Judges deny Guantanamo bidsGUANTANAMO inmates cannot challenge their detention, a US appeals court has ruled in a major win for George W. Bush that could further delay David Hicks's trial.
London: Teens jailed for cab driver's racist murderRomania: Priest gets 14 years for exorcism deathSAS to spearhead Aussie assaultAUSTRALIA is poised to double its commitment in Afghanistan to about 1000 personnel, with 450 extra troops - including elite SAS - as well as Black Hawk helicopters and a radar team.
Illegal workers driving cabsA GROWING army of illegal drivers and foreign students - many with little driving experience - are taking control of Melbourne cabs and putting lives at risk.
Smart card: Privacy task force to investigate security issuesGood Vibrations: Woman charged over drugs at dance partyBali: Jail boss says Corby clubbing stories untrueMore protests target Cheney visitPROTESTERS are preparing for another mass rally against US Vice-President Dick Cheney, after 10 people were arrested yesterday when part of a demonstration in central Sydney turned violent.
Pavier: Goat-sex SMS sinks candidateMinister snared: Burke scandal cripples CabinetDemocrat campaign gets nastyTHE presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have traded accusations of nasty politics over a claim that the Clintons were "liars".
Jakarta: Indonesia ferry fire kills 16, dozens more missingTal Afar: Soldiers arrested as fresh rape claims hit Iraqi PM-----------------------------------------------------------------
Cheney hints at Iran military strikeHARDLINE US Vice-President Dick Cheney, scheduled to spend today with Prime Minister John Howard, has raised the possibility of military action to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Secret papers reveal pokies haulA LEAKED Tattersall's document details the huge profits top poker machine clubs, industry chiefs and the Bracks Government have fought to keep confidential.
UK to increase Afghan forceBRITAIN will send 1000 troops to Afghanistan as NATO forces struggle to counter deadly suicide attacks as part of a spring offensive by the Taliban.
Gambia: 'AIDS healer' ruler throws UN envoy outIraq: US sergeant sexually molested teen privateIndian police detain train bombing suspect2:00am Indian police detain a man in connection with the bombing of a train from India to Pakistan which killed 67 people.
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Fire-bomb kills scores on India-Pakistan 'peace train'-
Warder 'gave' Bali bomber laptopIraq 'disaster' risking Australian security
1:32pm PM's stand on Iraq under fire as vast majority of theage.com.au readers vote against sending more troops.
morePolice union plea for corrupt pairVictoria's police union under fire after lobbying for two detectives to keep their jobs while they fight the convictions.
more Judge's ruling warns Brethren Hicks is the first in line, says BushRussians to delay Iran nuclear dealRussia will delay starting up Iran's first nuclear power plant because Tehran is behind with payments, a Russian atomic industry source reveals.
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Iran rejects UN nuclear deadlinePM furious at Rudd's security jibePolitical debate over Australia's involvement in Iraq intensifies with Kevin Rudd claiming John Howard is a national security risk.
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Howard taking steps to find out how west can be wonHicks suffers legal setback7:11am Decision to refuse Guantanamo inmates the right to challenge their detention likely to cause more delays.
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Building collapses in Istanbul-
UK teens jailed for racist murderCheney protesters vow city rallyItaly's Prodi quits over Afghan troops11:01am Italian Premier resigns after his centre-left government embarrassingly lost a senate vote on foreign policy.
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Jakarta blasted on Papuans' rights-
South Africa takes aim at 'big-tame' huntingDigger guns down attacker2:03pm Australian soldier in Dili shoots dead a local firing steel arrows at him.
more Jail for bizarre knife rampage Protesters target police station Cheney praises Howard's loyalty-
Soldier gets 100 years for Iraq rape and murder'They're not coming ashore'2:40pm PM says 85 boat people intercepted off Christmas Island may be sent to Nauru.
