CitizenSugar -- Breaking News, Together.

Israeli Attacks in Gaza Strip Continue

CitizenSugar — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 09:50:05 -0800

Israeli Attacks in Gaza Strip Continue Israeli airstrikes against Hamas facilities in Gaza continued for a second day on Sunday. The death toll is up to more than 280. It's Israel's most severe campaign against Palestinian militants in decades.

Front Page: Police Defuse Bomb in Paris Department Store

CitizenSugar — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 07:49:15 -0800

French police found a bomb in the Printemps department store, after a warning about the explosive was sent to a French news agency. A previously unknown group, demanding French withdrawal from Afghanistan, has claimed responsibility. — New York Times
President-elect Barack Obama continues to fill out his cabinet, naming the head of Chicago public schools Arne Duncan as education secretary and Steven Chu as energy secretary. — CNN

Despite warnings of fraud as early as 1999, the SEC did not investigate Bernard Madoff, who was charged last week with fraud after he allegedly volunteered the fact that he took $50 billion from investors. — Washington Post
A top high-school football recruit died in Mississippi of a possibly self-inflicted gun-shot wound, after a sheriff pulled him over last week. The NAACP has determined through its own investigation that his death was not a suicide. — Mississippi Press

Source

Front Page: Iraq Suicide Bomber Kills Dozens

CitizenSugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:00:13 -0800

A suicide bomber killed at least 55 people in Iraq today, after striking a crowded restaurant in northern Iraq. Kurdish officials and Arab tribal leaders were meeting there in an attempt to reduce historic tensions. — AP

The House of Representatives passed a $14 billion bailout for US automakers today, but GOP opposition might derail it in the Senate. — CNN

Every Democratic Senator and a number of Illinois leaders have called on Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich to step down. Some state lawmakers are looking for a way to remove him from office. — Chicago Tribune
While the UN has warned that Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic is getting worse, President Robert Mugabe declared that there is no cholera in his country. — BBC News

Source

Just Torturing Yourself? Interrogator Calls Brutality Ineffective

LibertySugar — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:30:29 -0800

Matthew Alexander, if that's his real name (it's not), says that the qualities that make a good terrorist interrogator are the same things that make a good American, and those qualities don't include a knack for physical torture. He should know, because he served as a US military interrogator in Iraq, and wrote a book all about how to break a terrorist.

Get Flash to see this player.

Last night on the Daily Show, Alexander explained that it's counterproductive to torture terrorists even in ticking time-bomb scenarios. Alexander says psychology, not brutality, more effectively extracts crucial information.

He also learned that a sense of humor aids interrogation, because it helps build a relationship of trust with the suspect. Hey! Maybe we should send Jon Stewart over to Guantanamo Bay to joke (not choke) some information out of detainees! Check out the interview, and tell me what you think about his thoughts torture.

Only Captured Terrorist Speaks About Mumbai Massacre

CitizenSugar — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:50:00 -0800

Azam Amir Kasab, a 21-year-old man from Pakistan, is the only terrorist police captured alive after the Mumbai massacre ended. Details from his interrogation have been leaked, and they reveal a chilling picture of a nightmarish tragedy that could have turned out even worse. After playing dead in order to survive, Kasab told police:

The synchronized attacks were planned six months ago, and intended to kill 5,000 people. So far the death toll stands at around 200.
The group of 10 terrorists had planned to blow up the entire Taj Mahal hotel, but were unsuccessful.
The would-be attackers posed as students on a trip to Mumbai a month ago to acquaint themselves with the city.
The men specifically targeted "whites," especially British and American citizens.
Kasab said he belonged to Pakistani terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which has denied involvement.
Kasab said he was told to "kill to my last breath."

As those impacted by these appalling events recover and mourn, international players urgently want to reduce the probability of a confrontation between India and Pakistan. Depending on how things play out, India might take a US approach: if one country can't deal with its terrorists, then another country has a right to do something about it.
Source

Update: Militants Attack in Mumbai, India

LibertySugar — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 10:53:27 -0800

Indian officials report that the siege at the Taj Mahal hotel has ended and the final three gunmen have been killed. More than 119 people were killed and 288 injured in sophisticated attacks in Mumbai, India, that occurred on 10 different sites. — AP
Experts had never heard of the group that claimed responsibility, and they doubt those responsible have significant ties to al Qaeda. Some speculate that the militants were likely Indian Muslims, with a domestic agenda — New York Times
Chaos ensues at two luxury hotels in Mumbai that continue to burn. Some hostages left earlier today, but 20 people may still be held by terrorists. — CNN
The synchronized attacks reveal a significant change in the tactics of Indian terrorists. The men were prepared to die in their attacks, and signaled out British and American citizens. — BBC News

Source

78 Killed in India Terrorist Attacks

LibertySugar — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:00:51 -0800

78 Killed in India Terrorist Attacks Teams of heavily armed gunmen stormed luxury hotels, a popular tourist attraction, and a crowded train station in at least seven attacks in India's financial capital, killing at least 78 people and wounding at least 200, officials said Thursday. The gunmen were specifically targeting Britons and Americans, media reports said, and may be holding hostages.

