Thursday, August 07, 2003

KATE'S WINDS OF WAR: 2003-08-07 "Our goal is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from the global War on Terror that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Thursday. TOPICS INCLUDE: a surprising source urging the U.S. to overthrow Iran's current regime; harder to wage the peace in modern war; prospects for democracy in Iraq and elsewhere; tightening the noose around Saddam's neck; Hans Blix singing the same ol' song; losing to Al-Jazera, illness in Iraq; various updates on Iran's nuclear program; al-qaeda's body count; Hawash pleads gilty; Indonesia; and a trend in men's fashion that may surprise you." Winds of Change.NET 11:26:59 PM    Permission To Speak Freely []

NAVY LOOKS TO BLIMPS AS ANTI-TERROR TOOL "The military is looking to something old as a new weapon in the war on terrorism: blimps. The blimps wouldn't be like those that hover over football stadiums and concerts. These would be equipped with cutting-edge sensors and high-resolution cameras that could scour the landscape or oceans. From thousands of feet up, STI's advanced optical sensor system can spot targets on the ground or deep under water and then track their movements, said Stephen Huett, ONR's project manager for the program. The Navy contract is worth about $4 million, according to Huett. Civil libertarians expressed concern that the blimps will be another government tool that infringes on privacy.  "What is increasingly happening is people are coming under routine surveillance without good cause," said Barry Steinhardt, director of the technology and liberty program at the American Civil Liberties Union." NewsDay   11:25:12 PM    Permission To Speak Freely []

US BLAMES ANSAR AL-ISLAM IN ATTACK "U.S. defense officials say an al-Qaida-linked terrorist group may have been involved in Thursday's deadly car bomb attack on the Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad. Lieutenant General Norton Schwartz says investigators are focusing on Ansar al-Islam, which U.S. officials believe is operating in Iraq. The blast killed at least 11 people, including five Iraqi police who were guarding the embassy. Dozens of other people were wounded, incluidng five Jordanian embassy employees." VOA News 11:22:56 PM    Permission To Speak Freely []

LAWMAKERS, MANY AMERICANS, HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT PATRIOT ACT "When the USA Patriot Act was passed by Congress in the days after the 9/11 attacks, it seemed to give the government, and in particular the Justice Department, a blank check to look for terrorists in whatever manner it deemed necessary. At the time, only one lawmaker, Senator Russ Feingold (D) of Wisconsin, voted against the bill. But if recent events are any indication, the Justice Department's blank check may have past its expiration date. A growing number of lawmakers, communities, and individuals across the US are speaking out against the act." Christian Science Monitor  11:21:03 PM    Permission To Speak Freely []

POSITIVE REPORT FROM IRAQ "Over the course of the next few days, we conducted daily patrols around the city, locating schools and inspecting them. Despite the fact that looting and destruction had even taken place at the primary schools, it looked good. Teachers were going through neighborhoods on foot making calls to get students to come in and help repair the damage that had been done to their schools. Some were holding impromptu classes already, though not 'officially'. Every teacher we met was very happy to see us. They expressed hope that we would help stabilize the city, and they were noticing it getting better as the days progressed. They were also surprised to see U.S. forces specifically concerned with education. The third day we were on patrol, we got lucky. A teacher we encountered told us that even though the administrative staff of the education department had been burned out of their offices, they were meeting that day at a nearby kindergarten to discuss the prospect of restarting classes and giving exams. We asked the teacher to lead us to the meeting place..." Instapundit 11:17:07 PM    Permission To Speak Freely []

DR. STRANGEGLOVES MEET TO PLAN NEW NUCLEAR ERA "US government scientists and Pentagon officials will gather today behind tight security at a Nebraska air force base to discuss the development of a modernised arsenal of small, specialised nuclear weapons which critics believe could mark the dawn of a new era in proliferation." Gyre.org   11:13:08 PM    Permission To Speak Freely []

TALIBAN MAKES GAINS AGAINST AFGHAN GOVERNMENT "Stratfor sources have confirmed reports from a Web site maintained by Muslim jihadists that the Taliban has regained control of most of Zabul province in southeastern Afghanistan.  This marks the first time that Taliban fighters -- in concert with al Qaeda forces -- have retaken a province since being ousted from power by the U.S. military in November 2001. It also underscores the stalemate between the U.S.-backed Afghan forces and the Taliban." Stratfor 10:58:47 PM    Permission To Speak Freely []

THE CHINESE SPY THREAT "China is out to steal America's industrial and military secrets, and if the FBI's newly found seriousness about the issue is not matched by Congress, corporations, universities and others, U.S. military and economic strength could be eroded. The FBI's director, Robert Mueller, spoke of the dangers at a congressional hearing recently, according to an Associated Press account that goes on to quote experts as saying that while China is not the only spying menace, it is the worst." Naples News 10:56:46 PM    Permission To Speak Freely []