moreToday's Crimes and Trials:
Anna Nicole Smith's mother accuses daughter's companion of wanting to profit from her deathInvestigators deny planting evidence in murder case of exonerated manJurors find parents guilty of murdering their 8-year-old son4 abducted Mormon missionaries releasedCalif. investigator charged with forgeryMan gets prison for Pa. woman's fallMan charged after flood unearths tapesJury adjourns in Libby perjury caseIce-throwing driver spared from prisonSoldier cries describing rape, slayingOhio woman guilty in foster son's deathBiological mom charged with kidnappingTrial starts in 2003 Calif. slayingsMichael Moore wins a new court roundJudge: Calif. prison transfers illegalActor Daniel Baldwin pleads innocent to car theftNot guilty plea in Richie DUI case'Simple Life' star Nicole Richie denies drink-drive chargeNicole Richie pleads not guilty to drunk drivingSocial worker pleads guilty in Ohio-->
Anna Nicole Smith's mother accuses daughter's companion of wanting to profit from her deathWed, 21 Feb 2007 01:40 pm PSTCourtTV - FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Court TV) - Anna Nicole Smith's mother accused her daughter's companion Wednesday of seeking her remains so that he could sell the television rights to her funeral.
Full StoryTopInvestigators deny planting evidence in murder case of exonerated manWed, 21 Feb 2007 01:38 pm PSTCourtTV - CHILTON, Wis. (Court TV) - Two criminal investigators testifying in the murder trial of a once-exonerated man denied planting evidence at a salvage yard as part of a ploy to frame the defendant.
Full StoryTopJurors find parents guilty of murdering their 8-year-old sonFri, 16 Feb 2007 12:27 pm PSTCourtTV - MARIETTA, Ga. (Court TV) - On the day Josef Smith would have celebrated his 12th birthday, a jury convicted his parents of murdering him.
Full StoryTop4 abducted Mormon missionaries releasedWed, 21 Feb 2007 06:12 pm PSTAP - Four Mormon missionaries were released unharmed Wednesday after being held hostage for more than three days by kidnappers in Nigeria's oil region, church officials said.
Full StoryTopCalif. investigator charged with forgeryWed, 21 Feb 2007 05:21 pm PSTAP - The state attorney general charged a private investigator Wednesday with filing false court documents on behalf of four death row inmates, calling the case one of the largest frauds in California's criminal justice system.
Full StoryTopMan gets prison for Pa. woman's fallWed, 21 Feb 2007 04:59 pm PSTAP - A man convicted of involuntary manslaughter in his girlfriend's fall from his 23rd-story apartment window was sentenced Wednesday to at least 11 months prison.
Full StoryTopMan charged after flood unearths tapesWed, 21 Feb 2007 04:09 pm PSTAP - An 81-year-old man was charged with possessing child pornography after a flood opened up a hole near a septic tank, revealing videotapes that depicted the man having sex with children decades before, the FBI announced Wednesday.
Full StoryTopJury adjourns in Libby perjury caseWed, 21 Feb 2007 03:00 pm PST
Reuters - A jury adjourned after its first day of deliberations on Wednesday without deciding whether to convict former vice presidential aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby of obstructing an investigation tied to the Iraq war.
Full StoryTopIce-throwing driver spared from prisonWed, 21 Feb 2007 11:16 am PSTAP - A woman convicted of a felony for throwing a cup of ice into a car that cut her off in traffic was sentenced to probation instead of prison, a judge ruled Wednesday.
Full StoryTopSoldier cries describing rape, slayingWed, 21 Feb 2007 09:32 am PST
AP - A second U.S. soldier has pleaded guilty to the gang rape and murder of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and the slaying of her family, saying he held the girl down and acted as a lookout while others took turns attacking her.
Full StoryTopOhio woman guilty in foster son's deathThu, 22 Feb 2007 04:46 am PST
AP - A jury on Wednesday convicted a woman of murder for causing the death of a 3-year-old foster son by leaving him bound in a cocoon of blankets and tape while she went away to a weekend family reunion.
Full StoryTopBiological mom charged with kidnappingWed, 21 Feb 2007 07:36 pm PSTAP - A woman who gave birth to twins has been charged with taking the toddlers from their adoptive parents and fleeing with them to Canada, federal officials said Wednesday.
