Airline threat: Homeland Security Press Brief, 08/10/266

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact 202-282-8010
Washington, D.C.
August 10, 2006

Secretary Chertoff: Good morning. We'd like to provide you with the latest information that we have on recent events in the United Kingdom, and an update on the actions that we are taking to protect our citizens and to keep air travel safe and secure. We want to be as open as possible with the public about the facts; at the same time, it's important, I'm sure you'll understand, that we preserve confidentiality of matters that are necessary in order to complete this investigation. And we also have to respect the demands of the British legal process, which puts certain restrictions on what can be said about ongoing cases.

As I think you're all aware, British authorities have arrested 21 individuals who are now in custody who are alleged to have engaged in a plot to detonate liquid explosives on board multiple commercial aircraft departing from the United Kingdom and bound for the United States. This plot appears to have been well planned and well advanced, with a significant number of operatives. The terrorists planned to carry the components of the bombs, including liquid explosive ingredients and detonating devices disguised as beverages, electronic devices, or other common objects.

While this operation was centered in Great Britain, it was sophisticated, it had a lot of members, and it was international in scope. This operation is, in some respects, suggestive of an al Qaeda plot, but because the investigation is still underway, we cannot yet form a definitive conclusion. We're going to wait until all the facts are in.

We believe that the arrests in Britain have significantly disrupted this major threat. But we cannot assume that the threat has been completely thwarted, or that we have fully identified and neutralized every member of this terrorist network.

There is currently no indication of any plotting within the United States; nevertheless, as a precaution, the federal government is taking immediate steps to increase security measures, with respect to aviation.

First of all, the United States government has raised the nation's threat level to our highest level of alert -- Severe, or Red -- for commercial flights originating in the United Kingdom and bound for the United States. We've made this adjustment to coordinate our alert level with that currently enforced in Britain. In Britain, as you've heard, they are now operating as their highest level, which is called Critical.

Second, as a precaution against any members of the plot who may still be at large, and recognizing the fact that we still have yet to take the investigation to its conclusion, we want to make sure that there are no remaining threats out there, and we also want to take steps to prevent any would-be copycats who may be inspired to similar conduct. Accordingly we are raising the threat level, or we have raised the threat level, with respect to aviation in general, to High, or Orange. That will cover all in-bound international flights, other than flights from Great Britain, and it will cover all flights within the United States itself.

We're taking some additional specific steps. In light of the nature of the liquid explosive devices which were designed by the plotters, we are temporarily banning all liquids in carry-ons in aircraft cabins. That means no liquids or gels will be allowed in carry-on baggage. Any liquids or gels have to be checked have to be checked as part of baggage to go into the hold. There will be exceptions for baby formula and medicines, but travelers must be prepared to present these items for inspection at the checkpoint, and that will allow us to take a look at them and make sure that they're safe to fly.

We are taking this step of preventing liquids from getting into the cabin to give us time to make adjustments in our current screening tactics, based upon what we learn from this investigation concerning the nature of the devices that these individuals were constructing.

We might also add that in order to expedite and ease the process of going through this new screening regime, travelers would be wise to pack as lightly as possible for their carry-on, and to minimize clutter so that we can make the process go more quickly.

Additionally, the Transportation Security Administration will be implementing a series of additional security measures, some of them visible and some of them not visible, to ensure the security of the traveling public and the nation's transportation system.

TSA is immediately implementing these changes to airport screening, including the prohibition against liquids and gels of any kind in carry-on baggage. And apart from these other measures, federal air marshals are being sent to the United Kingdom to provide expanded mission coverage for flights between the United Kingdom and the United States.

United States Customs and Border Protection will be increasing enforcement efforts in the international arrival areas, including the use of advanced targeting tools; special response teams, including baggage and aircraft search teams; baggage x-ray equipment; specially trained canine units; and explosive detection technology. These measures, again, will be constantly evaluated and updated as circumstances warrant.

Now, we recognize these measures are going to be inconvenient. But they are proportionate to the very real threat to the lives of innocent people that was posed by this plot. And what is important here is that we are taking every prudent step to thwart new tactics of terror. Today, air traffic is safe. And air traffic will remain safe precisely because of the measures we are adopting today. People should be patient, but they need not cancel their travel plans. They simply need to be aware there may be some delays and they may want to check with their carriers to see whether they ought to adjust their arrival times at airports.

As always, we ask the American public to remain aware and vigilant, and report any activity that they think is suspicious to local authorities or other appropriate law enforcement agencies.

The work in this investigation has been a remarkable example of interagency coordination in the federal government. We've had numerous intelligence components and law enforcement components working together seamlessly in a coordinated fashion to address this emerging threat and to take the steps necessary to protect the American public from it. I also have to give special thanks to our partners, the British government. They have been terrific, in terms of close information sharing and close coordination, recognizing that both countries, which are bound together with great common feelings of culture, are also, unfortunately, bound together by being targeted through terror. But because of the close working relationship between the British government and the U.S. government, we have managed to make sure that the people of both countries and the people of the world are safer.

The American public can be assured that the United States government will continue to do everything in its power, under the leadership of President Bush, and in cooperation with our British and other allies, to defend our nations and our world. We will continue to provide updates throughout the day and the next few days, as appropriate.

And now I'd like to turn to Attorney General Gonzales.

Attorney General Gonzales: Thank you, Michael. Let me begin by repeating and emphasizing something that Secretary Chertoff said, and that is, we have a very serious investigation that is proceeding in the United Kingdom. And we want to be very, very careful, as we try to inform and educate the American public, about saying too much that might, in any way, jeopardize that investigation or subsequent prosecution. And so we ask for your patience in asking and receiving information. We'll try to be as forthcoming as we can, as quickly as we can. But again, we don't want to do anything that may, in any way, jeopardize or adversely affect an investigation or prosecution in the United Kingdom, or perhaps even in this country.

Now, since 9/11, the threat reporting has consistently shown that there is a vicious and determined enemy that is intent on harming American lives. And every day is September 12th for those of us tasked with protecting America. And we know that our counterparts abroad feel the same way.

Today's announcement is a true testament to the hundreds of hours of patient work by British authorities. Their vigilance has led to the unraveling of this deadly plot by terror cells based in the U.K. -- a plot, as Mike indicated, designed to detonate bombs aboard commercial airliners en route to the United States, potentially killing hundreds of innocent people. On behalf of the American people, I want to thank the British authorities for their tremendous efforts to disrupt this deadly scheme.

Although the law enforcement investigation is ongoing, I want to update you on the preliminary information that we have available at this time. We will, as Secretary Chertoff indicated, continue to provide additional information as it becomes available. The perpetrators who were arrested overnight were extremists who had gone beyond just stating a desire to kill Americans. Their plotting turned to action as they took several steps to carry out their deadly plan. Their focus appears to have been on the use of liquid explosives.

We are still assessing the links to al Qaeda. However, a plot of this sophistication is suggested of al Qaeda tactics, as Secretary Chertoff mentioned.

From the beginning of the investigation, we have been in constant contact with our counterparts in the U.K. We share the same philosophy of prevention, a sense of urgency to dismantle these terrorist cells before an attack occurs. The FBI and other law enforcement intelligence agencies have worked closely with our colleagues at MI-5 on all aspects of this case, and they have aggressively pursued every domestic lead that has arisen from the intelligence that led to these arrests.

As Secretary Chertoff said, while there is currently no indication of any plotting within the United States, the federal government is taking immediate steps to increase security measures in the aviation sector. The FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the entire intelligence community will continue to aggressively pursue every lead and shred of intelligence that arises from this or any other terrorism case. This has been our practice since 9/11. And today is no different from any other day, in that sense.

The American people should know that everything that can be done to protect them is being done by law enforcement and intelligence professionals around the country and abroad. We ask that people continue on with their normal lives, but with some extra patience as the professionals do their jobs, especially at the airports around the country.

As we have stated many times before, we are a nation at war. Today's actions are a stark reminder that the threat is real and that we have a deadly enemy who still wakes every morning thinking of new ways to kill innocent men, women and children, and dreams every night about wreaking the destruction on freedom-loving countries.

Our enemies should know that we are just as equally intent on stopping them. We will continue to work around the clock with our colleagues around the world to dismantle their operations one person at a time.

Assistant Secretary Hawley: First, I'd like to thank the traveling public and our partners at the airports and airlines, law enforcement and our own transportation security officers and all the people involved in this change-over. It normally takes us about four weeks to roll out a change at a security checkpoint, and this one came about in a little bit more than four hours in the middle of last night. And so this was a surprise to many of us, and as such is difficult to implement. And I think we are going to see over the next day or two as the public becomes aware and we all get used to the process that it is going to get better, but in the next couple of days, we ask for your patience, and we thank you for your understanding.

This was strong and immediate action, and it was cooperative with -- among airlines, airports, law enforcement to do much more than you can see at the checkpoint. These changes sound complicated, but it is very, very simple. The major change is that passengers are no longer allowed to bring liquids through the checkpoint and onto the plane. That is the big change. Other than that, it is getting used to the new process. And we're very confident that as time goes one, that will occur.

