April 2006 Archives

If anyone has any doubts about the threat that Iran poses to The United States, I suggest that you

Iran Test-Fires Missile Able to Duck Radar

Iran sues some detained Al-Qaeda members at it

Iran arrests separatists with 'links to British intelligence'

Sahab Enterprises Releases Full Osama Bin Laden Tape,

With English Translation

The tape, dated March 27, 2006, appears to be the full 52 minute taps from which a portion was selected to be aired on Al Jazeera Sunday.

PA forces thwart terror attack
Karni crossing, UN base, police station attacked simultaneously

Palestinian Authority security forces stopped a booby-trapped car with five armed terrorists inside from passing through the Karni border crossing between Gaza and Israel early Wednesday afternoon. Israeli defense officials subsequently closed the crossing and evacuated all Israeli personnel.

An exchange of fire took place between PA policemen and the terrorists on the Palestinian side of the crossing, wounding three officers and two Palestinian civilians. Palestinian police sappers were dispatched to disarm the large amount of explosives found inside the vehicle. The Karni crossing has been open lately, but has been through a series of openings and closings lately due to security and political concerns. On Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz had said that Israel would make every effort to keep the Karni crossing open despite numerous threats of terrorist attacks there.

Within minutes of the incident at the Karni border crossing, a car bomb was detonated by two suicide bombers outside a UN peacekeeping base near the Egyptian town of Rafah in northeast Sinai, over the border from Gaza. According to Egyptian media, MFO observers from New Zealand and Norway were injured. In an additional incident near Ismailiya today, the main crossing point over the Suez Canal between Cairo and the Sinai, a suicide bomber opened fire and threw explosive devices at a local police station.

PM says bin Laden tape highlights importance of terror fight

That’s what Osama Bin Laden said this morning in his audiotaped message, aired on Al Jazeera tv.

He can’t say it much more clearly. The West is in the midst of a Holy War with Islam.

Not only that, but he has stated unequivocally that it is not just the governments and military that is at war with Islam, but it is also the people.

I tell you, any war is the joint responsibility of the people and their governments.

The people. That’s you and me, and our children. It’s not just the young men and women in uniform, or the high ranking officials in Washington, or the Generals in the Pentagon.

Islam is at war with the People of the west. And that means the children in our schools, the sick in our hospitals, and the shoppers in our stores. It includes the commuters on our transit systems, the travelers in our airways, and the workers in our factories and office buildings.

He berated the American people for making war on Muslims worldwide. He made it very clear that he holds Joe Average Citizen responsible for the “crusade”. And he has made it very clear over and over that he instends to attack us.

Osama Bin Laden has said this before but never quite as clearly and succinctly. He can’t make it much clearer than this:

The Muslim] “countries are burned, our homes are bombed and our people are killed and no one cares about us. Islam and the West are at war.”

One thing I will say about Bin Laden is this. He tells us what he is going to do and he does it. He doesn’t necessarily do it on our timetable. He doesn’t tell us exactly how, when, what or where those plans will be carried out. But he has a track record of telling us his plans, and then carrying them out.

He holds us responsible for the burning of their countries, for the bombing of their homes, and the killing of their people. He doesn’t hold Washington alone responsible. He holds you and me and every other American responsible.

The next time it may not be two towers in New York City, and the Pentagon that Bin Laden attacks. It may not be US Embassy buildings in Africa, or US warships in the Middle East.

Osama Bin Laden plans to attack the American people. He’s told us before. He’s offered us a chance to appease him with a “hudna”. We’ve declined.

Where, why, and how is anyone’s guess. But I would strongly suspect that the next attack will cause parts of our country to burn, our people to be killed, and our homes to be bombed.

April 23, 2006: New Bin Laden Tape Holds American People Responsible for War

Osama Bin Laden's voice rang out from Al Jazeera this morning in a newly released audiotaped message. So far, only two excerpts from the tape have been released and aired on Al Jazeera.

Bin Laden’s talking points this morning focused on Hamas and Palestine in the first excerpt, and on breakup of the Ottoman Empire and Sudan in the second portion.