Full StoryTopTrial starts in 2003 Calif. slayingsWed, 21 Feb 2007 07:17 pm PSTAP - A former school administrator plotted an elaborate alibi where he would appear to be thousands of miles away when his wife, three children and mother-in-law were killed, a prosecutor said at Wednesday's start of his murder trial.
Full StoryTopMichael Moore wins a new court roundWed, 21 Feb 2007 05:43 am PST
AP - Michael Moore won a round Tuesday in a court battle with the brother of Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols, but the plaintiff's lawyer said she is considering whether to take the case to the Supreme Court.
Full StoryTopJudge: Calif. prison transfers illegalTue, 20 Feb 2007 06:31 pm PST
AP - A judge Tuesday threw out Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to transfer thousands of inmates to other states to relieve prison overcrowding. Schwarzenegger said he would immediately appeal, saying dangerous convicts might otherwise have to be released early.
Full StoryTopActor Daniel Baldwin pleads innocent to car theftTue, 20 Feb 2007 05:31 pm PST
Reuters - A California judge on Tuesday canceled an arrest warrant for actor Daniel Baldwin on car theft charges after he made a scheduled court appearance and pleaded innocent.
Full StoryTopNot guilty plea in Richie DUI caseTue, 20 Feb 2007 03:47 pm PSTAP - Nicole Richie's lawyer appeared in court Tuesday without her client and entered a not guilty plea on Richie's behalf to a driving under the influence charge.
Full StoryTop'Simple Life' star Nicole Richie denies drink-drive chargeTue, 20 Feb 2007 02:56 pm PST
AFP - Reality television star Nicole Richie pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving under the influence after she was stopped last year for going the wrong way down a freeway.
Full StoryTopNicole Richie pleads not guilty to drunk drivingTue, 20 Feb 2007 01:28 pm PST
Reuters - U.S. reality TV star Nicole Richie pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to charges of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol when she was seen driving the wrong way on a Los Angeles freeway.
Full StoryTopSocial worker pleads guilty in OhioTue, 20 Feb 2007 01:01 pm PSTAP - A social worker who knew a husband and wife were forcing some of their 11 adopted, special-needs children to sleep in wire-and-wood cages pleaded guilty Tuesday to failing to report a crime.
Full StoryTop------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Entertainment News:
Spears exits rehab; K-Fed going to courtBlogger sued over topless Aniston photoMarcia Cross delivers twin girls in L.A.Trista and Ryan Sutter expecting a baby2nd suit filed in Brandy's fatal crash"Astronaut Farmer" a little too cornyK-Fed goes to court to get custodyArmstrong, McBride join ABC drama pilotsEMI highlights regulatory concerns over Warner bidModern Japanese Play 'Steel Tower' to Make U.S. DebutBritney reported out of rehab after 24 hoursArmani hitches hems, Gucci floors them in MilanGroup: Pupils given anti-Islam material-->
Spears exits rehab; K-Fed going to courtThu, 22 Feb 2007 12:33 am PST
AP - LOS ANGELES (AP) _ As Britney Spears was reportedly checking out of rehab for the second time in a week Wednesday, her estranged husband was making plans to go to court amid a custody dispute over their two children.
Full StoryTopBlogger sued over topless Aniston photoWed, 21 Feb 2007 07:20 pm PST
AP - A Hollywood movie studio filed a lawsuit claiming gossip blogger Perez Hilton posted a stolen topless photograph of Jennifer Aniston on the Web. Universal City Studios Productions LLLP filed the suit Tuesday claiming the stolen image was posted on the perezhilton Internet site by Mario Lavandeira, aka Hilton.
Full StoryTopMarcia Cross delivers twin girls in L.A.Wed, 21 Feb 2007 07:21 pm PST
AP - It's fraternal twin girls for Marcia Cross. The "Desperate Housewives" actress, 44, gave birth to daughters Eden and Savannah in Los Angeles on Tuesday, her spokeswoman said Wednesday. The father is Cross' stockbroker husband, Tom Mahoney.