A couple of pointers: de-clutter your bag. If you let the TSOs have a clear view of what's in the bag with their x-ray, you'll move right on through. That is something very easy to do as you pack your bag -- leave the liquids at home, drink them, de-clutter your bag.

And last, I'd say enjoy your trip. I think this is what TSA was created for -- to be flexible, to work with others in the community, to scale up security where needed in certain areas and be flexible and adjustable. And we look forward to delivering on that commitment.

Secretary Chertoff: Let me just echo that. It does seem a little odd maybe to hear somebody say enjoy your trip, but the whole point of this exercise is to continue to maintain the level of safety and security in air travel in this country that we have had since September 11th. Now, sometimes to do that, we have to be taking steps that do cause a little bit of inconvenience. But with patience and with cooperation -- and so far I think we've seen that from the traveling public -- what we will deliver to the public is the thing which is most important, which is the ability get on the plane, get about your business or enjoy your holiday and do so with confidence that we are searching out people who want to do harm to innocent travelers.

Let me just introduce everybody else up here, and then we'll take some questions in various people's area of expertise. We have Marian Blakey, who is the head of the Federal Aviation Administration; you know Bob Mueller, the Director of the FBI; and Scott Redd, who is the head of the NCTC. So with that, if you'll raise your hands, and I'll direct questions.

Yes, Pete.

Question: Mr. Secretary, you talked about the design of the devices by the plotters. Can you say whether they went beyond the design stage and had actually built their devices? And can you say whether they had made reservations, bought tickets? How far along were they?

Secretary Chertoff: I would say that this plot was well advanced. In other words, they had accumulated and assembled the capabilities that they needed, and they were in the final stages of planning before execution. I don't want to get very specific for investigative reasons about each individual step. But this is not a case where this was just in the initial thought stage. There were very concrete steps underway to execute all elements of this plan.

Question: So they had built the bombs?

Secretary Chertoff: I'm not going to get that specific because I'm going to honor that original observation I made about not compromising the British case or the investigation, but they had accumulated the capabilities necessary and they were well on the way. This was a well advanced plan.

Yes.

Question: Secretary Chertoff, you praised British authorities. What do you know about when they learned about this plot? And when did they inform the United States?

Secretary Chertoff: Let me -- again, I'm going to be a little bit circumspect and say that some of the threads which led to this investigation have been pursued by British authorities for a considerable period of time. However, it is only recently -- certainly within the last two weeks, maybe less -- that the investigation revealed that this planning was taking the direction of targeting the United States. And so in that much more recent period of time, we've obviously become much more involved from the United States' standpoint and been working much more closely with the British to follow what appeared to be an accelerating plan to carry out a very, very serious terrorist act.

Yes.

Question: I wonder if we could talk about the upcoming anniversary of 9/11, and whether this was in any way related to that? Was that a possible target date? And if not, can you say anything about when this plot would have come to fruition? And speaking of 9/11, can you compare this plot with that one in terms of scope -- the number of airlines, the number of planes, the number of potential victims and so forth?

Secretary Chertoff: That's about five questions. We're all obviously mindful about September 11th. I can't tell you that that was a particular date that was in the mind of the people involved in this plot, nor can I tell you that they would have waited that long. I think we were really getting quite close to the execution phase. I can tell you our general experience, certainly when you deal with al Qaeda -- and again I want to caution that we've not yet concluded this is al Qaeda -- but our general experience is that they're not necessarily motivated by anniversaries the way sometimes people project.

In terms of seriousness, it's obviously hard to compare a plot that was frustrated, thank God, with a plot that was unfortunately executed. It is reminiscent -- but again, I don't want to overdraw the comparison -- with a plot that was hatched by Khalid Shaykh Muhammad in the 1990s, in which he envisioned detonating bombs on I think it was 11 airliners, many of them traveling over the Pacific. And that's been well publicized, so that's obviously a known historical fact.

Yes.

Question: Mr. Secretary, maybe you -- Mr. Mueller or Mr. Redd might answer this -- if this isn't an al Qaeda footprint, is there any evidence that leads you to believe that there is -- there are other organizations with the capability to do something like this?

Director Mueller: Well, this had the earmarks of an al Qaeda plot. As the Attorney General and Secretary Chertoff have said, we have no indication at this point in time of plotting within the United States aligned at all, or at all intersecting the plotters in the U.K. But that does not mean that there are not others around the world that have the same aspirations and would undertake the same type of plotting.

Question: You mentioned the 11 planes in that -- in the KSM plot -- do you know how many planes were actually targeted in this plot? And can you give us the airlines that were targeted, as well?

Secretary Chertoff: Again, the investigation is still at a relatively early phase. The British are conducting the investigation. I don't feel that we can confidently give you a number. Clearly what was envisioned were multiple explosions in multiple aircraft. But I think it would be speculative for us to come up with a number -- to fix a number onto that.

Question: Can you name the airlines, at all?

Secretary Chertoff: What I prefer to say is this: It's clear that they were searching to look at possible options, in terms of scheduled passenger airline flights. It does appear that towards the end, shortly before we brought this down, they had focused on a number of airlines involved, which have specific routes between Britain and the United States, and which are U.S.-flagged carriers. We have talked to the airlines in question. In fact, we've talked to all the airlines that operate internationally and domestically because we want to make sure that everyone is fully aware of what the dimensions of this planning was. And I can tell you the airlines have been very, very deeply committed to working with us to elevate the level of security to protect their passengers.

Beverly.

Question: Mr. Secretary, there is so much emphasis here on liquids. Was the fear that they were planning actually to assemble a bomb on board the aircraft by mixing liquids?

Secretary Chertoff: I would say certainly one of the considerations or one of the concerns we had is the possibility of bringing on board a number of different components of a bomb, each one of which would be benign, but when mixed together would create a bomb. And as we assess exactly what the design of these devices was or the plan design was, I think it will give us a better ability to tailor our countermeasures in order to pick up what appears to be a quite sophisticated conception of how to execute a terrorist bombing plot.

Yes.

Question: Regardless of whether this does turn out to be al Qaeda or not, could you talk about the suspects in Britain, and whether those people were homegrown folks who -- are British citizens or from Britain, as opposed to people who came from elsewhere and moved there?

Secretary Chertoff: Yes, I think we're going to let -- this is really a sensitive area for the British legal system. I think we're going to let them discuss the nature of the defendants. But I do think a point that's very important is this: This was a very sophisticated plan and operation. This is not a circumstance where you had a handful of people sitting around coming up with dreamy ideas about terrorist plots. The conception, the large number of people involved, the sophisticated design of the devices that were being considered, and the sophisticated nature of the plan all suggests that this group that came together to conspire was very determined and very skilled and very capable.

And the reason I emphasize that is become we are taking some very serious and inconvenient measures, and I think the public is entitled to understand we're doing this because we recognize this was a plot that is certainly about as sophisticated as any we've seen in recent years, as far as terrorism is concerned.

Question: When the threat alert system was created, the Red level was supposed to indicate an imminent threat. Do you believe that there's an imminent threat against the United States at this point? If not, why didn't we just go to code Orange like we did a year ago? And from your viewpoint, what's the difference in operational levels between Red level and Orange level?

Also, a quick follow-up. Are there any concerns about threats against any other modes of transportation in the United States?

Secretary Chertoff: What we tried to do this year, as we did last year with July 7th was to be as precise and sculpted as we could reasonably be, in terms of the alert level. We did go to Orange in the aviation system domestically and every place outside of flights from Britain to the U.S. precisely because we have no specific indication of a threat in those channels of air travel. But given what we don't know, and given the possibility of copycats, we thought it prudent to raise the alert level generally in aviation. We don't believe that logic extends to raising it generally in the country.

Now, as far as Red, the British made a determination -- and obviously they are in the best position, given their knowledge of what's going on in their investigation -- that even with the 21 arrests, it is still prudent to consider the likelihood of attack at being at the highest possible level for travel from Britain to the United States. And I think that, based in significant part, certainly, on that judgment, and with our own assessment, that seemed a prudent step to take with respect to this fairly defined subset of air travel, which was, after all, the objective of a sophisticated plot.

Question: So, in other words, there's no evidence right now to indicate that there's going to be an imminent attack on the United States?

Secretary Chertoff: I would say that with respect to travel from the U.K. to the United States, given the fact that the arrest activities in Britain are still underway, prudence suggests that we treat that particular route of travel -- U.K. to the U.S. -- as being at the highest level of being under threat.

Apart from that, we're certainly at a heightened alert-level elsewhere, but we don't have any specific reason to believe that there is a threat to other routes of air travel. But, again, we always have to be careful that -- we don't necessarily know everything. We're going to learn a lot more in the course of the investigation, and I would rather have more protection and then scale it back as we become more reassured than underestimate the problem and find out, God forbid, that we have made a tragic mistake.

Yes.

Question: Mr. Secretary, because you said the substances were benign, is there any type of detection device that we have or could be created to detect these liquid explosives?