He refers back to the statements of Dr. Ayman Zawahiri, who in a previous tape warned Hamas against entering into any kind of agreement with the West.

“Further proof to this is their rejection of Hamas after its election victory. We re-iterate what Sheikh Ayman al-Zawahiri has already warned against, entering into partnership with the infidels.”

Bin Laden cites the opposition against Hamas from the US and Europe as proof of the existence of a “Zionist Crusade” against Islam.

Bin Laden places responsibility of the war on the people as well as the government.

It appears that Bin Laden may be setting up further justification for an attack on the US or its allies, one that would have considerable civilian casualties. He makes it very clear that he holds he people of America, the civilian population, responsible for the actions of the US military.

The second portion of the released segment of the tape refers to the Sudan. He speaks of the breakup of the Ottoman Empire, and the resulting state building that occurred.

Bin Laden then goes on to place responsibility for the humanitarian crisis in Darfur on US and British interference.

He calls for Muslims in the Saudi Arabia and in Sudan to prepare for a long war against the US and coalition forces.

It's time for the Judge in the Zaccarious Moussaoui trial to take back control of the courtroom.

Israel Warns That New 'Axis of Terror' - Iran, Syria, and Hamas - Is Sowing Seeds of War

Oil above $70 on Iran worry

By Luke Pachymuthu

U.S. oil climbed to within 10 cents of a record high on Tuesday, extending gains above $70 a barrel as fears grew of possible military action against Iran and a major Nigerian supply outage dragged into a third month. U.S. May crude oil futures rose 31 cents to $70.71 a barrel by 0404 GMT, after hitting a high of $70.77, extending Monday's $1.08 rally to stand at the highest since Hurricane Katrina battered the U.S. Gulf Coast in late August last year, sending prices to a $70.85 record peak. Futures for delivery in June which will become the front-month on Friday, are already trading at $72.37 a barrel.

London's Brent crude climbed to yet another all-time high, the sixth consecutive day it has scaled new peaks, rising 40 cents to $71.86 a barrel. Oil prices have soared more than $10, or 16 percent, over the past four weeks, buoyed by a fresh infusion of fund investment amid mounting concern over Iran's stand-off with the West and the possibility of U.S. military action.

Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said on Monday that Iran, which announced last week that it had enriched uranium for use in power stations, would continue to pursue its nuclear program. The West fears it is trying to build an atomic bomb. "The reality is that if there was any attack on Iran, there would certainly be a major disruption to supplies," said Gerard Burg, an economist at the National Australia Bank.

The United States, which will meet with world powers on Tuesday to consider targeted sanctions against Iran, said it wanted the U.N. Security Council to be ready to take strong diplomatic action, including measures such as a freeze on assets and visa curbs. The United States already has a broad range of sanctions on Iran. "We're kind of sanctioned-out at this point. We're down to pistachios and rugs," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in Washington on Monday. The Security Council has told Iran to halt all sensitive atomic activities and on March 29 asked its nuclear watchdog, the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to report on Iranian compliance in 30 days.

NIGERIAN DISRUPTIONS CONTINUE

Worries over the prolonged shut-in of more than 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) in OPEC-producer Nigeria because of militant action have also supported oil prices, which are nearing the inflation-adjusted peaks of over $80 hit back in 1980. "I don't see any rapid resolution in Nigeria, it's a political situation," Burg said. The disruption to nearly a quarter of Nigeria's high-quality crude output -- off-line since mid-February -- will become more critical as the U.S. driving season begins next month, with analysts forecasting gasoline stocks in the world's top oil user having fallen by 2.2. million barrels last week.

"Nigerian crudes are rich in gasoline, unlike crudes from Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, which are sour, heavier and harder to process," said Tetsu Emori, chief commodities strategist with Mitsui Bussan Futures. Ministers from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, who will gather informally this weekend during an International Energy Forum meeting in Doha, have said there is nothing more the group can do to bring down prices. "We are already producing at maximum output," Qatar Oil Minister Abdullah al-Attiyah said. "There is no shortage in supply."

