9 October 07
Leak Severed A Link to Al-Qaeda's Secrets
Firm [SITE] Says Administration's Handling of Video Ruined Its Spying Efforts
Joby Warrick, Washington Post
'A small private intelligence company **
Britain's top cop makes his bread-and-butter pitch ...
Met chief warns over terror plots
BBC News online, 9 October 07
'The number of terror plots in the UK is "mounting", [London Metropolitan] Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair has told MPs.
The number of conspirators involved and the "magnitude" of their ambitions is also growing, added Sir Ian.
'He was making the case for extending the 28-day limit for detaining terror suspects without charge.
'He told the home affairs committee [that] internment was a bad idea — but 50 to 90 day detention would be "sensible" if there was judicial oversight [how's that for a pregnant word!. ...'
10 October 07
The Iraqi government (I almost used a capital G for the first time) has called on the United States to disassociate itself from Blackwater USA.
11 October 07
In the UK, the trial has begun of Attila Ahmed, Mohammed Hamid and three others, accused of organizing terror training camps in the UK. Said to have been associated with "21/7 plotters".
13 October 07
Ex-General Ricardo Sanchez, the former head of "coalition" forces in Iraq, has bitterly criticized the Bush Administration's conduct of the war in Iraq.
15 October 07
The chief constable of North Wales, Richard Brunstrom, has called for the legalization of all drugs.
He or his predecessor did the same in late 2001.
New suspicion over Kelly death — MP
Press Association, Guardian online, 15 October 07
'New evidence surrounding the death of MoD scientist Dr David Kelly has added to suspicions that he was murdered, an MP has claimed.
'Liberal Democrat Norman Baker revealed no fingerprints were found on the penknife [pruning knife] Dr Kelly apparently used to kill himself.
'The information was revealed after a Freedom of Information request to Thames Valley Police who conducted the immediate inquiry into his death. ...'
UN envoy attacks Mid-East Quartet
BBC News online, 15 October 07
'A top UN expert has said he will urge the world body to withdraw from the Quartet of Middle East negotiators unless it addresses Palestinian human rights.
'John Dugard, the UN human rights envoy for the Palestinian Territories, told the BBC the US, EU, UN and Russia were failing to protect the Palestinians.
'He said the UN "does itself little good by remaining a member of the Quartet".
'In his role as a UN special rapporteur, Mr Dugard has been visiting the West Bank and Gaza for the past seven years.
'Special rapporteurs are independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council.
'They are advisers and do not decide UN policy.
'"Every time I visit, the situation seems to have worsened," he said in a BBC interview.
'"This time, I was very struck by the sense of hopelessness among the Palestinian people."
'Mr Dugard attributed this to "the crushing effect of human rights violations", and in particular Israeli restrictions on Palestinians' freedom of movement.
'He said that although Israel did have a threat to its security, "its response is very disproportionate". [In a BBC shot, the Israeli partition is already looking like the Great Wall of China.]
'He said the purpose of some of the checkpoints in the middle of the West Bank was to break it up "into a number of cantons and make the life of Palestinians as miserable as possible" [and ultimately, to make it impossible].
'The South African retired professor of international law said the response of the Quartet was weak because it was "heavily influenced" by the US. ...'
16 October 07
The prosecution in the criminal "health-and-safety" trial of the London Metropolitan Police over the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes claim that a composite photograph of Menezes and "21/7 attempted suicide bomber" Hussein Osman was doctored by police to make Menezes" half-face look less unlike Osman's.
The price of US-traded crude oil has reached an all-time high (in money terms) of $89 a barrel.
18 January 07
The clock is ticking on petro-imperialism ...
Blackwater expected to leave Iraq
Al Jazeera English
'Blackwater USA, whose security forces were involved in the fatal shooting of civilians in Iraq last month [not to mention], will leave the country once its contract to escort US diplomats expires in May, US officials say.
'But the company will not be fired, the officials said following a state department review of private forms providing such services in Iraq. ...'
Bush intensifies anti-Iran rhetoric
Al Jazeera English, 18 October 07
'George Bush has escalated his rhetoric about Iran saying the very knowledge of how to make nuclear weapons could trigger a third world war.
'The US president said on Wednesday [17 Oct. 07] that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose a "dangerous threat to world peace" and should be barred from nuclear weapons.