On-Demand Fingerprint Machines Let Police ID in the Street

LibertySugar — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Mobile fingerprint scanners are hitting the beat in the UK, helping police officers issue identity checks on the street. Right now, police must take a suspect into custody to issue fingerprint checks.

Thanks to the scanner, the size of a cell phone, the time of checking identity would go form from 67 minutes, to five, thus reducing the number of police needed by 366 officers. The next step would be to transfer mugshot images to verify identity when fingerprints are not available. To see why some worry that the government is overreaching with this technology,

UK Debates Holding Terror Suspects For 42 Days: Too Long?

CitizenSugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:15:55 -0700

The US isn't the only country with a firm eye on terrorism — and they're certainly not alone walking the tricky line between government abilities to crack down in meaningful ways and civil liberties. The British House of Commons is set to vote on a measure allowing police to detain people for up to 42 days without charge if they're suspected of terrorism-related activities.

Human rights organizations are outraged by the provision. Amnesty International, has launched an online petition called, "Say 'No' to 42 Days" saying of the measure, "Allowing police to lock people up for a month and a half without charge will undermine basic human rights to which everyone in the UK is entitled." Human Rights Watch issued a statement saying that, "giving British authorities the power to detain terrorism suspects for up to six weeks without charge violates the fundamental right to liberty and risks undermining counterterrorism efforts."

Those closer to the government are speaking out as well. To see what they had to say,

Tizipi Livini: Israel's Would-Be Woman PM, Ex-Terrorist Hunter

LibertySugar — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 03:00:12 -0700

Israel's Foreign Minister Tizipi Livini, 49, is on track to be the country's prime minster, according to polls that have her ahead by 20 points in the race to lead the Kadima party. Today, 70,000 party members will vote.

Current Prime Minster Ehud Olmert has promised to resign, after the election, thanks to accusations that he accepted American businessmen-bribes. When he does, the new Kadima leader (probably Livini) will then form a government and become Prime Minister. There are a few other options though for Israel's transfer of power. If the new party leader failed to form a coalition government, Olmert would stay as interim PM, and national elections would be held months later. If he ditched the position all together, Livini, already next in line as first deputy, would become premier regardless of whether she wins today.

So who is this would-be leader? To find out,

Islamic Group Threatens Forest Fire Jihad in Australia

CitizenSugar — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:00:36 -0700

The war on terror might be about to get much, much hotter. Dwindling resources and diminishing weaponry are causing Muslim extremists to call upon their numbers to start a “forest jihad” in Australia. According to one website extremists have to “start forest fires," claiming “scholars have justified chopping down and burning infidels’ forests when they do the same to our lands.” The website continues, "Imagine if, after all the losses caused by such an event, a jihadist organization were to claim responsibility for the forest fires. You can hardly begin to imagine the level of fear that would take hold of people in the United States, in Europe, in Russia and in Australia."

Anyone who has been watching the news this summer or lives in California understands the potential damage these fires can cause untold economic and ecological damage. This summer nearly 1,300 homes were destroyed and almost 500,000 acres burned. Australia, which is heading into their fire season, is on alert.

To see what they're doing,

Danish Sitcom Stars Bumbling Terrorists Plotting an Attack

LibertySugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:30:17 -0700

The Danes will soon confront terrorism in their front rooms. A new sitcom, The Terror Cell, follows the lives of terrorists conspiring in Denmark. The main characters include:

Osama: a businessman who sees terrorism as a money maker
Abdul: a convert to Islam who acts as if he can't kill enough people
Ali: a Pakistani who won a competition for the honor of avenging the Danish cartoons degrading the Prophet Muhammad

Living in a rundown Copenhagen apartment, these terrorists escape detection because their closest neighbor, an elderly woman, believes World War II has not ended and the men are hiding from the Germans. While pretending to be integrated Muslims, the members of the cell plan an attack in Denmark. Each episodes ends with the incompetent terrorists blowing themselves up, only to be returned to earth by Allah in time for the next episode.

To see how the approach of the show's creator differs from other Danish critics of Islam,

Heightened Terror Alert Coming to an America Near You

LibertySugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 06:00:07 -0700

The Department of Homeland Security is getting ready to declare August 2008 through July 2009 a "Period of Heightened Alert" — that is, a timeframe in which terrorists would have a greater incentive to attack. Concerns about high profile events like the Olympics, the Democratic and Republican national conventions, and the transition out of the Bush Administration have prompted the change, which requires Homeland Security to redouble its efforts to study terrorism leads, according to ABC News.

US officials are keeping the color level at yellow instead of orange, because they don't want to be accused of interfering with the presidential campaign, a concession which suggests awareness that raising fears of terrorism can serve political ends.