Full StoryTopTrista and Ryan Sutter expecting a babyWed, 21 Feb 2007 01:33 pm PST
AP - Trista and Ryan Sutter, who found love on "The Bachelorette," are expecting their first child, a representative for the couple said Wednesday.
Full StoryTop2nd suit filed in Brandy's fatal crashWed, 21 Feb 2007 08:32 pm PST
AP - A second wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against actress-singer Brandy in a December freeway crash.
Full StoryTop"Astronaut Farmer" a little too cornyThu, 22 Feb 2007 03:17 am PSTReuters - Departing from the dark, twisted sensibility of their feature "Twin Falls Idaho," in which Mark and Michael Polish seemed to have channeled the Coen brothers and a dash of David Lynch, the duo's latest effort, "The Astronaut Farmer," is goofy, wholesome and, well, sweet.
Full StoryTopK-Fed goes to court to get custodyThu, 22 Feb 2007 04:42 am PST
AP - As Britney Spears was reportedly checking out of rehab for the second time in a week Wednesday, her estranged husband was making plans to go to court amid a custody dispute over their two children.
Full StoryTopArmstrong, McBride join ABC drama pilotsThu, 22 Feb 2007 01:57 am PST
Reuters - Former "O.C." star Samaire Armstrong and "JAG" regular Zoe McLellan have joined ABC's drama pilot "Dirty Sexy Money."
Full StoryTopEMI highlights regulatory concerns over Warner bidThu, 22 Feb 2007 04:10 am PST
Reuters - Britain's EMI has written to U.S. rival Warner Music to outline what its reaction would be to a bid and highlighting its concerns over regulatory issues, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
Full StoryTopModern Japanese Play 'Steel Tower' to Make U.S. DebutWed, 21 Feb 2007 02:23 pm PSTPlaybill - Three troupes are collaborating to bring a modern Japanese play to life on the New York stage.
Full StoryTopBritney reported out of rehab after 24 hoursThu, 22 Feb 2007 03:08 am PST
Reuters - Britney Spears was reported to have left a Malibu rehabilitation center on Wednesday just 24 hours after checking herself in following weeks of troubling behavior culminating in shaving her own head.
Full StoryTopArmani hitches hems, Gucci floors them in MilanWed, 21 Feb 2007 11:47 am PST
Reuters - Giorgio Armani took hemlines higher for his less formal Emporio Armani collection on Wednesday, while Gucci swept evening dresses right to the floor in jeweled black and Grecian column white.
Full StoryTopGroup: Pupils given anti-Islam materialWed, 21 Feb 2007 08:43 pm PSTAP - A high school teacher allowed a group whose declared mission is to "raise an awareness of the danger of Islam" to distribute literature in his class, including a handout titled "Do Not Marry a Muslim Man," according to an advocacy group.
Full StoryTop------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, Jan. 31, 12:46 AM
My first meeting today at 9:00 AM was in the State House with the Minister of State, Karim Sinjari. I had two more high-level intelligence meetings with Iraqi diplomatic leaders. I cannot attribute a quote from them for security reasons. I do not want an Iranian agent to put a bullet in their heads.
Karim is a very humble man; we sip tea as he tells me the story of two attempts to kill him by terrorists and a third by Saddam who poisoned him; he almost died. He repeated a story I had been told earlier:
“Saddam disappeared 191,000 men between the ages of ten and sixty years so the women could not remarry. They would have no proof that their husbands were dead.”
Saddam used the Koran to back his claim that he had permission to kill the enemy and confiscate everything they owned. He secured a fatwah, a legal decree from an Imam to give the legal, theocratic right to wipe out the Kurds.
I was told that Iranian agents by the tens of thousands are everywhere in Iraq, and that Iranian proxies number in the hundreds of thousands. I can honestly say I really don’t like that, knowing I speak out strongly against Iran on network shows, and that I wrote Showdown with Nuclear Iran. I feel a bit like a canary in a mine shaft. I am so thankful for my faith; it strengthens me in the darkness.
Karim told me that the biggest problem they have is the influx of Iranian agents into the whole of Iraq. Iran is working with Syria, a Sunni state, to kill Iraqis and with the Shiites to pit one group against the other.