Secretary Chertoff: Well, here's where I'm going to resist the temptation to give a recipe to terrorists about how to try to maximize their ability to succeed. Obviously, we're always assessing and examining the challenge posed by different kinds of improvised explosive devices. We do use various kinds of techniques for different kinds of bomb-making, but when we do see a sophisticated design, we want to make sure that we have properly engineered our countermeasures to be able to detect it.

And so while we're in the process of assessing that -- and, you know, honestly, some of these are pretty difficult -- we want to, frankly, take the most protective stance, and that's why we have, for the time being, excluded liquids from the cabin.

Yes, in the back.

Question: Yes, are the air marshals just going to Britain for flights coming this way, or are they going to other European cities, as well?

Secretary Chertoff: Well, we have air marshals all over the world. We're going to continue to have air marshals operate in the system, but we will be focusing, at least in the short term, on putting extra air marshal resources in this particular route because we know this was the focal point of the conspiracy that is in the process of being disrupted.

Question: Mr. Secretary, just back to the Red versus Orange -- the Red would seem to indicate that you or the British authorities believe that some of the people involved are still at large. Is that the case? Or is this just precautionary?

Secretary Chertoff: I think it's a recognition of the fact that, particularly at this stage of the arrest and the takedown, there is sufficient uncertainty about whether the British have scooped up everybody -- that we do think it's prudent to regard this particular target, this particular route, as still being at the highest level of risk. It doesn't mean that we know for a fact there are people out there who are still active, but as anybody who's been involved in these investigations knows, we're going to learn more things, and the British are going to learn more things in the next hours and days.

And given the amount of planning and effort that was put into this plot, I think it would be a little bit risky to assume that everything is shut down and the threat has gone away. So, you know, we spent a lot of time thinking about this. We certainly put a great deal of weight on the views taken by the British because it is, after all, their investigation. Principally it is their -- the folks who are on the ground, and certainly when they express a concern that prudence requires the highest level of protection and the highest level of concern for this particular route, I think we're well advised to give a lot of weight to that.

###

Related Information

• Statement by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff Announcing a Change to the Nation’s Threat Level for the Aviation Sector, August 10, 2006


• Fact Sheet: Guidance For Airline Passengers, August 10, 2006

Technorati Tags: Homeland security … Terror …Terrorism … Terrorist … War on Terror … News … al Qaeda … Terror cell … Counter-terrorism … Islamic Extremists … Jihad … Holy War ... Caliphate

Anti-Terror Critics just don’t get it - Pundits put us at risk

In a Guardian editorial by Alan Travis, Guardian's Home Affairs Editor, Anti-Terror Critics Just Don't Get It - Politicians, Judges, and Media 'Put at Risk', Travis quotes British Home Secretary John Reid of Britain (not Pundit "Dingy" Harry Reid of the US) who sums up left wing wacko-ism and Political Correctness.

After the terrorist bomb threat to British airlines was revealed yesterday, Travis reported how Home Secretary Reid spoke frankly to the British people.

Reid accused the (British) government's anti-terror critics of putting national security at risk by their failure to recognize the serious nature of the threat facing Britain. "They just don't get it," he said.

"Sometimes we may have to modify some of our own freedoms in the short term in order to prevent their misuse and abuse by those who oppose our fundamental values and would destroy all of our freedoms in the modern world," he said.

Mr Reid said Britain was now facing "probably the most sustained period of severe threat since the end of the second world war" and that the country was facing a new breed of ruthless "unconstrained international terrorists". The European human rights convention had been drawn up 50 years ago to protect against fascist states but now the threat came from "fascist individuals" unconstrained by such conventions, agreements or standards.

Everyone across the political, media, judicial and public spectrum needed to understand the depth and magnitude of the threat.

For the rest of the story, please go to UK Guardian, Anti-Terror Critics Just Don't Get It - Politicians, Judges, and Media 'Put at Risk'

The Bosun sincerely believes just like the naive, liberals, socialists and leftists of the Brit's society put them at risk; the naive, liberals, socialists, and leftists of American Society put America at risk.

One should think that Jack Murtha, Dean, Pelosi, Clinton, Kerry, (our "Dingy" Harry) Reid, McDermott, Feingold, and other left wingers better get with the program, because if they do not, the Islamofacist Caliphate will spread to the North America, too. The battle lines have been drawn, do we have the guts to get the job done?

Technorati Tags: Homeland security … Terror …Terrorism … Terrorist … War on Terror … News … al Qaeda … Terror cell … Counter-terrorism … Islamic Extremists … Jihad … Holy War ... Caliphate

Plane Terror Plot Thwarted in Britain

Courtesy of Sky News:

Police say they have disrupted a major plot to blow up as many as 20 planes over UK and US cities with explosive devices smuggled aboard as hand luggage.

Police are have arrested 20 people in London - the culmination of a covert counter-terrorist operation lasting several months.

For the meantime, passengers in Britain are not being allowed to carry on normal hand luggage including electronic items, handbags and other belongings. Sky News’ Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt said there were concerns that certain explosives, possibly liquid, could be missed during x-ray screening of hand luggage.

Apparently several flights have also been canceled. Other news services are reporting that United States Homeland Security has raised the threat level on aircraft originating in Britain and possibly Europe. However, that information has yet to be posted on Homeland Security and Transportation Security Agency websites. The news of this breaking story is rather disjointed at present. Britain’s threat level has been raised from ’severe’ to ‘critical’.

More details are becoming available through the British and United States Press:

• Breaking News from Sky News
• U.S. raises threat level to red for flights from Britain From Minneapolis Star Tribune
• Plot to blow up UK-U.S. jets foiled from Minneapolis Star Tribune
• London Police Thwart Terrorist Plot Fox News
• U.S. raises threat level at airports Yahoo News

homeland security … terror …terrorism … terrorist … war on terror … news … al Qaeda … terror cell … counter-terrorism … Islamic extremists … jihad … holy war

One missing Egytian Exchange Student in Custody: 10 Missing Students Still At Large

Breaking from Minneapolis Star Tribune:

Egyptian apprehended in Minneapolis was handed over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and held on an administrative immigration violation as an out-of-status student. Also today, two other students surrendered to police in New Jersey on Wednesday, the FBI announced.

"In response to hearing in the media that they should turn themselves in to the nearest police station, they did just that," said Steven Siegel, a spokesman for the FBI's Newark office.

Previously filed courtesy of KSTP Channel 5 Eyewitness News

According to a Associated Press release at KSTP Channel 5, one Egyptian student, part of the missing 11 Egyptians sought for failing to report to their respective student exchange programs in Montana was arrested in Minnesota on Wednesday.

The missing student was taken into custody at a residence in Minneapolis on what authorities called an "administrative immigration violation." Details of his arrest have not yet been released. There are currently immigration warrants out for the other 10 missing students.

The FBI said earlier that the missing students appear to pose no terrorism threat. Apparently there has been no change to that status, as of yet. For the complete story, please visit KSTP Channel 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS

Previous article: FBI searching for 11 missing Egyptian Exchange Students

Also reporting: CNN - UPDATE: FBI Issues Nationwide Alert For No-Show Egyptian Students...

Technorati Tags: Homeland Security … Illegal Aliens … War on terror … Student Visas … Montana … Egypt … FBI … Border Security … International Travel … Terrorism

Iranian Cleric Threatens US - Britain - and the free world

Special Dispatch - Iran/Lebanon
August 9, 2006
No. 1237

Iranian Guardian Council Secretary Ayatollah Jannati In Tehran Friday Sermon: Islamic History is Repeating Itself Today With the Battle Between the Descendents of Ali and the Jews

DISCLAIMER: The different points of views of MEMRI and its contributors are not supported nor do they reflect the views and beliefs of the Bosun Locker or any entity affiliated with the Bosun Locker.

The following are excerpts from a Friday sermon in Tehran by Iranian Guardian Council Secretary Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati. The sermon aired on Iranian Channel 1 on August 4, 2006.

TO VIEW THIS CLIP, VISIT: MEMRI TV Clip Ayatollah Jannati.

To view this Special Dispatch in HTML, visit: HTML page of Jannati' Sermon .

Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati: "God is using one of Ali's descendents [Nasrallah] to confront the spiritual and physical descendents of Marhab of Khaybar [the Jews]. God is reviving the memories of early Islam - the memories of the conflict between Ali and the Jews of [the battles] of Khaybar and Khandaq. On one side stood Ali with a small number of Muslims, and on the other side stood the strong, rich, vain, and arrogant Jews. Ultimately, the sword of Ali did what had to be done, and he humiliated the people of Khaybar and the vain and arrogant Jews. Today, this descendant of Ali stands in the same position, and so do the descendents of Marhab of Khaybar, the Jews of Khaybar and Khandaq."

[...]

"All the oppressed victims of Lebanon break our hearts, but the most heart-breaking of all are the children, who are being killed everywhere, especially in the village of Qana. Israel gave the blood of these children to the impure and evil Rice, and to Bush, who is more impure than impure, in order to quench their thirst for blood."

