Terrorist Attack _______________ Information Only

Top 455. Nov 27, 2001 8:26 PM

» JenL_2 - Re: Arab/Muslim public image

In response to message posted by BPyles:

good article Betty.....everyone wants to be on the winning side....Jen

-- posted by JenL_2

Top 456. Nov 28, 2001 5:21 PM

» BPyles - Iraq attack ramifications

We attack Iraq - Iraq attacks Israel with Syria help - Israel blows hell out of both of them and solves the Palestine problem forever...Suppose Iraq and Syria can hit Israel without endangering Palestine? Wonder how many nukes Israel has? They should think a long time before they do anything to their favorite "but" state, Palestine. What could they use then as their excuse?

Secuity Officials warn of unconventional Iraqi attack, by Ellis Shuman, November 28, 2001, Israli Insider

Senior Israeli security officials believe that if the United States
would attack Iraq, threatening the stability of Saddam Hussein's
regime, he would respond by launching a chemical or biological
attack on Israel.

"If attacked, Iraq is liable to launch missiles and planes against
Israel," said Deputy Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon in a
lecture on Monday. Security officials believe that due to its
shortage of long-range missiles and launchers, estimated at no
more than five launchers and some 50 missiles, Iraq could send
pilots on suicide missions towards Israel in planes armed with
unconventional weapons.

During the 1991 Gulf War, Saddam fired 39 Scud missiles at
Israel, all armed with conventional explosives. Military analysts
believe that Iraq now has very limited surface-to-surface missile
capabilities. According to American intelligence reports, Iraq has
recently resumed missile deployment exercises, hinting at its
possible response if attacked.

The IDF General Staff this week discussed the various scenarios
that could follow an American strike on Iraq. Security officials
assume that the attack on Iraq could occur in two or three
months, when military actions in Afghanistan are completed.

The brainstorming came following President George W. Bush's
warning on Monday that Hussein must allow arms inspectors back
into the country "to prove to the world he's not developing
weapons of mass destruction.'' Iraq isn't afraid of American
threats and is ready to defend itself against any attack, Iraq's
Ambassador to the UN said the following day.

Israel did not respond to the Iraqi attacks during the Gulf War,
bending to American pressure not to break up the American
coalition lined up against Saddam. The situation is different now,
said MK Moshe Arens (Likud), who served as defense minister
during the 1991 war. Arens referred to Israel's Arrow anti-missile
system, developed together with the United States.

"I think Israel can be pleased that the U.S. is turning its attention
to a danger which faces not only Israel, but also the entire
world," Arens told Israel Radio, referring to Saddam's attempts to
acquire non-conventional weapons.

Syria has chemical missile capabilities
"The Syrian army has type 'B' and 'C' Scud missiles, some of
them equipped with chemical warheads," Yaalon said on Monday.
"These missiles have a range of 500 kilometers, covering most of
the area of the State of Israel," he added.

"The goal of Syria remains the return of the Golan Heights,"
Yaalon said. "The Syrians are hesitant of confronting the IDF
directly," he said, attributing this to fears its army is inferior to
the IDF. "They prefer to develop a deterrent force with the Scud
missiles, Hizbullah-launched terror actions and encouragement of
Palestinian terror."

Yaalon warned that an all-out war with Syria could result from the
"explosive confrontation with the Hizbullah on Israel's northern
border".

-- posted by BPyles

Top 457. Nov 29, 2001 5:33 PM

» BPyles - Pakistan Closing Madrasas Schools

Closing 25 to 35,000 madrasases is certainly a step in right direction. Just look at all the money Saudi Arabia will save.

The India Times, 11-29-01
Pak to close down madrasas

I SLAMABAD: The Pakistan government has decided to
close down religious seminaries or madrasas in the country
providing military training to their students.

The decision was taken at the highest level and ministry of
religious affairs and all provincial governments have been
informed in this regard.

But there was no official announcement on this issue.

