Kate's Winds of War: 2003-09-04

by Venomous Kate at September 4, 2003 2:59 AM

Welcome! Our goal 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. Today's Winds of War is brought to you by Kate of Electric Venom. Veni, Vidi, Venom!

TOP TOPICS

  • The second anniversary of September 11 is approaching, but major media outlets have not announced any planned coverage of the events surrounding that tragic day. The Blogosphere is appalled. We remember. We're outraged. We will never forget.

Other Topics Today Include: England's financial settlement with Iraqi soldiers who were "beaten" during a raid; more confirmation that Saddam is still alive; the cost of the ongoing US presence in Iraq and the upcoming UN resolution seeking multi-national involvement; shootings at the British embassy in Tehran; Israel Radio's ground-breaking broadcast in Iran; nuclear power plant warnings; success in Afghanistan; the Taliban's re-grouping; Uganda's request for US military aid; Israel's strike on Lebanon; the Saudis and the Russians get cozy; Indonesia's signal on its true stance on terror; and a little monkey that's going bananas.

IRAQ BRIEFING

  • The Bush Administration is working to draw support for a proposed UN resolution that would allow the Security Council greater involvement in administering and rebuilding post-war Iraq. Colin Powell calls the move a way to "encourage broader international participation" while clarifying that the U.S. would continue to play a dominant role in the effort.
  • The Congressional Budget Office released a report yesterday on the annual cost of U.S. military operations in Iraq. The estimate ranges broadly from $8 billion to $29 billion, depending on whether there is a reduction in force presence. Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd (W. Va.) broke speed records in the swiftness with which he pounced on the opportunity to whine about how long the process is taking to secure and rebuild Iraq. Pejman could explain it to him.
  • JK: A portable factory with computerized manufacturing being shipped to Kuwait, to churn out spare parts for U.S. forces in theatre? Believe it. Shades of Command and Conquer - wonder how many points the orbital death laser will cost?
  • The troops are still there. So is the Winds of Change.NET consolidated directory of ways you can support the troops. American, British and Australian. Anyone out there with more information, incl. the Poles and Czechs? [updated August 19, 2003]

IRAN REPORTS

  • Two motorcyclists carried out a drive-by shooting on the UK Embassy in the Iranian capital of Tehran. Although the building was hit five times, nobody was injured. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza said police were following up on the "irresponsible actions." The shooting took place shortly after Iran recalled its London ambassador amid increasing tensions between the two countries stemming from the UK's arrest of a former Iranian diplomat believed to be connected with the 1994 bombing of a Jewish center in Argentina.
  • Having to route calls through Europe due to the lack of direct phone links did not stop Israel's Iranian-born president Moshe Katzav from hosting what has been called a "highly emotional" radio talk show. Broadcasted to over 1 million listeners throughout Iran over Israel Radio, Katsav spoke with callers about his family's ancestry and affirmed Israel's interest in rebuilding relations between the two countries, although no mention was made of Tehran's nuclear program nor whether Israel would attack Iran's nuclear installations.

U.S.A. HOMELAND SECURITY BRIEFING

  • Proving that "security is as security does," the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a warning to plant operators about computer viruses infecting and disrupting internal systems. The warning stems from an incident when systems were knocked offline at the Davis-Besse nuclear power plant after a contractor spread the "Slammer" worm to the plant's computer network through an unprotected connection. The plant operator, FirstEnergy Nuclear, had failed to install a Microsoft patch that could have prevented the infection.
  • In a press-briefing Wednesday, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said that captured al-Qaeda operatives are providing little helpful information on the organization's plans. Ridge confirmed that the U.S. remains the terrorist group's primary target, but says there is no information indicating a planned strikes on the second anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

THE WIDER WAR

  • Michael Ubaldi has some interesting observations on the end of Operation Mountain Viper, the 9-day siege led by U.S. and Afghan forces against the Taliban in Dai Chupan has ended with the death toll among the Taliban forces at an estimated 124 with no casualties reported among the U.S. special operations forces and soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division and only 5 casualties among the Afghan forces. What? You hadn't heard about that? Go visit Glenn and find out why.
  • Despite the retreat at Dai Chupan, the Taliban appears to be regaining its strength throughout Afghanistan and has once again linked its future with al-Qaeda. Both Pakistani authorities and Afghan citizens are providing the rebels with aid and shelter, leading one former rebel commander to brag: "We can move everywhere."
  • Hezbollah launched an anti-aircraft attack on Israeli jets flying over the Bayyarda hills near the city of Tyre, prompting the Israeli forces to launch air missiles which destroyed a Hezbollah cannon located less than 3 miles from Israel's border.
  • While politics may make strange bed-fellows, combating terrorists makes for odd couplings, too, like the new joint anti-terrorism effort between Russia and Saudi Arabia. Moscow has long claimed that Chechen rebels draw their primary funding from sympathetic Muslims in Saudi Arabai, and has previously alleged that Saudi officials encouraged such support. It's most definitely a win-win deal for both sides as the house of Saud can claim a publicly anti-terrorist stance in the wake of the Riyadh bombings, while Russia will benefit from the accompanying oil agreement that calls for "strengthening bilateral cooperation" between the two countries.
  • One country that is not cooperating - not even with its own best interests - is Indonesia which issued an appallingly light sentence to Muslim cleric Abu Bashir for "treason" and acquitted him of the more serious charges of involvement in the Bali bombing. Although some argue that jailing a cleric does little to stem the rabid recruiting of operatives who are actually responsible for planning and carrying out attacks, Indonesia's failure to deliver a strong sentence - and message - is a signal extremists and their victims alike about which side the country has chosen in the battle for the soul of Islam.

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