Category: Terrorism
-
‘Terra’ Is Where The Heart Is
September 11th. Again. Um. Yeah. Ushered in a new era of “Terrorism Awareness.” All of that disaster preparedness training, an entirely new branch of the government, and an “experienced” administration. Yet we still couldn’t pull a few people out of the water in time to save their lives. They tried to put all of that emergency response stuff in a jar, shake it up and pour it on a natural disaster. God help us.
I don’t believe in terrorism, I won’t drink that Kool-Aid anymore. It gives me an upset stomach.
“I don’t believe in ‘isms,’ I only believe in me.” – John Lennon
-
Evil Zombie Terrorists
Student Arrested For Terroristic Threatening Says Incident A Misunderstanding: William Poole wrote a story about Zombies taking over a high school. He’s being held in jail for $5,000 bond. His grandparents turned him in. No one in authority over this thinks it is a ridiculous situation. Except William Poole, of course…
-
Pay No Attention To the Man Behind the Curtain
Terror alert: how four-year-old information was transformed into clear and present danger.
The Bush administration was forced into the embarrassing admission yesterday that “new” intelligence about al-Qa’ida’s plans to attack US financial institutions – information that led to an official alert and a slew of fresh security measures – was up to four years old and predated the 11 September attacks.
Ummmm… Great.
-
Department of Homeland Curiosity
essays & effluvia asks: Department of Homeland Security – How about updating the threat level on your home page? They’ve upped the alert levels again in NYC, what gives? I mean if the DHS doesn’t update it’s front page, how is the terror banana supposed to work properly?:
-
Go Forth and Read
the 9-11 Commission Final Report. If you can stay awake. Sidebar: Ben’s Guide To U.S. Gub’ment, guess he should have ran for the presidency after all…. ah well, hindsight is 20/20.
-
20,000 Iraqi Sunnis, not 5,000 Al-Qaeda
Iraq Insurgency Larger Than Thought
“Estimates of the insurgents’ manpower tend to be too low. Last week, a former coalition official said 4,000 to 5,000 Baathists form the core of the insurgency, with other attacks committed by a couple hundred supporters of Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and hundreds of other foreign fighters.”
Get ready for the draft. Not only doesn’t the administration understand the size and nature of it’s “enemy” but, it doesn’t even know who they are. How can we confidently support our elected leaders this quagmyre any further? How can we support an administration that contradicts the Pentagon, the intelligence community and senior military officers on daily basis? How can we trust that they are comptent to lead us to peace?
-
Oh No! We Loose!
Bush threatens veto to keep Ascroft’s fist tightly around our necks. As the Patriot Act is kept, in whole, for the third time.
“The Republican-led House bowed to a White House veto threat Thursday and stood by the USA Patriot Act, defeating an effort to block the part of the anti-terrorism law that helps the government investigate people’s reading habits.”
Personal Civil Liberty, Due Process, and Probable Cause were last seen fleeing towards the borders of Canada and Mexico. FBI and CIA officals continue the hunt for them as Bush and Ascroft vow to “put them down once and fer all fer Amurika’s own good.”
-
Guard’s Struggle Speaks Volumes
al-Qaida terrorist Mamdouh Mahmud Salim was sentanced for the assault and attempted murder of prison gaurd Louis Pepe. He and a cell-mate attacked Louis with a sharpened comb. He drove the comb throuh his eye and 3 inches into his brain. Louis did survive but, he and his family have recieved very little help or, financial restitution for his injuries. He lives with his 79 year old mother and 80 year old father.
His attacker, on the other hand, faces 32 years for the crime.
-
From The “Swatting Flies With A Sledgehammer” Dept.
Conn. airport terminal evacuated after boxcutter was found in trashcan
A box-cutter found in a restroom prompted the evacuation of a terminal at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Conn., Tuesday. The Transportation Security Administration ordered the evacuation of the airport’s new concourse just after 3 p.m., when a cleaning crew reported finding the box-cutter in a garbage can of a women’s bathroom…
Flatulence was also reported to be heard from the mens room… a SWAT team was dispatched and aprehended a middle-aged man who looked suspiciously pale and was reportedly also red-faced.