A list of religious seminaries having extremist views and
providing military training has been prepared, Urdu newspaper
Jang said here Thursday.

In october this year, the government, under pressure from the
international community to launch a crackdown on the
madrasas following the September 11 terrorist attacks,
announced steps to streamline the activities and the education
system.

According to estimates, Pakistan has 25,000 to 35,000 big
and small privately run Islamic seminaries devoted exclusively
to Islamic education. Most of the seminaries were run with
funds from Saudi Arabia and were popular with the children of
low income families as they offered free food and accomadation.

A number of leaders of the Taliban studied in these madrasas
which taught fundamentalist ideologies.

-- posted by BPyles

Top 458. Nov 29, 2001 7:20 PM

» rasputin - Getting Saddam

By David Pryce-Jones

Saddam's terrorist crimes have disgraced the 23 years in which he has been in power. He has beggared and bludgeoned his unfortunate country. Yet the multicultural and pacifist Left maintains that the United States should not interfere; to do so attracts the reproach "neo-colonialism." Those who argue that there are no universal values to justify the elimination of slavers and pirates, the Taliban and Saddam, in practice place themselves on the side of these various hells. The inhabitants of Kabul and other cities — Pashtuns among them — are turning out in the streets to rejoice at their liberation. To suppose that they would welcome their oppressors and resist their liberators is condescending in the extreme. The simplest tribesman is as capable as an American professor (sometimes, evidently, more so) of distinguishing what is good for him from what is bad.

-- posted by rasputin

Top 459. Nov 29, 2001 7:30 PM

» rasputin - Byron York on Clinton

Clinton Has No Clothes
By Byron York

At the time of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, Clinton was embroiled in controversies over gays in the military, an economic stimulus plan, and the beginnings of Hillary's health-care task force. Khobar Towers happened not only in the midst of the president's re-election campaign but also at the end of a month in which there were new and damaging developments in the Whitewater and Filegate scandals. The African embassy attacks occurred as the Lewinsky affair was at fever pitch, in the month that Clinton appeared before Kenneth Starr's grand jury. And when the Cole was rammed, Clinton had little time left in office and was desperately hoping to build his legacy with a breakthrough in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Whenever a serious terrorist attack occurred, it seemed Bill Clinton was always busy with something else.

-- posted by rasputin

Top 460. Nov 30, 2001 2:36 PM

» Kirk - Funny Short Video here:

Funny Short Video here:
(You need speakers)
http://members.sigecom.net/theclan/Talib...

-- posted by Kirk

Top 461. Nov 30, 2001 2:50 PM

» BPyles - Iraq next?

Sure beginning to a lot like Iraq...another news item I ran across a few days ago told how Israel had moved all their jet fighters to Turkey late in September. Seems Israel and Turkey have a joint protection agreement.

Turkey braces for war, fortifies border with Iraq

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Friday, November 30, 2001

ANKARA — Turkey has bolstered its border with Iraq to prepare for any U.S.-led effort to topple the regime of President Saddam Hussein.

The government of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has become increasingly onvinced that the United States will attack Baghdad. Turkish officials said they believe Washington will seek Ankara's support in any such campaign.

Turkish sources said military troops have replaced gendarmerie units deployed in the border region with Iraq. The troops are meant to protect the border and stop any influx of refugees from Iraq, Middle East Newsline reported.

The buildup comes amid plans by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to visit Ankara next week. Turkish Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu said he does not rule out reconsidering Ankara's opposition to any U.S.-led attack on
Saddam.

"We repeated several times that Turkey doesn't want an operation in Iraq," ''Cakmakoglu said. "However, new conditions might call for new assessments."

[On Thursday, the United Nations Security Council voted to extend sanctions on Iraq for another six months.]

Already, the Incirlik air force base in southern Turkey has become a major center for Britain and the United States. The base serves British and U.S. combat jets that patrol northern Iraq and could be the launching point for any attack on the Saddam regime.