According to Karim, Paul Bremer (head of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq) opened the borders, forcing the removal of all security check points in Iraq. Bremer was warned that this would create terror, but he wanted to show the world he was tolerant of everyone. Iran is now running one of the biggest employment services in all of Iraq. For a few dollars, they put unemployed Iraqis on the terror payroll. It is also one of the biggest intelligence agencies operating through the Iraqi government. It makes no difference if you wear a police or military uniform; the vetting process does not work, and the fruit is that secrets are being shared with Iran which now is aware of every move.
Said Karim, “Your army is in a holy war with global jihadis worldwide. Thousands of Iraqi fanatics lived in Iran and returned home as agents with the full support of Iran. Remember, the Iranian revolution was planned in Najaf by Ayatollah Khomeini. Najaf knows well how to plan Islamic revolutions. The only reason they are not attacking you in America is because you invited them to attack you in Iraq.”
Al-Maliki says the U.S. should not use Iraq for a confrontation with Iran. This is another sick joke. Al-Qaeda has between 4000 and 5000 terrorists in Iraq. If we leave, the danger will be a thousand times greater, but in the U.S., not in Iraq. The terrorists will take the battle to the streets of America. The only restraining factor is the U.S. troops. We keep the terrorists occupied by fighting them in Iraq. I was told that if we leave Iraq, all of the Arab countries would run away from the experiment in democracy, and that the entire region would explode.
Karim further opined, “Saudi Arabia is so convinced that Iran is coming, they are building a 400-mile wall at the cost of $13 billion to keep them out. Saudi is panicking because 50 percent of their population is Shiite, and the oil region is in the Shiite area of Saudi. They know a nuclear Iran could mean their end. They pray that the U.S. or Israel will stop them.” I have been told that over 500,000 Shiite “missionaries” are gathered in Saudi Arabia with one goal...convert Sunnis.
We are taping the last segments of the prime-time special based on this book. Late today at the studios of the state television station, we were given classified footage never shown on U.S. television, or anywhere else. I saw images of Saddam’s flag being planted in each village after the gas canisters were dropped. At first, gas that stayed low to the ground was used. When the people fled to the mountains, canisters containing poison gas that rose in the air was dropped in order to kill those fleeing. Later, I was shown footage of Saddam’s death squads exterminating multitudes, including Islamic fascists beheading Americans. It was the most unspeakably horrific sight I have ever seen.
It was a shock to see the face of Ali Hassan Majid on Iraq television. He was standing trial for genocidal crimes against humanity. “I am not apologizing,” he said, “I did not make mistakes. I am the one who gave the orders to the Army to use WMDs against 100,000 Iraqi Kurds.”
We were cleared by the government to see and have access to the footage. Some of it will be incorporated into the television special, “The Final Move beyond Iraq.”
Click here to receive articles by Mike Evans, intelligence reports from Iraq, and to receive notices of scheduled showings of the television documentary, The Final Move Beyond Iraq and release of his newest book The Final Move Beyond Iraq.
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Freedom to Dictatorship in 5 years by Mrs. Kitty Werthmann From her own experience, Mrs. Kitty Werthmann will help you see we are walking the same path as the Nazi’s. She was 12 years old living in Austria. At that time, there was order, prayer and pictures of Jesus. Hitler took over and all that was removed! Unemployment rose to 35%, bank loans rose to 25%, unions called strikes, all this with 98% of the people claiming to be Catholic! Soon there was massive welfare. Cries went out for equal rights for women. Socialism took women out of the home, raising the children, and into the factories. ....