'"We've got a leader in Iran who has announced that he wants to destroy Israel," Bush said.
'"So I've told people that, if you're interested in avoiding World War III, its seems like you ought to be interested in preventing them from having the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon."
'Bush's language appears to be a reaction to remarks by Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, who said he has not seen any evidence that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons. ...
'Hillary Mann, a former White House official focusing on the Middle East, told Al Jazeera that Bush's comments signalled that the administration has stepped up its rhetoric to another level. ...'
See also Fred Kaplan, "Resign, Retire, Renounce: What should generals do if Bush orders a foolish attack on Iran?", Slate, 17 Oct. 07.
19 October 07
Twin bombings in Karachi, Pakistan, near Benazir Bhutto's fortified car, left her unhurt but killed 130 of the large crowds of supporters who had turned out to greet her return.
Bhutto generously didn't blame Musharraf, but some people in Pakistani intelligence and the military.
British bioweapons expert Dr. David Kelly was murdered, according to tomorrow's Daily Mail. A Lib Dem MP who spent a year investigating Kelly's "suicide" said he was killed to stop him revealing further stuff about government "lies" told to support the invasion of Iraq.
The US Dow Jones stockmarket index fell by 366 points (2.64%), to 11,522.
22 October 07
Al Jazeera has broadcast a "Bin Laden" audio recording.
'Osama bin Laden urges insurgents in Iraq to unite with his al Qaeda followers and admits wrongs were committed because of fanaticism, according to an audio recording aired on Monday [22 Oct. 07].
'The following is a chronology of major statements attributed to Osama bin Laden, his second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahiri or their allies this year. More than 50 messages have been broadcast since Al Jazeera aired a statement by bin Laden folioing the September 11, 2001, attacks.
'[There follow ten items by "Zawahiri" and "bin Laden", the last one being]
'Oct. 21 [2007] — Bin Laden acknowledges in an audiotape addressing "mujahideen (holy warriors) in Iraq", that some insurgents are involved in "wrongdoings". He urges "scholars, jihadist and tribal leaders to work for reconciliation between fighting groups". [Talk about collapsing coalitions!]'
— This last item seems to be the same as the one above dated as "22 Oct."
25 October 07
The US has imposed a range of sanctions on Iran because of its "nuclear ambitions and missile sales". US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called the Revolutionary Guards "terrorist" and condemned their Qods unit for "backing attacks in Iraq".
'The Quds Force, the elite unit of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, provides "lethal support" tot he Sunni-dominated Taliban for use against U.S. and NATO forces, according to information [sic] in the new U.S. sanctions imposed on Iran. ...
'Iran is predominantly a Shiite nation and is known to support Shiite fighters in Iraq, where Shiite and Sunni have been at odds in recent years [also most likely due to CIA/SOCOM black (... water) ops], and in Lebanon.
'... The [US] Treasury Department statement, however, laid out specific details of that alleged support to justify designating the Quds Force as a supporter of terrorism.
'"since at least 2006, Iran has arranged frequent shipments of small arms and associated ammunition, rocket propelled grenades, mortar rounds, 107 mm rockets, plastic explosives, and probably man-portable defense systems to the Taliban," the statement said.
'The Treasury statement also says the Quds Force "has a long history" of backing [Lebanese] Hezbollah's "military, paramilitary, and terrorist activities, providing it with guidance funding, weapons, intelligence, and logistical support. ...'
29 October 07
The British electronic eavesdropping organization GCHQ is to recruit new staff by placing advertisments "inside video games".
30 October 07
Blackwater guards who shot "civilians" in Baghdad have been unofficially offered partial immunity.
31 October 07
In the UK, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has met PM Gordon Brown. The Palestinians, Iran and terrorism were among the things discussed.
The old king must know that, if Iran falls, Saudi will be next.
In Iraq, UK Defence Secretary Des Browne has met the Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki.
In Spain, 21 out 28 charged men have been convicted in connection to the Madrid train-bombings of 2005. Most are of Moroccan origin; six are Spanish, "suppliers of the dynamite".
A surviving "ringleader" (the others "blew themselves up to evade capture") was found not guilty. (He is in jail in Italy on a terrorist-related conviction.)