Terrorism Can Hit Anywhere

I guess you have to be a target before you finally get it.

MIDDLE EAST
Female suicide bomber hits Jerusalem
Posted Wed, 22 Sep 2004
...
Speaking at the United Nations, Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said he had information that at least three people had been killed.
...
"I think the world should be united in its combat against terrorism," he said shortly after meeting Secretary General Kofi Annan on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

"It's not a problem of Israel any more. Terrorism can hit anywhere," he said.

We want it off our soil. So we brought the fight back into their backyards...and front yards...and side streets...and alleys. This is unfortunate for those who truly are innocent and are exposed to this fight.

But where terrorism exists, people die.

Australia Targeted

Anyone who opposes terrorists will be targeted.
Anyone who wants attention will eventually be found out.
Time is the Sister of Truth.

AUSTRALIA
Device found on Aussie jet
Posted Thu, 23 Sep 2004

Australian domestic airline Virgin Blue said on Thursday that an incendiary device had been found on one of its jets and admitted that its staff had failed to follow correct safety procedures.

Commercial operations chief David Huttner said a baggage handler found the device in the cargo hold of a 737-300 jet at Sydney airport on Monday morning.
...
An initial police report has concluded the device contained thermite, a chemical used in grenades.

Device that burns

"It was not something that goes boom, it was something that burns which means somebody had to be there to light it. It was clearly placed there by somebody who had access to the airfield because it didn't go through checked baggage," Huttner said.
...
Wrapped in toilet roll tube
The device was found wrapped in a cardboard toilet roll tube with a firework sparkler attached as a 30-second fuse. Huttner suggested a disgruntled airport worker may have planted the device deliberately, a suggestion strongly disputed by trade unionists.
...
"We believe it was placed in a way that it would be found and draw the attention that it did today. Somebody is trying to make a show out of this whole thing in our view," added Huttner
...
Australia is widely seen as among the top targets of Islamic extremists due to Prime Minister John Howard's strong support of last year's US-led invasion of Iraq.

However, to date no successful terrorist attack has been carried out on Australian soil.

Howard declined to comment on the finding on Thursday, saying he would wait for police investigations to proceed further.

Smart move. Find out what's really going on.
It would come as no surprise if it was terrorist-related.

The Irish Can Drink!

There is truth in that: "The Irish can outdrink anyone."

IRELAND
Drinking costs Irish $3-billion yearly
Posted Thu, 23 Sep 2004

Alcohol-related health problems in Ireland are increasing, costing the nation more than €2.65-billion last year, according to a government study published on Wednesday.

The second report of the Strategic Task Force on Alcohol (STFA) said the Irish were amongst the highest consumers of alcohol in Europe, with a consumption rate of 13.5 litres of pure alcohol per adult last year.

"There is no doubt that alcohol-related harm is one of the biggest public health issues facing Ireland today from an economic, social and personal standpoint," said Health Minister Micheal Martin.

"This harm is not limited to the individual drinker but also to those around them and to society," said Martin.

"How ahrrrrr ye, lass? Come down t' the pub an' 'ave yerself a beer."

No thanks. I'm trying to quit.

Hypocritical Remarks

Same article. Different stuff.

We are the occupier? Oh right, because we are pagans.
Everyone else - until now - was allowed to have businesses or do business in the middle east.
Everyone except the United States.

Probably because we don't take no $#!+ from thugs - no matter what clothes they wear or what title they claim. Not on sea, not on land, not near, and not far.

Posted Sat, 24 Jul 2004
Meanwhile, firebrand Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr resurfaced at a mosque after an absence of nearly two months to criticise interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.
...
Sadr preaches to crowd (more like...preaches at crowd)
Elsewhere, a huge crowd of supporters gathered in Kufa to hear cleric Moqtada Sadr preach for the first time in nearly two months.

Draped in the hallmark white robe he reserves for his Friday sermons, Sadr had harsh words for Prime Minister Allawi for authorizing recent US military air strikes on Fallujah.

"You have proven that you are just an extension of the occupation," said Sadr, as young men raised their fists in the air and cheered his name and screamed: "We are with you 'til death, Sayed Moqtada."

"Allawi, I tell you, what right do you have to order the reopening of the Hawza paper, if you were not the one to shut it down in the first place," Sadr told his faithful, who swarmed inside the grand mosque in Kufa, 150km south of Baghdad.

"Damn him and damn the occupier," said Sadr.

On Sunday, Allawi ordered the lifting of a ban on Sadr's weekly paper imposed by former US administrator Paul Bremer in late March because it had allegedly been instigating violence.
The closing of Sadr's paper and the arrest of one of his deputies in late March unleashed a rebellion that left hundreds dead.

Backup, backup.

THEN

Situation: The paper - called Hawza paper - was Sadr's weekly paper. It was banned by former US administrator Paul Bremer in late March.
Reason: Instigating violence.
Result: one of Sadr's deputies was arrested & a rebellion left hundreds dead.

NOW

Sadr is pissed off at Allawi for lifting the ban???

Now how confusing is that? You would think the cleric would be grateful for having this ban removed from his instigating-violence weekly paper.

Now that's thanksgiving for you.

These people are just looking for reasons to fight. Contention breeds contention.
Does it have to?

Egypt Gives In to the Bully

Now does this title sound very spiritual for a group who claims to be fighting for God?

"The Holders of the Black Banners"

Just what spirit are they advocating who banners itself in black?
Last time I checked, God's purity was all about white.

I actually think their title is very appropriate. Well chosen.