Turkey has also ordered surface-to-air batteries to protect vital targets around
the country. The military has also increased readiness over the last two months.

The Ankara-based Turkish Daily News reported that Iraq has been alerted to
the Turkish military preparations. The newspaper said the Iraqi army has reinforced deployment in the oil-rich Kirkuk region as well as in Mosul and
Dohuk.

Western diplomatic sources said Turkey might seek to seize Mosul as part of any U.S.-led offensive against Iraq. Turkey has already joined the war in Afghanistan and officials said Ankara is considering sending a force of up to 5,000 soldiers.

The Ankara-based Milliyet daily quoted one senior official as saying a Turkish brigade, which could be supported by artillery and tanks, would protect Kabul's airport.
-----------------------------------------------
turkishnews.com 11-30-01

Iraq recalls controversial ambassador.

Iraq has recalled its ambassador in Ankara amid rising tension sparked by increasing concerns that the Afghanistan operation might spread to Iraq.

The decision on the part of the Iraqi administration to recall its ambassador, who was reported to have met Muhammad Atta, one of the suspects in the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, in the past, has been interpreted as an outcome of growing U.S. diplomatic pressure on Turkey.

Ambassador Faruk Abdullah Yahya al-Hijazi is expected to return to his country today. He informed the Turkish Foreign Ministry that he is going back to Baghdad, Page 12

Anatolia News Agency said.

Al-Hijazi is expected to complete his farewells in Ankara before his departure today. Relations with the Iraqi Embassy in Ankara will be maintained at the level of charge d’affairs until a new ambassador is appointed.

Al-Hijazi has been facing accusations of meeting suspects in the terrorist attacks on the United States in the Czech capital of Prague. He reportedly contacted Atta in April of last year.

The Wall Street Journal and The Associated Press said that al-Hijazi had met Usama bin Laden in December 1998 in Kandahar, Afghanistan. According to inside information, Ankara had secretly conveyed a message concerning the controversial ambassador to Baghdad over recent weeks. Upon receiving this message, Baghdad ordered the immediate return of its ambassador.

Withdrawal of the ambassador comes a few days before the planned visit of U.S. Secretary of Defense Colin Powell in Ankara on Dec. 4. Iraqi diplomatic sources in Turkey did not confirm the withdrawal, and said he was returning as his term in office had expired. Before being appointed as ambassador to Turkey, al-Hijazi was the chief of the Iraqi intelligence agency, al-Mukhabarat. In the meantime, Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit denied that Powell would talk about a possible operation on Iraq. When asked by reporters in Ankara, Ecevit said he had no information that Powell would have such a message.

Reports have been arriving that Turkey could be given the go-ahead to take control of northern Iraq if the United States launches a military operation to topple the Saddam Hussein government as part of its global anti-terror campaign.

Turkish Ambassador to Washington Faruk Logoglu and Defense Minister Sabahattin Çakmakoglu recently said that Turkey could revise its position towards extending the operation to Iraq if there is sufficient evidence showing that Iraq was behind the Sept. 11 attacks.

-- posted by BPyles

Top 462. Dec 1, 2001 4:09 PM

» BPyles - Israel's terrorist attack

Anybody else get the uneasy feeling that this type of life was probably what the terrorists had in store for us? Maybe, just maybe, some of the steps taken by this country since 9-11 has prevented this being our future.

Suicide Bombers Blast Jerusalem Mall

By Jason Keyser
Associated Press Writer
Saturday, December 1, 2001; 6:20 PM

JERUSALEM –– Two suicide bombers detonated powerful explosives in a crowded pedestrian
mall in downtown Jerusalem late Saturday, killing themselves and at least six people and wounding
more than 130, police and paramedics said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said it was "one of the worst (attacks) we have ever seen."

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the militant Hamas and Islamic Jihad groups
have threatened to carry out attacks in Israel to avenge the killing of Hamas' military leader in the West Bank in an Israeli missile attack last week.