-
I’d Disclose The Reason For This But, Then I’d Have To Kill You
Sen. Reid watching State of the Union from secure location
Reid: “Oh, hi Mr. Cheney! How’s it going? Nice undisclosed location you got here.”
Cheney: “Hey! Who let you in here? Get the hell out of here!”
Reid: “But sir, I’m supposed to be here, remember?”
Cheney: “Remember your ass out of here, this is my undiclosed location, get your own undisclosed location… forget you ever saw me.”
Reid: “Yes sir!” Sorry Sir!”
-
They Aren’t Even Hiding It Any Longer
As heard on NPR : Morning Edition for Wednesday, October 1, 2003 a report about the new financial laws that take effect to help identify and stop terrorism financing:
“If we can detour terrorist financiers away from the digital, electronic system, which gives them international global instant keystroke mobility to the old ways of value transfer. Like carting cash or, gold or, diamonds over a mountain on the back of a camel. We’ve slowed them down” – David Offhauser, Treasury Department General Council as heard on NPR Morning Addition, Kathleen Schalch reporting.
Of all the anti-Arab, racist, stereotypical, ill-thought out comments… Is that the pinnacle of achievement and decorum in our current government? Can a senior department official can be heard saying this on national news? Perhaps, in our rootin’ tootin’ era of Bush-isms and Cheney-esqe ethics, yes.
And by the way Mr. Offhauser, just what the hell does “digital, electronic, international, global, instant, keystroke, mobility” do anyway? Can I buy some of that at Wall-to-wall mart? Is it made in the U.S.A. or is it humped over mountains on the backs of camels by terrorists?
Don’t believe he said that? Click the above NPR link, scroll down to that story, New Rules Aim to Choke Terrorism Funding and listen for yourself.
-
Ecstasy Study Botched, Retracted
With great fanfare, last year a study was published that linked ecstasy with causing Parkinson’s disease. Well, they retracted the study.
George Ricaurte, the Johns Hopkins Medical School researcher who performed the research, said his lab did not administer ecstasy, or MDMA, but methamphetamine, to the primates in the study.
Pretty serious mistake, I’d say. You give a bunch of monkeys speed, they going to have the shakes. Someone at the foundation is going to be extremely angry with these fellows. That’s like setting up a test to link drowsiness with drinking warm milk and using coffee instead. This comes especially troubling since the test seemed to refute the mounting evidence that ecstacy could help the symptoms of Parkinson’s.
Who knows? Who cares? As long as the DEA, FBI, and Ashcroft have something to link with terrorism, then everything is okay in Amurika.
-
Satellite Images Of The Blackout
I’ve put together a composite of some satellite images before and after the blackout. Someone linked to the images in slashdot and I grabbed them from NOAA and put this together. They are very interesting, I think. Hover over the image with your mouse to see the difference before and after.
-
Save Us From Ourselves
A teenager was arrested by California State Police and charged with one felony count of bomb making and hijacking. His family was forced off the plane as well. Now, he didnt’ actually have a bomb rather, he had a note with the word bomb written on it within his luggage. The note apparently read:
”[Expletive] you. Stay the [expletive] out of my bag you [expletive] sucker. Have you found a [expletive] bomb yet? No, just clothes. Am I right? Yea, so [expletive] you.”
Dumb? Yes.
Terrorist? No.
Bombmaker? No.
Mention the possibility that there is a bomb in his baggage? No.
Mentioned the word “Bomb” in the note? YesDavid A. Procopio, spokesman for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, said ”Putting a false bomb threat in your luggage is not something we take lightly,” Procopio said. ”In the current climate, it’s just unacceptable because of the fear and panic it causes.”