IRAQ
Kidnap: Egypt vows no troops to Iraq
Posted Sat, 24 Jul 2004

Cairo vowed on Friday not to send troops to Iraq after an armed group kidnapped an Egyptian diplomat, and relatives of seven other hostages begged for the release of their loved ones threatened with beheading.
...
The hostages — three Kenyans, three Indians and an Egyptian, all truck drivers — were kidnapped on Wednesday by a group calling itself "The Holders of the Black Banners."

Company told to withdraw from Iraq

One of its demands is that their employer, trucking company Kuwait and Gulf Link Transport, withdraw from Iraq. The group has warned that if the company fails to comply a hostage would be killed every 72 hours beginning on Saturday.
...
"The owner of the company has indicated to us that he is willing to adhere by the demands of the kidnappers," said Mutua.
...
The Jordanian-born Zarqawi, who is blamed for some of the bloodiest car bombs and attacks in Iraq, has a $25-million US bounty on his head.

That's some bounty. If one was wise, both they and their generations could retire on such wealth. But the real reward for his head:

• silence from his cold lips.
• humility to one arrogant and boastful hypocrite.
• justice for his crimes
  • against the Only almighty God (aka blasphemy) ...Who, by the way, needs no man to fight His battles and is never bannered with black... and
  • against humanity - including on arabs.

He & his followers can let us all know if they got their 29 virgins...or whatever the count was up to...from the other-side of the spiritual curtain.

These arabs holding the black banners don't want to see Iraq rebuilt. Why not? Meanwhile, we are pagans for helping Iraq drive them off Iraq's soil - or bury them under it. This reminds me of the story about Pharaoh: "Let My people go." Hmmm. Because tyrrany just hates to lose any control.

When freedom sounds, a war will happen. That's history. Spiritual and physical.

Think about it.

Terrorism = People Die

Here is the question of today:
How do we stop encouraging the pattern of a bully?

Today's bully: Al-Qaeda

The bully's motive: The Fatwah published 2/23/98.

The bully's pattern:

• Give us that or this will happen! (this threat is usually made at the expense of others' lives)
  
• If that doesn't work, then: We did this because of that! (this brag is usually followed by some act of violence somewhere in the world)
  
  
  One thing is common as a result of the bully's method:
  

People die.

So how do we stop this?
Do we:

• Give in to their demands over and over again?
  
• Place ourselves in a position of subjection?
  
• Allow them to go unpunished for all the crimes they have committed on innocents all over the world?

People die.

This is not going to change where Al-Qaeda is concerned. As long as Al-Qaeda exists, people will die.

Why?
Because they do not have regard for human life.

If they did, then why would they kill innocent people?
People who are making a living. Creating a way of life. Earning a buck. Working in a foreign land. Experiencing another culture. Making friends across the continent (or world). Breathing in the same air and living under the same sky as those around them. The very people who are being taken in as hostages, subjected to a beheading, then filmed all over the Internet.

Washington Post
BAGHDAD, Sept. 22

Hensley, Armstrong and Bigley all worked as civil engineers for Gulf Supplies and Commercial Services Co., a construction company based in the United Arab Emirates. They were helping to renovate the Taji military base north of Baghdad, which is used by the reconstituted Iraqi army.

Where is the respect for human life?
It does not exist. Where Al-Qaeda exists, people die.

In a previous blog, I talked about suicide. Since these folks are willing to die for their cause (which they choose to call "martyrdom"), I thought it was only appropriate to bring up suicide. Their cause is a holy war, also known as jihad - which is probably why they feel it is appropriate to call their death a martyrdom. But generally, a martyr is someone who dies at the hands of another because of their religious belief... not someone who dies at their own hands. This definition falls more under suicide.

To rehash what I said about the mindset of suicidal folks:

• They already feel like they have nothing to live for - which makes it easier for them to face circumstances that may bring about their own death.
  
• They are already mentally unstable (big indication: they want to die) - so they tend to do stupid things.
  
• They do not have regard for the lives of people around them (big clue: suicide is a selfish act to begin with)
  
• If they cannot kill themselves, they find a way for someone else to kill them - even if the killing was not intentional on the "killer's" part (i.e. suicide by cop... which basically means that the suicidal person jumps out in front of a cop in such a manner with the intent of having the cop kill them)
  
• Suicidal folks also tend to place themselves in an environment that feeds off of pain. Perhaps, by remaining in a constant state of pain, this allows their conscience to justify their behavior.
  
• Suicidal folks are cowards.
  

Do you know that suicidal behavior can run in a family?
PubMed says "Familial clustering of suicidal behaviour has been well documented. "
I bring this up because I cannot help but notice that members of Al-Qaeda tend to commit suicide (i.e. strap a bomb to their person and walk into a crowded place or drive a car fixed with explosives into a building) and some have brothers, cousins, nephews, uncles, and fathers who are members as well. Something to think about.

Britain Stands Against "The Bully"

This is exactly what the terrorists want: people to cry out.
Striking terror into the hearts of innocent people in order to get what they want.
And as usual: people die.
Same pattern. Over and over.
And make the United States look bad in the process. Well, it appears to be working. Gotta admit that such a manipulative group would figure out how to achieve that act. They've been doing it for years.

Applause to Britain.
Negotiating with a terrorist group is like...

• ...going to the dentist who tells you, "This isn't going to hurt." (Yeah right. One word: novocaine.)
  
• ...getting a shot from a doctor who says, "You're just going to feel a poke" as he wiggles the needle into your skin.
  
• ...telling your teenager to clean their room. (Ain't gonna happen. Under the bed and inside the closet are good hiding places to throw things quickly out of the way.)
  
