Forensics specialists removed a Mercedes from a central London street on Friday. The car was one of two found to be packed with explosives.
It a 'methodology' of al Qaeda that attempts to rattle democracies loose of their moorings at the very basis of 'the vote,' the electorate/average citizen. That is what this is. It has happened repeatedly for decades. The last time it was successful in the London Underground it was at the beginning of the G8 Summit. Okay? Got it. Let's talk.
July 1, 2007
A FAILED plot to detonate two car bombs in central London appears to have been inspired by al-Qaeda and intended as a message to the British Government led by Gordon Brown, terrorism analysts believe.
Police defused two bombs left in cars that were found in London's entertainment district late on Friday and yesterday, two days after Mr Brown succeeded Tony Blair as Prime Minister.
The plot appears "aimed at the new Government", said Dame Pauline Neville-Jones, former head of the British Government's joint intelligence committee. "I think I will be inclined to believe there is some kind of al-Qaeda link," she told BBC television.
Dame Pauline said al-Qaeda was a very loose organisation that served as inspiration to Islamists around the world who can take a decision to act on their own against Western interests.
"It is a place where you get your ideas and you decide to act - it doesn't mean you're going to be taking orders from abroad."
She said it was too early to determine whether the plots were prepared by British citizens, but added: "I think probably one has to assume at least there is local knowledge here. And I fear they will turn out to be British residents."...
There was no way of assembling those car bombs outside of Britain and importing them. They were assembled within that country with the assistance of citizens. It's a primitive devise. But, somewhat effective to the extent it is, in the case of the Twin Towers of 1993, it was a method that was very effective in doing some structural damage and causing some real distress for the American culture and citizens' lives. However, the Criminal System within the USA handled the persuit of terrorists remarkably well and brought them to justice to be jailed forever. Needless to say, networks are networks and dismantling is the focus while stopping those that practice murder of The West's civilians.
Okay.
Britain Hunts for Suspects in Failed Bombs (click here)
June 30, 2007
Britain Hunts for Suspects in Failed Bombs
By ALAN COWELL and RAYMOND BONNER
LONDON, June 30 — As London braced for a weekend of high-profile public events, the British police stepped up foot patrols on Saturday and hunted for suspects linked to what appeared to be a double car-bombing plot modeled on terrorist tactics in Iraq.
Counterterrorism experts suggested, however, that the bombers who abandoned two explosives-laden Mercedes sedans in central London may have been what a senior Western official called “less directed from Al Qaeda and more a matter of a home-grown group.”
Several experts and officials said the technology behind the foiled bombings seemed to be amateurish. While the attackers apparently attempted to detonate the bombs using cellphones, “they didn’t go off because there were not top-grade people putting them together,” the Western official said, speaking in return for anonymity because he was not authorized to brief reporters.
If the plot turns out to be the work of a small, hitherto undetected cell, that could raise alarms that Britain’s terrorism threat is broader than the 2,000 suspected radicals known to the authorities, according to British and Western officials. “If we had never heard of them before, it means the problem is even bigger,” a British official said, speaking according to the same ground rules. The Western official said British investigators were pursuing several “good leads.”...
What is being done other than forensics and investigation by Interpol in Great Britain. I think there is an interesting reaction coming out of Pakistan. Shall we?
Suicide bombers holed up in Lal Masjid: president (click here)
By Ahmed Hassan
ISLAMABAD, June 29: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said on Friday that an operation could be launched against the Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa brigade, but a raid would lead to heavy casualties on both sides because a large number of suicide bombers were inside the mosque and seminaries.
Responding to reporters’ questions at the concluding ceremony of the National Media Workshop at the National Defence University, President Musharraf said: “Can you guarantee that blood of any dead or injured will not be screened on television channels during the operation?”
He said that militants having links with Jaish-i-Muhammad and Al Qaeda were hiding in the mosque and seminaries and they had explosives. They might cause havoc in case of an armed operation, he said, adding: “Let it be clear that the action against the Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa brigade was not withheld because of government’s weakness or cowardice in the face of enemy.”
He warned that some foreign elements were busy in the tribal areas planning terrorist activities against some western countries which, if materialised, could entail “extremely dangerous consequences”.