[...]

"I wish the Islamic regimes had some compassion, mercy, and honor. I do not know what good they could do. A non-Islamic country [Venezuela] recalls its ambassador, and tells him there is no reason for him to remain in Israel, but the neighboring Islamic countries, and even the non-Islamic countries, do not even do this. They do not even close the gates of their embassies. They really are raising the level of shame to the maximum, but they should know that they will bear this mark of shame, and one day, the hand of divine vengeance will take revenge upon those who kept silent in the face of oppression."

[...]

"The [U.N.] Security Council is so weak, so impotent, and so susceptible to pressure that it is incapable of passing any resolution. But when it comes to Iran, and to the trampling of its right to nuclear technology underfoot, it immediately passes a resolution, with an absolute majority. At that moment, death takes over the Security Council. Indeed, the gates of the U.N. and the Security Council should be closed. What kind of Security Council is this?"

Crowd: "Allah Akbar.

"Allah Akbar.

"Allah Akbar.

"Khamenei is the leader.

"Death to those who oppose the rule of the jurisprudent.

"Death to America.

"Death to England.

"Death to the hypocrites [Mojahedin-e Khalq] and Saddam.

"Death to Israel."

[...]

"What Hizbullah does shows that all the humiliation endured by us and the Islamic world stems from our own impotence. If [the Muslims] were men enough to enter the arena, their spit and threats would be enough to put the others in their place. As [the Muslims] continue to keep silent, [America and Israel] became so insolent, to the point that this wretched woman comes and talks about a New Middle East. This means a Middle East that is subservient to America, [and] follows its orders unconditionally. This is the Middle East they desire, but, Allah willing, they will take this desire to the grave."

*********************

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FBI Searching for Missing Egyptian Students in US

Hat tip to World Net Daily

According the an Associated Press (AP) story that was carried on CBS News, the FBI are currently searching for 11 Egyptian Students who failed to report to the exchange program at Montana State University.

The missing Egyptian men were part of a group of 17 students who arrived in the United States on July 29th (2006). Apparently all of the students had obtained appropriate visas to enter the United States. The whereabouts and intentions of the missing 11 students are unknown. At least the other six Egyptian students who arrived on July 29th, reported to their respective exchange programs at Montana State.

According to FBI Special Agent Richard Kolko. "At this point all they have done is not show up for a scheduled academic program ..... There is no threat associated with these men."

Please visit CBS news for the rest of the story, FBI are searching for 11 Egyptian Exchange Students

RELATED STORIES & LINKS

• New 9/11-Style Plot In The Works? - FBI: Old Face From Previous Investigations Has Resurfaced
• al-Qaeda Leader Says Terror Group Growing - al-Qaeda's No. 2 leader announced in a new videotape aired Saturday that an Egyptian militant group has joined the terror network.
• Report: Terror List Causes Gridlock - DHS Says Terror Watch List Slows Border Officers, Legitimate Travelers
• More Terror Charges Vs. 2 Atlanta Men - New Indictment Includes Plotting 'Violent Jihad' Against Targets, Including Military Base
• U.K. Man Faces Terror Charges In Conn. - Indictment Claims He Helped Run Web Sites That Raised Money For Terrorists

Technorati Tags: Homeland Security ... Illegal Aliens ... War on terror ... Student Visas ... Montana ... Egypt ... FBI ... Border Security ... International Travel ... Terrorism

Venezuelan President Chavez on Al-Jazeera

Special Dispatch - U.S. & The Middle East
August 8, 2006
No. 1235

Venezuelan President Chavez on Al-Jazeera: Israel Uses Methods of Hitler, the U.S. Uses Methods of Dracula; I'm a Nasserist who has Crossed Deserts, Ridden Camels, and Sung Along With the Bedouin; Al-Jazeera Plays a Role in Liberating the World

DISCLAIMER: The different points of views of MEMRI and its contributors are not supported nor do they reflect the views and beliefs of the Bosun Locker or any entity affiliated with the Bosun Locker.

To view this Special Dispatch in HTML, visit: HTML of Chavez on Al-Jazeera .

In an interview with Al-Jazeera TV that aired on August 4, 2006, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez expressed his solidarity with the entire Arab people on the occasion of his birthday, stating that his heart "beat along with millions of Arab hearts." He goes on to talk about how Israel is "doing what Hitler did to the Jews," how the U.S. is "like Count Dracula - always in search of blood and petrol," how Nasser was "one of the greatest people in Arab history," and how Al-Jazeera plays "a role in liberating the world."

The following are excerpts from the interview.

TO VIEW THIS CLIP, VISIT: Video of Chavez appearance on Al-Jazeera .

"I Have Crossed Deserts, I Have Ridden Camels, and I Have Sung Along With the Bedouin"

Hugo Chavez: "I want to congratulate the people of Qatar, and its leader, my friend and brother, Prince Hamad. From this pulpit, I send my brotherly congratulations to the entire Arab people. I'm celebrating my birthday in the heart of the Arab homeland, on Arab land. What a happy coincidence! My heart beats along with millions of Arab hearts. I could have been an Arab. I have crossed deserts, I have ridden camels, and I have sung along with the Bedouin. I have learned in those years to love and respect the Arab people."

[...]

Israel's Aggression is "Perpetrated in the Manner of Hitler"

"We feel that the Israeli aggression against the Palestinians and against Lebanon is directed against us too. This aggression is unjustified. It is perpetrated in the fascist manner of Hitler. Israel is justified in criticizing Hitler and his aggression - and we criticize this as well - but now they are doing what Hitler did to the Jews. They are killing innocent children and whole families. They dismantled the legitimate government of Palestine, and thwarted tremendous efforts to achieve peace and establish a Palestinian state.

"Now they are attacking Lebanon, and have destroyed more than half of it, according to the latest information. They have assassinated hundreds of innocent people, and to what end? There is no justification for this. I am telling you with all honesty that the hand of the Americans is spurring them on. This hand is behind the Israeli aggression. It is imperialistic aggression. The real threat to the world is the imperialistic threat posed by the U.S., and Israel is one of its imperialistic instruments in this part of the world."

[...]

"On this day, as I am celebrating my birthday, I demand, on behalf of the people of Venezuela, that Israel withdraws from the land of Palestine and from Lebanon. There must be an immediate cease-fire. We must give room for diplomacy, and respect law and human rights. We cannot go back to living in caves. This will be terrible for the future of humanity."

[...]

"Once again, the mask has fallen from the Satanic imperialistic face of the U.S. They used their veto to prevent the Security Council from activating the mechanism of the U.N. in order to put an end to this aggression."

[...]

The U.S. is "Like Count Dracula - Always in Search of Petrol and Blood"

Interviewer: "Mr. President, could this lead us to say, as has been claimed, that this is an American war by proxy, rather than an Israeli war against Lebanon and Palestine?"

Hugo Chavez: "Yes, I have no doubt about this."

[...]

"In 50 years, the U.S. consumed the energy consumed by humanity in 150 years. Now, they are working to take control of the petroleum of the peoples, in order to consume it, just like Dracula. They are like Count Dracula - always in search of petrol and blood. Why? Because they want to preserve something transient - the American imperialistic way of life."

[...]

"The American Empire is the No. 1 Enemy in the Way of the Kingdom of Peace and Justice"

"In all honesty, I say that it is the U.S. that should formulate a plan for post-imperialism. American society cannot and should not come to an end, but the imperialism of the fascist elite will. We must defeat imperialism in this century, so that this elite will not annihilate the world. Either we succeed in 1,000 different ways to end imperialism, or else imperialism will use 1,000 different ways to annihilate the world. This would constitute the end of mankind, the end of our hopes. Jesus Christ called on us to live in the Kingdom of Peace, but there can be no peace without freedom. I'm a Christian, and I believe that Jesus came to announce to us the coming of the Kingdom of God, and the Kingdom of God is peace, equality, and justice. The American empire is the number one enemy in the way of the Kingdom of Peace and Justice."

[...]

"How can this be achieved? The answer has to do with the strategy that will allow us to reach our goal - reaching what Jesus called the Kingdom of Heaven. How? This can be done in a multi-polar world. The answer is that we must create a multi-polar world. This is the spirit of the foreign policy of Venezuela, my dear friend and brother, Muhammad."

[...]

"Nasser was One of the Greatest People of Arab History"

"Someone talked to me about his pessimism regarding the future of Arab nationalism. I told him I was optimistic, because the ideas of Nasser are still alive. Nasser was one of the greatest people of Arab history, to say the least; I am a Nasserist, ever since I was a young soldier."

[...]

"My Heart is With Al-Jazeera and its Media People... You Have a Role in Liberating the World"

"Whenever I meet an Al-Jazeera reporter, I feel like giving him an interview or a statement. Allow me to say to the Al-Jazeera staff that I am amazed by them. As someone who fights for a just world, it is an honor for me to be here, and to sit across from you in these studios, and among these colleagues and brothers in Al-Jazeera. I say to the media people I have met here, and with some of whom I shook hands, that you are an example and a model of honor, bravery, and the fight for justice. You are committed to the code of journalistic work, and to the breaking of the monopoly over the media, and the distortion of the truth, despite all the pressure."