• ...making deals with the devil. (Quote from Warrick on CSI episode #103 "Crate and Burial": You start making deals with the devil, you don't get to walk away. You understand what I'm saying?)
  

You get the point.

Britain Stands Firm as Hostage Pleads
By Glenn Frankel
Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, September 23, 2004; 2:07 PM

LONDON, Sept. 23 -- Britain stood firm Thursday in refusing to bargain with the kidnappers of a British civil engineer in Baghdad despite an emotional direct appeal from the victim to Prime Minister Tony Blair.
…
Bigley's brother Paul accused the United States of intervening to prevent a prisoner release that Iraqi officials had agreed to. "We had a stay of execution and we have saved my brother's life for at least 24 hours," he told BBC radio. "That was a shadow of light in a big, long, dark, damp, filthy, cold tunnel. Now this has been sabotaged."

He added: "Is this a puppet government or are the Americans moving the goalposts to suit their own aims again?"
…
The only two known women prisoners are Rihab Taha and Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash, both of whom are senior scientists who worked on deposed leader Saddam Hussein's alleged biological weapons programs. There was confusion earlier this week when Iraqi officials suggested that Taha could be released. But U.S. officials made clear that the former germ warfare specialist is in American custody and would not be freed in response to the kidnapers' demands.

Blair received unsolicited support from his main political opponent, Conservative Party leader Michael Howard. He said he hoped the Bigley family would forgive him for wholeheartedly endorsing Blair's stance.

"We cannot give in to people who behave in this barbaric fashion," Howard told the BBC. "It would be a green light to them to take more hostages and kill more people. I feel desperately for Kenneth Bigley and his family. And I feel for Mr. Blair too, who is in the most unenviable predicament."

The terrorists know what they are doing.
Putting the ball in someone else's court to make a choice... a choice THEY already made: to die or not to die. With an ultimatum attached.

Again, people die.
That's the price of terrorism.

Illegal to Fight Back???

Iraq war illegal, says Annan
When pressed on whether he viewed the invasion of Iraq as illegal, he said: "Yes, if you wish. I have indicated it was not in conformity with the UN charter from our point of view, from the charter point of view, it was illegal."

Mr Annan's comments provoked angry suggestions from a former Bush administration aide that they were timed to influence the US November election.

"I think it is outrageous for the Secretary-General, who ultimately works for the member states, to try and supplant his judgement for the judgement of the member states," Randy Scheunemann, a former advisor to US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told the BBC.

"To do this 51 days before an American election reeks of political interference."
...
The BBC's Susannah Price at UN headquarters in New York says Mr Annan has made similar comments before.

He has said from the beginning the invasion did not conform with the UN charter - phrasing that was seen as a diplomatic way of saying the war was illegal.

Truthfully, this is bad timing. Why bring this up yet again at this time? Why not sooner? If he stood by this rhetoric, then he could have continued in it the whole time. That way it does not appear as a "surprise" right before elections.

HOWEVER, in all honesty, we were not the only ones to strike Iraq. We were not the only ones who believed there was a good cause for striking back at those areas where these terrorists were hiding out. Britain joined us. Australia is there. What do these countries have to say about their involvement?

A UK foreign office spokeswoman said: "The Attorney-General made the government's position on the legal basis for the use of military force in Iraq clear at the time".

Australian Prime Minister John Howard also rejected Mr Annan's remarks, saying the legal advice he was given was "entirely valid".

Good.

Mr. Annan's voice does not represent the voice of everyone. He may be the Secretary-General in the UN, but he is not representative of every single member state. Each state had their own thoughts & feelings about what should be done (from Previous Blog):

"...terrorism must be combated by all possible means." —French President Jacques Chirac

"...an offense against the freedom and rights of all civilized nations." —Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien

"It is a brazen challenge to the whole humanity, at least to civilized humanity. And what happened today is added proof of the relevance of the Russian proposal to pool the efforts of the international community in the struggle against terrorism, that plague of the 21st century."—Russian President Valdimir Putin

We even asked the UN to help. They rejected our request. We were supposed to sit there and bleed? While the sly, sinister bully with the just-play-dumb appearance was out there punching someone here and there, but retracting their fists quick enough that nobody could be sure it was really them? Then in a sneering boast, proclaim "I DID IT! I DID IT!" all the while laughing at us because...we just let him get away with it... over and over and over.

"We are creating a coalition to go after terrorism. We are asking the United Nations and every other organization you can think of...to join us once and for all in a great coalition to conduct a campaign against terrorists who are conducting war against civilized people." —Colin Powell, Newshour with Jim Lehrer, September 13, 2001

Come on. Mr. Annan: DUDE, WAKE UP!

I understand that the UN charter calls "for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace..."

But seriously! There was already a breach of peace involved. More than a hundred times. And this little sentence in Article 1 of Chapter 1 of the UN Charter sounds like a merry-go-round. There needs to be an adendum (am I missing that somewhere? Someone point it out to me if you find it) where the UN charter allows for this certain exception:

***If the case involves a group of people that has continuously harrassed, assaulted, coerced, intimidated, and tried to dominate others through violent means and threatening expressions, then it is deemed impossible to establish any kind of peace with such an unstable mentality - where peace was attempted in times before - and thus, we acknowledge that a peaceful means cannot bring about the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace caused by this group."***

This sentence in the UN charter is reasonable FOR ALL OTHER REASONABLE CIRCUMSTANCES...

(was that clear enough for everyone to read? let me know in the back there)

but not in this case.

We are dealing with a plague (as Vladimir Putin put it so eloquently). A virus (as I stated before).