TV images skewing Americans' view of peaceful Islam, Muslim leaders say

Iran will now be talking to the world in a different language after it has joined the world's nuclear club, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said here Tuesday evening. Addressing a gathering of elites and scholars in this north- eastern province, the president said: "Our nation desires peace and tranquility for the entire world and has never been the author of conflict all throughout history." On the other hand, he added, conflicts have been created for the Iranian nation from the outside." His remarks were part of a speech he delivered during a visit to this holy city and in which he announced the "good news" he promised the Iranian people, that is, that Iran had successfully enriched uranium on laboratory scale at a percentage needed for fuel for a nuclear power station on Sunday (April 9). "With the blessings of God Almighty and with the help of Iran's youth, today we perfected the A to Z of technology that is used to produce nuclear fuel and we have the capability to produce it," said the president proudly. Noting that Iran's success in the production of nuclear fuel is still on the laboratory scale, Ahmadinejad added: "Based on our wise plans, God willing we will move on quickly to the level of industrial production (of nuclear fuel). "This will, of course, make our enemies angry because today, real power is in the persistence, knowledge, culture and civilization of nations," the president said. That is why, he went on to say, when the Iranian nation made the decision (to pursue nuclear energy) global equations were changed." Ahmadinejad, recalling years of sanctions imposed by the enemies, said: "When we were weak, the enemies were not able to cause us any harm. Now that our nation has added to its successes, we will move on in this long, honorable track."

BAGHDAD, April 15 - Police and anti-corruption officials have broken up a vast smuggling ring, stopping more than 1,200 trucks full of crude oil illegally bound for Syria over the past three weeks, the Iraqi government said Friday.

The bust, the largest ever by Iraqi authorities, evolved over more than a month of investigation, surveillance and

periodic arrests. It culminated this week with the apprehension of the alleged ringleader, Ahmed Omar al-Khatab, in the northwestern border town of Rabiyah, where the trucks are now parked in a giant depot under police guard.

Iraqi officials said they seized roughly 50,000 metric tons of oil -- roughly equivalent to 400,000 barrels, about a fifth of Iraq's average daily production -- valued at nearly $28 million, according to Adnan Ali al-Kadhimi, an adviser to Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jafari. U.S. forces were not involved in the sting, Ali said.

Osama And His Possession Of Nuclear Weapons

Coalition and Iraqi forces killed a wanted terrorist, Rafid Ibrahim Fattah aka Abu Umar al Kurdi, during an early morning raid March 27 in the vicinity of Abu Ghraib. Officials report and confirm that Abu Umar al Kurdi had ties to Jaysh al Islami, Ansar al Sunnah, Taliban members in Afghanistan, Pakistani-based extremists, and al Qaeda senior leaders to include Osama bin Laden and Ayman al Zawahiri.

Nuclear Security Official Outlines Future U.S. Weapons Plans

The Islam intellectual [ a special ] : an American soldier met its death by fires one of Iraqi resistance snipers in towards the vineyard in east of Al-Fallujah . And the Islam intellectual correspondent reported from eyewitnesses from the vineyard peoples that the American soldier died while he was within a foot patrol near the arm parting . And the intellectual correspondent pointed that one of the resistance snipers could realize the American soldier directly what led to his killing immediately .

Al-Hayat, an Arabic newspaper published in London, reported that an al-Qaida affiliated group operating in Gaza is planning terrorist attacks against sensitive targets in the area. Jordanian intelligence sources told the paper that the group has about 10 members. Al-Hayat also reported that al-Qaida recently appointed a chief for the region of Jordan, Israel, Syria and Lebanon, according to Israel Radio. Al-Qaida is taking advantage of the lawlessness in Gaza to establish operational networks

LONDON — Islamic sources said Al Qaida has begun financing and coordinating with Islamic groups in Lebanon. Al Qaida operatives in Iraq have been using these groups for recruitment for the Sunni insurgency in Iraq. "Al Qaida has selected certain Wahabi groups in Lebanon to recruit and train Muslim fighters for the jihad in Iraq," an Islamic source said.

