa. “However, aviation assets allow us freedom to maneuver, to bypass known enemy areas, and put troops where they have the advantage over the enemy.”

On the first day of the operation, Afghan and Coalition forces killed six insurgents.

Army Capt. Ben Parry, an assistant operations officer with the task force, credited the element of surprise as a major factor in the operation’s success.

During a night maneuver, CH-47 Chinooks and UH-60 Black Hawks, escorted by AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, carried hundreds of U.S. Soldiers and Marines, along with Afghan National Army commandos, to four difficult landing zones.

“The first night of operations was without incident, and there were no aircraft fired upon,” said Parry, of York, Pa. “We assaulted under the concealment of darkness; we got everybody in successfully,” he said.

Additional story links:

• Afghan-led forces detain insurgents in Kandahar
• Afghans, Coalition forces thwart terrorist attacks

Suggested Photos:

• 060411-A-6206S-045: BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- CH-47 Chinook helicopters wait on the flight line here April 11 before the start of Operation Mountain Lion, a combined Afghan and Coalition offensive aimed at defeating insurgents in eastern Afghanistan. The Chinooks are assigned to the Coalition’s Task Force Falcon, composed primarily of the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade from Fort Drum, N.Y. (Photo by Army Master Sgt. Doug Sample, Task Force Falcon Public Affairs)
• 060411-A-6206S-114: BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Soldiers in Task Force Falcon’s tactical operations center monitor events as Operation Mountain Lion continues. The operation, which aims to defeat insurgents in eastern Afghanistan, began with air assaults. (Photo by Army Master Sgt. Doug Sample, Task Force Falcon Public Affairs)

Technorati tags: DOD, United States, Pentagon,Afghanistan, terrorism, Rumsfeld, war, South Asia, Department of Defense, Central Asia, Operation Mountain Lion, Afghan, US Military, Coalition, security, weapons, grenade, Kandahar, Taliban, Joint Task Force, al Qaeda, Kunar, ANA

Shahab-3 missile threat

Author Jerome Corsi's 2005 release "Atomic Iran" is proving to be a crystal ball of predictions about Iran. Recall recent posts in Rumors of War about the Shahab-3 missile[alternatively designated Zelzal [(Earthquake)] .

Recent developments lead on to believe that it is now solid-fuel ready and cuts launch time. Because of the solid fuel capablity, the IRIS, one stage, 3000 km, Shahab-3D missile will be harder to hit by the Patriot and Arrow anti-missile systems. And, unfortunately the Shahab-3 will easily reach Tel Aviv. Source: IRIS Solid Motor Program

"When Corsi wrote "Atomic Iran," he predicted that the negotiations with the EU-3 would fail," Corsi told WND. "Iran's continued efforts to develop atomic weapons secretly would leave no alternative except to take Iran before the Security Council for additional sanctions. Corsi also predicted that the United Nations would not be able to do anything effective to stop Iran. " Sure looks like Corsi was right on the button with recent developments.

According to a study published by Marshall Institute:

The new generation of Third World missiles have longer ranges and therefore higher re-entry speeds – and of course also more destructive warheads. One reason why anyone might fire a missile with a maximum range of, say, 3000 km, at a target that is only 500 km away is that such a missile would arrive at its target after having reached a height of about 1200 km – roughly the height reached by intercontinental missiles. Like them, it would arrive at speeds of typically over 6 km/sec. That is three times the speed of Scuds, and about twice the speed of the targets that Arrow is designed to handle. Source: Marshall Institute

And, from Jane's Defence Section:

Iran is believed to have six operational Shahab 3 brigades, the first of which was established in July 2003. These are mainly equipped with standard variants, but with others described as 'enhanced Shahab', with ranges of 1,300 km-1,500 km and 2,000 km respectively. (Jane's) According to Iranian Defence Minister Ali Shamkhani, "A missile using liquid fuel is short-lived. You can use it for a limited time. Solid fuel makes the missile durable and dramatically increases its accuracy." (Jane's)

When one throws Russian, North Korean and Chinese missle technology together and places it in the hands of lunatics, we are courting disaster. This missile technology will give countries like Iran the capablity to reach Europe and capablity breach U.S. TBM defenses.

