August 18, 2006

Suspects Sought in Near Terror Disaster on German Trains. According to reports circulating throughout the German media today, two suitcase bombs placed by two unidentified men very nearly went off on regional trains in Dortmund and Koblenz at the end of July. A deadly simultaneous bombing was only averted because the bombs were technically defective. Had they detonated, German authorities believe that a mass casualty event similar to the recent attacks in London could have been the result. Police believe that a terrorist motive is probable, particularly because the suitcases contained Arabic writing and telephone numbers from Lebanon. The men who placed the bombs also strongly appear to be of Middle Eastern origin. German authorities have published further images of clues, the bombs and the suspects and are offering rewards to anyone with key information on their identities and/or origins. The bombings were likely intended to “send a message to the West” over the Israeli-Lebanese conflict. The operation would have been planned long before the current Israeli-Lebanese conflict. Every indication is that these sort of operations are planned years in advance. Can't blame German troops in Iraq either, because there are none. The occupation of Palestine? Nope. The banning of head scarves? Wrong euro-weenie. An overall Islamist war plan?  Nah.  Couldn't be. 12:54:46 PM

French defense minister Michele Alliot-Marie: Alliot-Marie said troop contributions to the expanded UNIFIL force should come from a great number of countries, both in Europe and the Muslim world. “What we must absolutely avoid is giving the image of a Western world imposing peace on the Muslim world,” she said. Nope we don't want any hint of that. 12:49:27 PM

Some people can't bear to hear the word "Islam" associated with "fascism," no matter whom it describes. As for "fascism," why not use this word to refer to those radicals bent on subjecting the world to their ideology, by whatever means necessary?  As for "Islam," what else do you call religious imams who encourage suicidal jihadists to take innocent lives and promise them the eternal gratitude of a heaven filled with virgins? — Farid Ghadry, President of the Reform Party of Syria. 8:57:40 AM

Civil rights icon resigns from Wal-Mart group (Reuters). Reuters - Civil rights leader Andrew Young resigned as chairman of a group intended to boost Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s image after he made remarks to a newspaper disparaging Jewish, Arab and Korean shop owners. [Yahoo! News: Business] 8:19:01 AM

Canada's Cape Canaveral Globe and Mail - It may soon be possible to fly from Cape Breton to Vancouver in 45 minutes — the only catch is it's going to cost about $250,000 a person and there will still be three-hour wait at the airport. 8:02:23 AM