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Pastor with 666 tattoo claims to be divineSo Who Won The First Major Hillary vs. Obama Fight?Blair pleads the case for biometric ID cardsUS 'Iran attack plans' revealedMissiles could reach Europe if Kremlin wanted: generalAffidavit: McVeigh had high-level helpStrange lights over Somerset CountyPeretz urges Israel to avoid verbal escalation with SyriaAl Qaeda’s latest menace to America’s oil sources embodies a planSecret plan to reunite Catholics, Anglicans under PopeThe brain scan that can read people's intentionsELCA leaders accused of often having subjective view of truthIran tests missiles "able to sink big warships"Sales job falls to Turkey for new peace planTemple's location found, says Israeli archaeologistMuslims solidifying Temple Mount takeoverAtomic Iran
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About UsBecome a Partaker BookstoreContact UsCrusader MagazineCurrent Gift OffersDonationsLear FinancialMedia / RadioMeetings Radio SchedulePastor with 666 tattoo claims to be divineThe minister has the number 666 tattooed on his arm. But Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda is not your typical minister. De Jesus, or "Daddy" as his thousands of followers call him, does not merely pray to God: He says he is God. "The spirit that is in me is the same spirit that was in Jesus of Nazareth," de Jesus says. De Jesus' claims of divinity have angered Christian leaders, who say he is a fake. Religious experts say he may be something much more dangerous, a cult leader who really believes he is God. "He's in their heads, he's inside the heads of those people," says Prof. Daniel Alvarez, a religion expert at Florida International University who has debated some of de Jesus' followers.De Jesus speaks with a kind of conviction that makes me consider him more like David Koresh or Jim Jones." Is de Jesus really a cult leader like David Koresh, who died with more than 70 of his Branch Davidian followers in a fiery end to a standoff with federal authorities, or Jim Jones, the founder of the Peoples Temple who committed mass suicide with 900 followers in 1978?
So Who Won The First Major Hillary vs. Obama Fight?New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd talked to Hollywood mogul David Geffen, a former Bill Clinton backer who’s now backing Obama. Geffen ripped Hillary. He called her “incredibly polarizing”, referred to the Bush and Clinton “royal families,” speculated that Bill Clinton was still sleeping around and thus represented a scandal waiting to erupt; called the Clinton machine (their network of supporters and operatives) “very unpleasant and unattractive and effective;” called the former President “a reckless guy”, mocked his pardon of Marc Rich, declared the Clintons “unwilling to stand for things that they genuinely believe in” and that they lie “with such ease, it’s troubling.” Finally, he asked if anyone was more ambitious than Hillary. The Hillary campaign read this in Dowd’s column and shot back, “A day after Barack Obama goes out and eschews the politics of slash-and-burn, his campaign embraces the politics of trash.” The Obama campaign responded, “We aren’t going to get in the middle of a disagreement between the Clintons and someone who was once one of their biggest supporters. It is ironic that the Clintons had no problem with David Geffen when was raising them $18 million and sleeping at their invitation in the Lincoln Bedroom.”
Blair pleads the case for biometric ID cardsPrime Minister Tony Blair has written personally to thousands of people opposed to the introduction of identity cards, but admitted he would struggle to convince civil liberties groups.Blair told nearly 28,000 people who signed an on-line petition on his own website that ID cards would make an "important contribution" countering fraud, international crime and terrorism as well as tackling illegal immigration. The petition -- which calls for Blair to scrap the plan as it would not prevent terrorism or crime and would be "yet another tax on all law-abiding citizens" -- is one of the most popular on the Number 10 Downing Street site. Blair's e-mail to signatories said it would be "foolish" not to take the opportunity to use biometric data like fingerprints to secure a person's identity and disputed "exaggerated" claims about the cost of the scheme.
US 'Iran attack plans' revealedUS contingency plans for air strikes on Iran extend beyond nuclear sites and include most of the country's military infrastructure, the BBC has learned. It is understood that any such attack - if ordered - would target Iranian air bases, naval bases, missile facilities and command-and-control centres. The US insists it is not planning to attack, and is trying to persuade Tehran to stop uranium enrichment. The UN has urged Iran to stop the programme or face economic sanctions. But diplomatic sources have told the BBC that as a fallback plan, senior officials at Central Command in Florida have already selected their target sets inside Iran. That list includes Iran's uranium enrichment plant at Natanz. Facilities at Isfahan, Arak and Bushehr are also on the target list, the sources say.