In 2005, Vice Admiral Lowell E. Jacoby, U.S. Navy, Director, Defense Intelligence Agency, testified that "We judge Iran will have the technical capability to develop an ICBM by 2015." Source: National Intelligence Council

Canadian Cross-Border Human Smuggling Ring Busted

14 Indicted In Border Human Smuggling Ring
U.S. and Canadian authorities say they have broken up a human smuggling ring that brought dozens of Indian and Pakistani nationals into Washington from British Columbia.

According to a broadcast from 770 KTTH AM radio evening news, US and Canadian law enforcement agencies indicated that they worked closely for more than a year, to apprehend roughly 50 people who had paid as much as $35,000 apiece to be smuggled into the United States via Brithish Columbia, Canada.

770 KTTH AM reported that Canadian officials indicated that the illegals entered Canada illegally prior to being smuggled into the United States. More Detail are avaiable at KIRO TV News: 14 Indicted In Border Human Smuggling Ring.

KIRO TV Video: 14 Accused In Human Smuggling Ring

Another unrelated story from Seattle, Washington over the weekend: 22 Chinese Nationals Held in Apparent Human Smuggling Case at Port of Seattle

Technorati tags: smuggling, human smuggling, Canada,India, Pakistan, Blaine, Washington, ICE, Homeland Security, CBP, British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Royal Canadian Mounted Police , Opinion

Photos of Flight 93's Wreckage Released

Just in from Fox News: Photos of Flight 93's Wreckage Release along with transcript

In the last few minutes before United Flight 93 crashed into a rural Pennsylvania field on Sept. 11, 2001, hijackers aboard the plane ordered passengers to "shut up" and "sit" as they issued a terrifying message: "We have a bomb on board."

Federal prosecutors seeking the execution of Zacarias Moussaoui on Wednesday figuratively placed the jury aboard the doomed flight when they played a recording in which the hijackers were heard giving orders to the passengers. Read the story at Fox News.

•Raw Data: Text of Flight 93 Recording
•Moussaoui Prosecutors Introduce Gruesome Images
•Moussaoui Judge Warns Againt Prejudicial Testimony
•Moussaoui Jury To Hear More Painful Testimony
•Moussaoui Jury Hears About Impact on Kids
•Giuliani Describes First Hours of Sept. 11 on Stand in Moussaoui Trial
•Human Remains Found on Roof Near WTC Site
•Fast Facts: Quotes From Moussaoui
•Prosecution Rests in Moussaoui Sentencing
•Flight School Witness: FAA Ignored Moussaoui Concerns
•FBI Supervisor Barely Discussed Moussaoui Before 9/11
•Moussaoui Judge Allows Prosecution to Present New Witnesses
•Moussaoui Coaching Lawyer Put on Leave
•Prosecutors Fight Moussaoui Evidence Ruling
•Moussaoui Prosecutors File for Reversal in Evidence Ruling
•Judge Says Death Penalty Against Moussaoui Can Be Sought
•Timeline: Moussaoui Case
•Moussaoui Judge May Reconsider Death Penalty
•Flight Instructor: Moussaoui Was 'Credible' Pilot
•Fast Facts: Moussaoui Jurors

Technorati tags: al-Qaeda, terror, hijack,hostage, Pennsylvania, Moussaoui, islam, airline passengers, United Flight 93, United, news feed, 911, WTC

The War in Afghanistan - Coalition Forces Launch 'Mountain Lion'

Military Action in Afghanistan is often placed on the backburner with Mainstream Media. It is a different war with different results. In an effort to bring military news, periodically check back for the latest developments in our War on Terror in Afghanistan. God bless our troops in harms way.