Some critics joke that the heightened alert is in response to Republican efforts to maintain hold on presidency. (Remember when John McCain's adviser said an attack would help his candidate?) What do you think? Couldn't antiterrorism workers do their jobs of protecting potential target events without blanketing the whole country with a scary term like "Heightened Alert" for an entire year; or is this just the way to keep the whole country watchful?

Source

ETA Thought Behind Four Beach Explosions in Northern Spain

CitizenSugar — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:24 -0700

ETA has claimed responsibility for four bombings that struck popular coastal resorts in northern Spain yesterday. The group issued warning calls before the detonations and no casualties were reported. The explosions are considered the beginning of ETA's usual Summer bombing campaign that targets vacation spots as a way to gain attention for its 40 year struggle to win an independent Basque state in northern Spain.

The first warning call came mid morning from an ETA representative claiming responsibility and warning of the location of the bombs.

Vacationers were cleared immediately from the beaches prior to the first explosion which shattered windows and walkways. A government spokesman said, "There were no injuries because the area had been cleared and cordoned off." The Spanish government says that the group is weaker after a series of arrests, but as yesterday's attacks show, they're not planning to relinquish their fight soon. ETA has been listed as a terrorist organization by Spain, the US, and the EU. They've killed 800 people in the past 40 years, usually via explosions like this.

Source

Front Page: Doping Team Quits Tour, Madrid Bombing Convicts Freed, Obama Behind Republicans in Money

CitizenSugar — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 07:00:47 -0700

Doping Team Quits Tour:
After a third team rider tested positive for blood-doping, the Italian Saunier-Duval team withdrew from the Tour de France this morning. Rider Riccardo Ricco was found using EPO. The team director said, "He's our leader, we can't act as if nothing happened." Ricco was taken off the Saunier-Duval team bus by police ahead of the start of the day's race and booed by spectators. He was in ninth place overall before being removed.

Madrid Bombing Convicts Freed:
Spain's Supreme Court overturned the conviction of four people found guilty of connection to the 2004 Madrid train bombings. The four were part of 21 people convicted over the attacks, which left 191 dead. The court also upheld the acquittal of the suspected Egyptian mastermind as he'd already been convicted of the crime in Italy. The attackers were part of a local Islamist militant groups inspired by al Qaeda.
Obama Behind Republicans in Money:
Democrat Barack Obama raised $52 million last month (his second best take) ending June with the DNC and Obama with $92.3 million in the bank. Though the numbers still fall behind the Republicans and McCain. McCain raised more than $22 million in June (his best take) and combined with the RNC, Republicans start July with $95 million to spend.

Source

Energy Crisis Greater Threat Than Terrorism

CitizenSugar — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:40:11 -0700

Energy Crisis Greater Threat Than Terrorism Rep. John Peterson (R-PA) said Wednesday that the nation’s energy problem “is more important and threatening to America’s future than terrorism.” During an interview on C-SPAN, Peterson stressed the need for Congress to act now to address the nation’s energy crisis. Amid the partisan bickering on Capitol Hill, Peterson and Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) are leading a bipartisan group of lawmakers seeking consensus on energy legislation.

America's Terrorist Watch List Hits 1 Million Names

CitizenSugar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:40:12 -0700

America's Terrorist Watch List Hits 1 Million Names The good news is that Nelson Mandela is no longer on the US's terrorist watch list. The bad news is that the list now has 1 million names, which leads one to question just how effective this list really is. The ACLU says, "America's new million record watch list is a perfect symbol for what's wrong with this administration's approach to security: it's unfair, out of control, a waste of resources, treats the rights of the innocent as an afterthought, and is a very real impediment in the lives of millions of travelers in this country."

Double Trouble? Israel Might Punish Terrorists' Families

LibertySugar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:51 -0700

Recent and shocking attacks by East Jerusalem Palestinians has inspired Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to call for tough action against the families of terrorists.

Hoping to tie the victims' fates to the fate of a terrorist's family, some Israeli officials want to strip the families of their state benefits, or even demolish their homes. One proposal would revoke identity permits or citizenship of those actively affiliated with terrorist organizations, thus cutting off family benefits as well.

Prime Minister thinks these consequences will deter future terrorists, but I think it sounds like a way to create more animosity and thus more violent attacks, especially the call for house demolition. Will this make terrorists think about their families before they act, or compound the problem making reconciliation more elusive?

Source

Front Page: Rice Warns Iran, China Foils Olympic Terrorists, Six Die at US Consulate in Turkey

CitizenSugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 07:03:01 -0700

Rice Warns Iran:
The tension between Iran and the US elevated today as Iran tested missiles for the second day in a row. The action prompted Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to assert that the US will defend its allies and interests against an attack. At a press conference Rice said, “we will defend our interests and defend our allies. We take very, very strongly our obligations to defend our allies and no one should be confused of that." An Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander was quoted as saying, "our hands are always on the trigger and our missiles are ready for launch." Meanwhile, the subject of Iran's nuclear program has led President Bush to count heavily on diplomacy hoping to assuage the mounting situation in Iran that newscasters can't stop describing as "sabre-rattling."