Missiles could reach Europe if Kremlin wanted: generalMOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's military is capable of firing missiles at Poland and the Czech Republic if they agreed to host a U.S. missile shield, Russia's Strategic Forces commander said, but added it was for the Kremlin to decide. President Vladimir Putin has described Washington's plans to deploy elements of its Missile Defense System in the two central European states as a threat to Russia's national security which would damage the strategic balance of forces on the continent. "So far we have seen nothing being done, only intentions being talked about," General Nikolai Solovtsov told a news conference on Monday.
Affidavit: McVeigh had high-level helpOklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols says a high-ranking FBI official "apparently" was directing Timothy McVeigh in the plot to blow up a government building and might have changed the original target of the attack, according to a new affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Utah. The official and other conspirators are being protected by the federal government "in a cover-up to escape its responsibility for the loss of life in Oklahoma," Nichols claims in a Feb. 9 affidavit. Documents that supposedly help back up his allegations have been sealed to protect information in them, such as Social Security numbers and dates of birth. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Utah had no comment on the allegations. The FBI and Justice Department in Washington, D.C., also declined comment. Nichols does not say what motive the government would have to be involved in the bombing. The affidavit was filed in a lawsuit brought by Salt Lake City attorney Jesse Trentadue, who believes his brother's death in a federal prison was linked to the Oklahoma City bombing. The suit, which seeks documents from the FBI under the federal Freedom of Information Act, alleges that authorities mistook Kenneth Trentadue for a bombing conspirator and that guards killed him in an interrogation that got out of hand.
Strange lights over Somerset CountyCallers from four southern Somerset County towns reported seeing strange lights in the sky Wednesday night. Though activities that night by the Vermont Air National Guard might provide an explanation, some sightings were close to the ground. From 7:35 to 8:12 p.m., the Somerset County Communications Center took calls from Anson, Fairfield, Norridgewock and Skowhegan. The Anson call came from 42 Hilltop Road, not far from town. The caller told dispatchers she saw reddish-orange UFOs through the trees. She said she saw three diagonal lights, then two and then one, before it “burned up like a comet.” A spokeswoman from the Vermont Air National Guard confirmed that the unit was conducting training missions through that area Wednesday night. An F-16 flying overhead, the source said, would cause considerable noise.
Peretz urges Israel to avoid verbal escalation with SyriaResponding to a Haaretz report that Syria is boosting its army and moving troops closer to its border with Israel, Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Thursday that Israel should refrain from making further statements regarding Syria, and urged officials to avoid a verbal escalation of tensions. Speaking at his weekly meeting with Defense Ministry officials, Peretz said that the situation would be assessed based on concrete information, and that the army would prepare itself as necessary. Earlier Thursday, Israel Radio quoting Syrian parliament member Mohammed Habash as denying the Haaretz report. According to the radio, Habash told the Dubai-based Al Arabiya satellite channel that nothing has changed in terms of troop size along the border, but "Syria is fully prepared for any situation [that may develop]."
Al Qaeda’s latest menace to America’s oil sources embodies a planIn the February issue of Sawt al Jihad entitled “Bin Laden and the Oil Weapon”, the Saudi wing of the jihadist group calls for attacks on US oil suppliers in the Middle East, Canada, Venezuela and Mexico. In a separate article, al Qaeda reports preparations for “quality attacks to shake the foundations of the crusaders in the Arabian Peninsula.” DEBKAfile’s al Qaeda experts draw some disquieting conclusions from the two articles:
That the magazine reappeared after a nearly two-year absence is the first sign that Osama bin Laden’s organization has been able to regroup and reorganize its operational cells, despite a heavy Saudi security clampdown.
Those cells are primed for a fresh wave of attacks - not only against oil targets but also American military, economic and commercial interests as well as civilians working and living in the oil kingdom.
Stress in the magazine’s title is placed on bin Laden - and the disclosure that a special unit called “Sheik Osama bin Laden’s Companies” has been created for the new terror offensive - indicates that he is handing out the orders as supreme commander. It negates the widely held premise in the West that bin Laden was a spent force and fully occupied in flight and concealment rather than operational command of his organization.