Right David, had he done that… you’d be right. But, he put the WORD bomb in his bag on a piece of paper. No matter how dangerous and criminal you, the FBI, the terror hawks, and the Bush Bunch would like to make it, it’s not illegal to write or even say the word “Bomb” anywhere. At least, not yet. You can argue the “fire in a crowded theater” thing all you want, the only people yelling “FIRE!” right now are making laws about us and against us. I don’t know if I’m more sorry for this kid or, that another treacherous and distasteful, self-aggrandizing politico attorney got his name in the news.
Ruth E. Ryan, a neighbor of the Socha family, said ”I’m surprised I thought he was a good kid.”
Somehow, Dearest Ruth, I get the impression that you aren’t a very good neighbor. In fact, I’m sure that the Socha’s aren’t the least bit surprised that you are babbling to the media about things you didn’t even know happened, weren’t there for, and probably wouldn’t understand anyway.
My god, will someone please stop the terrorism insanity already. A teenager penning a nasty note does not compromise national security, nor does it indicate that he even alluded to making a bomb, much less a terrorist threat. Finally, what manner of country allows someone’s life be ruined over a rebellious outburst. Let’s hope, since the judge set his bail at $1000, that there is still some glimmer of a hope for a voice of reason in this case. But, don’t bank on it. If he’d done this at John F. Kennedy airport in New York or, Ronald Reagan (Washington National) airport in DC, he’d have been shot on the spot.
-
9/11 Report Congressional Report Now Available
The congressional Joint Inquiry into Intelligence Community Activities before and after the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001 full report is available for download. It’s a 5.51MB, 858 page PDF document. So, you’ll need Acrobat to read it, a couple of barrels of coffee and a lawyer would probably help too. The cover alone is 6 pages… wow.
-
Do As They Say, Not As They Do
U.S. Suspends Aid to 35 Countries Over New International Court
The Bush administration suspended all American military assistance to 35 countries today because they refused to pledge to give American citizens immunity before the International Criminal Court.
This comes despite the fact that we’ve set up secret terrorist courts that answer to basically no one, can try anyone in the world, and isn’t required to even disclose the proceedings. Thousands of US citizens and people here on visas are being held without charge, without trial, and without representation.
These are indeed dark days. Our grand children and great-grandchildren will look upon this time and shake their heads and wonder what we were thinking. Much the same as we do now about many periods in history.
-
Why Are They Burning Themselves?
Burning themselves to death? Damn terrorists heathens! Animals, each and every one! Or, to quote one of my contributors, “…self-immolation, or as I like to call it, Darwinism in action…” Let me remind you, Jesus Christ also reportedly committed suicide because of his belief in something. Under the State Department’s definition of terrorism, then isn’t all of Christianity fundamentally a terrorist group? Israel certainly thought so at the time and King Herod adopted a rather brutal “zero-tolerance” policy and simply killed the first born males of the lot of them in hopes of nabbing Jesus and stopping the whole mess from happening.
Watch how quickly you judge a situation because of its appearance. Since most of you won’t bother, allow me to illuminate you as to who these “nutjobs” really are.
Who are the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq? How soon we forget or, how easy is it to forget these groups, especially when some political groups want you to forget them. Let me refresh your memories. Don’t confuse them with the Afghan Mujahideen, that is a whole other chapter in history. The Mujahedeen-e-Khalq or, the People?s Mujahedeen Organization of Iran, or the MEK, are currently the largest group of militant protestors against the Islamic fundamentalist regime in Iran, you know Ayatollah Khomeini type of fundamentalist? The MEK have a very large network of sympathizers. Their opposition to the current Iranian fundamentalist, cleric-run government makes them somewhat popular amongst the Bush Bunch. Those fundamentalist clerics are the same gang of great guys who captured our citizens, in case you’ve forgotten.
The Mujahedeen had strong allies in Iraq and Saddam was indeed a close friend. Providing weapons, bases of operation and financial assistance to them against their common enemy, the Iranian fundamentalists. Prior to that, the MEK assisted the revolution to usurp the despised Iranian Shah and helped to drive him into exile. However, once the fundamentalists got into power, they rejected the Mujahedeen as their doctrine was too Marxist or, perhaps they didn’t oppress women enough for them, since they are led by a woman, Maryam Rajavi.