China Foils Olympic Terrorists:
China has foiled plans by five "terrorism" groups aiming to target the Beijing Olympics, as reported by the state media. So far this year, police have detained 82 people in the country's unsettled Xinjiang region who had allegedly been planning to sabotage the Beijing Olympics.

Six Die at US Consulate in Turkey:
Shots were fired outside of the US Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, yesterday, killing at least three police officers, with three assailants killed in a brief gun battle that followed. Officials report a fourth assailant escaped. The attack was the first on a diplomatic outpost in the city since 2003, when attacks on the British Consulate killed 62 people. Turkish and American officials consider yesterday's attack one of terrorism.

Source

Justice Department Considers Racial Profiling For Terror Prevention

CitizenSugar — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:25:20 -0700

Justice Department Considers Racial Profiling For Terror Prevention The Justice Department is considering letting the FBI investigate Americans without any evidence of wrongdoing, relying instead on a terrorist profile that could single out Muslims, Arabs or other racial and ethnic groups. Law enforcement officials say the proposed policy would help them do exactly what Congress demanded after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks: root out terrorists before they strike.

Reply All? Swedish Government Checking Citizens' Emails

CitizenSugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:00:27 -0700

She looks so happy checking her email in her Ikea-esque room! Too bad if she was actually in Sweden, she'd be hopping mad that her government was checking her email for her. A new law that provides the Swedish government the right to read all emails and listen to all phone calls crossing the country’s borders has outraged its citizens — who've harnessed build-your-own-irony and filed 2 million protests — online. The petition arrives as EU countries debate whether or not to grant governmental authorities previously unheard of domestic spying powers over their own citizens.

Unlike the United States, many European nations have already had the experience of their government spying and for hardly honorable reasons. “It looks too much like the Stasi,” said one Swedish citizen referring to the East German police during the Soviet Union’s influence in that country. The "you've got mail, and we can read it" law, which passed the Swedish Parliament by 142-138 votes gives their National Defense Radio Establishment (FRA) the right to scan all international phone calls, emails and faxes without court order beginning in the new year.

Proponents for the new law said, “The information is needed to evaluate, and meet, outside threats against Sweden.” And went on to stress the need to protect Sweden against terror attacks similar to those in New York, Madrid and London. Is checking inboxes the way to keep terrorism in check?

Source

Muslim Travelers May Avoid Sniffer Dog Checks Citing Religion

CitizenSugar — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 13:00:51 -0700

Transportation police in the UK might be losing a safety tool: Muslim passengers are objecting to the use of danger-sniffing dogs, saying that the practice is against Islam. According to the religion, dogs are considered to be spiritually “unclean."

Though the animals may be able to touch passengers’ luggage as a more acceptable alternative, the ban may hinder the effectiveness of dogs who've been trained to identify terrorists. Though a police spokesman said sniffer dogs would still be used regardless of faith, but handlers will be vigilant of “cultural sensitivities.” The chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission disagrees that the measure is enough, saying that even dogs touching baggage would be an issue for a Muslim preparing to pray. He stressed the importance of finding a method to allow dogs to check passengers without physical contact.

Are machines an alternative? Perhaps not. In a trial following the 2005 London bombings, some Muslim women said the use of a body scanner was also unacceptable because it was the equivalent of being forced to strip. Should religious beliefs trump safety practices? Where should the line be?

Source

Do You Think the Economy Is More Important Than Terrorism?

LibertySugar — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 07:00:15 -0700

More Americans care about a presidential candidate's ability to address the economy than the candidate's ability to confront terrorism. A new Gallup poll asked respondents whether they would be more likely to choose a candidate whose greatest strength is fixing the economy or a candidate whose greatest strength is protecting the country from terrorism.Fifty-six percent chose the economically-strong candidate, compared to 39 percent who chose the candidate who is best at protecting America from terrorism. Despite these numbers, McCain's senior adviser Charlie Black thinks McCain's perceived strength on national security could help him win — he said a terrorist attack on US soil would be be a "big advantage" for his candidate. Perhaps Black thinks Americans would quickly move fighting terrorism to the top of their priority list, but it's still unclear how a nightmare like an attack would play out politically, something I don't want to hypothesize.Right now, what do you want to be a candidate's top strength: improving the economy, or fighting terrorism? Source

Do You Think the Economy Is More Important Than Terrorism?

Economy. A financial crisis is not just a threat, it's now a reality.

Terrorism. We can't afford to take our eye off the ball.

Other. I'll tell you in the comments.

