Public Information On Terrorism

This is the terrorism news of the last week.This week's quote about terrorism is brief but memorable. 

"Fighting terrorism is like being a goalkeeper. You can make a hundred brilliant saves but the only shot that people remember is the one that gets past you."

PAUL WILKINSON, London Daily Telegraph

Nukes In Iran

Fox News reports Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said, "The newly exposed Iranian nuclear facility proves without a doubt the Islamic republic is pursuing nuclear weapons."

The U.S. and its five partners (Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia) trying to stop Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program plan to tell Tehran in a key meeting on Thursday that it must provide "unfettered access" to its previously secret Qom enrichment facility within weeks, a senior administration official said.

Muammar Rants

Fox News relates Muammar Qaddafi's rambling assault against the UN Security Council included Qaddafi waving his hands and often turning to look at United Nation's Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the new General Assembly President H.E. Dr. Ali Abdussalam Treki — who also serves as Libya's minister of African affairs — while defiantly declaring, "Nobody cares about the Security Council." He added, "this place was founded by terrorists." 

In addition, Qaddafi suggested Israel was behind the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.                          

Michael Moore Is At It Again

From Fox News comes word that Michael Moore, the filmmaking darling of the left has made yet another polemical documentary. Moore's latest film is called Capitalism: A Love Story. This time the filmmaker is calling for the replacement of America’s capitalist system with a socialist system, including, of course, pro-communist proposals to share all wealth or profits equally.

Commuter Train Bomb Plans

In a CNN report from Colorado comes news that a federal prosecutor said an Afghan native facing terrorism charges planned to bomb a target in New York on the anniversary of the terrorists attacks of September 11, 2001.

Najibullah Zazi intended to be in New York "with the intent of using" a bomb on September 11, federal prosecutor Tim Neff said during a court hearing Friday. His plan possibly involving hydrogen peroxide bombs on commuter trains. A federal judge ordered Zazi to remain in custody at the hearing.

A few hours later, he left Colorado for New York, where a grand jury indicted him on one count of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction against unspecified targets in the United States.Investigators said Zazi plotted to make bombs from household chemicals. He made several recent purchases from beauty supply stores in suburban Denver, Colorado, employees said.

Threats During Elections in Germany

An Associated Press story from Berlin relates politicians ignoring threats by Islamic militants.Chancellor Angela Merkel and her main rival held their final political rallies Saturday before Germany's national election, focusing on the key domestic issues of jobs and economic recovery.

This occurred after two videos surfaced Friday — one by al-Qaida and another by the Taliban — threatening retaliation for Germany's military presence in Afghanistan. The Taliban video showed top German landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and Munich's world-renowned Oktoberfest.

In response, authorities on Saturday banned all flights over Oktoberfest until it ends on October 4. The annual 16-day beer festival, which was targeted by terrorists in 1980, draws some 6 million visitors from around the globe. The U.S. government is also warning Americans traveling to Germany about possible terror attacks around the upcoming election.

Suicide Car Bombs In Pakistan

An MSNBC report tells of two suicide car bombs that killed 16 people and wounded about 150 others in separate attacks in northwestern Pakistan on Saturday, just days after the Taliban warned suicide strikes were coming if the military pressed forward with an offensive. A third bomb injured four in the restive region.

Pakistan's mountainous, lawless northwest region along the Afghan border — where the government holds little control — is a favored area for insurgents to plan attacks on U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, as well as on Pakistani security forces and government.

Bin Laden Threatens Europe

ABC News reported on September 25 of a new tape in which Bin Laden sends a warning of retaliation against Europe for the violence being committed by the international coalition forces in Afghanistan: "If today Europe is suffering the travails of the economic crisis…then how do you think you will fare after America pulls out, Allah permitting, for us to retaliate from the oppressor on behalf of the oppressed?"

Terrorists Plot Against U.S. Stadiums, Arenas, Luxury Hotels

From Washington, CNN reports that the Department of Homeland Security and FBI have issued security bulletins to raise awareness regarding "terrorist interest" in attacking sports and entertainment venues as well as luxury hotels.