[...]

"My heart is with Al-Jazeera and with its media people, its employees, and its workers. You should continue to serve as an example, and present the truth to the world, because the truth is that you have a role in liberating the world."

*********************

The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) is an independent, non-profit organization that translates and analyzes the media of the Middle East. Copies of articles and documents cited, as well as background information, are available on request.

MEMRI holds copyrights on all translations. Materials may only be used with proper attribution.

The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI)
P.O. Box 27837, Washington, DC 20038-7837
Phone: (202) 955-9070
Fax: (202) 955-9077
E-Mail: memri@memri.org
Search previous MEMRI publications at http://www.memri.org/

Technorati Tags: Hizbollah … Middle East … Terrorism … Ahmadinejad … Hugo Chavez … Venezuela … Iran … Islam … Terrorist … Anti US … South America … Latin States… Martyrdom fighters … Fighters of Muhammad ... Anti-Semitic ... Al-Jazeera

Hebollah Terrorists in America

Courtesy of CBNNews.com – (CBN News) - DISCLAIMER: The different points of views in this article by Dale Hurd CBN News, Hebollah Terrorists in America , are not supported nor do they reflect the views and beliefs of the Bosun Locker or any entity affiliated with the Bosun Locker.

The leader of Hezbollah has declared America the enemy. Many Arabs and Muslims in America openly support Hezbollah.

Is this a potential threat to our safety?

Several thousand people marched through the Detroit suburb of Dearborn a few weeks ago, chanting "Hezbollah" and holding up photos of Hezbollah leader Sheik Nasrallah and posters comparing President Bush to Hitler.

Similar protests took place in San Francisco, New York, and other cities.

The U.S. government calls Hezbollah a terrorist organization, but don't tell that to these Americans.

Osama Siblani publishes the Arab-American News, the largest Arab-American newspaper in the United States. He said, “No, They are not terrorists. Absolutely not. No. They are freedom fighters.”

(Nadine Naber, a Jordanian Christian and professor of Arab American studies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor said, "Hizbullah was born as a result of resistance to illegal Israeli occupation. "We don't have to look far to know that ethnic cleansing of Arabs is not out of the question. All we have to do is look to Palestine and Iraq." Source Arab-American News )

Adding that the U.S. tries to use religious differences to weaken Middle Eastern nations, Naber called for not only an end to U.S. funding of Israel's military, but also for fair reporting.

He told the Chicago Tribune that if the FBI wants to go after Hezbollah supporters in Dearborn, "…they better bring a fleet of buses. I, for one, would be willing to go to jail."

Hezbollah is an Iranian creation, and although it has a measure of independence, it's considered Iran's proxy army in southern Lebanon. As many as 15,000 of Dearborn's Arabs come from the Hezbollah stronghold of Bint Jbeil, Lebanon.

In fact, the current mayor in Bint Jbeil, Haj Ali Bazzi, is from Dearborn. He has an American passport and a Michigan driver’s license.

The dominant Islamic leader in Dearborn is Mohammed Ali Elahi, an Iranian-American whose Web site displays photos of Elahi with Hezbollah spiritual leader Sheikh Fadlallah and former Iranian President Rafsanjani, who once suggested nuking Israel.

Debbie Schlussel, a Detroit columnist and attorney, was the first to call attention to Elahi’s Web site and to his ties to Iranian government officials.

(You may view Debbie's account of the rally in Dearborn here: Honoring Hezbollah )

“I went to his Web site, and I found even more outrageous pictures of him with Ayatollah Khomeini--who we know held many Americans hostage for 444 days," Schlussel said. "We have pictures of him delivering prayers to the Iranian parliament. We have pictures of him with the former President of Iran, Mr. Khatami.”

Yet Elahi is respected by many in the Detroit area, and even does a regular column for the Detroit News.

He spoke with CBN News terrorism expert Erick Stackelbeck.

“We need to have another interview,” said Elahi, “of talking about Hezbollah – whether that is a terrorist organization or not. I know that, legally, in the U.S. now, Hezbollah is on that list. And whether we agree with the law or disagree, we have to follow the law of the land.”

Before 9/11, Hezbollah killed more Americans than any other terrorist group: 300 murdered in six separate attacks, including 241 Marines in the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing. Now, with America's building confrontation with Iran over its nuclear program, the New York Post reports that Hezbollah is prepared to activate terrorist sleeper cells in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, and Detroit.

No less than nine Federal prosecutors are investigating Hezbollah ties in the Detroit area alone. And the FBI has issued a nationwide alert for local and state police to be vigilant in investigating Hezbollah sympathizers.

Barbara Newman, a former investigative producer for ABC news, is co-author of Lightning Out of Lebanon: Hezbollah Terrorists on American Soil.

Newman said, "Hezbollah makes al-Qaeda look like Sunday-schoolers. They're the best light infantry in the world, and they're dangerous, and they're all over America.”
"It's an army that was started in 1982 by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards,” Newman explained. “And they wanted to impose the same type of regime on Lebanon as they have in Iran. They're a mortal enemy of the West and of democracy."

Hezbollah fighters have also already fought the United States in Iraq, and Newman says it’s building improvised explosive devices that kill GIs.

"The FBI just told me that Hezbollah is making the most advanced ones that are coming into play. Plus, they're training. They have offices there. It's not widely known," she said.

Arab and Muslim Americans who support Hezbollah have expressed anger that their patriotism is being questioned. But critics wonder how it's possible to support both Hezbollah and the United States.

Technorati Tags: Hizbollah … Middle East … Terrorism … Patriotism … Iran … Islam … Terrorist … Anti US … Anti Israel … Anti Semetic… Martyrdom fighters … Fighters of Muhammad ... homeland security … Hezbollah …terrorism … terrorist … war on terror ...

Breaking News: Arrests made in Phoenox Sniper(s) case

Courtesy of Fox News and AZ Central: Police reported have arrested two men Friday in an investigation into a series of fatal shootings that have terrorized Phoenix-area residents.

Sgt. Chuck Trapani, a Mesa police spokesman, earlier said “we’ve had a break in one of our major cases” but would not disclose any details.

Local news reports indicated that two men may have been apprehended in the connection to the recent crimewave of shootings in the Phoenix area. A press conference is expected later this morning.

More to follow later today.

Report: Fox News; AZ Central
Technorati Tags: Phoenix … Sniper … Armed … Violent Crime … Arizona … Domestic Terrorism

Seattle Shooter charged under State Hate-Crime Law

I heard on KTTH Talk Radio, Boze and Sytman Morning Show, that the man who was accused in last week's shooting rampage at the Jewish Federation office that left one woman dead and five injured was expected to be charged today. There has been much discussion if this shooting was a hate crime or not.

King County Prosecutor, Norm Maleng, said Haq is charged with five counts of attempted first-degree murder; one count of first-degree kidnapping, involving a teenage girl who was briefly taken hostage; one count of first-degree burglary for allegedly entering a locked facility to commit a crime; and one count of malicious harassment under the state's hate-crime law. Source: KIROTV, Channel 7, Seattle

From what I understand, King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng now has 30 days to decide whether to seek the death penalty in that case. Norm the ball is in your court now. I realize that the liberals in the Pacific Northwest would rather explain the murders away as that of a deranged and troubled individual. Stay strong and do what is right.

Here is the latest information from the Seattle Times (Excluding the reference to the hate-crime.) Apparently, Seattle Times did not want the offend our liberal Seattle residents:

• Charges filed in Jewish Federation shootings Among the charges Naveed Haq faces is aggravated first-degree murder, which is punishable by either the death penalty or life in prison.
• Woman recounts escaping building
• Heroic victim released from hospital
• Charging papers and other court documents (PDF - 11MB)
• Jewish Federation's response to charges

Technorati Tags: Seattle … Hate Crime … Armed … Violent Crime … Jewish Federation … Muslim … Domestic Terrorism

Hugo Chavez Receives Iran's Highest Honor

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez awarded Iran's highest honor, urges world to defeat U.S.
By NASSER KARIMI (AP)

TEHRAN, Iran

Iran awarded Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez its highest state medal on Sunday for supporting Tehran in its nuclear standoff with the international community, while Chavez urged the world to rise up and defeat the U.S., state-run media in both countries reported. "Let's save the human race, let's finish off the U.S. empire," Chavez said. "This (task) must be assumed with strength by the majority of the peoples of the world." For the complete story please visit WNTV, Channel 13, Albany, NY

Technorati Tags: Hizbollah … Middle East … Terrorism … Ahmadinejad … Hugo Chavez … Venezuela … Iran … Islam … Terrorist … Anti US … South America … Latin States… Martyrdom fighters … Fighters of Muhammad

Iranian Assistance to Hizbullah

Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI)
Special Dispatch-Iran/Lebanon
July 31, 2006
No. 1220

DISCLAIMER: The different points of views of MEMRI and its contributors are not supported nor do they reflect the views and beliefs of the Bosun Locker or any entity affiliated with the Bosun Locker.