Front Page: North Korea Declares Nuclear Program, Iraq Bombings, Immigration Raid

CitizenSugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 07:02:25 -0700

North Korea Declares Nuclear Program:
North Korea has submitted for inspection the long-awaited declaration of the extent of its nuclear program. Immediately after the move, the Bush administration announced it would remove the country, formerly on the "axis of evil" list, from the list of states who sponsor terrorism, as well as lifting commercial restriction on the country. President Bush said, "this can be a moment of opportunity for North Korea. If it continues to make the right choices it can repair its relationship with the international community."

Attack Kills 33 in Iraq:
At least 33 people have been killed in two massive bombings in Iraq today, including 18 people hit by a car bomb in the northern city of Mosul. The US military gave initial reports from Mosul saying that another 71 civilians and nine policemen were wounded. The second attack was carried out by a suicide bomber, killing the mayor and 14 senior members of an anti-Qaeda group. US commanders have said that Mosul is the country's last urban stronghold of al-Qaeda.
Immigration Raid Leads to 160 Arrests:
Federal immigration agents raided a used clothing plant in Houston, leading to 160 arrests, 70 percent of whom were women. The raid was the largest ever in the area, and the second major raid in Houston in the past two months. Two hundred immigration agents were involved in what was part of a yearlong investigation. A lawyer for the company said, “We want to abide by the law, and we're going to abide by the law. If we have an illegal employee, we don’t know it. No way. Tell us what the law is, and we’ll obey it.”

Source

Anatomy of a Gaffe: McCain Adviser's Quote Exposes Pattern

CitizenSugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 07:59:59 -0700

Controversial statements on the campaign trail are sparking a lighting-quick trend, the standard cycle of apology becoming an expected, relay-race reflex. Here's the most recent example: Charlie Black, a top adviser to John McCain, has apologized for this passage in a profile on McCain in Fortune magazine:

As would, Black concedes with startling candor after we raise the issue, another terrorist attack on U.S. soil. "Certainly it would be a big advantage to him," says Black.

As is usual in the current political climate, the problematic statement, that a terrorist attack would be an advantage to McCain, was followed quickly by an apology from the source, with Charlie Black saying:

I deeply regret the comments. They were inappropriate. I recognize that John McCain has devoted his entire adult life to protecting his country and placing its security before every other consideration.

The next step in the pattern follows the distancing by the candidate, with McCain saying:

I cannot imagine why he would say it. It's not true. I've worked tirelessly since 9/11 to prevent another attack on the United States of America.

With his campaign officially seconding that emotion. To see what happens next,

ID or Not to ID — Countries Don't Want to Give US the Finger

LibertySugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:00:52 -0700

Airlines and 34 countries vehemently oppose a plan to require fingerprints from foreigners leaving the US. Opponents, which include the European Union, worry about the privacy violation, as well as the fact that the plan pushes the burden of border security, usually a function of government, to private companies. The plan would require airlines and cruise liners to collect the fingerprints by August 2009.

The financially incapacitated airline industry claims that the plan will cost it $12.3 billion over 10 years, not the $3.5 billion estimated by the federal government. An alliance of domestic and international carriers claim that since September 11, they have spent $30 billion for often duplicative and bureaucratic security measures. The international opposition may spark a debate between Congress, and the Bush Administration who wants the program swiftly up and running.

Which do you find to be the most compelling argument — that collecting fingerprints poses a privacy risk, or that collecting fingerprints is an expensive bureaucratic burden that should be carried by the government not private companies? Would you travel to a country if you had to leave your fingerprints behind?

Source

Under Gaza: Tunneling Through Sand for Food, Weapons, Oil

LibertySugar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 03:00:46 -0700

Gaza residents are tunneling through sand, in their latest attempt to withstand the Israeli blockade of the region. Israel has shut off access to the Gaza strip, in response to attacks and in an attempt to put pressure on Hamas.

The tunnels bring electricity, phone lines, cigarettes, food, petrol, and weapons. The more secretly located Hamas-controlled tunnels carry weapons of unknown caliber. The tunnelers, or "snake heads," give the local authorities a cut of their contraband profits, to help them look the other way.

The intricate tunnel networks are no secret to Israeli officials, who have implored Egypt to do more to end their existence. But according to reports, Egypt does pump water or worse, poisonous gas, through discovered tunnels, with deadly results. Just last week one tunnel did collapse, perhaps due to Egyptians pumping in water to weaken it. A man died during the collapse and had to be dragged out of the tunnels by his feet, 24 hours later.

One of the "snake heads" says, "constructing them is the worst job in the world," but the money keeps many going until they perish. Do tunnelers dig and transport at their own risk, or does Israel's policy bear some responsibility for the deaths that result from trying to secure essentials like food and electricity?

Source

Bush Says Ciao to Europe, Get Bin Laden to Special Forces

LibertySugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:00:36 -0700

George W. Bush ordered special forces to capture Osama bin Laden before his presidency is up, and seven and a half years after September 11. Bush arrived in London yesterday, and renewed the urgency to capture bin Laden, according to British and American intelligence sources. Bush has enlisted British special forces to help Americans complete the job. The US led operation will now cross the Afghan border, into Pakistan, with the approval of the Pakistani government.