Abu Mussib Al Zarqawi, the commander of Al Qaida in Iraq, has led the effort. Al Zarqawi has established a recruiting infrastructure in Lebanon for training in neighboring Syria and deployment in Iraq. Many of those recruited in Lebanon include Jordanian and Palestinians, the sources said. At least 200 recruits from Lebanon joined Al Zarqawi to fight in Iraq. Many of them were believed to have conducted suicide attacks against the Iraqi Army and U.S. military forces in Iraq.

In January 2006, the London-based Al Hayat published two reports that investigated Islamic groups in Lebanon and their ties to Al Qaida. Based on interviews with Islamic volunteers in Iraq, the newspaper said that hundreds of Lebanese left their country to fight in Iraq. Lebanese authorities have accused Al Qaida of organizing at least two cells in the country. One cell was said to have been based in the Ein Hilwe camp outside Sidon. The other was believed located in the Nir Bard refugee camp in the north. Many members of the Al Qaida cell were said to have come from Syria.

The sources said they also included Lebanese, Jordanians and Saudis. Lebanon has asked Iraq to cooperate in tracking the flow of Islamic volunteers, the sources said. They said Iraq has detained scores of Lebanese and Palestinians - LINK

Washington (Reuters) - The United States confirmed on Monday that two ships to the Iranian navy visited Indian ports last month but she underestimated the importance of this contact with seeking of George Bush's government for winning the approval of the Congress on an agreement for the cooperation in the field of the civil nuclear energy between The United States and India . And the president Bush seeks that struggled for holding modifications in the American law and the international rules so that he allows by sales to the nuclear technology to the prohibited civil energy purposes since 30 years because India developed and they tested nuclear weapons and refuses signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty .

However the relations between India that Bush considers an important strategic ally of The United States in the twenty first century and Iran that The United States accuses of the seeking for the acquisition of nuclear weapons and the care of the terrorism put complications in the way of that target achievement . And said Adam Arili the Deputy Spokesman of the US State Department that the visits of the ships " an event with limited importance and does not point to an Indian training or an Indian contribution in the achievement of Iranian military abilities ." And she was Difns News said last week that it two Iranian ships during Bush's presence in New Delhi last month for signing the agreement of the nuclear energy was present in Kouche the southern headquarters to the Indian navy .

And she said according to the spokesman of the Indian navy that coaches from the Indian navy surrounded about 220 Iranian sailors a knowledge of the training method to the Indian navy and the training courses details . And Arili said such reports " exaggerated in their importance " . And its saying added " what we understand is that it visits took place from two ships on their deck students from the navy from Iran to Indian ports . And this was not training programs but ships visits were carrying students from the navy ." And Arili said that the visits of the Iranian ships do not affect in " the commitment fixed to India to the nuclear nonproliferation " or in " their strong record as a reliable international subject him ."

The Captured al Qaeda Death List

Coalition forces in Iraq are believed to have captured some very sensitive al Qaeda documents. Apparently, one of these is a "Death List," giving the names of prominent Iraqis of all factions whom al Qaeda believes opposes its efforts to establish an Islamist state in the country. Perhaps not surprisingly, many of the names on the list are of Sunni tribal and religious leaders who have been less than enthusiastic in their support for al Qaeda. Sadly, a number of those on the list have already been slain.Al Qaeda's assassination campaign against Sunni leaders is one of several factors that have led to an increase in Sunni militias turning against the Islamic terrorists. In addition to al Qaeda assassinations, middle-of-the-road Sunni leaders have been targeted by Shia death squads, as well as Baath (pro-Saddam) Party groups. That the national security forces are largely Shia and Kurdish does not go over well either, particularly since police and army personnel are often not very gentle in dealing with Sunni civilians. And then there's a rising crime rate. Sunni militias have already defeated al Qaeda in some parts of the country, providing encouragement for their expansion.

While stronger Sunni self-defense forces will probably improve security in some areas, their existence underscores the inability of the government to maintain security nation wide, and will probably be an obstacle to establish a comprehensive national security policy. - James Dunnigan

She is a Muslim woman who has had enough bloodshed around her in the name of Allah, and has enough guts to let her feelings be known, despite the death threats she receives.