The bulletins, which were sent to law enforcement Monday, said that authorities did not know of any credible or specific terrorist plots to attack U.S. stadiums, arenas or luxury hotels.

However, it said that terrorist groups such as al Qaeda view crowded stadiums and arenas as potential targets. It said hotels are also attractive targets for terrorists. "Detained terrorists have also discussed the use of aircraft and chemical weapons to attack stadiums and arenas." The Department said the al Qaeda training manual lists " 'blasting and destroying the places of amusement, immorality and sin ... and attacking vital economic centers' as a key objective."

Al-Qaeda and al-Zawahri Promote Feature Video

The Columbia Independent Examiner reports that yet another long, new video released by Al-Qaeda predicts the downfall of President Obama. The video says the Muslim world will bring Obama down.The AP story says the 106 minute video entitled The West and the Dark Tunnel is the latest in a series of messages celebrating the eighth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S. In the video, Ayman al-Zawahri, Al-Qaeda's second in command states,"God willing, your end will be at the hands of the Muslim nation, so that the world and history will be free of your crimes and lies."

Springfield, Illinois, Attempt Foiled

From the Associated Press and FOX2now.com says the leader of the mosque attended by a central Illinois man jailed on suspicion of trying to detonate an explosive outside a Springfield courthouse says his congregation condemns any acts of terror.

Imam Johnnie Shabazz said at a Friday news conference that he's glad the FBI and local police saw the apparent potential for terror in Michael Finton, who was arrested Wednesday on charges that he tried to set off a car bomb outside the federal courthouse in Springfield.


"This alleged plot drives home the stark reality that we must avoid complacency and remain ever vigilant to the threats that violent extremists may pose to the public safety," acting U.S. Attorney Jeffrey B. Lang said.

Dallas, Texas, Attempt Foiled

 

From Dallas, Reuters reveals that a U.S. judge ruled on Friday that a Jordanian national accused of attempting to bomb a downtown Dallas skyscraper must remain in custody pending a hearing on October 5. Hosam Maher Husein Smadi, 19, was arrested on Thursday and charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. A conviction carries a maximum life sentence.


Smadi, who had been under intense surveillance by the FBI, was arrested near a 60-story glass office tower in downtown Dallas after he placed an inactive car bomb at the location, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The device could not explode because the undercover agents monitoring Smadi had given him inert materials. "Unbeknownst to Smadi, the FBI ensured the (bomb) contained only an inert/inactive explosive device which contained no explosive materials," the department said.





Virginia Military Base Threatened


A Yahoo News story from Raleigh, North Carolina, reports prosecutors said Thursday that two North Carolina terrorism suspects plotted to kill U.S. military personnel and one of them obtained maps of a Marine Corps base in Virginia to plan an attack.


A superseding indictment returned against Daniel Patrick Boyd and Hysen Sherifi is the first time authorities have said the homegrown terrorism ring had specific targets. Prosecutors said Boyd "undertook reconnaissance" of the base located about 30 miles south of Washington.


"These additional charges hammer home the grim reality that today's homegrown terrorists are not limiting their violent plans to locations overseas, but instead are willing to set their sights on American citizens and American targets, right here at home," U.S. Attorney George Holding said in a statement.

Somali Explosives Attack By American

 An MSNBC story from Nairobi, Kenya confirms that FBI agents are investigating whether an American teenager detonated one of two stolen U.N. vehicles packed with explosives at a peacekeepers base in Somalia, killing 21 people last week.

The investigation highlights a disturbing trend of Somali-American youths returning to their ancestral homeland to fight for an Islamic militia that the U.S. government links to al-Qaida.

Three men, two from the Minneapolis area and one from Seattle, have pleaded guilty in federal court in Minneapolis to terror charges earlier this year after as many as 20 Somali-American youths vanished. At least three Minnesota men have died, including one whom authorities say carried out a suicide bombing.

Integrity, a Missing Ingredient?