The back-to-back blasts went off sometime before midnight Saturday. "There were lots of limbs
and dead bodies," said Michael Perry, 37, who ran out of a bar along the Ben Yehuda pedestrian
mall after hearing the explosions. "I saw three dead and what looked like the remains of the
suicide bomber. It was just a lump of something," Perry said.

Another bystander, Eli Shetreet, 19, said he saw bodies being hurled in the air. "A lot of people
were crying, falling, and there was the smell of burning hair," he said.

The blasts were so powerful that they shattered the windows of cars parked a block away. Blood
splattered store fronts. Patrons of cafes huddled indoors, behind closed doors. A young man and
woman sitting in the corner of one cafe held on to each other. Teen-age girls and boys were
screaming and crying into mobile phones, talking to their parents, trying to find their friends in the chaos.

Shortly after the suicide bombings, an explosion went off in a car parked near the mall, said Police Chief Mickey Levy. Apparently no one was hurt in that explosion. At the sound of the third
explosion, pedestrians ran up the street in a panic.

Paramedics said at least 130 people were wounded, many of people in their late teens and 20s.
Among the wounded were 11 in very serious condition.

"This is a great catastrophe. There are many, many casualties," said Health Minister Nissim
Dahan, who was touring area hospitals. "We are almost at the limit of our capacity to take in the
wounded."

The Ben Yehuda mall is usually packed with young Israelis on Saturday evening. The mall has
been the target of suicide attacks in the past, including in 1997.

Just up the block, on the corner of King George and Jaffa streets, a suicide bomber blew himself
up last summer in a crowded pizzeria, killing himself and 15 diners.

Abdel Aziz Rantisi, a Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, did not claim responsibility on behalf of the group, but said Hamas would continue carrying out attacks.

"We have said several times that we are not goint to accept the occupation to remain in our land,"
Rantisi said. "We are fighting Jewish terrorism, we are fighting the killers and defending our
freedom, our stability and our dignity."

Saturday's bombings came only two days after an Islamic Jihad militant blew himself up on an
Israeli bus, killing three passengers and himself.

The attacks also came at a time when a senior U.S. envoy, retired Marine Corps Gen. Anthony
Zinni, is trying to secure a cease-fire. However, since Zinni's arrival last week, there has been an
upsurge in violence, especially by Palestinian militants trying to derail his mission. Zinni has said he would not be deterred by violence, and would stay in the region as long as it takes.

-- posted by BPyles

http://www.afghanradio.com/news/2001/dec...

Top 463. Dec 2, 2001 11:43 AM

» Steven_Russell - anthrax & helium - Kabul charity

Suspicious items abound at charity's Kabul home

By Liz Sly
Tribune foreign correspondent
Chicago Tribune (Dec 2, 2001)
KABUL, Afghanistan -- Neighbors say they noticed nothing particularly unusual about the comings and goings at the shabby, two-story villa occupied by a Pakistani aid group and located in a quiet residential area of Kabul favored by a number of international charities.

But items found at the house since the Taliban fled Kabul suggest the Islamabad-based Foundation for Construction may have been interested in something other than helping Afghans rebuild their country.

Piles of documents containing detailed information about the use of anthrax in biological warfare, boxes containing gas masks and diagrams suggestive of a plan to use a helium-filled balloon to disperse anthrax across a wide area were found in the house by journalists.

The president of the charity on whose premises the evidence was found was one of Pakistan's leading nuclear scientists, Bashiruddin Mahmood. In October, Pakistani authorities detained him along with another retired nuclear scientist. Mahmood was questioned about his links with the Taliban amid concerns that he may have shared Pakistan's nuclear secrets with Osama bin Laden.

Mahmood, who had founded the aid group after retiring from his job at Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission in 1998, denied ever meeting bin Laden and insisted that his frequent contacts with the Taliban were due to his involvement in the delivery of humanitarian aid.

