Winds of War: Jan 03/05

Welcome! Our goal at Winds of Change.NET is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from the global War on Terror that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Thursday. In addition, we also have our in-depth Iraq Report today.

Today's Winds of War briefing is brought to you by Bill Roggio of the fourth rail and evariste of Discarded Lies.

Top Topics

• What foreign nation is a retiring top Indian commander hinting has taken over the Assam insurgency?

• Phantom at The Daily Brief says the real airplane laser threat is target acquisition for MANPADs, not blinded pilots. Defensetech looks at military laser technology. Perhaps the pilots should get some anti-laser contacts lenses soon, or the planes should get some anti-aircraft missile countermeasures installed soon.

• Ariel Sharon's former National Security Advisor until late 2003 warns that Syria, Saudi Arabia and Egypt probably received nuclear materials from AQ Khan's proliferation effort.

Other Topics Today Include:

• Iran Reports; Iraq is Communism's last stand?; Saudi attackers ID'ed; Near miss by Israeli SF; Palestinians accept Hezbollah aid; A al Qaeda tape; Venezuela aligns with Communists; Ceasefire in Sudan?; Reforms in North Korea?; Holland ignores Islamic threats; Ignorance protecting us from bioterrorism; A look at Osama's tape; Tsunamis and the Oil and more....

IRAN REPORTS

• Iran and Old Europe continue to hurry to reward themselves for their agreement to keep mean old Uncle Sam off Iran's back so France and Germany can make some money.

• Iran's central bank governor says the level of price subsidies being provided to the population is unsustainable.

THE MIDDLE EAST

• This interesting analysis argues that Iraq is Communism's last stand, not terrorism's-and says the US and the Shi'ites of Iraq are on the same side against the global Communist insurrection in Iraq. It would certainly explain International ANSWER.

• The Saudi Gazette confirms the identity of the attackers on the Interior Ministry, and provides a brief profile of each. No mention of al Qaeda, only "the deviant group".

• Israeli special forces almost bag the chief of Turkarem Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades (wasn't Al-Aqsa renamed the Yasser Arafat Martyrs’ Brigades?).

• According to the PLO Foreign Minister Faruq Qaddumi, Palestinian terrorists are gladly accepting the money, support and influence of Iranian Hezbollah. He also states the terrorists attacks against Israel will not cease.

• Gregory Djerejian looks at the ripple effects the liberation of Iraq are having on Syrian dissidents.

• Al Qaeda's Abu Musab al Zarqawi releases another videotape of the murders of Iraqi policemen.

AMERICAN DOMESTIC SECURITY

• Chavez continues to align with other repressive Communist states as he signs deals with China to sell them oil and have them begin to replace the US as a customer. In return China will be giving Venezuelan farmers preferential access to their markets.

• Military transformation will take a backseat to funding continuing operations in the Global War on Terror. Cutbacks to major weapons systems and transformation projects are on the way.

• The US deports an Algerian who knew two of the 9-11 hijackers on passport and immigration violations.

• The US releases a report on Al Qaeda tactics on surveillance and methods to increase the killing power of their attacks.

AFRICA

• South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki oversaw the signing of a ceasefire in the Sudan that reportedly calls for a complete withdrawal by Sudanese forces from the South, which will have an autonomous government. It's hard to believe this is for real.

ASIA & AUSTRALIA

• China's Hu Jintao has begun a major reshuffling of his generals.

• Some capitalism is coming to North Korea, in fits and starts.

EUROPE

• Holland's chief of intelligence accuses the government of ignoring threats from Islamic terrorists.

THE GLOBAL WAR

• Only a thin wall of terrorist ignorance and inexperience now protects us from bioterrorism, says a Pentagon biowarfare consultant.

• Dan Darling analyses Osama bin Laden's recent tapes.

• It's always about the oil. The usual suspects are blaming the deadly Indian Ocean tsunami on oil drilling the Pacific.

We try to close on a lighter note if possible.

• It looks like someone hit the sauce too hard. That stuff is deadly.

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