There should be an exception. This is not a usual war. This breach of peace goes way beyond the boundaries of the norm. We are not fighting against flesh and blood alone. Not by their standards. Not by their terms. They made that clear when they signed the fatwah.

Flights Delayed, Grounded

From the Northeast Intelligence Network:

15 September 2004-- THOUSANDS of passengers have been and continue to be stranded across the US southwest after an alleged radio breakdown at a key air traffic control center grounded hundreds of flights. Aviation officials ordered all take-offs and landings at Los Angeles International Airport, the world's fifth busiest airport and at other airports on the west coast of the United States, delaying all flights and triggering a ripple effect across the country.

The Federal Aviation Authority said the stoppage was ordered after a high-altitude air traffic control facility at Palmdale, east of Los Angeles, lost radio contact with planes within their air jurisdiction.

Los Angeles International Airport was the center of controversy ten days ago when a “flashlight” reportedly exploded at the Tom Bradley International Terminal following a security breach involving a person running past security and into a secure area of the airport.

You need to know what is going on.

Iraq’s Quandary

Faced with their country tangled up in wars, Iraqis are attempting to establish a foundation. But the foundation is intentionally being pockmarked by these holier-than-thou men who signed the fatwah.

Holier-than-thou?
Why did I choose those words? Think about it.
These are men who claim they are fighting against Americans because their god's book claims:

"But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the pagans wherever ye find them, seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war)".

Ah so suddenly we Americans are pagans. Hmmm. And the basis for that is?

"All these crimes and sins committed by the Americans are a clear declaration of war on God, his messenger, and Muslims."

They list three reasons known as "crimes and sins". I will examine the fatwah in another post and we will go over these. Meanwhile...

And ulema have throughout Islamic history unanimously agreed that the jihad is an individual duty if the enemy destroys the Muslim countries. This was revealed by Imam Bin-Qadamah in "Al- Mughni," Imam al-Kisa'i in "Al- Bada'i," al-Qurtubi in his interpretation, and the shaykh of al-Islam in his books, where he said "As for the militant struggle, it is aimed at defending sanctity and religion, and it is a duty as agreed. Nothing is more sacred than belief except repulsing an enemy who is attacking religion and life."

Hold up, hold up.

Ok so basically, the Americans are pagans because we fight back? We just don’t take their attempts at tyranny?

Let us back up in time. Let’s begin with their first attacks when the United States was finally independent of Great Britain. (See Previous Blog). Their first attacks on the seas, forcing our shipping and our immigrants to pay tribute to their Omars and Sheiks or else seizing our ships and goods & selling us into slavery. They also stated in this fatwah: Prophet, Muhammad Bin-'Abdallah, who said "I have been sent with the sword between my hands to ensure that no one but God is worshipped, God who put my livelihood under the shadow of my spear and who inflicts humiliation and scorn on those who disobey my orders."

What kind of god is this? I will examine that in another post…

But here is the point… they struck at us first. Ever since we began crawling in diapers, these guys have attempted to dominate us. The last time these guys tried to “make an agreement” with us (Americans), it was to agree to pay tribute again. That was 1796. President Madison stated two things in return:

1. "the United States, whilst they wish for war with no nation, will buy peace with none."
   
2. He concluded that it was the "settled policy" of the United States "that as peace is better than war, war is better than tribute."

Now fast forward to the current time. Here we are today. United States over in this war-infested country. We are spending millions and billions of dollars to help them rebuild their ruined country after freeing them from yet another dominating tyrant... and guess who is the bad guy?

I read that the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report says:
"Iraq will not be a 'success' for a long time. Whether or not US forces are invited to leave in 2005 [when a fully constitutional Iraqi government is due to take office], Iraq's ultimate success depends on building Iraqi capacity to take the country forward."

Yeah - they need to take over, but we (U.S.) have set aside $18 million to help out their country. We're trying to train police officers and help build their electricity and schools and water utilities. But to what use? If these guys (Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's group) keep bombing the place up, these things go back to ruin anyway. They're eventaking the claim to these bombings:

A car bomb has exploded close to an Iraqi police station in central Baghdad, killing 47 people, health ministry officials say. More than 100 people were injured in the huge mid-morning blast, which devastated a busy shopping area in Haifa Street. Gunmen also shot dead 12 policemen and a civilian in Baquba, north of Baghdad. A statement said to be from alleged al-Qaeda militant Abu Musab al Zarqawi's group said it carried out the attacks.

These guys really do not have any regard for any human life. I am going to examine that Fatwah later and point out some inconsistencies, hypocrisies, and plain out B.S. As far as God is concerned, the days of old are just that... old. I will go into some things from the bible and we will just look at this fanatical sect's (al-Qaeda's) twisted view of love, life, liberty, and God. It will explain a lot.

9/11/01: Remember These Words

The full horror of what has happened in the United States earlier today is now becoming clearer. It is hard even to contemplate the utter carnage and terror which has engulfed so many innocent people. We've offered President Bush and the American people our solidarity, our profound sympathy, and our prayers. But it is plain that citizens of many countries round the world, including Britain, will have been caught up in this terror. —British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Interview, September 11, 2001.

It is with enormous distress that France has just learned of the monstrous attacks—there is no other word for it—that have just struck the United States of America. In these horrifying circumstances, the entire people of France, and I want to emphasize this, stand by the people of America. They express their friendship and solidarity in this tragedy. Naturally, I want to assure President Bush of my total support. France, as you know, has always condemned and unreservedly condemns terrorism, and considers that terrorism must be combated by all possible means. —French President Jacques Chirac, September 11, 2001.