Iranian Assistance to Hizbullah - Iran Revolutionary Guards Officer: Hizbullah Has Iran-Trained Diver, Naval Commando Units; We Have Constructed Command Rooms for Hizbullah; Iranian Martyrdom Forces Have Been Sent To Lebanon

To view this Special Dispatch in HTML, visit: www.memri.org .

On July 29, 2006, the London Arabic daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat published a detailed article on assistance extended to Hizbullah by Iran's Revolutionary Guards, as reported by a high-ranking Revolutionary Guards officer who had trained Hizbullah naval units. According to the officer, Hizbullah has a diver unit and a naval commando unit. He further claims that Revolutionary Guards officers assisted Hizbullah in the July 14, 2006 firing of a C802 missile at an Israeli Navy ship, and had also helped Hizbullah construct underground facilities - including command and control rooms - which are being operated by Revolutionary Guards officers along with Hizbullah fighters.

In addition, Iranian news agencies have published a number of reports about groups of Iranian volunteers sent to Lebanon to aid Hizbullah in its fight against Israel.

The following are excerpts from these reports on Iranian assistance to Hizbullah.

Revolutionary Guards Assistance to Hizbullah

The following are excerpts from the Al-Sharq Al-Awsat report on aid extended to Hizbullah by Iran's Revolutionary Guards:(1)

"Hundreds of Hizbullah fighters currently confronting Israel's military array took part in special training courses at the Revolutionary Guards bases in Tehran, Isfahan, Mashhad and Ahvaz. According to a high-ranking [Revolutionary] Guards officer, who trained one of the Hizbullah naval units, Hizbullah has many surprises up its sleeve. Until now, there has been no direct confrontation between Hizbullah and the Israeli navy, [but] one of the Israeli navy's ships was attacked with C802 missiles with the help of Revolutionary Guards [fighters] stationed in Lebanon. Hizbullah has a divers' unit and a naval commando unit [equipped] with Chinese-made Ho-Dong speedboats, which are capable of dealing [serious] blows to the Israeli navy."

The Iranian officer added that "thanks to the presence of hundreds of Iranian engineers and technicians, as well as North Korean experts brought [into Lebanon] in the guise of [domestic] servants by Iranian diplomats and by the staff at the Iranian representations and offices in Lebanon, Hizbullah has managed to build a 25-kilometer underground [tunnel]. Each opening in this [tunnel] measures 12 to 18 square meters, and has a mobile floor and a semi-mobile ceiling. Each four openings are connected by a passage that allows fighters to pass easily [from one opening] to the other.

"The [Revolutionary] Guards has also built Hizbullah underground storerooms in the Beka' Valley, at a depth of no more than eight meters, which hold huge amounts of missiles and ammunition. In the Beka', there is [also] a central command room operated by four Revolutionary Guards officers and four Hizbullah [fighters]. Each sector has its [own] command and operations room.

"Hizbullah's missile unit includes some 200 technicians and experts trained in Iran. Hizbullah has three missile units, each supervised by a staff of 20."

2,500 Iranian Suicide Fighters Await Khamenei's Order

The following are reports recently published by Iranian news agencies regarding groups of Iranian volunteers sent to Lebanon to assist Hizbullah in its fight against Israel:

On July 25, 2006, the Iranian Farda news agency quoted a report by the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA), stating that Hizbullah-Iran has recruited some 2,500 suicide fighters who are awaiting an order from Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to set out to Lebanon.

Hizbullah-Iran spokesman Mojtaba Bigdeli added that the Hizbullah-Iran Chairman Mohammad Baqr Kharrazi will "soon be stationed in Lebanon in order to support Hizbullah-Lebanon and to express solidarity with the resistance and with the oppressed Lebanese nation, and [also] in order to follow developments [more] closely...

"Some 2,500 people who are fully willing to carry out istishhad [martyrdom] operations have signed up through groups connected to Hizbullah-Iran, so that the list [of martyrs] is now ready, and they await an order from the Supreme Leader [Ali Khamenei]..."(2)

Enlisting Volunteers Online

On July 26, 2006, the Iranian news agency Alborz announced that volunteers could sign up online for the "Army of the Fighters of Muhammad." The report explained that the Army of the Fighters of Muhammad was recruiting fighters to be sent to Lebanon, and that those interested in signing up could also call a telephone number in Tehran (88938821). According to the report, the minimum age for enlisting is 16.

Two Groups of Martyrdom Fighters Sent To Lebanon

On July 18, 2006, the Alborz news agency reported that "two groups of Iranian martyrdom fighters, who have received guidance and training, have been sent to Lebanon in order to participate in the [war on] its fronts.

"Ali Mohammadi, spokesman of The World Islamic Organization's Headquarters for Commemorating the Shahids (martyrdom fighters), stated: 'These two groups, which include 27 people selected from among 55,000 who signed up, were sent to Lebanon in order to participate in the war front against the Zionist regime... These forces have undergone various forms of training... Their mission is to arrive in Lebanon by any means possible, and to carry out martyrdom operations in the event that Lebanon is occupied by the Zionist regime.'

"The sending of these troops, he noted, was on a completely volunteer basis... These people were sent to Lebanon privately, and they have no organizational connection with Hizbullah... It should be noted that these 27 people have mastery of English and Arabic. They are to remain in Lebanon until further notice...'"(3)

Mehr News Agency: "Two Teams [Have Been] Sent to Syria In Order to Reach The Regions Of Conflict In Lebanon"

According to another report, by the Mehr news agency, on the dispatching of two suicide fighter groups to Lebanon, spokesman Mohammadi said that "two teams, one with 18 people and the other with nine, traveled separately... to Syria, in order to reach the regions of conflict in Lebanon by any means possible..." Mohammadi noted that "all 27 [team members] have mastery of Arabic, and some of them can even speak English... We have no organizational connection with Hizbullah or any other group. These people set out with the aim of helping the Lebanese people, and they are acting independently..."(4)

Endnotes:
(1) Al-Sharq Al-Awsat(London), July 29, 2006, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat report on aid
(2) Farda News Agency (Iran), July 25, 2006, They await an order from the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei
(3) Alborz News Agency (Iran), July 18, 2006, They are to remain in Lebanon until further notice...
(4) Mehr News Agency (Iran), July 17, 2006, as reported by the Iranian news portal These people set out with the aim of helping the Lebanese people
*********************
The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) is an independent, non-profit organization that translates and analyzes the media of the Middle East. Copies of articles and documents cited, as well as background information, are available on request.

MEMRI holds copyrights on all translations. Materials may only be used with proper attribution.

The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI)
P.O. Box 27837, Washington, DC 20038-7837
Phone: (202) 955-9070
Fax: (202) 955-9077
E-Mail: memri@memri.org
Search previous MEMRI publications at www.memri.org

Technorati Tags: Hizbollah … Middle East … Terrorism … Ahmadinejad … Lebanon … Shia … Iran … Islam … Terrorist … Persia … Hizbullah-Iran … Muslim… Martyrdom fighters … Fighters of Muhammad … Ali Khamenei

Phoenix Sniper update 7/28/2006

Phoenix police continue their efforts to inform the public about a pair of serial predators in metropolitan Phoenix. Phoenix police are looking for at least two serial killers, the "Baseline Killer" has been linked to a series of sexual assaults, robberies and six killings. The "Serial Shooter" has been definitively connected to four incidents - the Dec. 29 wounding of a man and the shootings of several dogs and a horse. But, the shooter is believed responsible for five killings and 17 shootings targeting people, including a nonfatal Saturday shooting of a Mesa, Arizona man riding his bicycle to work.

Phoenix police have compiled a list of sniper related shootings on their department website:

The lead homicide detective at Phoenix Police Department has advised on this case that as this investigation on a series of possibly related shootings continues, incidents have been added to this list, making it a total of 34 possibly related incidents.

Anyone with information is asked to call Phoenix Police at 602-262-6141 or Silent Witness.