“Critics should understand that the madressah houses 2,500 women students with minor boys and suicide bombers inside are equipped with sophisticated arms. While police are not capable of launching such a complex operation, the army cannot be involved for it can give a wrong message to the world,” the president said.
“We have involved senior clerics of the country, the Council of Islamic Ideology and the Imam-i-Kaaba to end the standoff. Shall we now call Allah to help these elements shun their wrongdoings?”...
The issues of Scotland are interesting. Complicating the skepticism of the 'car on fire crash' is the issue of the independence movement and the potential of it becoming explosive and perhaps another Northern Ireland.
Vital gains forecast for SNP in swing from Labour (click here)
HAMISH MACDONELL
Key quote
"The result of this poll further confirms the fact that Labour is floundering in Scotland while the momentum is now clearly with the SNP." - Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP's Holyrood leader
Story in full
ALEX Salmond received a massive pre-election boost today with a new opinion poll showing a clear majority of Scots favour independence, and illustrating a significant swing from Labour to the SNP.
The Scotsman ICM poll found 51 per cent now favoured full independence with only 39 per cent against - the biggest level of support for separatism for eight years.
So, is this a mimick event by those that want to facilitate Scottish independence through the threat of violence? Let's look.
Angry passengers restrain Glasgow suspect (click here)
30/06/2007 - 5:07:18 PM
An apparent car bomb attack on Glasgow airport ended in terrifying failure today.
Witnesses said a blazing Cherokee jeep containing two Asian-looking men crashed into the doors of the main terminal building.
A man with his clothes on fire got out of the vehicle and was restrained by passengers while others put out the flames with a fire extinguisher.
The airport was closed and passengers were cleared from the terminal building amid fears that this was a terrorist attack....
...“A man got out of it on fire – he said there were actually two Asian-looking men but this guy was the one that was on fire....
...“Some holidaymaker tried to restrain him, then the police came over and wrestled him to the ground – the fire was burning through his clothes – and finally put him out with a fire extinguisher.”The area was subsequently evacuated, she said.A spokesman for the airport’s operators, the British Airports Authority, said emergency services were at the scene....
...Another eyewitness, taxi driver Ian Crosby, said he was in no doubt that it was a terrorist attack.“It looks to me like these people were intent on doing some serious damage,” he told the BBC.
He saw a small explosion which looked like it was coming from the back of the vehicle....
From witnesses, while people naturally come to the conclusion these are al Qaeda terrorists, I think it's open ended as to whom this is actually attempting to explode a car bomb. It is my estimation the driver and passenger in the SUV didn't intend to die as a suicide bomber, necessarily. I think they were going to park the vehicle and explode it. The attempt backfired. The investigation here will need to identify the people whom lived through the fire of the vehicle and whether or not there are parrallels in the 'preparation' of the vehicle to those found in London. In other words, are the components exactly the same from the same suppliers or are these separate attempts to kill unwitting civilians.
And last but not least what is being done to settle violence in places like Kashmir?
Shivraj Patil chairs high-level security meeting in Kashmir (click here)
Srinagar, Jun 30: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil today chaired a high-level meeting on the overall security situation in the Kashmir valley.
The meeting assumes significance against the backdrop of sudden spurt of violence in the Kashmir valley.
The meeting was attended, among others, by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Chief Secretary C Phunsog, Director General of state police Gopal Sharma, state financial commissioner (Home), GOC of 15 and 16 corps, Director General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) S I S Ahmad and additional Director General of Border Security Force (BSF).
Official sources said Mr Patil was given a detailed account by senior Army, paramilitary and police officials about the prevailing security situation in the state.
He was told about the recent spurt in violence in which a number of militants, civilians and security forces were killed.
Sources said he was informed about the measures taken by the security forces to counter insurgency operations across the valley.
He was also told about the infiltration by militants from across the border.
The Home minister was told about the preventive measures taken on the Line of Control (LoC) by the security forces guarding the border.
A brief about the infiltration attempts in Uri and Machil sector in which about a dozen militants were killed immediately after they sneaked into this side during the past one week was given to him.
The meeting was held immediately after he arrived here from Jammu this afternoon.
Earlier, he was received at the airport by tourism minister Dilawar Mir, Pradesh Congress president Peerzada Mohammad Sayed and other senior civil, police, army and paramilitary officials.