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2006 - Coalition forces, in cooperation with the Afghan National Army, began "Operation Mountain Lion" yesterday to establish security, deter the re-emergence of terrorism, and enhance the sovereignty of Afghanistan, military officials reported today. Read the Department of Defense story: Mountain Lion

Additional news stories:

• Afghan, Coalition Troops Find Weapons
• Riggers Prepare Supplies for Afghans in Need
• Afghan, Coalition Forces Train Together
• Governor, Khost Residents Celebrate Project
• Forces Respond to School Attack
• Police Secure Border Crossing
• Leaders Urge Close Cooperation
• Afghanistan Update : Maps

Technorati tags: DOD, United States, Pentagon,Afghanistan, terrorism, Rumsfeld, war, South Asia, Department of Defense, Central Asia, Operation Mountain Lion, Afghan, US Military, Coalition, security, weapons, grenade, Kandahar, Taliban, Joint Task Force, al Qaeda, Kunar, ANA

President's Airplane in Danger because of web article

A government document posted to the website of an unnamed Air Force base containing information about the anti-missile defense system of Air Force One, the president's official airplane, has raised an alarm with Air Force officials who say the information "affects operational security."

Read the the story at WorldNetDaily: President's Airplane in Danger because of web article

Technorati tags: SA-18, Manpads, Missile, SAM, Surface to Air Missile (SAM), terrorist, airline, vulnerability, Aviation Safety, countermeasures, military technology, Air Force One, President, anti-missile defense, Air Force, National Security, security breach

Chavez at it again: Threatens to kick out US Ambassador

As reported in Breitbart.Com, Hugo Chavez the lefti dictator of Venezuela has threatened to kick out the US ambassador Brownfield . "Start packing your bags Mister, if you keep on provoking us, start packing you bags, because I'll kick you out of here," Chavez said on his regular Sunday television program. Despite political tensions, Venezuela, the world's No. 5 oil exporter, remains a key supplier of crude to the US market. But Chavez says he wants to wean Venezuela off its economic reliance on the United States.

Sounds to me that Chavez wants to sever the relationship for good. Chavez has been ratcheting up his anti-United States rhetoric. Link to the article: Venezuela threatens to give US the boot

Technorati tags: Hugo Chavez, Iran, Ambassador Brownsfield,Lunatic, Venezuela, jackass lefti, Foreign Relations, Cuba, Washington, imperialist, antagonism, Americas

Plane carrying House members fired on with Russian missile

Three congressman have confirmed they were aboard a C-130 flight to Kuwait from Iraq in January when they were attacked by a sophisticated Russian SA-18 shoulder-fired missile that required the U.S. plane to employ high-technology countermeasures to avoid being hit.

Reps. Jeb Bradley, R-N.H., John Spratt, D-S.C., and Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, confirmed the incident to The San Francisco Chronicle.

They were part of a six-member delegation of the House Armed Services Committee, led by Rob Simmons, R-Conn. The congressmen were lucky - the leased commercial aircraft transporting troops aren't equipped to with those sophisticated countermeasures.

Read the latest news now at World Net Daily. Link to the article: Congressmen shot at with Russian SA-18 shoulder-fired missile

Addition Links regarding MANPADS / Surface to Air shoulder-filed missiles

• FAS- Protecting Airliners from Terrorist Missiles
• What are shoulder-fired missiles or “MANPADS?”
• Hezbollah Reportedly Acquires SA-18 SAMS
• Jet might survive missile strike
• 2 Nabbed In Alleged Missile Plot
• 40 civilian airliners downed with missiles
• Report: Hezbollah obtained advanced missiles
• Terrorists plot shooting down airliners
• U.S. airliners vulnerable to missiles
• U.S. planes threatened by portable missiles?

Technorati tags: SA-18, Manpads, Missile, SAM, Surface to Air Missile (SAM), terrorist, Ansar al-Islam, terror network, airline, vulnerability, congressman, Aviation Safety, plane crash, countermeasures, Congress, military technology, Hezbollah, al-Qaeda, terrorist,hostage, Palestine, Islam, Iraq, Zarqawi, Bin Laden, Combatant, Hamas, Middle East, ArabiaHouse of Saud, Caliphate, Islamofascist

Iranian Missiles Possibly Can carry Nukes

Iran now has ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, according to military experts. While Tehran denies it is trying to develop a nuclear arsenal, ballistic missile experts advising the United States say it has succeeded in reconfiguring the Shahab-3 ballistic missile to carry nuclear weapons, the London Telegraph reports.