Incidents:

1.Phoenix - 700 W Camelback Rd...............05-24-05, 0030hrs - Homicide
2.Phoenix - 1610 N 83rd Ave......................06-26-05, 0108hrs - Criminal Damage Shooting
3.Tolleson - 1500 N 83rd Ave.....................06-29-05, 0332hrs - Homicide
4.Tolleson - 504 N Georgia Way.................06-29-05, 0850hrs - Animal Shooting
5.Tolleson - 204 W Alzora Way...................07-19-05, 1800-0530hrs - Animal Shooting
6.Phoenix - 3002 n 87th Ave.......................07-20-05, 0008hrs - Animal Shooting
7.Avondale - 2311 N 107th Ave...................07-25-05, 1900-0140hrs - Animal Shooting
8.Tolleson - 907 N Alzora Way....................07-25-05, unk time - Animal Shooting
9.Tolleson - 901 N Lizanne Way.................08-05-05, unk time - Animal Shooting
10.Phoenix - 6828 W Heatherbrae Dr.......08-06-05, 1234hrs - Animal Shooting
11.Glendale - 5001 N 61st Dr......................11-11-05, 2145hrs - Animal Shooting
12.Glendale - 5102 N 65th Ave...................11-11-05, 2148hrs - Animal Shooting
13.Phoenix - 3029 E Glenrosa Ave.............12-29-05, 2223hrs - Animal Shooting
14.Phoenix - 900 W Woodland Ave............12-29-05, 2339hrs - Shooting
15.Phoenix - 200 N 10th Ave......................12-29-05, 2339hrs - Homicide
16.Phoenix - 100 S 10th Ave.......................12-29-05, 2339hrs - Homicide
17.Phoenix - 3401 E Granada Rd................12-30-05, 0010hrs - Animal Shooting
18.Phoenix - 3400 E Van Buren St.............12-30-05, 0015hrs - Shooting
19.Phoenix - 2802 N 34th St.......................12-30-05, unk time - Animal Shooting
20.Phoenix - 4000 W Camelback Rd.........03-10-06, 0130hrs - Shooting
21.Phoenix - 427 N 44th St..........................05-02-06, 2205hrs - Shooting
22.Scottsdale - 6100 E Thomas Rd.............05-02-06, 2200hrs - Homicide
23.Phoenix - 4820 N 89th Ave....................05-30-06, 2305hrs - Shooting
24.Phoenix - 7002 W Indian School Rd......05-31-05, 0137hrs - Shooting
25.Phoenix - 8600 W Camelback Rd..........05-31-06, 0146hrs - Shooting
26.Phoenix - 7800 W Indian School Rd......06-08-06, 2332hrs - Shooting
27.Phoenix - 10100 W Camelback Rd........06-11-06, 2225hrs - Shooting
28.Phoenix - 901 E Indian School Rd.........06-20-06, 0158hrs - Shooting
29.Phoenix - 4403 E Van Buren St.............06-20-06, 0221hrs - Shooting
30.Phoenix - 2515 E Van Buren St.............07-01-06, 0123hrs - Shooting
31.Phoenix - 1600 E Oak St.........................07-01-06, 0153hrs - Shooting
32.Phoenix - 2535 E Indian School Rd.......07-03-06, 0312hrs - Shooting
33.Phoenix - 4200 N 44th St.......................07-08-06, 0240hrs - Shooting
34.Phoenix - 5012 E Van Buren St.............07-08-06, 0303hrs - Shooting

Serial Crimes News Conference

The police news conference was held on Tuesday, July 11, 2006, that covered the serial crime spree and can be viewed at this link. Watch the News Conference Video

Safety Tips - Consejos de Seguridad

Additional information:

The Phoenix Snipers now have made the Washington Post. With no suspects or motives the police appear to have little to go on. It was not until mid-July 2006, that authorities finally held a news conference to discuss the troubling crime wave.

Phoenix in terror as serial killers compete for notoriety The desert city of Phoenix, the fastest-growing metropolis in the United States, is being terrorized by two serial killers .....

Snipers grip Phoenix in fear - Yahoo! News A series of sniper-style murders, rapes and robberies has paralyzed the southwestern desert city of ... LOS ANGELES (AFP) - A series of sniper-style murders, rapes and robberies has paralyzed the ...

Snipers Grip City of Phoenix in Fear????? A series of sniper-style murders, rapes and robberies has paralyzed the southwestern desert city of Phoenix, Arizona in fear as police remain unable to find clues.....

Phoenix Snipers Update The Phoenix Sniper story was regionalized for a time. “Do you think it is crime or domestic terrorism? How do we differentiate between the two?” When the DC Snipers started their reign of terror, they started small by experimenting on how to kill and worked up the nerve to go big time.....

Technorati Tags: Phoenix … Sniper … Armed … Violent Crime … Arizona … Domestic Terrorism … Scottsdale … Tolleson … Serial Killers … Phoenix Crime spree

Deans Blasts Iraqi PM As 'Anti-Semite'

CNSNews.com - The Republican National Committee calls it "incredibly troubling" that Howard Dean - the chairman of the Democratic Party - would call the Iraqi prime minister an "anti-Semite."

The RNC accused Dean of trying to "score cheap political points by attacking the democratically elected prime minister of Iraq." On Wednesday, the same day that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki addresses a joint session of Congress, Dean said, "The Iraqi prime minister is an anti-Semite," adding that the U.S. doesn't "need to spend $200 and $300 and $500 billion bringing democracy to Iraq to turn it over to people who believe that Israel doesn't have a right to defend itself and who refuse to condemn Hizballah."

Senate Democrats have also criticized Maliki and questioned his ability to bring stability to the Middle East. Link to additional Los Vegas Sun Article

Bosun's comment: As usual, the Democrats are on the wrong side of history

Technorati Tags: anti-Semite … Middle East … Terrorism … Howard Dean … Iraq … Iraq Hater … liberal … Islam … Terrorist … Maliki … demagog … Democrat

Gov Perry: Security Operation Reduced Border Crime by at Least 65%

State-Led Security Operation Reduced Border Crime by at Least 65%: Five-County, Multi-Agency Effort is Second in Series of Planned Operations

Hattip: Government Technology Net

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today announced the completion of Operation Laredo, a multi-agency border security operation to target international criminal enterprises and reduce crime and violence in a five-county region along the Texas-Mexico border. Across the five counties, which included Duvall, Jim Hogg, LaSalle, Webb and Zapata counties, law enforcement officials report a 65 percent to 75 percent reduction in all crimes.

“I am pleased at the tremendous results of this operation, which greatly reduced all types of crime, led to dozens of arrests, and shut down the activities of international crime syndicates across a five-county region,” Perry said. “Last month we completed a similar successful effort in the Del Rio area, which provided a model for operations that will be conducted in every county along the Texas-Mexico border. The international drug cartels and human smuggling rings will not know when or where law enforcement operations like this will occur or how long they will last. The message we are sending to criminals who exploit our border is that the cost of doing business in Texas is going up substantially.”

The operation brought together the sheriffs from the five counties, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Public Safety, the Texas National Guard, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Civil Air Patrol, the Texas National Guard and the Governor’s Division of Emergency Management.

State assets involved in the operation included a team of DPS Highway Patrol troopers with communications support personnel, a DPS SWAT team, DPS helicopters and crew members providing 24-hour support, a team of Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens and ground Units with all-terrain vehicles.

“We are proving that the Texas model works: when we increase law enforcement patrols and coordination, we see a decrease in every kind of crime which protects our border and our communities. Criminals are forced off the streets, fewer Texans make emergency phone calls to local sheriffs, and drug smugglers shut down their operations because the risk of being caught is too great,” Perry said.

The effort was conducted as part of Operation Rio Grande, Perry’s comprehensive border security initiative that coordinates local, state and federal assets. Planning began weeks before the operation was launched, and intelligence to support the operation was coordinated through the state Border Security Operations Center.

Technorati tags: America … Immigration … Rick Perry, Texas Governor … Border Crime … Border Patrol … Enforcement … Border Control … Illegal Immigration … Immigration Crimes … Texas … Liberalism … Illegals

Chavez visits Ahmadinejad

Neal Cavuto at Fox News wonders about Venezuela's leader, Hugo Chavez, plans to visit with Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

It certainly appears that Chavez is moving away from the United States rapidly and aligning himself with the "Axis of Evil." Cavuto asks, "With this latest development, Chavez is becoming a world threat powered by Venezuela’s vast oil supplies?"

The close link between Chavez and Iran should not come at a surprise. In a La Nueva Cuba news article several months ago Financial Crimes consultant Kenneth Rijock claimed of a possible Hezbollah, North Korea, Iran, and Chavez government connection. Rijock claims that Iran has plans to ship missiles to Chavez in oil tankers so as not to be suspected. Chavez may then transfer the missiles to Cuba.

Privately, Rijock told me that Isla Margarita, a semi desert island just off the coast of Venezuela, is home to Venezuela's Hezbollah contingent, Lebanese - Venezuelans. Rijock believes that when foreign agents enter Isla Margarita, they sometimes take up temporary residence in Cuba. Hezbollah has a significant increase and influence in South America as discussed by Jeffrey Goldberg, reporter-at-large for The New Yorker magazine who wrote did an interesting 2 - part article, "IN THE PARTY OF GOD."

It seems logical to this blogger that Chavez may also be forming an alliance with the Hezbollah operatives in South America. You may want to read about Hezbollah operations in Lebanon, South America, and their aspirations in regards to 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

There is a lot more to Chavez than meets the eye. Perhaps he is on a collision course with the United States.

This blogger will not miss Neal Cavuto's show this evening and listen to Cavuto's discussions about Chavez and the impact of Chavez' aspiring ambitions for his Bolivarian elite socialist party.