--- UNI
Dismantling terrorist networks is a joint international effort. There is no country that can stop this alone. That is why this is about diplomacy more than war. When populous feel they are at risk for violence they will seek to stop it and it doesn't matter whom provides their security. That reality screams at us while noting the recent deaths in An Albar, Iraq of the sheiks that at one time sought the influence of the USA military in their security measures. Will these Iraqi sheiks continue to seek alliance with the USA or will they commit resources against the USA military while other militias prove to be better protection? I think the answer to that is obvious.
When there is war instead of diplomacy, the populous of Islam is forced by culture and belief to act in violence against the attacker. Doesn't matter whom the attacker is. Rather than people cooperating with their government in peaceful existence to maintain that quality of life no matter how minimal it might be, that cooperation will melt away when violence is in play. We know and have known for decades that violence against Islam begets division of authority and more violence. War in Iraq will never stop until the USA leaves. Just that simple. There is no vanquishing 'the enemy' in Islam, there are simply too many that find The West a threat to them, especially the very basis of their religion.
If The West is to succeed in dismantling the terrorist networks reeking havoc on it's societies then they have to do so with cooperation of other nations through diplomatic measures that resolve poverty and facilitates acceptance of benevolent government securing the lives of that populous. Al Qaeda absolutely loves the chaos, the violence and the fear. Dismantling terrorist networks includes life styles for people that demand the resolution of the networks. When people feel they are benefitted by these networks, and I refer to Hizbollah in Southern Lebanon, they will provide their children as warriors in appreciation. Violence against Islam is the worst methodology to disarming these networks.
I don't care whom is right or wrong over any ideology regarding Kashmir. Peace to those people will resolve huge issues allowing the propagation of concensus to end terrorist networks currently among them.U.S. blames Sunni fighters for Iraq's deadliest quarter (click here)
By ROBERT H. REID
The Associated Press
KHALID MOHAMMED / AP
BAGHDAD — A huge bomb explosion followed by a hail of gunfire and grenades killed five U.S. soldiers, the military said Friday. The attack came as the Pentagon tallied up the deadliest three-month period for Americans since the war began.
Seven soldiers were wounded in the attack Thursday in the Rasheed district, a mixed Sunni-Shiite neighborhood in southern Baghdad where U.S.-led forces recently stepped up pressure on extremists. The commander of U.S. forces in Baghdad suggested that the ambush could be part of an escalating backlash by Sunni insurgents.
Those deaths brought to 99 the number of U.S. troops killed this month, according to an Associated Press count. The toll for the past three months — 329 — made it the deadliest quarter for U.S. troops in Iraq since the March 2003 invasion. That surpasses the 316 soldiers killed during November 2004 to January 2005....
5 U.S. soldiers killed in roadside bomb attack and ambush in Iraq (click here)
By Richard A. Oppel Jr.
Published: June 29, 2007
BAGHDAD: Five American soldiers were killed when insurgents blew up a huge bomb buried deep beneath the road as American armored Humvees passed, and then attacked the soldiers with rocket-propelled grenades and rifles, military officials said Friday.
The attack Thursday in the violent southern Baghdad neighborhood of Dora, the scene of some of the most intense insurgent activity in the capital, also wounded seven American soldiers.
"It was a very violent attack, and we thought it did show a level of sophistication that we have not often seen so far in this campaign," Major General Joseph Fil Jr., commander of American troops in Baghdad, said. He said the attack was so intense that soldiers initially believed it was from several car bombs.
Deeply buried bombs, which are usually artillery shells, fertilizer bombs or other forms of powerful explosives, have become a common tactic in Dora and other areas dominated by Sunni extremists. Harder to detect than roadside bombs hidden in trash or vegetation, they can focus enough explosive power to destroy even the largest American vehicles.
Deep-buried bombs in Arab Jabour, a remote area along the Tigris River a few miles southeast of Dora, tore apart one Bradley fighting vehicle and flipped over a 65-ton Abrams tank this month, commanders say....