It was with horror that I learned of the abominable terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington in which so many innocent people have lost their lives. My government staunchly condemns these acts of terrorism. The German people are at the side of the United States of America in this difficult hour. I wish to express my deep-felt condolences and complete solidarity to you and the American people. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families. —German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, September 11, 2001.

I was stricken by news and television pictures coming from the United States this morning. It is impossible to fully comprehend the evil that would have conjured up such a cowardly and depraved assault upon thousands of innocent people. There can be no cause or grievance that could ever justify such unspeakable violence. Indeed, such an attack is an assault not only on the targets but an offense against the freedom and rights of all civilized nations. —Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, September 11, 2001.

This morning we were notified about the horrible news of the series of terrorist attacks in the United States, that have left a great trail of destruction. Mexico expresses its condolences to the Government and the American people for the irreparable human losses. We also express our energetic condemnation to these attacks. I have informed President George Bush of our feelings of sorrow and our solidarity in such difficult moments. —Mexican President Vicente Fox, September 11, 2001.

The incidents in the United States are extremely vicious and unforgivable acts of violence. Such acts of terrorism are totally unacceptable. I am outraged. On behalf of the people of Japan, I would like to extend my heartfelt sympathies to the President of the United States of America and to the American people. —Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, September 11, 2001.

Shocked to learn of the serious attacks against certain areas in New York City and Washington D.C. on September 11, which caused horrendous casualty, I wish to express, on behalf of the Chinese Government and people, our deepest sympathy and solicitude to you and, through you, to the Government and people of the United States. I wish also to extend our condolences to the families of the victims. The Chinese Government has consistently condemned and rejected all forms of terrorist violence. —Chinese President Jiang Zemin, September 11, 2001.

The United States today faced an unprecedented act of aggression on the part of international terrorism. First of all, I express sincere and profound condolences to all the victims and the families of the dead. The event that occurred in the US today goes beyond national borders. It is a brazen challenge to the whole humanity, at least to civilized humanity. And what happened today is added proof of the relevance of the Russian proposal to pool the efforts of the international community in the struggle against terrorism, that plague of the 21st century. Russia knows at first hand what terrorism is. So, we understand as well as anyone the feelings of the American people. Addressing the people of the United States on behalf of Russia I would like to say that we are with you, we entirely and fully share and experience your pain. We support you. —Russian President Valdimir Putin, September 12, 2001.

We are creating a coalition to go after terrorism. We are asking the United Nations and every other organization you can think of—United Nations, NATO, the European Union, the Organization of Islamic Countries, the OAS, everybody—to join us once and for all in a great coalition to conduct a campaign against terrorists who are conducting war against civilized people. —Colin Powell, Newshour with Jim Lehrer, September 13, 2001

War has been waged against us by stealth and deceit and murder. This nation is peaceful, but fierce when stirred to anger. This conflict was begun on the timing and terms of others. It will end in a way, and at an hour, of our choosing. —George W. Bush, Speech at National Cathedral, September 14, 2001

Victory against terrorism will not take place in a single battle, but in a series of decisive actions against terrorist organizations and those who harbor and support them. —George W. Bush, Radio address to the nation, September 15, 2001

We strongly support the operation President Bush ordered our military forces to carry out today. The administration has properly made it clear that today's action and any future action are directed against those who perpetrated the heinous attacks on the United States on September 11, not against Islam or the people of Afghanistan. We stand united with the president and with our troops, and will continue to work together to do what is necessary to bring justice to these terrorists and those who harbor them. —Republican and Democratic leaders of Congress, October 7, 2001.

The fight against terrorism is a fight that is complex, difficult and that has to be played on several fronts. It is not just a military fight ... for this action facing us, the French are united ... We are all united. — French President Jacques Chirac, October 7, 2001.

None of the leaders involved in this action want war. None of our nations want it. We are a peaceful people. But we know that sometimes, to safeguard peace, we have to fight. Britain has learned that lesson many times before in our history. We only do it if the cause is just. — British Prime Minister Tony Blair, October 7, 2001.

We see in the United States the leader of this campaign, and we shall not do anything that may frustrate or endanger the campaign itself ... We feel part and parcel of this campaign, and, if it should be asked, everything will be considered, seriously and positively. — Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, October 7, 2001.

Al Jazeera Cartoon

I just saw a cartoon on the Al Jazeera.Net website that bothers me.

It starts off showing, "11 Sept. 2001" and then "A Tragic Day in America". Suddenly two planes are shown smashing into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York. The planes crash into the towers, one by one, and they each crumble and disappear in turn. Then a crowd emerges in New York City holding signs that say:

• "Where is Bin Laden?"
• "What About Promises?"
• "We need internal security"
• "Where are the terrorist responsible for 9/11"

Then, in place of the former twin towers are Presidential candidates Bush & Kerry. Kerry holds up a sign that says "Please give me a chance." Bush holds up a sign that says "Re-elect Bush." The cartoon ends.

I am bothered by this cartoon because it is almost a cheer on the terrorists' part. The cartoon is indicating that this Presidential election is based on this event (9/11/01 attacks). It also indicates that the American people are upset - holding up picket signs and gathered in mob fashion before the "twin towers" of the Presidential candidates.

I am bothered because it is pointing out the obvious.
Apparently America is displaying to the world what the terrorists want most: the American people crumbling within its own borders via internal dissension.

Terrorists bring terror to people by their violent actions which usually result in deaths of innocents. Terror causes fear which makes people angry. When fear takes over, people lash out at the authorities in place that are assigned to protect them. They lash out because of a lack of faith in those authorities.

Fear is the absence of faith.