President Bush has been making a farewell shuffle through Europe, reconnecting with American allies like Germany, Italy, France, and Britain. Check out the pictures!

If America succeeds in capturing Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden, will Bush have better secured his nation, as well as a more positive legacy? Or is it too little too late, if al Qaeda does not rely much on its figurative leader?

Source

Supreme Court Rules Against Bush, For Gitmo Detainees

LibertySugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:00:00 -0700

In a historic ruling, the US Supreme Court ruled that terror suspects being held at Guantanamo Bay detention center in Cuba have a right to contest their detention in United States court, using the constitutionally enshrined principle of habeas corpus — which allows courts to determine whether a prisoner is being held illegally.

In the 5-4 ruling, the majority held that "the laws and Constitution are designed to survive, and remain in force, in extraordinary times."

The four "conservative" justices dissented. Justice Scalia wrote: "The nation is "at war with radical Islamists" and that the court's decision "will make the war harder on us. It will almost certainly cause more Americans to be killed."

To find out what the Bush Administration argued,

Here Comes a Book About a 9/11 Hijacker and His Stripper

LibertySugar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:00:53 -0700

Novelist Andre Dubus III wanted to write a book about a stripper. Instead he ended up telling a story about sordid events leading up to September 11, 2001.

At the center of the 535-page novel — The Garden of Last Days — sits Bassam, one of the 9/11 hijackers, who spent time at a Florida strip club four days before the attack. The story follows a few other characters as well, including a stripper who takes her child to work while she dances for the would be terrorist, a drunk patron, and an elderly landlady.

In a note to book reviewers, the author explains his motivation for telling this story:

In the weeks after that brutal September morning, we began to learn something of the hijackers. We learned that many of them had trained in Florida, that they'd been seen visiting strip clubs. This was confusing. How could these young men be self-described holy warriors but also frequent strip clubs? But what lingered for me even more than this was the image of cash on a bedroom bureau in Florida, money earned by a woman who'd danced for one or more of them.

Are you intrigued by the internal struggles of a 9/11 hijacker and the stripper who danced for him? Will this appeal for even minimal empathy change the way readers think about terrorism?

Source

US Allegedly Using Navy Ships As Secret Prisons

LibertySugar — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 12:15:56 -0700

The US allegedly has used 17 ships as floating prisons to detain suspects in the war on terror, according to US military statements, the Council of Europe, European Parliaments, and prisoners themselves.

Human Rights group Reprieve is set to publish its findings, which also include 200 cases of rendition, a polite term for kidnapping and secret detention, since 2006, the year President Bush maintained the practice had ended.

One prisoner, released from Guantanamo, told the group:

One of my fellow prisoners in Guantanamo was at sea on an American ship with about 50 others before coming to Guantanamo. . . . he was in the cage next to me. [. . . ] They were all closed off in the bottom of the ship. The prisoner commented to me that it was like something you see on TV. The people held on the ship were beaten even more severely than in Guantanamo.

Even if the words of prisoners cannot be trusted, the US admits that it detains enemy combatants without trial. Recently the US released an uncharged cameraman after holding him for six years.

Imagine you were picked up and brought to a secret prison — none of your friends or family knew where you were, and you were being held without a trial and with no way to defend yourself. I think I would feel like a victim of terrorism.

Source

Border Security USA Is Coming to Your Television Set

LibertySugar — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:30:11 -0700

ABC is teaming up with the Department of Homeland Security to make some good old-fashioned reality television. The new show, Border Security USA, will focus on US border protection agencies including: Transportation Security Administration, US Coast Guard, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Secret Service, Customs and Border Protection, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The federal government's efforts to stop illegal immigration, smuggling, and terrorism will be documented reality-television style. The Hollywood Reporter says that in one episode, two Iranian men are denied entry because one has relatives with terrorist ties, and the other carries a fake ID.

Perhaps this show could teach Americans about how the Homeland Security bureaucracy operates. But, I'm still concerned that a sensationalized television interpretation of national security concerns may oversimplify the problem and lead to discrimination, intolerance, or a false understanding of complex issues like immigration and global politics.

Is gov reality the next big thing, or is this just run-of-the-mill propaganda? Are you going to Ti-Vo this one?
Source

"Bloodbath" Email Threatens Violence, Shuts Down City

LibertySugar — Tue, 27 May 2008 09:00:00 -0700

The Mexico city of Juarez is on lockdown after an email warning of an impending "bloodbath" was widely forwarded. The subject line? The email promised "the bloodiest and most violent weekend in the history of Juarez."

The anonymous email has shut down shops, bars, and restaurants. Soldiers are now patrolling the streets, which have been evacuated. Whether or not the email is to blame, the message seems to be self-fulfilling. At least 20 people were killed this past weekend, including two policemen.

