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 ThreatsWatch.
Top Topics
- In the aftermath of the al-Qaeda bombings in Amman, Jordan, the Jordanian Mukhabarat has been very effective in the ugly business of counter-terrorism. It causes one to wonder, if Spain were to complain about Jordanian Mukhabarat flights, would anyone in Amman give a damn? Unlike how many Americans are reacting to the same, Jordanians likely would laugh. In a poll of over 1,000 Jordanians after the attacks, 94.1 percent of those asked said al-Qaida activities did not serve Arab and Islamic interests. As the war in Iraq will be won by Iraqis (namely the Iraqi Security Forces), the War on Terror in the Middle East will be won by Middle Easterners. Count Jordan as a standard-bearing member of a slowly solidifying coalition. Security Watchtower provides personal experience as context for his outstanding assessment of King Abdullah and his struggle with Islamic terrorism.
- Operation Steel Curtain proceeds with much success as it pushes through Ubaydi, though not without cost as five US Marines were killed. The Desert Protectors are locals recruited from area tribes opposed to al Qaeda, and they are quite effective. Not only do they have intimate knowledge of the tribes, locals and outsiders that is invaluable in gathering and/or verifying intel, they nabbed a cross-dressing al-Qaeda jihadi seeking to blend into the surroundings at a New Ubaydi hospital. Details of matching accessories were not provided.
- Meanwhile, apparent abuse at the hands of Iraqi police in Baghdad was uncovered by US troops during a search for a 15-year-old Iraqi boy. This story will likely not have nearly the press-appeal of Abu Ghraib, as it appears real abuse and likely torture did not come at the hands of Americans. An investigation is underway by the Iraqi government.
Other Topics Today Include: Fatah attacks on Gaza polling places; Emir of Sadah removed from circulation; Iran to aid possible US blockade with boycotts of their own; Assessment of Small Arms in Iraq; Espionage and the Bush visit to China; Arabs still killing civilians in African Sudan; Hugo Chavez loves Mexico; Jaques Chirac loves Troubled Youths; Congress loves The Patriot Act; A special 'We Support the Troops' Section and much more...
THE MIDDLE EAST & IRAN
- Regarding the Jordan bombings, Steven Emerson comments on the detained female dud bomber, observing that she likely was personally recruited by Zarqawi and probably has knowledge of his whereabouts.
- Palestinian Democracy: Fatah has been attacking election offices in the Gaza strip, sensing an electoral defeat by Hamas. The ruling Fatah movement is attempting to block voter registration in the Gaza Strip in an attempt to stop the 'electoral bleeding'. Fatah attackers have been ‘posing as Islamists’ during some of the attacks.
- al Qaeda in Iraq Emir of Sadah has been captured by Coalition forces, the result of a tip from local citizens.
- According to those close to Ahmadinejad, Iran plans to boycott imports from South Korea, the Czech Republic, Britain, Canada, Italy and France if they vote against Iran at the 24NOV05 IAEA board meeting. Just makes a coming blockade easier to implement. Thank you, Mr. President. Curiously, Syria has taken the opposite tack in response to international pressure.
- It is a sign of progress when media reports take the tone shown by the Toronto Star:Ideologues hold all levers of power in Iran. It should be recognized that Ahmadinejad and Company are waging an active war for Iranian Islamist survival on two fronts: Domestically through brutal suppression and internationally through the export of terrorism.
- Saudi Arabia intends to use planes to patrol its border with Iraq.
- On small arms in Iraq: What Worked and What Sucked.
AMERICAN DOMESTIC SECURITY & THE AMERICAS
- It looks like the 'weakened Bush administration' is about to see the Patriot Act renewed, with most of it made permanent. Guess it's time for another focus group.
- Meanwhile, much to the chagrin of many American Congressmen and Senators, President Karzai says there is no timetable for US withdrawal from Afghanistan. How dare he.
- A wave of security resignations in Jordan leaves some Americans scratching their heads wondering why nothing like this ever occurred after 9/11. Worthy of note is that it is said that those who resigned already had their heads on King Abdullah's proverbial chopping block...figuratively speaking, of course.
- Venezuela and Mexico square off as Baby Hugo demonstrates again that the only friend he values has a nappy beard, an ever-present cigar, lives on an island and has little else beyond olive drab cotton clothing with lots of pockets in his wardrobe. Ol' boy looks better every day. Viva el Presidente.
AFRICA
- After Jordan, is Morocco next on al Qaeda's wish list?
- Ethiopian military jailbreak reults in 20 dead. 34 from the Ogaden National Liberation Front have escaped.
- Arab 'militias' in African Darfur are ramping up attacks on civilians again. Maybe if the Darfur civilians were not fighting with the Americans in Iraq, then...
- Meanwhile, also in Sudan, Darfur 'Rebels' Abducted an African Union team.
ASIA
- The round-up is here regarding the clash between Abu Sayef and the Filipino Army.
- Masked Indonesian terrorist threatens Australia and the whole of the west. He is believed to be Malaysian Noordin M. Top, a senior operative of Jemaah Islamiah.
- As President Bush gets ready to visit China, three Chinese nationals held in the US on spy charges are officially charged in what is reported as one of the most serious and damaging American security breaches ever.
- Fearing a similar 'color revolution' like those recently against authoritarian governments in Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan, the Chinese Communist Party has blocked foreign newspapers from printing in China.
EUROPE
- Alleged CIA covert operations in Spain probed regarding prisoner transfers using Palma airport on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca. The CIA flights dispute has now spread to the Canary Islands. If there’s a problem with this, maybe the United States should think longer and harder about relations with Spain.
- Chirac blames 'Profound Malaise' for riots and intends to 'reach out' to 'troubled Muslim youths'. If those reached out to happen to be burning cars and buildings when grabbed............
THE GLOBAL WAR
- Belgian terror suspects are on trial over Casablanca and Madrid bombing attacks. The 13 men have (at the least) ties to the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group (GICM). Meet and greet them here.
- The father of a young United States Marine draws attention to an important letter to an American Senator. Read Dr. Chong's Diagnosis of America's WoT: Why We're Fighting And What's At Stake.
THE ‘We Support the Troops’ SECTION
- The Redhunter's on a roll. He notes the days-long disgusting display of guile from the intellectually challenged outside Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. Ask them. They Support the Troops. So does he. Oh…and so does he. Funny…Code Pink claims they are merely holding a vigil for the wounded troops in the hospital, yet they clear out every night before the troops’ bus pulls back into the hospital. Top that off with rumblings in Washington of impeachment, and you have yourself the makings of a fine nation supporting its troops. The troops are quite thankful for their support...still.
- One Marine's View: The American Public is the target, not Marines in Iraq. Pay attention to this Devil Dog's words and share them with a confused citizen.
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