Think about it.

REPORT IT

I think it is important that in the future, when Indonesian authorities get -- better yet, when ANYBODY gets -- a message threatening the lives of human beings in ANY form...

REPORT IT.

Immediately pass it on.

The Guardian
The Australian foreign minister, Alexander Downer, said in Jakarta that a member of Indonesia's elite paramilitary mobile brigade had received the warning. "The message some 45 minutes before the terrorist attack [said] that there would be an attack on western embassies unless Abu Bakar Ba'asyir was released," he said.
Mr Ba'asyir is considered the co-founder and ideological leader of Jemaah Islamiyah, the militant Islamist terrorist network linked to al Qaida and believed to be responsible for the embassy bombing and the explosions in Bali in 2002 and Jakarta last year.
...
John McFarlane, a former director of Australia's police intelligence, said it would be unreasonable to blame the Indonesian police for the failure to pass on the warning.
A message on an Islamic website said Jemaah Islamiyah had carried out the bombing because of Australia's support for America's war on terror.
...
suspected the masterminds were two senior Malaysian Jemaah Islamiyah operatives, the British-educated engineer Azahari Husin and a communications expert, Noordin Muhammed Top.

Two reasons are given here for the bombing:

1. the release of Abu Bakar Ba'asyir (the co-founder and ideological leader of Jemaah Islamiyah, the militant Islamist terrorist network linked to al Qaida )
   
2. and "because of Australia's support for America's war on terror."

I say, if the release of Abu Bakar Ba'asyir is not up for debate (in other words - "ain't gonna happen...ever") - then shoot the bastard. Get rid of him. There's one terrorist "co-founder and ideological leader" gone. They were going to attack western embassies if he was not released anyway. These people who found or co-found terrorist networks need to be shot.

Want to stop a weed from infesting your garden? Pull it by the roots and burn it.
One way to continue re-infecting humanity with a virus is to isolate the virus, investigate it under microscopes and bright lights, and then mishandle it in such a way that it is released again into the world.

Australia is in the "coalition of the willing" already. And they do not plan on changing their stance on terrorism. Terrorism is evil. Everyone knows that but the terrorists. Go figure.

Australia vs. Terrorism

Australia, Thank you for being a part of the "coalition of the willing" in Iraq.

"If there is some intimation in there that we ought to alter our approach, our foreign policy approach, because we might be being targeted I have to say that is just not the way to overcome evil of this sort.
"It may be that those of us who have been particularly prepared to stand up (in Iraq) will be identified (as targets)."
Mr Anderson said it was important that the election campaign avoided a debate on the merits of withdrawing troops from Iraq.
...
"Terrorism knows no bounds ... we want it to be safe everywhere."
He said the Government stood on its record in terms of anti-terror measures.
"Plainly our record is out there - we have taken a very vigorous approach on this issue," he said.
"I don't think anybody thinks we are likely to change our approach."
Opposition frontbencher Simon Crean said this morning the Jakarta bombing "should strengthen our resolve to attack terrorism and to ensure we have got a much more secure region".

Three Years Ago

When the planes hit the World Trade Center, I was working at the hospital in the Human Resources department. I was not sure what to think of the situation. I believe I initially felt a sense of panic rise up in me because my family was separated - we were all living in different states. I called home and talked about the situation with my parents. Later in the day, I went up to the cafeteria and watched the replaying of the attack on the many TVs in various corners of the lounge area. I watched people running and crying, smoke rising, fires burning, people jumping, and listened to the news commentary. Later in the month, our hospital went into a higher security status. Life changed a bit, it seemed. We were a country in mourning at a great loss.

Though I don't agree with the entire poem - I do remember these words of a favorite artist of mine regarding that tragic day:

self evident

yes,
us people are just poems
we're 90% metaphor
with a leanness of meaning
approaching hyper-distillation
and once upon a time
we were moonshine
rushing down the throat of a giraffe
yes, rushing down the long hallway
despite what the p.a. announcement says
yes, rushing down the long stairs
with the whiskey of eternity
fermented and distilled
to eighteen minutes
burning down our throats
down the hall
down the stairs
in a building so tall
that it will always be there
yes, it's part of a pair
there on the bow of noah's ark
the most prestigious couple
just kickin back parked
against a perfectly blue sky
on a morning beatific
in its indian summer breeze
on the day that america
fell to its knees
after strutting around for a century
without saying thank you
or please

and the shock was subsonic
and the smoke was deafening
between the setup and the punch line
cuz we were all on time for work that day
we all boarded that plane for to fly
and then while the fires were raging
we all climbed up on the windowsill
and then we all held hands
and jumped into the sky

and every borough looked up when it heard the first blast
and then every dumb action movie was summarily surpassed
and the exodus uptown by foot and motorcar
looked more like war than anything i've seen so far
so far
so far
so fierce and ingenious
a poetic specter so far gone
that every jackass newscaster was struck dumb and stumbling
over 'oh my god' and 'this is unbelievable' and on and on
and i'll tell you what, while we're at it
you can keep the pentagon
keep the propaganda
keep each and every tv
that's been trying to convince me
to participate
in some prep school punk's plan to perpetuate retribution
perpetuate retribution
even as the blue toxic smoke of our lesson in retribution
is still hanging in the air
and there's ash on our shoes
and there's ash in our hair
and there's a fine silt on every mantle
from hell's kitchen to brooklyn
and the streets are full of stories
sudden twists and near misses
and soon every open bar is crammed to the rafters
with tales of narrowly averted disasters
and the whiskey is flowin
like never before
as all over the country
folks just shake their heads
and pour

...