(Bos'un comment: The Iranian Shahab-3 [alternatively designated Zelzal [(Earthquake)] missile is said to be a derivative of the 1,000-1,300 kilometer range North Korean Nodong-1.)

"This is a major breakthrough for the Iranians," said a senior U.S. official, according to the London paper. "They have been trying to do this for years and now they have succeeded. It is a very disturbing development." World Net Daily link to the article: Iranian Missiles can carry Nukes

Please come back and visit the following links for more information:

• FAS - Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) Shahab - 3
• FAS - Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) Shahab - 6
• Janes: Iran moves its Shahab 3 units
• Global Security - North Korean - Iranian Missiles

Technorati tags: Iran, Germany, Russia, China, United States, ballistic missile, Tehran, Shahab - 3, Shahab - 6, Zelzal, Missile test, International diplomacy, Chess, Strategic, Superpower, Nodong-1, warhead, Central Asia, Taepo-dong 1, Warhead, Ali Shamkhani, Weapons, War plans, Tomahawk, Nuclear, Opinion

Moroccans arrest Al Qaida cell said to be planning Europe strikes

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Wednesday, April 5, 2006

CAIRO — Morocco has reported the capture of an Al Qaida cell.

Security sources said Moroccan authorities have arrested nine Al Qaida operativs over the last week. The sources said the operatives were part of an Al Qaida cell that planned attacks in France, Italy and Morocco.

The Moroccan state news agency MAP said Al Qaida identified several targets in Europe and North Africa, Middle East Newsline reported. MAP cited a church in Bologna and a commuter train station in Milan. Other Al Qaida targets included French intelligence headquarters in Paris and the U.S. consulate in Rabat. For the rest of the story visit World Tribune: al-Qaeda cell

Additional Link from Fox News: Italy Thwarts Subway, Church Terror Attacks

ROME — Italian authorities have thwarted planned terrorist attacks against a Bologna church and Milan's subway. "There was a terrorist project that was to be carried out in our country and the monitoring and prevention action of our forces allowed us to thwart it...." the interior minister press release on Thursday through Italian and Associated Press (AP). Link to this story Fox News: Italy Thwarts

Technorati tags: Moroccan, Al Qaida, al-Qaeda,geopolitics, terror, intelligence, France, Italy, commuter train, terrorist, insurgents, bomber, Salafist leaders

Chavez at it again: Possibly

According to Iranian newspaper, Venezuelan President beats his chest for mullahs of Iran

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a well-known anti-United States leftist warned on Friday that the US intends to invade Iran in its search for energy resources, and said the world can avoid that aggression. The news account indicated that at the opening of a hydroelectric station on the Caroni River, Chavez, publicly asked Europe, Russia, and China to save the world by evading the US aggressive policy.

We neither confirm or deny that Chavez said it or that he would back the mullahs, however, Go to the article appearing in Iran News : Chavez or Go to the article appearing in Radio Habana Cuba: Chavez Disclaimer: Both news service outlets have published anti-Chavez information in the past. This could not be independently verified with other news service organizations at the time of this writing.

Technorati tags: Hugo Chavez, Iran, Mullahs,Lunatic, Venezuela, jackass lefti, Caroni River, Buenos Aires, odd news, news feed, journalists, Opinion

Iran Ups the Ante

As reported by Fox News, Iran completed a torpedo missile test. It appears that Iran has "upped the ante" just days after it completed missile tests.

Do we blink and bow, or do we take action?

The next few weeks will prove to be interesting in world of international diplomacy. Who knows just what the next action might be. What is absent in this global chess game is North Korea's involvement, or, the lack thereof. Perhaps President Bush should be having a conversation with President Putin about this. Wonder if he knows anything?