No evidence of wrongdoing

Mahmood and his associate, Abdul Majeed, were detained for questioning again last month after the discoveries at the house, although Pakistan still insists it has found no evidence that he was involved in wrongdoing.

"There is no linkage established at all with any anthrax-related capability," said a Pakistani government spokesman, Maj. Gen. Rashid Qureshi.

Pakistan also has denied Pakistani newspaper reports that Mahmood had been involved in the development of Pakistan's nuclear bomb. Nothing was found at the house to suggest any link to nuclear weapons or efforts to acquire nuclear expertise, nor was there anything directly linking the house to bin Laden, apart from a newsletter published by Al Qaeda.

But someone either living at the house or visiting it had taken a close interest in anthrax and in studying ways to deliver biological weapons.

In one upstairs room, there were dozens of copies of documents about anthrax, including details about the U.S. military's vaccination program downloaded from a Defense Department Web site and other Defense Department documents relating to anthrax. One, titled "The bacteria: what you need to know" contains the statement that anthrax spores "can easily be spread in the air by missiles, rockets, artillery, aerial bombs and sprays."

There were 10 copies each of most of the documents, suggesting that a seminar or perhaps a brainstorming session had taken place.

Powder, diagrams found

On the floor, there was what appeared to be a disassembled rocket alongside a canister labeled "helium," as well as two bags of powder, which journalists have refrained from inspecting.

An elaborate diagram on a white board depicts what appears to be a balloon rising at various trajectories, alongside a fighter jet apparently shooting at the balloon. Beside the jet are the words, "You are dead, bang," which appear to have been added later because they are written in a different color.

There are also pictures of ground missiles linked by lines to the balloon. Mathematical calculations indicate the height at which the balloon would fly, the distance from which it would be shot down and the area over which its contents would be dispersed.

Next to one of the balloons is the word "polystyrene"; next to another is the word "cyanide."

There is no mention of anthrax on the diagram, but the impression is of a plan to deliver biological agents by packing them into the gondola of a balloon that would be shot down by a jet or a missile.

Loose sheets of paper containing scribbles of missiles and balloons similar to those on the board were found among the documents, suggesting that those at a possible seminar had been taking notes or elaborating on the calculations.

It may have been hoax

The significance, if any, of the findings is difficult to establish.

The setup could have been a hoax to play on U.S. fears in the wake of the anthrax attacks in America. U.S. officials have said they believe a lone domestic terrorist, not an international organization, is behind the attacks.

If it was a hoax, however, it was an elaborate one. The photocopied documents are faded, suggesting they have been there awhile.

Western diplomats in Kabul, speaking on condition of anonymity, say that they have no reason to believe the evidence was planted but that they had not studied it.

"We know there were a lot of houses like this, and many that have been found by journalists in very similar circumstances," one diplomat said.

Investigators know Al Qaeda had been trying to acquire weapons of mass destruction, he said. "It's a question of whether they have the availability, and there's no evidence yet that they do have the availability or the capability. The evidence is inconclusive."

Other aid groups nearby

Neighbors say the house had been occupied by three Pakistani men and their wives and children, and they said they had no reason to believe the occupants were engaged in anything other than charitable work. The house is next to the British charity Save the Children and a few doors from the offices of the United Nations refugee agency.

Those living in the house left abruptly after Sept. 11, leaving behind one man, who was later joined by a number of Pakistani fighters, local guards said. They all left on the night the Taliban fled Kabul.

Northern Alliance fighters visited the house soon after that and ordered local residents not to go inside, said the guards, who added that three foreigners wearing masks and gloves visited the house a few days later and removed boxes of materials.

The men spoke English and had a document from local commanders giving them permission to remove the material, said a guard who sits outside a house across the street.

Most of the documents found have been removed by journalists, and at least some have been turned over to Western diplomats.

-- posted by Steven_Russell