I remember all of that - from afar. I listened to the many interviews following the tragedy. I watched people hold up "MISSING" photos of loved ones and talking about them on TV. I was not there, but my heart grieved for them.

And I wanted the people who did this to us to pay. I wanted to see those who had the audacity to try to bring us to ruin...I wanted to see them brought to justice.

And I wanted to be with my family again.

Sentenced to death

He who plays with death will find death.

Zawahri is believed to be the architect of the al-Qaeda ideology.
In 1998, he was the second of five signatories to Bin Laden's notorious "fatwa" calling for attacks against US civilians.
He was a key figure in the Egyptian Islamic Jihad group, which later merged with al-Qaeda.
Zawahri's wife and children were reported killed in a US air strike in late November or early December 2001.
He has been indicted in the US for his alleged role in the 1998 bombings of US embassies in East Africa, and was sentenced to death in Egypt in absentia for his activities with the Islamic Jihad group in the 1990s.

Already his wife and children are dead.
Something noticeable about suicidal people:

• They already feel like they have nothing to live for - which makes it easier for them to face circumstances that may bring about their own death.
  
• They are already mentally unstable (big indication: they want to die) - so they tend to do stupid things.
  
• They do not have regard for the lives of people around them (big clue: suicide is a selfish act to begin with)
  
• If they cannot kill themselves, they find a way for someone else to kill them - even if the killing was not intentional on the "killer's" part (i.e. suicide by cop... which basically means that the suicidal person jumps out in front of a cop in such a manner with the intent of having the cop kill them)
  

And the NUMBER ONE noticeable thing about suicidal people?

COWARDS

Think about that. It will all make sense.

LINK


ADDITION:

Suicidal folks also tend to place themselves in an environment that feeds off of pain. Perhaps, by remaining in a constant state of pain, this allows their conscience to justify their behavior.

The Hornets Sting More Terrorists

And the hornets sting at yet another swat - even if it was only a verbal one:

U.S.-led forces launched offensives in three Iraqi rebel strongholds on Thursday on a day Osama bin Laden's deputy ridiculed the U.S. military, saying their defeat in Iraq was just a matter of time.
U.S.-led forces killed nearly two dozen insurgents in a town near the Syrian border and bombed targets in Falluja, west of Baghdad, for the third straight day.
Troops mounted a major offensive in Tal Afar, a suspected haven for foreign fighters about 60 miles east of the Syrian border in northern Iraq, and went into the tense town of Samarra north of Baghdad, while keeping up pressure on Falluja.
The fighting in Tal Afar killed 22 insurgents and wounded more than 70 people, a local government health official said.

These EDPs - or rather SDPs (Spiritually Disturbed Persons) - just don't get it.


LINK

Deluded Terrorist Leaders

Ayman al-Zawahri, the number two figure in al Qaeda, speaks his truth.

I don't agree with him.

The excerpts appeared to be part of a longer message. Al Jazeera said elsewhere on the tape he announced that "the age of security has passed for Americans, and they will not have security until they stop their crimes against Muslims in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine."

It seems the man is deluded. We (the United States) did not start these so-called "crimes against Muslims" in these countries. We started a war with their arses when their foolhearted cockiness thought they would strike us on our soil.

We are done with anticipating their attacks on the United States. We are done with "responding" to attacks. We are now at the age of intercepting via intelligence and then initiating our own attacks. As long as George Bush remains President, this country will remain as secure as humanly possibly with what measures we have in place. I too will scoff at those remarks intended to intimidate and bring fear to the hearts of American people:

"In Kabul, the Americans and peacekeeping forces are hiding from the shells of the Mujahideen and expect martyrdom (suicide) attacks at every moment," Zawahri said in Thursday's tape.

They don't want us on their soil? Then they shouldn't have taken a swat at the hornets' nest.

Presidential Poll

"Suppose there were only two choices for president and vice president and you HAD TO CHOOSE between the two listed, whom would you choose?"
	George W. Bush & Dick Cheney (Republicans)
	John Kerry and John Edwards (Democrats)
	Neither
 
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Russia Responds

Russian President Vladimir Putin knows what time it is. He has awakened in light of the terrorist attacks by Chechen militants:

"We are dealing with a direct intervention of international terror against Russia, with a total, cruel and all-powerful war which again and again takes the lives of our fellow countrymen," he said in a televised speech to the people.

"We must create a much more effective system of security. We must demand that our security forces act at a level appropriate to the level and scope of the new threats."

..."It is vital to create an effective anti-crisis management system -- including fundamentally new approaches in the activity of the security forces," he said.

In a previous blog:

"Terrorist attacks, particularly by groups such as al-Qaeda, are intended to be of such catastrophic magnitude as to send a strong political message to the targeted adversary and to the group's constituents in Islamic lands. In response, the United States, Britain, and their allies must be supported by good intelligence, strong situational awareness, and effective defensive, preemptive, and deterrence measures."

Putin is responding on behalf of Russia.

Breached: ID thefts

An auditor lost a small external hard drive for a laptop computer. Personal data, including names, addresses, Social Security numbers and other identifiers for 23,500 students, faculty and staff in the California State University system were contained on the missing hard drive.
...
"There's no reason to assume that suddenly in July 2003 all these computer security breaches started occurring," said Joanne McNabb of the Office of Privacy Protection in the California Department of Consumer Affairs. "It's just that we know about them now, when we didn't hear before."

Not only do we now know about these breaches, but now we also know how these breaches happen.

Unwavering vs. waveri... nuanced

In these troubling times, will Americans prefer someone as absolutist and unwavering as George Bush? Or will they go for someone with a more nuanced approach? Excellent arguments can be made for both sides.