Tehran claims the high-speed "Hoot" torpedo it tested is capable of speeds of 223 miles per hour and can be used form taking down large warships and submarines according to General Ali Fadavi, deputy head of the Revolutionary Guards' Navy. Fox News indicated that the Hoot torpedo may be three or four times faster than a normal torpedo and possibly comparative to the world's known fastest; the Russian-made VA-111 Shkval. Of course, it is not known if the Hoot is based on the VA-111 Shkval. It should come as no surprise at this latest development as it was already mentioned in Wikipedia. (Fox News)

The VA-111 Shkval (from Russian: шквал - "squall") torpedo and its descendants are supercavitating torpedoes developed by the Russian Navy. They are capable of speeds in excess of 200 knots (approximately 360 km/h) and are considered far deadlier than any standard torpedo system fielded by NATO. Other countries, including the United States and Germany have set to work in their own supercavitating torpedo designs, the latter having produced a prototype as of 2004 named the Barracuda. It is also claimed that China has purchased 40 examples of the VA-111 system from Russia, although these claims have yet to be officially verified. Iran has also claimed to have carried out a successful test of such a weapon. (Wikipedia)

FAS concluded in an article that the VA-111 Shkval travels at a velocity that would give a targeted vessel very little chance to perform evasive action. The missile has been characterized as a "revenge" weapon, which would be fired along the bearing of an incoming enemy torpedo. The VA-111 Shkval may be considered a follow-on to the Russian BGT class of evasion torpedoes, which are fired in the direction of an incoming torpedo to try to force an attacking to evade (and hopefully snap the torpedoes guidance wires). (FAS.Org)

There are three variants of the VA-111 Shkval

• VA-111 Shkval - Original variant; believed to be unguided (or perhaps tracking but largely unmaneuverable)
• "Shkval 2" - Modern variant; believed to be guided, possibly via the use of vectored thrust, and with much longer range.
• A "lite" version currently being exported to various world navies. (Reference.com) (One has to wonder)

Fox News Video of the Iran Missile Test

In 2002 middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) published an article, Iran's Armament - A Central Element in Establishing Itself as a Regional Superpower By Ayelet Savyon, which outlined Iran's ambitions and its allies in it's quest to be a regional superpower. So, these latest developments should come at no surprise.

Iranian - Russian Cooperation on Conventional Arms:

Since the cutting off of American military supplies to Iran following the Islamic Revolution, and the sanctions posed by the U.S. on commerce with third party companies (The Iran Libya Sanction Act (ILSA) was renewed by the Bush Administration August, 2001. )

Iran began to rely primarily on Soviet and Russian made weaponry. ( See Iranian and Russian statements regarding this issue: "In the last few years Russia has become Iran's primary arms supplier." Afarinsh, February 19, 2002; Norouz, February 20, 2001; Tehran Times, February 17, 2002. )

From the Russian point of view, its cooperation with Iran is helping rebuild the Russian military industry (including Research and Development of strategic weapons) which has faced financial difficulties emanating from the end of the Cold War. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed public satisfaction regarding the cooperation between the two countries on this issue. ( IRNA, October 17, 2001. )

During their separate visits to Moscow, both Iran's President Muhammad Khatami, in March 2001, and Minister of Defense Ali Shamkhani, in October 2001, signed military cooperation agreements and arms deals with Russia valued at $7 billion dollars over the coming years. ( IRNA, October 1 and 4, 2001; December 17, 2001. )

Iran and Russia have arms contracts dating back to the 1990s, when Iran received over one hundred T-72 tanks from Russia and even began indigenous manufacturing of tanks upon obtaining Russian license. Iran was also equipped with artillery, anti-aircraft and air-defense systems, armored vehicles, Mi-17 helicopters and other military supplies. ( Jane's Defense Weekly, November 28, 2001; Ze'ev Wolfson, "The 'Russian Factor' in the Middle East Military Balance," Ariel Center for Policy Research, no. 133, pp. 19-20. )

