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.
The Thursday Winds of War briefing is compiled weekly by Colt of Eurabian Times and Steve Schippert (aka USMC_Vet) of The Word Unheard.
[Sincere apologies to all for the tardiness of this report. Unexpected situations Thursday prevented timely completion and publishing.]
Top Topics
- Last week’s UN Theatre production over the Iranian Nuclear Crisis has spilled over into this week. The IAEA was to ‘consider’ an EU ‘draft’ requesting that Iran be referred to the UN Security Council. Don’t hold your breath, because the EU diplomats don't really mean it. Naturally, there is Russian support for Iran's nuclear budget and deep pockets. And let's not forget China. As far as inspections go, Iran 'may refuse nuclear checks'. Imagine that. Right out of Saddam’s [effective] playbook…or was that North Korea?
Late Update: This just in... EU backs off from referring Iran to Security Council, kneeling to Russia and China. As stated before here, they never meant it.
- While we’re on it…Surely not out of fear of the toothless and less than eager IAEA, North Korea has said this week, “Play it again, Sam!” Many were immediately touting the North Korea ‘disarmament’ deal as yet another potential victory of the Bush Foreign Policy strategy. And some are way off base. Nice to see the chief US negotiator has his head screwed on straight. Take a deep breath . It’s North Korea. And North Korea's still playing.
- Qadhafi to visit Israel? Apparently he "wishes to take part in the normalization of relations between Israel and Arab countries." Qadhafi's Libya is falling in line with recent overtures by Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf by not only recognizing, but seeking relations with Israel. Meanwhile, a Hamas leader in Gaza claims that they'll rethink their charter to destroy Israel based on political reality rather than belief. Some are not buying what the Hamas leader is selling, given historical context and current situations in Palestinian power struggles.
Other Topics Today Include: Iraqi Defense Corruption; Arabs Support US on Lebanon; Kyrgyz Parliament member killed; Somali Pirates and 850 tons of rice; US Warns China over vagueness; Nigerian pipeline seized; Released Gtimo terrorists rejoin in battle and more...
THE MIDDLE EAST & IRAN
- If you would like a visual representation of the up-tempo Recent Iraq Operations and their effect on AQIZ and the 'insurgency' in general, you know where to go. Need anyone need reminding to read Bill Roggio's thorough coverage of operations? Just in case. Chester utilizes the presentation and The Belmont Club to contest the undue tone in a Time magazine article that clearly considers only car bombs and coalition casualties to measure progress in Iraq.
- Speaking of The Belmont Club: Operations Good, Paperwork Bad. Very Bad.
- U.S., U.N. Organize Support for Lebanon: Egypt and Saudi Arabia backing Condi Rice on Lebanon? Stranger things have happened…
- Have you heard enough of Russian support for Iran's Nuclear Program (money)? Enjoy: Russia tells West to step back over Iran A-bomb.
- Define 'Stupid'...[Dyn-Corp] Contractor Charged in Baghdad Badge Scam. (The company was awarded a $7.7M contract to ‘centralize distribution’ of security badges. This guy got the ‘distribution’ part down pretty well.) ‘You’re fired.’
- Hamas leader Abbas al-Sayed convicted for orchestrating the 2001 Netanya Park Hotel bombing in Israeli court.
AMERICAN DOMESTIC SECURITY & THE AMERICAS
- Hurricanes sap support for Iraq policy. In a poorly worded headline, the poll reflects the sudden need for rebuilding funds, not the anti-war national epiphany suggested.
- Mexico’s Security Minister and the head of the Federal Police (Federales) were killed in a helicopter crash outside Mexico City.
- Recruiting is getting tougher...lest a young man or young woman experience a sense of duty...US High Schools have become an anti-war battleground.
AFRICA
- New demands from Somali pirates as World Food Program aid remains aboard. This ship has been commandeered for three months. Just one good SEAL Team settles the issue. 850 tons of rice can then be given to the Somali hungry.
- Sudan swears in new government, but there remains much North-South bickering over positions within it.
ASIA
- Kyrgyz parliamentarian shot dead, President calls for purge of security forces.
- U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick Says China must address intentions on the international stage, and that short of that, rocky relations may follow.
- Coming unrest in Indonesia? Government shake-up possible.
- In the Philippines, the MILF appears in no hurry to execute the new peace agreement.
EUROPE
- The Real IRA...Still going.
- All you need to know about the EU (in case it was not mentioned before).
- A Spanish Judge charged three PCTV members with collaborating with a terrorist organization (CTA), and then set them free.
THE GLOBAL WAR
- What’s that you’ve got there? A brain image lie detector for interrogating terrorists?
- Maybe we could use it in Gitmo…BEFORE we release ‘low-threat’ Jihadis: Ex-Guantanamo prisoners fight on...and killed or recaptured on the field of battle. While the latter is apparently the ‘low-threat’ variety, the former is happily of the ‘no-threat’ variety.
Just for a good laugh…Ever heard a reporter Stuck on Stupid? Well, sure, but did you ever hear a General call him on it?
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See my post on Karzai's (!) opening to Israel.
On North Korea's latest unintelligible mumblings:
We have a bomb...We're not hungry...We don't need your food.
We have a bomb...We're not hungry...Give us a Reactor.
Like I said, it's NoKor, people.
While their people continue to starve and live in squalor, Pyongyang saccrifices what relief these people do have in order to remove non-nuclear forms of relief from the table.
That pot bellied pig running the show may not need world food assistance, but you can bet your bottom damn dollar there are North Koreans that will be hungrier this winter and completely oblivious to what Pyongyang has just sacrificed.
Tell me, if you are hungry, do you give a damn whether you have a nuclear power plant or an oil/gas burning powerplant...IF you have one at all?
For the North Korean people, life inexplicably just got worse...if one can imagine such a thing.