Secret plan to reunite Catholics, Anglicans under PopeThe proposals have been agreed by senior bishops of both churches. In a 42-page statement prepared by an international commission of both churches, Anglicans and Roman Catholics are urged to explore how they might reunite under the Pope. The statement, leaked to The Times, is being considered by the Vatican, where Catholic bishops are preparing a formal response. It comes as the archbishops who lead the 38 provinces of the Anglican Communion meet in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in an attempt to avoid schism over gay ordination and other liberal doctrines that have taken hold in parts of the Western Church. The 36 primates at the gathering will be aware that the Pope, while still a cardinal, sent a message of support to the orthodox wing of the Episcopal Church of the US as it struggled to cope with the fallout after the ordination of the gay bishop Gene Robinson.
The brain scan that can read people's intentionsA team of world-leading neuroscientists has developed a powerful technique that allows them to look deep inside a person's brain and read their intentions before they act. The research breaks controversial new ground in scientists' ability to probe people's minds and eavesdrop on their thoughts, and raises serious ethical issues over how brain-reading technology may be used in the future.
ELCA leaders accused of often having subjective view of truthRecently, a discipline hearing committee of the ELCA ruled that Bradley Schmeling, who is an active homosexual, be removed from the denomination's clergy roster. However, the committee said the denomination's policy regarding homosexual clergy is flawed and should be changed at the ELCA's annual meeting this summer. Jim Tonkowich is president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy, an ecumenical watchdog group that advocates for church renewal and reform. He says the Evangelical Lutheran Church's leaders have a subjective approach to truth, as do many other mainline denominations and churches. "Our culture is dominated by radical individualism and a radical subjectivity; what's true for me is true for me," Tonkowich observes. "And if I feel called in some direction," he says, "the assumption is that if I have this subjective feeling, whether it's love for another person, whether it's a desire to be in the ministry, whether it's for another latte -- how dare you get in my way?"
Iran tests missiles "able to sink big warships"TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's Revolutionary Guards test-fired missiles on Thursday that a commander said could sink "big warships" in the Gulf, the Sea of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean, the state broadcaster said. Iran is at loggerheads with the United States over its disputed nuclear program and what Washington calls its meddling in Iraq. The United States has ordered a second aircraft carrier to the Gulf to step up pressure on Iran. "These missiles, with a maximum range of 350 km (220 miles), can hit different kinds of big warships in all of the Persian Gulf, all of the Sea of Oman and the north of the Indian Ocean," senior Revolutionary Guards naval commander Ali Fadavi said.
Sales job falls to Turkey for new peace planOver the weekend Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül threw Turkey's support behind a new peace initiative backed by seven Muslim states for Israel and the Palestinians, apparently assuming the role of selling Israel on the project. Gül, on a trip to Saudi Arabia, was said by diplomatic sources to have forwarded a message from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an's to Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz. The message was that the Turkish government would support the plan originally drafted by Saudi Arabia and Pakistan and is now supported by Jordan, Malaysia, Indonesia and Egypt.
Temple's location found, says Israeli archaeologistUsing maps created in 1866 by a British explorer and passages from the Jewish Mishnah, an Israeli archaeologist and professor at Hebrew University says he has pinpointed the location of the sacred Jewish Temple, twice built and twice destroyed in ancient times. While popular consensus places the Temple, built by King Solomon in the 10th century B.C. and rebuilt by Jews who returned from Babylon in the 5th century B.C., on the site of the present Muslim Dome of the Rock, Prof. Joseph Patrich says archaeological remains show its exact location – and the consensus is wrong.
Muslims solidifying Temple Mount takeoverJERUSALEM – Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's reported decision to allow Muslims to construct a massive minaret on the Temple Mount will "serve to solidify Islam's take over of Judaism's holiest site," a leading Israeli archaeologist charged in a WND interview. Hebrew University's Eilat Mazor said Muslims are turning the Temple Mount into a "giant mosque for Islam only," and that the new minaret will "serve as a prize to the Muslims, who have been erasing Jewish ties to the site by openly discarding Jewish artifacts they find."