Yes, the MEP recently has appeared on the U.S. terrorist list, placed there last year, no one is really in agreement about why they are on it. However, if you look at that list you’ll find the Kurdistan Workers? Party or, the PKK. The same group that fought along side U.S. troops in Iraq. In March 2002, Iran agreed to label the PKK as a terrorist organization. In exchange, “democratic” Turkey said it would consider Mujahedeen-e-Khalq a terrorist organization. Very strange and difficult behavior indeed… very hard to explain. In fact, the lack of consistency from the US State Department on the MEK is astonishing. Last year (Oct? Nov?), over 150 Republicans and Democrats House demanded that the MEK be taken off the list of terrorist organizations. Many on within the beltway view them as a legitimate group determined to promote democracy. In Iraq, our own military reached a disarmament and consolidation agreement with the MEK and even considers them allies much the same as we did the PKK who also fought alongside us in the northern Iraq, much to the chagrin of the Turks.
The French are saying that the MEK has become “a significant terrorist risk” in Europe because we blew the living daylights out of several of their bases in Iraq. Which to anyone who can assemble the story accurately as can be done, would appear as complete and utter nonsense. The MEK spokesmen say that the French arrest and “crackdown” was preposterous and that no terrorist activity is being planned or, was planned for the many years they’ve resided in their host country in France. They claim that France is trying to curry favor among the Iranian government whom have demanded that other countries “crack down” on the MEK. Recently, Syria, who also harbored MEK members arrested MEK leaders the shipped them off to Teheran.
So, before you judge another group of “nutjobs” and label them as “terrorist” do your research and thank your Christian god for sacrificing his only son for the “good of the revolution.” So, far it has worked out pretty good. Just ask Bush and Ashcroft… but, don’t ask the Iranian clerics or, Osama Bin Laden. I doubt they’d agree.
-
Domestic Violence or, Terrorism?
HomeFront of Calgary, Alberta, Canada has been given the mission to reduce domestic violence in Calgary through “coordinated community action.” Among other things they’ve done to promote domestic violence awareness, they’ve produced some (web only) public service announcements that are raising questions all over the internet.
Look at the videos yourself (video 1 – video 2) and be warned that they are graphic, they depict foul language and disturbing imagery. They have been banned in Canada and have caused quite heated discussions and commotions everywhere they’ve been seen.
What do you think? Are they over the top? Are they too disturbing for even Canada’s censors? Do they get their message across or, is this merely gratuitous violence to inspire “shock and awe,” to use the popular nomenclature of the day. Or, is this simply more evidence of the demonization of men in todays culture?
-
The World Is About To Change
Tonight Bush will tell Saddam Hussein, “go into exile or, you will die.” There’s no turning back now. The only possible way in which to avoid an all out war is if Saddam does go into exile. It’s going to be a long week.
-
From The “Corporate Giving” Dept.
No charge for that 25lb. ball of crap we dropped on you from 15,000 feet.
-
From The Office of Homeland Subjugation
Terrorists force us to make a choiceWASHINGTON – The government launched a multimillion dollar media campaign Wednesday urging Americans to prepare for terrorist attacks by assembling emergency kits, developing communication plans and learning about possible strikes.
Meanwhile, the Duct Tape industry has probably never had a better year in it’s history. I wonder if they wanted us to use it to stick a big old piece of that tape across our mouths, ears, and eyes too? Perhaps in 50 years we’ll either get a large laugh, much like we do when we see footage of the Japanese internment camps?
-
Arab-Americans, Surrender Yourselves Now. Before It’s Too Late
Only men required to report themselves? Most arrested claim that their green card holdup was due to INS incompetence in the first place?
I wonder if we should start sectioning off portions of North Dakota and Montana for concentration camps? Or, should we wait until the bombs begin to kill their grandparents in the old country? At least we’ll be creating jobs for honest American born patriots.
What is most disturbing is that this is not news at all. It was hard to find a link for this. Oh well, like the the American citizens who looked Japanese that we interred in 1942, we’ll apologize to these people in 50 years.