But the first major poll since the Republican convention shows Mr Bush 11 points ahead of Mr Kerry - a huge bounce.

I think this poll reflects the answer to the question. Let's see if the numbers remain steady or -- hopefully -- continue to push ahead in favor of President Bush.

Terrorism Is A Virus

"My fellow Americans, make no mistake about it — terrorism is more insidious than communism, because it yearns to destroy not just the individual but the entire international order."

It is so refreshing to see that some people get it.
Terrorism is a virus. I often liken it to a virus because to put it simply...it is!

Check out these definitions:

1. "Something that poisons one's soul or mind"
   
2. " a harmful or corrupting agency"
   
3. "a [software] program capable of reproducing itself and usually capable of causing great harm to [files] or other [programs] on the same computer"
   
4. "A virus has an "engine" - code that enables it to propagate and optionally a "payload" - what it does apart from propagating. It needs a "host" - the particular hardware and software environment on which it can run and a "trigger" - the event that starts it running."

Let me rephrase one of those (#3) to apply the definition of a virus to terrorism:

Terrorism is a program capable of reproducing itself & usually capable of causing great harm to innocents or other targets on the same planet.

Now, the last definition (#4) also says that a virus has an "engine" - "an agent, instrument, or means of accomplishment...something used to achieve a purpose; 'an engine of change'"

Shakespeare refers to an engine as: "Anything used to effect a purpose; any device or contrivance; an agent."

Sir Walter Raleigh refers to an engine as: "Any instrument by which any effect is produced; especially, an instrument or machine of war or torture. "

What is the engine, the agent, the cause, the driving force of today's terrorism?
The terrorists claim that their actions are motivated as a result of a jihad. A bitter holy war against Americans. They use this religious war as a front for their cause. We could also argue that the agents (plural) are: Saddam, al-Qaeda, al-Nedra, Osama bin Laden. They propagate terrorists by recruiting them; hatred & dissension by spreading it; pain by living it, re-living it, and making sure everyone around them feels it. Another agent we could argue is revenge. From what? Revenge from The Crusades.

The definition says that the virus consists of a "payload" - "The revenue-producing part of a cargo...The explosive charge carried in the warhead of a missile...the front part of a guided missile or rocket or torpedo that carries the nuclear or explosive charge or the chemical or biological agents...goods carried by a large vehicle."

The payloads (plural) should be obvious.

It needs a "host" - the environment in which it runs...One who receives or entertains guests in a social or official capacity...One that furnishes facilities and resources for a function or event...An army...A great number; a multitude...(Biology) The animal or plant on which or in which another organism lives...a living animal or plant on or in which a parasite lives ...a : an individual into which a tissue or part is transplanted from another b : an individual in whom an abnormal growth (as a cancer) is proliferating.

What is the host - or are there more than one?
I would argue that there are more than one hosts involved. The first of the hosts would be the country - or countries - that harbor(s) and maintain(s) the engine operations:

• training grounds for terrorist recruits;
• homes for the terrorist leaders & recruits;
• businesses used to promote terrorist activities such as raising money or recruiting.

Taking the biology term, I can rephrase it to say: "the soil on which or in which this parasite lives...the soil in which this abnormal growth (as a cancer) is proliferating."

The second of the hosts would be the VIPs who give aid to the engine operations:

• government officials,
• financers,
• businessmen.

The third and final of the hosts would be the planet itself - in all its cities, countries, regions - where the terrorists spread themselves to recruit, operate, maim, kill, destroy, plant "cells" (a.k.a. "sleepers"), gather intel, spread dissension...or simply live (i.e. buy a home, find a job, raise a family) until needed (read triggered).

What is a trigger? The event that starts it running.
This article says, "The devastating military defeat of these groups in the current military campaign in Afghanistan is likely to serve as the trigger for their remaining operatives to seek catastrophic revenge on behalf of their fallen and retreating comrades." It gives these as historical dates likely to trigger al-Qaeda attacks:

• 17 January (the commencement of Operation Desert Storm)
• 19 March (Jerusalem Day proclaimed by Ayatollah Khomeini to demand the “liberation” of Jerusalem)
• 30 March (referred to by Israeli Arabs as “Land Day,” it annually features protests against alleged expropriation of Arab property)
• 7 May (Israeli independence day)
• 31 May (the annual pilgrimage in Mecca begins)
• 5 June (the beginning of the 1967 Six Day War between Israel and her Arab neighbors)
• 4 July (U.S. Independence Day)
• 31 December-1 January (New Year's Day)

"Terrorist attacks, particularly by groups such as al-Qaeda, are intended to be of such catastrophic magnitude as to send a strong political message to the targeted adversary and to the group's constituents in Islamic lands. In response, the United States, Britain, and their allies must be supported by good intelligence, strong situational awareness, and effective defensive, preemptive, and deterrence measures."

Who is doing what in the United States to see that we have the following??

1. Good intelligence,
   
2. strong situational awareness,
   
3. and effective
   
   • defensive,
     
   • preemptive,
     
   • and deterrence measures.

Who do you think?

Bush "knows you don't reason with terrorists. You defeat them. He knows you can't reason with people blinded by hate," Schwarzenegger said.

"I remember some very quiet nights at the dinner table. George was weighing grim scenarios and ominous intelligence about potentially even more devastating attacks. I remember sitting in the window of the White House, watching as my husband walked on the lawn below. I knew he was wrestling with these agonizing decisions that would have such profound consequence for so many lives and for the future of our world." -Laura Bush

More in following posts...