Despite recent political tensions with the United States, Venezuela, the world's No. 5 oil exporter, has remained a key supplier of crude to the US market. Most Venezuela-watchers have predicted for the past several months that Chavez was moving his country toward a command economy on the Cuban model. Low and behold last week Chavez and a close Castro ally, promoted moderate Mercosur as an alliance to counter U.S.-backed free-trade deals being promoted by Washington in the region.

It seems like Chavez and his close Marxist ally, Castro are trying to move Mercosur to the left. Venezuela has followed Cuba and is transforming into a radial government before our vary eyes.

Recent article of interest:

• NewsMax - Latest News From Latin America - Gutierrez had been compared to Venezuela’s troubled pro-Castro President Hugo Chavez during his ... being one of the three members of the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement ... Argentina has only recently shown signs of recovery, with industrial ...
• World Press Review - Chavez: Seeking to Integrate Latin America on His Terms - People's Trade Treaty, an alternative to the Free Trade Agreement ... Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is showing signs that he ... nationalization announcement just days after meeting with Chavez and Cuban President Fidel Castro ...

Additional articles appearing in The Bosun Locker in regards to Chavez and his Bolivarian elite socialist party:

• Chavez at it again, cites friendship with Carlos the Jackal - According to Reuters, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez took center stage at OPEC's meeting in Caracas on Thursday and used the gathering to lambaste Washington and tout his extremist socialist views. In a wandering 90 minute speech, Chavez showed ... The Ramirez family is indeed close to Chavez and his Bolivarian elite socialist party. In May 19, 1999 » Show details
• When Weapons Trade Turns Sour - Because of our latest problem with Chavez, regarding his plan to sell his aging fleet of F-16 aircraft to the highest bidder, one has to wonder why Venezuela has them in the first place. According to an article in the China Daily, dated January 11, 2006 » Show details
• Venezuela moving up on the radar screen - Venezuela Weighs Selling U.S. Jets to Iran Caracas, Venezuela (AP) ... , perhaps Iran, in response to a United States announced ban on arms sales to President Hugo Chavez's ... ? General Alberto Muller, a senior adviser to Chavez, told The Associated Press he had recommended » Show details
• Chavez Ortega alliance - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday backed the favorite to win Nicaragua's November ... jackass lefti dictator, Chavez, firmly in place in Venezuela and raising the ante with his trade » Show details
• 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 loony, Chavez, has been ratcheting up his anti-United States rhetoric. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Wednesday again raised the specter of U.S. designs » Show details
• Chavez at it again: Threatens to kick out US... - Hugo Chavez the lefti dictator of Venezuela has threatened to kick out the US ambassador Brownfield ... I'll kick you out of here," Chavez said on his regular Sunday television program. Despite political ... . But Chavez says he wants to wean Venezuela off its economic reliance on the United States. Show details
• Chavez at it again: Possibly - Venezuelan President beats his chest for mullahs of Iran Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, ... indicated that at the opening of a hydroelectric station on the Caroni River, Chavez, publicly asked Europe ... or deny that Chavez said it or that he would back the mullahs......» Show details

Technorati tags: United States ... Socialist ... Chavez ... Americas ... Venezuela ... Asymmetric warfare ... Rijock ... Iran, ... Hugo Chavez ... Bolivarian ... President Bush ... Energy independent ... Dictators ... imperialist aggression ... anti-globalization ... Hezbollah ... news feed ... journalists ... Opinion

MEMRI: Ahmadinejad - "Lebanon is the Scene of an Historic Test"

The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI)
Special Dispatch - Iran
July 26, 2006
No. 1212

DISCLAIMER: The different points of views of MEMRI and its contributors are not supported nor do they reflect the views and beliefs of the Bosun Locker or any entity affiliated with the Bosun Locker.

Iranian President Ahmadinejad on IRINN TV: "Lebanon is the Scene of an Historic Test, Which Will Determine the Future of Humanity"

To view this Special Dispatch in HTML, visit: Lebanon is the Scene of an Historic Test, Which Will Determine the Future of Humanity.


The following are excerpts from an interview with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which aired on the Iranian News Channel (IRINN) on July 23, 2006.

TO VIEW THIS CLIP, VISIT: Interview with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: "In my opinion, Lebanon is the scene of an historic test, which will determine the future of humanity. Everyone must be put to the test. Everyone. It is inconceivable for anyone who calls himself a Muslim and who heads an Islamic state to maintain relations under the table with the regime that occupied Jerusalem. He cannot take pleasure in the [Israeli] killing of Muslims yet present himself as a Muslim. This is inconceivable, and must be exposed. Allah willing, it will. You will see.

"This is a mirror that will reveal everyone's true essence. This is not one of those ordinary tests. Not at all. It will expose everything. A bunch of people with no honor rule some countries in the region. People are being killed before their eyes, while they play games, giving compliments to one another. They think they can let time go by until this issue is forgotten, and then return to the scene. No, they are mistaken.

"In this case, they must make their position clear. Of course, some of them have taken positive positions, but others have buried their heads in the sand. Their true character will be exposed in this scene. For them, this is 'the Day that all things secret will be tested.' They will reach this day. The hypocrisy must be exposed."

[...]

"England was the founder of this sinister regime. It is an accomplice to all its crimes. America, which supports it now, is an accomplice to all its crimes. They are the ones who started this fire. They are the ones who support [Israel], and encourage it to strike at the people in such a manner. They say: 'They took two of our soldiers.' Fine, but you took 5,000 of theirs. Sit together and have a prisoner exchange. But you are destroying the life of an entire people, and harming innocent people - all for two soldiers? Do you value human life at all?

"They even lie to those wretched people whom they have collected from around the world and brought to the occupied lands. In fact, their leaders are having a good time around the world. After all, they are not in the battlefield. They are outside the scene. They have collected a bunch of people and put them there to serve as their shields, so they can realize their colonialist, domineering goals."

*********************

The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) is an independent, non-profit organization that translates and analyzes the media of the Middle East. Copies of articles and documents cited, as well as background information, are available on request.

MEMRI holds copyrights on all translations. Materials may only be used with proper attribution.
The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI)
P.O. Box 27837, Washington, DC 20038-7837
Phone: (202) 955-9070
Fax: (202) 955-9077
E-Mail: memri@memri.org
Search previous MEMRI publications at MEMRI Website

Technorati Tags: Hizbollah … Middle East … Terrorism … Ahmadinejad … Lebanon … Shia … Iran … Islam … Terrorist … Persia … 12th Imam … Muslim

No Peace for Lebanon due to Hizbollah

The next time you wish to blame Israel for the war between Hizbollah and the sovereign country of Lebanon, please remember this: Ha'aretz.

It turns out that even the mumbling of George Bush, in between bites, that Syria must be told to cut "that shit" out, is not exactly practical. Syria will be willing to negotiate if the boycott and threat on the nation is lifted, and the international investigation into the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri is called off and all plans to bring the accused before an international tribunal are scrapped. Some of these conditions, especially canceling the international tribunal, is the precondition with which Hezbollah confronted Lebanon's Prime Minister Fuad Siniora in return for its cooperation in government and peace along the border with Israel.

This is a non-starter, and it comes from inside Lebanon. Please tell me, what does Israel have to do with Syria and the murder of Hariri?

This is a war not of Lebanon and Israel, but of Iran and Syria against the world. You can be certain of this.

Source: Ha'artz and The Washington Times (registration may be required, but it is free).

Category: (Military) News, Middle East and News.

Phoenix Sniper update 7/22/2006

The Phoenix Snipers now have made the Washington Post. With no suspects or motives the police appear to have little to go on. It was not until mid-July 2006, that authorities finally held a news conference to discuss the troubling crime wave.

Investigators said that the Baseline Killer, named for his initial crimes along Baseline Road here, launched his crime binge last August. Since then, police said he has killed five women and one man, and committed seven rapes and eight robberies. Descriptions of him vary, leading detectives to theorize he may wear disguises. They said he occasionally engages victims in conversation before abducting them at night from places such as car washes and bus stops. And Phoenix is on edge, not just because of that killer, but also because of another one known as the Serial Shooter. Together, the two have killed at least 11 people in the past year, police said..... Source: Washington Post

Additional information:

Phoenix in terror as serial killers compete for notoriety The desert city of Phoenix, the fastest-growing metropolis in the United States, is being terrorized by two serial killers .....

Snipers grip Phoenix in fear - Yahoo! News A series of sniper-style murders, rapes and robberies has paralyzed the southwestern desert city of ... LOS ANGELES (AFP) - A series of sniper-style murders, rapes and robberies has paralyzed the ...

Snipers Grip City of Phoenix in Fear????? A series of sniper-style murders, rapes and robberies has paralyzed the southwestern desert city of Phoenix, Arizona in fear as police remain unable to find clues.....

Phoenix Snipers Update The Phoenix Sniper story was regionalized for a time. “Do you think it is crime or domestic terrorism? How do we differentiate between the two?” When the DC Snipers started their reign of terror, they started small by experimenting on how to kill and worked up the nerve to go big time.....

Technorati Tags: Phoenix … Sniper … Armed … Violent Crime … Arizona … Guardian Angel … Domestic Terrorism