The level of fear in this city that is infamous for its drug-related crime and currently experiencing a surge in murders must be so high that an email can result in army patrols and all out lockdown. The surge in murders has claimed around 400 lives so far this year, several of them police officers and members of rival narcotics gangs. Should an anonymous email be taken so seriously that the result is a form of terrorism? Even the mayor has said, "we don't have any information to suspect that the emails are real." Where is the line between real threat and spam?

Source

Should Radical Environmentalists Be Punished Like Terrorists?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 09 May 2008 07:50:36 -0700

Eric McDavid, a member of the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) convicted in March of planning to bomb a dam and forest service building in Northern California, has been sentenced to 19 years and seven months in prison. His actions have been called "conspiracy in an eco-terror case." The US Attorney said of the sentence: Today's severe punishment of nearly 20 years in federal prison should serve as a cautionary tale to those who would conspire to commit life-threatening acts in the name of their extremist views.

McDavid's family pleaded for a light sentence saying saying that their son was peaceful and caring. Another ELF member who was also charged, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit arson and testified against McDavid in exchange for a lesser sentence. An FBI agent testified about items found in the ELF house including bottles of bleach and chemicals, and anarchist literature, some by the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski. ELF is thought to have been behind the torching of the Seattle Street of Dreams homes earlier this year. Do radical environmental groups like ELF really have altruistic agendas? Do they need to resort to sometimes violent acts in order to raise awareness and accomplish their mission? Does the cloak of eco-do-gooding mask a terrorist organization no different than any other? Should we punish them like terrorists even though they're trying to save the planet?Source

Should Radical Environmentalists Be Punished Like Terrorists?

Yes! They are! Anyone who plots destruction in the name of a cause is a terrorist.

Some bad eggs spoil the rest. Radical enviros also sit peacefully in trees — not terrifying.

No. The planetary stakes are really that dire — we need violent actions to get attention.

Other. I've got my Kumbaya ready for the comments.

Military Prosecutor Says Justice Became Political at Gitmo

LibertySugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:30:01 -0700

Col. Morris D. Davis, the US military's former chief prosecutor at Guantanamo Bay, testified yesterday that top Pentagon officials interfered with his work for political reasons, and told him that there could be no detainee acquittals. The former prosecutor found himself on a peculiar side of a court case: testifying on behalf of a detainee, Osama bin Laden's driver Salim Hamdan, and being cross examined by his prosecutorial successor.

Brig. Gen. Thomas Hartmann (pictured), oversaw the military commissions and allegedly told prosecutor-turned-witness Davis: "If we don't get some cases going before the elections, this thing's going to implode." He also told him that charges against well-known detainees “could have real strategic political value” and that there could be no acquittals.

Last night, TV host Keith Olbermann's asserted that the policy Davis described, co-opted the values of the very constitution and sacred freedoms for which the heroes of the military have fought and died. To see that chilling video, and to find out what else went down in the court,

Radical Raul? Cuba Commutes Death Sentences

LibertySugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:00:48 -0700

Raul Castro has commuted all but three death sentences handed down in Cuba. Every death-row inmate, besides three convicted terrorists, will now face 30 years in prison, instead of death by firing squad.

Raul, who officially took over for his brother Fidel Castro this past February, said that humanitarian concerns, not international pressure, motivated his decision. He quickly maintained that the death penalty still remains on the books.

Raul, who also announced the first Communist Congress in over a decade, has been showing signs of pragmatism and reform since taking power. He lifted a ban on electronics sales, and Cubans can now stay in hotels designated for tourists. Many other freedoms, such as the right to own property, are still forbidden.

The US has found itself in a curious position with its North American neighbors when it comes to the death penalty. To see how,

War of the Words — Don't Call It Jihad Anymore!

CitizenSugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:30:50 -0700

The war on terror just got a new front: the dictionary. This week, the language officials from the State Department and the Department of Homelands Security use to describe the war is set to get a makeover.

Out: Jihadists; Mujahdeen; Islamo-fascism. In: Violent extremist; Terrorist

Some crack linguists realized that some words may actually boost support for radicals among Arab and Muslim audiences by admitting religious credibility or by offending moderates.

To see a sample from the memo, which is way more interesting than its title, Words That Work and Words That Don't: A Guide For Counterterrorism Communication,

Navy Lawyer Wants Fair Trial for Alleged 9/11 Mastermind

LibertySugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:15:00 -0700

A small town-lawyer and Navy-reservist, who has never tried a death penalty case, just got his next assignment — to defend the alleged mastermind of September 11th in military court. Prescott Prince is determined to give Khalid Sheikh Mohammed a fair trial.

The CIA admits that it employed waterboarding, which is widely considered torture, on the defendant. The government is claiming that during interrogation, Mohammed confessed to orchestrating the attacks of September 11th, 2001.