A simple definition of integrity is "the quality of having a sense of honesty and truthfulness in regard to the motivations for one's actions." (Wikipedia.org) These days, integrity seems to be a quality in short supply. True, every human heart is in conflict with the head. For example, thought and speech are hardly in harmony. This inner disintegration manifests itself in wrong types of outward actions, in low standards of morality and selfish interests on the physical plane. A need for integrity exists. Integrity, as a quality, is said to be derived from the same core group of values. In context of accountability, integrity measures consistency between one's actions and one's principles and methods used when an expected result appears incongruent with an observed outcome. In order to understand the complexity of integrity as a behavior, the reader needs a more detailed definition rooted in human ethics. One interpretation seems both easily understood and beneficial to the times. As described in modern ethics by Stephen L. Carter (1996. Integrity. New York), integrity requires three steps: (1) discerning what is right and what is wrong; (2) acting on what you have discerned, even at personal cost; and (3) saying openly that you are acting on your understanding of right from wrong.[...] Integrity [...] is not the same as honesty [...] According to Shannon French, author of The Code of the Warrior: Exploring Warrior Values Past and Present, the essential element of a warrior's code is to set definite limits on what warriors can and can not do. In this sense, warriors value honor, integrity, justice and a sense of what is right and wrong. French states, "To the ancient warrior, the discernment between right and wrong is like night and day. Clear, obvious, unquestionable. To them, there are no gray areas, no 'that depends on what your definition of is is' (Bill Clinton). To the warrior, if something is not right, he will not do it." French provides a clear example of a group without integrity in war. He contends terrorists do not see themselves as murderers. They believe that they are warriors -- "freedom fighters" struggling against those they have dubbed their "oppressors." But no matter how they may justify their actions, if they refuse to accept any rules of war, they forfeit the right to be regarded as warriors. Warriors are given a mandate by their society to take lives. But, they must learn to take only certain lives in certain ways, at certain times, and for certain reasons. Lack of acceptance of any rules of war not only denies terrorists the label of "warrior," but also denies any claim they make to practicing integrity in their actions. Osama bin Laden and others like him feel no revulsion at the thought (or in the act) of killing unarmed, helpless civilians. They do not view this as murder. They would therefore consider it a triumph of will to carry out the charge to kill without mercy, discrimination, or an apparent show of conscience. Terrorists lack the integrity of discerning the true nature of right and wrong by believing in indiscriminate murder to perform a so-called "sacred" duty. A good example of historical integrity involves General Robert E. Lee. After the U.S. Civil War, Lee (1807 ~ 1870) was offered $10,000 a year to become President, in name only, of an insurance company. He declined the offer with these words, "Excuse me, sir; I cannot consent to receive pay for services I do not render." Discernment, action, and open statement all play a key part in this example. And, the action taken by Lee certainly comes at considerable personal cost considering the times. Golfer Bobby (Robert Tyre) Jones (1902 ~ 1971) showed considerable integrity In a national championship. In the championship, Jones drove his ball into the woods, and accidentally nudged it. Although no one saw him move the ball, he penalized himself one stroke, which caused him to lose the game by that margin. When praised for his integrity, he said, "You might as well praise a man for not robbing a bank." Again, adherence to discernment, action, and open statement are evident. On the other hand, consider the message sent by a group of divorce lawyers.

The billboard, set high above Chicago streets, was enough to stop traffic. It featured, on one side, the torso of a buxom young woman wearing a black-lace brassiere and little else. The other side featured the torso of a young man with six-pack abs. The billboard's message? "Life is short: Get a divorce." (evangelicaloutpost.com)

Its originator, Corrie Fetman, says it "promotes happiness and personal integrity." According to Chuck Colson, however, it tells children that people are out there who are trying to break up their parents' marriage. In reality, the billboard says that marriage is about sex and only people with perfect bodies can enter into it. Do you think that being "true to yourself"-- true to what you like and accept by gratifying your own desires-- is what marriage is all about? To me, the billboard does not discern between what is right and what is wrong as it applies to advising people about divorce lawyers promoting happiness. Maybe scores of people who read the billboard are actively seeking a divorce based upon this false connection of brevity of life and sensual marital bliss, but the open statement is merely a plea from greedy lawyers trying to expand their business without concerns for integrity.