U.S. Sees Spread of Nuclear Weapons Greatest Security Challenge

JAKARTA (AP): The United States has warned their citizens living in Indonesia of a possible terrorist attack somewhere in the country on Sunday. The U.S. warning echoed a similar warning issued by Australia in recent days.

A letter sent to U.S. citizens by the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta said "terrorists continue to plan attacks against westerners and western interests in Indonesia."The letter went on to say that "recent reports suggest that Sunday April 2, 2006, could be one potential date for an attack."The statement said locations frequented by foreigners and "identifiably American" were likely targets, although it provided no specifics.

Indonesia has seen several terrorist attacks in recent years blamed on the Al-Qaida-linked Islamic extremist group Jemaah Islamiyah.The group has been implicated in two strikes on the resort island of Bali that killed more than 220 people, including 88 Australian tourists, and the 2003 car bombing of the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Jakarta.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade updated its travel advice Saturday to say it had received a stream of reports indicating that terrorists were in the advanced stages ofplanning attacks against Western interests in Indonesia."These reports include information about potentially heightened risk of attack on particular dates," the Web site said, citing specifically Sunday April 2, 2006.

The date coincides with a planned ceremony marking the first anniversary of an earthquake that killed 850 people on Nias island in Indonesia just months after the Asian tsunami.A number of Australians are expected to attend. (**)

Terror planning at 'advanced stages'

THE terror group Jemaah Islamiah was possibly planning an attack in Indonesia to coincide with the first anniversary of the Nias helicopter crash which killed nine Australians, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer indicated today.Mr Downer today said he could reveal little about the intelligence which led the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to issue a fresh alert yesterday.

The alert warns of a very high threat of an attack somewhere in Indonesia tomorrow."The intelligence suggests that people who have previously been involved in terrorist activities could be planning a terrorist attack on April 2," he said in Adelaide.

Jemaah Islamiah (JI) was behind terrorist attacks on Bali in October 2002 (killing 202 including 88 Australians), the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta in August 2003 (11 dead), the Australian embassy in Jakarta in September 2004 (11 dead) and at Bali again in October last year (23 dead, four of them Australian).Mr Downer said the Americans had also made public they had similar information.

In the new travel warning posted on its website, DFAT advises Australians to reconsider travel to Indonesia, including Bali, at this time due to the very high threat of terrorist attack."We continue to receive a stream of reporting indicating that terrorists are in the advanced stages of planning attacks against Western interests in Indonesia against a range of targets, including places frequented by foreigners," it said.

"These reports include information about potentially heightened risk of attack on particular dates."Recent reports suggest Sunday April 2 2006 could be a potential date for attack but we emphasise that attacks could occur at any time, anywhere in Indonesia."Mr Downer said April 2 was the day Australia was holding a commemorative service on Nias island for the nine Australians killed in the Sea King crash there last year.

He said there was no information this possible terrorist attack would be specifically directed against Australians and there was no information about where the terrorist attack could take place."We have no information that it could take place on Nias Island or be in any way associated with the commemorative ceremony," he said.

Mr Downer said 28 family members were travelling to Nias, along with Veterans Affairs Minister Bruce Billson, navy chief Vice Admiral Russ Shalders and air force chief Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd.He said all had been informed about the intelligence and the threats and he did not expect any to change their mind about attending

Iran Test-Fires Missile Able to Duck Radar

Iran sues some detained Al-Qaeda members at it

Iran says nuclear drive unstoppable

`Iran arrests separatists with 'links to British intelligence'`

Sahab Enterprises Releases Full Osama Bin Laden Tape,

With English Translation

PM says bin Laden tape highlights importance of terror fight

Israel Warns That New 'Axis of Terror' - Iran, Syria, and Hamas - Is Sowing Seeds of War

Oil above $70 on Iran worry

TV images skewing Americans' view of peaceful Islam, Muslim leaders say

Osama And His Possession Of Nuclear Weapons

Nuclear Security Official Outlines Future U.S. Weapons Plans

The Captured al Qaeda Death List

U.S. Sees Spread of Nuclear Weapons Greatest Security Challenge