Prince, the lawyer, argues that such evidence would never be admissible in civilian court. Guilty or innocent, good or evil, does everyone, including a suspected terrorist, deserve a fair and impartial trial?

Do you think that the rule of law — the principle that citizens and leaders are bound by a set of clearly defined and universally accepted laws — will be ignored? If America discards a fundamental part of a democratic society in this case, is it effectively doing the terrorists' job for them?

Source

Front Page: Antarctica Melting, 72-Hour Deadline in Iraq, US Warned in Pakistan

CitizenSugar — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 06:52:56 -0700

An island-sized chunk of ice has started to break away from Antarctica, prompting scientists to say it is further evidence of a warming climate. Though it's been stable for most of the century, it has been retreating since the 1990s, and satellite images suggest that part of the ice shelf will soon crumble away. A professor from the British Antarctic Survey said, "I didn't expect to see things happen this quickly. The ice shelf is hanging by a thread — we'll know in the next few days or weeks what its fate will be." He added, "this is not a sea level rise issue, but is yet another indication of climate change in the Antarctic Peninsula and how it is affecting the environment."

Today, Iraq's prime minister gave Shiite militants battling security forces in Basra a 72-hour deadline to surrender their weapons. The death toll after two days of fighting nears 50 and the conflict threatens to undo efforts to stabilize Iraq. The clashes in Basra are between Iraqi and US security forces and fighters sympathetic to the Mehdi Army — the militia of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. The new fighting comes on the heels of a seven-month, much-praised cease fire called by al-Sadr that, according to the U.S. military, has decreased violence across Iraq.
Pakistan's new Prime Minister Yousaf Gillani was sworn in yesterday. Members of the new government met with top State Department officials responsible for the area and gave the US a stern warning. The Pakistani government told the two American diplomats that it was unacceptable that Pakistan had become a “killing field.” The leader of the second biggest party in Parliament said, “if America wants to see itself clean of terrorists, we also want that our villages and towns should not be bombed,” adding that he was unable to give “a commitment” on fighting terrorism.

Osama bin Laden Releases New Single Threatening Europe

LibertySugar — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:00:53 -0700

Osama bin Laden took a break from condemning America, instead taking aim at the European Union and the Catholic Church. In an audio tape tentatively attributed to the fugitive terrorist, his first message of 2008, bin Laden threatened the European Union "grave punishment" for publishing offensive cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. His new single is titled: "The Response Will Be What You See, Not What You Hear."

In 2006, 50 people were killed after a Danish newspaper republished cartoons of the Prophet with a bomb as a turban. Many saw the cartoons as an attack on Islam. Enraged by the infamous cartoons, bin Laden called them a part of a "new crusade" and accused Pope Benedict XVI of being involved.

Are you troubled by this new tape? Do you think the constant reminder that bin Laden is still at-large gives his followers motivation to keep fighting?

Source

A Playmobil "Security Check Point"? Is This For Real?

CitizenSugar — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 07:00:36 -0700

Okay, I stumbled across this and I'm still rubbing my eyes and trying to figure out if it's real. A Playmobil airport security check point set? Complete with potentially-violating metal-detecting wand, and about-to-be-searched wheelie-bag? But the big question is: are the teeny-tiny shoes removable? They might be a choking hazard. . . .In all seriousness, I was at SFO once and TSA did a drill while I was in the security area — there was yelling, flashing lights, terrifying commotion — but darned if those good folks didn't get in their positions and seal off that area, lickity-split. I couldn't be more glad we have them keeping us safe — but is it a toy? Really?*Long line sold separately.

A Playmobil "Security Check Point"? Is This For Real?

Yeah, I think it's real! Is this what they meant by "the terrorists have won?"

No way. This cannot be a real thing. Security is not to be toyed with.

Who cares, but if it comes with a free upgrade to First Class, I'll buy.

I've got my own answer. I'll tell you in the comments.

Check This: Yemen's Deal With Terrorists

CitizenSugar — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 09:01:49 -0800

When Yemen released the al-Qaeda terrorist convicted of the 2000 bombing of the Cole, Jamal al-Badawi, they gambled their US aid on a controversial terrorist-work-release plan. Yemen let al-Badawi out of prison, based on his word that he would lead Yemeni officials to five other al-Qaeda members who had escaped.

Though Badawi was soon returned to prison in order to keep US aid, the cat was out of the bag. Yemen, a haven for recruiting Islamic militants for the last 20 years, makes deals with terrorists, and the US doesn't like it.

Here's the deal Yemen gives terrorists, according to the New York Times:

Yemeni officials say they have had considerable success co-opting jihadists like Mr. Badawi, often by releasing them from prison and helping them with money, schooling or jobs. They are required to sign a pledge not to carry out any attacks on Yemeni soil.

They say that former jihadists are crack at helping capture the younger, fiercer, al-Qaeda militants, helping convince escapees to surrender. But this work-furlough program comes with a price. To find out, please