In 2000, Iran made a strategic decision to modernize its military build-up in a twenty-five year program, relying on Russian technology and weaponry. ( The agreements signed in 2001 practically nullified "The Gore-Chernomyrdin Agreement' signed in 1995 between the U.S. and Russia aiming at limiting the sale of Russian conventional weapons to Iran. With the change of administrations in both the U.S. and Russia in November 2000, Moscow announced that it is no longer committed to this agreement. Shamkhani also said that the arms contracts, which were signed with Russia, are considered as "cancellation of the imposed Gore-Chernomyrdin pact" and "open a new chapter in the constant and long term cooperation between the two countries." IRNA, October 6, December 17, 2001. )

The program includes the following elements:

The creation of an integrated anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense system, including the anti-aircraft missile system S-300, and aerial defense system of medium and short-range missiles (SA-11, and SA-15 respectively); the creation of an aerial defense system for the defense of nuclear and military facilities; the licensed production of weapons – artillery, airplanes, and warships; modernization of aircraft and aviation equipment, and modernization of three Kilo-type submarines purchased from Russia. The plan also calls for the establishment of training, repair, and service centers for Iran's land, sea, and air forces; a space program with the goal of launching six satellites; and the training of hundreds of military and technical experts in Russian training facilities. ( See reports about visits of high-ranking military navy and air-forces delegations, IRNA, October 4, 2001; Shamkhani announced that Iran is building double-deck warships and torpedo boats in addition to the development of a marine missile industry, IRNA, February 13, 2002; Rasalat, January 14, 2002; Tehran Times, February 17, 2002; Ze'ev Wolfson, "The "Russian Factor" in the Middle East Military Balance," Ariel Center for Policy Research, no. 133, pp. 20-21. )

A close examination of the program indicates that Iran aspires to establish a powerful industrial-military complex, which will also be used for manufacturing weapons for export. ( Former Iranian president Hashemi Rafsanjani made conflicting statements in this regard: in the Tehran Times he said, "Iran today is one of the leading arms industry powers in the world," January 8, 2002, and in IRNA, he denied the fact that Iran "[sells] weapons and is not interested in arms sale," January 6, 2002. ) ( MEMRI, March 26, 2002, Special Dispatch No.89 )

Guess the news is finally waking up to the realities and gravity of the situation. The indicators have been there for a long time. One has to wonder what motivations and behind the scenes moves Putin and his government has done to helescalatete this situation?

News from around the globe on the growing concern:

• Iran: Stealth Missile Successfully Test-Fired
• Tehran Wants Nuke Facility in Iran
• More Talks Over Iran's Nuclear Plans Scheduled
• Rice Plans Visit to Europe for More Talks on Iran
• Admin. Questions Iran's Approval of U.S. Talks on Iraq
• Rice Warns Against Delays on Iran Resolution
• Iran: Just-Tested Missile Can Avoid Radar...
• UK in secret talks about strike against Iran...
• Experts: if US attack, mullahs to unleash hizbullah terrorists
• And now, "arabization of Norouz" in Iran
• Iran's Mullahs Readying For War
• Experts: if US attack, mullahs to unleash hizbullah terrorists
• Iran to respond US strikes by worldwide attack: Experts
• Britain to discuss Iran strike consequences
• Secret talks on striking Iran continues

Technorati tags: Iran, Germany, Russia, China, United States, Hoot Torpedo, Tehran, VA-111 Shkval, Torpedo, Submarine, Missile test, International diplomacy, Chess, Strategic, Superpower, Vectored thrust, Supercavitating, Central Asia, Putin, Warhead, Condoleezza, Weapons, War plans, Tomahawk, Nuclear, Opinion

Is Iran at War with the USA?

We have done nothing to make the mullahs’ lives more difficult, even though there is abundant evidence for Iranian involvement in Iraq, most including their relentless efforts to kill American soldiers. The evidence consists of first-hand information, not intelligence reports. Scores of Iranian intelligence officers have been arrested, and some have confessed. Documentary evidence of intimate Iranian involvement with Iraqi terrorists has been found all over Iraq, notably in Fallujah and Hilla. But the "intelligence" folks at the Pentagon, led by the hapless Secretary Stephen Cambone, seem to have no curiosity, as if they were afraid of following the facts to their logical conclusion: Iran is at war with us. [continue reading]