20 Beheaded Bodies Found in Iraq (click here)
20 Beheaded Bodies Found Southeast of Baghdad, Iraqi Police Say
By SINAN SALAHEDDIN
Associated Press Writer
BAGHDAD Jun 28, 2007 (AP)
Twenty beheaded bodies were discovered Thursday on the banks of the Tigris River southeast of Baghdad and a car bomb killed another 20 people in one of the capital's busy outdoor bus stations, police said.
The beheaded remains were found in the Sunni Muslim village of Um al-Abeed, near the city of Salman Pak, which lies 14 miles southeast of Baghdad.
The bodies all men aged 20 to 40 had their hands and legs bound, and some of the heads were found next to the bodies, two officers said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information.
The victims' identities were unknown, but they were found in an area where Shiite travelers have been kidnapped and killed in the past, en route to the Shiite-dominated provinces of Wasit, Maysan and Basra.
A bomb in a parked car ripped through a crowded transport hub in southwest Baghdad's Baiyaa neighborhood at morning rush hour, killing at least 20 people and wounding more than 50, another officer said on the same condition.
Many of the victims had been lining up for buses, awaiting a ride to work. Some 40 minibuses were incinerated, police said....
Sunni ministers to quit Iraqi government (click here)
AFP
June 30, 2007
Bagdad -- Embattled Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's national reconciliation program suffered a major blow yesterday as the key Sunni Arab bloc ordered its six ministers to quit his government.
In protest against an arrest warrant issued against one of its ministers, Sunni lawmaker Omar Abdul-Sattar Mahmud said the National Concord Front will request that its ministers suspend their participation in the cabinet....
Yet, and in the face of obvious evidence of the instigation of violence by the Sunnis where is General Petraeus's military focus? Shi'ites. He is raiding the neighborhoods of Shi'ites. Huh?
26 Killed in Sadr City Raid in Iraq (click here)
By HAMID AHMED
06.30.07, 3:34 AM ET
U.S. soldiers killed 26 people before dawn Saturday during raids in Baghdad's Sadr City neighborhood. The U.S. military said the dead were terrorists who had attacked American troops, but Iraqi police and officials said the victims were civilians.
The U.S. military said its troops were attacked with small arms fire, rocket-propelled grenades and roadside bombs but there were no U.S. casualties.
The Iraqi officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of security concerns, put the death toll at eight, with 20 wounded.
Seventeen suspected militants also were detained in the operation, which consisted of two separate raids, the U.S. military said in a statement....
This misguided war would not need the folks back home sending medical supplies if the troops weren't there. The medical supplies could go to the people of Iraq as they sort out their reality after The West is gone to cause them such problems.
General Petraeus Praises 'Troops Need You' -- Supports Citizen Effort for Victory in Iraq
Unique Organization Earns Unprecedented Partnership with US Command in Iraq
Contact: Eric Egland (Major, Reserve), Troops Need You Founder, 530-205-5582, EEgland@hotmail.com
ROSEVILLE, Calif., June 27 /Standard Newswire/ -- Thanks to donations from Americans coast-to-coast, Troops Need You shipped needed medical supplies specifically requested by troops to help Iraqis--and battalion leadership confirms the goods are helping them accomplish the mission. The medical supplies have allowed local leaders to persuade some Iraqi doctors to return to practice, so Troops Need You is now working to raise $15,000 to ship advanced medical supplies to help even more.
Photo: Iraqi children greet troops, credit Eric Egland (Major, Reserve), Troops Need You
"America has answered the call of the 1-28 Black Lions infantry battalion in Baghdad," stated Troops Need You founder Eric Egland, a military officer who patrolled in Iraq with U.S. troops as a counter-terrorism advisor. "Iraqi locals asked the 1-28 troops for supplies to open medical clinics, and the American people delivered over $5,000 worth within a few weeks."
General Petraeus, the top general in Iraq, praised Troops Need You and established an unprecedented partnership with the organization, to accelerate the ability of Americans to deliver to our troops what they need to win. Troops Need You connects America with its troops, bypassing the bureaucracies in Washington and Baghdad, and proving that the people of the U.S.A. are ready to continue their historical tradition of directly supporting troops in combat.
We don't belong in Iraq.
We never did.
Oppose the draft.
Troops out now.
Why?
Because the USA violence in Islam is fueling the terrorist networks and not dismantling them. Yes? Yes.
